“What a preacher Augustine became in his passion not to be ‘silent’ about the all-satisfying pleasures at God’s right hand! ‘Can any man say enough when he speaks of you?’ He explained to his own congregation how his preaching came to be: ‘I go to feed [myself] so that I can give you to eat. …
“People who don’t like Christians are all around us. Only a strange providence keeps our churches from being bombed. It is only a matter of time till the reality of the rest of the world comes home. And all the while we are called by Christ to go to them, love them, sacrifice for them, …
It was 30 years ago today that God called a young New Testament professor by the name of John Piper to the pastorate. In God’s providence, He has used this man to do amazing things for the Kingdom. How and when did God call you to serve Him as a pastor? Pray for yourself, John …
“Satan does not take innocent people captive. There are no innocent people. Satan has the power where sinful passions hold sway. Judas was a lover of money, and he covered it up with a phony, external relationship with Jesus. And then he sold him for thirty pieces of silver. How many of his ilk are …
“Times are coming when shepherds will again say to their flock, as they have done in days gone by, ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful …
“As a pastor, I do not think it is my job to entertain you during the last days. It is not my calling to help you have chipper feelings while the whole creation groans. My job is to put the kind of ballast in the belly of your boat so that when these waves crash …
“The seed that saves is the word of God–the gospel preached. The seed that creates new life is the gospel in the mouths of believers, spoken to unbelievers. The surgical instrument that opens the eyes of the blind is your words telling and explaining the gospel.” -John Piper, Finally Alive (Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2009), …
“As a preacher, I think a lot about relevance. Why should anyone listen to what I have to say? Why should anybody care? Relevance is an ambiguous word. It might mean that a sermon is relevant if it feels to the listeners that it will make a significant difference in their lives. Or it might …
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 …
“Don’t let your theology get in the way of the Bible.” -John Piper (from Advance 09 conference sermon, “Let the Nations Be Glad, Part 2“)