Savedthroughfaith.com

Much like actual warfare the battle of the Christian life often is weakened by unsuspected enemies. There are the sneaky traitors from within the camp and the powerful blows of the enemy’s surprise weapons that injure military forces. And in the Christian life we are mindful of heresies, doctrinal compromise, and Satan’s schemes. And aware we should be. GOSPEL AMNESIA But at the same time there is the enemy of gospel amnesia that is e...

I was scanning through my reader yesterday and came across a surprising quote: There is enough gospel in the Koran to lead people to Jesus. Know the Koran. #mday10 (source) Redeemer City to City, a church planting network, held a conference this week in New York. They are doing a lot of great things. As a church planter I benefit greatly from many of their resources. This quote however, was puzzling. IS THERE ANY GOSPEL IN THE KORAN? Is there eno...

I have several books going right now. In posts like this I want to highlight a few things that I like or dislike in the book as I am working through it. I should also note that I am reading 3/4 of these books on my new Kindle. I really like the Kindle. CHURCH PLANTER by Darrin Patrick || (Amazon or Westminster) The bottom line here is: I like this book. I like the topic, the author’s writing style, the substance, the outline…even the...

Engaged pastoral ministry is messy. It is hard. It squashes pride. Pastors realize that they are not soveriegn to sanctify, judge motives, and truly know people. The path from the pastor and his congregation are walking towards the celestial city are laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) that would make the Taliban jealous. I remember the first year of ministry. A friend called me and asked how things were going. I told him, ̶...

John MacDuff, “Memories of Olivet” – The wrath of God; the terrible manifestation of His displeasure at iniquity; was upon Jesus. He was the true spiritual Atlas, bearing on His shoulders the sins of a guilty world! Jesus’ sufferings were not calamities; they were punishment judicially inflicted. There was an eternity of woe was condensed into them! Christ was the Sin Bearer, bearing not merely the punishment of sin, but s...

I finally did it. I purchased a Kindle. I resisted it for some time because of something of a romantic attachment to physical books. However, I quickly found out that this technology has some substantial benefits for a church planting pastor on a limited budget who really likes to get and read Christ-exalting material. And, yes, I am really enjoying it. I have been told by many that there are a lot of great tools and resources out there. I would ...

For centuries people have navigated their way across unfamiliar territory by utilizing the celesstial GPS in the night sky. The stars and their alignment remain as amazing as they are helpful. One of the first things you learn when you are trying to discern the heavenly canopy is that Polaris is important to find. This is because Polaris, or the Pole Star, stands almost motionless over time. And further, all the stars in the North sky seem to ro...

In Darrin Patrick’s book Church Planter (which I’ve really enjoyed) he touches on an important note for all Christians, not just pastors: Why is it so easy to be great a public prayer and terrible at private prayer? The logic of Jesus in Matthew 6:5-6 explains this dichotomy: It is an issue of reward. Simply put, we are immediately rewarded for praying well in public, but we are not for private prayer. Public prayers are often praised...

One of the basics of pastoral ministry is involvement with sin. Pastors are to have a disposition towards sin that reflects God’s view. We are to hate it. We are to want it removed from our people, congregations, and communities. The Word of God is the choice weapon for this expungement. Pastors are to use the Bible for ‘teaching, reproof, correction, and training…” (2 Tim. 3.16). The Bible is to admonish and encourage. I...

“Jesus is with His people at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. Consoling thought! He is “God with us.” He is with us . . . to comfort us in the hour of sorrow, to enlighten us in the hour of darkness, to guide us in the hour of doubt and perplexity, to deliver us in the time of conflict, to support us in the hour of death. O for faith to realize this! Do not be cast down! This furnace is but to consume the...