The Master's Seminary Journal

What does the Bible say about heaven and hell? The Bible is clear that both heaven and hell are real places. This is not just something that is part of someone's imagination. It's not a fantasy or a fairy tale. Heaven is real, and hell is also real. How does the Bible define heaven? Heaven is the place where God is visibly present. It is His presence that defines heaven. And in fact, it is His presence that makes heaven heaven.

What does the Bible say about suffering and evil in this world? When we think about the issue of suffering and evil in this world, it's a massive topic. It's one that those who oppose Christianity use to object to the existence of God and the reality of the Bible. And for those who are believers, it's a massive question that we struggle with, particularly when we're in trial.

On the very first page of Scripture, we encounter an emphatic statement of the biblical worldview, one that presupposes the existence of God as the almighty, omnipotent Creator who has no equals. Genesis 1 tells us as much about God as it does about creation. So when we read “in the beginning God created,” we understand that, contrary to an atheistic worldview, the Bible teaches that God exists.

Few maxims are as well-known as “actions speak louder than words.” It is one of the most widely acclaimed principles of proper ethical conduct for any realm of life. As one might expect, it is even woven into several of the ancient fables of Aesop (c. 620-564 BC), including that of “The Boasting Traveler”: A certain man who visited foreign lands could talk of little when he returned to his home except the wonderful adventures he had met with and the great deeds he had done abroad.

A substantial portion of missional philosophy rests on the belief that the gospel not only may be, but must be contextualized, or adapted, across cultures and subcultures in order to be understood. In a conversation I had with a proponent of the contextualization of the gospel, this person claimed something that may at first seem attractive: When it comes to the gospel, contextualization is placing the gospel into a context in a way that the gospel can be understood.

Doctrine in Focus: The Trinity Nathan Busenitz | June 30, 2026 Why do Christians believe in the doctrine of the Trinity? Although the term Trinity does not occur in Scripture, the concept is inherently biblical. The Trinitarian nature of God is revealed implicitly in the Old Testament and explicitly in the New.. The King Who Can Cleanse Dan Jarms | May 01, 2026 Think of the most socially shameful and defiling sin you can imagine.

"But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." —Galatians 6:14 There are only two religions in the world, only two. It has always been that way and it will always be that way. They are the religions of human achievement and of divine achievement. One is self-salvation, and the other is grace-salvation.

As a pastor, how you know and love your fellow leaders could make the difference between success and failure in ministry. The apostle Paul presents a superior example for us in this area. The Pastor as Listener Matt Ng | February 20, 2026 A few years ago, my friend and ministry co-laborer Corey Williams wrote a poignant article here on the blog about the need for pastors to practice the art of listening. As Corey helpfully points out, pastors can neglect to listen to others because..

Why do Christians believe in the doctrine of the Trinity? Although the term Trinity does not occur in Scripture, the concept is inherently biblical. The Trinitarian nature of God is revealed implicitly in the Old Testament and explicitly in the New Testament. The doctrine of the Trinity is founded on two fundamental theological realities: (1) There is one true God. (2) The one God has eternally existed as three distinct Persons, each of whom is equally and fully God.

Recently, a student asked me a question that I had never been asked before: "What was your favorite thing about studying at The Master's Seminary?" I appreciated the opportunity to pause and reflect on that question. Looking back, my time at The Master's Seminary was truly one of the greatest blessings of my life. When my wife and I moved from Northwest Ohio to Southern California in 2018, we had no idea what to expect.