Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology[1] are two theological systems which govern how we interpret the overall storyline of Scripture. Each seeks to describe how God’s redemptive purposes unfold through history. These are “whole-Bible theologies,”[2] ways of understanding God’s redemptive purposes throughout Scripture. Anyone who has seriously studied the Bible belongs somewhere in one of these camps, … Continue reading My Concerns with Covenant Theology
The Gospel – Power to Transform
Note: I recently dug up this paper which I wrote as a part of the Christian Ministries certificate I completed at Elnora Bible Institute. I'm posting it here in hopes it will help others understand how the gospel framework affects our entire Christian life. Thesis: The gospel as revealed in God's inerrant, infallible Word must … Continue reading The Gospel – Power to Transform
Building on the Rock
We have been thinking together in a few editorials about the question, “What are we standing on?” We’re discussing the building blocks of belief, the basic influences which shape what we believe. The technical term is “epistemology,” which is derived from a Greek word which means “to stand upon.” If our beliefs are a building, … Continue reading Building on the Rock
What Makes a Christian Marriage?
God’s Good Design God created marriage as the most intimate and enduring human relationship. When God made Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden, he had no companion. He had God above Him, and animals under him, but no one alongside him. In God’s kind providence, He gave him Eve as a helper—not … Continue reading What Makes a Christian Marriage?
Disintegration
Everyone wants to be happy. We all spend our time doing the things we believe will make us happy. The religious person believes he will be happier if he attends worship services and does what is right. The workaholic believes his life will be better if he has financial security. The socialite believes she will … Continue reading Disintegration
How to Know if You Are a Christian (2 Corinthians 13:5)
How can you know if your faith is genuine? In this sermon from 2 Corinthians 13:5 we examine how the Apostle Paul instructs his readers to test themselves to see if they are united to Christ. The goals for this sermon are (1) that those who have not found salvation in Christ would run to Him and (2) that those who have would find greater confidence in Him.
Identifying Doctrinal Legalism
What is Legalism? Legalism is a spiritual plague as old as the church. Actually, it’s older than the church because the Pharisees Jesus interacted with during his earthly ministry (before He established the church) were legalists. They had already turned the Mosaic law into a means of salvation. But legalism can take other forms. At … Continue reading Identifying Doctrinal Legalism
What is The Sword and Trumpet? – Part Ten
In this final article I want to draw your attention to one more aspect of our mission statement. We are committed to the “gospel as revealed in the Holy Scriptures.” We take the Bible as our ultimate authority, over all philosophy and every tradition and system. The Bible defines the gospel we proclaim. It is … Continue reading What is The Sword and Trumpet? – Part Ten
What is The Sword and Trumpet? – Part Nine
Our mission statement describes our commitment to defend, promote, and proclaim the gospel. So far, we’ve mostly talked about our approach: How do we defend the gospel? How do we promote the gospel? How do we proclaim the gospel? Now I want us to notice that this approach is focused on a specific set of … Continue reading What is The Sword and Trumpet? – Part Nine
Why Every Preacher Needs Systematic Theology – Part 2
Recently I came across a definition of systematic theology as “keeping the whole Bible in view when reading any verse.” I find that definition helpful for two reasons. First, because it emphasizes how all the parts of Scripture work together to help us understand the main truths. And second, because it reminds us that the … Continue reading Why Every Preacher Needs Systematic Theology – Part 2