For the next four Thursdays of June, I offer meditations upon four of Proverbs ‘ references to pride in the English Standard Version. These verses are: Proverbs 11:2 | When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 21:24 | “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride. Proverbs 29:23 | One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit w...
Jun 01, 2023•6 min
This is my discussion of the sixteenth chapter of Thomas Watson's book, Heaven Taken by Storm , from 2020. Visit bcnewton.co for more resources for knowing and loving God's Word.
May 30, 2023•27 min
While each individual Christian certainly still has the freedom to shop at Target, would it not be best to abstain? What witness might your abstinence display personally, and what witness might Christians display collectively? After all, denouncement by refusal to participate can be a powerful cultural witness, just ask Daniel and his friends. To read this article and more resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co
May 28, 2023•10 min
God is not merely the granter of eternal life; rather, knowing Him is eternal life. Also, by implication, to be ignorant of God is to be divorced and cut off from life everlasting . What then could be more important than knowing God? And what better place to begin than with the question before us: what is God? To read this article and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co To read the full New City Catechism and other resources, visit newcitycatechism.com...
May 26, 2023•9 min
That day is swiftly coming. Indeed, even if Christ does not return for another millennia, each of us will surely see His face, in either grace or judgment, within the next century. To read this meditation and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co
May 23, 2023•4 min
This is my discussion of the fifteenth chapter of Thomas Watson's book, Heaven Taken by Storm , from 2020. Visit bcnewton.co for more resources for knowing and loving God's Word.
May 21, 2023•24 min
To belong to God’s people in this life is a visible testament that we will stand in the day of judgment numbered among those whom God has redeemed and made righteous. To read this meditation and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co
May 16, 2023•5 min
This is my discussion of the fourteenth chapter of Thomas Watson's book, Heaven Taken by Storm , from 2020. Visit bcnewton.co for more resources for knowing and loving God's Word. Note: Because this chapter is predominately a series of questions for self-reflection and self-examination, I will not be providing questions of my own.
May 14, 2023•8 min
As a Puritan writer noted, the fattened calf appears for a while to have everything that it could desire, yet it does not know that it is ripe for the slaughter. So, it is with the prosperity of the wicked; it only fattens them for the soon coming day of judgment. To read this meditation and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co
May 09, 2023•4 min
Dead Men Preaching is a monthly series aimed at bringing sermons from the past into the ears of the present. This month's sermon is by Robert Murray M'Cheyne on John 1:14: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." For more sermons and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit
May 07, 2023•18 min
Again, the wicked are not so. They do not yield fruit in season for the benefit of others; instead, they only hinder the good of others until they are at last driven away. To read this meditation and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co
May 02, 2023•4 min
This is my discussion of the thirteenth chapter of Thomas Watson's book, Heaven Taken by Storm , from 2020. Visit bcnewton.co for more resources for knowing and loving God's Word. Questions for Reflection Which category of reproof resonated most with you? Did Watson accurately describe any reasons why you are (or have in the past) neglected offering holy violence? What will your repentance in response to these reproofs look like?...
Apr 30, 2023•34 min
Do you walk in the counsel of the wicked , stand in the way of sinners , or sit in the seat of scoffers ? Do you take no delight in the Scriptures and never meditate upon them? If so, then you certainly cannot claim to be rooted like a tree in God’s Word as the blessed are. You, therefore, meet the criteria of the wicked. To read this meditation and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co...
Apr 25, 2023•3 min
This is my discussion of the twelfth chapter of Thomas Watson's book, Heaven Taken by Storm , from 2020. Visit bcnewton.co for more resources for knowing and loving God's Word. Questions for Reflection Which of the metaphors for offering violence most resonates with you? Why? Which of Watson’s reasons for offering violence’s you find most compelling? Why? What is the danger of moderation? How has Watson challenged you overall to offer violence?...
Apr 23, 2023•31 min
He loves us far more and far better than we love ourselves, and as our Creator, He knows what is best for us far better than we do. So why would we not submit ourselves to Him? Why would we not trust that He will shepherd us throughout this life and through death’s dark valley? To read this article and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co To read the full New City Catechism and other resources, visit newcitycatechism.com...
Apr 20, 2023•8 min
The prosperity described within this psalm runs far deeper than our bank accounts or physical possessions can ever go. Indeed, this prosperity is guaranteed in Christ to even the poorest of believers. To read this meditation and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co
Apr 18, 2023•4 min
This is my discussion of the tenth and eleventh chapters of Thomas Watson's book, Heaven Taken by Storm , from 2020. Visit bcnewton.co for more resources for knowing and loving God's Word. Questions for Reflection It seems that Christians often either ignore Satan completely or blame him for everything. Do you tend to fall onto one side or the other? Which of Satan’s treacheries that Watson listed resonated most with you? What are some other treacheries of Satan that you can think of? In what ha...
Apr 16, 2023•23 min
Since our church will soon begin to go through the New City Catechism as a part of Lord’s Day worship, I hope to increase my own use of the instructional resource by writing out meditations upon each question. I also hope that those meditations will be worth sharing here to stimulate your own meditation upon each doctrine. May the Holy Spirit, who “convicts us of our sin, comforts us, guides us, gives us spiritual gifts and the desire to obey God” (Q37), do so in our hearts as we set our gaze up...
Apr 13, 2023•6 min
Let us plant ourselves in Him who alone will bring us to “completion at the day of Jesus Christ” ( Philippians 1:6 ), for apart from this steam of divine grace none of us can endure till the end. To read this meditation and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co
Apr 11, 2023•3 min
This is my discussion of the eighth and ninth chapters of Thomas Watson's book, Heaven Taken by Storm , from 2020. Visit bcnewton.co for more resources for knowing and loving God's Word. Questions for Reflection In what ways has the Lord’s Day replaced the Sabbath for Christians, and why is that so important? In what ways do you sanctify the Lord’s Day? Why does Watson place such an importance upon conversation? Are your conversations holy in the way that Watson describes? Why or why not?...
Apr 09, 2023•25 min
These are certainly not exhaustive and will undoubtedly be tweaked as our daughter continues to grow and we gain two more little ones. Therefore, I do not offer these up as an aged guru whose journey is complete but as a fellow traveler pointing out whatever provisions or snares that I see along the way.
Apr 06, 2023•26 min
Are these things true of you? Does your life bring forth the fruits of the Spirit or the fruits of the flesh (see Galatians 5:19-21)? Are you also bearing your fruit in its season? Are you keeping in step with where the Spirit has you, or are you like a horse or mule that “must be curbed with bit and bridle” to stay near (Psalm 32:9)? For more meditations and resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co...
Apr 04, 2023•4 min
Dead Men Preaching is a monthly series aimed at bringing sermons from the past into the ears of the present. This month's sermon is by G. Campbell Morgan on Mark 11:27 through the end of chapter 12. For more sermons and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co
Apr 02, 2023•30 min
Perhaps we are looking at the whole thing from the wrong angle. Instead of being afraid of how intelligent AI is becoming, maybe we should take warning of how artificial we are becoming. For the links referenced, visit the article here .
Mar 30, 2023•8 min
Christian, if you do not delight in and meditate upon God’s Word, you are planting yourself in a parched, desert land. You are depriving yourself of the stream of living water granted to you by our triune God. Plant yourself, therefore, beside this stream, and drink deeply each day. To read this meditation and other resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co...
Mar 28, 2023•4 min
This is my discussion of the seventh chapter of Thomas Watson's book, Heaven Taken by Storm , from 2020. Visit bcnewton.co for more resources for knowing and loving God's Word. Questions for Reflection Have you practiced self-reflection as a spiritual discipline in the past? If so, how has Watson changed how you view the practice? Why is rooting our self-examination in the Word of God so important? What are some practical steps that you might take for practicing self-examination going forward?...
Mar 26, 2023•18 min
Do not lose heart, brother pastor, and keep preaching the Word. The fruit of the seed is in God’s hand; let us devote ourselves to faithfully sowing the Word . For more articles and resources for knowing and loving God's Word, visit bcnewton.co
Mar 23, 2023•5 min
Root yourself in the forest of God’s kingdom today by giving your time and trust to God’s holy Word. For more rooted theology for the unwithered church, visit bcnewton.co
Mar 21, 2023•5 min
This is my discussion of the sixth chapter of Thomas Watson's book, Heaven Taken by Storm , from 2020. Visit bcnewton.co for more resources for knowing and loving God's Word. Questions for Reflection How did you understand meditation before reading this chapter? How has your understanding of meditation changed now that you have read Watson’s thoughts on the subject? Which of Watson’s six matters for meditation most stood out to you? Why? How do you plan to make meditating upon Scripture a regula...
Mar 19, 2023•23 min
I am no prophet to be able to predict the future success or defeat of the American Dream. I do know, however, that “what has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun” ( Ecclesiastes 1:9 ). We should not be surprised, therefore, to find our society repeating itself. For more rooted theology for the unwithered church, visit bcnewton.co...
Mar 16, 2023•5 min
