Do’s and Don’ts of Moralism
Here’s Matt Chandler preaching about how not to preach the Gospel. Strike zone:
read moreA Cake Not Turned
Morning and Evening with C.H. Spurgeon “Ephraim is a cake not turned.” — ho 7:8 Thought A cake not turned is uncooked on one side; and so Ephraim was, in many respects, untouched by divine grace: though there was some partial obedience, there was very much rebellion left. My soul, I charge thee, see whether this be thy case. Art thou thorough in the things of God? Has grace gone through the very centre of thy being so as to be felt in its divine operations in all thy powers, thy actions, thy words, and thy thoughts? To be sanctified, spirit, soul, and body, should be thine aim...
read moreWorship and Counseling (Part 1)
David Powlison (CCEF) & Bob Kauflin (Sovereign Grace Ministries) in Conversation (Part 1 of 2) A few tidbits from this conversational feast: Bob Kauflin “A worship leader should never say, “Sing it like you mean it.” We should always mean it.” “People walk in every Sunday with the problem that everything in their lives has become bigger than God.” “The worship leader links heart-stirring music with biblical truth…to let the Word of Christ dwell in people richly.” David Powlison “Pay attention to the syntax of hymns. Some are about...
read moreThe General Thanksgiving
The General Thanksgiving -Book of Common Prayer Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not...
read moreGratefulnesse
Gratefulnesse -George Herbert, The Temple (1633) Thou that hast giv’n so much to me, Give one thing more, a gratefull heart. See how thy beggar works on thee By art. He makes thy gifts occasion more, And sayes, If he in this be crost, All thou hast giv’n him heretofore Is lost. But thou didst reckon, when at first Thy word our hearts and hands did crave, What it would come to at the worst To save. Perpetuall knockings at thy doore, Tears sullying thy transparent rooms, Gift upon gift, much would have more, And comes. This notwithstanding, thou wentst on, And didst allow us...
read moreThe Thanksgiving Exchange
Our country’s original expression of “thankgiving” during this holiday season once led to to worshipful expressions such as these: Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience. Now I, your magistrate, do...
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