Blog – Page 186 – Grace Evangelical Society

Beyond Quiet Time

September 3, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - devotional life, John Wesley, quiet time, Steve Harper

Are you a trifler? That’s not a word you hear very often. To trifle means to talk or act frivolously. If you’re a trifler, you are not taking things seriously; you are not pursuing them with purpose. John Wesley warned his itinerant preachers against being triflers in religion: “Fix some part of every day for

The Majoristic Controversy

August 31, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Epitome, George Major, Lutherans, Majoristic Controversy, Nicolaus von Amsdorf

There is nothing new under the sun. I recently came across a debate in Lutheran circles known as The Majoristic Controversy. It anticipated many of the questions and positions that the Free Grace movement deals with today. The debate is explained by Timothy J. Wengert’s book, A Formula for Parish Practice. In 1548, the emperor

Nicolaus Amsdorf and the Harm of Preaching Works-Salvation

August 30, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Lutheranism, Nicolaus von Armsdorf, Timothy Wengert

In his book A Formula for Parish Practice, Timothy J. Wengert explains how a friend of Luther’s named Nicolaus von Amsdorf objected to the works-salvation taught by Lutherans like Philip Melanchthon and George Major. Amsdorf controversially said: “All those who teach and write that good works are necessary for salvation are going directly against Luther,

Genuine Disagreements in the Free Grace Movement

August 28, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - crossless gospel, Free Grace, Grace Evangelical Society, heresy

I’m sad to say there is a lot of “fake news” about GES online, where people have made outlandish claims about what we believe. Frankly, I think much of it counts as bearing false witness against GES. However, despite the fake news, there are some areas of genuine disagreement between GES and our critics in

A Disciple of Christ Is Different Than a Believer in Christ

August 27, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Discipleship, Local Church Discipleship, Small Group Discipleship, Unbelieving Disciples

I get lots of emails. Lots of questions. A parent emailed me with concern about their daughter. The youth pastor’s wife has begun to disciple the daughter one on one. The problem is that the youth pastor and his wife teach that unless you are in one-on-one discipleship, you are not a disciple of Christ.

A Simple Way to Pray

August 24, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Lord’s Prayer, Psalms

Do you know how to pray? Are you making progress in your prayer life? Do you find your prayers have become repetitive, dry, or boring? I find I need help to learn how to pray. Do you? Martin Luther’s barber once asked for advice on developing his prayer life. So Luther wrote him a letter

One of My Heroes: Simon the Zealot

August 23, 2018 by Ken Yates in Blog - Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13; Simon the Zealot; doctrinal dogmatism

Mark tells us the names of the Lord’s original 12 disciples in Mark 3:16-19. Some of them are better known than others. For example, Peter, Matthew, Judas Iscariot, James, and John are better known than the other seven. With about half of them, we basically know nothing other than that their names are included in

Echoes of Eden in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9-13)

August 22, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Eden, Kingdom, Lord’s Prayer, Prayer

I’ve been preaching through the Lord’s Prayer at church, and in my studies, I keep hearing echoes of Eden through these petitions. Our Father which art in heaven, We address our Father in heaven, because in Gen 1:1 God created all things, including us. He is not part of creation, but over creation, in heaven.

How Can We Tell If We Are Being Judged By God Or If He Is Simply Teaching Us Through Trials?

August 21, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - confession of sin, Repentance, Temporal Judgment, wrath

I received this question Sunday before last in a class I was teaching and then again via email today. I think God wants me to answer the question. Here is the question concerning my blog on God’s wrath and the believer (see here): Thanks Bob. I am in hearty agreement. But how would you explain