Shepherds’ Conference 2015 | the Cripplegate

Nathan Busenitz points out this morning that “next year’s Shepherds’ Conference promises to be one of the most memorable and impactful yet. If you’re thinking about coming, you should plan to register sooner than later. (The conference is already more than half full.)” Here is the brief promotional video: A website devoted to resources about […]

Going to the movies?

My wife and I don’t often go to see a movie in the theater. It’s not that I am fundamentally opposed to going to the movies; we will attend one or two movies a year. Rather, I’m too frugal (i.e., cheap) to pay $15-20 for something we can rent for $1 in a few months. […]

Sermon: He is Risen

He is Risen Mark 16:1-8 April 20, 2014 Some words are life-changing words. After they are uttered, the direction and course of one’s life is irrevocably changed. Words like the ones I said to Raye Jeanne a few months after we first met — “I love you.” Everything about our relationship changed after that. Words […]

Good Friday: “Why Have You Forsaken Me?”

“Why Have You Forsaken Me?” Mark 15:33-34 April 18, 2014 (Good Friday Communion Service) How do you estimate something’s value? If you own a home, you can have a property evaluator or insurance adjuster come to your home and give you and estimate of your property’s value. If you own a car, you can take […]

Spiritual disciplines for a lifetime of spiritual growth

When a counselee graduates from the discipleship counseling process, I encourage him to continue in the spiritual disciplines and patterns he has developed in the counseling process. Sometimes it is easy to forget the things that most help us walk with God, so I have put together a brief list of essentials for the spiritual […]

Have you seen your sin?

Anybody who lives beneath the Cross and who has discerned in the Cross of Jesus the utter wickedness of all men and of his own heart will find there is no sin that can ever be alien to him. Anybody who has once been horrified by the dreadfulness of his own sin that nailed Jesus […]

What’s on your mind?

Since it is true that there are certain things that should occupy our thoughts, it is also true that there are certain things that should have no place in our minds:

Reading Ruth

The theme of Ruth may be summed up by the word “redemption.” Gleason Archer writes, “Perhaps most important of all, this brief narrative is designed to exhibit the function of the…‘kinsman, redeemer.’” [A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, 267.] Additionally, there is an emphasis placed on the fact that Ruth is a foreigner (1:22; 2:2, […]

Sermon: “If Jesus Had Been Here…”

“If Jesus Had Been Here…” John 11:17-46 April 6, 2014 I was 15 the first time I remember looking into a casket and standing at a graveside. It was my grandfather and he died suddenly and without warning and I didn’t understand the implications then of what happened. It was my first funeral and I […]

The evil of sin works for good to the godly, part 2

In yesterday’s post, “The evil of sin works for good to the godly,” Thomas Watson addressed the good that comes out of sins that are committed against the believer. But then he also adds a second benefit that arises from sin: the benefit that is derived from our own sin against others (be sure to read […]

The evil of sin works for good to the godly

Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. We say we believe that, but often we resist the truthfulness of that statement. For instance, when others sin against us we pause before affirming Romans 8:28. And when others sin horribly […]

Reading Judges

This week we began reading the book of Judges in our Bible reading plan. What is this book about? One of the overriding themes in this book is that of apostasy. “This book is a revelation of the perpetual proneness of the human heart to wander away from God.” [Donald Campbell] Furthermore, Gleason Archer says, […]

You should like baseball

The argument may not be biblical or theological, but Kevin DeYoung is right: This week marks the beginning of baseball, for 150 years, our national pastime. Football may be the king of revenue and ratings, March Madness may be the most enjoyable three weeks of sports, the NHL may be the obsession north of the […]

Sermon: The Gifts of the Spirit, Pt. 2

The Gifts of the Spirit, Pt. 2 Romans 12:3-8 March 30, 2014 There are many characteristics of Christianity that set it apart from all the religions of the world: Only Christianity recognizes the extent of man’s sinfulness and inability to do good to save himself from the judgment of God. Only the God of Christianity […]

Communion and the work of Christ’s blood

This morning we will remember the death of Christ through communion. There can be a ritualistic sameness to this ordinance — a small piece of cracker eaten and a small cup of juice drunk in a brief conclusion to a morning worship service. The same words recited from 1 Corinthians 11 and the same kinds […]