Posts Tagged with "C.J. Mahaney"

"The Christian message has been expounded through these chapters of Acts in a variety of contexts, sometimes at considerable length. It was to receive significant restatement and further elaboration in the later New Testament writings. In the two millennia to follow, it would become the source of voluminous compositions and counter-compositions, both learned and popular, o...

"Authentic turning points in history are few. But surely among them that of the Macedonian vision ranks high. Because of Paul's obedience at this point, the gospel went westward; and ultimately Europe and the Western world were evangelized. Christian response to the call of God is never a trivial thing. Indeed, as in this instance, great issues and untold blessings may dep...

"Pray the same Spirit that wrote the word may assist you in reading itThink in every line you read that God is speaking to you." Thomas Watson "Paul's comments assume the Colossian believers are vitally involved in the local community and have ample opportunities to interact with outsiders in a way that would commend the gospel to them." ESV Study Bible "They are to pray...

"We have lost the art of Christian persuasion and we must recover it. Evangelism is alive and well in the rapidly growing churches of the Global South, where the challenge is to recover an ardor for discipleship and a discernment of the modern world to match the zeal for evangelism. But in the advanced modern world, which is both pluralistic and post-Christian, our urgent ...

"Although there have been several accounts of persecution so farin Luke's narrative, the pastoral application in these versesfunctions to challenge readers more directly about this issue thanever before." David Peterson "The cross is a sword because its message is not the messagethat insurrectionists want to hear. Who wants to hear that he issinful at the core of his bein...

"What Jerusalem was to the Israelites the church is to the Christian. Here are his closest ties, his brethren and companions." Derek Kidner "Perhaps the greatest single weakness of the contemporary Christian church is that millions of supposed members are not really involved at all, and what is worse, do not think it strange that they are not." Elton Trueblood "The peopl...

"The book of Psalms was the hymnal of ancient Israel, in which the people of Yahweh turned to him in every kind of experience. Because the psalms grow out of the full range of life, from the most tragic to the most delightful situations, for nearly three thousand years they have taught believers how to approach God no matter what they may be facing. God's people will never...

"A more exotic person could hardly be imagined! Not only fromone of the most remote regions of the world, he was also animportant official there and a eunuch as well." Conrad Gempf "How difficult it was to understand the prophecy before it wasfulfilled; how easy, once the fulfillment is known." F.F. Bruce "It was clearly a part of God's plan for the gospel to reach thisB...

"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God' writes Paulin Romans 11:22. The crucial word here is and. The apostle isexplaining the relation between Jew and Gentile in the plan ofGod. He has just reminded the Gentile readers that God rejectedthe great mass of their Jewish contemporaries for unbelief, whileat the same time bringing many pagans like themselves to savi...

"The eyes of these two people have been deliberately kept from recognizing Jesus until after the interpretation of the ScriptureJesus does not overwhelm these two disciples by some spectacular revelation of himself. Instead, he interprets the Scriptures for them. They need to hear the Word of God to clear up the confusion of their own words (24:17)." David Garland "Jesus ...

"Prayer is the open admission that without Christ we can do nothing." John Piper "The forty days which Jesus spent on earth after His resurrection constitute an important part of His life and teaching. We usually do not pay enough attention to this. But the moment we attentively survey what Jesus said and did during those forty days, we detect that these shed an entirely ...

"Two acts of God's creation frame the books of the Bible. Genesis opens by describing how God created the heavens and the earth, and Revelation concludes by anticipating the creation of a new heaven and a new earth. While the beginning and the end undoubtably resemble each other, an important difference exists between the first creation and the new creation. Whereas the op...

"The rest of chapter 12 and of the book reveals that Christ's deathand resurrection have resulted in drastically curtailing the devil'srole of deception and nullifying his role of slandererThe 'place'which the devil lost was his hitherto privileged place of accusationformerly granted him by God as a temporary privilege." - GregBeale "The imagery of v9, as v10 explicitly...

"Who doesn't love a good dragon-slaying story? There is a reason that classic literature features such stories-we love them! But why? We love good dragon-slaying stories because they echo the greatest story-the grand story of the Bible. Stories that parallel the greatest story make our hearts soar with delight. Those stories are often fiction, such as Tolkien's The Lord o...

"This passage offers a picture of Christ far different from, yet complementary to (and hinted at by) the portrait of His earthly life presented in the Gospels. He is represented as a divine warrior executing judgment and ruling sovereignly over all. He will crush His enemies in the winepress of the wrath of God. Not only this, His saints will assist Him in the execution of...

"you were ransomed not with perishable things such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." 1:18-19 "The elders are to serve, not for their own satisfaction in the job, but as glad volunteers in God's service." J.N.D. Kelly "The elder has authority; he is called to exercise a shepherd's oversight. Christ the...

"Having wended our way in five consecutive psalms (Pss. 3-7) through the dark valleys of lament and pleas for deliverance, we hear the strains of a joyful melody rising from just beyond the steep hill represented by Psalm 7, and we arrive at the crest to discover a welcome prospect of breathtaking beauty and awesome delight. Psalm 8 introduces us to the first experience of...

"For Paul the Spirit, as an experienced and living reality, was the absolutely crucial matter for the Christian life, from beginning to endthe health of the contemporary church necessitates that its theology of the Spirit and itsexperience of the Spirit correspond more closely." Gordon Fee "In recapturing the dynamic life of the Spirit there will also be the renewal of th...

"The good news is that Thessalonian place of assembly is not some Ground Zero that Timothy gazed on in horror, but a thriving body of believers." Gary Shogren "Now at last comes the moment of great relief! The collapse of this newly planted church did not happen and this paragraph from beginning to end simply breathes gratitude." Gordon Fee "The deep emotional notes of t...

"It is here, in the thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the profoundest and most unfathomable depths of the Christian revelation lie. 'The Word became flesh' (John 1:14); God became man; the divine Son became a Jew; the Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, unable to do more than lie and stare and wriggle and make noises, needing to be fed and c...

"I have lived with the apostle Paul for over sixty years-admired him, envied him, feared him, pounded on him, memorized him, written poems about him, wept over his sufferings, soared with him, sunk to the brink of death with him, spent eight years preaching through his longest letter, imitated him. Ha-imitated him! In ten lives, I would not come close to his sufferings-or ...

"In reality the Thessalonian church was probably comprised of no more than fifty to one hundred members. They were a fledging and insignificant group in the midst of a large city like Thessalonica. How easily these believers could have been discouraged when considering the godlessness and evil lives of most people in the Roman empire, not to mention Thessalonica itself. If...

"For its proper interpretation it must be read in the light of the historical circumstances that evoked its composition. In the study of no other form of literature is it more important to know something of the life-situation amid which it was produced than in the study of a letter." Edmond Hiebert "But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good...

"It confronts us with a fact whose impact on us may have weakened." Derek Kidner "Our word majesty comes from the Latin; it means greatnessThe word majesty, when applied to God, is always a declaration of his greatness and an invitation to worship. The Christian's instincts of trust and worship are stimulated very powerfully by knowledge of the greatness of God. But this ...

"1 Thessalonians opens a window on to a newly planted church in the middle of the first century AD. It tells us how it came into being, what the apostle taught it, what were its strengths and weaknesses, its theological and moral problems and how it was spreading the gospel. What is of particular interest, because it applies to Christian communities in every age and place,...

But here in Philippians our text has at its heart a depth of fellowship that exceeds any earthly fellowship-'your partnership [fellowship] in the gospel' (v5)-which is rooted in God and is a quest that can only be described as eternal." Kent Hughes "Paul rarely thanks God for things, his thanksgivings are for people. For those special 'gifts' whom God has brought into his...

"Scripture is dotted with extremely exciting and hopeful situations that are dashed by persistent human failure. Exodus 32-34 marks another occurrence of this pattern. Having agreed to do whatever Yahweh requires of them in the divinely offered covenant relationship, the people lose sight of Moses, Yahweh and faith. Disobedience of the most basic kind results. Sin captures...

"They were still booked for the Promised Land, but God had cancelled his reservations." Phil Ryken "True prayer does not seek-rather refuses-glory for selfTrue prayer is concerned for the Lord's good name." Alec Motyer "The request to see God's glory should be understood in this context as a desire to have God confirm his astonishing willingness to show his favor to a st...

"Whoever reads the Old Testament must struggle with the apparent brutality of God's judgment found there. For many this is as far as they read. They stumble over the violent passages we call the "hard sayings." Some people see these sayings as sufficient reason to reject Christianity out of hand. They seem ample reason to hold the Old Testament God in contemptSome even go ...

"People have suffered. They've been afraid. The ground on which they stand has shifted." Peggy Noonan "Through the blessings of grace, walking with Jesus is no longer a forced march of meritbut a willing response of love, gratitude, and thanksgivingOur job is not to repeat Christ's work but to honor it. We do so by trusting the adequacy of his grace and responding to it w...

"Few passages have as much theology and ethics in them as Philippians 2." D.A. Carson "Paul emphasizes that Jesus did not take advantage of or exploit the equality with God that he already possessed. In other words, the grasping or advantage-taking does not move toward equality with God as its goal but begins with God-equality and moves towards others. The text, then, emp...

"Part of humility is willingness to patiently wait for things according to God's timetable." Edmond Hiebert "Worry is a stealth sin. It doesn't feel like sin." Ed Welch "Worry is a form of pride because when believers are filled with anxiety, they are convinced that they solve all the problems in their lives in their own strength. The only god they trust is themselves. W...

"I am drawn to people who suffer without murmuring. Especially when they believe in God but never get angry with him or criticize him. It seems to me that not murmuring is one of the rarest traits in the world. And when it is combined with a deep faith in God-who could alter our painful circumstances, but doesn't-it has a beautiful God-trusting, God-honoring quality that m...

"This book was born on a cold, drizzly, late spring day when I clambered over the split rail cedar fence that surrounds my pasture and made my way through wet woods to the modest frame house where Joe Rantz lay dying....I knew only two things about Joe when I knocked on his daughter Judy's door that day. I knew that in his mid-seventies he had single handedly hauled a numb...

"The Bible never says, 'God is wrath.' We must provoke him to wrath. But we need not provoke him to love, for that is his glorious name." Ray Ortlund Jr. "God is at work in the worst of times. He is at work doing a thousand things no one can see but him." John Piper "The most beautiful spirit of submission found anywhere in Scripture." O. Palmer Robertson "Habakkuk reso...

"The coronavirus provides us with an opportunity to think about how we respond to anxiety. Specifically, how can we handle the particular strain of anxiety that comes when you are waiting for a threat that is gliding toward us, its fin visible above the surface. Thankfully, Scripture knows the fear of impending danger intimately and speaks to it repeatedly. So let's seize ...

"Is there a grander and yet more overlooked biblical theme than the glory of God? God's glory appears in every major part of the Bible and affects every major doctrine. It is also notoriously hard to define. In general, God's glory is the magnificence, loveliness, beauty and grandeur of his perfections. Sometimes, the glory of God designates God himself. More often, glory ...

"The ceremony itself was so vivid and extraordinary as to be memorable, and its memory was intended to keep in the consciousness of the people the fact that God had joined with the people of Israel in a formal, official covenant to which both he and they were bound by oath." Douglas Stuart "God is always busy handing out invitations to his feast. Every time the gospel is ...

"The Lord's Prayer may be the single set of words spoken more often than any other in the history of the world. Jesus Christ gave it to us as the key to unlock all the riches of prayer. Yet it is an untapped resource, partly because it is so familiar." Tim Keller "When Jesus taught his disciples to pray in this fashion, he was addressing men who were already convinced of ...

"I can think of nothing great that is also easy. Prayer must be, then, one of the hardest things in the worldIf you struggle greatly in this, you are not alone." Tim Keller "Interfere at any price and in any fashion when people start to pray, for real prayer is lethal to our cause." C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters "When we wake up in the morning we should immediately remin...

"It should be the subject of grateful admiration that the great God allows himself to be compared to anything which will set forth his great love and care for his own people." Charles Spurgeon "It is precisely in the commonplace and familiar scenes of life where we see our Savior's constant provision. We love him because He does not just meet us in the critical times but ...

"An unpromising person appearing in a failed land." Ray Ortlund Jr. "Nothing but divine revelation can make the servant known to us and draw us to him. What the human eye missed, what can be known only by revelation is now stated in this section (v4-6)." Alec Motyer "Christmas means that we are so lost, so unable to save ourselves, that nothing less than the death of the...

"Judah was hardly the China of the ancient world; it was tiny in comparison to Egypt to its south and Assyria to its north-east. But together with its sister kingdom Israel it occupied a strategic place astride the land routes linking Africa with Central Asia and the Far East. It lay at the centre of the known world and made the astounding claim that its God, the LORD, was...

"Paul mentions the subject of thanksgiving more often, line for line than any other author, pagan or Christian." Dictionary of Paul and His Letters; A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship "Thankfulness is a soil in which pride does not easily grow." Michael Ramsey "Though I cannot know what your afflictions are, yet I know what your mercies are, and I know the...

"Paul never wants us to do something without theological reason and Paul never wants us to hold a theology without practical application." C.K. Barrett "With what zest he broke the tough-fibered prairie sod, which had never been broken since the beginning of timeAnd with what reverence he held up the beautiful seed which he was to sow on his own ground. The plump kernels ...

"Genuine love will show up in the checkbook." David Garland "As often happens in his letters, some of Paul's most profound Christological moments appear in places one might least expect them." Gordon Fee "The pre-incarnate Christ occupied a position of the highest imaginable eminenceHe was in the words of Frank Houghton's hymn 'rich beyond all splendor (2 Cor. 8:9). He p...

"His response is described by the strongly emotional Greek verb splanchnizomai, which speaks of a warm, compassionate response to need. No single English term does justice to it: compassion, pity, sympathy, and fellow-feeling all convey part of it, but 'his heart went out' perhaps represents more fully the emotional force of the underlying metaphor of a 'gut response'It is...

"'Dressed stones' were used by the people of Canaan to construct their altars, because they were building materials of the highest quality from which all the roughness had been chiseled away. An altar made from such costly and aesthetically pleasing stone would be a tribute to human craftsmanship, but it would be defiled from the Lord's point of view because it distracted ...

"Human language is necessarily imperfect. Since man's fall, and especially since the confusion of tongues at Babel, there has not only been a difference in speech between one nation and another, but also between one individual and another. Probably, we do not all mean exactly the same thing by any one word that we use; there is just a shade of difference between your meani...

"'Thou shalt not covet' is the inspired commandment which shows the man who thinks himself to be moral that he really needs a Savior. The average such 'moral' man, who has lived comparing himself to other men and comparing himself to a rather easy list of rules, can feel, like Paul that he is getting along all right. But suddenly, when he is confronted with the inward comm...

"Now he prescribes capital punishment, not as a deterrent-deterrence is not discussed-but as a signal that murder is in a class by itself, in that it kills a being made in the image of God." Don Carson "God takes cognizance of the emotions from which the acts of hate may spring, and calls us to account as much for the angry feeling as the murderous deed. Words also come u...

The Bible has a deep revulsion to this kind of disrespect, treating it with a kind of horror. When I was a youth pastor, I once took my high school students through the Biblical passages that deal with disobedience to parents. Not surprisingly, by the time I finished reading these passages, the kids in my youth group were very quiet. Like most young people, they had always...

"All the people were hearing the voice of God just as Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham and the patriarchs heard it and as Moses heard it earlier at Mount Sinai when God first called him." Douglas Stuart "Unlike the first two commandments, here God refers to himself in the third person. There is a special reason for this. First God said, 'You shall have no other gods before me' (E...

"'The jealous God'-doesn't it sound offensive? For we know jealousy, the green-eyed monster as a vice, one of the most cancerous soul-destroying vices that there is; whereas God, we are sure is perfectly good. How, then, could anyone ever imagine that jealousy is found in him? God's perfections are matter for praise-but how can we praise God for being jealous?" J.I. Packer...

"The spiritual reality for many of us is that the one thing is not the Lord. And the danger in that reality is this: your one thing will control your heart, and whatever controls your heart will exercise inescapable influence over your words, choices and actions. Your one thing will become that which shapes and directs your responses to the situations and relationships of ...

"Jesus insistence that the had come not to 'abolish' but to 'fulfill' the law and the prophets deserves to be ranked among the most important New Testament pronouncements on the significance of the law of Moses for the new Christian era...Integral to Matthew's gospel is a scheme of salvation history that pictures the entire Old Testament as anticipating and pointing ...

"The magnitude of what the Lord offers the Israelites is staggering and must not be overlooked. As fleeing slaves, they find themselves in the middle of the Sinai desert without a land to call their own. The Lord, however, promises them they shall be his 'treasured possession." His exclusive possession among all the nations, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." T. Desm...

"What Jerusalem was to the Israelites the church is to the Christian. Here are his closest ties, his brethren and companions." Derek Kidner "Perhaps the greatest single weakness of the contemporary Christian church is that millions of supposed members are not really involved at all, and what is worse, do not think it strange that they are not." Elton Trueblood "People wh...

"All who have known the enveloping pressure of a dark mood can be grateful for the candor of this fellow-sufferer, but also for his courage." Derek Kidner "On a calm, trouble free-day, the answer to the questions in verses 7-9 would be obvious, but, in this apparently prolonged period of soul-destroying adversity, the psalmist can ask the questions but, on the basis of ex...

"This was a formal speech, as the style of language indicates. God addressed his people using their proper titles because he was setting forth the terms of their relationship. To use the biblical term for it, he was renewing the covenant, his binding love commitment to his peopleReally everything else in the Old Testament-indeed everything else in human history-can be expl...

"Although it is often assumed that Moses raises his hands in prayer, prior references in Exodus suggest that the raised staff is the medium through which the power of God flows. While this might have involved prayer, something more than prayer was taking place." T. Desmond Alexander "This verse does not teach the efficacy of prayer without ceasing but rather the triumph o...

"I am drawn to people who suffer without murmuring. Especially when they believe in God but never get angry with him or criticize him. It seems to me that not murmuring is one of the rarest traits in the world. And when it is combined with a deep faith in God-who could alter our painful circumstances, but doesn't-it has a beautiful God-trusting, God honoring quality that m...

"Why should people who have witnessed so spectacular a display of the grace and power of God slip so easily into muttering and complaining and slide so gracelessly into listless disobedience? The answer lies in the fact that many of them see God as existing to serve them. He served them in the Exodus; he served them when he provided clean water. Now he must serve not only ...

"When God 'tests' us he does so by bringing us into situations which call for trust and the endurance and the obedience that proves our trust is real, so that by the exercise of faith in the face of new challenges, our trust in him can develop and mature until we come to see that everything that happens to us is under divine supervision and is brimful of divine purposes fo...

"Exodus 14 tells the old, old story, while Exodus 15 sings the old, old story. You walk or march in chapter 14. You dance in chapter 15. Chapter 14 focuses on what God has done, and chapter 15 focuses on your appropriate response to what God has done. There is a holy hush in chapter 14. You sing fortissimo in chapter 15. Chapter 14 highlights dry ground. In chapter 15 ther...

"Far be it from me ever to say a word in disparagement of the holy, happy, heavenly exercise of prayer. But, beloved, there are times when prayer is not enough-when prayer itself is out of seasonWhen we have prayed over a matter to a certain degree, it then becomes sinful to tarry any longer; our plain duty is to carry out desires into action, and having asked God's guidan...

This week reporters published the apologies of two Southern Baptist leaders who regret their previous support of C.J. Mahaney. C.J. formerly served as president of Sovereign Grace Churches (SGC) and now serves as the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville (SGCL). As pastors who have known and worked with C.J.most of us for decadeswe unreservedly commend his...

"Sometimes a cloud has the primary function of concealing God. But he also appearsin the cloud. Both functions match the character of God. Human beings never master God or know him exhaustively. So the cloud is a reminder of human limits. At the same time, God does draw near and establish communion with mankind. So the cloud represents drawing near. Because ordinary clouds...

"Paul calls attention to the unstoppable, spreading, disastrous influence on the nature and identity of the whole community which is out of all proportion to what those who were self-satisfied evidently imagined could spring from a "little" case of one immoral relationship, even if one of an utterly outrageous nature. Paul feared contamination of the whole community." Anth...

"God paid special attention to his people that night, and in response his people of all future generations were expected to pay special attention to him on its anniversary." Douglas Stuart "This section ends by noting that this departure night is not a night on which the Hebrews exercise great bravado. Rather it ends by focusing on the Lord of the Hebrews." Victor Hamilto...

"Why such an emphasis on commemoration? Because what is not carefully remembered by a community is very naturally and easily forgotten-and virtually completely forgotten as soon as the oldest members of that community who experienced the original event die." Douglas Stuart "Not even the huge novelty of actually, at long last, setting foot in the Promised Land could replac...

"In a way, these instructions must be terrifying to the people of Israel. God tells his people that the angel of death is going to pass through their midst, and the only way their firstborn will be saved is if they kill a lamb and put its blood prominently on their doorposts. Do you see what God is teaching his people here? First, he wants them to understand that they them...

"New Years finds me employed. I compare it to a hill on a road, from the top of which I endeavor to look back on the way that the Lord has led me thus far through the wilderness (past). I look around to contemplate the difference his goodness has made between my situation, and that of thousands of my fellow creatures (present). I then look forward, and perceive that I am d...

"God's foreknowledge told him that he would stretch out his hand only to meet mighty resistance but, plainly he was in no hurry to implement the final showdown he foresaw (3:19-20). As 2 Peter 3:9 says, 'The Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance'-Pharaoh included. But eventually the Lord's patience comes to an end for he...

"With one single blow he gave them a water and food shortage, a transportation shutdown, a financial disaster, and a spiritual crisis." Phil Ryken "There was a suitableness in God's choosing the frogs to humble Egypt's kings, because frogs were worshipped by that nation as emblems of the Deity. Images of a certain frog-headed goddess were placed in the catacombs, and frog...

"Magic was a main element in the Egyptian religion at this time, and those who mastered these powers were held in high esteem. The priests, belonging to the highest officials of Pharaoh, possessed secret knowledge and were skilled in all sorts of mysterious rites. By casting spells, they could allegedly overpower humans and control gods and thereby attain dominion over the...

"Pharaoh's heart was particularly important because Egyptians believed it was the all-controlling factor in both history and societyhis heart was thought to be sovereign over creation. Therefore by hardening Pharaoh's heart, God was making a theological point. He was proving that he alone is sovereign over all things. Nothing is outside the purpose of his will, not even th...

"And the people believed, and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshipped." Exodus 4:31 "The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us" Exodus 5:21 "If only the Lord had sh...

"From beginning to end, the entire exodus was the result of God's sovereign decree. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is entirely God's doing and under his complete control. The impending Exodus is a play in which God is the author, producer, director, and principal actor. Even when Pharaoh took his turn on the stage, God received all the applause. Like everything else ...

"It is by far the largest and most detailed of its kind. It is also unique in its description of the intimate communication between God and Moses." G. Larsson "But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions." Genesis 15:14 "Throughout this section we have seen some of the riches embraced by the divine nam...

"He (Moses) supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand." Acts 7:25 "By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ g...

"To a modern reader such an opening might not seem consistent with high literary style. It was, however, not only good style but entirely welcome in the ancient setting, where a group of refugees of mixed ethnic origin, many of whom were young enough to be learning their national traditions for the first time, were being reminded of God's plan through a people descended fr...

"Exodus is an epic tale of fire, sand, wind and water. The adventure takes place under the hot desert sun, just beyond the shadow of the Great Pyramids. There are two mighty nations-Israel and Egypt-led by two great men-Moses the liberating hero and Pharaoh the enslaving villain. Almost every scene is a masterpiece: the baby in the basket; the burning bush; the river of bl...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, The Test of Prosperity, given on July 29, 2018. King David knew prosperity. He had a powerful military, an honorable reputation, and tremendous wealth. Unfortunately, these rich blessings became a cause for turning David's heart away from the Lord. God mercifully brought David out of this dreadful state of pride, but not with...

"Who can look to have a greater stock of inherent grace than those men had; to have more experience of God and the excellency of his ways, the sweetness of his love and communion with him, than they had?" John Owen "all of them fell out when they had newly received great and stupendous mercies from the hand of God, that ought to have been strong obligations unto diligence...

"There is an infectious delight and touching gratitude about this psalm" Derek Kidner "A blessed declaration every believer ought to be able to declare without the slightest hesitationIt is a great thing to say 'I love the Lord', for the sweetest of all graces and the surest of all evidences of salvation is love." Charles Spurgeon "Prayer is putting our needs into words....

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, The Soundless Word and the Saving Word,given on July 8, 2018. This past Sunday, Pastor CJ taught us from Psalm 19 about the revelation and celebration available to us in both God's creation and in His written Word. Life can be busy. We live distracted not even pausing to lift our eyes up for a moment to behold the overwhelmin...

"When I feel I cannot make headway in devotion, I open the Psalms and push out in my canoe, and let myself be carried along in the stream of devotion which flows through the whole book. The current always sets toward God, and in most places is strong and deep." James Gilmour "The more diligently any one examines himself, the more readily will he acknowledge with David tha...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, The Presence of Wonder,given on July 1, 2018. "Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them" (Psalm 111:2). Take a minute and talk about some of God's marvelous works and how they made you feel when you experienced them. Notice that when we behold God's great works, we feel a deep sense of wonder. Wond...

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you." Psalm 51:12-13 "David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord.' And Nathan said to David, 'The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.'" 2 Samuel 12:13 "Evil tastes good, but evil always leads to naus...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Salvation Belongs to the Lord,given on June 24, 2018. What is your favorite song? What words would you use to describe that song? Well, would it surprise you that of the songs in the book of Psalms, about 1/3rd of them are songs of "lament"? The ESV study bible states that the primary goal of these psalms are to "lay a troubl...

"David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered." 2 Samuel 15:30 "My glory is an expression to ponder: it indicates the honor of serving such a mastercertainly the comparative unimportance of earthly esteem, [is] always transient and fickle." Derek Kidner "The God-centeredness of his gaze keeps him steady while his...

This post is based on C.J. Mahahey's sermon, Hope Realized,given on June 10, 2018. Over the last 5 weeks, Pastor CJ has been faithfully teaching us through the book of Ruth and we have observed God's hidden hand at work in the lives of each character in the book. Pastor CJ was keen to remind us that the book of Ruth is meant to convince us of God's kindness. He taught u...

"Those who give themselves away outside marriage forfeit a depth of pleasure that only those know who wait for the Lord." John Piper "This is the narrator's modest way of identifying a miracle; she who had been unable to bear a child for Mahlon has conceived for Boaz." Daniel Block "At one level, the message of the book of Ruth is that the life of the godly is not a stra...

"The fact that sovereignty works secretly and hiddenly adds to its interest and mystique and should also be comforting to us." Dale Ralph Davis "The irony is that by seeking to protect his future legacy in this way, [he] ended up leaving himself nameless, missing out on having a share in the biggest legacy of all; a place in God's plan of salvation." Iain Duguid "If anyo...

"Place of rest speaks of the security and tranquility that a woman in Israel longed for and expected to find in the home of a loving husband." Daniel Block "The idiom she used may be puzzling to the modern reader, but there was no question about its meaning in the Israelite context in which it was given." Daniel Block "While the narrator lets our ears hear Naomi complain...

"It's purpose [is] to undermine purely rational explanations for human experiences and to refine the readers understanding of providence. In reality he is screaming, 'See the hand of God at work here!' The same hand that had sent the famine (1:1) and later provided food (1:6) is the hand that had brought Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem precisely at the beginning of the harvest...

"God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform." William Cowper "What the book of Ruth does for us is give us a glimpse into the hidden work of God during the worst of times. One of the main messages of this little book is that God is at work in the worst of times. He is at work doing a thousand things no one can see but himWhen you think he is farthest from you, o...

"Paul's choice of Nicopolis put him and Titus one step further west of the area where most of his labors had been concentrated and was most likely taken with a view to fulfilling his desire to go where the gospel had not been preached and, ultimately, to Spain (Rom. 15:20-24)." George Knight "Our most fruitful service may be found in helping others bear fruit." John Kitch...

"The opponents view it as teaching drawn from the genealogies of the OT but Paul views it as Jewish myths that only produce strife and quarrels about the law It comprised fables, silly stories, and arguments about words that produced conflicts within the church." William Mounce "The immediate evidence of a divisive spirit, in this context, is an unrepentant argumentativen...

"The passage speaks of God's actions, not the believerspeople are the recipients." Bill Mounce "While humanity languished in depravity, God took the initiative in salvationThe thought here is that of a sovereign Lord who makes an act of unprompted and undeserved favor to his subjects and does so in a personal appearance." Andreas Kostenberger "Justification means that Go...

"Much of a pastor's energy will be spent on the ministry of reminder. We never outgrow the ministry of reminder." John Kitchen "As good citizens, believers must also 'be ready to do whatever is good'-prepared and willing to participate in activities that promote the welfare of the community. They must not stand coldly aloof from praiseworthy enterprises of government but ...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Look Both Ways,given on March 11, 2018. Imagine a street here in Louisville that your family frequently drives on, and then imagine having to cross that street on foot as a child alone with cars zooming by. Could be dangerous, right? This past Sunday, Pastor CJ shared with us a story from his childhood where he did just that. W...

"These verses are arguably the most concise explanation of gospel-centered living found anywhere in Scripture." Gospel Transformation Bible "Verses 11-14 is one sentence in the Greek text with 'grace' as its subject. Grace is the one-word summary of God's saving act in Christ, given freely to sinners who believe." Bill Mounce "One cannot truly claim to be a recipient of ...

At our old house we had a number of large trees that hadn't been taken care of and had become over-ridden with vines. At first, I didn't think too much of it. The vines had green leaves, so they kind of blended in. But as time went on, I took a close look at the trees. The vines were starting to weigh the tree down, and it became clear that they would kill the tree eventua...

"Man may talk of self-control, as if the reins were in his own hand. But he who has been 'born of the Spirit,' and taught 'to know the plague of his own heart,' is made to feel, that effective self-control is divine grace, not his own native powerHave not repeated defeats taught us the need of calling in better strength than our own?" Charles Bridges "Spiritual leaders ru...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Self-Control: An Unappreciated Virtue,given on Feburary 18, 2018. Everyone's heard the phrase, "Practice makes perfect." So what do you practice a lot to be good at? Maybe it's basketball or ballet. Perhaps it's guitar or drums. Whatever it is, the reason you work so hard at becoming better is because you love doing it and be...

Book Recommendations: A Small Book About a Big Problem; 50 Days of Meditation on Anger, Patience and Peace by Ed Welch Good and Angry; Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining and Bitterness by David Powlison War of Words; Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles by Paul Tripp Proverbs by Derek Kidner Making All Things New; Restoring Joy to the Sexually ...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, The Difference Doctrine Makes,given on Feburary 11, 2018. This past Sunday Pastor CJ shared a wonderful story of a woman named Della. Della delighted in serving her customers with excellence and with a joyful spirit at the hospital cafeteria where CJ was waiting for a friend. Through Della's kindness and desire to serve other...

"Sound doctrine is a summary of the Bible's teaching that is both faithful to the Bible and useful for life." Bobby Jamieson "This compressed phrase indicates that two strands are to be interwoven in Titus' teaching. On the one hand there is 'the sound doctrine,' the definite article once again implying that an identifiable body of teaching is in mind. On the other hand, ...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, The Deadly Danger of False Teaching,given on Feburary 4, 2018. Think about a time when you felt scared, but then someone took care of you and kept you safe. Maybe you woke up during a thunder storm and saw lightning flash outside your window. Maybe your mom or dad came to check on you and reassure you that everything was going...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Supporting Those We Send,given on January 28, 2017. This pastSunday, pastor CJ showed us that the most meaningful way we can serve our missionaries and church planting teams is by regularly praying that God would honor their proclamation of the Gospel. This high regard for consistent prayer does not cheapen other ways of supp...

"It is with cheerfulness that we dismiss our twelves, our twenties, our fifties, to form other churches. We encourage our members to leave us to found other churches. We even seek to persuade them to do it. We ask them to scatter throughout the land, to become goodly seed which God shall bless. I believe that so long as we do this, we shall prosper." Charles Spurgeon "No ...

"People often ask me what I think is the secret to Grace Community Church's development over the past twenty-six years. I always point out first of all, that God sovereignly determines the membership of a church, and numbers alone are no gauge of spiritual success. In the midst of tremendous numerical growth, however, the spiritual vitality of our church has been remarkabl...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Leaders Who Commend the Gospel,given on January 14, 2017. This past Sunday, Pastor CJ spoke of a special kind of leadership role in our church called an Overseer or Elder. He shared with us from God's Word that Paul had entrusted Titus with a very important assignment in a place called Crete where the early Church was in seri...

"Today we neglect giving proper attention to leadership issues in the church at our peril and the church's detriment. Not only will the church, God's household, not be properly led and managed, but it will also be rendered vulnerable to the influence of false teaching, worldliness, and a variety of countervailing cultural and social trends." Andreas Kostenberger "As goes ...

"This is a short epistle, but a model of Christian doctrine, in which is comprehended in a masterful way all that is necessary for a Christian to know and live." Martin Luther "Titus was the man for a tough assignment. There are two kinds of peoplepeople who can make a bad situation worse, and people who can bring order out of chaos. Titus was the man to send where there ...

"Surely there are not greater qualities of God than these where the people of God are concerned. All God's thoughts and actions toward us flow from love and persist in faithfulness." James Boice "It is possible here that the answer was first and foremost the boldness itself which made David equal to the occasion. It is not always the situation which most needs changing, i...

"In a real sense, the story of Jesus is our story, told to us and for us just as if we had been among the angels on that night near Bethlehem. What the angels announced to the shepherds that night is announced on behalf of all humanity. Their journey to see these things should be every person's journey to see what God is up to in Jesus. Their sense of amazement should be m...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Simeon's Song,given on December 17, 2017. Have you ever met a police officer before? They are here to help protect people and to be sure that you and the people around you follow the law and obey the laws that are set in place. Did you know that the city of Louisville or the state of Kentucky or the United States of America a...

"He is the one destined to fulfill the Law in every detail and to win the blessings of the covenant for his people. Where we fail and become covenant-breakers, deserving the curse of the covenant, Jesus, our champion, succeeds in his role as the New Adam, the supreme covenant-keeper. We are not merely redeemed by the death of Christ; we are also redeemed by the life of Chr...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Zechariah's Song,given on December 10, 2017. When I was growing up, I was deathly afraid of the dark. Unrecognizable noises made by the wind outside my bedroom window or a pile of unfolded clothes tossed haphazardly in the corner would make my head dizzy with fright. Even though I knew that my mom and dad were only a few room...

"Oh, we are so often cold and indifferent to this great joy that has been given us. For this is indeed the greatest gift, which far exceeds all else that God has created. Yet we believe so sluggishly, even though the angels proclaim and preach and sing, and their lovely song sums up the whole Christian faith, for 'Glory to God in the highest' is the very heart of worship."...

"The essence of this city is its unity." New Bible Commentary "What Jerusalem was to the Israelites the church is to the Christian. Here are his closest ties, his brethren and companions." Derek Kidner "People who would never get along outside the church love one another inside it." Tim Keller "The people of God should pray for the peace and well-being of the place wher...

This post is based on CJ Mahaney's sermon, The Joyful Journey,given on November 5, 2017. Lots of kids get excited when they think about the start of a new school year. Then, they begin to look forward to their summer vacation. Take a minute and think about the things you find yourself looking forward to. What comes to mind that you're excited about? David was going to ...

"The subject of predestination, which in itself is attended by considerable difficulty, is rendered very perplexed, and hence perilous, by human curiosity, which cannot be restrained from wandering into forbidden paths. Let it, therefore, be our first principle that to desire any other knowledge of predestination than that which is expounded by the word of God, is no less ...

"Silas was an influential person in the early churchyet his highest commendation is that he was a faithful brother. Silas was such a man-content to take a subordinate place and faithful to carry out the responsibilities that fell to him. The church desperately needs men like Silas who will work quietly in the supportive roles of Christian ministry." Robert Mounce "The for...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Postscript,given on October 15, 2017. As Peter closes his first letter, he shifts to a divinely inspired "postscript" that presents both a personal recommendation and his final pastoral instruction. Here, Peter takes time to highlight the care he has received from two brothers who have served him well. Silvanus has willingly ...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Unexpected Delight,given on October 8, 2017. Grace was one of Peter's favorite words. He wanted to make sure that his readers knew that the gracious disposition of God toward sinners was the ultimate mystery in the Bible. The implications of this reality are enormous as we consider the fact that our sin deserves nothing less ...

"The grace of God is love freely shown toward guilty sinners, contrary to their merit and indeed in defiance of their demerit. It is God showing goodness to persons who deserve only severity and had no reason to expect anything but severity. Once a person is convinced that his state and need are as described, the New Testament gospel of grace cannot but sweep him off his f...

"Worry is condemned, but watchfulness is demanded." Edmond Hiebert "One of the most dangerous things in the world would be to think that we are not in any danger, which is the mistake Peter made." Phil Ryken "Satan cannot ultimately destroy a Christian believer. But he is well able to destroy our assurance and our joy-our pleasure in the gospel. So we need to find in the...

"The temptation of the younger is impatience with the elders not perceiving the wisdom of the elders." Peter Davids "With such power and status at his disposal, we might have expected him to defeat the devil in an immediate and flashly confrontation, and to devastate Judas with an unstoppable blast of divine wrath. Instead, he washes his disciples feet, including the feet...

"The elders are to serve, not for their own satisfaction in the job, but as glad volunteers in God's service." J.N.D. Kelly "The greatest threat to your ministry, dear brothers, is that you lose your joy in God." John Piper "The elder has authority; he is called to exercise a shepherd's oversight. Christ the Chief Shepherd (5:4) has called him to exercise a shepherd's ca...

"The lack of opposition to the twenty-first century church should be a matter of concern." Robert Mounce "When we suffer as Christians there is a sense in which we share in the sufferings of Christ. We partake of his sufferings, not by contributing to his atonement, but by following in his steps (2:21). As we suffer for Christ, we are linked to him. Our sufferings witness...

"The end of all things is not a veiled phrase that means 'the last moment of each of your lives.' It is the end-the climax of human history that reveals the goal and purpose of the entire sequence of events from Adam to the return of Christ." Robert Mounce "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years ...

"The memory of their sinful past was to serve as a sharp goad against any tendency to relapse into that kind of living. The memory of the ignominy of their own past conduct was to undergird the readers present suffering for righteousness. A good sober backward look at the consequences of their past self-gratification should motivate them now to orient their lives around a ...

"A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter meansI cannot understand it and I cannot explain it. And there has been no one who has explained it." Martin Luther "Our willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ is grounded in the wonder of Christ's willingness to su...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, An Underappreciated Passage,given on July 23, 2017. As a Christian, how do you respond to your suffering? Trials come in various forms, but is there ever any trial Christians face that is peculiar to them simply becuase they are Christians?If so, how should we prepare to respond? This week, CJ reminded us that, in one of the mo...

"Christians should not think it strange that they are called to endure persecution. Yet they must understand that suffering is not the opposite of blessing. Jesus had declared those to be blessed who suffer for righteousness (Mt. 5:11-12). That word of Jesus is more than a promise. It pronounces blessing. Those who will receive a heavenly reward are already blessed by the ...

"The instruction and practice of Jesus and the apostles goes beyond a friendly disposition to active prayer and intercession. The great desire of Christians must not be revenge but for God to grant the gift of repentance to those who do not know him." Edwin Blum "Christians are free from vindictiveness because they trust God's justice; but they are free for blessing becau...

"is not an analytical knowledge or religious insightbut personal insight that leads to loving and considerate care, whether in the bedroom or in other activities of marriage." Peter Davids "It is quite a mistaken belief that, because a member of the family works for his living outside the home, he can treat it like a hotel when he comes home, and expect to be waited on." ...

"She served her husband as her master, and did all she could to win him for You, speaking to him of You by her conduct, by which You made her beautifulFinally, when her husband was at the end of his earthly span, she gained him for You."Augustine "Biblical submission is the divine calling of the wife to honor and affirm her husband's leadership under Christ and to help hi...

"How did ancient slavery differ from modern slavery? Or more specifically, what distinguished Greco-Roman slavery from New World slavery? In the first century, slaves were not distinguishable from free persons by race, by speech, by clothing; they were sometimes more highly educated than their owners and held responsible professional positions; some persons sold themselves...

"They carry another passport; they are on pilgrimage to the city of God." Edmund Clowney "Good deeds, even though they may be misrepresented and defamed for the moment, are still the best answer to the opposition of a hostile world." Robert Mounce "A Christian's obligation to obey the law does not depend upon the moral virtue of the leader." Robert Mounce "The first c...

"It is with cheerfulness that we dismiss our twelves, our twenties, our fifties, to form other churches. We encourage our members to leave us to found other churches. We even seek to persuade them to do it. We ask them to scatter throughout the land, to become goodly seed which God shall bless. I believe that so long as we do this, we shall prosper." Charles Spurgeon "Pau...

"Behold." It is a wonder seldom seen, therefore behold it! It may be seen, for it is characteristic of real saints, therefore fail not to inspect it! It is well worthy of admiration; pause and gaze upon it! It will charm you into imitation, therefore note it well! God looks on with approval, therefore consider it with attention." Charles Spurgeon "There blessing falls by ...

"Jesus does not overwhelm these two disciples by some spectacular revelation of himselfInstead, he interprets the Scriptures for them." David Garland "I should have imagined that the Risen Lord would be independent of the Bible. But no! He cleaves to it with all the old affection. He came up from the grave and hastened to the Holy Book." Dinsdale Young "Jesus did this be...

"All of us treasure the final words of those we love or admire. But Jesus actual final words during his earthly life were not, in fact, collected in one place to form a farewell address. They are scattered in seven different places, three in the Gospel of Luke, one in Matthew and Mark, and three in John. They are not remotely like any other final words ever recorded as bei...

"Which means that Christ, the Son of God in heaven, has been contemplating his suffering and his death for us for centuries. Indeed as far back as the plan of salvation reaches in the mind of God, so far back has Christ been willing and ready to give himself for our sins. You were not loved for just a bloody moment of sacrifice in history. You have been loved for endless a...

"In Greco-Roman eyes this person (a Gentile who had become a follower of Jesus) was rejecting the gods of the community and undermining the welfare of the city, and he had become antisocial ('a hater of humanity') and atheistic. The person was sometimes tolerated but also was often treated according to the local perception of their having become antisocial and thus a threa...

"These words are Paul's legacy to the church. It is impossible to read them without being profoundly stirred." John Stott "So when that Word is re-announced, there is a sense in which God, who revealed himself by that Word in the past, is re-revealing himself by that same Word once again." Don Carson "Preaching is of the very essence of the corporate phenomenon called Ch...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, A New Year's Resolution, given on January 1, 2016. During this time of New Year's resolutions, Sunday's sermon reminded us that there is "one thing" that we should set our hearts on accomplishing this year: to gaze upon the beauty and majesty of God. Read Psalm 27:1-6. In verse 3, David says, "Though an army encamp against me...

This post is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Jesus' Birth, given on December 25, 2016. Christmas is a time where we often grow sentimental. We hear the story of Jesus' birth and think thoughts shaped by years of tradition. Our stories and songs put in our minds images of a silent peaceful night, stoic shepherds, and a helpless babe in a manger. It is time to rethink our...

"Sometimes bad theology breeds reactionary bad theology. Because Roman Catholicism has gradually added more titles and myths to Mary, Protestants have sometimes reacted by remaining silent about her astonishing character." D.A. Carson "In contrast to the prose dialogue, which is spoken between characters and passively observed by the audience, the songs are often performe...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Forgiven Much, given on November 27, 2016. Day 1: Jesus and the Sinful Woman Quotes: "And if you're wondering this morning what is the nature of her sin, well we are not explicitly told. One could speculate that she is a prostitute given the phrase, 'a woman of the city', but the exact nature of her sin isn't importan...

"Luke's depiction of the wiping, kissing and anointing with imperfect tenses, which he often uses, allows the narrative to run in progression from one act to the next: 'She was wiping, kissing and was anointing.' The impression is that each step took some time. One can imagine the impression it made at the meal." Darrell Bock Our friend Mark Dever writes of a conversation...

"To catch the argument one has almost to pretend that Yahweh is firing questions at the prophet's hearers. 'Was liberation boring? Does release from years of servitude make you yawn? Is the Exodus wearisome? Yahweh makes a point of taking them through this review of grace so that they 'may know the righteous acts of the Lord.'" Dale Ralph Davis "Outwardly the worshipper a...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Now That the Election Is Over, given on November 20, 2016. Day 1: The Voice of God (v.1-5) Quotes: "This is the plea of a loving God whose heart has been broken by his peoples' rejection of him." David Prior "The Lord draws their attention to his gracious saving acts in the hope of restoring the relationship with the...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, A Flawless Election Prediction, given on November 6, 2016. Day 1: A Call to Joyful Praise (v.1-3) Quotes: "Secular writers force us to read the world from within a framework in which God's moral will, saving intentions, His truth, and His Christ are never the criteria of meaning or importance. The Biblical authors s...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, A Scandalous Mercy, given on October 16, 2016. Day 1: Jonah's story is a cautionary tale Quotes: "For all its orthodoxy and beauty however, this prayer reveals some of the great defects in Jonah's character." Kevin Youngblood "Jonah needed to be humbled, for even though God had mercifully saved him, his heart was u...

"Secular writers force us to read the world from within a framework in which God's moral will and saving intentions, his truth and his Christ, are never the criteria of meaning or importance. The biblical authors see everything from a theocentric viewpoint. The biblical writers compel us to read the world from this perspective, to see it in relation to the moral character ...

"For all its orthodoxy and beauty this prayer reveals some of the great defects in Jonah's character." Kevin Youngblood "How perverse Jonah was. Living in a favored nation where spiritual light had been shone only because of the great mercy of God, he had come to assume that Israel deserved grace, whereas others had ill-deserved it. What a perversion! Yet it lies like a h...

"Our personal life is a finite thing: it is limited in every direction, in space, in time, in knowledge, in power. But God is not limited. He is eternal, infinite and almighty. He has us in his hands; we never have him in ours. Like us, he is personal; but unlike us he is great. The Bible never lets us lose sight of God's majesty and his unlimited dominion over all his cre...

"The Bible is predominantly a serious rather than a funny book. Yet it would distort the Bible to suppress the humor that is presentEither to underemphasize its humor or overemphasize it distorts the Bible. Although the Bible is predominantly serious book, one of its points of humanity is its humor. The humor of the Bible is not the rollicking type but the subtle and intel...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Leisure, given on August 28, 2016. Day 1: The Gift of Leisure Quotes: "The Creation account is God-centered, and the Creation account concludes with all eyes fixed upon God. This informs and defines a Biblical perspective of rest and leisure because there is no true rest, there is no genuine leisure apart from God, ...

"We were not made, nor are we redeemed, to live without leisure." J.I. Packer "The Biblical idea of a rhythm in life supports the view of leisure as non-work time or activity that refreshes and restores." Paul Heintzman "A divine generosity that requires leisure for its appreciation (1 Timothy 6:17)." J.I. Packer "The same pleasant experience-eating, drinking, making lo...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Sleep, given on August 14, 2016. Day 1: Sleep is a daily gift from God Quotes: "If one isn't serving the Lord's purpose and depending on his provision and trusting in his protection, then all one's efforts are vain. All one's efforts are ultimately worthless." C.J. Mahaney "A Christian is to receive sleep each nigh...

"We cannot but be struck by the fact that James speaks of the concerned believer as 'bringing back', 'saving' and 'covering' the sins of the one in error. Surely these are things only God can do? Only God forgives sins, saves us from them and gives us the gift of repentance by which we return from our personal far country. How can we do these things? The answer is we canno...

"When James says, 'Do not swear', it is not coarse or vulgar speech he prohibits but invoking God's name to guarantee the reliability of what a person says." Douglas Moo "Heaven's great harbor of refuge is prayer, thousands of weather beaten vessels have found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for it with all sail." Charles Spurgeon...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Patience In Suffering, given on July 24th, 2016. Day 1: Patience looks to a certain and glorious future (verse 7) Quotes: "James' doctrine of the Christian life is a doctrine of process or growth, and patience is its central requirement." Alec Motyer "Patience has a specific object, patience has a specific hope: th...

"James doctrine of the Christian life is a doctrine of process or growth, and patience is its central requirement." Alec Motyer "The farmer who prepares a field, sows seed, and then waits for a crop is a very natural illustration of patience. He can do little to effect the outcome but must wait and pray for the right rain at the right time. In Palestine, the farmer was pa...

"He speaks to the non-Christian for the benefit of the Christian." Craig Blomberg "James looks with divine foresight and sees the dark hurricane cloud of the Day of the Lord about to strike them down." Peter Davids "The rich will lose everything they have devoted themselves to and everything they have relied upon. Theirs will be the despair of people who discover their d...

"Men today are just the same as when these words were first written. We still find people saying what they are going to do today, tomorrow, or in six months time, at the end of another year, and perhaps still further. I have no doubt there are persons here who have their own career mapped out before them pretty distinctly, and they feel well nigh-certain that they will rea...

Day 1: Worldly Orientation Quotes: "James personifies the entire church as the "bride" of Yahweh or Christ. At best she has become distracted from and at worst unfaithful to her groom . . . The audience has the wrong object for a lover the fallen world system and values of the unregenerate." Craig Blomberg "The intention to be a friend of the world makes a person an ...

"There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us." Richard Sibbes "James personifies the church as the bride of Christ. At best she has become distracted from and at worst unfaithful to her groom. The audience has the wrong object for a lover--the fallen world system and values of the unregenerate." Craig Blomberg "The intention to be a friend of the world makes a person an...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, Quarrels and Fights, given on June 5th, 2016. Day 1: Relational conflict is worse than you think (4:1) Quotes: "Instead of a climate and culture of peace that would reflect the "wisdom from above" that James referenced in 3:17, and the presence of peacemakers he referenced in 3:18, there is instead a climate and cul...

"One of the joys of biblical ministry comes when you are able to turn on the lights in another person's dark room. People usually don't see their desires and lusts. Souls are cured as the ignorant and self-deceived are disturbed by the light of God's analytic gaze and then comforted by the love that shed substitutionary blood to purchase the inexpressible gift. I have yet ...

"Our tongue is only the tip of the iniquity iceberg. The proof that all humans are inescapably flawed is right between our teeth." Douglas O' Donnell "Teachers are more susceptible to judgment than others because they regularly engage in that activity which is the hardest to keep from sin-one's speech." Doug Moo "We ask ourselves how we are to control the powerful forces...

"They are not antagonists facing each other with crossed swords; they stand back to back, confronting different foes of the gospel." Alexander Ross "Paul denounces the idea of salvation by dead works; James rejects salvation by dead faith." J.I. Packer "Both James and Paul view good works as a proof of faithnotthe path to salvation." John MacArthur "James is not arguing...

This devotional was written by John Cahoon and is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, A Happy Day, given on April 17, 2016. Day 1: The Gift of Our Leaders Quotes/References: "Your soul needs the caring and watchful eye of a godly pastor." CJ Mahaney "Our concern today is to give all our energy to you, serving you, watching over you to prepare you for that final day!" C...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, The Last Word, given on March 27th, 2016. Day 1: Jesus' Love Quotes/References: "Those who Jesus has revealed himself to, view themselves first and foremost as loved by him, not as those who love him. This is a common feature of those he has loved. They think of themselves as loved by him, not first and foremost as ...

"The chapter is one of the most remarkable in the New Testament. For grandeur and simplicity, for pathos and solemnity, nothing was ever written like it." J.C. Ryle "Those who Jesus has revealed himself to view themselves first and foremost as loved by him not as those who love him. This is a common feature of those he has loved. They think of themselves as loved by him, ...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, The Solution to Self-Deception, given on March 13th, 2016. Day 1: A Wise Command with a Warning Quotes/References: "It is self-deception that merely hearing God's Word is evidence of saving faith and that it is sufficient to satisfy God." CJ Mahaney "No matter how extensive one's scriptural knowledge, how amazing o...

"With this exhortation we find ourselves right at the heart of James pastoral concern and v22 is rightly the best known verse in the letter." Doug Moo "No matter how extensive one's scriptural knowledge, how amazing one's memory, it is self-deception if that is all there is. True knowledge is the prelude to action, and it is obedience to the word that counts in the end." ...

On Sunday, March 6, 2016, Jerry Bridges passed away. The following is a tribute to this dearly beloved father in the faith. "Remembering Jerry Bridges" by C.J. Mahaney...

"Another reason for a book on the new birth is to help followers of Christ to know what really happened to us when we were converted. It is far more glorious than many think it is. It is also more glorious than I think it is. It is wonderful beyond all human comprehension. The new birth is not a work of man. No human being makes the new birth happen. No preacher and no wri...

"Every trial is also a temptation." Alec Motyer "The stakes are high here. Suffering will either leave you a much better person or a much worse one that you were before. Trials and troubles in life, which are inevitable, will either make you or break you. But either way, you will not remain the same." Tim Keller "The trouble lies in the combustible material that each man...

"Not till we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God's holiness and sovereignty, acknowledging our littleness, distrusting our own thoughts and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours." J.I. Packer "Wisdom is the means by which the godly can both discern and carry out the will of God." Douglas Moo "The effect of the gi...

This devotional is based on C.J. Mahaney's sermon, A Radical Proposal, given on January 31, 2016. Day 1: Accepting our Trials | James1:1-2 Quotes/References: "James is nothing if not realistic: Life is a tale of various trials." Alec Motyer Questions to Consider: Read Acts 8.1-3. James is writing to "the Dispersion". Think for a few minutes about those who wer...

"To count testing as a joy is a truly radical proposal. How can a trial be regarded as a joy? And can it be regarded as 'altogether' or 'all' joy?" Don McCartney "Frankly, many of us would prefer that this passage were not in the Bible. But it may also be one of the most profound and crucial for truly mature Christian living." Craig Blomberg "James is nothing if not real...

"This community lament has some unspecified disaster as its background." ESV Study Bible "It was composed on one of the occasions when the people of God were being struck dead as a judgment on their sin." Eric Lane "He alone is self-existent. God is the only one who can say, 'I am who I am.' The grand difference between a human being and a Supreme being is precisely this...

"About 95 percent of the book of Job is poetry. Chapters 1,2 and part of chapter 42 are prose. Almost all the rest is poetry. But so what? Well, poetry does not speak to us in the same way as prose. Poems 'are always a personal take on something, communicating not just from the head to head but from heart to heart' (J.I. Packer). A poet can often touch us, move us, and uns...

"After nearly 40 chapters of tempestuous poetry, the return to the simplicity of prose and the idyllic setting in which the book had opened rounds off this masterpiece, one may feel, to perfection." Derek Kidner "In some deep way it is necessary for it to be publicly seen by the whole universe that God is worthy of the worship of a man and that God's worth is in no way de...

Review Job suffered because of his blamelessness, not because of his sin. It was to show that God is worthy of the worship of a man even when worldly goods are lost. Job did not suffer because of his sin, but he sinned in his suffering. Job's why questions lose their power when he encounters the greatness of God. "I had a million questions to ask God, but, when I met him...

"Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as is this truth of the Incarnation." J.I. Packer "When God chose a human father for his Son, he chose a man who would be righteous and kind, qualities that reflect God the Father himself." Ligon Duncan "He was saddened and perplexed when he learned that she would become a mother before they had been actually married. Many would have t...

The Complaint Job has come to the conviction that he does not live in a well-run world. What begins as a general lament before God in prayer gradually becomes a sinful complaint or charge before God, accusing him of mistreatment. If you, like Job, have suffered severely and even at times presume that you can better run the universe than God, lean in. The LORD has mercy fo...

"'Had I been present at creation I would have given some useful hints for the better ordering of the universe.' Those words are attributed to King Alphonso the Tenth, King of Spain in the thirteenth century, nicknamed 'Alphonso the Learned.' Alphonso was not the first human being to think he could run the universe better than God. The learned and wise Job has come to the c...

"The artistic skill of the author of these chapters in sustaining the tension in Job, and also in preparing us carefully for the final word from the Lord, is unsurpassed." David Atkinson "We have heard Job's passionate last stand. We are waiting for the Lord. These chapters give us space between Job and Yahweh. They illustrate, just by being there, that Yahweh is not forc...

Introduction CJ begins by recapping how far we have come in Job. In short: Job's suffering Job's "why question" Job's friends' accusatory (wrong) explanation for his suffering and Job's disagreement Chapter 28 interrupts the arguments between Job and his friends. It effectively ends the ongoing debate between them and allows the author to address Job's (and our) "...

"This is not the question of the armchair religious or philosophical dilettante, enjoying a stimulating debate. This is the agonized question of the wheelchair sufferer who feels he or she desperately needs an answer. In chapter 28 we stand back from the pain and the debates to ask why God will not answer the question, 'Why?'" Christopher Ash "The debate is done. Nothing ...

"Job is forty two chapters long. We may consider that rather an obvious observation... But the point is this: in his wisdom God has given us a very long book, and he has done so for a reason. It is easy just to read or preach the beginning and the end and to skip rather quickly over the endless arguments in between as if it wouldn't much mater if they weren't there. Far fr...

Summary: CJ began by recapping Job 1-3. He highlighted Job's vividly described agony and explained how Job should humble us when we find ourselves complaining. Job's lament captures his fear that the worst has come to fruitionGod has abandoned him. But despite all of Job's suffering to this point, the worst may be yet to come. Satan slithers away and Job's closest compani...

"We might think the testing of Job is over. But alas, there is one final test, perhaps the toughest. Satan slithers away, while Job's closet companions cozy up." Douglas O' Connell "These friends came unto him under pretense of consolation, and yet they tormented him more than did all his sufferings." 1560 Geneva Bible "The theology that underlies all three friends is ve...

Summary C.J. explains that we are about to venture into one of the darkest chapters in scripture (not the darkest). It lets us into the heart and mind of Job, a man undergoing unbearable misery. We transition from Job's obedient suffering to his lament before God. Job 2:11 13 Job's friends were legitimate friends. Little did they know, they would eventually be of no h...

"Job 3 is a very important chapter for contemporary Christianity. There is a version of Christianity around that is shallow, trite, superficial, 'happy clappy'. It is a kind of Christianity that, as has been said, 'would have had Jesus singing a chorus at the grave of Lazarus.' We have all met it-easy triumphalism. We sing of God in one song that 'in his presence our probl...

"The book of Job tells the story of a good man overwhelmed by troubles. He is stripped of his wealth, his family, and his health. He does not know why God has done this to him. Only the reader knows that God is trying to prove to the Devil that Job's faith is genuine. Upon this simple plot an unknown writer of superlative genus has erected a monumental work. The most persi...

Introduction The book of Psalms should be treasured Spurgeon thought the Psalms were undervalued in 1882how much more today! You will experience no emotion that has not been expressed in the psalms. This psalm was chosen with Rebecca Stephenson in mind. Rebecca's husband Wade Stephenson passed away three weeks ago. It is a Song of Ascents Psalms 120 134...

Over the past several weeks, CJ has led our church to look to our God and Savior in our grief. A few weeks ago, in his message from Habakkuk, he specifically explored how we, as christians, should respond when life doesn't make sense. Suffering is a reality in our fallen world. Everyone will, at some point in their lives, experience it. But not everyone will be prepared fo...

"It is to be feared, that the Psalms are by no means prized as in earlier ages of the church." Charles Spurgeon "In the Psalms you meet God where you are." David Powlison "None of this Psalm addresses God; all of it brings good news about God to the human listener." John Goldingay "Protection by God, under the watchful eye of God, is the dominant idea of the Psalm." Jam...

"Sharing in suffering probably unites our hearts together in Christ more than any other aspect of fellowship." Jerry Bridges "It will take faith to wait patiently for God's plan to unfold, but the righteous believe that God will accomplish it. The phrase 'but the righteous shall live by his faith' is quoted in the NT to emphasize that people are saved by grace through fai...

In his sermon on Sunday, C.J. referrenced an article by Nancy Guthrie titled,What Not to Ask Someone Suffereing. In it, Nancy gives some extremely helpful thoughts on what to say and not say when caring for someone who is suffereing. Here's a link to the full article on the Desiring Godwebsite. We pray that this article will serve our church as we seek to honor the Lord a...

In All Thy Ways My tendency is to charge into the day intent on getting stuff done, attacking my to‐do list motivated by self sufficiency rather than by humble dependence upon the grace of God revealed in the gospel. And given the active presence of pride and self‐sufficiency in my life, it is imperative for me at the outset of each day to devote time to humbling mys...

The Procrastinator Within If I am busy, I must be productive, right? A busy man is a faithful and fruitful man? Nope. Busyness is no guarantee of productivity, faithfulness, or fruitfulness. But why? What distinguishes a fruitfully busy schedule from a non‐ fruitful busy schedule? I think it comes down to two important points: understanding our sin and understanding ...

Introduction Ultimately, no pastoronly the Holy Spiritcan communicate what happened in Gethsemane. The scene in the garden gives us a unique glimpse into the humanity of Jesus. Here, we encounter the mystery of the incarnation. Marvel at his humanity, but don't just marvel; be grateful! It is the basis for your salvation. Thesis Jesus' Suffering for our Sin through th...

"Since it would not be possible for any believer, however experienced, to know for himself all our Lord endured in mental suffering and hellish malice, it is clearly far beyond the preachers capacity to set it forth to you. Jesus himself must give you access to the wonders of Gethsemane; as for me, I can but invite you to enter the Garden." Charles Spurgeon "Nothing in al...

Lazy? Not me. I'm busy. Up early, up late. My schedule is filled from beginning to end. I love what I do and I love getting stuff done. I attack a daily to‐do list with the same intensity I play basketball. Me lazy? I don't think so! Or at least I didn't think so. That is, until I read about the difference between busyness and fruitfulness, and realized just how often m...

The following article, "God, My Heart, and Clothes," is adapted from a chapter in the book Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. The Modest Woman's Allegiance Remember Jenni from the beginning of the chapter? A friend graciously confronted her concerning her immodest dress, and encouraged her to take a closer look at what God's Word had to say about m...

The following article, "God, My Heart, and Clothes," is adapted from a chapter in the book Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. A Word to Fathers Dads, I want to urge you to take responsibility for your daughters' dress. Fathers are absolutely essential to the cultivation of modesty. When a young lady dresses immodestly, it usually means her father h...

The following article, "God, My Heart, and Clothes," is adapted from a chapter in the book Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. A Pastor's Concern It's been almost two thousand years since Paul penned his letter, but 1 Timothy 2:9 remains a pastoral concern. Today the issue is immodest and sensual clothing more than ostentatious attire. And it's no ...

The following article, "God, My Heart, and Clothes," is adapted from a chapter in the book Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. The Appearance of the Modest Woman What do humble, modest clothes look like? First Timothy 2:9 tells us: "Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel . . . not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire."...

In part two of this series, C.J. continues explaining seven lessons he's learned in leading his family on vacation. See the first part here. 3. An Awareness of Indwelling Sin Don't forget about indwelling sin. Though you are going on vacation, you would be wise to remember that sin never does. Merely altering one's geography doesn't subdue or silence sin. We are deceived...

In part three of this series, C.J. continues explaining seven lessons he's learned in leading his family on vacation. See the first part here and the second part here. 6. Intentionally Together Family vacations are FAMILY vacations! Ultimately family vacations are about being together as a family, deepening our relationships with each other, conversing together, laughing...

Introduction Traditions teach Jesus inaugurates a unique tradition for his family in Mark 14:22-25. The Tradition of the Lord's Supper The Purpose is that we might remember the central importance of his death. "The Lord's Supper, which was instituted by Jesus, and which is the only regulative commemorative act inaugurated by him, dramatizes neither his birth nor h...

"The Lord's Supper, which was instituted by Jesus, and which is the only regular commemorative act authorized by him, dramatizes neither his birth nor his life, neither his words nor his works, but only his death. Nothing could indicate more clearly the central significance which Jesus attached to his death. It was by his death that he wished above all else to be remembere...

"It is a bad policy to forego the regular vacation."Charles Spurgeon You've probably seen the Walt Disney World brochure, the one where the family is capped with Mickey Mouse ears, standing for a photo op with the Cinderella Castle rising in the background skyline and exploding fireworks raining down to celebrate the conclusion of a fun-filled day. Huge smiles are pre...

"When it comes to Good Friday the Gospels go into slow motion. They have passed over in silence whole decades of Jesus life, and even when they pick up the threads of the public ministry there are weeks and months of which they say nothing. Our printed Bibles do not, unfortunately, highlight the significance of Mark 14:17, where the evangelist introduces his account of the...

Introduction (Mark 14:10-21) C.J. compares chapter 14 to the slow climb of a roller coaster before the big drop. Mark decelerates his Gospel account to prepare us for the crucifixion of Christ. C.J. highlights three key components of this passage: Outline Judas' Preparation for Betrayal (Mark 14:10-11) We see a dramatic change in mood from Jesus' anointing by Mary. ...

"Though he had the prospect of death approaching, yet he did not abandon himself to a melancholy retirement from all company, but conversed as freely with his friends as usual." Matthew Henry "He recommended this piece of heroic piety to the applause of the church in all ages." Matthew Henry "The deeds and titles of many a king and emperor and general are completely forg...

"The test of liberality is not what is given, but what is left." James Brooks "The scribes are ostentatious and the crowds are rich and extravagant; but by contrast this 'one poor widow' contributes two of the smallest coins in circulation. In purely financial terms, the value of her offering is negligible-and unworthy compared to the sums of wealthy donors. But in the di...

"How interesting that God didn't select the Sabbath (Israel's holy day) as the resurrection day. Instead he chose the next day to be the new holy day. He chose Sunday to be the day we worship his Son (the Lord's day). Perhaps he chose a new day because a new era was breaking into world history; a permanent cavity was torn in the cosmos to create an eternal eighth day of re...

Earlier in the day, the religious leaders assailed Jesus with various quesitons. For instance, the Pharisees and Herodians asked a question pertaining to taxes (Mk. 12:13-17), the Sadducees interrogated concerning the resurrection (Mk. 12:18-27), and a Scribe inquired about the law (Mk. 12:28-34). However, after a day of questions, Jesus asks the question of the day—a qu...

"The scholars and scribes may have been finished with all their questions for Jesus, but Jesus still had one last question for them. It was really more like a riddle, and its answer unlocks the mystery at the heart of the universe." Phil Ryken "After a day of questions comes the question of the day." Ralph Martin "Jesus is now quietly leading them to the point of confess...

Summary: Jesus interacts with a scribe, who asks for clarification pertaining to the "first command above all others" (Mk.12:28). Jesus first answers by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mk.12:30). Additionally, he provides the second greatest commandment from ...

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 12:28-34...

Summary : Jesus takes another step closer to the cross as a result of his confrontation with the Sadducees. The Sadducees are the chief rivals to the Pharisees politically and theologically. They are characterized by three doctrines: 1) they only affirm the authority of the 5 books of Moses (Pentateuch), 2) they disavow the doctrine of the resurrection, and 3) they deny t...

"His enemies are relentless and they attack him in waves. Wave upon wave, delegation upon delegation approaching him to attack him publicly, discredit him so he might lose the popular support of the people, while they privately plot and plan how to kill him." Sinclair Ferguson "The point is that belief in the resurrection is absurd since it leads to ridiculously complex s...

"It may be the most famous of all Jesus pronouncement stories." Robert Stein "The statement by our Lord was not only astounding the instant it was uttered, but is even today universally acclaimed to be the single most influential political statement ever made in the history of the world." Kent Hughes "The answer Jesus gave is the most important and influential statement ...

Summary: Mark chapter 11 concluded with an interaction between Jesus and the religious leaders on the topic of authority. Chapter 12 begins during the same interaction, but now Jesus moves from a discussion on authority to the telling of a confrontational parable. From the very moment that he enters Jerusalem, Jesus' approach toward opposition changes. He is now on the of...

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 12:1-12...

"Every schoolboy is supposed to know Julius Caesar's famous words before he crossed the River Rubicon, 'The die is cast.' It means that a point of no return has been reached. This was true now for Jesus. There was no turning back. Now his last days had arrived; the climactic activity of his life was about to begin." Sinclair Ferguson "At this time it is apparent only Jesu...

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on James 5:13....

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 10:46-52....

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 10:35-45....

Sermon summary and discussion questions from C.J.'s message on 1 Timothy 2:1-7...

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on 1 Timothy 2:1-7....

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 10:32-34...

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 10:17-31...

The writer of Hebrews knew that, even as Christians, our hearts are prone to wander. That wandering can be subtle and easily go unnoticed if we are not actively guarding our hearts. This passage prepares and protects us from the tendency to wander so that by God’s grace we may be preserved to the end....

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Hebrews 3:12-13...

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 9:42-50...

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Jeremiah 9:23-24...

Marking our two year anniversary, CJ preached from Jeremiah 9:23-24 in order to deepen our joy in the Lord's faithfulness. He discussed two facets of the passage: (1) Personal humiliation, and (2) God glorifying exaltation....

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 9:38-41...

Sermon summary and discussion questions from C.J.'s message on Mark 9:38-41....

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 9:30-37...

Sermon summary and discussion questions from C.J.'s message on Mark 9:30-37....

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 8:31-9:1...

This week, CJ pointed us to the drama of the Transfiguration text in Mark 9:2-13. In this passage we see the revelation of the concealed majesty of Jesus, the Son of God....

In Mark 8:31-9:1 Jesus gives a stunning prediction. As the Messiah, he must suffer and die, but will conquer death through his resurrection. This leads to a description of what it means to live as a disciple of the suffering Messiah....

Sermon summary and discussion questions from C.J. Mahaney's message on Mark 8:10-26....

During the Sunday sermon, C.J. read two excellent quotes....

Sermon summary and discussion questions from C.J. Mahaney's message on Mark 8:1-9....

Quotes from C.J.'s sermon on Mark 8:1-9...

This Sunday, C.J. preached from Mark 7:31-37, expounding on the story of Jesus’s healing of a deaf and mute man in the Decapolis. In this sermon, we encounter the power of God in Christ and the coming of his kingdom. Below is an outline and summary of C.J.’s sermon entitled: A Beautiful, Unusual Miracle....

Sermon quotes from C.J. Mahaney's message on Mark 7:14-23...

This Sunday, C.J. continued our series in the Gospel of Mark. In his sermon, True Defilement, True Forgiveness, C.J. expounds for us the ultimate source of impurity and our need for Christ. Below is an outline and summary of the sermon. ...

On Sunday, C.J. preached from 1 Corinthians 3:18-4:5, in order to address the recent graduates of the Sovereign Grace Pastors College as well as the church body as a whole. Below is an outline and summary of his sermon, The Only Assessment that Matters....

Discussion questions for C.J.'s message on 1 Corinthians 3:18-4:5...

Quotes C.J. used in his sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:18-4:5...

This Sunday, C.J. preached from Mark 7:1-13, where the motif of hostility escalates between the religious leaders and Jesus. Below is an outline and summary of the sermon, "A Defining Moment"....

On Sunday, C.J. used several superb quotes to further exposit the passage from Mark's gospel....

Discussion questions for C.J.'s message on Mark 6:53-56...

On sunday, C.J. read two excellent quotes during his sermon. ...

Discussion questions for C.J.'s message on Mark 6:45-52...

A summary of C.J.'s sermon on Mark 6:45-52...

In his sermon on Sunday, C.J. quoted several excellent Bible scholars whose words served to magnify the glory of Jesus Christ. ...

This past Sunday, C.J. read several excellent quotes to expound this passage about Jesus feeding the five thousand. ...

Discussion questions for C.J.'s message on Isaiah 53...

A summary of C.J.'s message on Isaiah 53...

God's Word rightly preached and applied produces transformed lives. That's why we want to do all we can to make sure the effects of a Sunday sermon extend beyond that day, informing our daily thoughts, prayers, and conversation with others. So each week we'll post the sermon outline so that you can quickly revisit the main points of Sunday's message. ...

On Sunday C.J. introduced our church's first gospel series in Mark. Let's pray that in this season we will see and behold the beauty of our Savior and King. And sermon quotes, like the following, will be provided not only stir your memory but inspire your own study of the Gospel according to Mark....