I was only four years old when my mother abandoned my eleven siblings and me. My parents were addicted to alcohol, and my mother picked up one night, left, and never came back. My dad tried to keep my large family together, but eventually he forfeited his responsibility. He took us to a campus in […]
July 8 Read Philippians 1:1–11 and Canons of Dordt, Head 1, Article 16 There are three kinds of people mentioned in this article. First, there are those who don’t yet experience the assurance of salvation. The fact that these individuals are troubled by their lack of assurances proves that they are elect. We aren’t called […]
I learned about many things in college: I had classes on ecosystems, statistical testing, and poetry, and I had many experiences that prepared me for adult life. After four years, I had passed all my college classes, but in reflection, I failed a class that was more important than all the coursework listed on my […]
Five years ago, I didn’t know what the word ‘evangelism’ meant. I only knew we had a committee at our church that took care of it. We all have our excuses for not doing evangelism, and personally, my flesh loves them. What I’ve learned to love more, though, is the satisfaction of obeying my Lord, […]
“I know it’s in here somewhere. I just have to remember what it looks like and where I put it.” Everyone has a place in their house where they store things that don’t get used very often. Maybe it’s an actual storage room in your basement. Maybe it’s your garage or a spare bedroom. Maybe […]
There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: A greyhound. — Proverbs 30:29, 31 The greyhound dog crouches, muscles tensed. At the signal, it springs forward. It is a long, slim dog with short, sleek fur. Its muscles are strong, pushing it to fly faster and faster over the […]
Since evangelism is the special topic of this issue, we are going to spend some time with the term and concept of evangelism. In Ephesians 4:11 we read, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” An evangelist was a man who preached the gospel, the good […]
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14 “[A]nd ye shall be witnesses unto me.” Acts 1:8 I was asked to write on the subject of “The Sovereignty of God and Evangelism.” What is the connection […]
As Christians, the glorious purpose to which God has predestinated us is this, that we are conformed to the image of his Son. It is the prayerful desire of every believer that the Holy Spirit sanctify us in joyful submission to the will of God the Father. We pray that he do this in every […]
Being young gives you a unique opportunity. You are at a stage in your life where people might find it easier to forgive your sins because you are young. It is a time when it seems okay to test the waters and experience life. Some say the young must “sow their wild oats.” But you […]