On Feeling (and Being) Heard
Should we confront someone even if we don’t think they’ll listen to us?
It’s probably still the best plan of action to at least try to follow the Matthew 18 pattern as close as you can for as far as you can. We shouldn’t be in a rush to write someone off (1 Cor 13:7). We don’t want to assume the worst. We should long for restored relationship more... Continue Reading
Holy Habits Forming the Will
Spiritual maturity looks like three primary evidences in the believer’s life, according to the Puritans: (1) greater capacity for future obedience, (2) a believer’s will is conformed to God’s will, and (3) greater Christlikeness.
Puritans viewed habits in developing spiritual maturity was through aligning a believer’s will to that of God’s. Through habits, or frequent practice, the Puritans would say that a believer begins to now want what God wants by being regularly conditioned spiritually in frequent obedience to Him. God works through the repetitive obedience of believers to... Continue Reading
Members Who Build the Body
Healthy local churches make a powerful and attractive testimony to a watching world.
Attendance is necessary, but members should do more than just attend. They should serve. They should “do the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). They use their gifts to serve God and other members, building up the church in the process. Great encouragement comes from knowing you’re not the only one on the team. Great comfort comes... Continue Reading
How Blood-Earnest Should a Preacher Be?
Dig deep in Jesus and the atmosphere will take care of itself.
If we fixate upon the tone of the service—stamping out laughter and mirth—making sure we have the proper atmosphere of being around the holy, we’ll never arrive at anything more than contrived stillness. Because when you focus upon being blood-earnest you’re no longer really preaching. C.S. Lewis once spoke about the difficulty of sustaining... Continue Reading
Good News for 2023: It’s Not About You
Whatever stories 2023 will tell, they are all ultimately about Christ.
Amid the New Year’s hubbub about self-focused resolutions and self-improvement and self-care and self-whatever, don’t forget that 2023 is not about you. It’s about Jesus. It’s good to ask how this year could be different than the one before—but for Jesus’ sake, not just ours. Whatever our plans, intentions, hopes, or fears are as we... Continue Reading
Teach Me Good Judgment & Knowledge | Psalm 119:66
We need the knowledge and judgment that flows from God Himself in order to keep us from diving into sin.
As Paul makes clear in Romans 1, our sinful nature makes excusing and even justifying our sins all too easy. Each person’s conscience is certainly a common grace from God that restrains much evil, yet the conscience may be easily seared by continual sin, making good judgment and proper knowledge unavailable. That is why the psalmist... Continue Reading
Don’t Women Need Access to Abortion for Rape?
Three arguments to consider.
The circumstance in which a baby is conceived may be wicked, but that does not make the unborn baby less valuable. Murdering an unborn baby who is conceived by rape does not righteously fix a situation but only adds crime upon crime. Punish the rapist—not the baby. Justice is getting what you deserve and giving... Continue Reading
What Music is for in Corporate Worship
The first common-language hymnal is a milestone to remember and an opportunity to reflect on how music serves Christian worship today.
I thank God for modern writers of hymns and songs, committed to producing music that is true and excellent for the glory of God and the people of God. Music is a gift of God, a unique way of connecting His revelation with our hearts and minds. St. Augustine is thought to have said, “he who... Continue Reading
5 Things You Should Know about Sanctification
Scripture sets out several other important aspects of sanctification that are necessary for us to gain a full-orbed understanding of this benefit of redemption. Consider the following five things.
Though sanctification is based on what Christ accomplished in His death and resurrection and is experienced in the lives of believers by the power of the Holy Spirit, God has appointed certain means to assist believers in the pursuit of growth in grace. The believer’s progressive sanctification will be commensurate with his employment of the... Continue Reading
Diabolical Delusions Deceiving Many
Can the deception get any worse than this?
This is not just true of Joe Pagan. It is true of those claiming to be Christians yet absolutely deny God, his truth, and what his Word clearly teaches. No wonder the Bible repeatedly warns about how easy it is to be deceived, how active the devil is, and how we must all be on... Continue Reading
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