Take Your Stand

God acts in a steady way because He Himself is consistent. The foundation of this attribute of God is laid in the pattern of creation and is fully revealed through the rest of Scripture. This aspect of God’s character gives us great assurance of salvation and confidence that He will never change.

In all that God does, He is intentional. Looking at the pattern of creation displays this truth, and the rest of the Bible gives further testimony to this attribute of God. Ultimately, even the gospel itself points to the intentionality of the Lord. We can rest knowing that God is in control; He is intentional with everything He does or allows into our lives.

From the first recorded words of God, the Bible presents the Lord as authoritative. He has authority to command, evaluate, and name. I explore how this attribute of God is evident in the creation account as well as in the rest of Scripture. I conclude by sharing some elements of our response to this truth about God.   “Authority: How Godly Rule Protects the Vulnerable, Strengthens Communities, and...

Another attribute of God is that He is omnipotent—He has all power. This is another way He is unique, and we see this testimony throughout Scripture. This attribute of God has great impact on our lives. It gives us assurance that the Lord will keep every promise He has made, and it calls us to look to Him for help. He is able to come to our aide, so we don’t need to look to witchcraft and magic. I...

We say that God created the world, and that’s true. But have we stopped to consider what that implies about who God is? Because God is creative, He is imaginative, He owns everything, and He is the Source of all. This means we owe everything to Him, and it’s also the basis for our own creativity.   Colossians 1:16 “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,...

From the very opening of Genesis, God reveals Himself as self-existent. He has everything He needs in Himself. Thus, He’s not created nor is He dependent on anyone or anything. This gives us assurance that He will always exist, He can sustain us, and He will fulfill all His promises.   “Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith,” by Michael Reeves: https://www.amazon.com/De...

God has revealed His character in the Bible so that we can know Him. Exodus 34:5-8 is an example where the Lord describes Himself in stunning detail. We can know God more as we take the time to consider what He has said about Himself in such passages. As we do, we also learn the character we ought to imitate in our own lives.   John R. W. Stott. The Cross of Christ . Downers Grove: Intervarsity Pr...

We can only hold so much knowledge in our minds. But that’s not a problem, for gaining knowledge isn’t the end goal. The closing summary of Ecclesiastes reminds us to keep our priorities straight as we seek to “fear God” and live out His Word. This is the goal, not merely gaining more knowledge through books and podcasts.

Asking questions about what we read in the Bible is a helpful way to study God’s Word. A recent example in my own life is the phrase “a merciful and faithful high priest” in Hebrews 2:17. I share about how Christ is a merciful high priest and use this verse as an example of how to go deeper in studying the Bible.

Women’s roles in church can be a touchy subject, yet we don’t need to shy away from it. The Bible honors women and encourages them to use their spiritual gifts for the building up of the whole congregation. Although the office of pastor is reserved for men, we find many examples of women faithfully using their gifts in appropriate ways. This episode delves into the subject and deals with a few obj...

The Creation mandate is the original charge that God gave Adam and Eve. It involved them filling the earth and exercising authority over it. This incredible stewardship was made more difficult after the fall, but sin hasn’t revoked this charge. The cross hasn’t either, though it has shifted the emphasis. We are all to exercise dominion and authority where God has placed us as part of our stewardsh...

Should we raise our hands in worship? This question arises when we consider worship in the narrow sense: singing as an assembled congregation. Although lifted hands most frequently occurs in the context of prayer, there is a strong Biblical basis for physical expressions of praise. The “should” part of the question is guided by context and conviction. I work through these principles with hand rais...

What about worship that God rejects? The Lord hates insincere worship, whether that be insincere words or an insincere life. True worship is a matter of the heart. When our hearts are bent on giving the highest honor to God, we will want to worship with our words and our lives will consistently reflect our profession.

While we ought to worship the Lord individually, we can’t fully do that on our own. The local church plays an essential role we can’t ignore. This episode looks at the corporate element of worship and gives examples of how this plays out. At the close, I share some helpful resources on the subject.   The command for Israelite males to gather corporately three times a year is found in Deuteronomy 1...

We typically associate worship with our words. While music is certainly part of this, there are other verbal ways of ascribing honor to the Lord. This episode looks at how testimonies, prayer, and singing are all forms of verbal worship. I close out by discussing some elements like reverence and holiness and how they relate to our emotions.   Jamie Dunlop. “Love the Ones Who Drive You Crazy.” http...

Worship is far more than just direct praise to God, although it certainly includes that aspect. I introduce a mini-series on the subject of worship and explain some of the key Biblical words. Worship can—and should—affect every aspect of life. The way we submit to the Lord and live for Him is a means of ascribing worth and honor to His name.

What is gospel-centeredness, and is it even Biblical? Gospel-centeredness means that directly or indirectly, the way we engage with every aspect of life is motivated and shaped by the gospel. Several passages of Scripture as well as the pattern of the epistles support this belief. I share several resources that explain more of the gospel-centered movement and its impact on our daily lives.   “Epis...

I give a brief update on Here I Stand Ministries and talk about the direction for the coming year. I also talk about the launch of my latest book, “Worth the Cost.” I close things out by sharing book recommendations for the coming year. Some of these are books I have read recently and others are titles that have significantly impacted my life.

In this season finale, I look at the last distinguishing feature of the local church: regularly meeting together. I survey the Biblical material than present the case for a physical gathering. I conclude with a discussion about times when people don’t assemble with the church.   Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. U...

The Lord Jesus has given two ceremonies/celebrations to the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Both ordinances picture the gospel message in visible ways. I examine each and look at some nuances that help us see the deeper meaning behind what we practice.   Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman,  Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ is Essential , (Wheaton: Crossway, 2021), 74, Kindle.   Scri...

In the New Testament, the two offices for local churches are pastor/elder/overseer and deacon. I spend most of the episode discussing the role and significance of pastors, since this is where the Bible places the emphasis. Deacons also play a significant role in the church, and I seek to briefly show how these men work together to serve the church for Christ’s glory.     Alexander Strauch,  Biblic...

The New Testament consistently presents the image of believers intentionally being involved in their congregation. This is more than attending services. Church membership is a deliberate choice to help others grow in Christ and to receive help from the rest of the church in our own growth. Together, we grow up into Christ and fulfill one of the purposes of the church.   Scripture quotations taken...

I contend for regenerate church membership as a distinctive of a local church. Although unbelievers are welcome to attend the gathering and build relationships, they aren’t considered part of the congregation. Numerous implications flow from understanding the church as an assembly of believers. I seek to explore both the Biblical evidence and some objections to this principle.   Scripture quotatio...

The New Testament gives three main purposes for the church: worship, discipleship, and displaying God’s wisdom. Although these are purposes of the universal body of Christ, they are manifested through local congregations. This episode explores each purpose as well as their implications.   Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014. 69,...

What defines a local church? I explore five aspects that distinguish a local church from any other group of believers. These points then flow into other implications for a congregation, points that will be covered in future episodes.   Charles C. Ryrie,  Basic Theology , (Chicago, Moody Publishers, 1999), 455, Kindle. Ryrie was the one who introduced me to the deeper meaning of “ekklesia.” Robert...