Great article on preaching!

As many of you know...I am quite passionate about communicating, especially God's word. I ran across this article, "Ten Conclusions About Preaching" on Adrian Warnock's blog. Follow this link & check it out. I would love to hear your thoughts.

The Tongue: Put it to Good Use!

"With it we bless our Lord & Father, & with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth both blessing & cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." James 2:9

For years I have been drawn to Moses' blessing to Aaron & His sons, Numbers 6:23-26:

"The Lord bless you , & keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,

& be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

& give you peace."

As of late, I have been increasingly drawn to Scripture memory. I thought it would be good to offer a few additional blessings found in the NT. Ideally, we could hide these in our hearts & speak them inwardly in prayer & audibly in public over our brothers & sisters in Christ.

Acts 20:32

"And now I commend you to God & to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up & to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

Romans 15:13

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy & peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 

2 Corinthians 13:14

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, & the love of God, & the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." 

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself & God our Father, who has loved us & given us eternal comfort & good hope by grace, comfort & strengthen your hearts in every good work & word." 

I don't know about you but far too often I use my words to glorify myself rather than build others up in the faith. Pray that my heart be changed & my words redirected. I'll pray for you too!

Said of Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards is considered one of America's most important theologians. Someone once asked a hearer of Jonathan Edwards if he was an eloquent speaker, the man responded:

"He had no studied varieties of the voice, & no strong emphasis. He scarcely gestured, or even moved; & he made no attempt by the elegance of his style, or the beauty of his pictures, to gratify the taste, & fascinate the imagination. But, if you mean by eloquence, the power of presenting an important truth before an audience, with overwhelming weight of argument, & with such intenseness of feeling, that the whole soul of the speaker is thrown into every part of the conception & delivery; so that the solemn attention of the whole audience is riveted, from the beginning to the close, & impressions are left that cannot be effaced; Mr. Edwards was the most eloquent man I ever heard speak." Supremacy of God in Preaching

Taking it to a New Level!

A little over a week ago I was able to sell two of my lenses & purchase a new one. It is very exciting as I am going to be able to take my photography to a whole new level. So...I thought I would share a peek of my first few images with the new lens. As well, my family members can see pics of Brennan in his new swing that his "grandaddy" bought him for Christmas. Further, I had to include a picture I took yesterday of my good friends, Gil & Melanie Balch's daughter, Isabelle. She is beautiful. 

Contrast

My wife & I are reading through Piper's The Supremacy of God in Preaching. I have read excerpts from this book several times, but never had the opportunity to buy it. 

Every evening I give Brennan a bath around 7:00 pm; it is definitely one of my favorite moments of the day. This week, Joy has been sitting in there with me reading The Supremacy out loud to us. It is quite hilarious because Brennan is in the bath tub listening, I am sitting right next to the bath tub listening, Bailey (our dog) is laying in my lap listening & Joy is reading. We are a strange family. 

But, she read a statement the other night that absolutely rocked us. Joy's look on her face said it all. As we both said "Amen," she realized that practically her entire life preachers have taught the very thing Piper was refuting. And, bear in mind that she was in very conservative Baptist churches. But, the difference is the perspective--God-centered preaching vs. man-centered preaching. The fruit of one is self-righteousness, the fruit of another is humility before God. Consider the statement:

"It horribly skews the meaning of the cross when contemporary prophets of self-esteem say that the cross is a witness to my infinite worth, since God was willing to pay such a high price to get me. The biblical perspective is that the cross is a witness to the infinite worth of God's glory & a witness to the immensity of the sin of my pride. What should shock us is that we have brought such contempt upon the worth of God that the very death of his Son is required to vindicate that worth. The cross witnesses to the infinite worth of God & the infinite outrage of sin." (35-36)

Please join the discussion.

Yesterday's Man

I was quite encouraged by an excerpt I read from R.T. Kendall's Yesterday Man: (via evotional.com)

"A person with a tremendous anointing yesterday can continue to see the momentum of that anointing continue to manifest itself. He or she may hastily conclude that 'the anointing is still with us' when it is but the momentum of yesterday's anointing. If I do not experience a fresh anointing every day, it is only a matter of time before I become yesterday's man." 

Shevet Achim

"Behold, how good & how pleasant it is for brothers to dwells together in unity." Psalm 133:1

During  my first trip to Israel, I was introduced to the wonderful ministry of Shevet Achim. They are a Christian ministry rooted in Jerusalem for the purpose of helping non-Israeli children receive lifesaving medical care in Israel. With that in mind, they seek to reconcile relationships between neighboring nations & Israelis. I have also heard testimonies of men, women, & children reconciling their greatest relationship--their relationship with God through Christ Jesus. 

I would encourage you to pray for these laborers as they help aid children in need of heart transplants, while also sharing the "good news." If you would like to visit the website, please click here.

Love One Another: So That Christ may Be Glorified to the Nations, Part 4

Session 4: Love One Another: So that Christ may Be Glorified to the Nations

The Question we needed answering: Biblically, how does God want Christians to relate to one another in community?

4-part Answer:

1. We should relate to one another out of the context that we have been forgiven much; therefore, we desire to love much. (Session 1)
2. We should relate to one another out of the context that as Christians, Christ dwells in our hearts & He produces Christ-like character within us. (Session 2)
3. We should relate to one another out of the context that we commit to care for one another regardless of circumstances (good or bad) & bearing in mind that our love for one another testifies of the gospel. (Session 3)

Central Text: Psalm 67

Key Verse: "God be gracious to us & bless us, & cause His face to shine upon us--Selah. That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations."

A Christian does not exist for himself/herself, rather he/she exists for the glory of another, namely, Christ. The goal for which the Christian community prays for God's blessing is that His way may be known on the earth, His salvation among all nations. 

"Each Christian is a player in a grand story that stretches far beyond the boundaries of his own life, or even of his own land." (adapted from ESV Study Bible)

Central Truth: We should relate to one another out of the context that we share a common mission--that His way may be known on the earth, His salvation among all nations. 

• Common Salvation: God, bless your people so that they may experience the fullness of what it means to be saved.
• Common Indwelling: God, bless your people so that we may be filled with the Spirit & have the character of Christ.
• Common Commitment: God, bless your people so that they would commit to care for one another & act together.
• Common Mission: God, bless your people so that the rest of the world may come to know the true God. 

Our Christian communities exist so that Christ may be glorified. We exist for Him! We will never find biblical community until our focus is off ourselves & He becomes the focus--that is why we must love one another out of the context that we are jealous for the world to come to know the true God. 

Community: Love One Another-So That Christ may Be Glorified Through Me, Part 3

Session 3: Love One Another--So That Christ may Be Glorified in Me

What if I told you that you were in debt? What if I told you that you owed every person in here something? And, the fact that you owed something to everyone was a good thing, what would you think? And, what if I told you that there is one debt that a person never ceases paying?

That debt is love. The only thing a saved person should owe anybody is love. 

Romans 13:8, "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law."

How is Christ's work in me lived out towards one another? What does it look like?

John 17:20-26

Key Text: (v.22-23) "The glory which You have given Me, I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them & You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, & loved them, even as You have loved Me." 

Jesus' concern is for his followers' unity & love...believers' unity result from being united in God. Only when they are unified will they be able to bear witness to the true identity of Jesus as the Sent One of God. 

"Community is the commitment to care for each other & act together--it is not friendship." --John Hosier

"One Another" Building Blocks

• Love One Another: John 13:34; 13:35, Romans 13:8, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 3:11; 3:23; 4:7; 4:11; 4:12, 2 John 1:5
• Encourage One Another: Judges 20:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13; 10:24; 10:25
• Greet One Another / Be Hospitable: Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Peter 4:9; 5:14
• Be Humble / Be of Same Mind: Romans 12:16, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 3:8; 5:5
• Honor / Serve One Another: John 13:14, Romans 12:10, Galatians 5:13
• Fellowship / Admonish One Another: Esther 9:22, Romans 15:14, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, 1 John 1:7
• Bear with / Show Mercy to One Another: Leviticus 19:11, Zechariah 7:9-10, Romans 14:13, Ephesians 4:2-3; 4:32, Colossians 3:12-13, James 4:11

Central Truth: We should relate to one another out of the context that we commit to care for one another regardless of circumstances (good or bad) & bearing in mind that our love for one another testifies of the gospel. 

Community: Love One Another-So That Christ may Be Glorified in Me, Part 2

Session 2: Love One Another--So That Christ may Be Glorified in Me

posture: A position of a person's body when standing or sitting. Or, a particular way of dealing with or considering something; an approach/attitude. 

Key Point: Our posture towards God reflects our posture towards one another. 

Ephesians 3:14-4:6

"...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, & that you, being rooted & grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth & length & height & depth, & to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church & in Christ Jesus to all generations forever & ever. Amen. Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility & gentleness, with patience showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body & one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God & Father of all who is over all & through all & in all." 

1. strengthened (krataiothenai): to strengthen, fortify, brace, invigorate (with power through His Spirit).
2. power (dunamai): power (referring to Power through His Spirit), with infused (to become an element of something, to insert or fill) strength. 
3. dwell (katoikesai): to dwell, live in, settle down. Denotes permanent habitation as opposed to sojourning or an occasional visit.
4. surpasses (huperballousan): to throw beyond, to excel, to surpass.
5. more abundantly (huperekperissou): super-abundantly, quite beyond all measure, greatly exceeding all boundaries. The form is used as the highest form of comparison imaginable.
6. worthy (haxios): worthily, 'that which balances the scales.'
7. humility (tapeinophrosune): lowly thinking, humility. Refers to the quality of esteeming ourselves as small but at the same time recognizing the power & ability of God.
8. gentleness (prautes): meek, gentle. The humble & gentle attitude that expresses itself in a patient submissiveness to offense, free from malice & desire for revenge. 
9. tolerance (anekomenoi): to bear, to bear up, hold oneself up. The word indicates giving patience to someone till the provocation is past.
10. Spirit (pneumatos): Spirit. Subjective Genitive--indicating the source or agent producing the unity. 

( Rogers & Rogers, New Linguistic & Exegetical Key to the Greek NT) 

Central Truth: We should relate to one another out of the context that as Christians, Christ dwells in our hearts & He produces Christ-like character within us. 

When Christ dwells in you & you are filled up to all the fullness of God...the following characteristics will manifest themselves in your life. The means of unity in a believer's life (by no means is this complete):

Humility:

• The quality of esteeming ourselves as small but at the same time recognizing the power & ability of God.
• "How can anyone be arrogant when he stands beside the cross?" --Carl Henry
• "Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness & our sinfulness." --CJ Mahaney

Gentleness:

• An attitude that expresses itself in a patient submissiveness to offense, free from malice, & desire for revenge.
• Unwilling to provoke & not easily provoked or offended.
• "A bruised reed He will not break & a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice." --Isaiah 42:3

Patience:

• Longsuffering
• "A patient bearing of injuries without seeking revenge." --Matthew Henry
• "He was oppressed & He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, & like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth." --Isaiah 53:7

The Holy Spirit is the source of unity in believers' lives & God gets great glory when we relate to one another in love. 

Lecrae: 'Send Me'- Live at Mars Hill Church

Who can get enough of Lecrae? Check out this video of him performing 'Send Me' at Mars Hill Church. Don't sell yourself short by not reading his lyrics. 

Also, you can download his latest album, Rebel, at Amazon.com for $5. Click here for this great deal. 

'Send Me' - Live at MHC | Ballard from Re:Sound on Vimeo.

Community: Love One Another-For the Sake of the Gospel Being Displayed, Part 1

This weekend, I have the privilege to speak at Camp Living Stones. I was asked by a friend of mine (& youth pastor extraordinaire at Candies Creek BC), Bo Dunkle, to teach on the topic of Biblical Community in a Christian's life. The question he wanted me to answer in the sessions is: What is vital to live in community with other believers? Or: Biblically, how does God want Christians to relate to one another? 

I figured that I would share with you an outline of my sessions over the next 4 days. Hopefully, it will help you as you live life with one another in the context of biblical community. 

Session 1: Love One Another--For the Sake of the Gospel Being Displayed

People can complicate things, especially when we have plans that they interrupt. 

Luke 7:36-50, A Pharisee, A Sinner, & Jesus

Key Text: "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little loves little."

Without taking you through the exposition of this text, I would like to offer a contrast of the background/behavior of Simon, the Pharisee, & the woman sinner:

Simon, the Pharisee The Woman Sinner

Religious & Respectable Sinful & Shameful

No water for Jesus' feet Wet His feet with her tears & wiper with hair

No kiss for Jesus Did not cease to kiss His feet

No anointing for Jesus Anointed Jesus' feet with perfume

Loves little Loves much

Not sure if he was ever saved Faith in Jesus has saved her

What is the greatest difference between these two people?

One realizes the depths of her sinfulness & the expanse of God's grace & responds in faith. The other, Simon, does not realize he is a sinner, scoffs at the situation, & responds critically.

"As sinners, we are prone to pursue a relationship with God in 1 of 2 ways. The 1st is religion/spirituality & the 2nd is the gospel. The two are antithetical in every way." --Martin Luther

Simon was trying to earn God's approval based upon things like church, achievement, status, respectabililty...the woman sinner realized she had nothing to offer & accepted God's grace as a free gift & place her faith in Jesus. 

Central Truth: We should relate to one another out of the context that we have been forgiven much; therefore, we desire to love much. 

"If you understand the gospel, by default you become a worshipper. If you are not a worshipper, you do not understand the gospel." --Paul David Tripp (or as I refer to him, "P-Diddy Tripp")

"Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to be saying to us, 'I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying." --John Stott

So...what is the gospel? Take a few moments to watch this clip. 

The way we relate one another serves as an object lesson of the gospel being displayed. We must relate to one another out of the context that we have been forgiven much; therefore, we desire to love much. 

Gifts that Make a World of Difference

Mark Batterson of National Community Church in Washington DC wrote about an idea that their staff had on planning retreat. Here is it: "We all get a million catalogs at Christmas. Why not produce a Christmas catalog with tangible gifts that people can give to missions?" 

I began to think about how often I encourage & plead with people to look beyond themselves & to give towards things that make a real difference. I thought this was a great way to make people aware of needs as well as tangible gifts to give to others across the world. The link is www.aoneeight.org. By the way, check out the "Marketplace" page; it is quite helpful.

Keeping up with the "Calvinists"

I am using the title to reflect an issue in my life that God has pointed out as an area of pride & sin. Before I explain, I feel the necessity to clarify--I have nothing against the Calvinists; in fact, I am very reformed in my theology. I simply chose to use that title because most of the blogs I follow are written by reformed men & women. And, I thought it might grab your attention. Did it work?

My explanation: Blogging has been a great sense of encouragement & growth for me personally. I love how it challenges me to be disciplined in my study of Scripture & how it forces me to put into words many thoughts that I am thinking. Plus, I like to blog to help others & offer resources & insights that may build others up in faith. Last, it helps some family & friends keep up with my life.

But, I must admit that I sometimes feel an unspoken (unwritten until now) desire to keep up with the heroes of the blogger world. Instead of keeping up with the “Joneses,” I am trying to keep up with the “Calvinists.” Often, I venture to others’ sites that everyone is reading & I think to myself, “Hmmm…how come people don’t comment on my posts like they do everyone else, do I not have good things to say?” Or, “if I am going to be a successful blogger, I am going to have to memorize the works of Edwards, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Piper, Keller, on & on & on...” In essence, I am not content in what I have…I am trying to get the bigger/better/popular/premium status among my peers. I imagine it is like the guy who looks at porn & becomes discontent with the beautiful wife God has gifted him to lead—he has spent way too much time fantasizing about what he doesn’t have that he doesn’t realize the irreplaceable worth of what he does have.

Sometimes I imagine God saying, “The Cross is enough, Ben. You don’t have to find your identity in anything other than Me. Stop trying to impress me, I want you to know me.”

As if God would be impressed by my abilities, or, as if He weren’t enough or that Scripture weren’t enough. For me, sometimes I can find every reason to read everybody else rather than the Bible. I tend to love my time in Scripture until I realize that somebody came out with a book that I “must” read. I find myself occasionally supplementing biographies & theology with the Bible…rather than vice-versa.

I suppose we all deal with these types of issues in one matter or another. Your lust might be fantasy or approval or power or knowledge or success or whatever. I am uncertain what it is for you…but I am sure that the Lord would say, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

With that said, I must conclude that I thank God for those who spur me on by the wisdom & resources offered on their blogs. I am challenged by these men & women…I thank God for your role in my life. But, I cannot let it cheapen the value of what I do have. Their counsel & wisdom must supplement what Christ has already said to me in His word. Then, & only then, will the priority be in the right order. 

Overcoming Discouragement in Order to Lead

Professor Michael Zigarelli, editor of Christianity 9 to 5 Magazine, devoted the latest magazine (issue 35) to "Dealing with Discouragement & Discord." I found an article by Jonathan Falwell quite encouraging; here is the link: http://www.epiphanyresources.com/9to5/9to5magazine.htm. 

Although I am typically hesitant to take points of application out of their original context, I do think you would be encouraged by these four "Non-negotiable Commitments" that pastors need to make to themselves & God.

Non-Negotiable Commitments:

1. I will remain spiritually intimate with my Savior.
2. I will always preach against sin, even when it becomes unpopular.
3. I will not minister to my church at the expense of my family.
4. I will not quit when I feel defeated. 

For those of you who are pastors, I encourage you to stay true to your biblical standards regardless of however unpopular it may make you among your team, colleagues, church family, etc. If we forfeit our integrity in the above areas, then we may not be worth following in the first place. I encourage you & know that your identity is found in Christ rather than the approval & opinion of man. I praise God for you!

Reflect on the Wonder of the Cross

"Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to be saying to us, "I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying." Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross, that we shrink to our true size." --John Stott

"How can anyone be arrogant when he stands beside the cross?"  --Carl Henry

"Thankfulness is a soil in which pride does not easily grow."  --Michael Ramsey

Are you lazy & don't realize it?

"Laziness is doing anything other than what you are supposed to be doing."

I am not sure where this quote originated. For me, it came from a dear friend, Mike, who was sharing with me about his need & desire to lead his family in godliness (I hope I didn't steal his blog topic--please feel free Mike to post or comment). He attended a fiat on Saturday at his church, Cornerstone Church of Knoxville, that in essence was about "glorifying God by planning & being organized." Here is the link to the free media resources (media & links > Seminars > Planning Seminar Pt. 1 & 2). It is God's grace that I was able to listen to the first part of this last night. Enjoy.

Spurgeon's Reminder of What is Important.

"No work can possibly confer a greater benefit upon mankind than the training of ministers whom God has chosen, for around them spring up churches, schools, & all the agencies of religion & philanthropy. As we are commanded to pray for labourers in the Lord's harvest, so are we bound to prove the honesty of our prayers by our actions."

Dear men & women--may we invest ourselves in people for the building of the church & the distinction of our Sovereign God, who is over all things. May our lives be for Him. Reflect on Psalm 67.