O LORD, who by thy providence dost guide and govern all things, and who hast sent to us thy well-beloved Son, to deliver us from sin and death, by the oblation of his body on the Cross, grant that we may continually acknowledge this thy great and inestimable benefit, and that we may ever have our hearts and mouths open to proclaim thy praises among all men, by thy self-same Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. AMEN. – Prayers on the Psalms from the Scottish Psalter of 1595 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2010), 67.
Read MoreCharles Simeon on the urgency of living a Christian life worthy of imitation: “We should bear in mind, that the honour of God is greatly affected by our conduct; and that our fellow-creatures also may either be ‘won by our good conversation,’ or be eternally ruined by our misconduct. We should, from these considerations, take especial care never to lay a stumbling-block in the way of others; but so to walk, that we may be able to say unto all around us, ‘Whatsoever ye have seen and heard in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.’” – Charles Simeon, Horae Homileticae: Philippians to 1 Timothy. Vol. 18 (London: Holdworth and Ball, 1832-1836), 283.
Read MoreA PCA teaching elder, Seth Starkey is the Reformed University Fellowship’s Campus Minister at Belhaven University in Jackson. Today he spoke to my Theology of Worship class about decisions campus ministers must make about the structure of worship and teaching in RUF large group meetings. Tonight RUF would like to host any and all RTS Jackson students and their spouses at a reception for those interested in hearing more about how God is at work on college campuses. The event is 5:30-7:00pm at The Apothecary in Fondren behind Brent’s Drugs (655 Duling Ave., Jackson). Tuesday, the Coordinators will be on campus meeting one on one with students in Patterson’s Porch who have specific questions about the ministry. Speaking during lunch on that…
Read MoreThis week a 147 peopled were massacred at Kenya’s Garissa University College. On Good Friday, the Archbishop of the nation’s Anglican Church published a powerful and moving pastoral letter that concludes : “While governments have a vital role, even more important are the hearts and minds of ordinary people. Let us covenant together before God that we will never ever surrender our nation or our faith in Christ to those who glory in death and destruction. We will not be intimidated because we know and trust in the power of the cross, God’s power to forgive our sins, to turn death into the gate of glory and to make us his children for ever.”
Read MoreDr. Mike Campbell is one of the Presbyterian Church in America’s most skilled and effective church planters. Today Mike lectured to my Theology of Worship students on “Worship in a Multi-ethnic Setting.” Since 2004 Mike has served as organizing and then senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyerian Church in Jackson, “a multi-ethnic community of Christians committed to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and proclaiming the Good News of His Kingdom in both word and deed to the Broadmoor and Broadmeadow neighborhoods, the city of Jackson, and to the world.”
Read MoreEvery believer has his share of trials, sorrows, and burdens. Paul warns that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). But if you identified all of your burdens and ranked them, which would be the greatest? John Owen helps us prioritize. He concludes, “I do not understand how a man can be a sincere believer unto whom sin is not the greatest burden and sorrow.” (1) The gravity of sin is revealed in the costliness of our redemption, a reality that Isaiah unfolds solemnly in his fifty-third chapter. At Golgotha we see our Savior “stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” For our salvation “the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The poet Thomas Kelly knew that when when the…
Read MoreO GOD, the Author and Fountain of all goodness, who governest the whole world by thy marvelous wisdom, suffer not that we be any wise moved with the prosperous success of the ungodly; but that we may the rather give ourselves wholly to thy service, and continual meditation on thy holy law; that in the end we may effectually find thee to be our Saviour and Redeemer, when thou shalt come to judge the whole world, through thy well-beloved Son, Christ Jesus. AMEN. – Prayers on the Psalms from the Scottish Psalter of 1595 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2010), 65.
Read More“Ministers must pray much, if they would be successful . . . Many good sermons are lost for lack of much prayer in study.” – Robert Traill in The Westminster Directory of Public Worship. Discussed by Mark Dever and Sinclair Ferguson (Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Heritage, 2008), 33.
Read MoreOrdained in 1961, Pastor Brister Ware has served as First Presbyterian Church’s Minister of Pastoral Care since 1983. Today Brister spoke to my preaching class about pastoral visitation. His lecture was full of godly wisdom and practical instruction, the fruit of a long and faithful life in ministry. Brister is an encouragement to me, and I am thankful for his caring example.
Read More“O RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, whom the world knoweth not, imprint thy fear in our hearts, which may chase away all wickedness and iniquity from us. Prepare our hearts to all good works, that we, depending on thy providence, and living under the shadow of thy wings, may be replenished with the abundance of thy blessings, promised and prepared for all those whom thou hast given to Jesus Christ thy Son. AMEN.” – Prayers on the Psalms from the Scottish Psalter of 1595 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2010), 64.
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