Practical Theology / Discipleship

  • Knowledge and Maturity by Kevin DeYoung

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2011

    All else being equal, I’d rather have a mature Christian with simple theological knowledge than an extremely knowledgeable, well -read Christian without a lot of maturity. But, of course, neither situation is desirable. Let me explain. A Tale of …Read More

  • The Mystery of Christ by John Petersen

    FROM TABLETALK | January 2011

    I love a good mystery story from time to time, particularly an Agatha Christie work like the wellknown Murder on the Orient Express. It took a brilliant detective several days to reveal the murderer aboard that infamous train. What is …Read More

  • Growing Up and Growing Down by Derek Thomas

    FROM TABLETALK | May 2007

    “Grow up!” Some of us can recall with a measure of embarrassment being told these words following an incident in which we displayed less than mature behavior. Jacob is growing up, and it has been a long and painful …Read More

  • Congregational Counseling by Eric Bancroft

    FROM TABLETALK | December 2010

    Premarital counseling can be an entertaining exercise for an older couple offering guidance to a younger couple. Across from them sit two individuals eager to wed. Apart from occasional disagreements about planning the ceremony, the soon-to-be-newlyweds are prone to think …Read More

  • Receiving the Baton by Bob Kauflin

    FROM TABLETALK | October 2010

    As I run the final laps of my race on this earth (however long the Lord allows that to be), one of my greatest joys and desires is to serve the next generation. When I was in my twenties, I …Read More

  • Grace Transforms Everything by Sean Michael Lucas

    FROM TABLETALK | October 2010

    In our town, a church just went through a rebranding effort as part of their relocation to a new building in a different section of town. Their logo and signage are beautiful and well conceived. One sees their stickers on …Read More

  • The Discipline of God by Joel Beeke

    FROM TABLETALK | October 2010

    Church programs, campus ministries, and independent organizations today emphasize the need for radical discipleship. It is not always clear what they mean by this. The word radical can be a trendy term. What is clear is this: if one’s …Read More

  • Across the Great Divide by Rod Mays

    FROM TABLETALK | September 2010

    I started working with younger men and women (campus ministry) when I was turning fifty. A decade later, I see how this work has transformed my perspective on the church and ministry. I’ve seen the importance of knowing one …Read More

  • Tell Us Your Stories by Collin Hansen

    FROM TABLETALK | August 2010

    Sometimes younger Christians give the impression that we have things figured out. We’re the future. We’ve found the old methods wanting, so we’ve developed new ones. We’re the generation that will strike the right balance where …Read More

  • Therefore, Go by Chris Donato

    FROM TABLETALK | August 2005

    I met a fellow the other day who claimed (in jest) to be a member of a recovery group for those addicted to rededications. Apparently, he had suffered from years of rededicating his life to God. By the time he …Read More

  • The Prevailing Church (pt. 2) by Simon Kistemaker

    FROM TABLETALK | January 2009

    As we saw in last month’s installment of “Pro Ecclesia,” privileges and duties go together. In making disciples, Jesus commanded they be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …Read More

  • Be Imitators of Me by John Nunes

    FROM TABLETALK | July 2006

    We need better leaders! That’s a perception these days — that what’s needed most in churches is upgrading the quality of its leadership. Too often, this is defined secularly, in terms of vision implementation, strategic planning, and management models …Read More

  • Don’t Retire; We Need You by Alex Chediak

    FROM TABLETALK | October 2009

    You may have heard that retirement can kill you. Men and women die of boredom, for lack of intellectual challenge, or from the deafening silence that can accompany a spouse’s death. Depressed saving accounts may represent another motivation to …Read More

  • God Is Love by Susan Hunt

    FROM TABLETALK | July 2008

    A friend gave me a plaque that proclaims: “Grandmothers are antique little girls.” I don’t know what the originator had in mind, but my spin is that the longer we live, the more we return to the simplicity of …Read More

  • Free Is Not Cheap by Chris Donato

    FROM TABLETALK | July 2008

    When Jesus predicted His death to the disciples (Matt. 16:21), it surprised them. The Messiah wasn’t supposed to die — especially at the hands of the pagan Roman empire. In another sense, however, it wasn’t all that surprising …Read More