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 in understanding the gospel of salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ, they left a religious system that had corrupted and confused the gospel. We rejoice with them in their conversion and their choice to leave a faulty religious system. 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 loves the outward facing mission of God. 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, most of us are caught up in the exigencies of daily life, family, ministry, community, etc. and depend upon the gospel to nurture our souls in the midst of the stresses and challenges of daily life." 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 society to see their good works and glorify their Heavenly Father. The method for advancing the kingdom of Jesus is contrary to the world’s method. Instead of resisting or escaping, Christians are called to incarnate gospel values in the midst of the evil they face.” 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 homosexuality. 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 and solely on the merits of the righteous life and substitutionary death of Christ. Human effort neither brings a sinner into a relationship with the Holy Triune God nor does it enhance or maintain one’s relationship with God." 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 and with one voice worship Him." 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 of the city. As I was driving up the main drug strip which never sleeps I witnessed undercover police handcuffing a man and several prostitutes soliciting clients. Then I saw them – about 50 white, clean-cut teenagers dressed in matching t-shirts and black shorts.

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 through the calling of the disciples, he modeled the community that our souls desire. In his crucifixion, he brings the problem of suffering to the forefront and offers us His example of trust in His Father’s sovereignty as the ultimate ‘meaning’ for life. In his resurrection, he assures us that there is hope even in and after the most unjust, horrible, tragedies of life."  Read more at the Gospel First.

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 in training men for urban ministry, I hesitated to reference the latter blog since I have friends in suburban seminaries and have taught courses at some of them. I have been told that I am critical of most thingss traditional and suburban. Since mere criticism is not my intention (I would use the word “challenge”) I thought it best to lie low on semnary training. However I decided I would rather risk being misunderstood and criticized or well understood and criticized than being silenced.

Read more »