Blog – Page 14 – Grace Evangelical Society

We Are Pessimistic Optimists

August 4, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - 2 Pet 3:13, Creation, John 16:8-9, Rom 8:18-22

I saw a funny cartoon recently. I am not familiar with the author’s religious beliefs, but the work conveys some theological truths. A man is walking down the sidewalk with a sign that says, “The End Is Near.” Another man with another sign follows him. It reads, “This Will Never End.” The second man says

Are Old Testament Believers “in Christ”?

August 1, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Israel and the Church, Old Testament Believers, Rapture

Flint asks, Are OT saints ‘in Christ’ the same as church-age saints? If they are, does that mean that OT saints will be raised at the rapture when the dead in Christ rise first (1 Thess 4:16-17)? The short answer is, no. But as Ricky used to say to Lucy, “You have some ‘splainin’ to

He Who Is Least

July 31, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - Luke 9:46-48, Mark 10:45, Matthew 23:11, rewards, Servant

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is the strongest college football conference in the United States. The national champion often comes from the SEC. Teams like Alabama and Georgia are repeat champions. Vanderbilt University is a part of the SEC. It is not known for its football prowess. Its fame is in academics. As you might guess,

What Do You Think God’s Most Important Attribute Is?

July 30, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Attributes of God, love, sovereignty, Sovereignty of God

Dr. Dick Biery told me that circa 1980 he heard the president of Calvary Bible College ask a CBC commencement speaker what he considered God’s most important attribute. This was a private conversation between the three of them after the ceremony. Dr. Biery was Chairman of the CBC board at the time. Before I reveal

Looking Stupid as You Learn

July 29, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - 2 Tim 2:2, Discipleship, Free Grace Theology, Proverbs, Titus 2:4-6

When I first joined the Army, I was, without a doubt, the dumbest guy in the unit when it came to the Army. I had spent some time in the Air Force, but this was a totally different animal. I was the butt of many jokes. I asked a lot of questions that elicited laughter

Why Few Evangelicals Share Their Faith

July 28, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Evangelicals, evangelism, John 3:16, Repentance

I believe many Christians are reluctant to share their faith for two main reasons: They aren’t sure what a person needs to do to be saved. They think it at least includes their turning from their sins and deciding to follow Jesus, and they find it pushy to confront people about their sins and their

Why You Shouldn’t Evangelize Like a Pro

July 25, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - 1 John 5:13, Acts 2:38, evangelism, John 3:16, Jonah 3:3-6

I was taught evangelism in seminary by a very famous theologian and by a professional evangelist. Neither was crystal clear on what a person needed to do to be saved forever. The other day, Sam Marr, who’s been with GES since last October, showed me a magazine article on evangelism. The article was by a

Reaching Out to Pagan Soldiers

July 24, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - centurion, evangelism, John 16:8, Luke 23:34, Pilate

The movie Risen is about a Roman tribune under Pontius Pilate. It presents a fictional account of a Roman soldier who comes to faith after witnessing the death and resurrection of Christ. I like the movie. It is generally faithful to the Gospel accounts of Christ’s death and resurrection. All the movie’s main characters are

What I Learned During My Time with Cru

July 23, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - asking jesus into your heart, Campus Crusade, Cru, evangelism, evangelistic invitations

I was involved in college campus ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ—now called Cru—for seven years. I was a student leader at my college for two years. I then served on Campus Staff with Cru for four years, two at Arkansas State University and two at North Carolina State University. After leaving staff, I served

The Danger of Peer Groups (Galatians 2:12)

July 22, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - Acts 10, Gal 2:12

There is no sweeter group of people than elderly women. This is especially true of believers. When you think of a nice person in your church, you probably picture an older Christian woman. That’s my experience. But there’s an exception to this general rule: When elderly women get together in a swimming pool, they become