When God is not at the center of our lives, something else will be. We must examine ourselves to see if we have any pleasant plants we have been tending.
Tending our Pleasant Plants
Fulfill the Ministry
See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord. - Colossians 4:7 "Fulfill the Ministry." Paul initially said this to Archippus, but was this a warning or encouragement? Since we do not know much about him, it is hard to tell. Some have suggested that Archippus was the first pastor to the … Continue reading Fulfill the Ministry
The Deeps
Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach. Help me chastely to flee it and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be Thine alone. Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in Thee, the ground of my rest, the spring … Continue reading The Deeps
Sanctified Affliction Seldom Seems Sanctified
One of the great prayers from the Valley of Vision, a collection of old puritan prayers, says this, "No trial is so hard to bear as a sense of sin. If thou, oh Lord, should give me choice to live in pleasure and keep my sin, or to have them burnt away with trials, give … Continue reading Sanctified Affliction Seldom Seems Sanctified
On Soul Winning – Charles Spurgeon
“We do not regard it to be soul-winning to steal members out of churches already established, and train them to utter our peculiar Shibboleth: we aim rather at bringing souls to Christ than at making converts to our synagogue." "In the next place, we do not consider soul-winning to be accomplished by hurriedly inscribing more … Continue reading On Soul Winning – Charles Spurgeon
Christ Jesus is the One
Pastor Jeff Saltzmann gives us five soul-searching questions to drive home the fact that we are secure in Christ.
5 Ways Leprosy is a Picture of Sin
How is leprosy a picture of sin? Here are five parallels between leprosy and sin.
Pilgrim’s Progress Discussion Questions by Chapter
I recently taught a class through Pilgrim's Progress. Below are the discussion questions for each chapter. Chapter 1 -pp. 1-17 in the Revell Spire Edition -pp. 1-26 in the Moody Classic Edition -pp. 1-27 in Pilgrim’s Progress in Today’s English -pp. 1-20 Barbour and Company. 1985 1. What is the book Christian has in his … Continue reading Pilgrim’s Progress Discussion Questions by Chapter
Understanding Justification: The Necessity of Double Imputation
The Illustration His mom had laid out the situation. The room was to be clean by 4:00 p.m. If he completed the job on time, his mom would buy him movie tickets so he could go out with his friends. If he did not finish on time, he would be grounded for a week. At 4:00 … Continue reading Understanding Justification: The Necessity of Double Imputation
The Fight of Faith
The sky has turned dark. It has not always been this way, but now it is frightening. Not long ago it was bright and sunny as was the disposition of my heart, but now the thunder crashes are similar to the war drums of an enemy telling me that I will never survive. When the skies were clear, I … Continue reading The Fight of Faith
The Fight of Faith 