John Piper comments on Luke 1: The first thing Gabriel reveals about Jesus is that “He will be great” (1:32). This Jesus is going to be a great man. That is the first thing Theophilus needs to hear about Jesus. You may have never heard of Nazareth, Theophilus, and this young girl may be poor … More “This Jesus is going to be great. “
Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. John Piper, in a sermon, “Thy Word … More Treasuring God’s Word in Our Hearts
The Valley of Vision, “Longings After God.” My dear Lord, I can but tell thee that thou knowest I long for nothing but thyself, nothing but holiness, nothing but union with thy will. Thou hast given me these desires, and thou alone canst give me the thing desired. My soul longs for communion with thee, … More Longing After God…Psalm 119
1 Kings 3:6-14 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on … More A Wise and Discerning Mind
We begin our reading of Ephesians this month. Here is a snippet from a sermon by John Piper, “God Has Chosen Us in Him Before the Foundation of the Earth” God’s purpose in the salvation of his people is invincible—it cannot fail—because it is based first not on our choosing God but on God’s choosing … More God’s Invincible Purpose in Our Salvation
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 Piper: A Lesson in “Compare and Contrast”
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 Stedman: How to Lose a Kingdom
Mark 16:6-7 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as … More Hard promises…CHECK!
In 2 Samuel 22, David praises God for being his Rescuer, his Refuge, his source of strength and success. You may notice that Psalm 18 is nearly the same, and meant as worship to our awesome God. Bob Deffinbaugh comments at Bible.org: David’s “successes” are ultimately God’s doing. As David reflects on his rise to … More Ultimately God’s doing
Mark 15:42-46 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 … More Joseph of Arimathea
