Helping followers of Jesus to discover truth, goodness, and beauty through the written word.
RFTG Editor Zach Kendrick was given the opportunity to ask Dr. William Varner a few questions about his new book Handbook For Praying Scripture and his work on the translation team of the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB). What follows are the author’s responses to questions submitted by the editor. Dr. William C. Varner is an … Continue reading An Interview with Dr. William Varner
Twenty-three years ago, Pastor John Piper stood before a massive crowd of college students and preached a sermon that has changed the lives of many. Originally titled “Boasting Only in the Cross of Christ” the sermon has affectionately become known as “The Seashell Sermon.” Three years later the sermon was expanded into a book titled Don’t … Continue reading Collecting Seashells for the Glory of God
It should go without saying that fellowship within the body of Christ is an essential element in the Christian’s progress toward maturity. And circular reasoning would conclude that the process of maturing as a true Christ-follower reveals to us the necessity, and the value, of fellowship. Fellowship drives us to maturity and maturity drives us … Continue reading The Importance of Christian Fellowship
Jesus was not ambiguous about the target audience of the gospel. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14, NIV). Jesus said his purpose in coming to our planet was “to seek and to save the … Continue reading The Importance of Missions in the Christian Life
What comes to mind when you hear the word Puritan? Do you think of old men in black robes, funny hats, and big collars? That picture is the most common caricature of the Puritans. There is also a misconception that a Puritan is someone who thinks that “somewhere in society, someone is having fun” and … Continue reading Learning to Follow Jesus from the Puritans
As a seminary graduate trained in two different personality assessments (The Four Lenses and DISC), I found Personality and Worldview by J.H. Bavinck a welcomed insight into our culture’s obsession with personality. Having the book Forwarded by the late Timothy Keller helps as Keller always approached things in a thoughtful way that respects both theological … Continue reading The Gospel Must Shape How We Think and Act
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men…’ (Luke 18:11) Are you a Pharisee? Of course you’re not! How do I know this? Because none of us think of ourselves this way. As Michael Reeves writes, “Nobody today is a self-avowed, card-carrying Pharisee, after all. … Continue reading The Gospel Is The Cure For The Church’s Hypocrisy
In his book, Friendship with God (Crossway, 2023), Mike McKinley closes his introduction with the statement, “God…deeply longs for fellowship with you.” It’s this concept, difficult for many Christians to come to grips with, that the author addresses. But admittedly his thoughts are not original. They are those of a famous 17th century Puritan. If … Continue reading The Triune Friendship of God
I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. … Continue reading God’s Symbol of Mercy and Patience
What you know and what you believe will affect what you do. That statement is true of the Christian life as well. In the last two posts in this series weI have discussed the need for being a three-fold disciple: head, heart, hands. First, we must know the truths of the gospel (head), which in … Continue reading The Three-Fold Disciple (Part Three)
I have heard it said that the distance between the head and the heart can be an eternity (though it is approximately 18 inches). Often times discipleship is measured by intellectual facts that have been learned. As we discussed in part one of this series, it is important that there be an intellectual aspect of … Continue reading The Three-Fold Disciple (Part Two)
What does is it mean to follow Jesus? The term that Jesus most often used to describe his earliest followers was the word disciple. The word disciple simply means learner. It was a term commonly know in that day to refer to the students of a particular rabbi. The disciple would follow the teachings of … Continue reading The Three-Fold Disciple (Part One)
