On July 5 I attended worship at a church in a different city and was excited to be reunited with old friends. I was also anxious to sit under the preaching of the Word instead of delivering the Word that particular morning. My excitement grew as the text was read aloud: 31 So Jesus said to the …
“Authentic expository preaching takes the presentation of the Word of God as its central aim. The purpose of the preacher is to read the text, interpret the text, explain the text, and apply the text. Thus, the text drives the sermon from beginning to end.” R. Albert Mohler, Jr. The Disappearance of God: Dangerous Beliefs …
“Reflecting poetically on the urgency and centrality of preaching, the Puritan pastor, Richard Baxter once remarked, ‘I Preach’d, as never sure to Preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.’ With vivid expression and a sense of gospel gravity, Baxter understood that preaching is literally a life-or-death affair. Eternity hangs in the balance …
“Put the advance of the gospel at the center of your aspirations. Our own comfort, our bruised feelings, our reputations, our misunderstood motives–all of these are insignificant in comparison with the advance and splendor of the gospel.” -D.A. Carson, Basic for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1996), 25.
Today marks the 500th birthday for the great Reformer, John Calvin, born July 10, 1509. Regardless of your theological convictions, every minister of the gospel should recognize the gift that John Calvin was to the Church of Jesus Christ. If you have never read any of Calvin’s writings, I would suggest you begin by reading …
The Hole in Our Gospel is both the faith journey of Richard Stearns and his admonition for the church to play a greater role fighting the injustice present in our world. Richard Stearns is the president for World Vision in the United States. This book will not only open your eyes, but also bring tears …
Tim Keller has also recently written an article concerning this issue entitled, “The Importance of Hell,” that is posted on his church’s website. Keller discusses the following four key reasons that this doctrine is important to the Christian faith: 1. It is important because Jesus taught about it more than all other Biblical authors put …
In his most recent book, The Disappearance of God: Dangerous Beliefs in the New Spiritual Openess, Albert Mohler, devotes two chapters about defending the doctrine of hell in today’s culture. He closes chapter five, “Hell Under Fire, Part 1,” with this: “Our responsibility is to present the truth of the Christian faith with boldness, clarity, …
It is interesting to me how many people claim to be evangelical Christians, and yet deny the biblical teaching concerning hell. As ministers of the gospel, we must follow our Master, in warning our listeners about the eternal reality for all who do not bow the knee to King Jesus during this life. Ask yourself …
C.J. Mahaney recently wrote some interesting thoughts concerning summer sermon series. Mahaney asks the question, “Should the pastor continue his expositional series throughout the summer months or not?” Even though I am not exactly sold on his conclusions, these are good suggestions and thoughts from a seasoned pastor. Read the entire article here.