Articles & Meditations
Articles & meditations on God’s Word, Christian living, current events, and other topics.
How to Read and Apply the Book of Proverbs
Proverbs is invaluable, inspired counsel for day-to-day living. But if we don't read the Proverbs correctly, we can actually hurt ourselves instead of being helped by them.
Lessons Learned in the School of Suffering
Nothing ever tested me like watching my little son suffer with a life-threatening illness, but I can honestly say that I am thankful for how that situation taught me how to trust God's goodness.
What is a Deacon?: A 30,000-Foot Overview
Most everyone has heard of a deacon, and many church goers have even served as deacons. But what is a deacon according to the Bible, and what does a deacon do?
The Compartmentalization of the Christian Mind, Part 2: A Biblical Approach
Few professing Christians would say it's OK to obey parts of the Bible but not others, yet that is precisely what we do. Maybe more disturbingly is that many Christians don't even realize they're doing it.
The Compartmentalization of the Christian Mind, Part 1: The Problem
Few professing Christians would say it's OK to obey parts of the Bible but not others, yet that is precisely what we do. Maybe more disturbingly is that many Christians don't even realize they're doing it.
The Last Words of a Graduated Saint
One of our members at Firm Foundation is now in the presence of the Lord. We honored his desires and his memory by allowing him to have the last word at his memorial service.
Who Should Teach?: Thoughts on Teaching and Leadership in the Church
Whether in a Bible study or preaching a sermon, here are five simple, biblical guidelines for identifying those who should be teaching in the church.
Theology vs. Me-ology: Replacing the Truth of God with a Focus on Self
Are you feeling defeat because of sin, or frustrated over circumstances? This is often the result replacing theology with a blend of toxic ideologies, half-truths, and human wisdom. If that sounds like you, perhaps you’ve embraced a form of me-ology.
Conversations that Count: Charles Spurgeon and the Art of Asking Questions
We all like to talk about ourselves. But we learn from the great Charles Spurgeon that the art of inquiry—simply learning how to ask questions—can revolutionize our ability to make conversation, and make those conversations count for eternity.
Fighting the Good Fight: How to Live the Christian Life
The Christian life is a life of struggle. This was central to John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress." English puritan John Owen, in his classic work "The Mortification of Sin," assumes the Christian life is a war. If battling is essential to the Christian life, how are we to fight, and where does the power of God come into play?
Does God Personally Guide Us?
Is direct and personal counseling from God Himself—aided by godly men and through His Word—is sufficient for comfort and growth? In part 2 of our series on biblical counseling, we look at that very issue.
Where Do You Turn When Your Soul Hurts?
Where do we go when we are soul sick? What are we to do when the inner turmoil seems impossible to overcome? Can the word of God and the gospel of Christ really be enough to counsel us in all situations?
Being Honest About Being Honest
God's will is that we have Christian relationships that are open and honest, brothers or sisters to whom we can confess our failings (Jas. 5.16). If we don't, it's doubtful whether we actually have Christian relationships at all. But we need to be honest about the danger of honesty.
The Underlying Problem with Critical Race Theory
There is a debate raging within conservative evangelicalism today about whether or not to embrace the tenets of CRT. Some adamantly oppose it, but a large percentage of evangelicals have accepted it, and some as an outworking of the gospel itself. What is the reason for this divide, and what are we to do about it?
Pastor Suresh Purra: An Update from India [July 2021]
An update from our dear brother Suresh Purra, who is pastoring in Hyderabad, India. Suresh provides updates on the COVID situation in his community, current ministry efforts in his congregation, updates on their new church building, and more.
He is Worthy: Finding Hope in Time of Uncertainty
Christians tend to forget that the book of Revelation is more than a map of future events. In fact, it was written for the purpose of giving hope to a group of early churches who were struggling and afflicted. This reminds us that Revelation is not just for the future, but for us today as we face the trials and difficulties of life.
All Christians are First Responders
Tragedy is unavoidable in this sin-cursed world, and we should rightly be thankful for the First Responders who come to our aid during emergencies. Every Christian is strategically placed by God, and He may have a special assignment for you that will call you to be the only person who can offer real hope to someone who feels that all hope seems lost.
Good Friday: The Darkness Before the Dawn
Mark 15:33-38 contains Mark’s account of the final three hours of the crucifixion of our Lord. In these verses we find in shorthand the profound mystery of the cross–the significance of what was accomplished on Calvary through two signs, namley, the cup poured out and the curtain torn in two.
Worship 103: Genre and Style in Church Music
Genre and style are two of the most visible features of congregational worship music—and therefore, two of the most important. For this very reason, it's critical that we understand them rightly and approach them biblically.
A Beginner’s Guide to Family Devotions
Many Christian parents feel at a loss when it comes to "family devotions." Sometimes we wrongly see it as a way of evaluating our spirituality, but sometimes we simply don't know where to start. Here is a beginner's guide to leading our families in communion together around God's word.
J. Gresham Machen on True Preaching and Christian Growth
Powerful and powerfully-relevant insight on the place of “doctrinal preaching” in the life of Christians from one of the greatest Christian minds of the past 150 years.
Worship 102: Putting the “Congregation” in Congregational Worship
God’s design for music in the church is that it be congregational, which implies that it be both "clear" and "true." In part 2 of our Worship 101 series, we try to break down those terms and talk about what they mean practically.
Getting a “Handel” on Christmas
Handel's Messiah is not merely the singing of a few Bible verses. It is a masterful and comprehensive presentation of the gospel in all its glory. Because of how commonplace it is during this time of year, it provides Christians with a unique opportunity for both worship and evangelism.
Worship 101: A Practical Theology of Music in the Church
The question of worship music in the church has been called "the worship war" for a reason. In this first article of a new series called "Worship 101," we look at some ground-level principles from God's Word that help give us a biblical starting point on this tough subject.
Reforming Halloween
What are we to do with Halloween as Christians? Is it sin…or not? Unfortunately, many believers are often too caught up in the controversy of Halloween to see the real opportunities there are to redeem the day for the cause of Christ.
How Christians Should Vote
In part 1, we looked at how American Christians should understand and think about the vote. Here in part 2, we'll talk about the practical nuts and bolts of what it means for Christians to vote according to biblical principles.
Lyrical Expositions: “Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor” by Matt Papa and Matt Boswell
Meditations on the modern hymn "Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor" by Matt Papa and Matt Boswell.
Common Grace in Blue
As Christians, how are we to understand the role of government in our lives, particularly that of the police? We must find our answers not from the media or public sentiment, but from the very Words of God himself.
Do Not Be Carried Away by Strange Teachings: A Letter to a Friend
Hebrews 13:9 tells us 'not to be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.' How do we obey this command? Here is some advice given to a friend.
How Does God Want My Life to be Different as a Result of This Sermon?
It is estimated that you will listen to 3,000 to 7,000 sermons in your lifetime depending on how long you're a Christian. So how has your life changed as a result of the thousands of times you have sat under the faithful preaching of God's Word?
BLM, Discernment & the Devil’s Dictionary
Black Lives Matter is language that everyone should affirm. But does BLM as an organization reflect the ideals that appear to be conveyed in the words? In these turbulent times, it is crucially urgent that Christians be discerning.
The Preacher vs. the Pope: Scripture and Authority
Evangelicals claim that the man of God preaches God's Word with authority, but also that he possesses the capacity to explain it in a way that the typical Christian does not. So how is this different from the Roman Catholic teaching that the Church alone has the authority to interpret Scripture?
Should Christians Vote?
In unprecedented times in which concerns over voter fraud, gerrymandering, and a misunderstanding of the electoral college, many Americans have become disillusioned about the idea of voting. What should Christians make of the vote?
Lyrical Expositions: “I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow” by John Newton
A look at the song entitled "I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow" by pastor, writer, abolitionist, and shepherd among shepherds, John Newton.
Our New Brand & Why It Matters
An explanation of the new Firm Foundation brand, what our new logo means, and why it all matters.
Lyrical Expositions: Art, Music & God’s Truth
What is art, and what does it do that's different from other forms of communication? What does that have to do with music in the church? A short introduction to our upcoming series, "Lyrical Exposition".
Worship: What Is It, and What Isn’t It?
Jesus said that true worshipers of God worship "in spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4:24). What does that mean? And just as importantly, what does it not mean?
Prayer Pointers from a Prophet (Part 3)
Daniel trusted God. We see that clearly when we look at his Scripture-saturated prayers, his humility before God, and his willingness to wait on God's perfect timing.
What Is a Person? We Simply Don’t Agree.
The conflict in our day between individual freedom and group identity is not a conflict of politics or left vs. right. It is a conflict between two opposing and irreconcilable understandings of what a person is.
Prayer Pointers from a Prophet (Part 2)
Biblical prayer involves different aspects or elements of prayer. In part 2 of a 3-part series, we look at praise, confession, and intercession in the prayer life of the prophet Daniel.
How Do You Talk About Yourself?
If you belong to Jesus, you’re not who you say you are, or who you feel like you are, or who you think you are, or who you want to be, or who your natural impulses compel you to be. You are who God says you are, and you need to be habitually saying what he says about you.
The Coronavirus Pandemic: An Apostolic Perspective
God's Word isn't an encyclopedia for every problem we might face, but it does provide a timeless grid through which we can process and correctly respond to every situation in life—including the coronavirus pandemic.
Prayer Pointers from a Prophet (Part 1)
God wants and commands us to pray, but on his terms and not our own. So what kind of a person has the ears of God when he or she prays, and what kinds of prayers does God want to answer? Few people answer these questions for us better than the young prophet Daniel.
