If we are lovers of God, we love what God loves

Thomas Watson in All Things for Good (orig., A Divine Cordial) writes about tests we can give ourselves to determine whether or not we genuinely love God. Test nine follows: If we are lovers of God, we love what God loves. (i.) We love God’s Word. David esteemed the Word, for the sweetness of it, […]

A culture of evangelism

A couple of years ago I committed to reading at least one book on evangelism every year. I do not naturally think of looking for evangelistic opportunities and I need things to remind me to do that. So in addition to adding evangelism to my prayer list, I also remind myself of this necessary discipline […]

Sunday Leftovers: Be sure you’re secure

Many people struggle with assurance that they are secure in Christ’s salvation. There are many reasons why that may be (Don Whitney has an excellent chapter detailing some of those reasons in How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian?). But as we near the end of our study of 1 John, there is one […]

Sermon: That You May Know Assurance

That You May Know Assurance 1 John 5:13 July 27, 2014 Everyone wants a sure thing. Bettors at a horse track are (vainly) searching for certainty. Couples standing at the altar of marriage would like a guarantee of a successful union. Parents would like a guarantee that the training they are giving their children will […]

The end of Christianity in Iraq

Here is a story that has not been well-reported; Christians need to be aware of this one. Persecution in various forms is on the increase in America. In other parts of the world, persecution in the form of stealing, violence, and death is even more the norm. We should not be surprised. We should not […]

Don’t waste your pain

On Saturday, Rocky Wyatt spoke to our men on the topic, “Don’t Waste Your Pain.” If you weren’t there, you need to listen to this message. If you were there, you probably (like me) need to listen to it again. Download it here. Or stream it below: Rocky’s message focused on three benefits of trials […]

A strategy for living

…what we have here in this psalm [Psalm 27] is what we may well call ‘a strategy for living’, how to face the battle and the conflict in life.…we must always start in heaven and with God. Then, having done that, we come down to earth and face the problems of life and of living […]

He chose us because…

What is the reason that one man is called [to salvation], and not another? It is from the eternal purpose of God. God’s decree gives the casting voice in man’s salvation. Let us then ascribe the whole work of grace to the pleasure of God’s will. God did not choose us because we were worthy, […]

“Unbroken” trailer

This is the new trailer for the movie “Unbroken,” which is scheduled to be released at Christmas. Additionally, the book by Laura Hillenbrand on which the movie is based is available as a Kindle ebook for $4.99. This is the cheapest I’ve ever seen the book in either a print or digital version, new or […]

The greatness and miserableness of man

…The conclusion, therefore, is that of Augustine, who said that the heart of man was created for God and that it cannot find rest until it rests in his Father’s heart. Hence all men are really seeking after God, as Augustine also declared, but they do not all seek Him in the right way, nor […]

If only we had known

If only he had known. If only Dominican Republic native Apolinar Garcia had known the striped cat was not a striped cat but a polecat. He had no animosity in mind when he picked up the “cat,” but the cat misinterpreted his intentions. So Garcia, a pitcher for a minor league baseball team, not only […]

Sermon: Christ on Trial

Christ on Trial 1 John 5:6-12 July 6, 2014 The darkest night of the disciples’ lives was the night of Jesus betrayal, arrest, and trial. They knew that Jesus was hated by many — the Pharisees and Sadducees rejected Him, Nazareth rejected Him, even His own siblings rejected Him. But to see Christ on trial […]

Louis Zamperini

Last summer I read the story of Louis Zamperini in Laura Hillenbrand’s book, Unbroken. “Read” is not the correct word. “Inhaled” would be better. “Devoured.” I couldn’t put it down. We were on vacation and my wife asked me one morning what I wanted to do that day and I responded something like, “It doesn’t […]

Really free

Today, on independence day, we like to celebrate freedom in America. And we do know a great many freedoms — like freedom of worship and freedom to speak the gospel and freedom from the harshest kinds of physical persecution. But those are not the greatest freedoms. The greatest freedom we know is the freedom we […]

Sermon: New Life in Christ: Victory

New Life in Christ: Victory 1 John 5:4-5 June 29, 2014 I went to my first Texas Ranger game sometime in the summer of 1972. As far as baseball goes, they were not very good that year, but they were my team and I loved to watch them. Even now, when I read their names […]