Wes McAdams's Blog, page 3

Heavenly Citizenship: What the Bible Says About Heaven (Part 3)

Today’s post on heavenly citizenship is part three of our series, “What the Bible Says About Heaven.” In part one, I proposed the thesis, “Heaven holds all we hope to become and receive but is not our final destination.” In part two, we discussed the idea of paradise. I would encourage you to read those posts before reading this one. Today we will talk about our current relationship to heaven. What does it mean to be a citizen of heaven?

The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew uses the word, “h...

Paradise of God: What the Bible Says About Heaven (Part 2)

What is the paradise of God? Where is this paradise and how does paradise relate to heaven? If you haven’t read last week’s post, “What the Bible Says About Heaven (Part 1),” you might want to read that one before you dive into today’s study. The word “paradise” is found three times in the New Testament. We will examine all three of these passages and discover what paradise is and how it is connected to heaven.

The Paradise of God and the Garden of Eden

The English word, “paradise” com...

What the Bible Says About Heaven (Part 1)

What the Bible says about heaven is quite different from what many Christians have in mind. Christians today think of heaven as the final destination of the saved. We ask how to get to heaven, who will be in heaven, who won’t be in heaven, and if we will recognize each other in heaven. Unfortunately, these questions miss the heart of the biblical story of heaven. Today’s post is the first in a new series exploring what the Bible says about heaven.

What is Heaven

Both the Hebrew word (“...

Post-Christian Culture (Hope for the Future of the Church)

Is it accurate to think of American culture as “post-Christian” and how can the church thrive in a culture like this? This is part two of our series, “Hope for the Future of the Church.”

About the Series: 

The pandemic, politics, and a rapidly changing culture have left a lot of Christians are feeling uncertain and anxious about the future of the church. This new series will explore the many reasons we have to be hopeful about the future. Make sure to subscribe in order to hear future ...

Why We Misunderstand Christian Leadership

Modern Christians talk a lot about leadership. We use the Bible to teach leadership principles and leadership skills. Books, podcasts, websites, and conferences are all devoted to Christian leadership. So, it might surprise you to find out the Bible (especially the New Testament) has very little to say about leadership. In fact, some of our modern assumptions about leadership make it very difficult to understand and embrace what the Bible actually teaches.

Our Assumptions on Leadership...

Why the Miracles of Jesus Really Matter

Jesus gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, strength to the weak, healing to the sick, and freedom to the demon-possessed. He fed the hungry and raised the dead. Even after his ascension, the miracles of Jesus were carried on through his apostles, “Even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched [Paul’s] skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them” (Acts 19:12). But what did these miracles mean? Why do they matter? How can they h...

What About Violence in the Old Testament?

Jesus and his apostles teach us to love our enemies, joyfully endure persecution, and do everything within our power to live at peace with everyone. There is very little, if anything, in the New Testament that would justify Christians using violence for any reason. However, the pages of the Old Testament are full of war, violence, and bloodshed. Not only do God’s people kill, but they are sometimes obeying God’s commands when they do so. At one point, I tried to strike a balance between the Old ...

How Do I Become a Better Christian?

Today’s Bible study discussion was prompted by a listener named Isabella, who wrote in to ask about becoming a better Christian. Isabella feels she is too focused on worldly things and doesn’t do enough for the Lord. She wants to overcome some of her struggles with sin. She fears she has been lazy and disobedient.

Isabella is asking a question we are all asking. We all want to become better Christians, better disciples of Jesus, don’t we? We all want to sin less and serve more. But we do...

Should Christians Care What Unbelievers Think of Them?

As Christians, we interact with many people who do not share our views or live by the same standards. Some of our family members, friends, and neighbors may find the Bible’s teachings to be strange or even offensive. Jesus warned his followers they would be hated and despised. But does this mean we should take the position that we don’t care what unbelievers think of us? Should Christians strive to be liked or simply accept that we will be misunderstood and hated?

Christians Should Obey G...

The Danger of Becoming a Scoffer

Though the Bible has much to say about scoffers, Christians rarely talk about the dangers of being one. We rarely ask ourselves, “Am I becoming a scoffer?” In fact, many of us probably don’t know what a scoffer is. Here are some things the Bible says about scoffers.

What is a Scoffer?

The word, “scoff” means to make fun of or mock. Scoffing is treating someone, or their ideas, as stupid or silly. So, a scoffer is a person who habitually laughs at, mocks, and makes fun of others. When a...