Blog – Page 43 – Grace Evangelical Society

How Often Does the Bible Refer to Good Work?

June 24, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - The Christian walk

As I was proofing and editing Ken Yates’ new commentary on Mark’s Gospel, I came across the expression good work (Mark 14:6). When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly oil, the Lord Jesus defended her saying, “She has done a good work for Me.” I knew that was a fairly rare expression. So, I went

Spiraling Down in Spiritual Blindness

June 21, 2024 by Ken Yates in Blog - Darkness, Luke 5:17–6:11, Pharisees

In Luke 5:17–6:11, the Lord has five consecutive encounters with Jewish religious leaders. They clearly see Him as a threat. He does not accept their rigid, legalistic, man-made rules. His teaching is a threat to everything they hold dear. Will they be able to see the error of their ways and realize that He is

“Students Are Less Interested in ‘Beliefs’ Than in a Faith That Works”

June 20, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Asbury President Kevin Brown, Asbury revival

In the March 2024 issue of Christianity Today, Kevin Brown, president of Asbury University in Wilmore, KY, wrote an article titled “What the Asbury Revival Taught Me about Gen Z.” The subtitle is, “A year ago, I saw the cure for casual Christianity.” Two sentences in particular grabbed my attention: “Students are less interested in

Rewards Are Logical

June 19, 2024 by Ken Yates in Blog - 1 Cor 3:10-15, 2 Cor 5:10, Matt 5:12, reigning with Christ, Rev 22:12, Rom 8:17

In 2000, the movie Gladiator came out. Set at the end of the second century, it starred Russell Crowe as Maximus Meridius, who becomes a tragic hero after being a highly successful general in the Roman army. The movie begins at the height of his success. Maximus leads his soldiers in a battle against the

What Does 2 Corinthians 5:17 Mean?

June 18, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - New creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (NKJV). Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (NIV). So if any one [be] in Christ, [there is] a new creation;

The Breadth of Our Salvation (Titus 3:4-7)

June 17, 2024 by Ken Yates in Blog - Inheritance, rewards, Rom 12:1-2, Rom 8:17, Salvation

For most of my life I have associated with various Evangelical churches. In all of them there has been an emphasis on being saved from hell, that is, the lake of fire. It is safe to say that the majority of the messages given in those churches revolved around that theme. Being eternally saved is

Is the Modified Evangelism Explosion Question Misleading?

June 14, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Evangelism explosion question

A friend likes the EE evangelistic method. As we discussed that method, I said I liked the opening question, but that I follow it up with a modified version. The opening question is, “Have you come to the point in your religious experience where you are sure you have everlasting life?” I don’t use the

Working as a Team

June 13, 2024 by Ken Yates in Blog - Church, Humility, Rom 12:3-5, Spiritual Gifts

Many of us played on a sports team when we were younger. My favorite sport was basketball, and I was on a team throughout my high school years. There were a couple of things that stood out for all of us who played. I think that even a casual fan would observe the same things.

“I Wonder How Many of Those Have Been Christian Coaches” (Joe Mazzulla)

June 12, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Christian coaches, Christian identity trumps racial identity

I admit I’m a Dallas Mavericks fan. I don’t root for the Boston Celtics. But the head coach of the Celtics, Joe Mazzulla, impressed me greatly with his answer to a question from a reporter about the NBA Finals. Mazzulla was asked by Yahoo Sports senior reporter Vincent Goodwill: “For the first time since 1975…you

Nuclear Spiritual Warfare

June 11, 2024 by Kathryn Wright in Blog - Acts 15:1-10, identity, John 3:16, Matt 7:13-14, saving faith

The attacks on the saving message of eternal life by faith alone in Jesus are not new. For example, beginning in Acts 15, both unbelieving and believing Jews attempted to bring works into the saving message by saying that Gentiles needed to be circumcised. Today, the distortion of grace is still very much alive and