The Gift of Dissatisfaction
In Godly dissatisfaction I am unhappy with the state of the world, the church, and myself, and therefore want God. My problem is internal, my solution external.
We need God to unsettle us, to make us dissatisfied with anything but Jesus, and with anything but the age of come. This unsettled longing for an age to come is what the Bible calls joy. It, strangely enough, tends to make contented people, because God satisfies. There is a gift from God that we... Continue Reading
Maintaining Confidence in the Process
Though it’s right to be harsh with our sin, it’s also right to be patient with our growth.
Through hundreds and then thousands of these sermons, we realize that our minds have been renewed in a substantial way, our hearts have been transformed in an encouraging way. God works through his Word, as long as we conform ourselves to the process and don’t give up too soon. We are people in a... Continue Reading
Why Cosmology Matters
Christianity is not simply a set of moral rules, but an entire cosmology.
The Christian narrative starts with God, who is eternal, creating the universe. God creates people in his image, with particular purpose, moral codes, and values. Which accounts not only for our normal intuitions, but also explains other religions. Romans 1 says that God gave created things to humanity to be good gifts, and we turned... Continue Reading
Why Health Wealth and Prosperity Aren’t Dirty Words
In glory we will be perfectly like him and able to share in all that belongs to him; health, wealth, happiness and all.
God will prosper his people in Christ. I believe all things will work to our good. I believe throughout our lifetime that good is not necessarily material, but to form us into the likeness of Jesus. But I also believe that when he has finished doing so, he will share with us every good thing... Continue Reading
Does the Bible Mandate Nice Language When Condemning Evil?
The Bible does not mandate the kind of “nice,” saccharine language that corrupts the church in America, nor does it prohibit bold, bracing, condemnatory language from which many Christians flee.
Children must be taught to feel love for the good and feel hatred for that which is evil, which is wholly different from hating people. True love requires first knowing what is true and good. Affirming in and to people that which God detests is not love; affirming in and to people that which God... Continue Reading
Who Called David’s Census—God or Satan?
The Lord is ultimately in control of all temptations that come to us—and of those to which we give in.
Satan comes against us like a roaring lion who seems ready to swallow us alive (1 Peter 5:8). But he has no more power over us than he has been given, and God’s grace is sufficient for us in the midst of our failure, just as it was for David. God is able to enhance... Continue Reading
The Agony of Church Discipline Carried Out
What should you do when this happens to a fellow church member?
Pray for the person’s repentance, for that is what we all want. We want him to come home, or at least reconcile even if that means attending a different church in good standing. Pray for the person to be humbled, for one cannot have godly sorrow without humility. There is no such thing as prideful repentance.... Continue Reading
Hannah More and Her Lasting Influence on Education and Christian Service
Her Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education inspired a whole generation of women to pursue education in order to serve their neighbors in Christian love.
Her main focus was on education. Together with her sisters, she opened a Sunday School for the poor. At a time when there were no public schools, they provided both biblical instruction and basic general education. One school led to another until, within ten years, they had sixteen school in operation. Hannah wrote many of... Continue Reading
#Phil413 Does Not Mean What You Think It Means
When it comes to Philippians 4:13, the brutal truth is that it has absolutely nothing to do with scoring touchdowns or any other athletic competition, but it does communicate Christian truth.
While you should bypass that football shirt with Philippians 4:13 on it, don’t miss the bigger lesson from Paul’s letter. No matter what twists and turns you find yourself taking in the Christian life, you can learn to be content with a joyful spirit just as the apostle Paul exemplified. If you find yourself on... Continue Reading
When I Think on My Ways | Psalm 119:59
In this verse, we see a twofold movement toward obedience.
The purpose of considering our ways is not to be more centered or enlightened; it is to turn our feet toward God’s testimonies. As Christians, our self-examination should not be self-centered because our ultimate focus is upon God and His Word. We simply examine ourselves in order to be aware of how we fail to... Continue Reading
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 369
- 370
- 371
- 372
- 373
- …
- 561
- Next Page »