My parents sent me off to college with, among other things, a copy of Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. Despite the majesty of Calvin's theology, reading through the Institutes can be a difficult endeavor. Most difficult are the parts where Calvin engages in extended refutations of his contemporary opponents. As a college freshman, I […]
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, […]
We live in an age of unprecedented richness in discipleship materials. Vaults of old treasures of spiritual classics are unlocked daily to enrich this generation, and new treasures are being continually crafted by contemporary Christian leaders. The rise of the Internet, social media, tablets, and the like make these discipleship materials instantly available. The sermons […]
You can become anything you want to be.” I think I may have said that to my own kids before. Happily, upon further reflection, it’s not true. God handcrafts human beings, through nature and nurture, to fulfill a specific role in the web of relationships in society and, above all, in Christ’s body. “There are […]
ADVENT – Fourth Sunday before Christmas EPIPHANY – 12 days after Christmas LENT – 46 days (approx. 6 weeks) before Easter EASTER – First Sunday after the Paschal full moon (a Sunday between Mar. 22 and Apr. 25) ASCENSION – 39 days after Easter PENTECOST – 10 days after Ascension I realize that following the […]
Editor's Introduction In January 1521, Pope Leo X excommunicated the German Reformer Martin Luther. Later that spring Luther was called to the Diet of Worms, a gathering of political and ecclesiastical officials in the presence of Emperor Charles V, to defend his beliefs. When he famously refused to recant, staking his position on the word […]
Busyness is booming. People are busy everywhere you look, even on your computer screen. Instead of time-saving devices, we want gadgets that do more and more right alongside us. Busyness has become business as usual, if not business itself. Family is left first thing in the morning, and individuals pursue interests and activities of their […]
Bone tired. New parents know the feeling. So do harried executives. And seniors during finals week. Sadly, many Christians go through much of their pilgrim lives feeling that they’re not doing well if they’re not bone tired. If you look at the schedules of some of your local churches (see page 51 for a sample), […]
If you've ever felt like the pastor of your church didn't really understand what it was like to be just a "regular Joe" with a family, a job, and responsibilities that were more pressing than his insistence that you live a radical life for Jesus, then you need to read this interview with Matt Redmond. […]
Once upon a time, being a Big Star fan was like knowing a secret handshake. You knew something that others didn’t, and to meet a fellow fan was to meet a new friend. This is no longer the case. Nearly forty years after they initially broke up, and despite the fact that three of the […]
