Feeling the Tension?
It was the year 54 A.D. Rome, the most powerful nation on earth, coronated its new leader Nero, the adopted son of the previous ruler Claudius. The church was just over twenty years old. The movement that was small at first had spread throughout the Empire. These...
A Peril of Preaching
It has long been understood by those heralding the gospel of Christ, there is a peril connected to the great privilege. The peril being considered falls under the common understanding of the practice by some who “shoot the messenger.” This reaction to preaching the...
Meet the Devil (But, Keep Your Distance)
The name “Satan” (cf. 2 Cor. 2:11) is from σατανα (satana), meaning “adversary…the prince of evil spirits” (The New Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon, p. 572). In 1 Peter 5:8 the apostle describes “your adversary the devil.” The word “adversary” is from...
Cheers to the Devil
Drinking is becoming more accepted in society and in the church. This week within a 24-hour period a deacon in one state and a preacher in another shared their experiences with me. The deacon said they are having trouble reaching young people. Why? His answer: “They...