Pastoral Articles
A Pattern for Prayer
Due to a full week and time constraints, this article will be brief, but I trust meaningful, as I continue to think about prayer—particularly the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in Matthew 6:9–13. As Stephen recently taught us, this prayer contains essential categories that...
Praying Mindfully
Last week, I wrote about the dangers of praying God’s name in vain—that is, using God’s name superficially as a “filler” and/or speaking his name superstitiously as some kind of a mantra that secures God’s attention. Both are irreverent and are therefore to be avoided...
Praying God’s Name in Vain
The third commandment states, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). The Jews historically were so careful to obey this commandment that they would take great pains...
Human Rights and Christian Obligation
This is being published on Human Rights Day in South Africa. Most of us will simply enjoy a holiday relaxing with family and friends, giving little thought to this day’s significance. That is neither a criticism nor cynicism, just an observation. I would assume that...
Christians Get Depressed; They Don’t Stay Depressed
The apostle Paul experienced varying degrees of highs and lows over the course of his faithful ministry. If he were alive today, he might be diagnosed with bipolar syndrome due to his deeply-felt and wide-ranging emotions. In any case, the fact remains that he could...
The Risks of an Enlarged Heart
Some who read this will be aware of a young lady, I think fifteen years old, who needs a heart transplant if she will reach young adulthood. She is blessed to be raised by believing parents and we are joining them in prayer for their daughter. It sometimes feels...
Good Neighbours
Have you ever read a passage in the Bible, assuming you understood its interpretation, only to be surprised that, in fact, you didn’t? That happened to me—again—as I read Luke 10 this week. To be specific, I was reading the account of the lawyer who, trying to evade...
Pure Joy
This week, I was running in an area where, each Tuesday, I encounter a man, about my age, rummaging through the rubbish bins placed on the street awaiting collection. In a familiar scene, he gleans what he can, presumably for sale as scrap: plastic containers and...
Don’t Waste Your Worship
John Piper famously wrote, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.” His point was that the Great Commission is about rescuing sinners to worship the one, true God. The Great Commission is about worship—true worship. Lost sinners are not worshipping God. To worship...