John Stott reminds us that there is value in reading passages that appear to be for unbelievers only (passages like Eph. 5:1-6). His words are another way of saying that we need the gospel every day. We live dependent on gospel truth every moment of our lives: It would be easy for Christians to speed-read […]
Read More It’s worth readingLast weekend we completed our first of three weekends of training in the Biblical Counselor Training Conference. All the audio for the conference (all ten sessions) is now available online. Lance Quinn also spoke twice on Sunday morning, addressing the topic, “When Affliction Comes” (Ps. 119) during Sunday School, and then providing a 15-point overview […]
Read More Conference updateTitle: Jesus: the Only Way to God Author: John Piper Publisher: Baker, 2010; 123 pp. $5.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): The gospel is always under attack. Recently I read this statement — from someone who for many years was considered to be in at least the same corridor of conservative evangelicalism, if not in the classroom […]
Read More Book Review: Jesus: the Only Way to GodRecently found on the internet: “Do You See the Glory of God in the Sun? Spurgeon’s Battle Against Depression” (see also Randy Alcorn’s series on depression). Justin Taylor has some good thoughts about distinguishing between Christianity and Mormonism. At “Humble Beginnings” (audio) Tim Challies tells the story of pastor Jeff Anderson and a medium-sized church […]
Read More Grab bagCount these among famous first words: “What hath God wrought?” Samuel F. B. Morse sent this message over the world’s first commercial telegraph line on May 24, 1844. “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” This message of Aug. 16, 1858, was the first official communication sent over a […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (8/29/10)John Piper frequently quotes the French philosopher Pascal, who wrote in Pensees, “All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. the cause of some going to war and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attending with different views. The will […]
Read More Seeking happiness through sorrowThis is the seventh of a series of reflections of gratitude on 20 years of ministry at GBC. For many years I have been collecting books about the cross of Christ. I am captivated by the cross and find my heart to a love of Christ by these deep reflections on what was accomplished at […]
Read More Reflections on Twenty Years of Ministry: Remembering ChristDavid Platt asks what he calls “The Radical Question.” Here is the question: What is Jesus worth to you? Do you believe he is worth abandoning everything for? Do you really believe Jesus is so good, so satisfying, and so rewarding that you will leave all you own and all you are to find your […]
Read More The Radical QuestionTitle: What is the Gospel? Author: Greg Gilbert Publisher: Crossway, 2010; 128 pp. $12.95 Recommendation (4-star scale): Not all commendable books are long. Not all worthwhile books are complex. Not all valuable books are ground-breaking. Such is the case with Greg Gilbert’s first published work. It is not long (only 128 pages; it can be […]
Read More Book Review: What is the Gospel?The breakout sessions from the recent Together for the Gospel conference are now available for download. After now listening to most of the main sessions, I’m really looking forward to these additional messages. You can download the breakout sessions here.
Read More T4G breakout sessions now availableYesterday I interacted with two stories relating to the nature of saving faith. When a man is genuinely saved, the fruit of that salvation will be evidenced in his life. That is, empowered by the Holy Spirit, he will be changed so that while prior to salvation he could do nothing good, now after salvation […]
Read More Faith and worksAl Mohler, “The Pill Turns 50” “Has God Predetermined Everything? Even Sin?“ “Why fight sin if God uses it for good anyway?” Together for the Gospel panel discussions are now available A new book by John Piper, Jesus, the Only Way to God (July, 2010) Practical suggestions for how to encourage missionaries — and without […]
Read More Grab bagWhen offering the gospel, John Piper asks the question, “If you can have all the good things and blessings of Heaven, and God is not there, do you still want Heaven?” The point of the question is to elicit what the desire of the individual is — does he want God, or merely the good […]
Read More Whom have I in Heaven?For many believers, the gospel is something they needed once and believed and likewise something that they have moved beyond. The gospel is for unbelievers, the weak, and the immature. The gospel is in the past, not the present or the future. But the gospel is, in fact, for every day. It is the means […]
Read More The gospel for todayThe word “salvation” means “rescue.” And in this rescue the believer is rescued from two different objects. He is rescued from the wrath of God — in a very real sense, salvation is not just to God, but also from God — from His wrath. But the believer is also rescued from the ongoing effect […]
Read More Saved from what?
Words of Grace 