Title: Love or Die: Christ’s Wake-Up Call to the Church Author: Alexander Strauch Publisher: Lewis & Roth, 2008; 99 pp. $9.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): A few weeks ago I preached a message on Revelation 2:1-7 — the Ephesian church’s loss of love for Christ. A couple days after the message, a friend said to […]
Read More Book Review: Love or DieJohn Piper, in Preaching the Cross: God did not ordain the cross of Christ or create the lake of fire in order to communicate the insignificance of belittling his glory. The death of the Son of God and the damnation of unrepentant human beings are the loudest shouts under heaven that God is infinitely holy, […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Cross (Piper)Michael Horton, We Believe: Recovering the Essentials of the Apostle’s Creed: Every time we worship, we should be self-consciously committed to the ministry of John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Remarkably, even in heaven the majestically enthroned Son is the slain Lamb. We never outgrow the cross. We never get beyond the need […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Cross (Horton)Charles Spurgeon, The Power of the Cross: But herein is a wonderful thing. The Lord Jesus has lost no influence by having been hanged upon the tree. Rather, it is because of His shameful death that He is able to draw all men unto Himself. His glory rises from His humiliation; His adorable conquest from […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Cross (Spurgeon)J. N. D. Anderson: Jesus Christ: the Witness of History: All the references to the empty tomb come in the Gospels, which were written for Christians who wanted to know the facts. In the public preaching, to those who were not yet convinced, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, there was an insistent […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Resurrection (Anderson)John Piper, The Passion of Jesus Christ: We are not as Christ-centered and cross-cherishing as we should be, because we do not ponder the truth that everything good, and everything bad that God turns for the good, was purchased by the sufferings of Christ.
Read More Today’s Quote – Cross (Piper)The New Testament writers almost deal with the crucifixion of Christ itself as an afterthought. The details surrounding the crucifixion are explicit and lengthy; the details about the crucifixion itself are sparse: Matt. 27:35 And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. Mark 15:25 It was the […]
Read More The crucifixionC. J. Mahaney, Living the Cross Centered Life: I identify most with the angry mob screaming, “Crucify Him!” That’s who we should all identify with. Because apart from God’s grace, this is where we would all be standing, and we’re only flattering ourselves to think otherwise. Unless you see yourself standing there with the shrieking […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Good Friday (Mahaney)We do not know what Mary said at the cross. But we do know that she was there. And we do know other truths that had been spoken about Christ in the Old Testament, at His birth (anticipating His redeeming work) and during His life. One writer has compiled a number of these statements and […]
Read More What Mary might have said at the crossJ. H. Merle d’Aubigne, Let Christ Be Magnified: The Word of God is the only power that can subdue the rebellion of our heart. There is a power in our fallen nature which revolets against divine truth, and which nothing human can overcome. No teaching of man will do it, not even that of your […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Scripture (d’Aubigne)Title: God’s Light on Dark Clouds Author: Theodore L. Cuyler Publisher: Banner of Truth Trust (Reprint), 2008; 134 pp. $10.00 Recommendation (4-star scale): Many years ago, when I was still in seminary, Raye Jeanne and I received a phone call telling us of the death of one of our family members. As we reflected […]
Read More Book Review: God’s Light on Dark CloudsMany years ago I was counseling a woman whose husband was adamantly opposed to the gospel. One item in particular bothered him — Easter, he said, was nothing more than the Christianization of a pagan celebration. So he himself did not recognize the remembrance and forbade his wife and family from recognizing it as well. […]
Read More Easter and pagan deitiesJohn Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: What is God looking for in the world? Assistants? No. The gospel is not a help-wanted ad. It is a help-available ad. Nor is the call to Christian service a help-wanted ad. God is not looking for people to work for Him but people who let Him work […]
Read More Today’s Quote – Grace (Piper)This month the Scripture memory verse for the church is Romans 8:28-29 — And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of […]
Read More Why memorizing Romans 8:28-29 is importantJ. Vernon McGee, Galatians: The natural man hates the gospel of the grace of God…it is in us to hate it because it doesn’t require any doing on our part.
Read More Today’s Quote – Grace (McGee)
Words of Grace 