When George Whitfield died in 1770, American statesman and deist Benjamin Franklin wrote of him, “I knew him intimately upwards of 30 years. His integrity, disinterestedness and indefatigable zeal in prosecuting every good work, I have never seen equaled and shall never see excelled.” That’s quite a commendation of a preacher of the gospel from […]
Read More What’s your reputation?The meaning of Genesis 6:1-5 is much debated. R. C. Sproul, Jr. provides as clear and simple an explanation as I’ve seen in a while: There are several competing theories on this admittedly peculiar text, a few of them fantastic, at least one of them rather pedestrian, ordinary. Some suggest, for instance, that what is […]
Read More Who Are the Sons of God and Daughters of Men in Genesis 6:1-5?The apostle Paul’s letters often conclude with lists of greetings from or encouragements to particular people. The list of generally obscure names in Colossians 4 is typical and reveals the kinds of people God uses to accomplish his purposes. Consider Aristarchus, a captive man. He was from Thessalonica and went with Paul and Tychicus to […]
Read More Who’s who in the early churchThis post is part of a series of posts on the basics of systematic theology. Why do we need theology, and what are the essential truths to know about each doctrine? All the posts are archived under the category “Theology 101.” What are the essential truths to know about an infinite God? What are […]
Read More Who is God?This post is part of a series of posts on the basics of systematic theology. Why do we need theology, and what are the essential truths to know about each doctrine? All the posts are archived under the category “Theology 101.” I was a literature major in college. I love bookstores. New ones. Old ones. […]
Read More One supreme bookColossians 3 says that the believer is to “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth” (v. 2). To ask a question that a three-year-old might ask — Why? Why should we set out minds on God and seek Him (v. 1)? The passage offers five reasons […]
Read More Why seeking God is so importantHere are some ongoing Kindle deals (act quickly; the prices change without notice): Andreas Kostenberger, God, Marriage, & Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundations ($4.61) Timothy Keller, The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness ($0.99) Kris Lundgaard, The Enemy Within: Straight talk About the Power and Defeat of Sin ($2.99) Dave Harvey, Rescuing Ambition ($3.99) Gene Veith, God at Work: Your […]
Read More Some Kindle book dealsPsalm 118 begins this way: Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Oh let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Oh let those who fear the LORD say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (vv. 1-4) And it ends […]
Read More God’s lovingkindness is everlastingSome helpful articles spotted recently: The timeline for the transition between John Piper and Jason Meyer as pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church has changed again. Read the plan and rationale from John’s pen. Addressing the same theme that I did in the post, “Satan and sin — two defeated foes,” Mike Riccardi writes about “Freed from […]
Read More Grab bagCharles Spurgeon on the cross: The cross of Jesus is the foundation of the glory of the saints; Calvary is the birth-place of heaven; heaven was born in Bethlehem’s manger; had it not been for the sufferings and agonies of Golgotha we should have had no blessing. Oh, saint! in every mercy see the Saviour’s […]
Read More Spurgeon on the crossThis post is part of a series of posts on the basics of systematic theology. Why do we need theology, and what are the essential truths to know about each doctrine? All the posts are archived under the category “Theology 101.” When children are first learning language and the margins of their world are […]
Read More How can we know God?Today begins a series of posts on the basics of systematic theology. Why do we need theology, and what are the essential truths to know about each doctrine? All the posts will be archived under the category “Theology 101.” When I was a child, I had problems with migraines and for many years took four […]
Read More Why studying theology is importantJesus went to weddings (see John 2) and talked about marriage (see Matthew 5 and 19), but it is clear that Jesus was not married. Yet secular writers (see Dan Brown) often argue that He was married. And another such speculation has arisen in the past week. A small Coptic manuscript was found that purports […]
Read More Jesus and marriageMany believers live day-to-day in discouragement and even despair over their sin. They erringly believe that they cannot escape their sin. They rightly believe that there is forgiveness and cleansing for every sin, but they wrongly believe that their sinful habits and patterns cannot change. In Colossians 2, Paul articulates two glorious truths for the […]
Read More Satan and sin — two defeated foes“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Col 1:24). Too often the misconception that the Christian life is a life of ease and simplicity without trial and […]
Read More The sufferings of Christ — and our sufferings
Words of Grace 