"Preaching is not primarily to impart information. It is, rather, to produce an impression."

It is seldom that any of our bad habits or flaws disappear by a mere nature process of natural extinction. At least it is very seldom it is done by the instrumentality of reasoning or by the force of mental determination. What can not be destroyed however may be dispossessed. One case may be made to give away to another and to lose its power entirely has the reigning affect of the mind. Here’s an example: A youth may cease to idolize sensual pleasure but it is because of the idol of wealth. The desire to make money has gotten ascendancy, so he becomes disciplined. But the love of money might have ceased to be in his heart if he was draw to ideology and politics. Now he is lorded over by the love of power and moral superiority instead of wealth. But there is not one of these transformations in which the heart is left without an object. The human heart’s desire for one particular object is conquered. But its desire to have some object of adoration is unconquerable. The only way to dispossess the heart of all its affection is by the expulsive power of a new one. Thus is it not enough to hold out to the world the mirror of its own imperfections, it is not enough to come forth with the demonstration...of the character of their enjoyment, it is not enough to just simply speak the conscience, to speak its follies. Rather, you must seek, as a preacher, every legitimate method of finding access to the heart for the love of Him who is greater than the world.

Thomas Chelmers,
The Expulsive Power of a New Affection

Weapons of mass discussion.

1. What do you think a Christian is?
2. Who do you think Jesus is?
3. What do you think he came to do?
4. What do you think will happen to you after you die?

Favourite quotes:

Let us, I say, permit the Christian man to open his heart and his ears to all the discoveries addressed to him by God, only with this moderation, that as soon as the Lord closes his sacred mouth, he shall also desist from further inquiry. This will be the best barrier to sobriety, if, in learning, we not only follow the leadings of God, but as soon as he ceases to teach, we give up our desire of learning.

The Gospel As Taught By Calvin.

New blog.

This is where I shall think out loud.