Truth Endures

This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of Dr. John MacArthur’s ministry as the pastor of Grace Community Church. While many are familiar with his excellent commentaries and other exegetical writings, most don’t recognize him as a pastor. But pastoring is where his heart is. He has shown his love for the people of Grace by doing what a shepherd...

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Spurgeon Saturday

Jeremiah 23:6It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think they would if they could always see their perfection in Christ. There are some who are always talking about...

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What Is Ex Libris?

Today, I'm kicking off an exciting new addition to The Banner. Ex Libris is Latin for "Out Of Books" which is what this site is all about. In an effort to keep things more accessable and organized, this page will now hold all the book reviews. I also intend to include links to other beneficial reviews on other blogs and sites. Basically,...

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Friday with the Fathers

Isaiah 40:11The Good Shepherd—Clement of AlexandriaFeed us, Your children, as sheep. Master, fill us with righteousness from Your own pasture. Instructor, give us food on Your holy mountain, the church, which towers in the air, is above the clouds, and touches heaven.“And I will be,” He says, “their Shepherd,” and will be as near to them...

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The Unspoken Downside to a Large Youth Group

Unidentified youth group returning home Saturday afternoon from YEC 20...

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Ex Libris: Made For His Pleasure

In his book, Made For His Pleasure: Ten Benchmarks of a Vital Faith, Alistair Begg's simple yet profound style is evident. For mature Christians, the subjects he covers should be nothing new. For many of us, it could be said that the topics are even elementary. That is not to say the book is elementary. On the contrary, each chapter brought...

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Coffee With Calvin

John 1:18The Lively Image of GodCertainly when Christ is called the lively image of God (Heb. 1:3) this refers to the peculiar privilege of the New Testament. In like manner, the Evangelist describes something new and uncommon when he says that the only-begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, has made known to us what was formerly...

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My Acts 1:8 Prayer Covenant

Dear Father, because you have commanded me to witness to all the world and make disciples, I covenant to do the following five things: I will daily embrace Your cleansing, fullness and power.I will pray for myself and my church to have a missional focus and aggressively witness to all the world.I will fervently pray for the lost and continually...

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Free Whitefield!

In conjunction with John Piper's upcoming Desiring God Conference, Logos Bible Software is offering Selected Sermons of George Whitefield as a free download. This offer is open to everyone--not just conference attendees. Even if you are not currently a Logos user, this is a great opportunity to get your feet w...

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Edwards Wednesday

John 14:2God’s HouseHeaven is the house where God dwells with his family. God is represented in Scripture as having a family; and though some of this family are now on earth, yet in so being they are abroad and not at home, but all going home….Heaven is the place that God has built for himself and his children. God has many children, and...

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The Nations Rage—Belgium Edition

As most of us were walking through our normal routine this past Friday, a 20-year old man named Kim de Gelder rang the doorbell of the Fabeltjesland nursery in Dendermonde, Belgium, asking for information. When the staff opened the door, de Gelder ran inside and “quickly pulled out a knife and started using it on the children.” Within minutes,...

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Tuesday Mornings with Augustine

Proverbs 21:21Desired GloryLet the desire for glory be surpassed by the love of righteousness. When our love of glory exceeds the fear or love of God in our heart, it becomes an evil that is hostile to faith. The Lord said, “How can ye believe, who look for glory from one another, and do not seek the glory which is from God alone?”The holy...

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More On Stem Cells...

First Things has an excellent post on embryonic stem cell research. Take the time to follow each of the included lin...

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The Stem Cell Millstone

That didn’t take long.According to an AP article this past week, Geron Corp. of Menlo Park, CA, “gained federal permission this week to inject eight to 10 patients with cells derived from embryonic cells.”The article claims that the change of administration had nothing to do with the FDA’s approval. The stem cells involved were part of the...

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Martyrs Monday

Matthew 5:16“I lost all my friends at school. Now that I’ve begun to ‘walk my talk,’ they make fun of me.” Rachel’s journal entries showed her disappointment that the very people to whom she wanted to show Christ’s love turned away from her. But she wouldn’t give in.“I am not going to apologize for speaking the name of Jesus. I will take...

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YEC 2009

The youth of Brushfork Baptist made it safely back from the 2009 WVCSB Youth Evangelism Conference. They had a wonderful time of fun, fellowship and feasting on the Word of God. I have three prayers concerning YEC 2009.1) I pray that the ones who attended don’t leave their commitments to the Lord somewhere between the altar and the door.2) I pray that their fire and excited passion for the Lord will spread throughout our church.3)...

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This Week's Memory Verse

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Puritan Passages

Psalm 23:6Helps to Prayer—Gervase BabingtonHave an eye to the sweet promises of God, concerning the suits of His children to Him, which are so many and so entire, as no heart, if it be not flint or steel, but must receive comfort and courage to speak unto such a Lord. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it...

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YouChurch

Recently, a fellow pastor and I were talking about a phone call he had received. Apparently the caller was new to the area and was looking for a church to attend. Understandably, she had many questions to ask, but the sad thing was that none of them had to do with anything substantive. They dealt exclusively with size, style, dress, and activities—not one question concerning faith and practice. Nothing was asked about evangelism,...

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Spurgeon Saturday

Psalm 91:3God delivers his people from the snare of the fowler in two senses. From, and out of. First, he delivers them from the snare—does not let them enter it; and secondly, if they should be caught therein, he delivers them out of it. The first promise is the most precious to some; the second is the best to others. “He shall deliver thee...

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God's Oxymorons

White… Christian… rapper.Seriously.There has to be an oxymoron in there somewhere. But certainly no more than retired military… introverted… pastor. One of the most mysterious things about God’s gracious call is that He is completely unpredictable. If I was picking a lineup of people to represent me and present my message to the world, I...

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Presidential Priority?

Between Two Worlds has an informative post on President Obama's public statement in recognition of the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Here is his statement--I encourage you to read the post:On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women's health and reproductive freedom, but stands for...

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Friday with the Fathers

James 5:10Memorials—TheodoretEven if a prize wasn’t offered to those who fight for true religion, Truth alone would persuade her lovers to welcome any danger for her. The divine Apostle Paul attests to this. He says… “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things...

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Ex Libris: A City Upon a Hill

Browse Inside this bookGet this for your siteHave sermons really changed the course of American history? That is the thesis Larry Witham attempts to prove in his book, A City Upon a Hill: How Sermons Changed the Course of American History.It is a fascinating study as he moves the reader from colonial times through the 20th century. In less...

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Where's the Banner?!?

Come on people... you really need to get on the ball! The Banner's not even in the Top 60 Church Blogs? I'm crushed...But seriously, there are some very good blogs listed here—several that I have linked to in the sidebar. Check them o...

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Coffee With Calvin

John 1:16True AbundanceHe begins now to preach about the office of Christ—that it contains within itself an abundance of all blessings—so that no part of salvation must be sought anywhere else. True, indeed, the fountain of life, righteousness, virtue, and wisdom is with God; but to us it is a hidden and inaccessible fountain. But an abundance...

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Politics, Pastors, and Expediency

Ah... the irony of it all....

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Weekly Public Prayer Meetings

How To Meet God In Your Weekly Prayer Meetings[1]See these meetings as a relationship journey with God, not a program or formulaAs you pray and read God’s Word, ask God to shine His light on what He wants you to change. When He reveals a sin, immediately confess it and trust Christ for victory over that sin. Above all, do not be discouraged...

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Edwards Wednesday

Psalm 103:13Gracious NoticesChrist is of infinite condescension. None are so low or inferior but Christ’s condescension is sufficient to take a gracious notice of them. He condescends not only to the angels, humbling himself to behold the things that are done in heaven, but he also condescends to such poor creatures as men; and that not only...

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Logos Bible Software Inauguration Day Special

Today only! In recognition of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States and the blessing of another peaceful and orderly transfer of power, Logos Bible Software is offering their American History Collection for $4.99. This collection includes:Common SenseThe Constitution of the United States of AmericaThe Declaration of...

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People Are Sheep...

The Wall Street Journal Online has posted a fascinating series of charts comparing presidential job-approval ratings. As you toggle through the charts, notice what kinds of historical events have triggered approval swings. Do you suppose campaign managers and media members with an agenda are noticing too?Understanding the fickleness of people...

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The Interview

I read the transcript of an interesting interview a few weeks ago. The religion reporter from a newspaper was asking a person in her town about his faith. What was unusual was that she didn’t just ask a couple of basic questions. She started off by asking the interviewee point blank what he believed. Like most people he answered that he was...

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Tuesday Mornings with Augustine

Isaiah 65:24Unceasing RequestsHe who knows what we need before we ask Him has urged us to pray by saying: “Men ought always to pray and not to faint.”The Lord told the story of a widow who wanted justice done to her enemy. By her unceasing requests, she persuaded an evil judge to listen to her. The judge wasn’t moved because of justice or...

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