Throughout my career as a preaching pastor, I have been accused on more than one occasion of being "too political." I'm not alone. I'll bet that most pastors in America have experienced the same basic accusation, and if not, they have heard it from new people about their previous pastor. "He was …
The Big Picture of the End Times: Revelation
The Doctrine of the End Times: Rapture, Antichrist, Return of Jesus, Day of the Lord, Final Judgment, Heaven and Hell How do you understand the book of Revelation? Previously, I taught a series of messages on the end times, but I haven't ever written it all out in any kind of systematic way. This …
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Leaving Lafayette
An Open Door Back in 2006, 16 years ago, Jen and I moved our family to Lafayette, Indiana to plant the church that would become Lafayette Community Church. We've invested our heart and soul (and money) in the ministry and in building relationships here in Lafayette, and we had no real intention to …
The Big Picture of the End Times: Daniel to Jesus to Paul
The Doctrine of the End Times: Rapture, Antichrist, Return of Jesus, Day of the Lord, Final Judgment Previously, I taught a series of messages on the end times, but I haven't ever written it all out in any kind of systematic way. This article is the first of two attempting to cover the relevant …
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How to Love God with Your Mind: Seven Recommendations
This post is part of a series of posts about what it means to love God with our minds. In the process, I touch on a number of issues that are sure to raise questions. If you have questions for me regarding any of this, you can post them in the comments or feel free to contact me directly through …
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Loving God with Your Mind: Understanding 1 Corinthians 2-3
This post is part of a series of posts about what it means to love God with our minds. In the process, I touch on a number of issues that are sure to raise questions. If you have questions for me regarding any of this, you can post them in the comments or feel free to contact me directly through …
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Reasons for Christian Anti-Intellectualism #3: Thinking My God is the Source of Understanding
This post is part of a series of posts about what it means to love God with our minds. In the process, I touch on a number of issues that are sure to raise questions. If you have questions for me regarding any of this, you can post them in the comments or feel free to contact me directly through …
Reasons for Christian Anti-Intellectualism #2: Over-emphasis on Spiritual Truth
This post is part of a series of posts about what it means to love God with our minds. In the process, I touch on a number of issues that are sure to raise questions. If you have questions for me regarding any of this, you can post them in the comments or feel free to contact me directly through …
Reasons for Christian Anti-Intellectualism #1: Simplicity (Young Earth Creation)
This post is part of a series of posts about what it means to love God with our minds. In the process, I touch on a number of issues that are sure to raise questions. If you have questions for me regarding any of this, you can post them in the comments or feel free to contact me directly through …
Reasons for Christian Anti-Intellectualism #1: Simplicity (The Story of Satan)
This post is part of a series of posts about what it means to love God with our minds. In the process, I touch on a number of issues that are sure to raise questions. If you have questions for me regarding any of this, you can post them in the comments or feel free to contact me directly through …
Loving God with Your Mind: Introduction
Preface Yesterday, I brought a message that has been on my heart for two years at least. It was a message that I've wanted to bring for a long time, but one that I've been afraid to address. Furthermore, even though I delivered the message yesterday, I still worry about whether I said what needed …
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Slogan Review: Blue Lives Matter
I first wrote this blog post two years ago in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, but in the midst of church turmoil, I never published it. Nevertheless, since the heat around me has died down, and since I don’t think Christians should stop thinking about these things, I’m bringing this one out …
Slogan Review: Black Lives Matter
I first wrote this blog post two years ago in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, but in the midst of church turmoil, I never published it. Nevertheless, since the heat around me has died down, and since I don’t think Christians should stop thinking about these things, I’m bringing this one out …
Your Lives Matter
I first wrote this blog post two years ago in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, but in the midst of church turmoil, I never published it. Nevertheless, since the heat around me has died down, and since I don't think Christians should stop thinking about these things, I'm bringing this one out …
Helping Discussion Groups Go Deeper
Our church does "Community Groups." Like many churches these days, ours centers on the Sunday morning worship gathering coupled with small groups of people gathered in homes. Most of our groups use the time to build friendships and to study the topic of the previous Sunday. When it comes to the …
Doctrinal Questions
Doctrinal Questions Do pets go to heaven? Scripture is almost silent on the matter of whether animals have an eternal soul like humans do or whether they might be subject to the same laws of sin and death and Heaven and Hell as we are. However, it does say that humans are the only creatures into …