The Secret Lives of Teenagers
Your teenager has a secret life. It’s not all bad. Secret crushes, prayers, wishes, hopes, and ambitions are all normal for young people with optimism about the future and an appropriate desire to become their own person. However, some secrets should be revealed, not concealed. They may have secret insecurities, like questioning their salvation. They […]
The Resurrection of Jesus: Fact or Fiction?
If someone wanted to disprove Christianity, there is one belief that should be the focal point of study, and that is the bodily resurrection of Jesus. It has been said before that the bodily resurrection is the lynchpin or the jugular of Christianity. In other words, if Jesus wasn’t resurrected from the dead, then all […]
A Brief Theology of Preaching
In Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ book Preaching and Preachers, he states, “The primary task of the Church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God.”1 If this is true, then it is essential for both the church and the minister to have a thorough understanding of preaching. What is it? Who is […]
How to Recognize Insecure Spirituality
Series: Growing in Prayer
Editor’s note: The following article was adapted by the author from his book Pour Out Your Heart: Discovering Joy, Strength, and Intimacy with God through Prayer (pp. 20-29). To celebrate Pastor’s Appreciation Month, we are giving away the ebook of Pour Out Your Heart for free throughout the month of October here. There’s an epidemic in […]
Every Member is a Worshipper
Imagine you’re at a friend’s party one night, where you’re introduced to a man in his late 20s. Let’s call him Rico. You ask him what he does, and he says, “I’m a quarterback.” As a football fan, you’re immediately interested and begin to ask him questions. “Really,” you say. “Who do you play for?” […]
What is a Gospel Centered-Church and Why Do We Need One?
The Gospel affects the entire life of a believer, and the same is true for a body of believers that comprise a local church. Churches, and all that they do, should have a particular Gospel focus. From the preaching to the polity, everything should be intentionally centered on the Gospel. The purpose of this short […]
Theological Rest with Books: On Taking Reading Days Each Year
Before I became the lead pastor of my church, I stumbled onto an idea that quietly reshaped my approach to ministry. It came from two very different voices: Bill Gates and Michael Reeves. Gates, the tech giant, famously takes one or two weeks a year to retreat to his secluded cabin on a lake and […]
Why Am I A Southern Baptist?
Editor’s note: Recently, Midwestern Seminary & Spurgeon College hosted a chapel panel discussion on the topic, “Why We are Southern Baptist.” This article by Jason Duesing expands upon his comments during the chapel session and is based on his course lectures and essays written over the last two decades. Watch the full panel here. __________ […]
What Does It Mean to Be Iconic?
What do you want your life to represent? This is an important question to ask on multiple levels. We all want to leave a legacy—to contribute something meaningful and enduring with our lives—and this existential desire prompts us toward clarity about what we hope that legacy will become. A more basic level of this question […]
The Quiet Work of God
Beneath the quiet surface, a hidden work was unfolding. It is the work that only God perceives, the silent shaping of the soul.