The Bread and the Cup: Beholding Glory
Four Scenes of Glory
The Lord’s Supper sets before us four scenes of glory: the crucified Son of God,2 our risen Lord seated above at the Father’s right hand,3 Christ with His people on earth,4 and the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven.5 The Lord’s Supper calls us to respond to God’s work to give glory to His Son, Jesus... Continue Reading
How (Not) to Use AI: Three Principles
I will not let AI thwart the development of my character or the joy of being human.
If you depend on AI to perform certain tasks, you might dull your potential to grow and flourish as an individual endowed with unique strengths and interests. I offer an example from my area of work. I’m a pastor, so at least once every week I’m responsible for researching, writing, and delivering a sermon based... Continue Reading
Calvin’s Second Rule of Prayer
Repentance and a Sincere Sense of Need
Proper prayer demands repentance–Calvin cautions that God closes the door to us without it. For this reason, they who delight in their own foulness aspire not at all. Lawful prayer, therefore, demands repentance. Hence arises the commonplace in Scripture that God does not hearken to the wicked [John 9:31], and that their prayers [cf. Prov.... Continue Reading
Finding God’s Mercy When You Fail
In Christ, the ending of your story has already been written.
Christ’s mercy says, “Do not despair. Do not lose hope, for you have living hope in Christ, an imperishable and incorruptible hope.” May you rejoice in this hope, and may you embrace it in faith. Every Christian has the sure hope of the forgiveness of sin and the resurrection. In Christ, the end of your... Continue Reading
Dear Pastor, Why Doesn’t My Family Believe?
Christ is more gracious than you are sinful—both in His pardon of sins and in His power for new living.
Do you really think you’re the reason for why your family doesn’t believe? I’m not excusing your sin nor watering it down. It is true that our sin affects others. But, the only reason why someone believes is because the “Holy Spirit enables us to believe in Christ according to the gospel” (WLC 59; Rom.... Continue Reading
Not the Rock but the Storm
So Where is Jesus in the Parable?
By the time we reach the end of the Sermon on the Mount, it ought to be clear that Jesus is not, in this text, the rock on which a person must build their life. No, Jesus is the storm that will come and put severe pressure on the lives they have built. Jesus is... Continue Reading
God has Specifically Given Us Stuff to Enjoy, So Enjoy It!
God give us good things to enjoy, but he actively encourages us to be generous so that others may also enjoy these good gifts too.
Christmas and all its trappings is there to be enjoyed. The material aspects of Christmas are as much there to be actively enjoyed and are equally gifts from God as any of the spiritual aspects. The gifts, the food, the drink and all the merriment is legitimately enjoyable and God takes delight in our enjoyment... Continue Reading
Everlasting Love
Why Has God Saved Us?
The everlasting love of God draws us to Him. We want to be with Him, to know more of His love in every moment of our lives. We want to be the proof of God’s love to others, to love them as God loves us, so that they will look to the Lord for the... Continue Reading
Mastering your Self Is Harder than Mastering the World
Can you feel contentment in the midst of failure and disappointments?
How do you respond to that unfair comment or inconsiderate request? Will you give in to the temptation of instant gratification? Are you mastered by your spirit, or do you master it? These are the real battles where Jesus calls you to fight and makes you a conqueror. Whoever is slow to anger is... Continue Reading
Why Are You Still Worried
When we worry like the world worries, we deny that we have a heavenly Father who cares for us.
Don’t borrow from tomorrow’s troubles. To be sure, tomorrow is filled with troubles. Tomorrow is filled with suffering. Tomorrow is filled with sorrow. But God has given you what you need for this day’s troubles. He’s given us enough grace for today. Are you still worried today? Jesus cares about your worries. Our Savior warns... Continue Reading
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