Sibbes does not mess around with the ordinary, futile, human, religious remedies that all always fail. Instead, he directs us right to the heart of God, through faith in, and love for, the Son of God.   The Puritan pastor Rev. Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), was very-appropriately referred to as, “the heavenly Doctor.” Sometimes his books... Continue Reading

Through what seemed like a painful chain of events, the young woman who had been forced into marriage with a divorced pagan king became a mighty instrument in the hands of God.   Hadassah was a young woman who lived in the ancient, bustling city of Susa—located in modern-day southwestern Iran—around 480 BC. Her mother... Continue Reading

If you look back, you’ll probably see that the Spirit has encouraged and strengthened you many times in your life. He’ll do it again and again, until He brings you home.   As you look back on times of affliction, do you remember being suddenly, inexplicably encouraged to persevere? This is what the Holy Spirit... Continue Reading

Remember that every funeral is a loss for someone and a sacred moment entrusted to you. You are caring for souls at their most fragile moment and commending a believer to the promises of God. Few acts in ministry are heavier. Few feel more holy.   In almost seven years as a lead pastor, I... Continue Reading

The Holy Spirit is not waiting for you to develop a dramatic spiritual crisis before He does His deepest work. He is at work right now…and He is patient, and He is extraordinarily thorough, and the question pressing against every self-aware, spiritually serious person reading these words is simply this: are you paying attention to... Continue Reading

There has only ever been one God. And He has loved you with an everlasting love, and given Himself to you as your cheleq [portion], the slice of the field that is yours forever, and that no thief can carry off, and no market can devalue, and no fire can burn, and no grave can... Continue Reading

While Abraham stood on a hill pleading for a wicked city, Jesus Christ hung on a cross, interceding for a wicked world. Abraham asked God to spare the guilty for the sake of ten righteous men. On the cross, God spared the guilty for the sake of One Righteous Man—Jesus Christ, whose perfect righteousness covers our sin... Continue Reading

In an age of confusion, pressure, and overreach, this doctrine calls us back to a simple, liberating truth that the conscience is bound where God binds it, and free where God has left it free. And that is not a weakening of authority. It is the rightful exaltation of the only King and Head of the... Continue Reading

The Son who left His Father’s side in the Incarnation, and who is now at the right hand of His Father, has sprinkled clean our consciences and poured out His Spirit upon our lives, to set us apart as His holy priesthood. Christ cleanses you. Now baptism saves you, beloved.   All of Leviticus applies... Continue Reading

God is not put off by our sin. He is not intimidated by our seeming objections. His grace is more than powerful enough to turn the heart of stone to flesh.   Most people are familiar with John Newton, even if they don’t know they are. The reason they know him is because he penned... Continue Reading