Columns
Theology For Everyone
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By David Smith / April 16, 2026
Ask the question another way. Is there such a thing as a pastor who does not need to grow? Is there such a thing as a Christian who does not need to grow? To whom is 2Peter 1:1-11 and 3:17-18 addressed? Is there such a thing as a Christian who…
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By Mark Horne / April 8, 2026
The History of Unrealistic Expectations Placed upon Pastors Throughout the history of the church, pastors have been burdened with expectations that exceed both biblical warrant and human capacity. While pastoral ministry has always carried weighty responsibility, the modern period, particularly in the post-industrial and post-consumerist West, has intensified these pressures….
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By Jeffrey Stivason / April 6, 2026
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By Stephen Unthank / March 24, 2026
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By Ben Ciavolella / March 17, 2026
The Haven
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By Sarah Ivill / April 14, 2026
If you’re anything like me you likely have a long prayer list filled with petitions for family, friends, neighbors and church members. It is good and right to pray for one another as we walk through life in this broken world. We weep with those who weep as we pray…
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By Sarah Ivill / March 31, 2026
When you think about God, what comes to mind? The answer is very important. Hopefully, you can say with David, “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!” (Psalm 139:17) as you think about His protection, presence, purpose, penalty, and purity. God’s Protection Psalm 139, composed by David for…
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By Sarah Ivill / March 19, 2026
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By Sarah Ivill / March 11, 2026
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By Sarah Ivill / February 16, 2026
Cloud of Witnesses
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By Simonetta Carr / April 20, 2026
Evan Jones – Supporting the Cherokees on the Trail of Tears May 26, 1838, was the start of the so-called Trail of Tears, when about 15,000 men, women, and children of the Cherokee nation were forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River, relinquishing most of their…
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By Simonetta Carr / February 25, 2026
Many Christians are familiar with Pelagius, the Celtic monk who challenged Augustine of Hippo’s prayer, “Give what you command, and command what you will.” According to Pelagius, this was a useless prayer, because human beings already have what is necessary to obey God’s commands. All have, he said, the free…
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By Simonetta Carr / February 20, 2026
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By Simonetta Carr / January 27, 2026
Meet the Puritans
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By Jacob Tanner / February 4, 2026
The corridors of history are filled with surprising twists and abrupt turns. Some philosophers, noting how the cogs of history seem to turn abruptly upon the smallest of happenings, have sometimes discussed what popular culture refers to as “the butterfly effect.” Originally, the theory was birthed by a meteorologist as…
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By Jacob Tanner / December 22, 2025
On December 22nd, 1666, the Market-Cross of Edinburgh was filled with a crowd of teary-eyed spectators. The cause of their lament was the young man of twenty-six-years-of-age who was being hung from the gallows before them. His name was Hugh M’Kail, a minister of the gospel, and Scottish Covenanter. Hugh…
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By Jacob Tanner / October 31, 2025
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By Jacob Tanner / October 13, 2025
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By Jacob Tanner / September 24, 2025
From the Editor
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By Jeffrey Stivason / July 26, 2024
Martin Luther’s Table Talk is arguably the most entertaining of his works. The Weimar Edition contains six volumes under this head alone! Thus, volume 54 in the American Edition represents about one-tenth of the total bulk of what we know as Table Talk. However, as the American Edition explains there…
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By Jeffrey Stivason / January 26, 2024
I was recently struck anew by reading Genesis 26. It’s the story of Isaac dwelling in Gerar. The story is familiar. We might read it in “like father, like son” fashion. As Abraham told Abimelech that Sarah was his sister, Isaac did the same. Yes, we sometimes learn from our…
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By Jeffrey Stivason / November 23, 2023
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By Jeffrey Stivason / March 1, 2023
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By Jeffrey Stivason / August 18, 2022
The Shepherd leader
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By Timothy Witmer / April 1, 2020
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By Timothy Witmer / March 19, 2020
When you set up your shepherding plan you could not have imagined that your entire congregation would be hunkered-down attempting to stay clear of Covid-19. These are times in which the flock needs to hear from their shepherds for comfort and assurance. I have urged our elders to put a priority…
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By Timothy Witmer / November 14, 2018
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By Timothy Witmer / May 4, 2016
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By Timothy Witmer / March 7, 2016
Christward Collective
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By Donny Friederichsen / June 17, 2019
Following Elijah’s stunning victory over the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, he turns his attention to drought that continued to linger over the land. Back in 1 Kings 17, Elijah had announced a drought on the land because of the apostasy of the people. They had backed into…
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By Nick Batzig / April 23, 2019
“With which person in the Bible do you most identify?” This is a question I have often asked others in the church over the years. Most of us lack even enough self-awareness to able to answer the question. Others among us have a propensity to appeal to the best characters…
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By Jeff Windt / March 28, 2019
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By Richard C. Barcellos / March 15, 2019
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By Nick Batzig / March 14, 2019
Resident Aliens
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By Mark Johnston / February 25, 2022
It is often the case that a minister only begins to really appreciate the value of his books when the time comes for him to part with them. Sometimes it happens when he runs out of space on his shelves and he is forced to thin them out. Or it…
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By Mark Johnston / January 21, 2022
The first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism has resonated with generations of people familiar with it. Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Saviour, Jesus…
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By Jeff Windt / March 28, 2019
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By Richard C. Barcellos / March 15, 2019
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By Nick Batzig / March 14, 2019
More Articles
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By Sarah Ivill / April 14, 2025
Recently I was speaking at a women’s conference where girls as young as ten years old attended. One of these young girls approached me after the conference was over and asked me a good question, What does it mean to walk with the Lord? I answered as succinctly as I…
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By Tim Bertolet / May 11, 2019
We probably all have bank accounts with savings, and maybe investments and 401(k)s. Wisdom would suggest that while we trust God we also should be good stewards and save. You want to have in inheritance—at the end of the road of your work life, you want to have a nest…
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By Sarah Ivill / April 14, 2026
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By Mark Horne / April 8, 2026
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By Jeffrey Stivason / April 6, 2026