Sinclair Ferguson’s observations here from John Owen on the Christian Life are full of incredible insight. The quotes are from Owen: Every Christian lives by faith. The Christian character is not recognized by the degree of faith, but by its presence. The growth of character will, however, inevitably be related to and dependent on the […]
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Here’s one reason: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor […]
John Piper: "Do Something Risky With Your Life"
A fantastic, short video of John Piper:
What is Pride? (And What is Humility?)
I find these definitions from CJ Mahaney’s book Humility very helpful: Humility: Honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness. Pride: Aspiring to the state and position of God and refusing to acknowledge our dependence on him.
Christians Should Not be Boring
In Creed or Chaos?, Dorothy Sayers has a chapter where she points out that most people outside the church would have listed the most important Christian virtues something like this: “respectability; childishness; mental timidity; dullness; sentimentality; censoriousness; and depression of the spirits.” In other words, many thought that Christians were dull, judgmental, and lacking passion. […]
The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards in Categories
As I’ve been working on my book on gospel-centered productivity, Jonathan Edward’s resolutions have been very relevant and significant. Edwards is an example to us of true productivity—he shows us that true productivity is about a life well lived and that, even more, a life well lived is a God-centered life. Edwards also shows us that […]
Jonathan Edwards' First Resolution
I love Jonathan Edwards’ first resolution: “Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think […]
What is Supplication?
The Bible talks often about supplication as a substantial type of prayer (Philippians 4:6, etc.). But what is supplication? It is not simply asking God for things. Rather, it is making a case before God. JP Moreland explains this well in Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life […]
John Piper: Decide to Abandon Retirement as the Reward for Your Life
I love this John Piper video that the media team at Desiring God did last winter:
JI Packer on the Problem of Unanswered Prayer
JI Packer, in Knowing Christianity: We need not be discouraged by the problem of supposedly unanswered prayer. I say “supposedly” because I challenge the supposition. While God has not bound himself to hear unbelievers’ prayers, his promises to answer the prayers of his own children are categorical and inclusive. It must then be wrong to […]