What does the church of Jesus Christ really look like? Of course, I am not talking about the architectural style of the building in which it meets, but what a local body of believers looks like. We know the church should be sound in doctrine and zealous in proclaiming the gospel. But how does a sound church really function? Some think of it as a haven of rest where God’s people find refuge from the daily pressures of life. And indeed, there is a rest found in hearing the Word of God proclai...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (February 4, 1906 – April 9, 1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and a participant in the German resistance movement against Nazism. He was involved in plots planned by members of the Abwehr (the German Military Intelligence Office) to assassinate Adolf Hitler. He was arrested in March 1943, imprisoned and eventually hanged, just before the end of the Second World War in Europe. Bonhoeffer’s classic work The Cost of Discipleship was written at the height of ...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
This beautiful, biblical description of a Christian comes from James Smith in 1856. As you read this pastor's wise and insightful summary of the Christian life, prayerfully consider -- not only whether these words describe you, but -- how they may better describe you. May each of us as Christian bel| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
The doctrine of the "perspicuity of Scripture" is a well-known and important teaching within the Christian faith. This doctrine refers to the fact that the Bible is clear, that it communicates perfectly. All scripture is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible can be understood by anyone, barring men| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
A friend who has recently been reading through David Brainerd's biography shared with me a stirring passage from Brainerd's journal. What motivated this man -- who spent years in sacrifice and service of the gospel, and eventually died an early death for the spread of it -- to continue laboring in t| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
While knowledge of the truth is very important, it is possible to put so much emphasis on the letter of it that the application is forgotten. Paul reminds us that knowledge alone just puffs a person up, while knowledge according to love actually builds up. So here is a thought for pastors, especial| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Now concerning the collection for the saints ... on the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Paul here instructs the Corinthian church to lay aside funds before he co| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
I was blessed some time ago by Greg Gilbert's book What Is the Gospel? This quote in particular struck me as helpful for Christians to consider, as we contemplate our motivation and message when it comes to evangelism: “Paul insists (in Romans 1) that humanity is not autonomous. We did not create ou| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
In a worship service in which I recently participated, we sang this beautiful hymn by Charles Wesley. I believe it was my first time to be acquainted with it and the words struck me powerfully. Too little thought is given, and too few messages and songs are devoted, to the marvelous and gospel-cente| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
In studying through a difficult passage of Scripture recently, I came across a quote from Charles Spurgeon that applies to every passage of Scripture: "My love of consistency with my own doctrinal views is not great enough to allow me knowingly to alter a single text of Scripture. I have great respe| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Allow me to make one last new year's observation, with the help of George Whitefield. As we enter into this new year, many resolutions will be made regarding better diets and more exercise. But what we need most -- as always -- is to feed on Christ and to exercise ourselves unto godliness. The preem| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
My wife and I were struck by this recent devotion from C.H. Spurgeon's Checkbook of Faith -- so much so, in fact, that we've printed out a copy, framed it, and hope to make it a regular part of our prayer life. Nothing is more potent or refreshing than praying God's promises back to him! From Every| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Puritan pastor Richard Baxter took an old Latin phrase and popularized it in his day, in English. It is simple, but profound: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” Why was Baxter so concerned to see Christians publicly, charitably, doctrinally unified? Baxter, w| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
George Muller, the great nineteenth-century English preacher, fed over 10,000 orphans during his lifetime -- on nothing but prayer. Refusing to solicit donations or perform fundraisers, Muller famously found God more than sufficient for all the needs of the orphanages as he daily prayed for their pr| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Imagine you are about to move to a new area. Not just a new location, but a whole new part of the world—surrounded by a new culture and new faces, and without any familiar friends or contacts. Besides the personal, emotional challenges of such a move there would obviously be some significant spiritu| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
What does the church of Jesus Christ really look like? Of course, I am not talking about the architectural style of the building in which it meets, but what a local body of believers looks like. We know the church should be sound in doctrine and zealous in proclaiming the gospel. But how does a soun| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
The doctrine of the "perspicuity of Scripture" is a well-known and important teaching within the Christian faith. This doctrine refers to the fact that the Bible is clear, that it communicates perfectly. All scripture is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible can be understood by anyone, barring men| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman