What Happened at Pentecost, and Why Does It Matter?
At His first coming, our Lord Jesus Christ inaugurated His kingdom on earth. The disciples expected a triumphant king, but instead, Jesus likened His kingdom to a mustard seed that expands progressively and grows organically (Matt. 13:31–32).
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Learn from Daniel How to Trust God in an Unbelieving Culture
The wind has changed. The majority of Western society is no longer made up of Bible-believing Christians. In fact, the wind appears to be blowing hard behind the forces of secularism and paganism. So how do believers find the courage to hold firm to our faith in a culture where we're increasingly becoming strangers and exiles?
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“I Have Had Enough, Lord”: Learning from Elijah’s Moment of Weakness
“I have had enough, Lord.” This phrase from 1 Kings 19:4 (NIV) is one many of us feel like saying (or shouting!) frequently on our Christian pilgrimage. Indeed, while we may sometimes think that we are unique in our desire to escape the difficult circumstances that attend the calling to ministry, each of us stands in a long line of God’s people who have faced similar discouragement. The prophet Elijah was one such individual—someone who wanted to escape.
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What Do History’s Best Preachers Have in Common?
The Spanish philosopher George Santayana famously wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”1 The thought has surely passed into the realm of cliché since, yet the deeper truth behind the platitude is found in the apostle Paul’s teaching that “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction” (Rom. 15:4).
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Wisdom from Above: Wallpaper
Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. (James 3:16-17 ESV)
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Hymn: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas O. Chisholm
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
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Topics: Hymns and Worship
Do People Even Listen to Preaching Anymore?
These days, preaching is under increased scrutiny. Preaching itself is often viewed as a dated practice of former generations, while preachers are challenged by people who say things like “Preaching doesn’t do any good!” and “People don’t even listen to preaching anymore!”
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Hymn: “Jesus! the Name High over All” by Charles Wesley
Jesus, the name high over all,
In hell or earth or sky;
Angels and mortals prostrate fall,
And devils fear and fly.
Jesus, the name to sinners dear,
The name to sinners giv’n;
It scatters all their guilty fear,
It turns their hell to heav’n.
Topics: Hymns and Worship
Consistency: Wallpaper
“Where can I find absolute honesty, complete sensitivity, and genuine consistency? In the Lord Jesus.”
— Alistair Begg
Topics: Weekly Wallpaper
4 Unexpected Keys to Effective Preaching
It’s not uncommon for preachers to daydream about success in pastoral ministry. Every pastor wants to make a difference in the kingdom of God, and it’s easy for pastors to envision the perfect ministry situation in which they could really be used by Him. Indeed, it’s very easy for any of us—pastor or not—to think that there exists a “perfect” place to work. We think that if we can just be in that place, then we could really serve the Lord to the best of our abilities.
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