“Stable emotional life”

The point: Read 'Behind the Frowning Providence' when struggling with grief, fear, and doubts about God's goodness during dark providences.

John J. Murray and his family experienced the death of one of their children, out of which his sermon and subsequent booklet 'Behind the Frowning Providence' were born, illustrating how God works through deep suffering.

This is not the late Professor Murray, but this is a dear man whom I have known since 1967, a godly brother, pastor in the Free Church of Scotland. And he and his family were brought through a very dark providence in terms of the death of one of their children. And out of the matrix of God's dealings with this man and his family, he preached at one of the Leicester conferences in England. At which I was ministering several years ago.

0:28 - 1:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Read 'Behind the Frowning Providence' when struggling with grief, fear, and doubts about God's goodness during dark providences.

The phrase 'Behind the Frowning Providence, he hides a shining face' from William Cowper's hymn 'God Moves in Mysterious Ways' is quoted to illustrate the theme of God's hidden goodness amidst difficult circumstances, which is the title of Murray's booklet.

And the sermon he preached on the providence of God in the midst of what we would call his dark dispensations of dealings with us was so helpful that he was urged to expand it and put it in written form. And the result is this lovely booklet, Behind the Frowning Providence, taken from Pauper's hymn, God Moves in Mysterious Ways, His Wonders to Perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm. And the phrase, Behind the Frowning Providence, he hides a shining face.

1:02 - 1:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Read 'Behind the Frowning Providence' when struggling with grief, fear, and doubts about God's goodness during dark providences.

Martin distinguishes between 'little hangnails of Christian experience' (minor struggles) and profound suffering like 'without an arm or a leg,' emphasizing that Murray's book addresses the latter, more severe trials.

And I would heartily recommend this when you're struggling with emotions of grief and of fear and of wondering if God is good when unusually dark providences come upon you. This is not a book dealing with, I would call, the little hangnails of Christian experience. And an ingrown toenail. This is the kind of stuff we need when we find ourselves without an arm or a leg.

1:38 - 2:05 Read in full sermon

The point: For those in extended singleness, learn the art of divine contentment in your current state while maintaining holy aspirations for marriage.

This metaphor describes a restless, discontent single person, which Martin advises avoiding, contrasting it with the attractiveness of a content single person.

Frankly, frankly, the most attractive single man or woman to a spiritually minded member of the opposite sex is one who has found contentment in his or her singleness and is living out his or her singleness to the hilt in the will of God. An antsy cat on the tin roof single. I would avoid like the plague. I hope you'll take the council.

6:01 - 6:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Men should listen to Pastor Hofstetler's series on the Christian man to understand and embody biblical manhood.

Churchill's ability to inspire a nation amidst the rubble of London is used as an example of the kind of strong, inspiring manhood that is lacking in contemporary society.

We have no Churchill who can stand in the midst of the rubble of London and by his presence and demeanor in words stir a whole nation to rise to the occasion of the challenge of facing the German juggernaut. We have no Churchill who can stand in the midst of the rubble of London and by his presence and demeanor in words stir a whole nation to rise to the occasion of the challenge of facing the German juggernaut. We have no Churchill who can stand in the midst of the rubble of London and by his presence and demeanor in words stir a whole nation to rise to the occasion of the challenge of facing...

7:08 - 7:25 Read in full sermon