In Mark 1:38, Jesus states succinctly the reason why He came from the Father: "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so I may preach there also; that is why I came.” J.C. Ryle comments in the late 1800s on this verse from Mark's Gospel: Let us never be moved by those who cry … Continue reading For Preachers and Their Listeners
Author: 2cherish2commend
The Sweet Exchange of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
There is not a better prayer that beautifully speaks of the mysterious, sweet exchange that takes place when we repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Love Lustres at Calvary My Father, Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips, Supply words that proclaim ‘Love lustres at Calvary.’ There grace removes my burdens … Continue reading The Sweet Exchange of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Success & The Dictatorial Demands of Incessant Expansion
Success exposes a man to the pressure of people and thus tempts him to hold on to his gains by means of “fleshly” methods and practices, and to let himself be ruled wholly by the dictatorial demands of incessant expansion. Success can go to my head, and will unless I remember that it is … Continue reading Success & The Dictatorial Demands of Incessant Expansion
God’s Vision for His Church
God’s vision for His new community - the church. It is His family which He loves, His kingdom which He rules and His temple in which He dwells. As this reality dawns in our hearts, we “shall constantly be seeking to make our church’s worship more authentic, its fellowship more caring, and its outreach more compassionate. … Continue reading God’s Vision for His Church
Eternally and Completely Satisfied
Psalm 17:15 describes what theologians call the beatific vision... that moment in your future when you shall see God. It reads: “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.” Think about what you will be in eternity. When you see the King in … Continue reading Eternally and Completely Satisfied
A Psalm Prayer for an Election Year
Psalm 2 teaches believers how to counter the bullying world that intimidates them to retreat and hide. We learn that the LORD's Anointed One (Messiah) is personally and powerfully involved in this world, rescuing and ruling it for His glory and His people’s good. How is Jesus Christ the LORD’s King? He is the Son … Continue reading A Psalm Prayer for an Election Year
When The Time Comes to Divide the Family Estate
"When Providence has removed your parents by death, the best methods ought to be taken, not only for preventing quarrels among the children (which often happens over the dividing of the estate), but for the preserving of love so that unity may continue even when that center of unity is taken away." - Matthew Henry, Presbyterian pastor … Continue reading When The Time Comes to Divide the Family Estate
Worship – A Dress Rehearsal for Eternity
Every Lord’s Day serves as a dress rehearsal for life in our eternal home in heaven. How wonderful to know that history is moving towards a great end: The worship of the one, true, living God. This is the goal and climax of human history. How do we know this? Revelation 7:9 describes the heavenly … Continue reading Worship – A Dress Rehearsal for Eternity
Word-Saturated Worship
Scripture suffuses every part of our worship services. We call one another to our awesome task of worshipping God with Scripture. We sing God’s praise with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in order to make God’s Word memorable and vivid. The Spirit uses God’s Word to convict us of sin and to show us our … Continue reading Word-Saturated Worship
Jesus’ Beatitudes & the Virtue of Humility
Of all the virtues Christ commended in the Beatitudes, it is significant that the first is humility, being 'poor in spirit' (Matthew 5:3). The virtue of humility (the blessed gift of self-forgetfulness) underlies all the others: You cannot mourn (5:4) without appreciating how insufficient you are to handle life in your own strength. That is … Continue reading Jesus’ Beatitudes & the Virtue of Humility
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