Sunday Leftovers (7/19/09)

The depravity of man is not a subject that is often widely embraced or enjoyed. “Thanks, Pastor, for telling me what a terrible sinner and how awful my condition is,” is not a typical response to the topic of sin and depravity. Yet two truths must be acknowledged — Scripture is unrelenting in its affirmation […]

One more thought about genealogies and history…

In writing the previous post about genealogies, I came across the following statement from John Piper. It is a reminder not only of the sovereignty of God over the course of our individual lives (our genealogies), but over the course of all history: The past is a record of setbacks and how people coped with […]

Why genealogies?

We are in the midst of about 10 days of reading through the book of First Chronicles. Reading through endless lists of names that are difficult to pronounce for the English-speaking tongue and without having any references to any story to the majority of those names makes one wonder: just why does God list these […]

Sunday Leftovers (7/12/09)

Though we would rarely verbalize it this way, at times our actions and attitudes reflect a doubt that God is able to sanctify and change us: “That’s just the way I am — I’ve always been that way, and I always will be that way.” Such an attitude reflects a doubt in the wisdom of […]

Sunday Leftovers (7/5/09)

When I was a child, growing up in my parent’s home, it was not uncommon for Dad to ask me to pray for something in the evening, and often it might be for missionaries. To my recollection, my prayers would invariably be something like this —”Dear God, please bless all the missionaries (in the whole […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/28/09)

It is human nature to break promises. Governments make and break promises. Advertisers and politicians make and break promises. Employers and employees, preachers and church members, parents and children, husbands and wives, and friends and relatives all make promises to each other which often are broken. Some are made with the best of intentions, and […]

Sunday Leftovers (5/31/09)

The mystery revealed by God is the gospel and its effects. The mystery that was not known in the Old Testament and has now been revealed by the Holy Spirit through the apostles and the prophets. Specifically, this mystery is the working of the gospel to include the Gentiles into the plan of salvation, according […]

Sunday Leftovers (5/24/09)

Preaching from Ephesians 1:7, John Calvin said, God puts our sins out of his remembrance and drowns them in the depths of the sea, and, moreover, receives the payment that was offered him in the person of his only Son. This is the gift of redemption that comes from God through the God-Man Jesus Christ. […]

Sunday Leftovers (5/3/09)

For all the questions that may be raised about the doctrine of divine, unconditional election, what is particularly striking about Ephesians 1:4 is its clarity and simplicity. That God was the one doing the choosing is unmistakable. That man is incapable of offering anything meritorious for his salvation, is also clear. God chose before the […]

Sunday Leftovers (4/26/09)

In preparation for yesterday’s message on Ephesians 1:4 (and the one or two that will follow it), I have not only done a fair bit of reading, but have also listened to a number of sermons that have benefited me. The ones I have linked below have been the greatest help to me. [Aside: I […]

Sunday Leftovers (4/19/09)

To bless God (Eph. 1:3) does not mean that we contribute anything to the person of God; He is God whether we bless Him, honor Him, acknowledge Him or not. To bless Him means to give thanks and to pronounce Him as being ever worthy of our praise and worship. To bless God is to […]

Today’s Quote – Scripture (Calvin)

John Calvin, in Let Christ Be Magnified: The Word of God teaches so clearly, that it enlightens at the first glance. It must penetrate to the very bottom of your hearts. It is not enough to feel a few slight stings and pricks; you must be wounded, pierced through and through by the Word; and […]

Today’s Quote – Scripture (d’Aubigne)

J. H. Merle d’Aubigne, Let Christ Be Magnified: The Word of God is the only power that can subdue the rebellion of our heart. There is a power in our fallen nature which revolets against divine truth, and which nothing human can overcome. No teaching of man will do it, not even that of your […]

Sunday Leftovers (4/5/09)

When I was four or five years old, it was not uncommon for me to ask my mother if I could use a table knife for a few minutes. I would take the knife to my bedroom, grab my green ceramic piggy bank, hop on my bed and carefully use the knife to extract the […]

Today’s Quote – Scripture (Sibbes)

Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed: All sin is either from false principles, or ignorance, or thoughtlessness, or unbelief of what is true.…It is good, therefore, to store up true principles in our hearts, and to refresh them often, that, in virtue of them, our affections and actions may be more vigorous.