The Gods of the Prosperity Gospel
Unmasking American Idols in Africa
A Christ-centered interpretation will make it plain that the Bible is not first and foremost about us but Christ. If the Scriptures are about him (John 5:39; Luke 24:44), he must be central in our Bible meditation, preaching, and teaching. This Christ-centered approach will make it plain that the gospel is not about health, wealth,... Continue Reading
Lord’s Day Meditation: “Underneath Are the Everlasting Arms” by C.H. Spurgeon
All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the “everlasting arms”
The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of the “everlasting arms”–they are underneath him; and, while thus sustained, all Satan’s efforts to harm him avail nothing. This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary... Continue Reading
Amen — ‘A Sound Like Thunder’
The characteristic response to the gracious Amen of heaven is the glad and adoring Amen of the church.
The God of Scripture is the faithful God. He comes to his people in grace and makes his promises with an abundant liberality. Nor does he leave any room for doubt. He means what he says and will perform every word. Christ is his pledge and the Son’s ‘Amen’ is the declaration of the Father’s... Continue Reading
Guarding Our Eyes
May God grant that we shall be numbered among those who believe the seriousness of the issues involved in “guarding our eyes.”
In Matthew 18:7–9, we are informed that we must be willing to deal with those occasions to sin as though we were excising the offending member, be it our hands, our eyes, or our feet. The options before us are clear: Get rid of the offending member or be damned. Conquer the sin at any cost.... Continue Reading
What to Do With Your Heart?
Guard your heart. And then incline it. Lean it toward God.
As we learn to speak to Him in every moment of every day, we are only leaning into the fellowship that He wants to have with us. As we set apart time to really pour out our hearts to Him, we open ourselves up to all that He has for us. Just like giving thanks,... Continue Reading
Humiliation & Exaltation: Christ’s Burial
This part of Jesus’ humiliation is to our extreme comfort and relief as believers.
In order to grasp the full significance of Jesus’ burial, we must consider its fearfulness. It is certainly a morbid exercise to contemplate my own body lying lifeless, shut up in a coffin, and covered with dirt—or, in the custom of Jesus’ day, wrapped tight in linens and laid sidewise in a stone slab cut... Continue Reading
Gracious Gospel Repentance
True repentance involves a turning away from sin and to God.
Any true repentance will only ever be borne in our lives when we come to see that Christ was crucified for sinners and that He freely receives and welcomes sinners. A sight of God’s great mercy in Christ fuels saving repentance. It sees, as Richard Sibbes so eloquently put it, that “there is more mercy... Continue Reading
Preaching for the Broken
The church is the cosmic stage for the drama of redemption! The import of this for the cluster of churches around Ephesus in Paul's day could not have been greater.
Every one of Paul’s letters is an exposition of the Gospel, but an exposition in light of the particular circumstances of the church to which it was addressed. So, as he begins to expound the Gospel to the group of churches around which this letter was probably circulated, he explodes with praise for what the... Continue Reading
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard
This parable hits right at our hearts, at the twin issues of self-congratulation and envy.
This parable gives us a vision for God’s generous grace toward us and toward others. Life is found when we fix our eyes not horizontally on what others have but vertically on the generosity of the whole-earth landowner, King Jesus, who calls us friends and who gives wisely and generously. Imaginary gardens with real... Continue Reading
Adulting, and Fifth Commandment Rule of Thumb
For both parent and child, the pursuit of maturity requires prayerful attention to one’s own duties and the other party’s honor.
As a young teenager, I knew my parents were my superiors. It was my duty to respect and obey them. Over time, God patiently taught me how to do that, even when I didn’t particularly like what I was being asked to do. When I started college, things got a bit more complicated. A... Continue Reading