Simply Gospel

May my steps be worship. May my thoughts be praise.

  • Slander in the Camp

    Slander in the Camp Another word for slander in Greek is diabolos. It is the word that is used for Satan and means the “accuser”, the one who attacks the brethren. Slander is the passionate, determined goal of one person to destroy another. As you can see, it is driven by bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and every form of Continue reading

  • We Need Leaders, Not Just Followers

    We Need Leaders, Not Just Followers We do well to note that Jesus spent a lot more time talking about the characteristics of followers than he did of the characteristics of leaders. And what is said of leaders doesn’t sound much like what the world tends to think of in a leader. But God has Continue reading

  • 10 Traits of Inwardly-Focused, Ineffective Churches

    10 Traits of Inwardly-Focused, Ineffective Churches Worship wars. Prolonged minutia meetings. Facility focus. Program driven. Inwardly focused budget. Inordinate demands for pastoral care. Attitudes of entitlement. Greater concern about change than the gospel. Anger and hostility. Evangelistic apathy. Continue reading

  • Hand Over Hand

    I introduced my daughter to the joys of the original Super Mario Bros. a couple of weeks ago. Of course, to do it right, this isn’t run in emulation, downloaded to the Wii U virtual console, or any other non-authentic experience. She’s seeing the game in full 8-bit glory running off of the NES I Continue reading

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  • Comfort and Joy

    Comfort and Joy — those two words summarize the gospel message very well. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus extends this invitation: Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in Continue reading

  • Beware of Obscurantism

    Beware of Obscurantism In an obscured version of Christianity, it appears as though you have to do particular things that are not actually the gospel in order to follow Christ, because all the Christians you know do them. It could be as simple as a change in dress or hairstyle or musical tastes; or it Continue reading

  • My Problem With the Bible

    My Problem With the Bible Now think about Jesus announcing the arrival of God’s kingdom with the proclamation of his counterintuitive Beatitudes. When Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth,” how was that received? Well, it depends on who is hearing it. The poor Galilean peasant would hear it as Continue reading

  • Andy Stanley: Assume People Are Biblically Illiterate (But Not Dumb)

    Andy Stanley: Assume People Are Biblically Illiterate (But Not Dumb) And when we use phrases like “The Bible says,” we miss teaching opportunities. For instance, Every time I teach from Paul, I say, “Hey, if you’re new to church or Christianity, you will love this guy, because Paul hated Christians. If you hate Christians, Paul’s Continue reading

  • Some Scriptures for an Election Day

    I struggle with election season in context of my spiritual life. Instead of trying to flesh my thoughts and struggles out into anything coherent, here are some scriptures that have been running through my head. Philippians 4:8–9 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever Continue reading

  • Grace, Theology and Autism

    Grace, Theology and Autism My husband and I saw the signs. We knew what to look for, and we had diagnosed our son ourselves years before we felt the necessity to seek a formal, medical diagnosis. It was as if all these people and situations were highly contagious and I had now become infected. If Continue reading