The Inspiration of Scripture | Part 2

In our discussion on the inspiration of Scripture, we now move from how God inspired the Bible to what that inspiration entails. As we discovered last time, most Christians agree that Scripture is inspired, but they often disagree when they define that inspiration. Just as they have various understandings of the process God used, they also hold various beliefs on how inspired the end product—Scripture—actually is. Read More

Are Spiritual Gifts for Today?

Spiritual gifts can be controversial and overwhelming. The basic concepts are clear in Scripture, but we are often worlds apart in our understanding of how those concepts should be borne out. Some people practice spiritual gifts too little, others seemingly too much. Before we can properly practice spiritual gifts, we must understand what they are. Read More

The Inspiration of Scripture | Part 1

The word “inspiration” brings many different thoughts to mind. In the modern sense, we sometimes think of inspiration as a motivating or energizing force. An artist may feel a flash of inspiration for his next painting, a musician may be inspired to compose a new song, or I may search for inspiration to study for and write this article.

Yet, historically and theologically, inspiration carries a different meaning. Read More

Valuing Scripture

The Word of God is a great gift. Think about it—where would we go to learn who God is if we didn’t have His Word? While creation does testify of God, we can’t fully know Him simply by studying the starry sky or a nearby bush. We can look within, but our own hearts are deceitful and our minds are darkened (Jer. 17:9, Rom. 1:21). We can’t hope to know Him unless He first shows Himself to us. The Bible is that revelation, God’s gift to us—Himself. Scripture is the source of all knowledge of God; therefore, to truly know God we must know His Word. Read More

The Canon of Scripture | Part 3

We remember that our confidence in the canon is not in our own observations, nor is it in the abilities of mere men to correctly identify and compile God’s words, but it must ultimately be in God’s faithfulness to His people. By this we believe that God has truly provided us with His Word and has given us all we need. And so we know that, “The canon of Scripture today is exactly what God wanted it to be, and it will stay that way until Christ returns.”11 Our Bible—Genesis to Revelation—contains every word God intended for His people. It is truly and fully the Word of God. Read More

The Place of Music in the Church

Music. How do we use it and how does it affect us? Josh reminded us several weeks back that music is an integral part of our Christian faith. Trish then gave us six reasons why music is important in our personal lives. It is a great gift that, used properly, is a God-given blessing that bolsters us as we struggle and sing our way through this life. Read More

The Canon of Scripture | Part 2

Just as God was at work in creation, in the calling of his people Israel, in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and in the early work and writings of the apostles, so God was at work in the preservation and assembling together of the books of Scripture for the benefit of His people for the entire church age. Ultimately, then, we base our confidence in the correctness of our present canon on the faithfulness of God. Read More

The Canon of Scripture | Part 1

God speaks. Through His word He formed the heavens. He breathed out stars. He breathed into man, giving him life. And He did not abandon man—He spoke to him, telling him of Himself. To Abraham He gave a blessing and a promise. To Moses He gave direction and the law. To the prophets He gave warnings and judgments. He spoke to the apostles, teaching the new covenant through Christ. He spoke to the church, guiding them into truth and into grace. And He speaks to us today. Read More

The Word of God

Scripture tells of our need for Christ, predicts who He would be, and records His life and His fulfillment of all that was predicted. It unfolds who we must be as His people and reminds us that He is coming back for us. Jesus is the epicenter of Scripture—the source of it all and the point of it all. He said, “The Scriptures...testify of me.” He is the fullness of the Word of God, the divine Word in human flesh. Read More

Divine Revelation

We have a knowledge of God, but where does that knowledge come from? At the base level, how do we know God? Do we have the ability within ourselves to search out the character and will of God? No. We, with our limited capacities, can only guess at who God is. “There are mysteries which the human mind, unaided by revelation from God, can never unravel. They are beyond us. The only way by which such things can be found out is by getting information from one who knows—and who, besides the Infinite God, can know them—except through revelation from Him?” Read More