Job got what he asked for – a clear, direct, audible encounter with God. But afterwards Job said, “I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” What did Job repent of?

God doesn’t accuse Job of any sins. Instead, He vindicates Job and ...

Job had some friends who were worried about his spiritual condition, and so they came to comfort him in his loss. They should be commended for that.

These friends felt quite sure that Job’s suffering must be a direct consequence of some sin...

Job was one of the finest men who ever lived. Listen to what God said about him: “There is none like him on the earth.” Imagine having God say that about you!

The story of Job is about how he became the target for a focused attack from Sata...

God says that He “gives” repentance. You say, “Isn’t repentance our responsibility?” Yes, but it is God’s grace that makes it possible.

That’s why David says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart!… See if there be any grievous way in me, a...

Why was Esau unable to repent? Hebrews gives us two answers:

1. Esau was godless
See to it that… no one is… unholy like Esau (12:15-16).

Esau believed in God and wanted the blessing of God. He burst out...

Maybe you’ve been a Christian for some time. You’ve tried to get free from certain sins, but you haven’t been able to, so you’re convinced that real, lasting change is no longer possible for you. When you hear the word repentance, you say t...

Here is a good definition of repentance from J. I. Packer: “Repentance is turning from as much as you know of your sin, to give as much as you know of yourself, to as much as you know of your God.” Once you’ve grasped this definition, you w...

Some Christians hear the word repentance and immediately think: Been there, done that! It’s easy to see why.

Imagine you were brought up under teaching that emphasised repentance at the beginning of the Christian life. Ser...

Jesus told a wonderful story about repentance: A son takes his inheritance, goes into a distant country, and wastes everything he has on riotous living. But eventually the bottom falls out of his life, and he ends up scratching out a living on a p...

What is your reaction to the word repentance? We come from many different backgrounds, and your reaction will tell you a great deal about what you think repentance is.

For some of us repentance sounds heavy! If that’s your reaction...

One day we are going to see Jesus Christ. The day will come when your faith will be turned to sight. This is an amazing promise.

A few verses later, Paul reminds us that God “dwells in unapproachable light” (6:16). God is not hidden in una...

The command mentioned here seems to be what Paul says in the preceding verses. There is a character to pursue, a battle to fight, and a life to gain.

A character to pursue
“As for you, O man of God... pursue righte...

The tenth distinguishing mark of a gospel-centred church is gospel hope.

Timothy had been given overwhelming responsibilities. He was a young man, and he was leading the church in Ephesus. This was a massive responsibility.

Paul speaks of two kinds of hope here. Some people set their hope on “the uncertainty of riches,” others “on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” These are very different kinds of hope.

When God gives you more, you need t...

Notice, Paul says that godliness with contentment is not just gain, but great gain. If you have godliness with contentment, it will be of huge advantage to you. Why? Paul gives four reasons.

He says, “If getting rich is your ...

The ninth distinguishing mark of a gospel-centred church is gospel lifestyle.

Paul speaks to “the rich” (6:17) and to “those who desire to be rich” (6:9). So there’s something for those who have less and something for those who ha...

All of us serve in the light of the coming judgement. God sees all things. Nothing is hidden from Him. But people are not always what they appear to be, and that is why we should exercise caution in appointing leaders.

Paul says, “Do not be...

There are two important points here: Good leaders need to be protected from bad people. Good people need to be protected from bad leaders.

Protection for good leaders
Godly leaders will always be under attack from the enemy. Calv...

The eighth distinctive of a gospel-centred church is gospel leadership. Gifted and godly leaders are a sign of God’s blessing on a church. A local church depends in large measure on the character and competence of its leaders. Notice what...

Paul speaks about widows who are to be recognised, honoured, and supported (5:3). But he also speaks about widows who are to be enrolled or registered on a list (5:9). The qualifications for being on this list are different from the qualifications...

There will be genuine need in the church. Paul emphasises this three times. “Honour widows who are truly widows” (5:3).“She who is truly a widow…” (5:5). “Care for those who are truly widows” (5:16).

How do we kno...

The seventh distinctive of a gospel-centred church is gospel compassion. Paul is urging the church to cultivate a culture of caring and serving.

The Bible is full of God’s compassion for His children, especially those who do not h...

Many people are confused about how to live the Christian life. Two misunderstandings have caused much of this confusion.

1. The “hard labour” version says: “We toil and strive.” This version says that the Christian life is ...

The sixth distinguishing mark of a gospel-centred church is gospel life. How are we to make progress in character and competence? How are we to become the kind of people who will be effective in getting God’s global mission done?

G...

Paul outlines three areas of core competence for church leaders: doctrinal, personal, and spiritual.

Doctrinal: able to teach
“An overseer must be… able to teach” (3:2). “[Deacons] must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear...

What kind of people should we trust and follow as leaders? Here are three traits to look for, cultivate, and thank God for.

Wise judgment
“Sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable… not a drunkard.” Look at the decisi...

The fifth distinguishing mark of a gospel-centred church is gospel character, that is, the character and competence of a Christian leader.

Most of us are not called to be an elder or a deacon, so you may wonder, What does this have...

This is a marvellous statement of God’s redeeming purpose in Jesus Christ. Does “all” mean “every single person”? Or “all kinds of people”? It seems clear that “all” means “all kinds of people.” Here are three reasons:

1. That’s what ...

Paul is speaking about the place of prayer in public worship. This is increasingly out of fashion. But God has given this ministry to the church. If Christians do not pray for the world, who will?

A gospel-centered church is not about us, ...