One writer recently compiled a list of “100 skills every man should know.” It’s an interesting list. The first 10 items on the list are: Tie a Necktie Build a Campfire Hang a Picture Shine Your Shoes Treat a Snakebite Read a Book Survive a Bear Attack Wet Shave Parallel Park Paddle a Canoe The […]
Read More What a man needs to knowWednesdays 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. Thou complainest, Christian, thou dost not enjoy thyself, fears disquiet thee, wants perplex thee; in the day thou canst not enjoy ease, in the night thou canst not enjoy sleep; […]
Read More Comfort when tempted to complain“Paul, a bond-servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness…” (Titus 1:1; NASB) In this simple introduction to his letter to Titus, Paul provides the reader with several foundations of ministry. Ministry is an expression […]
Read More The value of godlinessA skeptic once commented, “in any marriage more than 10 minutes old there are grounds for divorce.” Now that isn’t literally true. Yet we understand the impetus behind a comment like that; when we comprehend the nature of indwelling sin and the pervasive temptation to sin most frequently against those to whom we are most […]
Read More Seven reasons to be reconciled in your marriageWednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is from The Godly Man’s Picture. God’s service is the best service. There are six privileges in God’s service: (i) Freedom. Though the saints are bound to God’s service, yet they serve him freely. God’s Spirit, who […]
Read More God’s service is the best service“God’s Revelation; Man’s Rejection” Part 3 Romans 1:20-25 September 20, 2015 They have been called some of the world’s weirdest festivals. Consider: On the last Tuesday of January on St. Ninian’s Isle (Scotland) the local men dress in full Viking regalia, light torches, and go rampaging through town. Of course. (What else is there to […]
Read More Sermon: God’s Revelation, Man’s Rejection, Part 3Wednesdays 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. How does it appear that the Scriptures have a divine authority stamped upon them? Because the Old and New Testament are the foundation of all true religion. If their divinity […]
Read More The Scriptures are endowed with God’s authority“God’s Revelation; Man’s Rejection” Part 2 Romans 1:20-25 September 13, 2015 I believe it was about April of 1990 that I was first contacted by Grace Bible Church after I’d submitted my resume for consideration of the open pastoral position here. I responded to the nine questions they sent me and then waited for their […]
Read More Sermon: God’s Revelation, Man’s Rejection, Part 2Twenty-five years ago today, I was installed as pastor of my first church — the church I continue to serve as pastor, Grace Bible Church. At (almost) 28 years of age, I could hardly imagine then what it would be like to preach 25 sermons, let alone preach sermons for 25 years — in one […]
Read More 25 years ago todayWednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from The Doctrine of Repentance. Ingredient 2: Sorrow for Sin I will be sorry for my sin (Psalm 38.18) Ambrose calls sorrow the embittering of the soul. The Hebrew word ‘to be sorrowful’ signifies ‘to […]
Read More True repentance is sorrow for sinThe two means by which God revealed Himself to mankind were through general and special revelation. General revelation is that which may be generally known and understood by all men, regardless of their relationship with God. It includes that which can be known about God through creation (Rom. 1:20), through an inner “testimony” or reason […]
Read More What’s the difference between general and special revelation?“God’s Revelation; Man’s Rejection” Part 1 Romans 1:20-25 September 6, 2015 The day after Christmas in 1944, Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda was sent by his commander to Lubang Island in the Philippines with these orders: You are absolutely forbidden to die by your own hand. It may take three years, it may take five, but […]
Read More Sermon: God’s Revelation, Man’s Rejection, Part 1Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from The Doctrine of Repentance. Repentance is a grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed. For a further amplification, know that repentance is a spiritual medicine made up of […]
Read More True repentance is seeing sinIn our “Bible book of the month” reading plan, we are reading the book of Titus in September. As we begin reading the book this morning, perhaps some background might be helpful. Who was Titus? Titus a protegé of the apostle Paul and was installed by Paul as something like an interim pastor over the […]
Read More Reading Titus“God’s Wrath Revealed” Romans 1:18-19 August 30, 2015 It is clear that the world hates God. God’s morality is mocked. His truth is ignored. His commands are violated. Christ is scorned. What Jesus told his disciples in the first century is still true of both Him and us today — “If the world hates you, […]
Read More Sermon: God’s Wrath Revealed
Words of Grace 