I think God is really teaching and growing me in the realm of grace and much of it is tied to the book of Galatians. Eric Smith who is preaching through Galatians has commented on this (here and here) and has helped me in conversation. At our church, we have been walking through Galatians as …
I just came across this quote posted by my friend Justin Wainscott.I thought it followed well my post on the importance of stories.We parents must orient our lives and families so as to show our children that God’s story is the central realities of our lives thus showing them the way to follow. Christian …
I have just finished reading Robert Godfrey’s spiritual autobiography, An Unexpected Journey: Discovering Reformed Christianity.It was a wonderful, refreshing read.The portrait of vibrant Christianity (in the church where he came to faith, and elsewhere) which he describes is so compelling.As a Baptist I have places of difference with Godfrey, but this book was good for …
I have been quite behind in posting for a number of reasons including the fact that we have been reading the Lord of the Rings books which are taking considerably longer than many others we have read!Just last night we read the following portion from The Two Towers.I am struck by how often in great …
You just have to love a commentary which opens with a preface like the one in Bob Yarbrough’s 1, 2, and 3 John (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament).Now, I was already a Yarbrough fan having had him for German while at TEDS and enjoyed several interactions with him.Therefore, what he wrote in this …
Here is a good description of sanctification making clear that we work but we do so by grace and not to earn or maintain our salvation. “As Americans, we live in a culture that looks for fast, simple solutions to all problems…. we must testify that no such solution exists for the process of sanctification. …
Happy Reformation Day! I hope you make much of this day and the truths it commemorates with you family and church this weekend. My family gathered around last night to listen to Max McLean’s wonderful rendition of Luther’s defense at Worms, “Martin Luther’s- Here I Stand” (available for free download through tomorrow!). He includes not …
Following some request I have posted the print version of the funeral message for my brother. It is basically complete except for the gospel proclamation at the end. I have been delayed in getting this up due some technical issues, and that has caused me to reflect on the fact that it has finally, in …
The Van Neste household has been gearing up for Reformation Day this weekend as we celebrate the work of God through Martin Luther and others recovering the gospel of grace. In thinking about this I returned again to a book which is a treasure in my library, What Luther Says: A Practical In-Home Anthology for …
Many of you have probably already read Spurgeon’s little classic, All of Grace. I have had a copy for years but never read it. Then fairly recently I got an audio copy of someone reading it (from Christian Audio as their free download one month). My soul as soared as I have listened to this …