3 Aims of a Preacher: INSTRUCT, DELIGHT, MOVE (Augustine) Why do we preach? What does a preacher hope to accomplish? Augustine, one of the greatest theologians the Christian church has ever known, informs us that the three aims of a preacher are to “instruct, delight, and move.”[1] These aims work together to persuade a person […]
Category: Writings on Christianity
Are We Free to Choose God? (Tsouloufis) [this is a guest post by my friend Dan Tsouloufis] Biblically, it is correct to assert that man is free, albeit in a limited sense. Regarding man’s will, the Westminster Confession of Faith reminds us that “liberty does not imply ability”. This is because liberty is not identical with […]
11 Motives for Obeying God as a Christian (Grudem) This week I brushed up on the topic of sanctification. Theologian Wayne Grudem defines sanctification as “the progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives” [‘Systematic Theology’ p 746]. What I found […]
John Piper’s Definition of Biblical Counseling Much of pastoral ministry involves biblical counseling. To aid in my pursuit of learning how to do this, I’ve begun reading a book called “Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling.” The book is written by respected evangelical authors who contribute to various topics, which all help a person understand and approach biblical […]
How Do I Know If I Am Predestined? Since the Scriptures teach that God chooses (predestines) some to be his sons and daughters (Eph 1:4-5, Rom 9; John 15:16), how do we personally know if we ourselves are predestined? Did God choose me? How do I know if I am predestined? Where I look for […]
2 Errors to Avoid When Talking About Predestination (Calvin’s “Institutes”) Perhaps predestination is the doctrine that John Calvin is most remembered for. Predestination is a biblical word referring to “God’s eternal decree, by which he compacted with himself what he willed to become of each man” (Calvin’s definition 3.21.5). While theologians debate exactly what God’s […]
Cross of Christ Fellowship: 6 Core Values When planting a church, it is vital to consider your core values (ideas and motivations which shape and define the way your church operates). Aubrey Malphurs helped me to consider this in his book “Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting” (a vital read for all church planters). Every […]
Categories
Calvin on Prayer
Calvin on Prayer I’ve continued my quest through John Calvin’s Institutes and been surprised by how incredibly practical and devotional it has been. Time and time again I find my heart encouraged and better equipped to love the Lord and others. This past week I finished Calvin’s treatment on prayer. Here’s some of my favorite […]
Evil Suspicions and the Gospel (1 Tim 6:3-5) “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, […]
Categories
Calvin on Psalm 103
Calvin on Psalm 103 I found Calvin’s comments on Psalm 103:1-2 particularly helpful: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me,bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits,”Ps 103:1-2 “The prophet, by stirring up himself to gratitude, gives by his own example a lesson […]
