Understanding Joshua

Yesterday we began reading the book of Joshua. Here is a chart I produced a few years ago that may help you understand the theme and flow of the book:

Greater things, lesser things, and our culture

C. S. Lewis makes some helpful observations about greater and lesser things in an essay in God in the Dock. The first few paragraphs I quote lead one to personal application — if I pursue anything more than I delight in and desire God, I am an idolator and will have neither the thing I […]

Because Hell exists, God’s love is more comprehensible

In a sermon titled “The Dark Garden,” Tim Keller explains how he came to understand that a god without wrath and Hell is not as loving as the God we find in the Bible. Because Hell exists, our comprehension of the magnitude of God’s love is expanded. Because [a cup of poison] was the method […]

A Trinitarian prayer to guide the day

Paul’s benediction in Ephesians 3 has been on my mind much this week. It is an expression of Paul’s overflowing gratitude for and dependence on the Triune God who is producing salvation in Paul. It is an exalted view of what the Father, Son, and Spirit are presently at work doing in the believer and […]

Why baseball is best

Sunday evening was the opening of the 2013 Major League Baseball season. I guess my passion for baseball has been passed on — my 17-year-old daughter has been reminding me daily for several weeks that baseball season is coming. No way she was missing that game! This morning I read an excellent piece by Kevin […]

That’s My King

He is the risen Savior! And He is the ascended King! He’s my King! HT: The Cripplegate.

John Piper’s final weekend as pastor

From David Mathis at Desiring God: This Easter marks the end of an era at Bethlehem Baptist. John Piper served as the church’s primary preacher from July 13, 1980, until December 31, 2012. Since January 1 this year, he has been associate pastor, and his final task on staff is preaching this weekend’s Easter message […]

Christ’s death and God’s will

George Smeaton, The Apostles Doctrine of the Atonement: Peter intimates that God subjected Him to death, and that He was not properly overcome by His enemies, — that it was the will of God, His determinate counsel or plan, that Messiah should be delivered as a malefactor into the hands of men, and be put […]

Who killed Jesus?

The cross of Christ is repugnant to many. Polly Toynbee, one of the most well-known opinion columnists in Great Britain and leader of the British Humanist Association, reviewed the 2005 movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In an article subtly entitled, “Narnia Represents Everything That Is Most Hateful about […]

Every time we look at the cross…

John Stott: Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to say to us, “I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.” Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size […]

It’s good to be hungry

“And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” (Deut. 8:3; NASB) […]

The 10 commandments

It has often been observed that the ten commandments are given in two “tables” — that is, there are two primary sections of commandments, with the first four governing a man’s relationship with God and the second six governing a man’s relationships with other men. It is also significant that each of the Old Testament […]

Understanding Deuteronomy

This week we began reading the book of Deuteronomy. In this book, Moses recounts for Israel the giving of the Law and recites the history of the nation in living Egypt so that they will not forget the truth that obedience to God is their singular priority (4:9, 23, 31; 6:12, 13-15; 8:11, 14, 19; […]

New issue of Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

The new issue of The Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood is now available online. Articles can be read and downloaded for free. Articles that appeared particularly interesting to me were “The Problem of Pornography: Why It’s Wrong and How to Help” by Heath Lambert and “Marriage in the Cosmic Plan of God” by Tony […]

Sermons from Jerry Bridges

I haven’t listened to these yet, but the titles would indicate that these sermons by Jerry Bridges would be worth hearing: Train yourself for godliness Learning to preach the gospel to yourself every day An explanation of “union with Christ” for the new believer Counsel for stuck-in-the-mud Christians Five life truths learned from over six […]