Hospitality to visitors

I’ve been following Darrell Dow’s search for a church home. Darrell and his young family recently moved to Georgia from Pensacola. He commented briefly on the subject of “being a church visitor”.
We were also given a visitor’s card to fill out with a detachable name tag. After all, nothing says “Welcome!” like a big [...]

Review: What Is A Healthy Church Member?

JP: I received Thabiti Anyabwile’s What Is a Healthy Church Member? last week and read it quickly. The book is valuable as it challenges the reader to be a healthy church member. Here are the 10 marks of a healthy church member:

Be genuinely converted (this is actually Mark 4, but it seemed logical to me [...]

What Does It Mean to Be Filled with the Spirit?

JP: I found this helpful resource from John MacArthur on “The Filling of the Spirit”. Since this will be our topic (from Ephesians 5:18-21) this Wednesday night, I thought I would share the booklet with you.
John MacArthur: What Does It Mean to Be Filled with the Spirit?
Sometimes an easy conversation between friends can have ramifications [...]

The Advantages of Providence

JP: Good read on “providence”.
The Advantages of Providence
Here is a sampling of God’s complete providence in governing the world.

“I have commanded the ravens to feed you there” (1Kings 17:4)
“The Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah” (Jonah 4:6).
“God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered” (Jonah [...]

How is suffering good?

JP: Profitable post from Larry Rogier. Larry is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in River Rouge, MI.
Is Suffering Good?
Someone recently asked me, “Why does God do this to me?” He was inquiring into God’s design in a current state of suffering in his life. He followed it up quickly with, “I can’t worship a [...]

Matt Morrell—The SharperIron Interview

Matt Morrell—The SharperIron Interview
JP: Worthwhile listen!

Warren Vanhetloo on prayer

Romans 8:26, Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered
Query: Dear Dr. Van, Can you comment on what is involved when the Holy Spirit prays for us, as [...]

Sunday School class survey

Sunday School class (Adult Bible Fellowshp) survey.
Note: The link below opens to SurveyMonkey. This survey will be active until July 12th at 12:15 a.m. The responses are anonymous.
Click Here to take survey

Tips for Self-Discipline

Tips for Self-Discipline
JP: This is a very helpful and practical article. My self-discipline (or lack thereof) foibles (“foibles” is a nicer sounding word than “fault”!): procrastination & M&M’s. One thing that helps me: good habits. We have one good habit that works very well for Kathee and me: we read the Bible (2 chapters) aloud [...]

John MacArthur: Why I Love the Church

JP: Excerpts only quoted below. See my comments at bottom.
Why I Love the Church (Part 1)
… the remedy for evangelical apathy about the church is not a return to the twisted, extrabiblical ecclesiology of the Roman Catholic Church. Evangelical Protestants must approach ecclesiology as they have soteriology—from the perspective of Scripture alone. Unfortunately even among [...]