Ray Ortlund

Nashville

Contributor at The Gospel Coalition

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Articles

Rock Bottom: The Place Where God Meets You

1 week ago | crossway.org | Ray Ortlund

Where to Find GodWhen 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!

1 month ago | crossway.org | Ray Ortlund |Sam Allberry

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.
Good News at Rock Bottom

1 month ago | crossway.org | Ray Ortlund

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

1 month ago | crossway.org | Ray Ortlund |David Powlison

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

2 months ago | thegospelcoalition.org | Ray Ortlund

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. As long as these feelings are retained, these doctrines will be retained; but should...
Self-Justification Is the Deepest Impulse in the Fallen Human Heart

2 months ago | crossway.org | Sam Allberry |Ray Ortlund

Evading Our GuiltDeep 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

2 months ago | christianitytoday.com | Ray Ortlund

This Maundy Thursday, let us remember the extreme length and the profound depth of Jesus' dying love. Illustration by Keith NegleyLuke 22:14-20At 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

Dec 1, 2024 | kentuckytoday.com | Ray Ortlund

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

Nov 23, 2024 | thegospelcoalition.org | Ray Ortlund |Sam Allberry

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

Nov 4, 2024 | baptistmessenger.com | Ray Ortlund

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.