Some pastors spend much time on the road speaking at conferences, retreats, classes, and church events. A question arises: how can they do that and shepherd the local congregation the Lord has called them to serve? Alec Motyer addresses this situation well in the following excerpt from his book, Preaching. Our position as ministers in …
Helpless and Hopeless Humankind (Motyer)
If you've used Bible commentaries even a little bit, you know that they are quite often hit or miss. I've had it more than a few times that I purchase a highly recommended commentary and was disappointed with it so much that I turned around and sold it. Such is how it sometimes goes! However, …
Amos Then and Now (Motyer)
I've always appreciated Alec Motyer's commentaries on various books of the Bible (e.g. Isaiah, James, Philippians, etc.). I recently began studying Amos to prepare for an upcoming sermon series and I was immediately impressed with Motyer's introduction to Amos in his commentary on the same. Here's one section I underlined: ...The third emphasis in Amos’ …
Come: Eat and Drink for Free!
Isaiah 55:1-2 is beautiful biblical poetry that calls all people drink freely from the well of living water: Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what …
Haggai and God’s Instrumental Word
One of the big themes of Haggai is the power and efficacy of God’s word in the lives of his covenant people. In BC 520 Yahweh, through his prophet Haggai, rebuked Israel for procrastinating and neglecting to rebuild the temple. He also called them to renewed obedience. And the Jews (both leaders and laymen) responded …
The Reformed Reader Blog 