Self-Denial

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Matt Jury under John R. W. Stott

Self-denial is not denying ourselves luxuries such as chocolates, cakes, cigarettes, and cocktails (though it may include this); it is actually denying or disowning ourselves, renouncing our supposed right to go our own way.

John R. W. Stott, The Cross of Christ, p. 272

Everything Becomes Worship

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Matt Jury under John Piper

When our whole life is consumed with pursuing satisfaction in God, everything we do highlights the value and worth of God, which simply means that everything becomes worship.

John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad, p. 230

Legalism Aborts Relationships

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Matt Jury under Douglas B. Wicks, K. Neill Foster, Rockwell L. Dillman

Legalism aborts relationships with God and others by its negative focus. The evil we seek to avoid grows — with concentration — into targets we cannot miss. Instead of limiting our sin, rules define sin, rivet our attention to it and lead us to desire it. In legalism, the flesh is in charge, taking the Holy Spirit’s place, and thus is strengthened.

Rockwell L. Dillman in K. Neill Foster & Douglas B. Wicks, eds., Voices on the Cross, p. 44

The True Spiritual Leader

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Matt Jury under J. Oswald Sanders

True greatness, true leadership, is achieved not by reducing men to one’s service but in giving oneself in selfless service to them. And that is never done without cost. It involves drinking a bitter cup and experiencing a painful baptism of suffering. The true spiritual leader is concerned infinitely more with the service he can render God and his fellowmen than with the benefits and pleasures he can extract from life. He aims to put more into life than he takes out of it.

J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership, p. 20

How Great Thou Art

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Matt Jury under Music, Video

If you know me at all, you know that I love barbershop harmony. Here is a good, one-man, barbershop harmony arrangement of How Great Thou Art.

The Missionary Motive

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Matt Jury under John R. W. Stott

The highest of missionary motive is neither obedience to the Great Commission (important as that is), nor love for sinners who are alienated and perishing (strong as that incentive is, especially when we contemplate the wrath of God), but rather zeal — burning and passionate zeal — for the glory of Jesus Christ. . . . Only one imperialism is Christian . . . and that is concern for His Imperial Majesty Jesus Christ, and for the glory of his empire.

John Stott, Romans: God’s Good News for the World, 53.

HT: Desiring God Blog

A Genuine Gospel Faith

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Matt Jury under J. C. Ryle

A genuine gospel faith has nothing selfish about it — it never makes a man think only of his own salvation. It stirs him up, on the contrary, to concern about the souls of others.

J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)

HT: J. C. Ryle Quotes

The Purpose of the Christian Message

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Matt Jury under D. T. Niles

The Christian message . . . is concerned with creating messengers.

D. T. Niles, The Preacher’s Task and the Stone of Stumbling, p. 100

The Moral Duty of Every Believer

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Matt Jury under John Owen

It was Cain, the slayer of his own brother, who denied before God Himself being his brother’s keeper, but that was a saying fit for Satan in the first instance, and for a murderer, and those of the like nature in the next…. All of those who believe that faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is an absolute law and necessity for the human race, springing from our situation as inherited from our first parents, will also believe that the spreading of the Gospel is nothing less than the moral duty of all believers.

John Owen, Biblical Theology, p. 804

A Foolish Backwardness

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Matt Jury under Richard Baxter

Many of us have also a foolish bashfulness, which makes us backward to begin with them, and to speak plainly to them. We are so modest… that we blush to speak for Christ, or to contradict the devil, or to save a soul, while, at the same time, we are less ashamed of shameful works.

Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor, pp. 192-193

Life Is Worship

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (Psalm 29.2)

Author Archives: Matt Jury

Self-Denial

Self-denial is not denying ourselves luxuries such as chocolates, cakes, cigarettes, and cocktails (though it may include this); it is actually denying or disowning ourselves, renouncing our supposed right to go our own way.

Everything Becomes Worship

When our whole life is consumed with pursuing satisfaction in God, everything we do highlights the value and worth of God, which simply means that everything becomes worship.

Legalism Aborts Relationships

The True Spiritual Leader

How Great Thou Art

If you know me at all, you know that I love barbershop harmony. Here is a good, one-man, barbershop harmony arrangement of How Great Thou Art.

The Missionary Motive

A Genuine Gospel Faith

A genuine gospel faith has nothing selfish about it — it never makes a man think only of his own salvation. It stirs him up, on the contrary, to concern about the souls of others.

The Purpose of the Christian Message

The Christian message . . . is concerned with creating messengers.

The Moral Duty of Every Believer

A Foolish Backwardness

Many of us have also a foolish bashfulness, which makes us backward to begin with them, and to speak plainly to them. We are so modest… that we blush to speak for Christ, or to contradict the devil, or to save a soul, while, at the same time, we are less ashamed of shameful works.