Leaving for Costa Rica

This afternoon my high-school aged daughter and I are leaving for a week-long trip to minister with missionaries that our church has supported in Costa Rica for more than 20 years. I will be teaching a two-day conference on the topic of eschatology on Thursday and Friday evenings, preaching to a young adults gathering on […]

He came in the name of the Lord

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, and this morning’s Scripture reading (Mark 11) recalls the event of Christ’s ride into Jerusalem. There was much joy that day and declarations from the Psalms of Praise were sung as shouted as Jesus and the crowds processed into Jerusalem. One statements that was called out was, “Blessed is He […]

A week of conflict

One might think that the manner in which Christ entered Jerusalem (Mt. 21:1-11) set the tone for the week. He came being acclaimed and worshipped by the crowds. They sang Messianic songs and welcomed Him with joy. They even declared Him to be “the Prophet” (v. 11), a reference to Dt. 18:15 and an affirmation […]

Grumbling about grace

It is a skill we begin to hone early in life. Its first manifestations are the belligerent screams of a demanding infant at feeding time (or diaper changing time or bath time or getting dressed time). By the time the child is a toddler, the screams morph into whines, mixed with occasion tears. In the […]

The innumerable works of God

Of all the attitudes that might be cultivated towards God, one of the most dangerous is complacency. Because God is majestic and supreme to be bored with Him is sin. Because God is infinitely gracious to all mankind and particularly gracious towards those who belong to Him, to take His work for granted is an […]

Examination questions for communion

Tomorrow morning we will remember the death and resurrection of Christ through communion. To prepare our hearts for that ordinance, here are a few questions I’ve adapted from the Puritan, Thomas Watson: Am I diligent in my pursuit of God through prayer? Do I thirst for the living God? Do I desire holiness as much […]

All things are possible for God

“If you ask where God’s glory most is seen, I will not point to creation, nor to providence, but to the raising of Jesus from the dead,” said Charles Spurgeon. There is a parallel to that statement. If God’s glory is most seen in the resurrection of Christ, then His glory is likewise seen in the […]

456 years ago today

The British reformer, Thomas Cranmer, died 456 years ago today. But he didn’t just die — he was burned as a martyr. Unfortunately, there are complexities to his death. The quick version is that he was imprisoned by Catholic Queen Mary (aka, “Bloody Mary”) along with his friends Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley. They were […]

Salvation – a study in contrasts

Mark 10 might be called a study in contrasts. Just as the qualities of oil and water are revealed when they are placed in the same jar, what Jesus says is clarified by two contrasting accounts in this chapter. In the first, the disciples want the children surrounding Christ to be sent away; Jesus wants […]

The danger of self-deception

Construction worker Patrick Lawler thought he had a toothache. He tried painkillers and ice packs but received no relief. Finally he went to the dental office where his wife worked and the x-ray revealed the problem: he had a four-inch nail in his head. Apparently six days earlier Patrick’s nail gun misfired and one of […]

Tell Me The Story One More Time

From Tim Challies’ blog this morning — Reading Michael Wittmer’s excellent new book The Last Enemy, I came across a powerful little story that I wanted to share with you. I trust you will enjoy it as I did. My friend Jeff stopped by the hospital to visit one of his dearest senior saints. Charlotte […]

The Cross Quoter – a new blog

For several months I have appreciated the blog site, “The Old Guys” — a daily posting of quotes from deceased theologians who are still worth reading. Now a new, related site has been created, “The Cross Quoter.” The goal of this new site is “to put others in touch with helpful quotes, books, and resources […]

Justification defined

But this is the amazing message, and this is what is meant by justification – that God tells us that, as the result of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, because of his life, his death and his resurrection, if we believe on him and trust ourselves solely and entirely to him, God pardons […]

God is…

John tells us that Jesus Christ came to explain the Father (Jn. 1:18). That is, Jesus came to expose or exegete God; He came to give an accounting and revelation of the Father (and at the same time also revealed His own nature and character, Jn. 10:30). Only the Son, who has the very nature […]

Shepherds’ Conference leftovers

The Shepherds’ Conference ended about 10 days ago, but the benefit still lingers. Over the weekend I read through my notes again, and have excerpted a few sentences that I found particularly helpful. [Because of the nature of my note-taking, these are likely not exact quotes, so I have refrained from putting quotation marks around […]