Gospel in Life

Tim Keller

The Lions of God

September 27, 2021

The book of Daniel is a helpful place in the Bible to learn how to live as a believer in a pluralistic society — a society that believes in many gods, religions, and moralities. Today we take a look at the most famous of all the narratives in Daniel. We learn three things that should characterize the life of the believer: salt, hurt, and light. These are the same three things that Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount. 

Let’s look at these three principles that show us how to live in the world as believers in the only true God.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 21, 2000. Series: Daniel: Living by Faith in a Secular World. Scripture: Daniel 6:1-10, 16-23.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Featured Offer

The Reason for God
Why does God allow suffering in the world? How can one religion be “right” and the others “wrong”? Hasn’t science basically disproved Christianity? In his book The Reason for God Tim Keller addresses these questions and more. When you give to Gospel in Life this month, we’ll send you two copies of his book as our thanks —one for you and one to give to a friend. 

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Daniel is a set of narratives about what happened when the Jewish exiles were taken out of a country in which there was a set of cultural institutions that supported the biblical God. They were taken into Babylon, which was a pluralistic society in which there were many gods and there were many moralities, all equally valid. The Israelites, who believed in the one true God, had to learn how to function in an unbelieving society.  Today’s passage from Daniel 5 will help us see how we should also live faithful lives in a secular world. Let’s look at these three parts of the narrative: the party; the great party crasher, Daniel; and thirdly, the fingers of God and the writing on the wall. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 14, 2000. Series: Daniel: Living by Faith in a Secular World. Scripture: Daniel 5:1-6, 17-31. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
September 24, 2021
The book of Daniel teaches us about the Israelites while in exile. After living for centuries in a culture in which the cultural institutions supported their belief in God, they found themselves in Babylon, which was a religiously pluralistic society. This big city had many gods and many moralities. This naturally created tension because the Israelites believed in the one true God of the Bible.  In a similar way, how do we live as believers in a pluralistic society? We may be accused of being intolerant of those who don’t believe like us. Or we may face hard questions about our God allowing unjust suffering in the world. How do we handle that? Today’s passage from the book of Daniel helps us navigate these issues. First of all, let’s take a look at the golden image, which addresses the problem of tolerance, and then we’ll look at the fiery furnace, which addresses the problem of unjust suffering. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 7, 2000. Series: Daniel: Living by Faith in a Secular World. Scripture: Daniel 3:14-29. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
September 22, 2021
We’re going to consider the question, “What does it mean to live the Christian life? How can we live it out?” The book of Daniel is a helpful place to go because it’s exilic literature, meaning it tells the stories of the Israelites when in exile. They were taken away from Israel and into a city that was hostile to God. As believers, we’re like Daniel in exile, asking ourselves, “How in the world can we live a life of integrity in a pluralistic, polytheistic, unbelieving world?”  There are three questions to ask ourselves: what’s the meaning of Daniel’s two names, what’s the meaning of this weird dream, and thirdly, what is the rock that strikes the statue? We’re going to learn three practical principles for living a believing life in an unbelieving world.  This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on April 30, 2000. Series: Daniel: Living by Faith in a Secular World. Scripture: Daniel 2:24-35, 44-46. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
September 20, 2021
The sermon for today comes from Luke 4, and it is the last sermon in a broader series on the fruit of the Spirit and character change. The recurring question has been, “How can our hearts be changed?” Simply put, our hearts don’t change when we look at the law, but they change when we look at the lawgiver, who is Jesus.  We now come to the last fruit of the Spirit which is self-control. Jesus exemplified self-control and stayed on course when he faced temptation. We’re going to learn about self-control by looking at these four things: what temptation is; the inevitability of it; how it works; and how to defeat it. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 31, 1998. Series: The Fruit of the Spirit – The Character of Christ. Scripture: Luke 4:1-15. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
September 17, 2021
Today’s sermon comes from a series on the real character change that can happen in a person’s life. This is not just moral reformation that consists of merely obeying rules, but it begins with a deep change at the heart level. When we look at Jesus, the person and work of our savior, our hearts should melt and be transformed by him. This is real character change.  In Galatians 5, Paul says one of the fruits of the Spirit is meekness (or gentleness in newer translations). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Not only do we not have meekness in our lives, it’s challenging to understand it. We don’t even have a good definition of it. Let’s look at this passage from John 8 where we see Christ’s own humility: 1) how does Jesus define it; 2) how do we get it.  This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 24, 1998. Series: The Fruit of the Spirit – The Character of Christ. Scripture: John 8:1-11. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
September 15, 2021
Today we’re going to look at the practice of forgiveness in the Christian life. First, what God calls us to do and secondly, how to get the power to do it. Forgiveness is not just one of the many biblical commands that we have to force ourselves to do, but forgiveness becomes genuine and real when there is a deep change at the heart level. We don’t look at the law and follow it as an end in itself, but we look at Jesus to be changed from the inside out – this is where we get the power to truly practice forgiveness.  There are three things in today’s passage Jesus tells us that are very important to understand about the practice of forgiveness: 1) forgiveness is a particular aim, a goal; 2) forgiveness is an action; 3) forgiveness is acceptance. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 17, 1998. Series: The Fruit of the Spirit – The Character of Christ. Scripture: Luke 17:3-19. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
September 13, 2021
Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Today’s sermon was preached by Dr. Keller in New York City on the Sunday after the attacks. As we pause this weekend to remember the lives lost and the many people who suffered from the events on September 11th, we pray that you draw hope and encouragement from today’s teaching.  This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on September 16, 2001. Scripture: John 11:20-53. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
September 10, 2021
Moral reformation is the main source in the world for many good things, like honesty, self-control and generosity. This kind of reformation enforces rules. One wants to obey out of self-interest or out of fear. On the other hand, spiritual transformation consists of a deeper heart change. When the heart changes, then one’s life, including actions and behavior, changes. In short, moral reformation happens by looking at rules; spiritual transformation happens by looking at Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18).  We’re going to look at Jesus in today’s passage from Mark 14 when Jesus’ disciples fall asleep. They were supposed to be keeping watch. Something utterly shocks Jesus and he says that it is his time to die. It comes upon him suddenly. There are three words that give us clues to what’s happening in this passage: the cup, Abba, and began. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 10, 1998. Series: The Fruit of the Spirit – The Character of Christ. Scripture: Mark 14:32-42. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
September 8, 2021
Moral reformation is not the same thing as spiritual transformation. In moral reformation, one begins to outwardly comply, but the habits of the heart haven’t changed. In other words, moral reformation comes by looking at the rules and conforming, but spiritual transformation comes from looking at Jesus Christ. When we look at Christ, we can be regenerated — he can change our hearts and transform us spiritually.  Today’s sermon comes from a series on the character of Christ and how that character can produce deep changes in our hearts. Today we’re going to look at the joy that Jesus gives us. We learn three things in this passage about joy: the promise of it; the structure of it; and the growth of it. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 3, 1998. Series: The Fruit of the Spirit – The Character of Christ. Scripture: John 16:19-24. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
September 6, 2021
On the night before Jesus is about to die, Jesus says to his disciples, “You have listened to many of the things I’ve said, and you’ve somewhat learned them, but you haven’t really changed.” Jesus doesn’t want his followers to simply start obeying rules, but he wants them to have changed hearts. Today’s sermon comes from a series on how God brings about deep, permanent, transformative change in our lives. This happens when God changes your heart. There are four things this passage teaches us about a changed heart: the importance of the fruit of the Spirit (love); the unity of the fruit; the nature of the fruit; and how this fruit is cultivated.  This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on April 26, 1998. Series: The Fruit of the Spirit – The Character of Christ. Scripture: John 13:1-21. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
September 3, 2021
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Featured Offer

The Reason for God
Why does God allow suffering in the world? How can one religion be “right” and the others “wrong”? Hasn’t science basically disproved Christianity? In his book The Reason for God Tim Keller addresses these questions and more. When you give to Gospel in Life this month, we’ll send you two copies of his book as our thanks —one for you and one to give to a friend. 

About Gospel in Life

Gospel In Life is a ministry that features sermons, books, articles, and resources from Timothy Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and Redeemer City to City. The name reflects our conviction that the gospel changes everything in life. In 1989 Dr. Timothy J. Keller, his wife and three young sons moved to New York City to begin Redeemer Presbyterian Church. He has since become a bestselling author, an influential thinker, and an advocate for ministry in cities and to secular people.

About Tim Keller

Timothy Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons.  For 28 years he led a diverse congregation of young professionals that grew to a weekly attendance of over 5,000.

He is also the Chairman & Co-Founder of Redeemer City to City (CTC), which starts new churches in New York and other global cities, and publishes books and resources for ministry in an urban environment. In 2017 Dr. Keller transitioned to CTC full time to teach and mentor church planters and seminary students through a joint venture with Reformed Theological Seminary's (RTS), the City Ministry Program. He also works with CTC's global affiliates to launch church planting movements.

Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 2 million copies and been translated into 25 languages.

Christianity Today has said, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”

Dr. Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He previously served as the pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Director of Mercy Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.

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