End-of-life issues bring turbulence to even the strongest believers. These seven books are pastoral, technically sound resources that offer comfort, confidence, and clarity in due season ..read more

One hundred years after his victory in the 1924 Paris Olympics, we remember Eric Liddell, Olympic champion and missionary hero ..read more

Significant figures in recent history are easily forgotten. You may have never heard of Eta Linnemann, but her story bears recalling. As a student of renowned theologian Rudolf Bultmann (1884–1976) in the 1950s, she inherited his skepticism about the Bible and events like Christ’s bodily resurrection. She taught these skeptical views to her students in a German university. But as she reached middle age in the 1970s, she abandoned this unbelieving heritage and professed faith in Christ. During her final 30 years, she taught and proclaimed the truth of the Bible and its gospel message. She addre ..read more

When I watch Marvel movies with my kids, we’re always on the hunt for Easter eggs, those glaring references or subtle nods to other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) properties. Some references are so blatantly obvious that viewers can pick up on the connections immediately. Subtle references often require multiple viewings. Easter eggs are the tissue that binds each Marvel movie to the MCU’s larger story. In a similar way, New Testament authors embedded Easter eggs in their writings. They allude to the Old Testament 3,000 to 4,000 times. For example, the book of Revelation only quotes the Old T ..read more

Don Carson teaches on 1 John 4:1–5:4, exploring the themes of truth and love and the importance of spiritual discernment. He encourages Christians to display God’s character and nature through loving others and obeying God’s commands, and he cautions us to distinguish between genuine spirituality and deceptive spiritual experiences. First John 4:1–3 is a crucial truth test, warning against false prophets and demonstrating the importance of acknowledging Christ’s humanity ..read more

A growing number of people in the U.S. identify as “spiritual but not religious” (SBNR). According to Pew Research, these individuals “consider spirituality very important in their lives, but they neither think of themselves as religious nor say religion is very important in their lives.” This group, often described as “Nones,” aren’t simply out of the habit of attending church. They see little need for “organized religion” and gravitate toward autonomous, à la carte spirituality instead. In Shaman and Sage: The Roots of “Spiritual but Not Religious” in Antiquity, Michael Horton argues SBNR is ..read more

When my dear friend Violet entered the hospice house in her last days of life, I was determined to love her well. As a former trauma surgeon, I’d seen people pass peacefully with loved ones holding their hands, while others drew a last breath only to inhale blood. I’d seen some die alone and afraid, and others wrapped in the arms of a spouse who whispered loving words as they drifted away. I wanted Violet’s last earthly moments to be awash in love and to reflect her identity as a beloved child of God. Violet fell unconscious shortly after entering hospice, but for hours that turned into days t ..read more

When Redeemer Presbyterian Church East Side opens its new 12-story worship and ministry center in December, it’ll be opening the way for new opportunities to serve its neighbors on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It’ll also be dedicating a physical legacy to the life, work, and vision of Tim Keller, Redeemer founder and longtime pastor. “Once Keller gained a beachhead in Manhattan center city, there was a galvanizing effect on the whole city,” sociologist and publisher of “A Journey Through NYC Religions” Tony Carnes told The Gospel Coalition. “Manhattan served as the secular symbolic center ..read more

Ministry is hard and ministers are flawed. This truth presents both insurmountable obstacles and everyday irritations on a regular basis. Ministers give in to doubts and distractions, cynicism and cowardice, gossip and glory-hunting. While gathered with fellow ministers we may pretend otherwise, but sitting alone in our studies, we know it’s true. Judges 6–7 presents such a scenario—a difficult ministry for a flawed minister. Gideon’s narrative is familiar, but within it lie two often overlooked lessons that can help flawed ministers remain faithful. Despite Gideon’s deep flaws, God’s words an ..read more

Abstract: In 1788, American Presbyterians meeting in Philadelphia approved a revised version of the Westminster Confession of Faith. The most significant change to the original 1646 version concerned the doctrine of the civil magistrate in chapter 23. In the century and a half following the Westminster Assembly, many Presbyterians grew wary of granting coercive powers to the civil magistrate and were drawn to more robust notions of religious liberty. In revising the Westminster Confession, Presbyterians in America rejected an older, European model of church-state relations whereby the magistra ..read more