Posts by Pastor Steve Balentine
Pastor Steve Interviews Keith Getty!
Grace Alone
“Pastor Steve, Did you make up a word?”
Memorizing Psalm 103
Reflecting on the Cross with R.C. Sproul
How to Honor the President
In this morning’s sermon from Titus 3:1-2, we discussed the responsibility of Christians to honor, submit to, and obey their leaders. Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy…
Not just a Savior…my Savior!
“Behold here what the Gospel is, namely, a joyful sermon concerning Christ, our Saviour. Whoever preaches him rightly, preaches the Gospel of pure joy. How is it possible for man to hear of greater joy than that Christ has given to him as his own? He does not only say Christ is born, but he makes his birth our own by saying, to you a Saviour. Therefore, the Gospel does…
“Little children, keep yourself from idols”
This is how the Apostle John closes his first letter (1 John 5:21). At first read, I would imagine most of us think of this as a command that has little to do with us. We reason that this must be some culturally loaded comment that is distant from us and the world we live in. But John’s words are…
Being Some Earthly Good
I’m not sure who first said it, but Johnny Cash captures the sentiment in his song “No Earthly Good”: If you’re holdin’ heaven then spread it around There are hungry hands reaching up here from the ground Move over and share the high ground where you stood So heavenly minded you’re no earthly good No earthly good you are no earthly good…
The Gospel is not…
D. A. Carson comments on a very important issue that we must address in the 21st century church. It is all too easy to redefine the gospel in terms that address gospel effects but are not the gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ results in transformed lives. That transformation, in whatever form it takes, is the direct result of the transforming power of…
The Glory of the Gospel
This Sunday we will be looking at 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the…
Italy 2013: Report #1
“YES” in Christ
This past Sunday we looked at 2 Corinthians 1:12 – 20. We spent a significant part of our time focusing on the truth and implications of v. 20: v. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” Paul is being accused by false teachers of being fickle and this fickleness is a…
Give Thanks!
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” Psalm 50:23Thanksgiving is coming. There are so many things I love about Thanksgiving: the kids being home from school, time with family, preparing a big meal and then slowing down long enough to enjoy it. All of these things are good. There…
“The Righteousness of God”
…further reflections on Romans 1:16 – 17(ESV) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”“ “I greatly longed…