Jonathan Landry Cruse

Do you think of Jesus as being a happy person? Does a joyful Jesus seem incongruous to you?

Dr. Leland Ryken has done it again. After recently completing a trilogy of devotionals on the best of Christian hymnody, Ryken and P&R have partnered once more to release—in time for this year’s Lenten season—a beautiful anthology entitled Poetry of Redemption: An Illustrated Treasury of Good Friday and Easter Poems. Ryken served for decades as […]

Perhaps you’ve had the experience of ordering food at a restaurant, let’s say a burger, and you ask for the kitchen to hold the bacon (why you would do such a thing, I have no idea, but hey, it’s your order, not mine) and are promptly informed that this particular establishment permits no substitutions or […]

Ephesians 4:1–16 is a manual for church health and growth—an infallible one at that, not penned by so-called experts or gurus, but by the Holy Spirit himself. To the question, Who is to do the work of ministry? we find a surprising answer. The inspired Apostle Paul writes that Christ has given pastors and teachers […]

It used to be a question that only plagued television producers, but in today’s world it is legitimately on the minds of many. In the past year the term “cancel culture” has accurately described a growing trend: the removal of support from public figures due to objectionable behavior or unpopular opinions. Just as a show […]

How does God save sinners? This is one of the richest theological questions a person can ask, and the answer requires a mind-stretching and heart-enlarging quest that spans the whole of the Bible. The “how” of salvation takes us into the eternal counsels of the Triune God, through the covenant promises and relationships of redemptive […]

I had the providential pleasure this past Labor Day of reading Work That Makes a Difference (P&R, 2021) by Dan Doriani, completing a pair of books now dedicated to the subject. The recent holiday is proof that as a nation we do—or did—honor work. This is a good thing, considering that God created us for […]

This issue of identity is an important matter, and we know this innately. We know that there is a lot on the line if we get our identity wrong. Writing about transitioning to a male identity, Hollywood celebrity Elliot Page (formerly Ellen Page), said, “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am […]

Every Christian should be reading First Peter right now. Of course, all of Scripture is always relevant is profitable. But Peter’s words are powerfully applicable to us today. Why is that? Peter writes to instruct God-fearing saints in how they should conduct themselves in a godless society, as citizens living in a “pre-Christian” culture. That […]

The General Social Survey reports that only 30% of Americans agreed with the statement that “most people can be trusted.”[1] I think 70% percent of those surveyed gave an answer based on an honest assessment of their own hearts. We live in a world of deception, filled with deceivers—people just like you and me. We […]

“Word of the Father, late in flesh appearing.” Millions of people will sing these words from the classic advent carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful” in the ensuing weeks leading up to Christmas. As always, many of these voices will belong to unbelievers, who every year join in celebrating a story they have either outright […]

In a world where we are apparently deeming people and functions as “essential” or “non-essential,” it’s necessary for the Christian to grasp this foundational fact: gathered, corporate worship is the most important thing you will ever do. Period. No matter how we may feel or think about it (and let’s be honest—we often feel and […]

The various stay-at-home orders and social distancing mandates put in place around the world are highlighting a deep need within humanity: the need for community. This is, of course, because God made us to be together (Gen. 2:18). We want to see friendly faces across the dining room table and not just across the street. […]