Featured Sponsors
Christian Living Resources, Bible Study Tools, Jesus Christ
Recently Posted
RSS This Blog-
Sunday, November 15, 2009Preachers I Listen to on my iPod
A friend asked me to recommend a few preachers he should listen to for his own benefit. It's fascinating to think about how technology has changed the answer to that question. Thirty years ago it meant, "Where can I get cassette tapes of messages by Pastor so-and-so?" Fifty years ago it meant, "What conference should I attend to hear the best preachers?" But the digital revolution has changed everything. Today there are thousands, no, make it tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of preachers with online sermons.
Add to that the vast reservoir of past preachers whose sermons have been digitized and added to the mix. You can now listen to sermons preached by men who passed away fifty or even sixty years ago, sermons that were recorded on those massive reel-to-reel recorders, listened to once or twice, and then stored at the bottom of a box filled with the bric-a-brac of life, labeled "Misc," and then left to gather dust (and humidity) in the attic.
The upside of all this is that today we have a "veritable plethora" (to quote Howard Cosell) of digitized sermons. Because new sermons are added every day, no one knows (or even tries to keep track) of how many sermons are online. But it is vast number, and growing vaster, and the tide shows no signs of slowing down.
So that's all good.
As far as the preachers I listen to, I operate by one main principle. Listen to people who aren't necessarily like yourself. Stretch yourself by going outside your own denomination or your own preferred preachers. Find a few excellent preachers who challenge you by the way they approach the preaching task. With an iPod you can download a ton of sermons. And if you don't like one of the sermons you downloaded, delete it. The preacher will never know.
That said, here are some preachers I like to listen to. Nothing should be assumed about names that aren't on this list because I often just randomly search through iTunes trying to find sermons by preachers unknown to me. I've hit on some really good ones that way. Here are a few preachers I have listened to in the last few months:
Tommy Nelson (Denton Bible Church, TX)
Joel Hunter (Northland Church, Orlando, FL)
S. Lewis Johnson (SLJInstitute)
Vic Pentz (Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta)
Erwin McManus (Mosaic Church, Los Angeles)
Ryan Whitley (Crosspoint Church, Trussville, AL)
Jamie Mitchell (NewSong Fellowship, Lancaster, PA)
Andy McQuitty (Irving Bible Church, TX)
Richard Kannwischer (St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, CA)
Mark Dever (Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC)
Erwin Lutzer (Moody Church, Chicago)
Ray Stedman (Peninsula Bible Church, Palo Alto, CA)
Robert Rayburn (Faith Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, WA)
Tim Keller (Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York)
Rob Bell (Mars Hill Church, Michigan)
David Platt (Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, AL)
Will Willimon (Methodist Bishop, North Alabama)
Haddon Robinson (Gordon Conwell Seminary)
Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church, Seattle)
Howard Hendricks (Dallas Seminary)
Mark Bailey (Dallas Seminary)
Pete Briscoe (Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, Dallas)
Sinclair Ferguson (First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC)
Phil Ryken (Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA)As I listen I like to ask myself, "How did he do that?" It's fun listening to an excellent preacher introduce a topic, raise a need, make a strong transition, work through a text, and "land the plane" on schedule. You can learn a lot that way, gaining some insights for your own preaching, and along the way your soul will be edified.
Well, this is my current list. Who are you listening to these days? Your suggestions are always welcome.
You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.
-
Saturday, November 14, 2009Water, Wine, Wind, Fire
Are you spooked out by the Holy Spirit?
Perhaps I should say, "Are you spooked out by the Holy Ghost?" Lots of Christians are, you know. They say things like, "I know about God the Father, and I know about Jesus, but the Holy Spirit is a mystery to me." You may remember the story about the little boy who liked to scare people by saying, "Boo! I'm the Holy Ghost."
That story is apt because the Holy Spirit ("Ghost" is the older term) scares many Christians. Maybe they're heard things or seen things on TV. Or perhaps the idea of a "Holy Spirit" seems hard to grasp. We understand the concept of God the Creator, and we certainly know about Jesus who walked among us 2000 years ago. But the Holy Spirit is another matter. Where does he fit in?
Many years ago I was asked to write a book on the names of the Holy Spirit. In fact, it was the first book I ever wrote. Moody Publishers gave me the topic and turned me loose. Not knowing what to do, I scoured a few theology books and didn't find much about the names of the Holy Spirit. And on my own I could come up with "Holy" and "Spirit" and "Comforter." Knowing that three names wouldn't make a very long book, I sat down at my desk with an open Bible on one side and a concordance in the other. And I just started in Genesis and went through the whole Bible, looking for names (or titles or symbols) of the Holy Spirit. I found my first one in the second verse of the Bible ("Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" Genesis 1:2). I found another one in Genesis 2 and another one in Genesis 6. With that, I was off and running. When I was finished I had found over 100 names of the Holy Spirit, the last one being in Revelation 19:10, "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
By the time I finished the book (Names of the Holy Spirit), I was amazed and overwhelmed by how many times he appears in the pages of Holy Scripture. I realized that God wants us to know a lot about the Spirit because he tells us about him in so many different places.
One of the oldest prayers of the church contains only three words: "Come, Holy Spirit." Here is the ultimate irony of this message. Because the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see spiritual truth, we need the Holy Spirit to understand the Holy Spirit! So we pray "Come, Holy Spirit, and help us to know you better. Amen."
The Bible gives us many images, pictures and symbols of his work. In order to help us, I've chosen four of the best-known pictures of the Spirit. Each one reveals a different aspect of his ministry in our lives.
You can read the rest of the message online.
You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.
-
Friday, November 13, 2009What is the meaning of Hebrews 10:26?
Several days ago I received an email asking about Hebrews 10:26, the last (and strongest) of the "warning passages" in Hebrews. It happens that the writer is a soldier serving in Afghanistan. Here is how he put his question:
One of the guys on my team and myself started a Bible study. We are actually talking about salvation. We also brought up Hebrews 10:26. We discussed this for awhile. I think it is nearly impossible to quit deliberately sinning. If we think about all sin, and that in God's eyes it's all the same, 3/4 of our churches would be going to Hell. Have any opinion on Hebrews 10:26? About the prodigal son, does it mean that maybe you can repent once, but after that...? Is that how some of the other preachers get around the moral of that story? I know I was saved when I was younger and I backslid on purpose, I was tired of living the Christian life alone. I realized my mistake years later, but I know I was saved before.
Lots of issues here, and I begin by acknowledging the fierce debate surrounding the proper interpretation of the "warning passages" in Hebrews. For our purposes, let's focus on Hebrews 10:26, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left." Context here is all-important. The whole idea of "deliberate" sin doesn't involve things like saying a swear word or skipping church or being in a bad mood or missing an appointment. Hebrews 10:26 envisions something much more serious-a deliberate, premeditated rejection of Christ. Here's a relevant example. We know how hard it is for a Muslim to give up Islam and become a Christ-follower. Such a person faces ostracism, opposition, ridicule, and maybe even death. But suppose that a Muslim becomes a Christ-follower and not only follows Jesus but begins to grow, to learn, to deepen his faith. Suppose he joins a Christian church, endures the opposition, faces the ridicule, knows that his family despises him but continues to grow in grace. Let's further suppose that he becomes a pastor and preaches the Word of God. But one day he begins to have doubts. One day he begins to think, "Maybe I was wrong about Jesus." One day the price seems too high for him. So he starts to read and think and lets his mind wander. And the mosque starts looking good to him. Maybe he misses the daily calls to prayer. Maybe he misses his family. Maybe he is just tired of the pressure. So he gives in, gives up his pastorate, leaves the church, "de-converts" and returns to Islam and makes a big show of it. You might call such a person a Prodigal Son in reverse. That sort of thing does happen from time to time.
Hebrews 10 is not talking about normal Christian growth and the struggles we all face. In my judgment it's not talking about what we call "backsliding" into sin. It's about renouncing Christ after knowing him and following him and then decisively turning your back on him. When Hebrews 10:26 says "no sacrifice for sins is left," it means "If you reject Christ after claiming to know him, there is no place else for you to go." If you turn your back on Jesus, going back to the synagogue (the situation faced by the first-century readers of Hebrews) or the mosque (as in my example) will not help you. If Jesus isn't enough for you, then nothing your old life offers will satisfy and there is no other way your sins can be forgiven.
The heart is not like Play-Doh that you can continually shape any way you like. Play-Doh hardens eventually. If a person openly and decisively turns away from the Christian faith he once professed, the heart hardens and for that person in that situation, there really is no other hope. Now you and I may say, "But God can soften that clay again." Yes, but that's not on the writer's mind at this point. He doesn't bring that up because he wants the warning to stand by itself. He wants the wavering believer to know what it is at stake.
You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.
-
Wednesday, November 11, 200921 Thanksgiving Sermons
On November 26 we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It is a profoundly Christian holiday in that it focuses us on the God as the true source of all our blessings. As the hymnwriter said, "All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all."
Here are twenty-one sermons appropriate for Thanksgiving. You are welcome to use this material in any way that might be helpful to you as you prepare sermons and Bible studies or simply to increase your own gratitude to the Lord for all his blessings.
What Children Can Teach Us at Thanksgiving
How God Revealed the Ingratitude of My Own Heart
The Standing Orders of the Gospel
Miracles Comes in Many Varieties
Why I Am Not a Pessimist
Daily Bread Living
The Blessed Benefits
What God Remembers That We Forget
If God is Sovereign, What Then?
Grumblers Anonymous
To Every Generation
Faithful to Finish His Work in You
Our Awesome God
Where are the Nine?
Contentment: A Better Way to Live
Joyful Living in a Grumpy World
Overcoming Disappointment
How to Have Joy All Year Long
How to Inherit a Blessing
Some Advice to the Discontented
Are You Excited About Your Future?You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.
-
Tuesday, November 10, 200933 Ways to Say "I Love You"
Last weekend Marlene and I led a couples conference in New Jersey. During our session on Sunday morning, we talked about the importance of praising each other. This is absolutely crucial because the presence or absence of public praise is one of the clearest signs of marital harmony or marital discord. The list we gave must have struck home because a number of people commented on it. So here's that list, put in different colors so you and your spouse can take turns saying these to each other. Go ahead and give it a try. We think this is one marriage exercise that will make you smile.
You look great tonight.
That was a wonderful meal.
Thank you for not getting mad at me.
You're the best thing that ever happened to me.
You're a super listener.
I really appreciate the way you spend time with my parents.
Thanks for being honest with me.
That's a great idea.
I enjoy spending time with you.
Congratulations! I'm taking you out to dinner to celebrate.
Before I met you, my life was boring.
So what if they didn't like your idea? I thought it was great.
You're the best husband in the whole world.
I hope our boys marry girls just like their mother.
I bought this just for you. I hope you like it.
Thanks for laughing at my corny jokes.
You're a big help around the house.
I'm looking forward to growing old with you.
You deserve a kiss.
I'm so proud of you.
You've got a great sense of humor.
You are the reason I'm excited about the future.
That's a great idea. How did you think of it?
I'm glad you were right about that.
Thank you for working so hard for our family.
I'm the luckiest man in the whole world.
When I think of you, I can't help smiling.
I'm glad I said, "I do."
Somebody ought to make a movie of our marriage. It would make a great romantic comedy.
You're more beautiful today than you were the day we got married.
I'm so glad God brought us together.
Have I told you lately how much I love you?
I still believe in you.You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.
