Grace to You Blog

Personal Evangelism 101: Identify Spiritual Needs

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

It would be wonderful if unsaved people eagerly came to you with their questions about salvation and eternal life, but that’s not likely to happen very often, if ever...

Personal Evangelism 101: Take Initiative

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

As believers, we’re often surrounded by people who have no interest whatsoever in God or His Word. That indifference can be a significant barrier to our evangelistic efforts—how do we effectively bring the gospel to a world that doesn’t want to hear it?

John MacArthur's Encouragement to Faithful Pentecostals

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

John MacArthur knows there are those in charismatic and Pentecostal churches who love Christ, serve His people, and—like John—are disturbed by the sinful excesses they see dominating the charismatic movement. In the following video, John has a heartfelt message for those folks.

Christ's Model of Personal Evangelism

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

Once in a great while someone will ask me, “Do you know how I can be saved?” or “Do you know how I can receive eternal life?” Not often, but it does happen. And when it does, I’m always thankful that the Lord has provided a clear opportunity to proclaim the truth of His Son.

The Dangers of Demoting Scripture

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

How dangerous would it be to leave the spiritual operations of Christ’s church to the opinions, feelings, and personal preferences of its leaders? Can you imagine the uncertainty and instability of not having an ultimate standard of authority on all matters of faith and practice?

Perspective, Entertainment, and the Lordship of Christ

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

How do we make biblical decisions about entertainment? God’s Word doesn’t say anything specific about what kinds of movies or TV we should watch, or what kinds of music we should listen to. In the absence of explicit biblical instructions, how do we determine what kinds of entertainment are acceptable?

Priorities, Entertainment, and the Lordship of Christ

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

Our media-driven culture has redefined the pursuit of happiness. The American Dream—which used to consist of a loving family, a nice house, a white picket fence—now includes instant fame, endless riches, easy romance, and the blank-check promise that anyone can achieve his or her dreams. Reality television and the rise of the Internet are perhaps somewhat to blame for this phenomenon. But ultimately the problem lies in the human heart.

Worldliness, Entertainment, and the Lordship of Christ

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

As new creatures living under the authority of Christ, believers have been rescued from the corruption of sin and set aside for righteousness (cf. Leviticus 20:26). Our new nature is no longer compatible with the world—the transforming work of salvation makes us aliens in a lost and dying society, at odds with the very things we formerly loved. The lordship of Christ forces us to denounce the impurity and worldliness that once informed our character and occupied our hearts.

Why Confront False Teachers?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

The issue of false teaching and the question of how to address it is a present reality for every believer. Many Christians choose to respond with silence rather than incur the wrath of a world that demands tolerance. But is silence the best reaction to doctrinal error?

Stewardship, Entertainment, and the Lordship of Christ

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

God has given each of us a limited number of resources—in particular, time, money, talents, and energy. And we are commanded to be good stewards of each (cf. Ephesians 5:15; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Mark 12:30).

Christians and Entertainment

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 PST

Over the last few weeks, we’ve looked at several important biblical principles that help guide our decisions, activities, and behavior in areas of life about which Scripture does not specifically speak. The principles we’ve examined can apply to every gray area in life, including those related to entertainment, amusement, and leisure.

The Reformers and the Charismatic Movement

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

The highlight of the Strange Fire conference is going to be the opportunity to hear from several different godly preachers who come from a variety of settings, all united by their love of the Lord and their conviction to faithfully teach His truth.

Principles for Living to God's Glory: Exaltation

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

The clear testimony of Scripture is that it is enough; that it alone equips us “for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Believers don’t require supplemental volumes to deal with new, modern issues and activities about which God’s Word is silent.

Principles for Living to God's Glory: Evangelism

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

As those seeking to live out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), Christians should always consider how their actions will affect their witness to a watching world.

Would You Invite a Charismatic to Strange Fire?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

Registration for the Strange Fire conference is filling up fast, and we wanted to remind you that the early-bird pricing window closes at the end of the month. There are only a few hundred seats remaining and we don’t want you or your friends and family to miss this great opportunity.

What Does It Mean to Be "Led by the Spirit"?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

In preparation for the Strange Fire conference in October, we will post a new Strange Fire media blog every week. You can always catch up with the latest audio and video clips at the conference media site.

Principles for Living to God's Glory: Endangerment

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

By God’s grace, each of us has been created with warning systems to prevent us from harm. Pain is your physical warning system, letting you know when something is wrong with your body. Imagine how susceptible you would be to burns, exposure, and all kinds of physical dangers if you couldn’t detect pain.

Principles for Living to God's Glory: Esteem

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

It’s easy to forget that there are always people watching how we live. They might be your children, siblings, coworkers, friends, or neighbors—it might even be total strangers who regularly see how you behave. Regardless of who sees, very little of our lives takes place in total privacy.

Why Confront the Charismatic Movement?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

Like the sons of Aaron, many in the church today have put themselves in the path of God’s judgment and wrath through careless, unbiblical worship. In particular, the Person and work of the Holy Spirit is the subject of many deceptive lies, distorted ideas, and damning errors. And the evangelical church has been silent or indifferent on these matters for far too long.

Principles for Living to God's Glory: Entanglement

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

What sense would it make for a long-distance runner to drag several pieces of luggage behind him during his race? Obviously none—in fact it would be highly counterproductive.

Principles for Living to God’s Glory: Enslavement

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

Life is full of gray areas—the daily matters, issues, and choices that aren’t inherently good or bad, and to which Scripture doesn’t specifically speak. How believers navigate those areas has a major influence on their spiritual growth, their testimony, and their usefulness to the Lord...

Principles for Living to God's Glory: Edification

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

How do we make decisions about issues and activities that are not clearly spelled out in Scripture? How do we develop criteria to make those kinds of decisions in a way that honors God and benefits us, causes the Body of Christ to grow, and makes the gospel believable and attractive to the unconverted?

How Do I Glorify God in the Gray Areas?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 PST

As a pastor, I have the privilege of teaching people God’s Word, explaining its implications in their lives by clarifying a passage of Scripture or a point of doctrine. Among the common concerns people raise, I can’t remember anyone ever asking me if it was wrong to cheat, steal, lie, commit murder, commit adultery, or covet. Nor can I recall someone wanting to know whether a Christian should read the Bible, pray, worship God, or tell others about salvation in Jesus Christ. God’s Word is unmistakably clear about those things.

Instituting the Lord's Supper

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

Passover was the oldest of Jewish festivals, older even than the covenant with Moses at Sinai. It was established before the priesthood, the Tabernacle, or the law. It was ordained by God while Israel was still enslaved in Egypt, and by the time of Christ it had been celebrated by God’s people for some fifteen hundred years.

Celebrating the Passover

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

Passover was a very simple memorial. It was an intimate meal—no less than ten and no more than twenty people could celebrate it together. It was a divinely designed memorial that served as an annual reminder of how God protected the Israelites and delivered them from bondage in Egypt.

Deliverance Demands a Sacrifice

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

From the moment sin entered the world through the fall of Adam and Eve, death followed. While they themselves would eventually die as a result of their rebellion, their sin also resulted in immediate physical death—that of an animal, as noted Genesis 3:21 when the Lord made clothes for them.

John MacArthur on the Heart of a Shepherd

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

We want to bring this series on the Marks of an Excellent Shepherd to a close with a short excerpt from a recent sermon from John MacArthur. Coming on the heels of the Shepherds’ Conference just over a week ago, the message is called “The Pastor as a Parent.” With hundreds of visiting pastors and church leaders still in attendance, John discussed the attitude and heart of a shepherd and how he is called to faithfully serve his flock.

Marks of an Excellent Shepherd: Edification

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

It’s important to have the right priorities, especially as a shepherd. Distractions put your flock in danger, and a shepherd who is around only part of the time can’t properly care for or protect his sheep.

Marks of an Excellent Shepherd: Reverence

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

Writing in the early 1960s, A.W. Tozer rightly identified the dire lack of reverence in the church. In the opening paragraphs of The Knowledge of the Holy, he wrote, “The words, ‘Be still, and know that I am God,’ mean next to nothing to the self-confident, bustling worshipper in this middle period of the twentieth century.” It’s been more than fifty years since Tozer’s words were first published, and the problem he identified has only gotten worse.

Marks of an Excellent Shepherd: Integrity

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

Integrity is a nonnegotiable characteristic of a true shepherd of the flock of God. If he is going to lead biblically, he must do so without dishonesty, deception, or duplicity. His character must be consistent, his motivations pure, and his conscience clear.

Marks of an Excellent Shepherd: Selflessness

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

False teachers take advantage of people. They manipulate and intimidate their followers, hoping to strip them of anything and everything they can. Their selfishness drives them to always pursue a higher profile, broader influence, and all the material perks that come from fame.

Marks of an Excellent Shepherd: Faithfulness

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

Based on the enormous volume of available material, pastoral ministry would seem to be very complicated. Pastors face a bewildering number of choices as they seek to lead their people. They read books, attend seminars, follow programs promoted by church-growth gurus, and pattern their leadership style after successful pastors. But all too often, the programs, methods, and gimmicks fail to achieve spiritual results, cheating both pastors and congregations of the true blessings of God.

Every Pastors' Job Description

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

Many of my favorite people are pastors. I grew up the son of a pastor and the grandson of a pastor. And after more than four decades of my own pastoral ministry, and many years of training young men for their own, I think I have a good understanding of a pastor’s heart—both his joys and his struggles.

The Story Behind One Perfect Life

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

The following is an excerpt from a letter John MacArthur recently sent to the Grace to You ministry family about his new book, One Perfect Life. We thought you’d enjoy learning a little more about this new resource and how it can spiritually benefit you and your family.

John MacArthur on Evangelism

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 PST

First of all, thank you for your enthusiastic participation on the blog this week. We sincerely hope this series will bear much spiritual fruit in the coming days and weeks, as current events provide you opportunities to interact with friends and family concerning God’s Word and the Roman Catholic Church.

Exposing the Heresies of the Catholic Church: The Mass

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

The writer of Hebrews is inescapably clear about the singular nature of Christ’s sacrifice.

Exposing the Heresies of the Catholic Church: Mary Worship

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

After his prophetic vision of the eternal glories of heaven at the end of the book of Revelation, the apostle John described how he was overwhelmed by what he’d seen.

Exposing the Heresies of the Catholic Church: The Pope

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

One of the major, early catalysts in the Protestant Reformation was a book by Jan Hus, a Bohemian Christian who preceded Martin Luther by a full century. The book was De Ecclesia (The Church), and one of Hus’s most profound points was proclaimed in the title of his fourth chapter: “Christ the Only Head of the Church.”

Exposing the Heresies of the Catholic Church: Grace vs. Works

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

The New Testament is clear about the nature of saving faith. “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Romans 3:28). “A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus . . . since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

A Timely Critique of the Catholic Church

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

Last week Pope Benedict XVI made the historic and unexpected announcement that he will soon retire. As a result, we’re about to be inundated with a massive wave of news coverage and public discussion about the Roman Catholic Church, and specifically the search for the new pope.

No Substitutions

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

In the last several years, the proliferation of specialized ministries and parachurch organizations has been astounding. Today there’s a separate ministry for every biblical viewpoint, theological perspective, or practical interest, not to mention all the pseudo-Christian groups focused on social and political activism.

Rich Theological Instruction, From the Comfort of Your Home

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

We’re pleased to announce a valuable new outlet for John MacArthur’s teaching. The Master’s Seminary has created a new online hub for John’s various ministries, called the Theological Resource Center.

John MacArthur on the Love of Money

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

By now we hope you’ve had the opportunity to read John MacArthur’s blog post from yesterday on The Abundance of Giving. It highlights a vital aspect of life in the church, and it will be a powerful encouragement as you seek to serve the Lord in your local congregation.

The Abundance of Giving

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

When you think about coming to church, what aspect do you look forward to the most?

For the sake of this discussion, let’s assume your answer is something spiritually noble—nothing vain or selfish like wanting people to see you dressed in your finest clothes, showing off a new car, or trying to sell goods or services to friends at church. Instead, let’s assume the best—that whatever it is you look forward to most is somehow related to ministry.

What Does It Mean to Make Disciples?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

In describing the purpose statement of the church, many people point to Christ’s instruction in the Great Commission to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19)...

The Disciplined Church

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

What is the single greatest contributor to the impact, growth, success, and stability of a church? Some people might tell you it’s having a gifted pastor—someone who can rightly divide the Word of God, and do it in an engaging, enlightening, and entertaining way. Other people might tell you the most important thing is the music—you’ve got to engage people’s emotions through song and sound to keep them coming back for more.

Why Celebrate the Lord's Death?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 PST

At the time of Christ’s death, Passover was the oldest of the Jewish festivals—in fact, it was older than any other celebration of the Lord’s covenant with Moses and Israel. It was established before the priesthood, the Tabernacle, and even before the law. It was ordained by God while Israel was still enslaved in Egypt, and it had been celebrated by His people for more than 1,500 years. Why does that matter in a discussion about communion?

Navigating the Waters of Baptism

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

Many unbaptized Christians are simply ignorant when it comes to baptism. They’ve never been taught about baptism—what it signifies and why it matters. And what little teaching there is on the subject—you might find a random book chapter here or there, but little else—usually just further confuses the issue.

John MacArthur on the Importance of Baptism

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

Over the last two Sunday nights, Grace Community Church enjoyed an extended, intimate, interview-style Q&A with John MacArthur. These informal sessions, led by associate pastor Austin Duncan, focused on the early days of John’s career at Grace Church and the importance of the local church in every believer’s life.

I'm A Member. Now What?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

Faithful participation in a local body of believers is a vital part of the Christian life. It brings us into fellowship with other believers, submits us to the authority of the Lord through His church, makes us useful to God and His people, and shapes our identity in Christ and our testimony to the outside world.

Membership Is Loyalty

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

Church membership is not optional. Admittedly, there is no verse in the Bible that specifically commands us to sign on the dotted line and join a church. But the clear teaching of Scripture is that we are to be members in the local fellowship of believers, in every sense of the word.

Membership Is Identity

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

Our society is suffering from an identity crisis. Collectively and individually, people today don’t have a strong sense of who they are, what they want, or how to achieve it. They drift anchorless through life, following the whims and fads of the world instead of accepting responsibility and pursuing maturity.

Membership Is Submission

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

As a pastor, I know I will have to give an account for the people under my leadership (Hebrews 13:17). Every pastor faces the same burden for the men and women under his care. But what good is a shepherd if the sheep won’t submit to his authority? In an age of unprecedented ecclesiastical consumerism, how can a pastor lead, serve, or even know an inconsistent, fluctuating flock?

A Note to Our Readers

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

In the meantime however, we want to address a trend we’ve noticed in the comments. Some readers—perhaps many—are struggling to find a faithful, Bible-teaching church in their area.

Membership Is Fellowship

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

The genuine spiritual unity of saved souls is evident throughout the New Testament. And back then, just as today, that unity was manifest in the local gathering of believers.

Church Membership in the New Testament

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

It’s obvious that the early church knew its flock well. In Acts 20, Paul exhorted the elders of the Ephesian church to faithfully watch over and shepherd their people. But it’s very difficult to shepherd if you don’t know who your flock is. And sheep don’t survive well just roaming around on their own.

The Local Church and Why It Matters

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

I love the church. It’s the center of my life and has been since childhood. My father was the pastor of a church when I was born, and I grew up in the church. It’s the place where I was led to the knowledge of God, where I learned about the Person and work of Christ, and where I gained the knowledge of saving and sanctifying truth. It’s where I learned how to pray, how to sing, how to worship, how to love, and how to serve. And it was in the church that I experienced the leading of the Spirit of God directing me to a life of ministry.

John MacArthur on the Importance of Church Membership

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

Your local church plays a significant role in your spiritual life. In most cases, the local church is the primary source of Bible teaching, worship, discipleship, accountability, admonishment, encouragement, and fellowship.

What's So Important About Your Local Church?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

What’s so important about your local church? At a time when there’s more Bible teaching than you could ever consume available through radio, television, and the Internet, why should it matter where and how you’re taking in God’s truth?

Looking Ahead to 2013

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

Like most of you, we’re taking some time off to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. We’ll be back with new posts starting Thursday, January 3, when we launch into a new series.

No, That's Not the True Meaning of Christmas

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

The community where I live doesn’t make international headlines very often, but last week the managers of a local residential complex for seniors earned a large-print banner at the top of the Drudge Report. “Christmas Tree Banned: ‘Religious Symbol,’” the headline screamed.

The People Who Missed Christmas: Rome and Nazareth

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

An entire nation missed Christmas. All of Rome could have shared in the Savior’s birth, but they missed it. That first Christmas was set in a Roman scene. Herod, for example, was the ruler appointed by Rome. And it was a decree by Caesar Augustus that set everything in motion (Luke 2:1).

A Pastoral Response to the Newtown Massacre

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:00:00 PST

Prior to his sermon this past Sunday morning, John MacArthur made some comments about the school shooting in Connecticut last Friday. His words helped put the tragedy into spiritual context for us in the congregation, and we know they’ll be an encouragement to you as well...

The People Who Missed Christmas: Jerusalem

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

At this time of year we’re used to fighting against the tendency to let the busyness of the season blind us to the true meaning of Christmas. It’s easy to get preoccupied with the party and completely lose sight of the One we’re celebrating.

The People Who Missed Christmas: Religious Leaders

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

Lots of people miss Christmas. They might observe the holiday by decorating their homes and exchanging gifts with family and friends, but they completely bypass the spiritual significance of Christ’s incarnation.

The People Who Missed Christmas: Herod

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

Meet another man who missed the first Christmas: Herod. Matthew 2 tells his story. He was very different from the innkeeper. He wasn’t ignorant; he was very well informed.

The People Who Missed Christmas: The Innkeeper

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

“No room.” Those shameful words describe more than the inn in Bethlehem. They apply just as aptly to today’s world. Sadly, in all the busyness of our Christmas celebrations, people still make no room for Jesus. Without even realizing it, they miss Christmas, just like most of the people in and around Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born.

Having Peace in Every Circumstance, Part 3

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

Believers often find themselves living in contradiction to the world, and we should. The runaway anxiety and constant fear that grips so much of the world does not have the same hold on us—or at least, it shouldn’t. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at anxiety from a biblical perspective, and examining God’s care and provision for His people, and how that should free us from worry.

Having Peace in Every Circumstance, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

It’s only through God’s grace that believers can face every circumstance with calm, assured peace. Anxiety does not have to reign in our hearts—we can hold fast to God’s peace and provision through any of life’s storms.

Having Peace in Every Circumstance, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

Any anxious Christian would love to have this prayer offered on his behalf: “May the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. . . . The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Casting Your Cares on God, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

A prideful heart cannot find rest in God’s sovereignty. A person who values his or her own plans, opinions, and desires above all else has nowhere to turn when worry creeps in. In fact, pride paves the way for an anxious heart.

Casting Your Cares on God, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

The apostle Peter was a worrier. He worried about drowning when he was walking on water, even though Jesus was right there with him (Matthew 14:29-31). He worried about what was going to happen to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, so he pulled out his sword and tried to take on a battalion of Roman soldiers (John 18:2-3, 10). And when he worried about Jesus being crucified, Peter ordered God Himself not to go to the cross (Matthew 16:22).

Replacing Worry with the Right Focus

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

God’s Word is clear—believers are not to be given over to anxiety. But it’s not simply a cold, abrupt command to stop worrying. Scripture is clear that we shouldn’t focus on the plans, needs, and uncertainties of tomorrow, but it’s also clear about where our focus should be instead.

All Dressed Up and No One to Thank

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 01:00:00 PST

The atheists’ dilemma: whom do you thank when you think there’s no one to be grateful to? Thankfulness is one of the distinguishing traits of the human spirit. We sense the need to say thanks, and we realize we ought to be more grateful than we are. We furthermore perceive that we are indebted to (and accountable to) a higher power than ourselves—the God who made us. According to Scripture, everyone has this knowledge, including those who refuse to honor God or thank Him (Romans 1:19–21).

The Heart of Thanksgiving

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

We’re taking a short break for the rest of this week. We’ll be back next Monday to pick up where we left off in John MacArthur’s Attacking Anxiety series. But as we pause briefly to celebrate Thanksgiving, it occurred to us that one of the best antidotes for anxiety is a thankful heart.

The Folly of Worry in Light of Our Future

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

Much of our anxiety is born out of concerns and uncertainty regarding our future. We get caught up in our plans and programs, overlooking the blessings of today and obsessing over uncontrollable details on the horizon...

The Incompatibility of Faith and Anxiety

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

If you worry, what kind of faith do you manifest? “Little faith,” according to Jesus (Matthew 6:30). If you are a child of God, you by definition have a heavenly Father. To act like you don’t, nervously asking, “What will I eat? What will I drink? What will I wear for clothing?” is to act like an unbeliever in God’s eyes (vv. 31-32).

Our Father Overcomes Our Anxiety, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

God is sovereignly in control of all things. That fact alone ought to dispel much of our anxiety. And when we consider the Lord’s fatherly care for His people, we see just how foolish, unnecessary, and impotent our worry truly is.

Our Father Overcomes Our Anxiety, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

One of the most hopeless aspects of unrepentant sinners’ lives is that they have no answer for anxiety. They’re forced to put their hopes in flimsy, fallible plans and institutions. They aren’t able to rest firmly in the unchanging promises of God—they have to ride out every wave of calamity, every unexpected disaster.

What Did Jesus Say About Worry?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

You probably remember the “What Would Jesus Do?” trend from the late ’90s. It seemed everywhere you looked, plastered across T-shirts, hats, jewelry, and all kinds of other merchandise, the WWJD slogan was a blithe, shallow reminder to live up to Christ’s moral code...

Pulpit Perspectives

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

Most of us would probably like to read more, especially when it comes to current issues in the church and rich theological truth. But not everyone has endless time to scour the Internet or dig through seminary libraries to find top-notch writing on those topics. We get the sense we might be missing out, but we’ve got neither the time nor the insight to do much about it.

Observing God's Care

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes, is one of the most intriguing creations of literary fiction. He is, quite simply, extraordinary. His famous cohort, Dr. John Watson, is ordinary, at least by comparison. Watson has often been erroneously portrayed as a bumbling fool, but that flies in the face of Doyle’s attempt to make the average reader relate to Watson.

John MacArthur on Anxiety and God's Sovereignty

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

It should be clear by now that unchecked anxiety isn’t good for you. It’s a sin expressly forbidden by the Lord, so there is the spiritual cost to consider. But it’s also harmful to your health, your productivity, and your relationships. It wreaks havoc throughout your life, and as we saw yesterday, it strangles your mind.

Worn Out by Worry

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

Worry is a common temptation for all of us. The source of the anxiety might vary from person to person, but no one is completely immune. For some, it’s even a favorite pastime, occupying large portions of their days by troubling over their doubts and fears about the future.

Overwhelmed by Anxiety?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

Anxiety, fear, worry, and stress are familiar words in our day, and familiar experiences to many. More and more we’re hearing of an extreme form of anxiety referred to as a “panic attack.”

Attacking Anxiety

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

Fractured families. Crippling financial debt. Political strife. Rampant violence and immorality. Scuffling economies. Countries in turmoil. Unstable job security and an unemployment epidemic. Widespread hunger. Catastrophic weather events. Poor health. Uncertain futures. Religious persecution. In almost any direction you look today, there is some issue that could cause you to worry.

How Do You Measure Up?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

We’ve reached the end of our series on spiritual formation and sanctification, but before we close the discussion, I want to encourage you with some practical ways to evaluate your own spiritual growth.

What Is Sanctification? (And What It Isn't)

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

You probably know that most people in America and many more worldwide identify themselves as Christians. But how many of them can explain and defend the gospel, articulate basic biblical theology, or live lives that support the claims of their faith? The tragic fact is that compared to the vast number of people who claim to be Christians, very few are actually growing to be more like Christ.

Counterfeit Sanctification

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

Sanctification isn’t easy—it takes faithfulness, hard work, and self-discipline. And even then, it’s not purely a function of your will, but the work of the Holy Spirit in you. It’s not manufactured overnight.

The Burpo-Malarkey Doctrine

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

It's odd and troubling that the best-selling evangelical book of the past decade is a fanciful account of heaven spun from the imagination of a four-year-old boy. (Believe it or not, The Purpose-Driven Life and The Prayer of Jabez are both now more than a decade old.) Peddling fiction about the afterlife as non-fiction is the current Next Big Thing in the world of evangelical publishing.

A Pattern of Prayer from a Man of Prayer

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

What drives people to pray? Is it superstitious beliefs, religious rituals, or spiritual needs? Are they searching for some mystical experience, or do they simply expect God to grant their wishes?

Prayer: The Road to Spiritual Growth

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

Your prayer life has a significant impact on your spiritual growth. Prayer submits your will to the Lord’s, it aligns your desires with His purposes, and it cements His truth in your heart. In the end, it’s much more than simply bringing your requests and concerns before the Lord.

John MacArthur on the Middle East and the Future of Israel

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

We’ve gotten used to stories of violence, turmoil, and political upheaval in the Middle East as a regular feature of our daily news. The truth is, conflict has always been a factor in that part of the world.

Family Matters

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

For the last several years, we’ve had a front-row seat to a vicious, violent attack on one of the Lord’s most precious institutions. And make no mistake about it—the family, as established by the Lord, is under attack.

Elements of Productive Bible Study: Believe

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

The role of Scripture in your spiritual growth cannot be overestimated. In this short series, we’ve already seen the vital importance of reading it faithfully, interpreting it accurately, and even teaching it regularly. However, no amount of reading and studying the Bible will encourage your spiritual growth if you lack the illumination of the Holy Spirit. In simple terms, for God’s Word to do its work in your life, you need to believe it.

Elements of Productive Bible Study: Teach

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

Early on in my ministry, I discovered the best way to mentally retain something is to teach it to others. Preparing sermons each week has a way of drilling God’s truth into your head. And the things I study deeply to teach to my congregation are the things I have the easiest time remembering.

Elements of Productive Bible Study: Meditate

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

As we examine and evaluate the spiritual formation movement, we’ve been considering a key question about how the Lord works in our lives: “If God’s Word is the foundation of our faith and the source of our spiritual growth, how do we get the most out of it?”

The Campaign for Immorality

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 PST

If you’ve followed John MacArthur’s teaching for any length of time, you know he rarely says much about politics, culture, or society.

Elements of Productive Bible Study: Interpret, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

Faithfully reading Scripture is fundamental to your spiritual growth. But reading alone isn’t enough to sanctify you—it’s just the first step in the process.

Elements of Productive Bible Study: Interpret, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

When it comes to Bible study, too often people want to jump straight to application. They might be faithful to read God’s Word, but they skip an important step on the way to applying it to their lives. And in many cases, that application comes from only the most basic, shallow knowledge of what Scripture truly says and means.

Elements of Productive Bible Study: Read

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

By now, we can agree that God’s Word is the foundation of our spiritual growth. But how do the words on the pages of Scripture translate into greater godliness and deeper sanctification in the lives of God’s people?

When Study Isn't Study

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

Most people who claim to know and love the Lord would agree that His Word is central to spiritual growth. But there are a wide variety of ideas about what that looks like in practice. For many leaders in the spiritual formation movement, Bible study doesn’t really involve study at all. Instead, it’s an attempt to experience the text.

The Pitfalls of Biblical (Mis)Interpretation, Part 3

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

If you believe the Bible is God’s Word—that it’s His revelation of Himself and His plan for redeeming sinners, and that it supplies all the instruction and encouragement believers need for life, spiritual growth, and godliness—then getting the message right is of the highest importance.

The Pitfalls of Biblical (Mis)Interpretation, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

If you had to give a presentation on Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, how would you prepare? Would you study the work of scholars to absorb as much pertinent information and insight as you could? Or would you simply mull the few facts and details you already know, hoping for the shreds of disparate information to coalesce into a useful outline? Obviously the second method is a path to embarrassment, misinformation, and failure. But why then do we tolerate similar patterns when it comes to studying and teaching God’s Word?

The Pitfalls of Biblical (Mis)Interpretation, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

Whenever you’re speaking on behalf of someone else, it’s important to get the message right. Even in simple matters, accuracy is critical. Forgotten details and sloppy summaries can lead to confusion, mistakes, and frustration.

The Importance of Careful Bible Study

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

While we understand that sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God’s people through His Word, it’s not an entirely passive process for believers. Spiritual maturity doesn’t come through osmosis—it takes careful discipline and hard work, even in the basics like how we study Scripture...

The Steps of Biblical Sanctification

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

You probably hear a lot about God’s sanctifying work in your life through His Word. But what does that process look like? How do you know if the living truth of Scripture is actually at work in your life? How do you know that God’s Word has actually taken root in your life?

John MacArthur on Spiritual Formation and Biblical Sanctification

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

The need for spiritual growth is apparent in the life of every believer. We must be transformed, refined, and sharpened if we’re going to break our old, wicked patterns and grow in grace and godliness. The pursuit of holiness is a lifelong battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil, in pursuit of Christlikeness.

What Is Spiritual Formation and Why Does It Matter?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

It’s possible—perhaps even likely—that you’ve never heard the phrase spiritual formation before. It’s the kind of terminology that’s often sequestered in academic circles. But in recent years, the concepts and practices of spiritual formation have gained popularity in the church and brought related issues to the forefront for many believers.

This Week on the Blog

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 00:00:00 PST

Since this is already a short, busy week for most of you, we’re taking a little break from our normal schedule. We’ll be back again next Monday to start a new series on spiritual formation and practical Christian disciplines, and you can look forward to all John MacArthur will have to say about that important, controversial topic.

The Two Sides of Assurance

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

We want to close this series on repentance and assurance by highlighting two sermons from John MacArthur. Both address the issue of assurance—from different perspectives.

The Fruits of Repentance

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

What kind of evidence substantiates authentic repentance? When the crowds asked that question of John the Baptist in Luke 3:10, he told them to share with their needy neighbors (v. 11). To tax collectors he said, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to” (v. 13). To soldiers he said, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages” (v. 14).

Dealing with Sin

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

The tragic, inescapable reality of the believer’s life is that he or she will never totally and finally conquer sin. The Lord has transformed us, replaced our hearts, and reoriented our lives, but we still can’t completely escape the grip of sin.

The Lord's Negative Prodding

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

The Lord employs a variety of methods to bring about repentance in the lives of His people. Last time we looked at three positive means He uses to prod believers away from sin and back to His righteous standard.

The Lord's Positive Prodding

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

The constant war between our new nature in Christ and our old, sinful flesh is a recipe for spiritual inconsistency. Regardless of how long you’ve been saved or how much you’ve grown spiritually in that time, temptation to sin is always waiting around the corner (1 Peter 5:8).

The Genuine Article

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

What is repentance? The literal Greek word, metanoia, has to do with changing your mind. But authentic repentance is much more than merely changing your opinion, your thought process, or your mood. It’s a complete spiritual about-face. And if it’s genuine, it will always result in a change of behavior, too.

Quality Bible Teaching, Streaming 24 Hours a Day

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

We’re pleased to announce a new avenue for you to benefit from John MacArthur’s Bible teaching. It’s a web-based Bible teaching network called RefNet, and it was created and developed by our friends at Ligonier Ministries.

Purity and Conscience

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

We’re closing the book on John MacArthur’s blog series “Purity and Conscience,” but we’re not abandoning the topics.

Discipline Yourself

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

Do you realize that the difference between a sincere, Spirit controlled, devoted, godly, obedient Christian and a defeated, weak, struggling Christian is what takes place in the mind? They may be attending the same church, active in the same ministries, and externally doing the same things, but one is defeated and the other lives a spiritually fruitful life. The difference is the thought life.

Watch Over Your Heart

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

A good cleaning, a fresh paint job, and some gardening can make a great difference to the outward appearance of your home. But if the house is rotting from the inside—if it’s infested with vermin and filled with garbage and filth—all that work on the exterior is wasted effort.

Trustworthy Teaching in a New Digital Format

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

Would you like to have John MacArthur’s trusted insights into Scripture at your fingertips—wherever you go?

Where Sin Is Hatched

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

No one ever “falls” into adultery. The adulterer’s heart is always shaped and prepared by lustful thoughts before the actual deed occurs. Likewise, the heart of the thief is bent by covetousness. And murder is the product of anger and hatred. All sin is first incubated in the mind.

The Danger of a Sinful Mind

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

No sin is more destructive to the conscience than the sin that takes place in the arena of the mind. After all, who but God and the sinner ever knows about them? “Who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him?” (1 Corinthians 2:11).

A Note to Our Commenters

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

Throughout John’s ongoing blog series Purity and Conscience, we’ve heard from several commenters who are weighed down by guilt over their sin. They’re burdened by wicked behavior in their past or impure habits they still can’t seem to break.

Killing Sin, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

Killing sin is a constant discipline in the believer’s life. Destroying and mortifying sinful habits and patterns is a lifelong battle we must wage for the sake of our spiritual growth.

Killing Sin, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 PST

It’s not enough to merely receive the warnings of your conscience. You’ve got to act on those warnings and deal decisively and thoroughly with the sin your conscience uncovers.

Warning: Danger Ahead!

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 00:00:00 PST

What good would it do you to have a state-of-the-art alarm system, complete with highly sensitive detectors and the finest technical support, if you never paid attention to the alarm?

Taking Sin Seriously

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:00 PST

Unchecked sin is cancer to your spiritual growth. That theme has echoed throughout John MacArthur’s ongoing series Purity and Conscience. Over and over, he’s exhorted readers to listen to their consciences—calling them “the soul’s emergency warning system.”...

Clear Your Conscience, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 PST

A working conscience is one that’s free from the burden of unchecked sin and unaddressed guilt. It’s not weighed down by impurity or dulled by neglect. In a word, it’s clear. But how can we keep our consciences clear? How do we properly respond to guilt feelings in a way that keeps our consciences soft, sharp, and strong?

Clear Your Conscience, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 PST

It can be easy to forget how destructive sin is—not just in terms of eternity, but in our everyday lives. We’ve seen plenty of examples of how unaddressed sin routinely destroys families, friendships, and careers. But it also has devastating internal results, like robbing you of your joy and assurance, stifling your spiritual growth, and distancing you from the fellowship of God’s people. It also pollutes and ruins your conscience.

Strengthen Your Conscience

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:00:00 PST

The smoke detectors in your home or office are there to make you aware of a specific, imminent threat to your safety. But what good is a fire alarm that constantly misfires, sending you false warnings of non-existent danger? A malfunctioning warning system can be as bad as having no alarms at all—worse if you get in the habit of ignoring it altogether. In the same way, a weak conscience can do more harm than good.

Sharpen Your Conscience

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 PST

Just like any other emergency warning system, your conscience needs to be properly programmed and calibrated in order to function correctly. An uninformed, untrained conscience will be unstable and unreliable, consistently misfiring and misleading, or even altogether useless.

Soften Your Conscience

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:00:00 PST

Your conscience is like the nerve endings in your fingertips. Its sensitivity to external stimuli can be damaged by the buildup of callouses or even wounded so badly that it loses feeling altogether. Paul wrote repeatedly about the grave dangers of a calloused conscience (1 Corinthians 8:10), a wounded conscience (v. 12), and a seared conscience (1 Timothy 4:2).

Train Your Conscience

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:00:00 PST

In 1984, an Avianca Airlines jet crashed in Spain. Investigators studying the accident made an eerie discovery. The “black box” cockpit recorders revealed that several minutes before impact a shrill, computer synthesized voice from the plane’s automatic warning system told the crew repeatedly in English, “Pull up! Pull up!” The pilot, evidently thinking the system was malfunctioning, snapped, “Shut up, Gringo!” and switched the system off. Minutes later the plane plowed into the side of a mountain. Everyone on board died.

God's Emergency Warning System

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 00:00:00 PST

I’m thankful for warning systems. The dashboard lights in my car, smoke detectors in my home, even the little bumps in the road that let me know when I’m crossing over into another lane. If there’s any device or object that’s able to warn me of danger or impending catastrophe, I want it working for me. In the Lord’s perfect design, each of us has two built-in warning systems working to keep us from danger and harm.

Guard Your Purity, Part 3

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 PST

If you’ve spent any time around a toddler, you know that even the simplest, most basic instruction is followed by an unending string of whys. The attitude behind his questions range from inquisitiveness to rebellion, but the inclination to question authority is hardwired into us all.

Guard Your Purity, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 PST

A key and often overlooked aspect of God’s goodness is that He doesn’t give us commands we cannot fulfill. He doesn’t taunt us with impossible directions or challenge us with tasks beyond our ability. Part of the assumption in each of God’s commands to us is that, through the assistance of His Spirit, we’re able to do what He has commanded us to do.

Guard Your Purity, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 PST

You probably hear a lot about how much our society has progressed. Whether it’s technological or scientific advancement, breakthroughs in medicine or manufacturing, or any other area where progress can be measured, we’re eager to see how far we’ve come. At the same time, the culture is willfully blind to how it’s regressing.

Impurity Is Nothing New

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 PST

It’s no surprise the world thinks the biblical view of sexuality is outdated. Society tells you that you need to advance your thinking beyond the Dark Ages, open your mind to new perspectives, and get with the times. In a word, the world says you need to be more modern...

Discerning Leadership

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 PST

The language of warfare is sprinkled throughout the apostle Paul’s writing, especially where it relates to leadership. He urged Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). And he commanded believers to take up the armor of God (1 Thessalonians 5:8) and prepare for battle. His life was a spiritual war as he combatted false teaching and religious error.

Loyal Leadership

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:00:00 PST

In leadership and in life, loyalty is one of the great, essential virtues. We often forget that simple truth in the cynical age in which we live. Our society is so rife with corrupt leaders and so hostile to the concept of authoritative truth that loyalty is often perceived as a weakness rather than a merit.

The Paternal Aspect of Godly Leadership

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:00:00 PST

The pattern of servant leadership didn’t originate in the New Testament. It was woven into the fabric of creation, all the way back to the original relationship the Lord designed and established between Adam and Eve.

The Maternal Aspect of Godly Leadership

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 31 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

When you think of the apostle Paul, what comes to mind? Is it his bold faithfulness in the face of persecution? His bravery to preach the truth to any and every audience? His warrior-like passion for God’s Word and His people?

The Original Model for Godly Leadership

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Much like in today’s “me first” society, self-absorption was one of the defining characteristics of Roman culture. Self-improvement, self-promotion, and self-aggrandizement were the pillars of its social structure. Self-sacrifice was a foreign concept.

A Countercultural Model for Leadership

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 29 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

The secular first-century archetype of leadership was, of course, the Roman emperor. Every culture under Rome's influence was dominated by autocratic leaders and despotic leadership structures. Political rulers, military commanders, slave masters, heads of households, and even the priests and teachers of religion were all variations on the same theme. Authority was generally administered with an iron fist.

Leadership in 3D

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

People often compare pastoral ministry to the work of a surgeon. Both require intense study, disciplined training, and a deep concern for the health and growth of others...

Leadership Is Work

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Can you imagine rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls—as recorded in Nehemiah—under modern leadership models?

Brothers, We Are Not Monks

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Pastoral ministry is hard. Period. So it makes sense to me that when pastors get a taste of difficulty, they want to run away, fast. Frankly, it’s not an overstatement to say that apart from a divine calling, pastoral ministry isn’t all that attractive on its own. Who wants the grief, the pain, the distress, the discomfort? As Charles Schulz quipped through the Peanuts character Linus, “I love humanity; it’s people I can’t stand.”...

Leadership 101

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Our society often judges people by what they do, not by their character. When it comes to choosing heroes and leaders, style often outweighs substance. Sordid personal lives and all sorts of off-the-field antics are commonly overlooked—it is performance, not principle, that counts...

Brothers, We Are Not Rock Stars

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Everyone wants a piece of today’s A-listers. They’re wanted by book publishers, conference organizers, and adoring fans everywhere. In certain circles, some of them have trouble getting around without being noticed... Just to be clear, I’m not talking about Hollywood, Nashville, or Washington, D.C.

Who Do You Want to Follow?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

A glance around the evangelical landscape today offers a wide variety of leadership models and styles: entrepreneurs, kings, rock stars, motivational speakers, armchair psychologists, and modern-day monks. You would have to look much harder to find a simple servant.

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 6

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

How often are we guilty of using our prayers just like a drive-thru window? We’re too often driven to prayer by the needs of the moment only, concerned about our circumstances alone, and eager to get on with life as quickly as possible. We’re prone to myopic, self-centered thinking that focuses on how events impact our lives rather than how the Lord is working through them.

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 5

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Very few people make it through life without some sort of plan. The vast majority of us have to put a lot of thought into our schedules and plan ahead if we want to accomplish anything. And what we put the most time into planning says a lot about where our hearts are—too often vacation and celebrations get lots of forethought, while responsibilities at work and around the house fit into our schedules as needed...

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 4

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

What is the most common motivation to go to the Lord in prayer? Is it to confess sin? Or is it to make a petition on behalf of a loved one? Do we want to bring our latest requests to Him, or remind Him of something we think He may have overlooked? Far too much of our time in prayer is spent focused on us, not on the One to whom we’re praying...

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 3

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

How often do we actually think deeply about the words we say in prayer? These days certain names for God and phrases like in Jesus’ name are thrown around so haphazardly you wonder if they still have any meaning at all...

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

The worldly excess and spiritual shallowness of prosperity preachers and charismatic faith healers are easy to spot. It’s a man-made, man-centered theology powered by extreme greed—one that encourages followers to make outrageous demands for prosperity and personal gain, reducing Almighty God to little more than a vending machine...

Steps to Successful Prayer, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 PST

Study the exemplary prayers in Scripture and you cannot help noticing that all of them are brief and simple. Prayer that is heartfelt, urgent, and unfeigned must be of that style. Verbiage and windbaggery are badges of insincerity, especially in prayer. The prayer of the publican in Luke 18:13 is as short and to the point as possible: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Then there’s the prayer of the thief on the cross: “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42). Those prayers are cut from the same cloth as Peter’s cry for help when he was walking on water—sometimes cited as the shortest prayer in the Bible: “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30).

Appearance Is Everything?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 PST

An advertising agency wrote seeking our ministry's business: "Let's face it: appearance is everything. Let us help you enhance your image." My first thought was This agency must not realize they are dealing with a Christian organization...

Back in Business

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 PST

I’m not sure if you’ll consider this news good or bad, but the GTY blog is back in business. We plan to kick it off again this coming Monday, and we’ll turn on the comment thread too. I’ve got to warn you though...

Pastors of Vision

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 PST

John, would you consider yourself the “Pastor of Vision” for your church? What does it mean to “cast a vision” for your church?

MacArthur on Multisite

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Blog Comments

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

The day has come to close the comment section on the GTY blog. We are truly sorry to disappoint, but some recent staff changes have made this necessary—just not enough people to monitor and interact. This will be the last post where we’ll allow comments, but stay with us, we’ve got some great posts from John coming very soon...

Careful to Be Faithful

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Some commenters lately seem to have typecast Grace to You as a bunch of cranky old men, fearful of a changing world that threatens their long-held positions of power. If that’s what you or someone you know believes about John MacArthur and Grace to You, allow me to make a couple of clarifications. First, a word about the nature of this ministry...

We Can, But Should We?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Technology continues to advance at a pace that renders every new smartphone, tablet computer, gadget, gizmo, and doohickey obsolete almost upon purchase. And for every successful product—one that actually makes it on the shelf and turns a profit—there have to be ___ failed attempts. That’s why we take a bit of a “wait and see” approach to innovation here at Grace to You. We’re not about to jeopardize our stewardship by riding on the bleeding edge of every new fad that comes down the pike...

The Occurrence of the Virgin Birth

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Matthew’s explanation of the significance of the virgin birth came within the revelatory dream God gave to Joseph. Such extraordinary, direct communication evidently occurred while Joseph slept. Matthew does not record any detail of Joseph’s immediate reaction, except to say that he woke up and obeyed the angel’s instructions: “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus” (1:24–25)...

The Virgin Birth and Prophecy

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

At the time of Mary’s pregnancy, the idea of a virgin birth was not completely foreign to the Jews’ understanding of their Scripture. Although they misinterpreted it, many of the rabbis exegeted Jeremiah 31:22 (“a woman shall encompass a man”) in a way that suggested the Messiah would have an unusual birth. Their fanciful explanation of that verse (“Messiah is to have no earthly father,” and “The birth of Messiah shall be like the dew of the Lord, as drops upon the grass without the action of man”) at least preserved the general idea that the Messiah’s birth would be unique...

The Significance of the Virgin Birth

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

At this point in Matthew’s narrative, we know two indisputable facts. One, Mary is pregnant, and two, Joseph is not the father of the child. A third crucial fact comes by way of angelic revelation. The child in Mary’s womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit. That means Mary is still a virgin...

Joseph’s Response

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Have you ever imagined being in Joseph’s shoes? Think about his predicament. Joseph is a righteous man, betrothed to a chaste young woman. The future looks bright as he maps out plans to build a family with his soon-to-be bride. But then he hears the shocking news—Mary is pregnant. That’s no small dilemma for Joseph, especially since he is obviously not the father of the child. What would you do?

The Simple Announcement

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

If you didn’t pay careful attention, you might pass right over one of the most important announcements in the New Testament: the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew took only one verse to announce it. Such a concise statement, though it doesn’t all by itself prove the point, strongly suggests that our Lord and Savior’s virgin birth was not simply a man-made story...

God Became a Man

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

God became a man. That foundational gospel truth is pictured in every manger scene you’ll see around town this Christmas. Though the incarnation is culturally familiar, it’s utterly foreign to the unbelieving world...

The Extraordinary Birth of Jesus

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Extraordinary births are certainly not unprecedented in biblical history. As part of the Abrahamic Covenant, God promised to send a son to Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 17:19–22). They were both beyond normal childbearing ages and laughed at the prospect of being parents, yet they ultimately witnessed the miraculous arrival of their son, Isaac (Gen. 21:1–3). In Judges 13, an angel of the Lord told Manoah and his barren wife that they would have a special son. True to the heavenly messenger’s words, Samson entered the world and for a time delivered the Israelites from the oppression of the Philistines...

Embracing and Shunning

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

Executing faithful church ministry boils down to just a few essentials—a high view of God, the absolute authority of Scripture, sound doctrine, personal holiness, and a biblical view of spiritual authority. Those are essentials to any biblical philosophy of ministry...

Junk Food

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PST

We all know an exclusive diet of Big Macs isn’t just a bad idea—it’s more like suicide. But it’s even worse to gobble down the half-eaten burgers and cold rubbery fries you find under the back seat of your car. Repulsive, right? But Christians are doing the very same thing...

Two Clear Concerns

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

John has encouraged the Young, Restless, and Reformed... to keep reforming.

So, we asked John, Are you grateful for the YRR movement? What concerns you about some of the more popular, well-known representatives of the movement?

The Elephant in the Elephant Room

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

One of the more recent entries to the conservative Christian conference line-up is the Elephant Room, the brainchild of James MacDonald. The idea was to bring Christian leaders together for some brotherly sparing over “elephant-in-the-room” issues. Pleased with the results of the first conference in March 2011, they’re prepared for the second in January 2012. This Elephant Room “Round 2” is being promoted like a prize fight: “Your ringside seat awaits,” and “You know the rules…No wavering. No Sidestepping. No excuses.”...

Strengthening the Church

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

We recently asked John… As you survey the evangelical world, what things are strengthening the church today?

The Sin of Counting

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

I’ll admit to being weary, to the point of irritation, whenever I hear ministers of the gospel reporting their statistics as external evidences of success. And I know I’m not the only one...

You Might Be a Pragmatist

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

I’d imagine most of us on the conservative end of evangelicalism—whether you’re part of the YRR crowd or the OBR (Old, Boring, Reformed) crowd—we understand the wrongheadedness of church growth methodology. It’s easy to see how men like the early pioneers of church growth (Donald McGavran, C. Peter Wagner, Robert Schuller) and their most famous disciples (Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, Joel Osteen) got it wrong...

Coming Home to Roost

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

We learned in our last spot that it is possible to be a faithful and effective missionary without excessive contextualization. In fact, there was a time when things like translating the Bible, eating native foods and wearing native clothing, and learning to appreciate the cultural interests and activities of the people among whom you lived as a missionary didn’t require fancy terminology to validate it (like contextualization or redeeming the culture); it was just good common sense...

Contextualizing on the Mission Field

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PST

Okay, so contextualization as pragmatism is out. John MacArthur put that to rest. But is there any form of contextualization that’s legitimate? Certainly missionaries have to contextualize to evangelize in a foreign context, don’t they?

The Final Word on Contextualization

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

Several weeks ago Grace to You launched a blog series examining the subject of contextualization, the pragmatic approach to evangelism that says the gospel can be made more powerful by adapting it to cultural contexts. John MacArthur opened that series by asking an important question: Where did Christians ever get the idea they could win the world to Christ by imitating it?

By All Means Save Some

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

Paul’s one aim in making himself the slave of all was so that they might be saved. He was not trying to win a popularity contest. He was not seeking to make himself or the gospel appealing to them. His whole purpose was evangelistic. C. H. Spurgeon, preaching on 1 Corinthians 9, said...

“Contextualization” and the Corruption of the Church

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

It should be clear that modern church marketers cannot look to the apostle Paul for approval of their methodology or claim him as the father of their philosophy. Although he ministered to the vilest pagans throughout the Roman world, Paul never adapted the church to secular society’s tastes. He would not think of altering either the message or the nature of the church. Each of the churches he founded had its own unique personality and set of problems, but Paul’s teaching, his strategy, and above all his message remained the same throughout his ministry. His means of ministry was always preaching—the straightforward proclamation of biblical truth...

For the Weak I Became Weak

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul models self-sacrificing love toward unbelievers. He explains his willingness to forfeit personal liberties and accommodate himself for the sake of the gospel. He’s already mentioned two groups of people in the first section of this chapter—Jews and Gentiles. Paul was willing to forego his apostolic freedoms in order to reach both races. But racial application was only the beginning...

A Historic Moment

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

Forty-three years ago, John MacArthur set his sights on preaching through the entire New Testament, using verse-by-verse Bible exposition. Over the years he worked hard to accomplish that goal, and he didn’t merely hit the highlights of the New Testament or avoid difficult passages. He expounded everything in a bold, courageous, and in-depth manner that we’ve grown to know and love...

An Amazing Life

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

Norm Sper went to heaven Wednesday night. You may never have heard of Norm before, but you probably owe him more than you realize. I certainly owe him more than I could ever repay...

For the Gentiles I Became a Gentile

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

As long as it did not violate God’s Word or compromise the gospel, Paul was willing to accommodate himself to his audience. As we noted in the last post, that was certainly true of his Jewish audience. But Paul didn’t stop with the Jews. He demonstrated the same heart of sacrifice toward the Gentiles—all for the sake of the gospel...

For the Jews I Became Jewish, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

When Paul wrote, “To the Jews I became as a Jew … to those who are under the Law, as under the Law” (1 Corinthians 9:20), he was not talking about accommodating the message. He was simply saying he would not jeopardize his ability to preach the message by unnecessarily offending people...

For the Jews I Became Jewish, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

As we noted in the last post, Paul was not advocating “contextualization” when he wrote to the Corinthians, “I have become all things to all men, that I may be all means save some.” He was calling for self-denial and sacrifice for the sake of reaching unbelievers with the gospel...

Servants of a New Covenant

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

“All things belong to us, and we are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” Paul made that tremendous, seemingly unqualified promise to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 3:21–23). Christians are free. Yet there is a paradox that balances that truth. Though free, all Christians are slaves. It is a new kind of bondage: we are “servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). As willing slaves, we must voluntarily restrict our own liberty for others’ sakes. Isn’t that what Jesus Himself taught? “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Paul applied the principle of voluntary servitude to evangelism. He made himself a slave to all—including the roughest, most contemptible, loathsome pagan. Being free, he nevertheless joyfully entered into slavery for the gospel’s sake...

Liberty in Christ

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

It is crucial that you understand the nature of Christian liberty. As a Christian, you are not under law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14). Freedom from the law certainly does not mean that the principles of righteousness revealed in the Old Testament law are now nullified. It does not mean that the Ten Commandments have no application to your present life. It does not mean that you can subjugate God’s holy standards to personal preference. It obviously does not mean you are free from any moral requirements...

Giving Up to Gain

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

One of the most frequently quoted passages church marketing specialists use to justify “contextualizing” the gospel is Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. In chapter 9, he summarizes his gospel strategy by claiming he became all things to all men. But look again at what Paul is actually saying in these verses...

All Things to All Men

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

The notion that the church must become like the world to win the world has taken evangelicalism by storm. Virtually every modern worldly attraction has a “Christian” counterpart. We have Christian motorcycle gangs, Christian bodybuilding teams, Christian dance clubs, Christian amusement parks, and I even read about a Christian nudist colony...

Next: Did Paul Contextualize?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PST

For our next series, we’d like to piggy-back on John’s YRR posts to address an assumption that comes up often in discussions about the gospel, evangelism, and church planting. The assumption comes across in statements like this: “You’ve got to engage the culture to reach the culture. If you hope to reach your culture for the gospel, you’ve got to become all things to all people.” The oft-repeated refrain comes from 1 Cor. 9:22: “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”...

Keep Reforming

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

I’m grateful for the widespread response this series of blogposts has generated, including all the feedback we have received from people who disagree about certain points. Yes, a few vocal critics have replied with mocking or misrepresentation, as if to illustrate the validity of some of my central concerns. But most of the response we have received (including a lot of the dissent) encourages me—because it comes from young people who seem genuinely thoughtful about the dangers I have tried to highlight, and I trust they are genuinely committed to cultivating a thoroughly biblical worldview...

Settle DownDon’t lose your passion and energy; take charge of it

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

The “restless” aspect of the Young, Restless, Reformed movement is something of a mixed blessing. Restlessness per se is is of course no great virtue. But the energy, intensity, drive, and passion that underlie the restless tendencies of our young adult years are wonderful assets that hold great potential for good. They can be—and should be—harnessed and put to work for Christ’s kingdom...

Wretched on the YRR

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

Be sure to catch Todd Friel interview Phil Johnson today at 12:00 noon PST on his radio program, “Wretched with Todd Friel.” It’s sure to be a lively discussion about John MacArthur’s YRR series...

Discussing the Controversy over John MacArthur's "Beer" Posts

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

Been following the series? Heard about the controversy? Want to know what's really going on? Phil Johnson is getting ready to explain in an interview with Paul Edwards, today at 1pm PST. Here are the links...

The Brouhaha over the Brew

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

Looks like John MacArthur’s most recent article hit a nerve. He knew that before he wrote it—he knew it would offend some people—and yet he was still willing to write it...

Beer, Bohemianism, and True Christian Liberty

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

If everything you know about Christian living came from blogs and websites in the young-and-restless district of the Reformed community, you might have the impression that beer is the principal symbol of Christian liberty...

Growing Up: Becoming a Real Man

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

Biblical manliness is about authentic character. It’s not about bravado, and it’s not about boyishness. Going out into the woods with a bunch of other men, putting on war paint, making animal noises, telling scary stories around a campfire, and then working up a good cry might be good, visceral fun and all, but that has nothing to do with the biblical idea of manliness...

The Marks of Immaturity, and How to Keep Growing

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST

Selfishness is one telltale sign of immaturity. Babies are completely self-centered. They scream if they don't get what they want when they want it. All they are aware of are their own needs and desires. They never say thanks for anything. They can't help others; they can't give anything. They can only receive.

Paul Edwards Interviews Phil Johnson about GTY's YRR Series

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 PST
If you're following John's current series (Advice for the YRR), you'll want to catch this interview. Paul Edwards will discuss the series with Phil Johnson at 1:15pm PST. Here are the links...

Growing Up: How to Listen Like a Man

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
Before we put up John MacArthur’s second post in the series—what amounts to some fatherly advice to the Young, Restless, and Reformed folks—I’d like to interject a few thoughts for your consideration...

A Historic Moment

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
Forty-three years ago, John MacArthur set his sights on preaching through the entire New Testament, using verse-by-verse Bible exposition. Over the years he worked hard to accomplish that goal, and he didn’t merely hit the highlights of the New Testament or avoid difficult passages. He expounded everything in a bold, courageous, and in-depth manner that we’ve grown to know and love...

Grow Up. Settle Down. Keep Reforming. Advice for the Young, Restless, Reformed

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
It has been five years since Christianity Today published Collin Hansen’s article titled “Young, Restless, Reformed.” Hansen later expanded the article into a book with the same title (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008). He has carefully documented a very encouraging trend: large numbers of young people (college age and younger) are discovering the doctrines of grace, embracing a more biblical and Christ-centered worldview, and beginning to delve more deeply into serious theology than most 20th-century evangelicals were prone to do.

God’s Unchangeable Character

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
Whether you’re reading the morning paper or driving to work, you’re certain to encounter one of the most pervasive reminders of our humanity—change. Birth announcements, obituaries, construction, demolition—change riddles God’s creation...

The Extent of God’s Love

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
Have you ever spoken to an unbeliever who knew some of his Bible—just enough to be angry and confused? If so, you probably heard questions (accusations) like these: “What kind of God orders the slaughter of entire cities—women, children, and animals included—without mercy? Why does God allow so much pain, suffering, and evil in the world? How do you reconcile the love of God with the eternal flames of hell?”

Does God Love His Enemies?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 PST
I can still remember the chair I was sitting in years ago when I read a life-changing page in John MacArthur’s book The God Who Loves. In an economy of words, John exposed, confronted, and changed my thinking on one of the most critical areas of theology, the nature of God. My understanding of God’s love—specifically His love for the non-elect—was never the same...

Exposing the Ten Pillars of Gambling

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
Gambling is blight on our nation, a cancer that eats away at the souls of millions. In spite of the fact that increases crime rates, degrades morals, and destroys families, gambling has thrived. Why?

Gambling vs. Risk Taking

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
You’ve probably heard this argument before from advocates of gambling: “If gambling is sin, then so is investing in the stock market, buying a house, and even starting your own company. They all involve the same element—risk taking.” That argument may appear convincing on the surface, but can it survive closer scrutiny? Today we'll let John MacArthur answer that question...

Gambling: The Moral Antithesis of Charity

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
To review one more time, these are the characteristics that define "gambling"...

The Sin of Putting God to the Test

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
Here's a third characteristic of gambling. Remember, Gambling involves 1) Something valuable that is placed at risk; 2) Something belonging to someone else that is staked as a prize; and...

A Historic Moment

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
Forty-three years ago, John MacArthur set his sights on preaching through the entire New Testament, using verse-by-verse Bible exposition. Over the years he worked hard to accomplish that goal, and he didn’t merely hit the highlights of the New Testament or avoid difficult passages. He expounded everything in a bold, courageous, and in-depth manner that we’ve grown to know and love...

John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
The Banner of Truth has just released Iain Murray's new book, John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock. It's a great read, a fascinating story, and a significant work. Murray begins to put into perspective one of the most important Christian preachers of our time.

Does ‘Mutual Consent’ Eliminate the Evil in Gambling?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
We are looking at four essential characteristics in a standard definition of gambling. I have argued that each of the four characteristics involves a violation of one or more vital biblical principles...

Gambling vs. Faithful Stewardship

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
I closed the last post with a list of four distinguishing marks drawn from a standard definition of "gambling." All four of these are true of every variety of gambling...

Oh, and One More Thing…

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 PST
The following is adapted from comments I originally posted in other forums, but since what I have to say below is germane to the large subject under discussion, I've distilled it here and am posting it so that it will be permanently attached to this thread. Like my remarks in the immediately preceding post, this one answers several e-mails that have been sent to me directly, and a few posts that have appeared other forums...

Answering a Couple of Objections

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 29 May 2011 00:00:00 PST
Let me respond to some feedback that appeared in a different forum. I don't participate in the other forum, but the person who wrote this e-mailed it to me and invited me to respond. I'm posting my response here, because it might clear up some confusion other people have, too...

Gambling: Some Definitions and Distinctions

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 PST

Is Gambling OK? Don’t Bet on It

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sun, 22 May 2011 00:00:00 PST
Is it a sin to gamble? There's not an easy or instantly-obvious prooftext answer to that question. If you are looking for a "Thus saith the Lord: Thou shalt not gamble," you won't find it anywhere. Nothing expressly forbids gambling anywhere in Scripture...

Is God a Monster?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 PST
Nearly fifty years ago, the British agnostic Bertrand Russell penned these words: “There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ’s moral character, and that is that He believed in hell. I do not myself feel that any person who is really profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment” (Bertrand Russell, Why I Am Not a Christian)...

The Severity of Hell

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 PST
Charles Spurgeon once advised fellow-preachers, “Shun all views of future punishment that would make it appear less terrible.” Yet another timely word from Spurgeon—efforts to extinguish the flames of hell abound in our day, just as they did in his...

Is Hell Really Endless?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 PST
One view of hell that seems to be making a strong resurgence today among evangelicals is Annihilationism. There are slight variations, but it essentially teaches God will eventually snuff every unbeliever out of existence. Some Annihilationists make room for divine wrath, but they don’t allow it to extend beyond the lake of fire. In other words, they won’t allow God the full force of His judgment, which is eternal, conscious torment. For them, the lake of fire is what completely consumes and finally destroys sinners. Whether they see death as the end, or whether they see hell’s torments as limited in duration, the result is the same—a denial of the endlessness of hell...

The Truth About Hell

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
More than 150,000 people die every day. That’s 4.5 million each month, a number that exceeds the population of Los Angeles. Add to that the number of dead throughout human history—it’s a staggering figure. Tragically, many of those people died without knowing Christ. What fate awaits them? Do they really Rest In Peace, or do they find a different reality beyond the grave?

For Those Who Rail Against Hell

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
For the last two weeks, we’ve posted a series of articles from John MacArthur addressing the teachings of Rob Bell. It didn’t take long for one of the primary areas of contention to emerge from the comment thread—the nature of Hell.

Bell’s Inferno

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that religion is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

Rob Bell’s Unbelief in His own Words

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
“I have as much in common with the performance artist, the standup comedian, the screenwriter, as I do with the theologian. I'm in an odd world where I make things and share them with people." --Rob Bell

Rob Bell: “Evangelical and orthodox to the bone?” Hardly.

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
Rob Bell claims to be "evangelical and orthodox to the bone." But how is that true when he has consistently promoted views that are antithetical to biblical Christianity and hostile to historic evangelical principles?

Rob Bell: a Brother to Embrace, or a Wolf to Avoid?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
If Christopher Hitchens or Deepak Chopra penned a book that scoffed at the biblical teaching on hell, we would not be surprised. So why would anyone be shocked or confused when Rob Bell writes Love Wins? Has Bell shown any more commitment to gospel truth, or any more devotion to the principle of biblical authority than Hitchens or Chopra?

Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It!

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 PST
As much as we’d like to abolish slavery in practice, and even from our memories, the Bible demands that we remember. Slavery has everything to do with our relationship to Christ. We are His slaves, and our slavery to Him is the guarantee of our eternal security.

How to Slay Sin, Part 3

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
Let’s take a look at step three in slaying sin: Fill your mind with Scripture. John Bunyan, author of the classic Pilgrim’s Progress, wrote in the cover of his Bible, “Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” Bunyan understood what many in the war against sin don’t—the Word of God is the weapon you simply cannot neglect.

How to Slay Sin, Part 2

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
Imagine you’re facing an enemy on the battlefield who enjoyed a good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast, and a personal escort to the most strategic position on the battlefield. And here’s the worst part—you provided all those things! Sound absurd?

How to Slay Sin, Part 1

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
If you’ve been with us the last couple of posts, you know sin is your enemy. You understand it lurks deep within your members, warring against your soul, seeking to ambush you at your most vulnerable moment. You’ve experienced its power and treachery many times...

Know Thy Enemy

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
Are you ready to kill? That's a stark question, and it demands qualification, but killing is a regular part of the Christian life. There's an aspect of being a Christian that's downright violent. You see, God commands us to hunt down and kill all remaining sin—to terminate it with extreme prejudice.

Our Relentless War Against Sin

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
Have you ever wondered, “Why do I have to deal with sin at all? If God hates sin, if true Christians hate sin, and we’re all in agreement, then why must it remain?”

Be Killing Sin, or Else

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
If someone were to ask you, “What’s the most dangerous spiritual responsibility to neglect?” You might think of Scripture reading, prayer, evangelism, listening to preaching, or attending corporate worship. And it’s not that you’d be wrong…God commands all believers to pursue those things. They’re non-negotiable...

A Word of Caution to Fire Starters

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
If you hadn’t guessed it already, I work for Phil Johnson, the original Pyromaniac. I’m sure you have your own view, but in my opinion he’s not the Pyromaniac because he starts fires. No, he burns with a fire like Jeremiah (Jer. 20:9) and preaches God’s Word, which is like fire, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces (23:29).

Culturally Contextualized or Historically Connected?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
I heard this morning that some folks have been getting kind of fussy about one of John’s comments in the interview. The first criticism forwarded to me was from Ed Stetzer, one of the men who endorsed Darrin Patrick’s book...

Radical Individualism: A Good Trait for Young Pastors?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
In case you hadn’t heard, there’s been a bit of a buzz regarding a comment John MacArthur made about a book by Darrin Patrick in last Sunday night’s interview, “Theology and Ministry: An Interview with John MacArthur.” Here’s what John had to say about it.

The Heart of Christian FastingPart 4: Fasting Today

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
We’ve looked so far at Christian fasting in the Old Testament, the Sermon on the Mount, and the New Testament. Let’s get practical by thinking through how we fast today as Christians, trying to be biblical about it...

The Heart of Christian FastingPart 3: Fasting in the New Testament

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
A friend recently dispelled any concerns I had about the importance of this topic when he sent me a link to a popular website promoting fasting. A self-appointed fasting guru gladly tells readers how to fast, when to fast, what to eat—and oh by the way, would you please post a favorable review of my book at amazon.com?

The Heart of Christian FastingPart 2: Fasting in the Sermon on the Mount

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
After seeing the many good comments following our first post on fasting, I’m happy to return to the topic again today. Your anecdotes show the importance of addressing this subject biblically. It provokes the protective side of my pastoral nature when I hear that others, including pastors, have used fasting to manipulate and intimidate you spiritually. So, let’s go straight to Jesus and see these things for what they are...

The Heart of Christian FastingPart 1: Fasting in the Old Testament

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
There’s something about the topic of Christian fasting that makes people defensive. I know I’m that way. When someone starts to talk about it, you can never be quite sure where they’re going or what burden they may try to lay on your conscience. So let me put your mind at ease as we open a short blog series on the topic. If you don’t want to fast, don’t fast. I have no hidden agenda that I’m going to spring on you in the last paragraph...

An Unremarkable Faith

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST
Meet Larry, a thirty-six year old Science teacher. Larry married Cathy 12 years ago. They love each other and enjoy raising their two sons. Larry’s life wouldn’t hold out much interest to the average citizen. His Facebook account doesn’t draw many friends and nobody ever leaves a comment on his blog. In fact, most people would summarize Larry’s life with one word—boring. But not Larry. Teaching osmosis to junior high students, playing Uno with his kids, and working in the yard with Cathy is paradise to him. But the real love of his life is Jesus. Larry’s a Christian. He’s been walking with the Lord for more than 20 years...

Once Saved, Always Saved?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST
Listen to a discussion about eternal security and you’ll eventually hear this question: “Are you saying that since we’re secure as Christians, we can do whatever we want to?” It’s the “once saved, always saved” idea that says, once you are saved, you’re saved no matter how you may behave. But the question really misunderstands the biblical teaching about our sin and God’s grace in our lives.

How Firm Our Foundation

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST
Let me ask you a theological question: Are you born again which results in your believing in Christ, or does your faith in Christ result in your being born again? Maybe you think I’m just playing with words, but how you answer that question significantly affects what you believe about man’s sin, God’s salvation, and more important, your eternal security.

Is Eternal Life Always Eternal?

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST
I remember exactly where I was when I discovered some Christians believe eternal life may not always be eternal. The moment is still etched in my memory...

I Can't Handle This!

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST
Maybe you’ve been reading the series “How to Slay Sin.” But while you know the Scripture lays out clear principles, all you can think is, It’s just too hard. Or maybe you’re not struggling with sin at all but rather a very painful circumstance—an illness, death, financial crisis, or conflict—that feels like it’s too much for you to handle. Whatever situation you’re in, God has a message for you.

When Sin Plays Dead

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST
Have you ever watched an opossum escape from a predator? They use a defense mechanism distinct to only a few animals—playing dead. When faced with a threat, an opossum will often fall on the ground, close his eyes, extend his limbs, and lie very still. He appears lifeless—and harmless. But when the danger passes, he revives and scurries away. You can almost hear laughter as he makes his escape...

How to Slay Sin, Part 4

letters@gty.org (Grace to You) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 PST
We’ve been considering some of the necessary steps toward killing sin. That’s a binding command for every believer. No one is exempt from slaying sin (Col. 3:5), but no one is powerless against it either (Rom. 8:13). God has equipped and empowered all those who abide in Christ (John 15:5) with the necessary wisdom and weapons to succeed. Here are the steps we have considered...