While reading through Russell Moore’s book Tempted and Tried, I came across this wonderful reminder about the Lord’s supper:

The Lord’s Table, then, isn’t just a visual aid to remind us, as though it were a memory-jogging tool. As we gather together around the Table, we are being trained to eat at the “big table” in Jerusalem. And we’re announcing to ourselves, and to the satanic powers in the air around us, what’s really true. “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die” is a sham. The alternative is not a refusal to eat, drink, or be merry. That would be ingratitude. Instead, with the resurrected Jesus we sing out, “Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for yesterday we were dead.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on…But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:25, 33)

“Anxiety is simply living out the future before it gets here.” -Kevin DeYoung

Next Sunday we will begin studying the book of James together.  I thought it might be good to highlight a very valuable, free resource offered by faithcomesbyhearing.com.  Currently, they offer the ESV Audio Bible for free download along with a whole host of other translations in various languages. 

Here is my challenge to you.  Download the ESV New Testament from faithcomesbyhearing.com and listen to the book of James at least once a week as we study it together as a church.  This is a great way to gain a better understanding of the Scriptures.  

There is nothing more important for the believer than regular Scripture intake.  Don’t just stop at after your done listening to James.  Keep listening.  Listen while you drive in your car, while you mow your lawn, while you excercise or do the dishes.  Take in as much Scripture as you can!

Click here to go to the download page for the audio Bible.

You live in a world where your soul is in constant danger. Enemies are round you on every side. Your own heart is deceitful. Bad examples are numerous. Satan is always laboring to lead you astray. Above all false doctrine and false teachers of every kind abound. This is your great danger.

To be safe you must be well armed. You must provide yourself with the weapons which God has given you for your help. You must store your mind with Holy Scripture. This is to be well armed.

Arm yourself with a thorough knowledge of the written word of God. Read your Bible regularly. Become familiar with your Bible. . . . Neglect your Bible and nothing that I know of can prevent you from error if a plausible advocate of false teaching shall happen to meet you. Make it a rule to believe nothing except it can be proved from Scripture. The Bible alone is infallible. . . . Do you really use your Bible as much as you ought?

There are many today, who believe the Bible, yet read it very little. Does your conscience tell you that you are one of these persons?

If so, you are the man that is likely to get little help from the Bible in time of need. Trial is a sifting experience. . . . Your store of Bible consolations may one day run very low.

If so, you are the man that is unlikely to become established in the truth. I shall not be surprised to hear that you are troubled with doubts and questions about assurance, grace, faith, perseverance, etc. The devil is an old and cunning enemy. He can quote Scripture readily enough when he pleases. Now you are not sufficiently ready with your weapons to fight a good fight with him. . . . Your sword is held loosely in your hand.

If so, you are the man that is likely to make mistakes in life. I shall not wonder if I am told that you have problems in your marriage, problems with your children, problems about the conduct of your family and about the company you keep. The world you steer through is full of rocks, shoals and sandbanks. You are not sufficiently familiar either with lighthouses or charts.

If so, you are the man who is likely to be carried away by some false teacher for a time. It will not surprise me if I hear that one of these clever eloquent men who can make a convincing presentation is leading you into error. You are in need of ballast (truth); no wonder if you are tossed to and fro like a cork on the waves.

All these are uncomfortable situations. I want you to escape them all. Take the advice I offer you today. Do not merely read your Bible a little—but read it a great deal. . . . Remember your many enemies. Be armed!

(HT: Justin Taylor)

“No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ by sight in heaven who does not, in some measure, behold it by faith in this world. Grace is a necessary preparation for glory and faith for sight.” – John Owen

John Newton:

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

Indelible Grace has a version of this entitled “I Asked the Lord”

(HT: Justin Taylor)

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

This is by far my favorite Bible reading plan.  I’ve been using it for a while now and love it.  It was produced by Prof. Grant Horner of the Master’s College in California.

Check it out:

Professor Grant Horners Bible Reading System

“I pray God, if I have a drop of blood in my body which is not His, to let it bleed away; and if there be one hair on my head which is not consecrated to him, I would have it plucked out.”

-C.H. Spurgeon

“Look unto the things of this world – wives, children, possessions, estates, power, friends and honor.  How amiable are they!  How desirable unto the thoughts of the most of men!  But he who hath obtained a view of the glory of Christ will, in the midst of them all, say, ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides thee’ (Psalm 73:25).”

John Owen, “The Glory of Christ,” in Works (Edinburgh, 1981), I:314.