The Two Ways, Day 3

By James Boice
Theme: The Way of the Righteous
 
In these lessons we see that our growth in holiness is dependent upon our being grounded in the Word of God, which points us to the Lord Jesus Christ as the only source of salvation and sanctification.
 
Scripture: Psalm 1
 
Over against the way of the ungodly, the psalmist sets the way of the righteous. And everything that is said to be lacking in the case of the one is present in the other.
Over against the way of the ungodly, the psalmist sets the way of the righteous. And everything that is said to be lacking in the case of the one is present in the other. Is it true that the wicked will not stand in God’s judgment? Yes. Then, the righteous will stand; he will be justified by the work of Jesus Christ. Is it true that the wicked will be like chaff that the wind blows away? Yes. Then, the righteous will not be like chaff, but rather like grain. 
 

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.

The Two Ways, Day 2

By James Boice
Theme: The Way of the Wicked
 
In these lessons we see that our growth in holiness is dependent upon our being grounded in the Word of God, which points us to the Lord Jesus Christ as the only source of salvation and sanctification.
 
Scripture: Psalm 1
 
The psalmist says two important things about the man who walks according to his sinful dispositions. 
 
First, the course of the wicked man is always downhill.
The psalmist says two important things about the man who walks according to his sinful dispositions. 
 
First, the course of the wicked man is always downhill. He is caught in a downward progression. This is a very important thing to see about sin. We see it in somebody else and say, “Look how sin has caught that person and dragged him down.” But we add, “That won’t happen to me. I’m going to do just this one little thing. Then I’ll draw the line and I won’t go any further.” But sin is not like that. Sin catches us and draws us along. You cannot sin “just a little bit.”

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.

X- Rated Counterfeit Grace and Impact of Spectacularly Boring Monogamy

Posted on Monday, August 22, 2016 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

The impact a spectacularly boring marriage has on our children.

 
“Speechless.” That’s what Todd Pruitt titled as the subject of an email he sent with an attached article, ‘Sex Outside of Marriage Makes Me a Fabulous Mother’: Woman Has Unusual Reason for Cheating.

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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.

Pastoring People Who Are Smarter Than You

by Donny Friederichsen • August 22, 2016

I won't feign humility by falsely degrading my own abilities (though to be honest, in my weaker and more insecure moments I have), but in a comparison of intellectual horsepower, I don't measure up to the academic achievements of many of my parishioners. Simply put, I pastor a congregation of people, many of whom are much smarter than me. So, how does one pastor people smarter than him?

On any given Sunday, I stand in the pulpit of the church I pastor and look out over a congregation of less than 100 people. In this small congregation there are men and women who are seminary trained or who have several PhDs ranging in everything from atomic physics to Assyriology (my computer's spellchecker doesn't even want to recognize that last field of study). I could also add that several more members have MBAs from prestigious schools. Suffice to say, I have a very intelligent congregation.

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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.

The Two Ways, Day 1

By James Boice
Theme: Christ Our Example
 
In these lessons we see that our growth in holiness is dependent upon our being grounded in the Word of God, which points us to the Lord Jesus Christ as the only source of salvation and sanctification.
 
Scripture: Psalm 1
 
It is appropriate that one of our series on the great chapters of the Bible should be the first psalm, because this psalm sets before us the doctrine of the two ways and encourages us to walk in the way of the godly.

It is appropriate that one of our series on the great chapters of the Bible should be the first psalm, because this psalm sets before us the doctrine of the two ways and encourages us to walk in the way of the godly. Psalm 1 is also important because it points us to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

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.

The Birth of the Savior, Scene 5

By James Boice
Theme: How to Celebrate Christmas
 
In these lessons on the birth of Christ we focus on its paradoxes, and how these show that Jesus’ coming is for all who will receive him.
 
Scripture: Luke 2
 
I notice something else at the end of the story. It is what I would call instructions on how to celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ.

I notice something else at the end of the story. It is what I would call instructions on how to celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ. First, we are told that “when they [the shepherds] had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child” (v. 17). The best way to celebrate Christmas is to make this marvelous story known, which the shepherds did. They spoke to the world about what had happened.

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.

The Birth of the Savior, Scene 4

By James Boice
Theme: Angels and Shepherds
 
In these lessons on the birth of Christ we focus on its paradoxes, and how these show that Jesus’ coming is for all who will receive him.
 
Scripture: Luke 2
 
We talk about there being no room in the inn.

We talk about there being no room in the inn. But the first great question of the story is not: “What is your theology of the person of Christ?” or “What is your theology of God?” or “What is your theology of the atonement?” It is rather: “Do you have room for Jesus?” “Is there room in your heart for the Savior?”

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.

Slaves of Christ

by David Hack and Jason Hauffe • August 17, 2016

When the New Testament writers describe salvation under the figure of being "redeemed," they are borrowing a metaphor from the first-century practice of slavery. Christ purchased believers so that we can no longer claim to be our own (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Revelation 5:9.). As slaves of Christ, we identify Him as our Lord and Master (Romans 6:22; 10:9; 2 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Peter 3:15).

When the New Testament writers describe salvation under the figure of being "redeemed," they are borrowing a metaphor from the first-century practice of slavery. Christ purchased believers so that they can no longer claim to be their own (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Revelation 5:9.). As slaves of Christ, we identify Jesus as our Lord and Master (Romans 6:22; 10:9; 2 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Peter 3:15).

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.

The Birth of the Savior, Scene 3

By James Boice
Theme: No Room in the Inn
 
In these lessons on the birth of Christ we focus on its paradoxes, and how these show that Jesus’ coming is for all who will receive him.
 
Scripture: Luke 2
 
Another related paradox comes in at this point: When Joseph and Mary came to Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay. As a matter of fact, there was no room even in the inn.

Another related paradox comes in at this point: When Joseph and Mary came to Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay. As a matter of fact, there was no room even in the inn. When Luke says there was no room in the inn we have to understand him to mean there was no room for them anywhere. If there had been a place, they would have gone there. When they could not even get into the inn, they ended up in the stable, and that is almost to say there was no place for them at all. 

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.

The Birth of the Savior, Scene 2

By James Boice
Theme: The King in a Manger
 
In these lessons on the birth of Christ we focus on its paradoxes, and how these show that Jesus’ coming is for all who will receive him.
 
Scripture: Luke 2
 
There are other paradoxes besides the two mentioned yesterday.  The one that is most apparent to anyone is that the Lord of glory came in humble circumstances and was presented to us in His first moments upon earth in a manger.

There are other paradoxes besides the two mentioned yesterday.  The one that is most apparent to anyone is that the Lord of glory came in humble circumstances and was presented to us in His first moments upon earth in a manger. Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem where He was to be born. Crowds filled the town, but there was no place for them. They spent their time at an inn and not even within the rooms of the inn, but in an outbuilding where the animals were housed. It was there in the humblest of circumstances that the King of glory was born. 

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.

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