February 2012
3 posts
5 tags
Pain and the Fall
The utopia of creation was short-lived. When he entrusted the garden to Adam and the woman he told them, “‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tee of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Gen 2:16-17). The consequences for disobedience were clearly defined: death. What is fascinating about this consequence is...
4 tags
Hebrews 1:1-4
This passage has had a great impact on me as I have spent time reading it, memorizing it, and meditating on it. It boldly declares the divinity of the Son of God. “He,” the Scripture says, “is the radiance of the glory of God,” (1:3) “the heir of all things,” (1:2) the one through whom the Father “created the world,” (1:2) and the one who “upholds the universe by the power of his word” (1:3). This...
2 tags
1 Book. 2 Plots. The Gospel of John.
The Gospel of John is unique. Unlike the Synoptics, which almost exclusively focus on recording the historical story of Jesus of Nazareth, John takes a wider, more theological approach. Not neglecting the person of Jesus in history, John’s gaze is on the greater cosmological story of God’s work in the universe. It is within the person of Jesus Christ the reader of the Fourth Gospel sees the...
January 2012
3 posts
2 tags
“Character—the transforming, shaping, and making of a life and its...”
– N.T. Wright, After You Believe
3 tags
My Life is Hid with Christ in God
The following is an excerpt from Tullian Tchividjian’s book Jesus + Nothing = Everything:
When [early Church father] John Chrysostom was brought before the empress Eudoxia, she threatened him with banishment if he insisted on his Christian independence as a preacher.
“You cannot banish me, for this world is my Father’s house.”
“But I will kill you,” said...
3 tags
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” - Proverbs 17:22
I need some good medicine. Lately with my headaches I have had more of a crushed spirit. I want to be joyful especially in the midst of this pain. I don’t know why the pain persists after six months, what it is, or why doctors and their remedies don’t seem to work. I am so often...
December 2011
4 posts
4 tags
The Gospel Changes Everything (especially...
Last night I was celebrating Christmas with a large group of my extended family and realized there was this void in my soul the whole time we were together. We were ‘celebrating’ Christmas, but we weren’t celebrating Christ. We were merely enjoying company, food, and tradition, but we weren’t focusing on the God who became man for us. Christmas is not about gifts,...
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Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who...
If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for...
2 tags
WatchBiblical Authority in an Age of Uncertainty.
Keller, Carson, & Piper
4 tags
Suffering in 1 Peter, The Example of Jesus and the...
The audience to whom Peter wrote his first epistle was no stranger to suffering. At the time of composition, the recipient community was in the midst of experiencing great persecution for their belief in Jesus Christ as Lord. To encourage his brothers and sisters in Asia Minor, Peter presented the example of Jesus, who suffered as they did, and the promise of eternal glory.
Peter suggests that...
November 2011
3 posts
1 tag
A conversation between Charles Spurgeon and his...
Spurgeon’s mother:
“Ah, Charley, I have often prayed that you might be saved, but never that you should become a Baptist.”
Spurgeon:
“God has answered your prayer, mother, with his usual bounty, and given you more than you asked.”
2 tags
A Brief History of the Church Up to 1500
Church history is typically described as several ages, the first of which is the Age of Jesus and the Apostles. This age lasted from 6 AD until 70 AD. It was a time marked by the leadership of the apostles. The early community was predominately Jewish and was united by partaking in two sacraments: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.[1] They lived in community and congregated in the Jewish synagogues...
October 2011
2 posts
4 tags
“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” - Proverbs 13:14
This truth rocked me this morning. God’s word does that. It cuts us deep, opens us up, reveals the areas in our lives we most need heart surgery and then goes to work fixing and restoring. God uses his word to speak to us, yet how often do we spend a great deal of...
3 tags
“The past cannot be changed, but through Jesus Christ it can be redeemed.”
– Tim Chaddick
September 2011
2 posts
3 tags
“As the King, Jesus summons his followers to a life of single-hearted commitment...”
– Jonathan Lunde
2 tags
“Trying to make the Gospel relevant is like trying to make water wet.”
– Matt Chandler
August 2011
9 posts
8 tags
Holiness (1 Peter 1:13-25)
This is part 2 of a series of blogs exploring the book of 1 Peter.
[13] Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, [15] but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your...
3 tags
“I ask that men make no reference to my name; let them call themselves...”
– Martin Luther
7 tags
This is the Gospel (1 Peter 1:1-12)
This is part 1 of a series of blogs exploring the book of 1 Peter.
[1] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, [2] according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to...
4 tags
Blogging through 1 Peter
The book (or letter) of 1 Peter is an amazing piece of Scripture. It is a letter to a large audience, an audience facing persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. These early believers, mostly Jews who recognized Jesus as Messiah, were exiled throughout Palestine. Their persecution was physical, verbal, and social. In the midst of this, God sent them word via the pen of Peter to hold fast to...
8 tags
It's only the beginning...
Tomorrow is the first day of senior year.
It’s crazy to think that senior year is finally here. In some ways the past three years have flown by; in others, it’s been a long journey.
I wouldn’t trade these past three years for anything. Nope, not one thing. God has taught me so much. He has grown me in some amazing ways. He has stretched me far beyond anything I could ever...
3 tags
“Prayer is the language of a dependent people.”
“Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”
– John Owen
7 tags
The Whole World in His Hands.
Life is going to be tough, there is no question about it. Growing up, my Mom used to always say that when it comes to trials, you always have two options: you can either get bitter or you can get better. The choice is yours. How will you choose to see the valleys in your life? Will you blame God and wallow in your own despair? Or will you choose to seek God even more and ask him what he is trying...
4 tags
Status Report.
Over the past few months I have been working in what little spare time I have on a project. I’ve begun to write a book about the providence of God in the midst of evil, trials, and suffering, and how he uses and even ordains that these things would take place for his glory and our good. I’m stoked to say that I have just finished the first draft of the first chapter. I can’t wait...
July 2011
3 posts
4 tags
Learning to Accept God's Grace.
I have a hard time accepting God’s grace.
When I look at my own life and heart, I see something that is often far from where I feel it should be. I know cognitively that I am redeemed in Christ and God’s beloved, but I have such a hard time translating that head knowledge to heart understanding. I have such a hard time forgiving myself and I often feel as if I simply abuse...
5 tags
Psalm Twenty-Two.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
...
4 tags
One Year Ago.
This time last year I saw God move in some pretty remarkable ways. From times which seemed immensely dark to long conversations about the supernatural to seeing God’s might and power on full display, God was glorified. So much has happened since Echo session three, yet it will always remain a week dear in my heart. It was by far the best week of my life. Hands down. No bones about it.
Over...
June 2011
9 posts
“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him....”
– Proverbs 30:5-6
4 tags
A Faith Like Stephen's.
Oh, that I would have a faith like Stephen’s.
The end of Acts 7 is fascinating. Stephen, being stoned for preaching the gospel in the name of Jesus, prays that those who are stoning him would be forgiven: “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this...
6 tags
Gamaliel, the Pharisee who feared God.
The story of Gamaliel has really been speaking to me. It’s found in Acts 5. The apostles were arrested by the high priest and thrown into prison for speaking in the name of Jesus. That night, an angel of the Lord opened their cell doors and told them to return to the temple and continue to preach the gospel in Jesus’ name. They did just that and were promptly rearrested. This time, the...
“You are who Christ redeemed you to be, truly who God created you to be.”
3 tags
Augustine and the Glory of God.
“What, then, is my God? What, I ask, except the Lord God? For who is Lord but the Lord? Or who is God save our God? O highest and best, most powerful, most all-powerful, most merciful and most just, most deeply hidden and most nearly present, most beautiful and most strong, constant yet incomprehensible, changeless, yet changing all things, never new, never old, making all things new;...
4 tags
Reaching Out.
In James 2:1-13, the author warns his readers against the sin of partiality. he talks of the rich man and the poor man. he asks the question, “Which of you would treat a rich man better than a poor man?” I have always read this with the response of, “of course I need to befriend the poor man.” However, as I read this today I thought of how often I actually do so.
How often...
5 tags
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy | Eric...
I just finished reading Eric Metaxas’ New York Times bestselling biography Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. It was an incredible and inspiring read.
Prior to reading the book, I knew little of Bonhoeffer’s life. I knew that he was a theologian and had some knowledge of his resistance of the Nazis, but that was the extent of my knowledge. I had also read portions of...
5 tags
Self-Deception.
Deception is an interesting thing. It is often only though of as something that is done to us. “I was deceived” and “they deceived me” are the most common uses of the word. However, we have the ability to deceive ourselves. I would even argue that self-deception is the most prevalent form of deception.
James speaks to this reality of self-deception. In 1:22 he says,...
4 tags
“Preaching to ourselves is the personal act of applying the law and the gospel to...”
– Joe Thorn
May 2011
5 posts
2 tags
The Relationship Between Scripture and Experience.
Scripture is the final authority for all theological matters. The Bible is the inerrant word of God and is the primary way that God has revealed Himself to mankind. In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul writes, “All Scripture is breathed out by God.” Jesus himself affirms the authority of the Hebrew Scriptures. In Matthew 5:18, He says, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an...
5 tags
Biblical Theology and Preaching
As B. S. Rosner’s definition of Biblical Theology has suggested, Biblical Theology maintains “sight of the Bible’s overarching narrative and christocentric focus.” This should work itself out in the preaching of Scripture.
Any student of Scripture will affirm the unified story that Scripture presents. While this grand story is often professed in theory, it is denied in practice, specifically from...
“If you aren’t called to study, you aren’t called to preach.”
– C. H. Spurgeon
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
– Romans 12:9
Garden.
Won’t you take this cup from me Cause fear has stolen all my sleep If tomorrow means my death Pray you’ll save their souls with it Let the songs I sing bring joy to you Let the words I say confess my love Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune Father let my heart be after you In this hour of doubt I see Who I am is not just me So give me strength to die myself So...
April 2011
10 posts
1 tag
“Do you have a big God and therefore you want to live forever and dwell forever...”
6 tags
Easter Sunday.
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was...
5 tags
6 tags
Good Friday.
And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should...
5 tags
Maundy Thursday.
And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him....
Reading the Scriptures as a Modern Reader.
The last 150 years has created a culture of Biblical scholars who read the Bible historically, that is, they read the Bible as the intended audience would have. This is the result of Enlightenment philosophy and the scientific method. The study of Scripture has been placed solely within the academy and the Bible has become merely another ancient manuscript. God’s word is no longer referred...
2 tags
Palm Sunday: The Triumphal Entry.
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here...