Apostle's Mailbox

We wrap up our "Anatomy of a Conversion" with a final few tips about the importance of remembering that what seems 'natural' and 'normal' to us might be more a factor of our cultural presuppositions rather than the Bible's "plain meaning." We'll talk about interpretation and also discuss a little bit the inherent weaknesses of translations as well. I suggest a few resources in the movie, which are...

If you've grown up believing that all your beliefs are "Biblical" (because why would your church teach un-Biblical things?!), it can be pretty disorienting to consider that one of your beliefs might be wrong. In today's episode, we consider the need to let go of the dogmatic insistence that we only have Biblical beliefs. Those who regard Scripture as the ultimate and true source for our knowledge...

Every year most Christians celebrate Holy Week by commemorating a Friday crucifixion and a Sunday empty tomb. Is this correct? Since childhood I was irked by the idea that a Friday crucifixion wouldn't fulfill the "sign of Jonah" given in Matthew 12:40, "For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the he...

Your beliefs are being rocked, you're not sure where to even start dealing with this new dilemma you're facing, and you're afraid of where this all might lead. Now what? As we continue exploring the anatomy of a conversion, we'll discuss what to expect and some tips on how you can proceed with wisdom. ------------- https://apostlesmailbox.com/

Central to the Christian faith is the idea that Jesus Christ opened the door for people of every tribe, tongue, and nation to enter into his kingdom, the family of God, by repenting of their sin and confessing him as Lord. Christianity also teaches that by nature we are rebels alienated from God. Thus, conversion is the starting point for every Christian life. Believers in agreement with those ide...

The woman at the well knew she was talking to someone special when he demonstrated supernatural knowledge. Her impulse was to finally settle a matter of doctrinal debate! We aren't that much different when we pore over our Bibles looking for the final "conclusive" answers that will satisfy our need for answers to all of life's questions. When Jesus gives her an answer that is quite unexpected, she...

There is a prophesy in Isaiah that foretells one who would be called "Immanuel", or "God with us." But in what way would God be with us? An account in Luke 8 may indicate that the normal Christian assumption about God's presence with us as fully-divine-Jesus might not be the best way of thinking about this phrase. What are the implications for Christians today if we re-evaluate how God is present...

What exactly IS the gift of God? When Jesus met the woman at the well in John 4, he was seeking to avoid the attention of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. Tired, he sits down and makes and incredible offer to an untouchable woman. That same offer is available to you, as well. Are you in? With references to water baptism, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and another instance of misunderstanding, you...

Those who highly value the Bible often assume that their years of study mean they have progressed from spiritual infancy to maturity. In today's episode, we discover that often quite the opposite is true--that complex arguments leading to increasing division within the church do not equate to spiritual depth. Join me for a look at 1 Corinthians 3 and come back to the true foundation upon which eve...

In December 2023, the Vatican released a document regarding pastoral blessings, which was promptly weaponized by countless Christians against the Pope, many of whom likely did not bother to read the document itself. News media was filled with headlines of this declaration and reports of dissension within the RCC church herself. I am not a Roman Catholic, but I started to wonder how much truth was...

Some of the red-letter words in your Bible might not have been spoken by Jesus, some of your assumptions about receiving the Holy Spirit might not be completely Biblical, and Jesus' ability to speak the very words of God was a result of the indwelling Spirit. Seriously! Find out how these things can be true despite your inclinations to the contrary. All of this in John 3. Today there are glimmers...

Sometimes, the most important things we need to hear come in the most innocuous of settings. As pastors and ministers and YouTubers strive to gain and keep members and followers, John the Baptist is glad to give up his disciples so they can run after Jesus. Are YOU the friend of the bridegroom, Jesus, or are you trying to usurp his position? Is your favorite church leader or teacher more like John...

Long ago, the Jews made a bronze serpent *at Yahweh's command*! God was foreshadowing something great, and the Israelites still managed to make something bad out of it. In today's episode on John 3:11-21, we'll talk about this link between Old Testament and New, with a reminder to look to Jesus Christ for life and a warning against falling into idolatry. ----------- https://www.apostlesmailbox.com...

You might have sang a song in Sunday School that said "I stand alone on the word of God, the B-I-B-L-E!" Is this a great way to think about the Christian faith though? Certainly many of the people in my generation who also grew up singing that song now don't believe the Bible's witness about Jesus Christ. Did Bart Ehrman "do them in," or another bible-doubting expert? Or could some of the blame be...

Reflections and recap of the 10 days I spent in Iquitos, Peru this November, getting to know Iglesia Genesis and helping with a few of their projects as part of a GoServ Global team. God did some neat work in and through our team, and here's my perspectives on what happened on this trip. If you'd like to donate to Iglesia Genesis to help with their work building the Kingdom of God, or contribute t...

We're back in John after an extended break, and once again we'll discover some truth from the Bible alongside some church history and official doctrine. AND, since disagreement with official "orthodox" doctrine makes one technically a "heretic," you might just discover today that you're a heretic. I certainly am on those terms, and you'll see how in today's episode. Thankfully, it's not common for...

Everyone loves a good conspiracy story, maybe because it's fascinating to think there could be hidden truth out there just waiting to be discovered. Sometimes the greatest truths are not the ones eternally unseen, but the ones long-forgotten. Like the name of God. In Episode 22, we'll cover two quite masterful spiritual deceptions found in the pages of Scripture: the original cause of our alienati...

Which of your theological convictions are you ABSOLUTELY certain of? Chances are good that someone else in this world is as ABSOLUTELY certain that you're wrong (and that their opposing view is right). This is not to say that there is no truth, or that we can't know truth, but rather that what is absolutely certain is that there are many people in the world who absolutely, staunchly, (often milita...

"Everybody" knows that there isn't a pantheon of gods gallivanting around the universe, right? Such an idea is in contrast with the major monotheistic religions of the world (and most importantly, Christianity). But when the Jews said "hear O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one," (Deut. 6:4) did they mean there was only one spiritual being of power in the world? Perhaps we're not sure what t...

Most Christians know that Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. You might have heard people discussing whether this passage is proof that it's OK for Christians to drink alcohol, or arguing that the "wine" of those days wasn't really intoxicating. Nevertheless, drunkenness is not the point here. John tells us that this was a "sign," which would indicate that this event revealed a deeper meani...

You should not do everything written in your Bible. Some things in the Bible are described as happening, not as an example to follow, but either as a simple description of fact or even as a warning of what NOT to do. You should not assume everything you are led to infer from your Bible reading is accurate. In fact, the Bible tells us of at least one specific circumstance in which people "read betw...

Now that Jesus has been baptized, God has confirmed him as the Messiah, and John the Baptist has started telling people that he's the "Lamb of God," it's about time Jesus called some disciples! As Jesus rounds up the first of the crew, we find these brand new followers full of an incredible array of titles for Jesus. (Jesus hands out some nicknames and character descriptions as well!) The real the...

It's easy to pay lip service to the importance and power of prayer. When we get down to brass tacks, however, does our fervency and frequency in prayer reveal a heart that expects much from prayer, or little? Or, perhaps our prayerlessness is more related to an unawareness of need? We might not always understand how prayer works, but the Bible is perfectly clear that to neglect prayer is to guaran...

Should we be familiar with the Testament of Levi? Why wasn't Jesus called "the Bull of God who takes away the sins of the world"? How does Jesus fulfill the prophesies of Isaiah 42? How important is the Holy Spirit to the work of Jesus Christ? Today, we discover what John the Baptist had to say in his testimony about Jesus, and answer those questions and more along the way. We cover John 1:29-34,...

Spiritual disciplines Americans usually enjoy: worship, rest, prayer, celebration, fellowship. Spiritual disciplines Americans sometimes enjoy: study, generosity, service, disciple-making. Spiritual disciplines Americans dislike: fasting, chastity, confession. Today we tackle fasting. It's a real pity such a practice isn't more common among us! -------- https://www.apostlesmailbox.com/