Intimate Allies (pt. 5): A Message I Don’t Approve

In the season of platform messages and political adds, I feel that it is important to assert that I approved of the first four messages that Tremper Longman and Dan Allender present in their book Intimate Allies.  Their emphasis on spiritual warfare and the kingdom of God, evangelism and discipleship, as well as biblical theology to [...]

Intimate Allies (pt. 4): A Biblical Theology of Marriage

Intimate Allies: A Biblical Theology of Marriage
The Bible speaks of marriage from Genesis 1 to the end of the book of Revelation… We will conclude our meditation on the Bible’s vision of marriage by exploring God’s design for marriage and sexuality as it unfolds in the narrative of Scriptures.  As we do this, we will [...]

Intimate Allies (pt. 3): A Call for Christian Maturity

Discipleship: Maturation Through Marriage
In addition to bolstering evangelism, Dan Allender and Tremper Longman posit the integral role that marriage has in discipleship.  Consider their words:
The purposes of our marriages are to create life and to shape life to maturity.  A marriage is no better than the vision we have for one another and the willingness we [...]

Intimate Allies (pt. 2): Marriage and Evangelism

Evangelism: Marriage Depicts the Mystery of Christ and the Church
In Intimate Allies, Dan Allender and Tremper Longman show how marriage reflects to the watching a world a picture of the gospel, while at the same time for those Christian couples committed to growing in Christ-like conformity, it provides powerful opportunities for discipleship and sanctification.  [...]

Intimate Allies (pt. 1): Marriage Means War

Why does the bridegroom stand on the right side of the bride? 
The legend goes:
Long ago, the right arm was considered the sword arm of most fighting men. If a man had to protect his bride, he would hold her with his left hand, and fight off attackers with his right arm.  The reason that men [...]