How to profit from your Bible reading

Bible reading is profitable. Sometimes it’s more profitable than at other times. How might we read the Scriptures so we received the greatest value from them? How about starting with a commitment? Saving money, losing weight, driving the speed limit, and speaking graciously all begin with a commitment to consistently follow through on a particular […]

What we think is what we are

It seems so innocent, really. It’s just a fleeting thought about a single wayward dalliance. Or maybe it’s just a brief longing for a slight but sweet revenge. Or lingering look at an indulgent — and way-beyond-your-means — purchase. Or the contemplation of a series of stinging retorts that weren’t said and wouldn’t be said, […]

Some particularly helpful resources in the battle against sin

This morning in the sermon notes, I had a fairly lengthy list of resources — books, audio, and articles — that I believe will be helpful encouragements in your battle against sin. I had intended to make a couple of comments about those resources, and simply forgot to do so (which is happening more frequently […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/20/10)

Since it is true that God has provided in our salvation all that we need to live godly, and since it is true that sin is no longer our master, and since it is true that we have been liberated from the power of sin, then why do so many believers struggle with sin? Why […]

They were “rock solid”

I can think of few condemnations worse than this one — you have been faithful to Christ, but you don’t love Christ. This is the condemnation of the Ephesian church by Christ. You might say it this way — they were rock solid for Christ; He just took no pleasure in it. For Christ there […]

Reading 2 Kings

I’ve already posted the background material for 1 & 2 Kings, but recently discovered I’d also put together a chart some time ago for 2 Kings. This may help you understand the flow of this book:

Jonah and his Bible

A note that I should have included in my comments about “Reading Jonah:” he was a man of the Scriptures. In his prayer from the belly of the fish, Jonah either quotes or alludes to 11 different Psalms: 2:2 — Ps. 18:4-6; 30:3; 120:1-3 2:3 — Ps. 42:7 2:4 — 5:7; 31:22 2:5 — 69:1-2, […]

Reading Jonah

Jonah has often been decried as inspirational but mythical. Yet the historical account was authenticated by Christ. Further, the story is ultimately a great demonstration of the character of God and His grace to redeem even Gentiles. Read more about Jonah and its background here. Keith Palmer also preached on the book of Jonah last […]

Some things are not worth knowing

Those who are naive are often mocked for their innocent ignorance. Yet Scripture affirms that there are some things not worth knowing. Even more, knowing them is a detriment to our hearts. That’s why God said to Adam and Eve not to eat from that one tree in the middle of the Garden — the […]

Grab Bag

A few resources I’ve found recently that have been helpful: “Devotions Aren’t Magic” — among other things, regular time with Christ cultivates delight in Him. Biblical Training recently updated its web page — and all the same very helpful resources are still there at no cost — including seminary level training. A great resource. Some […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/13/10)

It is an unfortunate reality that it is possible to be regular in reading the Scriptures and being exposed to Biblical teaching and preaching and yet remain unchanged. The hymn writer said that we are “prone to wander…prone to leave the God I love?” Why is that so? A number of possibilities exist: We substitute […]

A different kind of life

The life of the believer will be different from the life of the unbeliever. There will be transformation into the image of Christ in the life of the believer (he will not be perfect, and there will be differing levels of maturity, but his trajectory will be towards Christ). John Calvin said it this way:” […]

An exhortation to evangelize from an unlikely source

This video has been on the internet for a couple of years, but it is worth watching again. Penn Jillette is no believer, but he is right about what he says about evangelism — “how much do you have to hate somebody not to proselytize?” Watch the video:

Help for remembering Israel’s kings

The daily Scripture reading for this morning includes the beginning of the breakup of the unified kingdom of Israel. Instead of one king over the entire nation, as had been the practice under Saul, David, and Solomon, the nation (because of Solomon’s evil sin) was divided into the northern ten tribes and the southern two […]

God, please don’t give me too much

The “fish story” is the poster-child for exaggeration. The longer the fish is dead, the bigger it grows. But fishermen are not the only ones who are prone to stretching the boundaries of a story. A 25-pound weight loss creeps up to 30, then 35 or more. Salaries often “grow” even when there haven’t been […]