Rooted & Unwithered

That is who we are in Christ, as we share in His identity. We are blessed, chosen, holy, blameless, predestined, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, enlightened, and sealed. Or as Gordon says, “I am satisfied in God’s love as his adopted child; I am to think of myself as purchased, accepted, valued, and protected.”

Sin is fundamentally not a behavioral issue; it is a being issue. We are not righteous people who occasionally sin. We sin because we are sinners. Our heart is corrupt, and since the heart is the core of our being, there is no aspect of ourselves that escapes corruption, behavior included. This problem of defilement, therefore, requires a solution far greater than behavior modification. For more r...

We focus upon three challenges to God's design for marriage. Of course, any married person can attest to there being far more challenges to marriage than these three things, but we will focus upon these because they challenge the very institution of marriage. An argument over finances may threaten a particular marriage, but money and finances do not inherently oppose God's good design for...

Because marriage and the family are the smallest and most basic units of society, they are the building blocks for everything else. Again, because our world is marred by sin, some of those blocks will inevitably be warped and broken, but if the majority are healthy, society will still be healthy overall. Yet, as we see today, marital and familial dysfunction is now the norm, and the broader societ...

The point of all of this that the introduction of gender as a separate category from sex is not harmless but is the promotion of a satanic and destructive worldview.

If demonic powers can be pulling the strings behind earthly rulers, perhaps the most plausible conspiracy is that the spiritual forces of darkness are using all of the different conspiracies and fearful news headlines to distract us from wielding the sword of the Spirit. For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co

This sermon was preached February 16, 2020. Read the manuscript ⁠⁠ here⁠⁠ . For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit ⁠⁠bcnewton.co⁠⁠

We are capable of faith but not saving faith. Saving faith, like the grace itself, is a gift of God. For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co

While we are speaking of man , we should remember that we are referring to mankind or humanity. Genesis 2 will describe to us the particular process by which God created man, both the first man and the first woman, but here in chapter 1 the Bible is speaking of mankind generally, both male and female. This is crucial to understand because it reveals that mankind can only properly image God through...

This sermon was preached February 9, 2020. Read the manuscript ⁠ here⁠ . For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit ⁠bcnewton.co⁠

Biblical anthropology (the doctrine of humanity) is the predominate theological battleground of our day. Owen Strachen’s book is a great study on what Scripture has to say about mankind. In Relatione  (relevant links) Eowyn’s Recommendation:  The Parables of Jesus   (see also:  Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey  &  The Kingdom of God Bible Storybook ) Reenchanting Humanity Ex Interrete  (a hodgepod...

Although we think of our good in terms of being safe, comfortable, and happy, God, who defines goodness in Himself, calls being made like Him good . Indeed, Hebrews 12:10 expresses the same reality as the catechism: "For [our earthly father] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but [God] disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness." Our good is the s...

This sermon was preached February 2, 2020. Read the manuscript here . For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co

What are some reading habits for growing in preaching? Here's a few suggestions. In Relatione  (relevant links) ⁠ Eowyn’s Recommendation:  The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (consider also the BBC Radio Dramas ) ESV Reader's Bible ( which also comes in a six-volume version ) I'll do future episodes sharing resources for learning the original language (and there are many!), but for now, Joh...

This is the introduction to my teaching through Christopher Gordon's New Reformation Catechism on Human Sexuality. For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co

In Luke 12, Jesus told a parable of a rich man who stored grain for himself yet died before he was able to live off of his storehouse. God’s Word, however, is not like grain or earthly treasure; storing the Bible within our hearts is an investment of eternal consequence. For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co

Preached January 26, 2020 To read this sermon and other resources, visit bcnewton.co

Have you ever considered reading John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion but don't know where to start? Today's episode is a guide to help you begin that journey. In Relatione  (relevant links) Eowyn’s Recommendation:  The Magician's Nephew (consider also the BBC Radio Dramas ) Battle's translation | the current standard English translation Knowing God and Ourselves:...

Christ alone is able to save. He is the founder and perfecter of our faith. All we need is found in Him. For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co

A discussion of chapter 14 from my 2021 series reading through John Owen's Mortification of Sin together. For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit  bcnewton.co

This is a glorious image of our present walk of sanctification. We commit our whole heart to seek God, yet we place no confidence in ourselves, only in God’s  faithfulness  in keeping us. For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co

Preached January 19, 2020 To read this sermon and other resources, visit bcnewton.co

Today we are discussing John Piper's massive and greatly beneficial book Providence . In Relatione (relevant links) Eowyn's Recommendation: Katie and the Mona Lisa & Katie in London You can find the whole Katie series here . Providence by John Piper John Piper on the Prosperity Gospel Ex Interrete (a hodgepodge of Internet items that I enjoyed) ⁠ ⁠Leading a Church Out of Casual Culture...

Although this question may appear to be nothing more than defining two dry terms of theology, understanding the meaning and distinctions of justification and sanctification is crucial for properly understanding how our salvation in Christ works. Particularly, justification and sanctification are the keys for understanding what role doing good works plays in our salvation, which will be the subject...

A discussion of chapter 13 from my 2021 series reading through John Owen's Mortification of Sin together. For more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit  bcnewton.co