Passion Points

On May 2, 2015 By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Cheap Grace Isn’t Grace – Ricky Stark (YMRT)
…genuine faith requires repentance—and that a call to grace is a call to holiness.

Living Well in a Digital World – Tim Challies
I am thrilled to live in this time, and eager to use all of these new technologies for good. But I know, and you know, that we need to use them well, and to use them for God’s glory.

Preaching the Ten Commandments – Ray Ortlund
When I preach through the Ten Commandments, each sermon has four points, because each commandment does four things at once. [Not just for pastors – good thoughts on the Ten Commandments]

Two Ways To Ruin Your Relationship With The Giver – Mike Wittmer (via Tim Challies) We must see God’s gifts of creation as windows into his glory and opportunities to praise him. But we must also find pleasure in them.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church!

Current

On April 30, 2015 By BrianIn Current Collection

Here are some helpful posts related to the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments regarding “same-sex marriage.”

9 Things You Should Know About Same-Sex Marriage – Joe Carter (TGC)

10 Questions About Marriage From The Supreme Court Arguments – Russell Moore and Andrew Walker (ERLC)

“It Is Going To Be An Issue” – Albert Mohler

Why Not Gay Marriage? – Kevin DeYoung

Prayer Quote of the Week

On April 29, 2015 By BrianIn Prayer Quotes

When we pray, “Your will be done,” we are committing ourselves to God’s will for every aspect of life and death. We are adopting God’s agenda and throwing away our own.

– Philip Graham Ryken

The God Who Gives

On April 27, 2015 By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

There are two ways to ruin our relationship with the Giver of all things. The first is to ignore him and focus entirely on his gifts…. The second way is to ignore the gift and focus entirely on the Giver…. If the first temptation ignores the God who gives, the second refuses to let him be the God who gives.

– Michael Wittmer in Becoming Worldly Saints

Passion Points

On April 25, 2015 By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

How Do You Know You’re Repentant? – Jared Wilson
We name our sin as sin and do not spin it or excuse it, and further, we demonstrate “godly sorrow,” which is to say, a grief chiefly about the sin itself, not just a grief about being caught or having to deal with the consequences of sin.

3 Reasons Why You Aren’t Allowed To Be Theologically Dumb – Chris Martin (ME)
When you love God with your heart but not your mind, you end up loving the god of your imagination, not the God of the universe.

Theological Black Holes – Tim Challies
And this is one of the reasons God places us in church communities where we are surrounded by people who are that much wiser and that much more mature than we are.

Making the Most of Sunday – Joe Thorn (TCC)
As we look forward to what God will do among us as we gather let’s remember that there are three ways to get the most out of your Sundays with the church: prepare, participate, and reflect….

Hope you make the most of the Lord’s Day this week as you gather with your local church!

Dust Storm

On April 24, 2015April 24, 2015 By BrianIn PASSION Quotes1 Comment

Some wag remarked that the worst dust storm in history would happen if all church members who were neglecting their Bibles dusted them off simultaneously.

– Donald Whitney
in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Prayer Quote of the Week

On April 22, 2015 By BrianIn Prayer Quotes

Prayer is always an act of faith.
It begins with faith, must be carried through in faith, and finished in faith. Every ordinary prayer prayed in the most ordinary way
by the most ordinary person is a revolutionary statement of trust.

– Mel Lawrenz

Sermon Songs: Isaiah 55

On April 22, 2015April 18, 2017 By BrianIn Isaiah Hymns

Come, sinners, heed the Savior’s call
Come to the feast, it’s free to all
Come hear His Word and truly live
He satisfies, great love he gives

Come seek the Lord, draw near today
Turn from your wicked thoughts and ways
His Word is strong and trustworthy
Great joy and peace one day we’ll see

– From a sermon on Isaiah 55
(To the tune of “The Doxology”)

Ministry Collection

On April 21, 2015 By BrianIn Ministry Moments1 Comment

Here are some good posts for pastors:

The Pastor’s Personal Holiness – Jason Helopoulos

Being an Iceberg Pastor – Andrew Haslam (Think)

Pastors, Prioritize Prayer – Don Carson (TGC)

A Special Joy

On April 20, 2015 By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

Consider this special joy of the new earth: We will live forever in loving community with God and each other, with the peace of mind that comes from the absolute certainty that God will not allow us to mess this up.