This understanding of the profound sin that drives interpersonal conflict is further explained by James 4:11-12. We judge others—criticize, nit-pick, nag, attack, condemn—because we literally play God. This is heinous. “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor?”…
“The task of the church,” writes J. I. Packer, “is to make the invisible kingdom visible through faithful Christian living and witness-bearing.” I love that statement. The church makes the invisible kingdom visible. The world can’t see God. They can’t see his reign in our hearts. But we join our lives together in the church…
The folks over at IX Marks have raised some very good points on why the church should not be so eager to baptize children: Undermining the family: Church membership of children confuses the responsibilities of discipleship between the family and the church. The instruction is given to fathers to bring up their children in the…
Throughout Scripture,sinners in general, and God’s people in particular are described as sheep. And those God sends to lead them are equally frequently called shepherds (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). We will look first at the character of the sheep, and then at the character of the shepherd. We start with the sheep because the…
“Mission” comes from a Latin word meaning “to send.” Jesus commanded His first disciples as representatives of those to follow, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21; cf. 17:18). This mission is still valid: the universal church, including every local congregation and every Christian in it, is sent…
