“Jesus” Entries

0 commentsNovember 20th, 2008

Wait!! Before Black Friday Join the Conspiracy! by Jordan

Black Friday is a product of, and contributing factor towards, Christless American consumerism. The Advent Conspiracy is an attempt to fight the cultural sin that sweeps away millions into into its ocean of stupid debt. Join the conspiracy!

 

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0 commentsNovember 20th, 2008

A Great Christmas Gift - "Nothing Is More Needed In Our Day In the Christian Church Than A Larger Sight, By Faith, of the King in All His Beauty." by Jordan

Some people say big things about things are actually small. They overexaggerate. But then, sometimes, people don't overexaggerate. They are spot-on. Like when Tozer said in The Knowledge of the Holy, "Every man's greatest need is a greater view of God." That's true. That's not wow-factor talk. Nothing is more important than God. Nothing is more needed than knowing Him through Christ.

That lead me to suggest a great Christmas gift. Samuel Rutherford's The Loveliness of Christ. Get it. Give it away. It's not a 'normal book'. It can be read in about 1 hour.

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0 commentsNovember 19th, 2008

Is God's Grace Too Expensive For You? by Jordan

“The cost for the recipient of God’s grace is nothing - and no price could be higher for arrogant people to pay.”

- Dan Allender, as quoted in Gospel Transformation

HT: FI

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0 commentsNovember 18th, 2008

Nigeria & Networks by Jordan

Continue praying fervently for the Nigeria mission team. Remember that tonight (Tuesday) they will begin sleeping in the "bush" (three nights). This, I trust, will be tremendously profitable in the advance of meaningful partnerships and the expanse of the gospel.


Please pray also for today's TCT Network meeting that I'm a part of in Minneapolis. This meeting (all day yesterday and today) has been devoted to dreaming, planning, and praying through the Lord's intentions to use us to become a church planting movement. So far today we've heard visions from planters aiming at planting reproducing churches in St. Paul, San Deigo, and South Africa (and reaching into the pre-modern portions of the African Continent).

Oh Lord, let the nations rejoice and be glad in Jesus!

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0 commentsNovember 15th, 2008

A short text from a long way by Jordan

"This is Nathan Sawyer...we have arrived in Nigeria and are awaiting our luggage...not sure how much we will be able to communicate...thx for your prayers."

Amen. May Jesus be embraced by, and advanced through, the team!

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0 commentsNovember 13th, 2008

Nigeria Team & Daily Prayer Guide by Jordan

The Nigeria mission team leaves tomorrow evening (Friday) and is scheduled to return next Sunday, November 23.

The Team

  • Nathan
  • Joel M
  • Laura
  • Chris
  • Joel R
  • Kelly

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0 commentsNovember 13th, 2008

Five-Part Series on Christ's Majesty & Glory Now Loaded by Jordan

Check out all five parts...again and again! (start at the bottom and work up)

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0 commentsNovember 11th, 2008

Christ is Enough by Jordan

The sufficiency of the God-Man, Jesus Christ, is the theme of the current meetings at Grace, and He is the theme song of all who know Him as Lord. From the far-reaching corners of the expanse of galaxies, to the intricate detials of sub-atomic particles, Christ sustains everything, and everyone, by the word of His power.

Oh my soul, can He not fill you with His limitless sufficiency?

If you are in the Memphis area, I hope you will join us Wednesday evening at 6:30PM at Bridges for the final (application) sermon in the series, "The Majesty & Glory of Jesus Christ."

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0 commentsNovember 7th, 2008

Tomorrow in Memphis | Reformation Conference: 5 Solas of the Reformation by Jordan

Ligon Duncan will be at Riveroaks Presbyterian Church in Memphis Saturday-Sunday, November 8-9 as the guest speaker for their Reformation Conference. I strongly urge you to attend!!

It looks like the two Saturday sessions will be at 5:00PM & 7:00PM

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0 commentsNovember 5th, 2008

Please pray by Jordan

Please join the countless army now praying for my good friend, Scott Attebery, who will be burying his wife, Jill, today (details here). Scott is continuing well, by the grace of God. Today will be especially tough for him.

The church Scott serves as pastor, Wyatt Baptist in El Dorado, has asked that I come back this weekend to preach Sunday morning. I covet your prayers as I prepare to do so.

O DEATH WHERE IS THY STING
A quote from Edward Payson's, Legacy of a Legend.

"The power of death, the last enemy, is destroyed, as it respects all who believe in Christ. Instead of being the jailer of hell and the grave, he is now, as it respects Christ's people, the porter of paradise. All he can now do is to cause them to sleep in Jesus, release their immortal spirits from the fetters which bind them to earth, and deposit their weary bodies in the tomb, as a place of rest, till Christ comes at the last day, to raise them incorruptible, glorious and immortal; and reunite them to their souls in a state of perfect, never-ending felicity."

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0 commentsNovember 3rd, 2008

"Jesus was not a white middle class Republican" by Jordan

Derek Webb has stated the point well in his song, 'A King & A Kingdom.' Even calling the notion 'one of the two greatest lies I've ever heard' (The greatest being, 'If you eat this fruit, you will not surely die').

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0 commentsOctober 29th, 2008

Community Reformation Service: Join the Choir, Stay for the Reception, & The Program for the Service by Jordan

Here's some news and updates about the this Sunday's Community Reformation Service that I received today via email.

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0 commentsOctober 21st, 2008

The Cross: Here is Love by Jordan

The cross and resurrection of Jesus are the focal events of the entire Bible (and history of the world!). God has always had this great expression of His glory and our good in mind.

Lord willing, this Sunday at Grace we will look deep into the heart of God through the lens of Mark 15. There, if our eyes are opened, we will see love that surpasses knowledge. Pray that we will know this unknowable love.

  1. In the history of the world, lots of people have been crucified.
  2. Only Jesus had all of the wrath of God for His sinful people dumped on Him while being crucified.

"Here is love, vast as the ocean; lovingkindness as a flood. That the Prince of Life, our ransom; shed for us His precious blood."

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0 commentsOctober 17th, 2008

Worship Preparation: Devastated by the Text by Jordan

Just read the sermon text (several times)...

The parrallel accounts would be helpful too:

See you Sunday, Lord willing.

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0 commentsOctober 6th, 2008

Perspecties on the World Christian Movement by Jordan

Our commission as Christians is to commend Jesus--the One we cherish--to the entire world. So...

  • How are we doing?
  • How are we educating ourselves for this task?
  • How are we praying?

It is my privilege to be this evening's guest speaker at a local Perspectives course. I covet your prayers. My assigned topic and the corresponding key qustions are:

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0 commentsSeptember 23rd, 2008

Pray for Church Planters by Jordan

We at Grace have come to love the truth that...

God's primary methodolgy for the global glorification of His Name, the edification and equipping of His saints, and the evangelization of the lost is the establishment of more Christ-exalting churches.

So pray for church planters. Pray for more of them to be thrust out into the harvest of the world.

Pray also for four specific church planters: Nathan, Joey, Justin, and Drew. They are in preparations to be sent out two by two from North Wake Church to the Washington D.C. area and to Tampa, FL. I have the joy of spending today with them in hopes of encouraging them in their great work.

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0 commentsSeptember 12th, 2008

Ryle's Sobering Opening Words on Mark 14 by Jordan

"This chapter begins that part of Mark's Gospel, which describes our Lord's sufferings and death. Hitherto we have chiefly seen our Savior as our prophet and teacher. We have now to see Him as our High Priest. Hitherto we have had to consider His miracles and sayings. We have now to consider His vicarious sacrifice on the cross."

- J.C. Ryle

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0 commentsAugust 29th, 2008

The Gospel is a Person by Jordan

I read the First Importance Blog almost everyday. It has been a great jolt from a brother or sister that aids my looking unto Jesus. Today's quote is a powerful summary of what Mark's gospel has been saying to Grace Church this entire year.

"Salvation is not a detached gift of God in some gracious and miraculous way bestowed upon man. Salvation is Christ, and to experience salvation is to experience Christ. It is not the experience of something, but of someone.

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0 commentsAugust 26th, 2008

What is the Gospel? by Jordan

Watch John Piper answser this question. Be sure to watch the end of the answer...which is a simple explanation of the great end of the gospel = GOD!

Click here to see the short video.

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0 commentsAugust 26th, 2008

Are Some of GOD's Promises Better Than Others? by Jordan

Yes.

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1 commentAugust 22nd, 2008

"Much better than any other book in the world, excepting the Bible" by Jordan

Ever heard of Peter Van Mastricht? Me either. Until a few weeks ago.

Van Mastricht wrote a work called, A Treatise on Regeneration, which Jonathan Edwards--the greatest theologian America has ever produced--praised by saying, "...take [Van] Mastrict for divinity in general, docrine, practice, and controvery, or as a universal system of divinity, and it is much better than Turretin or any other book in the world, excepting the Bible, in my opinion." (Jonathan Edwards to Joseph Bellamy, Jan. 15, 1746/47).

If you're wondering, that would be a pretty high compliment coming from a guy who is not the least bit interested in flattering people.

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0 commentsAugust 22nd, 2008

The Tragedy of Being Spiritually Hard of Hearing by Jordan

Just as the worst part of any sin is what might have been had we obeyed, so the worst part of being spiritually hard of hearing is what glories we might have seen in Christ had we had receptive hearing to the gospel.

Hebrews 5:11 - Concerning [Jesus] we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

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0 commentsJuly 18th, 2008

Summer of Spreading - Fellowship of the Burning Heart by Jordan

Grace's summer Burning Heart groups have been a joy for everyone involved. Most groups have recently completed their reading & discussion of Andrew Murray's, Humility.

As part of the Summer of Spreading Christ, I've asked one of Grace's members to point our blog readers to Jesus by sharing a few thoughts about the impact that Murray's book is having on his life. Our prayer is that the following thoughts will stir you to seek Jesus--The Humblest of All.

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