John Piper comments: [1 Corinthians 7] Verse 19 says literally, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God (is everything).” That was about the most offensive thing Paul could say to a Jew: Circumcision is nothing. And if we understand its broad cultural application, it offends all of us. But … More Piper: Paul is a very unfashionable thinker
J. C. Ryle on Mark 4:1-20 These verses contain the parable of the sower. Of all the parables spoken by our Lord, none is probably so well-known as this. There is none which is so easily understood by all, from the gracious familiarity of the figures which it contains. There is none which is of … More J.C. Ryle: This parable needs application, not exposition.
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! Psalm 80: 3, 7, 19 Restore us, O God. Turn us back to You. Change us. Change our character, if not our circumstances. We need YOU, O God. Let Your face shine… we want to see You. “The Lord bless you and … More Shine on us, that we may be saved
Kim Riddlebarger, Senior Pastor at Christ Reformed Church, opened and closed his sermon on Joshua 23 with these comments: When Moses died, the people of Israel surely thought he could never be replaced. Years later when Joshua says farewell to his people, there can be no doubt that Joshua had shown himself to be a worthy successor … More Joshua: A Hero’s Farewell
We read about principles for marriage in 1 Corinthians 7: Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3The husband … More Piper: Two ways to ruin a pearl
Kim Riddlebarger asks, “What, then, should we take with us from this section of Mark?” [Chapter 3:20-35] The very fact that so many different and diverse people witnessed the miracles of Jesus with their own eyes and yet did not understand his mission or understand who he was, should remind all of us that unless God … More Grant us eyes to see Jesus!
Spurgeon writes on Psalm 79 in The Treasury of David: Entering the inhabited part of the old city, and winding through some crooked, filthy lanes, I suddenly found myself on turning a sharp corner, in a spot of singular interest; the “Jews’ place of Wailing.” It is a small paved quadrangle; on one side are … More Still Asking “How Long O Lord?”
During these weeks leading up to our celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, it is exciting to see passages of Scripture that point us to Christ, even though we may not have seen it at first. Such was the case when I first read about the cities of refuge. But in my research, I came … More Jesus: Greater Joshua, Great High Priest and Once-For-All Sacrifice
1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. John Piper asks, “What Does It Mean That Your Body Was Bought?” When Christ paid the price for his people, he bought our bodies. So let me try to show you from this passage of God’s Word what … More Glorify God in your body
Mark 3:1-19 is the passage we read today. Here is some help from Jeff Miller, “A Follower’s Calling” found at Bible.org: Jesus chooses a motley crew of followers: Four blue collar fishermen, one hated tax-collector, one radical member of a violent political party, one doubter, and one betrayer (known to Jesus). We know virtually nothing … More A Motley Crew of Followers
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 