I've been intending to write a post on church-planting via discipleship as Christ's call to world-evangelization. Instead, I'll share an article that says the things I was intending to say, only better than I could.
Church models aside, this is the passion of my heart. Pray that I
will never become weary of 1-on-1 discipleship. Pray the same for
yourself! Matthew 28:18-20!
Multiplication Growth
The period from the death of Christ until the end of the first
century was the most fruitful in the history of the church. During
these few decades, Christianity...
I've been intending to write a post on church-planting via discipleship as Christ's call to world-evangelization. Instead, I'll share an article that says the things I was intending to say, only better than I could.
Church models aside, this is the passion of my heart. Pray that I
will never become weary of 1-on-1 discipleship. Pray the same for
yourself! Matthew 28:18-20!
Multiplication Growth
The period from the death of Christ until the end of the first
century was the most fruitful in the history of the church. During
these few decades, Christianity...
Pray. Ask the Lord to bring several unconverted friends' names to your heart. Pray earnestly for their salvation.
#2 | FRIENDS
Invite your friend(s) to come to church with you at least one Sunday between March and May. Preferrably more than that.
#3 | GRACE
The preaching pastors are committing to the body to be seeking the
Lord's face to preach as clearly and simply the whole gospel each
Sunday, including the bible's instruction for how one must respond.
Pray for us!
#4 | LUNCH
When you invite your friend to church, arrange also to host him/her/them for lunch the Sunday they attend.
#5 | MEMBERS
Invite a fellow Grace member/family to join you for lunch to help with
meal preparations, build a new relationship, pray, and to help commend
Christ during the lunch conversation. Don't let living far away stop
you from being involved. Talk to someone else in the body, and figure
it out together.
#6 | GOSPEL
Launching from the morning's sermon, or however you can get there,
turn the conversation toward the gospel. Explain God's Jesus-centered
saving truth. Welcome questions and dialogue. Lovingly call for
repentance and faith. Seek to arrange 4 to 5 times in the next 2-3
months to read the gospel of Mark (independently) and talk about it (together).
#7 | REPEAT
Repeat the entire process until God says stop (i.e. When you get to heaven).
Pray. Ask the Lord to bring several unconverted friends' names to your heart. Pray earnestly for their salvation.
#2 | FRIENDS
Invite your friend(s) to come to church with you at least one Sunday between March and May. Preferrably more than that.
#3 | GRACE
The preaching pastors are committing to the body to be seeking the
Lord's face to preach as clearly and simply the whole gospel each
Sunday, including the bible's instruction for how one must respond.
Pray for us!
#4 | LUNCH
When you invite your friend to church, arrange also to host him/her/them for lunch the Sunday they attend.
#5 | MEMBERS
Invite a fellow Grace member/family to join you for lunch to help with
meal preparations, build a new relationship, pray, and to help commend
Christ during the lunch conversation. Don't let living far away stop
you from being involved. Talk to someone else in the body, and figure
it out together.
#6 | GOSPEL
Launching from the morning's sermon, or however you can get there,
turn the conversation toward the gospel. Explain God's Jesus-centered
saving truth. Welcome questions and dialogue. Lovingly call for
repentance and faith. Seek to arrange 4 to 5 times in the next 2-3
months to read the gospel of Mark (independently) and talk about it (together).
#7 | REPEAT
Repeat the entire process until God says stop (i.e. When you get to heaven).
Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so
magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued
investigation of the great suject of the Deity. Would you lose your
sorrow? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the
Godheads's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come
forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know
nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of
sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout
musing upon the subject of the Godhead.
Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so
magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued
investigation of the great suject of the Deity. Would you lose your
sorrow? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the
Godheads's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come
forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know
nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of
sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout
musing upon the subject of the Godhead.
“Let us mark…how Christ indicates that when His joy abides in us our joy is full (John 15:11).
Joy depends much less on what we have, than on
what we are. You may give me this and that, and everything that can be thought
of, yet in my soul there be no wave of joy.
But change
me inwardly; make me like
Jesus; let me, like Him,
hate wickedness and love righteousness with the whole force of my nature; let
me abide, like Him, in the
Father’s love; let my heart, like His,
flow over with loving feelings on every side; let me, like Him, delight in doing God’s will, and in finishing, day
by day, the work given me to do; let me, like
Him, live in expectation of the glory that is to be revealed when He
appears with His holy angels, when His redeemed are all gathered from east and
from the west, from the north and from the south; then shall not my joy be
pure, deep, and real? Shall my joy not even now be unspeakable and full of
glory?”
William Garden Blaikie’s, The Inner Life of our Lord, 97-98.
“Let us mark…how Christ indicates that when His joy abides in us our joy is full (John 15:11).
Joy depends much less on what we have, than on
what we are. You may give me this and that, and everything that can be thought
of, yet in my soul there be no wave of joy.
But change
me inwardly; make me like
Jesus; let me, like Him,
hate wickedness and love righteousness with the whole force of my nature; let
me abide, like Him, in the
Father’s love; let my heart, like His,
flow over with loving feelings on every side; let me, like Him, delight in doing God’s will, and in finishing, day
by day, the work given me to do; let me, like
Him, live in expectation of the glory that is to be revealed when He
appears with His holy angels, when His redeemed are all gathered from east and
from the west, from the north and from the south; then shall not my joy be
pure, deep, and real? Shall my joy not even now be unspeakable and full of
glory?”
William Garden Blaikie’s, The Inner Life of our Lord, 97-98.
When the vantage point of our prayer is lined up with Christ's worth, we will quickly find more expectation in our praying and true transformation in our lives.
Prayer can be empty, and often is, but it doesn't have to be. We should expect our Father's...
When the vantage point of our prayer is lined up with Christ's worth, we will quickly find more expectation in our praying and true transformation in our lives.
Prayer can be empty, and often is, but it doesn't have to be. We should expect our Father's...
“The
lighter forms of joy, when they involve no sin, need not be banished from our
life—bodily recreation, social mirth, lively books and lively conversation. But
their place will be secondary; the great fountain will be Christ’s fountain.
Nay, we will be jealous over ourselves with godly jealousy, lest we so drink of
lighter joys of life as to spoil our relish for the deeper river that makes
glad the city of our God.” - William Garden Blaikie, Glimpses of the Inner Life of our Lord, 98.
“The
lighter forms of joy, when they involve no sin, need not be banished from our
life—bodily recreation, social mirth, lively books and lively conversation. But
their place will be secondary; the great fountain will be Christ’s fountain.
Nay, we will be jealous over ourselves with godly jealousy, lest we so drink of
lighter joys of life as to spoil our relish for the deeper river that makes
glad the city of our God.” - William Garden Blaikie, Glimpses of the Inner Life of our Lord, 98.
As you ready your soul to join God's
people in worship, I encourage you to marinate in our sermon text,
Hebrews 1:7-9. As you're in those verses, ask the Holy Spirit to work
powerfully among us for true conversions and Christian growth.
Reckon with four God things said about Jesus in these verses...
As you ready your soul to join God's
people in worship, I encourage you to marinate in our sermon text,
Hebrews 1:7-9. As you're in those verses, ask the Holy Spirit to work
powerfully among us for true conversions and Christian growth.
Reckon with four God things said about Jesus in these verses...
So, which is it? Is the Christian dead or alive? It depends. The Bible says we are both.
The Christian is Dead
Colossians 2:20 - "If withChrist you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations"
The Christian is Alive
Ephesians 2:5 - "even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together withChrist—by grace you have been saved"
Colossians 3:4 - "When Christ who is yourlifeappears, then you alsowillappearwithhim in glory."
The Christian is Simultaneously Dead & Alive
Romans 6:4 - "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
Romans 6:8 - "Now if we have diedwithChrist, we believe that we will also livewith him."
Romans 7:4 - "Likewise, my brothers, you also havedied to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God."
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now livein the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Colossians 3:3 - "For youhavedied, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
I pass along this illustration from Ray Ortlund Jr's guidebook on modern revival, When God Comes to Church,
with the ambition of provoking all who will read it to seek to apprehend
more of Christ. Or, as the Apostle Paul said...
I pass along this illustration from Ray Ortlund Jr's guidebook on modern revival, When God Comes to Church,
with the ambition of provoking all who will read it to seek to apprehend
more of Christ. Or, as the Apostle Paul said...
In an inexplicable way, God's incomprehensible truth "makes sense" to the Christian. This is not to suggest that anyone, other than God, fully grasps His revelation.
Think, for one example, of the fact that every Christian "understands" and believes in the Trinity!?!
Before labelling me a heretic for the post's title, reckon with...
In an inexplicable way, God's incomprehensible truth "makes sense" to the Christian. This is not to suggest that anyone, other than God, fully grasps His revelation.
Think, for one example, of the fact that every Christian "understands" and believes in the Trinity!?!
Before labelling me a heretic for the post's title, reckon with...
God the Father commanded all of the angels to direct their worship toward Jesus during His incarnation. That's the sum of Hebrews 1:6, and it
has profound implications for our understanding of Jesus, and it must
inform our response to Him. Are you a worshipper of Jesus Christ?
I believe that God created man to join the angels in the
ceaseless worship of Jesus. If you belong to Christ, you will one day soon be
welcomed into that very experience, the glories of which will never
end.
The gospel is inexhaustible. We are saved by Jesus and
instantaneously granted the ability to appropriately worship the Triune
and only God forever.
That's a snapshot of where we're headed on Sunday.
The best means I can think of to prepare your soul for being under God's Word with the people of Grace this Sunday is to worship Jesus now.
See you Sunday, Lord willing, Phil. 3:3 (look it up)
God the Father commanded all of the angels to direct their worship toward Jesus during His incarnation. That's the sum of Hebrews 1:6, and it
has profound implications for our understanding of Jesus, and it must
inform our response to Him. Are you a worshipper of Jesus Christ?
I believe that God created man to join the angels in the
ceaseless worship of Jesus. If you belong to Christ, you will one day soon be
welcomed into that very experience, the glories of which will never
end.
The gospel is inexhaustible. We are saved by Jesus and
instantaneously granted the ability to appropriately worship the Triune
and only God forever.
That's a snapshot of where we're headed on Sunday.
The best means I can think of to prepare your soul for being under God's Word with the people of Grace this Sunday is to worship Jesus now.
See you Sunday, Lord willing, Phil. 3:3 (look it up)
Jubilee is the next church set to spawn from the TCT vision of Bethlehem Baptist
Church. You can click here to listen, read, or watch John Piper and John Erickson (Pastor, Jubilee)
tagteam to explain the vision. In his segment, Piper includes a
brief history of Bethlehem's 185 years of church planting, including
Grace Church.
Pray for Jubilee. Pray for many more churches to emerge in the days ahead!
Jubilee is the next church set to spawn from the TCT vision of Bethlehem Baptist
Church. You can click here to listen, read, or watch John Piper and John Erickson (Pastor, Jubilee)
tagteam to explain the vision. In his segment, Piper includes a
brief history of Bethlehem's 185 years of church planting, including
Grace Church.
Pray for Jubilee. Pray for many more churches to emerge in the days ahead!
Be praying for our guest preacher, Bro.
Steve Smith, and all who will attend Grace this coming Sunday. Steve is
my father-in-law, and to the little people who live under my roof, he's
better known as "Pawpaw."
Introducing Steve - The Most Godly Man I Know
Steve wouldn't want me to publish this, but he doesn't even know how to turn on the internet, so I'm safe :).
Steve is the most godly man I know. I've watched him for the past 17 years...
Be praying for our guest preacher, Bro.
Steve Smith, and all who will attend Grace this coming Sunday. Steve is
my father-in-law, and to the little people who live under my roof, he's
better known as "Pawpaw."
Introducing Steve - The Most Godly Man I Know
Steve wouldn't want me to publish this, but he doesn't even know how to turn on the internet, so I'm safe :).
Steve is the most godly man I know. I've watched him for the past 17 years...
Sunday I preached on the theme that He Who is Christ's Father is
also the Father of all who come to Him through Christ. Astonishing
reality! Oh to live more in its light!
In clear connection, a dear sister in our congregation sent Spurgeon's entry from today's Morning & Evening as a further application of this truth. Amen! I couldn't help but post it here for you all. Enjoy!
Morning, January 26
Matthew 6:26 - "Your heavenly Father"
God's people are doubly His children, they are His offspring by
creation, and they are His sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are
privileged to call Him, "Our Father which art in heaven." Father! Oh,
what precious...
Related:
I've heard so many pastors talk about committing church infidelity
because, "ministry became a mistress."
I'm sure that your pastor is
very susceptible to that same sin. Pray for him today.
Encourage him to have consistent time with his family. Expect it.
Settle for nothing less. Thank you for praying just that for me, as
well as the other pastors of Grace Church!
Related:
I've heard so many pastors talk about committing church infidelity
because, "ministry became a mistress."
I'm sure that your pastor is
very susceptible to that same sin. Pray for him today.
Encourage him to have consistent time with his family. Expect it.
Settle for nothing less. Thank you for praying just that for me, as
well as the other pastors of Grace Church!
Dear Christian (who hasn't felt God draw near in a long time),
Can
you remember what it used to be like? Do you reminisce of a day gone by
when God's manifest presence was the atmosphere in which you lived?
What's changed?
Have we moved beyond the intitial passion to
taste God through His Word and beyond a fervency in prayer because
we've gotten more sophisiticated in our idea of godliness? If so...
Dear Christian (who hasn't felt God draw near in a long time),
Can
you remember what it used to be like? Do you reminisce of a day gone by
when God's manifest presence was the atmosphere in which you lived?
What's changed?
Have we moved beyond the intitial passion to
taste God through His Word and beyond a fervency in prayer because
we've gotten more sophisiticated in our idea of godliness? If so...
I'm gearing up to preach on the theme of intercessory prayer tonight
for my final meeting with Worden Baptist. I was encouraged and exhorted
when I came across Spurgeon's counsel via today's timely First Importance post:
"Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see his
promises put in circulation; [God] loves to see his children bring them
up to him, and say, Lord, do as thou hast said. We glorify God when we
plead his promises." - Charles Spurgeon, Morning & Evening, January 15
Would you plead one or more of God's promises for those of us who will gather tonight?
I'm gearing up to preach on the theme of intercessory prayer tonight
for my final meeting with Worden Baptist. I was encouraged and exhorted
when I came across Spurgeon's counsel via today's timely First Importance post:
"Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see his
promises put in circulation; [God] loves to see his children bring them
up to him, and say, Lord, do as thou hast said. We glorify God when we
plead his promises." - Charles Spurgeon, Morning & Evening, January 15
Would you plead one or more of God's promises for those of us who will gather tonight?
As I've been preaching away this week I've emphasized that Christians
must strive to know God on the basis of His revelation of Himself,
rather than according to our own imaginations.
As a result, an
excellent question came via email from one of the listeners regarding
where to look to find such texts. I thought others might want to treat
themselves to the richest of fare by mining and meditating on similar
texts. If so, here's my reply:
Dear __________,
Excellent question! I'm encouraged that you thought to ask.
You may have been able to track down many of God's
Self-descriptions in Scripture using a quick concordance search, or
some means of online search? Oftentimes, though, this will exclude many
other important references (Because the verse may not include our
search words; "Thus saith the LORD", etc)...
As I've been preaching away this week I've emphasized that Christians
must strive to know God on the basis of His revelation of Himself,
rather than according to our own imaginations.
As a result, an
excellent question came via email from one of the listeners regarding
where to look to find such texts. I thought others might want to treat
themselves to the richest of fare by mining and meditating on similar
texts. If so, here's my reply:
Dear __________,
Excellent question! I'm encouraged that you thought to ask.
You may have been able to track down many of God's
Self-descriptions in Scripture using a quick concordance search, or
some means of online search? Oftentimes, though, this will exclude many
other important references (Because the verse may not include our
search words; "Thus saith the LORD", etc)...
Would you please say a brief prayer right now over those who will be part
of the special meetings I've been invited to preach this week at Worden
Baptist Church in Bald Knob, AR? In particular, would you pray the
words of Psalm 85:6:
Will You not Yourself revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
Please pray also for their pastor, Bro. Jerry Goodwin, who went to
the Emergency Room around 1:30 this morning with extreme nausea, and
was diagnosed with vertigo. He was advised by his doctors to remain
home for rest the remainder of the week. As a pastor myself, I know it
will be doubly burdening for Jerry to miss worshipping the LORD with
the congregation he so dearly loves and serves.
Would you please say a brief prayer right now over those who will be part
of the special meetings I've been invited to preach this week at Worden
Baptist Church in Bald Knob, AR? In particular, would you pray the
words of Psalm 85:6:
Will You not Yourself revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
Please pray also for their pastor, Bro. Jerry Goodwin, who went to
the Emergency Room around 1:30 this morning with extreme nausea, and
was diagnosed with vertigo. He was advised by his doctors to remain
home for rest the remainder of the week. As a pastor myself, I know it
will be doubly burdening for Jerry to miss worshipping the LORD with
the congregation he so dearly loves and serves.
Every person's lineage reaches back to our first parents, Adam and Eve.
The one humanity is fractured by sin
Every person has been thoroughly infected with Adam's sin.
Therefore, apart from Christ, we are at enmity with God and with one
another.
The one true God has provided forgiveness and grace in Jesus
In mercy, God sent the perfect Man to redeem sinful men. "For there
is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus"
(1 Timothy 2:5).
Heaven will consist of all types of men
Before us stands the fixed future reality that heaven will be
populated with men and women who have been redeemed by the blood of
Jesus. God will save His people and will fulfill all of His promises to
them through Jesus, including eternal life. The heavenly population
will be comprised of all types of men. Not men that are
fundamentally different than one another -- for we are all human, and
we are all sinful. But men from every corner of God's earth -- those
from every "tribe, tongue, people, and nation" (Revelation 5:9).
In
heaven what began to dawn at Pentecost will be fully consummated. The
curse of Babel will be wholly reversed. Man will have God as his
everlasting treasure, not through his own self-effort, but through the
gospel condesencion of our Loving God applied immediately to every
inhabitant by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, you must answer two questions about your existence
Will you be part of that happy multitude?
And will you risk all to seek to lead others to be there with Christ, with you?
For Sunday
Pray for
Faith and every grace necessary to "consider others more important than yourself".
Pastor Bryan as he prepares to preach Romans 1:1-6
Gospel faithfulness in every relationship -- For edification and evangelization
(Please pray for me also as I preach Sunday-Wednesday at Worden Baptist Church in Worden, AR).
Pray against
Every impulse within you, assumed or named, stated or implied,
that would allow you to suppose that you are inherently better than any
person, in any place in the world, from any culture, at any level.
Ethnocentrism (and we are all prone to this sin more than any of us have ever begun to realize!)
Every person's lineage reaches back to our first parents, Adam and Eve.
The one humanity is fractured by sin
Every person has been thoroughly infected with Adam's sin.
Therefore, apart from Christ, we are at enmity with God and with one
another.
The one true God has provided forgiveness and grace in Jesus
In mercy, God sent the perfect Man to redeem sinful men. "For there
is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus"
(1 Timothy 2:5).
Heaven will consist of all types of men
Before us stands the fixed future reality that heaven will be
populated with men and women who have been redeemed by the blood of
Jesus. God will save His people and will fulfill all of His promises to
them through Jesus, including eternal life. The heavenly population
will be comprised of all types of men. Not men that are
fundamentally different than one another -- for we are all human, and
we are all sinful. But men from every corner of God's earth -- those
from every "tribe, tongue, people, and nation" (Revelation 5:9).
In
heaven what began to dawn at Pentecost will be fully consummated. The
curse of Babel will be wholly reversed. Man will have God as his
everlasting treasure, not through his own self-effort, but through the
gospel condesencion of our Loving God applied immediately to every
inhabitant by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, you must answer two questions about your existence
Will you be part of that happy multitude?
And will you risk all to seek to lead others to be there with Christ, with you?
For Sunday
Pray for
Faith and every grace necessary to "consider others more important than yourself".
Pastor Bryan as he prepares to preach Romans 1:1-6
Gospel faithfulness in every relationship -- For edification and evangelization
(Please pray for me also as I preach Sunday-Wednesday at Worden Baptist Church in Worden, AR).
Pray against
Every impulse within you, assumed or named, stated or implied,
that would allow you to suppose that you are inherently better than any
person, in any place in the world, from any culture, at any level.
Ethnocentrism (and we are all prone to this sin more than any of us have ever begun to realize!)
Lord willing tomorrow morning we will spend our time together in 1 Corinthians 1 honing in more specifically in verses 17-25.
So often when Pauls letters to the Corinthians are mentioned people
immediately think of a church with serious issues. Although Paul does
address numerous issues in these Holy Spirit inspired scriptures, he preceedes the words of teaching, rebuking, and correcting with a crystal clear picture of what he was sent to do--preach Christ and Him crucified.
As a means to help prepare our hearts for tomorrow consider this outline:
Lord willing tomorrow morning we will spend our time together in 1 Corinthians 1 honing in more specifically in verses 17-25.
So often when Pauls letters to the Corinthians are mentioned people
immediately think of a church with serious issues. Although Paul does
address numerous issues in these Holy Spirit inspired scriptures, he preceedes the words of teaching, rebuking, and correcting with a crystal clear picture of what he was sent to do--preach Christ and Him crucified.
As a means to help prepare our hearts for tomorrow consider this outline:
Hebrews 1:5 quotes Psalm 2:7 to make the point that Jesus (not angels) is the Son of God.
Because of the author's quotation, our primary text this coming Lord's Day will be the second Psalm. I highly encourage you to steep your soul in this magnificent chapter!
John Calvin summed up Psalm 2 this way:
"Let this, therefore, be held as a settled point, that
all who do not submit themselves to the authority of Christ make war
against God."
Suffice it to say that fighting against God is a very very bad idea.
To join God's side, one must "Kiss the Son", and "take refuge in
Him" (Psalm 2:12). Be doing that and your heart will be warm for
worship this Sunday, and beyond.
Hebrews 1:5 quotes Psalm 2:7 to make the point that Jesus (not angels) is the Son of God.
Because of the author's quotation, our primary text this coming Lord's Day will be the second Psalm. I highly encourage you to steep your soul in this magnificent chapter!
John Calvin summed up Psalm 2 this way:
"Let this, therefore, be held as a settled point, that
all who do not submit themselves to the authority of Christ make war
against God."
Suffice it to say that fighting against God is a very very bad idea.
To join God's side, one must "Kiss the Son", and "take refuge in
Him" (Psalm 2:12). Be doing that and your heart will be warm for
worship this Sunday, and beyond.
There's only one human who has never been ashamed of God. His Name is Jesus.
Hebrews 2:12 tells us that Psalm 22:22 applies to Jesus, Who, on the cross, sang God's praise in the midst of the people. There was never a more unashamed expression of love to God as was given by Christ in His dying hour.
The video below reminded me of Christ's shamlessness to live at all times for the glory of God in any and every circumstance. Oh that we would become more like Christ in that respect! (The message gets stronger at 3:33).
There's only one human who has never been ashamed of God. His Name is Jesus.
Hebrews 2:12 tells us that Psalm 22:22 applies to Jesus, Who, on the cross, sang God's praise in the midst of the people. There was never a more unashamed expression of love to God as was given by Christ in His dying hour.
The video below reminded me of Christ's shamlessness to live at all times for the glory of God in any and every circumstance. Oh that we would become more like Christ in that respect! (The message gets stronger at 3:33).
"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of
the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book,
and to loose the seven seals thereof. And
I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts,
and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God
sent forth into all the earth."
The title to the post is the final line of this very short video.
Hebrews 1:3 teaches that Jesus upholds everything seen in this video
(and all else) by the word of His power. Take two minutes to watch and
be humbled.
The title to the post is the final line of this very short video.
Hebrews 1:3 teaches that Jesus upholds everything seen in this video
(and all else) by the word of His power. Take two minutes to watch and
be humbled.
Who knew? Looks as if Justin was willing to write the prelude to this week's "worship prep" post for us. Justin's advice
is simple, and when applied with worship and prayer, life-changing.
Who knew? Looks as if Justin was willing to write the prelude to this week's "worship prep" post for us. Justin's advice
is simple, and when applied with worship and prayer, life-changing.
No one does missions perfectly. But that's no excuse to refrain from
supporting the work of those who are imperfectly making an attempt.
A Personal Challenge
Unless
you can develop and execute a better plan between now and this
Christmas to accomplish the following list, I want to strongly
encourage you to pray about how sacrifically the Lord would have you support global missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. Here's a sampling of where the funds will go (100% of the LM offering goes toward the work of cross-cultural missions)
Support the livelihood and ministries of 5,500 missionaries serving Christ's cause around the world...
No one does missions perfectly. But that's no excuse to refrain from
supporting the work of those who are imperfectly making an attempt.
A Personal Challenge
Unless
you can develop and execute a better plan between now and this
Christmas to accomplish the following list, I want to strongly
encourage you to pray about how sacrifically the Lord would have you support global missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. Here's a sampling of where the funds will go (100% of the LM offering goes toward the work of cross-cultural missions)
Support the livelihood and ministries of 5,500 missionaries serving Christ's cause around the world...
I've been preparing a series of short posts on Grace's newest
international missions partnership -- this time, India. (I haven't
forgotten that I still owe a Nigeria update too! Stay tuned).
First, though, it seems helpful to me to re-introduce Grace's vision for local and global missions.
Although this post is more lengthy than most, I hope our church
members will read it with care, prayer, and a heart for engagement in
healthy discussion that will sharpen our understanding and heighten our
involvement in God's glorious work.
Grace's Plan for World Missions IS the Advance of the Local Church
Because of the teaching of the New Testament, Grace's primary "spreading" efforts for our city and for the unreached world are one
and the same. That is, our goal is to see local churches strengthened,
and new churches planted...
Lord willing, this coming Sunday Grace Church will be focusing on
the truth that "Jesus made purification for sins" (Hebrews 1:3).
In
his systematic theology, Wayne Grudem has some helpful questions for
application regarding Christ's atoning work. Enjoy, and proceed with
care...
If the ultimate cause of the atonement is found in the love and
justice of God, then was there anything in you that required God to
love you or to take steps to save you (when he looked forward and
thought of you as a sinner in rebellion against Him)?
How does your answer to the previous question help you appreciate...
Lord willing, this coming Sunday Grace Church will be focusing on
the truth that "Jesus made purification for sins" (Hebrews 1:3).
In
his systematic theology, Wayne Grudem has some helpful questions for
application regarding Christ's atoning work. Enjoy, and proceed with
care...
If the ultimate cause of the atonement is found in the love and
justice of God, then was there anything in you that required God to
love you or to take steps to save you (when he looked forward and
thought of you as a sinner in rebellion against Him)?
How does your answer to the previous question help you appreciate...
The commercialism of Christmas is already upon us. Don't be hypnotized.
you "need" this
The shiny things on the shelves in the store aisles, or online, will be carefully wrapped in the package of necessity. "You need this. He needs that. She should have those...
In the physical sense, it's only obvious that being hungry proves the
existence of our appetite. Hunger is your appetite's voice. And it will call out until its desires are met.
It's similar but not exactly the same in
the spiritual sense.
Physically, when we are hungry, we satisfy our appetite by eating until we no longer hunger. We eat to get full so that our appetite is turned from hunger to satisfaction.
That's not how it works for the Christian's spiritual appetite.
When
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied," (Mt. 5:6) He was not showing that we
should momentarily nibble on God's provision for us in the gospel until
we no longer sense our need for righteousness. Jesus is showing that
the evidence that we are hungry is that we are being satisfied. This satisfaction comes through feasting upon Christ.
Spiritual satisfaction, unlike physical, comes as we are hungry and thirsty for righteousness...
In the physical sense, it's only obvious that being hungry proves the
existence of our appetite. Hunger is your appetite's voice. And it will call out until its desires are met.
It's similar but not exactly the same in
the spiritual sense.
Physically, when we are hungry, we satisfy our appetite by eating until we no longer hunger. We eat to get full so that our appetite is turned from hunger to satisfaction.
That's not how it works for the Christian's spiritual appetite.
When
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied," (Mt. 5:6) He was not showing that we
should momentarily nibble on God's provision for us in the gospel until
we no longer sense our need for righteousness. Jesus is showing that
the evidence that we are hungry is that we are being satisfied. This satisfaction comes through feasting upon Christ.
Spiritual satisfaction, unlike physical, comes as we are hungry and thirsty for righteousness...
Please read Charles Spurgeon's testimony carefully. I will be reading it to Grace Church this morning.
Sincerely, in Jesus, John 3:30
Jordan Thomas
Personally, I have to bless God for many good books; I thank Him for Dr. Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul; for Baxter's Call to the Unconverted; for Alleine's Alarm to Sinners; and for James's Anxious Enquirer;
but my gratitude most of all is due to God, not for books, but for the
preached Word,-and that too addressed to me by a poor, uneducated man,
a man who had never received any training for the ministry, and
probably will never be heard of in this life, a man engaged in
business, no doubt of a humble kind, during the week, but who had just
enough of grace to say on the Sabbath, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved,
all the ends of the earth."
To man, Jesus is the visible invisible God -- "He is the radiance of God's glory" (Hebrews 1:3). To God, Jesus is exact holiness of heart -- "He is the exact represenation of God's nature" (Hebrews 1:3).
That's where we're headed in Sunday's sermon. Contained in these two
truths are the foundation of all that matters and all that truly helps.
Pray with all your might that God would meet us and work powerfully
among us this coming Lord's Day. Here's the best way you can be
preparing your heart:
"They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed." - Psalm 34:5
As
a compliment to our journey through Hebrews, I'm sharing a few of
Clyde's poems from time to time that fit with the truths we're
contemplating on Sunday's (Here's the first one I shared).
Here's the second installment, which has been
posted a few times previously. Make it your prayer. Enjoy!
As
a compliment to our journey through Hebrews, I'm sharing a few of
Clyde's poems from time to time that fit with the truths we're
contemplating on Sunday's (Here's the first one I shared).
Here's the second installment, which has been
posted a few times previously. Make it your prayer. Enjoy!
If you are hungering to delve more into seeing Jesus in all the
Scriptures, the passages below would be a great place to begin spending
time in meditation/memory.
Luke 24:13ff
John 1:43-45
Acts 2:25ff
Acts 17:1-3
Acts 28:23
Romans 1:1-2
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
2 Timothy 3:14-16
Hebrews 1:1-2
As you think and pray over what these texts have to say about Jesus
being revealed in all of Scripture, you will want to branch out into
cross-references...until you have included every verse in the Bible.
If you are hungering to delve more into seeing Jesus in all the
Scriptures, the passages below would be a great place to begin spending
time in meditation/memory.
Luke 24:13ff
John 1:43-45
Acts 2:25ff
Acts 17:1-3
Acts 28:23
Romans 1:1-2
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
2 Timothy 3:14-16
Hebrews 1:1-2
As you think and pray over what these texts have to say about Jesus
being revealed in all of Scripture, you will want to branch out into
cross-references...until you have included every verse in the Bible.
One of the most precious promises in all of Scripture is found in John 14:21. Jesus speaking:
"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one
who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I
will love him and will disclose Myself to him."
Looking to Jesus is the Christian's chief duty, and also his highest
delight. Better still, Jesus is more ready to make Himself known than
anyone is to find Him.
In the verse Christ gives two conditions which lead to one consequence, which is ultimately rewarded by the fulfillment of three magnificent promises...
One Person perfectly
communicates God to man. One Person will rightfully inherit all things. One Person sufficiently represents man before God. And all three
perfectly meet in One Person. His Name is Jesus!
That's the main message of the opening three verses of Hebrews, and will be our theme this Sunday at Grace.
Warm your heart in His presence by meditating on Who He is, and thanking Him for what He has done.
One Person perfectly
communicates God to man. One Person will rightfully inherit all things. One Person sufficiently represents man before God. And all three
perfectly meet in One Person. His Name is Jesus!
That's the main message of the opening three verses of Hebrews, and will be our theme this Sunday at Grace.
Warm your heart in His presence by meditating on Who He is, and thanking Him for what He has done.
Having
considered several worthy options, the elders have agreed that this
year's Christmas sermon from yesteryear will once again come from the
pulpit of Jonathan Edwards, a message entitled, The Excellency of Christ...
Having
considered several worthy options, the elders have agreed that this
year's Christmas sermon from yesteryear will once again come from the
pulpit of Jonathan Edwards, a message entitled, The Excellency of Christ...
My father in the faith & discipler, Clyde Cranford,
was riddled with serious illnesses, especially the last ten years of
his life. His struggle became a blessing to many in a variety of ways.
How so?
When Clyde couldn't sleep because of physical
discomfort, he would lie awake and pray, and think, and sometimes
write. In his final year on earth, really in a matter of a few months,
he wrote a collection of poems that he titled, In the Night Watches, because that's when they came to him.
As
a compliment to our journey through Hebrews, I'll share a few of
Clyde's poems from time to time that are fitting with the things we're
contemplating. Here's the first. Enjoy!
My father in the faith & discipler, Clyde Cranford,
was riddled with serious illnesses, especially the last ten years of
his life. His struggle became a blessing to many in a variety of ways.
How so?
When Clyde couldn't sleep because of physical
discomfort, he would lie awake and pray, and think, and sometimes
write. In his final year on earth, really in a matter of a few months,
he wrote a collection of poems that he titled, In the Night Watches, because that's when they came to him.
As
a compliment to our journey through Hebrews, I'll share a few of
Clyde's poems from time to time that are fitting with the things we're
contemplating. Here's the first. Enjoy!
I absolutely love telling my kids that I love them, and do so several
dozen times per day (easily!), never having to make conscious effort to
remind myself to express this love.
Why do we love to love
Recently I was analyzing why it is that I gush out my expressions of
love so often on my children, and deeper, why I seem to get so much joy
out of it (you start doing that weird sort of thing about six weeks
deep in a sabbatical when you can't digest another line of another
commentary).
You love because you love to love
At the root, our expressions of love toward those we love is owing to the fact that it gives us great joy for them to know that we love them, and therefore it brings us great joy to remind them often of this love. We want them to know they are loved. Then we want them to know it again. Then, once more. Then, a few more times...
The plan is to overview the message of Hebrews this Sunday. In short that would be, "Look to Jesus."
As
a heart primer for Sunday, I would like to encoruage you to consider (maybe write
down) what it would practically look like to heed that counsel.
Meaning, what is the fleshing-out of "look to Christ"?
The plan is to overview the message of Hebrews this Sunday. In short that would be, "Look to Jesus."
As
a heart primer for Sunday, I would like to encoruage you to consider (maybe write
down) what it would practically look like to heed that counsel.
Meaning, what is the fleshing-out of "look to Christ"?
Beginning around 7p tonight (Sunday) and spanning roughly the next
25 hours many orthodox Jews will begin celebrating Yom Kippur--the Day of Atonement.
It was on this day of Atonement, which happened each year, where the
Old Testament High Priest would enter into the holy of holies and atone
for the sins of the nation. Many will spend the next day fasting and
spending time in synagogues hoping to be absolved from their sin. What
is burdensome is that for many orthodox Jews the next day is not much
more than a cleaning of the slate--a doing business with God because of
how bad they've lived since the last celebratory fast. For many of
these orthodox Jews the next day provides nothing more than a fresh
start to continue living the same way they've always been living until
the next Yom Kippur celebration.
In the past couple of weeks I've been re-reading and meditating upon
Colossians and thinking about the personal benefit to my soul this book
has been and I've come to realize that in "completing" Colossians tomorrow I'm really only that much closer to being ready to "really" preach through this book. Colossians is rich and loaded with Christ.
As a little "'bout to be slow on the blog for a while" gift, here's two videos I shot yesterday at my house.
In
the video with Robert, there's some obvious "leading the witness" going
on as you'll see, but the L O N G talk we had beforehand was anything
but coerced, and Robert repeatedly nailed the gospel! He was reluctant
to speak to the camera, and finally obliged after a lot of pleading
from me. I told him many would be blessed as a result. You're proof.
As
for Caleb...well...just doesn't get much better than that! Looks like
Grace finally found a Pastor for Worship! Enjoy!! And please pray for
us!
As a little "'bout to be slow on the blog for a while" gift, here's two videos I shot yesterday at my house.
In
the video with Robert, there's some obvious "leading the witness" going
on as you'll see, but the L O N G talk we had beforehand was anything
but coerced, and Robert repeatedly nailed the gospel! He was reluctant
to speak to the camera, and finally obliged after a lot of pleading
from me. I told him many would be blessed as a result. You're proof.
As
for Caleb...well...just doesn't get much better than that! Looks like
Grace finally found a Pastor for Worship! Enjoy!! And please pray for
us!
Lord willing, our good friend Anthony Mathenia (twitter, blog)
will be preaching at Grace the next two Sunday's, and will be covering
the entire book of James. His sermons are divided up as the book
naturally lends itself to division:
Gospel Results: James 1-2
Gospel Expectations: James 3-4
Steep your soul in the text daily (takes about 15 minutes to read
the entire epistle), and pray fervently for God to speak to you, and
all who will gather with Grace.
Also, please pray diligently, moment by moment throughout each day, without ceasing, for two church-impacting trips taking place during the next two weeks:
Two of our pastors who will be in Nigeria Sept 11-20.
One of our members who will be traveling Sept 13-20 to get more
well acquainted with the people and the places to which the Lord has
called his family to serve for the next several years.
Lord willing, our good friend Anthony Mathenia (twitter, blog)
will be preaching at Grace the next two Sunday's, and will be covering
the entire book of James. His sermons are divided up as the book
naturally lends itself to division:
Gospel Results: James 1-2
Gospel Expectations: James 3-4
Steep your soul in the text daily (takes about 15 minutes to read
the entire epistle), and pray fervently for God to speak to you, and
all who will gather with Grace.
Also, please pray diligently, moment by moment throughout each day, without ceasing, for two church-impacting trips taking place during the next two weeks:
Two of our pastors who will be in Nigeria Sept 11-20.
One of our members who will be traveling Sept 13-20 to get more
well acquainted with the people and the places to which the Lord has
called his family to serve for the next several years.
Richard Owen Roberts will be at Bellevue Baptist Church this Wednesday at 6:30p and will be preaching at Christ Church in New Albany this Fri.-Sun. Friday and Saturday will be at 6:30p; Sunday 11a. You can hear some of his sermons here or you can read articles here.
I would encourage you to attend any of these services that you are able to attend.
Richard Owen Roberts will be at Bellevue Baptist Church this Wednesday at 6:30p and will be preaching at Christ Church in New Albany this Fri.-Sun. Friday and Saturday will be at 6:30p; Sunday 11a. You can hear some of his sermons here or you can read articles here.
I would encourage you to attend any of these services that you are able to attend.
Yesterday was a top seven day in my life. Or, to use the golf scoring system, it was a top-three day! The order goes like this:
Conversion, March 1996.
Marriage to the love of my life, July 1999.
A five-way tie: The birth of each of my children, March '01, October '02, September '04, May '06, and yesterday.
A trillion other undeserved blessings (Church, Christian growth,
family, friends, Providentially ordered pain, Mountain Dew, good books,
snowboarding, good conversations, shoes, breathing, et cetera).
The reason I'm publicly gloating over our daughter's birth...
Many thanks to the person who was willing to share this story of God's saving grace:
Amazing...God's providence, that is.
I was having an
imaginary conversation with an imaginary unbeliever on my 30-minute
commute to work today with hopes that I might be better prepared to
testify of the real Christ to a real person someday.
Jesus is God. And He is the only way to a saving relationship with God the Father (John 14:6).
The Lord's endless creativity is seen in the manifold ways He draws
people to Jesus, so that they can then be brought safely to God.
Share your story of coming to Jesus
We would love to hear your testimony of how you came to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. Wherever you are in the world, "refresh our hearts in Christ."
Let
us know through the comments how you came to faith in Jesus. Since our
comments have to be moderated due to heavy spam, we'll pull out your
story after you submit it and post it here on the blog.
Perhaps
your story of coming to Jesus for salvation will be one of God's "many
ways" to bring someone else to Jesus, and to a saving relationship with
Himself!
Here's how God brought me to Himself through faith in Jesus...
"You shall call His name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins." - Matthew 1:21
As you prepare your heart for worship tomorrow through the preached Word of God, ask yourself three questions from this verse:
Who is Jesus?
What did He come to do?
Am I one of His people?
Pray with all your heart that people will be converted tomorrow
under the preaching of the gospel! Pray that your heart, and the hearts
of all who will gather with us, will be "fertile soil" for the Word and
will of God to be received with much joy.
What about falling 50 feet from a rope when you are 17 years old and
breaking your back? How can you then say, "In the very accident, [God]
was showing me His very kindness and care."
What about "taking
a spill" many times after that because of your partial paralysis and
trying to "get back up" in a way that will show to those who watch that
you believe, "...even that, I consider to be part of God's love to me."
On the Day of Pentecost Peter stood before thousands of folks from all over the place and preached that David wrote Psalm 16, "Because he was looking forward to the resurrection of the Christ" (cf. Acts 2:31).
Lord willing, in this coming Sunday's sermon we will be seeking to peer into Christ's glory in, through, and during the life and
writings of David. I covet your prayers. And I look forward to
worshipping with you!
Believer, bring a ready heart to revel in the gospel
And bring a lost friend with you to hear about the Savior
Summer is a great time for many. What will this summer be remembered for when you look back?
Imagine: Even if you had big plans to enjoy a long-anticipated
vacation, nothing would be greater than someone introducing you to
Jesus for the first time. That would make for the greatest summer ever!
You'll
be able to come up with plenty of ideas to commend Christ. Here's a few
simple thoughts that come to mind that may get your juices flowing.
More, it may lead to your great joy of being able to lead someone to
faith in Jesus this summer!
That would be a great (and telling) goal for all of us. Justin Taylor wrote:
"...wouldn't it be great if those who knew us best could honestly say, "It is so easy to edify him. It doesn't take much. It doesn't need to be the best
sermon ever preached or the most excellent song ever composed or the
most powerful book ever written or the most theologically eloquent
statement ever uttered. Just the simplest truth was enough to refresh
his heart in Christ."
In one week's time, I attended two Christian concerts. I think that doubles my life-long total.
Last Friday, several Grace folks took 15 inner-city boys to the Don't Waste Your Life tour concert, and last night I joined another crew of Grace Church-ers at the Shane and Shane concert.
Needless to say, they were very differnt approaches, but both pointed clearly to the Jesus of the Bible.
I guess you can tell which picture is from which concert?...
Admittedly, I often feel that being busy equals being productive. Biblically, the exact opposite is often the case.
Those who know me know that I'm a "do-er." I like "getting things done." I even read a book by that title last year! So when I'm home in bed due to sickness, I
often feel that I'm "wasting time." But the Lord has His ways of
slowing us down, and reorienting us on something more important.
While
I've been home (literally "still" for hours on end), the Lord has been
reminding me of my neglect to pray diligently that the unreached
peoples of the world would know of God's glory and saving power through
Jesus Christ. To be honest, I've been sorely unfaithful in intercession
for the nations (The bible calls prayerlessness "sin"!)...
That's the title of Voddie Baucham's sermon that I read yesterday morning. It is an excellent call to every believer whether single or married. Highly recommended! Here's the PDF when you have time to read it yourself.
As I read, I rejoiced over God's kindness to Grace Church.
Though we're a small congregation, we've been blessed with many children. Oh that He will grant us the grace to be faithful with our calling to evangelize and disciple them well!
Abraham lived roughly 2000 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Yet, according to Jesus, Abraham saw Christ's day, and upon seeing Him,
was glad. How so? Because, "before Abraham was born," Jesus IS...
Now that Grace Church has walked through the first four parts of our current nine-part series titled, "Toward a Christ-Centered Theology of the Bible," I thought it might be helpful to give a brief word of review to help us all know where we've been, and to peek forward to where we're heading.
Thus far, we've seen:
That Jesus believes the entire Bible is about Jesus (Luke 24)
That Jesus is revealed in Scripture as God, existing co-eternally with God (John 17)
That Jesus is revealed in Scripture as the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Hebrews 1)
That Jesus was enjoyed, promised, and portrayed in the days of Adam as the only Mediator between God and man (Genesis 3)
Christmas and Easter are easily the two most popular dates in the
Christian Church. Tommorrow represents another important, but far
lesser known date - Ascension Sunday.
Christ ascension is
important to our salvation because He, "...will come in just the same
way as you have watched Him go into heaven." Christians are looking for
the physical, bodily, return of Jesus Christ!
Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after His resurrection from the
dead, which means He would have ascended on a Thursday. Throughout
history though, since churches have met on the Lord's Day, they've
celebrated Christ's ascension the following Sunday, which this year, is
tomorrow.
Think about the significance of Christ's ascension in the following verses...
Immediately after Sunday's sermon, Jim Suggs and I were talking
about the immutability of Christ's divine nature.
One truth that landed
on us heavily is the good news that we can be saved because Jesus is
God, and therefore He doesn't change! See Malachi 3:6 compared with Hebrews 13:7. Amen!
My parents, Roger and Jamie, boarded a plane bound for Ecuador this
past Saturday. From Monday till the upcoming Monday they will
primarily spend their time in one village--a village they visited on a
previous trip. During their time in this village they will have to
approach the president of this particular village requesting to stay
their along with having the opportunity to live among the people for
teaching and fellowship. Their prayerful hope is to spend this time
among the Quichua teaching the gospel. According to a conversation my
mom overheard there is no church and no current gospel influence among
the Quichua in this village. Here is a recent update that I just
received:
An important truth to realize is that Jesus believes the entire Bible is about Jesus (e.g. Luke 24).
In
order to get a grasp on the Bible, we must see it as one Book. As we
see the Bible as one book with One Author, we find its unifying theme.
His Name is Jesus!
Please pray for those who are planning to go this weekend. There's still a few spots left if you are interested. If so, let us know. Here's your prayer list...
We invite you to join the people of Grace this week as we walk with Christ to the cross.
Each day you will find selected readings on this guide that show the events that happened in Christ's life during the week leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection.
Thank you ladies for allowing me to walk with you through our Lord's Sermon on the Mount for this year's retreat. Thank you to all who prayed. Christ is King.
"Readers can gain the 'full advantage from the gospel' only when they 'connect it with the ancient promises.'" - John Calvin (The Sermon on the Mount Through the Centuries, p. 142).
"If one looks more closely at the way he works, it
becomes clear that his interpretation is driven by a kind of interior
guidance system powered by the Scriptures. A key to Augustine's
exegesis is to be found...in the maxim Scriptura scripturam interpretat.
He never proposes an interpretation of a biblical text without citing
another biblical text. That means, of course, that by our standards
Augustine is cavalier about historical setting, literary context, or
social world--the topics that excercise contemporary biblical scholars.
He reads the Bible as a single book and what one scriptural writer
says, whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament, is fair game
for interpreting what occurs in another part of the Scriptures." (The Sermon on the Mount Through the Centuries, p. 56)
***Set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night so that you
don't show up for service thinking it is time for prayer or for service
and wonder why I'm already in (v6) of Colossians 2:1-15***
This Sunday, Lord willing, we will spend our time together worshipping Christ in Colossians 2:1-15. Here is a snapshot of things Paul says about Jesus in our text.
I've recently began re-reading sections of Courtney Anderson's book, To the Golden Shore in preparation for a series of sermons on Missions I will be preaching
in a few weeks for a Student Ministries Disciple Now in Ohio. To the Golden Shore is an account of the life and missionary efforts of Adoniram
Judson--the first American Missionary to Burma. To set this quote up,
which comes towards the end of the book, Judson has returned to America
and travels around to various churches preaching. Judson was one of
the more brilliant minds in his day and people were fascinated that he
would spend his life among a pagan people preaching Christ and
translating the Bible in the Burmese language. So when he arrived back
in the states (which, according to his letters, was never his intention
when he got on the boat to head to India) you can imagine how the
Northeast was buzzing to hear from Judson about his missionary efforts.
"Although the day was rainy, the church had become crowded with
people who had learned he [Adoniram Judson] would have something to say......
Last week we looked at Colossians 1:24 where Paul tells the young church at Colossae '"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions."
"Pour out Your wrath on the heathen that do not acknowledge
You--and on the families that do not call upon Your name!" Jeremiah
10:25
We wonder how many of our readers have seriously
pondered these awe-inspiring words! Observe what fearful threatenings
are pronounced against those who disregard family worship! How
unspeakably solemn to find that prayerless families are here coupled
with the heathen, who do not acknowledge the Lord.
Sunday afternoon our small group took up a specific prayer request for each other. Namely, that we would pray that each one of us would take advantage of the opportunity to share the entire gospel with
an unconverted person before our group cycle ends in May. Oh to see many people born again in the next few months!
Would you join us in praying this for each person in each Grace Group?
This Sunday, Lord willing we will be worshipping the preeminence of Christ in reconciliation from Colossians 1:19-23. I encourage you to prepare your hearts with these statements about Christ:
It was the Father's good pleasure for all His fullness to dwell in Christ.
Through Christ all things are reconciled to Himself.
Peace with God comes from the blood of the cross of Christ.
Christ has reconciled His people in His body through His death in order to present them before God as holy, blameless, and above reproach.
I asked the team members if they would put into writing our mission
trip to Nigeria and some things the Lord did in their heart while there
and since we've returned. Kelly is currently in the hospital suffering
from a disease related to our trip. Kelly has mentioned that she looks
forward to returning to Nigeria soon, Lord willing becasue she now
understands to some degree ways the Nigerians are suffering. Pray for
her! May the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world
receive His reward for His suffering. This is what Kelly Rodgers had to
say:
We're all touched by pain. No exceptions. Often the wounds
are deep. Sometimes the challenges we face will substantially alter the
course of our life. Even for those who are "less buffeted" by trials,
one of the inescapable consequences of living in a fallen world is
unavoidable collision with hurt.
When the trials come, how do you respond? I've been helped by two recent examples the Lord has put before my eyes.
Last week prior to beginning the Colossians series I encouraged the
children in a few ways (most of which are already doing this) in hopes
that they would listen to the sermon when they sit in "big Church" (as
a child this is what I called church with the adults). One of these
ways was to count every time you heard Christ mentioned and then report
to me after the sermon was over.
This week, Lenarious, a young boy from our surrounding neighborhood
attended Grace. He didn't come with anyone, he just came! Evidently Kirk B.
encouraged him with this because as soon as the sermon concluded he
came straight to me and said "200. You mentioned Christ 200 hundred
times today". I then asked him if there was anything that stuck out
during the sermon today, to which he replied "Christ".
I closed this mornings sermon from Colossians 1:13-18 wth this quote from Charles Simeon:
'Are you not ashamed that this adorable Saviour has held so low a
place in your esteem, that even the most contemptible things that can
be imagined have had a preeminence above him? There is not a base lust
which has not more power to sway you, than love to him, or zeal for his
glory. There is not a vanity which you have not more desired, nor an
object whom you have not more feared, nor a device you have not more
relied upon, than he. Would you not have thought it impossible, that a
Being so glorious in Himself, and so gracious unto you, should ever be
so despised by you, as he has been? O! humble yourselves before him;
and now set yourselves with all diligence to honor and to glorify his
name. Let it no longer be a doubt, either in your own minds or in the
minds of any that behold you, who has the preeminence in your souls.
Give yourselves wholly to him; live altogether for him: let your daily
and hourly inquiry be, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" In short,
endeavour to begin the life of heaven whilst you are yet upon earth.
When once you are there, "you will follow the Lamb whithersoever he
goeth." Follow him now: follow the footsteps which he trod on earth:
follow him, in your affections, to the highest heavens: and look
forward to the time when he, who has ascended as your Forerunner, shall
come again to take you to himself, and "seat you with him upon his
throne, as he sitteth on his Father's throne."
Take a moment to read Samuel Rutherford on Christ-the Altogether Lovely. I took this quote from this book. It appears there has recently been a reprint.
'The one true goal or resting place where doubt and weariness,
the stings of a pricking conscience, and the longings of an unsatisfied
soul would all be quieted, is Christ Himself. Not the church, but
Christ. Not doctrine, but Christ. Not forms, but Christ. Not
ceremonies, but Christ; Christ the God-man, giving His life for ours;
sealing the everlasting covenant, and making peace for us through the
blood of His cross; Christ the divine storehouse of all light and
truth, 'In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
(Colossians 2:3); Christ the infinite vessel, filled with the Holy
Spirit, the Enlightener, the Teacher, the Quickener, the Comforter, so
that "of his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace" (John
1:16) This, this alone is the vexed soul's refuge, its rock to build
on, its home to abide in till the great tempter be bound and every
conflict ended in victory.'
“To speak faithfully of the
wrath of God, very often what we most urgently need are tears. A few
years ago on a radio talk show with a large audience in Chicago, the
host asked several guests to discuss whether anyone could be saved
apart from Jesus. Three pooh-poohed the idea in graphic terms. The
fourth was a Jewish-Christian believer on the faculty of Moody Bible
Institute. His ethnic background was known by everyone there, so when
it was his turn to speak, the host baited him by asking him if he
thought his fellow Jews could be saved apart from Christ. This
Christian brother began to weep, and then to sob quietly,
uncontrollably. After a minute or two, the host said that he had never
heard a more compelling reason to become a Christian. So we teach the
wrath of God, for faithfulness to Scripture demands it; and we follow
Jesus and learn to weep over the city.”
(From: D. A. Carson, “The Wrath of God,” in Engaging the Doctrine of God, ed. Bruce McCormack, (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008), 63.)
May God increase our tears, love, and action for the lost and hurting!
I apologize for being so long in updating you. As you read
on, you will discover why we have had limited internet access. For you
PRBCers (Kurt's church) ... here is an email with four points.
This Sunday evening from 4:30-6p at Bridges we will be
having a Grace Party.
January 22, 2009 marks the first year
anniversary of the death of Amber Mathenia. We have asked her mother,
Laura Donovan, and her sister April Sawyer (also my wife) if they would
be willing to give testimony about the kindness of the Lord that has
been lavishing upon them in the past year in Christ.....
Many bloggers have listed their top 10 reads from 2008. I even won
one person's stack!
Instead of listing 10 and no one actually reading
them, I thought I would list my favorite one from last year. If only
one of you will find it and read it, I would feel that this post is
worth the time it took to type it!
For an endorsement that carries much more weight than mine, Jonathan Edwards had this to say about the book that had the most impact on my life in 2008:
"...it is much better than any other book in the world."
That's coming from a guy who wrote 60,000 pages!!
Go find this book. And read it. The Soli Deo Gloria printing is only 114 pages with big font and average margins. Youcan read this book!
A Treatise On Regeneration - by, Peter Van Mastrict.
“One of the
gravest perils which besets the ministry is a restless scattering of
energies over an amazing multiplicity of interests which leaves no
margin of time and of strength for receptive and absorbing communion
with God.”
- Andrew Bonar
HT: Gospel Reminders (A fantastic blog to bookmark, RSS, or whatever you do to intentionally make the internet a weapon for serving your soul!)
“I’m not the Christ; I am not He.” So let my voice drown in the sea Of waves that crash upon His shore; Of Christward praise forever more. I publish this from east to west: "He must increase, I must be less."
During Advent I've been reading Isaac Ambrose's section on the Incarnation of Christ in his insightful work,Looking Unto Jesus.
Below are just a few nuggets from the absolutely loaded pages! Some are
quotes, some are summaries of Ambrose's thoughts.
Watch this video. Pay careful attention after the 2:20 mark...
In case you are planning to skip this short video, first swallow this quote from it:
"...I've always said I don't respect people who don't
prosyletize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a
heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell, or not getting
eternal life, or whatever... And you think that it's not really worth
telling them [about Jesus] because it would make it socially awkward...
how much do you have to hate somebody to not prosyletize? How much do
you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible,
and not tell them that?"
Thanks for posting the great hymn from Horatius Bonar! Here's
another great one from Frank Houghton concerning Christ's Incarnation
that has been swirling in my heart since it appeared before me in the advent devotional guide I repped a while back:
Family traditions are great. Even little things "the way we always
do it" can make for sweet memories generation after generation. If you
don't already have a tradition for family devotions in your home during
Advent season, let me encourage you to begin this year.
The resource I'm linking below is the one our family is following this
season. It is a ready-made guide for this year's Advent season. Those
who are more creative than me might have fun crafting your own guide.
Be intentional. Be Christward. Be worshippers. Be joyful. Behold the
One, the Son, of God.
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!
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.
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!
"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!
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."
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
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."
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').
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.
In the history of the world, lots of people have been crucified.
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."
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:
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.
"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."
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.
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 thanTurretin or any other book in the world, excepting the Bible, in my opinion." (Jonathan Edwards to Joseph Bellamy, Jan. 15, 1746/47).
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.
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.
Grab our RSS feed
As you ready your soul to join God's
people in worship, I encourage you to marinate in our sermon text,
Hebrews 1:7-9. As you're in those verses, ask the Holy Spirit to work
powerfully among us for true conversions and Christian growth.
The answer is "All too easily."
I pass along this illustration from Ray Ortlund Jr's guidebook on modern revival, 
In an inexplicable way, God's incomprehensible truth "makes sense" to the Christian. This is not to suggest that anyone, other than God, fully grasps His revelation.
Tracy and I are registered and ready. Hope you can make it, too.
Steve wouldn't want me to publish this, but he doesn't even know how to turn on the internet, so I'm safe :).
Tomorrow another Christian event will happen. What will be the effect 100 years from now? A revived people of God? I pray so.
Sunday I preached on the theme that He Who is Christ's Father is
also the Father of all who come to Him through Christ. Astonishing
reality! Oh to live more in its light!
Those were Ray Ortlund's 
On the opening page of Grace Church's latest Prayer Directory, the elders ask the following question:
Little cupids perched on the mantel seem to be a far cry from the awesome angelic beings of Scripture.
Looks like the GC blog wasn't high enough profile for our friend. You can read the Commercial Appeal cover article 
Why is there a picture of Boggle in the worship-prep post?
Because of the teaching of the New Testament, Grace's primary "spreading" efforts for our city and for the unreached world are one
and the same. That is, our goal is to see local churches strengthened,
and new churches planted...
rcialism of Christmas is already upon us. Don't be hypnotized.
In the physical sense, it's only obvious that being hungry proves the
existence of our appetite. Hunger is your appetite's voice. And it will call out until its desires are met.
Dear Anxious Inquirer after salvation,
I absolutely love telling my kids that I love them, and do so several
dozen times per day (easily!), never having to make conscious effort to
remind myself to express this love.
Lord willing, our good friend Anthony Mathenia (
Yesterday was a top seven day in my life. Or, to use the golf scoring system, it was a top-three day! The order goes like this:
When co-teaching 
What about falling 50 feet from a rope when you are 17 years old and
breaking your back? How can you then say, "In the very accident, [God]
was showing me His very kindness and care."
Summer is a great time for many. What will this summer be remembered for when you look back?
In one week's time, I attended two Christian concerts. I think that doubles my life-long total.
Those who know me know that I'm a "do-er." I like "getting things done." I even read 
That's the title of Voddie Baucham's sermon that I 
Eternally significant things have happened in prison--like the writing
of books of the Bible (Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, Philemon)!
An important truth to realize is that Jesus believes the entire Bible is about Jesus (e.g. Luke 24).
We invite you to join the people of Grace this week as we walk with Christ to the cross.
We've added the "
During Advent I've been reading Isaac Ambrose's section on the Incarnation of Christ in his insightful work, 
I
am scheduled to speak Saturday night, and would appreciate your prayers
beforehand (or afterward, that the Word would bear much fruit). Thank you!
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.
The Nigeria mission team leaves tomorrow evening (Friday) and is scheduled to return next Sunday, November 23.
Ligon Duncan will be at 
Derek Webb
Our commission as Christians is to commend Jesus--the One we cherish--to the entire world. So...
We at Grace have come to love the truth that...
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!
Ever heard of Peter Van Mastricht? Me either. Until a few weeks ago.
Grace's summer