How much do you love explaining election to laypersons? While the doctrine is often a prickly point of misunderstanding and disagreement today, for the Reformers it was an important corrective to the works-based theology that had pervaded the church. After leaving the Dominican order, Martin Bucer (1491-1551) was a leader of reform in Strasbourg before…

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. —Paul to the Romans (7:15) “What is this negligence, this standing still? On your way to the mountain, running, and peel away the dead skin that keeps you from seeing God.” —Cato…

Do you remember when you first realized that the Apostles were real people who kept sinning despite walking with Christ? Or when you read about Paul taking Peter to task? Johannes Brenz (1499–1570) was a German Lutheran theologian and pastor, overseeing reform in Schwäbisch-Hall, Württemberg, and Tübingen. Like many of his contemporaries, Brenz finds encouragement…

Jean Daillé, the somewhat controversial French Huguenot minister, takes a hard-nosed look at Philippians 1:12-14. Where some may find inspiration in Paul’s courage and faithfulness in prison, Daillé sees a counterexample to those of little faith: Dear brethren, among the many things which offend people in the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is not one which…

Sandra Van Opstal led Intervarsity Christian Fellowship’s Urbana09 and Urbana12 worship, developing a unique feast of languages, rhythms, instruments, and voices within her teams so that worship participants taste God’s world in their worship of him. She believes that worshipers experience more of God’s fullness when they not only sample but sit at the banquet…