Phillip Graham Ryken writes in Thermelios: Ezra also had a mind for biblical truth. Perhaps the best example comes from Nehemiah 8, where Ezra gathers the Israelites to renew the covenant in Jerusalem. The heart of that renewal was the reading and preaching of God’s Word. Ezra gathered people in the square in front of the … More One of our first and best models for expository preaching…
John Piper, in a sermon, “Wonderful Things From Your Word” Consider 2 Timothy 2:7. The NASB has “Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Literally it is, “Think about (noei) what I say.” Does this mean that understanding Paul’s teaching is simply a human, natural enterprise of thinking? No. The … More But don’t replace thinking with praying. Think and pray. Pray and think.
Matt Chandler on the Ten Lepers of Luke 17: “On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them … More The Thankful Leper
C.H. Spurgeon, comments in Morning and Evening: “He that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Proverbs 11:25 We are here taught the great lesson, that to get, we must give; that to accumulate, we must scatter; that to make ourselves happy, we must make others happy; and that in order to become spiritually vigorous, we … More Spurgeon: “We discover how much grace there is where we had not looked for it”
Ray Stedman comments on Nehemiah 7: Here Nehemiah seeks to perpetuate the achievements that he has brought about, by appointing wise successors and establishing sound policies. After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of … More Never let down your guard
Coty Pinckney, in a message “Train Through Pain Yet with Joy for the Race of Faith”: As we noted, Paul tells Timothy: “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” [2 Timothy 2:3) All of you who have run regularly know there is some degree of pain involved. Certainly all of you who … More Spiritual Interval Training
Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. J.C.Ryle: Faith is a grace which admits of degrees. It does not … More J.C. Ryle: If we have any faith let us pray for more of it.
Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. John Piper, in a 1987 sermon, “The Pleasure of God in Public Justice” The implications here are very far-reaching. But let’s get the specific picture clear in our minds. Suppose you were a merchant in the Old … More False Balances
Ray C. Stedman on Nehemiah 6, in a message “DON’T VACILLATE — PERPETUATE!” One thing that clearly emerges from this book is that life is a battle from beginning to end. Nehemiah ran into opposition the moment he set his heart to obey God’s command to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem. He faced … More Life is a battle…
2 Timothy 1:8 Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but take your share of suffering for the gospel in the power of God. John Piper, in a sermon, “Battling the Unbelief of Misplaced Shame” What this text says is that if you feel shame for testifying … More Battling the Unbelief of Misplaced Shame
