“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.”- 1 Peter 1:8 As Timothy Keller concludes Chapter 1 of Prayer, he cites Scottish theologian John Murray (Redemption: Accomplished and Applied, 1955), who wrote […]
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry,’Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”- Romans 8:15-16 In Chapter 1 (“The Necessity of Prayer”) of […]
Timothy Keller’s latest book, just published, is titled Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God. In the Introduction, Pastor Keller asserts that a book on the essentials of prayer should treat the theological, experiential (devotional), and methodological (practical) aspects of prayer- rather than primarily focusing on one specific aspect. Most recent books on prayer, the […]
“We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”- Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) Today’s blog is based on an excerpt from the book Soulprint by Mark Batterson. Tomorrow I’ll begin a series of posts discussing Timothy Keller’s newly published book […]
“Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”- Romans 8:34 (NASB) In the Conclusion to Next Door Savior, Max Lucado mentions the time when he was among the religious leaders invited to come to the White House and pray […]
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”- Isaiah 55:9 “We know in everything God works for the good of those who love him.”- Romans 8:28 (New Century Version) Max Lucado begins Chapter 20 (“Christ’s Coup de Grace: God- ordained Places”) […]
At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours. At about three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eli, Eli, lema, sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”- Matthew 27:45-46 (TEV) Max Lucado begins Chapter 19 (“Abandoned! God-Forsaken Places”) of Next Door Savior […]
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”- Matthew 14:26-27 In Chapter 17 (“God Gets Into Things- Stormy Places”) of Next Door […]
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin.”- Hebrews 4:15 Max Lucado concludes Chapter 16 of Next Door Savior by stressing that Jesus journeyed into the wilderness for […]
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.’- Luke 4:1-2 Max Lucado begins Chapter 16 (“The Long, Lonely Winter- Wilderness Places”) of Next Door Savior with this description of the wilderness of the soul: […]
“[But God] immense in mercy and with an incredible love . . . embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did this all on his own, with no help from us.”- Ephesians 2:45 (The Message) In Chapter 13 of Next Door Savior, author Max Lucado observes that most […]
He (Jesus) said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”- Luke 5:4-5 In Chapter 5 (“Try Again- Discouraged People”) of Next Door Savior, Max Lucado describes […]