Summary of Titus: Understanding the Basics of Titus in the Bible
Here is a short summary of the book of Titus: Titus is a personal letter from Paul to Titus, a long-time partner in ministry. Paul and Titus had begun making disciples and starting churches on the island of Crete, and Paul left Titus there to finish setting things in order in the churches. Titus needed […]
Renewing a Focus on Unreached Peoples
Very few laborers are going to the unreached and unharvested parts of the world. This means we must rethink why, how, and where are we sending our people. If we seek to obey what Jesus has commanded us to do, then we need to radically shift our resources to the unreached. This may mean sending […]
Paul and Timothy: 7 Steps of Apprenticeship
The American church today is facing a pastoral succession crisis. The vast majority of church leaders struggle to find mature emerging leaders. But what if the problem isn’t a leadership shortage but a lack of investment? The best way forward is for church leaders at every level (staff or volunteer) to begin making apprentices wherever […]
Summary of 1-2 Thessalonians: Understanding the Basics of 1-2 Thessalonians in the Bible
Here is a short summary of 1-2 Thessalonians: Paul wrote these two letters to a brand new church in the city of Thessalonica, the largest city in Macedonia. After starting the church and only teaching them for a short time, Paul was forced to leave town. The church was facing opposition from the people in […]
Knowing Christ: The Goal That Makes Other Obsessions Look Like Garbage
Being a disciple is not just about attending church once a week, or on the “special” times throughout the year, like Christmas and Easter, putting some surplus cash in the offering plate once in a while, and volunteering once a year at Vacation Bible School. Disciples live daily for the pursuit of following Christ and […]
Stumbling Blocks: What They Are and How to Avoid Becoming One
What are stumbling blocks? The metaphor of “stumbling block” is used in various ways throughout Scripture, but it often depicts an obstacle along the path of life that makes us stumble. Stumbling blocks in our path are important for us to watch out for, but we must also be vigilant that we ourselves aren’t placing […]
The Breastplate of Righteousness: 3 Ways Righteousness Guards Our Hearts
In describing spiritual “armor” which protect followers of Jesus, the apostle Paul includes the “breastplate of righteousness.” But what is it about righteousness that protects us? How does righteousness, as a physical breastplate protects the heart, guard our inner life? Here are three ways. Former U.S. Senate chaplain Peter Marshall gave the following illustration: “An […]
What Is the Glory of God in the Bible? A Q&A with Donnie Berry, PhD
Editor’s Note: What is the glory of God in the Bible, and why does it matter to learn about? Far from being a peripheral concept, God’s glory is actually central to the gospel—to the good news about King Jesus—and central to understanding God’s agenda for our lives. To help us understand God’s glory better, I […]
