Christ Church

  • Our Church
  • Get Involved
  • Resources
  • Worship With Us
  • Give
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Grace & Peace: Proverbs 17:9

Douglas Wilson on October 6, 2020

At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Ps. 16: 11)

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love;
But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Proverbs 17:9

One time, in the course of a church controversy, I was accused of “covering something up.” But as we have learned in other contexts, you cannot determine virtue or vice by looking at the verb only. What is being covered up? Why is it being covered up? Is the murderer trying cover up the telltale indicators of his crime (Prov. 28:13)? Or is it love, trying, yet again, to cover a multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8; cf. Prov. 10:12)? In that particular church controversy, I remember saying to someone that I was a pastor, and that I cover up sins for a living.

But it should go without saying that some things that are covered up need to be brought out into the open. “Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops” (Luke 12:3). The devil picks this up by the wrong end, which is how he became the accuser of all the brethren (Rev. 12:10), accusing them day and night. This censorious spirit may operate in the name of “transparency” or “accountability,” but what it is really after is the opportunity to point a finger and demand an answer now. The reason sinners like to do this is because, outside of Christ, the best defense is a good offense.

So in this proverb, the one who covers a transgression is the one who is seeking the path of love. This is how Joseph responded when he found out that Mary was pregnant. He knew that he was not the father, and so it followed that Mary had been unfaithful. “And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly” (Matt. 1:19, ESV).

But in the world of hectoring accusers, the thing that made Matthew say that Joseph was a just man is the very same thing that makes accusers say that he was manifestly unjust. Was he not being indulgent? Was he not covering up? They would have told someone about it. They would have repeated the matter. And the proverb tells us that they are the kind of people who wreck friendships.

This proverb is part of wisdom literature, which is why it takes wisdom to be able to distinguish a righteous and an unrighteous revealing, a righteous and unrighteous “covering.” Every wise parent knows this. There are times when you would discipline your children for “tattling,” and other times you would discipline them for not saying something. For example, if your three-year-old is on the roof of the garage, you really want the older kids to say something.

Read Full Article

September Recap (Bible Reading Challenge)

Christ Church on September 30, 2020

For the Bible Reading Challenge this year, we will be sending out posts with resources pertaining to the readings of the past month for you to explore further. Enjoy!


PODCAST

The podcast is back, and for our first episode of the new plan, Pastor Douglas Wilson came on to talk about all things Genesis. Be on the lookout for the Exodus episode soon!

Don’t forget: You can subscribe on your favorite podcast app to listen (search ‘Bible Reading Challenge’). 


SURVEYING THE TEXT: GENESIS

Just as Abraham walked through the land that he was promised without settling down to inherit the land, so we walk through the Bible, the land of promise, not yet in full possession of all that has been given to us. We have it already, we don’t have it yet. Click here to listen.

SURVEYING THE TEXT: JOHN

The Apostle John was overwhelmed by the vastness of Jesus Christ. This fourth Gospel is a cosmic Gospel, but with profound ramifications for us here on earth. It is cosmic, but it is in no way removed from us. No, the ultimate and divine Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Click here to listen.


BOOKS

These two great resources on Genesis are 20% off from Canon Press until Monday, October 5th!

Primeval Saints: What if Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were heroes that we should imitate—even in their deceptions?

Creation in Six Days: Commentators offer a lot of strange opinions on the events of Genesis 1. Jordan shows how the straightforward reading is the only tenable one.


DARWIN’S DEAD END

Back in 2016, the topic for Grace Agenda was young-earth creationism and evolution. Click here to check out those messages from Pastor Douglas Wilson, N.D. Wilson, Dr. Tim Edwards, Dr. Gordon Wilson, and Dr. John C. Sanford.

Read Full Article

Grace & Peace: Proverbs 16:9

Douglas Wilson on September 29, 2020

At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Ps. 16: 11)

A man’s heart deviseth his way:B
ut the Lord directeth his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

This verse shows us that the doctrine of God’s absolute sovereignty is not a doctrine that is the private reserve of esoteric theologians. No, the sovereignty of God is an immensely practical and enormously comforting doctrine. It is something that every saint should know and understand, and learn to rely on in all our daily pursuits.

We make our little plans and out into the day we go. There is nothing wrong with this; it is what we are supposed to do. The book of Proverbs is filled with all sorts of exhortations that would encourage the sons of men to get off the dime, and to go do something. We are told to work in the field, to avoid the painted ladies, to lay up an inheritance, to give to the poor, and a host of other things. But when we devise the way to go do any of these things, we must always remember that this is not the end of the story—it is only our part, which is a very small part. God is the one who directs the steps.

He does this whether the decisions of our heart are wise or foolish, righteous or sinful, thoughtful or thoughtless, asleep or awake. We make our free decisions, and God uses our free decisions to accomplish His divine purposes.

We are aware of this when it comes to momentous things, like the crucifixion of Christ (Acts 4:27-28). But we need to remember why Jesus taught us that a cat can’t catch a sparrow apart from the will of the Father. We need to remember why He said the hairs of our head are all numbered. The reason is so that we might not fear (Matt. 10:31).

Because we make decisions, and because we are mortal, we need to trust the only one who can keep us. Whenever you change lanes on the freeway, the lives of your children in the back seat are in the balance, not to mention the lives of your hundreds of thousands of descendants. Better get it right.

A better way would be to trust the Lord. He is the only one who can direct our steps.

Read Full Article

Grace & Peace: Proverbs 15:28

Douglas Wilson on September 22, 2020

At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Ps. 16: 11)

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer:
But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

Proverbs 15:28

As happens a lot in Proverbs, the contrast between righteousness and wickedness is sharp. In this contrast, we have the obvious one between the righteous and the wicked. But it goes a step beyond this—the contrast is between the heart of the righteous and the mouth of the wicked.

A problem or question has apparently been posed, and the heart of the righteous thinks about how to answer. Righteousness does not blurt. The word for “studieth” can mean growl or mutter, or meditate, or imagine. One gets the picture of a wise man working through a difficult problem, talking to himself as he goes. His heart is hot, a wisdom forge, and he doesn’t bring out his words until they are ready.

But the mouth of the wicked is filled up and ready to go now. The mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. If you want an answer now, he has an answer for you now. The quality is crappy, but delivery is prompt.

With the righteous, there is a solid consistency that runs from the heart through the mouth, and then to the outside world. With the wicked, the answer is in his mouth already, and may bear no relationship to what he really believes or, for that matter, any relationship to how things are out in the world.

The righteous is slower to speak, but what he says comes from the heart, and what he says has been “growled over.” He shares this with you, not because it was his turn to talk, but rather because he believes that he has a word for you in season.

Read Full Article

Grace & Peace: Proverbs 13:11

Douglas Wilson on September 15, 2020

At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Ps. 16: 11)

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished:
But he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Proverbs 13:11

It is folly to give way to daydreams that provide a pathway to riches and wealth. Some daydreams are indulged on the couch, staring off into the middle distance, while other daydreams are actually pursued in real time. There are some daydreamers who pursue unicorns and rainbows, and who are very diligent in talking to potential investors about rainbows and unicorns. 

When wealth is obtained in this way (and it is not always obtained in the first place), it is wealth that diminishes. Wealth gotten by vanity does not have staying power. This appears to be referring to schemes that can show gains short term. In a Ponzi scheme, where you use the investments of later investors as a way of paying of earlier investors, you create the illusion of mojo, because the earlier investors talk about what a shrewd move it was to sign onto this project early. But the whole operation is staggering along on rickety stilts. It is going to come crashing down.

The contrast is being made to the one who acquires wealth bit by bit, steadily over time. Gathering by labor is the way to increase.

One of the key elements in daydream wealth is that the pitch appeals to rapidity. Get rich quick now is the appeal. Those who follow the biblical pattern of acquiring wealth rarely make the kind of pitch that assumes “you can have it now.”

Suppose you say a Facebook ad that invited you to download a free booklet that said that it was going to teach you HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS IN REAL ESTATE!! This interested you, and so you downloaded the booklet and read it. The advice consisted of elements like the following: 1. Get a realty license. 2. Obtain a position at a realtors’ office, or establish one of your own. 3. Work diligently and hard for the next thirty years. 4. Do quality work, and never stop learning how to improve. 5. Make sure to tithe what you make. 6. Be generous and open-handed with your wealth. 7. After you have made your millions, share this booklet with others. 

Pass it on.

Read Full Article

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • …
  • 141
  • Next Page »
  • Worship With Us
  • Our Staff & Leadership
  • Our Mission
  • Our Distinctives
  • Our Constitution
  • Our Book of Worship, Faith, & Practice
  • Our Philosophy of Missions
Sermons
Events
Worship With Us
Get Involved

Our Church

  • Worship With Us
  • Our Staff & Leadership
  • Our Mission
  • Our Distinctives

Ministries

  • Center For Biblical Counseling
  • Collegiate Reformed Fellowship
  • International Student Fellowship
  • Ladies Outreach
  • Mercy Ministry
  • Bakwé Mission
  • Huguenot Heritage
  • Grace Agenda
  • Greyfriars Hall
  • New Saint Andrews College

Resources

  • Sermons
  • Bible Reading Challenge
  • Blog
  • Music Library
  • Weekly Bulletins
  • Hymn of the Month
  • Letter from Elders Regarding Relocating

Get Involved

  • Membership
  • Parish Discipleship Groups
  • Christ Church Downtown
  • Church Community Builder

Contact Us:

403 S Jackson St
Moscow, ID 83843
208-882-2034
office@christkirk.com
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© Copyright Christ Church 2025. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework · WordPress