God's love is often seen in His clarity. Yet, as we are wont to do, we sometimes attempt to add to that clarity in our effort to “feel God more.” Recently, many Christians observed Ash Wednesday—a day of prayer and fasting marked by ashes placed upon the forehead. For some, it serves as a reminder... Continue Reading →
Christmas can be a strange season for many Christians. On the one hand, I rejoice in the reminder that God took on flesh and dwelt among us to be our Savior. On the other, I often find myself unsettled by the prominence of nativity scenes and visual depictions of Christ. These images are meant to... Continue Reading →
The Law of God, unfortunately, is not as clear in many Christian circles as it ought to be. Some wield it as a cudgel, measuring the sanctification of others against their own standards and striking where they perceive deficiency. Others, appealing to the grace of the cross, assume that because Christ has earned our merit,... Continue Reading →
Before I begin, I feel it appropriate to clarify that I am not a medical professional. I am, however, a steward of Christ’s church, seeking to come alongside those who are suffering. Far too often I have seen attempts to address depression fall into one of two errors. Some claim that depression is merely a... Continue Reading →
Discipleship 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.' Reading: Galatians 5:16–26; John 15:1–8; Luke 9:23 1. What does it look like to be a disciple of Christ and of others faithful believers? And how does this change over the... Continue Reading →
When inviting friends to our humble OPC church, some have expressed concern about the lack of a children’s church. They wonder whether their children will be able to sit through the sermon, or worry that they might be a distraction—to themselves or to the rest of the congregation. While children’s church is often offered as... Continue Reading →
https://youtu.be/ocWiidFenc4?si=mFbmtaWpdLErRUiV On Sunday morning, a routine worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, was abruptly interrupted when a group of anti-ICE protesters entered the sanctuary chanting slogans such as “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” halting the congregation’s worship and thrusting the debate over immigration enforcement into a house of worship. The... Continue Reading →
Oftentimes, when getting to know other professing Christians, I will ask what church they attend as a simple icebreaker. It is usually an easy way to discover shared convictions or meaningful differences and to continue the conversation from there. Occasionally, however, the response is some variation of, “I don’t go to church,” a statement that... Continue Reading →
One of the newer forms of media digestion and topical studies nowadays is podcasts. But with this new fad come issues of knowing which ones are theologically trustworthy. Time is valuable, so why waste it on a podcast that might not be biblically accurate? The vast array of available content can be overwhelming, making it... Continue Reading →
As the NFL barrels toward its zenith in the 60th Super Bowl this winter, millions are preparing for a national liturgy of food, spectacle, and celebration. Some churches, rather than resisting the cultural tide, now adjust service times or devise themed novelties to accommodate the event.1 Much has already been written lamenting how football has... Continue Reading →
