Philemon 1:8-16: Perspective on Service
In Philemon, Paul’s perspective on service shows us that agape love, not obligation or guilt, should motivate us to serve God and others.
Dr. Alfonse Javed
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Philemon 1:4-7: Perspective on Fellowship
The idea of Christian fellowship in the Bible necessitates mutual participation, contribution, and sharing of life and faith in all seasons whether joyful or painful.
Philemon 1:1-3: Perspective on Love
Agape love changes our perspective on our circumstances in life and the challenges of life. When we are committed to the Gospel love we can be assured that God will turn our life challenges into an opportunity to love Christ more and love His people more.
Why Colossians Is So Relevant to Our Era
Earlier this year, I preached through the book of Colossians at my church, First Baptist Church Metuchen, focusing on two questions. 1) Does truth matter in this day and age? […]
Philemon Sermon Series – Spiritually Free
Philemon is a unique letter about the how the Gospel changes our perspective on life and gives us hope for reconciliation and forgiveness.
The Five Cs of Christmas That Every Christian Should Know
During the Christmas season many take shots at the origin, meaning, and purpose of this day and post articles, videos, and arguments against or for Christmas on the internet. I thought it would be appropriate to go a little beyond the traditional stories to address the elephant in the room that is the origin of Christmas day, and to try to distinguish it from the purpose and meaning of Christmas that we celebrate as believers.
Good News Friday Guest Post for the Do Good Better Blog
Every week, Rachel Pieh Jones, the author of Pillars: How Muslim Friends Led Me Closer to Jesus, writes a Good News Friday post on her blog, Do Good Better. She celebrates good things that happened in the past week to remind us that there is light amongst all the darkness.
Last Friday, I guest-wrote the Good News Friday post and shared a variety of positive stories about education, interfaith relations, and Pakistanis fighting blasphemy laws.
Thanksgiving is a Great Time to Focus on the Family
November is a very special month for me. Arius was born in November (he’ll be 5 this Friday), thus, this is the month that I became a father. Being a father is a privilege and great responsibility. I have learned so many things about my relationship with God the Father that I would not have learned otherwise.
Impartiality in the Church of Christ
At first, I didn’t want to be bothered. I didn’t want to just give him money because I wasn’t sure what he would use it on, even though he held a gas can. I just needed to finish the sermon, which of course was on loving your neighbor and showing mercy instead of judgment.
Our Urban Voices Podcast Now Streaming
The Our Urban Voices Podcast is now streaming wherever you get your podcasts. For the first episode, I spoke with Pastor Boto Joseph of Jackson Heights Community Church about his journey from India to ministry in ‘Little India’ in Jackson Heights, Queens—the most ethnically diverse community in New York City.
How to Prepare a Congregation for a Transition of Leadership
A healthy transition is strongly correlated to the health of a congregation and its leadership. Further, a church’s capacity for a healthy transition can reveal more just the health of a church and its leadership. It tells how deep the congregation’s trust is in the Lord, and whether or not it is prepared to acknowledge God’s leading when a new pastor is elected.
How to Know If You Are Ready for a Senior Pastorate
As a first-generation Pakistani immigrant in the US, I knew I would need more than the usual qualifications and experience necessary if I was to pursue a Baptist senior pastorate, especially during a global pandemic. What I needed was a miracle—the hand of God in action.
The Overturned Conviction for Daniel Pearl’s Murder, and Where to Place Blame in Pakistan
Imran Khan’s government is intentionally distancing Pakistan from its traditional allies, Saudi Arabia and the United States, in favor of Turkey and China. But replacing the United States with China is premature.
Podcast Launch Update: November 2
At long last, I’m excited to announce the new podcast launch date! The first episode will be available the early morning of Tuesday, November 2.
Is God Impartial to Everyone or Only to Christians?
The Kingdom people, followers of Christ who submit to the authority of God’s Word, should never show favoritism in the church. This raises the question: what about those who are outside the church? Well, we may want to answer this with another question: is our God impartial to everyone or only to those who are members of God’s household?
How Do We Deal with Painful News?
One of the sisters who attends our church had been battling cancer for five years, and now she has been told that this is it. She has been sent to hospice. This wonderful sister in the Lord was not bitter that her life is being cut short, but she was grieving over the fact that her expected departure from this world will break her children’s hearts.
New Things Ahead: Accepting a Senior Pastorate
It goes without saying that if church leadership is healthy, the church will be healthy, and when the church is healthy, they follow Christ. Whenever change comes, they lean on Christ in and through the change.
Can We Trust a Historically False Document To Be Theologically Accurate?
Without historical accuracy I would not be able to study the passage of the scriptures that is presented to me with theological accuracy. My theological understanding begins by examining a portion of the scriptures in its historical context.
What Is Biblical Theology and Its Relationship to the Other Disciplines?
What would happen to a church or denomination that does not actively learn or apply biblical and systematic theology to its teaching ministry? Has this happened to your church or denomination?
Journal Article Review: Theological Atomism by Charlton William
Even though understanding the small can help one to understand the larger, this does not mean that the individual represents society.
The Multisite Church Is No Longer a Church Model
Before one forms an opinion on whether the multi-site church movement is biblically accurate or not, it is imperative to establish the definition of a church.
Mother’s Day: Finding Strength in a Nightmare in Pakistan
My sister in-law told us to gather only what we needed, as all six of us would need to pile into a tiny car and escape the center as soon as possible. This was the moment that my nightmares became real. I had all of ten minutes to dress my two boys. Would we be able to return? Was this for a day or forever?
Why an Accurate Cultural Perspective Helps with Contextualization of the Message and the Church
The more time church planters spend understanding the culture, the more effective they are in their ministry cultural context.
Book Review: Discovering Church Planting: An Introduction to the Whats, Whys, and Hows of Global Church Planting by J. D. Payne
North American church planters need to rely more on the Holy Spirit and less on models and strategies.
Education Determines the Rise and the Fall of Nations Morally
Nations with higher priority investments in education make individuals into effective workers and executives who contribute towards building their nations by contributing to their organizations. However, when knowledge is suppressed, and education is controlled through oppressive educational philosophies, education can tear down its citizens resulting in chaotic, dictatorial, societies which sooner or later will implode.
Book Review: Elders and Leaders: God’s Plan for Leading the Church by Gene A. Getz
The top three priorities for church leaders should be modeling Christlike behavior, living in the Spirit of prayer (that he is devoted to prayer), and studying the Word of God rigorously and teaching it to others in meekness.
What Is the Difference Between Mission and Missions?
Unless Christians are able to understand the difference between mission and missions, they will never understand that we all are involved in mission–the mission of God.
Consumerism In the Church Hinders the Great Commission
Current church cultures and practices are inward efforts to reach the masses who may come inside the church week after week and even fall prey to their own self-righteous routine and good works, but these people will never be able to go out and make disciples.
Alternative Proposals to John’s Authorship of the Johannine Letters
I would like to look at three alternative proposals to John’s authorship of the Johannine letters. My hope is to answer a few very critical questions about John’s authorship of the Johannine letters by summarizing the internal and external evidence in favor of John’s authorship.
Book Review: The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman
Today, when churches in the USA are looking for specific models or strategies that can help them to grow faster with less time commitment, Coleman argues for following Jesus’ model of spending most of His time with a few individuals. The issue with such a recommendation is that the church in the USA neither has the patience nor the time for such a slow paced strategy.
