“Turn, you turning-one” Thoughts from Jer. 3:12-14

This morning I was preparing for the Church Leaders seminar, which will be from Jer. 3:15. But as I was going over the context, I was struck by this phrase, “Return, faithless Israel” (12, 14, 22). Christopher Wright, in his commentary, translates it, “Turn, you turning-one” or “Turn back, turning-away Israel.” The people who should […]

The Danger of Successful Discipline 

Our hearts always break when one departs from their faith and refuses to listen to any of the steps of discipline outlined in Matt. 18:15-20. There is private confrontation which goes unheeded. There is an additional two or three witnesses and they have seen the impenitence and their admonitions go unheeded. Finally, the church is […]

Hearing and Heeding the Word of the Lord

One of the good kings of Judah was King Jehoshaphat. But Jehoshaphat’s life was a roller-coaster of faith. In 2 Chron. 18 Jehoshaphat makes an unfortunate alliance with wicked King Ahab of the northern kingdom. The two kings had agreed to go up against Ramoth-gilead together. Since Jehoshaphat was a godly king, he told Ahab […]