Results tagged “sanctification”
Everything to Nothing (08/25/08 - 7 Comments)
We, as human beings, love underdog stories. Yesterday I watched a couple of episodes of Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided, a six-part series that aired as part of the “American Experience” program. As with any bio of Lincoln, it contrasts his early years with those of his wife. Where Mary Todd was raised in a huge home filled with servants and slaves, Abraham Lincoln was raised in a one-room cabin far from civilization;...
The Priority of Practicing (06/11/08 - 8 Comments)
The term “planned neglect” is one I first encountered around the time that Hurricane Katrina swept over the Gulf Coast. It came to the fore for a time in the media when locals, dismayed at the way the disaster was handled, charged various levels of government with planned neglect, insisting that the city had not been merely killed but had been murdered. Neglect, planned by the government, had led to the death of the city....
Just Stop It! (03/27/08 - 56 Comments)
You’ve probably seen this video. If not, you’ll want to take six minutes of your life and give it a look. It’s Bob Newhart at his best, really. If you’ve heard his old bits about the discovery of tobacco or the invention of baseball you’ll see that not much has changed over the years. He’s as funny as ever. His stuttering, his naivete—it’s the same as it ever was. It’s brilliant. In the case of...
Ligonier Conference (II) (03/14/08 - 7 Comments)
This morning began with John MacArthur’s second and final sermon. His topic was “Simultaneously Righteous and a Sinner” (or, to use the latin theological term, simul iustus et peccator). He turned first to the well-known story of the raising of Lazarus and on that basis titled his message (rather creatively, I might add), “We Have Been Raised but We Stink.” He looked to the story of Lazarus and remarked on the fact that, even after...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 14) (02/21/08 - 22 Comments)
This morning we come to the end of the second classic we’ve been reading together. Chapter 14 marks the end of John Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers. If you are interested in knowing what we’re doing, you can read about it here: Reading Classics Together. Summary Today we are at the fourth and final part of the book: directions for the work of mortification. Set faith at work on Christ for the...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 12) (02/07/08 - 6 Comments)
This morning we continue with our reading of John Owen’s classic Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this reading project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. We’re in the heart of the book now and are looking at specific instructions on how to put sin to death. In the past few chapters we have been in the book’s second section—a section that focuses on “the nature...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 11) (01/31/08 - 10 Comments)
This morning we continue with our reading of John Owen’s classic Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this reading project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. We’re into the real heart of the book now and are looking at specific instructions on how to put sin to death. In the past few chapters we have been in the book’s second section—a section that focuses on “the...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 10) (01/24/08 - 25 Comments)
This morning we continue with our reading of John Owen’s classic Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this reading project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. We’re into the real heart of the book now and are looking at specific instructions on how to put sin to death. In the past few chapters we have been in the book’s second section—a section that focuses on “the...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 9) (01/17/08 - 14 Comments)
This morning we continue with our fourteen week journey through John Owen’s classic Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this reading project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. We’re into the real heart of the book now and are looking at specific instructions on how to put sin to death. By way of reminder, for the past few chapters we have been in the book’s second...
Reality Check (VII) (12/30/07 - 19 Comments)
This morning the Reality Check conference wrapped up with the final of Paul Washer’s four sermons on the beatitudes. After reading the text he began with this statement: “If you have been truly born again, the beatitudes must be, at least to some extent, a description of your life.” Though the series was intended to cover all of the beatitudes, Washer got no further than this: “Blessed are the pure in heart.” The word “pure”...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 6) (12/20/07 - 17 Comments)
Today we continue reading the classics together by turning to the sixth chapter of John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. We are now in the book’s second section—a section that turns the focus from introductory materials to “the nature of mortification.” In this portion of the book he will answer this question: “Suppose a man to...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 5) (12/13/07 - 26 Comments)
Today we continue reading the classics together by turning to the fifth chapter of John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. This is the first chapter in the book’s section—a section that turns the focus from introductory materials to “the nature of mortification.” In this portion of the book he will answer this question: “Suppose a man...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 4) (12/06/07 - 29 Comments)
Today we continue reading the classics together by turning to the second chapter of John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. For a couple of years I met every Friday morning with a group of friends and we would read books together. We read some great books like Os Guinness’ The Call and Tozer’s The Knowledge of...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 3) (11/29/07 - 32 Comments)
Today we continue reading the classics together by turning to the second chapter of John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. The opening portion of the book, which we will complete next week, is based upon an exposition of Romans 8:13: “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 2) (11/22/07 - 25 Comments)
“Be killing sin or it will be killing you…” This week we continue reading the classics together by turning to the second chapter of John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. Last week we read the first chapter which was an exposition of Romans 8:13: “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if...
Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 1) (11/15/07 - 55 Comments)
“Put to death the deeds of the body…” Today is the first day of the second round of Reading the Classics Together. Having enjoyed J.C. Ryle’s Holiness over a period of eight weeks, we are ready to move on to the next book. Between comments, email, and face-to-face interaction, I think I can safely say that at least several hundred people have indicated an interest in joining in this effort as we read John Owen’s...
The Need for Constant Practice (10/29/07 - 3 Comments)
Next year is an Olympic year and in the summer of 2008, athletes will converge on Beijing to complete in 302 events across 28 different sports. Already we are beginning to hear about qualifying events and national Olympic committees choosing the teams they will send to China to represent their countries. There isn't an athlete who isn't already dreaming of earning a spot on the Olympic team and earning a gold medal for his country....
Reading Classics Together - Holiness (Growth) (10/11/07 - 16 Comments)
"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18) Today those of us who are engaged in this project to read some great Christian classics together are going to be looking at the sixth chapter of J.C. Ryle’s Holiness. You can read more about this effort here: Reading the Classics Together. Even if you are not participating, please keep reading. I’m sure there will be something here...
Reading Classics Together - Holiness (The Cost) (10/05/07 - 7 Comments)
"Which of you, intended to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost?" Today (a day late, for which I apologize) those of us who are engaged in this project to read some great Christian classics together are going to be looking at the fourth chapter of J.C. Ryle’s Holiness. You can read more about this effort here: Reading the Classics Together. Even if you are not participating, please keep reading. I’m...