When Were the Gospels Written? (and Why It Matters)
When were the four Gospels written? Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are noted as the four books that authoritatively describe the life, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus. However, these writings have often come under attack by those who doubt their accuracy, authorship, or time of composition. The following brief discussion offers basic information to support…
I Believe in Jesus… Coming Again
If you had to guess, how much would you think the New Testament talks about Jesus’ second coming? Would it surprise you to know that the second coming is alluded to about once in every thirteen verses in the New Testament, and once in every ten verses in the Epistles? With this evidence before us, can…
I Believe in Jesus… Seated at the Right Hand of the Father
Michael Bird asks, What is the Old Testament passage that is most quoted or echoed in the New Testament?… the answer is in fact Psalm 110, especially the first four verses…. This text was top of the billboard charts for Christian preaching. It was popular because it set forth a hugely important claim. Jesus had…
Praying for Others (Intercessory Prayer)
Every few months I get a message from a friend in India: “This is just a quick note to tell you that your names came up in my prayer diary today… so you were definitely remembered. Do you have any specific requests for us to keep in mind?” It’s amazing to me how often this…
How Should Christians Vote?
Christians receive an opportunity in American culture to participate in the selection of elected officials. Though the Bible does not offer examples of democratic elections and how to participate, it does offer principles relevant to our involvement today. What does the Bible teach regarding the question of how should Christians vote? First, Christians are often…
I Believe in Jesus… Ascended
The Old Testament book of Leviticus lays out detailed instructions for the High Priest on how he is to prepare and present the offerings to the Lord. The details included the specific clothing he wore, how he should wash himself before putting on the garments, the type of animals were to be used for the…
Learning to Pray Using Scripture
Recently I was “assigned” the task of writing one or more articles about prayer. That’s a painful way to discover just how bad your prayer life is! But let me share with you the benefit of my ignorance, and maybe at the same time help myself! So how should you pray? The key is more…
Prayers that Pierce the Ceiling
If you’re like me, you often have those times when your prayers don’t seem to be going anywhere. You feel like you’re just wasting your time, because it doesn’t seem like anyone (Anyone?) is listening. There may be a relatively “simple” fix to the problem.
I Believe in Jesus… Risen!
In his book Affirming the Apostles’ Creed, J.I. Packer poses this intriguing question: “Suppose that Jesus, having died on the cross, had stayed dead. Suppose that, like Socrates or Confucius, he was now no more than a beautiful memory. Would it matter?
I Believe in Jesus… Descended into Hell
“He descended into hell.” This phrase from the Apostles’ Creed is the subject of much debate. Some say it should never have been included, and others say it’s an important part of the Creed. Since there are highly respected scholars on both sides, I am reluctant to take a firm stand. Thus I shall attempt…
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