You’ve heard of T.U.L.I.P.?

The five points of Calvinism have generally been summarized by the acronym T.U.L.I.P. — Total depravity Unconditional election Limited atonement Irresistible grace Perseverance of the saints Someone has recently thought of a new way to think of the topic, and perhaps this might be an easier way for some to remember the points of Calvinism […]

Principles of building

For the third time in five years, today we are receiving new flooring in our kitchen and hallways. The first time, we laid new wood floors over some old, tired laminate. We were thrilled with the way it turned out and loved it. Then one Saturday night at 9:00 I went to get a drink […]

Trusting God

R. C. Sproul, Jr.’s post, “Breaking Hearts,” is a must read for anyone, particularly anyone who struggles to trust God in the everyday affairs of life (which is everyone). His wife died of cancer last year, leaving him as a single father to eight children. A sample… Five days ago, concerned over a radical increase […]

Sunday Leftovers — what’s an employee to do?

One more thought from John Piper (Don’t Waste Your Life) about the value of secular work: We make much of Christ in our secular work by treating the web of relationships it creates as a gift of God to be loved by sharing the Gospel and by practical deeds of help. I put this last not […]

Who was Asaph?

This morning we will read the last of the Psalms attributed to Asaph (Ps. 83). The superscriptions indicate that he also wrote Psalms 50 and 73-83. So who was this man who wrote a dozen of the collected songs in the Israelite hymn book? From 1 Chron. 16:4-5, we know that he was a leading […]

The value of secular work

In anticipation of tomorrow morning’s worship (Titus 2:9-10), these words from John Piper (Don’t Waste Your Life) will help prepare our hearts for the hearing of the Word of God: We make much of Christ in our secular work when it confirms and enhances the portrait of Christ’s glory that people hear in the spoken […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles from the last week: “Take Care How You Listen,” a free ebook from John Piper. Good preparation for listening to tomorrow’s sermon. When one man asked his pastor, “What Can I Do to Save My Marriage,” this is how that pastor responded. First of all, 1. Decide if you are going to […]

What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?

I’ve posted this chart previously, but since we’ve read this morning about the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10-16), I thought it might be a helpful reminder to post a basic synthesis of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit:

Since we believe the cross…

Though the cross is foolishness to unbelieving men (1 Cor. 1:18ff), it is the power and wisdom of God for those who believe (1:18, 21ff). Men look at the cross and ridicule it and shame and despise it. “How might anything good come from a cross?” they mockingly question. Yet the believer understands that there […]

The message of the cross

What is the message of the cross? “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” […]

Carson on temptation

D. A. Carson talks about overcoming temptation — “it’s a worship issue…” This is a helpful follow-up to this morning’s post, “Gospel consequences.” HT: Desiring God.

Infographics — in case you wanted to know

Tim Challies is producing a series of graphics (called “Visual Theology”) that summarize and synthesize in pictures various important doctrines or biblical principles and teachings. These are very helpful. Visual Theology – The Order of Salvation Visual Theology – The Attributes of God Visual Theology – The Books of the Bible Visual Theology – Think […]

Gospel consequences

What happens when people believe the gospel? Many times I’ve prayed with people who expressed an interest in trusting in Christ and after the prayer, they look up and say something like, “I don’t feel any different.” Perhaps they are expecting a warm and happy feeling like seeing a cuddly puppy or cute baby. That […]

God has many people

When reading Scripture, it is possible to understand and interpret a passage correctly and apply it inappropriately. The result is that while we may be “encouraged,” we are encouraged by a wrong idea or by a right idea in a wrong way. For instance, one might read God’s words to Paul in the vision in […]

God is faithful

God is faithful. We believe that. Or at least we say we believe that. But, most of us still struggle to rest in God’s faithfulness each day. Near the end of both of his letters to the Thessalonians, Paul reminded those readers of God’s faithfulness. We do well to remember those reminders, as well as […]