John Piper on Sermon Prep

I really appreciate how in this video John Piper gives us a window into his study while at the same time cautioning us against copying him. It is tempting for preachers to see and hear a guy like Piper and then try to ‘cut and paste’ what he does for themselves. I like his advice about wearing your own armor. I also really like the detailed emphasis that he places upon meditation and talking to the text. This is great. And it shows in his preaching.

(feed readers need to click thru to the site in order to see video)

Running from God and To God

Think about the strangeness of the Gospel. We are confronted by the Law of God and convicted as sinners. This righteousness of God reveals that there is no port on earth where we might safely dwell. We have no personal means of withstanding God’s wrath ourselves and we have no earthly means of hiding from it. All things amount to rotting fig leaves; our invisibility cloak has holes.

But then in the gospel we have the righteousness of God revealed (Rom. 3.20-27). God shows his perfect righteousness in the crushing of Jesus. His standard is inflexible.

In this work of Christ he satisfies God’s requirement perfectly. In his doing and dying he earns righteousness and satisfies righteousness for us. This is as glorious as it is counterintuitive! We end up running from God to God. We run from his righteousness to Jesus the Righteous. We run from Mt. Sinai to Mt. Zion (Heb. 12). We go from the hill of difficulty to the hill of Calvary.

In all of this God never changes. The difference here is that through the work of Jesus, we who have been united to him through faith,  have a perfect mediator. We are clothed with his righteousness. Through the doing and dying of Jesus we have peace with God (Rom. 5.1).

This glorious gospel as so many sharp edges to puncture our pride and bid us to cry rivers of joy and thanksgiving.

Removing the Cross from a Church in Order to be Less Offensive…Hey, that Makes Sense! It’s just not a Church.

Sorry about the long title. I was channeling my inner John Owen.

I saw this FoxNews video and had a strange response. On the one hand I wanted to reach through the screen and shake the sell-out pastor and on the other hand I wanted to give a fist bump to the other guy who called him out, exposed his scam, and was thankful for the honesty.

It is troubling all around. But it is a snapshot of American Evangelicalism.

Watch the video below (if you receive via feed you may have to click through to the site)

Does Preaching Style Guarantee Ministry ‘Success’?

Our American culture really loves to elevate superstars. We grab what the star does, says, and believes and try to cut and paste that into our lives to generate the same result.

Pastors have their heroes too. I suppose that if we were to ask 10 evangelical pastors what pastor has been the most influential in their lives, perhaps 7-8 of them would say, “Rick Warren.” He is really unrivaled in his influence and reach today.

So when he talks or in this case tweets, people listen. I listen. I want to know what and how pastors think. In my experience  they think a lot like Rick Warren. And frankly, I think this type of thinking is both unbiblical and unhelpful.

So here is a statement. Now, granted, you can only use 140 characters in a tweet. But it looks like this one has been carefully worded and even capitalized so as to make the point. And further, it is a tight summary of the type of thinking that has filled Rick Warren’s books. (so I don’t think I’m off base in writing this post–see also here).

Here’s the quote:

A church stays small when a pastor uses an outdated preaching STYLE.God called u for today’s hearers,not 500 or 50 yrs ago. (Rick Warren, permalink)

I really think this encapsulates the thinking of many in evangelicalism today. And if he is right, then we had better be careful with our style. After all, our impact depends on it.

We are Talking about Conversion (or Gospel) Growth
First, I assume that Warren is referring to growth related to conversion and sanctification rather than just drawing a crowd for numbers’ sake. Much of what he has said over the years relates to this type of growth so I think it is a safe bet.

My issue then with this type of thinking is that it emphasizes that a spiritual result can be achieved by a tweaking of a personal style. In other words you can achieve the spiritual end (conversion & sanctification–church growth) through the employment of a particular style. And conversely you will hamper conversion and growth if you employ a particular preaching style that may have worked in the past but is now out of date.

The emphasis here in this type of philosophy of ministry is on the delivery rather than the content. It assumes that the style of preaching can bring about the intended means. It also assumes that faithful preachers from previous centuries (Whitfield, Edwards, Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones, or the Apostle Paul for that matter!) would not be able to preach effectively today (or at least that they would have to change their style to do so).

Swiss-Cheese Theology
I completely reject this type of thinking. I reject it on a theological basis. The human heart is not awoken by style but by the gospel, the Word of God. Paul knew that the Corinthians wanted style but he gave them what they did not want in order that they might get what they needed (gospel). (1 Cor. 1.18-24) God calls people from within the various camps of people clamoring for style to love Christ (1 Cor. 1.24). In summary, God uses weak people to proclaim a powerful message and provides powerful results so that he gets the glory and we boast in him.

Furthermore, are we to assume that folks like Tom Carson experienced small church ministry because of his ‘style?’ Could it have been that the Roman Catholic opposition in French Canada could have been over come if Tom had just employed a more savvy style?

What about Jeremiah? Could his following and ministry have gone better if he would have had a more current style? Same for Ezekiel.

Not to mention Jesus. Remember he was betrayed by a intimate disciple, considered to be crazy by his family, abandoned by all but one of his 12, ultimately killed by the crowds that followed him, and had only a handful of friends and family there at his death. Was it style or substance here? John 8.44

Pragmatism is Pastorally Paralyzing
Instead, pastors must understand that true gospel growth in a church is a result of God’s sovereign grace working powerfully in the hearts and lives of people. It is not fundamentally his own style that builds the church but the word of Christ proclaimed.

Not only is this type of thinking biblically wrong but it is pastorally paralyzing. How do you think the pastor in the small country church feels when he reads or hears this after he has tried gimmick after gimmick and fad after fad? Will he not turn to the next trick or tweak of style to win these people? The only thing that transcends generations, zip-codes, and cultures is the gospel. It must be proclaimed. It is what Christ uses to build his church (Matt. 16.13). This type of emphasis upon style does far more damage than good. It turns us towards self-dependence rather than Spirit-dependence and it would yield boasting in man rather than Christ (1 Cor. 1.27, 31).

True gospel growth happens when God waters the seed of his word, giving the increase. When this has happened we sing and praise him, realizing that we are weak vessels that have been used by the King (1 Cor. 3.6)

Corrections on Personal Corrections (Augustine)

I came across this quote today and was greatly instructed. It has a great deal of personal application. I want to model Christian love (1 Cor. 13) and speak the truth in love (Eph. 4.15). However, I often find myself in the midst of doing something right to be doing something wrong. What I mean is, I start of with zeal, humility & love but then find myself firing shots from the gunpowder of zeal, pride & anger. I go from brother/instructor to foe/avenger. Augustine’s quote both pins this attitude down and provides detailed instruction. I greatly benefited from it and figured others would as well.

We should never undertake the task of chiding another’s sin unless, cross-examining our own conscience, we can assure ourselves before God, that we are acting from love. If reproaches or threats or injuries, voiced by the one you are calling to account have wounded your spirit, then, for that person to be healed by you, you must not speak til you are healed yourself, lest you act from worldly motives, to hurt and make your tongue a sinful weapon of evil, returning wrong for wrong, curse for curse. Whatever you speak out of a wounded spirit is the wrath of an avenger, not the love of an instructor….And if, as often happens, you begin some course of action from love, and are proceeding with it in love, but a different feeling insinuates itself because you are resisted, deflecting you from reproach of a man’s sin and making you attack the man itself–it were best, while watering the dust with you tears, to remember that we have no right to crow over another’s sin, since we sin in the very reproach of sin if anger at sin is better at making us siners than mercy is at making us kind. (Augustine, Commentary on Galatians —quoted by Jonathan Leeman in The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love), p. 87

Celebrating Freedom

The 4th of July is a big day in the US. We celebrate independence as a nation and the freedom to be autonomous. It is the one day per year when Democrats and Republicans are supposed to put aside their political hatchets and instead drink a beer, eat some barbecue and enjoy the fireworks, because, after all this is America, the greatest country in the world.

At the heart of the celebration is independence or freedom. Most of the modern day Americans have little experience with oppression from governments; we are very fortunate. However, in past generations the heavy hand of a king / queen was heavy upon their backs.

But in a spiritual sense we know this oppression well.

All of humanity is born into sin. It is both our instinct and our delight. We long to do and delight in that which pleases us (Eph. 2.1-3). We learn from the Scriptures that this oppression is due to a demonic despot, Satan himself (Eph. 2.3). We are blind in our sin and held captive by him (2 Cor. 4.4).

The case for freedom is hopeless.

However, amid the fog of hopelessness one comes who is the incarnation of hope. Jesus Christ the Son of God. He comes from heaven as God in the flesh (John 1.14). He lives a perfect life (John 4.34, 8.29) and dies the sinner’s death (2 Pet. 3.18). He lived the life I could not live and died the death I deserved to die for my imperfection.

In this glorious work of his, life-death-resurrection, he set a sinner like me free from sin!

(Rom 6.17-18) 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Instead of being a hopeless and helpless slave to Satan and sin, Christ has saved sinners to be slaves to him. And here in this relationship there is freedom. Freedom to live, delight, hope, give, receive, and be. Christ has set sinners free.

But unlike the US where we celebrate the freedom of autonomy, in Christ beleivers celebrate the freedom of dependence. We have a declartion of dependence. We trust and treasure Jesus. We depend completely upon his perfect life, death, and resurrection for us. We are hopeless and helpless without him.

Amid the fireworks, food, and time with friends and family I smile and think of what a helpful shadow this is and what a glorious substance Christ is! The gospel is a message of emancipation! And, what a liberating gospel we have in Christ Jesus!

Leaders Who Last

You listen whenever you meet a guy that looks a lot like the guy that you want to become.

Dave Kraft is one of those guys. He is a older (70), faithful, hungry, humble, Christian man who leads in his family, local church, and has a burden to train and impact leaders to do the same.

I am thankful that I have been able to meet him through the pages of his new book Leaders Who Last.

The book is right on time for me as a young church planting pastor. There are many responsibilities that press in, not the least of which personal devotion to Christ, leading my family, teaching & preaching, and discipleship. Dave comes in and brings focus, clarity, humility, and zeal from his years of experience and burden for kingdom impact.

There is really so much about this book that I like. But simply I enjoyed the author’s transparency and gospel burden. These are two things you really don’t find in leadership books. He talks about going running multiple times a week so he can think about Christ and his ministry. He talks about reverse-engineering his life so as to go where he wants/needs to go. He talks about being selective with those he impacts:

I want to leave footprints in the lives of people–not just any person, but leaders and influencers who are hungry for God. Many leaders I encounter are self-satisfied. they think they know enough. They aren’t hungry or thirsty for more of God, more growth, and more frutifulness.

I will not invest my time in them.

Some are hungry, but just for themselves with no intention of reproducing anything in the lives of others.

I will not invest in them.

I am looking for God-hungry leaders who are dissatisfied with the status quo…

Overall the book seemed short. I felt like I had coffee with Mr Kraft but would have liked to have a cookout. I will no doubt return to this book regularly to glean more from him. I am thankful that the Resurgence folks have shared him with the rest of us and hope that they continue to do so. Great stuff! Highly recommend it!

Discounted copies are available at Westminster Books or Amazon.

Below is a video interview with Dave Kraft and Mark Driscoll concerning leadership and this book.

I Need Christ’s Obedience Every Hour (and taking my inner Pharisee out would help too)

We are reminded of time everywhere we turn. We all have some general awareness of time. We have watches, phones, public clocks, appointments to re-sync us throughout the day.

This morning I was particularly reminded of time in looking at the new watch my kids got me to keep track of my time when I run or bike. I watched the seconds tick past. My mind drifted away in thought and I realized I wasn’t really doing anything substantive. I was just existing.

Then it hit me.

Even in these seemingly innocent or perhaps ‘neutral’ moments, I am still a sinner. I still have a need for righteousness.

Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking of applying Jesus perfect righteousness to the bad stuff that I do and think, but this is just the half of it. There is also the good stuff that I fail to do and think. And still more, there is the good stuff that I do for the wrong reasons. What a mess.

So as I sit there and the seconds tick by in unison to my heart beat I am reminded that I need perfect righteousness. I need to be covered in the absolutely impeccable, unfading, eternally acceptable righteousness of Jesus. I need this righteousness every minute of every hour of every day.

Why is the need so great?

Because I am such a sinner. I need this righteousness every moment because I am that bad, God is that holy, and Christ is that good. Every beat of my heart is a declaration of neediness. As it beats I must cling to Christ’s righteousness like the woman with the issue of blood clung to Christ’s robe.

What a little Pharisee I can flex into. Can’t you relate?

This little Pharisee’s death will come but it will coincide with my own. Until then I press on into Christ with a needy and humble resolve to trust and treasure him.

Helpful Devotional Commentaries on 2nd Corinthians

Whether for preparation for Bible teaching or personal study devotional commentaries are very helpful. When at their best these authors not only provide the service of preparing the food but also cooking, arranging and serving it to you. The strength of such commentaries lies in the author’s proximatity to and understanding of the text. If he is a creative wanderer then you learn a lot more about him. However, if he is a textual grinder then you end up learning a lot about the Bible.

Sam Storms has distinquished himself as the later. Storms, himself a pastor, writes with a shepherd’s heart and with a scholar’s pen. He is clear, biblical, and practical.

Thankfully he has just published a two volume set on 2nd Corinthians. In his typical brief (but not doctrinally or practically skimpy) format he arranges 100 daily meditations on the book. This two volume work is entitled A Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ.

I have previously recommended Storms’ other works (Psalms, Colossians & Revelation) in this same style as they have been greatly beneficial to me. So if you are planning to study or teach through 2 Corinthians this resource would no doubt bless you in your quest to see and savor Christ.

Discounted copies are available at Westminster Books or Amazon.

Getting Personal with the Gospel

One of my first jobs was as a shoe salesman at Foot Locker. I loved sneakers and basketball gear so the job was not really a ‘job.’ One of the things you’ll notice in a Foot Locker is the basketball hoop up by the register. Whenever someone ‘significant’ from the sports world came in the manager would have them sign the backboard. (I remember trying to get my manager to let a big time hip-hop artist to sign our board, but to no avail.) At any rate, the celebrity would sign the board and then mark their visit to the store. Other stores and business do the same type of thing.

The response to seeing such a signature on the board was to feel somewhat important or at least distinquished because of the visitor. Even if you were not working that day you would feel some sort of identity to the visit of this guest to your store.

In thinking about the visit of visits, the guests of guests, I think a little too much like a foot locker guy and not a personal recipient of grace.

The Personal Nature of the Incarnation
Jesus did not come in just a general way. He did not just impact society at large but rather individual people. He impacted and still impacts me. His mission is intensely personal. The benefit that I receive is utterly personal. I receive personal mercy, grace, love, care, righteousness, protection, help, understanding, promises, hope, and on and on we could go. And now I am indwelt by the personal God, the Holy Spirit.

I can very easily get comfortable slipping into a impersonal understanding and practice of Christianity. But the gospel blows this up on my lap! The whole point is that God has dealt so lovingly and graciously with me in Jesus. I loose the heart-pounding delight and intimacy when I forget the abounding grace and reconciliation that comes through Christ.

My Sin Punctuates Grace
Furthermore, I am not an good candidate for love. I am a perfect candidate for grace but not for love, and for the same reason: I am unlovely and unworthy. That is, I am needy.

Jesus’ personal and intimate rescue, recovery and restoration of someone like me actually is punctuated by the fact that I am an unworthy, helpless sinner who was actively involved in undermining the glory of God. The fact that I am a sinner makes this intensely personal and powerful work of Jesus truly jaw-dropping.

So shame on me and all other Christians who find ourselves content on a general, back-board signing visit to this world by Jesus. No it is far more. He has come to us individually and done the necessary heart work. He has given eyes to see his glory and a spirit to enjoy it. Our whole existence is bound up in the marvelous work of powerfully personal grace.

The Sword by Bryan Litfin

I am really not much of a reader of fiction. In fact, I cannot remember the last fiction book I have read. Time and tastes have dictated other genres for me. Therefore, I was not overly excited when I received The Sword from Crossway last month.

Then I read the back cover…

Four hundred years after a deadly virus and nuclear war destroyed the modern world, a new and noble civilization emerges. In this kingdom, called Chiveis, snowcapped mountains provide protection, and fields and livestock provide food. The people live medieval-style lives, with almost no knowledge of the “ancient” world. Safe in their natural stronghold, the Chiveisi have everything they need, even their own religion. Christianity has been forgotten—until a young army scout comes across a strange book.

With that discovery, this work of speculative fiction takes readers on a journey that encompasses adventure, romance, and the revelation of the one true God. Through compelling narrative and powerful character development, The Sword speaks to God’s goodness, his refusal to tolerate sin, man’s need to bow before him, and the eternality and power of his Word. Fantasy and adventure readers will be hooked by this first book in a forthcoming trilogy.

Sounds interesting?

I was drawn in. I began reading the book out loud to our family (ranging in age from 6-14). They too were drawn in. We often read in the car when driving to baseball games or late into the night. We could not put it down.

I think there were four big reasons why we enjoyed the book so much.

1. The Story. It is great. It is fast moving and action packed. There are great themes of redemption, romance, community, and theology. The author has admirably melded several themes together in this first book.
2. The Characters. Teofil is a warrior that is a gentleman. He functions as the savior of the weak over and over again. He is strong and compassionate. Anastasia is the other main character. She is the young lady who has won Teofil’s heart. She is also gritty, tough and marked by a remarkable faith in the newly discovered God of the Bible. The High Priestess is evil personified. She exists to promote idolatry and wickedness while trying to mute the God of the cross.
3. The Theology. The author weaves in orthodox theology throughout. He emphasizes the goodness, sovereignty, and mercy of God. Furthermore, he helps to contrast the attractive distinctiveness of the God of the Bible to the idols of the people. I really like how he has carefully woven so much of who God is here in the infant stages of biblical discovery. By the end of book 1 we only have portions of the Old Testament translated into the language of Chiveis. They do not have any of the New Testament. However, the people are trusting in a loving, powerful, sovereign, forgiving God who keeps his promises. It motivated me to be thankful for the whole Bible and the opportunity to pray and be informed with who God is in the fullness of his revelation.
4. The Author. I understand that this is the first fictional work published by Bryan Litfin. Bryan is a professor in the Theology Department at Moody Bible. He teaches courses in theology, church history, and Western civilization from the ancient and medieval periods. You can see how these various streams of life converge together with his writing ability in this work. I found the story and character development to be compelling and riveting.

As a family we cannot wait for April of 2011 for the next book to be released from Crossway. The only ‘caution’ I would like to provide is that the rating for the book might be about a PG-13. There were several instances when I took editorial license in order to recast some of the descriptions and scenes painted by the author. I do not feel that he was unduly crude or sensual by any means, but just that as a parent of young ones, I wanted to exercise that oversight.

You should consider The Sword if you are looking for a fun family book to read that will no doubt produce imagination and conversation. It is paperback and just over 400 pages. And remember this is just part 1 in the Trilogy. Stay tuned!

PURCHASE Discounted Copies via Amazon.

See more info on The Sword from author Bryan Litfin:

The Sword Trailer from Crossway on Vimeo.

O For A Thousand Tongues to Preach

Sometimes when thinking about preaching the greatness of Christ I find myself resonating with Charles Wesley’s burden. He wrote the song petitioning for a thousand tongues to sing the praise of the great Redeemer. The point is that his one is not enough to heap praise upon the great Jesus.

In thinking about preaching I feel the same way. There are times when the articulation and announcement of Christ is so transcendent, so glorious, so beautiful that I just want to call in reinforcements. I want to be arrayed and equipped with some manner of amplification and clarity to bring the glorious truth to the ends of the earth. The beautiful glory of Christ is to shake the heavens! O, to have a thousand tongues to preach, to proclaim my great Redeemer’s praise!

Smelling the Bouquet of Grace at a Farm…sort of

Yesterday my family and I went to a farm outside of Omaha. This is unique because I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have ever been to a farm. If you have ever been to one I don’t have to remind you that unique sites and smells abound.

In particular, I want to focus here on the smells. Now, I will not go into great detail, so queasy stomached folks may continue reading. However, the fact of the matter is, the place reeked. And frankly, I don’t even know what the smell was. My wife says it was the chickens. I thought it was the cows. Who knows?!

But this much is true: the farmer, his helpers, and the other people there buying things were oblivious to such a stench. Perhaps they had become used to it. They were nothing like the Raymond family who had our little girls running around looking at the sights with their noses pinched with their thumb and forefingers (despite my wife’s insistence that they might offend folks, to them it was a matter of survival).

OK, so you get the picture. The place stunk and folks really didn’t notice; they were used to it.

It got me thinking about sin and grace. As an unbeliever I was living in the pollution of my own sin. I delighted in the stench of my rebellion. It was where I lived. I not only practiced such things but gave hearty approval to others who did the same thing (Rom. 1). I was oblivious to the stench.

Then, the rushing gust of God’s grace came upon me through the gospel. It covered me. It bathed me. It cleaned me. It scrubbed me.

God descended upon an unsuspecting, unworthy, unattractive, stinky sinner with his glorious grace. He allowed me to sniff, inhale, and breath the fumes of grace. The fragarance of Christ’s righteousness filled my nostrils and delighted my senses. Oh, yes, this was far better and far more than I deserve.

So in this I rejoice. I delight to awake today and take a fresh sniff of the gospel and smile with humble joy in Christ.

(1Pe 3.18) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God

*note: I don’t think farmers are stinky, dirty, or any more sinful than any other person, especially myself. I am merely using this as an illustration.

Jim Joyce & Armando Galarraga: Learning Contrition, Mercy & Forgiveness on the Baseball Field

Every once in awhile a news story comes along that really helps us to understand how we as a culture think. These are stories that blend in a bunch of social themes which represent our heartbeat. Today the baseball world brings such a story.

Last night in Detroit, Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was just one out away from the 23rd perfect game in Big League history. A perfect game refers to a game in which the pitcher retires all 27 batters in a game without allowing any to reach base (via a hit, walk, hit batsman, or error). In light of the skill of the MLB hitters and the variety of ways that things can go wrong, you can imagine how uncommon this (each of the 30 teams play 162 games a year and baseball has been around for over 100 years!).

But the plot thickens.

With 2 outs in the 9th Jason Donald hit a ground ball to first and was called safe. The perfect game is gone.

With the benefit of instant reply the announcers and all at home could see that while it was a close play the runner was clearly out. Galarraga should have gotten the 3rd out and the perfect game.

This missed call has touched off no small amount of angst amongst baseball fans. They clamor for justice and accuracy. Umpire Jim Joyce’s imperfect call is considered a mortal sin.

But what happened next is surprising.

After the game the umpire breeches typical protocol and goes to see the pitcher. He admits that he got the call wrong and he apologizes.

“You don’t see an umpire after the game come out and say, ‘Hey, let me tell you I’m sorry,’ ” Galarraga said. “He felt really bad. He didn’t even shower.”

Joyce later told the news media:

“It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the [stuff] out of it,” Joyce said, looking and sounding distraught as he paced in the umpires’ locker room. “I just cost that kid a perfect game.”

There are a number of things that stand out to me in this story.

First, the clamoring for perfection from imperfect people. Hey, listen, I am a sports fan. I want the calls to go right. But we have got to realize that the human (imperfect) element is part of the game. Major League baseball prides itself on not using instant reply. Therefore, the guys are going to miss calls. They get 99% of the calls right. Now the ump and his family are being roasted on TV, Radio, & social media. Joyce’s family has even received threats. Now the people who love righteousness and perfection are showing their true colors. We see a billboard sized announcement and reminder of human imperfection and our distaste for it.

Second, the contrite apology. In a day and age where professional athletes and other public figures can barely say “I’m sorry” or “I was wrong” without amending 48 qualifiers and excuses, Jim Joyce’s apology is refreshing. It is short and genuine. He owns the issue. He wears the hat. He was wrong and he knows it. And he, as Galarraga said, feels bad. A good, humble apology is good and refreshing for our culture.

Third, the mercy. Armando Galarraga showed great mercy and grace. He could have gotten quite upset that Joyce missed the call. He could have petitioned MLB to reverse the call. But he didn’t. In fact, after the botched call he went back to the mound and got the next guy out. Our culture is not used to this. Galarraga knows that he is imperfect and he makes mistakes, therefore he can empathize with Joyce.

In a tangible demonstration of this mercy Galarraga brought out the lineup card to Joyce before today’s game. This brought a roar from the crowd and tears from the umpire. This too is good for us to see. It is good themes of imperfection, justice, contrition, and mercy to intersect with us. We need to see it.

Further it is good for Christians to see. It is good for us to see these gospel themes on ESPN and at the water cooler. This is just another example to remind us of the pervasiveness of sin’s effects and the far reaching redemption of Christ’s atonement. Christians could also stand to learn from the humility, confession, and mercy demonstrated by Joyce and Galarraga.

And don’t feel too bad for Armando Galarraga, aside from the privilege of being a millionaire and playing the Major Leagues, he was given a 2010 Coverette by General Motors today before the game. Not bad.

Surprised by Grace

I remember being at a circus and watching the performers toss and juggle sharp knives like they were pencils. I was amazed at their skill amid such obvious potential danger. However, their familiarity actually lessoned the impact of the feat. I, myself even became somewhat used to their act after time went on.

I think there is a similar affect upon us when we come to familiar narratives in the Bible. And there are not many narratives more familiar to Christians than the narrative of Jonah and the fish…err…whale. But, have we lost the drama of the story? Have we become too familiar with the main themes? Are we complacent with such a God of justice, grace, and mercy? And are we even clear about Jonah and his deal?

Tullian Tchividjian is convinced that we need to be surprised. In his new book Surprised by Grace Tullian aims to get us to slow down a bit as we read and interact with the story, characters, and most importantly, God himself. In this vein Tullian does a good job getting out of the way, so to speak, and giving us the narrative. Himself a pastor, he walks us through the story making appropriate observation and application along the way. In so doing he helps to surprise us again with the rebellion of sin, the wrath of God, the mercy of God, and the powerful grace that pursues, rescues and transforms rebels.

I want to point out a few things I liked about the book:

1) The author aims to stick to the story. He gives us valuable historical details while making very helpful pastoral observations. In a very readable way he takes both an ancient book and a familiar book and makes it fresh.

2) The book aims to incorporate the Bible’s story. Tullian resists the urge to hunker down in this Old Testament narrative alone. He is noticably intentional about incorporating the entire Bible’s story into this one story. In other words, Tullian uses this story to point to God’s big story, the work of redemption through Jesus Christ. All of this to say, he uses this Old Testament book like a Christian should.

3) Tullian is a good writer. I found myself engaged as I enjoyed reading this short little book.

4) The art. There are about 15 full color prints of the most popular renderings of the Jonah story. They are very interesting. It is great to have these in this book along with the exposition.

5) The emphasis upon grace. I love how practical and clear this was. This proposition was hit throughout: Christians too easily forget grace and must be reminded and surprised by it.

One critique I have is the number of quotes that Tullian used. Some authors do this, I know it is a style thing, but I wish he did not. I felt like just when he was getting going he would quote someone else. Many of the quotes were good but not necessarily better than what I was writing. All I am saying is that it sometimes slowed down the momentum he already had without adding significant value to the bottom line.

Here is a great quote from the author:

We need to be able to truthfully say, ‘God plus nothing equals everything; everything minus God equals nothing.’ We need to be able to say from our hearts, ‘I’m with God because he’s God, and not because he can do for me the things I want him to do.’ (p. 59)

Overall, I liked the book and look forward to revisiting it again, especially when I become forgetful and need to again be surprised.

Discounted copies are available at Westminster or Amazon.

Our Dilemma, Need, & Humility. Let this gospel sing and sting you.

One of my favorite contemporary authors is Paul Tripp. I like him because he makes me hurt and sing. He shows me sin and gospel. Earlier today he tweeted the following:

Humility is admitting that my greatest, most long-term personal dilemma is inside me, not outside me and I can’t free myself from it.(sin)

I think this is a very helpful quote. As I sat and chewed on it a bit, I couldn’t help but pile on…

Humility is admitting that my greatest, most long-term personal need is outside of me, and I cannot earn it (righteousness), it must be given (grace).

When we truly look inward we are horrified over our deficient righteousness. This is to see reality. This drives us to a righteousness that is outside of us. This righteousness is earned by the doing and dying of Jesus and given by the tender chords of love, grace & mercy. It is apprehended by faith and secured by the unchanging character of God.

As it has been said before, the gospel wounds and heals, it sings and stings.

A Little Monday Morning Humor…Arminian Basic Training

This is just funny. Love the Bible highlighter bit. And it is funny…errr….sad that Erasmus gets burned instead of Servetus.

ht: James White

Another Reason Why People Laugh at Evangelicals

Sometimes people say, “any publicity is good publicity…” It is not true in this sense. Christians are supposed to be mocked because of the offensive/foolish message of the cross and how we cling to the hope of Christ because of his resurrection (1 Cor. 1-2; Acts 17).

But in this case the guys are featured because they are so ridiculous, by any standard. Sadly, the no-holds barred playbook of pragmatism seems to be the book that is dog eared in the pastoral study rather than the pastoral epistles. Guys, they are laughing at you not with you. And the rest of us are turning away in embarrassment.

…

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
God Smacked
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

ht: Phil Johnson

Why I Can Relate to Lazy International Missionaries (and hate it)

Recently, I was speaking with a friend who is a missionary to the Dominican Republic. Amid our encouraging talk I asked him about discouraging aspects of his ministry.

His answer surprised me. He confessed that the most discouraging aspect of ministry in his region is the other missionaries.

He went on to describe in detail how so many western churches send people to the island for mission work but in reality they are just on a vacation. They collect a check, get the benefits, and kick it at the beach. There engagement with the locals is minimal and when it is at all, it is often critical. They take up space at church and are really not willing to serve (because after all, they are missionaries).

After talking asking other international missionaries the same question I have regrettably gotten a similar answer.

My conclusion: What a bunch of lazy bums. They should be kicked in the rear and told to get to work.

Then I hear the echo of Nathan the prophet: ‘You are the man!’

What?

Many of us are not called to be international missionaries BUT all Christians are called to be missionaries (Matt. 28.18-20). We are called to be intentionally engaging people around us with the gospel with the same zeal that would be ideally displayed by missionaries.

Sadly, instead of zealous missionaries we often look like club-med, lazy missionaries. Engagement with unbelievers is limited (unless it is critical). We take up space at church are reluctant to serve because we are busy (family, jobs, etc). We sometimes act like we are on a vacation at the beach rather than on a battle field for souls. And listen, I am not pointing the finger at a nebulous crowd full of indistinct faces. I know at least one person in that crowd, for I am there. I feel this stinging rebuke of this missionary landing on my lap. I need the reminder that I am not on vacation but on mission. I have to just be reminded to cease with the sandcastles and pull my head out of the sand. I am here for work.

Legalists keep lists in their pockets, while Christians keep nails.

I am continually struck by Jesus’ teaching in Luke 18.9-14. There are so many angles by which I am instructed, convicted, refreshed, and amazed.

Jesus tells us that he told the parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous. In other words, they did not need him. They were good with their own ability to earn and maintain God’s pleasure through their obedience/holiness. At the heart of the parable Jesus shows that in order to really need him you must first really that you don’t need yourself. Our lack of righteousness makes Jesus appealing while our perception of righteousness makes Jesus appear, at best, to be an adornment and at worst, to be an insult.

We notice that the guy in Jesus’ cross-hairs is bragging on himself in the temple. Can you even begin to measure the level of self-righteousness that this guy has? Consider where he is. He is in the Temple, God’s meeting place with his people, and he is going on with how good he is and how bad he isn’t.

This is reproachable.

But consider also, that he is running through his self-righteous resume to GOD! I wonder how often the towers of self-righteous babble is aimed to reach to the heavens as people aim to make a great name for themselves?

I have found that it is customary for legalists to keep these types of lists nearby. Some do so on paper, others on their phone, and still others in their minds. At any rate, the list is easy to find and often times the front line defense in the battle against a guilty conscience or questions from without. After all, who can argue with such a resume?

But the Christian on the other hand does not carry about lists of our good deeds. We don’t because we can’t. We are sinners. I could make a list of my good deeds, but it would amount to a post-it note on the backside of the tractor trailer of my depravity. And the post-it note would read “all of grace.” I am a sinner.

Thankfully, Jesus came to save such people. He says in Mark 2, I did not come to call the righteous but sinners! What great news!

As a Christian I am acutely aware that Jesus did not come to congratulate me on my good works but to confront me on my sin.

Furthermore, that confrontation is not the end! He also came to save me from it. He lived the perfect life that I couldn’t (John 8.29) and died the sinners death that I deserve (Rom. 6.23) and rose from the dead for me (Rom. 4.25). Therefore, my life is intricately bound with the death of Jesus (Gal. 2.20-21).

I am the one who put Christ on the cross by virtue of my sinful rebellion. I walk about with the callouses on my hands from swinging the death hammer at his crucifixtion, I am a player in the drama. I have a hoarse voice from yelling for his head. And I, like Martin Luther said, walk around with the nails from the cross in my pocket. I am a player in this drama.

Therefore, I don’t and can’t keep lists in my pocket because there are nails in my pocket.

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