The Nature of Christ's Law
Moe Bergeron / Updated
Recently, on an online forum, I was asked the following: "I'm not aware of any NCTer who disputes that internal nature of the law of Christ. Nor of any who say that Scriptures are not God's word. Wherein lies the folly? The question is whether that same law has a written value. This is not a fools errand by any means. Exegesis, not mere systems is what counts. I look forward to reading your exegesis of James and its use of 'law'... [read on]
The Spirit of Power...
Moe Bergeron / Oct 12, 2024
God’s Spirit grants us power. This is not merely physical or emotional strength; it is the divine power that enables us to live out the calling He has given us. In Acts 1:8, Jesus promised His disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. This same power equips us today to fulfill the mission of the gospel, to endure trials, and to stand firm in the faith. But this power isn’t only for bold preaching or... [read on]
Called, Loved, Kept
Todd Braye / Oct 2, 2024
The opening verses of the letters of the New Testament are often overlooked by us preachers. Such an oversight is rather unfortunate. Perhaps such failure to really take notice of them is due to the notion that such verses merely reveal mundane matters like human authorship, to whom the letter was written, and the location of the original recipients. For example, we read... [read on]
Tuning The Harp
Reid Ferguson / Oct 10, 2024
Harps are mentioned over 30 times in the Bible, often associated with praise and worship. For many, the word "harp" conjures images of cherubic melodies or pastoral tones, perhaps similar to a lute or lyre. However, Don Carson suggests that Biblical harps should be thought of more like the banjos of their time—more suggestive of happy foot-tapping than ethereal strains. Regardless, harps are stringed instruments, and all stringed instruments require regular... [read on]
Contending for the Faith
Reid Ferguson / Oct 8, 2024
Reid Ferguson / Oct 8, 2024
One of the destructive traits of our age, is the endless hype that surrounds communication – especially in the media. Everything is a crisis. Every election, the most important in history. No one can just be excited about something, they have to be SUPER EXCITED! Every supplement is THE most essential to life. Every cause has us on the brink of extinction. Every everything is “the best in the history of the world!”In the face of a truly serious issue in the Church, one that Jude... [read on]
Therefore
Reid Ferguson / Sep 19, 2024
It is an old Bible teacher's quippy yarn that when you encounter the word "therefore" in the text, you should look above it to see what it is there for. It's not exactly a hermeneutical principle, but it is worth considering in that it does indicate some kind of conclusion based on what came before. In this case, the sentence that starts this verse, is the necessary precursor to the command contained in the second sentence. "Moses my servant is dead - THEREFORE." Like the shift between the Old Judaic and the New covenants...[read on]
The Battle Against Sin
Today's reflection is born out of a personal, lifelong struggle— a battle that, if l'm honest, often leaves me feeling discouraged. My initial thoughts were quite negative, driven by the frustrating notion that I should be "over this" by now. But God, in His grace, redirected my focus through an article by J.C. Ryle entitled "The Fight.".. [read on]
The Counsel of God
As I journey through the Scriptures, Acts 20:20 and 27 stand out as sobering reminders, especially for those called to preach and teach God's Word. Paul’s words to the Ephesian elders weigh heavily on my heart. He declared, "I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable and teaching you publicly and from house to house"... [read on]
Change The Narrative
What do you do when life crumbles around you? When those you lead, those you trust, turn against you? David’s response was not to defend himself or give in to despair. Instead, he did something remarkable—he changed the narrative by redirecting the focus from his own troubles to the Lord’s guidance. [read on]
