Can we boldly proclaim, “Sola Fide,” meaning, faith alone? Can we claim a justification that is rooted in Christ’s works, not our own? Can we encourage one another in Christ knowing James 2:24 exists? “You see that a person is justified by...

After a slough of rainy, snowy, Spokane-wintery Sundays, there was one in early February that looked like spring. It was Superbowl Sunday, but the sunshine was so alluring that our family headed out for a hike before settling down to watch the gam...

We have been examining the architecture of the divine-human covenants in the Bible to see how these covenants carry forward the Bible’s storyline of God establishing His kingdom over the whole world through His chosen king. Much like all the com...

A Poem by Lydia Kinne Don’t stop fighting – Even if you feel like The most broken soul That ever was. Don’t stop gripping onTo fragile hope, Its flame feebly flickering...

When Jesus and His disciples came to the village of Bethany Martha welcomed them into her home and began preparing dinner for them. She was apparently an accomplished hostess and probably had the gift of hospitality. But she was distracted with al...

All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of yo...

This was our fourth summer growing grapes on our pergola. It was an abundant crop. We shared bunches of super sweet green and red table grapes with family and friends. I have learned that grapes grow best from vines three years old or more. But w...

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! ~ Psalm 133:1 Hymn Story One topic seldom addressed by the writers of modern worship songs is the church. Perhaps it's bec...

A couple weeks ago, I gave you a brief introduction and motivation for why you should care about the covenants. Recall that a covenant is a solemn commitment to a particular relationship, guaranteeing promises or obligations undertaken by one or b...

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the ...

Do you want to see the best of what humans can do together? Look at the Pyramids of Egypt. Inspire them to a great task, organize them, and equip them. What do you have, a pile of stones reminding us of millennia gone by. Do you want to see what o...

If you have spent any time around Christians at Christmas, you have probably heard the phrase ‘Jesus is the reason for the season’. It’s a good statement, intended to counteract the overwhelming voices saying otherwise, voices bent on making...

Imagine buying a partially completed house and having to complete that house from its current state. If you didn’t have the original blueprints, there’s a good chance some disaster would happen without knowing how the house had been built up t...

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” ~ John 3:16 Hymn Story Every so often, a song comes along that you know is going to endur...

24/7. Constant media. Instant communication. Endless entertainment. Sounds. Sights. Distractions. Every minute our minds and souls are bombarded. And far too often we let it in. While many of us spend time with the Lord daily, the world still snea...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ~ John 1:1 Hymn Story One of the earliest hymns to result from the collaboration between Keith Getty and Stuart Townend (which...

You can be in prison and be free, or you can be free and be in prison! We read about Paul and Silas in prison in Acts 16, experiencing treatment that was unjust, hurtful, and humiliating. And yet they were free in their inner man as they ...

Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High… Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered t...

The season of celebrating is almost upon us – and for a little more than a month – from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve – we will start seeing the surge of “picture-perfect” family moments on social media. The Thanksgiving din...

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ~ J...

Recently I was sharing with my friend, Cheryl* the concern I felt over my brother and his rejection of the gospel as found in Scripture. Eric* claims to love God and would say he’s a Christian who is heaven-bound, but his beliefs lack substance ...

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! ~ Psalm 130:1-2 Hymn Story In 2018, Keith & Kristyn Getty expressed their d...

Why does Faith Bible Church send and support global partners (what we used to call missionaries before it became a dangerous word)? Many years ago, I was at a missions banquet at a large church in Portland. The MC went around to the six global par...

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:11 Hymn Story Not a whole lot is known about the exact origin of this hymn. The text was first published un...

On Friday evening, September 5, 1969, I recited the following words to Louise Kinnoin before God and over 300 assembled witnesses, “I, Keith, take you Louise to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, from this d...

By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9 Hymn Story Singer/Songwriter Dustin Kensrue h...

“Is he your first?” My answer gets stuck in my throat as the barista hands me a coffee and tries to eke smiles out of my four-month-old, who seems far more interested in stuffing fingers into his mouth than smiling. That question gives me paus...

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inherit...

“Boom!!!!” The noise of crunching metal and a loud impact tell us that a car accident has occurred outside of our house. The sound of a barking dog might alert you to the arrival of a visitor. Crying from a child tells you that some sort of ne...

The house I grew up in was beautiful in the fall. A maple tree twice its height would be ablaze with the colors of autumn right out front. Pumpkins adorned the steps that led to the front door, which often had cornstalks propped up next to it and ...

Praise him, sun and moon,praise him, all you shining stars!Praise him, you highest heavens,and you waters above the heavens!Let them praise the name of the Lord!For he commanded ...

Have you ever wondered where your teenager came from? No, I do not mean that the way you think I do. I mean literally, do you know where this whole idea of teenager came from? The concept of the “teen years” is a rather recent social invention...

I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.Hosea 13:4 Hymn Story This new hymn was written collaboratively by members ...

I am super excited about the topic for our upcoming Transform Conference! Dr. Stuart Scott is going to help us all develop a better understanding of what God’s will is, and how we are to seek to live it out faithfully. Here is my attempt to give...

He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! - Revelation 22:20 Hymn Story The authorship of this hymn is unknown, as it was originally published without a title page...

People go public about a lot of things. Have you seen posts on social media of an engagement, a baby gender reveal for an expecting couple, or a new job? Baptism is exponentially more exciting and more important than any of those things. There is ...

I believe, help my unbelief! - Mark 9:24 Hymn Story The Apostle's Creed is one of the oldest existing confessional statements of the Christian faith, dating back to the 2nd century. The word "creed" comes f...

We have officially begun our 2019-20 fiscal year at Faith Bible Church! This may sound weird to some, but finances excite my heart—especially when we are discussing the finances of the church, because I am always excited to see how God ...

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!" - Revelation 4:8 Hymn Story Reginald Heber was an ardent missionary and hymn-writer during the early 19th century. He wanted to compi...

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! - Psalm 150:6 Hymn Story The words to this hymn were written in 1674 by an Anglican Bishop named Thomas Ken. These particular lyrics were original...