Today’s Quote – Hardening (Piper)

John Piper, Contending for Our All: One great hindrance to holiness of the Word is that we are prone to preach and write without pressing into the things we say and making them real to our own souls. Over the years words begin to come easy, and we find we can speak mysteries without standing […]

Today’s Quote – Cross (Piper)

John Piper, in Preaching the Cross: God did not ordain the cross of Christ or create the lake of fire in order to communicate the insignificance of belittling his glory. The death of the Son of God and the damnation of unrepentant human beings are the loudest shouts under heaven that God is infinitely holy, […]

On sermons and Super Bowls

I guess I should be paying more attention to the big game this evening. Or at least the ads. It seems that there is not just entertainment value in the commercial fare, but there is a sermon or two to be found in those messages. At least so thinks one pastor. Pastor Ken Diehm of […]

Today’s Quote (9/28/08)

Henry Scougal, The Life of God in the Soul of Man: …preaching is an exercise of which many are ambitious, and none more so than those that are the least qualified for it; but it is not so easy a matter to perform this task aright. To stand in the presence of God, and to […]

Today’s Quote (9/20/08)

Thabiti Anyabwile, What is a Healthy Church Member?: How can we know if we are receiving God’s Word with meekness? Perhaps the following questions will help: As we read the Bible, are we reading for information only or with faith that God actually speaks through his Word? When we hear the Word preached, are we […]

Today’s Quote (9/19/08)

Thabiti Anyabwile, What is a Healthy Church Member?: Christians should receive the Word of God with meekness. That is, in the preaching of God’s Word and in Bible study, Christians should remain lowly and gentle before Scripture, acknowledging it as the source of salvation and instruction in godly living. As we come to the Scripture, […]

Still more on women and ministry

This morning I received the email blog from Pulpit Magazine, addressing the issue of “God’s High Call for Women.” Given the recent controversy about the role of women in the church and whether they are qualified Biblically to preach, this is worthwhile reading. A more lengthy version by the elders of Grace Community Church is […]

A woman in the White House but not in the pulpit?

Apparently, the selection of Sarah Palin by John McCain has triggered a number of questions and accusations against evangelicals. The debate is essentially over this question: “Evangelicals are willing to have a woman serve in the White House, but not as the pastor of a church? Isn’t that just a little inconsistent?” In light of […]

Women in the pulpit

This morning I listened to the Jackie Roese’s (pronounced “Reese”) sermon, “Fight for the Heart of Our King” at Irving Bible Church this weekend. This was the much-discussed event in which a woman was allowed to preach at this church which has long been opposed to such an event. [Aside: I also found on the […]

Motives for evangelism

Reflecting on Paul’s anger over the idolatry he viewed in Athens and his resulting evangelistic sermon, John Stott pondered the question of what an appropriate motive to evangelize might be. Is it enough to simply evangelize, or is the reason why we evangelize also important? Or because of opposition, should we even attempt to evangelize […]

Book Review: Spirit-Empowered Preaching

In the last year or so, I became aware of the ministry of Art Azurdia, and the treasure of sermons available from his ministry as a pastor for some 20 years. Having heard a number of his sermons, I purchased his book, Spirit Empowered Preaching. After hearing a broad variety of other preachers and kinds […]

Why I (and others) appreciate Piper’s preaching

Mark Dever wrote this about John Piper in the Introduction to Preaching the Cross (which C. J. Mahaney also quoted in his recent interview of Dever): What a gift John is to the church. While too many of us are saying a lot of things quickly and running on to the next, John stops. And […]

The cross and preaching

God did not ordain the cross of Christ or create the lake of fire in order to communicate the insignificance of belittling his glory. The death of the Son of God and the damnation of unrepentant human beings are the loudest shouts under heaven that God is infinitely holy, and sin is infinitely offensive, and […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/10/07)

Call this, “How to listen to a sermon about marriage (or any sermon).” There is a temptation when a pastor announces his sermon topic as being “the roles of husbands and wives in marriage,” for a husband or a wife to inwardly cheer, thinking, “Wonderful! I am so glad we came this morning for my […]

John Calvin’s Expository Genius

I recently finished reading Steve Lawson’s first book in his new series, “A Long Line of Godly Men:” The Expository Genius of John Calvin. It is more than a biography; it is an examination of his sermon style that has as its aim “to raise the bar for a new generation of expositors.” Several things […]