God is sovereign and His Spirit leads us to the right opportunities for ministry. We see this in Acts 16:6-10…. Pastor Steven J. Cole comments: Opportunities come to those who are already serving, not to those who are doing nothing…..Sometimes people don’t serve the Lord because they’ve never experienced a dramatic “call” to ministry. But this … More Get Moving
J.C. Ryle says there are eight “foundation-stones”, which Jesus lays down at the beginning of the sermon on the mount. The wise person will look at all eight and evaluate their life against this passage of Scripture. J. C. Ryle comments on Matthew 5:1-12, The Beatitudes: 1-The Lord Jesus calls those blessed, who are poor … More Foundation Stones
“He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.” Comments on Psalm 10:6 from James Saurin, 1677-1730 found at The Treasury of David To consider religion always on the comfortable side; to congratulate one’s self for having obtained the end before we have made use of the … More False peace
In our reading for today, Genesis 25-26, we encounter the story of Esau selling his birthright to his younger brother, Jacob, in a moment of hunger. Alexander MacLaren was a renowned preacher of the 19th and 20th century. Expositions of Holy Scripture brings together many of the sermons over his fifty years in ministry. Here … More The folly of a bowl of lentils
Matthew 4:23-25 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, … More Miracles of Jesus Teach Us
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2 Charles H. Spurgeon writes in The Treasury of David: It is our duty to praise the Lord; let … More The Dutiful Privilege of Praise
Genesis 24 tells a wonderful story of God’s providence and leading, bringing Isaac and Rebekah together through a faithful servant and some pretty amazing signs. Theodore Epp, of Back to the Bible, makes this interesting observation at the end of the very eventful chapter: Have you ever considered yourself so small in the sight of … More Isaac: fewer triumphs of faith and fewer failures
John Piper, in a sermon “Be Like Barnabas, Not Like Ananias!” Ananias and Sapphira stand for the exact opposite, namely, people who have not really been changed on the inside by being satisfied with all that God is for them in Christ, but who still want some place in the visible church. The reason they … More Warning to phonies and fakes
John Piper comments on Acts 4:23-31 Acts 4:23-31 When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and … More Five Reasons This Prayer Is Relevant
Three times in Matthew 4:1-11 (our reading for today) Satan tempted Jesus. Three times his offer was refused, each time Jesus quoted Scripture as the reason, “it is written.” J. C. Ryle comments at Grace Gems: Here is one among many reasons, why we ought to be diligent readers of our Bibles. The Word is … More You will never fight a good fight, if you do not use this weapon.
