Category Archives: teaching

distractions and self-control

The point is that we all do exactly what we want to do. We eat what we want to eat, watch what we want to watch, listen to what we want to hear, read what we want to read and … Continue reading

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stormy seas? no problem

Courtesy of John Mark at Sweet Tea and Theology, here is a great quote from John Newton (the author of the hymn Amazing Grace) I heartily sympathize with you in your complaints; but I see you in safe hands. The … Continue reading

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what does it take?

what does it take to get serious with God? what does it take to go past the superficial acknowledgement to knowing God the way that Paul sought to know Him? Unfortunately, because we are so hard-headed and because the pull … Continue reading

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Religiosity

I am often amazed at the difference between people’s perception of Jesus and the real Jesus revealed in the Bible. One of the reasons I enjoy Mark Driscoll is that he absolutely nails this distinction between popular conceptions of Jesus … Continue reading

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truth and doctrine

Kevin DeYoung has a great series of four posts on Truths that Transform, Doctrines that Damn. Here are his summary conclusions, but go read all four posts. First off, we see that anyone who says they have a church with … Continue reading

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four things

I ran across this ABC news story this morning about the end of the world coming in 2012. “You have to understand, there will be nothing, nothing left,” Geryl told ABC News from his home in Antwerp, Belgium. “We will … Continue reading

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JD Greear on straw man arguments

JD Greear takes on the task of teaching Bart Ehrman a little something about argumentation. Excellently done. But surely Dr. Ehrman must realize that Bible scholars have demonstrated that Jesus’ claim to deity in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and … Continue reading

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the object of the Christian life

Todd Burus has had a couple of interesting posts on depression and biblical counseling this week. The book he is reading is Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ book Spiritual Depression: It’s Causes and Cure. Yesterday, Todd talked about the spirit of bondage and … Continue reading

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friday riddle

who said this: All the money you earn, all the stocks you buy, all the mutual funds you trade—all of that is mostly smoke and mirrors. It’s still going to be a quarter-past getting late whether you tell the time … Continue reading

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ligonier on fire

Ligonier Ministries’ blog has been on fire lately. Yesterday they put up an interview with Sinclair Ferguson that included these two bits and more: Sometimes I feel this is actually what has happened in popular evangelicalism. Our “Jesus” is actually … Continue reading

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suffering

I noticed in the sidebar at the Straight Up blog a three part series on God’s role in suffering by Gerald Hiestand. Here is part three which contains links to the first two parts. Go check it out. I like … Continue reading

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using spiritual gifts

James McDonald has posted about the great damage that can be caused by people using the spiritual gift of discernment in their flesh and not in the Spirit. I have been a pastor for more than 25 years and I … Continue reading

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Original Sin

Kevin DeYoung points to a series of posts by Emerging Church leader Tony Jones in which Tony makes the statement: “I have come to reject the notion of Original Sin. I consider it neither biblically, philosophically, nor scientifically tenable.” [emphasis … Continue reading

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two clips from John Piper

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCH5tDx9MQE&hl=en&fs=1] and [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OJ4Ysp5l98&hl=en&fs=1]

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gospel centered preaching

here is Matt Chandler talking about gospel centered preaching as opposed to silly irreverent myths [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5YzI7b92L8&hl=en&fs=1] p.s. I am trying to remember where I saw this and will update with a link when I remember

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God's glory

Al Mohler also touches on the question that I quoted from John Piper the other day. First he starts with an important reminder: Human beings are trapped in a human frame of reference. When we think of motivation, we inevitably … Continue reading

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Is God for us or Himself?

Is God for us or Himself? That is the question answered by this sermon from John Piper delivered at Wheaton College back in 1984. My brother-in-law, Todd, sent me the link by email last weekend. Such an excellent reminder of … Continue reading

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John 10

I have been spending some time in the Gospel of John lately. It is amazing how reading familiar words can have a new impact on you when you are reading them again. Just look for a minute at some phrases … Continue reading

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listening

listening is a skill that must be consciously cultivated. Like Vitamin Z says, listening well displays humility and is essential for leadership. luckily, Gavin Ortlund has posted 20 qualities of good listeners to provide some guidance to us as we … Continue reading

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Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong

Here are two blurbs from the new book Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong the first one deals with the emptiness of chasing the “American dream”: Until sinners submit to the truth about God, they will never acquire what … Continue reading

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Relevance

Joe Thorn has a quote from John Piper regarding relevance that says: As a preacher, I think a lot about relevance. That is, why should anyone listen to what I have to say? Why should anybody care? Relevance is an … Continue reading

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Spectacular Sins

I am just finishing the book Spectacular Sins by John Piper. As you might expect from Piper, his purpose is to demonstrate from scripture the sovereignty of God in every situation including several specific spectacularly sinful occasions. He deals with … Continue reading

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preachers' pledge

more than 5000 preachers have taken the following pledge. will you? “I will make the Bible my primary resource in sermon preparation and preaching. I may use other resources such as commentaries and web sites to enhance, not replace, my … Continue reading

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willing to be hated?

Randy Alcorn asks if you are willing to be hated for what you believe. Here are some excerpts, but you have to go read the rest. especially the quote from D.L. Moody. I have heard it before, but it is … Continue reading

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what Francis said

I don’t know very much about Francis Chan, but my lovely wife recently appeared after a shopping trip with this book. I haven’t opened it or even looked at the dust jacket blurbs. However, Todd Burus has done so and … Continue reading

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