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The Epistle of James is now Available!
Several weeks ago I announced that my entire series of sermon notes on the book of Hebrews was available on my website. Today I’m happy to tell you that all twenty-two lessons on the book of James are now posted. If you are unfamiliar about how to access these documents, simply click on Resources at the top of the Home page, and then on Articles. Look under Biblical Studies, and at the bottom of the list you will see both Hebrews and James. These twenty-two articles are essentially a verse-by-verse analysis of James. I hope and pray you will find them helpful in your life or ministry, or in both.
The Wickedness of the World (Part Two of an Exploration of John 3:16)
The Wickedness of the World (Part Two of an Exploration of John 3:16)
Today we turn our attention to the object of God’s immeasurable love: the world. John uses one word: “world” (kosmos). Many try to magnify God’s love by pointing out how many people have lived in this world. “Just think,” they say, “of the multitudes of men and women who have swarmed across the face of the earth. Oh, how great the love of God must be that it could encompass such a countless multitude.” I’m not so sur...Read More ➔
God’s Immeasurable Love (Part One of an Exploration of John 3:16)
God’s Immeasurable Love (Part One of an Exploration of John 3:16)
John 3:16 may well be the most famous verse in the entire Bible. Even if it isn’t, its truth warrants continual celebration and gratitude. What I propose to do over the next couple of weeks is to explore this passage by looking at seven inescapable and eternally significant realities that together comprise this justifiably famous text. The first truth in this text, God’s love, is foundational to everything that follows. But can anything more be said about th...Read More ➔
Manifestations and Gifts of the Spirit: An Interview with Andrew Gabriel
Manifestations and Gifts of the Spirit: An Interview with Andrew Gabriel
Last week I posted only the first half of an interview that Pneuma conducted with Andrew Gabriel based on his excellent book, Simply Spirit Filled. Here is the second half. Pneuma Review: When addressing the subject of spiritual manifestations, such as shaking and being slain in the Spirit, some people tend to categorize them as either all of God or all not of God. You do not do that in the book. Please tell us why. Andrew Gabriel: The funny thing is that a friend from...Read More ➔
Was the Pope right when he changed the wording of the Lord’s Prayer?
Was the Pope right when he changed the wording of the Lord’s Prayer?
Here is the headline in the June 7, 2019, edition of USA Today: “Pope tweaks temptation phrase in Lord’s Prayer.” Instead of “Lead us not into temptation” he wants Catholics to pray, “Do not let us fall into temptation.” This caught my attention, as you might expect. Five days later, on June 12, John Piper wrote an article in response to the Pope’s action entitled, “Reading the Bible Upside Down: Why the Pope Changed ...Read More ➔
Manifestations and Gifts of the Spirit: An Interview with Andrew Gabriel
Manifestations and Gifts of the Spirit: An Interview with Andrew Gabriel
[On June 30, the Pneuma Review published this short interview with Andrew Gabriel. If you don’t recognize that name, he is the author of a book that I have highly recommended on numerous occasions. The book is, Simply Spirit Filled: Experiencing God in the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit. It is written for a lay audience. It is not technical and no knowledge of Greek is required. Andrew does a great job of addressing some of the more controversial aspects of ...Read More ➔
God’s Gracious Gift of the New Birth
God’s Gracious Gift of the New Birth
What did Jesus mean in John 3 when he spoke to Nicodemus of being born again? The best way to answer that question is by taking note of what Jesus did not mean. And it is, somewhat surprisingly, Nicodemus himself who supplies us with the answer. (1) We know, first of all, that being religious is not the same as being born again. We know this because Jesus was speaking to one of the most religious men in Israel, a Pharisee, and to that man he says, “You, Mr. Pharis...Read More ➔
God is the Gospel
God is the Gospel
One of John Piper’s most important books is entitled God is the Gospel: Meditations on God’s Love as the Gift of Himself (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2005). The primary emphasis of the book is the fact that, whatever other blessings we might obtain when we believe in Jesus Christ, preeminent over all is the glorious reality of getting God! The Apostle Peter put it this way: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that h...Read More ➔
Why speaking in tongues is not a weird thing to do
Why speaking in tongues is not a weird thing to do
[The following brief article was released on June 27th at www.premierchristianity.com.] “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” At first glance you might think these words came from the lips of a wild-eyed fanatic who has little regard for the Bible. The gift of tongues is often treated like the proverbial ‘black sheep’ in the family of God. We can’t completely dismiss the presence of the gift of tongues, but we regard...Read More ➔
Early Bird Discount for Convergence 2019 ends this Saturday!
Early Bird Discount for Convergence 2019 ends this Saturday!
This is a quick reminder that the early bird discount to register for Convergence 2019 ends this coming Saturday, June 29. Don’t let this date pass by without taking advantage of the lowest ticket price available. We are genuinely excited and expectant for what we believe God will do at the conference, as we focus entirely on the theme: The God Who Heals. Join me, Matt Chandler, Jack Deere, Andrew Wilson, Michael Brown, and Christine Caine, together with the Brid...Read More ➔
