Reflections from a Debate on Eternal Security
On February 23, 2022, I took part in a debate hosted by Pastor Mark Cowart and Church for All Nations in Colorado Springs—the topic was “Once Saved Always Saved.” … read more
Posts
Where Discounts Don’t Apply
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeWe are at a time of the year when everyone is looking for discounts. Maybe you got up super early on black Friday and fought the crowds, or perhaps you scoured the internet on Cyber- Monday endeavoring to snag one or more gifts at a deep discount. Everybody loves getting a great deal on gifts, don’t they? But some things in life are so sacred that only paying full price is appropriate. God paid full price for us when Jesus died on the cross—truly the debt of our sin was paid in full. … read more
Two Altar Call Extremes by Mark Boer
/in Articles by Others /by Tony CookeDoing the work of an evangelist, though not being one, has long been important to me as a pastor. I want to see people saved. I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to win them to Christ if they come to our Sunday services – thus the altar call. I am a believer in giving this type of invitation every Sunday and have seen first-hand the fruit that comes from giving an effective one. Because of this, I have given much thought to both what is said and how it is said. … read more
Salvation is a Free Gift that Will Cost You Everything! by Jerry Moyer
/in Articles by Others /by Tony CookeI have noticed that when Christians describe their relationship with Jesus, they usually say “Jesus is my Lord and Savior.” Many times, it’s said so fast that it’s all slurred together like “Lordandsavior.” Like it’s all one word. Over the last several decades the church has focused a lot on the savior part and with much teaching on grace as of late most people understand that salvation is a free gift that is paid for with the blood of Jesus that washes away our sin, so we can be born again. … read more
A Practical, Functional Salvation: Not Just Two Events by Rodney Lloyd
/in Articles by Others /by Tony CookeMore than anything else Christianity is about the Father and His family – God and His people, the church, and the richness of the life He has given us – love, joy, peace, patience, forgiveness, etc. It is about the omnipotent God and His unfailing, unflagging love, who worked for millennia to win back the height of His creation – humans. It is about Him through the sacrifice of Jesus bringing us into a purposeful life of destiny. It is about being raised up as sons and daughters, equipped to do God’s work (Ephesians 4:12 NLT). … read more
Why I Welcome Funeral Opportunities for the Unchurched by David Osborne
/in Articles by Others /by Tony CookeSome time ago, I was getting out my car to walk into the funeral home for a person I had never met. In that moment I thought, “Am I really going to make a difference today?” I was tired and overwhelmed with many other ministry tasks yet to perform that week. In the middle of the groan that came from my soul came the familiar voice of our Savior by His Spirit saying, “Your ‘showing up’ changes everything for them.” I knew in an instant that regardless of how well I conducted the service, which is a pressure I always feel, I had already provided the family with something they desperately needed: someone to minister to their pain. … read more
The Parable of the Push-Ups and the Donuts
/in Stories and Illustrations /by Tony CookeThere was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending school in a western state. Mr. Christianson taught at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Mr. Christianson’s class. … read more
Connect with TCM
Search our Site
Newsletter
