Ask Pastor John

Jesus told his disciples, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” What kind of sword does the Prince of Peace bring?

Jesus calls us away from self-protection and toward taking risks of love. To follow a sacrificial Savior is to give and sacrifice with him.

Jesus does not discriminate. He offers the bread of life to anyone who calls on his name — even to those who have committed unspeakable crimes.

Are we free to be who we want to be, or are we instead the products of our backgrounds and environments?

If all of God’s plans stand, and all of his purposes come to pass, is praying for what we want pointless?

Suffering is not a hindrance to the spread of the gospel. Suffering is, very often, God’s means of spreading the gospel where it has never gone before.

How can a husband cultivate an atmosphere of holy joy at home if his wife struggles with chronic sadness or depression?

After adultery, couples may feel like their marriage is ruined beyond repair. What biblical realities can help them begin to find healing?

How can Christians make sense of the coronavirus, which has infected and killed so many people all throughout the world? Pastor John offers four biblical realities.

Prayer offers us a lifeline to our Lord, a vital connection we need every day. But unless we plan ahead, we will be prone to wander.

The new birth brings an awakening of delight in Christ and increasing victory over sin. But how much delight and victory should Christians expect?

If you want to raise your children to know and love Jesus, then a regular rhythm of blessing may prove to be a helpful habit of grace.

If I believe all the right things, then why does my growth in holiness seem so tedious and slow?

Alcoholics Anonymous, and programs like it, seem to genuinely help hurting people. But what do such programs miss that Christians can’t overlook?

If the Bible says that loving pleasure is a sign of ungodliness, then can we really make joy and pleasure essential to our pursuit of God?

How do we lay down our anger, our bitterness, our grudges against those who have wronged us and gotten away with it?

God gets maximum glory from his people, not when we work for him out of begrudging duty, but when we run to him out of sheer delight.

If you live near a number of gospel-preaching churches, how do you decide which body is best for you to join? Pastor John suggests nine steps.

How do I become a sage who overflows with godly wisdom? Pastor John recommends a path too few of us choose to tread.

We all need private, regular communion with God. But the Bible presents a vision for prayer that reaches well beyond our personal quiet times.