This morning, concluding a message on Ephesians 4:13 — a consideration of how we might work to see spiritual maturity developed in all our relationships — I offered a number of implications of that text. They are as follows — This is going to influence the way we structure ministry — we will always value […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (4/11/10)The work of God to redeem the sins of believers (what we call indwelling sin) — in the lives of people like Peter and his sinful denial of Christ — is a mark of great grace. And it is a reminder that God is not dependent on us; we are dependent on Him. He is […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (4/4/10)Three sentences that were in my notes, but did not make it to my sermon on Sunday — A dead conscience and a misinformed mind is the result of failing to act on truth that has been heard and understood. There is probably no better barometer of our spiritual condition than how we handle the […]
Read More Three more sentencesIt is tempting to look at the crucifixion of Christ simply as the result of the unchecked sin of unredeemed men and the unbelief of the nation of Israel. Considering only the responses of the crowds can lead one to think, “well, if they had believed, then this would never have happened — Christ would […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (3/28/10)The concepts of encouragement and admonishing are related, but different. Those who are discouraged and those who need admonishing both need to hear the Word of God. They both need the truth spoken into their lives, though for different reasons. Those who are discouraged need to hear a message that might embolden them and give […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (3/21/10)We live in an entertainment culture. We go to the gym to exercise, step onto a treadmill and have a TV screen facing us to watch. But most don’t watch – they have their own private entertainment in their own headphones. Or perhaps you prefer an aerobics class — so you exercise there to the […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (3/14/10)A short Q & A about spiritual gifts — 1. What do we mean with the term “spiritual gifts?” Spiritual gifts can be defined this way: “Spiritual gifts are received from God and His unmerited grace — and they are diversely and sovereignly given to believers at the moment of salvation by the Holy Spirit […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (2/21/10)Interpreters of Ephesians 4:9 have long wrestled with the meaning of the phrase “the lower parts of the earth.” Many have conjectured that phrase means that after the crucifixion Christ went to Hell to proclaim the truth of His death and resurrection to those who resided there. Interpreters base this understanding not only on Ephesians […]
Read More Did Jesus descend to Hell?A number of years ago, Lillie Baltrip was a bus driver for the Houston ISD. She was a good bus driver. In fact, she was one of the best — nominated for a safe-driving award. Along with a number of other safe driver she was going to be given an award at a ceremony. And […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (2/14/10)How far does one go in upholding the two words “one faith?” God has united believers in Christ into one body and called those members to preserve that unity because they possess only one faith — one gospel that will save and redeem men. To what extent will one travel to uphold that truth? One […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (2/7/10)About a decade ago, a company in Tokyo launched a new business venture — a 24-hour convenience store run entirely by robots — no managers, no clerks, no humans at all on the premises. The idea was that people didn’t want to have to deal with grumpy, tired clerks, so why not remove them from […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (1/31/10)In our very earliest years of marriage, my wife and I had a neighbor who always asked a simple and direct question whenever she saw us come outside: “where are you going?” The question became something of a game to me and Raye Jeanne — could we initiate and direct the conversation first so that […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (1/24/10)John Piper has written much, often, and well on the topic of the glory of God. In his tribute to Jonathan Edwards, God’s Passion for His Glory, Piper notes that “The exhibition of God’s glory and the deepest joy of human souls are one thing. The implications of this are breathtaking.” Among those implications are […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (1/17/10)The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the infinite purity of Hi will may resolve.…As holiness is the beauty of all God’s attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (1/10/10)The story of the birth of Christ is populated by a broad variety of people who — superficially at least — seemed to have no particularly significant qualifications for their involvement in the story. The credentials for Joseph and Mary are humble at best: poor, young, alone, largely ostracized by family and friends. The shepherds […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (12/20/09)
Words of Grace 