Back in 2012, I taught through the books of Ecclesiastes and Philippians together, attempting to show how they both present that true joy is only found in Christ. Below is part one of an essay I wrote to explain this connection. I pray that you will find it illuminating and helpful. The nature of joy …
Continue reading The Unity of Ecclesiastes & Philippians | part one
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Give us this day our daily bread, Matthew 6:11 After praying for God’s name to be holy, for His kingdom to come, and for His will to be done, Jesus now leads us into praying for our needs. It is important that our needs come after praying for God’s work because it gives us the proper …
And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger." Genesis 25:23 Here God provides an oracle declaring that Jacob would usurp Esau’s firstborn place. God chooses Jacob over Esau, …
“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” Titus 3:3 As with verse 11 of chapter two, the word “for” here indicates that this section is the reason and motivation behind the exhortations given …
training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age Titus 2:12 Even in sections of theology like this one, Paul cannot refrain from disclosing doctrine’s application. Here the emphasis is that the gospel trains us in godliness. In believing the truth of Scripture, we …
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10b But it is a dangerous error, surely very widespread among Christians, to think that the heart can pray by itself. For then we confuse wishes, hopes, sighs, laments, rejoicing so—all of which the heart can do by itself—with prayer. And we confuse …
Your kingdom come, Matthew 6:10a Many Christians do not realize that all of Jesus’ teachings and ministry can be easily summed into one sentence: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt. 4:17).” The entire life of Jesus centered around the idea that He was bring the kingdom of heaven down to earth. …
Hallowed be your name. Matthew 6:9c To be such a key biblical concept, holiness is sorely misunderstood and overlooked. Most of this, I fear, comes from an ignorance as to the meaning of being holy. If this is so, we must seek to readily correct it because holiness is of tremendous importance. For instance, ancient …
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. (Titus 1:5 ESV) Given that appointing elders in every town was Paul's primary directive to Titus, it is troublesome that so few of us understand the biblical concept …
Continue reading Biblical, Historical, and Practical Arguments for Elder Plurality
B. C. Newton 