As we come to the end of our study in 2 Timothy, it is a good time to look back at this short but rich letter. We called our series, "The VBC's" as a reminder that the foundational truths Paul is passing on to Timothy for the benefit of his...
I was awakened between 3 and 4 am one morning this week to the sound of severe wind gusts. A High Wind Warning had been issued the previous day, and I was uneasy when I went to bed, having trouble falling asleep. My concern was founded in personal experience, as...
Christmas is often portrayed as a season of joy, warmth, and peace. Yet for many, it brings sorrow, uncertainty, and even despair. In a world fractured by sin and filled with suffering, the familiar carols, glittering lights, and festive celebrations can feel strangely out of place. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow understood...
Editor’s note: This quarterly "Good to Know" column is meant to provide timely and clear communication to the VBC church body. If you have a suggestion for items you would like to see in this column in the future, please email amanda@spokanevbc.org. VBC's Elder Team Ben Orchard, Chris Martin, Doug...
“If we deny Him, He also will deny us…” This phrase from 2 Timothy 2:12 has often stirred fear in the heart of believers. Is this verse teaching that a moment of weakness (such as denouncing Christ to avoid persecution or questioning our faith while wrestling with unrepented sin) can...
Umbrellas provide protection from the rain and wind, except when they are cheap and not well-made. They blow upward and are rendered useless. We grumble to ourselves that we should have bought a better and stronger one. A cheap umbrella is no match for the winds and torrential rains, just...
If your name appeared in the Bible, what would it reveal about you? If your name appeared in the Bible, what would be the context? If your name appeared in the Bible, what would it say about your faith and character? The Bible contains an incredible number of individual names....
Once upon a time, a long time ago, it was not uncommon for companies to market their wares in brightly colored books of cheap paper called catalogues. It may be a shock to some of you that such a quaint and analogue technique was used by even technologically forward-thinking companies,...
Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud Not of war only, but detractions rude, Guided by faith and matchless fortitude, To peace and truth thy glorious way hast ploughed… John Milton, Sonnet XVI In 1652, a council of ministers gathered with Lord Cromwell to discuss how to approach...
The young man who approached me after Sunday’s sermon was sincere in his question. He was quite astute in pointing out the tension in the texts we discussed about godliness in our lives. On one hand, we are instructed to pursue godliness, and on the other hand, godliness is the...
The murder of Charlie Kirk has shaken our hearts and our nation. As we try to make sense of this evil, we must look first and foremost to God. This is a time when both theology and God’s presence bring sense and comfort in the face of senselessness and evil....