Here’s a quote from Charles Bridges’ book The Christian Ministry that addresses both the external and internal call to ministry. Bridges writes, The external call is a commission received from and recognized by the Church…not indeed qualifying the Minister, but accrediting him, whom God had internally and suitably qualified. This call communicates therefore only official authority.…
Chuck Swindoll, in Steve Farrar’s book Finishing Strong shares his thoughts on why Joseph gets so much attention in the book of Genesis. His thoughts are helpful and challenging. No one who does a serious study of Joseph’s life would deny that he was a great man. And yet he never accomplished any of the things we normally…
This post by Tim Challies nails it regarding men who may have the title pastor/elder at their respective church but according to Scripture, don’t fit the bill. 5 Ugly Qualities of the Anti-Elder December 1, 2014 It is tragic but undeniable: There are many, many people in positions of church leadership who should not be…
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Farrar, in his book Finishing Strong, tells us that… Bitterness grieves the Spirit of God. Bitterness poisons your soul. Bitterness is…
Thomas Watson in his book The Godly Man’s Picture gives 24 characteristics of a godly man. According to Watson, a godly man is… a man of knowledge a man moved by faith a man fired by love a man like God a man careful about the worship of God a man who serves God, not men a…
On February 16 Paul David Tripp in New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (get this book now btw!) writes the following that I wanted to pass on. This is the good news of the gospel. Peace came. Peace died. Peace lived. Peace rose again. Peace reigns on your behalf. Peace indwells you by the Spirit.…
Always Take the High Road (taken from Bill Hybels book Axiom) When I was in my early twenties, I served as one of the youth leaders for a group called Son City. We had grown from a whopping attendance of twenty-five people to more than a thousand in less than three years, and God was…
In New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional, Paul David Tripp writes that we are all on a conquest for hope. He shares several truths regarding hope I wanted to pass on to you. God has hardwired human beings for hope. We don’t live by instinct; we all find our identity, meaning, purpose, and inner sense…
Go here for a brief description of what to expect at Oak Park‘s upcoming Family Gathering with pastor/author Chris Brauns, who will unpack the ins-and-outs of forgiveness.
In a context of strict Jewish monotheism, the following four activities were considered blasphemous for anyone other than God. Jesus expressed his authority to forgive sins, even sins not committed against him personally – a prerogative reserved for God alone (Mark 2:5-7). Jesus accepted worship from other human beings – a prerogative reserved for…
