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Prayer Seminar Material
All audio, notes, and presentation slides from the Devoted to Prayer seminar are now available for free to anyone interested.
There is maybe no more important characteristic of a godly man or woman than prayer. Regardless of vocation, regardless of culture, regardless of spiritual giftedness, a person who is godly, a person who lives according to the Bible, prays. Every believer who desires God’s work in their own heart and in the lives of others must appeal to God for it.
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Agassiz and the Fish
from Justin Taylor
It was more than fifteen years ago that I entered the laboratory of Professor Agassiz, and told him I had enrolled my name in the scientific school as a student of natural history. He asked me a few questions about my object in coming, my antecedents generally, the mode in which I afterwards proposed to use the knowledge I might acquire, and finally, whether I wished to study any special branch.
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It Is Well with My Soul
Written by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873.
Includes Psalm 146:1
See Wikipedia for the background.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
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How Firm a Foundation
Written by “Keen,” 1787.
Based on the text: Isaiah 43:1-7
Online by Fernando Ortega
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
In every condition, – in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth,
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, –
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Throwing Obedience
Monday Night Football is one of my favorite parts about the fall season. I watched the fourth quarter of the game yesterday between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons (only, of course, after game five of the World Series finished). The Saints remained undefeated largely due to their quarterback, Drew Brees, who threw two touchdowns and completed 25 of 33 attempts for 308 total passing yards. Regardless of what it may seem so far, this is not a post about football or Saints marching in or my becoming a bandwagon fan.
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ἐγ•κα•κέ•ω
verb – [eng-ka-keh-oh]
definition: to lose one’s motivation in continuing a desirable pattern of conduct or activity, lose enthusiasm; lose heart; be discouraged (of pursuing some goal); tire of, grow weary; give up. Stated positively, it means keep on; continue.
example usage:
Διὰ τοῦτο, ἔχοντες τὴν διακονίαν ταύτην καθὼς ἠλεήθημεν, οὐκ ἐγκακοῦμεν… (2 Corinthians 4:1)
Most modern translations translate the above verse, “we do not lose heart.” Other exceptions are: “we faint not” (KJV, ASV, DRBY), as well as “we never give up” (NLT), and “we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job” (The Message).
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flac•cid
adjective – [flak-sid]
definition: (of part of the body) soft and hanging loosely or limply, especially so as to look or feel unpleasant; not firm. figurative: lacking force or effectiveness
history: Latin flaccidus, from flaccus meaning “flabby.”
synonyms: soft, loose, limp, flabby, drooping; or, lackluster, lifeless, uninspiring, vapid.
example usage:
Flaccid church guys will often accept that in the Old Testament God did get angry, but they will say that Jesus was a nice, emotionless, flaccid church guy, just like them, who chose a hollow, fake smile over anger every day.
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The Walls of Doctrine
We might fancy some children playing on the flat grassy top of some tall island in the sea. So long as there was a wall round the cliff’s edge they could fling themselves into every frantic game and make the place the noisiest of nurseries. But the walls were knocked down, leaving the naked peril of the precipice. They did not fall over; but when their friends returned to them they were all huddled in terror in the centre of the island; and their song had ceased
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Mythbusting
A month ago I spent the weekend with Drew Buell and the high school ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church at their fall retreat. The theme for the weekend was Mythbusters1 and I spoke five times on the myth of adolescence. In an unprecedented and perhaps never to be repeated display of vanity, the video for each session can now be viewed online.
The Earth is Not Flat Six Lies Teenagers Believe Implications of Adolescence on Youth Ministry (Pt 1) Implications of Adolescence on Youth Ministry (Pt 2) Resolutions Towards Young Adulthood Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I busted myths, on Monday Calvin busted mutton.
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How We Say It
In The Preacher on Preaching, Danny Akin made the point,
What we say is more important than how we say it, but how we say has never been more important.
He used Ecclesiastes 12:9-12 (especially verse 10) to emphasize that dull words are not delightful.
Other thoughts I had while listening to this message:
The preacher’s passion is different than the preacher’s polish. If the preacher is boring because he is disinterested, that preaching is sinful.
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The Confessions of Augustine's Life
Series | Repentance
Augustine wrote the Confessions when he turned 43, covering the first 33 years of life leading up to his conversion. He intended it to be much more than an autobiography. He explained in his Retractions (written near the end of his life around AD 426/427 to correct or annotate his previous works),
The thirteen books of my Confessions whether they refer to my evil or good, praise the just and good God, and stimulate the heart and mind of man to approach unto Him.
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So You Wanna Be a Writer
series by Nathan Wilson
So You Wanna Be a Writer, Pt. 1 (Don’ts) So You Wanna Be a Writer, Pt. 2 (For the Critics, These Pearls …) So You Wanna Be a Writer, Pt. 3 (Prose for Body and Brain) So You Wanna Be a Writer, Pt. 4 (An Exercise) So You Wanna Be a Writer, Pt. 5 (Found Dialog) So You Wanna Be a Writer, Pt. 6 (The Obstacle Course)
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Living on Unseen Things
Last year in one28 we were Starting at the Beginning. This year it’s time to move ahead. It’s time to make progress.
But making progress is difficult, especially in the Christian life. The world is against us. The evil one is against us. Our own flesh is against us. We travel a hard road. The path is narrow, often steep and slippery. The way is lined with naysayers hurling insults and discouragements toward us.
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Soiled Souls
Image by Pulpolux
If God hadn’t promised never to flood the earth again, would He see that the wickedness of man is great in the earth and that our intentions and thoughts and are conduct are evil and destroy us today? Are we really less corrupt than those in Noah’s day, or are we as bad as, or maybe even worse than, the sinners in Genesis six?
There’s no doubt about it: the weight of wickedness in Genesis 6:1-8 is crushing.
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moun•te•bank
noun – [moun-tuh-bangk]
definition: a person who deceives others, especially in order to trick them out of their money; a person who sells quack medicines, as from a platform in public places, attracting and influencing an audience by tricks, storytelling, etc.
history: Italian montambanco, a contraction from the phrase monta im banco, meaning “one gets up onto the bench” (so as to attract attention to sell things).
synonyms: swindler, charlatan, trickster, snail oil salesman.
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κα•κο•πα•θέ•ω
verb – [ka-ko-pa-theh-oh]
definition: bear hardship patiently; suffer physical pain, trouble, danger, and distress.
example usage:
Σὺ δὲ νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. (2 Timothy 4:5)
The imperative is translated: “endure hardship” (ESV, NAS, NIV), “endure afflictions” (NKJV), “endure suffering” (NRSV), “bear evils” (DRBY).
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How to Evaluate a Preacher
How faithful is he to the Word of God?
How much pain is he able to endure? John MacArthur, Marks of the Faithful Preacher, Part 4, from 2 Timothy 4:1-5
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kakapatheo
κα•κο•πα•θε•ω verb – [ka-ko-pa-theh-oh]
definition: bear hardship patiently; suffer physical pain, trouble, danger, and distress.
example usage:
Σὺ δὲ νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. (2 Timothy 4:5)
The imperative is translated: “endure hardship” (ESV, NAS, NIV), “endure afflictions” (NKJV), “endure suffering” (NRSV), “bear evils” (DRBY).
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What a Friend We Have in Jesus
I was in my study this morning and could faintly hear Maggie singing while making her bed. I don’t know where she learned this old hymn, but it not only brought back memories of my fundamentalist, Baptist upbringing, I also took it as good counsel for my day.
Text: Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886
Music: Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
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The Portrait of the Godly Pastor
The features of the pastor, as shown (twice) to Pilgrim by Interpreter:
His eyes were directed up toward Heaven. The best of books were in his hand. The law of truth was written on his lips. The world was behind his back. He stood in a position pleading with men. A crown of gold hung over his head. From The Pilgrim’s Progress, chapter 8.
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Before you say that word
Pastordude: please, before you say that word… ➔ So you’re a pastor, and you’re preaching this passage, and you want to mention some Hebrew or Greek word that is in the passage. Fine. Great, in fact. Terrific.
One request.
Say it right, or don’t say it.
Now, many would advise that you just not say it, period, because it’s not going to help your largely (linguisitically) unschooled audience, and may just look like preening.
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de•noue•ment
noun – [dey-noo-mahn]
definition: the conclusion or resolution of the plot in a play; the final part of a story, especially a tragedy, in which all the strands of the plot are unraveled.
synonyms: finale, culmination, outcome
origin: French dénouement, from Old French desnouement, an untying, from desnouer, to undo: des-, de- + nouer, to tie
example usage:
Often God’s sublime character is displayed in the denouement: he keeps his promises, rewards the faithful, punishes the evildoer, graciously overlooks the foibles of his people, and so.