Sam Storms on Colossians 4:18 ….But why call on them to “remember” his “chains”? Certainly he’s not asking for pity. The last thing he wanted was for them to shift their focus from the sufficiency of Christ to the suffering of his servant. Still, it was important that they (and we) not forget where devotion … More Remember my chains
John Piper relates this story in a sermon, “Devote Yourselves to Prayer” There is a story about D. L. Moody making a visit to Scotland in the 1800’s and opening one of his talks at a local grade school with the rhetorical question, What is prayer? To his amazement, hundreds of children’s hands went up. … More God loves to be asked for things!
Our passage today in Luke 9 is similar to one in Mark 8. John Piper comments in a recent post on the Desiring God Blog: After Jesus had fed both the 5,000 and the 4,000 with only a few loaves and fish, the disciples got in a boat without enough bread for themselves. When they … More The Loving Meaning of the Leftovers
John Piper on worship: So you can see what is happening in the New Testament. Worship is being significantly de-institutionalized, de-localized, de-ritualized. The whole thrust is being taken off of ceremony and seasons and places and forms; and is being shifted to what is happening in the heart – not just on Sunday, but every … More Worship Happens in the Heart, Every Day and all the Time
Already: Decisively and Irrevocably Free, Not Yet: Finally and Perfectly Free John Piper, August 28, 2001, Taste and See article (References in Colossians, where we are in our reading this week, are highlighted in blue.) What we have learned from Romans 6 and 7 is that when we trusted in Christ as our Savior and Lord (as … More Already…Not Yet
John Piper on legalism: Let me define what I mean by legalism. The New Testament does not use the word “legalism” and, therefore, it is thrown around today pretty carelessly. I want to try to define it in such a way that you can see that it is evil and that the New Testament does … More Flesh Tank and Peashooter Regulations
Colossians 2:12 “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. “ John Piper, in a sermon, “What is Baptism, and How Important is It?” Second, baptism “expresses union with Christ in His death and … More United to Christ
John Piper says, Imagine for a moment that your city is surrounded by enemy forces who aimed to destroy you. And you are aware that enemy sympathizers live and work in the city with a view to undermining the city’s defenses. And suppose you discover that there is a song which the enemy and their … More A Song That Conquers
Some of you reading the Bible through this year may be struggling to keep up, wondering if it is worth it. (It IS!!) Some of you may be able to encourage others to keep going. (Please DO!!!) This Bible reading plan (see the link in the column to the right) is structured with a … More Give and Receive the Word of God everyday!
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8 Now … More Use the Law Lawfully
