The Wounded Rise with Vengeance

“Thus saith the LORD; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.” Jer 37:9-10

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor 10:12

Beloved of the Lord, our sins are manifold. They may lie dormant for a season. They may concede to momentary earnestness if only they could slay you while you sleep. Our enemies lie in wait to deceive us. They desire to have you, Christian. If you be a man given to a particular appetite, rest the knife to your throat. Crucify cravings for the ruler’s dainties. Let not your conscience slumber for even wounded corruptions may heal again and conquer.

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Prv 25:28

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16

Joyfully Serious Reverence of Scripture

"We live in such a media, entertainment-saturated age that, I would say, the typical worship service in America today makes light of Jesus. I've been listening to six lectures on the internet recently on serious biblical exposition from the Old Testament, and there is constant humor being interjected that is of a trivializing kind. I would say that this is typical.
It is very unusual to go to a church and find a joyfully serious sermon where there isn't some effort to lighten the moment with a silly little comment about this or that. It's just typical for people to use humor in a trivializing way so that it degenerates from what Spurgeon called the robust belly laugh of something that is truly funny to the levity of trivializing holy things. " - Pastor John Piper (from Ask Pastor John "How should we respond to innapropriate humor?")

Sam Storms

I have been really enjoying browsing Sam Storm's archive of articles the past six months. I would heartily recommend him to anyone desiring concise, intelligent, and biblically sound essays on theology. I have learned a lot from him so far.
Here is one example of great commentary and excellent exegesis:
http://www.enjoyinggodministries.com/article/acts-1514-17-and-the-rebuilding-of-davids-tabernacle/
Grace and Peace!

Cultivating Passion to Preach!

"What fuels passion in the heart of a preacher? Is passion simply an expression of a person's native personality... natural disposition? What is it that fuels passion in the heart of a preacher? I'm not saying volume necessarily. I'm saying passion. Something that is evident and obvious and clear for people to see. What is it that arouses enthusiasm within the man of God so that his preaching is more than just a cold recitation of facts but a vigorous expression of a kind of internal combustion? What is it that stimulates a sense of urgency within the heart of a man that stands behind the sacred desk? For me, dear friends, it comes from asking myself a question. Once all the bible study is through, and all the verbs parced, and all the diagrams drawn, and all the reading done, and I've finally arrived at some conclusions about the meaning of the text at hand, I then ask myself a question: What is the price of ignoring this truth? What is the price of ignoring this truth? What would be the price paid in the lives of people were they never to know this truth? Or suddenly this particular portion of the scriptures to be extricated from the Sacred text? Or God never to reveal this truth to us? What would be the cost? What would be the debilitation to us? Even more personally, dear friends, to what extent would the sanctification of the people of Christ Community Church be impaired were they kept from this truth? I typically begin asking myself this every Monday morning. And as the week draws to an end, I begin to ask it with greater intensity. And there are times on Saturday night, I go to bed asking myself this question over, and over, and over again... how will the people of Christ Community Church be debilitated, be compromised were this particular truth kept from them? I begin to ask myself that question and others like them and before long I come to believe that the message at hand is the most important thing I've ever preached. Now of course I understand that every week can't be the single most important thing I've ever preached. I know that logically. But that fact is, when I consider the truth of the word of God, its value for our lives, and the implications for us, were that truth ignored, passion comes very easily!" - Arturo G. Azurdia