I read this on Tullian Tchividjian's blog.....it is taken from Kevin DeYoung's sermon at a recent conference. It's a pretty good take on our 'cultural Jesus'.
"There are a lot of popular versions of Jesus in culture. There’s a Republican Jesus who’s for free-market economics. There’s a Democrat Jesus against Wall Street and Wal-Mart. There’s a therapist Jesus who helps us cope with life’s problems. There’s a Starbucks Jesus who loves fair trade coffee and Apple computers. There’s a touchdown Jesus who helps Christians run faster and jump higher. There’s the martyr Jesus who died so that we could feel sorry for him. There’s nice guy Jesus. There’s spirituality Jesus. There’s good example Jesus.
And then there’s Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter says, “You are the Christ of God.”
Most people have a shrunken, domesticated Christ who is safe, easy and manageable instead of the real Christ. The closer you get to him the more you love him and the more you fear him. God is calling you to stop playing games and to stop making excuses and to open your eyes to see Jesus as the Christ. He is more glorious and loving and gracious and powerful and more wonderfully terrifying that any of us can ever imagine."
Friday, May 29, 2009
I Am His
“I am His by purchase and I am His by conquest; I am His by donation and I am His by election; I am His by covenant and I am His by marriage; I am wholly His; I am peculiarly His; I am universally His; I am eternally His.
Once I was a slave but now I am a son; once I was dead but now I am alive; once I was darkness but now I am light in the Lord; once I was a child of wrath, an heir of hell, but now I am an heir of heaven; once I was Satan’s bond-servant but now I am God’s freeman; once I was under the spirit of bondage but now I am under the Spirit of adoption that seals up to me the remission of my sins, the justification of my person and the salvation of my soul.”
~ Thomas Brooks, Heaven on Earth
(HT: Of First Importance)
Once I was a slave but now I am a son; once I was dead but now I am alive; once I was darkness but now I am light in the Lord; once I was a child of wrath, an heir of hell, but now I am an heir of heaven; once I was Satan’s bond-servant but now I am God’s freeman; once I was under the spirit of bondage but now I am under the Spirit of adoption that seals up to me the remission of my sins, the justification of my person and the salvation of my soul.”
~ Thomas Brooks, Heaven on Earth
(HT: Of First Importance)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
How to Spark Substantive Conversations with Your Spouse
Tony Reinke:
[David] Powlison suggested three categories of questions to ask your husband or wife. Each of these categories can be asked on a daily basis. And each of these categories are simple and broad, but certainly provide helpful reminders. Here are the three:
1. What are your present burdens?
The Bible tells us that we are born for trouble (Job 5:7). So what is the trouble? A sin? A responsibility? An issue at work? A particular conflict? What weighs you down? What was your lowlight of this day? These burdens are the “heat of life.”
2. What are your present joys?
What were your highlights from the day? These joys are the “dew of blessing.”
3. What is your calling?
This could include the mundane tasks, or broader life-purpose questions. What are your duties for this day? What do you need to do? What are your goals for this day? For example, a parent could say, “Today, I don’t want to lose my temper with the kids.” It could be as simple as this.
For more on this, see Powlison's very helpful little booklet on Renewing Marital Intimacy.
(HT: Justin Taylor)
[David] Powlison suggested three categories of questions to ask your husband or wife. Each of these categories can be asked on a daily basis. And each of these categories are simple and broad, but certainly provide helpful reminders. Here are the three:
1. What are your present burdens?
The Bible tells us that we are born for trouble (Job 5:7). So what is the trouble? A sin? A responsibility? An issue at work? A particular conflict? What weighs you down? What was your lowlight of this day? These burdens are the “heat of life.”
2. What are your present joys?
What were your highlights from the day? These joys are the “dew of blessing.”
3. What is your calling?
This could include the mundane tasks, or broader life-purpose questions. What are your duties for this day? What do you need to do? What are your goals for this day? For example, a parent could say, “Today, I don’t want to lose my temper with the kids.” It could be as simple as this.
For more on this, see Powlison's very helpful little booklet on Renewing Marital Intimacy.
(HT: Justin Taylor)
'White Knots' Across America
I read a recent post from Denny Burk's blog about the current movement to support gay marriage across the nation by wearing 'white knots'.
I wanted to make you aware of this in case you come across someone wearing these 'white knot' ribbons. This will help you to at least be aware of what it means, and to be prepared to give a defense, if you happen to spark a conversation with someone....and of course I know you'll be speaking the truth in love.
You can read his post by clicking here.
I wanted to make you aware of this in case you come across someone wearing these 'white knot' ribbons. This will help you to at least be aware of what it means, and to be prepared to give a defense, if you happen to spark a conversation with someone....and of course I know you'll be speaking the truth in love.
You can read his post by clicking here.
A Wonderful Word Concerning The Holy Spirit's Ministry To Sinners
“The Holy Spirit is no mere mechanical agent in the great work of a sinner’s deliverance, and of the Church’s up building, obediently doing the work appointed to Him. ‘I delight to do Your will’ is as true of the Spirit as the Son.
He loves the sinner; therefore He lays hold of him. He pities his misery; therefore He stretches out the hand of help. He has no pleasure in his death; therefore He puts forth His saving power. He is long suffering and patient; therefore He strives with him day by day; and though ‘vexed,’ ‘resisted,’ ‘grieved,’ and ‘quenched,’ He refuses to retire from, or give up, any sinner on this side of eternity.
The extent to which we resist Him, and the amount of His forbearing love, we cannot know. This only we may say, that our stubbornness is something infinitely fearful and malignant, while His patient grace passes all understanding.”
~ Horatius Bonar, “The Holy Spirit”
(HT: Of First Importance)
He loves the sinner; therefore He lays hold of him. He pities his misery; therefore He stretches out the hand of help. He has no pleasure in his death; therefore He puts forth His saving power. He is long suffering and patient; therefore He strives with him day by day; and though ‘vexed,’ ‘resisted,’ ‘grieved,’ and ‘quenched,’ He refuses to retire from, or give up, any sinner on this side of eternity.
The extent to which we resist Him, and the amount of His forbearing love, we cannot know. This only we may say, that our stubbornness is something infinitely fearful and malignant, while His patient grace passes all understanding.”
~ Horatius Bonar, “The Holy Spirit”
(HT: Of First Importance)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Who Will Join 'The Supremes'? The President Picks...Judge Sonia Sotomayor
President Obama made his choice today to replace Supreme Court Justice David Souter. That choice is Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Her possible confirmation will place her as the third woman in the Supreme Court and the first Hispanic.
When President Obama was Senator Obama he commented on the significance of a SCJ and why he could not vote for Chief Justice Roberts during his confirmation hearings. His comments below are startling, especially since President Obama used to teach ConLaw at the University of Chicago:
"[W]hile adherence to legal precedent and rules of statutory or constitutional construction will dispose of 95 percent of the cases that come before a court, so that both a Scalia and a Ginsburg will arrive at the same place most of the time on those 95 percent of the cases — what matters on the Supreme Court is those 5 percent of cases that are truly difficult. In those cases, adherence to precedent and rules of construction and interpretation will only get you through the 25th mile of the marathon. That last mile can only be determined on the basis of one's deepest values, one's core concerns, one's broader perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of one's empathy.
In those 5 percent of hard cases, the constitutional text will not be directly on point. The language of the statute will not be perfectly clear. Legal process alone will not lead you to a rule of decision. In those circumstances, your decisions about whether affirmative action is an appropriate response to the history of discrimination in this country or whether a general right of privacy encompasses a more specific right of women to control their reproductive decisions or whether the commerce clause empowers Congress to speak on those issues of broad national concern that may be only tangentially related to what is easily defined as interstate commerce, whether a person who is disabled has the right to be accommodated so they can work alongside those who are nondisabled — in those difficult cases, the critical ingredient is supplied by what is in the judge's heart."
Did you pick up on this....what is in the judge's heart....the depth and breadth of one's empathy?
This is the criteria for his pick and all future picks to place judges throughout our country and even for the Supreme Court.
Now I'm personally new to this nomination process for our country, but President Obama's standard for his picks is disturbing. To say that he wants someone to uphold the constitution, but at the same time have someone who is empathetic, is, to say the least, a conflict in terms and philosophy. A judge cannot be both a strict adherent to the law and apply personal feelings toward the plaintiff. As a former White House staff has said, that to try and accomplish this would be an attempt to right a wrong that the law would not allow you to do.
Simply put, a judge could hear all sides of a case and understand how the rule of law would apply and if the law would go against the plaintiff, they then could go against the rule of law, because they are empathetic to the plaintiff. Basically, the rule of law (the Constitution) can be superseded by a judge, if the judge feels in his or her own heart that the plaintiff has been disenfranchised in society. Implication....there would be no rule of law!
Now the reason for this post is not for me to scream from the rooftop that I'm surprised at President Obama's pick or his standard of picking, he's a liberal politician at best and possibly a secular humanist at worst and therefore he is going to implement his political philosophy. The reason for this post is I wanted to draw some connections between this process and how this is taking place inside some of our churches today.
We can start with the implication that there is hardly a rule of 'faith' in some churches across the land. The reason for this can be worked backwards from the story above. We see the implication of churches all over 'superseding' the rule of faith (the Bible) because many have become empathetic to the disenfranchised 'unchurched person'. They are empathetic because they are attempting to understand them and even trying to become just like them. Therefore, we have no rule of faith; all we have are churches that are attempting to be 'flattering' to those outside the church, who they feel are needing to be 'encouraged' and 'assisted' in life. So we pick pastors, teachers, and leaders who will give this kind of attention and leadership in many of these churches.
The true gospel is being compromised within this kind of philosophy of ministry. They are tickling the ears not just of their congregation, but those outside the congregation. They are trying to speak to people who are not even present....well maybe they are actually present. Because they no longer embrace a regenerate church membership, maybe they are actually talking to those outside the church every Sunday morning.
As I have said before on topics like this, 'this is not license for us to go self-righteous, but should break our hearts and cause us to fall on our faces and plead with God to redeem all these churches and leaders who are pushing for this kind of ministry. We should do what Paul exhorts Timothy to do...."Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you."
If we do not pay close attention to the way we live, our teaching and our doctrine, what would the implication be....
Implication.....the disenfranchised, unchurched individual becomes the new 'rule of faith', which is no rule of faith at all!
When President Obama was Senator Obama he commented on the significance of a SCJ and why he could not vote for Chief Justice Roberts during his confirmation hearings. His comments below are startling, especially since President Obama used to teach ConLaw at the University of Chicago:
"[W]hile adherence to legal precedent and rules of statutory or constitutional construction will dispose of 95 percent of the cases that come before a court, so that both a Scalia and a Ginsburg will arrive at the same place most of the time on those 95 percent of the cases — what matters on the Supreme Court is those 5 percent of cases that are truly difficult. In those cases, adherence to precedent and rules of construction and interpretation will only get you through the 25th mile of the marathon. That last mile can only be determined on the basis of one's deepest values, one's core concerns, one's broader perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of one's empathy.
In those 5 percent of hard cases, the constitutional text will not be directly on point. The language of the statute will not be perfectly clear. Legal process alone will not lead you to a rule of decision. In those circumstances, your decisions about whether affirmative action is an appropriate response to the history of discrimination in this country or whether a general right of privacy encompasses a more specific right of women to control their reproductive decisions or whether the commerce clause empowers Congress to speak on those issues of broad national concern that may be only tangentially related to what is easily defined as interstate commerce, whether a person who is disabled has the right to be accommodated so they can work alongside those who are nondisabled — in those difficult cases, the critical ingredient is supplied by what is in the judge's heart."
Did you pick up on this....what is in the judge's heart....the depth and breadth of one's empathy?
This is the criteria for his pick and all future picks to place judges throughout our country and even for the Supreme Court.
Now I'm personally new to this nomination process for our country, but President Obama's standard for his picks is disturbing. To say that he wants someone to uphold the constitution, but at the same time have someone who is empathetic, is, to say the least, a conflict in terms and philosophy. A judge cannot be both a strict adherent to the law and apply personal feelings toward the plaintiff. As a former White House staff has said, that to try and accomplish this would be an attempt to right a wrong that the law would not allow you to do.
Simply put, a judge could hear all sides of a case and understand how the rule of law would apply and if the law would go against the plaintiff, they then could go against the rule of law, because they are empathetic to the plaintiff. Basically, the rule of law (the Constitution) can be superseded by a judge, if the judge feels in his or her own heart that the plaintiff has been disenfranchised in society. Implication....there would be no rule of law!
Now the reason for this post is not for me to scream from the rooftop that I'm surprised at President Obama's pick or his standard of picking, he's a liberal politician at best and possibly a secular humanist at worst and therefore he is going to implement his political philosophy. The reason for this post is I wanted to draw some connections between this process and how this is taking place inside some of our churches today.
We can start with the implication that there is hardly a rule of 'faith' in some churches across the land. The reason for this can be worked backwards from the story above. We see the implication of churches all over 'superseding' the rule of faith (the Bible) because many have become empathetic to the disenfranchised 'unchurched person'. They are empathetic because they are attempting to understand them and even trying to become just like them. Therefore, we have no rule of faith; all we have are churches that are attempting to be 'flattering' to those outside the church, who they feel are needing to be 'encouraged' and 'assisted' in life. So we pick pastors, teachers, and leaders who will give this kind of attention and leadership in many of these churches.
The true gospel is being compromised within this kind of philosophy of ministry. They are tickling the ears not just of their congregation, but those outside the congregation. They are trying to speak to people who are not even present....well maybe they are actually present. Because they no longer embrace a regenerate church membership, maybe they are actually talking to those outside the church every Sunday morning.
As I have said before on topics like this, 'this is not license for us to go self-righteous, but should break our hearts and cause us to fall on our faces and plead with God to redeem all these churches and leaders who are pushing for this kind of ministry. We should do what Paul exhorts Timothy to do...."Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you."
If we do not pay close attention to the way we live, our teaching and our doctrine, what would the implication be....
Implication.....the disenfranchised, unchurched individual becomes the new 'rule of faith', which is no rule of faith at all!
Beholding The Glory Of Christ
“How, then, can we behold the glory of Christ?
We need, firstly, a spiritual understanding of his glory as revealed in Scripture. Secondly, we need to think much about him if we wish to enjoy him fully (1 Pet. 1:8). If we are satisfied with vague ideas about him we shall find no transforming power communicated to us. But when we cling wholeheartedly to him and our minds are filled with thoughts of him and we constantly delight ourselves in him, then spiritual power will flow from him to purify our hearts, increase our holiness, strengthen our graces, and sometimes fill us ‘with joy inexpressible and full of glory.’”
~ John Owen, The Glory of Christ
(HT: Of First Importance)
We need, firstly, a spiritual understanding of his glory as revealed in Scripture. Secondly, we need to think much about him if we wish to enjoy him fully (1 Pet. 1:8). If we are satisfied with vague ideas about him we shall find no transforming power communicated to us. But when we cling wholeheartedly to him and our minds are filled with thoughts of him and we constantly delight ourselves in him, then spiritual power will flow from him to purify our hearts, increase our holiness, strengthen our graces, and sometimes fill us ‘with joy inexpressible and full of glory.’”
~ John Owen, The Glory of Christ
(HT: Of First Importance)
Psalm 26---A Request For A Thorough Investigation Of One’s Own Piety
Psalm 26 is an interesting Psalm in the sense that the Psalmist actually requests for God to examine him, to test him, to try him in order to see and discern whether or not his integrity is genuine and right before God. The Psalmist, which is David, is displaying his heart for sanctification and holiness. He longs to be separated from sin and ‘pretenders’/worthless men. He not only desires to be separated from all this, but set apart to God through holiness.
The one who actually desires to be examined, tested and tried by God definitely displays this kind of passion for true biblical piety. And so David offers himself on the alter of examination, which gives good evidence of one who is genuinely devoted to God.
We are commanded by God through Paul to do this as well. Paul tells the Corinthians to ‘test and examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith’. And what is interesting with David is he is requesting for God to examine him. So we see this as a good biblical practice for all the saints. For from this will bring one of two things:
(1) An assurance of God’s saving and sustaining grace on the Christian.
(2) Or an assurance that one is not in the faith.
For the Christian, this is the beginning of true piety to God. For the one who finds themselves 'not in the faith' this could be the beginning of a beautiful work of regeneration, whereby God is making all things new!
The one who actually desires to be examined, tested and tried by God definitely displays this kind of passion for true biblical piety. And so David offers himself on the alter of examination, which gives good evidence of one who is genuinely devoted to God.
We are commanded by God through Paul to do this as well. Paul tells the Corinthians to ‘test and examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith’. And what is interesting with David is he is requesting for God to examine him. So we see this as a good biblical practice for all the saints. For from this will bring one of two things:
(1) An assurance of God’s saving and sustaining grace on the Christian.
(2) Or an assurance that one is not in the faith.
For the Christian, this is the beginning of true piety to God. For the one who finds themselves 'not in the faith' this could be the beginning of a beautiful work of regeneration, whereby God is making all things new!
I've Been Occupied...
I've been away from the blogging world as of late.
Over the last two weeks this is what has been happening....I started a new sermon series in Colossians, I had the opportunity to join some godly men for a monthly lunch fellowship, my folks were in town from Louisiana, we celebrated Mother's Day, Stephanie's birthday, Abby's ballet recital, we had a couple of baseball games for the boys, we celebrated the graduation of one of the teenagers in our church, we went to a home school book sale in Millington, we cleaned the church, all of our children were sick last week except for Abby, Stephanie was also sick for three days and tonight we are celebrating Micah's graduation from Kindergarten.
Whew! We've been busy!
So hopefully I can begin this week by getting back to my 'normal' routine. But as I say this, Stephanie's mom and aunt are driving in from Alabama, so we will be spending the next couple of days with them. They are coming in town to celebrate Micah's graduation with us. Thanks Nana and Aunt Nette!
Pray for our family as we persevere through all the transitioning of becoming a 'pastor's family'!
Over the last two weeks this is what has been happening....I started a new sermon series in Colossians, I had the opportunity to join some godly men for a monthly lunch fellowship, my folks were in town from Louisiana, we celebrated Mother's Day, Stephanie's birthday, Abby's ballet recital, we had a couple of baseball games for the boys, we celebrated the graduation of one of the teenagers in our church, we went to a home school book sale in Millington, we cleaned the church, all of our children were sick last week except for Abby, Stephanie was also sick for three days and tonight we are celebrating Micah's graduation from Kindergarten.
Whew! We've been busy!
So hopefully I can begin this week by getting back to my 'normal' routine. But as I say this, Stephanie's mom and aunt are driving in from Alabama, so we will be spending the next couple of days with them. They are coming in town to celebrate Micah's graduation with us. Thanks Nana and Aunt Nette!
Pray for our family as we persevere through all the transitioning of becoming a 'pastor's family'!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
God Himself Gave Himself To Save Us From Himself
“According to the Christian revelation, God’s own great love propitiated his own holy wrath through the gift of his own dear Son, who took our place, bore our sin and died our death.
Thus God himself gave himself to save us from himself.”
~ John Stott, The Message of Romans
(HT: Of First Importance)
Thus God himself gave himself to save us from himself.”
~ John Stott, The Message of Romans
(HT: Of First Importance)
Carrie Prejean's Story Points To Deeper Issues In Evangelical World
Nancy Leigh DeMoss gives a pretty sobering assessment about Miss California and her launch into the public arena of 'moral' debate...
She says, "Those who hold to the biblical concept of marriage couldn't help but be glad that this young woman courageously stood for the Truth, knowing that to do so could be costly.
Yet, for those who affirm and cherish the biblical perspective of femininity and sexuality, this story has an important subtext and raises a number of issues that should be of great concern to us as followers of Christ." Read the whole article.
Please be sure to take note of the last paragraph....a true righteous response!
(HT: Josh Harris)
She says, "Those who hold to the biblical concept of marriage couldn't help but be glad that this young woman courageously stood for the Truth, knowing that to do so could be costly.
Yet, for those who affirm and cherish the biblical perspective of femininity and sexuality, this story has an important subtext and raises a number of issues that should be of great concern to us as followers of Christ." Read the whole article.
Please be sure to take note of the last paragraph....a true righteous response!
(HT: Josh Harris)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The 'Acceptable' Sin--Gossip
Ray Ortlund defines one of the church's most popular and acceptable sins:
Gossip is our dark moral fervor eagerly seeking gratification.
Gossip makes us feel important and needed as we declare our judgments.
It makes us feel included to know the inside scoop.
It makes us feel powerful to cut someone else down to size, especially someone we are jealous of.
It makes us feel righteous, even responsible, to pronounce someone else guilty.
Gossip can feel good in multiple ways. But it is of the flesh, not of the Spirit.
. . . Gossip is a sin rarely disciplined but often more socially destructive than the sensational sins.
Gossip leaves a wide trail of devastation wherever and however it goes – word of mouth, email, blogging, YouTube.
It erodes trust and destroys morale.
It creates a social environment of suspicion where everyone must wonder what is being said behind their backs and whether appearances of friendship are sincere.
It ruins hard-won reputations with cowardly but effective weapons of misrepresentation.
It manipulates people into taking sides when no such action is necessary or beneficial.
It unleashes the dark powers of psychological transference, doing violence to the gossiper, to the one receiving the gossip and to the person being spoken against.
It makes the Body of Christ look like the Body of Antichrist – destroyers rather than healers.
It exhausts the energies we would otherwise devote to positive witness.
It robs our Lord of the Church he deserves.
It exposes the hostility in our hearts and discredits the gospel in the eyes of the world. Then we wonder why we don’t see more conversions, why “the ground is so hard.”
(HT: Justin Taylor)
Gossip is our dark moral fervor eagerly seeking gratification.
Gossip makes us feel important and needed as we declare our judgments.
It makes us feel included to know the inside scoop.
It makes us feel powerful to cut someone else down to size, especially someone we are jealous of.
It makes us feel righteous, even responsible, to pronounce someone else guilty.
Gossip can feel good in multiple ways. But it is of the flesh, not of the Spirit.
. . . Gossip is a sin rarely disciplined but often more socially destructive than the sensational sins.
Gossip leaves a wide trail of devastation wherever and however it goes – word of mouth, email, blogging, YouTube.
It erodes trust and destroys morale.
It creates a social environment of suspicion where everyone must wonder what is being said behind their backs and whether appearances of friendship are sincere.
It ruins hard-won reputations with cowardly but effective weapons of misrepresentation.
It manipulates people into taking sides when no such action is necessary or beneficial.
It unleashes the dark powers of psychological transference, doing violence to the gossiper, to the one receiving the gossip and to the person being spoken against.
It makes the Body of Christ look like the Body of Antichrist – destroyers rather than healers.
It exhausts the energies we would otherwise devote to positive witness.
It robs our Lord of the Church he deserves.
It exposes the hostility in our hearts and discredits the gospel in the eyes of the world. Then we wonder why we don’t see more conversions, why “the ground is so hard.”
(HT: Justin Taylor)
Why President Obama's Address at Notre Dame Should Give Pro-Lifers Some Optimism
Justin Taylor posted this article by Yuval Levin in a response to President Obama's recent speech at Notre Dame, where the President carefully attempted to 'diffuse the debate' between pro-lifers and pro-choicers.
Levin believes that President Obama failed miserably in his attempt to defend a 'choice'. Because abortion cannot be reasonably defended, it was no surprise to him that Obama's argument lacked reasonable justification for the killing of unborn babies.
Basically, the President's defense for his pro-choice stance is seriously lacking credible rationalization and this is not only isolated to him.
Levin believes that President Obama failed miserably in his attempt to defend a 'choice'. Because abortion cannot be reasonably defended, it was no surprise to him that Obama's argument lacked reasonable justification for the killing of unborn babies.
Basically, the President's defense for his pro-choice stance is seriously lacking credible rationalization and this is not only isolated to him.
Go Back, Go Back, and Go back again and again!
“At the root of all our disobedience are particular ways in which we continue to seek control of our lives through systems of works-righteousness. The way to progress as a Christian is to continually repent and uproot these systems the same way we become Christians, namely by the vivid depiction (and re-depiction) of Christ’s saving work for us, and the abandoning of self-trusting efforts to complete ourselves.
We must go back again and again to the gospel of Christ-crucified, so that our hearts are more deeply gripped by the reality of what he did and who we are in him.”
~ Timothy Keller, Paul’s Letter to the Galatians
(HT: Of First Importance)
We must go back again and again to the gospel of Christ-crucified, so that our hearts are more deeply gripped by the reality of what he did and who we are in him.”
~ Timothy Keller, Paul’s Letter to the Galatians
(HT: Of First Importance)
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Access To The Father...
“You cannot open the pages of the New testament without realizing that one of the things that makes it so ‘new’, in every way, is that here men and women call God ‘Father’.
This conviction, that we can speak to the Maker of the universe in such intimate terms, lies at the heart of the Christian faith. Through Christ, says Paul, we have ‘access to the Father’ (Eph 2:18).”
~ Sinclair Ferguson, Children of the Living God
(HT: Of First Importance)
This conviction, that we can speak to the Maker of the universe in such intimate terms, lies at the heart of the Christian faith. Through Christ, says Paul, we have ‘access to the Father’ (Eph 2:18).”
~ Sinclair Ferguson, Children of the Living God
(HT: Of First Importance)
Friday, May 15, 2009
What Does A Citizen Of God's Kingdom Look Like?
Psalm 15 is an excellent description of the one who is a faithful citizen in God's Kingdom.
1 O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent?
Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?
2 He who walks with integrity,
and works righteousness,
and speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue,
nor does evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against a friend;
4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
he swears to his own hurt, and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money at interest,
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.
Here in Psalm 15, the Psalmist (which is King David) lays out a beautiful picture of what a faithful citizen of God's Kingdom, Christ's Kingdom 'lives' like. It's a beautiful illustration of personal integrity, a passion for what is right, and a disciplined love for his community. He hates what God hates and loves what God loves. He seeks the spiritual advancement of those around him, without crippling further, those who are facing difficult times.
This is a compact Psalm, but one that definitely speaks volumes into and over the life of every Christian and citizen of the King. Use this Psalm as a constant spiritual assessment, so that you can be faithful in examining your own spiritual life, to see if you are genuinely 'in the faith'!
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test." ~ 2 Corinthians 13.5-6
1 O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent?
Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?
2 He who walks with integrity,
and works righteousness,
and speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue,
nor does evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against a friend;
4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
he swears to his own hurt, and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money at interest,
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.
Here in Psalm 15, the Psalmist (which is King David) lays out a beautiful picture of what a faithful citizen of God's Kingdom, Christ's Kingdom 'lives' like. It's a beautiful illustration of personal integrity, a passion for what is right, and a disciplined love for his community. He hates what God hates and loves what God loves. He seeks the spiritual advancement of those around him, without crippling further, those who are facing difficult times.
This is a compact Psalm, but one that definitely speaks volumes into and over the life of every Christian and citizen of the King. Use this Psalm as a constant spiritual assessment, so that you can be faithful in examining your own spiritual life, to see if you are genuinely 'in the faith'!
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test." ~ 2 Corinthians 13.5-6
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Habit Of Enjoying Adversity
The title sounds a little crazy, but this article by Chambers is straight-up God-centered living!
"We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that "the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of "myself" that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, "Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this." Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.
You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30 ). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to "supply all your need" ( Philippians 4:19 ).
Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you."
Wow!
"We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that "the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of "myself" that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, "Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this." Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.
You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30 ). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to "supply all your need" ( Philippians 4:19 ).
Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you."
Wow!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Happy Birthday To My Beautiful Wife!
Today is Stephanie's 32nd Birthday and I have the joy and privilege of saying that I have celebrated the last 12 birthdays with her.....thank You Lord!
I have truly seen her grow into the godly woman that God has called her to be. She is truly a means of God's grace to my life and I am thankful to Him for His wonderful gift to me!
Happy Birthday Sweety!
Keith
I have truly seen her grow into the godly woman that God has called her to be. She is truly a means of God's grace to my life and I am thankful to Him for His wonderful gift to me!
Happy Birthday Sweety!
Keith
Has God Dealt 'Bountifully' With You? Then Sing!
Psalm 13 is a common Psalm. Here we find the Psalter going before God in a state of being 'overwhelmed with sorrow'.
The reality is we find ourselves discouraged at times. God commanded Joshua not to be discouraged (Joshua 1.9) and the reason is because of God's presence with him. Every time discouragement arises we should quickly seek to repent and then look to God, because He is present. He is a refuge to those who need Him. And I cannot imagine a moment in my life where I am not in need of Him, so therefore He is a constant refuge. His presence delivers us from discouragement and gives us confidence in Him to stand firm in order to face any challenge He sends our way. And with His presence and bountiful blessings comes joyful shouting.....or singing!
Psalm 13 begins with sorrow, but ends with joyful singing....listen to how Albert Barnes describes Psalm 13,
"The psalm closes, therefore, with expressions of joy, thankfulness, triumph. Though it begins with depression and sadness, it ends with joy. This is often observable in the Psalms. In the commencement it often occurs that the mind is overwhelmed with sorrow, and there is earnest pleading with God. Light, under the influence of prayer, breaks in gradually upon the soul. The clouds disperse; the darkness disappears. New views of the goodness and mercy of God are imparted; an assurance of his favor is brought to the soul; confidence in his mercy springs up in the heart; and the psalm that began with sorrowful complaining ends with the language of praise and of joy.
So, too, it is in our own experience. Afflicted, depressed, and sad, we go to God. Everything seems dark. We have no peace - no clear and cheerful views - no joy. As we wait upon God, new views of his character, his mercy, his love, break upon the mind. The clouds open. Light beams upon us. Our souls take hold of the promises of God, and we, who went to His throne sad and desponding, rise from our devotions filled with praise and joy, submissive to the trials which made us so sad, and rejoicing in the belief that all things will work together for our good."
A few hymns to sing...
I know Whom I Have Believed
I Need The Every Hour
Blessed Assurance
The reality is we find ourselves discouraged at times. God commanded Joshua not to be discouraged (Joshua 1.9) and the reason is because of God's presence with him. Every time discouragement arises we should quickly seek to repent and then look to God, because He is present. He is a refuge to those who need Him. And I cannot imagine a moment in my life where I am not in need of Him, so therefore He is a constant refuge. His presence delivers us from discouragement and gives us confidence in Him to stand firm in order to face any challenge He sends our way. And with His presence and bountiful blessings comes joyful shouting.....or singing!
Psalm 13 begins with sorrow, but ends with joyful singing....listen to how Albert Barnes describes Psalm 13,
"The psalm closes, therefore, with expressions of joy, thankfulness, triumph. Though it begins with depression and sadness, it ends with joy. This is often observable in the Psalms. In the commencement it often occurs that the mind is overwhelmed with sorrow, and there is earnest pleading with God. Light, under the influence of prayer, breaks in gradually upon the soul. The clouds disperse; the darkness disappears. New views of the goodness and mercy of God are imparted; an assurance of his favor is brought to the soul; confidence in his mercy springs up in the heart; and the psalm that began with sorrowful complaining ends with the language of praise and of joy.
So, too, it is in our own experience. Afflicted, depressed, and sad, we go to God. Everything seems dark. We have no peace - no clear and cheerful views - no joy. As we wait upon God, new views of his character, his mercy, his love, break upon the mind. The clouds open. Light beams upon us. Our souls take hold of the promises of God, and we, who went to His throne sad and desponding, rise from our devotions filled with praise and joy, submissive to the trials which made us so sad, and rejoicing in the belief that all things will work together for our good."
A few hymns to sing...
I know Whom I Have Believed
I Need The Every Hour
Blessed Assurance
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Colossians Sermon Series
Today I started my sermon prep for our new sermon series at New Life Church. We will begin to study the Apostle Paul's letter to the church in Colossae. This will piggy-back on our last sermon series of looking to Christ.
This will be a 17 part sermon series through this wonderful letter from God to His people. Please pray for me as I prepare for these sermons and more importantly to live these sermons. But also please pray that we as a church would stand firm on Christ, by always remembering that Christ is indeed Divine, by guarding ourselves from the pagan philosophies of the day and by living our lives in such a way that is worthy of Jesus Christ!
"Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God," ~ Colossians 1.25
This will be a 17 part sermon series through this wonderful letter from God to His people. Please pray for me as I prepare for these sermons and more importantly to live these sermons. But also please pray that we as a church would stand firm on Christ, by always remembering that Christ is indeed Divine, by guarding ourselves from the pagan philosophies of the day and by living our lives in such a way that is worthy of Jesus Christ!
"Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God," ~ Colossians 1.25
Looking To Christ...
Well this last Sunday, on Mother's Day, I finished my first sermon series at New Life Church. We have been in a series entitled "Looking To Christ". This was an effort, for all of us at NLC, to look to Christ instead of the leadership, the ministries, the community, etc.
Over the last 5 weeks, we looked to Christ as Lord over His Church (2 Corinthians 4.1-6), we looked to Christ as the foundation of His Church (1 Corinthians 3.10-15), we looked to Christ as the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1.1-3), we looked to Christ as the perfect example for humility (Philippians 2. 5-11), and last week we finished out our series by looking to Christ as the One who is worthy to receive glory in all things forever (Romans 11.33-36).
My hope in preaching these passages and emphasis was to make sure that NLC always looks to Christ. There is a temptation for the sheep to ultimately look to the shepherd (small 's') and I wanted to lay a good foundation upon God's Word that we are to find that kind of vision in Christ alone. There is also a temptation for the shepherd (small 's') to have the sheep ultimately look to him. We can NEVER go wrong by looking to Christ in all matters of the church, especially a new church, when we have so many good things that we need to do for Him. This will guard us from looking to ourselves and to each other as we persevere in the kingdom of God.
Please pray for New Life Church as we continue to 'Look to Christ' in all things, so that we can please Him and better edify our people at NLC and truly reach our community with a Christ-centered evangelism that aims to see true repentance and faith in the life of our community!
Over the last 5 weeks, we looked to Christ as Lord over His Church (2 Corinthians 4.1-6), we looked to Christ as the foundation of His Church (1 Corinthians 3.10-15), we looked to Christ as the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1.1-3), we looked to Christ as the perfect example for humility (Philippians 2. 5-11), and last week we finished out our series by looking to Christ as the One who is worthy to receive glory in all things forever (Romans 11.33-36).
My hope in preaching these passages and emphasis was to make sure that NLC always looks to Christ. There is a temptation for the sheep to ultimately look to the shepherd (small 's') and I wanted to lay a good foundation upon God's Word that we are to find that kind of vision in Christ alone. There is also a temptation for the shepherd (small 's') to have the sheep ultimately look to him. We can NEVER go wrong by looking to Christ in all matters of the church, especially a new church, when we have so many good things that we need to do for Him. This will guard us from looking to ourselves and to each other as we persevere in the kingdom of God.
Please pray for New Life Church as we continue to 'Look to Christ' in all things, so that we can please Him and better edify our people at NLC and truly reach our community with a Christ-centered evangelism that aims to see true repentance and faith in the life of our community!
Psalm 12
A good Psalm for God's help against a world that is saturated with deceit, falsehood, wickedness and depravity. This is a Psalm of dependence on God and trust in God, not a Psalm to cause the Christian to go self-righteous, because we are not like the world, but this is a Psalm of deliverance and security in God.
God, a Helper against the Treacherous.
For the choir director; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.
It is depraved and wicked when we seek to exalt man over God and 'strut about' when we do it. It is depraved and wicked when we kill the unborn and 'strut about' when we do it. It is depraved and wicked when we begin to believe a lie for the truth and the truth for a lie and 'strut about' when we do it.
To those of you who may find yourselves fearing this culture of depravity, please remember that it is God who always keeps for Himself a remnant. It is God who is our refuge and strength and a tower of righteousness that we may run into it and be safe. Let us not fear the one who can kill the body only, but fear the one who can kill the soul as well. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (Romans 11.4-5, Matthew 10.28, Proverbs 18.10, 2 Timothy 1.7).
This is neither a time to retreat from the world, nor a time to go self-righteous. It is a time and will always remain a time for us to depend solely on God and take our refuge, our peace, our safety, and even our joy in Him and in Him alone.
"As the mountains surround Jeursalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever." ~ Psalm 125.2
God, a Helper against the Treacherous.
For the choir director; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.
I believe that verse 8 is really evident amongst us today. It seems to me that there is much 'strutting' taking place at this time among those that are against God. The word vileness in verse 8 means 'exaltation of wickedness and depravity'. There is much 'strutting' everywhere with those who are against God, because there is much exaltation of wickedness and depravity.1Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
2They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaks great things;
4Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"
5"Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he longs."
6The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
7You, O LORD, will keep them; You will preserve him from this generation forever.
8The wicked strut about on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
It is depraved and wicked when we seek to exalt man over God and 'strut about' when we do it. It is depraved and wicked when we kill the unborn and 'strut about' when we do it. It is depraved and wicked when we begin to believe a lie for the truth and the truth for a lie and 'strut about' when we do it.
To those of you who may find yourselves fearing this culture of depravity, please remember that it is God who always keeps for Himself a remnant. It is God who is our refuge and strength and a tower of righteousness that we may run into it and be safe. Let us not fear the one who can kill the body only, but fear the one who can kill the soul as well. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (Romans 11.4-5, Matthew 10.28, Proverbs 18.10, 2 Timothy 1.7).
This is neither a time to retreat from the world, nor a time to go self-righteous. It is a time and will always remain a time for us to depend solely on God and take our refuge, our peace, our safety, and even our joy in Him and in Him alone.
"As the mountains surround Jeursalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever." ~ Psalm 125.2
Monday, May 11, 2009
Real Changes In The Life Of The Christian
In my observation of people in the church over the years, it seems to me, that the older we get the less we 'change' spiritually. I'm not talking about growing in Bible knowledge, I'm directly addressing the issue of changing our ways (not doing things we shouldn't be doing and doing things we should be doing), which would be the fruit of good Bible knowledge.
So, what I mean by change is sanctification. There seems to be a complacency that develops over time. Ask yourself these questions,
1. By God's grace, what was the last thing, that was difficult for me to do, where I weeded out a specific sin in my life?
2. By God's grace, what was the last thing, that was difficult for me to do, I added a specific deed of righteousness to my life?
We should always be in the process of changing/sanctifying in Christ and for Christ. We should ask God to sanctify our hearts, so that the sanctified heart will produce life changes. So how does this happen? Here's an answer, from Tim Keller, if you're asking...
All change comes from deepening your understanding of the salvation of Christ and living out of the changes that understanding creates in your heart. Faith in the gospel re-structures our motivations, our self-understanding, our identity, and our view of the world. Behavioral compliance to rules without heart-change will be superficial and fleeting.
~ Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God
(HT: Of First Importance)
So, what I mean by change is sanctification. There seems to be a complacency that develops over time. Ask yourself these questions,
1. By God's grace, what was the last thing, that was difficult for me to do, where I weeded out a specific sin in my life?
2. By God's grace, what was the last thing, that was difficult for me to do, I added a specific deed of righteousness to my life?
We should always be in the process of changing/sanctifying in Christ and for Christ. We should ask God to sanctify our hearts, so that the sanctified heart will produce life changes. So how does this happen? Here's an answer, from Tim Keller, if you're asking...
All change comes from deepening your understanding of the salvation of Christ and living out of the changes that understanding creates in your heart. Faith in the gospel re-structures our motivations, our self-understanding, our identity, and our view of the world. Behavioral compliance to rules without heart-change will be superficial and fleeting.
~ Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God
(HT: Of First Importance)
Friday, May 8, 2009
Do You Trust Me? No Really!
Probably one of the best chapters that I have ever read on Christian community is in chapter 11 (The Truthful Community) of unfashionable.
Tullian discusses the first of six ways that Paul addresses the church, as a whole, for living and putting on the new self in Ephesians 4.22-32. The first of these counter-cultural marks is truthfulness. He says,
"We should be a truthful community. We're to put off lies and fully embrace truth. Why is this such a crucial step in our witness to the world? Because we live in a trustless culture, and people are hungry for an alternative to that trustlessness. Few people trust anyone these days, and it's for good reason: too few people these days are trustworthy. We live in a perpetual state of suspicion, wondering whom we can really rely on."
He then goes on to quote Francis Fukuyama in his book, Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity....
"every culture that has been able to advance its economy, achieve technical proficiency, and develop innovative organizations has been a culture where trust is entrenched in the society. Fukuyama argues compellingly that in comparison with low-trust societies that need to negotiate and often litigate rules and regulations, high-trust societies are able to minimize the cost of doing business and, as a result, advance culture to a high level."
"Why is this? Because every healthy, functioning community is built on trust--in your home, in your neighborhood, at work, or wherever relationships among people are critical. Cities, towns, villages, countries, and cultures are all dependent on trust to function properly. Take away trust and you take away community."
"That's because healthy community relies on people who invest in one another, serve one another, provide for one another, and defer to one another. Without this 'one-anotherness' genuine community cannot exist."
Do you SEE the dilemma? Do you SEE the opportunity?
It's in this area where the church can literally stand firm the strongest in this culture. If the secular community around is growing in paranoia, because they can't even genuinely trust those in their own homes, the religious community (the Church) should be able to humbly stand tall and be the trustworthy people that others can look to and rely on. Our yes should mean yes and our no should mean no.
We ought to stand out like a beacon in the dark-blinding night, as a community of Christians who hold to truth and embrace it with everything we have and live truth. Truth is what enables us to live in such a way that is pleasing to Christ and that is illuminating to the dark world around us.
The irony of the whole thing is this, even though this culture we live in is shunning truth, it's the one thing that they desperately need. They desperately need to embrace the truth of God's sovereignty over all things. They desperately need to embrace the truth that they have sinned against God. They desperately need to embrace the truth that He has provided a way for them to be right with Him. And they desperately need to embrace the truth that the way to be right with Him is through His Son Jesus Christ.
Will we be the ones to live truth in a truthless culture, so that others can find the ultimate Truth--Jesus Christ?
Let us be that kind of 'true' church--NLC!
Tullian discusses the first of six ways that Paul addresses the church, as a whole, for living and putting on the new self in Ephesians 4.22-32. The first of these counter-cultural marks is truthfulness. He says,
"We should be a truthful community. We're to put off lies and fully embrace truth. Why is this such a crucial step in our witness to the world? Because we live in a trustless culture, and people are hungry for an alternative to that trustlessness. Few people trust anyone these days, and it's for good reason: too few people these days are trustworthy. We live in a perpetual state of suspicion, wondering whom we can really rely on."
He then goes on to quote Francis Fukuyama in his book, Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity....
"every culture that has been able to advance its economy, achieve technical proficiency, and develop innovative organizations has been a culture where trust is entrenched in the society. Fukuyama argues compellingly that in comparison with low-trust societies that need to negotiate and often litigate rules and regulations, high-trust societies are able to minimize the cost of doing business and, as a result, advance culture to a high level."
"Why is this? Because every healthy, functioning community is built on trust--in your home, in your neighborhood, at work, or wherever relationships among people are critical. Cities, towns, villages, countries, and cultures are all dependent on trust to function properly. Take away trust and you take away community."
"That's because healthy community relies on people who invest in one another, serve one another, provide for one another, and defer to one another. Without this 'one-anotherness' genuine community cannot exist."
Do you SEE the dilemma? Do you SEE the opportunity?
It's in this area where the church can literally stand firm the strongest in this culture. If the secular community around is growing in paranoia, because they can't even genuinely trust those in their own homes, the religious community (the Church) should be able to humbly stand tall and be the trustworthy people that others can look to and rely on. Our yes should mean yes and our no should mean no.
We ought to stand out like a beacon in the dark-blinding night, as a community of Christians who hold to truth and embrace it with everything we have and live truth. Truth is what enables us to live in such a way that is pleasing to Christ and that is illuminating to the dark world around us.
The irony of the whole thing is this, even though this culture we live in is shunning truth, it's the one thing that they desperately need. They desperately need to embrace the truth of God's sovereignty over all things. They desperately need to embrace the truth that they have sinned against God. They desperately need to embrace the truth that He has provided a way for them to be right with Him. And they desperately need to embrace the truth that the way to be right with Him is through His Son Jesus Christ.
Will we be the ones to live truth in a truthless culture, so that others can find the ultimate Truth--Jesus Christ?
Let us be that kind of 'true' church--NLC!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Are You A 'Manly Man' For Your Wife?
My wife enjoyed this little quote from John Piper and she wanted me to share it with you all....enjoy it, you 'manly men'.
From This Momentary Marriage:
“If there is a sound downstairs during the night and it might be a burglar, you don’t say to her, ‘This is an egalitarian marriage, so it’s your turn to go check it out. I went last time.’
And I mean that-even if your wife has a black belt in karate. After you have tried to deter him, she may finish off the burglar with one good kick to the solar plexus. But you’d better be unconscious on the floor, or you’re no man."
From This Momentary Marriage:
“If there is a sound downstairs during the night and it might be a burglar, you don’t say to her, ‘This is an egalitarian marriage, so it’s your turn to go check it out. I went last time.’
And I mean that-even if your wife has a black belt in karate. After you have tried to deter him, she may finish off the burglar with one good kick to the solar plexus. But you’d better be unconscious on the floor, or you’re no man."
The Truth About You Is Glorious!
“Do not worry about what you feel. The truth about you is glorious. If you are in Christ, rise to it ‘o’er sin and care. Take your full salvation and triumph and prevail.”
~ Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression
(HT: Of First Importance)
~ Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression
(HT: Of First Importance)
The Fellowship Of The Church
"The fellowship of the church is part of God's good news to men. It imparts to the gospel one of its most thrilling notes--that when Christ saves a man he not only saves him from his sin, he saves him from his solitude."
~ Frank Colquhoun
~ Frank Colquhoun
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Against The World, For The World!
Over the last few days I've been reading through unfashionable by Tullian. It's definitely an interesting read and it's aim is to communicate to the Christian that we are absolutely supposed to be in this world (John 17.15 & 18), as Jesus Himself prayed to the Father, but we are definitely not supposed to be acting or living like this world.
One of Tullian's main ways of describing this through the book is, "we're to be against the world, for the world." We are to be against the world, by the way we live for Christ, and by living this way we would actually give ourselves an opportunity to allow the world to see this Christian distinctiveness in us. Living against the world would also serve to our benefit for being a true witness of Christ and the gospel.
But he does take a sharp turn in the book when he starts addressing that the Great Commission is more than just leading people to Christ and making disciples, by being unfashionable. He says that the holistic approach to the Great Commission is 'cosmic renewal'. He quotes Michael Wittmer saying,
Tullian adds,
So as God redeems us, He then redeems us to do something and that something is to fulfill a cultural mandate that God established with Adam & Eve. This mandate is to continue until Christ returns by establishing a culture that brings Him glory.
It's been a little while since I've read Heaven by Randy Alcorn, but it does have a similar ring to it. When addressing the issue of everything being renewed not destroyed, he even quotes Alcorn, "We will be the same people made new and we will live on the same Earth made new."
I'm a little more than half way through the book and I'm looking forward to seeing him really bring everything together. In addition, I'm looking for specific ways and strategies that he has begun, in his own life and ministry, for this work of 'cosmic renewal'.
I've really enjoyed his emphasis on living counter-cultural and not for the sake of being an isolationist or even living the sin of self-righteousness, but so that the world could actually have something to look at and call it Christian and it actually be Christian.
How refreshing that would be in today's culture!
One of Tullian's main ways of describing this through the book is, "we're to be against the world, for the world." We are to be against the world, by the way we live for Christ, and by living this way we would actually give ourselves an opportunity to allow the world to see this Christian distinctiveness in us. Living against the world would also serve to our benefit for being a true witness of Christ and the gospel.
But he does take a sharp turn in the book when he starts addressing that the Great Commission is more than just leading people to Christ and making disciples, by being unfashionable. He says that the holistic approach to the Great Commission is 'cosmic renewal'. He quotes Michael Wittmer saying,
"the corrosive curse of sin rippled out to destroy the entire world: human society, the animal kingdom, and even the ground itself began groaning beneath the weight of sin."And because of this act of cosmic treason against God it 'diseased all of God's creation', and because of this God is on a mission to redeem not just man, but all of creation to Himself.
Tullian adds,
"So while God's original plan for people to build an earthly culture for his glory may now be corrupted by our attempts to build an earthly culture for our glory (like another tower of Babel), the mandate itself remains intact."That is the mandate for us 'to build an earthly culture for his glory'. So because of this 'cosmic redemption plan' of God, it's not only good news for the sinner, but in essence it is 'cosmic good news' as well for all of 'sin diseased' creation.
So as God redeems us, He then redeems us to do something and that something is to fulfill a cultural mandate that God established with Adam & Eve. This mandate is to continue until Christ returns by establishing a culture that brings Him glory.
It's been a little while since I've read Heaven by Randy Alcorn, but it does have a similar ring to it. When addressing the issue of everything being renewed not destroyed, he even quotes Alcorn, "We will be the same people made new and we will live on the same Earth made new."
I'm a little more than half way through the book and I'm looking forward to seeing him really bring everything together. In addition, I'm looking for specific ways and strategies that he has begun, in his own life and ministry, for this work of 'cosmic renewal'.
I've really enjoyed his emphasis on living counter-cultural and not for the sake of being an isolationist or even living the sin of self-righteousness, but so that the world could actually have something to look at and call it Christian and it actually be Christian.
How refreshing that would be in today's culture!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Are You Holding To A 'Form Of Religion'?
I picked this post up from Tullian Tchividjian's blog and I thought it was an excellent tool, to help us examine ourselves, in order to see if there would be an area in our lives that we may be playing 'religion' in, thus refusing the true Gospel and also to examine if we are trying to justify ourselves 'apart' from the Gospel of grace.
This is taken from the book How People Change, by Paul Tripp and Tim Lane.
Formalism. “I participate in the regular meetings and ministries of the church, so I feel like my life is under control. I’m always in church, but it really has little impact on my heart or on how I live. I may become judgmental and impatient with those who do not have the same commitment as I do.”
Legalism. “I live by the rules—rules I create for myself and rules I create for others. I feel good if I can keep my own rules, and I become arrogant and full of contempt when others don’t meet the standards I set for them. There is no joy in my life because there is no grace to be celebrated.”
Mysticism. “I am engaged in the incessant pursuit of an emotional experience with God. I live for the moments when I feel close to him, and I often struggle with discouragement when I don’t feel that way. I may change churches often, too, looking for one that will give me what I’m looking for.”
Activism. “I recognize the missional nature of Christianity and am passionately involved in fixing this broken world. But at the end of the day, my life is more of a defense of what’s right than a joyful pursuit of Christ.”
Biblicism. “I know my Bible inside and out, but I do not let it master me. I have reduced the gospel to a mastery of biblical content and theology, so I am intolerant and critical of those with lesser knowledge.”
Therapism. “I talk a lot about the hurting people in our congregation, and how Christ is the only answer for their hurt. Yet even without realizing it, I have made Christ more Therapist than Savior. I view hurt as a greater problem than sin—and I subtly shift my greatest need from my moral failure to my unmet needs.”
Social-ism. “The deep fellowship and friendships I find at church have become their own idol. The body of Christ has replaced Christ himself, and the gospel is reduced to a network of fulfilling Christian relationships.”
This is taken from the book How People Change, by Paul Tripp and Tim Lane.
Formalism. “I participate in the regular meetings and ministries of the church, so I feel like my life is under control. I’m always in church, but it really has little impact on my heart or on how I live. I may become judgmental and impatient with those who do not have the same commitment as I do.”
Legalism. “I live by the rules—rules I create for myself and rules I create for others. I feel good if I can keep my own rules, and I become arrogant and full of contempt when others don’t meet the standards I set for them. There is no joy in my life because there is no grace to be celebrated.”
Mysticism. “I am engaged in the incessant pursuit of an emotional experience with God. I live for the moments when I feel close to him, and I often struggle with discouragement when I don’t feel that way. I may change churches often, too, looking for one that will give me what I’m looking for.”
Activism. “I recognize the missional nature of Christianity and am passionately involved in fixing this broken world. But at the end of the day, my life is more of a defense of what’s right than a joyful pursuit of Christ.”
Biblicism. “I know my Bible inside and out, but I do not let it master me. I have reduced the gospel to a mastery of biblical content and theology, so I am intolerant and critical of those with lesser knowledge.”
Therapism. “I talk a lot about the hurting people in our congregation, and how Christ is the only answer for their hurt. Yet even without realizing it, I have made Christ more Therapist than Savior. I view hurt as a greater problem than sin—and I subtly shift my greatest need from my moral failure to my unmet needs.”
Social-ism. “The deep fellowship and friendships I find at church have become their own idol. The body of Christ has replaced Christ himself, and the gospel is reduced to a network of fulfilling Christian relationships.”
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Irrelevance Of Relevance
In chapter 2 of unfashionable by Tullian Tchividjian he writes that there is sort of an irrelevance to the whole trying to be relevant to our culture thing. Today's generation is 'yearning' for something greater than themselves and that churches are actually doing a disservice to themselves and to the gospel, by trying to be 'fashionable' and cool. He writes about the now generation,
So, New Life Church, we must not forget that eventhough we may be living our lives in a counter-cultural way, we are still called to actually engage the culture. To live lives that are different for Christ's sake, and yet, are attractive to the world that would peek in and take a look at your life.
Paul's exhortation to Titus is exactly this...Titus was to live and to teach those in his church to show themselves 'to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified', in order that the world may see this attractive living.
"but showing all good faith that they (the world) may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect." ~ Titus 2.10
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
~ Matthew 5.16
"they want truthful engagement with historical and theological solidity that enables meaningful interaction with transcendant reality. They want desperately
to invest their lives in something worth dying for, not some here-today-gone-tomorrow fad. Just as people are starting to seek after truth, many churches are turning away from it. As a result these churches are losing their distinct identity as a people set apart to reach the world.
I have good news for all of us who are becoming weary of this pressure from church leaders to fit in with the world: we don't have to. "The ultimate factor in the church's engagement with society," Os Guinness says, "is the church's engagement to God." Contrary to what we've been hearing, our greatest need as twenty-first-century churches is not structural but spiritual. Our main problem is not that we're culturally out of touch; it's that we're theologically out of tune.
We need to remember that God has established his church as an alternative society, not to compete with or copy this world, but to offer a refreshing alternative to it."
So, New Life Church, we must not forget that eventhough we may be living our lives in a counter-cultural way, we are still called to actually engage the culture. To live lives that are different for Christ's sake, and yet, are attractive to the world that would peek in and take a look at your life.
Paul's exhortation to Titus is exactly this...Titus was to live and to teach those in his church to show themselves 'to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified', in order that the world may see this attractive living.
"but showing all good faith that they (the world) may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect." ~ Titus 2.10
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
~ Matthew 5.16
Friday, May 1, 2009
Unfashionable...
I just received my copy today of Tullian Tchividjian's (pronounced cha-vih-jin) new book unfashionable: making a difference in the world by being different.
I'm only a little familiar with Tullian and I really try not to be a 'bandwagon' kind of guy, but the title and subtitle peaked my curiosity enough to check it out and with the myriad of endorsements (and I'm not even kidding), I thought I would take it up and read.
Even before you arrive to the table of contents, he has a quote from Spurgeon that is probably where the title originated from....
"The great guide of the world is fashion and its god is respectability--two phantoms at which brave men laugh! How many of you look around to society to know what to do? You watch the general current and then float upon it! You study the popular breeze and shift your sails to suit it. True men do not so! You ask, "Is it fashionable? If it is fashionable, it must be done." Fashion is the law of multitudes, but it is nothing more than the common consent of fools."
- Charles Spurgeon
I'll let you know how it goes from here...
I'm only a little familiar with Tullian and I really try not to be a 'bandwagon' kind of guy, but the title and subtitle peaked my curiosity enough to check it out and with the myriad of endorsements (and I'm not even kidding), I thought I would take it up and read.
Even before you arrive to the table of contents, he has a quote from Spurgeon that is probably where the title originated from....
"The great guide of the world is fashion and its god is respectability--two phantoms at which brave men laugh! How many of you look around to society to know what to do? You watch the general current and then float upon it! You study the popular breeze and shift your sails to suit it. True men do not so! You ask, "Is it fashionable? If it is fashionable, it must be done." Fashion is the law of multitudes, but it is nothing more than the common consent of fools."
- Charles Spurgeon
I'll let you know how it goes from here...
7 Ideas For Teaching Toddlers God's Word
I thought some of you parents, with little ones, would enjoy some good strategy tools for your family worship time.
This is taken from the Desiring God Blog, which was adapted from a handout at the Children Desiring God seminar "Nursery and Toddler Ministry: Preparing the Littlest Ones to Stand on Truth."
1. Have an open Bible on your lap during story time. This reinforces where the story comes from—God's word.
2. Use short sentences and few words. Too many words overwhelm young minds.
3. Be animated in your facial expressions and tone of voice. This will help keep children engaged.
4. Incorporate movement into the story and singing. Children this age need to move their bodies. Movement helps them learn and remember what you're teaching them.
5. Create routines during the story/circle times by using songs, finger plays, etc.
6. Use repetition to cement biblical concepts in children's hearts and minds.
7. Keep it short and sweet. A story time of 5-10 minutes is the maximum children this age can attend to and sit for.
This is taken from the Desiring God Blog, which was adapted from a handout at the Children Desiring God seminar "Nursery and Toddler Ministry: Preparing the Littlest Ones to Stand on Truth."
1. Have an open Bible on your lap during story time. This reinforces where the story comes from—God's word.
2. Use short sentences and few words. Too many words overwhelm young minds.
3. Be animated in your facial expressions and tone of voice. This will help keep children engaged.
4. Incorporate movement into the story and singing. Children this age need to move their bodies. Movement helps them learn and remember what you're teaching them.
5. Create routines during the story/circle times by using songs, finger plays, etc.
6. Use repetition to cement biblical concepts in children's hearts and minds.
7. Keep it short and sweet. A story time of 5-10 minutes is the maximum children this age can attend to and sit for.
My Little Abby Turned 4 Today!
Many of you will remember the day that Abby was taken by CareFlight to LeBonheur Children's Hospital just 3 weeks after she was born. She hadn't nursed all night long (for about 12 hours) and Stephanie couldn't figure out why, so she took her into the emergency room. After taking some blood work, they diagnosed her with Bacterial Meningitis and immediately flew her over to LeBonheur. We spent the next 2 weeks in the ICU/SCU. All we knew to do was to trust that God would be pleased to save her little life, through the kindness of her Infectious Disease doctors.We had never been on 'this side' of so many people's prayers. We were usually the ones praying and ministering to others, so in a weird way, it was one of the most amazing times of receiving God's sustaining grace, while walking through this trial of a storm on our faith.
Well today by God's grace we celebrated her 4th birthday! We had a blast today. We went to eat pizza for lunch and then we headed over to the Memphis Children's Museum, where we 'all' got to play for a few hours. We had so much fun and all the kids are ready to go back soon.
For all of you who prayed for God's sustaining grace on our family during those difficult two weeks, we are thankful to God for you.
Here is my 'little butterfly' Abby all dressed up in her new play clothes!
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