The usefulness of justification

Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from A Body of Divinity. [What is the usefulness of the doctrine of justification?] Use one: See from hence, that there is nothing within us that could justify, but something without us; not any righteousness inherent, […]

Sermon: He Gave His Life a Ransom for Many

“He Gave His Life a Ransom for Many” Mark 10:32-45 March 26, 2017 Over the years, I’ve preached about 25 Easter messages, and have also preached about the same number of Palm Sunday and Good Friday messages. I’ve preached several dozen communion sermons related to Christ and the cross, and preached through all of the […]

The best of the Shepherds’ Conference

The fellowship, exhortation, and instruction of the Shepherds’ Conference is always a highpoint of my year. And this year was no exception. A couple of weeks after the conference, I always like to read back through my notes on the messages and remind myself of some of the significant and challenging things that were said. […]

How do we use the OT Law?

My wife and I have entered another new phase of life. We have been told by our children when they have returned home (more than once!), “Dad, I don’t do that they way you and mom do…” It seems the “house rules” that we established when they were young don’t all apply when they’ve gotten […]

What is justification?

Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from A Body of Divinity. Justification is an act of God’s free grace, whereby he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, […]

Sermon: The Christian and the Law

“The Christian and the Law” Romans 3:31 March 19, 2017 If you’ve ever been frustrated with other drivers on the road — people going to fast or too slow or weaving too much or not getting out of the way, here are some traffic laws that are sure to frustrate you even more! These are […]

Sermon: God’s Righteousness Questioned (Pt. 2)

“God’s Righteousness Questioned” (Pt. 2) Romans 3:29-31 March 12, 2017 We have been talking much about justification by faith. Are we over-emphasizing this doctrine? So does justification still matter? The answer must be a resounding yes. Nothing matters more than justification by Christ alone through faith alone.… Many attempts have been made to move the […]

Shepherds’ Conference, Days 3-4

The Shepherds’ Conference is now over. In the busyness of the week I was unable to post my notes from the last two days, so I post them here, now. In the next week I’ll also post a summation of some of the best things I heard during the week. As usual, the week was […]

Sermon: God’s Righteousness Questioned (Pt. 1)

“God’s Righteousness Questioned” (Pt. 1) Romans 3:27-28 March 5, 2017 This week several of us attended the Shepherds’ Conference. Over four days, we listened to 16-18 sermons. And all the sermons were around the theme, “We Preach Christ.” It might seem remarkable to listen to so many sermons on that one theme. How can you […]

Shepherds’ Conference, Day 2

And now, day two of the 2017 Shepherds’ Conference is over. More Christ-exalting worship and preaching and fellowship. The days are full and the days go quickly. Of particular encouragement are the discussions at meal times and in the cars and between sessions. I am grateful for the 4500 men we worship with in each […]

Shepherds’ Conference, Day 1

Day one of the 2017 Shepherds’ Conference is over. It was a day of sweet and encouraging fellowship with the men in our church body and a number of other men from other places and ministries — some new friends and some old friends, re-acquainted. And there was the music — the Gettys, the TMU […]

The gospel in one sentence (and even one word)

We want to know the gospel well so that we can teach it to others with the intent to persuade them to trust Christ. So we’ve demonstrated how to speak the gospel in six words. And we’ve demonstrated how to speak the gospel in three minutes (I’ve timed it). And now here is the gospel […]

The gospel in three minutes

Yesterday I identified the gospel in six words. Here is the gospel that you can speak to someone in three minutes. God is gracious and merciful toward mankind. He has made us to live with Him and for Him and He provides the means by which we can do that. Man has rebelled against God. […]

The gospel in six words

This year our church is actively working to create a culture of evangelism — regularly looking for opportunities to teach the gospel with the intent to persuade. One of the basic components of teaching the gospel is that you have to know what the gospel is. There are many different biblical ways to articulate the […]

Sermon: God’s Righteousness Revealed (Pt. 4)

“God’s Righteousness Revealed” (Pt. 4) Romans 3:25-26 February 12, 2017 It doesn’t take much for even a believer in Christ to become aware of his past sins and the shame and guilt associated with those sins. Though the sin might have been confessed both to the Lord and the one we sinned against, too often […]