Saturday Lagniappe: "Without Luther, There Would Be No Bach" and More

Without Luther, There Would Be No Bach

Martin Luther never met Johann Sebastian Bach. The two Germans were born more than 200 years apart. But without Luther, there would have been no Bach. Read More

12 Things NOT to Assume as You Go to Church this Weekend

Some of you will attend church tonight, but most of you will attend tomorrow. We often go to church with unstated assumptions such as “The service will be about 65 minutes long,” “People will recognize me as a leader,” or “I won’t like the music today.” My point of this post is to challenge you NOT to take these assumptions to church.... Read More

Listen More, Speak Less to Help After Tragedies Like the Deadly Texas Church Bus Accident

Listening will speak more deeply to survivors than any words you might say. Read More

The Attraction of Reformed Theology

Sitting around a table I was enjoying some post-dinner conversation with three theologically eclectic and charming people when I was startled by an unexpected question: “Kyle, what is the attraction of Reformed theology?” It was a sincere question and I was grateful for the sudden opportunity to give an answer. As all eyes turned to me I hesitated for a moment and then said the first four words I could think of: the glory of God. Read More

TULIP and Reformed Theology: Unconditional Election

The Reformed view of election, known as unconditional election, means that God does not foresee an action or condition on our part that induces Him to save us. Rather, election rests on God’s sovereign decision to save whomever He is pleased to save. Read More

3 Types of Problems Leaders Face

John Maxwell has noted, “There is a difference between problem solving and problem spotting.” While we need people around us to point out problems, we benefit for them being on the solution side of the problem and not merely ones who make it their mission to uncover problems for other people to solve. People who uncover problems without commitment to solve them are better consultants than employees. Read More

3 Keys to Protecting Your Leadership Credibility

Steward the influence God has given you. Read More

Americans’ Perception of Pastors Is a Mixed Bag

Americans aren’t sure what to make of pastors, except the ones they’ve met personally. Read More

Four Tools to Help You Understand the Hard Sayings of the Bible

The so-called hard sayings of Jesus entered Christian vernacular in 1983 with the publication of F.F. Bruce’s book of the same name. But individuals have been grappling with the teachings of Jesus long before the don of twentieth century British evangelical biblical scholarship wrote his now-famous work. Read More

The Only Perfect Part of the Service

The only perfect part of the Sunday service is when the Bible is read. When we open up the Scriptures and read the Word of God we are ensuring that perfection is on display. Read More

Why We're Teaching Our Children Hymns

As part of our after supper routine, my wife and I have started teaching our children Christian hymns. I see it as beneficial in so many ways, and here I share a few of those ways.... Read More

12 Signs You Are a Modern-Day Pharisee

Here is the reality: Pharisees still exist today. And nobody wants to be a modern-day Pharisee. It just happens. Read More

4 Financial Reasons Why People Don’t Go to the Mission Field

There are roughly three billion people in the world with little to no access to the gospel. And many of those people will live and die without ever hearing the name of Jesus. If you are a Christ-follower, this fact should be one of the driving motivations for you to go and share this good news that you have heard and received. Read More

Always Ask What They Mean by “God”

When people tell me they don’t believe God exists, I have a specific question for them: What do you mean by “God”? That is, I want to know what the God they’re denying is like. Read More