On faith, reason, and theology.Would you still want to be a Christian if you had to endure the acts shown in this video?
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).
Penn Jillette (from Penn & Teller) is an avowed atheist who made a video blog about his experience of being evangelized by a Christian. Contrary to popular thinking, this atheist actually respects Christians who proselytize. In fact, he would be offended if you didn’t. Here is a clip from the video where he raises a conscience-piercing question for all Christians to ask themselves: “How much do you have to hate somebody not to proselytize?”
I love the lyrics to this song. We’ve sung it at Dunbar a few times. I hope we do it more!
All I Have is Christ
I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will.
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still.
But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross.
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace.
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me.
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose.
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.
© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI), by Jordan Kauflin
HT: BetweenTwoWorlds
Here are the messages from the recent Desiring God Vancouver Regional Conference held at Willingdon Church. Dr. John Piper preached two messages based on his book What Jesus Demands from the World.
If you missed the opportunity, I highly recommend watching or listening to each message and the great Q&A session. I’ve listened to a number of Piper’s sermons, and I must say these were two of the best I’ve heard from him in a while. I learned so much from him and about him — including his fondness of Red Robins.
What Jesus Demands from the World, Session 1
audio — video — watch streaming
What Jesus Demands from the World, Session 2
audio — video — watch streaming
What Jesus Demands from the World, Q&A
audio — video — watch streaming
The reFocus Pastor’s Conference messages are now available online on their website.
Dr. Bruce Ware
Suffering for the Gospel and the Certainty of the Salvation of the Elect: Reflections on 2 Timothy 2:8-10
audio – video – manuscript
Suffering for the Gospel and the Certainity of the Judgement of the Non-Elect: Reflections on 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12
audio – video – manuscript
Bishop Charles Masters
Suffering for the Gospel Among False Brethren
audio – video
The Hon. Preston Manning
The Gospel and the Canadian Political/Cultural Context
audio – video – manuscript
Dr. John Piper
The Supremacy of Christ in Suffering
audio – video – manuscript
Dr. John Neufeld
audio – video
Last Sunday, in his sermon on Dethroning Idols, Barton mentioned the Thomas Chalmer’s sermon “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection [in God]“. We highly recommend giving it a read.
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Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), the 19th century evangelical preacher, scholar, and social reformer: He is most known for his parish ministry in Glasgow (1815-23), his chair of Moral Philosophy at St. Andrews (1823-28), his chair of Divinity at Edinburgh (1828-43), and the formative role he played in establishment of the Free Church of Scotland.
Barton recommend Chalmer’s sermon on “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection“. It begins like this:
“There are two ways in which a practical moralist may attempt to displace from the human heart its love of the world; either by a demonstration of the world’s vanity, so as that the heart shall be prevailed upon simply to withdraw its regards from an object that is not worthy of it; or, by setting forth another object, even God, as more worthy of its attachment; so as that the heart shall be prevailed upon, not to resign an old affection which shall have nothing to succeed it, but to exchange an old affection for a new one. My purpose is to show, that from the constitution of our nature, the former method is altogether incompetent and ineffectual and that the latter method will alone suffice for the rescue and recovery of the heart from the wrong affection that domineers over it.”