Full Moon Rising
This book looks like a very helpful one for children. The site description says:
Through this illustrated tale about the moon stealing the sun’s glory, children learn about the importance of humility and the dangers of pride.
This rhyming, rollicking tale tells of a crime of cosmic proportions: the moon, blinded by pride, fails to see the true source of his abilities—the light provided by the sun. He boasts of his ability to shine, to change shape throughout each month, and to swell the tides. One day, overwhelmed by a piercing ray of sunshine, the moon repents of his pride and changes his ways, and from that point on he is happy to reflect the sun’s light.
This beautifully illustrated book introduces the concept of humility to children. Readers will be reminded that everything we have, including our gifts and talents, is from God. Just as the moon learns to boast only of the sun, children—and their parents—learn that to boast of anything other than the Son is utter foolishness.
Visit Book Site here to preview and learn more.
HT: JT
disclaimer: I receive no benefit for the purchase of this book through amazon due to new North Carolina laws. therefore I have retained JT’s link that it might bless him if purchased through this site. Blessings.
Read MoreSix Teachings on Humility
David Mathis of Desiring God shares six texts summarized in a helpful teaching statement on humility. His article includes far more, but I found these statements helpful in themselves, may God use them to foster greater humility in our lives:
- Humility is glad that God gets all the credit for choosing us so that we boast only in him and not man. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
- Humility happily admits that everything we have is a free gift from God, so that we can’t boast in it. (1 Corinthians 4:6-7)
- Humility is glad to affirm that God sovereignly governs our heartbeats and safe arrivals, or non-arrivals. (James 4:13-17)
- Humility is rooted in the good news that Jesus died for our sins. That’s how sinful we were. That’s how dependent we are. (Colossians 3:12 -3)
- Humility gives itself away in serving everyone rather than seeking to be served. (Philippians 2:5-8)
- And humility is glad to affirm that this service is true greatness. (Mark 10:42-45)
Sanctification a Category of Glorification
John Piper shares a helpful observation on Romans 8:29-30 and indicates that sanctification is a category of or as the article says, included in glorification. Very helpful. Here is the article below.Have you ever wondered why “sanctification” is missing from this golden chain in Romans 8:29-30?
Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Foreknown, predestined, called, justified, __________, glorified. Shouldn’t “sanctified” fill in that blank space? Romans 6:22 says that believers receive “sanctification and its end, eternal life.” And 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says that we are “saved, through sanctification by the Spirit.”
The answer is, no, “sanctification” does not belong in space because it is included in “glorified.”
In Paul’s mind the process called sanctification in this life—the process of transformation from one degree of holiness to the next—is the first stage of glorification. He says,
We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
The progressive change that happens in this life can be described in terms of holiness or glory—sanctification or glorification.
The age to come will be a place of great physical glory. But mainly it will be a place of infinite moral and spiritual glory. The main beauty will be the beauty of holiness.
Therefore be amazed and sobered that this life is not just a waiting period for that day. You are being changed now “from one degree of glory to the another.” You are being glorified. That is, you are being sanctified. That is, you are being made morally glorious for the age to come.
Read MoreYesterday’s Founder’s Meeting on The Christology of Owen
Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting together with ten men associated with the Eastern North Carolina Founders Fraternal. ENCFF is a group of Southern Baptist pastors who are reformed and baptist. I went with another local pastor in the area and enjoyed good fellowship around the Word and ministry. In addition, two of the brothers were also associated with the North Carolina Gospel Coalition Group that I am heading up (pray for that to be helpful in the future).
Yesterday we sat down with Dr. Richard Daniels who wrote The Christology of John Owen. Daniels enticed us to read Owen as he began with highlighting Owen’s contribution to theology. Owen was probably the greatest theologian that Britain ever produced. he was invited to be the first president of Harvard University.
Thereafter, Daniels gave some admonitions flowing from Owen’s teachings:
- Don’t preach the teachings of Jesus–Preach Jesus!
- Don’t focus on the practical, but on Christ (knowing Him).
- Don’t teach Christian living without teaching the doctrine of Christ.
Concerning some of the teachings of Owen, Daniels explained the following:
What was wrong with us that God had to fix? restoration of the image of God–we must be restored to glorify God.
Sin had to be punished. It cannot just be forgiven, otherwise you have an unjust judge. To hate sin is to have a nature to punish sin.
Man by sin put himself under the power of the devil.
God delivers many by morally undoing what the devil did via a work of redemption/justice, not physically.
Man is insufficient to restore himself. God will not be the loser of what was lost [Glory].
God coming under the Law as a Son gives God greater glory…manifesting the Wisdom of God…greater than a sinless Adam would have.
Concerning Limited Atonement…
Owen did not set out to so much to prove Limited Atonement, but rather taught what is great about the atonement, God’s design to bring glory to himself by an effectual salvation to repair the whole universe and prior to save and restore the image and the glory of God in mankind.
Design–> not Christ to die and nobody get saved. but–>Christ die to SAVE.
Therefore do not answer objections that people may place up about Limited Atonement (ex. what about ‘all’, ‘the world’, etc.) before a positive exposition of the atonement.
Does Limited Atonement curtail the Gospel? Is it an impediment to Evangelism? The Canons of Dort: The Gospel ought to be declared to all nations and peoples.
Let us clear every obstacle from the path of Christ!
God is so full that he is pained to get the Gospel to us? What is the Gospel? Is it some difficult service to do? No, it is “come, take pardon, mercy, be reconciled through Christ!”
Then, how can men be blamed for their unbelief? The free-ness of the Gospel offer, the grace of God, the riches of God’s mercy. It is not because they cannot come, but because they WILL NOT. Nothing will tend to the Glory of God than this…terms of peace, a blessed way of forgiveness were tendered unto them…[but] going to heaven is not a thing of course [you must receive the thing tendered/what is offered].
There was more, but these little jots above are what were most notable. But one thing of further note may tend to the glory of God. Proverbs 9 was referenced twice in the latter part of our study; I am scheduled to preach on Proverbs 9 this Sunday. Blessings Beloved!
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