“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
Pray then like this: Matthew 6:9a How staggeringly wonderful that Jesus would present us with such a succinct and powerful model of prayer! Of course, the Lord’s Prayer is that model. Christ effectively delivered it to us as a guideline, a standard and parameter for how praying ought to look for His followers. This importance is …
As we steadily approach the finish line of our present sermon series through the seven letters of Revelation, the third to the last message has hit me full force. Jesus gives to the Apostle John a letter for the church of Sardis, and His words for it are terrifying. We’ve already heard Jesus rebuke the …
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished one of his disciples said to him, “Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 Prayer does not come naturally. We are not born knowing how to come to God in prayer. It is a practice of nurture, not …
I recently began Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds. So great was its challenge for me to pray that it will likely become the first book I give to anyone who feels called to preaching the Word. I quickly purchased a complete collection of Bounds' books on prayer and finished The Necessity of Prayer just this …
B. C. Newton 