SGCM.org

September, 2010

March, 2010
08 Are You Gospel-Shaped, or Just Religious?
05 Can Christians Drink Alcohol? (A Biblical Response From the Pastors of SGCM)

February, 2010
26 Newspaper Article
25 Beer and Bible

May, 2009
28 Grace Applied
25 Get a New Addiction
15 Don't Waste The Delay

March, 2009
19 "Certain young men..."

February, 2009
25 The Reformed Culture
18 Revival begins with humility
14 The Core Issue
14 The Health of Your Souls
05 The Qualification of a gospel preacher

January, 2009
31 The Kingdom of self vs. The Kingdom of God
30 Bound For Glory
23 Intensifying Desires
22 The Gale of the Spirit
10 Eternal Youthfulness
03 It Is Finished!
01 This much O Lord we want you!

December, 2008
31 Bible Reading for 2009
30 What do you hope for in 2009?
27 Post-Christmas Blues:
19 The Substance Behind the Shadows
17 Amazed Again
05 A Divine Gift

November, 2008
26 Feeling Sorry For Yourself
25 Why be in a Local Church?
18 The Gospel and Family
13 The Prodigal God
07 Billy Graham at 90
06 Kids...who'd 'ave 'em?
06 What the Gospel Does
01 Who are you?

October, 2008
27 ESV Study Bible
24 Interview with Wendy Alsup
23 Gospel-centred Parenting
22 The Problem of Bad Bible Teachers
11 Hard Words For Hurting People
11 Merthyr Produces Some Of The Finest
07 The Posture of Prayer
01 God-reliance!

September, 2008
30 The Discipline of Treasuring Christ
29 Practical theology for Women
29 The Essence of Sin
27 A Miracle of Grace
26 Keep Yourself Satisfied in God
26 How Passionate Are Your Praises?
24 The World's Most Shockingly Scandalous and Glorious Story!
23 Thirsting
22 Monday Morning Awe
17 Intimacy
15 Are you believing in yourself?
15 Your identity is not in your suffering
04 The Gospel Produces Hope

August, 2008
14 Why is there fighting in Georgia?
14 Impressive China?
14 What Tony does in his spare time!!

June, 2008
20 The Happiest Man In The World
19 Hanging with the guys!
19 Humility displayed through lopsided love
19 CJ's 8 most recommended books
18 Spurgeon quote from Sunday's Message
17 Heaven
01 Dad's and Summer holidays (Part 3)
01 T4G Session 3
01 Free ebook!!

May, 2008
29 Maria Sue Chapman Memorial Service
28 Dads and Summer Holidays (Thoughts from CJ Mahaney)
28 Dads and Summer Holidays (Continued)
22 "Where Is Your God?"
09 John Wesley's Accountability Questions

April, 2008
30 T4G Session 2
30 Singing at T4G
25 The Absolute Importance Of Doctrine
24 A Small Mind's Struggle For Retention
23 "Come and See" or "Go and Tell"?
22 Go On Being Filled With The Spirit!
18 America Trip (Final Part???)
15 America Trip (Part 2)
14 America Trip (Part 1)
10 C S Lewis on "5 Tips For Clear Writing"...and talking!

March, 2008
26 The Work of The Spirit in Seattle
25 Taking the Plunge of Grace
23 Jesus Is Alive
22 From A Desert To A Glorious Kingdom
19 Tim Keller @ Google
12 Great Worship Resources Going Cheap!
08 Motivation to Worship
06 The Reason For God - Book Review by Tim Challies
06 7 Characteristics of an Ingrown Church
03 The Reason For God "Doubting Your Doubts"

February, 2008
18 Tim Keller and The Reason For God

January, 2008
07 New Year's Resolutions?

December, 2007
24 Favourite Christmas Films - the Result!!
18 Richard Dawkins ... a Cultural Christian!!
14 Favourite Christmas Films
12 The Gospel and Suffering
05 The Unmarried Woman WIth Lots of Husbands

November, 2007
27 The Truth of Fantasy
23 Free Jonathan Edwards Classic
23 We’re Loving Merthyr! (Update)
22 A Nation in Mourning ... Why?
20 The Good Shepherd
15 Lest we forget…
12 We’re Loving Merthyr!
08 Religion verses The Gospel
08 What Is a Gospel-Centered/Missional Church...
07 No Rest For The Wicked!

October, 2007
29 Advertisers sure know how to grab our attention
15 Praying About Praying
08 Work: A Holy Calling
01 Baby Dedications

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00 Summer Holidays
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SGCM.org

Grace Applied
28-05-2009 | SGCM Blog | Gospel | The Gospel For Real Life »
In his devotional book 'Holiness' Jerry Bridges quotes C. Samuel Storms: "Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to bestow it in the presence of human merit ... Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to withdraw it in the presence of human demerit ... [Grace] is treating a person ... solely according to the infinite goodness and sovereign purpose of God".

Bridges goes on to say: ".. if you despair of experiencing God's blessing because of your demerits, you're also casting aside the grace of God ... I need to be reminded frequently that my demerits do not compel God to withdraw His grace from me, but rather He treats me with no regard whatsoever to what I deserve".

What incredibly good news! Even when I fail, fall on my face under the weight of my sin, and feel unworthy to be called a child of God - He (God) does not withdraw His affection, love and mercy from me but rather continues to love abundantly and is willing to forgive me for my failings; not because of any inherent goodness in me or something special that I have to offer but solely because of Jesus and the work that He has accomplished for me on the cross. What a scandalous truth that is!

Sometimes that is hard for us to hear or believe because we feel so crushed by some ongoing or new sin but whether we believe it or not it is truth and a truth that God is eager for us to apply to our lives each day and each time that we fail.
Tony Graham
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