John Piper, in a sermon, “How Not to Talk to an Angel” Luke is the only gospel writer who recounts the foretelling and birth of John the Baptist. He begins in 1:5–25 with the announcement of John’s birth to Zechariah, his father. Then in 1:26–38 comes the announcement of Jesus’ birth to Mary his mother. … More Compare and contrast Jesus and John the Baptist
In Psalm 119:2 we read: Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, Do I seek God with my WHOLE heart? If not, how can that happen? Look at the promise of Jeremiah 24:7: “ I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and … More Do I seek God with my WHOLE heart?
Pastor Ray Stedman writes: First Kings is the gripping story of how to lose a kingdom. As we read these Old Testament books, the key to making them live and be vital in our lives is to see that they are visual aids by which God is showing us what is going on in our … More We can see ourselves in every one of these Old Testament stories
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 ESV Five Steps Toward Walking by the Spirit by John Piper Let me conclude by mentioning five things that I think we must do so that it can be truly said that we are walking … More Walking by the Spirit
John Piper comments on Psalm 117: “Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!” This is God’s purpose: that he be praised by all the peoples – that he be much of; that he be seen and savored and shown to be great. Missions is a cross-cultural movement aimed at helping people stop making … More Missions is calling the world do what they were created to do
At the end of Mark 14, we read of how Peter, who at one time bragged that he would never forsake Jesus, did just that. He betrayed Jesus not once, but three times. We are all like Peter. J. C. Ryle comments: The experience of Peter is only the experience of all God’s servants who … More We are all like Peter.
John Piper has this challenging word about the message of Galatians 3: Satan is continuously at work tempting us to think and feel that because we use God-talk, and come to church, and pray at meal times, and avoid gross sins, we are, therefore, under God’s blessing. But the book of Galatians concerns a group … More The continental divide between divine blessing and divine curse.
And the high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You make no answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But He kept silent, and made no answer. Coty Pinckney on Mark 14:60-62 Frustrated, the High priest tries to get Jesus to incriminate himself. Jesus gives no … More His purpose: to proclaim the truth of Who He is, not to convince the court of His innocence.
For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. (Psalm 112:6-8 … More Afraid of bad news?
Bob Deffinbaugh comments on 2 Samuel 13 and the tragedy in Israel’s royal family: ….this text is placed immediately following the passage that depicts David’s sin and its personal consequences in the death of his first son by Bathsheba. This is not only because the events of chapter 13 follow closely in time to those of … More Consequences of sin
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