Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author, and book reviewer.
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A new year is now well underway, and at the beginning of this year I found myself reading and reflecting upon James Smith’s powerful new year’s address. (James Smith was one of Charles Spurgeon’s predecessors at New Park Street Chapel in London.) At the conclusion of his message he tells his church what he is praying on their behalf—seven things he longs for them to experience, to have, to do, to enjoy, and to be preserved from. I trust you’ll …
One of my favorite things is to find someone else’s prayer that I can pray quietly by myself on a Sunday morning. I suppose there’s a kind of freshness to it—a different way of expressing similar truths. On this Sunday morning I’m praying along with J.R. Miller who once created a whole collection of prayers for that very reason. As we begin this holy Sunday, our Father, may You give us indeed a Sunday blessing. On this day which reminds …
Merry Christmas! I pray that this will be a sweet day of rest and remembrance for you—a day in which you will be able to rest from your normal labors to remember our Savior’s birth. As you do so, perhaps you will be blessed by this old prayer drawn from The Valley of Vision. It will call you to marvel at the wonder of God made man, of deity meeting humanity. What shall I render to thee for the gift …
If you have ever wanted a taste of Calvin’s Institutes but without committing to the whole thing, you may want to try reading A Little Book on the Christian Life. It is an excerpt of the larger work, and one focused largely on Christian living. Here’s an extract from a new edition translated by Aaron Denlinger and Burk Parsons. In striving for either convenience or tranquility in this present life, Scripture calls us to resign our wills and everything that …
When Jesus prayed to the Father he said, “Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Charles Spurgeon once reflected on these words as they pertained specifically to the Christian’s responsibility toward missions and evangelism. His thoughts are worth pondering today. “Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Note the words “be done,” for they touch a vital point of the text. God’s will is done in heaven. How very practical! On earth …
The book Piercing Heaven shares some wonderful prayers from the Puritans. This is one of the first and, to my mind, one of the best prayers in the collection. Lord, I would be the most miserable person in the world if my hopes were only in this life. Why? Because I am hopeless without Christ’s righteousness. My life could never be comfortable, and there would be no hope at all of eternal life. If you denied me that hope, I …
Who is Jesus? And why do Christians make such a big deal of him? Charles Hodge provides a stirring answer in his Systematic Theology. Why do Christians make such a big deal of Jesus? Here’s why… All divine names and titles are applied to Him. He is called God, the mighty God, the great God, God over all; Jehovah; Lord; the Lord of lords and the King of kings. All divine attributes are ascribed to Him. He is declared to …
A couple of days ago a couple of friends sent me pretty much the same email at pretty much the same time. Both thought I would benefit from a reflection written by Charles Spurgeon. It was, indeed, the right word at the right time. Here it is, modernized through the pen of Alistair Begg. O death! Why do you touch the tree beneath whose spreading branches weariness finds rest? Why do you snatch away the excellent of the earth, in …
Today the great majority of the people who read this site will be heading to church (or perhaps still taking in a service through a live-stream). As we assemble to worship, we will have the privilege of hearing the Bible read and preached. And in this brief quote from Harold Senkbeil we are reminded of what a privilege this is. Read it and be encouraged as you consider God’s precious word. In our digital age, we’re swimming in gigabytes of …
While most people know that few have ever preached like Spurgeon, not nearly so many know that few have ever prayed like Spurgeon. Believe it or not, many who attended his church spoke less of his preaching and more of his praying! The little book The Pastor in Prayer captures some of his pastoral prayers, and today I wanted to share just a brief excerpt of one that seems especially fitting as we prepare to worship on this Lord’s Day. …