Friday, December 31, 2010

the doctrines of grace explained and defended...

I encourage you to read and check out my latest article: the doctrines of grace.I believe the Church (broad evangelicalism) is in a war — attempting to define the gospel. I believe the doctrines of grace get at the absolute center of the gospel of our Lo...

marvelous meditation

Though Blessed Spirit, Author of all grace and comfort, Come, work repentance in my soul; Represent sin to me in its odious colours that I may hate it; Melt my heart by the majesty and mercy of God; Show me my ruined self and the help there is in Him; Teach me to behold my creator, His ability to save,...

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

preach the OT—rightly!

Great reminder from Bob Chisholm—"When one makes an Old Testament story the base text for a message, the theme of the message should derive from that text, not somewhere else. Though purporting to explain what an Old Testament story means, a preacher will sometimes ignore the point of the story in its...

Monday, December 27, 2010

things going on this week...

This is my last week of "break" before I start classes again but it's not really much of a break. I intend to accomplish the following tasks by the end of the week:1. study and take my theological german exam,2. write some articles on the missing feature in the church today, namely, the gospel,3. preach...

Sunday, December 26, 2010

preaching today.

"Preach as a dying man to dying men ... and preach as though it were your first and your last sermon."These words from Richard Baxter are at the forefront of my heart and mind today as I proclaim God's Word from Revelation 2:12-...

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

archaeology and the bible.

Here is an excellent post by Dr. Charlie Dyer on Archaeology and the Bible. Here is part of his conclusion:And in conclusion . . . The Bible does not depend on archaeology for its authority. It is authoritative because God is the author. But archaeology can help interpret, illuminate, and validate God’s Word. It’s encouraging to know archaeological discoveries support biblical fac...

share the gospel.

A few weeks ago at our mid-week service at Church, I prayed that the LORD would grant to each believer an opportunity this Christmas season to share the gospel with someone.The Lord answered that a few days ago when I talked on the phone with a man who was just released from prison. He grew up in the...

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

is the bible really about YOU?

Tim Keller says it this way...Now, I would adjust his wording a bit to say that the Bible is not about you it's about God and His Glory. (Yes I believe Jesus is God but my hermeneutical bones feel better about wording it this wa...

good words on your REAL human condition...

Consorting with Whoresby RC Sproul Jr.That there is a deep and profound chasm that separates believing in the total depravity of man and our own understanding of the depth and scope of our own sin is a potent sign of the depth and scope of our own sin. “Total depravity” is a true and sound biblical doctrine about how the fall has impacted mankind. We are sinful in every part of our being and utterly...

Monday, December 20, 2010

preaching marathon...

It seems like it never ends — and for that I am grateful. I am appointed to preach three times this week. I could greatly use your prayers.Tuesday — Ephesians 6:10-20 - the armor of God, part 2Wednesday — Psalm 86 - praying through the hard and suffering seasons of lifeSunday — Revelation 2:12-17 -...

Saturday, December 18, 2010

stand with the breastplate of righteousness — a holy life.

I appreciate this quote that has aided me in my study of the believer's armor:Note this essential piece of the armor:Eph 6:13 ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν θώρακα τῆς δικαιοσύνης.Eph 6:13 ...by putting on the breastplate of righteousness.The church today is often guilty of supplying believers with the paper armor...

Thursday, December 16, 2010

the glory of God is the highest good.

From B.B. Warfield—A profound apprehension of God in His majesty, with the poignant realization which inevitably accompanies this apprehension, of the relation sustained to God by the creature as such, and particularly by the sinful creature. The Calvinist is the man who has seen God, and who, having seen God in His glory, is filled on the one hand with a sense of his own unworthiness to stand in...

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

when God brings revival.

I am reminded of three necessities to be in place for a revival:1. the preaching of the Word of God2. the regeneration by the Spirit of God3. the evangelization by the regenerate of GodIf one studies Church history he finds that God has often brought revivals at certain points of history when His Word...

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

your prayer life...

Good and convicting words from the Prince of Preachers:Public prayer is no evidence of piety: it is practiced by an abundance of hypocrites; but private prayer is a thing for which the hypocrite has no heart — and if he gives himself to it for a little time he soon finds it too hot and heavy a business...

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

biblical mysticism.

Read my recent article: I believe in biblical mysticism over at the vassaloftheKing website.Be sure to read the qualification lest you think I've fallen off the deep e...

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

wise words from dr. d.a. carson.

This is so insightful! D.A. Carson writes:If I have learned anything in 35 or 40 years of teaching, it is that students don’t learn everything I teach them. What they learn is what I am excited about, the kinds of things I emphasize again and again and again and again. That had better be the gospel....

Sunday, December 5, 2010

i love the wording of this.

the context: "once the union [of believers] with Christ is formed, it is irrevocable."now the statement entailing magnanimous glory: "the Father and the Son relentlessly guard that relationship."I love ...

reminder from Luther on our "union with Christ"

This is excellent."Through faith you are so closely united with Christ . . . that you can say with confidence: . . . Christ's righteousness, victory, life, etc., are mind; and Christ, in turn, says: I am this sinner, that is, his sins, death, etc., are Mine because he clings to Me and I to him; for...

Friday, December 3, 2010

pray for the Spirit to be your teacher.

Oh where are those who pray like this—O God the Holy Spirit,That which I know not, teach thou me,Keep me a humble disciple in the school of Christ,Learning daily there what I am in myself,a fallen sinful creature, justly deserving everlasting destruction.O let me never lose sight of my need of a Saviour,or forget that apart from him I can do nothing, and can do nothing.Open my understanding to know...

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

why does God seem 'silent'?

Preaching tonight a most magnificent Psalm — Psalm 83. The first verse reads as follows:Psalm 83:1 O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. Psalm 83:1אֱלֹהִ֥ים אַל־דֳּמִי־לָ֑ךְ אַל־תֶּחֱרַ֖שׁ וְאַל־תִּשְׁקֹ֣ט אֵֽל׃Believers often struggle with the idea of God seeming...
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