Forty-seven killed in Kenscoff, twenty-two of them executed inside a church compound. Our brothers there are Haitian and Haiti is their home. A word on which covenant we are standing in, and why the Gospel is worth it.
Distinguishing what’s described from what’s prescribed — and why “able to teach” should mean something for every elder A few questions worth sitting with before we get into it: Could you name every person in your congregation currently walking through a besetting sin, a sick parent, or a crumbling marriage — or would you have …
Read more “More Than a Pulpit: What the New Testament Actually Commands of Elders”
Why No One Is Too Far Gone to Be Told “Come” Before I even get into it, sit with these for a second — I try to ask them of myself often: Back when I was planting a church in Santiago, we also ran a mission out in Cotuí, an agricultural community about two hours …
Three Certainties and One Command: How John Ends a Letter About Assurance Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis) 1 John is a pastoral letter written to give believers absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguish truth from error through the application of the …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Kept, Known, and Guarded (1 John 5:18–21)”
How the Certainty of Salvation Becomes Confidence in Prayer Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis) 1 John is a pastoral letter written to give believers absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguish truth from error through the application of the “tests” of sound …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Confidence of Knowing (1 John 5:13–17)”
Faith That Overcomes The World Is Not A Blind Leap — It Rests On What God Himself Has Testified Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis) 1 John is a pastoral letter written to give believers absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguish truth …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Certain Testimony About God’s Son (1 John 5:6–12)”
The New Birth That Believes, Loves, Obeys, and Wins Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis) 1 John is a pastoral letter written to give believers absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguish truth from error through the application of the “tests” of sound …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Faith That Overcomes the World (1 John 5:1–5)”
God’s Presence Authenticated Through Love and the Spirit Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to give believers absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguish truth from error through the application of the “tests” of sound doctrine, …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Invisible God Made Visible (1 John 4:12–16)”
Reclaiming the Discipline of Proximity in a Conference-Driven Culture If you walk the streets of the Dominican Republic at night, you will likely encounter a familiar sight: a private security guard sitting outside a business or a neighborhood gate. He is often loyal, zealous, and armed—usually with a 12-gauge shotgun. Imagine this guard in the …
Read more “The Event vs. The Household: Why Focused Ministry Produces Lasting Fruit”
Finding Truth in an Age of Deception Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to give believers absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguish truth from error through the application of the “tests” of sound doctrine, righteous …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Testing the Spirits (1 John 4:1–6)”
A Biblical Model for Integrity Over Institutions in Global Missions Introduction: Clarifying Intent and Allegiance Before diving into this discussion, we must lay down a crucial, foundational caveat to prevent any modern misunderstandings: we are not anti-education, nor are we anti-seminary. It is a wonderful blessing for a man to have deep theological polish and …
Finding Absolute Assurance When Your Conscience Attacks Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to give believers absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguish truth from error through the application of the “tests” of sound doctrine, righteous …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Overcoming a Condemning Heart (1 John 3:19–24)”
Four Ways Christ’s Death Satisfied the Father and Secured Our Salvation The following message is from a sermon by Pastor Francisco Rosario, based on Romans 3:24-31, edited for article format. “..they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his …
Read more “Viewing the Cross as God Sees It: How the Cross Reveals the Justice of God”
A Call to Historical Honesty & Radical Biblical Fidelity The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century was, without a doubt, a sovereign and monumental act of God. Through courageous men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, and others, God recovered the light of the Gospel, restoring the foundational truth of justification by grace alone …
Guarding the Purity of God’s Word and the Liberty of the Believer Against Human Compromise and Man-Made Rules There is an old saying in mountain climbing that the easiest way to lose your life isn’t by miscalculating the peak, but by stepping off the trail into a ravine on either the left or the right. …
Bridging the Gap Between Doctrinal Purity and Christlike Compassion Introduction: A Word for Clarity’s Sake For those who know me personally, especially those who have served with me, my convictions are no secret. I hold a deep, unwavering love for the Lord Jesus Christ, a profound reverence for the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, and …
The Standard of the Cross and the Test of the Hand Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to give believers absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguish truth from error through the application of the “tests” …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Anatomy of Love (1 John 3:16–18)”
A Study of Matthew 28:18–20 & Practical Step-by-Step Guide “..All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples..— Jesus Christ Introduction: The Words Jesus Left Us With Picture it: eleven men standing on a hillside in Galilee. A few weeks earlier, they had watched their teacher die …
Read more “The Great Commission & Intentionally Making Disciples”
The Intersection of Scripture, Augustinian Thought, and Practical Ministry Preliminary Reflections: Questions for the Heart The Survival Test (Finding the Summum Bonum): If you were to lose every earthly comfort, relationship, and achievement, what one thing remaining could sustain your joy? This forces us to identify our Summum Bonum (Highest Good)—that one Thing that gives all other “goods” …
Read more “The Ordo Amoris: A Biblical Guide to the Ordered Heart”
Breaking the Yoke of Cultural Legalism: Reclaiming the Freedom of the Gospel in a Global Church The Introduction: That is not the Gospel We often speak of the “Scandal of the Cross,” but we are far more often scandalized by a drum beat, an electric guitar, a tribal pattern, or an urban aesthetic. We claim …
Read more “The Myth of “Unholy” Matter: Music, Culture, and the Freedom of the Gospel”
The Ancient Message and the Genealogy of Hatred Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to give believers absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguish truth from error through the application of the “tests” of sound doctrine, …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: From Death to Life (1 John 3:11–15)”
The Distinction Between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Two Families—Evidence of the New Birth (1 John 3:7–10)”
The Incompatibility of a Lifestyle of Sin and the New Life in the Savior Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Definition of Sin and the Work of Christ (1 John 3:4–6)”
Present Sonship and Future Glory Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the “tests” of sound doctrine, righteous living, and sacrificial …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Father’s Love (1 John 3:1-3)”
The Anointing: The Spirit’s Guard over the Regenerate Heart Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the “tests” of sound doctrine, …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Internal Witness (1 John 2:27–29)”
A Message for the Broken and the Burdened Have you ever looked at your own life—your secret thoughts, your failed promises, and your moments of rebellion—and realized that you are in deep trouble with a Holy God? Many people try to fix this feeling by being “better,” by following rules, or by trying to balance …
Read more “The Path to Mercy: Finding Hope & Rest in the Finished Work of Christ”
Understanding God’s Sovereign Work in Salvation & Avoiding Human Additions Questions for the Heart of the Witness Before we examine the history and theology of the modern “invitation,” every believer who carries the message of the Gospel should honestly and soberly consider these four questions: Is my evangelism a Royal Summons from a Holy King, …
Read more “The Myth of the “Invitation”: Returning to Biblical Evangelism & A More Accurate Way”
A Call to Move from Emotional Performance to Biblical Proclamation A Global Plea to the Preacher This article is born from a deep burden for the global Church. While this issue is a significant problem in Latin America and the Caribbean, it has become a plague across the globe, although originally exported from the church …
The Word: Remaining in the Original Message Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the “tests” of sound doctrine, righteous living, …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Objective Anchor (1 John 2:24–26)”
The Progressive Revelation of the Gospel “From Heaven He came and sought her, To be His holy bride; With His own blood he bought her, And for her life He died.” -Samuel J. Stone Thought Provoking Questions For The Heart: If the chronicles of eternity were opened today, would the narrative of your life be a frantic …
Read more “Between Two Weddings: Sought, Bought, and Made Beautiful”
The Hour of Deception and the Evidence of Remaining Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the “tests” of sound doctrine, …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Conflict of Truth, Part 1 (1 John 2:18–23)”
The Condition of the Heart and the Conflict Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the “tests” of sound doctrine, righteous …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Conflict of Love (1 John 2:12-17)”
The Evidence of Authentic Affection Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the “tests” of sound doctrine, righteous living, and sacrificial …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Test of Love (1 John 2:7-11)”
Why an Innocent Man Had to Pay An Infinite Debt So That The Guilty Could Walk Free I. Introduction: The Crisis of the “Soft” Gospel We live in an era dominated by a “therapeutic” version of Christianity. In this framework, God is reimagined as a benevolent, slightly permissive life coach whose primary function is to …
Read more “The Mechanics of Divine Justice: How God Justifies Sinners and Makes Us Righteous”
The Evidence of an Authentic Relationship Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the “tests” of sound doctrine, righteous living, and …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Test of Knowing Him (1 John 2:3-6)”
The Provision for Sin and the Scope of the Savior Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the “tests” of sound …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Advocate and the Propitiation (1 John 2:1-2)”
The Message of Light and the Logic of Confession Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the “tests” of sound doctrine, …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Test of Light and the Reality of Sin (1 John 1:5-10)”
Beyond Stereotypes: Navigating Wealth, Poverty, and the Mandate of Compassion in a Fallen World In modern discourse, we are often presented with a simplistic moral binary: The Greedy Rich vs. The Humble Poor.This stereotype suggests that wealth is a sign of moral corruption and poverty is a badge of inherent spiritual virtue. However, cultural narratives employ …
Read more “Stewardship, Status, and the Sovereign: A Biblical Theology of Resources”
The Word of Life and the Fellowship of Joy Main Idea of 1 John (The Central Thesis): 1 John is a pastoral letter written to provide believers with absolute assurance of their salvation and fellowship with God. It serves as a definitive guide to distinguishing truth from error by applying the “tests” of sound doctrine, …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Word of Life and the Fellowship of Joy (1 John 1:1-4)”
Introduction to 1 John: The Assurance of Life in the Light Historical and Biblical Context Author: Internal and external evidence strongly points to the Apostle John, the son of Zebedee and author of the fourth Gospel . The author writes as an eyewitness to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, emphasizing what he has “seen and heard” . …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: An Introduction to 1 John”