A new year of Bible reading

The spiritual life is simple, though it is not easy. It is simple in that the means to growing in Christ is not complicated; it is not easy in that the discipline required to apply God’s grace is difficult (discipline requires self-control, which is not natural for the natural man). So how does one grow […]

Bridges on Respectable Sins

Jerry Bridges has been writing thought-provoking, challenging, stimulating, exhorting books for believers in Christ for about 25 years. Several of his books have been at the top of my “recommended reading” books for many years: The Pursuit of Holiness The Practice of Godliness Trusting God (republished in a shorter version as Is God Really in […]

Book Review: Spurgeon – a New Biography

While in seminary, I remember a classmate (who will remain nameless for the simple reason that I cannot remember who it was) saying that it was his goal to go for his entire ministry without quoting Charles Haddon Spurgeon in a single sermon. Not knowing much about Spurgeon at the time, I remember being neither […]

Favored Christmas quotes

Some favored statements about the significance of this Christmas day — What can I give Him, Poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part,Yet what can I give Him? Give Him my heart.[Christina Rosetti] “If the story were a fable […]

Sunday Leftovers (12/23/07)

It is well-known and well-recited that the theme of the gospel of John is belief. The word occurs 98 times in the gospel, always as a verb, and more than 50% of the time as a present tense verb, indicating that genuine, saving faith is not a one-time act only, but an ongoing, continual act […]

When the Bible is attacked

I haven’t looked at the newsstands recently, but my suspicion is that since it is a holiday season, there is soon coming a questioning of some measure of Biblical faith. Perhaps it will be another new gospel, or perhaps the discovery of a lost ossuary, or perhaps another tomb of Jesus, or another fiction book […]

The Golden Compass

Philip Pullman has an agenda. He is not merely attempting to tell a good story, but he is attempting to tell as story in a creative way that will be appealing to children, and lead them away from an interest and trust in Christ. Before going to see this movie, or allowing your children to […]

Free MacArthur .mp3 sermons

Grace to You, the radio and audio ministry of John MacArthur, is making available free .mp3 audio downloads. It appears that new downloads are being posted on a weekly basis. This is certainly a freebie to take advantage of!

Sunday Leftovers (12/16/07)

Unwittingly, Caiaphas prophesied about the great work of Christ on the cross — the substitutionary atonement, not only for Israel, but for all who would trust in Christ. R. C. Sproul notes well the import of Christ’s substitutionary work — Christ’s supreme achievement on the cross is that He placed the wrath of God, which […]

Not good, not bad

D. A. Carson writes about the life of Rehoboam (2 Chron. 11-12), There is a kind of evil that is not very bad and not very good, not too terribly rebellious yet not hungry for righteousness, a stance that drifts toward idolatry and hastily retreats at the threat of judgment. What it lacks is David’s […]

Sunday Leftovers (12/9/07)

It is the shortest verse in the English Bible (in the Greek text, it has three words, while both 1 Thess. 5:16 and 17 have only two words), yet there is much profoundness in the simple words, “Jesus wept.” They reveal His empathetic compassion towards His friends. And they illustrate His grief and righteous anger […]

Grab bag of links

Here is a list of a number of resources on various topics that I’ve been accumulating over the past couple of weeks: A mother’s Thanksgiving plea for the permanence of marriage. “A Reason to Hate Sin” Simple questions to evaluate the spiritual progress of your children. Too many choices to make… Thankful for books and […]

Quote of the Day – Perspective (Carson)

From volume one of D. A. Carson’s book, The Love of God: Pity the person whose self-identity and hope rest on transient things. Ten billion years into eternity, it will seem a little daft to puff yourself up over the car you now drive, the amount of money or education you have received, the number […]

Sunday Leftovers (12/2/07)

I had been pastoring for just a couple months when the funeral home called and asked me if I was available to do a funeral for a woman who had died and didn’t have a church home. I agreed to do it, met with the family, planned the service with them, and at the appropriate […]

Jesus and Genealogies

This week my Bible reading took me to the book of 1 Chronicles. For many, these are the books that are difficult to read, particularly early in the morning. What is the purpose of these genealogies? is it really worth reading them? Don Carson provides helpful insight: …biblical genealogies accomplish many things besides the obvious […]