No one likes to think about judgment, and we are relieved that Jesus moves on from this point to talk about the electing grace of God and to issue a Gospel invitation. Nevertheless, it is important to think about judgment sometimes, and this passage is one of the most helpful passages in the New Testament for understanding it. These verses teach us five uncomfortable lessons. Continue reading
Author: Pastor Steve (Page 29 of 48)
Senior Pastor at Maranatha
Socrates lived in the fifth century, was a contemporary of Plato and is credited as the founder of Western philosophy. Sentenced to death by the Athenian Democracy for his non conformity, Socrates worked hard to stimulate thinking – promoting thinking among individuals, thus his well known habit of asking his students many questions to encourage, even antagonize them to think and to re-think their views on virtually everything so they came in their own minds to a solid understanding of whatever the discipline or subject may be.
Jesus said that in spite of John’s greatness, “the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11.11). How can that be? How can the least gifted, least significant, least prominent, least outspoken of today’s believers be greater than this greatest of Old Testament figures, and therefore greater also than all the others? For this reason: because they can point to Jesus and witness to His work more clearly than even John could. Continue reading
Reformation Wall is located in Geneva Switzerland. In addition to the four 16’ high reformers pictured, William Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and John Knox, six other smaller statues exist including American Governor and Baptist Pastor, Roger Williams. The Wall was built to commemorate Calvin’s 400th birthday on the grounds of the University of Geneva. Engraved on either side of the four figures in Latin, are the words, “Out of Darkness Light” – motto of the Reformation. Continue reading
Why is it, after five-hundred years we are still impacted by the events of an obscure priest? Not we only, but people around the world? Continue reading
It was all right to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, still storms, preach righteousness, and announce the kingdom; but where was the judgment? Had the corruptions and cruelties of Caesar been abruptly shut down? Had the hypocritical temple leaders been banished? Had the disgusting corruptions of Herod Antipas been confronted? Why was he, John the Baptist, languishing in the stifling heat of the prison at Machaerus fortress for challenging the morals of Herod, while Jesus the alleged Messiah did nothing about this injustice? Continue reading