Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author, and book reviewer.
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Simon, would you still have passed that way? Would you still have passed that way if you had known how you would be mistreated? Would you still have ventured into the city if you had known that you would be forced to carry another man’s burden? Would you still have entered that gate and strolled down that street if you had known that the cross of another man would soon be upon your shoulders, that his blood would soon stain …
Grace and peace to you today! When Martyn Lloyd-Jones Confronted a Pastor Who Loved Controversy and Denunciation This is an interesting description of a key meeting between Martyn Lloyd-Jones and T.T. Shields. Beware the Deadly Weed of Cynicism Darryl Dash: “When I was in my thirties, I became cynical. I think it began with reading some books that were critical of church. I’m not sure. Soon I became a critic of the church while leading a church. I called it …
I thought I’d begin by reminding you that today, right now, at this very moment, God is on his throne. There is just a handful of Kindle deals today. (Yesterday on the blog: Each Gift Has Its Place) Don’t Underestimate the Value of Rest It’s a good reminder, this. “We burn out quickly if we push too hard. Once we start catching our stride — feeling youthful and strong — the temptation to push harder and gain ground is always …
This sponsored post was prepared by Missional Wear. “Never could it be possible for any man to estimate what he owes to a godly mother.” Charles Spurgeon wrote these words while reflecting on his parents and early childhood life. In the coming weeks we too will dedicate special time to celebrate and honor these mothers (May 9th) and fathers (June 20th) who have so profoundly shaped us. My friends at Missional Wear have put together a list of unique and …
I once read the fable of a little bluebell that had been planted in the shady corner of a great garden. Though it was thriving in its place, it one day cast its eye toward the roses that had been planted where the sun was brighter and where more visitors could pause to gaze at their beauty. Suddenly discontent, the bluebell asked the gardener if it could be transplanted to a brighter and more visible location. The gardener granted the …
Good morning! The Lord be with you today. Pastors and other church leaders may be interested in an event from Faithlife where they would like to tell you about their new Faithlife Equip product. Today’s Kindle deals include commentaries by Stott and Fee. (Yesterday on the blog: A Prayer About Brokenness) A Royal Funeral with a Message for Everyone Murray Campbell offers some reflections on this weekend’s royal funeral. “We are divided by death and united in death: Duke, accountant, …
"Do not let us think of prayer as the coaxing or the conquering of a reluctant friend, but rather as the confident appeal to One who is always wise, and always willing to give us what is best for us." (Theodore Cuyler)
"...we think of holiness as giving up the pleasures of sin for some worthy but drab life. But holiness means recognizing that the pleasures of sin are empty and temporary, while God is inviting us to magnificent, true, full, and rich pleasures that last forever." (Tim Chester)
"We can approach the throne of grace with confidence; can your children approach you with confidence, knowing they will be loved no matter what?" (Sarah Mae)
"Jesus was not just a prophet but the fulfillment of all prophecy." (Kevin DeYoung)
"I may know all the doctrines in the Bible, but unless I know Christ, there, is not one of them that can save me." (Charles Spurgeon)
"Jesus came because there is something broken inside us that can only be, will only be fixed by his person, presence, and redeeming work." (Paul David Tripp)
"The greatest threat to our hope for a better world is not the natural environment but the various evils that continually spring from the human heart." (Tim Keller)
Every now and again I like to share an example of a pastoral prayer from Grace Fellowship Church. I do this because there are few examples of pastoral prayers online and I thought these may serve to inspire themes, passages, or ideas as other pastors and elders prepare to lead their churches in prayer. Here is one I prayed before our church not too long ago. (For context, it was my first time leading in a service after Nick’s death, …
Good morning! May God bless and keep you as you serve him today and worship him tomorrow. Today’s Kindle deals are largely about the classics. (Yesterday on the blog: Fierce Wolves Are Coming) A Theology of Free Speech I consider Brad Littlejohn one of the most intriguing Christian intellectuals writing today and invariably benefit from his work. In this article at TGC he provides a theology of free speech. “As Christians, we must clearly affirm that freedom of speech can …
This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Radius International They are giving away a conference package that includes: 2 tickets, a Radius pullover, and 4 books. The winner will receive two free tickets to the Radius Missiology Conference being held June 23-24, 2021, at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN. This event will be live in person or available as a live stream. John Piper, Mark Dever, Wayne Chen, Harshit Singh, Brooks Buser, and others from the Radius world will be …
There are many passages in the Bible we could go to to learn of the calling, the preparation, and the character of the elder. But it has often struck me that one of the most obvious also seems to be one of the most overlooked—Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian elders in the twentieth chapter of Acts. Paul could not spare the time to visit the city and the church there, so summoned the elders to him. Knowing that his …
Good morning! The Lord bless and keep you today. Today’s Kindle deals include quite a number of titles by John Stott. Please Stay Kristin pleads with those who are [unnecessarily] considering leaving their church. “Stay in your Bible preaching church with imperfect people, imperfect pastors and imperfect teachers. Stay and commit to hiding God’s word in your heart, reading and meditating every single day. Stay and humbly repent of your own sins. Stay and pray for others. Stay and serve. …
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Kevin DeYoung’s new Men and Women in the Church is on sale for a few days at Westminster Books. There is a substantial list of Kindle deals today. (Yesterday on the blog: It’s Far Too Easy To Buy A Tiger) The Gift of True Words You won’t read an article better than this one today. “She told me that she sat down one day in …
A comedian jokes, rightly I’m sure, that it’s far too easy to buy a tiger. Buying a tiger “is not an all day thing,” he says, “it’s like an hour—I’ll be right back with our tiger.” We do hear about people who welcome big cats into their homes and we all have a pretty good idea of how such stories are likely to end. While we would be surprised to hear of a man being killed by his pet hamster …
Grace and peace to you today! If the Church Will Have Glory, It Must Come from God Jared Wilson: “We take God lightly. We treat him flippantly. We are too busy saying ‘whee’ in church when we should be saying ‘woe is me.’ The weightiness, the gravity, the all-encompassing and awe-inspiring glory of the Creator God, the Great I AM, is woefully neglected in far too many places where something resembling worship takes place.” 4 Predictions for the Post-Pandemic Church …
Good morning! The Lord be with you today. On sale at Westminster Books this week is a prayer guide from Nancy Guthrie. It’s an “odds and ends” day for Kindle deals. (Yesterday on the blog: Don’t Reclaim Your Life) Post-Pandemic, Will China’s Church Be Changed Forever? It seems it may well be, based on this report. “The new restrictions require Chinese Communist Party oversight for every measure of religious life—staffing, fund management, gatherings. China’s unofficial churches, known as house churches, …
At the end of the most difficult twelve-month period in the history of air travel, Ed Bastian, the CEO of Delta Airlines, is sounding a note of optimism. Celebrating the steady rise in bookings and the gradual return to normal passenger volumes, he recently said, “As the case counts are coming down in meaningful levels as the vaccinations are starting to grow, people are ready to reclaim their lives.” It’s an interesting, thought that, and an attractive one: reclaiming our …
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today. Today’s Kindle deals include a number of books that rarely go on sale. Of Pharaohs and Easter “Last Saturday night, with great fanfare and razzamatazz, under tight security and the gaze of a television audience, twenty-two of Egypt’s Pharaohs were moved to their new home in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.” Mark Loughridge reflects on the timing of this event—the very same weekend as Easter. Your Eschatology Has …
Among Nick’s things I found a collection of George Herbert’s poetry—a text from one of his Bible college courses (and presumably one taught by the book’s author, Jim Orrick). Herbert was a Puritan-era devotional poet who left behind some wonderful reflections on Christian living and doctrine. I especially appreciated this short one in which he displays skill through concision. Every word counts in “Trinity Sunday.” Lord, who hast formed me out of mud, And hast redeemed me through thy blood, …
I wrote this short, fast-paced, practical guide to productivity to share what I have learned about getting things done in today’s digital world. It will help you learn to structure your life to do the most good to the glory of God. Read More
