From time to time I hear concerns from well-meaning people questioning our use of the Apostles’ Creed. Most often it has to do not so much with the content, but with their personal history of having recited it in the Roman Catholic Church or a liberal denominational church. Part of their conversion story is that Read more

I believe in gospel grace. Free undeserved grace. God’s saving grace. Grace personified in Jesus. Grace that forgives and grace that transforms. I also believe in gospel discipleship. Costly and demanding discipleship. Obedient discipleship. Life-altering and life-consuming discipleship. Discipleship that rejoices in suffering. Discipleship that says no to sin and yes to holiness. Discipleship that Read more

Guest blog from the Gospel First: "Recently a few high profile Christian leaders have taken long sabbaticals from public ministry to give attention to the care of their souls. This is a luxury that most of us in and outside of ministry cannot afford but perhaps one which we all desire from time to time. However, Read more

Excerpt from the Gospel First: “Sadly, too often the energy that goes into resisting and working to overturn the abusive structures of society eviscerates the call of Jesus to love, do good, bless, and pray. Also, when Christians retreat into the safety of their cocoons they fail to be the salt and light that enables Read more

There have been many responses to the recent New York vote to legalize homosexual marriage and to the Gay Parades held around the world. One response we often lack is tears. Piper points out that homosexuality has always been with us and celebrated. What we are seeing now is the norrmalization and the institutionalization of Read more

From the Gospel First:  "Paul’s message to the church and false teachers is that a non-grace gospel is a non-gospel. The good news of the gospel is that Christ faithfully lived the life that I have failed to live and died the death that I deserve to die and that sinners stand in God’s favor always Read more

From the Gospel First: "While we presently struggle with our own sinfulness that hinders catholicity, we seek God’s grace to live peaceably with all men, especially those of the household of faith and we long for the ultimate external expression of catholicity at the resurrection day when all believers gather before the throne of Jesus Read more

This morning I received a phone call from one of my men who was released from prison last week. He has not been able to stay clean, wanted to go to a halfway house, and asked me if I could bring him some toiletries. His neighborhood is the center of drug activity in that part Read more

"As followers of Jesus Christ, we have found that each of these searches (for Identity, Community, Meaning, and Hope) finds its resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. In his incarnation he exemplifies the ideal human identity as one who knows God and does the will of God. In his life and ministry, especially Read more

My brother John recently wrote some good blogs on seminary training for urban ministry. We are both seminary grads and take ministry training seriously. One blog was "What I would look for in a seminary." The other was "Seminary training for urban ministry." Although I agree with John about the great difficulties suburban seminaries face Read more