The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers were given to equip God’s people for the work of building the church, and the church is built by Christ through the gifts he gave to his people.
Sometimes we take good advice. Sometimes we don’t. What about biblical exhortations? Take the following, for example: “always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet 3:15). This instruction makes a lot of sense to a Christian.
The majority of countries where Christian persecution is most severe are the same countries that have extremely high rates of poverty. In fact, recent data by the Weekly Number demonstrates that gender inequality directly correlates to religious freedom—where gender inequality is higher, so is religious persecution. Afghanistan is the highest for both, the fifth worst place to be a Christian.
Readers often forget that this book exists to teach us about God, not just about life without God.
Do your friends know the goodness of the Christian hope? Do you?
Sandy Grant focuses his reading list on the European refugee crises, as well as marital faithfulness, the problem of youth-driven culture, and more.
A Christian is “at the same time justified and a sinner” (simul iustus et peccator). It is one of the more well-known phrases of the Reformation. God in his grace and mercy has declared the Christian to be righteous due to the atoning work of Jesus Christ. And what God declares something to be, truly is. And yet at the same time, sin is still at work in our flesh.
Doing things well and developing new leaders are both valuable and necessary objectives. The trouble is that these two agendas often clash. Training someone up means, almost by definition, that in the beginning they won’t be particularly good at whatever it is they’re learning to do. And they almost certainly won’t be as good at it as you are.
While I’ve loved and admired Calvin’s theology and ministry for a couple of decades, up until relatively recently my perception of Calvin’s personality was rather negative. I looked at him as the theological equivalent of Batman.