Posted 2/16/2012 | By: R W Glenn
In Acts 8:1-4, everyone in the church is scattered from Jerusalem. Everyone except the apostles. Nevertheless, v 4 says that those who were scattered preached the gospel wherever they went. This is how the gospel spread like wildfire through the ancient world - ordinary people with ordinary gifts sharing the gospel with their families and friends and colleagues and classmates.
There is a...
Posted 2/13/2012 | By: R W Glenn
As you read the New Testament, you're going to encounter passages about magic and magicians. When you do, don't think Harry Houdini or Criss Angel. These are entertainers who perform illusions. They make it appear as if they have supernatural powers when, in fact, they don't. You also shouldn't think in Medieval terms, as if you're running into Merlin or Gandalf or even Harry Potter.
...Posted 2/09/2012 | By: R W Glenn
Don't worry. This isn't an appeal for laziness. It's an appeal to get in sync with the gospel. Romans 4:5 says, "And to the one who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness."
This is so counter-intuitive. Everything inside of you says that if you are going to be right with God, if you are going to be acquitted in the divine...
Posted 2/06/2012 | By: R W Glenn
Last year, the folks at Wretched Radio and TV invited Kirk Cameron and me to participate in a DVD called "The Biggest Question." It's a 45-minute clear, helpful, well-illustrated, engaging presentation of the gospel.
Last week, Wretched launched "The Biggest Project," which is aimed at the distribution of "The Biggest Question" - 250,000 copies worldwide! The goal of the project is "to...
Posted 2/03/2012 | By: R W Glenn
This post is a follow-up to my earlier, "What to Look for in a Church," and it's meant to help you discover a church like the one described there.
1. Use trusted resources for narrowing the field. I would recommend two very highly. The first is available through 9Marks, Mark Dever's ministry based on the title of his book. Nine Marks has a tool that allows you to search for churches who have...
Posted 1/18/2012 | By: R W Glenn
I find it helpful and refreshing for us pastors to be reminded to major on the majors. Here's a great word about pastoral leadership from the late Jack Miller:
A pastor is someone who leads, an undershepherd. He loves the sheep and is willing to die for them. That means at times he is willing to lead them where they are not prepared or willing to go. He is willing to put up with their...
Posted 1/17/2012 | By: R W Glenn
How hard do you have to fight your sin? This hard: "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood" (Heb 12:4). This is the call for the Christian. It's a fight to the death. It's a sweaty and exhausting battle. And you can't be afraid to get a little bloody in the fight. How can you swing the sword on the battlefield and not expect to get a little...
Posted 1/05/2012 | By: R W Glenn
Self-examination is a significant part of the Christian life. In fact, the Apostle Paul commands us to be a self-examining people in 2 Cor 13:5: "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves."
At the same time, many Christians find that self-examination leads them more often to insecurity and despair, rather than confidence and joy, assured of their acceptance with God....
Posted 12/23/2011 | By: R W Glenn
A brother sent me this penetrating quote from Russell Moore's Tempted and Tried:
Our Christian reluctance to speak honestly about temptation is precisely why Christians...often believe themselves to be unbelievers. All they of other believers is this facade of smiling, peaceful Christ-followers. They assume then that the internal life of every other Christian is just a continual festival of...
Posted 12/22/2011 | By: R W Glenn
Christmas is supposed to be a time of mirth.
And this needs to be said for two reasons:
First, our non-Christian friends think we're the most mirthless people on earth. We're so serious and worried about breaking the rules and coloring within the lines that there's little room for mirth. By our demeanor, we've taken the "Merry" out of "Merry Christmas."
Second, Christians themselves have...