While we recognize that Jesus commanded baptism (Matt. 28:19), as did the apostles (Acts 2:38), we should not say that baptism is necessary for salvation.Believer’s Baptism – Adult conscious aware full immersion (vs. other types of baptism i.e. sprinkling vs. affusion – i.e. pouring on head)1. The Argument From the New Testament Narrative Passages on Baptism. The narrative examples of those who we...  Read More

As general education is in steep decline due to several factors, an even more alarming issue is the Biblical and theological illiteracy and ignorance on display for those in the field of Christian ed.  Read More

There are seven basic attempted answers to “the problem of pain” or, put another way, “how to be happy” by understanding what is in the way of said happiness that have remained through the ages.  Read More

12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke I have no interest here in giving you Reinke’s 12 ways – we will discuss two and hopefully, that will be enough for you to decide if this book deserves a full read. First, before we dive into two of the twelve warnings, I feel compelled to remark that the forward by John Piper is typical Piper excellence. The retired pastor tells the reader that de...  Read More

In the great monotheistic religions of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, prayer is at the very heart of what it means to believe. Muslims are called to pray five times a day, while Jews have traditionally prayed three times a day. Each branch of the Christian church is saturated with various traditions of common prayer, private prayer, and pastoral prayer.  Read More

So, the word “religion” has taken a beating over the years, or rather, the concept has not aged well. In a rapidly secularizing, materialistically dominated culture, this word is either weakened to an opinion or said to be linked invariably to naïveté and superstition.  Read More

Variety is built into the mature Christian’s prayer life so that your prayer life doesn’t get reduced to the one type among the five, the one type of which we are all tempted; that is, petition or the “gimme-prayer.” If this is your only prayer expression it can paradoxically lead to nihilism, selfishness, depression, and anxiety because dysfunction results from disordered priorities; one focusing on our shifting and often contradictory wants/desires and two really highlighting what we haven’t yet received.  Read More