The news of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School’s plan to leave Chicagoland and the United States to merge with Trinity Western University in Canada marks a watershed moment in theological education.

Defining what makes a church biblical can be tricky. Church expressions vary across time and culture. Yet I think six essential marks define what a biblical church actually is.

As we look at the State of the Church in 2025, we see both disruption and opportunity, uncertainty and hope. The trends of declining Christian identification and the rise of the nones are real and pressing. That said, we have no reason to consider these current trends inevitable or inescapable.

Because of my commitment to the importance of theological education, I keep an eye on the state of seminary education in our nation.

While AI offers exciting opportunities for ministry, its use also raises important ethical questions. From sermon writing to administrative tasks, church leaders must carefully weigh the benefits and potential pitfalls of integrating AI into their work.

We need to be preachers who are constantly renewing our commitment to proclaiming God's Word, with expository preaching as central.

I encourage a renewal to expository preaching while recognizing there are other ways to preach that honor the Word and effectively teach the Bible.

Expository preaching is the best, but not the only biblically mandated preaching approach.

Expository preaching plays a vital role in the life of the church. The regular, faithful preaching of the Bible in weekly corporate worship services has endured as one of the most important qualities of the Christian faith. 

Do denominations matter? "Associating" and "cooperating" for a common goal is easier said than done. Cooperation requires common conviction, unity, and grace.