For Christ & His Church

 The Church: The Gospel Made Visible — A Thoughtful Reflection      Mark Dever’s The Church: The Gospel Made Visible offers a rich, biblical understanding of the local church that deeply impacted me. Through his careful exploration of the church’s identity, history, and practice, Dever reveals how each part fits together, helping readers grasp how a healthy church should function. Learning from past errors, the book gradually builds a clearer understanding of essential church doctrines. I found it both challenging and encouraging, especially as it clarified areas where my own views and past ministry experience needed correction. It was a powerful reminder that the church is God’s idea, not man’s, and that His Word provides everything we need.      Last year in Hyderabad, I met a pastor who was invited to speak at a workshop organized by my former ministry. He claimed to be a Christ-centered preacher, but his preaching focused mainly on Jesus’ example—“...

  Reflections on Why Testament Polity Is Prespective by Bobby Jamieson      In his compelling article, Bobby Jamieson vividly presents the New Testament as providing a consistent and coherent pattern of church polity that should be regarded as normative for today’s churches. His solid, Scripture-based argument deeply convinced me. Jamieson asserts that the New Testament’s church governance is not merely descriptive of early church practice but also prescriptive for how churches should be structured and led. Among his various arguments, three stood out as particularly persuasive to me: 1. Consistent Presence of Elders in New Testament Churches      Jamieson challenges scholars who claim that the absence of elders in certain Pauline letters, like Romans and Corinthians, means elders were not consistently present in those churches. He highlights that elders are also not mentioned in Ephesians, yet Acts 20:17-38 clearly shows the Ephesian church was led by...

     Recently, one powerful quote that deeply convicted me to take parenting more seriously comes from Jonathan Leeman in his book Authority: “Without the power of discipline, authority is toothless, even substance-less. Take away someone’s power of discipline and you effectively take away their authority.”   [1] After my first son was born in the year 2021, I realized my calling was far greater than simply providing for him and my family. I understood that I was called to build a legacy of faith, to pass on not just my beliefs but a life rooted in Christian moral values and godly conduct. This is a burden I carry daily in prayer. How Should a Christian Parent Discipline Their Children? To raise my children in a godly way, I must discipline them; however, I need to know how to do it effectively. This question led me to someone I deeply respect—my pastor and former professor, Benjamin George. His biblical wisdom on parenting and discipline has transformed th...

     As I continue reflecting on Authority by Jonathan Leeman, Part IV has been particularly eye-opening. In this section, titled "What Authority Looks Like in Action," the author explores two kinds of authority: command and counsel. Leeman’s teaching has offered me profound clarity, especially in understanding how these forms of authority play out in various spheres of life: the home, church, government, and workplace. Understanding Command and Counsel in Real Life      Since reading about immanent and transcendent authority earlier in the book, I have found myself continually drawn to the transcendent aspect, particularly in how it defines healthy boundaries in leadership. This new section on authority of command versus authority of counsel has given me the insight I have been seeking. Leeman’s distinction is profoundly wise. As a father, I now see more clearly that my role carries the authority of command—to guide, correct, and even enforce obedience thr...

  "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." — 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV) With the rapid advancement of technology, our daily physical activity has significantly decreased. Whether manual labor, industrial work, or even office tasks, machines and digital tools now do much of the work for us. Instead of using this as an opportunity to care better for ourselves and others, many of us have drifted deeper into the world of social media. We spend countless hours staring at screens—watching movies, bingeing our favorite Netflix series, scrolling through YouTube, or flipping through posts on various platforms. We constantly reach for our phones, checking WhatsApp messages or refreshing social media feeds, even in brief moments of downtime. This digital habit hasn’t spared even the most faithful Christians. It's a concerning trend. We give far too little time to God and even less ti...

     Jonathan Leeman’s book Authority has profoundly reshaped my understanding of leadership, especially in the context of biblical authority. In the first three parts of the book, Leeman unpacks what true authority looks like and how it should be exercised in the home, church, and broader society. His writing is not only deeply theological but also intensely practical, offering transformative insights for anyone called to lead. Here’s how the first three parts of the book spoke to me personally and challenged me in my own life and ministry. Authority as God’s Good Gift In the opening chapter, “Authority Is God’s Good Creation Gift for Sharing His Rule and Glory,” Leeman shares the story of Angela and her father, a full-time pastor. This example moved me deeply. Angela's father lived out a powerful balance between immanence (being present and involved) and transcendence (exercising rightful authority and setting boundaries). He was always there—supportive, engaged, and lo...

  Progressive Dispensationalism  (Ch 6-9)   Craig A. Blaising, Darrell L. Bock  This reflection is the continuation of the book Progressive Dispensationalism from Chapters 6-9. In this chapter, the authors talk about the Fulfillment of the Biblical Covenants through Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God in the Old Testament, the Kingdom of God in the New Testament, and Theological and Ministerial Issues in Progressive Dispensationalism. In Chapter Six, The Fulfillment of the Biblical Covenants through Jesus Christ, the authors explain that the title “Christ” clearly means “King.” I am deeply convinced by how clearly the New Testament presents Jesus as the promised covenant king. Though I had not read about Progressive Dispensationalism before, I always believed in preaching Christ from every passage, whether from the Old or New Testament, throughout my pastoral ministry. After reading this book, I now realize that my long-held conviction aligns with the Progressive ...

  Progressive Dispensationalism (Ch 1-5) By Craig A. Blaising and Darrell L. Bock Progressive Dispensationalism is written by Craig A. Blaising & Darrel L. Bock. This book explains a significant change presently taking place in dispensational interpretations of Scripture. This change affects the way dispensationalists understand key biblical themes such as the kingdom of God, the church in God’s redemptive program, the interrelationship of the biblical covenants, the historical and prophetic fulfillment of those covenants, and the role of Christ in that fulfillment. This book helped me grasp the core differences between classical, revised, and progressive dispensationalism. Classical dispensationalism emphasizes a strong dualism, i.e., God has two separate redemptive plans: one for Israel (earthly) and one for the church (heavenly). The covenants, including the New Covenant, were seen as primarily for Israel, with only spiritual application to the church. Revised dispensa...

  Brothers, We are not Professionals(Ch. 19-36) John Piper This reflection paper covers Chapters 19 to 36 of Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper. These final chapters focus on the weighty realities of pastoral ministry from saving the saints and preaching true repentance, to confronting racism and embracing missions. He addresses the topic of hell, the value of bodily discipline, the danger of legalism, and the need for racial harmony and advocacy for the unborn. The book closes with a passionate call to faithful worship, godly marriages, and praying for seminaries to remain rooted in Christ. Each chapter challenged and shaped my heart more deeply for pastoral ministry. In a world filled with ungodliness and reckless living, preaching repentance is always a challenge. Having tasted pastoral ministry, I can say this with conviction. Yes, I have faithfully preached Christ crucified in every sermon, but I now realize that I have often failed to present God and His hol...

  Brothers, We are not Professionals (Ch. 1-18)   John Piper This reflection is from the book “Brothers, We are not professionals” by John Piper. In chapters 1–18, Piper talks about pastors to reject the professionalization of ministry and instead embrace its deeply spiritual nature. He emphasizes that the ultimate aim of all ministry is the glory of God. Piper calls for clear preaching of justification by faith, warns against the debtor’s ethic, and encourages pastors to serve God through reliance on His strength rather than self-effort. He highlights the necessity of prayer, deep engagement with Scripture, and the importance of shaping preaching by the tone and truth of the text. Through themes like Christian hedonism, and disciplined study, Piper paints a picture of pastoral ministry.   In the preface to the new edition, John Piper notes that over the past ten years, the pressure on pastors to act like professionals has only increased… today, especially for you...

  A Praying Life (Ch. 24-32) By Paul E. Miller This reflection paper continues A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller, covering Chapters 24 to 32. These chapters complete Part 3, “Learning to Ask Your Father,” which explores the cultural barriers that keep us from asking God freely, and move into Part 4, “Living in Your Father’s Story,” where everything comes together. Here, Miller shows how a praying life helps us recognize and trust the story God is writing in our lives. Part 5 introduces helpful tools for growing in prayer in everyday life. When I was studying for my bachelor’s degree, I first learned about ACA from my professors. I immediately dreamed of going there for my master’s degree. I was deeply passionate about it, but I was facing financial problem and was suffering a major obstacle. I was on the verge of giving up my studies due to too much financial pressure. It seemed almost impossible to fulfill that dream. Paul E. Miller writes, “When we are in the middle of the d...