Is History “Bunk”? A Biblical Theology of History
Henry Ford famously commented, “History is bunk” [1]. What is more, he believed it irrelevant, useless, and paramount to “myth” [2]. High school and college students express similar sentiments. Their cries are all-too-familiar: “History is boring and pointless. Who cares?” As Christians, we too may wonder, “Is history really that important?” In fact it is. When compared against Scripture, Ford’s comments border on...
Ancient Orthodoxy: The Importance of Chalcedon in Your Local Church
“What does Chalcedon have to do with me? In fact, what does Chalcedon even refer to in the first place?” These are often the first questions from church members and even pastors when confronted with the Chalcedonian Creed. And usually, our questions represent our neglect of church history. Whether it is the early ecumenical councils or the Protestant Reformation, we evangelicals cannot afford to lose such rich, biblical doctrines that...
The Benefits of Expository Preaching
By Dr. Jeff Manning Am I crazy? That thought was on my mind as I stood before the congregation of Unity Free Will Baptist Church on the first Sunday morning of August 1991. I had just been voted in as the Senior Pastor four days earlier, after having served as the Youth Pastor for nine months. As I stood there, safely anchored behind our large pulpit, I proceeded to ask my people to open their Bibles to the Gospel of John. My text...
Examining the “Call” to Ministry
In almost every ordination board meeting, the inevitable question arises, “Will you share with us your call to the ministry?” On many occasions candidates for licensure or ordination fumble a bit and then share how they “felt” the call of God on their life for the ministry. But is it sufficient to be “called” in this way? Does the calling require more? What is the biblical basis for the call to ministry? And is a subjective call...
Who Are We Really Defending?
Reading Richard Dawkins’ The Blind Watchmaker at the age of 18 left quite an impact on me. It was repulsive to read a book that blasphemed God on every page. Yet because his atheistic beliefs were (and are still) so prominent, I believed it important to understand his arguments. And as a result, I began studying Scripture more diligently in order to combat his false teachings. The radical teachings of Richard Dawkins are not entirely...
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