Today’s Quote (9/28/08)

Henry Scougal, The Life of God in the Soul of Man: …preaching is an exercise of which many are ambitious, and none more so than those that are the least qualified for it; but it is not so easy a matter to perform this task aright. To stand in the presence of God, and to […]

Today’s Quote (9/27/08)

Stephen Nichols, The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World: Luther and the other Reformers cast their vote for unity, but not for unity at all costs. The ecumenical spirit of our age neglects the caution of the Reformers, establishing a Christian unity that is built on the flimsiest theological foundations. Against […]

Book Review: Spectacular Sins

Yesterday evening I was telling Elizabeth that I’d read John Piper’s latest book, Spectacular Sins, on the plane trip to visit my Dad and brother this weekend. “Spectacular sins?” she queried in response. “Is John Piper still okay?” So I explained the title — it is not that he is inferring that the sins in […]

Today’s Quote (9/26/08)

John Piper, Spectacular Sins: All that came into being exists for Christ — that is, everything exists to display the greatness of Christ. Nothing — nothing! — in the universe exists for its own sake, Everything — from the bottom of the oceans to the top of the mountains, from that smallest particle to the […]

Today’s Quote (9/25/08)

John Piper, Spectacular Sins: If God ever forsook his supreme allegiance to himself, there would be no grace for us. If he based his kindness to us on our worth, there would be no kindness to us. We are stiff-necked, rebellious, and ungrateful. Free, inmerited grace is our only hope to be otherwise.

Today’s Quote (9/24/08)

A. W. Tozer, The Radical Cross: The loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from that of the unregenerate world.

Today’s Quote (9/23/08)

A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy: The certainty that God is always near us, present in all parts of His world, closer to us than our thoughts, should maintain us in a state of high moral happiness most of the time. But not all the time. It would be less than honest to […]

Sunday Leftovers (9/21/08)

Many thoughts remained in my mind (and in my notes) following yesterday’s sermon. Belief in the omnipresence of God is not new for me. I have thought about it many times. But the significance of God’s continual presence with me (and all men) weighed on me in new and fresh ways this week. What follows […]

Today’s Quote (9/22/08)

Charles H. Spurgeon, Counsel for Christian Workers: Christ’s servants delight to give so much as to be thought wasteful, for they feel that when they have in the judgment of others done extravagantly for Christ, they have but begun to show their heart’s love for His dear name.

Today’s Quote (9/21/08)

Thabiti Anyabwile, What is a Healthy Church Member?: …it may be the case that the most chronic problem facing churches and Christians is the lack of consistent spiritual growth and progress in discipleship. …we must clarify what growth is and is not. Ours is a superficial culture that lays emphasis on the outward signs and […]

Singleness and Children

Al Mohler always has keen insights into cultural issues and how a believer should view new happenings as they occur. Yesterday he responded to a report from England that many single women are now becoming mothers through artificial insemination — and at much earlier ages (20s and early 30s) than ever before. The entire blog […]

Today’s Quote (9/20/08)

Thabiti Anyabwile, What is a Healthy Church Member?: How can we know if we are receiving God’s Word with meekness? Perhaps the following questions will help: As we read the Bible, are we reading for information only or with faith that God actually speaks through his Word? When we hear the Word preached, are we […]

Today’s Quote (9/19/08)

Thabiti Anyabwile, What is a Healthy Church Member?: Christians should receive the Word of God with meekness. That is, in the preaching of God’s Word and in Bible study, Christians should remain lowly and gentle before Scripture, acknowledging it as the source of salvation and instruction in godly living. As we come to the Scripture, […]

Today’s Quote (9/18/08)

Thabiti Anyabwile, What is a Healthy Church Member?: With a group of mature Christian church members and friends, use the following questions [for self-examination of your conversion] to consider and cite evidence of God’s grace among you and, if necessary, identify areas where grace is needed. Do we walk in the light or in the […]

Book review: What is a Healthy Church Member?

I have preached entirely through the books of 1 and 2 Timothy, books devoted to the explanation of the function of the church. I have preached multiple brief sermon series (2-4 sermons) on various aspects of church ministry. Though I didn’t do it this fall, very often in September I will preach at least one […]