Caution in God's Presence

May 26, 2020 by Nicholas Batzig

The better part of our lives is filled with conversations. Whether talking about work, school, family, homes, technology, travel, shopping, food, movies, athletes, or music—words fill our experience as God’s image-bearers in this world. A seemingly endless amount of communication steadily streams across our computers and televisions; we cannot imagine a world without speech. Yet Ecclesiastes has much to say about how our words reflect what we think in our hearts. As Jesus taught, our mouths speak “from the overflow of the heart” (Luke 6:45). Both the wise man and the fool are revealed by what they say. Today’s reading gives three warnings around our speech.

First, we need to prioritize listening to God’s Word over our own words and understanding: “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to approach in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong” (Ecclesiastes 5:1). God is not impressed by big sacrifices; He desires humility and obedience. Our worship of God reflects what we understand about who He is; therefore, we should be quick to listen to what God has spoken in His Word.

Second, “Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few” (v.2). The author is not calling us to merely reduce the number of our words. Rather, he is charging us to consider whether we are speaking sincere words before and about God. In the same way that God isn’t moved by flashy sacrifices, He isn’t fooled by bold speeches or public declarations that don’t reflect the reality of our hearts. As pastor and theologian Charles Bridges explained, “The fewness of the words is not the main concern; but whether they be the words of the heart.”

Three, we should approach vows with the utmost sobriety. Many treat vows as formalistic rituals without regards to the meaning of the words. We are told to be slow to vow and quick to follow through on what we vow before and to God. We must take our promises seriously because God does. Jesus said, “Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37).

Jesus always listened to His Father, spoke truth from the heart, and followed through on His vows. Jesus atoned for the sins of our mouths, by keeping the promise He made to the Father that He would lay down His life for His sheep. When we return to God in brokenness over the many ways we have been slow to listen, quick to speak, and unfaithful to our vows, we find Him to be the source of forgiveness and cleansing, making a people from whose mouths wisdom proceeds.

*This post originally appeared at hereadstruth.com.

More in Writings/Articles

July 11, 2022

Content to Know Enough

June 10, 2021

Confessions and Worship

March 15, 2021

Confessional Discipleship (Part 2)

More by Nicholas Batzig

February 7, 2023

The Importance of Theological Pairs

December 20, 2022

The Counterintuitive Christ

December 15, 2022

The Priesthood of the Father, Giving Up the Son

November 16, 2022

The Shadowy Nature of the Theocracy

October 11, 2022

The Grace of Remembering

September 13, 2022

The Bewitching Influence of Secularism

September 4, 2022

Law and Gospel in Redemptive History and Christian Experience

July 21, 2022

Doctrine, Denominations, and Division

July 11, 2022

Content to Know Enough

July 8, 2022

The Nanny Church?

June 3, 2022

The Water and the Blood

May 20, 2022

For Everything There is a Season

April 16, 2022

The Most Neglected Part of Christ's Saving Work

April 7, 2022

Worthy of Worship

March 16, 2022

The Church: Its Meaning, Members, and Means

March 7, 2022

Conscience Binding, Media Ecology, and Theological Controversy

February 15, 2022

Are Christians Totally Depraved?

January 17, 2022

When Everyone Plays His Part

January 9, 2022

Jim Elliot Sermons

January 8, 2022

The Grace of Pastoral Finesse

December 21, 2021

The Redemptive-Historical, Patriarchal Blessing

November 16, 2021

The Destroyer of All Darkness

November 12, 2021

Under Pressure

November 5, 2021

Continuance in Ministry

October 29, 2021

Not How We Would Have It

September 24, 2021

Before Time Began

September 15, 2021

The "Leading" of the Spirit?

September 13, 2021

A Brother in Need

September 11, 2021

God's Love for the Believer is as. . .

August 31, 2021

Preaching Variants

August 17, 2021

The Real World?

June 23, 2021

The Genesis of Long Lives

June 16, 2021

Confessions and Worship

June 10, 2021

Platforms, Polemics, and Pastoral Ministry

June 10, 2021

Confessions and Worship

May 26, 2021

Christ in the Lions' Den

May 13, 2021

A Refuge for the Guilty Soul

April 29, 2021

Pastor Abuse

April 14, 2021

The Water-Providing, Stricken Rock

April 1, 2021

Praying in the No-Man's Land

March 29, 2021

How Unspeakably Solemn

March 23, 2021

Burdening Ourselves to Death

March 18, 2021

The Annulment of Condemnation

March 15, 2021

Confessional Discipleship (Part 2)

March 15, 2021

Confessional Discipleship

March 2, 2021

The Counsel and Care of the Elderly

February 25, 2021

The Path to True Greatness

February 13, 2021

Preaching that Lasts

February 7, 2021

My Kinsman Redeemer Lives

February 3, 2021

The Book of Job in Redemptive History

February 2, 2021

Justice, Mercy, and the Gospel

January 24, 2021

Confessional Discipleship (Part 1)

January 19, 2021

A Call for Spirit-Wrought Unity

January 14, 2021

The Practice of Rest

January 6, 2021

When Things Look Bleak...

December 31, 2020

Quality Scripture Reading in 2021

December 29, 2020

2020 Year in Review

December 18, 2020

Learning from the Magi

December 8, 2020

In Praise of the Pastor's Wife

December 1, 2020

The Anchor of the Unchangeable

November 25, 2020

Multidirectional, Participatory Worship

November 24, 2020

The Most Thankful Person Who Ever Lived

November 10, 2020

Satan, Sin, and Biblical Proportion

November 9, 2020

Why We Need a Priest

October 27, 2020

Discernment Without and Within

October 23, 2020

When Satan is in the Church...

October 19, 2020

Of Priests, Pastors, and Prophets

October 17, 2020

The First-fruits of the Resurrection

October 2, 2020

Pastor to Pastor

September 23, 2020

Walking in God's Presence

September 23, 2020

The Shoulders of Giants, the Counsel of the Wise

September 15, 2020

One Greater Than the Temple

September 15, 2020

Cancelling the Weapons of "Cancel Culture"

September 10, 2020

The Mystery of Godliness

September 4, 2020

The Rarest Commodity

August 31, 2020

Teaching a Barber to Pray

August 27, 2020

Augustine, Psalm 32, and the Grace of Justification

August 27, 2020

When Speaking About Jesus' Bride

August 20, 2020

The Way of the Kingdom

August 19, 2020

More Than a Shibboleth

August 13, 2020

"...The One for Whom Christ Died"

August 12, 2020

The Peace of the Cross

August 12, 2020

Singing Down the Blessing of God

August 12, 2020

The Self-Concealment and Self-Revelation of the Son of Man

July 10, 2020

Opportunistic Digital Hirelings

July 4, 2020

Scripture, Culture, and Convictions

June 18, 2020

Metaphors and the Mission of God

June 12, 2020

Not Our Home

June 5, 2020

What is a Good Work?

June 1, 2020

What is a Means of Grace?

May 27, 2020

The Tragedy of Wealth

May 26, 2020

Caution in God's Presence

May 19, 2020

The Thing Itself

May 12, 2020

What We Need Most at Present

May 7, 2020

Tabletalk on Covid-19

May 6, 2020

A Spirit of Sonship

April 24, 2020

Productivity in a Pandemic

April 22, 2020

The Unchanging God

April 18, 2020

Loving the Church in Our Songs

April 17, 2020

Stern Things Without, Tender Things Within

April 10, 2020

The Vertical and Horizontal Dimensions of the Cross

April 8, 2020

All in a Week

March 26, 2020

The Church after the Coronavirus

March 25, 2020

The Church After the Coronavirus

March 17, 2020

The Comfort of Justification by Faith Alone

March 13, 2020

Pastoral Ministry and Pestilence

March 11, 2020

The World Attracted to the Church

March 5, 2020

Hands Outstretched

March 3, 2020

The Unique and the Normative in Acts

February 24, 2020

Count Your Blessings

February 15, 2020

God's Extraordinary Work in the Ordinary Family

February 13, 2020

From the Books to the People

February 10, 2020

What is the Chief End of Scripture?

February 5, 2020

When Talking about Congregants...

January 30, 2020

Gracious Gospel Repentance

January 26, 2020

Un-Dragoned by the Lion

January 24, 2020

The Eternally Wounded Christ

January 21, 2020

Healing His Patients Slowly

January 17, 2020

Talking about the Church...

January 16, 2020

The Affectionate Pastor

January 14, 2020

Bringing our Children to the Table

January 7, 2020

Communing with Christ in the Supper

December 31, 2019

Old Testament Redemptive-Ethical Concessions

December 31, 2019

Not as the Word of Men

December 21, 2019

2019 Writing in Review

December 20, 2019

We Are Not Home Yet

December 19, 2019

In the Fulness of Time...

December 16, 2019

Interrelated Revelation

December 12, 2019

A House for the Son

December 11, 2019

While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks...

December 7, 2019

Self-Awareness, Love, and Overreaction

December 3, 2019

The Messianic Prophecies in the Book of Micah

November 27, 2019

A Half-Learned Christ

November 23, 2019

Disassociating Paul from Jesus

November 22, 2019

Who Delivered Up Jesus to Die?

November 19, 2019

A Biblical Theology of the Sacraments

November 16, 2019

The Christ of the Proverbs

November 13, 2019

Self-Awareness, Love, and Overreaction

November 12, 2019

A Redemptive-Historical Family Tree

November 2, 2019

The Word and the Power

October 31, 2019

A Second Adam to the Fight...

October 26, 2019

The Greatest Theology for the Smallest Problems

October 22, 2019

The Reciprocity of Role Relations

October 14, 2019

Sanctified!

October 11, 2019

What is Evangelical Repentance?

October 5, 2019

Eight Types of Baptism

October 2, 2019

The Vertical and Horizontal Cross

October 1, 2019

All We'll Ever Need

September 30, 2019

The Fight and the Faithful

September 28, 2019

The Cross and the Atonement

September 23, 2019

The Art of Spiritual War

September 18, 2019

Were Not the Right Man on Our Side...

September 14, 2019

For Still Our Ancient Foe...

September 11, 2019

The Impact of 9/11

September 1, 2019

The Law-Fulfilling Jesus

August 25, 2019

The Flesh/Spirit Distinction in Pauline Theology

August 25, 2019

Peripatetic Sermon Prep

August 15, 2019

Raised Through the Blood

August 12, 2019

On Controversy and Rules of Persuasion

August 10, 2019

The Canaanites Within

August 5, 2019

The Transfiguration

August 5, 2019

Van Mastricht, Edwards, and the Economic Trinity

July 31, 2019

Don't Leave Those Kids Alone

July 30, 2019

Bored with the Gospel

July 29, 2019

The Cross After Jesus

July 27, 2019

Changing Tides and the Unchanging Savior

July 15, 2019

What Must I Do to Be Saved?

July 12, 2019

Five Biblical Points of Dordrecht

June 23, 2019

Judah First

June 19, 2019

The Blessed Cursed Tree

June 15, 2019

A Better Vine

June 15, 2019

A Mantle of Love for the Weak

June 9, 2019

Three Family Graces

June 6, 2019

Worship the Man

June 5, 2019

The Grace of Waiting

May 29, 2019

The Most Difficult Verse in the Bible?

May 25, 2019

A Vision of the Glory

May 11, 2019

Praise Her in the Gates

May 1, 2019

The True Vine

April 26, 2019

The Ascending Christ, The Descending Spirit

April 24, 2019

He Stayed for Forty Days

April 20, 2019

The Resurrection and the Glory

April 17, 2019

The Cross and the Angels

April 15, 2019

What Ever Happened to the "S" Word?

April 1, 2019

A Two-Fold Forgiveness

March 22, 2019

The Analogy of Faith

March 20, 2019

The Worst Sort of Pride

March 19, 2019

Tassels of Grace

March 5, 2019

Why Not All at Once?

March 5, 2019

The Redeeming Depression of Jesus

February 27, 2019

The Cost of Christians in the Court

February 13, 2019

The Favorite 500

February 8, 2019

The Seed of Scripture

January 27, 2019

Two Went Up to Pray

January 6, 2019

Love and Anger at the Cross

January 1, 2019

The Resolved Parent

December 29, 2018

Best Face Off

December 28, 2018

To Whom Should We Pray?

November 18, 2018

In All Circumstances?

October 5, 2018

How Jesus Brings Peace

September 4, 2018

Retribution and Redemption

August 8, 2018

Understanding Opponents

August 8, 2018

The Redemptive-Historical End Zone Verse

July 20, 2018

The Doctrine of the Standing or Falling Soul

July 6, 2018

Crossing the Finish Line

June 18, 2018

The Household Baptist

May 22, 2018

Everyone Packages Knowledge

May 11, 2018

The Hope of Forgiveness

May 1, 2018

The Role of the Spirit in Current Trinitarian Controversies

April 30, 2018

Imagine There's No Hell?

April 16, 2018

God's Metrics

April 10, 2018

When Your Spouse Won't Join a Solid Church

April 3, 2018

It Only Takes One

March 25, 2018

The Glory of the Son

March 20, 2018

From the Sea to the Conquest

March 15, 2018

Little Eternal Beings

February 20, 2018

Planning, Planting and Pastoral Ministry

February 8, 2018

Which World View?

January 30, 2018

Calmer Than You Are

January 26, 2018

Keeping the Cross in Focus

January 25, 2018

The Mechanistic Church

January 22, 2018

Faith to Dry Up Puddles?

January 13, 2018

The Doubting Believer

January 12, 2018

Are Some Sins Worse Than Others

January 5, 2018

The John Murray Collection

January 5, 2018

The Church Jesus Attends

January 1, 2018

Why We Love New Beginnings

January 1, 2018

The Genesis of Theology

December 23, 2017

The Unique Church

December 14, 2017

The Pastoral Year in Review

December 13, 2017

The Grace of Confessing Sin

December 7, 2017

Creation, Incarnation, and the Immutability of God

December 4, 2017

On Being a Lifelong Learner

November 29, 2017

The Judgment-Mercy of God

November 21, 2017

Redeeming Thanksgiving

November 13, 2017

The Social Media Echo Chamber

October 27, 2017

James, Justification, and the Human Court

October 25, 2017

The Prophets and the Prophet

October 24, 2017

Criticizing Our Camp

October 9, 2017

The Last Cry of Dereliction

September 27, 2017

Gospel Poetry at the Table

September 20, 2017

The Unhypocritical Jesus

September 19, 2017

What Are You Waiting For?

September 15, 2017

The Ministerial Decrease

September 12, 2017

Closely Connected Care

September 11, 2017

The Sitting Christ

September 1, 2017

Nothing to Complain About

August 24, 2017

Diagnostic Decision Making

August 10, 2017

Identifying Elders And Deacons

August 2, 2017

When the Preaching is Bad

July 29, 2017

Reading God's Providence

July 26, 2017

Destroying the Good for the Better

July 11, 2017

The Greatest Book Never!

July 8, 2017

Discovering Christ in the Psalms

July 6, 2017

A Spiritual Inheritance

June 2, 2017

The Digital Sermon

May 24, 2017

The Weight of the Church

May 15, 2017

Old Man, New Man; Dead Man, True Man

April 19, 2017

The Roller Coaster Effect of Ministry

April 3, 2017

Being Professional in Ministry?

March 29, 2017

The Reach of the Gospel

March 23, 2017

A Biblical Theology of Glory

March 13, 2017

Of Ministers and Marriages

March 7, 2017

Interpretive Indecisiveness

March 3, 2017

The Ecclesiastical Pendulum Swing

February 28, 2017

Redemptive History, Union with Christ, and the Liturgical Calendar

February 24, 2017

When Christians Hurt You

February 16, 2017

Gospel Motivations for Gospel Ministry

February 8, 2017

Teachability

January 31, 2017

Jesus Loves the Rich

January 26, 2017

Did God Ordain Evil?

January 24, 2017

When They Walk Away

January 19, 2017

Picking Up Sticks in the Service of Jesus

January 17, 2017

7 Ways to Care for Your Wife

January 13, 2017

Singing the Mediatorial Praise of Jesus

January 2, 2017

Reestablishing Ministry Goals

December 30, 2016

2016 Writing in Review

December 29, 2016

The Future of Emptiness

December 27, 2016

The Minister's Grit

December 19, 2016

Sinful Anger: Its Cause and Cure

December 14, 2016

Joseph Did You Know?

December 12, 2016

Keeping Our Church Vows

December 6, 2016

Low Expectations...

November 26, 2016

The Kinsman Redeemer

November 22, 2016

A Year-End Self-Examination

November 18, 2016

Life Changing Sermons

October 28, 2016

Uncommon and Courageous Conviction

October 25, 2016

Time to Change Your Church!

October 25, 2016

Laying R.I.P. to Rest

October 19, 2016

When Jesus Comes Again

September 16, 2016

Fostering Relationships Between Church Leaders

September 3, 2016

When the Saints Go Marching In

September 2, 2016

The Little City Delivered: Christ in Ecclesiastes

August 17, 2016

18 Marks of Gospel-Produced Humility

August 13, 2016

A Christward Anniversary

July 20, 2016

As Seemed Best to Them...

July 1, 2016

Why Do I Write What I Write?

June 29, 2016

A Biblical Theology of Oil

June 1, 2016

You'll Meet Them All

May 12, 2016

The Family Idols

May 4, 2016

Pierced Hands of Blessing

April 25, 2016

The Least Attended Church Gathering

April 21, 2016

Holy Preaching Voice

April 16, 2016

The Spirit of Singing

April 8, 2016

Saying and Doing Hard Things in Ministry

March 24, 2016

A Redemptive Historical Lamb

March 22, 2016

5 Rules of Social Media Engagement

March 16, 2016

An Ides of March for Every Caesar

March 9, 2016

The Spirit in the Old and New Testament

March 2, 2016

Giving and Receiving Criticism in Ministry

February 17, 2016

Church Planting Mathematics: 10 x 100 > 1 x 1000?

February 4, 2016

Leadership Principles and Pastoral Ministry

February 3, 2016

When the Father Sacrificed the Son

January 18, 2016

Not-So-Great Expectations

January 6, 2016

Deacons and the Poor in the Church

January 1, 2016

Plagiarizing and Quoting in Preaching

December 23, 2015

2015 Writing in Review

December 18, 2015

Jesus' Star in the East?

December 15, 2015

An Angel's View of Christmas

December 9, 2015

God Has Spoken

November 13, 2015

Communicating and Connecting in Ministry

November 12, 2015

Sin, Self, State, and Savior

November 7, 2015

Our Shield and Reward

November 5, 2015

Grace is a Gift

November 4, 2015

...And Everything Else Will Follow

November 3, 2015

Christ, the Tree of Life

October 31, 2015

The Heart of the Reformation

October 30, 2015

Particle Board Preaching

October 28, 2015

Jesus: The Measure of a Man

October 24, 2015

Grown-Up Churches in an Age of Adolescence

October 19, 2015

Overcoming Discouragement in Ministry

October 16, 2015

Grace is a Person

October 12, 2015

The First Great Request

October 7, 2015

Vos on Old Testament Theophanies

October 6, 2015

Preaching the Proverbs

October 5, 2015

Handling Contentions in the Church

October 2, 2015

Four Gospels?

October 1, 2015

Dividends and Drawbacks of Small Groups

September 28, 2015

The Fourth Person of the Trinity?

September 24, 2015

Social Sin, Social Media and Social Interaction

September 22, 2015

6 Principles for Small Group Facilitating

September 15, 2015

A Tribute to R.C. Sproul

September 14, 2015

Ecumenical Fences

September 10, 2015

Extemporaneous Preaching

September 1, 2015

Redeeming our Reading

August 29, 2015

A Sense of the Love of Christ

August 27, 2015

4 Kinds of Pastors

August 21, 2015

The Church in the Community

August 19, 2015

Guardian Angels?

August 14, 2015

Sophisticated Temples of Modern Idolatry

August 12, 2015

Baptized with the Transgressors

August 7, 2015

How Martyn Lloyd-Jones Helped Start the PCA

August 5, 2015

Learning to Think for Yourself

July 31, 2015

What Should We Do When They Stray?

July 13, 2015

7 Areas of Unbiblical Conscience Binding

July 12, 2015

On Fencing the Lord's Table

July 1, 2015

Trusting Christ to Provide

June 28, 2015

The Symbolism of the Rainbow

June 17, 2015

Nothing Should Surprise Us

June 15, 2015

A Multiplicity of Mentors

June 6, 2015

Marks of Orthodoxy?

May 28, 2015

The Complexity of Pastoral Care

May 16, 2015

The Pastor and Social Media

May 16, 2015

Pastoral Ministry and Spiritual Warfare

May 15, 2015

The God of Typological Recapitulation

May 14, 2015

Jonathan Edwards' Preferred Method of Delivery In Preaching

May 6, 2015

The Real Miracle

April 27, 2015

Ministering to the Mobile

April 13, 2015

Echoes of the Glory of Christ

April 10, 2015

The Insatiable Quest for Greatness

April 3, 2015

The Crown of Thorns

March 28, 2015

The Spiritual Stages of a Believer's Life

March 25, 2015

Sing Your Heart Out

March 13, 2015

Jesus and the Flaming Sword at the East Gate

March 8, 2015

The Curse Reversed

February 19, 2015

A Biblical Theology of the Trees of the Garden

February 14, 2015

A Match Made in Heaven

February 8, 2015

6 Thoughts on Sacred Space

January 24, 2015

7 Thoughts on Sacred Time

January 18, 2015

Imagining the Image of God

January 9, 2015

A Divine Division

December 30, 2014

Did Jesus Descend Into Hell?

December 23, 2014

Rick Phillips on Jesus in the Old Testament

December 23, 2014

A Law-Keeping Redeemer is Born

December 11, 2014

Losing Loved Ones and Having Regrets

November 18, 2014

The Internet: The Great Evangelical Op-Ed Tabloid

November 14, 2014

A Romantic View of Ministry

November 12, 2014

The Great, Redemptive Multi-Tasker

November 10, 2014

The Sorrow and Joy of Imputation

November 6, 2014

The Race is Not to the Swift

November 3, 2014

7 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Pastoral Ideologue

October 25, 2014

7 Wrong Reasons to Join a Church

October 24, 2014

Jonathan Edwards on Adam and the Tree of Life

October 22, 2014

Working on Learning to Rest

October 18, 2014

A Biblical Theology of the Wilderness

October 7, 2014

The Importance of Being a Pastor/Theologian

October 3, 2014

A Church's Coming of Age

October 1, 2014

Loving the Place to Which You're Called?

September 27, 2014

The 6 Ingredients of Jesus' Bitter Cup

September 24, 2014

The Christology of Genesis 3:15

September 16, 2014

The Theological Significance of the Eighth Day

September 11, 2014

The Righteous One of Psalm One

September 5, 2014

The Covenant of Works, the Law and the Mosaic Covenant

September 4, 2014

10 Must-Read Pre-Reformation Works

September 3, 2014

Mansions in Glory?

September 1, 2014

7 Characteristics of Spiritually Beneficial Friendships

August 29, 2014

The Sin-Bearing, Curse-Removing True Israel

August 12, 2014

Preach the Gospel to Yourself?

August 7, 2014

Time for a Spirit Check

August 5, 2014

The Sin-Bearing, Curse-Removing Second Adam (Part 1)

August 4, 2014

Mini Sermons For the Soul to Sing

July 26, 2014

Spurgeon on Expositional Reading and Teaching in the Worship Service?

July 21, 2014

The Dangers and Duty of Confessing Sin to One Another

July 8, 2014

It All Leads Straight to the Cross

July 5, 2014

Geerhardus Vos on Supra- and Infra- Lapsarianism

July 4, 2014

Jesus: The Breath of Life

July 4, 2014

A Biblical Theology of Burial

July 3, 2014

A Biblical Theology of Burial

June 28, 2014

In Plenty and/or Want...

June 26, 2014

Are Some Parts of Scripture Greater Than Others?

June 17, 2014

Geerhardus Vos on the Mosaic Covenant and the Covenant of Grace

June 14, 2014

Geerhardus Vos on Sides, Administrations and Conditionality in the Covenant of Grace

June 13, 2014

Lord, Should I Forgive My Brother This One Time?

June 3, 2014

Ezra and Nehemiah: Types of Christ

May 30, 2014

What Was Jesus Praying in the Garden?

May 24, 2014

How God Even Works Sin Together for the Believer's Good

May 24, 2014

The Justification of the Good Works of the Justified

May 21, 2014

Dangers of Theological Controversy

May 14, 2014

The End in the Beginning: A Biblical-Theological Catechism (Genesis)

May 13, 2014

A Tale of Two Trees

May 9, 2014

The True and Greater Sweet-Psalmist of Israel

May 8, 2014

Jesus: The Wisdom of God

April 30, 2014

The Death of Jesus, An Act of Worship

April 27, 2014

Dr. John H. Skilton's Funeral Sermon For Rena VanTil--Wife of Cornelius VanTil

April 21, 2014

The Person, Work and Reward of the Redeemer

April 6, 2014

John Piper’s 10 Reasons Why Romans 7:14-25 Is About The Christian’s Experience

March 29, 2014

How Jesus Read the Old Testament (Part 2)

March 26, 2014

The Third Use of the Law and the Finished Work of Christ

March 21, 2014

The Greatest Explanation Of What Happens In Conversion

March 18, 2014

How Did Jesus Read the Old Testament (Part 1)

March 18, 2014

How Did Jesus Read the Old Testament?

March 18, 2014

The Christward Collective

March 12, 2014

Jonathan Edwards Christology of the Song of Songs

February 20, 2014

The Most Important Overlooked Doctrine (Part 2)

February 20, 2014

The Most Important Overlooked Doctrine (Part 2)

February 18, 2014

Jonathan Edwards on David as a Type of Christ

February 11, 2014

The Most Important Overlooked Doctrine?

February 10, 2014

The Most Important Overlooked Doctrine (Part 1)

February 5, 2014

Pitfalls of Parachurch

January 29, 2014

Geerhardus Vos on the Covenant of Works

January 22, 2014

Reading and Preaching the Text in Context

January 14, 2014

Death and Resurrection: The Key to the Old Testament

January 8, 2014

A Biblical Theology of the Good Shepherd

December 30, 2013

The Silence of Jesus in Judgment

December 27, 2013

Lloyd-Jones on The Gospel and the Charge of Antinomianism

December 26, 2013

A God-Determined Progress to a God-Determined End

December 25, 2013

Ray Ortlund's Isaiah Sermon Series

December 21, 2013

Learning to be a Grateful Critic

December 16, 2013

Vos on the Historicity and Interpretation of Genesis 1 and 2

December 4, 2013

John Calvin on the Great Exchange

November 22, 2013

The Theological Greatness of Jonathan Edwards

November 18, 2013

6 Subtle Ways to Hold on to Self-Righteousness

November 16, 2013

Paul, the Law and Eschatological Justification: Three Views of Romans 2:13

November 7, 2013

Does God the Father Love You Because of Jesus?

November 3, 2013

The Anatomy of Saving Faith

November 2, 2013

A Crisis In the Divine Government

October 31, 2013

Individual Personalities and the Gospel

October 23, 2013

The Strongest Evidence for the Deity of the Son

October 18, 2013

Make It Your Own!

October 15, 2013

The Parable of the Three Sons

October 15, 2013

9 Traces of the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Old Testament

October 13, 2013

20 Things Jesus Does As The Great Shepherd

October 9, 2013

Four Things To Keep In Mind For Your "Last Sermon"

October 1, 2013

What Would Jesus Drink?

September 28, 2013

The Grace of Remembering

September 16, 2013

Stuart Robinson's 8 Point Interpretation of Genesis 3:15

August 31, 2013

Suffering, Chastisement and the Fatherly Love of God

August 21, 2013

Baptism in the Reformed Tradition (Resources)

August 20, 2013

A Biblical Theology of Darkness and Light

August 16, 2013

A Faith That Triumphs And Suffers

August 14, 2013

We See Jesus: New Testament Use of the Old in Hebrews 1:4

August 13, 2013

The Apostolic "We" Passages

August 6, 2013

A Biblical Theology of Exile/Restoration in the OT Prophets

August 5, 2013

C.S. Lewis on the Right of Private Judgment

August 5, 2013

No Greeting From the Holy Spirit?

July 26, 2013

Because There Was No Sun...

July 24, 2013

Old Testament Personal Types and Shadows of Christ

July 16, 2013

A Bad Court In Which To Be Tried

July 9, 2013

The Wisdom of the Son (Law and Gospel in the Proverbs)

July 8, 2013

The Emmaus Sessions: Christ and Redemptive History

July 2, 2013

Tolerance that Parodies Love

July 2, 2013

C.S. Lewis on Beauty and Idolatry

July 1, 2013

John's Use of the Song of Songs in the Book of Revelation

June 29, 2013

Book of Hebrews Resources

June 28, 2013

Jonathan Edwards on Christ and the Song of Songs

June 16, 2013

Sinclair Ferguson, William Still and Eric Alexander Crieff Fellowship Lectures (1979-2007)

June 10, 2013

Jesus on the Inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture

June 7, 2013

5 Reasons to Join (or Not Join) a Church Plant

May 22, 2013

The Songs of the Son (Seeing Christ in the Psalms)

May 16, 2013

No More Consciousness of Sin?

May 12, 2013

A Pastor's Love for Christ

May 8, 2013

Why We Fear Grace

May 4, 2013

Why Was Christ Veiled in the Law?

May 1, 2013

Proud vs. Broken People

April 26, 2013

When God Swears to God

April 8, 2013

Taking Up the Hammer and the Nails (A Theology of Apostasy)

April 2, 2013

On Getting As Little Truth As Possible

March 22, 2013

Jesus' Compassion for Sinners

March 7, 2013

The Difference Between a Prophet and a Priest

February 17, 2013

The Holy Spirit Says...

February 16, 2013

John Newton's Olney Hymn of Gospel Types

February 12, 2013

The Importance of Time Management

February 9, 2013

Jesus and the General and Special Revelation of God

February 9, 2013

Sinclair Ferguson Sermon Series Collective

February 8, 2013

Warfield, Biblical Doctrines and Confessionalism

February 1, 2013

"Textual, Expository, Redemptive-Historical, Applicatory" Preaching?

January 31, 2013

The God Who Loves Finished Work

January 28, 2013

Jesus and the World to Come

January 22, 2013

East of Eden (Episode 12): Jesus Christ, the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever

January 19, 2013

Top 10 (or 11) Volumes on the Suffering and Glory of Christ

January 16, 2013

Eric Alexander Sermons

January 15, 2013

Edwards on Intellectual vs. Spiritual Understanding

January 12, 2013

John Owen on the Apostles' Christological Interpretation of Psalm 2

January 6, 2013

"We See Jesus" Sermon Series

January 3, 2013

Symbols of Christ in the Wilderness

December 29, 2012

The Parable of Three Lost Sons

December 16, 2012

The Glory of Man at Creation and in Redemption

December 15, 2012

Jesus: The Omega of the Old Testament

December 6, 2012

7 Years of the 9Marks Journal

November 16, 2012

The Aroma of Christ

November 14, 2012

East of Eden: The Biblical and Systematic Theology of Jonathan Edwards

October 27, 2012

The "Signs" of Tongues and Prophecy in 1 Cor. 14:20-25

October 26, 2012

A Divinely Inspired Anachronism of Eschatological Hope (or 'How God Enabled Abraham to Long for Heav

October 25, 2012

Death and Resurrection: The Typlogical Structure of Old Testament Redemptive History

October 25, 2012

When Christ Orchestrates a Prison Break

October 23, 2012

Jesus Runs the Church

October 23, 2012

Christ and the Tent in the Wilderness

October 20, 2012

Jonathan Edwards on Righteous and Sinful Anger

October 18, 2012

The Man Behind Monergism

October 17, 2012

The Clean for the Unclean

October 15, 2012

The Christology of Deut. 30:11-14

October 10, 2012

East of Eden (Episode 7) - Christian Knowledge

October 10, 2012

Christ's Gifts of the Spirit

October 8, 2012

"Precious" New Puritan Press

September 25, 2012

On Headship, Hats, Hair and Historical Context

September 22, 2012

Sinclair Ferguson on the New Perspective

September 22, 2012

The Emmaus Sessions: The Mosaic Covenant and Christ (Part 2)

September 18, 2012

East of Eden (Episode 4): Dr. Ken Minkema & the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale

September 18, 2012

Sinclair Ferguson on Preaching Poetry

September 12, 2012

The Emmaus Sessions: The Mosaic Covenant and Christ (Part 1)

September 11, 2012

Jonathan Edwards on the Typology of the Showbread and Lampstand in the Temple

September 11, 2012

Samuel Miller Publications Online

September 11, 2012

East of Eden (Episode 3): The Most High, A Prayer Hearing God

September 5, 2012

How Redemptive History and Example Meet in the Book of Hebrews

September 4, 2012

East of Eden: God Glorified in Man's Dependence (Episode 2)

August 28, 2012

East of Eden: The Biblical and Systematic Theology of Jonathan Edwards (Episode 1)

August 11, 2012

The Theological Driver's Seat and a M16

August 11, 2012

Sinclair Ferguson Sermons from His Scotland Days

August 8, 2012

Archibald Alexander Publications Online

August 7, 2012

Vos on the Typical Role of Moses and the Exodus (Part 1)

July 31, 2012

John Gerstner Lectures

July 28, 2012

On the Sabbath, Ceremonial Sabbaths, the Lord's Day and the Day of the LORD

July 21, 2012

Christ: The End of the Law for Justification and Sanctification

July 13, 2012

Jonathan Edwards' Seven Steps for Growth in Divine Knowledge

July 10, 2012

Christological Principles of Typology

July 9, 2012

The Emmaus Sessions: Christ and Redemptive History

June 28, 2012

Adolphe Monod on Jesus, the Mystery of Godliness

June 28, 2012

The "Not I, but the Lord...I say, Not the Lord" Sayings of Paul

June 26, 2012

Jonathan Edwards on Self-Righteousness in Believers

June 16, 2012

The Emmaus Sessions: The Abrahamic Covenant and Christ

June 1, 2012

Christ Crucified: the Center of Gravity in Preaching

May 29, 2012

William Still Sermons

May 28, 2012

Noah, Jesus and Preaching to Spirits

May 28, 2012

Teaching One Another In...

May 25, 2012

Jesus Christ: Savior or Example?

May 24, 2012

The Emmaus Sessions: Adam, Covenant and Christ

May 20, 2012

Three Ways the New Testament Writers Quote the Old Testament

May 18, 2012

Four Points about the Noahic Covenant and Redemptive History

May 9, 2012

"Confessing Our Faith in a Non-Confessing World" Conference (AK)

April 30, 2012

Vern Poythress on the Different Approaches to Scripture

April 26, 2012

The Emmaus Sessions: A Tale of Two Seeds

April 17, 2012

The Emmaus Sessions: The Church as the True Israel

April 14, 2012

Spurgeon on the Amusement-Driven Church

April 9, 2012

The Sermon on the Mount and the Savior on the Mount

April 3, 2012

The Emmaus Sessions - Jesus: True Israel

April 2, 2012

The Justification of Imputation

March 17, 2012

The Gracious Judgment of Charity

March 3, 2012

A Dialogue to Die For

February 27, 2012

Feeding on Christ - 2012 Giveaway

February 15, 2012

A Biblical Theology of Food and Drink

February 11, 2012

Gospel Justice

February 11, 2012

"Filling the Shepherd's Fold" Seminar

February 9, 2012

A Picture Worth 66 Books

February 4, 2012

A Cheap and Easy Way to Support a Church Plant

January 31, 2012

How Jesus Confronted and Corrected Others

January 9, 2012

Free Martyn Lloyd-Jones Ephesians Sermon Series

January 7, 2012

Paradise Restored Series

December 29, 2011

"For Unto Us" Sermon Series

December 29, 2011

M.I.C. iPhone/iPad Accessories

December 24, 2011

The Magi and the Scriptures

December 23, 2011

Seeing the Savior in a Poor, Beggar Baby

December 15, 2011

Isaiah an OT Paul and Paul a NT Isaiah

December 10, 2011

Sinclair Ferguson Christmas Sermons 2005-2012

December 4, 2011

Take Heed (December 2011 Tabletalk Article)

December 1, 2011

Identifying the Colossian Heresy

November 21, 2011

Reading the Gospels in Light of the Gospel

November 19, 2011

Sermon Preparation Resources

November 19, 2011

Sermon Preparation Resources

November 18, 2011

How to Handle Criticism

November 18, 2011

Sinclair Ferguson Lectures on Marriage and Parenting

November 17, 2011

The Marrow of Modern of Divinity

November 7, 2011

The Most Jesus-centered Devotional in Church History!

November 5, 2011

The Peril of Wandering (November 2011 Tabletalk Article)

October 29, 2011

Preaching Christ in the Proverbs (Video and Audio)

October 28, 2011

Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University Resources

October 27, 2011

New Keith and Kristyn Getty Christmas Album

October 19, 2011

Preaching Christ from the Proverbs (Lecture)

October 16, 2011

The Obedience of the Second Adam and True Israel

October 15, 2011

A Biblical Theology of Locusts

October 8, 2011

The Inner Ring (October 2011 Tabletalk Devotional)

October 6, 2011

The Double Crucifixion

September 30, 2011

The Dangers of Seeking to Restore

September 28, 2011

Sinclair Ferguson 2004-2011 Tabletalk Articles

September 26, 2011

Don't Waste Your Grill or Boat

September 26, 2011

The Astonishment of Jesus

September 16, 2011

Luther and Calvin on Galatians 5:6

September 8, 2011

One Thing Leads to Another

September 8, 2011

Free Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermons

September 5, 2011

The Secret of Sanctification

August 31, 2011

New James M. Boice Daily Devotional

August 31, 2011

Second Annual Reformation Worship Conference (Oct. 20-23)

August 26, 2011

The World Redeemed From Within

August 20, 2011

The Spiritual Decline of Once-Healthy Churches

August 19, 2011

The Hardships of Christian Ministry

August 17, 2011

Purposes and Preaching of Parables

August 15, 2011

Let Him Who Thinks He Stands...

August 13, 2011

Holy War: Jesus Style

August 12, 2011

PrCRT 2011 Conference - Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

August 11, 2011

The Elemental Principles of World

August 8, 2011