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In a time when churches often define themselves by style, programs, or leadership personalities, the term confessional Baptist may seem...

The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most well-known stories Jesus ever told, and it is often cited as an example of neighborly...

Hebrews 12:14 declares, “Without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” At first glance, this verse might seem like a warning...

One of the most sobering warnings in Scripture is found in Hebrews 6:4-6: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened,...

  “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your...

James 2:17 is often quoted but frequently misunderstood. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Many take...

Matthew 7:17-20 is often quoted in Christian circles as a call to self-evaluation: “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;...

Matthew 7:21-23 is a passage often misunderstood and misapplied, leading many sincere believers to fear the judgment of God. In this text,...

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” – 2 Corinthians 13:5 This verse is well-known because it is often used as a...

In 2 Peter 1:10, we read the exhortation: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if...

The Christian life is one of holiness. As those united to Christ by faith, we are called to be holy as God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16). However,...

In John 14:15, Jesus makes a profound statement: but what did Jesus mean when He said, “If you love me, keep my...

If you’ve ever read through the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, you might have felt its weight—a sense of futility, even despair....

The hope of hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” at the end of our journey is something that drives many (Matthew...

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my...

As we’ve been going through a sermon series on Isaiah, we’re seeing the ups and downs of God’s message to His people—messages...

Dear friend, I can truly say, that I bear you upon my heart and in my prayers. I have rejoiced to see the beginning of a good and gracious...

In the rhythm of the church’s liturgy, one element often overlooked is the benediction. Derived from the Latin word benedictio, meaning...

In the flow of worship, the Song of Response follows the sermon, providing a moment for the congregation to respond to God’s Word...

It is not merely a motivational speech or a platform for personal opinions; rather, the sermon is where the gospel message—the good news...

In the order of worship, the Prayer of Illumination is typically found preceding the sermon. This prayer asks God to illuminate the hearts...

In the liturgy, the reading of the sermon text is a vital moment. It allows the congregation to hear God’s Word directly for...

Following the Psalm and Scripture Reading in the liturgy, the Song of Preparation serves as an interlude between the public reading of...

Following the Confession of Faith, the Psalm and Scripture Reading in the liturgy is where the congregation listens to God’s Word. Public...

In the liturgy, the Confession of Faith (often articulated through a creed, confession, or catechism) follows the Song of Thanksgiving,...

In the liturgy, following the Assurance of Pardon, the Song of Thanksgiving marks a joyful response to the grace we have received. This...

Following the Prayer of Confession of Sin, the Assurance of Pardon provides grace and affirmation within the worship service. It reassures...

Following the Reading of the Law, the Prayer of Confession of Sin invites the congregation to respond to the revelation of God’s holiness...

In the rhythm of our worship, the Reading of the Law is the moment where God’s holiness and our sinfulness meet. Positioned early in...

In the flow of our worship, what is the Song of Adoration? This song typically follows the Salutation (God’s greeting), the Prayer of...

Positioned early in the service, often following the Call to Worship and Prayer of Invocation, the Salutation is a moment where God speaks...

As we continue to look at our order of worship, the Prayer of Invocation follows the Call to Worship, serving as our response to...

Every Sunday, you will find that the Call to Worship is the true beginning of our worship service. It is not merely a formality or a signal...

Whether we like to admit it, or not, every church has a liturgy. While many think of liturgy as a simple order of service, correctly...

Within many Christian conversations, baptism is presented as an step of obedience, or a symbolic gesture to declare one’s commitment...

What It Means to Be Confessional In an age where individualism and personal preferences often dominate the church landscape, the concept of...

In the swirling currents of much of evangelicalism, there are few issues as dangerous as the intrusion of legalism. Don’t be...

Growing up, my brothers and I were typical boys. Armed with sticks, we explored the forest behind our house, taking aim at any plants we...

My kids love stories, and honestly, I would argue that we all do. I remember around the age of ten, my dad would read a chapter of the...

The core concept of justification is being declared righteous in the presence of God, and it represents the pivotal aspect of salvation...

The eighth Psalm stands out somewhat from the other Psalms, in that it is the first Psalm we find in the way that is organized to stand out...

“Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33)[1] may be one of the best know portions of scripture that consider the kingdom. It was...

The following material comes from Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness.  ...

The following is an excerpt from Charles Spurgeon’s sermon Heaven and Hell from Matthew 8:11-12. (September 4, 1855)   But my...

Why would anyone think that it would be a good idea to start a new church anywhere in a region that has been named the Bible Belt? Take a...

What did Jesus mean when he said, “many are called, but few are chosen”? Was He explaining that many are called to salvation, but only...

The Blessed Achievement of Failure No matter which way you slice it, our definition of success is different than God’s definition. The...

  Church polity, or church government, is not the most glamorous of topics. It could be argued that this is due, at least in part, to a...

it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Heb. 9:27)   A recent Lifeway Research poll cited that 62% of those...

  “Ready, Fire, Aim!”   This seems to be the battle cry among many evangelicals within the American Christian culture, but what are...