139 results for author: Pastor Jon Hanson
Love that Motivates
How are you at forming and maintaining relationships?
For several years now, I have been acutely aware that I missed a great deal as I grew up. So many of the men that I enjoy learning from are men whose fathers played a critical role in their lives. I so often hear (and I am sure you do as well) of the impact good fathers have had on their children. I didn’t have a father. I didn’t have a heritage passed on to me. I didn’t have anyone teach me the basics of getting along in life—such as how to shave, how to raise kids, or how to love. I grew up hearing about love but I didn’t know what it was. My mother did her best but she didn’t know ...
True Worship
Have you ever thought about what worship is all about? Certainly, we have impressions of what worship is but we are often confused about what true worship is all about. For many of use, we have been seduced by the myths of worship. For example, we may think worship is the fuzzy feeling we get when the music of the church service is done right. We want to be moved; we want to have a feeling. But this is wrong. Worship is a choice and we must make that choice to worship God constantly throughout our lives.
Another myth of worship is that worship is a place we go to on Sunday mornings; it is an act, a liturgy, a set of routines we must go through. ...
Exhortations for Christian Living
We have spent the past several months looking at Peter’s charge to the Jewish Christians who were experiencing great tribulation. We have covered many issues raised by Peter. You can go back and review what Peter tells these Christians…way back to the post on May 10, 2015.
Now we find ourselves at the end of Peter’s first epistle.
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all ...
The Resurrection
How does the resurrection of Jesus impact your daily life?
We have just finished celebrating Resurrection Sunday. We had a wonderful worship time as we recalled the first resurrection…that of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. First, why do I call it Resurrection Sunday instead of Easter?
I know the term Easter is well established and has been used for this particular Sunday for many centuries. The term “Easter” has its roots in ancient polytheistic pagan religions. This term is never used in the original Scriptures, nor is it ever associated biblically with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For that reason, I prefer to use the term ...
Called to Lead
To what degree should business principles be applied to God’s work?
This is the information age. We are drowning in it. And we tend to take information from one area and directly apply to another. In my opinion, this is one of the problems in the Church today…at least in the United States. We have taken business practices and applied them to the Church. Many “Church Guru’s” use material from Peter Drucker.
Peter Drucker is a business management expert. He was not a man of God…directly. But he had in mind that his business management techniques would work well in the church. This regardless of the Bible teaches. Thus, people like ...
Suffering to the Glory of God
Would you be willing to undergo suffering for your faith? Or would you simply hide your faith from those who could cause you to suffer?
Suffering is something we would just as soon avoid if at all possible. Of course, we could avoid suffering by remaining quiet regarding our faith. Jesus said in John 15:18-25, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted ...
To God be the Glory
How do you think you should live during these times?
As we observe the world around us, at least for me, it is hard to see things continue much longer if we consider along our current path. It seems to me that we are on a course to destruction. The leadership of our country has promoted a doctrine of antichristian sentiment. And that is spreading. But not only this, our country appears on the verge of economic and social collapse. We are now to the point where we call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). Most in our country are calling on the politicians to fix the problem. But the politicians caused our problems in the first place…why ...
Wanted Dead and Alive
Do you live your life for the world or for God?
Throughout the Bible, we see the call to lives that are pleasing to God. This seems hard because the pressures of our culture are so intense. The world has certain expectations for those in the world and if you don’t live up to those, the world can treat you very harshly.
The world can be a rough place any time you don’t fit in and I have always been a bit of a misfit. My memories of growing up are filled with unhappy memories. This was largely caused by my background. I never had a father; rather, I grow up with an abusive alcoholic stepfather. I always felt uncomfortable around home so I ...
At the Right Hand of God
Of what benefit was the suffering of Jesus, the Christ–our Lord?
Peter’s first letter was written to Jew who were in exile from Israel and who were currently going under great suffering and persecution. Peter acknowledged that suffering is not always just. But regardless, suffering happens and they must choose to live in light of that suffering.
Suffering, however, is not restricted to people. Christ also suffered. Christ suffered as an example for believers. Peter mentioned this when he wrote, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:” (1 Peter 2:21). ...
Committed to Sound Doctrine
What do you think of systematic theology?
Courses at the Northern Plains Biblical Seminary—Bible School are all based in Systematic Theology. Yet, Systematic theology is avoided by many people because it seems too “heady” to many people. In our first section of Systematic Theology at the Bible School level, I asked the question:
Systematic theology seems like such a boring topic and besides that, it draws us into pure intellectualism. Why should I be concerned about studying this topic? One student provided a very insightful response.
Paul makes many references to his protégé Timothy regarding the study of Scripture and doctrine ...