A few more thoughts about angels…again

I’ve still been mulling over our discussion the other day about angels. My thoughts have been centered around the old slogan created by Flip Wilson, “the Devil made me do it.” Now I don’t think that too many have problems with the idea that the devil might provoke and stimulate unbelievers to particular modes of […]

Sunday Leftovers (8/10/08)

There is a malady in America that has been labeled by at least one epidemiologist as “John Henry-ism.” The so-called disease refers to the eponymous folk hero who in an original “man vs. machine” contest, worked himself to death driving railroad spikes more rapidly than a steam-driven hammer. He won but he lost. He proved […]

Idolatry and minimizing God

I came across this statement about idolatry in preparing for my sermon Sunday. I will not have the time to develop this idea, but thought it worthwhile, in assessing what happens when we construct and worship idols in our hearts instead of God. Read carefully: All idolatry, whether ancient or modern, primitive or sophisticated, is […]

Motives for evangelism

Reflecting on Paul’s anger over the idolatry he viewed in Athens and his resulting evangelistic sermon, John Stott pondered the question of what an appropriate motive to evangelize might be. Is it enough to simply evangelize, or is the reason why we evangelize also important? Or because of opposition, should we even attempt to evangelize […]

Free audio book — Augustine’s Confessions

Each month, Christian Audio makes a complete audio book available for a free download. This month’s selection is Augustine’s classic work, Confessions. To download a copy, simply add the book to your cart, and when checking out, simply offer the coupon code: AUG2008 and you will not be charged for the book. An added bonus: […]

A few more thoughts about angels (and Jude 9)

Last night we digressed ever so briefly into a discussion about Michael, Satan, and Moses’ body. This morning, I consulted my favorite commentator, and he had this to say on the passage in question: “Michael,” whose name means “Who is like God?” is one of only two angels whose names the Bible reveals; the other […]

Sunday Leftovers (8/3/08)

The eternality of God is one of the (many) truths about God that is incomprehensible to God. Oh, we can understand the words and concepts, but the actuality of the truth is beyond our ability to digest. Thinking about Moses’ psalm, A. W. Tozer wrote this, “‘From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God,’ said Moses […]

Self-righteousness, judgmentalism, and confronting sin

I’ve been listening to an excellent pair of sermons this week by Dave Harvey, entitled “The Surgeon, the Scalpel, and the Saint in Sin.” Preaching from Luke 6:27-36, Harvey addresses the question of how to confront a sinning believer without becoming self-righteous and judgmental ourselves. His basic premise is: “The manner in which we respond […]

Sin’s delusion

From Thomas Fuller: Lord, often have I thought to myself, I will sin but this one sin more, and then I will repent of it, and of all the rest of my sins together. So foolish was I, and ignorant. As if I should be more able to pay my debts when I owe more: […]

Cohabitation and marriage

Al Mohler has an interesting summary and brief analysis about the recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau (as reported in USA Today) that there is an increase in cohabitating couples. The summary statistics: In 2007, there were 6.4 million cohabitating, heterosexual couples in the U.S — up from approximately 5 million in 2006. There […]

Idols of the heart

Last week I listened to C. J. Mahaney’s three-part series “The Idol Factory.” I highly recommend the entire series (though I thought the first two were the strongest). A couple of statements about idolatry from those sermons — “Husband and wife — you desire to have a spouse that relates to you with respect, etc. […]

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast, I’ve stepped over the line; the decision has been made; I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I will not look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed; my present makes sense; my […]

Sunday Leftovers (7/27/08)

One of the reasons there is so much confusion about the gospel is that we have misunderstood and misapplied the intent of the gospel. We (in the American church at large) have come to believe that the gospel is all about a decision instead of a lifestyle. Our efforts are predominantly decision-oriented. We encourage people […]

A few more thoughts about sin and salvation

A few years ago I came across the first addendum of sins that the Roman Catholic church added to its official list of sins compiled at the Council of Trent in 1545. Some of the new offenses? Failing to vote. Drunken driving. Forging checks. Charging unjust rents. Paying unfair salaries. Wasting resources (like pampering pets). […]

Sunday Leftovers (7/20/08)

When Jesus said to Mary, “Go to My brothers…” He was saying something not only about His relationship with them, but about their relationship with each other. [Side note: that Jesus was talking not about his biological half-brothers but about His disciples is clear from the fact that Mary went to the disciples.] As they […]