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Articles by Ray Ortlund
God Is Offering You Bold Enjoyment of Life
Life is short. That’s obvious. And yet, it isn’t obvious. I turned seventy-five a few months ago. Me, seventy-five? I was in my thirties just five minutes ago! You might not be seventy-five and half-dead like me. Still, you get it. But at another level, here’s what Ecclesiastes wants us to think about more deeply: Life is good. Life is short, and life is good. It’s not an either/or. It’s a both/and. And what makes your short life good is the grace of God giving your life to you, moment by moment.
Livro Salmos - Download, comparar e comprar melhor preço
Livro Resenha publicada em 3 de novembro de 2023 Minha estante Adicionar à minha estante Crie sua biblioteca cristã. Marque o que já leu, avalie e acompanhe metas. Baixar grátis Trecho de Salmos (Ray Ortlund) em PDF — leitura grátis Leia um trecho gratuito de Salmos (Ray Ortlund) escrito por Ray Ortlund, livro de 485 páginas publicado pela Pia Sociedade de São Paulo - Editora Paulus. Visualização e download liberados pela editora via Google Books.
How to Put Lust to Death
Ponder the Eternal Danger A few years ago, I spoke to a high school student body on how to fight lust. One of my points was called, “Ponder the eternal danger of lust.” I quoted the words of Jesus that it’s better to go to heaven with one eye than to hell with two and said to the students that their eternal destiny was at stake in what they did with their eyes and with the thoughts of their imagination.
Let Your Heart Cheer You
Let Your Heart Cheer You in the Days of Your Youth “Let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth” (Eccl. 11:9)—I love that. Here’s why. The Bible is saying, in effect: This barbaric world has no right to poison your heart. God looks upon “the days of your youth” with joy. And how God sees you is how you really are. You don’t have to invent enjoyment. It’s built in. Let it in. There will be time enough later on for bearing heavy burdens and overcoming impossible odds—of course.
The Gospel Counsels You All Day Long
Gospel Therapy for Us All God put Ecclesiastes 11:10 in the Bible because he understands us. He feels for us in all our anguish—every dark emotion that holds us back from living free. So he provides gospel therapy in the Bible. It might translate into a conversation with your dad, or a drill during football practice, or whatever. God knows where to find you and how to help you. And if his provision includes counseling and medications, great.
Daniel Shows Us How to Plead with God When You’ve Blown It Badly
Approaching God Daniel 9 gives us a surprising answer to a deeply practical question: How do you approach God when you’ve blown it badly? Not when things are going well. Not when your conscience is clean. But when you know you have sinned, perhaps in ways that feel irreversible. When you have no case to make for yourself. When you feel like the worst saint who ever lived. Daniel 9 is a prayer of confession and a plea for mercy. Israel is in exile because of persistent, covenant-breaking sin.
A Profound Strategy to Help You Follow Christ with Integrity the Rest of Your Life
Bold Enjoyment How can you and I stay steady and keep following Christ all the way to our final breath? What makes us sustainable over the long haul? How can you and I not end up not betraying one another’s trust? Just the other day I heard about yet another pastor, a friend of mine, who shattered his life and ministry with an “inappropriate relationship.” I am tired of getting let down like that. You too? I’m guessing the answer is yes.
What Does “Union with Christ” Actually Mean?
United to Christ When we come to believe in Jesus, we’re told in the New Testament that we become spiritually united to him. Paul even uses marital language for this. Just as the husband and the wife become one flesh, he says we who believe in the Lord become one spirit with him. So, my being a Christian isn’t just me voting for Jesus, or saying Jesus is going to be my role model, or even that I’m trusting Jesus from afar. Actually, what happens is I’ve become united to him.
4 Ways the Church Helps You in the Fight for Purity
Helping Each Other on Our Journey of Faith The church is a primary means God uses to help you persevere in faith and be conformed to Jesus. You will not grow in purity or maturity apart from gospel community.1 God gives the church to help you resist temptation and draw you in a better direction, toward a better country. Our journey of faith is marked by the joyful assurance that God is with us and that soon we shall be with him. But this journey cannot be made alone; we make it together.
The Truest Friend Stays with You at Rock Bottom
I dwell . . . with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit. (Isa. 57:15) There’s a reason solitary confinement is considered such a cruel punishment. Loneliness is hellish torment. But God sees us. He cares about us when we’ve hit rock bottom in our deepest sadness and loneliness. The Word ‘With’ Matters To people like us, the little word “with” is worth a lot: “With him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.” That word is perfect for lonely people.
Rock Bottom: The Place Where God Meets You
What God wants is to “revive” the spirit of the crushed and the devastated. What he wants is to breathe fresh life into you. And Isaiah 57:15 is not exaggerating. Its hopeful message is not even exceptional. This verse is vintage Bible truth. When our lives fall apart, and we really need help, and we wonder if we can even keep going, where can we find God?
Rock Bottom: The Place Where God Meets You
Where to Find God When our lives fall apart, and we really need help, and we wonder if we can even keep going, where can we find God? The Bible says that God dwells in two opposite places at once—way up high in his holy place above, where we can’t go, and way down low among the lowly and contrite, where we can go. But it can be hard to find God in the mushy middle.
Behold, the God of Grace!
What Is Sin? Sin is not breaking a petty taboo or overstepping a mere tradition. Sin violates the sacred covenant God made with us. Sin also tears down the beautiful solidarity he built among us. For example, in Psalm 51, David’s prayer of repentance, he uses three words to describe his sin with utter realism: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
March 2025 New Releases
New Books Below is a list of the new and notable resources releasing this month from Crossway. Titles include Good News at Rock Bottom by Ray Ortlund and the The Biggest Story Bible Storybook Videos. Good News at Rock Bottom: Finding God When the Pain Goes Deep and Hope Seems Lost Ray Ortlund We all long for a life worth living. So when we receive news of a frightening diagnosis, suffer heartbreaking loss in our family life, or get trapped in a cycle of our own sin, we might wonder about God.
Good News at Rock Bottom
Format: Crossway+ members receive 30% off books. Learn more. Availability: In Stock Retail Price: $16.99 Meeting the Man of Sorrows Where We Need Him Most We all long for a life worth living. So when we receive news of a frightening diagnosis, suffer heartbreaking loss in our family life, or get trapped in a cycle of our own sin, we might wonder about God. Where is he when we need him most?
An Open Letter to Anyone Who’s Hit Rock Bottom
This article is part of the Open Letters series. Dear friend, If you’ve hit rock bottom, you know one thing for sure. It’s horrible. I know it too. You’re not alone. Jesus is down here, and he welcomes you. His friends are down here, and we welcome you. Rock bottom isn’t where we wanted to go, obviously. But here we are. And to our amazement, rock bottom is where great things are finally starting to happen, thanks to Jesus and his gospel of grace. That’s the first thing we need to know.
How to promote theological faithfulness in your church
More By Ray Turning to God in great affliction How Grace Creates Gospel Unity Now and Forever The Joy and Reward of Serving Christ (Rom. 15:14–33) The Church Is an Island of Hope (Rom. 15:1–13) “Whenever a change occurs in the religious opinions of a community, it is always preceded by a change in their religious feelings. The natural expression of the feelings of true piety is the doctrines of the Bible.
Self-Justification Is the Deepest Impulse in the Fallen Human Heart
Evading Our Guilt Deep down, every single one of us does not want to come clean about the depth of our sin. That is not just true of the non-Christian; it’s true of the Christian. I’ve never taken any law courses in my entire life, but there is a little lawyer inside me who is excellent at trying to evade my own guilt. I’m always trying to justify myself at some level, even as a Christian.
When the Hour Came
This Maundy Thursday, let us remember the extreme length and the profound depth of Jesus' dying love. Illustration by Keith Negley Luke 22:14-20 At long last, Jesus came to the climactic hour for which he had been born. We rightly remember his birth with happy celebration. And we rightly remember his death with hushed reverence. We are on holy ground.
Equipping parents to build generational faith
How many parents in our churches are feeling, with deep conviction, that their daily family routines are noble, significant, and worthy of sacrifice? And how many are quietly feeling trapped, at times resentful, under endless duties and demands? This world doesn’t encourage the hearts of Christian parents. This world belittles all of us. Never does this uncomprehending world honor Christian parents, especially, as people of historic stature. But God does.
How Grace Creates Gospel Unity Now and Forever
When you think about your church’s culture, you can likely identify positive and negative aspects. There’s no perfect church. So you involve yourself in Christ’s body not because a church has it all together or has attained human perfection but because you are, in fact, “involved” in Christ’s body. Ephesians 2:19–22 (CSB) explains this about all believers: “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household . . .
Equipping Parents to Build Generational Faith
This article was originally written by Ray Ortlund and published to Lifeway Research. How many parents in our churches are feeling, with deep conviction, that their daily family routines are noble, significant, and worthy of sacrifice? And how many are quietly feeling trapped, at times resentful, under endless duties and demands? This world doesn’t encourage the hearts of Christian parents. This world belittles all of us.
Dry Seasons, Imposter Syndrome, and Reawakening
The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy. Sam Allberry Almost always my feedback to myself is there was too much exegesis and not enough Jesus. Ray Ortlund If our preaching amounts basically to challenge self improvement, nothing will change. Sam Allberry Yeah, I think I started to see church as being like a spiritual gymnasium, and here I am, the instructor.
The Joy and Reward of Serving Christ (Rom. 15:14-33)
The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy. Sam Allberry If I can be someone who is now a worshiper of God, if God can change my heart around, I can’t look at anyone’s heart in this world and think they would never become a Christian. I will always see possibility, because if he can save me, he can save anyone. Ray Ortlund Welcome back to you’re not crazy. This is Ray ortlund.
The Church Is an Island of Hope (Rom. 15:1-13)
The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy.
Good News for Pastors Worried About How They Did on Sunday
Christ Preaching Christ Sam Allberry Ephesians 2:17 kind of wrecked my view of preaching because I’d seen preaching as explaining the passage and teaching people. It’s not less than that for sure, but it’s more than that because in Ephesians 2:17 Paul says, “Christ came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to you who were near.” I never noticed that before. I stopped and thought, When did Jesus go and preach in Ephesus?
How Should We Navigate Our Convictions and Consciences?
The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy. Ray Ortlund Jesus did not die and rise again to create a debate club where we can have an argument about eating and drinking. He died and rose again to create a living body where righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit is appearing in human form. You Ray, welcome back to you’re not crazy. I’m Ray ortlund.
The Christian’s Perfect Piece of Real Estate
You Are in Christ When I last had any extended time watching daytime TV—I was at home, sick—it became quickly apparent to me that we have a fixation with properties. There were shows about renovating homes, finding homes in the country or in the Caribbean, homes being auctioned, homes on a budget, homes of the super wealthy. Even when we’re not wanting or needing to move to a new home, it can be instinctive to look up property prices.
What Is the Christian Religion If You Subtract Our Union with Christ?
Theological Emphasis Some time ago we sent an email to our church family asking what sort of topics they’d like to hear teaching on, or which parts of Scripture and theology they felt hadn’t been given enough airtime. I’m glad we did so. We were able to identify some prominent pastoral needs across the congregation and plan our teaching program with that in mind. But it can be a mixed blessing to send out such a survey. Not every aspect of Christian theology is equally crucial.
Love Fulfills the Law (Rom. 13:8-14)
The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy. Ray Ortlund The heart of Christianity is not ethics. The heart of Christianity is Christ. Yeah, it doesn’t say put on morality, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ. We’re taught by the gospel in this passage to face the future, not with dread, but with eager anticipation.
Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry on Gospel Sanity for Pastors
The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy. Sam Allberry Welcome. Thank you so much for being here. It’s good to be with you. I’m Sam. He’s rave we’ve not met you want to get us around the right way. Ray, thank you for being here as well. Oh, Ray Ortlund it’s a privilege. Thank you, Sam. Let me tell you something about Sam Albury.
Christians and the Government (Rom. 13:1-7)
The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy. Sam Allberry If I don’t like the politics who whoever’s elected, that doesn’t give me the right to demean them, to be disrespectful to them. In my heart, there is no authority except from God, and that those that exist have been instituted by God. Whoever ends up being elected, I have to recognize the providential Hand of God behind that.
Love in the Face of Adversity (Rom. 12:9-21)
The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy. Ray Ortlund How can God bless with the felt presence of the Holy Spirit a church that plays the world’s games by the world’s rules, we are the kingdom of heaven, for crying out loud. So coming in among us and looking at us, watching us, should kind of look like heaven on earth. You Sam Allberry Welcome to You’re Not Crazy.
Never a Christ-absent, Fatherless, Spirit-void Day
More By Scotty Seeing Jesus and Seeing by Jesus Where Can We Go to Be Refreshed and Replenished? Even in Berkeley California FILL, FULL, OVERFLOWING … Do It Again, and Again and Again, Abba “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
Seeing Jesus and Seeing by Jesus
More By Scotty Where Can We Go to Be Refreshed and Replenished? Even in Berkeley California FILL, FULL, OVERFLOWING … Do It Again, and Again and Again, Abba When Jesus Wants Us to Be Freer Than We Are Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
Where Can We Go to Be Refreshed and Replenished?
More By Scotty Even in Berkeley California FILL, FULL, OVERFLOWING … Do It Again, and Again and Again, Abba When Jesus Wants Us to Be Freer Than We Are “Bitterness and Resentment and Vengeance, Oh My!” “I (Jesus) will refresh the weary and replenish the weak” (Jer.31:25) Lord Jesus, this one little verse is the Pacific Ocean of grace, the Niagara Falls of mercy, the Swiss Alps of wonder, the Maldives Beaches of peace.
Recommendations From My Summer Reading
Reading is always enjoyable, but especially so in the summer. With the longer days, slower pace, and warmer weather, summer provides a refreshing occasion to enjoy good books. This year, I enjoyed reading various books that made me think, feel, learn, and relax. If you’re looking to refresh your reading list for the fall or even get back into reading, I hope this list from a few of my summer reads serves you well. The Demon of Unrest, Erik Larson.
Even in Berkeley California
More By Scotty FILL, FULL, OVERFLOWING … Do It Again, and Again and Again, Abba When Jesus Wants Us to Be Freer Than We Are “Bitterness and Resentment and Vengeance, Oh My!” We Are All Being Discipled … No Exceptions “I thank my God every time I remember you… I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will complete it.” Phil.
Let Love Be Genuine (Rom. 12:9-21)
The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy. Ray Ortlund Well, I’ve never said this to you. I’ve talked, never talked to you about this, but you and I were speaking once at my home several years ago, and you very kindly asked about a hardship that I went through one point, and I was simply describing it to you, and I saw a tear go down your cheek.
The Beauty of Gospel Relationships (Rom. 12:1-8)
The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy. Ray Ortlund No one is simply useful to me for my purposes. If we are members individually of one another, then Sam, I would be personally diminished if you weren’t in my life.
FILL, FULL, OVERFLOWING …
More By Scotty Do It Again, and Again and Again, Abba When Jesus Wants Us to Be Freer Than We Are “Bitterness and Resentment and Vengeance, Oh My!” We Are All Being Discipled … No Exceptions Dear Friends … Ask, Imagine, and Trust “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 Lord Jesus, what a great verse for focusing and fueling our hearts—whether we’re heading into work or going on retreat,...
“Bitterness and Resentment and Vengeance, Oh My!”
More By Scotty We Are All Being Discipled … No Exceptions Dear Friends … Ask, Imagine, and Trust From Age to Age the Same—Jesus Has, Is, Will Win Blessed Are the Refreshed, Needed Are Refreshers A Quartet for Now and the Ages Be careful not to let any poisonous root of bitterness to grow up—causing you trouble and corrupting many others (Heb.12:15). “Resentment kills a fool” (Job 5:2).
Outdo One Another: Final Season of ‘You’re Not Crazy’
More Episodes Outdo One Another: Final Season of ‘You’re Not Crazy’ Introducing Season 4 and the Center for Gospel Culture How to Build Gospel Culture: A Q&A Conversation Encouragement from Paul’s Final Words What Motivates Us to Preach the Word? Join Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry for this final season of the You’re Not Crazy podcast, as they delve into the transformative chapters of Romans 12–15 and equip you with fresh perspectives for leading and nurturing gospel-centered communities.
A Quartet for Now and the Ages
More By Scotty “Letting Go for Dear Life” Salt and Light, Not Mold and Fog 10,000 Bags of Gold Forgiveness Saw. Compassion. Ran. Embraced. Kissed. Jesus, Not “Such-a,” Defines Us All of you, seek to have “unity of mind, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble attitude” (IPet.3:8) Lord Jesus, a part of my soundtrack growing up included groups with the number four in their name—The Four Tops, The Four Seasons, and The Classics IV, to name a few.
“Letting Go for Dear Life”
More By Scotty Salt and Light, Not Mold and Fog 10,000 Bags of Gold Forgiveness Saw. Compassion. Ran. Embraced. Kissed. Jesus, Not “Such-a,” Defines Us Heart-Filled or Landfill Living? “Cast all your anxieties, cares, burdens on him (Abba, Father), because he cares for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7 Heavenly Father, the best part of this much-loved verse is the last four words, “he cares for you.” How do you care for us?
Salt and Light, Not Mold and Fog
More By Scotty 10,000 Bags of Gold Forgiveness Saw. Compassion. Ran. Embraced. Kissed. Jesus, Not “Such-a,” Defines Us Heart-Filled or Landfill Living? Not Like An Armadillo, But as Abba’s Beloved Child “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1Pet.2:9).
Pray with Me Through Paul's Letters in 30 Days
The apostle Paul: more letters in the New Testament come from his hand than from anyone else. He’s the leader whose dramatic conversion God used to rock the early church and whose tireless efforts helped spread the gospel to the Gentiles. Historian and author Tom Holland describes Paul’s letters as “a collection of acorns, from which mighty oaks have grown.
10,000 Bags of Gold Forgiveness
More By Scotty Saw. Compassion. Ran. Embraced. Kissed. Jesus, Not “Such-a,” Defines Us Heart-Filled or Landfill Living? Not Like An Armadillo, But as Abba’s Beloved Child The Peace Giving Laughter of Heaven “A man owed his master 10,000 bags of gold… he fell on his knees and begged for patience and a chance to pay him back… The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go.
Jesus, Not “Such-a,” Defines Us
More By Scotty Heart-Filled or Landfill Living? Not Like An Armadillo, But as Abba’s Beloved Child The Peace Giving Laughter of Heaven Careless and Caring Words Jesus Is Always Here and Is Always Coming “To the one who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” (Rev.
Careless and Caring Words
More By Scotty Jesus Is Always Here and Is Always Coming Ambivalent, Conflicted, and Abba’s A Warm Asparagus Milkshake or the Living Water of the Gospel? Jesus, Heal and Open the Eyes of Our Hearts God Is Faithful But Not Always “Fun” “The tongue can bring death or life” (Prov.18:21). “The tongue of the wise brings healing” (Prov. 12:18). “Let your conversation be always full of grace” (Col. 4:6). “What you say flows from what’s in your heart” (Luke 6:45).
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