The Christian life is inescapably corporate. Teaching on Christian holiness has frequently concentrated almost exclusively on the “holy man” or the “holy woman,” to the neglect of the biblical concern for the “holy people” or the “holy church.” (Bruce Milne in Why Small Groups, ed. C. J. Mahaney, p. 5.)
Our Sinful Condition Results in Sinful Behavior
The Bible says that our core problem, the fundamental reason we do what we do, is sin. What is being said here? Scripture is defining sin as a condition that results in behavior. We all are sinners, and because of this, we all do sinful things. This is why I said that our core problem […]
Sexual Assault Defined
Our definition of sexual assault is any type of sexual behavior or contact where consent is not freely given or obtained and is accomplished through force, intimidation, violence, coercion, manipulation, threat, deception, or abuse of authority. This definition gets beyond our society’s narrow understanding of the issue and expands the spectrum of actions to be […]
We Need Imagination
People struggling with life in a fallen world often want explanations when what they really need is imagination. They want strategies, techniques, and principles because they simply want things to be better. But God offers much more. People need to look at their families, neighbors, friends, cities, jobs, history, and churches, and see the kingdom. […]
Jesus Entered Your Pain and Shame
However, there was one who later came and entered her pain and shame. Jesus Christ was killed, not for revenge but to bear her shame on the cross and to offer her a new robe of righteousness to replace her torn robes of disgrace. How Tamar felt after the assault, described in verse 19 [2 […]
Your Problem Goes Deeper
Hi John, in our counseling we often find ourselves in the situation where we end uptelling the person, “I can give you good advice or I can give you Good News. The good advice is only temporarily good, like a band-aid. The problem is that your situation requires more than a simple band-aid. You see, […]
Grace and Mercy Come To Those Who Need It
“Martin Luther describes this good news: ‘God receives none but those who are forsaken, restores health to none but those who are sick, gives sight to none but the blind, and life to none but the dead….He has mercy on none but the wretched and gives grace to none but those who are in disgrace.’ […]