PASTOR'S PEN

Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, graciously forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has graciously forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 When counseling a young couple before they get married, or a couple experiencing issues in their marriage, I have them read David Paul Tripp’s book, Marriage & Gospel Commitment Every Couple Needs to Make. In the book, he lays out six commitments that all couples should make to one another. The very first commitment is, “We w

The Roman Empire was one of the greatest and most influential civilizations in the world and lasted for over 1000 years. One of the significant reasons that it lasted that long and conquered almost all of Europe was because of her legions. Rome established a professional army made up of well-equipped and trained men. While other warriors, especially in Gaul, Germania, and Brittania, wore little armor and were not trained as a cohesive fighting unit. The legions would line up

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience . Ephesians 5:6   We live in a day in which our nation has cast aside the commands of God against sexual immorality. Fornication, adultery, and homosexuality God calls sin, our nation now says that it is nobody’s business what goes on between consenting adults. We have legalized homosexual marriage and call it normal. We think nothing of two people living

And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God Ephesians 6:17 The first five pieces of the Christian armor are defensive. Equipment Christians can use to defend against spiritual attack. While the sword is also a means to defend oneself, it is primarily an offensive weapon. Why would an offensive weapon be listed with the other pieces of armor? Why would a Christian need an offensive weapon? The sword used by Roman soldiers was known as a gladius and in the hand

And take the helmet of salvation , Ephesians 6:17a The fifth piece of God’s armor is represented by the Roman soldier’s helmet, without which he would never enter battle. Some of the helmets were made of thick leather covered with metal plates, and others were of heavy molded or beaten metal. They usually had cheek pieces to protect the face. The purpose of the helmet, of course, was to protect the head from injury, particularly from the dangerous broadsword commonly used in

Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will , Ephesians 1:4-5 I was having a discussion with Pastor Jamie the other day about the conversion of Charles Spurgeon. It reminded me that it is not by flowery words or convincing arguments that we come to Christ. It is by God’s grace and His sovereignty that we

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:1-3 Zombies are very popular in our culture today. There are movies about them a

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children . Ephesians 4:30 Just as it is natural for an earthly child to imitate his earthly father, so should the spiritual child imitate his Heavenly Father. The word imitate comes from the word mimeomai, from which we get our word mimic. It means “to act like.” The next verse of the above passage goes on to tell us how, “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” We im