Tag Archives: Bible
Open God’s Word by Obedience
All of God’s revealed truths are sealed until they are opened to us through obedience.
Pastor, Arm Yourself with the Scriptures
Whoso is armed with the text, the same is a right pastor, and my best advice and counsel is, that we draw water out of the true Fountain; that is, diligently to read in the Bible. He is a learned divine that is well grounded in the text; for one text and sentence out of the Bible is of far more esteem and value than many writings and glosses, which neither are strong, sound, nor armor proof.
Do Not Make God into Your Own Image or Imagination!
If it is I who determine where God is to be found, then I shall always find a God who corresponds to me in some way, who is obliging, who is connected with my own nature. But if God determines where He is to be found, then it will be in a place which is not immediately pleasing to my nature and which is not at all congenial to me. This place is the Cross of Christ. And whoever would find Him must go to the foot of the Cross, as the Sermon on the Mount commands. This is not according to our nature at all, it is entirely contrary to it. But this is the message of the Bible, not only in the New but also in the Old Testament.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) in Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, p. 137.
Pastor, Do You Cringe from Problems in Your Church?
It is strange that we as pastors, called to preach the gospel of grace to sinners, balk at having to deal with real sinners with real sin in real and messy situations. If we are to apply the Word of God to every aspect of life — sin and all — we must change our attitudes about conflict. Since it is God and His purposes we tend to forget in conflict, it would be best to start by asking: who is God, and what are His purposes with respect to conflict?
Alfred Poirier, The Peacemaking Pastor (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006), 72.
The Need for Doctrine in Worship
High theology ignites high doxology. The Word of God fuels the worship of God.
HT: @DrStevenJLawson
The Bible Is Alive and Powerful!
The Bible is alive; it speaks to me; it has feet; it runs after me; it has hands; it lays hold of me.
Prepare for Sunday Today
If you would receive a blessing from the Lord, when you hear his word preached, pray to him, both before, in, and after every sermon.
George Whitefield (1714 – 1770)
HT: @whitefieldg
The Word of God Changes You One Way or Another!
Don’t be cavalier in the hearing of God’s Word week after week. If it is not softening and saving and healing and bearing fruit, it is probably hardening and blinding and dulling.
Preaching Inherently Implies Hearing
In proportion as it is a solemn work to preach it is a solemn work to hear.
Charles Spurgeon (1834 – 1892)
HT: @chspurgeon
Life Is Worship 