by John Ellis Psalm 4:4 can be a difficult verse to navigate, especially in terms of application. Understanding a little something about Hebrew poetry goes a long way towards making the navigation less tricky. To that end, one of the primary literary (and rhetorical) devices of ancient Hebrew poetry is parallelism. So, in Psalm 4:4 … Continue reading Anxiety and Fear Are NOT Sinful
Tag: Gospel
Kingdom Ethics: The American Revolution and Al Mohler’s Error
by John Ellis How should Christians view July 4, 1776? More specifically, what, if anything, does Kingdom ethics say about the American Revolution? This is a tricky topic to wade into because it carries the potential to increase unholy divisions within the Church. Unity is (should be) a hallmark of Christ’s Bride that serves to … Continue reading Kingdom Ethics: The American Revolution and Al Mohler’s Error
Introduction to the Psalms: The Anatomy of the Soul
(Note: this is my somewhat rewritten manuscript for the Sunday school class – or “equipping hour”, as we call it at my church – I taught. It’s the first class in a ten-week series on the Psalms.) by John Ellis “Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” Samuel Beckett Outside of the Psalms, or … Continue reading Introduction to the Psalms: The Anatomy of the Soul
The Ten Articles of 2022 I Wish Had Been Read by More People
by John Ellis Over the course of 2022, I wrote 68 articles (not counting this one) – using almost 146,000 words. Looking back over those articles, I’m proud of many of them and only see a few I wish I hadn’t written or that need serious rewriting. Among the article I’m proud of are quite … Continue reading The Ten Articles of 2022 I Wish Had Been Read by More People
Discipling 101: Maybe Have a Beer Instead of Doing a Book Study
by John Ellis This is going to be short (and not the totality of my thoughts about discipling). My objective doesn’t need a lot of words because it ain’t complicated. So, let’s get to it: Programs, action plans, and curriculum aren’t very conducive for discipling because everyone’s discipling needs are different. How can you plan/program … Continue reading Discipling 101: Maybe Have a Beer Instead of Doing a Book Study
The Ten Most Read Articles of 2022
by John Ellis At the end of every year on my old blog, I would list the ten most read articles for that year. At the time, besides my blog, I had an actual writing gig, for which I was paid. Self-promotion goes hand-in-hand with seeking out writing gigs, and I was constantly looking for … Continue reading The Ten Most Read Articles of 2022
The Psalms Teach Us How to Cling to God When Hurting
by John Ellis God often uses hard providences to bring forth spiritual growth in the hearts and lives of His children. As the Apostle Paul famously promised to followers of Jesus, “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). And by “all things,” Paul meant“all things,” including hard providences. Sometimes, though, that “all” is quite … Continue reading The Psalms Teach Us How to Cling to God When Hurting
Church History: Ecclesiology and the Reformation (Plus the Awesomeness of the Particular Baptists)
by John Ellis (Originally written to be read/heard, this is the manuscript for the Sunday school class I taught this morning. I’ve edited it some to make it a little easier to read.) Before diving into Ecclesiology and the Reformation, I’m going to start with a pop quiz. It’s a one question pop quiz, so … Continue reading Church History: Ecclesiology and the Reformation (Plus the Awesomeness of the Particular Baptists)
The War on Christmas
by John Ellis The outrage over the supposed War on Christmas has long been supported by the twin pillars of misplaced priorities and ridiculous conspiracy theories. White evangelicals in this country have long – since their beginning – embraced a martyr complex combined with a love for conspiracy theories. The handwringing over the War on … Continue reading The War on Christmas
Our Definition of Patriotism Works Against the Bible’s Expectation of Community
by John Ellis Expressive (radical) individualism is a phenomenon that has long intrigued and saddened me. Our communities barely function as communities because our social imaginary is so littered with expressive individualism that the disparate parts rarely collate into an actual whole. As a result, our communities lack ontological realness. And the effects are obvious. … Continue reading Our Definition of Patriotism Works Against the Bible’s Expectation of Community
Practically Known Theology 