Whom have I in heaven?

It has often been said, “don’t be so heavenly-minded you’re no earthly good.” That is, don’t think so much about heaven that you will be of no benefit on earth to those around you. In truth, most of us are so earthly-minded that we’re no heavenly good. We have put so much attention on the […]

Bragging rights

It’s been called “the Me Monster” — the insatiable desire to exalt oneself and boast in one’s accomplishments. A toddler will say, “Watch me, Mommy.” A mom might say, “I just got my child’s report card today…” A businessman will say, “I just closed the deal I’ve been working on for six months…” A pastor […]

Around God’s throne

Read Isaiah 6:1-5 or Revelation 4-5. Then read this new hymn by Jeremy Walker, “A Mighty Host of Angels Stands:” A mighty host of angels stands Around Christ’s throne in heaven; Their sinless tongues extol his worth, All praise to him is given; With awe recount his mighty works, His face behold with wonder, Lift […]

R. C. Sproul on spiritual fruit

From R. C. Sproul, The Mystery of the Holy Spirit [pp. 165-7.]: Here [in Galatians 5:22-25] the Apostle exhibits the model of authentic righteousness. The fruit is designated as the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is something that is produced in us. It is not of ourselves. In ourselves we are only flesh. The flesh […]

Spiritual fruit defined

As you think about the presence of spiritual fruit in your life, consider the following definitions of the various aspects of the fruit mentioned in Galatians 5. Is this the kind of fruit that is being produced in your life? LOVE DEFINED: “Love is the commitment of my will and affections to your needs and […]

Are you growing in fruitfulness?

Are you growing in spiritual fruitfulness? There are many questions that can be asked to evaluate one’s spiritual life. (Don Whitney’s book, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health is a particularly helpful resource). But I ask this question because I think it encompasses many other questions that we might ask about the spiritual life, […]

The work of ministry

Many years ago, when I was a first-year seminary student, a retired pastor in our church cornered me in a hallway one day, and knowing I was preparing for vocational ministry, asked me, “why do you do what you do?” I was perplexed. He pressed in closer, both physically and metaphorically. “Why do you do […]

Four questions about sanctification

Not only is the means of our salvation — justification — essential, but so is the process of our salvation, called sanctification. If one asserts (as is true) that justification is only by faith in Christ, then so must our sanctification be by faith in Christ. Or to state the same truth in the opposite […]

Justification by faith is essential — three statements

Some things are worth fighting about. Some things are worthy dying to defend. Personal preferences aren’t worth defending (and more fits into that category than most of us would generally be willing to acknowledge). Some truths are worth defending — but not worthy dying to defend. So, while I believe that the Scriptures teach a […]

Evangelism resource

Ligonier’s current Tabletalk magazine has evangelism as its theme. Several of the articles are available online: Evangelism for God’s Glory by Burk Parsons To borrow a theme from John Piper’s classic book Let the Nations Be Glad!, evangelism isn’t the ultimate goal of the church: worship is. Evangelism exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, […]

The gospel in miniature

Earlier this year, I preached a sermon entitled, “What is the Gospel?” In that message, I attempted to provide the essence of the gospel, explaining it with six words (grace, man, God, Christ, faith, hope), then one sentence (“Our sin is imputed to Christ and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us so that we can […]

Ministry realities

Every seminary student has a dream about what vocational ministry will be like. Every Sunday School, Awana, and VBS teacher has an ideal for what will constitute an effective class or ministry effort. Every missionary, pastor, and elder has at least a mental standard (and often a written standard) to evaluate the impact of a […]

The simple gospel

Ask the question, “What is the gospel?” (even in the church) and you will get almost as many answers to that question as there are people. There just does not seem to be much consensus on that question. In his book, What is the Gospel? Greg Gilbert recounts some of the more common responses to […]

Be patient

Only one item remained on my to-do list that Saturday afternoon. I went to complete it and sought my wife’s help; she too had a list of tasks and was not yet ready to assist me. “When will you be done?” “Shortly.” “Can you hurry…I hate waiting…” “I know dear,” she replied as she continued […]

Six manifestations of humility

Shortly after the turn of the last century, a preacher was concerned about several evidences of pride in his life. It seemed to him that he was consumed with pride, and as an antidote, sought to put on some acts of particular humility. So one thing he chose to do was to make a sandwich […]