False Christian teachings, trends….
Jesus made His followers the special care of His Father in John 17:11. The world, to the believer, is a place of trial, every principle as well as his profession will be tried here…. [Smith’s devotional is gentle encouragement to keep us looking to Jesus]
In the following 7 minute video, Tim Challies answers questions sent in by his viewers. He talks about introversion, extraversion and self-denial such that we might get some insight into the small struggles of the practical Christian life.
Psalm 50:15 [ESV 2011] and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” The believer’s present portion: trouble; his constant privilege, prayer; his future prospect, deliverance… Present: expect trouble; trouble springs up all around us in myriad forms: in mind, circumstances, body…from almost every quarter …We are poor pilgrims, this world is not our home; nor our country – we are strangers and aliens …Every day, trouble. Everything declares, “Happiness is not in me!” Only in Jesus is solid peace, holy satisfaction, and permanent comfort
The Psalter explained by Pastor Matthew Everhard. He examines three types of Psalters, one for reading an two for singing; of the latter, one is scored and one not. In the process of his explanation, he provides a brief history of Psalm singing in the church.
J. C. Ryle stated that there is a four-fold cost for being a Christian: 1. your self-righteousness; pride; sense of personal goodness; merit… 2. your sins have to turned from, forsaken; every practice, habit, addiction that is wrong in God’s sight; you must be at war with these… 3. It will cost your love of ease: to fight a battle; to run a race; to watch and pray… and 4. It will cost one the favor of the world; to please God will result in being thought ill of by the world….
Christ experienced deep loneliness in His ministry and atoning work
This is a very thought provoking devotional about a state with which we’re all very familiar: loneliness. In a sense, we experience loneliness during all of our lives, even if we are surrounded by loving friends during much of it. How so? Our inner choices, questions, battles, sorrows, burdens…are faced alone (unless one is born again, in that case, Christ is with him) …He talks about several stages of life: the necessary struggles of youth; the loneliness of sorrow and loss; the loneliness of old age; and of death
My purpose in posting Psalms recently is to show that scripture can be arranged in a contemporary manner; furthermore, all who sing and listen can be certain that they are hearing music that is approved by God, He wrote the lyrics. Hearers and singers can also be sure that the content is doctrinally sound and edifying. No one can say that about contemporary Christian music in general; some has a trace of doctrine….
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841 until 1850. Early on, Smith’s readings were even more popular than Spurgeon’s! This post is related to the preceding one, Walking in the Spirit; it provides a few insights about how the Spirit works in the born-again believer. …Although I have written about that topic a lot, especially the beatitude posts, I have only scratched the surface. And since contemporary Christianity seemingly understands nothing of the matter, this post is to help believers who seek answers to such questions.
Last night, as I was preparing for bed and listening to the following song based largely on Psalm 116, I believe that the Holy Spirit
In the following 3 minute video, Dr. MacArthur explains the process that unfolds in true worship. He precisely identifies the elements of worship that must