In secular, pluralistic cultures, Christians often are afraid to talk about their beliefs because they don’t know what to say. Pastors of believers in such places often feel they must fill their flock with intellectual content until their people feel competent to take on all objections and arguments. But intellectual arguments, while necessary, are not…
Service: Marriage Isn’t About You
Introduction “I do.” The most romantic, hope-filled climax of any wedding ceremony is when the bride and groom utter that two-word phrase, “I do,” that launches their life together. The whole ceremony builds to those vows of commitment, and the festivities to follow celebrate them. Such a rich, intimate relationship as marriage deserves the pomp…
Preaching Jesus After a Community Tragedy
Editor’s Note: This excerpt from The Hardest Sermons You’ll Ever Have to Preach features a sermon from Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, the Sunday following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Click on the play button to listen to the entire service from September 16, 2001. Keller’s sermon starts…
Jesus the King
Jesus is the King. He is the God who became a man, to show us the way to everlasting life. If we are going to study anything in depth, it ought to be the life and teaching of Jesus. Timothy Keller offers a nine-session (non-video) study called Jesus the King. Enjoy session one and then visit store.faithgateway.com to…
The Prodigal God
There is a familiar story found in Luke 15, known as the story of the prodigal son. Because of its title, we focus on the son and his actions after he walked away with his inheritance. He chased after sinful pleasures, hoping to find a fulfillment which could not be found. While the lost son is…
Revival: The Need for Gospel Renewal
Definitions of Revival This understanding of gospel renewal differs from two widespread views of what revival is. The first view sees revival primarily as the adding of the extraordinary operations of the Holy Spirit (such as miracles, healings, and revelations). A second view sees revival as an especially vigorous season of preaching, gatherings, and evangelistic…