View post-sermon discouragement as a gift, not to yourself, but to the congregation. I learned this from James Pennington at the Heritage Preaching Lectures last October. Pennington described the emotional and psychological cost of preaching as a gift the preacher gives to the congregation, one that often goes unseen and unrecognized.   A well-known preacher,... Continue Reading

The cross did not happen in the shadows. Nails rang against wood in full view of heaven and earth. Blood ran down splintered grain and soaked into ground God Himself had spoken into existence. Christ carried guilt He had never owned. He bore judgment He did not deserve. He stood exposed before the Father so... Continue Reading

What is a Sunday for? You might answer that it’s for the purpose of seeing new people come in, explore the faith, and get saved. The car parking and seat fill might then flow from that, though your diagnostic questions will be at a higher level. I, as regular readers will know, think differently about... Continue Reading

I knew marriage was for life and a serious decision and I was scared when I proposed, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The same is true when I started to travel to foreign countries or begin a business or change employment. We go into many of these times with... Continue Reading

Modern people often forget what an ancient world is like. There are no printing presses. No email. No overnight shipping. Letters must be copied by hand. Communities are scattered across the Roman world. Persecution is real. Communication is slow. So it should not surprise anyone that universal, explicit “lists” emerge later than the books themselves.... Continue Reading

As below, so above; if our heart for the Lord Jesus Christ runs lukewarm for Him below, who are we to suppose that some great change will occur when we see Him face to face? At death, there will be a great change, but only according to the treasure of our hearts. If we seek... Continue Reading

“Don’t pray that we won’t be persecuted. Jesus told us we would be persecuted. Pray that we will be faithful when the persecution comes.” We could add to that prayer request the prayer that God raises up some godly men to lead as elders in this church.   A few years ago, two Brazilian women... Continue Reading

The great prophet was merely human, and could be frail, fragile, and fail — yet he was also a righteous man whose fervent prayer was answered by the Lord. Elijah’s heart was in tune with God’s, and he was much used of the Lord.   ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show... Continue Reading

He sees your hidden labors to love a difficult spouse. He sees your sleepless nights serving sick children. He sees what never escapes the anonymity of your four walls. He sees your work that will never be Instagram-worthy or garner offers from corporate sponsors. He sees diary entries never published and remembers prayers never heard... Continue Reading

Many people want the thief to mean that faith is merely a sentence spoken at the end. The cross teaches something stronger. True faith turns. It turns toward God. It turns away from self-defense. It turns toward Christ with a seriousness that can be heard. The thief did not polish his words. He did not... Continue Reading