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The “Season of Lent” is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. Though it has a rather complicated history, it is undoubtedly ancient in origin.  As Ted Olson writes, “Like all Christian holy days and holidays, it has changed over the years, but its purpose has... Read More →

Paul calls the church “a pillar and buttress of the truth,” (1Tim.3:15). As a pillar, it thrusts the truth high for all to see. As a buttress, it supports and establishes the truth “on earth as it is in heaven.” In other words, the church both grounds and displays the gospel in... Read More →

As we walk through 1 Peter together this fall, we will see how the apostle paradoxically expects the churches of Asia Minor to be both compelling (2:12, 18; 3:1-4) and repelling communities (2:15; 3:16; 4:3-4).  Even more paradoxically, the very thing that makes us compelling to... Read More →

That is the question a Baptist friend of mine posed on Twitter recently. And it represents about as much familiarity with the tradition as I had growing up in a so-called non-liturgical church. The “Season of Lent” is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar.... Read More →

And why spend six months of our lives doing it? Aren’t these the defunct stipulations of an old covenant made with Israel, while we who are in Christ are under a new covenant? It is true that Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses, so that, as Paul famously declared, “Christ is the end... Read More →

Last year’s flood afforded us the opportunity as Jesus’ people to face a number of new challenges – the biggest of which was how to care for our many, hurting neighbors.  We turned to a number of resources as we sought to address the pressing needs of our community,... Read More →

Our neighbor got a puppy. A cute miniature pinscher that loves to run and play and has a bark that can be heard from here to Timbuktu. It likes to bark at squirrels, people, acorns falling, and I’m pretty sure, the wind. We tolerated the barking for weeks, trying not to complain... Read More →

Does God have passions? Has the Ancient of Days known the ebb and flow of emotion? Is the Almighty ever hurt, even if only in sympathy with men and women?  If you’re like most Christians, you answer these questions in the affirmative, and usually without hesitation. But it might... Read More →

In our series on 1Timothy 1-3, we’ve considered the nature of the church as “the household of God.” As a household, it has its own, internal economy – a certain “home economics,” if you will. But this domestic economy is driven by the kingdom of heaven itself, “the economy... Read More →

As “a pillar and buttress of the truth,” (1Tim.3:15) the church’s purpose is to embody the gospel before a watching world, showing as well as telling the good news of the kingdom of God, and so making visible the invisible glory of God revealed in the person and work of Jesus... Read More →