Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Gospel
"If we assume the gospel, or neglect the gospel, or neglect to preach the gospel to ourselves on a daily basis, if we do not review and remind ourselves of the doctrines of grace, if we do not prepare our hearts to discern evidences of grace, all we will be left with throughout the day is an increasing awareness of sin and an increasing awareness of adversity." - C.J. Mahaney
Monday, June 16, 2008
In the World Not of the World
This Wednesday evening our High School group will begin a summer study titled, "Half a poison pill won't kill you." The series is about how Christians are called by God to be in the world, but not to love the world. Worldliness plagues the church in our day and sadly plagues my life as well. My desire is to address this sin in my life and to hopefully be used by God to address it in the lives of our students as well. Here is a helpful quote on what worldliness is by a man I respect and have learned from:
“Worldliness is departing from God. It is a man-centered way of thinking; it proposes objectives which demand no radical breach with man’s fallen nature; it judges the importance of things by the present and material results; it weighs success by numbers; it covets human esteem and wants no unpopularity; it knows no truth for which it is worth suffering; it declines to be a ‘fool for Christ’s sake’. Worldliness is the mind-set of the unregenerate. It adopts idols and is at war with God.” —Iain H. Murray Evangelicalism Divided
I hope this study will be particularly glorifying to God and that He, in His mercy, would address us in this area and truly transform our hearts and lives.
“Worldliness is departing from God. It is a man-centered way of thinking; it proposes objectives which demand no radical breach with man’s fallen nature; it judges the importance of things by the present and material results; it weighs success by numbers; it covets human esteem and wants no unpopularity; it knows no truth for which it is worth suffering; it declines to be a ‘fool for Christ’s sake’. Worldliness is the mind-set of the unregenerate. It adopts idols and is at war with God.” —Iain H. Murray Evangelicalism Divided
I hope this study will be particularly glorifying to God and that He, in His mercy, would address us in this area and truly transform our hearts and lives.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Key to Christian Usefulness
2 Timothy 2:22 - "Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."
"The key to Christian usefulness is in what you are running from, what you’re running to and who you’re running with." - Alistair Begg
It might be good to take some time and consider these things:
1. What hindrance to the Christian life are you running from?
2. What are you running to in order to grow in the things of God?
3. Who are you running with in the process?
"The key to Christian usefulness is in what you are running from, what you’re running to and who you’re running with." - Alistair Begg
It might be good to take some time and consider these things:
1. What hindrance to the Christian life are you running from?
2. What are you running to in order to grow in the things of God?
3. Who are you running with in the process?
Monday, June 2, 2008
Good Teacher
Matthew 19:16-17 - "And someone came to Him (Jesus) and said, 'Teacher, what good things shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?' And He said to him, 'Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good."
"If the young man in the Gospel used this title in speaking to our Lord (Teacher), it is only right that we should address Him in this way. He is indeed my Teacher in that He rules and teaches me. I am glad to run His errands and to sit at His feet. I am both His servant and His disciple and count it my highest honor to serve Him in this way. He is a good teacher. If He should ask me why I call Him "good," I could answer easily. It is true that "no one is good except God alone," but then He is God, and all the goodness of Deity shines in Him. In my experience I have found Him to be good, indeed so good that all the good I have has come to me through Him. He was good to me when I was dead in sin, for He raised me by His Spirit's power; He has been good to me in all my needs, trials, struggles, and sorrows. There could never be a better Teacher, for His service is freedom, His rule is love: I wish I were one thousandth part as good a servant. When He teaches me, He is unspeakably good, His doctrine is divine, His manner is gracious, His spirit is gentleness itself. There is no error in His instruction: Pure is the golden truth that He presents, and all His teachings lead to goodness, sanctifying as well as edifying the disciple. Angels know that He is good and delight to worship at His footstool. The ancient saints proved Him to be a good Teacher, and each of them rejoiced to sing, "I am Your servant, O Lord!" My own humble testimony must certainly be to the same effect. I will declare this before my friends and neighbors, for possibly they may be led by my testimony to seek my Lord Jesus as their Teacher. O I long that they might do so! They would never regret the decision. If they would submit to His easy yoke, they would find themselves in such royal service that they would never want to leave. The school of grace rejoices to have such a Teacher!" - Charles Spurgeon
"If the young man in the Gospel used this title in speaking to our Lord (Teacher), it is only right that we should address Him in this way. He is indeed my Teacher in that He rules and teaches me. I am glad to run His errands and to sit at His feet. I am both His servant and His disciple and count it my highest honor to serve Him in this way. He is a good teacher. If He should ask me why I call Him "good," I could answer easily. It is true that "no one is good except God alone," but then He is God, and all the goodness of Deity shines in Him. In my experience I have found Him to be good, indeed so good that all the good I have has come to me through Him. He was good to me when I was dead in sin, for He raised me by His Spirit's power; He has been good to me in all my needs, trials, struggles, and sorrows. There could never be a better Teacher, for His service is freedom, His rule is love: I wish I were one thousandth part as good a servant. When He teaches me, He is unspeakably good, His doctrine is divine, His manner is gracious, His spirit is gentleness itself. There is no error in His instruction: Pure is the golden truth that He presents, and all His teachings lead to goodness, sanctifying as well as edifying the disciple. Angels know that He is good and delight to worship at His footstool. The ancient saints proved Him to be a good Teacher, and each of them rejoiced to sing, "I am Your servant, O Lord!" My own humble testimony must certainly be to the same effect. I will declare this before my friends and neighbors, for possibly they may be led by my testimony to seek my Lord Jesus as their Teacher. O I long that they might do so! They would never regret the decision. If they would submit to His easy yoke, they would find themselves in such royal service that they would never want to leave. The school of grace rejoices to have such a Teacher!" - Charles Spurgeon
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