Category: Gospel
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Offensive Grace
Why does not the faith of the average Christian seem to bring about the change we would hope? Could it be that many have a faulty understanding of the Gospel? Dan Allender, in his book Bold Love, offers the following: “If our sin is mere failure to conform – simply a mistake to do what…
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The Glory of the Gospel
The Gospel would not be good news if it did not reveal the glory of Christ for us to see and savor. It is the glory of Christ that finally satisfies our soul. We are made for Christ, and Christ died so that every obstacle would be removed that keeps us from seeing and savoring…
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A Right Definition of Faith
How shall we distinguish a healthy faith from one that is built on more shaky ground? Consider this insight from John Calvin: “Now we shall possess a right definition of faith if we call it a firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence toward us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in…
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Explosive Power of the Gospel
“The Gospel is God’s explosive power that changes everything. The gospel makes us Christians…. God forgives your sin, declares you righteous in Christ, gives you eternal life, adopts you as His child, and ushers you into an intimate relationship with Himself, through the Holy Spirit. Secondly, the gospel grows us. The gospel is not merely…
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Gospel-Centered Church
Gospel-centeredness is a vital strategic principle for ministry in the 21st (and the 1st!) century. I do not simply mean by ‘gospel-centered’ that ministry is to be doctrinally orthodox. Of course it must certainly be that. I am speaking more specifically. (1.) The gospel is “I am accepted through Christ, therefore I obey” while every other…
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The Connection of the Law With the Gospel
There is a common question about how the Law of God and the Grace of God relate to one another. Some seem to wonder how they even co-exist. Spurgeon, though, when once asked how he reconciled the Law and the Gospel, replied: “There is no need to reconcile friends.” Granted, there is some tension between these two great Biblical…
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10 Gospel-centered Questions
Here are 10 questions to ask yourself – and maybe those few closest to you – that help uncover rivals of Christ as the functional savior of your heart: What are you desiring more than anything else? What do you find yourself day dreaming or fantasizing about? What lies are you subtly believing that…
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Beauty & Purpose of the Cross
Sadly not everyone recognizes the requisite necessity for God to be Just. Many picture him exclusively as absolute and unconditional love, thinking he will dismiss the the legal demands that result from mankind’s sin on that basis alone. This approach is offensive to God because it demeans two of the other essential facets of his…
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Gospel Discipling: The Crying Need of the Church
by Stephen Smallman “Thirty years of discipleship programs, and we are not discipled.” This is the startling assessment of Jim Petersen, the visionary leader of the esteemed discipleship ministry, the Navigators. Petersen goes on in the first chapter of his important book, Lifestyle Discipleship, to ask some very hard questions about the real effectiveness of…
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Embrace Honesty
How do you embrace honesty? Give up what is already painfully obvious Tell the Truth without telling all the truth Embrace the Gospel in your failure to live the gospel – Dan Allender
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Broken Down Houses
Paul Tripp further expounds the thoughts conveyed in this viedo in his book: Broken Down Houses.
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3 Ways
There is a difference between the Gospel and being good. But I am not sure the average person understands this – neither in the church nor outside the doors. In this short video Tim Keller explains the difference between: Gospel Moralism Irreligion
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Gospel at the Center
At my core I am committed to gospel-centeredness and being gospel-driven. But I confess I don’t really know what that means. The rich complexity of the gospel and the scope of the implications from the gospel are far beyond my ability to grasp, plumb, or fathom. So I am drawn towards faithful expressions of the gospel that expand my understanding and depth of insight. I am…
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What a Great God We Have
What a great God we have! Not only does he redeem us through the ignominious crucifixion of his much loved Son, but he sends us his Spirit to enable us to understand what he has done. – D.A. Carson, The Cross and Christian Ministry
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The Gospel vs. The gods of the Elite
God has not arranged things so that the foolishness of the Gospel saves [only] those who have IQ’s in excess of 130. Where would that leave the rest of us? Nor does the foolishness of what is preached transform [only] the young, the beautiful, the extroverts, the educated, the wealthy, the healthy, the upright. Where…
