“I hated the righteousness of God”

I greatly longed to understand Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, and nothing stood in the way but that one expression, “the righteousness of God,” because I took it to mean that righteousness whereby God is righteous and deals righteously in punishing the unrighteous.…Night and day I pondered until…I grasped the truth that the righteousness of […]

Reformation from the inside out

On this date, 498 years ago, a little-known monk in Wittenberg, Germany started a “little” controversy. He posted 95 declarations of debate on the door of the church in that town, intending to start a discussion with the Roman Catholic Church to transform her. Instead, he started the Protestant Reformation. Some of the theses he […]

Let us hallow and sanctify God’s name

Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from The Lord’s Prayer. Let us hallow and sanctify God’s name. Could we but see a glimpse of God’s glory, as Moses did in the rock, it would draw adoration and praise from us. Could […]

Another thought about redemption

Still a few more leftovers from Sunday’s sermon on redemption: while it is always good to speak of the truth of God’s work for us on the cross, how might we stimulate our hearts to gratitude and joy in that work, and transformation by that work? Here are three suggestions for what you might do […]

Christ’s work of redemption

In his book, Scandalous, D. A. Carson has a helpful discussion of the concept of redemption and its use in the ancient world — In our world a word like redemption belongs to God-talk. In other words you normally do not talk fluently about redemption in everyday life. Redemption is something religious people talk about. […]

Sermon: Redemption

“The Message of the Cross: Redemption” Ephesians 1:7-8 October 25, 2015 Sometimes communion feels like an afterthought to a worship service: “it’s our monthly duty and we just squeeze it into an already full morning of worship.” But because the work of Christ is central to our salvation, communion should never feel like an after […]

Grab bag

Joe Carter asks if there’s even any actual demand for same-sex marriage. David Murray offers a dozen suggestions to stave of Bible reading that’s become boring. I have regularly used a number of these for many years. It’s a very helpful list. I always like to read about what others are reading. Here is a […]

A few good resources on the Bible and homosexuality

Over the past few months, both in response to the cultural challenges and questions about sexuality and in preparation for preaching through Romans 1, I have read a number of very helpful books on the topic of homosexuality and the Scriptures. Here are some of the better things I’ve read: Kevin DeYoung, What Does the […]

Homosexuality and the New Testament

While there are not an abundance of explicit references to homosexuality in the Scriptures, the places where it is referenced make it clear that God prohibits every form of homosexual desire and behavior. This is clear in the Old Testament in the institution of marriage (Gen. 1:27-28; 2:24-25), the condemnation of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. […]

What can one do to mortify the flesh?

Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from Heaven Taken by Storm. What can one do to offer violence to himself in mortifying the flesh? Withdraw “the fuel that may make lust burn. Avoid all temptations. Take heed of that which nourishes […]

Sermon: The Bible and Homosexuality

“The Bible and Homosexuality” Selected Scriptures October 18, 2015 Twenty-five years ago, my best friend from high school wrote me a letter. Finally on the bottom of page three, he finally said what I’m sure was the reason behind his writing. Let me read it to you: “I’m gay, Terry. I’ve been so my whole […]

The efficacy of God’s Word

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. [Meditate on the] mighty power and efficacy that the Word has had upon the souls and consciences of men. It has changed their hearts. Some by reading Scripture have been […]

The kind of sex God prohibits — and why

God has created mankind according to two genders (Gen. 1:26-28). And with those two genders God makes clear that there is to be sexual union that results in children (Gen. 1:28). And as Moses explains the institution of marriage in Gen. 2:24-25, it is clear that God has not only created us as sexual beings […]

Sermon: The Bible and Sexuality

“The Bible and Sexuality” Selected Scriptures October 11, 2015 Years ago I preached a series of sermons on marriage and family issues. Near the end of the series, I preached a sermon on a biblical perspective of sexuality from 1 Corinthians 7. And I talked pretty plainly about the topic. When we got home from […]

Sermon: God’s Revelation, Man’s Rejection, Part 4

“God’s Revelation; Man’s Rejection” Part 4 Romans 1:20-25 October 4, 2015 It has been said many different ways: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you want to dance you have to pay the fiddler. “We are free to choose our paths, but we can’t choose the consequences that come with […]