The Most Important Verse in the Word of God for Our Generation // An Intro
Matthew 24-25 is Jesus’ famous sermon about His glorious second coming and the end of the age. Right in the middle of it we find what may be the most important prophetic statement in the entire Bible on a number of profound levels.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 ESV)
Within this monumentally important prophecy we identify a mandate, a message, and a motive, which–when rightly understood–force us to ask an ultimate question.
The answer to that question has the potential to dramatically alter the course of history and determine the eternal fate of innumerable multitudes from many nations, tribes, and tongues. This is why in his exceptional book The Gospel of the Kingdom, George Eldon Ladd called Matthew 24:14 “the most important single verse in the Word of God for God’s people today.” [1]
After wrestling through the implications of Jesus’ holy decree, I’m coming to agree with him.
In a series of subsequent articles I aim to explain why.
. . . to be continued
[1] George Eldon Ladd, Gospel of the Kingdom: Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God (Eerdmans Publishing Co) Kindle Edition, 123.
Young Man, Young Woman: Pour Yourself Out
This makes my soul sing:
Minimizing Comforts for Maximizing Joy from Desiring God on Vimeo.
When to Give a Hug, and When to Say “Castrate Yourself” // An Important Leadership Lesson
One must choose his or battles wisely when it comes to publicly critiquing, challenging, or condemning another brother or sister’s theological convictions. Before engaging in a doctrinal controversy it’s important we have a clearly defined criteria by which to view the issue and appropriately respond to it.
Three Questions
When I come across someone’s theological convictions that I don’t agree with I ask three questions:
- Is this a preference?
- Is this an error?
- Is this a heresy?
What’s the Read more >>
“It is Emphatically No Sacrifice…It Is a Privilege”
David Livingstone‘s response to a student at Cambridge University, on December 4, 1857 when the word “sacrifice” was used to describe his ministry in Africa:
“Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege…I never made a sacrifice. I beg to direct your attention to Africa. “
“Make Me a Fork in the Road” – Jim Elliot
“Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”
- Jim Elliott
Drinking the Enemy’s Wine After Overturning His Wicked Rule // Leadership Lessons from WWII
Above is one of my favorite photographs of all time. I first saw it in my American history class at Venice High School.
The three American soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division of the now famous “E-Company” (or “Easy Company”) were caught on camera reclining on a sun-soaked deck overlooking the Alps in a German town called Berchtesgaden. The photo was taken in 1945 after the death of Hitler and the surrender of the German Army.
Berchtesgaden was the home of “The Eagles Nest”–Hitler’s prized retreat paid for by Nazi spoil. After the 101st secured the town they set up camp–-in Hitler’s living room. This was one of the most significant moments of human history that forever changed the shape of civilization as we know it. The young men in the photo are responsible for indelibly altering the course of history and (whether we know it or not) affecting all of our lives and home nations in some way, shape, or form. Read more >>
How Should We Respond to the Murder of Missionaries?
This morning I awoke to a text message from a dear brother. He said that one of his friends was shot and killed in the Middle East. Throughout the day I received a number of emails and text messages from close friends relaying the news of their slain comrade.
After the shooting, a host of news agencies around the world reported that Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message saying: “This operation comes as a response to the campaign of Christian proselytizing that the West has launched against Muslims.” The authenticity of the text has been called into question and removed from a number of articles as the day progressed. The young man may or may not have been a missionary. And the text may or may not have come from Al Qaeda. Major news agencies are disputing both assertions.
As I read the texts and emails that buzzed into my phone throughout the day, I found myself wrestling with God. It boiled down to one monumental question–is it worth it? Is Jesus worth it? Read more >>
My Driving Convictions Concerning Frontier Missions P3 // Apostolic Community
[read the intro] [read part 1] [read part 2]
The seedbed in which frontier missionaries are cultivated is apostolic community. I will define both of these terms as we work through a brief exposition of Romans 15:17-33, Acts 11, and Acts 13. This chapter contains the clearest presentation of frontier missions in the whole Bible. And it also demonstrates how important apostolic community is to the task of frontier ministry. Read more >>
What Kind of Men Does God Use?
Horatius Bonar, writing the preface to John Gillies’ Accounts of Revival regarding the leaders of the First Great Awakening, proposed that men useful to the Holy Spirit for revival stand out in these nine ways:
1. They are in earnest: “They lived and labored and preached like men on whose lips the immortality of thousands hung.”
2. They are bent on success: “As warriors, they set their hearts on victory and fought with the believing anticipation of triumph, under the guidance of such a Captain as their head.” Read more >>
Solitude and the Restoration of True Community
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Solitude and the Restoration of True Community
With the witness of Scripture, the testimony of Church history, and the conviction borne by personal experience all whispering in my ears, I am convinced that the call to Christ-centered solitude is one of the most important and yet most misunderstood and neglected practices in the Church; particularly in the west; specifically with regards to the cultivation of true community. The impact of this neglect is deep and wide.
In this session we’re going to look at the place of solitude in the midst of community.
I. THE DESTRUCTION OF TRUE COMMUNITY – GENESIS 2-3 Read more >>
