The Danger of Spiritual Pretense
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 06/30/2009
Mark 11:12–25 is a really fascinating passage of Scripture. It is a wonderful piece of Mark’s understated literary technique. Unfortunately, many view Mark’s gospel as the abridged version or Cliff Notes for the other gospels. This is a severe misunderstanding of Mark’s Gospel...
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The Pursuit of God
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 06/18/2009
I recently read A. W Tozer's classic little volume, The Pursuit of God. I do not intend this to be a critique of the book, but I do want to highlight a statement that stood out to me: "The doctrine of justification by faith—a Biblical truth, and a blessed relief from sterile legalism..."
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Making Jesus Relevant!
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 09/30/2008
Recently, as I was driving home, I saw an interesting bumper sticker. In large letters was the word: RELEVANT. Next to the word was a traditional picture of Jesus and underneath both of those was a phrase about Jesus being RELEVANT to our lives. I found this very ironic...
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Baptism for the Dead
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 08/11/2008
Many interpreters generally regard 1 Cor 15:29 as one of the most difficult verses in the New Testament. It was certainly not difficult for the Corinthians, but two millennia later, it is difficult for modern Christians...
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Christian Love
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 04/04/2008
I have been meditating on Christian love as I work my way through the book of 1 Corinthians. The Apostle Paul confronts the spiritual pride of the Corinthians by calling them to a Christian ethic of love...
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How Much Does God Think About Me?
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 12/19/2007
Recently as I was meditating on Psalm 139, I was startled by verses 17 and 18. As a study in Theology Psalm 139 is rich in content about God’s infinite presence and infinite knowledge...
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The Nature of Real Faith
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 12/11/2007
Currently in America many people claim to be Christians, even Evangelicals. The problem is that the behavior of is less and less Christian each day. People profess to believe in Christ and yet by their actions they denounce him...
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Thanksgiving for the Scriptures
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 11/21/2007
I have been teaching our church a series on How We Got Our Bible. The story of how the Bible came from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek originals to modern languages is a study in the providence of God...
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The Purity of the Church
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 08/13/2007
As I have been preaching through the book of 1 Corinthians I have realized how much emphasis Paul places on the purity of the church. 1 Corinthians is simultaneously a very difficult book for us today and a very needed message for American Christians...
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If You Live Like Each Day Is Your Last, One Day You'll Be Right!
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 08/07/2007
I remember hearing a quotation recently that said, "If you live like each day is your last, one day you’ll most certainly be right." That is a sort of humorous way to emphasize an important concept...
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God's Church
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 05/04/2007
I occasionally read out of Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening along with my normal time of Bible reading. My copy is a little leather-bound edition that sits on my shelf next to my computer...
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Hostile Criticism
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 03/30/2007
I was recently reading C. J. Mahaney’s book, Humility: True Greatness. I found one section in particular very helpful. Mahaney encourages his readers to invite and pursue correction to deal with sin and build humility...
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Let Him Sing
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 02/15/2007
James 5:13b "Is any merry? let him sing psalms." Sometimes we find a passage of Scripture that has not really stood out to us before, although we may have read it many times...
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Yes or No
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 01/26/2007
I have not written an entry in over a month. The Christmas holiday and the schedule of ministry here at Calvary Baptist Church have distracted me from writing a post...
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Suffering and American Christians
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 12/20/2006
In May I had the privilege to teach a class on the Old Testament Historical Books to a group of Chinese House Church leaders. I will not divulge the location of the training for the sake of the men’s safety...
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A Class on Humility?
Posted by TJ Klapperich on 12/07/2006
I remember hearing a sermon when I was in college. I do not remember the text or even the theme, but I do remember one statement that stood out...
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