Note: This is a sponsored post (click here to learn about sponsored posts)
In survey after survey, singles rank marriage as one of their most important life goals. So why, according to Dr. Leon Kass, do they marry “later, less frequently, more...
The topic of sleep is rarely far from the newsstands. Studies link sleep to everything from academic scores to obesity. A new line of sleep drinks features a shot of melatonin to help you fall asleep (think anti-energy drink). And of course the news...
Press Release:
RALEIGH, NC –A volunteer team of U.S. disaster response experts and orphan care providers is coming together to provide strategic help to Haitian churches. The team will equip and train Haitian church leaders to provide local,...
Press Release:
RALEIGH, NC –A volunteer team of U.S. disaster response experts and orphan care providers is coming together to provide strategic help to Haitian churches. The team will equip and train Haitian church leaders to provide local,...
The missional church seeks to join Jesus on his mission. This series by Jonathan Dodson focuses on three wrong approaches to being a missional church.
Posts in this series:
Event-Driven
Evangelism-Driven
Social Action-Driven
R.C. Sproul...
(Author: Tyler Kenney)
For the next five weeks John Piper is on his annual writing leave. During this time he hopes to work on about five projects, which also gives us the privilege to labor alongside him in prayer.
In lieu of new sermons, over...
Adrian Warnock and Sam Storms recenlty discussed Storms’ new title, A Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ: 100 Daily Meditations on 2 Corinthians. Storms says, “If I were to teach a class on pastoral ministry I think I’d just work...
Hi Doug, Thanks for your question about missions. I think the folks in the comments have pointed out some of the dangers that come in trying to pull apart some of these ideas, but let me take a stab at…
Kevin DeYoung has a great post on Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen, a little known Dutch Reformed pastor serving at the dawn of the great awakening. I’ve only had the slightest taste of Frelinghuysen, but I’ve enjoyed what I’ve...
Ryan Bomberger writes:
Abortion is not just a women’s issue. It is a human issue. And today, for African-Americans, it is a human crisis. Nearly 40% of all black pregnancies end in induced abortion. That’s over 3x the rate of white women and 2x...
Yesterday, I offered a few words about reading the Scripture while avoiding to common problem of “what it means to me”. Today, Parchment and Pen offers seven fallacies commonly encountered in interpreting Scripture. Here’s his...
Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen was born in 1691 in West Friesland and died in New Jersey in 1747. He received ordination in the Dutch Reformed Church at the age of twenty-six and served for two years in his native land. At twenty-eight he was...
Yesterday I wrote about my desire to be a doer when it comes to the convergence of technology and theology, media and Christian living. I do not want to write a book full of prescriptions that I choose to ignore. And so, as I’ve dedicated...
Effective Communication series: Click | View Series
A Skill Worth Learning
Probably no skill is more helpful to acquire and develop than becoming an excellent communicator. I believe that communication is a skill that can be learned. A number of...
(Author: David Mathis)
Watch John Piper (on C.S. Lewis, on William Tyndale) explain how the biblical gospel destroys morality, external conformity, and list-keeping religion:
(To view the video, RSS readers may need to visit the...
It’s all true. Everywhere I go I hear it. Like a tragedy as visual as the starving peoples of sub-Saharan Africa, the saints in North America are starving. Most followers of Jesus Christ attend churches where the content of the message is...
A visit to your local college or university campus is likely to reveal that a revolution has taken place. On many campuses, young women now outnumber young men, and a gender gap of momentous importance is staring us in the face.
This gender gap has...
My sincere apologies to Joshua Harris and all the wonderful folks at Sovereign Grace. I forgot to include Next in my conference round up. So sorry; it is a terrific event (and not just for Sovereign Grace churches).
Next
When: May 28-31
Where:...
Recent data tells a sad tale about gender disparity on College and University Campuses: women outnumber men 60% to 40%. The results demonstrate that men are not seeking out higher education. The biggest revolution taking place on college campuses...
Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, authors of When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself, will present a free, three-part webinar lecture series on the appropriate relief and development response to the...
I just realized I have a new spiritual problem.
Truth be told, I have had it for a while, but the light bulb just finally came on in my soul that illuminated what has been going on. I can get so caught up in trying to figure out why I sinned that I...
In What Did You Expect?, Paul Tripp presents six practical commitments that give shape and momentum to such a lifestyle. These commitments, which include honestly facing sin, weakness, and failure; willingness to change; and embodying Christ’s...
Those who love preaching, who believe in the centrality of preaching, and who live by the preached word have little quibble with the authority of preaching. We believe that a certain exercise of God’s rule comes along with the...
HT: Of First Importance
“All our obedience, every resolve to do good, and every work of faith is ‘by his power’ and so that the Lord Jesus would be glorified because of the grace he gives. Yes, we must pursue obedience, but that obedience must...
I’m greatly enjoying mornings with my daughters. We’ve started a new routine this year. I spend 15 minutes with each of them discussing the Bible and praying for one another. With my oldest daughter, I’m studying Hebrews. ...
John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace is available for free download on Amazon for Kindle users. We apologize for the inconvenience last week.
I graduated from college in 1997 (Or so. To be honest, I don’t even remember exactly what year it was and didn’t bother attending the graduation ceremony or picking up my diploma which undoubtedly recorded the date). My history degree did...
Francis Chan wrote this children’s story to illustrate what the church was ordained by God to be in the world. Since God has called the church to care for orphans, I think “The Big Red Tractor” also applies to the current orphan...
The Super Bowl is not just another NFL game. It has become an intensified concentration of vulgarity and ego, with enough athletics in the game and cleverness in the commercials to trick me into watching. It’s simply not what I’m...
There are so many good church conferences in this neck of the solar system. We are very blessed. Below is a list of the ones I will be a part of in some way. You may want to check these out. I know there are many other good conferences out there too....
“We…teach and comfort an afflicted sinner this way: ‘Brother, it is impossible for you to become so righteous in this life that your body is as clear and spotless as the sun. You still have spots and wrinkles (Eph. 5:27), and yet...
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27).
When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 1:27 because the religious couldn’t accept a defeated Savior, and philosophers couldn’t believe in a God who would...
(Author: Jon Bloom)
God faithfully directs the paths of everyone who trusts in him with all their heart (Proverbs 3:5-6). But sometimes, as Moses experienced in Exodus 18, God directs us through a word of correction from someone else.
* ...
On February 2, 2010, Dr. Köstenberger was interviewed by Kevin Boling on the radio program, “Knowing The Truth,” to discuss his latest book entitled; A Theology of John’s Gospel and Letters. Follow this link to hear the...
Two months ago I invited people to send in videos based on one of the songs from our most recent kids’ album, To Be Like Jesus. The best video would receive a $250 Amazon.com gift card.
We narrowed it down to two videos. The first, Gotta...
A couple months ago I invited people to send in videos based on one of the songs from our most recent kids’ album, To Be Like Jesus. The winner will receive a $250 Amazon.com gift card.
I posted the two best entries we received below.
The...
“The universe operates by Karma, we all know that. For every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. There is some atonement built in: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Then enters Grace and turns that upside down. I...
Every now and again I like to post a song we’ve sung at church that may not be widely-known. Here is one we sing quite frequently. Titled “Wide Open Are Your Hands,” it was written by Bernard of Clairvaux back in the 10th century...
with Nate Navarro
1. Know God
Cultivate a steady devotional and prayer life.
Participate in gospel-centered accountability, like a Fight Club.
Serve with the strength God supplies (2 Peter 4:11).
2. Know Your People
Pastor your Missional...
While killing time waiting on hold this morning (an hour the first time, now up to 45 min with the 2d airline and still holding…!) trying to get my flights sorted out (flights cancelled due to the east coast storm wreck havoc when you need to...
The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Composition, and Interpretation by John Sailhamer
If you saw this Facebook post by Mark Driscoll or John Piper’s blog post in response, you know that John Sailhamer’s book The Meaning of the Pentateuch...
(Author: Jonathan Parnell)
For the first time in its history the Desiring God Conference for Pastors, which took place last week, was devoted to the subject of Christian Hedonism—the teaching that God is most glorified in us when we are most...
Maybe it’s something to do with the friends I have on Facebook, but some of them are very keen to let the world know the point in the week when they have completed their sermon preparation. I think I know what they are saying: they have reached...
Who would have thought that the greatest living Englishman would turn out to be Welsh? Wyn Jones is my hero.
One of the strange things that happens when you write a book is that other authors begin to ask you if you would endorse their own book. There is a strange little economy whereby people in a particular genre all endorse one another’s books....
If you have kids and like Andrew Peterson and Randall Goodgame’s Slugs, Bugs, and Lullabies, then you need to check out Ross King’s new kids CD, Words that Rhyme with Orange.
This music will have you laughing out loud and dancing with...
“The difference between the law and gospel does not at all consist in this, that the one requires perfect doing, the other only sincere doing, but in this, that the one requires doing, the other not doing but believing for life and salvation. ...
Click on either image below to read the entirety of the article (PDF).
I am preaching on the doctrine of providence tomorrow from a text in 1 Samuel. For some inexplicable reason, I have called the sermon, “The Saints and the providence of God.” And, as it happens, I picked up this week a brand new...
“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:54-55
We are...
As to myself, I would tell you how it is with me if I could: at the best, it would be an inconsistent account…I am a sinner, believing in the name of Jesus. I am a silly sheep, but I have a gracious, watchful Shepherd. I am a dull scholar, but...
In Matthew 28, Jesus told his disciples to make disciples of all nations, and his methods of teaching gave them incredibly powerful tools to execute the vision. This series of reflections based on the book of John shows that Jesus is the model...
(Author: David Mathis)
Dear friends in the Seattle area and at Westmont College,
Come worship Jesus with us at a special Friday night gathering, February 26, at Mars Hill Church’s Ballard Campus.
God willing, Pastor Piper will also be...
I thought this was pretty funny. The comic strip is called Pearls Before Swine. Click on the image to see a larger version.
What makes gifted children special and unique, setting them apart from their piers? Jennifer Senior, writing for New York Magazine, has published a fascinating piece on the myth of gifted children. She asks the question, can the entire future of...
Our very own Owen Strachan has just released five books co-authored with Trinity’s Doug Sweeney. These books include passages from Edward’s writing and commentary on them. But more than that, Owen tells me, the volumes are intended to...
Grace to You is mailing free copies of this book:
This is the book’s third edition.
If you’re already on Grace to You’s mailing list, then you’ll have an opportunity to request your free copy shortly.
If not, sign up here....
The City has just published its latest issue in ZMags. If you have never used this web program, check out the site. It’ll take you a minute, but it’s pretty cool.
Also, if you are a thinking Christian, sign up to receive The City for...
Jedd Medefind, President of Christian Alliance for Orphans, interviewed me on Twitter today about the Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT). You can read the full transcript here.
In light of Andy’s desire to start a conversation, I’m going to follow Greg’s lead and ask a question—actually a few questions. Mine isn’t exactly a trap either. I really do want to hear from others. But I also won’t…
On January 4th I listed what I’m asking God to do in the church in 2010 for the sake of the orphan. Since the orphan crisis is a global crisis and Christ’s Church is a global Church, I thought it would be helpful to do a series of prayer-posts...
Last November, Lifeway Research surveyed 1,002 Protestant pastors to find out which pastors most influenced them. The list of potentially influential pastors crossed the denominational and theological spectrum. The Christian Post has a brief article...
“What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place. Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction, where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but...
(Author: Lukas Naugle)
For those who can’t make it to Hip Hop for Haiti tonight,
we will be streaming the concert live online. Join the crowd in
Minneapolis by watching online and by giving to Churches Helping Churches.
You can also...
Is church discipline biblical? Jonathan Leeman wrote The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love to help Christians start taking their membership in their local church seriously . . . because the very nature of God’s love gives...
“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’” John 20:27
“It is hard to imagine anything more tiresome and...
Scene 1:
“But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same.” (Matt. 26:35)
Scene 2:
“Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore...
It’s Friday morning, which means that I’ve got some free stuff to give away. For this week’s contest I cajoled my buddy Josh Harris into giving up ten copies of his new book Dug Down Deep. So there will be ten prizes, each of...
Recently a reader of this wrote me to ask if I had ever written anything dealing with believers and the final judgment. I quickly realized that I had not and thought that today would be a good opportunity to remedy that. So here is a brief look at...
Something That Gave Me Hope.
If you haven’t seen it, amazing secular article about Matt Chandler & dealing with suffering.
Something That Said It Right.
The Hypocrisy of Feminists on the Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad.
Something That Says It Just...
Given my love for sports I have an obligation to publish a public service announcement to prepare you for the impending Super Bowl…
O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D
The Super Bowl is the most overrated sporting event in the history of all sports,...
Given my love for sports I have an obligation to publish a public service announcement to prepare you for the impending Super Bowl…
O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D
The Super Bowl is the most overrated sporting event in the history of all sports,...
Beneath the Sun
You might cry, but this is definitely worth the read.
Most Influential Living Preachers
“In telephone interviews conducted in November 2009, Protestant pastors were asked to ‘name the top three living Christian preachers...
Like most Christian men I know, I have a love/hate relationship with sports. I’ve played sports–in high school, in college, and on the side–and I’ve been a fan of sports my whole life. I love it when my teams wins. I feel pangs of sorrow...
Like most Christian men I know, I have a love/hate relationship with sports. I’ve played sports–in high school, in college, and on the side–and I’ve been a fan of sports my whole life. I love it when my teams wins. I feel pangs of sorrow...
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord
- Proverbs 16:33
Leaders Who Last
Too many Christian leaders stumble, burn out, or veer off track. Learn how to endure from a seasoned pastor and leadership coach in Leaders...
(Author: Tyler Kenney)
This video, directed by DG staffer Tristan Carnahan, was used to kick off the Pastors Conference this past Monday night.
The script comes straight from C. S. Lewis:
If
there lurks in most...
You do not have to look far to find evidence of the fact that males are in trouble in these confused and confusing times. On the university campuses, women undergraduate students outnumber young men by a clear margin — 60% to 40%. A frightening...
Paul Baloche’s song, “Open the Eyes of My Heart,” has been sung by millions of Christians throughout the world. It’s a song based on Ephesians 1, asking God to open our spiritual eyes that we might know him better.
But I...
Hey Greg, Stop it, man. I’m having flashbacks. Love is the ideal in Christian ethics, right? (1 Cor. 13). And I completely agree that love is active; it does stuff and commands stuff. But, here’s how I’d make the...
[removed][removed]Click through to the Resurgence if you can’t see the video.
John Piper spoke about the enormous influene of C.S. Lewis in his life at the Desiring God 2010 Pastors Conference, which just finished in Minneapolis. You can watch the...
What is that makes a boy become a man? Is it the accoutrements he purchases or the people he associates with? While some external factors make a difference in rearing a young man, boys don’t become men by dousing themselves with strong smelling...
Just kidding, Thabiti. Okay, let me say a little more about this, and then ask you all something else. First, I think both Christian ethics and Christian mission involve imperatives, commands. They both involve telling us to do things, at…
A first class interview which shows that new covenant Sabbath-keeping can get the subject of the atonement into mainstream newspapers: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/feb/04/six-nations-scotland-euan-murray-interview
D. A. Carson’s next book comes out this month: Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus (Wheaton: Crossway, 2010).
It’s based on five sermons that Carson preached in December 2008:
The Ironies of the Cross (Matthew...
There seems to be an error with the free download on Kindle. You should be able to download for free directly from your Kindle. We are hoping to have the problem resolved shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Hey Greg, I’m with Mike… only less courageous. Smells like a trap, especially when you say, “It’s not a trap. I promise.” Last time someone said that to me, we had drilled holes in the bottom of a steel drum…
A lot of well-meaning people respond to what they think is the Gospel, but sometimes they don’t have the whole story. Are all of the essential ingredients in your Gospel presentation?
The New York TImes seems to be on a mission to make Christians look stupid, and we keep giving them the stick with which to beat us about the head and neck. To wit, a recent article looks at the…
Martin Downes drew my attention to this piece in today’s The Guardian newspaper:
The Scottish tighthead prop (ask Carl Trueman what that means) Euan Murray explained to The Guardian why he won’t be trampling over French rugby...
We created these prayer guides to help adults and children pray for Haiti (in the aftermath of the recent earthquake), assisting them in composing prayers based on Psalms 123, 124, and 126. The prayer guides follow a specific order: a prayer of...
OK Greg. Your question has stunned us all into silence (except some guy named Jake in the comments). My rule of thumb is don’t take the bait when someone significantly smarter than you asks vague questions and promises that they…
“I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Matthew 11:29
“In the New Testament this is the only passage which speaks of the heart of Jesus Christ. . . . Our Savior, who never sought the praise of man, says of himself ‘I am...
The latest CCI article just became available. It’s impressive.
Here is a summary chart that I give my first year Greek students for reference after they have learned all the finite forms listed. It doesn’t include everything, but by far the most common forms in koine fit the patterns here. This covers only...
This week’s Trackback Thursday features John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace by Jonathan Aitkin.
Most Christians know John Newton as a man who once captained a slave ship, was dramatically converted to Christ on the high seas, and later...
“As I see it, the Christian life must be comprised of three concentric circles, each of which must be kept in its proper place. In the outer circle must be the correct theological position, true biblical orthodoxy and the purity of the...
Another round of Reading Classics Together is swiftly drawing to its close. We have one more chapter to read in John Murray’s Redemption Accomplished and Applied and then we will have reached the end. But before we do that, let’s talk...
Social Networks
The Economist has a special report dealing with social networking sites like Facebook. While generally positive in tone, the article does raise a few concerns.
It’s Not Just a “Guy Problem”
“My life changed...
In a forthcoming book, a well known author explains how his interest in literature led him to look for something besides absolute, objective truth.
My training [in literature] taught me to read for scenes and plots, not doctrines; for protagonists...
Let Your Food Be Your Medicine
Your food should be your medicine. It should nurture you in good health, promote longevity, and reduce the effects of aging. Adding 10 of the most powerful foods to your diet can dramatically change your health. These...
(Author: Lukas Naugle)
Chart-topping hip hop artist LeCrae recorded a new single to benefit relief
efforts in Haiti. He’ll be performing this song live for the first
time at Hip Hop for Haiti in
downtown Minneapolis tomorrow night.
Come join...
I think I’ve seen this before, but didn’t remember where it was, but here’s a very helpful page on the FourSenses.net blog by Erwin Ochsenmeier that lists all the necessary text critical symbols with their correct Unicode...
A number of pastors and ministry leaders have been seeking to inform their people about Haiti so they can mobilize prayer and support. I had my research assistant put together some basic data on Haiti and I am posting it to be of service to anyone...
The New York Times just published an article entitled “Flock Is Now a Fight Team in Some Ministries” that bears looking into. It profiles evangelical “fight clubs” and quotes a number of pastors and young men who participate...
“Who then can pride himself over against someone else and claim to be better than he? Especially in view of the fact that he is always capable of doing exactly the same as the other does and, indeed, that he does secretly in his heart before...
You can register here.
One week from today is a post from: Ray Ortlund
One week from today is a post from: Ray Ortlund
(Author: Benjamin Jensen)
These are the questions that were asked of our speakers during the final session of the conference. Listen to the audio to hear their answers.
To Sam Storms and John Piper: Is there one key C. S. Lewis insight that...
David Livingstone (1813-1873), explorer and missionary, tried to “keep on good terms with witch-doctors, ‘generally the most observant people to be met with,’ never to disparage their treatment in front of a patient and generally to...
Your people could benefit tremendously from having a solid grasp of key theological terms. We at the Resurgence came up with the idea of creating posters that succinctly explain the most important theological ideas.
Discipleship
This poster...
I’ve got a friend named Jim. He’s an evangelist. An evangelist is a guy who takes his wife to a romantic restaurant and then spends the meal witnessing to the waiter. That’s Jim, and that’s a true story, but probably for...
Jonathan Leeman’s new book, The Surprising Offense of God’s Love:Reintroducing the Doctrines of Church Membership and Discipline, is now available and apparently well-worth the read.
I know the subjects are much maligned, confused, and...
(Author: Johnathon Bowers)
The audio of Bob Blincoe’s message, "Christian Hedonism—The Missionary Advantage of Desiring God," is now online. You can also read the notes.
Here’s how he defined "the missionary advantage":
The...
Crossway is pleased to announce that over 743,000 Share the Good News of Christmas bags were distributed this Christmas season! The program was launched in early 2009 with the vision of partnering with Christian Retail Stores and the local church to...
Churches all across the country are embracing the ministry of orphan care and the miracle of adoption. God continues to raise up churches that are committed to James 1:27 ministry from a gospel-driven perspective. When it’s the gospel...
This time two weeks ago, if I had dropped dead, my body would have twitched for 72 hours before I could’ve been embalmed.
Last week I noted over on Twitter that I felt two golden tablets away from Mormonism. It’s not because I’m...
Marriage, according to Scripture, will always involve two flawed people living with each other in a fallen world. Yet, in pastor Paul David Tripp’s professional experience, the majority of couples enter marriage with unrealistic expectations,...
It seems that as human beings we are naturally drawn to underdog stories. Recently I watched a couple of episodes of Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided, a six-part series that aired as part of the “American Experience” program. As...
The NCAA mulls over expanding its basketball tournament to 96 teams! Talk about redefining March Madness!
Part of the magnetism of college basketball is “making the big dance.” If one quarter of all Division I teams will be invited,...
Haiti Three Weeks Later
“Tomorrow [note: this is from February 1] will mark three weeks since the massive January 12th earthquake in Haiti, and tent cities remain full, even as some businesses and factories are beginning to reopen in...
This is not a paid advertisement.
If you are looking for an evangelism program to use in your church, I strongly urge you to consider Christianity Explored. Although there are several good programs out there, we decided to go with CE several years...
I recently contributed a chapter entitled “The Gospel for All Nations” to a book called Faith Comes by Hearing: A Response to Inclusivism (edited by Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson (InterVarsity). Here are my five concluding...
Arno was inseparable from Mr. Penguin. The little Haitian boy was almost three years old, and the plush penguin with the word “love” inscribed upon it was his most treasured object. The orphan and his penguin were always seen...
Arno was inseparable from Mr. Penguin. The little Haitian boy was almost three years old, and the plush penguin with the word “love” inscribed upon it was his most treasured object. The orphan and his penguin were always seen...
Leaders Lead Themselves
Leaders should spend 50% of their time leading themselves. So suggests Dee Hock, author of Birth of the Chaordic Age. When most leaders think of leadership, they think of downwardly leading those for whom they’re...
(Author: Johnathon Bowers)
The session notes and audio for Sam Storms’ third and final message, "The Practical Sin-Killing Power of Christian Hedonism," are now online.
He laid out these five ways to work for your own joy and the...
(Author: Joe Rigney)
Today after Pastor John’s biographical sketch of C.S. Lewis, Tim Tomlinson, President of Bethlehem College and Seminary, updated a number of the attendees about the latest news from BCS.
For those unaware, Bethlehem...
President Obama and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have recently come out and said that the controversial Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy should be repealed in the United States military. This specific topic causes both sides of the...
“If we would be as Christians, we must rejoice at the happiness of those that persecute us, and weep and be grieved for their misfortunes.”
Jonathan Edwards, “Living Peaceably One with Another,” in Sermons and Discourses...
Let’s think together. 1) Is Christian mission coextensive with Christian ethics? Is everything that a Christian is enjoined to do to be considered part of Christian mission? 2) Is “Christian mission” a meaningful concept, worth...
Today, pro-choice sports columnist Sally Jenkins wrote that we need more Tim Tebows. Her column in The Washington Post titled “Tebow’s Super Bowl ad isn’t intolerant; its critics are” (2/2/10) has left me stunned and...
(Author: Tyler Kenney)
The manuscript and audio of John Piper’s "Lessons from an Inconsolable Soul: Learning from the Mind and Heart of C. S. Lewis" are now up.
Towards the end of his message, Piper lists 8 lessons—apart from...
Our cooks are in the kitchen here at Crossway. Could you let us know what you use?
There’s an insightful and courageous piece in today’s Washington Post by Sally Jenkins. In the article Jenkins (who’s a great sports columnist, BTW) says that she’s adamantly pro-choice but praises and defends Tim...
This is a fun tidbit about how one CEO figures out who could and could not be a good worker and leader in his company. He plays soccer.
Here are the qualities he looks for when he plays (and hires):
One is reliability, the sense that they’re not...
Jim Elliot, shortly before martyred in service to the gospel:
You wonder why people choose fields away from the States when young people at home are drifting because no one wants to take time to listen to their problems. I’ll tell you why I...
(Author: Benjamin Jensen)
Sam Storms has delivered his second message, "Biblical and Theological Foundations for Christian Hedonism: Seven Theses," and both the audio and notes are now available.
One question he asks is, "Why devote a...
Pastor Mark recently shared photos, video, and stories from his trip to Haiti and spoke about how the church is responding to suffering there. The entire sermon is available for download, including this video featuring a brand new recording of...
“I do believe and confess that Christ’s condemnation is my absolution, that his crucifying is my deliverance, his descending into hell is my ascending into heaven, his death is my life, his blood is my cleansing and purging, by whom only...
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s...
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s...
(Author: Johnathon Bowers)
The notes and audio from Eric Mason’s message, "The Role of Suffering in Sanctification," are now online. He gave an illustration of suffering from his own life:
Some of you are in situations right...
“But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ And he answered, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the...
Whether in you are in a relationship or it’s the relationships of your children, family members, or friends—here is a sobering and encouraging word from Richard Baxter on the issue of being unequally yoked.
Excerpt from The Godly...
Over the past few months I’ve been running a series of interviews called “Meet the Ministries.” The purpose of this series is to learn about some of the more prominent or more interesting ministries seeking to serve the church today...
The cross is in view and Jesus takes the last hours with his disciples to talk about the Trinity. It’s not as strange as it sounds. If Jesus is going to die (and later ascend into heaven after his resurrection), it behooves the disciples to...
Amazing, Extraordinary, Amazing
This is brilliant. Some fun-loving soul took Steve Job’s recent iPad announcement and essentially stripped it down to its adjectives, editing the whole speech down to 3 minutes. The result is oddly hilarious.
Is...
Bible reading and prayer are the two most basic spiritual disciplines of Christian faith. Prayer in the simplest way is talking to God. It is sharing with your loving father your heart, thoughts, emotions, requests, needs, cares, anxieties, worries,...
(Author: Benjamin Jensen)
The audio for Sam Storms’ first message, "For Your Joy," is now online, along with notes taken during the session. Here’s how he finished:
Most people think praise from others and appreciation of our...
Sometimes brothers want to be Asian. My childhood friend, Derrick, and I used to watch Saturday morning Kung Fu movies then meet in the church yard to practice our moves. I think it went something like this: imagining we were the Asian...
For the past two years during the month of February, we reduced the prices of all the resources we produce. The response has been overwhelming. So we decided to repeat the lunacy. Here’s the deal:
From February 1–28, at the Sovereign Grace...
(Author: Benjamin Jensen)
These notes were taken from the second session of today’s pre-conference seminar, "The Pastor: Not Yet Perfect, Still Under Attack." (Read the notes from Part 1.)
This side of eternity it’s very hard to keep...
The whole world is watching a Baptist group from Idaho that tried to take a group of 33 Haitian orphans away from their homes in light of the recent earthquake. Certainly many Haitian children will be in desperate need of adoption in the coming...
(Author: Johnathon Bowers)
Paul Tripp just delivered two messages at the pre-conference seminar. Here are some notes taken from the first session, "The Pastor: Who Do We Think He Is Anyway?"
I have this experience as I travel around the world. By...
If God is all-powerful, why does he use angels to serve us? John Calvin, Institutes 1.14.11, proposes an answer:
“God makes use of angels to comfort our weakness, that we may lack nothing at all that can raise up our minds to good hope or...
(Author: Tyler Kenney)
If you couldn’t make it Minneapolis for the Pastors Conference—whether because of the cost, the timing, or the fact that you couldn’t get a visa to the US—that doesn’t mean you have to miss it. We praise...
(Author: David Mathis)
This week’s sermon: "I Will Build My Church"
Why plant new churches in America? You may be surprised by the statistics.
There are about 200 million non-churched people in America, making America one of the four...
Jan Flinte, a friend of our family, wrote about her experience in Jacmel, Haiti last week:
Yesterday Leann and I headed over to the large refugee camp that’s now a part of our community. As difficult as it was to see, it was a good...
Click through to the Resurgence if you can’t see the video.
Dr. Ed Stetzer explains what it means to be missional in this 30-second video.
Total Church
Tim Chester and Steve Timmis present a vision for churches centered on gospel community....
I don’t know him, but it kind of feels like I do.
He grew up just across the state line from where I did. He memorized the same Bible verses I did, probably using the same Sunday school curriculum I did. He went to Vacation Bible School,...
We are fast becoming the pornographic society. Over the course of the last decade, explicitly sexual images have crept into advertising, marketing, and virtually every niche of American life. This ambient pornography is now almost everywhere, from...
The Breslin went nuclear after this monster jam from Chris Allen on Saturday night.
Stay tuned for more details on our new February releases!
Scandalous by D. A. Carson
Leaders Who Last by Dave Kraft
Ruth: Under the Wings of God by John Piper
Liberating Black Theology by Anthony Bradley
A Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ by Sam...
I am leading my church family through the New Testament book of Revelation this year called “The Revelation of Jesus Christ: Learning to Hope in the King and the Kingdom.” We started last fall and we’re going verse by verse, week by week...
Welcome to a full month of ridiculously low prices on Sovereign Grace music and books. We call it our February sale.
For the past two years during the month of February, we reduced the prices of all the resources we produce. The response has been...
This morning my devotions took me to the final chapters of John (which, to those who know the reading plan I’m using this year, is an admission that I’m a few days behind). We find such poignant little stories in these chapters, stories...
Chandler on Suffering Well
Associated Press wrote an article about Matt Chandler and his battle with a brain tumor: “Chandler’s lanky 6-foot-5-inch frame rests on a table at Baylor University Medical Center. He wears the same kind of...
Props to my esteemed commenters for reminding my of this classic scene.
The set up: the three guys are competing to see who can be the most romantic with their wives. The women are trying hard not to be impressed.
In Martin Luther’s essay, “The Freedom of a Christian,” we read the following: “I believe that it has now become clear that it is not enough or in any sense ‘Christian’ to preach the works, life, and words of Christ as historical...
(Author: David Mathis)
The 2010 Desiring God Conference for Pastors begins this evening, which means some spectacular book deals for those of you who will be here in Minneapolis (and this list of recommendations for those of you ordering from home)....
As promised, this month I post a draft of the closing section of an article on B.B. Warfield’s path to inerrancy, the full version of which is to appear in the Westminster Theological Journal later this year.Alongside it, ‘Divine...
Warfield’s approach to establishing the doctrine of biblical inerrancy is more that of a historian than a scientist, as we shall now see. He provides us with a brief resumé of his method in the following passage.Inspiration is not the most...
Having introduced the biblical warning that idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God (part 1) and having defined idolatry of the heart in order to expose our idols (part 2), I want finally to suggest how we are to replace the substitute gods of...
“The Christian life is often like this. We glide out of our harbor under full sail, thrilled with delight in knowing our sins are forgiven and that we are right with God. A new love for our Redeemer fills us with gratitude, and we are eager to...
Today at church we sang a new song, “Behold the Lamb (Communion Hymn).” It is another joint effort between Stuart Townend and Keith & Kristyn Getty. Written specifically for reflection before partaking in the Lord’s Supper, it...
Let’s allow Piper to take a crack at it from 1 John. Great explanation:
(HT: Reformation Theology)
While I’m at it, I’d love to offer another plug for Piper’s recent book, Finally Alive. Or, listen to or watch the sermon...
Prayer series: Click | View Series
“Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it.” John Wesley
What Jesus Said About Fasting
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught a...
The 2009 Raleigh Acts 29 Boot Camp, hosted by Vintage21 Church on February 4-5, 2009, was about planting churches and making sure new plants thrive. Mark Driscoll, Scott Thomas and other Acts 29 pastors were joined by several guest speakers for the...
(Author: Tyler Kenney)
Yesterday, in my anticipation to hear John Piper’s message on C. S. Lewis this coming Tuesday, I curiously checked the index of The Quotable Lewis for any listings under "biography." I wanted to see if Lewis himself ever...
The heart of the matter is a post from: Ray Ortlund
The heart of the matter is a post from: Ray Ortlund
Once again, I’m a couple of days late with this next entry in Reading Classics Together. Being on the road for almost the entire week played havoc with my schedule (though I did remember to bring the book with me). Again I’m indebted to...
As part of our Church-Centered Haiti Orphan Care Initiative, we are working very closely with The Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT).
HORT is a cooperative effort of disaster response experts and U.S. based ministries that have unified to respond to...
“Some preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. . . . What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” Philippians 1:15, 18
A church can be...
If you’re in or near Greenville, South Carolina, this conference on April 9–10 may serve you (brochure | online registration). I’m looking forward to it.
Awhile back I noticed on Doug Wilson’s blog that he keeps a book log of the books he’s read and makes a very brief comment on each one. I liked the concept so much that I’ve decided to copy it. The point of this log is not 1) to get you to...
Bought with a Price: Click | View Series
1 Corinthians 6:19-20—“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
He slays our sins at the cross. “You were bought with a price.” Let us...
(Author: David Mathis)
Each January John Piper prepares a brief annual report for Bethlehem
summarizing the highlights from the previous year. His 2009 annual
report is now online.
Now all of his annual reports since 1990 are available on the DG...
My friend Jonathan Leeman is the director of communications for 9Marks and edits their eJournal. It has been a blessing to know him for lo these many years now, and I’m excited about the appearance of his first book, The Church and the...
Both sides in the federal trial over same-sex marriage have now rested, and the nation awaits the decision of U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker. Nevertheless, the judge’s decision will not put the matter to rest, no matter his ruling. Both...
“Praise befits the upright.” Psalm 33:1
A spirit of praise toward God is not just obligatory; it’s fitting, it’s beautiful. That’s what the verse is saying.
A frowning church is ugly. A praising church is beautiful. ...
There are three major alternatives for understanding the last phrase of Hebrews 10:20: τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ (“that is, his flesh”). The first is reflected in most standard English translations (ESV, KJV,...
If the people of Haiti had to sleep on the ground, so would she.
Britney Winn, a 2009 graduate of Centenary College of Louisiana, was in Haiti serving at an orphanage when the earthquake hit. After being evacuated the next weekend and sleeping 12...
According to the NYT, black boys are the least likely children to be adopted. This is helpful for Christians who have a heart for orphan care to keep in mind.
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This is an interesting website from an African-American pastor who is...