Paul challenges believers to a walk of love, and a walk in the light.

Over the last decade, the West has seen China emerge as a formidable economic power; its GDP is second only to the United States. When Western leaders welcomed China into the world trading system in 2001, many believed that China would automatically become freer as it became richer. When that did not occur, the Trump administration believed that coercion, high tariffs and sanctions would change China’s behavior. That has not worked either. Few doubt that the greatest foreign policy and economic challenge facing the US is China. How should we think about the growing economic powerhouse, which also seeks military domination of Asia as well?

The Equality Act of 2021 has passed the House of Representatives. At this point it is highly doubtful it will pass the Senate. What is this proposed law? What is its potential impact and should Christians be concerned about this proposed law?

Paul illustrates his strategy for holiness (detailed in 4:17-24) with 5 specific illustrations.

Timothy Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; he is 70 years old. Keller is one of my favorite authors, and several of his books have had a profound influence on my life and ministry. He recently published an article in The Atlantic honestly reflecting on his imminent death.

Paul describes Christ’s dispensing of gifted leaders to the church to equip the saints for ministry and to edify the church so that it can be unified around sound doctrine and achieve growth and maturity in Christ.

Over the last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has created disruption and chaos in American civilization. It fostered an economic recession but also a new way of communicating (e.g., Zoom). But certain expectations have also has been proven to be wrong. For example, many social science specialists predicted a boom in the American birthrate. Apparently, it has had the opposite effect. For a number of years, America’s birthrate has been declining and the pandemic has not reversed that trend. Furthermore, technology has fostered novel ways to become pregnant, with devastating consequences. I will argue that both of these trends provide further evidence of a civilization that has lost its way.

Paul describes the walk of unity, which, as with our Trintarian God, manifests a unique diversity within the unity of the body of Christ.

In mid-February, conservative talk radio personality Rush Limbaugh died of lung cancer; he was 70 years old. Ross Douthat captures his importance: He “was probably the most influential figure among the men who defined conservatism after Ronald Reagan. He was the presiding genius of a media revolution that still reverberates today—on your podcast as much as talk radio.” But Limbaugh as a cultural phenomenon needs to be placed in a historical context.

Paul prays for the Holy Spirit’s transforming power, for Jesus to be the controlling force in our lives and for the capacity to fully understand and know the riches of God and His love.