Applied Theology
Christians in Sudan are facing many uncertainties following the military’s recent ousting of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir. Since his removal from power, Sudan’s churches have come together to pray for their country’s future, even gathering outside the military headquarters to pray. This is a vital time to join our prayers with those of our Sudanese brothers... Continue Reading →
#AsiaBibi has been wrongfully incarcerated for more than 8 years. Now she has been freed by courageous judges in Pakistan. #Persecution
In my Sunday preaching, I am deep into a quest to cover each book of the Bible in a single sermon. I started preaching this single book series over one year ago, and I have now reached 2 Corinthians. In listening to 2 Corinthians, I was struck by a paragraph at the opening of chapter... Continue Reading →
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) is affectionately and appropriately known as “The Prince of Preachers.” I recently revisited a sermon from him concerning the reality that any of us might be called upon to suffer for Christ. In this sermon, Spurgeon uses the friendship of David and Jonathan to show how quickly and unexpectedly persecution may occur.... Continue Reading →
I was minding my own business, just making the regular afternoon pilgrimage to the men’s room. Out of nowhere, a colleague popped in and asked me a most unexpected question: “Are you upset with how the world is responding to our new president? I bet you’re unnerved by the way the world thinks he’s a... Continue Reading →
What is Aleppo? The question seems innocent enough to most Americans. But back in September, the question lit up Twitter ( #WhatIsAleppo ) and made Independent presidential candidate Gary Johnson appear even more out of touch with reality. When asked about his response to the crisis in Aleppo, Johnson replied, “And what is Aleppo?” It’s... Continue Reading →
Have you ever sacrificed your time and your energy to invest in other people? You probably spent time with them in discipleship, building them up in God’s Word, only to have them go astray and turn away from all you taught them. It hurts, doesn’t it? It seems like a life-investment with no return. The... Continue Reading →
I have a friend who I am convinced is the smartest guy around. This past summer, he turned off the TV news. He has no Facebook, Twitter, or other social media accounts. But he does have a joyful disposition and peace in his soul—even in the midst of this excruciating election cycle. This election isn’t... Continue Reading →
AN ANCIENT PRINCIPLE The Apostle Paul was once set free from prison, but he wouldn’t go. Paul did not leave the jail which held him in Philippi until he had first asked for the magistrates to come to him in person (Acts 16:16ff.). Why the unnecessary stay? Students of the New Testament recognize the Apostle... Continue Reading →
The Apostle Paul was once set free from prison, but he wouldn’t go. Paul did not leave from the jail which held him in Philippi until he had first asked for the magistrates to come to him in person (Acts 16:16ff.). Why the unnecessary stay? Students of the New Testament recognize the Apostle Paul as... Continue Reading →
Kudos to K.A. Ellis, a Ph.D. candidate at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. Her recent article in Christianity Today demonstrates a thoughtful and insightful response to the oft-repeated question of whether Christians in the U.S. are “really” suffering persecution. Ellis points out that Christians around the world—including those in hotspots like Syria and the... Continue Reading →
According to Jesus, discipleship begins with complete allegiance to Him as Lord. Even the bond of familial love must yield to the eternal relationship of divine love accomplished for us in Christ! Shockingly, Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers... Continue Reading →
Regardless (politically) of whether one supported or denounced the Bush Administration’s actions in Iraq, the consequent actions and inaction have made the situation in Iraq positively intolerable. Since the summer of 2014, Christianity has been systematically destroyed in Iraq: “Virtually the entire Christian population, and every trace of its unique 2,000-year-old civilization, has been eradicated... Continue Reading →
The Republic of Korea is now a thriving economic power, one of the “Asian Tigers” of production and wealth generation—a leader in automobile manufacturing (Hyundai, Kia), telecommunications devices (LG), and consumer electronics (Samsung). South Korea is now a global force, maintaining the 12 largest economy on earth. Approximately 1/3 of the adults in South Korea... Continue Reading →
Are reporters biased? Sure. But reporter bias is not the most troubling problem when trying to get “the News.” Reporters are merely “field hands” or “harvesters.” They aren’t the farmers who actually own the fields. The owners are the editors. Just as farmers decide what crops will be planted on their lands, so, too, editors... Continue Reading →
Gregory C. Cochran 