The liberty of walking the narrow way

To follow Christ is to go down the narrow way. There is no broad pathway to Christ. Follow Christ and you will be constricted from many choices and desires. And there is liberty in that narrow way: So I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, […]

The Old Guys

Many years ago, another pastor challenged me to find a mentor: “You need someone ten or fifteen years older — someone who has been through the next phase of life — to build into you.” Sometimes it’s hard to find a man like that. That’s when “old guys” can step in. Those are men who […]

Book blurbs

In the interest of “something is better than nothing,” here are a few blurbs and comments on some books I’ve recently completed reading: Title: Don’t Call it a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day Author: Kevin DeYoung (ed.) Publisher: Crossway, 2011; 252 pp. $16.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): Kevin DeYoung is fast becoming one […]

Sunday Leftovers (8/7/11) – Sanctification

When communicating the gospel to unbelievers, it is tempting to make conversion the end of the conversation. That is, it is possible to be so concerned about the salvation of the individual that we ignore what happens to the convert after his salvation decision. But God cares about what happens to us after our salvation. […]

Praying Ephesians 6

Lord, you have invited — no, commanded — us to always pray with every kind of prayer, acknowledging our dependence on you. So we come to you this day in submission to the Spirit of God and seeking His wisdom and His intercession on our behalf. And we pray not only for ourselves, but we […]

The sword of the Spirit

In my reading to prepare for Sunday, I came across this helpful statement by Charles Hodge about the sword of the Spirit — the Word of God: In opposition to all error, to all false philosophy, to all false principles of morals, to all the sophistries of vice, to all the suggestions of the devil, […]

Pleasing men — not such a good idea

This Sunday I am preaching on work that glorifies God (Eph. 6:5-8). As I made my way through that passage this afternoon, I was meditating on the phrase “not…as men-pleasers” (6:6) and the numerous other similar phrases in the NT and the example of Samuel who looked far too quickly at external qualities and ignored […]

Christ is all

In Colossians 3:11, Paul says (echoing v. 4 — “Christ, who is our life…”), “Christ is all, and in all.” That is, Christ is all-sufficient. He is everything a believer needs and He is everything to that believer. And He is in all believers equally — no one gets an extra dose of Jesus. His […]

What will God do in 2011?

What will God do in the coming year? What will life be like in the next 12 months? What changes or additions will be made in your life? It’s impossible to tell. No man knows the future — no palm reader, no crystal ball, no horoscope, and no biorhythm chart. Many will be attempting today […]

Book blurbs

I have recently finished reading a number of books and pamphlets and the thought of writing several full-length reviews has become too daunting. I know myself and recognize that if I don’t write something short, then I won’t write anything at all about these works. So, in the interest of “something is better than nothing,” […]

Grab bag

A few things spotted on the web that have caught my interest of late: I’ve been thinking more about the relationship between social justice and evangelism lately. Here is a brief video interview with John Piper on the topic. The Gospel Coalition has several brief articles on the same topic of social justice and evangelism […]

John MacArthur’s next book

Here is a video trailer for John MacArthur’s next book, Slave: (HT: Challies.) In recent years, he has spoken several times on this issue, including at the 2008 Shepherds’ Conference.

Well-said at the conference

A few things that I thought were particularly well-said at the biblical counselor training conference last weekend (due to limitations in my transcription skills, these may not be exact quotations): Biblical counseling discerns thinking and behavior that God wants to change. [Lance Quinn] There is a two-fold purpose in and for our lives: becoming more […]

Grab bag

Recently seen around the Internet that I found interesting: I might tweak some of his counsel at the end to be a little more Biblical, but I agree with his observation that “Busyness is the new spirituality.” Nine Marks produces an e-Journal every two months that is always helpful and thought-provoking. This month the theme […]

Sins of the flesh

Galatians 5:19-21 tells us the kinds of sins that when practiced habitually without repentance will preclude one from entering into the kingdom of God and eternal fellowship with Him. These are not only in contrast to the fruit and work of the Spirit of God, but they also relate to virtually every aspect of life, […]