Preparing for communion

This Sunday we will observe the ordinance of communion in our worship service. As I have been preparing for that (and my sermon) this week, I have been thinking about the gospel and its implications. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians, it is most important — of first importance. John Stott captures some sense of […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles from the last week: Kevin DeYoung gives us something to think about: “I’ve learned over the years that the simplest way to judge gray areas in the Christian life like movies, television, and music is to ask one simple question: can I thank God for this?…” John Piper wrote a teenager about […]

The gospel and spiritual depression‬‏

Years ago, I came across the phrase, “the gospel is for every day.” That is, the gospel continues to have implications for the believer in Christ not only on the day of his conversion, but every day of his life. The gospel is the way we live. Each day we breath out confession and breath […]

When the gospel is dishonored

The gospel inherently is honorable. But the gospel can be dishonored by those who believe it, or purport to believe it. David Powlison elaborates: Free grace — past, present, and future — is effective grace. It intends to change us from our sins in the midst of our sufferings. The gracious Master, who learned obedience […]

The power of the gospel

Of First Importance publishes a quote each day that relates to the power of the gospel. Here are a few recent ones that have particularly encouraged my heart: I never despair of anyone becoming a decided Christian, whatever he may have been in days gone by. I know how great the change is from death […]

The gospel isn’t…

The gospel isn’t a self-help, get-better-on-your-own program. The gospel is a God-empowered, declared-righteous gift. The gospel isn’t how you make yourself better in order to get God’s good gifts and benefits (i.e., “it’s never bad to have God on your side; do all you can to make Him indebted to you”). The gospel is how […]

How a Japanese believer responded to the tsunami

In a somewhat extended article that is definitely worth reading, a Japanese believer talks about the spiritual needs in Japan, the goodness of God in the past week, the death of believers the tsunami, and the opportunity to demonstrate the transforming work of Christ in this circumstance: In a nation with such a small Christian […]

The biggest problem in your marriage

While talking with my NANC supervisor yesterday about a couple with marital problems that I am counseling, he said I should remind them, “you think the biggest problem in your marriage is your spouse and you; the biggest problem in your marriage is you and God.” And isn’t that always one of the root issues […]

Sunday Leftovers (2/27/11)

The gospel is for everyday. Every believer should preach the gospel to himself everyday. The gospel which saves us is also the gospel which sanctifies us. This is not merely the suppositions of men; the apostle Paul wrote in Col. 1:6 that the gospel “has come to you, just as in all the world also […]

Grab Bag

Believers live in a place that is not their home. It is often all-to-clear that this is not our permanent abode. And yet there are also so many manifestations of God’s grace and kindness even while living amidst fallenness: Wrestling is to Iowa as football is to Texas. So when high school student Joel Northrup […]

Good without God? We can be better?

A few weeks ago, the city of Fort Worth created quite a stir when four city buses began carrying an advertisement from the Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason stating, “Millions of Americans are Good Without God.” [Fort Worth Star-Telegram.] Negative response to the advertising campaign led to the city quickly deciding that no buses would […]

How big is your gospel?

We should preach the gospel, Jerry Bridges has said, to ourselves everyday. That is, the gospel is not a one-time event but a lifetime transformation. Paul said that we are not saved by the gospel and transformed by something else. The gospel, like Christ, is our life. A gospel which is only about the moment […]

Grab bag

A few sites worth reading in-between bites of leftover turkey sandwiches or trips to the store(s): If you are doing some internet shopping this weekend, check out the collection of deals for Christian books and resources amassed by Tim Challies. Desiring God has a 3-part series of questions and answers with writer Jerry Bridges. Dave […]

Are all religions equal?

In God Is Not One, Thabiti Anyabwile quotes from a recent book to demonstrate that all religions are not equal — Which of the following–baseball, basketball, tennis, or golf–is best at scoring runs? The answer of course is baseball, because runs is a term foreign to basketball, tennis, and golf alike. Different sports have different […]

Is it possible to be culturally cool and still effective for Christ?

Phillip Jensen asks Mark Dever the question, “How do you see the culture affecting us negatively?” Most helpful statement: “We can’t fall prey to the lie that we’re going to figure out a way to follow Jesus with there being no cost. We’re not going to figure out a way that people are not going […]