Mary Beth Gladwell

The motif of the shepherd is found throughout the scripture. In the Old Testament God has words of strong rebuke and warning for bad shepherds, and prophecies of a good shepherd that is to come. In the New Testament, Jesus identifies himself as the Good Shepherd and we find in the epistles the notion of good shepherding extended to those who would lead in the church. This paper will attempt to explore the shepherding motif in some detail. In specific it will answer the following three questions: Why might have God chosen to use this particular image? What are the characteristics of a good shepherd? Who is the Shepherd that is to come referred to in the Old Testament?

Dennis McCallum

What does Paul mean when he says we are "no more under law, but under grace?" (Romans 6:14). Our answer to this question must account for the fact that Paul sees something different now from before the time of Christ. Galatians 3:24ff teaches that Old Testament saints were kept by a "child conductor" (paidagogos) until the time of Christ. What is the difference Paul is referring to? Arguments have tended to fall into a "law is good for you" camp and a "law is bad for you" camp.

Steve Bauer, Dave Glover, John McKewen, and Todd Mullen

In Genesis 1:28 God blesses Adam and Eve and instructs them to be fruitful and multiply. This theme reappears throughout the Old Testament during times of major transition. After the flood, God blesses Noah and his sons and instructs them to be fruitful and multiply. Jacob receives this promise after fleeing from Esau. In addition, at the time Jacob's name is changed to Israel, God reminds him he will be a great nation and charges him to be fruitful and multiply. Later while in Egypt, it isthe prolific nature and power of the Jewish people that causes the Pharaoh to seek alternatives to curbing their growth. In spite of the persecution at the hands of the Egyptians, God continues to build a nation through which He will deliver the promised seed of Abraham.

Dennis McCallum

In the literature of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, there appears the figure of an intriguing man who had an exceptional impact on the society of his day. He is referred to variously as Valdes, Valdesius, Valdensius and Waldo (Valdo), from the city of Lyons. References to the movement he founded ("Waldensians" "the poor of Lyons" "the Leonese" "the Poor of Lombardy" or simply "the Poor") appear repeatedly throughout the succeeding centuries of European history. They are always in the shadows, always under bitter persecution, always hard to understand, but always seemingly at the cutting edge of reformation ferment.

Dennis McCallum and Gary DeLashmutt

Pastors Dennis McCallum and Gary DeLashmutt provide an overview of passages on the world system.

Dennis McCallum and Gary DeLashmutt

There are three major approaches to theistic apologetics in common use today. They are the Classical approach, the Evidentialist approach, and the Presuppositional approach.

Dennis McCallum and Gary DeLashmutt

Pastors Gary DeLashmutt and Dennis McCallum list theological aspects of God and relevant passages for each attribute.

John Ross

Issues of equality, justice and reconciliation exploded into public consciousness through the May 25, 2020, murder of George Floyd, at the hands of four police officers, one of whom knelt on his neck for minutes. Global protests against police brutality and racism caused many who had been frustrated or unaware of these issues to learn, listen, research and act.

Dennis McCallum

I argue repeatedly that the key to success in ministry, as God defines success, is getting in line with what God wants to do, or is doing. The biblical concept of ministry is serving God or other people in a way that furthers God’s will or purpose. Further, true ministry must be empowered and directed by God. God is clear that "it is the Spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing." (John 6:63) He warns in the Old Testament that, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they do labor in vain that build it." (Psalms 127:1) Paul said the apostles were those who "glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh." (Phil. 3:3) These passages and many others all suggest the same thing: If God’s power moves through us in ministry, spiritual fruit will be borne. If his power is not animating our ministry, nothing we do will help the situation.

Dennis McCallum

The subject of Christian ethics is far too broad to cover in a single article. However, there is value in first outlining the best direction of approach to this question, and only then considering the particulars of the discussion. The following essay was written in response to the challenge by Dr. Douglas Chismar to set the author's approach to Christian ethics down in an essay of less than 20 pages.