Today marked a beautiful and an historic day @SBTS as we gathered for our Spring Commencement ceremony—the culmination of years of hard work and preparation. Graduates, we send you out as soldiers of Christ in truth arrayed, a world in ruin needs your aid.
The death of Jesus was not the result of human plans and plots and conspiracies. It was the plan and the will of God the Father obediently carried out by the Son.
Just when I thought I had all the cowbell I would ever need, this mensch from Hight Point reminds me that I can never have enough cowbell.
#MarchMadness@MarchMadnessMBB
The peace of Christmas is accepting the kingship of Christ. You are ceding the control and the rights to your life to another – Jesus, the baby in the manger. There is peace like no other in the contentment and rest in His absolute authority.
"Faith is our confidence in the word of God, and whenever that word has reference to the future, you can call our confidence in it hope. Hope is faith in the future tense." - John Piper
Lots of songs about "hope" during this season. In Romans 15 the sources of hope not only include Christ and His work but also include the Old Testament and the unified/loving Church. Just a reminder that we are actually surrounded by hope!
Charles Spurgeon put it once, “Would you be a Christian if there were no eleven o’clock Sunday morning service?” Is that all of Christianity that you experience? True spirituality is evaluated by the inside, not the outside.
Adam/Eve sinned because they didn't see the countless provisions God gave. They could only see the one tree He didn't give. Don't doubt God's love because you want something other than what God as given. He gives what is best!
Serving the Lord, in whatever capacity, is a gift from God.
We may think of serving as our gift to God, and it is. But its also a gift from God. To serve Him, to serve His people, is a gift. And like any gift, should be received with joy, thankfulness and appreciation.
If you don’t want church to feel routine this weekend, then approach it differently.
1-Pray before you go.
2-Worship in the car on the way.
3-Get there early.
4-Invite someone.
5-Bring your Bible.
6-Take notes.
7-Talk to people.
8-Sing loudly.
9-Serve.
10-Live out the sermon.
Jesus wrapped up His extensive remarks with this and I pray this means something to you, it does to me. "I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid"... and "This is my commandment that you love one one another."
Only hours before his own betrayal and execution Jesus shared a great deal of things with those who followed Him most closely. Such as... "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me"... "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.