Some of the lessons that God appoints for His people to learn from time to time are the lessons that come with scandal. Whenever a situation arises within the Christian community that shocks, grieves, angers, or scandalizes the people generally, we have to remember that this also is from the hand of God. And because …
A Form of Battle
Our gracious God, we glory in You, and in what You have given to us. We know that what we are doing here — resting in You — is actually a form of battle. We thank You for overcoming our enemies while we sit at table. We thank You for the means You have selected …
Solomon in All His Glory
The name of Solomon is still evocative today. He is a striking picture of a man who possesses. In fact, his name is most familiar to us as a possessive adjective—Solomon’s wisdom, Solomon’s mines, Solomon’s wives, Solomon’s wealth, Solomon’s temple. And this characteristic of possession is the basis of the story we must tell about …
Making the World New
A central feature of proper Christian worship is a right understanding of the promised presence of God. But too often we assent to such phrases with a superficial and glib understanding — of course God is present with us in worship because He is omnipresent, and this leads us to think nothing unique happens here …
Marriage As Manifest Glory XXXV
INTRODUCTION: As we begin to wrap up this series on marriage, the topic today (for husbands) is love, sacrifice and authority. Next week we will consider (for wives) respect, submission and authority. The element the two have in common is obviously that word authority, and once we refresh ourselves with the principle, we need to …
Sinclair Ferguson Returns
My wife and I drove over to Wenatchee yesterday and had a great time with the saints at Trinity Church (CREC) there. I still had Sinclair Ferguson’s tape in the tape deck, and my wife hadn’t heard it, and so on the way back we listened to it again. And hence some more comments. It …
Smoke in the Eyes
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 63 “As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him” (Prov. 10:26). Vinegar to the teeth provokes a strong reaction. Smoke in the eyes is a guaranteed irritant. And …
Sinclair Ferguson
Just a few days ago I finished listening to a recent talk by Sinclair Ferguson on the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) that was simply outstanding. I had some quibbles here and there, but over all the talk was powerful, sane, balanced, and directed the critique where it mattered. The talk is available online, and …
Clouds and Thick Darkness
Minister: Lift up your hearts! Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord! The Lord reigns! You our Lord, our only God Reign over all things! Let the earth rejoice, Let millions of islands rejoice in the sea! Clouds and thick darkness surround You, Righteousness and judgment establish Your throne; The two together are darkness …
Straight Line Power
When Jesus came as the long awaited Messiah, He did not play it out according to the anticipated script. Of course, He fulfilled the prophecies that had been given about Him, but over the centuries those prophecies had been gradually turned into something consistent with something that the religious heart of man dearly loves—straight-line power …