A fantastic new resource: Open up the Bible
Regular, daily Bible reading must be one of the top things that Christians know they should do and know they’ll benefit from, but struggle to actually do. Reading the Bible every day is like eating every day: we do it not to fulfill a religious duty or tick a spiritual... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Feb 2 | 0 Comments
Back from Northern Ireland, with a grateful heart
We arrived home last night from two weeks away in Northern Ireland, visiting with Emma’s family. The time difference between Pepperell and Belfast is five hours, so right now my heart is full of thankfulness to God but my head is a bit hazy and unclear from jet lag! Here... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Jan 24 | 1 Comments
A ministry opportunity to students at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Dear PCF, God has opened a significant door of ministry for me and for PCF this year. From February – May 2012, I will be teaching a course on the Gospel of Mark at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (the course will be a few hours each week). The PCF Elders have given... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Jan 2 | 0 Comments
Year-end quote from Robert Murray M'Cheyne
It’s the last day of 2011: a great day to reflect on God’s grace over the past year and look ahead with anticipation to his grace in the year to come. His grace keeps coming and coming to us from the future, moment by moment, like a waterfall breaking over... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Dec 31 | 0 Comments
Thank you, Lord, for your Word and the opportunity to memorize it in 2011
Father, thank you for your inspired Word. I’m more convinced of its preciousness and power at the end of 2011 than I was at the beginning of 2011. Over a year ago you gave me a burden to grow in memorizing and meditating upon it, and a burden to draw... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Dec 26 | 2 Comments
Labor of Love
Check out Jill Phillips performing ‘Labor of Love,’ from Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God (set to scenes from The Nativity). Thanks to Justin Taylor; I saw this video on his blog.Posted by Stephen Witmer on Dec 21 | 0 Comments
I've got the happiest job in the world!
I love being a pastor, and in particular I love being a pastor at PCF. I’ve been called by God to this work and even in moments of discouragement and difficulty (and there are always plenty in pastoral ministry) I have that clear sense of calling and the importance of... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Dec 12 | 0 Comments
The dilemma of worship
Check out this brief, funny, and insightful article from the Gospel Coalition blog.Posted by Stephen Witmer on Dec 11 | 1 Comments
I Will Rise
After Sunday’s sermon on the hope of resurrection life in Romans 8.9-11, Sandi Goguen sent me a link to this video of Chris Tomlin performing his song ‘I Will Rise.’ I was moved as I watched it. It beautifully captures our hope for resurrection into the presence of God in... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Nov 28 | 0 Comments
Three great resources on death and dying
On Sunday, I preached on Romans 8.9-11, three powerful verses on the promise of an indestructible life for Christians. I praise God that there are answers in the Bible to the huge problem of death and dying. Here are three great resources if you want to read more on death... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Nov 27 | 0 Comments
The meaning is in the waiting
We’re at the beginning of Advent 2011 and I’m anticipating these next days and weeks in the run-up to Christmas. Advent is a time of waiting. It can help us learn how to better cultivate an expectant, eager, patient waiting for Jesus. The title I’ve given this blog (‘The meaning... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Nov 26 | 0 Comments
Thankful for the Gospel Alliance New England
I am very grateful to God for the great guys at the Gospel Alliance New England. They sponsored a wonderful conference called LEAD 2011 this past Friday-Saturday in Auburn, Maine. Matt Chandler, Ray Ortlund, Jared Wilson, and others spoke at the conference and we were all reminded again of the... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Nov 16 | 0 Comments
God is kind
Over the last few years I have come to appreciate the kindness of God. He does things for us he wouldn’t need to. He caused our daughter Annie to be born on the birthday of her great-grandmother Anne, after whom she’s named (Annie was born at 12.01am, so one minute... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Nov 8 | 1 Comments
Our amazing Creator God
God’s intricate, elegant design of the universe is in evidence everywhere we look. I remember once speaking to a brilliant mathematics Ph.d. student at the University of Cambridge and hearing how beautiful he found the advanced levels of mathematics. He could see a complexity and simplicity and beauty in the... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Nov 5 | 1 Comments
A great book from Christopher Ash
I finished this morning in my daily time with God a book by Christopher Ash called Bible Delight. I highly recommend it. It has fed my soul wonderfully for the past month. Ash guides you right through all of Psalm 119, the longest psalm in the Bible. Going verse-by-verse, he... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Oct 25 | 0 Comments
Encouragement from Psalm 119
Here are two amazing verses I came across in my times with God this past week: Psalm 119.67: ‘Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.’ Psalm 119.71: ‘It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.’ God uses affliction to draw... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Oct 16 | 1 Comments
Translating the ESV
Here’s a fascinating video of the translating committee of the English Standard Version. We use the ESV at PCF. The translation committee is meeting and working at Tyndale House, in Cambridge, England, where I did my PhD work. I know the room they’re meeting in very well and was there... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Oct 1 | 1 Comments
The Gospel According to Jonah
Here’s a link to an article I’ve written called ‘The Gospel According to Jonah.’ It’s just been posted on the Gospel Coalition website. To read it, click here.Posted by Stephen Witmer on Sep 27 | 0 Comments
Rush out and buy your twenty copies!
The study guide on Jonah I’ve written has now been published by the Good Book Company and is available in the U.S. It’s called Jonah: The Depths of Grace. Those at PCF who are in Life Groups will know that we studied Jonah a couple years ago, and this study... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Sep 24 | 0 Comments
Pierced by this truth
I was deeply moved this past Saturday during our PCF Worship Workshop (a big success, by the way — thanks to Paul Contos!) as I listened to Bob Kauflin teach (on DVD) on whether God likes our worship. Kauflin said that our best performances, singing, musical arrangements (and, I would... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Sep 20 | 2 Comments
What is missing here?
There’s new data out from George Barna showing a really big disconnect in the minds and hearts of Americans with regard to Christianity. It’s reported in USA Today. According to Barna, the number of Americans who read the Bible outside of church has decreased between 1991 and 2011. The number of... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Sep 13 | 0 Comments
Porn Addiction In America
Addiction to porn is spreading from computer and TV screens across America to home, families and marriages at a dangerous pace. Scroll through the following image to learn more.Posted by Stephen Witmer on Sep 5 | 0 Comments
Forgiven, so now you fear?
The other night (on our weekly date night) Emma and I were listening to a sermon on marriage by Tim Keller (just to clarify, we don’t always listen to sermons — we watch a good number of movies, too). Keller pointed us to an intriguing couple verses. Psalm 130.3-4 says... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Sep 5 | 1 Comments
We must love Heaven if we want to change the world
I’m chewing on a quote from G.K. Chesterton, the famous 19th century man of letters. In his classic book Orthodoxy he says, ‘We have said we must be fond of this world, even in order to change it. We now add that we must be fond of another world (real... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Aug 19 | 1 Comments
Practical advice from Proverbs on how (and how not to) speak
I’m preaching this coming Sunday on skillful living as manifested in the wise use of speech. I am amazed at how much the book of Proverbs says about speech! I knew this book talked a lot about talking, but I didn’t realize just how much good stuff it has to... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Aug 10 | 0 Comments
Thank a deacon, be a deacon
I regularly thank God for our PCF deacons. They make big decisions for us, like how to maintain and improve our property. They handle requests that come to the church for emergency financial assistance and they oversee the Deacons’ Fund and help people with financial advice to get them back... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Aug 8 | 0 Comments
Potpourri
A few things here, related to parents and children — which is the subject I preached on this past Sunday. First, in my sermon on the family in Proverbs, I quoted William Hendrickson talking to a group of young fathers. Hendrickson’s words are worth repeating for all parents, especially the last... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Jul 31 | 0 Comments
July book notes
It’s important for Christians to read. Even if we’re not naturally readers by inclination, it’s a good habit to read Christian books. If you don’t normally like to read, choose short books by authors you trust, or get books on CD and listen to them during your commute. I try... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Jul 28 | 0 Comments
Look what our Ayer/Groton Life Group is doing!
Sometimes I see things happening at PCF that just make me smile and cheer and give thanks to God. This is one of them. Oh God, may you be pleased to bless this initiative and those who are trusting you as they do it! Check out the following announcement from... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Jul 23 | 2 Comments
My membership meeting
I had a great experience on Monday evening. I met with the PCF Elders in order to express my desire to become a member of PCF. I wanted to be the first person at PCF to have my ‘membership meeting’ so I could tell the rest of you what it’s... Keep Reading...Posted by Stephen Witmer on Jul 19 | 2 Comments