Two Pictures of Depravity, One Trophy of Grace

The goodness of the human heart is a doctrine that is accepted without controversy in our day. The problem with mankind is “out there,” be it poverty, lack of education, peer pressure, etc. (What makes negative peers out of good-hearted humans is a conundrum for the “mankind-is-good” crowd, I suppose, but I digress.) [...]

How Larry Rogier Made My Day

I got to enjoy a cup of coffee yesterday with my long-time friend, Larry Rogier. In addition to catching up on personal things, we “talked shop,” especially about congregational singing and leading in worship. Larry made a comment during that conversation that brought me great joy. We were talking about introducing new songs to our [...]

Salvation by Works? Absolutely.

I’m enjoying my first seminary class in 10 years—Dispensations with Dr. Rolland McCune. My heart was stirred yesterday when considering texts that promise life to one who perfectly keeps God’s Law. (Lev. 18:5b; Deut. 30:16; Neh. 9:29; Ezek. 20:11; Rom. 2:13; 10:5; Gal. 3:12). If words mean anything, the Bible teaches that one can [...]

Blah, Blah, Blah about Me, Me, Me

Well, I’ve been tagged—twice [edit: thrice]—in the “tell some little known things about yourself” game. This feels a bit narcissistic, and I’m so painfully transparent that there’s not a lot left to tell, so feel free to go read something else. Anyway, here goes…
1. I’ve been [...]

What Is the NT Evangelist?

I think Ryan Martin is on to something:
“What Eusebius is saying points to what the New Testament seems to indicate, that an evangelist was a kind of “missionary,” bringing the gospel to a new area, where he would found a church, appoint pastors, and move on.”
I agree.  I believe that the NT evangelist is a [...]

Mohler on Morals and Soapboxes

Mohler’s post today is really good.  He notes that everybody has a soapbox.  Everybody.  While the old morality issues are given a pass, the new morality issues are preached from the housetops:
“All but the truly nihilistic have some moral compass, some moral convictions, some moral causes — even if they are tobacco, trans-fats, and SUVs.”
Good [...]

Gospel-Centeredness in Colossians

I recently posted on the importance of the Gospel for every detail of the Christian life. Even if you don’t care for the author or book I cited, I do encourage you to consider the first 5 paragraphs of that post, all of which focus on what the Lord is teaching me regarding Gospel-Centered [...]

Top This: Bogus Combinations

Ever notice how often people—politicians, reporters, bloggers, children, plumbers, whoever—exaggerate one supposed threat by lumping it with another genuinely serious threat? Well, here’s a whopper:
A Reader’s Digest article from way back in October 2006 made an observation which, though intended to frighten me, I presume, only left me shaking my head. After addressing [...]

North America, South America, and Mexico

I recently posted on C. J. Mahaney’s book The Cross Centered Life. I enjoyed it. One of my favorite lines comes not from the book itself, but from bio on the back cover:
“C. J. Mahaney . . . leads Sovereign Grace Ministries, a church planting support organization with more than fifty churches in North [...]

What I’m Reading: The Cross Centered Life, with Thoughts on the Gospel’s Relevance for Christians

I’ve recently been reading (and planning to read) a number of books that focus on the Gospel and its impact on the Christian life. I do this both for my own spiritual edification and for the edification of those whom I pastor. I fear that we have relegated the Gospel to a message [...]