In Chapter 8 of Prayer, Timothy Keller embarks on a detailed discussion of the Lord’s Prayer. That discussion covers the address, the seven petitions, and the ascription. The address and first petition are presented today. Pastor Keller prefaces his discussion with the assertion that the Lord’s Prayer is an untapped resource, partially because it is […]
Timothy Keller concludes his discussion of Calvin’s rules of prayer in Chapter 7 of Prayer with a fifth “rule” that actually is a major qualification of the word rule. 5. The rule of grace. Calvin urges us not to conclude that any set of rules could make our prayers worthy to be heard. Only grace […]
“To see the law by Christ fulfilled And hear his pard’ning voice Transforms a slave into a child And duty into choice.”- William Cowper, Olney Hymns Timothy Keller concludes Chapter 5 of Prayer by discussing the ground motive 0f Spirit-directed, Christ-mediated prayer: to simply know Him better and enjoy His presence. Pastor Keller notes this […]
“For we who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 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 […]
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”- Isaiah 9:2-3 “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.”- Desmond Tutu For my sixteenth Christmas, my parents gave me the opportunity to select […]
As Timothy Keller continues Chapter 4 of Prayer, he states that we get our vocabulary for prayer from the Bible. He adds that this has parallels in the dynamic of human speech development. Because we learned language so early in life, we have no recall of the process. Before we spoke, we all were spoken […]
“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 […]
“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”) […]
Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 13 (the final chapter) of AHA by stating that both sons were in the wrong. Both had the responsibility of seeking out their father. Eventually the younger son did this- although the father ran to the younger son as soon as he saw him. Most patriarchs of that day would have […]
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”- Revelation 3:20 In Chapter 11 (“How Not to Miss Jesus”) , the concluding chapter of Missing Jesus, authors Charles and Janet Morris discuss the subject of […]