How to Use Earthly Joy and Sorrow
In a changeable world – where joy is fleeting and sorrow is prevalent – Christians are able to live unhindered by their earthly circumstances. This is Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7. At first glance, it appears to be a…
The Christian Convert Warned of Discouragements – Doddridge
The following is a modernized, paraphrased, and condensed excerpt from Philip Doddridge’s book ‘The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul.’ This excerpt comes from Chapter 16. The full title of the chapter is, “The Christian Convert Warned of,…
The Six Characteristics of Kind People
This list doesn’t claim to be comprehensive. It’s just my simple attempt to list out some of the characteristics that define kind people. I’m blessed to know many of them – and challenged each day to grow in these attributes….
God of Creation, God of Salvation: A Song
Some time ago, I published God of Creation, God of Salvation. Originally meant as a simple poem, I’m excited to see how God used it in ways that I didn’t expect. It has now been set to music, and I…
On Contentment and Patience
The following excerpts, from Philip Doddridge’s ‘Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul,’ describes the Christian graces of contentment and patience. “The divine philosophy of the blessed Jesus will also teach you ‘a contented temper.’ It will moderate your…
Jesus Changes Everything
“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11) The first miracle that John records about Jesus is the turning of water into wine at…
The Gospel from a Covenant Perspective
The Bible is covenantal – that is to say, the structure of the biblical narrative is based on covenants. These covenants function as the ‘spine’ on which the story hinges. We often speak of the Gospel as if it was…
Overcoming Fear in Evangelism
Fear is something that we all wrestle with in evangelism. I was very fearful when I first began to evangelize. I was afraid that people would reject me. I was afraid that people would ask me questions that I didn’t…
Judson on Submitting to God’s Providence
“If the Lord has other purposes, it becomes us meekly to acquiesce, and willingly to sacrifice our dearest hopes to the Divine will. We rest assured that, in either case, the perfections of God will be displayed.” “Our obedience was…
God-Glorifying Margins
Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a lifelong activity. You can’t check it off a list. You can’t schedule it. It consists of more than giving someone a tract. It takes more time than showing up at a Saturday…
