INTRODUCTION: In this series, we are considering the temptations presented to us by desire, envy, competition, and ambition. Last week we looked at desire—the quarry from which many sins are hewn—and is a word which, thankfully for the writers of rock ballads, rhymes with fire. We now turn to the thing that our spirits’ desires …
In Other Words, Cool Your Baby Jets
“Violent gesture, even when commended by some, will be sure to strike others from its comic side . . . Therefore, do not carry action too far, and if you feel that you are naturally very energetic in your delivery, repress your energies a little. Wave your hands a little less, smite the Bible somewhat …
Desire
Yesterday, I began a short series of sermons on Desire, Envy, Competition, and Ambition. The message yesterday was Desire Runs Deep.
So Stand Straight
“We do not go into the pulpit to slouch about, and to look free and easy, but we go there upon very solemns business, and our posture should be such as becomes our mission” (Charles Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students, p. 281).
Unity Unattended
In the book of Ephesians (4:3), Paul tells us that we should endeavor to the keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. He tells us to endeavor to do this because if we don’t, unity is not the kind of thing that can be put on auto-pilot. Unity unattended is disunity …
Out of the Groove
“It would be very easy to prove that revivals of religion have usually been accompanied, if not caused, by a considerable amount of preaching out of doors, or in unusual places” (Charles Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students, p. 236).
Holding Back the Word
Green Baggins has responded to my last comment, and has also finished his review of my book “Reformed” Is Not Enough. He invited me to have the last word on our paedocommunion exchange, which I will do just briefly. He then asked a few questions which I will try to answer. His question on paedocommunion …
Articulate Snoring
“Our preaching must not be articulate snoring. There must be power, life, energy, vigour. We must throw our whole selves into it, and show that the zeal of God’s house has eaten us up” (Charles Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students, p. 226).
Is Food a Privilege?
Just a few more comments in response to Green Baggins’ latest. I think we have already covered the basic issues, but a few points really need to be emphasized. The first is that I agree that our inability to get the church in history to correspond name-for-name with the church in the eschaton is not …
Terriers of Orthodoxy
“If we really believe the truth, we shall be decided about it. Certainly we are not to show our decision by that obstinate, furious, wolfish bigotry which cuts off every other body from the chance and hope of salvation and the possibility of being regenerate or even decently honest if they happen to differ from …