Heidelberg Question 129. What does that little word “Amen express”?
Answer: Amen means,
This is to be sure!
It is even more sure that God listens to my prayer, than that I really desire what I pray for.
Monthly Archive for April, 2011
One immediately notices the influence of Philippians 4:4-9 in the below verses and perhaps echos of Acts 2:42 and Hebrews 11.
John Frame:
Grudging obedience is not what he desires of us. It may be better than no obedience at all, but it is seriously defective. We should seek, not only to obey him, but also to delight in obedience. That delight comes from prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, through immersion in the words of Scripture and the hearts of the great saints of redemptive history, and through the fellowship of the church in Word and sacrament. The Doctrine of the Christian Life, 306.
Click here to watch Deb describe how God completely changed her life.
HT: Desiring God
I mentioned recently in our church that the Reformed Forum network interviewed me at the Gospel Coalition Conference. Camden Bucey, one of the two hosts, is a native of Stillman Valley.
In this interview, I talk about both pastoral searches and forgiveness. The section where they interview me begins at about the 13 minute mark.
Click here.
We often encourage our people that God makes bricks with a building in mind, or as Peter said, “You also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5).” (See Why this blog is called “A Brick in the Valley”)
Still – - that doesn’t mean everyone should be a “brick” in this spiritual building. Today Justin Buzzard shared ten reasons he gave to not join their church plant. Even though these reasons are regarding a brand new local church, they could also apply to our 153 year old church.
Justin Buzzard:
1. If you’re looking for the next cool thing in town (We want to grow by conversion growth, not church-goer transfer growth).
2. If you’re a Christian and you don’t like your current church (You will find reasons to not like this church).
3. If you have a bad track record at churches of being unteachable and causing problems (You won’t change here, you’ll repeat the pattern).
4. If you’re a consumer wanting to “go to church” 1x a week for a nice show (We are not a Sunday show, we are a community of disciples on a mission).
Read the rest here.
R.C. Sproul:
In true repentance there is no rationalization. There is no attempt to minimize guilt. There is no attempt at self-justification, which is the human tendency (Commentary on Romans, 82).
Tim Keller surveys Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argument for the primacy of preaching. An excerpt:
The Doctor’s basic case has been made. Preaching must convey the truths of the gospel as the basis for all Christian practice. It must arise out of the Biblical text to show that the message is from God. It should be heard in person in an assembled community. And preaching “sets up” everything else—it creates regenerated agents of justice in the world, it provides the material with which Christians counsel and disciple one another and which equips believers to share their faith with others.
But Lloyd-Jones has one more objection . . .
Read the whole thing here.
See also Is Preaching Simply One Alternative for Proclaiming the Truth
Dr. David Powlison – What is the process of healing after an abortion? from CCEF on Vimeo.
HT: Justin Taylor
Justin Taylor summarizes what happened on Sunday of Holy Week (here).
