What does it mean to speak the truth in love? This phrase comes from Ephesians 4:15, where the apostle Paul writes, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…” As with any verse, this...
John’s epistles are a great example of why context, following an author’s train of thought, and appreciating an author’s unique style are so incredibly important. John assumes his audience can see the beautiful themes he has expertly woven into the fabric of the text....
We have to remember when we read a gospel account, the author’s intention is not just to relay the facts of what happened in Jesus’ life. The author’s intention is to organize the facts (and his own commentary on the facts) in such a way that the reader finishes the...
Jesus talked with a Samaritan woman at a well about her life, about God, about the Messiah, and about worship. He told her, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). I’ve thrown this verse around a lot...
It seems there are a lot of people who wonder, “Am I good enough to go to heaven?” They wonder if they’ve done enough good, if they’ve helped enough people, if they attended worship services enough times, and if they have taught enough people...
