What’s in Your Soul That the Gospel Needs to Run a Sword Through?
Jared Wilson:
Often our joy comes in ways we do not expect. In the days of Jesus, the people of Israel were very much waiting on the arrival of the Messiah. They looked forward with eager expectation and zealous hope for the day the promised one would jump on the scene, overthrow the Roman oppressors, and re-establish God’s tangible kingdom on earth. The dominant vision for this deliverance involved the use of stallions and swords. But then the King finally does come. And he is riding on a donkey. There are no swords in the air, but rather palm branches. Yet the kingdom of God was not coming to bear any less in this peaceable rebellion.
How Can We Better Understand Our Hispanic Brothers and Sisters?
Juan Sanchez:
Why Studying Theology is Vital for Women
Katie McCoy:
For Mary Astell, theological education for women had nothing to do with what they might do. Instead, it had everything to do with who they might be. As if anticipating an objection, Astell assured her readers that she, and likeminded women with her, had no desire to overstep or usurp the boundaries of Scripture, but simply to understand and practice their faith in honor of their Creator: “[O]ur only Contention shall be that [men] not out-do us in promoting his Glory who is Lord both of them and us.” To promote God’s glory. To attain no other reward but honoring Him with her mind. This was her driving motivation.
Jonah Couldn’t Get Away
Russell Meek:
Jonah quickly found out what he confesses a bit later that he already knew, that is, that the Lord is “the God of heaven, who made the sea and dry land” (Jonah 1:9). This God is sovereign, so Jonah couldn’t get away. This God commanded a mighty storm that buffeted the ship of these sailors to the point that they finally decided to toss overboard the disobedient prophet. What’s more, as soon as his Jonah made a splash, the billows ceased and the sailors worshiped.
14 Biblical Paradoxes Every Christian Should Know
Aaron Wilson:
Understood in context, such statements complement one another to reveal a more full picture of truth. But when pulled out of context—say, as a proof text for an opinion shared on social media—these snippets of Scripture can be misunderstood, twisted, and stripped of their true meaning.
To guard against this, here are 14 paradoxical Scripture pairings every Christian should be aware of. Underneath each pair, we’ve included application questions that can be fleshed out in a sermon or in personal or small group study.
