Ask Pastor John

Christian community is a precious gift from God. But our love for the community must never replace our love for the Lord of the community.

There were fewer miracles in the Bible than many of us think, and there are more miracles today than many of us know.

Protestants insist that God imputes Christ’s righteousness to believers, while the Catholic Church claims that he imparts it. What’s the difference?

Paul’s missionary journeys do not mandate how we should do missions today, but we can certainly learn from the methods he used.

There will be no envy in heaven. Perfect love will reign. Those who have more will have humility; those who have less will rejoice in others’ gifts.

Crude language won’t transform the culture. It won’t convict sinners. It may make us more relatable, but in the end it will backfire.

The first manuscripts of the Bible no longer exist, but that doesn’t need to shake Christians’ faith. Pastor John gives three reasons why.

The aim of wartime simplicity is not to be as poor as possible, but to use all of our resources for the advancement of the gospel.

The sign of forgiveness is not that you forget the pain another caused you, but that you relinquish the desire to punish, and instead seek their good.

Self-examination can quickly turn into self-condemnation. Pastor John offers three strategies to keep introspection in its proper place.

God calls Christians to be peacemakers. But when and how should we intervene in other people’s conflicts?

Our culture often stereotypes women as hyperemotional and men as rational. But is this a biblical dichotomy?

How do we teach our children to respect our God-given authority, while also treating them with Christlike humility and servant leadership?

God may not call you to move to another country to join the Great Commission, but he has called you to play a significant part.

Some have suggested Reformed theology is a hurdle to racial harmony. Pastor John explains why the opposite has been true over decades of urban ministry.

Is all jealousy bad? No, God models perfect jealousy, and calls us to have the same zeal for his glory in all we do — even in dating.

God’s highest priority is not for us to have children, but for us to have Christ-exalting faith that overflows in meeting the needs of others.

Has a husband and father failed in his God-given responsibility if his family is suffering when he could have prevented it?

How can we glorify God in our jobs? Pastor John offers ten reflections to help Christians integrate their Christian life with their working life.

Some men may avoid a midlife crisis, but many of us will face one. Pastor John describes his own midlife crisis, and how God carried him through.

For fifty years, our culture has denied that men have any unique responsibility to care for and protect women. It was a myth, and it isn’t working.

When God feels distant, he may be calling us away from a flimsy faith to a tough, unshakable allegiance to Jesus.

God’s priorities for efficiency in this life are not ours. His aim is not to provide the most direct route, but to sanctify the traveler.

The Bible calls us not to over-think, under-think, think poorly, or think falsely. So how can we avoid slipping into these ruts?

Many believers experience deep emotional stress over the sin and pain in the world. When these emotions become paralyzing, what should we do?

Although some singles are delaying marriage for the wrong reasons, many are not. What does God say to those who yearn to marry but have no prospects?

Protestants have long championed justification by faith alone. But we distort this truth when we confuse justification and final salvation.

What encouragement does God give to those who are the product of reproductive technology and feel like they were abandoned by a biological parent?

In the new heavens and new earth, Christians will sit with Jesus on his throne. Ordinary believers will join God in judging the universe.

God calls us to pursue our fullest joy in him. Will we fall short if we don’t pursue the extraordinary supernatural gifts like tongues and prophecy?

In this special episode, Pastor John reflects on the life and legacy of Billy Graham.

Roman Catholic teaching has led many astray, even into destruction. But are there some genuine Christians in the Roman Catholic Church?

All sin involves the will. But continuing to sin deliberately — with eagerness and persistence — will destroy the soul.

Bacon, ground beef, sausage — God allows us to eat meat. But he didn’t always allow it. Is it wise to return to a pre-fall diet?

Don’t let the truth of God’s electing love prevent you from declaring that Christ died for all. Whoever believes in him will have eternal life.

Instagram selfies, Facebook updates, and endless Snaps feed off our self-focus and self-exaltation. But the sins behind the technology are not new.

If you pluck out your right eye to fight lust, your left eye will pick up the slack. We need more than self-mutilation to fight this enemy.

The New Testament teaches that Christians should confess their sins regularly — not only to God, but also to each other.

If you have a mustard seed of faith and mountains aren’t moving, you may have the wrong kind of faith — or God may have a better plan.

Grading on a curve, competing for a job against others, sports-team tryouts — how do we seek the good of others when they are our rivals?

God calls us to not only resist lustful thoughts, but to fill our minds with the beauties of Christ so that our desires gradually conform to his.

We don’t get to negotiate the cost of following Christ. But there is no cost you can pay that won’t be made up a thousandfold in the resurrection.

Jesus commands us to do our good deeds in secret, but he also commands us to let our good deeds shine before others. How can we do both?

God would be just to condemn us even if we only sinned for five seconds. The time it takes us to sin does not measure the gravity of the offense.

Seminary professors need to be more than competent exegetes, linguists, or theologians. They need to embody the pastoral office.

When one sinner repents, God and his angels rejoice in heaven. Does that mean that God’s happiness depends on ours?

All Scripture is profitable — not just the pages of the New Testament. But how should Christians read the Old Testament in light of Christ’s coming?

God has a special love for his adopted children, but that does not mean he has no love for those who reject him.

Can a non-Christian ever please God? If not, how should we understand the account of Cornelius in Acts 10?

When billboards, TV commercials, and even dolls tell women that beauty comes from tight, trim-cut clothing, how can we cultivate beauty in the heart?