Last night we spent more time discussing issues related to the cross than I had intended. Our comments surfaced a number of questions and issues that relate to why I have been preaching the sermon series that I have been preaching for the past 3 months. In a simple sentence, the cross and the work […]
Read More A few more thoughts on ChristologyIt’s easy and tempting to read the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector and presume that I am safe from self-righteousness and that the account is given for someone unlike me. In truth, all men tend towards self-righteousness (it’s called “pride,” in its most basic form). And that tendency is dangerous. Self-righteous people […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (6/29/08)It is not unusual for me to leave out things from a sermon that I had originally intended to say. It is unusual that I intentionally leave out as much as I did Sunday. I not only left out a complete point, accounting for a full page of notes (out of about 3-1/2 pages total), […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (6/22/08)Sunday afternoon I began reading a book I bought about a month ago — Jesus Made in America: A Cultural History from the Puritans to the Passion of the Christ. The author, Stephen Nichols, is attempting to trace the history of American thought towards Jesus Christ and how that thinking was heavily influenced by contemporary […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (5/25/08)What does it mean that God is a righteous judge? John Piper offers this explanation: God’s righteousness is essentially his unswerving allegiance to his own name and his own glory. God is righteous to the degree that he upholds and displays the honor of his name. He is righteous when he values most what is […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (5/18/08)A few thoughts about various items in Sunday’s sermon — Ransom is release from sin. And I need release from sin (though you and I are both want to admit it). In a recent blog post on Desiring God, Abraham Piper helped me think clearly about this issue. We usually think ourselves to be more […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (5/11/08)Here is the list of verses that I came up with from the Gospels that either directly stated or implied the sacrificial work of Christ (these are the verses that were the foundation for yesterday’s message): Matthew 16:21ff Matthew 17:9-12 Matthew 26:26-29 Luke 2:34-35 Luke 17:31 Luke 22:37 Luke 23:15 Luke 23:28 Luke 24:6ff, 26ff […]
Read More A few verses on the sacrifice of ChristSince I didn’t quite finish my sermon, here are a couple of thoughts that remain in my mind from this great passage: What is interesting to note is that not only does the NT picture Christ as the lamb sacrificed, but also as the priest who offers Himself as that sacrifice (Heb. 9:10ff). It is […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (5/4/08)As I mentioned in my message, I have long been struck by the repeated emphasis on the necessity of Christ’s death. He had to go to the cross. It was not optional. Why is it important to stress the necessity of the cross? Because there is a connection between what we believe about the cross […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (4/27/08)The audio from the Solus Christus conference held at Countryside Bible Church last weekend is now online. Here are the links to the various sermons: Christ: Our Only Mediator (Al Mohler) Christ: Our Only Righteousness (Tom Pennington) Christ: Our Only Advocate (Phil Johnson) A Tale of Two Covenants (Phil Johnson) Christ Alone: The Heart of […]
Read More Solus Christus AudioI regularly look for and purchase and read books about Jesus Christ — and particularly Christ and the cross. The cross is of first importance for the believer. We cannot think about it too much. We often think about it too little. So when I read an encouragement by Tim Challies to purchase The Cross […]
Read More Book Review: The Cross He BoreAs today is Ash Wednesday, this is a common question — “what are you giving up for Lent?” I’ve heard a variety of answers — from the sublime to the ridiculous (but mostly ridiculous) — cole slaw, eye-liner, premarital sex with a fiancé, running yellow lights among them. Even giving up Lent. Hmmm. I am […]
Read More What are you giving up for Lent?I was introduced to the poetry of George Herbert 25 years ago in a college literature class. In fact, I had to purchase a textbook comprised almost entirely of his poetry. I didn’t have an appreciation for his writing at the time — even after reading a significant amount from that book. Now I do. […]
Read More The sacrifice of ChristTozer said it well when he wrote the following in The Pursuit of God: There must be somewhere a fixed center against which everything else is measured, where the law of relativity does not enter and we can say “IS” and make no allowances. Such a center is God. When God would make His Name […]
Read More The great "I am" and a correctionThe gospel of John was written to introduce the readers to Christ in such a way that they would be stimulated to believe Him. John accomplishes this through the seven-fold declaration of Christ’s “I am’s,” through the seven miracles of Christ, and even through the very names that John uses to refer to Christ. Each […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (1/27/08)
