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The Practical Christianity Page

Making Christianity Apply to Your Life

Notable Quote

Much of the history of Christianity has been devoted to domesticating Jesus—to reducing that elusive, enigmatic, paradoxical person to dimensions we can comprehend, understand and convert to our own purposes ... None of it works because once you domesticate Jesus he isn't there any more ... If Jesus makes you feel comfortable with your agenda, then he's not Jesus.
-- Fr. Andrew Greeley

John Bunyan's Holy War

Here is an absolutely free copy of John Bunyan's Christian classic "The Holy War".   Next to the Pilgrim's Progress this is one of the great Classics of Christian literature.

The Marriage of Grace and Faith

A practical article in Hand out form, which would be excellent for classroom study. This article shows some real key ideas about living the Christian life.

Getting God's Work Done

Many people believe that God's work is best done through social programs, political agendas, or other types of activity.  But the answer of How Christ's work is to be accomplished is clearly revealed in Scripture.  This is a very short study of one verse that pretty much explains it all. 

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A man can accept what Christ has done without knowing how it works:
indeed, he certainly would not know how it works until he has accepted it.
-C.S. Lewis

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He who has God and everything else
has no more than He who has God only.
-C.S.Lewis

Christ's Mind is Our Mind (Lesson 1)

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The basis for Christian Psychology is rooted in the mental attitude dynamics that come from having a transformed mind.  The new Birth saves your head as well as your heart!  But it does so without turning you into a mere intellectual.  This is a fascinating study that shows how we are being transformed into the likeness of our Lord every day.   This is an important article, the first of a series on Christ's Mind in us.

Notable Quote

Most people want to serve God,
but only in an advisory capacity.
- Adrian Rogers

Put on a Happy Face!

Proverbs 15:13  A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

Thankless On The Flip Side

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Christians ought to be the most thankful people on earth, but sadly we too soon forget what great things the Lord has done for us. This is a very short but powerful article about true thankfulness.

The Unpopular Promises of God

Most emphasis is placed on the popular devotional promises of the Bible, but there are far more promises that are foreboding and fearful.  This series of studies is being presented on my Hub Pages.   This is the first study.

Notable Quote

“… self improvement is both a sin and an impossibility.”
-Norman Grubb

How to win Friends and Influence People God's Way
(Audio Sermon)

I rarely put my sermons online for people to listen to, because I feel it is mostly counterproductive, and that it actually hinders people from attending church where the preacher can look into their eyes, and receive direction for the sermon from the Holy Spirit, and because I rarely allow them to be recorded.  But here is one that did get recorded.  It was Preached at The First Baptist Church in West Springfield Ma.

If you want to hear me preach and teach like this, I preach throughout Massachusetts and New England, as a pulpit supply preacher and my schedule varies, But I also conduct the weekly Bible studies every Sunday evening at Second Baptist Church Church of South Hadley, Ma.  at 6:30 PM.   I'd Love to see you.  I rarely miss a Sunday Evening service. And I extend an invitation for you to attend these informal sessions each Sunday if your church has nothing going on on Sunday Evenings.  If you would like some solid Bible preaching and teaching, why not come out to hear me teach the word of God? At 6:30 every Sunday.  We usually set aside time for questions and answers, and we would love to see you. Our small but friendly group will love to meet you.  Bring your Bible because that's what we teach. 

Second Baptist Church is easy to find directly on Rt 202 in South Hadley Mass.  Conveniently located in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts with easy access to both interstate 91 which runs north and south and the Mass Pike (I - 90) which runs east west. 

Judge Not

Should Christians do it?

Notable Quote

"Faith is against understanding; faith is on the other side of death. And when you died or die to yourself, to the world, then you also died to all immediacy in yourself, also to your understanding. It is when all confidence in yourself or in human support, and also in God in an immediate way, is extinct, when every probability is extinct, when it is as on a dark night -- it is indeed death we are describing -- then comes the life-giving Spirit and brings faith. This faith is stronger than the whole world; it has the power of eternity; it is the Spirit's gift from God, it is your victory over the world in which you more than conquer."
-Soren Kierkegaard

Double-Minded, Doubting Christians?

A study about Faith.

Godliness With Contentment

A Study of 1Tim. 6:6-11

Notable Quote

Prayer is not intended to change God's purpose,
nor is it to move Him to form fresh purposes.
God has decreed that certain events shall come to pass
through the means He has appointed for their accomplishment.
—Arthur W. Pink

What is Worldliness?

Deficient ideas about sanctification spring from deficient views of the gospel.  The alternatives are  salvation by Grace, or salvation by works.  But their is an odd marriage of two conflicting ideas in our churches today.  The idea is that we are saved by Grace, but then we live by legalistic rules and regulations. The Bible has teachings that should remove all doubt and clarify all errors regarding this mistake.

Materialism and Christ

A short meditation about how Christ provides for our materialistic needs as well as our spiritual ones.  There is a delicate balance in this which is often neglected by the teachers who insist on troubles and tribulations, and by those who think you will get a new Mercedes in your garage by having enough faith. Both extremes are wrong.  

Notable Quote

No one stands as tall
as a Christian on his knees.
-Author Unknown

Joy In Suffering

If you are a Christian, then you should not be in the dark when troubles come your way from the hand of your Lord.   He is working in your life. The idea that life is supposed to be a rosy bed of fluff and good things for believers in Jesus, is just shear nonsense.   This article is meant to correct disillusionment and false thinking  regarding the sufferings and hardships believers have in this life.   Not only does the Bible teach us that "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer, including even persecution",  but it teaches us that when we do suffer, we are to count it all joy, because God is doing a greater work in our lives, making us mature and stable children of the kingdom.  

An Example of Sinful Praying

When you pray outside of the will of God, you are praying sinfully.  Some prayers are pure expressions of unbelief, because they do not agree with God.  Bad praying comes from bad thinking.

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The world does not need more Christian writers.
It needs more good writers who are Christians.
-- C. S. Lewis

The Confusion of The Confused

Confusion and upside down thinking characterize the minds of the Godless.

What is Love?

This article examines what is the definition of love?  And it might surprise and shock you to find out that you may not actually know.  People assume that they know what love is, but shockingly, most people don't know at all!  This may seem radical but it is 100% Biblical and it is an eye-opener.

The Reformed Romans Road

Get your FREE COPY  of this witnessing tool.

All of Grace
-Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

This is Spurgeon's classic little book on God's way of salvation by Grace.  This is great to read if you are seeking Christ in your life, or if you are witnessing to someone who is not yet a Christian.  This link takes you off site.

Notable Quote

He who prays as he ought
will endeavor to live as he prays.
-JOHN OWEN

Whatever Happened To Simplicity?

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Have we over-thought our doctrine?  and under-thought Christ our Lord?  Have we over-complicated Christianity?  and under-simplified Christian living?   Have we made simple things too difficult?  And difficult things too unattainable?  Whatever happened to simplicity?   This is a missing dimension in the lives of many Christians.  How about you?  are you too complicated to enjoy the simple things?  if  so, this article is for you.

A Different View of Spiritual Warfare

There is lot of talk about spiritual warfare these days, and much of it is not Biblically oriented.  This article examines a neglected aspect.

Lessons from the friends of William Cowper

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William Cowper
This short article describes the tragic and difficult life of one of the worlds most beloved Hymn writers.  This is powerful, and only takes a few minutes to read.  We sometimes are unaware of the great price gifted people have sometimes paid to keep us singing.  CLICK HERE to read.

Notable Quote

In the most disastrous periods of the church, there have always been some
(seven thousand perhaps) who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
Ministers may have become corrupt; churches may have been infected
with unholy leaven; the rich and the learned may have been unanimous in their rejection of every thing except the mere superficialities of religion;
and yet it will be found that God, who values the blood of his beloved
Son too highly to let it remain inoperative, has raised his altar in individual
hearts. In the dwellings of the poor, in solitary places, in the recesses
of valleys and mountains, he has written his name upon
regenerated minds; and the incense of their adoration,
remote from public notice, has gone silently up to heaven.
-T.C. Upham

Sorrow - God's Witness
-Gardner Spring D.D.

Garner Spring is most famous for His book "The distinguishing Traits of
Christian Character"  His writings are deeply spiritual and have been
used by God to comfort and bless saints in times of difficulty. 

A Cabinet of Choice Jewels
-Thomas Brooks 1689

Thomas brooks was one of the sweetest of the Puritan preachers. 
He drips and oozes with the Love of Christ.  This is a compilation
of choice quotes from Mr Brooks, and I love to read these things over
and over again.  Anyone who cannot find real devotional assistance
from Thomas Brooks must be just doctrinaire or hard-hearted.  Brooks
is the best. Spurgeon wrote a book of compilations from his writings
and he called it "Smooth Stones from Ancient Brooks".  I read it, and
that's what got me hooked on Brooks. Every time I read this wonderful
author, I find treasures and great depth of real practical wisdom. 
He has helped me more than any other Puritan author. Brooks is
golden in the way He makes the cross shine. 

Spiritual Illumination

How do you know that you are being illuminated with truth,
and are not being deceived by the forces of darkness? 
The answer is clear, learn about it here.

Notable Quote

God uses broken things.
It takes broken soil to produce a crop,
broken clouds to give rain,
broken grain to give bread,
broken bread to give strength.
It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume
. . . it is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.
--Vance Havner

Superficial Spirituality and True Worship

The worship of God, is the most important activity that humans can be involved with.  Nothing is of greater importance.  So why is there so little teaching and understanding about this important subject in our churches?  This article looks at this subject from a neglected perspective, in the hope of returning our churches to the practice of true worship without a bunch of superficiality and displays of the flesh.

What Hypocrites Cannot Do!
-Thomas Brooks

A Great old puritan addresses the hypocrisy problem. 

Notable Quote

It is easier to fight for one's principles
than to live up to them.
-- Alfred Adler

What does it mean to be a Christian?

Few questions are as important to know the answer to as this one. 
To become a Christian is first of all to know what one is.  Not all
who say "Lord, Lord" (Matt. 7: 22-23), are genuine Christians. 

What does it mean when it speaks
about casting your pearls before swine?

A question raised by Matthew 7:6

100 reasons and 100 Scriptures
Proving Eternal Security
-M.L. Moser, Sr

These verses make an understanding of the security of the believer easy to comprehend, and the study also addresses the concept of Perseverance.

The Unrepenting Repenter
-Jim Elliff

.  This article can help you come to a Biblical understanding of true repentance.

Christ Manifested
-Thomas Vincent (1634-1678)

"He who loves Me shall he loved by My Father, and I will love him,
and will manifest Myself to him." John 14:21

Notable Quote

In my visits to the west, the most common response I hear to sermons
is something to the effect: "I enjoyed that sermon." Sermons should disturb,
convict, and motivate to radical and costly obedience. I have wondered
whether people's desired result from sermons is to enjoy themselves
rather than to be changed into radical disciples who will turn the world
upside down. If this is so, the church has assimilated the postmodern
mood that considers inner feelings more important than commitment to
principles... Such a church may grow numerically, but it would not be able
to produce the type of missionaries that the world needs - men and women
who will pay the price of identification with the people they serve and endure
the frustrations that involves."
-Ajith Fernando, Jesus Driven Ministry, p.23

The Pursuit of God
-A. W. Tozer

This is the complete Book. 

Are You Your Favorite Subject
Daryl Wingerd

A Short Message on Self.

Book Hoarding
-By Jim Elliff

I know exactly what this is all about.  It is peculiar sin of ministers.

The Terrible People of Terrible Times

What distinguishes us from the world is our speech.  Whoever said "Actions speak louder than words", must have been an unbeliever.   Actions convey mixed messages only. They can be interpreted in a thousand different ways, but words speak clearly, definitively,  convincingly, and are capable of delivering God's truth.  How shall they hear without a preacher (Rom. 10:14)?   We are to "speak the truth" (Eph. 4: 15, 25;  2Cor. 7:14).  There is no substitute for" words fitly spoken" (Prov. 25:11).

Notable Quote

Woe to him inside a nonconformist clique
who does not conform with nonconformity.
-- Eric Hoffer

The Suppression of The Truth

The Problem of Christian Atheist's?  When Atheistic thinking
invades the minds of Christians.

Born Again
-Vincent Cheung

Vincent Cheung Has graciously provided this wonderful study of
John 3: 1-16 for inclusion on this website.  His writings are powerful,
insightful and Theologically profound.  If you have not read this short
book, download it now.  It is brilliant

Notable Quote

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"God has set a Savior against sin,
a heaven against a hell,
light against darkness,
good against evil,
and the breadth and length and depth and height of grace that is in Himself for my good, against all the power and strength and subtlety of every enemy."
-John Bunyan

David's Pet Peeves about Unscriptural sayings

My Old Friend David Heesen has been publishing these pet peeves in a family newsletter for several years now, and I quite like them.  You may find that you share some of the same peeves.