Yearly Archives: 2004

Gary North [Forty years ago Gary North, Jonathan Chao and Geoff Thomas were students living together in Machen Hall at Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia.] Jonathan Chao has died of cancer at age 65. This will mean nothing to most of you, and even less to the "New York Times," which, I predict, will not publish his […]

Some thoughts prompted by ‘Genius, Grief and Grace,’ by Dr Gaius Davies, (Christian Focus Publications; 2001; £8.99) written by Stephen Clark in the ‘Evangelical Magazine’ of September 2003, and January 2004 and reprinted by permission. Dr Gaius Davies is a Christian psychiatrist, whose involvement with the Evangelical Movement of Wales goes right back to the […]

Introduction One of the Sovereign Grace Union’s current pamphlets bears the title The Centrality of the Cross. It bears witness to the solemn truth that the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ is the religion of redemption by His crucifixion. In the words of Herman Bavinck: "the cross of Christ is the focal point" of […]

In recent months I have attended the funerals of two dear friends and much-respected ministers of the gospel. Both their funerals were deeply moving occasions, as hundreds gathered to honour the lives and ministries of two of God’s choicest servants. As I have reflected on their funerals, one feature common to both has indelibly impressed […]

[The doctrine of eternal justification, a chief tenet of Antinomian Hyper-Calvinism, is dealt a crushing blow by the Puritan John Flavel in an appendix to his Vindiciarum Vindex. Flavel rightly describes it as an attempt to fight against the free grace of God under grace’s own colours. Hence its success in deceiving the unwary. The […]

150 or so people, including 35 women, were present at the Carey Conference with representatives of 15 nationalities. Praise Hymns were sung; both mornings began with prayer meetings; the report sessions from men living in a dozen countries was one of the high spots. Geoff Thomas: "The Remarkable Jonathan Edwards." I spoke on Edwards. A […]

D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones and British Evangelicalism by Stephen Clark Book review article of “Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) and Twentieth Century Evangelicalism” by John Brencher (Paternoster Press 2002, 267pp). Let me begin by articulating some biblical principles upon which all Bible believing Christians are (at least in theory) agreed. First, there is not a perfect man on the […]

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 21-28 Two weeks ago we had a man most had never met come into our congregation to preach God’s Word. We knew that Dr. Derek Thomas was a seminary professor, an author, and a staff minister who preaches regularly at a large Presbyterian Church. But we have never experienced him as […]

Old Testament Readings: Leviticus 13: 45,56; Numbers 5: 1-3 Gospel Reading: Mark 1:40-45 “Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep […]

George Mueller lived over 100 years ago in Bristol, England and was famous for caring for thousands of orphans and seeing God answer his daily prayers for their provision. He gave this message when he was 59 at a New Year’s service. It is a powerful call to be in the Word of God every […]

It is the 1250th anniversary of the death of Boniface, missionary, preacher, bishop, extender of papal authority and martyr. To understand him one has to know something of another Englishman twenty years older than Boniface who was his inspiration and role model. This man was called Willibrord and was born in the north of England […]

Kobe Bryant picked up a four million dollar diamond ring this week. As you probably know, this Los Angeles Lakers star basketball player recently admitted to adultery and is charged with worse. He has publicly apologized to his wife, and she has said she will stand by him. It is hard to think of the […]

There are times in the life of faith when all the lights seem to go out. Perhaps, as yet you have never known this experience. Perhaps you have only ever known the sweetness of the Lord’s gracious love bathing your soul and reassuring your heart that he is yours and you are his. If this […]

The apostle Paul writes, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us" [Ephesians 2: 7, 8a] One of my favorite television shows, which I get to watch sometimes on Mondays, is Great Hotels. My wife thinks I watch […]

How common the phrase today, "I hate controversy"; it is in most people’s mouths; it is constantly on the lips of the people of God. We venture to assert that controversy is essential to the existence of the Church of God. What did Jesus Christ mean when He said: "Think not that I am come […]