Sometimes Christian parents struggle with how to talk with their children about difficult subjects. They don't want to burden their children unnecessarily. Death is one of the subjects that is difficult for parents to discuss. But the principles here apply to all difficult subjects. The general rule is to speak the truth in love without …
Continue reading How should you speak to your children about death?
A “quarrel” is a verbal fight. Not all conflicts are quarrels, but a conflict becomes a quarrel when it’s sinfully combative or contentious. The Bible has quite a bit to say about quarreling: • People can quarrel over property (Gen 26:20-24).• They quarrel with their leaders and with God (Ex 17:2, 7; Num 20:3, 13; …
The biblical way children should come to assurance of salvation is no different from the way adults should come to assurance of salvation. The Bible teaches that there are three grounds of assurance: 1. The promise of the gospel in Jesus Christ, 2. The inward witness of the Holy Spirit, and 3. The evidence of …
Continue reading How can parents help their children get assurance of salvation?
Fear is a natural emotion common to all human beings, and it is neither inherently sinful or godly. Our fears are often connected to the things we love the most. We may fear losing something or someone we love. Or we might fear that we will fail to obtain something we desire. We may fear …
Forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian faith. Christ died to forgive our sins and to reconcile us to God. And Jesus taught that His disciples must forgive those who sin against them. He said, “if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt 6:15). Forgiveness is …
Continue reading When does forgiveness not lead to reconciliation?
Many people today spend a great deal of time on social media, video games, and television, so it's no wonder that someone submitted a question about how Christians should manage the time they give to entertainment. Some Christians have a very open and permissive view of entertainment. They view it as a gift of God …
Continue reading How should Christians manage time in entertainment?
Jeremiah Burroughs’ classic work, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, is a treasure of wisdom and instruction. If you haven’t read it, I highly encourage you to get it and read it. American culture generally fosters discontentment and all the miseries and heartaches that go along with it. Discontentment is coveting what we do not have, longing for it inordinately, and believing that if we have it, we will be satisfied. Simply put, to be content is to obey the 10th commandment, “You shall not covet” by the power of Christ and the gospel of grace. Here’s my summary of 20 ways that Burroughs describes Christian contentment.
“Conflict” is any difference of opinion among people, where each person is trying to show how their position is correct. According to this definition, conflict doesn’t necessarily involve sin. Many conflicts are the result of misunderstanding or miscommunication. Sometimes conflicts are necessary because important principles are at stake. Thus, conflicts aren’t necessarily harmful. But far …
All are not true Christians who are members of the visible church of Christ. . . . The true Christian is one whose religion is in his heart and life. It is felt by himself in his heart . . . There is one thing in a true Christian which is eminently peculiar to him. That thing is love to Christ.
How can you tell whether you’re a genuine believer or a false professor? One of the best books describing the true nature of conversion is The Christian’s Great Interest by William Guthrie. Consider what Guthrie says in chapter 5 of his book about the differences between the true Christian and the hypocrite.
Ask the Pastor 