Articles by Paul Ellis

The old has gone, gone, gone

October 17, 2019 // 2 Comments

If there’s one thing I have learned from the movies, it’s that there is no problem that can’t be solved by faking your own death and fleeing to South America. Think of a wiseguy who is part of a crime family. He is under pressure from his superiors to risk his life by engaging in criminal activities. At the [...]

Three things people get wrong about the Laodiceans

October 10, 2019 // 9 Comments

The Laodicean church is probably the most infamous church in history. Preachers use it as an example of how Jesus deals with slack Christians. “Jesus is angry with these guys and he’ll be angry with you unless you get on fire for the Lord!” Demonstrating their expertise on the subject, they refer to an [...]

Sneak peek: Paul’s next book (And how to get your name in it!)

October 3, 2019 // 8 Comments

Confession time: I sometimes struggle to tell people the good news. As a classic introvert, the thought of walking up to a stranger and starting a conversation about anything, let alone anything spiritual, fills me with dread. I know some people have a knack for this, but I don’t. It just doesn’t come [...]

How to read the Bible

September 26, 2019 // 9 Comments

The actor Charlie Chaplin once entered a Charlie Chaplin lookalike contest and lost. True story. Why did Charlie Chaplin go unrecognized? Surely it was because we see what we expect to see. No one expected the real Charlie Chaplin to show up, so no one saw him when he did. Even so, it was quite an oversight. [...]

How to be content

September 19, 2019 // 13 Comments

Are you a contented Christian? Or do you have a quiet unease that God is displeased with you and unhappy with your performance? Are you resting in his righteousness? Or are you striving to make yourself acceptable to God? Many churchgoers are zealous for God with a zeal based on ignorance and unbelief. They are [...]

Is my brother going to hell?

September 12, 2019 // 31 Comments

I get a lot of mail, much more than I can respond to. But occasionally when reading something I sense the Lord saying to me, “Hit reply and start typing.” This happened to me recently, after a reader asked me the following question: My brother (a lifelong Christian) was diagnosed with cancer over the last [...]

Who are the Nicolaitans among us?

September 5, 2019 // 25 Comments

The Nicolaitans are the boogeymen of the Bible. Since the scriptures say almost nothing about them – except that they were false teachers whose deeds Jesus hated (see Rev. 2) – they are a blank sheet onto which we can write just about anything. If there is a group in the church that disagrees with the [...]

The secret to successful Christian living

August 22, 2019 // 29 Comments

There is a secret to living this Christian life, and it’s a secret most Christians don’t know. If you knew this secret, it would set you free from dead works and insecurity. Here it is: This is a faithful saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him. (2 Tim. 2:11, NKJV) If you don’t know [...]

Good news for small churches

August 16, 2019 // 10 Comments

Jesus said the Philadelphians were doing well, “because you have a little power, have kept my word, and have not denied my name” (Rev. 3:8b). What does it mean to have little power? A church with little power is a small or weak church. The Philadelphians weren’t anything special. They lacked the [...]

The accepting church

August 1, 2019 // 24 Comments

Freedom is found in knowing that God loves and accepts you. When you know beyond all doubt that you are your Daddy’s delight, you will be free from the need to please others. The pressure to perform will lift and the unholy expectations of men will seem ridiculous. My Father is pleased with me. I don’t have [...]

The high cost of free grace

July 18, 2019 // 77 Comments

The gospel of grace is not a philosophy to debate or a lifestyle to adopt. It is the power of God that saves those who receive it. Grace is God blessing us for no other reason than he loves us. The good news reveals that the grace that sets us free is entirely free – there’s nothing to pay because Jesus paid [...]

Why did Jesus send letters from heaven?

July 11, 2019 // 9 Comments

The letters from Jesus found in Revelation 2 and 3 contain two things everyone of us needs to navigate life’s trials: a picture of Jesus and a promise from Jesus. When you’re going through hard times, you need to see Jesus, who is above your circumstances, and when you’re battling fear and anxiety, you need [...]