What Does It Mean to Be Free in Christ?

‘To be in Christ is to be free. Just as a former inmate should no longer think of themselves as in prison, likewise, Christians should no longer consider themselves as in their sins. Certainly, we will fight against sin in this age, but we have been delivered from the dominion that it once held over us as we await the final day when we shall receive our full liberation as God’s children.’

American Innovation versus British Resilience

I’ve been enjoying Michelle Reyes essays on culture. This time she looks and English and American reactions to heat in light of the UK’s latest heatwave.

How To Show Hospitality When You Live in a Small Home

I co-sign this one by Tim Challies. Having a small house is no reason to overlook hospitality. Hospitality may look different across contexts, but it’s important for us to be about it whatever our situation.

Contra Noll & Livingstone: Warfield Did Not Become A Theistic Evolutionist

I had long been under the impression this was BB Warfield’s position on Genesis 1&2. I was interested to read this section that challenges my understanding (and Noll and Livingstone more directly). Perhaps Warfield was not as fully keen on Darwinianism as I had been led to believe.

Access All Areas: Exhilarating Proximity in the Christian Bubble

‘One of the most telling admissions in Christian communities that have crashed and burned due to influential but unhealthy leadership is just how intoxicating it is to have high level access to that leader. The proximity is exhilarating. Intoxicating. Lots of words with “x’s” in them! And that proximity is like crack cocaine. Once you get a taste for it, it’s very hard to wean yourself off it.’

The Preacher’s Progress

‘For any teacher, the question of student progress is paramount. For the Grade 1 teacher, what does it mean for a student to progress in her reading? No less for the homiletics professor: What does it mean for a student to progress in his preaching? And how can that progress be achieved?’

From the archive: Numbers and stories aren’t the best measure

‘Lots of people enjoy the stories of God’s grace working in the most difficult of circumstances. Nobody wants to support the church that busts a gut supporting lots of people, pours time and energy into them, has them living in their homes for stretches of time and then looks on as yet another person does a bunk without so much as a goodbye. Those aren’t the stories we want to hear and they’re certainly not the ones that excite us or cause us to find ways to support that ministry.’