We are more inclined to believe and enjoy and be satisfied with God’s sovereignty when we are in favorable circumstances. But what about when circumstances seem to be against us, when we are in difficulty, suffering, and even persecution? What then? What will we believe and cling to then? What will be our joy then? […]
Read More Truths to believe when sufferingOne writer has observed about the tendency not only of our culture but even believers, “We are willing to worship God only if God makes us safe. Thus you get the silly question, ‘How does a good God let bad things happen to good people?’” Too many want God only for the safety and comfort […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (7/10/11)Solomon found life under the sun to be vanity. The pursuit of all the attractions of the world was empty and void of any sustaining meaning and hope. But all those activities found empty by Solomon are infused with meaning and fulfillment as they are redeemed by Christ. The believer in Christ finds them […]
Read More Life under the sunFor a word that is so deeply biblical, there is far too much unbiblical thinking and talking being done about forgiveness. And it is not only unbelievers who are communicating poorly about this rich truth. Believers also seem confused about the nature of forgiveness. This morning I came across two articles that address the topic […]
Read More Re-thinking forgivenessHaving just finished the book of Ephesians last Sunday, I am being asked pretty regularly these days, “what are you preaching next?” I have several topical series in mind that I’d like to do soon, along with a couple of book studies (Titus probably later this year followed by Hebrews and/or 1 John). But next […]
Read More New sermon seriesOn Sunday morning, I said something like, “Our tendency is to talk about prayer, admit our weakness in prayer, accumulate prayer requests, and then not pray. (It’s doubtful any believer would disagree with that statement of our practice, including me.) It’s time to stop talking about praying and time to start praying.” Then yesterday I read […]
Read More Do we pray? Let us pray.Years ago, I came across the phrase, “the gospel is for every day.” That is, the gospel continues to have implications for the believer in Christ not only on the day of his conversion, but every day of his life. The gospel is the way we live. Each day we breath out confession and breath […]
Read More The gospel and spiritual depressionThis morning I preached my last sermon in the series on Ephesians. Last week I put away the 75 file folders of sermons covering this series. Next week I will attempt to put my commentaries back on my shelves in their rightful place. (When I am preaching through a book, I pull all the commentaries […]
Read More Favorite commentaries on EphesiansAsk someone what some of the main themes of Ephesians are, and you will likely receive answers like salvation, family, how to relate to others, the church, spiritual armor and warfare, and theology. But it’s unlikely that you’ll hear the answer, “love.” Yet love is a dominant theme in this letter. The word “love” appears […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (7/3/11)The new edition of The Journal of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood is now available online. Among the articles that look particularly interesting in this issue is one by Josh Harris, “A Word to Husbands (And a Few More for Wives): 1 Peter 3:1-7,” and reviews of books written by John Piper, Mary Kassian, and Richard […]
Read More Journal of Biblical Manhood and WomanhoodYears ago I went to visit a couple that had visited our church. They had recently moved to our community but their previous church experience was in a church with a very similar doctrinal position and philosophy of ministry as our own. I was encouraged that they might be a good match for our ministry. […]
Read More I’m going to play golf…I was in a meeting yesterday where part of the topic was how to help people grow in their understanding of the nature and character of God through a reflection on His attributes. Since then I’ve been thinking about my next sermon series and the first sermon in that series in particular and a focus […]
Read More Why the attributes of God are importantThe gospel inherently is honorable. But the gospel can be dishonored by those who believe it, or purport to believe it. David Powlison elaborates: Free grace — past, present, and future — is effective grace. It intends to change us from our sins in the midst of our sufferings. The gracious Master, who learned obedience […]
Read More When the gospel is dishonoredThis fall, our church (Grace Bible Church) will again be hosting a biblical counselor training conference. The 30-hour training, done over 3 weekends during the months of September, October, and November, fulfills the basic training requirement to become certified as a biblical counselor by NANC. The conference is very inexpensive ($75 for all three weekends) […]
Read More Biblical counseling trainingTychicus was a faithful servant (lit., “deacon”). Don’t read over those words too quickly, assuming that it is a standard and ordinary commendation for a friend. Only two men in the NT receive this commendation, or the similar “faithful slave” — Tychicus (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7) and Epaphras (Col. 1:7). This, then, is a remarkable […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (6/26/11)
Words of Grace 