What Was the Reformation All About?
By Wade Johnston
11/21/24
10mins

What Was the Reformation All About?

Christ is the beating heart of Christian faith and its only object.
A Review of 'To Gaze upon God'
Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi
11/20/24

A Review of 'To Gaze upon God'

This is the basic argument of To Gaze upon God: that we who now see as if behind a veil will one day enjoy the unveiled splendor of God himself, who will dwell with us forever.
Self-Made Religion and the Gospel of Christ Alone
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
11/19/24

Self-Made Religion and the Gospel of Christ Alone

We love hearing about Jesus, but we also love hearing about how much effort we need to exert to truly pull off this whole “Christian life” thing.

All Articles

Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/30/21

A Two-Faced Look at the Coming New Year

Buried deep in our human psyche, there seems to be more than a need—almost a necessity—to celebrate the arrival of a new year. It’s like an unspoken, unlegislated cultural demand, as instinctual as moving to music or smiling at a newborn. Why? What deep human need is at work here?
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/28/21

The Christmas Story No One Wants to Talk About: The Holy Innocents

A madman king. State-decreed infanticide. A fleeing holy family. What does all this have to do with Christmas? And how did a day of horror also become a day of hope? Today, December 28, the church remembers The Holy Innocents.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/22/21

Christmas in Isaiah: Dog Soldiers, Army Boots, and Baby Jesus

Gideon’s “foolish” weaponry of clay jars and shofars will give way to the Messiah’s “foolish” ways of doing things, for his weapons will be humility, fidelity, and, above all, the word of his Father.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/20/21

The Jewish Nesting Doll of Christmas

To understand the Nativity we need to grasp the Jewish nature of Christmas. God sent his Son into the womb of a Jewish virgin, to be born in a Jewish town, and to be crucified with a sign over his head that reads, “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews,” in order that salvation might go forth to all people from him.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/15/21

Debunking Popular Christmastime Myths: Temple Shepherds, Migdal Eder, and Swaddling Lambs

The Bethlehem shepherds were raising lambs for the temple? Jesus was born in a shepherd's tower called Migdal Eder? Shepherds swaddled lambs to keep them unblemished then placed them in a manger to keep them safe? What are we to make of these popular claims?
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/10/21

O Bad Little Town of Bethlehem

The early biblical stories about Bethlehem are dark and violent. They wreck us. They frighten us. In this little town, we see a microcosm of the vast and mangled mass of humanity, each individual thirsty for even a single bead of light to be dropped into the blackened depths of their souls. He who is born in Bethlehem is that Light.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/26/21

Implications of the Incarnation: Christmas in the Garden of Eden

In Genesis 1-2, the Lord reveals—or, at a bare minimum, starts dropping some big hints—that he will be quite comfortable becoming a human being himself someday.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/22/21

From the Mark of Cain to Baptism

Throughout the Scriptures, God puts "signs" or "seals" upon people. Often these are placed upon the forehead. How do all these connected stories take us from the mark of Cain, to the Exodus, to the cross, and finally to baptism?
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/10/21

Unloving Ex-Sins and Laughing at Scars

Fourteen years ago, drowning in the muck of dark despair, in the middle of a life gone terribly wrong, I wrote in my journal, "I wonder how, once this is all over, how I’ll be, how I’ll turn out…” Now I know.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/01/21

Reformation Day: Cancerous Tumors and a 7th c. Prophet

What do Habakkuk and Israel have? Nothing but the word of God. Nothing but the promise of God. Nothing but God himself.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
10/28/21

Did God Have Something Against Cowboys? Biblical Warnings about Trust in Horses

Why would God warn his people not to trust in horses? Let's take a look at the ancient Near East to see how horses were connected to sun worship and military muscle. Along the way, let's see how the "Name of God" is another title for the Son of God.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
10/04/21

For God So Loved the Animals

Bulls, lions, dogs. Why all these metaphors from the animal kingdom to describe humanity as it encircles the crucified Savior? Because the man on the cross, God incarnate, is there for all creation, not just humanity.
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