Here is one way saving grace and common grace relate: deed ministry, which is essential to the testimony of the gospel, often requires common grace in order to be done well. Hence, it is unwise as Christians to downplay secular wisdom (common grace). Secular wisdom is not the gospel. But it is God’s will that […]
Archives for 2012
What is the Real Reason Capitalism is Motivating?
Many people think it’s because of profit. Capitalism enables people to maximize their profits, and that’s why it’s motivating. I think this is wrong. I think the real reason capitalism is motivating is because it is based on freedom. The essence of capitalism is not “make us much money as you can” but rather “do […]
"If It's Dangerous, God Must Not Be in It": True or False?
David Platt answers this well in his book Radical: We so often think “If it’s dangerous, God must not be in it. If it’s risky, if it’s unsafe, if it’s costly, it must not be God’s will.” But what if these factors are actually the criteria by which we determine if something is God’s will? […]
Persevere in Prayer
Here’s another cut from my book: 1. Persevere in Prayer Perseverance in prayer as a key means of overcoming obstacles. Don’t stop praying about something just because it hasn’t been answered within a few days or weeks. Keep pressing on. This is exactly what Jesus commands us to do: “And he told them a parable […]
Get a Bible You Like to Use
This is a cut from my book that I’m not including so I can stay within my word count. This is from the chapter “The Role of Prayer and Scripture in Your Productivity”: Have a Bible you like to use. It’s true that what really matters is the Bible itself, not the particular format it’s […]
The Fruit of the Spirit and Your Work
So, in what areas of life are we to manifest the fruit of the Spirit? Just at church? We are to manifest the fruit of the Spirit in all areas of life. We so easily miss that. It’s easy to think of the fruit of the Spirit and other Christian virtues as applying to some […]
The Problem With Making Christianity Be About Rules
There are three problems with seeing Christianity primarily in terms of following rules. First, this notion is just wrong. Second, it obscures the fact that the solution to our problem is not following rules, but forgiveness. Third, it gives the impression, as William Wilberforce said, that Christianity is “a system of prohibitions rather than privileges […]
Why Do We Do Good Works? More on the Holistic Nature of the Reformed Tradition
This is a great statement from the Heidelberg Catechism: Question 86: Since then we are delivered from our misery, merely of grace, through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works? Answer: Because Christ, having redeemed and delivered us by his blood, also renews us by his Holy Spirit, after […]
Every Member … Mercy Ministry?
A good observation by Tim Keller in his book Ministries of Mercy: We have done a good job of teaching that every believer is a minister and to be a witness. But we haven’t done a good job of teaching that every Christian is to be engaged in mercy ministries. We have almost completely ceded this […]
An Incredible Collection of Resources for Enjoying Narnia with Your Kids
Andy Naselli has done a great service by collecting together ten of the main resources he and his young daughter made use of for enjoying The Chronicles of Narnia to the fullest.