One of the enduring elements of Spurgeon's public ministry, reflective of his private life, is his delight in and dependence on the Holy Spirit. He mentions him often, prays to him regularly, delights in him personally, and depends on him resolutely. He is a good guide for us, then, concerning intimate knowledge of the Holy Spirit. As often, Spurgeon is not afraid of his own experience, but his starting point and guiding principle is the Word of God, as he considers what it is to have the Holy Spirit dwelling with us and in us. I think that the personality and operations of the Holy Spirit is a fairly significant weak point in modern Reformed evangelicalism, perhaps because of an over-reaction to Charismatic excess, but I also wonder if we have downplayed his presence and influence because we do not know him very well. Whatever the case, Spurgeon is corrective and instructive as he guides us through the truth of John 14:17, helping us to understand who we know, and how, and what it means to have this intimacy with the Third Person of the Godhead. As one who needs him, and wants him more than I have him, I hope it will be a blessing to you.

1:51 How can I parent handling a child's meltdown in a biblical way? 9:47 How do you engage with people who say they are Christians but don't act like it? 16:13 How did believers in God get saved before the New Testament? 25:13 How do we determine what things in the Bible apply to New Testament Christians? 32:48 Should I date a person going to a soft Charismatic church? 35:30 What does Greek Orthodox believe? 38:21 What do you think of Christians who say they are Torah observant? 41:34 What is the correct biblical view of humans colonizing other planets? 43:57 Where did the idea of a "senior" or "head" pastor come from? 49:12 How do I respond when I'm feeling convicted to do something regarding financial improprieties? 52:50 Should we be reading from the Cepher Bible?

How should we navigate friendship? Proverbs 27:1–10 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that humility, gentleness, discernment, and loyalty are essential to making proper use of God's good gift of friendship. This devotional explores biblical principles of friendship, emphasizing the need for humility and trust in a friend's judgment. It warns against associating with those who are easily angered, jealous, or deceitfully pleasant, while highlighting the value of a friend who offers faithful correction. The text encourages believers to remain content in their current relationships rather than pursuing ambitious social elevation. Finally, it calls for loyalty to established neighbors and friends over distant relatives or new acquaintances during times of trouble.

Imaginary or Exaggerated Sufferings Some suffering is very real. But how often do pride, self-pity, fear, and ingratitude cause us to imagine suffering that isn't there, or exaggerate the trials that are? Eve focused on the one thing withheld instead of God's abundance. She imagined herself deprived and abused. Elijah believed he alone was left. Jacob cried, "All these things are against me," when God was actually working for his deliverance. And there are many other examples. Modern culture can make this worse: correction becomes "abuse," disagreement becomes "gaslighting," discomfort becomes "unsafe," and ordinary hardships become "trauma." The Bible gives another way: humility, sobriety, faith, and thanksgiving. In earlier generations, many Christian families regularly read the Bible together, along with accounts of the sufferings and sacrifices of Christians found in works such as "Foxe's Book of Martyrs." Such examples helped put ordinary trials into perspective and guarded against whining, self-pity, and imaginary or exaggerated sufferings. But today's modern religion of psychology and self-help - so often encouraging or increasing a victimhood mentality - can pour gas on the flames of pride and self-pity!

Judgement Begins at Home (1 Peter 4:17-18) The sermon examines 1 Peter 4:17-18 to explain that God's judgment begins with His own household, serving as a refining fire for believers rather than a condemning sentence. This divine discipline purifies the church by exposing hidden idols and strengthening faith through trials, distinguishing it from the destructive final judgment awaiting those who reject the gospel. The preacher emphasizes that while the righteous are saved with difficulty through God's sovereign grace and preserving power, their salvation is secure because Christ has already borne their penalty. Believers are encouraged to view suffering as a fatherly correction intended for their good, while unbelievers face a terrifying future without a substitute. The message concludes with an urgent call to trust in Jesus Christ before the door of mercy closes.

This sermon explores Jesus' declaration in John 14 as the exclusive path to reconciliation with God, emphasizing that He is the only means of salvation. The preacher illustrates the necessity of staying on the correct spiritual path through a personal anecdote about getting lost while hiking, contrasting human error with divine certainty. Key themes include the importance of believing in Jesus' truth and obeying His commandments as evidence of love for Him. The message highlights the role of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter who guides believers into all truth and provides assurance of eternal life. Ultimately, the sermon calls listeners to trust solely in Christ for spiritual vitality and warns against the condemnation that comes from rejecting this singular way.

In the second part of "The Spirit of Adoption" (Romans 8:12-17, with the weight on verse 15), Pastor Robert McNutt argues that the spirit of slavery always precedes the spirit of adoption: no one cries "Abba, Father" who has not first been brought under conviction, the law serving as guardian to drive us to the Savior. Because the adversary readily persuades people they are secure when they are not, this contrast becomes a test of the spirits, separating true adoption from a counterfeit. Two cautions guard the argument: the intensity of conviction varies widely, and no single conversion experience may be made the standard. From Luke 7:36-50 McNutt corrects a common misreading of the sinful woman and Simon the Pharisee. What matters is not the quantity of sin committed but the realization of one's sinfulness, and the forgiveness that answers it; the gospel is never an incitement to sin, and easy believism, merely saying a prayer or affirming facts about the Savior, is no substitute for the Spirit's work. Drawing on John 16:8-11 and 2 Corinthians 13:5, he shows that the Spirit reveals God's holiness and the law's spirituality, and so reveals us to ourselves. The nearer we come to the light, the more darkness we see; growing saints feel their sin more deeply, not less. Isaiah's vision in Isaiah 6 illustrates the pattern, "Woe is me" preceding "Here am I, send me," as do the great revivals, where settled church members become newly horrified at sin and newly astonished at the blood of Christ. He closes by pressing self-examination, urging any who lack it to cry out for the Spirit of adoption, and asking whether the congregation itself needs revival.

With 2 Timothy 3:14-17, we will consider the truths of Article 7 of the Belgic Confession and the familiar text, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Pastor Martijn Heijboer preaches Scripture is sufficient for salvation and worship and Scripture is sufficient as the only rule on earth.

Pastor Jeremiah Gabbard | Romans 1:1-5 The sermon introduces the Epistle to Romans as a foundational text for New Testament doctrine, emphasizing its role in clarifying biblical truth and correcting skewed teachings. The preacher highlights Paul's apostleship and his separation unto the gospel, defining the core message as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ rather than works-based religion. Key theological themes include the deity and humanity of Christ, the necessity of faith for salvation, and the historical reliability of the resurrection witnessed by many. The exposition serves to align listeners with pure doctrine, urging them to stand firm on the gospel's power to save. The tone is instructional and corrective, aiming to establish a solid theological framework for believers.