Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Resolutions - Jonathan Edwards (Puritan)

A large video collection of classic hymns, contemporary Praise and Worship songs, and the works (audio books, devotional readings, and sermons) of men greatly used of God, such as: Charles Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, A.W. Tozer, A.W. Pink, John Owen, Oswald Chambers, Andrew Murray, E.M. Bounds, John Bunyan, George Whitefield, and many more, covering topics on many aspects of the Christian life. May your time spent here be blessed.

http://vid.io/x3F
Resolutions - Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards playlist: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list...

"Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake...Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week."

- Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards - (1703-1758), American puritan theologian and philosopher

Edwards was born in East Windsor, Connecticut, to Timothy Edwards, pastor of East Windsor, and Esther Edwards. The only son in a family of eleven children, he entered Yale in September, 1716 when he was not yet thirteen and graduated four years later (1720) as valedictorian. He received his Masters three years later.

As a youth, Edwards was unable to accept the Calvinist sovereignty of God. He once wrote, "From my childhood up my mind had been full of objections against the doctrine of God's sovereignty It used to appear like a horrible doctrine to me." However, in 1721 he came to the conviction, one he called a "delightful conviction." He was meditating on 1 Timothy 1:17, and later remarked, "As I read the words, there came into my soul, and was as it were diffused through it, a sense of the glory of the Divine Being; a new sense, quite different from any thing I ever experienced before I thought with myself, how excellent a Being that was, and how happy I should be, if I might enjoy that God, and be rapt up to him in heaven; and be as it were swallowed up in him for ever!" From that point on, Edwards delighted in the sovereignty of God. Edwards later recognized this as his conversion to Christ.

In 1727 he was ordained minister at Northampton and assistant to his maternal grandfather, Solomon Stoddard. He was a student minister, not a visiting pastor, his rule being thirteen hours of study a day. In the same year, he married Sarah Pierpont, then age seventeen, daughter of James Pierpont (1659-1714), a founder of Yale, originally called the Collegiate School. In total, Jonathan and Sarah had eleven children.

Solomon Stoddard died on February 11th, 1729, leaving to his grandson the difficult task of the sole ministerial charge of one of the largest and wealthiest congregations in the colony. Throughout his time in Northampton his preaching brought remarkable religious revivals. Jonathan Edwards was a key figure in what has come to be called the First Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s.

Yet, tensions flamed as Edwards would not continue his grandfather's practice of open communion. Stoddard, his grandfather, believed that communion was a "converting ordinance." Surrounding congregations had been convinced of this, and as Edwards became more convinced that this was harmful, his public disagreement with the idea caused his dismissal in 1750.

Edwards then moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, then a frontier settlement, where he ministered to a small congregation and served as missionary to the Housatonic Indians. There, having more time for study and writing, he completed his celebrated work, The Freedom of the Will (1754).

Edwards was elected president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in early 1758. He was a popular choice, for he had been a friend of the College since its inception and was the most eminent American philosopher-theologian of his time. On March 22, 1758, he died of fever at the age of fifty-four following experimental inoculation for smallpox and was buried in the President's Lot in the Princeton cemetery beside his son-in-law, Aaron Burr.

Monday, December 29, 2014

The Time Is Now: Daily Reflections for Advent, December 29

Advent is a time of preparation – a time when we reflect on the coming of the Lord in the Person of Christ. These daily studies take us right through December and dwell on God’s preparation of people and events in history, which made the incarnation possible.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Hope For Your Loved Ones



Having an unsaved loved one on their deathbed isn't easy. Hear Dean’s testimony of a son who shared his faith for over 30 years before seeing the fruits of his labor. 

We hope that watching it will encourage and inspire you to continue to pray for and share the gospel with your lost friends and family members. 

Feel free to share the video on social media. We look forward to seeing what God does with it!

To learn more about partnering with us you can visit: http://www.LivingWaters.com/Partner

Thursday, December 25, 2014

How Do I Spread Christmas?

Bobby explains how we can spread the message of Christmas throughout the year.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Is Christmas A Pagan Festival?




Bobby looks at the origins of the Christmas holiday.

Monday, December 22, 2014

The Time Is Now: Daily Reflections for Advent, December 22

Advent is a time of preparation – a time when we reflect on the coming of the Lord in the Person of Christ. These daily studies take us right through December and dwell on God’s preparation of people and events in history, which made the incarnation possible.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Dealing with Christian Doubt

A special HBU Convocation featuring a discussion between William Lane Craig and Lee Strobel on the campus of Houston Baptist University.

Monday, December 15, 2014

The Time Is Now: Daily Reflections for Advent, December 15

Advent is a time of preparation – a time when we reflect on the coming of the Lord in the Person of Christ. These daily studies take us right through December and dwell on God’s preparation of people and events in history, which made the incarnation possible.

Friday, December 12, 2014

The Prince's Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul

In The Prince's Poison Cup, R.C. Sproul focuses in on the atonement to show that Jesus had to endure the curse of sin in order to redeem His people from their spiritual death. 

When Ella gets sick and has to take yucky medicine, she wonders why something that will help her get well has to taste so bad. When she puts the question to Grandpa, he tells her the story of a great King and His subjects who enjoyed wonderful times together—until the people rebelled against the King and drank from a forbidden well. To their horror, they found that the beautiful water in the well made their hearts turn to stone. To reclaim His people, the King asks His Son, the Prince, to drink from a well of horrid poison. The poison will surely kill the Prince—but He is willing to drink it to please His Father and help His people. 

Richly illustrated, The Prince’s Poison Cup will help children appreciate the great love of God for His people and the awful price Jesus had to pay because of sin. A “For Parents” section provides assistance in unfolding the biblical elements of the story.

Purchase The Prince's Poison Cup from Reformation Trust: http://ligm.in/vsMC3h

Thursday, December 11, 2014

The Lightlings by R.C. Sproul

In The Lightlings, R.C. Sproul weaves an allegorical tale that captures the essence of the biblical story of redemption in a manner that will fascinate and delight children. A race of tiny beings known as lightlings are a picture of humanity as they pass through all the stages of the biblical drama - creation, fall, and redemption. In the end, children will understand why some people fear light more than darkness, but why they need never fear darkness again.

The Lightlings is an excellent introduction to the key themes of Scripture. Richly detailed illustrations by Justin Gerard will hold children’s interest, and discussion questions with Scripture references in the back will help parents guide children into the deeper meaning of the story.

Purchase The Lightlings from Reformation Trust: http://ligm.in/IumKhT
  • Music

    • "Sinfonía Nº 6 "Pastoral", 5ºmov (Beethoven)" by Clásicos en Navidad (Popular Songs) (Google Play •eMusic)

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

What Is The Role Of A Christian Wife?

Bobby describes the Christian wife's role in marriage.

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

What Is The Role Of A Christian Husband?

Bobby describes the responsibilities of a Christian husband to his wife and family.

Thursday, December 04, 2014

The Time Is Now: Daily Reflections for Advent

The Time Is Now: Daily Reflections for Advent
Written and presented by Amy Orr-Ewing

Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Author Amy Julia Becker on talking to your kids about disability and difference

Learn More: http://www.zondervan.com/small-talk

Small Talk delves into the “big questions' children ask, the thoughts they provoke, and the laughter, investigation, and soul-searching that follow, for parent and child alike.

Small Talk is a narrative based upon these conversations. It is not a parenting guide. It does not offer prescriptive lessons about how to talk with children. Rather, it tells stories based upon the questions and statements Amy Julia’s children have made about the things that make life good (such as love, kindness, beauty, laughter, and friendship), the things that make life hard (such as death, failure, and tragedy), and what we believe (such as prayer, God, and miracles).

Amy Julia moves in rough chronological order through the basic questions her kids asked when they were very young to the more intellectual and spiritual questions of later childhood. Small Talk invites other parents into these same conversations, with their children, with God, and with themselves. Moving from humorous exchanges to profound questions to heart-wrenching moments, Amy Julia encourages parents to ask themselves—and to talk with their children about—what matters most.

Monday, November 24, 2014

What Did You Expect?

A longtime Christian counselor presents reconciliation as a lifestyle for all marriages and illustrates this grace-based approach with six daily commitments that will equip couples to navigate the day-to-day realities of married life.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Is The Holy Spirit A Person?

Bobby explains the personhood of the Holy Spirit.

Friday, November 14, 2014

How Many Times Do I Have To Forgive?

Bobby looks at how forgiving others multiple times is meant to make us more like Jesus.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Did God Have A Creator?

J. Warner Wallace, author of Cold-Case Christianity, was interviewed by Bobby Conway (The One Minute Apologist) and discussed a common objection to God’s existence. If God created everything we see in the universe, who created God? (For more information related to Bobby's great ministry, visit:http://oneminuteapologist.com/)

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The Bible - Fact, Fiction, or Fallacy? (Part 1) - Josh McDowell

Lecture by former skeptic Josh McDowell. What do Neil Armstrong, Sept 11, & Christianity have in Common? History is a knowledge of the past based on testimony; written testimony, oral testimony, and physical testimony. This is how we know anything happened historically. This clip is part of the 'The Bible - Fact, Fiction, or Fallacy?' video series playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Monday, November 10, 2014

Does The Reality Of Suffering And Evil Disprove God?

Bobby examines whether or not the evil and suffering on this earth are cause enough to write-off God.

Friday, November 07, 2014

Is it by faith 'in Christ' or 'of Christ' in Romans 3:22?

Darrell Bock, author and Research Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, discusses the reason that Romans 3:22 has the phrase 'faith of Christ' instead of 'faith in Christ' in some translations

Thursday, November 06, 2014

Romans 8:5–6 // Set Your Mind on the Spirit

The Bible often presents two ways for us to live. In Romans 8:5–6, Paul describes two different lives, two different mindsets, and two different conditions. This lab carefully traces the serious differences in order to cause us to look to Christ. For study questions go to http://desiringGod.org/labs/set-your-...

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Tuesday, November 04, 2014

What Is God's Will For My Life?

Bobby talks about how God's will for our lives can be found through prayer and scripture.

Monday, November 03, 2014

Can We Answer Every Skeptic's Question?

J. Warner Wallace, author of Cold-Case Christianity, was interviewed by Bobby Conway (The One Minute Apologist) and discussed the nature of evidential cases. What reasonable expectations should we have for the case for Christianity? Can we be certain about our conclusions even when we still have unanswered questions? (For more information related to Bobby's great ministry, visit:http://oneminuteapologist.com/)

Why Did God Only Reveal Himself to a Small Part of the World?

William Lane Craig was invited by the undergraduate Christian Union at Imperial College, London to give a lunch-time lecture on "The Evidence for God". Dr. Craig presented seven arguments and then invited questions from the student audience. The lecture was web streamed at the time. This is a high definition film recording of the event which includes the previously unseen Q&A session. Imperial College, London, United Kingdom -- October 18, 2011

We welcome your comments in the Reasonable Faith forums:
http://www.reasonablefaith.org/forums/

Be sure to also visit Reasonable Faith's other channel: http://www.youtube.com/reasonablefait...

Follow Reasonable Faith On Twitter: http://twitter.com/rfupdates

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Dr. James White: Which Bible translation is the most reliable? Episode 1326

See more at: http://www.wretched.tv

Friday, October 31, 2014

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Matt Chandler - Selfishness and Dating

Matt Chandler on consumerism and dating.
Excerpt from "The Counterintuitive Life"

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Sproul and MacArthur explain praying to Mary - Can you go to heaven if you pray to Mary

R.C. Sproul and John MacArthur take questions from the audience at Ligonier Ministry's 2012 West Coast Conference.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Does Allowing Same-Sex Marriage Produce Equality?



Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason discusses a problem regarding the fight for equality. For more information, visit str.org.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Did Jesus Think Jesus Was God?

J. Warner Wallace, author of Cold-Case Christianity, was interviewed by Bobby Conway (The One Minute Apologist) and discussed the Deity of Jesus. Did Jesus make claims about His nature as God? Did He intend for others to believe He was God? (For more information related to Bobby's great ministry, visit:http://oneminuteapologist.com/)

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Ravi fields questions on suicide, intolerance and secularism from students at UCLA

Ravi fields questions on suicide, intolerance and secularism from students at UCLA

Monday, October 20, 2014

Ravi answers questions about morality and homosexuality from students at UCLA




Ravi answers questions about morality and homosexuality from students at UCLA

Friday, October 17, 2014

Romans 7:22–8:2 // No Condemnation

In your Bible reading, an author will often compare two things. It’s important to stop and study everything you learn about how those two things are similar and different. In this lab, Pastor John looks at our slavery to sin and freedom in Christ. For study questions visit http://www.desiringgod.org/labs/no-co...

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Look at the Book Preview

ohn Piper // Look at the Book // 2 Timothy 3:14-17 // This is not the launch of Look at the Book. It's a preview. It's a ten-minute demonstration of the kind of thing I will be doing at our National Conference this September, and then with several texts each week when we launch Look at the Book this fall... Read more at http://desiringGod.org/blog/posts/a-f...

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Could God Be Evil?

William Lane Craig was invited by the undergraduate Christian Union at Imperial College, London to give a lunch-time lecture on "The Evidence for God". Dr. Craig presented seven arguments and then invited questions from the student audience. The lecture was web streamed at the time. This is a high definition film recording of the event which includes the previously unseen Q&A session. Imperial College, London, United Kingdom -- October 18, 2011

Friday, October 10, 2014

Stories of Christian Persecution | Iraq's Refugees

This video gives us a glimpse of the shattered lives of persecuted Iraqi Christians who have been displaced by the violence and terrorism in their homeland. Many Christians have had to move to other countries in order to feel safe and secure. May God continue to protect and preserve these persecuted and displaced Iraqi Christian refugees.

In 2014, Iraq was ranked as the fourth hardest place to be a Christian due to christian persecution by the World Watch List.

Thursday, October 09, 2014

Look at the Birds - Scripture Jam

"Look at the Birds" is a typography video on a scripture reading based on a passage in Matthew 6. Composed and orated by Mike Mason.

Audio Credits: "Here" from the album, Branches, by Keith Kenniff

Wednesday, October 08, 2014

My Eternity - Poetic Typography

My Eternity” is a typographical video that is inspired by John 17:03.

Audio Credit: “Levity” by This is the Giant

Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Can a Mother Forget - Sermon Jam

Sermon excerpts are from Tim Keller's sermon "Can a Mother Forget?" 
Sermon Credits: Dr. Timothy Keller. Sermon from Sunday, February 7, 2010.

Audio Credits: "Waking Season" by Caspian from the album Waking Season

Monday, October 06, 2014

Are We Commanded To Be Joyful?

Bobby looks at whether or not God commands us to be joyful.

Friday, October 03, 2014

Does God Exist: The Paradox of the Stone

Its an old argument against God's existence; "Can God create a stone big enough that he can't lift it?" RZIM itinerants shoot down the question.

2 Peter 1:3-4 // Precious and Great Promises

In this new Look at the Book video, John Piper models a method for studying verses like 2 Peter 1:3–4. He explains that with any passage in the Bible, we should be breaking down the paragraph into lines and studying how those lines relate to one another, paying special attention to the easily overlooked connecting words between lines. Read more at http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts...

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

The Fine Tuning of the Universe

Be sure to view the Kalam Cosmological Argument animation video: http://youtu.be/6CulBuMCLg0

Reasonable Faith features the work of philosopher and theologian Dr. William Lane Craig and aims to provide in the public arena an intelligent, articulate, and uncompromising yet gracious Christian perspective on the most important issues concerning the truth of the Christian faith today, such as:

-the existence of God
-the meaning of life
-the objectivity of truth
-the foundation of moral values
-the creation of the universe
-intelligent design
-the reliability of the Gospels
-the uniqueness of Jesus
-the historicity of Jesus' resurrection
-the challenge of religious pluralism

Read more: http://www.reasonablefaith.org

We welcome your comments in the Reasonable Faith forums:
http://www.reasonablefaith.org/forums/

Be sure to also visit Reasonable Faith's other channel which contains full-length clips: http://www.youtube.com/reasonablefait...

Follow Reasonable Faith on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rfupdates

Add Reasonable Faith on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/reasonablefai...

TRANSCRIPT

From galaxies and stars, down to atoms and subatomic particles, the very structure of our universe is determined by these numbers:

* Speed of Light: c=299,792,458 m s-1

* Gravitational Constant: G=6.673 x 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2

* Planck's Constant: 1.05457148 x 10-34 m2 kg s-2

* Planck Mass-Energy: 1.2209 x 1022 MeV

* Mass of Electron, Proton, Neutron: 0.511; 938.3; 939.6 MeV

* Mass of Up, Down, Strange Quark: 2.4; 4.8; 104 MeV (Approx.)

* Ratio of Electron to Proton Mass: (1836.15)-1

* Gravitational Coupling Constant: 5.9 x 10-39

* Cosmological Constant: (2.3 x 10-3 eV)

* Hubble Constant: 71 km/s/Mpc (today)

* Higgs Vacuum Expectation Value: 246.2 GeV

These are the fundamental constants and quantities of the universe. Scientists have come to the shocking realization that each of these numbers have been carefully dialed to an astonishingly precise value - a value that falls within an exceedingly narrow, life-permitting range. If any one of these numbers were altered by even a hair's breadth, no physical, interactive life of any kind could exist anywhere. There'd be no stars, no life, no planets, no chemistry.

Consider gravity, for example. The force of gravity is determined by the gravitational constant. If this constant varied by just one in 1060 parts, none of us would exist. To understand how exceedingly narrow this life-permitting range is, imagine a dial divided into 1060 increments. To get a handle on how many tiny points on the dial this is, compare it to the number of cells in your body (1014) or the number of seconds that have ticked by since time began (1020). If the gravitational constant had been out of tune by just one of these infinitesimally small increments, the universe would either have expanded and thinned out so rapidly that no stars could form and life couldn't exist, or it would have collapsed back on itself with the same result: no stars, no planets, no life.

Or consider the expansion rate of the universe. This is driven by the cosmological constant. A change in its value by a mere 1 part in 10120 parts would cause the universe to expand too rapidly or too slowly. In either case, the universe would, again, be life-prohibiting.

Or, another example of fine-tuning: If the mass and energy of the early universe were not evenly distributed to an incomprehensible precision of 1 part in 1010123, the universe would be hostile to life of any kind.

The fact is our universe permits physical, interactive life only because these, and many other numbers, have been independently and exquisitely balanced on a razor's edge.

"WHEREVER PHYSICISTS LOOK, THEY SEE EXAMPLES OF FINE-TUNING." - Sir Martin Rees

"THE REMARKABLE FACT IS THAT THE VALUES OF THESE NUMBERS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN VERY FINELY ADJUSTED TO MAKE POSSIBLE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE." - Stephen Hawking

"IF ANYONE CLAIMS NOT TO BE SURPRISED BY THE SPECIAL FEATURES THE UNIVERSE HAS, HE IS HIDING HIS HEAD IN THE SAND. THESE SPECIAL FEATURES ARE SURPRISING AND UNLIKELY." - David Deutch

What is the best explanation for this astounding phenomenon? There are three live options. The fine-tuning of the universe is due to either physical necessity, chance, or design. Which of these options is the most plausible?

Read more of the transcript here: http://www.reasonablefaith.org/transc...

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Luke 12:32 // Fear Not, Little Flock

There are often riches and depths of meaning in the simplest verses. Luke 12:32 is one verse with two short propositions, but there are riches buried in its simplicity. Pastor John gives a few tips for meditating on verses like these and seeing all that’s really there. In this case, it reveals several reasons not to fear... For study questions visit http://desiringGod.org/labs/fear-not-...

Monday, September 29, 2014

What Are Some Good Tactics to Use When Engaging Cult Members?

 
Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason shares some effective tips to employ when people from alternative religions knock on your door. For more information, visit str.org.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Why Does God Allow Suffering And Evil?

Brett Kunkle offers some perspective on why God permits suffering and evil in the world.

Friday, September 19, 2014

James Smith - The Seed, the Source, the Essence of Unhappiness (Christian devotional)

James Smith - The Seed, the Source, the Essence of Unhappiness (Christian devotional)

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

James Smith playlist: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list...

The links to my recently released new album, "A Message of Hope." The album is available on iTunes and Amazon:

https://itunes.apple.com/album/a-mess...

http://www.amazon.com/A-Message-Hope-...

Link to my "Christian Devotional Readings" Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christ...

A Treasury of Ageless,
Sovereign Grace,
Devotional Writings http://www.gracegems.org/

James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841 until 1850. Early on, Smith's readings were even more popular than Spurgeon's!

The habit of laying up a text of Scripture in the morning, to be meditated upon while engaged in the business of this world through the day—is both profitable and delightful. It is as a refreshing draught to a weary traveler!