At the beginning of a new year, it’s usually good to look back at the past year and think about how the Lord has worked in your life. I think the same is true of the most important parts of our lives. For me, one of those parts is this blog.

On the assumption that most of you reading this have read from this blog in the past year (if not, please read on), I’d like to review the most important resources that I published, the ones that were most read, and what I’m planning for this ministry.

Biblical Counseling

In the beginning of 2024, I published a few articles on the biblical teaching about counseling. The sad reality that I observed then I fear is still prevalent in western assemblies — most believers are in need of counseling, but they are struggling along without it because most of their closest Christian friends are incompetent to provide it. If you’d like to learn the basics of biblical counseling, then consider reading this introduction:

The Need for Common Christian Counseling

The King’s Hand in History Podcast

Next in notable developments for the blog was the addition of The King’s Hand in History Podcast to the resources available here. Hosted by me and an elder friend, this podcast exists to explain the most relevant and impactful events of world history from a biblical and practical perspective. If you’ve never listened to the podcast, I recommend listening to our first official episode (the quality has improved since then): https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hUO2hMaS2qTKoq7rj1VOI?si=DPwaftlNTBq5yf2quP6Nrg

Historical Articles

After beginning to produce the podcast, I decided that I wanted to supplement some episodes with some analysis and application of historical events. First, I wrote on the parallels between the religion of transhumanism and the humanistic philosophy/religion of the Renaissance period. Then, I pointed out the error in thinking that the Protestant Reformation is something that can be closely imitated today in Christian efforts to reform western Christianity. Third, I described the faithfulness and successes of the Anabaptist reformers during the Reformation. After that, I published an article on the importance of understanding the history of Christianity for new believers, which I highly recommend you read.

Here are the links to the aforementioned articles:

  1. https://bearingchrist.blog/2024/07/28/the-need-for-a-christian-renaissance-to-oppose-todays-transhumanist-renaissance/
  2. https://bearingchrist.blog/2024/08/04/the-reformation-is-no-recipe-for-evangelical-reform/
  3. https://bearingchrist.blog/2024/08/14/the-true-reformers-of-the-reformation-not-the-reformers/
  4. https://bearingchrist.blog/2024/10/06/how-to-establish-new-christians-in-the-true-faith-ground-them-in-the-historical-progression-of-christianity/

YouTube Bible Studies

Another significant resource that I’ve added to the site is the link to my YouTube channel, where the podcast is published, and where I post historical sermon readings, and occasional Bible studies. So far, you can find Bible studies/devotionals about heavenly living, spiritual warfare, Christian love, biblical manhood, and a some overviews of Colossians, 1 Peter, and 2 Timothy. If you’re interested in watching any of these, please visit:

http://www.youtube.com/@christophervandusen

Christian Unity and Love

From last Fall until last week, I’ve also been publishing lessons on the New Testament teaching about the relationships that believers should cultivate between each other. First, I called for western Christians to unite in a concentrated effort to restore the western form of Christianity to New Testament standards. Then, I published an article prefacing my recent series on Major Problems in Western Christianity, explaining How to Treat Your Fellow Christians Like Your Fellow-Members and Siblings. Last but not least, since the beginning of December, I’ve been publishing Bible studies addressing the major flaws in western Christian attitudes and practice. This includes how to live out New Testament brotherly love, how to understand what Christian communities are supposed to be accomplishing, and four of the main priorities that the apostles give instruction for in the New Testament letters, from humility to group prayer.

If you’ve yet to read any of the Major Western Problems series, I strongly suggest you start here:

The Major Problems with Western Evangelical Christianity: An Introduction

Most Read Articles

In 2024, the visitors to this blog found four articles published a while ago to be most interesting. The one with the most views was “Jesus Shows His Disciples His Truer Form,” which is a commentary on the Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-13.

Far more worthy of your consideration is the lesson with the next highest number of views — “The Early Church Met to Break Bread”. This is a study of the New Testament teaching about the Lord’s Supper, which reveals that this ceremony was the central activity engaged in when the first Christians gathered as assemblies. Further, I show that the Lord’s Supper was originally a supper, and not a sip and a snack. I also argue about the rich benefits of celebrating this rite as part of a meal.

Second, visitors paid much attention to “The Nature of God’s Kingdom in the Gospel of Luke,” which is a survey of the characteristics of the kingdom of God, as described in Luke’s narrative of Jesus’s life. I wrote this after doing an intense study of Luke, and finding that its teaching about God’s kingdom is much different from many of the popular evangelical beliefs about it. Luke shows us that God’s kingdom came when Jesus came, and has been increasing ever since. Now, when you put your trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation, you enter God’s kingdom immediately through the Holy Spirit.

Last but not least in the list of top 4 articles from 2024 is “The Christlike Love that Christians Overwhelmingly Lack”. This is a basic explanation of the main features of brotherly love in the New Testament, and how most present-day western believers fail to emulate it.

From considering the popularity of these lessons in comparison with the rest, I think it’s safe to say that people are seeking to understand the nature of Jesus, the Lord’s Supper, God’s kingdom, and true Christlike love. If you used this blog to study these topics, I encourage you to press on in experiencing these wondrous blessings of God.

If you’ve never understood the Lord’s Supper or God’s kingdom, please consider reading these studies:

  1. https://bearingchrist.blog/2022/02/13/the-early-church-met-to-break-bread/
  2. https://bearingchrist.blog/2023/06/22/the-nature-of-gods-kingdom-in-the-gospel-of-luke/

Plans for Bearing Christ Crucified and Risen

As always, I will always seek to bear the message of Jesus’s cross and resurrection to help you know Him more, and experience the power of His resurrection. I will continue to publish Bible studies that are careful explanations of the teachings of God’s Word, and that teach you both how to study for yourself, and how to apply Scripture to your specific life situation.

Further, The King’s Hand in History will continue to be featured mostly on a weekly basis, as well as the occasional YouTube message. However, keep your eye out for new studies on New Testament assembly practice, as well as for an upcoming book that’s in the works on reviving NT Christian living in practical ways.

This 2,025th year of our Lord, I encourage you to seek to know Him and His death for our life. If you don’t understand the heart-tranforming significance of Jesus’s death and resurrection, then please read the following carefully. I seek to make Jesus, His death, and resurrection known because it’s your only hope of rescue from eternal destruction, and from your own corrupt nature. Because of our rebellion against our Creator at our core, we are naturally deserving of His hatred and punishment. This is why all of us die. However, since our crimes are against an eternal Person, our punishment must be eternal. That’s why the fate of all who fail to receive God’s forgiveness is eternal hell. In spite of your best efforts, there’s nothing you can do to make up for your offenses against God. He demands absolutely perfect worship and obedience to Him. And this is why Jesus came. Leaving heaven to become a man, He was born of a virgin, since He was the eternally existent Son of God. But after becoming the perfect man, He lived an adult life of perfect love and worship toward God. Then, He willingly let Himself suffer the worst punishment of time — crucifixion. It wasn’t for anything wrong He did, but He allowed the Father to punish, torment, and kill Him through human means in our place. That is, He took the punishment we deserve from God, so our debt would be paid. He then rose from the dead, appeared to many, and went into heaven to reign over the universe. His promise is that He’s coming soon to judge everyone perfectly, and reward them according to the character of their lives. God’s command is that you give up your proud and selfish thinking, acknowledge your guilt, and rely on Jesus to provide you with God’s complete forgiveness, peace, and blessing. Although you deserve hell, Jesus promises you eternal life and peace with God if you will give up your rebellion against Him, and trust Him to save and rule you as your God and Lord. I urge you to do so today, and have your sins, guilt, and evil washed away through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus!