Sound Words: Lest We Forget

Scripture’s description of Christ’s establishment of the Lord’s Table on the night before His crucifixion is full of dramatic truths. By tying the ordinance to the Old Testament Passover (Matt 26:17, 26), He signified His redemption of mankind from sin’s bondage and equated Himself with the Passover’s sacrificial lamb, demonstrating that His death would turn [...]

Sound Words: Exasperation or Instruction?

As a parent and a pastor, I’ve thought often of Ephesians 6:4. However, until recently, I haven’t understood the connection between its two imperatives: provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture (disciplined instruction) and admonition (compelling warning) of the Lord. Two points are particularly important, I think. First, what [...]

Sound Words: Chief of Sinners? Absolutely.

The human heart is ridiculous and rebellious in its pride. I call our pride ridiculous because it is groundless—we have no reason to be arrogant. I call our pride rebellious because it is an attempt to steal glory from God, the very sin which caused Lucifer to be banished from heaven.
Because pride is a besetting [...]

Sound Words: What Does “Unworthily” Mean?

Gathering with the Lord’s church to remember Christ and His work is a vital part of Christian worship and an edifying exercise for both the corporate body and the individual Christian. Yet, Scripture protects this blessed rite in 1 Corinthians 11:27, where we are warned not to partake “unworthily.” That’s important—so important that people can [...]

Sound Words: Legalists and Libertines

We typically think of the Pharisees as legalists. They are criticized for requiring strict adherence to fine details of obscure laws. They are dismissed as the “prudes” of their day. In fact, the term “Pharisee” has become a favorite smear people use to criticize anyone with a standard stricter than their own. However, a look [...]

Sound Words: Rejoice in the Lord

Philippians 4:4 is a verse that I have recited (and sung) since I was a boy: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” I’ve understood the command to rejoice. However, it seemed to me that the phrase “in the Lord” was added to make a fairly normal phrase sound more spiritual. [...]

Sound Words: Grace Teaches Godliness

Few Bible words are as misunderstood as grace. Bible believers generally understand that the Christian life is begun by grace. However, many are ignorant of the fact that the Christian life continues by grace. Some promote a graceless sanctification that depends on human effort—a genuine legalism. Others teach a “grace awakening” sanctification that almost denies [...]

Sound Words: Desperate Times and Normal Measures

The question of how the church can impact a decadent culture is the source of a never-ending dialogue. How can we reach Baby Boomers? Baby Busters? Gen Xers? Gen Yers? Postmodernists? Regardless of the culture being discussed, the answer is often this: “The times are changing. We need to change with them. We must keep [...]

Sound Words: Let Him Go

Christ’s dealings with the rich young ruler in Matthew19:16–26 provide an interesting example of the centrality of repentance in the gospel message. A young man came to Christ with questions about eternal life (v. 16). Apparently, he knew that he lacked peace with God (v. 20). He appeared to be “ripe [...]

Sound Words: Worldliness

In August of this year, the reins of the OBF Visitor were handed from Pastor John Ashbrook, one of my friends and mentors, to three younger men. Pastor Dan Greenfield is the new editor, and Pastor Mark Perry and I are the assistant editors. I am privileged to write a monthly column for the [...]