This morning we read Jeremiah 31, which contains the promise of God to the nation of Israel that is commonly known as the New Covenant. Because of the words of Jesus, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Lk. 21:20), the question has arisen: “to what extent […]
Read More The New Covenant, Pt. 1John Calvin, Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life: We are not our own, therefore neither our reason nor our will should guide us in our thoughts and actions. We are not our own, therefore we should not seek what is expedient to the flesh. We are not our own, therefore let us forget ourselves […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Self-Denial (Calvin)J. Oswald Sanders, “The Revolutionary Leadership of Jesus:” The fundamental lessons that greatness comes only by way of servanthood, and that first place in leadership is gained only by becoming everybody’s slave, must have come as a great and unwelcome shock [to the disciples]. It is noteworthy that only once did Jesus say that He […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Servanthood (Sanders)John Calvin, Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life: No on has rightly denied himself unless he has wholly resigned himself to the Lord and is willing to leave every detail to his good pleasure. If we put ourselves in such a frame of mind, then, whatever may happen to us, we shall never feel […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Self-Denial (Calvin)One of the reasons that we are prone to discouragement in ministry (and in life) is because we quietly believe that success is dependent on ourselves. There is a subtle temptation to voice in the inner recesses of our hearts, “I am everything and Christ is neither adequate nor necessary.” Now, few would give voice […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (10/4/09)J. I. Packer, in Discipleship Journal: “We … need to recover a true understanding of human life, a sense of the greatness of the soul. We need to recover the awareness that God is more important than we are, that the future life is more important than this one, that happiness is the promise for […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Perspective (Packer)Title: The Disappearance of God: Dangerous Beliefs in the New Spiritual Openness Author: R. Albert Mohler, Jr. Publisher: Multnomah Books, 2009; 194 pp. $14.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): A number of years ago while attending a conference where Al Mohler was preaching, reference was made to the fact that while Mohler is obviously articulate, well-read, and […]
Read More Book Review: The Disappearance of GodAl Mohler, The Disappearance of God: …we are required to see beauty fundamentally as a matter of truth to which taste is accountable, rather than a matter of taste to which truth is accountable. Thus, it violates Scripture, and indeed the character of God, to call something “beautiful” that is not good, or “true” that […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Beauty (Mohler)The command of Jesus — do not be worried about your life — is worthy of turning into a heart question. Am I anxious for anything? The question was brought to mind again when I saw this post from Tullian Tchividjian — pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, which has undergone […]
Read More Are you anxious for anything?In his book, The Hidden Smile of God, John Piper recounts the story of hymn writer William Cowper (pronounced “Cooper”). His is a sad tale including the death of his mother at age six, his abandonment by his father into boarding schools where it seems certain he was abused, and his constant battles with despair […]
Read More God moves in a mysterious wayJohn MacArthur, The Book on Leadership: A true leader is someone who demonstrates to everyone around him that their interests are what most occupy his heart. A real leader will work hard to make everyone around him successful. His passion is to help make the people under his leadership flourish. That is why a true […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Leadership (MacArthur)George Whitfield, quoted in Christians You Should Know: [In a response to some criticism:] Let my name be forgotten, let me be trodden under the feet of all men, if Jesus may thereby be glorified.…Let us look above names and parties; let Jesus be our all in all.…I care not who is uppermost. I know […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Servanthood (Whitfield)Elisabeth Elliott, in Christianity Today: We have proved beyond any doubt that He means what He says — His grace is sufficient, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. We pray that if any, anywhere, are fearing that the cost of discipleship is too great, that they may be given to glimpse that […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Christ’s Sufficiency (Elliott)What do you think about when it rains? (And we’ve had much opportunity to form an opinion about rain this month.) When I was a child, I thought “It’s raining it’s pouring…rain, rain, go away, come again another day…” When I was in seminary, working as a pool cleaner, I would wake up to the […]
Read More What do you think about when it rains?This past weekend, Desiring God hosted its annual national conference. The topic this year, marking the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth, was “With Calvin in the Theater of God.” All the audio and video has been posted, and you may access it at either Desiring God, or the conference website, Theater of God.
Read More With Calvin in the Theater of God
Words of Grace 