Afflictions 101

"I believe in homiletics. But not much.

A thousand sorrows teaches a man to preach."

- John Piper

Unbreakable Missions

Missions as Means of Unfolding the Promise of God

A missions sermon
delivered @ BBTC
South Africa, 2010
by A.B. Seal

Suffering Brings Seeing

Driscoll: Jesus Shoots the Wolves

I had the opportunity to be present when this message was delivered at a DG National Conference.  It is one of the most memorable and most powerful messages I have ever heard.  The entire message is available for free on audio and video.

Was Jesus' message different than Paul's?

T4G 2010 -- Session 6 -- John Piper from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

"Be Killing Sin or Sin Will Be Killing You"

Piper, while recently at Driscoll's church, delivered this message on the text of Romans 8:13.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- Romans 8:13

The Gospel According to Jonah

The Outrageous Love of God

Ever been outraged at the love of God?  Or overwhelmed by His abounding mercies and grace?

This was the theme of an excellent sermon delivered by a man whom I've previously never heard of, Bob Glenn of Minnetonka, Minnesota.  After having been blessed by marinating in the intense meditation upon the love of God via this message, it is now my goal to pass on this blessing to as many people as possible.

HT:JT

Suffering & Sanctification

"Joy should not be situational."
- Eric Mason

Eric Mason delivered this powerful message on the relationship between suffering and sanctification at the recent DG conference:

Sermons by Jim Elliot

Justin Taylor recently highlighted two sermons preached by Jim Elliot:

Feeding of the five thousands
Resurrection

How excellent it is to be able to hear sermons from such a hero of the faith.  I remember the first time I heard Elliot's famous quote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."  I was about 14 years old at the time.  I think it is fair to say that I have rarely, if ever, been more impacted by a single sentence. 

Following Jesus

Can there be any other Christianity?
Can there be any other way?
To live and to die serving the lost among humanity
Or to simply exist for one more day

Can there be another way to follow Him?
Or is giving it all the only way?
You could choose temporal peace and security in which to wallow
But He has said, It is good that the servant, his master would follow

He has said, "Go"
And yet we still remain
He has said take up your cross
Disobeying His voice will prove quite insane

Would you, who say you follow Him
Rather ignore His command and stay
Exchanging His magnificent light for pleasures that at best are dim
Or would you give your everything for an opportunity to obey?

- A. B. Seal

Driscoll on Repenting from Religion

Piper: Jesus Christ as Denouement in the Theater of God

HT:DG

Following the Footsteps of Christ

- K.P. Yohannan
HT: BraveHeartedGospel.com

A Call To Anguish

- David Wilkerson
HT: BraveHeartedGospel.com

Run For Your Life!

On the Sunday after the terror attack on September 11th, Carter Conlon delivered this powerful message at the Times Square Church in Manhattan. The message was entitled, "Run for your life."

- Carter Conlon
HT: BraveHeartedGospel.com

Reasoning in the Areopagus

"Skeptics believe that any exclusive claims to a superior knowledge of spiritual reality cannot be true. But this objection is itself a religious belief. It assumes God is unknowable, or that God is loving but not wrathful, or that God is an impersonal force rather than a person who speaks in Scripture. All of these are unprovable faith assumptions. In addition, their proponents believe they have a superior way to view things. They believe the world would be a better place if everyone dropped the traditional religions' views of God and truth and adopted theirs. Therefore, their view is also an "exclusive" claim about the nature of spiritual reality. If all such views are to be discouraged, this one should be as well. If it is not narrow to hold this view, then there is nothing inherently narrow about holding to traditional religious beliefs."

- Tim Keller, The Reason For God, pg. 12

I've just finished the intro and the first chapter of this book. The introduction may possibly be the most attention grabbing introduction that I have ever read. This book is Keller's effort at engaging in Paul's task of reasoning in the Areopagus. A friend recently recommended this book as the most important book he read last year. After reading the introduction and the first chapter I can see why.

Here is a great example (mp3) of Keller also doing this in his preaching.

Overflowing with Praise

Psalm 34 is a song of praise as David overflows with worship and gratitude in response to the goodness of the Lord.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed are those who take refuge in Him.
- Ps. 34:8

What are you singing?

A Message For Today

Do You Desire God? - Paul Washer from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

You've Got To Hear This!

I recently found a link to this amazing message entitled:
David and Goliath We Never Knew You: The Good News that the Bible is Not All About You

The sermon was given by a man named David Prince, whom I had never previously heard of. This message came fairly highly recommended via Between Two Worlds. I downloaded it, listened, and was surprised to find that it exceeded my expectations based upon the recommendation.

Have you heard of this brother?

Have you heard this message?

If not, then do yourself the favor.

Words of Life