January 2012
19 posts
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5 Worship-Quenching Attitudes
As I studied Ephesians 1:7-14 for a recent message, Blood-Bought and Sealed, the Spirit showed me Five attitudes of the heart that will choke out a heart of worship.
1. Ingratitude – It’s far too easy to view blessings from based on what we should be receiving materially rather than what God has promised and delivered in the “heavenly places” (Eph 1:3). When we have this...
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Sunday's Sermon: Blood-Bought and Sealed →
Here’s the message I preached yesterday (Sunday, January 22, 2012) at Good News Bible Church. We’re in the early stages of an expositional series on Ephesians that has been such a treat! My text was Ephesians 1:7-14. Praise God for His remarkable grace!
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Praying Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be You, O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you have blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. You chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless. In love you predestined us for adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. This was done just as you planned, according to the purpose of your...
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“And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the...”
– Revelation 5:13-14
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“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the...”
– Revelation 5:11-12
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“And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take...”
– Revelation 5:9-10
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“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw...”
– Revelation 5:7-8
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“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll...”
– Revelation 5:1-6
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The Glory of God
I came across this quote of John Calvin as he expounded the phrase “to the praise of his glory” in Ephesians 1:14 (in light of its similar mentioning in 1:6 and 1:12) -
The frequent mention of the glory of God ought not to be regarded as redundant, for what is infinite cannot be too strongly expressed. This is particularly true in commendations of the Divine mercy, for which every...
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Christian Hedonist Calvinism →
What would the doctrines of grace sound like if every limb in that tree were coursing with the sap of Augustinian delight. (that is, Christian Hedonism)?
Total depravity is not just badness, but blindness to God’s beauty and deadness to the deepest joy.
Unconditional election means that the completeness of our joy in Jesus was planned for us before we ever existed as the overflow of God’s...
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WatchSunday, January 22, 2012 is the sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Choose Life. Video created by shotbyesso:
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Teaching Children about World Missions →
If you’re looking for a good resource that helps you teach children about missions, this is a great one! My friends Jon and Erika Tello from Moody Bible Institute (missionaries now in Italy) have put together this “Hello Kiddos” website that provides “a place where kids and their families can engage with world missions.” This website has great resources, stats, and...
2011 Highlights
Going to Desiring God pastors conference
Spending 19 days in Liberia, Africa
Baptizing 3 people
My daughter trusted in Jesus
Taking a family vacation to KY-OH
Passing my Comprehensive exams
Performing my first two weddings
Preaching on Resurrection Sunday and Christmas Day
December 2011
10 posts
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What does it mean to "believe" in Jesus?
I’ve spoken with many who’ve no problem saying they “believe in Jesus” yet as we continue to talk I realize they really don’t know what it means to “believe.” They’ve defined believing in Jesus differently from how the Bible defines it and have been deceived by an easy-believism, the teaching that says something along the lines of “just...
The Year in Review: The Ten Leading News Stories... →
lifebeatsrhymes:
#2011RECAP #NEWS
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Going to Church on Christmas Day
3 reasons why to go to Church on Christmas Day:
WORSHIP: Christmas is about Christ. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the advent (coming) of our Savior than together with other Christians. On December 25, we will worship our God together!
OPPORTUNITY: It’s an opportunity for people who don’t know the love of God to hear about it through your invitation. Take hold...
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“If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these...”
– John MacArthur (via whiteflagxp)
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Understanding "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
This special hymn was written around 1739 by Charles Wesley. Wesley was a brilliant hymn writer who had a theological richness about his songs. This Christmas classic is no exception. Here’s an explanation of the first 3 verses of the song.
FIRST VERSE The song opens with an invitation to listen (“hark”) to the sound of the angels singing, which is a reference to Luke 2:13-14....
Wimpy Theology and True Womanhood →
November 2011
12 posts
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O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
I love the words of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Such a beautiful cry to God, that the savior of the world would be born. The word “Emmanuel” means “God with us.” That’s precisely what took place when Jesus was born. God took the form of man and was with us. He would come to save His people from all their sin. This song, makes this ever so clear:
O come, O come,...
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O Holy Night!
Consider the words of this beautiful Christmas song. It indeed was a “Holy Night.” God became a man. Jesus, the creator of the world would come as a baby to be the savior of the world. When the world was utterly lost and was sinking in the mud of its rebellion (“in sin and error pining”), God came to bring peace (“he appeared”) through that baby (“a thrill...
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What's Your Favorite Christmas Song?
Which Christmas song is your favorite? I know that’s a super tough question. But I’m curious which is your favorite and why?
I think mine is “O Holy Night” and I’ll tell you why in about 15 minutes. But let me know what yours is :)
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Giving Thanks...even when life's difficult
For some, Thanksgiving is a great day. You have so much to be thankful for in life. You might look at the birth of a child, making new friends, finding a new job, paying your bills, and physical health. However, for others, this Thanksgiving is accompanied with much grief. For some, this past year has been the most difficult year of your life. Your health or the health of a loved one failed....
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God is Light
“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” -1 John 1:5
A simple statement filled with remarkable power. Considering this word “light” with its Old Testament significance and the ways in which Jesus uses it, we see that for John to say that God is “light” is to say that He is…
Holy
True
Life
Pure
Without...
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Denver "Tebow's"
I got a kick out of this one!
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Thanksgiving Food Drive →
Our Church is doing a Thanksgiving Food Drive called Harvest of the First Fruits. We’d love for you to stop by, donate food, or lend a hand.Saturday, November 19 · 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Good News Bible Church - 2038 N. California Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Good News Bible Church has formed a committee that we hope will provide a opportunity for us to reach the lost and needy in our...
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Rapping the Attributes of God →
I whole-heartedly recommend this album. Theological precision, artistry, and passion will stir your heart to the worship of the Triune God of the Bible. Soli Deo Gloria!
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“Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I...”
– A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
October 2011
12 posts
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“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition...”
– C.S. Lewis, “The Weight of Glory”, The Weight of Glory, (San Francisco: Harper, 1949, 2000), 26.
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Discerning "Broken Cisterns" in Your Life
“For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” -Jeremiah 2:13
Five questions that help discern if I’ve turned to broken cisterns?
Please read prayerfully.
What’s my prayer life like? Broken cisterns teach us to lean upon ourselves or upon...
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Revive My Heart →
Drink from the fountain of living water while walking in the fear of the Lord and turning from broken cisterns that can’t satisfy.
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“I hear so many Christians murmuring about their imperfections and their failures...”
– John Piper
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/how-to-kill-sin-part-2
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