Since I’ve been reading much about marriage for the purposes of studying Ephesians 5:22-33, it only fits to share a longer quotation from one of those readings. In both of my previous sermons to wives and husbands, I’ve already cited Ray Ortlund’s book, Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel, and I plan to end …
Continue reading Ray Ortlund on the Ancient Design for Modern Marriage
Although I already shared a quotation from Peter Jones' The Other Worldview two weeks ago, his description below of true spirituality is a fitting complement to the yesterday's sermon over being filled with the Spirit, particularly through singing and giving thanks. Also, here is a quick explanation of two terms below that are essential to …
With J. I. Packer’s recent passing, it seems only proper to again encourage everyone who has not yet read his book Knowing God to by all means do so. The following quotation is from that very book. Again, it is to be feared that many today who profess to be Christ’s never learn wisdom, through …
Thomas Watson writes the following paragraph in his little book, Heaven Taken by Storm: Showing the Holy Violence a Christian Is to Put Forth in the Pursuit of Glory: Even where sin has received its deadly wound and is in part abated, the work of mortification is not to be laid aside. The apostle persuades …
Continue reading There Is Always Something That Needs Mortifying | Thomas Watson
The following quotations comes from Packer's classic book, Knowing God, which you should make plans to read immediately, if you haven't already done so. But how are we to meet these baffling and trying situations, if we cannot for the moment see God's purpose in them? First, by taking them as from God, and asking …
John Owen's treatise on spiritual-mindedness, from which I have already cited a quotation, is a painfully beneficial read. Worldly thinking runs so deeply within us and is ultimately both deadly and damning. Throughout the book, his aim is simply to exhort us toward spiritual-mindedness, to think about the things of God and be further sanctified …
The question of how God's absolute sovereignty relates to human freedom is a long-standing one. In his book Enjoying God, Sproul briefly tackles this subject and makes an important distinction: we are free, but we are not autonomous. Augustine said that "in a certain sense God wills everything that comes to pass." He ordains things …
Continue reading Human Freedom & Divine Sovereignty | R. C. Sproul
Having written yesterday about the one thing necessary in this life, John Owen applies a similar thought to the notion of hypocrisy from his book Spiritual-mindedness. Consider his words with sober minds and tender hearts, brothers and sisters. Many have a false idea of hypocrisy. They think that a hypocrite is only one who pretends …
Robert Plummer's contribution to the 40 Questions Series is a great book for grasping the basics of hermeneutics, or properly interpreting the Bible. I found the following quotation of particular help, since the question about Christians not adhering to Levitical laws is an all too common question. Many supposed inconsistencies of Christian morality (for example, …
Continue reading The Bible Is Not a Policy Book | Robert L. Plummer
Knowing God by J. I. Packer is one of my readings for teaching over the Attributes of God, and it is the kind of book that upon beginning makes you immediately wish that you had read it earlier. This quotation, however, is not from Packer; instead, it is a portion of a sermon from Charles …
B. C. Newton 