Is there a “gay gene”? Is our “sexual orientation” determined by biology? Most people today would probably say “yes” to those questions. But is it supported by reliable scientific research? And regardless of the answers to those questions, what should our attitude and response be toward the homosexual community?

We live in a part of the country where we cannot ignore the very public nature of homosexuality and gay marriage. Rarely does a week go by that I do not see or speak with someone who is either part of this community, or is interacting with someone who is. Even more frequent is the barrage of information and opinions about this social phenomena from the various forms of media that so directly influence society — we are talking about television, movies, radio and our various news outlets.

We need to be careful to have a discerning spirit as we listen to this information. And we need to be even more diligent to maintain a thoroughly loving and Christian attitude as we interact with others about it. In an effort to help you be discerning, careful and loving in your evaluation and interaction about this often biased information, I want to pass along some information and articles that will both inform your understanding, as well as help shape your attitudes toward others who may not agree.

Click here to read the entire post!

Can we think of Christianity, or the work of God’s Kingdom, without thinking of it in terms of the local church. Today many Christians are just as content to serve and advance the cause of a parachurch ministry than serve or contribute in their local church (in some cases, more so). We have written and spoken much on matters regarding the local church. We are not alone in our commitment to the local church and its biblically defined priority in the work of God’s kingdom.

In a post on The Gospel Coalition website titled, “My Church or the Kingdom?” Ray Ortlund makes this insightful comment.

“My passion isn’t to build up my church. My passion is for God’s Kingdom.”

Ever heard someone say that? I have. It sounds large-hearted, but it’s wrong. It can even be destructive.

Suppose I said, “My passion isn’t to build up my marriage. My passion is for Marriage. I want the institution of Marriage to be revered again. I’ll work for that. I’ll pray for that. I’ll sacrifice for that. But don’t expect me to hunker down in the humble daily realities of building a great marriage with my wife Jani. I’m aiming at something grander.”

If I said that, would you think, “Wow, Ray is so committed”? Or would you wonder if I had lost my mind?

If you care about the Kingdom, be the kind of person who can be counted on in your own church. Join your church, pray for your church, tithe to your church, participate in your church every Sunday with wholehearted passion.

We build great churches the same way we build great marriages—real commitment that makes a positive difference every day.

Thank you Ray Ortlund for this poignant and insightful reminder and practical admonition to be about the work of the kingdom by being committed to local church ministry.

I get some ministry newsletters to keep myself encouraged and refreshed, and feel compelled to share some comments from a recent article I read by Jonathan Leeman. He is in charge of the web content on the 9marks website, a treasure trove of helpful information regarding ministry and the local church.

In this article, Leeman reminds us to love the people of the church, with all their warts, and wrinkles, and misunderstandings, and weaknesses, and idioscyncrasies.

Click here, or on the title, to read the whole article.

In our last post we discussed the principle of tithing, and its applicability to the New Testament Christian. We concluded that a tithe “can’t be required and applied the same way in the church” as it was in the Old Testament, and we gave some reasons why. The principles of giving outlined in the NT emphasize cheerful, sacrificial, generous giving that is not dictated in its specifics (”not grudgingly or under compulsion” as Paul says in 2 Cor. 9:7).

However, we also concluded that giving can still legitimately be “quantified” in some way for the individual giver. The tithe (10%) is a logical choice as a starting point for what sacrificial and cheerful giving should look like, even if it is wrong to make tithing a mandate in the local church.

But can every Christian give that much? Is it really possible?

This is one of the biggest questions raised in regard to faithful, generous giving that is “shaped” (not “demanded”) by the tithe principle. Can financially strapped Christians really give 10%. Read the whole post to find out why I am convinced it is not only possible, it is dangerous not to.

Last spring we did a series on biblical giving at our church. You can find the sermon audio here if you’re interested. In one of the messages under the point that, “giving generously invites God’s abundant blessing,” I explained the principle of tithing and how it is to be understood and applied as a Christian. Because we get so many questions related to this topic, I thought it would be a good idea to post the information here so that we can refer people to it from time to time. Click here to read the whole article.

By the way, the principles of interpretation that I apply result in similar conclusions regarding the Sabbath, which you can link to here as well.

As always, we welcome your comments and questions.

Today we will look at the final three areas of doctrinal concern in regard to what I have chosen to call the “Radical Homeschool Movement.” I will also give a very brief overview of the Bible’s call to discernment in all areas, and present a brief proposal for how churches should respond.

Click here to read the rest of the article!

Spotlight on the “Radical Home School Movement”

From time to time it is necessary to investigate certain movements and their teaching so that we are not unwittingly drawn into falsehood through a gateway that seems helpful and wholesome. This is not to say that we are to spend all our time defining what we are against, rather than what we are for - or to live our lives in haughty criticism of anything except what we are doing. However, it is vital to continually compare every idea and trend of evangelicalism to the truth of the Word in order to determine its value. Thus, today, I would like to do a very brief investigation of the extreme edges of the homeschooling movement which has taken the church by storm.

Click here to read more

In Alexander Strauch’s excellent book “The New Testament Deacon” he takes the position that the women mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:11 are simply the wives of those who serve the church as deacons. Others have concluded that these were just female “deacon assistants.” A third view asserts that there were actually women who were recognized as model servants in the church (i.e., “deaconnesses”). This is admittedly a difficult passage, and each of the views has problems or questions from the text that work against it.

I was forced to think through this sticky issue during an expository series through the book, as well as during a topical study of office of deacon last year. I would like to share the fruit of my study for your edification.

Click here to read my conclusions and explanation .

Last week, I discussed the apostle Paul’s exhortation to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel, and I tried to show this exhortation includes an appeal to live a local-church-centered life. A life that shows the worth and value of the gospel is a life centered on the local church. You could say it this way: If your life is gospel-centered then it must be local-church-centered. Let me tell you what I mean with several practical, pointed statements:

• If you aren’t a part of a local church, you are not living a life worthy of the gospel. You are making the gospel look cheap.
• If you aren’t characterized by meeting the material and spiritual needs of members of your local church, you are not living a life worthy of the gospel. You are making the gospel look cheap.
• If you are not emotionally involved with members of your local church, you are not living a life worthy of the gospel. You are making the gospel look cheap.
• If you treat the members of your local church the same way you treat your co-workers and neighbors, you are not living a life worthy of the gospel. You are making the gospel look cheap.

A gospel-centered life must be a local-church-centered life. Click here to read more…

Christians are exhorted in Scripture to live in a way that shows the worth or value or weight of the gospel.

Philippians 1:27
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ,…

Paul tells the Philippians to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. In other words, “Let the way you live your life be worthy of the gospel.” When Paul speaks of our conduct be worthy of the gospel, he assumes that the gospel is worth a lot. Conduct that is worthy of the gospel is conduct that equals the worth of the gospel, or you could say, conduct that shows the worth of the gospel.

You see, the gospel is worth a lot. Isn’t it? If you were to put your life on one side of a balance scale and the gospel of Christ on the other side, the two sides of the scale should be the same.

Is the way you live your life worthy of the gospel?

Click here to read more.