Blog
Use the search bar below to browse our ever-expanding library of blogs and articles for specific topics.
The Mission of Individuals Vs. The Mission of the Church
We, as individuals, have to be careful that we do not confuse what God is calling each of us to do with what he is calling our entire church to do. You may be called to work at a particular ministry, but that doesn’t mean your entire church is. You may be passionate about a particular social issue, but that doesn’t mean your entire church is. You may feel called to serve in a particular way, but that doesn’t mean the church is.
Christians and Alcohol
The American church has a long and tortured history with alcohol paved by winding turns of excess, prohibition, legalism, licentiousness, and confusion. So what should Christians think of alcohol today? Does the Bible command, condone, or condemn drinking alcohol? Is drinking appropriate, sinful, or unwise?
Are All Sins Equal?
There are a few phrases I’ve heard pastors say that just rub me the wrong way. A common one is that “all sins are equal.” But is that right? Are all sins equal? Or is that just one of those weird things we hear preachers say but never stop to look up the answer for ourselves?
What Should Protestants Think About Catholicism?
We recently had a good discussion in one of our theological equipping classes about what Protestants should think about Catholics. Are they friends or foes? Can a Catholic be saved and remain a Catholic? Is Protestantism a new church or is it simply a purification of a church that had drifted a bit?
Does Baptism Save You?
I have been baptized 6 times. If that sounds crazy to you, you are right; it is crazy. This blog aims to answer my questions which remained unanswered for so long; it might even help some of you avoid being baptized for a second, third, or seventh time…
Should Christians Take Medication for Anxiety and Depression?
This question is at the center of a big debate going on in Evangelicalism; much ink has been spilled over whether or not Christians could/should use medication to help battle anxiety and depression. On one end of the spectrum...
Let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector?
What does Jesus mean when he tells the church to treat an unrepentant brother as if they were “a Gentile and a tax collector” in Matthew 18? Does this mean that we should treat them like Christ treated Gentiles and tax collectors? If so, how did Jesus treat them? Or does it mean we should shun or excommunicate them? If so, how and why?
The Sufficiency of Scripture
Imagine this scenario in your local church: A 70-year-old Christian man (who has never been married) and an 18-year-old Christian woman (who has never been married) want to marry each other. You immediately assume that...
Christian Responsibility and Mosaic Law
What are Christians to do with the Old Testament law? Some think we should be living more intentionally according to the tenets of the Torah (the Hebrew word for law, commandment, or statute); most are simply ignorant as to why their food, clothes, and lives should not more closely approximate the forms of the Old Testament. So, what are we to do?
Does Physical Abuse Constitute Grounds for Divorce?
Over the past several months, domestic abuse has been on the front burner of evangelical thought. All condemn abuse as sinful and wicked. All desire to help. But beyond a shared sense of sympathy and compassion, it seems that pastors and churches cannot agree on how exactly to answer this particular question: Does the physically abused spouse have biblical grounds for…
Is Emotional or Spiritual Abandonment Grounds For Divorce?
In 1 Corinthians 7:15, Paul writes that abandonment provides biblical grounds for divorce. But what exactly constitutes abandonment in Paul's context? Is it solely physical desertion, or could it also refer to things like emotional, spiritual, or mental abandonment?
Is Viewing Pornography Grounds for Divorce?
Jesus says that looking at a woman with lustful intent is adultery. Elsewhere, Jesus permits individuals to divorce their spouse if their spouse has committed (you guessed it) adultery. So then, does this mean that you can divorce your spouse if they look at (or have an addiction to) pornography?
Romans and the New Perspective on Paul
Right now, The Parkway Church is going through the grand-daddy, Jedi Master, SEAL Team Six of New Testament theological epistles—the book of Romans. But are there places where we might be misreading Romans because we are reading our presuppositions back onto the text…?
Thoughts on Depression, Anxiety, and Condemnation
For most of my adult life I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and the constant, nagging feeling of condemnation. This is not uncommon for Christians...
Tying the Table to the Text: How the Sermon Serves the Supper
Every text of Scripture that you preach should lead to the gospel…
8 Things the Bible Says About How We Should Dress in Church
What you believe about hats, or capris, or sandals is not as important as what you believe about the Trinity, the resurrection, or the hypostatic union. And yet, if all of the Bible is equally inspired, it is important to consider how the Bible addresses what we wear in worship…
The Kingdom Gospel Story
Once upon a time, there was a good King with an expansive kingdom. Because the King was a good ruler, everything functioned well in his kingdom. There was no sickness, no death, no injustice, no dishonesty...
Should Christians Tithe?
To tithe or not to tithe? That is the question…or at least a good question. And how we answer leads to other questions: Gross or net? What if in debt? Should we give 10% of everything, including Christmas presents, birthday gifts, and tax refunds? Do we have to give to a local church or can we just give to whomever we choose?...
Calvin Killed a Man
Tomorrow, October 27, marks the 464th anniversary of the execution of Michael Servetus for the crime of heresy. Given that this occurred within Geneva, the home of the Reformer, John Calvin, with his knowledge and consent, many have perceived this incident as a mark against his life and ministry…
Can Christians Celebrate Halloween?
For many, Halloween is just about friends, fun, and candy. For others, Halloween is about something darker. Every October, someone asks me whether or not Christians can celebrate Halloween due to the pagan elements in the holiday. I think that is a fair question...