Not only does God have a plan for this life, but His design goes far beyond what I could imagine. Salvation and eternal life with Him are His ultimate goals. By redeeming us from the destructive paths we are on, God gives us abundant everlasting life in Jesus Christ. Change,...
Reflections on the role of surrender and dependent prayer in Discipleship – part 2
The lure of this world’s possessions is powerful. Many people can relate to the rich young man of the Bible who could not part with his treasures and follow Jesus (Mk 10:21-22). They interpret this as needing to live in poverty to be a Christian. When wealth accumulation is our...
Reflections on the role of surrender and dependent prayer in Discipleship – part 1
This morning, I will embark on a 5-part series of blog posts regarding prayer in the life of a disciple. I pray that these reflections from my journey are helpful in yours. Prayer is a conversation, and conversations need to be two-way; otherwise, they are just a lecture from one...
What is a worldview, and why is it important – part 3 (final)
The third ingredient of a worldview is knowledge about what we can know and how we can know it.[1] As I stated, I believe the Bible is God’s true Word. The apostle Paul writes that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,...
What is a worldview, and why is it important – part 2
Developing and defending a Christian worldview is a key to our sanctification. God calls us to think like Christians and not to be swayed by the arguments of non-believers (Col 2:6-8)[1]. The Bible adds clarity to God’s design for the world, and when we are faced with questionable theories, a...
What is a worldview, and why is it important – part 1
Over the following few Mondays, I will share a paper I wrote for Grace Seminary. I hope that you find this helpful to your understanding. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a worldview as “a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world, especially from a specific standpoint.”[1] Simply put, a worldview is how...
Thoughts on why Christians suffer.
It is essential to have a biblical view of why God allows suffering and how we go through it. The Bible tells us that God is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, faithful, steadfast, forgiving, and much more (Ex. 26:6-7). Understanding that God is good and true, we...
A few more misunderstood words.
I would like to share a few common yet often misunderstood words that you may have heard frequently.
Is the judgment seat of Christ the same as the great white throne judgment?
The short answer is no, but that needs some explanation. Both identify events that will happen at the end of the age sometime in the future, and neither is something that believers should fear. All of mankind will be raised to receive a final judgment for their human lives (Rom...
Is church membership needed, and is it even biblical?
Many people today view the church as unnecessary. They think it is an outdated institution that seeks to manipulate people, and sadly, some churches do. Because of this, joining a church is probably one of the most counter-cultural things we can do. Becoming a church member means stepping outside the...