The marriage of one man to one woman is not incidental imagery — it is the relationship God uses to describe the bond between Christ and his church. One Christ; one church. Any affection given to a substitute institution is spiritual adultery. Paul’s instruction in Ephesians…
The sermon frames itself as a solution to the fundamental problem: What is the right way to live? Not in the sense of technique or discipline, but in the sense of ultimate orientation. Every person who does not live the Christ life is living a life…
The Bible is the source of all fundamental sermon material. Everything a preacher needs to address the human condition is present in the revealed facts about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the church, sin, and promised blessing. Secondary material — illustrations from experience — supplements but…
Three theories of inspiration have been proposed that do not adequately explain all the facts of the Bible. The mechanical theory fails to account for the genuine human diversity in the biblical text. The natural inspiration theory fails to account for the divine content that exceeds…
Christ is the Prince of Peace, who alone gives peace with God, peace with others, and peace within; sin is the disturber of all three, and that peace is enjoyed only by being reconciled to God in Christ and submitting to His terms. Everyone is hunting…
Paul at Athens declared that the Godhead is not gold or silver or stone, or an image formed by the thought of man (Acts 17:29). The idol-worshipper makes a god that fits in his hand. The rationalist makes a god that fits in his system. Neither…
A final judgment is coming — one day, one Judge, all people. The biblical description of that event and its two outcomes is not speculative or symbolic; it is the most concrete and consequential fact about the future that the New Testament presents. Some people dismiss…
The church is in the world but not of it; worldliness creeps in through worldly leadership, worldly recreation, idle and unspiritual members, and neglected worship — and the only cure is for each member to refuse to be conformed to the world. Jesus prayed for His…
Felix heard the most searching sermon ever preached to him, was terrified by what he heard, and sent the preacher away. “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity I will summon you.” He never summoned him. There is such a thing as too…
The question is not whether some wars are justified, or whether Old Testament figures fought, or whether soldiers appear in the New Testament without being condemned. The question is whether Christ permits his followers to take human life in war. The answer found in the spirit…