It is my conviction that the thing that the Church of Jesus Christ needs more than anything this hour is a return to its apostolic foundations. It was upon these foundations that the Church was built, and it is upon these foundations that she was expected to grow. Even the casual reader of the book of Acts recognizes that there is a disconnect between the life the Church experiences now, and the life the Church experienced then. In the following collection of essays, I attempt to expound on the issues I believe to be essential in producing well nourished disciples of Jesus Christ in these last days.
- What Is A Disciple?
- An examination of the essence of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
- Why I Am A Disciple
- My personal testimony as to the "burning bush experience" I had that brought me to the Lord, which should be common to us all, and serve as the ultimate foundation of our faith.
- The Cost of Discipleship
- In this essay, I examine what it cost to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Comparing the cost of discipleship to the price gold miners paid in the 1849 American Gold Rush, and drawing from two personal experiences, I show that the price we pay for being a disciple of Jesus Christ is ultimately worth it.
- Fathers of Faith
- The Church of Jesus Christ needs men of God who will truly be men of God, and live their lives as the apostle Paul did, in the imtation of Jesus Christ, as fathers of the faith whose examples can be followed. This thought provoking essay will challenge you to grow in your faith, and to press onto maturity.
- What is Salvation?
- While affirming the classical evangelical textbook definition of salvation, this essay looks to understand God's plan of salvation from a fresh perspective.
- The Amazing Possibilities of Grace
- Examining the issue of grace, this article seeks to show how grace not only transforms how God relates to us, but how we in turn should relate to God.
- Finding Grace in the Wilderness
- Through the example God has given in His dealings with Israel, we come to see that God's gracious dealings with us are always an invitation to love Him, obey Him, and to become the people He would have us to be.
- Jusitification by Faith: It's a Matter of Life and Death
- Reflections upon Paul's argument in Romans, in light of a verse quoted by the apostle from Habakkuk 2:4, concerning salvation during the impending judgment coming upon Jerusalem in 586 B.C. by the Babylonian army.
- Justification by Faith: The Grounds for Our Justification
- An examination of Romans 1 through 5, and the reason the apostle Paul states we can be justified by faith alone.
- Freedom in Christ
- What does the life of a saved, Spirit-filled Christian look like? Examining Romans 6 through 8, this essay looks at the different ways Christ has freed us, and how the grace of God has transformed our lives. If you are struggling with sin in your life, this is a must read.
- An Apostolic Church
- An examination of what it means to truly be an "apostolic church" as found in the Nicene Creed of 325 A.D.
- Psalm 23: Everyday Living
- A verse by verse devotional exposition of David's most famous psalm.
- Matthew 25: The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
- A reflection on this parables immediate context.
- The Crucified Lord
- An examination of the meaning of the cross of Jesus Christ.
- The Risen Lord
- An examination of the doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and how it serves as the heart of the gospel message.
- The Ascended Lord
- This article examines the practical ramifications of the doctrine of the ascended Lord, and how it is relevant for everyday life.
- The Soon Coming King
- An essay about living our lives in light of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
- The Downward Spiral of Sin
- In this article we examine the destructive nature of sin, and how we can combat it by the renewing of our minds.
- U-turn: Paul as a Model of True Repentance
- The apostle Paul demonstrated that true repentance is not merely ceasing from sin, but actively turning away from it.
- The Only Christian
- A reflection upon a conversation I had with an unsaved friend recently, who declared that I was the only Christian friend they have. This article examines what it means to be the only Christian somebody may know, living in a post-Christian America.
- Magnifying Christ
- Looking at the life of the apostle Paul, and his impriosnment, this essay looks at what it means for Christ to be magnified in our bodies, and exalted in our circumstances.
- Forgiving Others: A Lesson from the Early Church
- In the conversion story of the apostle Paul, we can learn a lot about forgiveness, as we see how the Church came to terms with forgiving the man who was once its chief persecutor. Not only that, but we learn about the power of forgiveness, and the true difference it can make for the kingdom of God.
- Discovering God's Purpose For Our Lives
- Examining Romans 8:28-29, this essay takes a Christ-centered approach to discovering God's purpose for our lives.
- Discovering God's Purpose For Our Lives: Part 2
- What exactly does it mean to be conformed to the image of Christ? Examining Romans 12:1-2, this essay looks at the practical ramifications of what it means to look more and more like Jesus Christ.
- The Obscure Saint
- This article examines what it truly means to be a slave of Jesus Christ, in contrast with the worldly servant-leader model of ministry proposed by John Maxwell and others.
- Putting on the Full Armor of God: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare
- A practical study of Ephesians 6, spiritual warfare, and putting on the full armor of God.
- There were Two Trees in the Garden
- This essay explores the meaning of the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden, and how it applies to our lives today.
- This Old House
- Reflecting upon Matthew 7:24-27, this essay seeks to understand what it means to build your life on the solid rock of Christ and His words.
- The Pure in Heart
- A reflection on Matthew 5:8, and why it is only those who are pure in heart shall see God.
- Created for Good Works
- A brief essay examining the relationship between faith, good works, and the preaching of the gospel message.
- Forgetting Heaven: The Doctrine of the Resurrection
- In this essay, I call into question the popular Christian doctrine of spending eternity in heaven, and why we should rather preach about the resurrection from the dead, and why it serves as the heart of the gospel message.
- I Am Blessed
- A theology of blessing, and examination of what it means to be blessed with every spiritual blessing in Jesus Christ.
- I Want To Be A Blessing
- God has blessed you so that you might be a blessing. Learn what the blessings of God are, and how you can effectively minister God's blessings to others.
- Christ: The Sum of All Things
- God has a plan and purpose He is laboring towards. This essay seeks to uncover what that plan is, and how we as Christians can participate in God's ultimate purpose for all things.
- The Nations are on Fire
- Reflecting upon the 10th anniversary of 9-11, this essay explores the topic of God's judgment upon America and the nations, in light of God's ultimate redemptive purposes and the kingdom of God.
- War No More
- A theological reflection on 'just war' theory, and the peaceful alternative we get to participate in as part of the Messianic task and the kingdom of God.
- The Martyrdom of Polycarp: Alternate Ending
- A fictionalized retelling of the martyrdom of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna.
- The Prayer That Ceases
- Praying without ceasing is the normal Christian prayer life. However, this essay seeks to examine what God does when we stop enduring in prayer.
- The Golden Rule
- An examination of why 'treating others as you want to be treated' is some of the greatest theology ever taught.