The following is a timely reminder adapted from an essay by J.C. Ryle, on the vital importance of this oft-neglected spiritual discipline. To read the full essay, click here.
I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words, DO YOU PRAY?
The question is one that none but you can answer. Whether you attend public worship or not, your minister knows. Whether you have family prayers in your house or not, your relations know. But whether you pray in private or not, is a matter between yourself and God.
I beseech you in all affection to attend to the subject I bring before you. Do not say that my question is too close. If your heart is right in the sight of God, there is nothing in it to make you afraid. Do not turn off my question by replying that you say your prayers. It is one thing to say your prayers and another to pray. Do not tell me that my question is unnecessary. Listen to me for a few minutes, and I will show you good reason for asking it.
I ask whether you pray, because a habit of prayer is one of the surest marks of a true Christian.
All the children of God on earth are alike in this respect. From the moment there is any life and reality about their religion, they pray. Just as the first sign of life in an infant when born into the world is the act of breathing, so the first act of men and women when they are born again is praying. Continue reading @ the Pulpit Magazine here
Chris Rosebrough of Fighting For the Faith will be the Crosstalk guest today. Are seeker churches with their refusal to faithfully teach from the Scriptures helping to facilitate the acceptance of homosexual relationships in evangelical churches? Do Christians have enough Scriptural knowledge to even argue effectively about the Bible’s teachings on the matter? Chris Rosebrough will walk listeners through Scriptural passages that clearly instruct us on the subject of homosexuality and warn about the consequences of pandering to unregenerate tastes in the name of “outreach.”
“Every wise workman takes his tools away from the work from time to time that they may be ground and sharpened; so does the only-wise Jehovah take his ministers oftentimes away into darkness and loneliness and trouble, that he may sharpen and prepare them for harder work in his service.”
ROBERT MURRAY MCCHEYENE
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!
Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.
Chorus:
This, the power of the cross:
Christ became sin for us
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought,
Every evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.
Now the daylight flees
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the victory cry.
Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.
This, the power of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us
What a love! What a cost!
Mark 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
The Importance of Hell
There are plenty of people today who don’t believe in the Bible’s teaching on everlasting punishment, even those who do find it an unreal and a remote concept.
by Tim Keller
In 2003 a research group discovered 64% of Americans expect to go to heaven when they die, but less than 1% think they might go to hell. Not only are there plenty of people today who don’t believe in the Bible’s teaching on everlasting punishment, even those who do find it an unreal and a remote concept. Nevertheless, it is a very important part of the Christian faith, for several reasons.
1. It is important because Jesus taught about it more than all other Biblical authors put together. Jesus speaks of “eternal fire and punishment” as the final abode of the angels and human beings who have rejected God (Matthew 25:41,46) He says that those who give into sin will be in danger of the “fire of hell” (Matthew 5:22; 18:8-9.) The word Jesus uses for ‘hell’ is Gehenna, a valley in which piles of garbage were daily burned as well as the corpses of those without families who could bury them. In Mark 9:43 Jesus speaks of a person going to “hell [gehenna], where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ ” Jesus is referring to the maggots that live in the corpses on the garbage heap. When all the flesh is consumed, the maggots die. Jesus is saying, however, that the spiritual decomposition of hell never ends, and that is why ‘their worm does not die.’ Read more here
Mark 4:5-6 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
A couple of weeks ago I came to one of those times in sermon prep where I was just staring at the Bible and wondering what I was going to do with the passage. Specifically it was in Leviticus 24. This chapter deals with the regulations for the lamp stand and the bread. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, we have a case of blasphemy. The offender is the son of an Egyptian man and an Israelite woman.
(Lev 24.10-11) Now an Israelite woman’s son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought in the camp,11 and the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name, and cursed.
The commentators debate about the specifics of the offense, but suffice it to say, this man spoke in an insulting, irreverent, and unholy manner concerning the Lord God of Israel. He was not impressed by him and felt no obligation to fear him. So like Goliath, he mocked him.
The penalty for this divine hate crime was quick and efficient community execution by way of stoning.
(Lev 24.15-16) 15 And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death.
The LORD has decreed that the penalty for blasphemy is death. And so it was. continue reading here
Two weeks ago I mentioned in my sermon that God grows Christians by feeding them his Word. One way he does this is by providing the church with teachers and preachers. This means that if we are going to grow we need to be sitting at the feet of reliable carriers of God’s truth. This, however, begs the question: how can we identify a reliable carrier of God’s truth? The Bible makes it clear that there are many unreliable carriers of so-called truth. Satan masquerades as an angel of light seeking to deceive. So we need a lot of biblical discernment here. Just because a teacher or preacher comes in Jesus’ name with a Bible under his arm doesn’t automatically mean he is reliable.
Thankfully both the Bible and church history give us some direction here. So I want to provide you with a brief list of five questions (based on the five sola’s of the Reformation) that can help you discern the reliability of a particular teacher or preacher. read more here
How great an honor will it be to a person to have God at the day of judgment owning a person, declaring before all men, angels and devils that that person is before his all-seeing eyes and that he stands innocent and perfect in his sight, clothed with perfect righteousness and entitled to everlasting glory and blessedness. How honorable will this render them in the eyes of all that vast assembly that will be together at the day of judgment. That will be an infinitely greater honor than any man or any angel declaring that they judge him upright and sincere and that eternal life belongs to him. What can be a greater honor than this — to be owned by the great King and Lord of all things?
Jonathan Edwards, The Glory and Honor of God, edited by Michael D. McMullen, page 61.
Tony Miano conducts a follow-up conversation with Jason, after his conversation with Todd Friel, on Wretched Radio. Jason is 34-years-old. He recently got out of prison after serving time for a parole violation, stemming from a drug dealing conviction. Watch as Jason experiences conviction of another kind.
“In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many dislike, which requires faith in God, since it makes one feel weak and poorly, is really a Divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are-dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon.” Hudson Taylor
Based on Bob DeWaay’s book, Redefining Christianity – Understanding the Purpose Driven Movement, Brian Flynn and Bob DeWaay discuss how Rick Warren integrates unbiblical mysticism into the Purpose Driven movement.
This series is must if your church is planing to adopt the Purpose Driven model.
There are some shocking things done in the name of being relevant.
3. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4. that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ESV
Pastor Thomas Smith is the Pastor of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Philipsburg New Jersey. He was with the NJ State Police for 14 years prior to being called into the ministry. He attended North Eastern Bible College in Essex Falls New Jersey and has been in the ministry since…
Pastor Thomas Smith is the Pastor of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Philipsburg New Jersey. He was with the NJ State Police for 14 years prior to being called into the ministry. He attended North Eastern Bible College in Essex Falls New Jersey and has been in the ministry since…
Pastor Thomas Smith is the Pastor of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Philipsburg New Jersey. He was with the NJ State Police for 14 years prior to being called into the ministry. He attended North Eastern Bible College in Essex Falls New Jersey and has been in the ministry since…
Pastor Thomas Smith is the Pastor of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Philipsburg New Jersey. He was with the NJ State Police for 14 years prior to being called into the ministry. He attended North Eastern Bible College in Essex Falls New Jersey and has been in the ministry since…
Pastor Thomas Smith is the Pastor of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Philipsburg New Jersey. He was with the NJ State Police for 14 years prior to being called into the ministry. He attended North Eastern Bible College in Essex Falls New Jersey and has been in the ministry since…
Brian Borgman is the founding pastor of Grace Community Church. He earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Biola University (La Mirada, CA), a Master of Divinity from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland, OR) and a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Seminary
Brian Borgman is the founding pastor of Grace Community Church. He earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Biola University (La Mirada, CA), a Master of Divinity from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland, OR) and a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Seminary
Brian Borgman is the founding pastor of Grace Community Church. He earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Biola University (La Mirada, CA), a Master of Divinity from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland, OR) and a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Seminary
The dangers of immodesty and indiscretion are prevalent in today’s society. It’s tempting for women to want to give in to the world’s pressure and wear what is fashionable and available. But modesty deals more with the heart than the body.
In a Sunday message primarily directed toward women, C.J. Mahaney speaks from Scripture on the attitude, appearance, and allegiance of the modest woman.
Crosstalk Radio Talk Show is heard each weekday on over 80 radio outlets across America and worldwide on the Internet. Crosstalk covers the issues that affect our world, our nation, our families and the Christian church from a perspective centered in the Word of God. Whether we discuss the economy, the political scene, the continuing moral collapse of our nation, legislation that affects the family, or the state of evangelicalism, our authority is found in the unchanging standard of the Holy Scriptures. Veteran co-hosts Dr. Vic Eliason, Jim Schneider, and Ingrid Schlueter have worked as a team for over 20 years to bring solid information to the body of Christ. For more information on the program, contact us at 800-729-9829.
Here is an example of the Crosstalk Radio Talk Show: July 02, 2009 “the Shack” Author brings heresy to Evangelical Churches Link
You probably think you know the story of the prodigal son. But there’s more to this story than you ever thought. In The Tale of Two Sons, John MacArthur guides you on a verse-by-verse examination of one of the Bible’s most popular narratives, revealing a depth that’s often missed. As the story unfolds in its historical and cultural context, you’ll marvel at the profound truths it holds. John’s fresh perspective on this familiar parable along with his look at a shocking ending will inspire you to a personal, deeper, and more meaningful study of God’s Word. Link
As we begin to enter the 21st century I am concerned for the state of American Christianity. Contemporary churches are in my opinion becoming conformed more by the pattern of the world, than by the power of the Word. In the Reformation of the 16th century, the church was defined as an institution in which the Word was rightly preached and the sacraments were rightly administered. Today however, not only is this definition missing, but the office of preaching and the practice of the sacraments have fallen on hard times. Sacraments are practiced so infrequently that they are no longer part of the regular life of the church, and preaching in some cases has become a means to entertain the “audience,” or it has become a political rally, a therapy session, a discourse on Christian or family values, or speculation about the end of the world–all to the neglect of proclaiming the saving message of Christ’s propitiatory death for sinners. In order to make the case that the church is no longer acting in accordance with the historic Protestant definition of what a church should be, this paper will focus on the singular issue of the failure of contemporary preaching, particularly in its neglect of Christ, and of rightly distinguishing law from gospel.
THE SHEPHERDS’ FELLOWSHIP is an association of churches rallying around the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, the importance of expository preaching, and the centrality of a biblical philosophy of ministry. The fellowship serves as both a resource and an encouragement for pastors and Christian leaders around the globe.
Sign up for free and explore the resources.
The Shepherds’ Conference are all available from 2001 – 2009, with some great speakers.
Pulpit Magazine is now located here in which are some great reads.
I recommend downloading the 2005 Shepherds’ Conference with R.C Sproul and Al Mohler.
Early in my Christian life I heard someone say, “The Bible was not given to increase your knowledge but to guide your conduct.” Later I came to realize that this statement was simplistic at best and erroneous at worst. The Bible is far more than a rulebook to follow. It is primarily the message of God’s saving grace through Jesus Christ, with everything in Scripture before the cross pointing to God’s redemptive work and everything after the cross–including our sanctification–flowing from that work.
There is an element of truth in this statement, however, and the Holy Spirit used it to help me to see that the Bible is not to be read just to gain knowledge. It is, indeed, to be obeyed and practically applied in our daily lives. As James says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
With my new insight, I prayed that God would use the Bible to guide my conduct. Then I began diligently to seek to obey it. I had never heard the phrase “the pursuit of holiness,” but that became my primary goal in life. Unfortunately, I made two mistakes. First, I assumed the Bible was something of a rulebook and that all I needed to do was to learn what it says and go do it. I knew nothing of the necessity of depending on the Holy Spirit for his guidance and enablement.
Still worse, I assumed that God’s acceptance of me and his blessing in my life depended on how well I did. I knew I was saved by grace through faith in Christ apart from any works. I had assurance of my salvation and expected to go to heaven when I died. But in my daily life, I thought God’s blessing depended on the practice of certain spiritual disciplines, such as having a daily quiet time and not knowingly committing any sin. I did not think this out but just unconsciously assumed it, given the Christian culture in which I lived. Yet it determined my attitude toward the Christian life.
I was talking to someone about a person who is sick and has a lot of pain.
Their comment was well if this person were to die that they would not have to suffer anymore. The sad truth is that their suffering and Pain would be just starting in an eternity in Hell if they have not Jesus.
Steve Camp writes on his blog CAMPONTHIS an excellent article on the CCM scene and it’s music.
In one concise statement David introduces us to the Hymnbook of Heaven elucidating the triumvirate of Christian service – doctrine, worship and life. Thy statutes (doctrine); are my songs (worship); in the house of my pilgrimage (life). Just as the doctrine of justification by faith alone is like Atlas bearing on its shoulders the entire evangelical knowledge of saving grace[1], so is doctrine, worship and life the three central pillars for music ministry. True Christian music is God-conceived (doctrine); Christ-centered (worship); and Spirit-controlled (life). Take away any one of these pillars and the building topples. For example: a powerful doctrine sung in glory to Christ with an impure life is noise to the ears of our holy God.[2] Conversely, an obedient life given in worship to Christ absent of sound doctrine will be empty praise and on the path to error.[3] Lastly, right theology sung out of the beauty of holiness but vacant in worship to Christ leads to pride or self-glory[4] and the chastisement of the Father.[5]
The Message DELETES the reference to God’s holy name, ADDSrequests not voiced by Jesus, and changes the meaning of other verses. Follow the link and learn more about the phrase, “As above, so below.”
Matthew 6:9-13
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Everything we see, hear, and read must be examined before the mirror of God’s Word. This is how we discern Truth from error. This is particularly true if something sounds almost right, but is dangerously wrong.
After reading the popular novel, The Shack, I find it necessary to bring to light some of its errors. The book is like a deep ditch covered with beautiful flowers — and sadly, many Christians are falling into this ditch.
Whether you have read the book or not, my prayer is that you will develop a sense of discernment so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ (see Philippians 1:10).
As I read The Shack, I tried to find out as much as possible about the author, Paul Young. He was the son of missionaries to New Guinea. He went to Bible school, and he had some pain in his life. He once believed in biblical truth until about four years ago when he embraced Christian universalism.
One of the most amazing statements by the Apostle Paul is his indictment of the Galatian Christians for abandoning the Gospel. “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel,” Paul declared. As he stated so emphatically, the Galatians had failed in the crucial test of discerning the authentic Gospel from its counterfeits.
His words could not be more clear: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you have received, he is to be accursed!” [Gal. 1:8-9]
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92) was England’s best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1854, just four years after his conversion, Spurgeon, then only 20, became pastor of London’s famed New Park Street Church
This post from the Sacred Sandwich is so well done, it describes a week limp wristed Church unwilling to say a bad thing to or about wolfs inside the Church. But attacks the ones who dare stand for the truth. Even the Apostle’s Paul writings in the Bible.
Dear Christianity Today:
In response to Paul D. Apostle’s article about the Galatian church in your January issue, I have to say how appalled I am by the unchristian tone of this hit piece. Why the negativity? Has he been to the Galatian church recently? I happen to know some of the people at that church, and they are the most loving, caring people I’ve ever met.
Phyllis Snodgrass; Ann Arbor, MI
Dear Editor:
How arrogant of Mr. Apostle to think he has the right to judge these people and label them accursed. Isn’t that God’s job? Regardless of this circumcision issue, these Galatians believe in Jesus just as much as he does, and it is very Pharisaical to condemn them just because they differ on such a secondary issue. Personally, I don’t want a sharp instrument anywhere near my zipper, but that doesn’t give me the right to judge how someone else follows Christ. Can’t we just focus on our common commitment to Christ and furthering His kingdom, instead of tearing down fellow believers over petty doctrinal matters?
Language in the PulpitPhil Johnson interviews John MacArthur about the R-Rated language and content coming from some of the pulpits today (many of them being influenced by men like Mark Driscoll in Seattle from Mars Hill).
Walter Ralston Martin (September 10, 1928 – June 26, 1989), was an American Evangelical minister, author, and Christian apologist who founded the Christian Research Institute in 1960 as a para-church ministry specializing as a clearing-house of information in both general Christian apologetics and in countercult apologetics.
2004, Antony Flew, the world’s most influential atheistic philosopher, debater, and author, announced to a surprised world that he had abandoned his atheism, in favor of belief in God. He said that it was compelling new scientific evidence that changed his mind. What evidence was Antony Flew talking about? Is there good evidence for God’s existence? Download Here
This message deals with false ideals and expectations that many professing Christian’s have about God. It is an awesome message and a great challenge and encouragement to all believers to walk in the Light of the Word. Keith gives a pointed listing of the “traditions of men” that have somehow become deeply ingrained in today’s message but bear no resemblance to what Jesus actually taught.
In his article, “The Centrality of the Gospel,” Tim Keller helpfully elucidates the all too simple but all to neglected diagnosis of our spiritual ‘issues’. I love this. (emphasis mine)
We never “get beyond the gospel” in our Christian life to something more “advanced.” The gospel is not the first “step” in a “stairway” of truths, rather, it is more like the “hub” in a “wheel” of truth. The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s but the A-Z of Christianity. The gospel is not just the minimum required doctrine necessary to enter the kingdom, but the way we make progress in the kingdom. Read More Here
When it comes to an understanding of the gospel, the critical difference between the Reformed view and the Roman Catholic view centers on the role that good works play in the sinner’s justification.
The Reformers taught that justification is by “faith alone” (hence, the Reformation principle of sola fide). By this, they meant that the believer’s righteous standing before God is based solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ; and that salvation is received by grace alone through faith apart from any human effort or merit. This is not to say that good works were unimportant to the Reformers. But they saw good works as the fruit of justification, and not as a basis for it or a contributor to it. Read More Here
n the providence of God, here is a living example of what yesterday’s post was concerning. I received an email from my friend and yokefellow from across the pond, Adrian Warnock, informing me of an important doctrinal issue that is brewing there. This article he has posted is a MUST read. It deals with the essential issue of: the vicarious penal substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. This is a theological, doctrinal and biblical nonnegotiable, beloved, when it comes to the gospel and Christ’s saving work. You can read the story here. Both myself and Phil Johnson have commented in the meta at Adrian’s which I also would encourage you to read. Also, Phil has written extensively on this subject and has produced some of the most helpful teaching on the atonement you could read. I highly commend him on this issue to you–it is excellent.
Doctrine matters; truth matters; the Gospel matters.
This is an issue worth defending, discussing and a hill to die on. Satan always attacks at the crucial – never the trivial. One of his primary targets throughout all of redemptive history has been to attack the nature, person, work and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. In specific, there is an onslaught of his darts aimed at undermining the once for all sacrifice for our sins; and that being vicarious penal substitution.
Defining the terms: 1. Vicarious: willingly done on behalf of another 2. Penal: punishment deserved under the Law 3. Substitutionary: Christ died in our place as our Federal Head 4. Atonement: the act by which God reconciled sinners to Himself through Jesus Christ
Chris Rosebrough has a degree in Religious Studies and Biblical Language from Concordia University-Irvine and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. He’s also the host of an Internet radio program called, “Fighting for the Faith”.
Chris recently attended a conference in Chicago concerning the growing Emergent Church Movement. One leading emergent leader is Tony Jones, who is popularizing the thinking of German theologian Jurgen Moltmann from his 1964 book, Theology of Hope.
A key to understanding the “Emergent Movement” is their eschatology (the doctrine of last things). Moltmann bases his thinking on 19th century theologian/philosopher, G.W.F. Hegel. Hegel embraced contradiction, pitting a thesis against an antithesis with the outcome being a new synthesis.
As a result, Moltmann sees Christ’s death and resurrection as two contradictory events. The resulting synthesis is a new world and a hope filled eschatology with no second coming or judgment. Thus “Emergent Theology” teaches that God is renewing the world; that the gospel is good news for everyone, so Christians need to stop telling people they are sinners in need of a Savior. Download the program Here
The Bible teaches that there is one God who eternally exists in three coequal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It teaches that Jesus, God the Son, came down to the earth 2,000 years ago to pay the penalty for mankind’s sin. The Watchtower Society (also known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (known as Mormons) and other groups deny this. Twisting Scripture, or inventing their own scriptures, these groups teach that Jesus was/is merely a man, an angel, or one of many gods that exist. Below are twenty reasons why Christians believe Jesus was and is almighty God. Notice that each reason is taken directly from the inspired, infallible Word of God.
1. The Apostle Thomas called Jesus God.
John 20:27-29 “Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
2. The Apostle Peter called Jesus God.
2 Peter 1:1 “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ”
Jesus says in John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Either Jesus was lying or a lunatic or telling the truth when He said these words that He was the only way to the Father. The resurrection of Himself from the dead proves that He(Jesus) was telling the truth and others like Oprah who say there must be another way are liars.
Gregory Koukl From Stand to reason writes a thought provoking article called A good reason for evil.
What is evil? Could it have a purpose? Here is a view of evil from an adult rather than a childish perspective.
The first step in answering the problem of evil is this: We’ve got to get clear on what this thing “evil” actually is. It does seem to follow that if God created all things, and evil is a thing, then God created evil. This is a valid syllogism. If the premises are true, then the conclusion would be true as well.
The problem with that line of reasoning is that the second premise is not true. Evil is not a thing. The person who probably explained it best was St. Augustine, and then Thomas Aquinas picked up on his solution. Others since them have argued that evil has no ontological status in itself.
The word ontology deals with the nature of existence. When I say that evil has no ontological status, I mean that evil, as a thing in itself, does not exist.
Let me give you an illustration to make this more clear. We talk about things being cold or warm. But coldness is not a thing that exists in itself; it has no ontological status. Coldness is the absence of heat. When we remove heat energy from a system, we say it gets colder.
“Cold” isn’t a thing. It’s a way of describing the reduction of molecular activity resulting in the sensation of heat. So the more heat we pull out of a system, the colder it gets. Cold itself isn’t being “created.” Cold is a description of a circumstance in which heat is missing. Heat is energy which can be measured. When you remove heat, the temperature goes down. We call that condition “cold,” but there is no cold “stuff” that causes that condition.
Watch this powerful video of a Christian woman who is soon going to die. She does a great job of sharing her faith.
Rachel Barkey (nee Sawer) went home to her Lord on July 2, 2009 at 37 years of age. Rachel is survived by her husband Neil and her children Quinn and Kate, parents Ben and Cathy Sawer, brother David (Johanna) Sawer and sister Andrea Sawer. Read more here at deathisnotdying.com
In today’s spirit of ecumenism, many evangelicals have called for the Protestant Church to lay aside its differences with Rome and pursue unity with the Catholic Church. Is that possible? Is Roman Catholicism simply another facet of the body of Christ that should be brought into union with its Protestant counterpart? Is Roman Catholicism simply another Christian denomination?
While there are many errors in the teaching of the Catholic Church (for example its belief in the transubstantiation of the communion wafer and its view of Mary), two rise to the forefront and call for special attention: its denial of the doctrine of sola Scriptura and its denial of the biblical teaching on justification. To put it simply, because the Roman Catholic Church has refused to submit itself to the authority of God’s Word and to embrace the gospel of justification taught in Scripture, it has set itself apart from the true body of Christ. It is a false and deceptive form of Christianity. Read more here
Tim Keller
Preaching Christ in the Power of the Spirit
By Charlie Campbell
Phil Johnson who preaches at Grace Life in Valencia Cal.
Brian Borgman is the founding pastor of Grace Community Church. He earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Biola University (La Mirada, CA), a Master of Divinity from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland, OR) and a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Seminary 
Brian Borgman is the founding pastor of Grace Community Church. He earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Biola University (La Mirada, CA), a Master of Divinity from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland, OR) and a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Seminary 
Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Tim Conway
John Macarthur
Early in my Christian life I heard someone say, “The Bible was not given to increase your knowledge but to guide your conduct.” Later I came to realize that this statement was simplistic at best and erroneous at worst. The Bible is far more than a rulebook to follow. It is primarily the message of God’s saving grace through Jesus Christ, with everything in Scripture before the cross pointing to God’s redemptive work and everything after the cross–including our sanctification–flowing from that work.
This is an older sermon but still timeless Download 
The Message DELETES the reference to God’s holy name, ADDS requests not voiced by Jesus, and changes the meaning of other verses. Follow the link and learn more about the phrase, “As above, so below.”
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92) was England’s best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1854, just four years after his conversion, Spurgeon, then only 20, became pastor of London’s famed New Park Street Church 
A great sermon by 
Walter Ralston Martin (
From
Historicity of the Old Testament and New Testament Download 
A great sermon by Phil Johnson download 
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