The Woe of Omission The paradox of our mission is this: The infinite, omnipotent God needs nothing from His creation, yet He has mandated everything—He has commanded us to speak. The greatest barrier between a lost world and the saving knowledge of God is often the silent disobedience of the very people commissioned to preach the Gospel. If ever wonder …
God’s Refining Judgment and the Final Act of Trust Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking …
Expecting Persecution and Rejoicing in Union with Christ Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Suffering as a Privilege (1 Peter 4:12-16)”
The Character of the King The truest measure of our profession of faith is not found in our theological statements, but in our practical acts of grace and mercy towards others in need. The New Testament establishes an unbreakable link: our vertical relationship with God must overflow into a horizontal compassion for others. 1. The Theological Necessity: Faith …
Read more “The Royal Law of Love: Obedience, Burden-Bearing, and the New Covenant Life”
Living Out Love and Service as the End Draws Near Idea Principal de 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Preparing to Serve God and Others (1 Peter 4:7-11)”
Ending the Reign of Sin and Living for the Will of God Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Arming Yourselves with Christ’s Mind (1 Peter 4:1-6)”
The Consistency of the Faith “For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside? God judges outsiders. Remove the evil person from among you.” -1 Corinthians 5:12-13 The Apostle Paul establishes the church’s mandate: Our task is not to judge those outside. Therefore, the necessity of consistency in our judgment and consumption …
Read more “The Moral Inconsistency of Judging the World While Using Its Roads”
The Exalted King Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to an imperishable inheritance. …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Ultimate Triumph of Christ (1 Peter 3:18-22)”
Giving a Reason for the Hope Within You Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Always Ready (1 Peter 3:13-17)”
Character Over Credentials The arrogance of assuming that one’s local context is universal is one of the greatest challenges facing global missions today. Many Christians, particularly those raised in environments with generational stability and robust academic institutions, often fall prey to a subtle, yet damaging, form of arrogance. They operate from a cultural “bubble,” assuming …
Read more “Beyond the Bubble: Training Leaders with the Bible, Not the Seminary”
Unity, Blessing, and the Life of Righteousness Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART:A Call to Christian Harmony (1 Peter 3:8-12)”
The Link Between Marriage and Prayer Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: A Husband’s Duty to Honor (1 Peter 3:7)”
The Widow’s Gift Have you ever considered what true generosity looks like in the eyes of God? Is it measured by the amount of money given, or by the motive behind the gift? We often praise large, public acts of giving, but in this short and powerful story, Jesus turns our understanding of generosity on …
Read more “The Divine Calculus of Giving: A Reflection on Sacrificial Generosity”
A Wife’s Submission and Silent Witness Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Beauty of a Gentle and Quiet Spirit (1 Peter 3:1-6)”
A Biblical Look at Leadership and Gender in the Church One of the most important aspects of a healthy, biblical church is a clear understanding of its leadership. God, the ultimate architect of the church, has provided a blueprint in His Word for how His church is to be governed and led. Our task is …
Read more “The Biblical Office of Elder-Pastor: A Call for Qualified Men”
Our Hope in Unjust Suffering Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to an …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Example of Christ 1 Peter (2:21-25)”
Our Witness in the Workplace Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to an …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Our Witness in the Workplace (1 Peter 2:18-20)”
Addressing the Gap Between Belief and Practice Introduction: Acknowledging a Paradox “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This profound declaration is a foundational truth for Christians. We …
Read more “The Sufficiency of Scripture: Embracing God’s Complete Revelation”
A Parable of Judgment, Not Rapture Main Idea of Matthew: The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and King who fulfills the promises of the Old Testament. It calls people to enter the kingdom of heaven through repentance and faith, and to live as disciples who follow the teachings and example of …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: One Taken, One Left (Matthew 24:40-41)”
Our Witness Before Worldly Authorities Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to an …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Submission for the Lord’s Sake (1 Peter 2:13-17)”
Identity, Injustice, and the Gospel in the Dominican Republic Main Idea of the Article: The Dominican government’s historic failure to provide legal identity to all of its citizens has created a system where its documentation-based deportation policy is set up for failure. This contradiction inevitably leads to injustice, making racial profiling the de facto means …
Read more “Deported from Home: The Tragic Paradox of an Immigration Crisis”
Honorable Conduct in a Hostile World Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Living as Foreigners and Exiles (1 Peter 2:11-12) “
Our New Identity as God’s Temple and People Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: A Living Stone and a Holy Nation (1 Peter 2:4-10)”
The Diet of a Newborn Christian Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Craving the Pure Milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:1-3) “
A Biblical Look at the Regulative and Normative Principles How should the church worship God? For centuries, this question has been a source of passionate debate. At the heart of this discussion is a concept known as the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW). What is this principle, is it found in Scripture, or is it a …
Read more “The Shadow and the Substance: How Covenants and Progressive Revelation Shape Our Worship”
The Outworking of Our New Birth Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Born Again to Love (1 Peter 1:22-25) “
Living in Awe of the God Who is Both Father and Judge Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Redeemed by Precious Blood (1 Peter 1:17-21)”
The Practical Response to a Glorious Salvation Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Therefore, Be Holy (1 Peter 1:13-16)”
Seeing the Gospel with Fresh Eyes Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: A Salvation the Prophets Longed to See (1 Peter 1:10-12)”
Examining the Role of Experience in Missions Mobilization It’s a common and unsettling sight in the world of missions conferences: a well-known pastor from a large, comfortable church stands before a crowd, passionately speaking about the need to reach unreached people groups in harsh, remote corners of the world—places they have never been. This raises …
Read more “The Professor and the General: Examining the Role of Experience in Missions Mobilization”
The Marks of a Living Hope Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: A Living Hope (1 Peter 1:3-9)”
The Marks of a Living Hope Main Idea of 1 Peter: 1 Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage Christians who are suffering as exiles in a hostile world. It calls believers to stand firm in their faith by remembering their secure identity in Christ, living holy lives, and looking forward to …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: Chosen Exiles (1 Peter 1:1-2)”
The Implications of Sola Scriptura for Life and Practice Why are there thousands of different Christian denominations? Why do some churches have self proclaimed apostles, others one lead pastor, while others are led by a group of elders? How can one church forbid something that another church encourages, with both claiming to follow the Bible? …
Read more “Nothing Beyond What is Written: Sola Scriptura as Our Safeguard”
A Living Hope for Exiles Main Idea of 1 Peter: First Peter is a letter of living hope, written to encourage suffering Christians to persevere in holiness by remembering their new identity in Christ and looking forward to their future glory. Introduction to the Series: Have you ever felt like you don’t quite fit in? …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: 1 Peter (A Living Hope for Exiles) – An Introduction”
The Marks of Christian Fellowship Main Idea of Ephesians: Ephesians reveals God’s eternal plan to unite all things in Christ, detailing our spiritual riches, the Church’s unity as His body, and our calling to live out this new identity. Recap from Last Lesson: In our previous lesson (Eph 6:10-20), we received our marching orders as …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: A Farewell of Grace and Peace (Ephesians 6:21-24)”
A Guide to Building Healthy Cross-Cultural Missions I’ll never forget the day a pastor from Haiti called me. I was expecting a request for funds or a report or suggestions on a recent difficulty. Instead, he said, “Brother Antonio, I was praying for you this morning. How are you? And how can my family pray …
Read more “More Than Money: The Principles of Healthy Ministry Partnership”
Standing Firm in the Spiritual Battle Main Idea of Ephesians: Ephesians reveals God’s eternal plan to unite all things in Christ, detailing our spiritual riches, the Church’s unity as His body, and our calling to live out this new identity. Recap from Last Lesson: In our previous lesson (Eph 6:5-9), we saw how the gospel …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20)”
The Futility of Effort Without Wisdom Main Idea of Ecclesiastes: The book of Ecclesiastes explores the vanity of searching for meaning in a fallen world “under the sun,” apart from God. It concludes that true wisdom and fulfillment are found only in fearing God and keeping His commandments, recognizing that He will bring every deed …
Serving Christ as Master Main Idea of Ephesians: Ephesians reveals God’s eternal plan to unite all things in Christ, detailing our spiritual riches, the Church’s unity as His body, and our calling to live out this new identity. Recap from Last Lesson: In our previous lesson (Eph 6:1-4), we saw how the gospel transforms the …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Gospel in the Workplace (Ephesians 6:5-9)”
Honor and Nurture in the Family Main Idea of Ephesians: Ephesians reveals God’s eternal plan to unite all things in Christ, detailing our spiritual riches, the Church’s unity as His body, and our calling to live out this new identity. Recap from Last Lesson: In our previous two lessons (Eph 5:22-33), we explored how a …
Read more “REFLECTIONS FOR A NEW HEART: The Gospel in the Home (Ephesians 6:1-4)”