Here at Reading For The Glory we are extremely grateful for our partnership with Beeson Divinity School. Beeson helps support the ongoing ministry of RFTG and the RFTG Podcast. If you’ve listened to the podcast lately, you’ve probably heard that Beeson is launching a new Master of Arts in Christian Counseling degree this Fall semester. … Continue reading Beeson’s New MACC Program: A Conversation with Dr. Gordon Bals
As we celebrate the 506th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg, we look back on the legacy of the movement he started. One of those legacies is the Reformed system of theology that was distilled by another reformer John Calvin in his classic work Institutes of the … Continue reading Theology Must Drive Us to Worship
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways…” (James 3:1-2a, ESV). So begins one of the most widely quoted scripture verses regarding pastoral ministry, and it is truly excellent advice. I have heard it said … Continue reading The Joy-Filled Journey of Pastoral Ministry
What is providence? We hear that term in church and among fellow Christians, but do we fully understand what it is and how it applies to our lives? Among many within the reformed tradition, much is made of the sovereignty of God. We understand that God is fully in charge of the universe and can … Continue reading Understanding God’s Purposeful Sovereignty
We live in an unprecedented time in history. If you live in the majority of Western culture, especially in America, you live in a biblically rich culture. Please do not read into that previous statement that most people are dedicated followers of Jesus, data shows that is not the case. What I am saying, however, … Continue reading NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible
The Christian life is hard. It is a difficult, winding narrow path, and few are able to find it. Jesus himself reminded us of that fact (see Matthew 7:13-14). Yet the Christian life is worth it, because Jesus is worth it. This long and difficult path leads to eternal life. For those who travel this … Continue reading Letters From A Senior Saint To A Junior Saint
Pastoring is hard. Brother pastor, let me be honest, leading God’s people is not always glamorous work, just ask Moses. The celebrity pastor who has prestige, a handsome salary, conference speaking gigs, and a lucrative book deal is a relatively new phenomenon. For much of church history, pastoring was a semi-anonymous career. Even today, the … Continue reading Shepherding Like The Good Shepherd
Missions is a crucial mandate of the Christian church. This is seen in Jesus‘s last words to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. He told them, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Teaching them to obey all that I have … Continue reading Brothers, Missionaries Are Professionals?
The book of Acts is vital to the Christian canon. In it we find a record of events that if Acts was not included in the Bible, we would not know of these crucial events in the life of the early church. In the books of Acts we see Jesus culminate his earthly ministry by … Continue reading A Trinitarian Theology of the Book of Acts
In many ways it seems as though the religious foundation of western culture is crumbling around us. A few years ago the statistical data pointed to the fact that, in America, they were more “nones,” or religiously unaffiliated people than ever before.* And the cultural hostility toward Christianity in particular seems to be ever increasing. … Continue reading Confronting Christianity: A Practical Guide to Apologetics
Christianity, in western culture, is experiencing an ever increasing hostility. In America, we give lip service to religious freedom, but would prefer that it remain out of the public square. Yet, as followers of Christ, we are called to be salt and light, ambassadors for Christ in both our private and public lives. For this … Continue reading Defending Your Faith: An Introduction to Apologetics
Reading is an endangered species. How is that, you say? Sure, people read all the time. The average person consumes thousands of words everyday. We are daily bombarded by advertisements, news media, social media, texting, emails, and the list goes on and on. Yet, the art of leisurely reading that is what is endangered. As … Continue reading Recovering the Lost Art of Reading
