Resolution from Dan Wallace -- To Know Christ. Period.

This is, perhaps, one of the best New Year's Resolutions that I've heard (or seen!) yet. It's by Dan Wallace of DTS. I think he's right on. I love his heart revealed here...So, this year, I’m making one new year’s resolution—viz., not to make any new year’s resolutions.It’s not just that they don’t work; the focus is all wrong. Even if I had a 100% success rate in New Year’s resolutions, it would...

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Resolved...

It's always good to remember these seventy resolutions that Jonathan Edwards penned a few centuries ago:55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if, I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 17...

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Doctrine of Christ

This is the most complete official deliverance on the Reformed position with respect to the doctrine of Christ found in the Second Helvetic Confession prepared in 1566. Here it is in part:Therefore the Son of God is co-equal and consubstantial with the Father, as touching His divinity; true God, and not by name only, or by adoption, or by special favour, but in substance and nature... We therefore...

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Come all the way to Christ

I just got home from the rehab center where I go and preach fairly regularly. Tonight my text was Hebrews 10:19-31 entitled "Come all the way to Christ." The text is so clear and straightforward it almost needs no sermon. This is one of those texts in the Bible that we should read regularly to test...

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Our Christmas Festivities and Such

We love Christmas and we had a wonderful Christmas. Here is a review of our last few days.Earlier in the month, we celebrated Hanukkah. I taught Elizabeth some of the traditional Jewish blessings (in Hebrew too! -- she's a natural!). We didn't open any presents though. At any rate, we had a good time.Then...

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Musings on a Friday Evening

Over the past few days I have been reminded of God’s goodness to me. This is such a simple concept yet with such profound innumerable implications. No doubt God has had his hand upon my wife and me as we have traveled cross country and been in cities which were unintentionally entered because of flight...

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Why was Jesus born?

Mark 10:45 45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Here’s a side to the Christmas story that isn’t often told: those soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb, were made so that nails might be driven through them....

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Contend for the faith

Darrel Bock from Dallas Seminary has a good article in Christianity Today on When the Media Became a Nuisance: How to respond to the next blockbuster book/documentary/movie that questions traditional Christianity. I commend it for your reading. He makes some good notes and how we, as evangelicals, ought...

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No matter what your Christian leader tells you -- Christians and Muslims have NO common ground

Read the article here. It's discouraging that over 100 Christian leaders, including Rick Warren, Brian McLaren, and Robert Schuller, have expressed delight in this invitation offered by the Muslims.This is discouraging, yet not shocking, considering the state of evangelicalism today. Read the post here.I want to protect you and rattle the snake when there are Christian leaders (well-known) who are...

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Are you bringing loyalty or merely a sacrifice?

My heart was challenged and convicted this morning as I read a portion from Hosea and I want to post it here for your encouragement as well.Hosea 6:6 6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.We find that this is in the section of the book...

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A "Hipper-Than-Thou Pastor" ... Mr. Rob Bell

Rob Bell is pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has now made TIME magazine headlines. He is, according to editor David Van Biema, the "Hipper-than-thou pastor." Bell has a few well-known works, Velvet Elvis and Sex God that find the sacred in the profane.Van Biema noted this...

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The Damning Peril of the Catholic Church – part 4

We have looked at seven of the most serious assaults of the Roman Catholic Church on biblical Christianity. To review, here they are:1. The Supremacy of God’s Words in the Bible2. The Sufficiency of God’s Son3. The Singularity of God’s Gospel4. The Sovereign Grace of God5. The Security of God’s Children6....

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Good reads on questioning salvation, sexual purity and criticism

I'll come back and comment regarding the conclusion of my Roman Catholic posts soon.However, because I'm so busy and have not the time to blog at length, here are some excellent blogs that I've found and I commend them for your reading:Mike Patton has a great post here on "An encouragement for Christians to question their faith." It's a good read. I may not agree end on end with everything he says...

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The Damning Peril of the Catholic Church – part 3

We have seen already the first four attacks of the Roman Catholic (RC) church on the orthodox doctrines as found in Scripture. Here are all seven of the attacks:1. The Supremacy of God’s Words in the Bible2. The Sufficiency of God’s Son3. The Singularity of God’s Gospel4. The Sovereign Grace of God5....

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The Damning Peril of the Catholic Church - part 2

We have made mention of seven crucial biblical truths that are under attack by the Roman Catholic (RC) church:1. The Supremacy of God’s Words in the Bible2. The Sufficiency of God’s Son3. The Singularity of God’s Gospel4. The Sovereign Grace of God5. The Security of God’s Children6. The Sanctity of...

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The Damning Peril of the Catholic Church - Part 1

I noted yesterday that the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) is attacking seven crucial doctrines found in the Bible.The Roman Catholic Church is attacking:1. The Supremacy of God’s Words in the Bible2. The Sufficiency of God’s Son3. The Singularity of God’s Gospel4. The Sovereign Grace of God5. The Security...

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The Peril of the Roman Catholic Church

The Peril of the Roman Catholic ChurchThis week in chapel at seminary I have been exposed to and learned about the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and the doctrine that it teaches. I have been burdened and disheartened and discouraged by the false and deceiving doctrine that is being taught in this religion....

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Preach the gospel more than ever

I need to say thank you to Colin Adams at Unashamed Workman who linked this magnificent quote from Spurgeon:“Today there is not very much gospel about; the church has given it up; a great many preachers preach everything but living truth. This is sad; but it is a strong reason why you and I should teach...

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The Importance of Church Discipline in Light of 1 John 1:8-10

Great post here by my good buddy on church discipline in light of the meaning of 1 John 1:8-10. This is definately worth the re...

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The Identification of a Man of God

The Identification of a Man of God I just want to bring one verse to our attention as we consider what it is that identifies a true man of God as revealed in God’s Word. God’s Word is absolutely clear and lucid. It is not ambiguous or unclear. Perhaps we have one of the clearest examples of this...

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A message for us today

Call me crazy but recently I have found joy in reading commentaries for pleasure. Crazy huh. But it's true. I love just picking up a commentary and reading it. So, this afternoon in my free time before youth group to relax, I picked up MacArthur's commentary on 2 Corinthians. What a marvelous quote here for you to chew on from as he deals with chapter 12:1-4:"The true measure of a man of God does...

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The glories of the gospel

I am preaching tomorrow morning on Ephesians 2:1-10. I don’t think I have ever prepared a sermon before where I have had as much joy and excitement as I have experienced with this one. The text in Ephesians two is so rich, so abundant, so filled with jewels, pearls, diamonds and riches that I am bursting...

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The superiority of Jesus Christ

A good quote summarizing the book of Hebrews:"Believers in Jesus Christ, as God's perfect sacrifice for sin, have the perfectHigh-Priest through whose ministry everything is new and better than under thecovenant of law" (see MacArthur Study Bible, p.189...

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Is this Christianity?

Did you know? That in many places around the world there are three main religions. No one is excluded. You are either Muslim, Jewish or Christian. I know there are exceptions to this (such as India), but I'm generalizing to make a point. When I was studying in Israel for those two semesters one of the realities that I had to come to grips with is that, to the Israeli mind, Catholics are Christians....

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Sex scandal in the "Church"? -- Again

If this is what the world sees as "Christianity," then no wonder the secular world wants nothing to do with what we are offering them. If what they see is the "church" falling into these sex scandals - and the leaders, at that - repeatedly, we are no different than the world. Why then would they want to deny self, take up cross daily and follow Jesus? Why would they want to live life differently and...

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Jesus is the Lord of lords

I heard this song this morning at The Master's College Chapel and was taken away in worship to the very throneroom of heaven by these lyrics. I encourage you to watch the video of Hillsong leading others in worship with this song. As you do, follow along in the lyrics here below:Lord of Lords by HillsongBeholding...

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The joy of being a youth pastor

Tonight for our game time at youth group we are playing:1. Everybody’s “IT” – It is the same as regular “tag,” except now everyone is “it.” So, when a person is tagged, he has to sit down and the last person who is “IT” wins! Should get them sweaty and tired after the first few minutes.2. “Knots” –...

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Piper on Justification

Justification - "An instantaneous legal act of God in whcih he 1) thinks of our sin as forgiven and Christ's righteousnes as belonging to us, and 2) declares us to be righteous in his sight" (Grudem, Systematic Theology, 723).Here is the link to Piper's great sermon at Evangelical Theological Society...

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A Good Day

Today has just been one of those days when you think back on it and wish it could be that way every day.This morning I woke up (late) and had a wonderful time in the Word. I found a verse and meditated on it as if I had never seen it before. Psalm 119:130 130 The unfolding of Thy words gives light;...

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No more Bibles in hotel rooms?

Yes, Newsweek has an article entitled: "So Long, Gideons." The subtitle is: "The one thing travelers could reliably count on in their hotel rooms: a Bible in the bedside table. But like many traditions, this one may be dying.."In the rooms of Manhattan's trendy Soho Grand Hotel guests can enjoy aneclectic...

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Is the church being "too" relevant?

Mark Dever, one of my great pastoral models, has a great article in the Baptist Press on being too relevant in our churches today. Here's a clip of the article:"I would like to suggest that the most fundamental problem in the church is not that we are not relevant enough in relation to the world, but...

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SIX MONTHS -- and she still puts up with me...

Proverbs 18:22 22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LO...

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Preaching with Passion -- Marvelous Quote

I gotta tell you, it’s not too often that I quote introductions from books. I am the kind of guy who likes to get right to the meat of the steak, or better yet, right to the heart of the issue. But I can’t pass up this introduction by Phil Ryken, Senior Minister of Tenth Presbyterian Church (that is,...

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