In this Bible study on Acts 1, we begin by reviewing the big themes of Acts: what it means to be the church (the ecclesia, the “called-out ones”), the mission of witnessing to Jesus “to the ends of the earth,” and the movement of the gospel from...
On Christmas Eve, we are reminded that the coming of Jesus was anything but quiet, convenient, or comfortable. In this reflection from Wellspring Church, Pastor Matt explores the deep meaning of the Incarnation through the sounds of children in...
In this Advent message, Pastor Matt reflects on the gospel's core message of God's love, based on John 3:16–17. He emphasizes the importance of keeping Scripture in our lives and contrasts Jesus's mission of salvation with common misconceptions. The...
I’ve long been a fan of N.T. Wright. I’ve read most of his work and listened to hundreds—if not thousands—of hours of his lectures. As with any scholar, I appreciate much of his work while also disagreeing with him on a number of points. But this is...
As we approach Easter, we naturally turn our attention to the cross—to that central, sacred moment in history when Jesus gave his life for the world. But if we’ve grown up in church, there’s a danger that we hear the words “Jesus died for my sins”...
The doctrine often referred to as “once saved, always saved” (also called “eternal security”) is widely held among some branches of evangelical Christianity. It teaches that once a person is truly saved, they can never lose...
In an age of individualism, many people ask, “Why should I join a church?” Some believe they can follow Jesus without belonging to a local congregation. Others see church as optional—perhaps a helpful supplement to faith but not essential...
The doctrine of election is one of the most significant and debated topics in Christian theology. It addresses how and why God chooses individuals or groups for salvation. Two major views on election are the Augustinian doctrine of particular...
As to be expected (which is wonderful), I received a question about Romans 9:10–33 in response to this post. Here’s my response. While Calvinists interpret Romans 9:10–33 as a definitive affirmation of unconditional election—God choosing...
In today’s individualistic culture, many professing Christians believe they can have a relationship with Christ while remaining unaffiliated with any church. However, the historic and biblical understanding of salvation affirms that being a member...