Nailed It

Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

Jael finally made the cover of a devotional...

The devotions section of the Christian bookstore is usually a place I avoid. While there are some good ones, I’ve always preferred just reading Scripture or working through a commentary. I often think of the devotions section as the checkout lane in a grocery store, full of junk screaming at you for an impulse buy. They are sugary and bright, cheap, superficial, and usually full of bad ingredients.

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Mortification of Spin is a casual conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Mortification of Spin and the mission of the Alliance.

Jesus and Judas, Day 2

By James Boice
Theme: Judas’ Spiritual Advantages
 
In this week’s lessons on Judas’s betrayal, we see that despite spiritual advantages, one can still miss salvation in the end if the sinful heart is not regenerated by God’s grace.
 
Scripture: Matthew 26:14-30
 
Today we look at some of the spiritual advantages Judas had as one of Jesus’ disciples. Judas had a great advantage in that he actually knew Jesus personally.

Today we look at some of the spiritual advantages Judas had as one of Jesus’ disciples. Judas had a great advantage in that he actually knew Jesus personally. It’s true today we have the Scriptures, and I wouldn’t minimize that in any respect. It is through the written Word of God that the Holy Spirit operates to convert men and women. That is God’s method, and therefore where the Word of God is preached and Jesus as he is presented in the Scriptures is unfolded before the minds and hearts of men, there the Holy Spirit works and draws men and women to him. Yet it is still a very striking thing that Judas, unlike ourselves, actually knew the Lord Jesus Christ personally in the flesh.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Jesus and Judas, Day 1

By James Boice
Theme: Contrasting Characters
 
In this week’s lessons on Judas’s betrayal, we see that despite spiritual advantages, one can still miss salvation in the end if the sinful heart is not regenerated by God’s grace.
 
Scripture: Matthew 26:14-30
 
I’d like you to turn to the twenty-sixth chapter of Matthew and give attention as we study Judas.

I’d like you to turn to the twenty-sixth chapter of Matthew and give attention as we study Judas. In this Gospel he is mentioned early on where there’s a listing of the disciples, and then again later on when we’re told of his death in chapter 27. But there is no doubt that here in chapter 26 we are told the most about him. He’s one of three characters in this chapter which provide the cast of those who are clustered around Jesus Christ, who of course is the central character. 

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Wisdom for Reading the Proverbs

by Matthew Holst • January 06, 2017

Proverbs is, at one level, a simple book to understand, and, at another level, a book that equires a great deal of spiritual discernment and wisdom. To get wisdom, we must read wisdom and we must pray for wisdom. As James tell us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). 

The Wisdom literature is among the most neglected of all genres in Scripture. This is, no doubt, partly on account of the fact that there are an abundance of difficulties when we approach the reading and study of Proverbs--our historical distance from them, the apparent similarity with writings of other wisdom literature from the Ancient Near East, the apparent lack of Gospel focus and the fact that, at times, the Proverbs seem to over promise. Yet as we read them we find that we begin to discover life, wisdom and the fear of the Lord.

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Christward Collective is a conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Christward Collective and the mission of the Alliance.

Jesus and Mary, Scene 5

By James Boice
Theme: Being Remembered by Jesus
 
In this week’s lessons we are reminded of the importance of learning from Jesus, and of the need to serve him with everything we have.
 
Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13
 
Think of the first words of Judas and Mary that we find in the Gospels. The very first words of Judas are what we find here in this story. Judas is complaining.

Think of the first words of Judas and Mary that we find in the Gospels. The very first words of Judas are what we find here in this story. Judas is complaining. It says in Matthew 26 that it’s the disciples who were indignant about Mary’s use of the perfume, but we learn from the other Gospels that Judas is the one who actually expressed this objection. Judas asked, “Why didn’t you sell this and get the money and give it to the poor?” But in John 12 we are told that Judas only said this because he was in charge of the money and used to help himself to it. By contrast the very first words of Mary occur in John 11 when she falls at Jesus’ feet and confesses her faith: “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died.” That is quite a different attitude. 

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Jesus and Mary, Scene 4

By James Boice
Theme: Knowing Jesus through His Word
 
In this week’s lessons we are reminded of the importance of learning from Jesus, and of the need to serve him with everything we have.
 
Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13
 
Yesterday we concluded by asking whether, like Mary, we spend much time with Jesus and try to learn from him. You say, “How can I do that today? Jesus isn’t here. It was easy for Mary. There he was.

Yesterday we concluded by asking whether, like Mary, we spend much time with Jesus and try to learn from him. You say, “How can I do that today? Jesus isn’t here. It was easy for Mary. There he was. All she had to do was go and sit at his feet and look up at his face.” Well, I don’t think that’s true. It is true that Jesus was there physically in her day, but he wasn’t always there, at least not always in Bethany.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Jesus and Mary, Scene 3

By James Boice
Theme: At the Feet of Jesus
 
In this week’s lessons we are reminded of the importance of learning from Jesus, and of the need to serve him with everything we have.
 
Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13
 
None of the friends or disciples of Jesus understood what was coming, and therefore there is a certain sense in which for all of these weeks leading up to the crucifixion, Jesus was bearing this great burden alone, with one exception.

None of the friends or disciples of Jesus understood what was coming, and therefore there is a certain sense in which for all of these weeks leading up to the crucifixion, Jesus was bearing this great burden alone, with one exception. And that exception, if we’re to take his statement clearly that Mary did this in anticipation of his burial, was Mary herself.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Jesus and Mary, Scene 2

By James Boice
Theme: What Mary Understood
 
In this week’s lessons we are reminded of the importance of learning from Jesus, and of the need to serve him with everything we have.
 
Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13
 
Now, as I said, when Jesus got there the first night they had a supper for him. He must have been tired. He was traveling. We learn from John that he came from the north, instead of passing directly south, which would have brought him to Jerusalem.

Now, as I said, when Jesus got there the first night they had a supper for him. He must have been tired. He was traveling. We learn from John that he came from the north, instead of passing directly south, which would have brought him to Jerusalem. In circling around he went down into the Jordan Valley as he was coming into or out of Jericho. He healed two blind men, and then from that point he made his way up a rather steep, tiring ascent to Bethany on the slope of the mountain just before you cross over into Jerusalem. So he came, probably, at the end of the day after this journey. His disciples were with him, and his friends had a dinner in the house of this man.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Christian Celebrity Culture and Shot Glass Communities

Posted on Monday, January 2, 2017 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

A new year is a time of reflection.

2016 has revealed a lot of problems with the Christian celebrity culture. There have been big names that have fallen, treasured orthodox doctrines downplayed and distorted, and many people and churches terribly hurt. Those who warn about this culture, about the ignored or overlooked issues, and even the suppression of abuses within it, are often dismissed because of their tone or accused of overreacting. One popular response to the lament of celebrity culture in evangelical and Reformed communities is an acknowledgement of its prevalence, but with a “What can you do?” shrug.

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Mortification of Spin is a casual conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Mortification of Spin and the mission of the Alliance.

A Time To...

by Donny Friederichsen • January 02, 2017

The beginning of a new year marks a time in which we might make resolutions, chart out goals, or plan special events. But in the midst of all of our resolutions, goals, and plans, God's Word calls us to acknowledge His sovereignty and providence in our lives. The Westminster Shorter Catechism reminds us that “God's works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions” (WSC #11). God governs all things, including time. His sovereignty extends over every event, even eternity.

Whether they have read it in the book of Ecclesiastes or heard it from The Byrd's, most people in our culture are familiar with the following biblical poetry:

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Christward Collective is a conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Christward Collective and the mission of the Alliance.

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