The Starting Place…

I want to revisit a quote I made from Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion about the starting place for all theology, worship, doctrine and morals. This is what he said:
“Man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he have previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into [...]

God Often Speaks in the Silences

In the calendar of the Church of England, August 30 corresponds with the “Twelfth Sunday After Trinity.” The Gospel reading selected for that day is Mark 7:31-37.
Sometimes I follow this old lectionary with my own preaching, for it affords a way of keeping the great themes of Scripture before my people, especially in connection with [...]

The Secret Things of God

Sunday Morning’s Sermon
Deuteronomy 29:29  The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
The whole chapter is a time of renewing the covenant between the children of Israel and the LORD. [...]

The doctrine of hell in the news…

I attended an intriguing seminar at the Beeson Divinity School’s Pastors’ School in July on the subject of preaching on hell. A major newspaper has picked up a story that appeared in the Birmingham newspaper about the seminar and included it online:
You can read about it here, and I think you will find it interesting:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-08-01-hell-damnation_N.htm
There’s [...]

A week at Beeson Divinity School

This past week, I enjoyed my seventh time at Beeson Divinity School’s Pastors’ School. This year’s theme was “Reality: It’s Coming to Your Congregation and Community in Ways You Never Imagined. So What’s A Pastor to Do?” I’m really grateful to my church for sending me once again.

Beeson Divinity School is housed on the campus [...]

There can be no coercion…

Christians do not believe in coercion (forcing someone to do something)–we cannot make people be good, and we cannot make people trust Christ, even though it is the best thing in the world for them to do. I cannot force my will on anyone and be consistent with the Scriptures. As a pastor, I have [...]

The Ministry’s Dangers

Here is an excellent article on the subtle danger facing ministers today–the danger of becoming a “diplomatist and strategist.” It deals mostly with issues in the Churches of Scotland and England, but there is a real warning for those of us in North America, too.
http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles/article_detail.php?1598
I hope that several of my fellow SBC and KBC pastors [...]

The Straight Gate

The Gospel According to St. Luke 13:24,  “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
What does Jesus mean when He said “STRIVE” to enter at the strait gate of salvation? Did He mean that we are saved by our [...]

The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd (A message preached on 4-26-09)
1 Peter 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (KJV)
When we think about all that this title means we realize that His being a Shepherd for us is meant to communicate that He cares for [...]

Lenten Message At Community Service

Lenten Message, March 25, 2009. Preached at the Flemingsburg Christian Church. Text: Psalm 119:73-80
Psalm 119:73-80  in the ESV can be found here.
My text is Psalm 119:73-80. It is a small part of the longest chapter in the longest book of the whole Bible. But it is packed with meaning and truth. All the [...]