The First Question of the Heidelberg Catechism

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

That I am not my own,
but belong—
body and soul,
in life and in death—
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven:
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to him,
Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
assures me of eternal life
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.

4 True Truths from Hebrews 9:27-28

Hebrews 27-28 gives us some basic but powerful truths:

1. People are appointed to die once.
2. After death, people will face the judgment of God.
3. Christ died once to bear the sins of many.
4. Christ will appear again to bring salvation.

Don't Call It A Comeback

Kevin DeYoung's new book is getting a lot of attention around the blogosphere. It looks like its worth a look. Check out the list of contributors and topics.

Husbands, Love Your Wives...

Here is an incredibly wise article for husbands. Be sure and bookmark this link and utilize the practical questions suggested on your next date night. And, pass this along to the other married couples in your church. This is pure gold.

New from Horton

Michael Horton's new systematic theology is 45% off this week.

Sproul on Abortion

Just in time for the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, RC Sproul has a new book out on abortion. WTS has it on sale this week.

I Thank God for Fighter Verses

Today Desiring God announced that the Fighter Verses have been revamped. I hope you will take the time to look at these resources and consider if you'll give the next 5 years to fighting the fight of faith through Scripture memory.

I first encountered the Fighter Verses in college and it was a gift of God to me in those days. I still remember opening the box that I had ordered from Desiring God with the little purple binder filled with note cards . The coolest thing about the fighter verse set was the little plastic sleeve that came with the set so that you could carry the cards around with you without messing them up. For several years of my life I was never without that sleeve.

I was so impacted by the Fighter Verses, that I began selling them as cheap as I could when I preached at various events. Back then, they were about $12 each. I would order 50 at a time and sell them as fast as I could. I probably distributed 500-600 of them in those days.

I cannot still quote all of the Fighter Verses. My memory is not as good as I once thought. However, the time I spent laboring over and reviewing those verses has shaped me. I thank God for the Fighter Verses.

Hebrews Baptism

"So few things would do the evangelical church more good than a baptism into the letter to the Hebrews!"

-Sinclair Ferguson, In Christ Alone, p. 46.

Side note: Dr. Ferguson does not mean "sprinkling."

Reflections on a Seriously Great Week

I didn't realize this as it was happening, but after reflecting on the past week, I realized what God had done. I had the unique opportunity of preaching at my church last Sunday (Christ Baptist), the church that helped plant our church on Wednesday (Open Door Baptist), and the church that we helped plant today (Crossway).

Let me run that by you again: I preached at both our mother church and our daughter church in the same week.

I had the privilage of of standing before a church who had sacrificed to make Christ Baptist a reality and a church for whom Christ Baptist had sacrificed to make a reality.

God reminded me of both past faithfulness and present faithfulness. I was confronted this week with gratefulness for the past and sweet anticipation for the future.

It was a seriously great week.

Battling Jealousy in the Ministry Re-Post

A friend recently reminded me of this post I did a few years ago on the temptation to jealousy among pastors. I thought I'd point you to it.

Robert Murray McCheyne

I just finished reading Awakening: The Life and Ministry of Robert Murray McCheyne. I read it for 2 reasons: (1) I was longing to read a biography and be challenged by the example of some great man of God and (2) I wanted to be better prepared to listen to John Piper's biographical message at his upcoming Pastor's Conference.

Awakening is not the best biography I've read, but its a helpful look at a man who accomplished so much in so little time. It left me hungry to see my life count for the glory of God. I recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about McCheyne.

Tripp on Parenting DVD Sale

Get anything by Paul Tripp you can. It is always pure gold. But, especially get Tripp when he is on sale. WTS books has a sale on his new parenting DVD set (75% off!).

Happy 65th John Piper

I thank God for you!

Preach Christ for Christ's Sake

On July 8, 1836, Robert Murray McCheyne wrote in his journal:

"Today missed some fine opportunities of speaking a word for Christ. The Lord saw I would have spoken as much for my own honour as His, and therefore shut my mouth. I see a man cannot be a faithful minister until he preaches Christ for Christ's sake until he gives up striving to attract people to himself and seeks only to attract them to Christ."

Quoted in Awakening, p. 105.

ESV Study Bible at 53% Off

I just noticed that WTS Books has the ESV Study Bible at 53% off. Best price I've seen.