Don’t Miss the Ultimate Benefit of Christianity’s “Salvation”
Forgiveness from the penalty of sins. Freedom from the power of sin. Freedom from the presence of sin in eternity. These are incredible benefits to what Christianity has called “salvation.” And yet these are not the greatest benefit of getting saved. There is still one privilege that surpasses them all.
“Wait, So Why Did Jesus Have To Die?”
This was the question an individual recently asked me. What if I told you that Jesus as our substitute is utterly foundational to what makes Christianity good news? Rip out the idea of Jesus as our substitute who makes atonement for our sins? It’s akin to ripping out the very foundation of a house which will no longer be able to stand.
How to Know You’re Operating Out of Gospel Security
Do you operate out of gospel security or gospel-less insecurity? Gospel security happens when we live from a deep-seated belief of our core identity as a child of God. To neglect this turns us into fearful performers who need to achieve and earn the love of God and the respect of others around us leading to perpetual exhaustion. This post looks at two evidences of gospel security from the life and journey of the Apostle Paul.
Are You Falling For a New Counterfeit Gospel?
Jesus-believing individuals can turn away to a “different gospel.” This turning away can occur rapidly and quickly according to the Bible. In this post, I want to share four versions of “different gospels” that I believe followers of Jesus ought to be aware of in our current moment and the antidote.
5 Lessons from Jackie Hill Perry & the Enneagram
Author, artist, and teacher Jackie Hill Perry shared on Instagram that she had changed her mind about the Enneagram personality test. Perry, who was once skeptical of those who said the Enneagram was demonic, said she came to the said conclusion after studying it for two days. I share 5 things we can learn from this scenario.
There’s a Better Solution to Uncertainty Than Control
Control is comforting because it puts “me” in the driver’s seat. But control is illusive and elusive. And this makes control draining. It is exhausting to bear the weight of an untrue reality, with all of its daily implications. In this post, I share a better way to navigate the uncertainties of life than control.
Where did all the “gospel-centered” folks go?
A few years ago, it seemed like every pastor I knew was harping on “gospel centeredness.” Nowadays, I don’t see or hear as much passion about the gospel. In this post, I describe why this is understandable, but a little concerning from a discipleship standpoint.
So I Teach a Class On Race At My Church…
Teaching on race in a church context is not something I ever vied for. But the other day, I gave a 40-minute lecture on race followed by a brief question & answer section. These are a few of my reflections as I drove home after.
And the science says? Practice gratitude to experience it
The Bible says we should be grateful. But there's some science that backs up what the Bible has been saying all along. This post lays out the good news that gratitude is not just something that happens to us, it’s something we can trigger and generate as well.
I’m Launching a Church This Weekend. Here’s Some Backstory
What started out last year as a localized gathering to serve God’s people makes the transition as an official congregation this coming Sunday. In this post, I share some personal backstory and subsequent learnings from the last 15 months.
I became a lead pastor 10 years later than I wanted. Here’s why I’m glad for it.
I wanted to be a lead pastor at 25. But instead of giving me what I thought I wanted, God used the next 10 years to bring me to a place where I wasn’t sure it was something I even wanted. But to my surprise, a decade later, I find myself stepping into a lead pastor role. And I could not be more grateful it’s happening now, and not then.
Why Your Anxiety Needs to Be Managed Before You Lead Others
Spiritual leaders carry a burden. We walk in a constant tension between the peace of God and a godly burden. But how this burden is managed can make all the difference for our people and our own leadership capacity.
To All My Former College Students
In this post, I share an open letter to the many college students I was privileged to shepherd over the last 7.5 years of college ministry. This is a letter of thanks, gratitude, and a reminder to think about God’s grace.
4 Ways A majority culture Church Can Be More Sensitive Towards Its Non-majority culture Members
A diverse church is a beautiful picture of the gospel. But most diverse churches have a majority and a minority culture. In this post, I lay out 4 ways the majority culture of a church can be more sensitive towards its minority members and leaders:
“Tiger King” - A Case Study of Dominion and Depravity
Humanity is a frustrated species who feel the opposing pull of Genesis 1 (creation) and Genesis 3 (fall). We feel the gravitational pull of both royalty and rebellion. We want to build and to break, decorate and destroy. This post makes a a theological observation on the Netflix show “Tiger King'“
How Should I Think About Tithing During Covid-19?
Tithing (or giving) is a sensitive subject right now. With the economy down and churches not gathering, some are wondering if this should affect their giving patterns. So how should we think about giving as it relates to the church during this season?
5 Reasons Bi-Cultural Church Leaders Don’t Get Hired
Would the Apostle Paul get hired today? I’m not so sure. Why is it hard for some bi-cultural church leaders to get hired? In this post, I give 5 reasons why bi-cultural church leaders don’t get hired.
Why the American Church Needs Bi-Cultural Leaders
Moses, Daniel, and the Apostle Paul walk into a bar and ask the bartender what the 3 have in common. You might say they were mightily used by God at crucial moments in history. But the other common denominator is that they were bi-cultural leaders. In this post, I share why I believe the American Church needs bi-cultural leaders.
10 Reflections From 10 Years of Marriage
My wife and I just celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary. In this post, I share ten reflections from ten years of marriage.
The Pastor’s Joys and Challenges of Starting In A New Church
Ever wonder what it’s like for a pastor to start at a new church? In this post, I share some of my joys and challenges very early on in to my transition.