The Well-Spent Journey

Beginnings

2012-02-20T18:34:00.000-05:00

Beginnings--Mark 1.1-8 Sermon preached at Highland Avenue Baptist Church on February 19, 2012.

A Great Prayer in Frankfort KY

2012-01-20T12:05:00.001-05:00

Hershael York's Prayer from The Family Foundation on Vimeo.

Persistent Prayer

2011-10-25T14:03:00.000-05:00

Persisent prayers from CompassionNet on Vimeo.

Persistent Plowing

2011-10-25T13:58:00.000-05:00

Persistent plowing from CompassionNet on Vimeo.

Prayer and the Christian Life

2011-08-03T14:15:00.001-05:00

I have been reading The God Who Draws Near: An Introduction to Biblical Spirituality by Michael Haykin. I really love the book, but the chapter on prayer is particularly good. It is filled with great biblical exposition and insights from spiritual giants of the past. The following quote written by William Cowper (1731-1800) is one of the quotes Haykin includes in this chapter which so eloquently calls us to diligent and faihtul prayer:

Restraining pray'r, we cease to fight;
Pray'r makes the Christians armour bright;
And Satan trembles, when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.

Haykin sprinkles great gems like this one throughout the whole book. I highly recommend reading it.

Unreached People Groups

2011-04-26T10:02:00.002-05:00

Over the past several months, our church has been focused on unreached people groups and the great need to reach them with the gospel. We are actually in the process of identifying one of those unreached people groups so that our church might "adopt" them. We want to be actively engaged in reaching the nations for Christ. Pray for us as we take this step of faith.

I would also encourage you to learn more about unreached people groups around the world and how you might pray for them. I have added a gadget to this blog that will feature an unreached people group of the day. Take a look and may God turn our hearts to the lost souls of the world.

Is Christianity Offensive?

2011-01-07T12:12:00.002-05:00

Apple has rejected the proposal to create an iPhone app for the Manhattan Declaration. Click on the link to read why.

Just Words

2010-12-10T15:57:00.002-05:00

Throughout the Bible, there is a great deal that is said about our words. Psalm 19:14 is a good example. It says, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Yet, far too often, we give little thought to the way we use our words. Far too often, our words are not pleasing to God. When we speak in unrighteous anger, with hatred and bitterness, with murmuring and complaining, our words are not pleasing to God.

With good reason then, Paul writes, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29). We are often so careless with our words. Our careless words shoot from our mouths like bullets from a gun and the wounds that are left are painful and slow to heal.

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Proverbs 12:8). So think twice before you speak. Be sure that your words are for healing, for building up and above all are pleasing to God.

The Importance of Preaching

2009-11-24T11:54:00.002-05:00

From A Treatise on the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons by John A. Broadus:

The great appointed means of spreading the good tidings of salvation through Christ is preaching - words spoken whether to the individual, or to the assembly. And this, nothing can supersede. Printing has become a mighty agency for good and for evil; and Christians should employ it, with the utmost diligence and in every possible way, for the spread of truth, But printing can never take the place of the living word. When a man who is apt in teaching, whose soul is on fire with the truth which he trusts has saved him and hopes will save others, speaks to his fellow-men, face to face, eye to eye, and electric sympathies flash to and fro between him and his hearers, till they lift each other up, higher and higher, into the intensest thought, and the most impassioned emotion - higher and yet higher, till they are borne as on chariots of fire above the world - there is a power to move men, to influence character, life, destiny, such as no printed page can ever possess.

A Story of God's Grace

2009-10-16T12:14:00.000-05:00

On the New Calvinists :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

2009-09-25T11:41:00.001-05:00

On the New Calvinists :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

Shared via AddThis

The Seriousness of Schism

2009-07-08T12:27:00.002-05:00

Far too often, Christians get caught in division and quarreling among themselves. These issues are not minor problems but very serious problems. It is a serious problem today just as it was in the church at Corinth. The division and strife in Corinth was one of the reasons Paul wrote to them. Paul called on the church as the family of God to deal with their divisions. He exhorted them in the name of the Lord to agree together (1 Cor. 1:10) and bring an end to their divisions or schisms.

These kinds of divisions or schisms in the fellowship of the church are serious matters because they bring injury to the fellowship of the church. You may say, “What’s the big deal?” So we have a little quarreling and strife and division among us. It’s bound to happen, right? And there are much worse things, right? It seems that we would like very much to diminish the seriousness of division and quarreling in the church, but God regards this as a very serious matter.

Just how serious is this sin of strife? In Rom. 1:29 strife is listed along with the sins of greed, envy and murder. In Rom. 13:13 it is listed with drunkenness and sexual promiscuity. In 1 Cor. 3:3 strife is linked to jealousy and in 2 Cor. 12:20 it is linked to anger, slander, gossip and pride. Gal. 5:20 has the sin of strife named among idolatry and sorcery. It seems clear that strife is no secondary issue in the eyes of God. Therefore, if we are quarreling with one another we are just as guilty as the drunk and sexually promiscuous. Strife and quarreling among Christians is a sin that should be confessed and from which we should repent. It should have no place among those who know Christ as their Lord and Savior because it is a sin that brings great injury to the fellowship of God’s church.

Schism or division is also very serious because it is an insult to the power of the cross. Paul asks a pointed question in 1 Cor. 1:13; he asks “Has Christ been divided?” By their divisive behavior the Corinthians were acting as if Christ had been separated into parts.

Who was crucified for you? It wasn’t Paul or any of the other Christian leaders? No one was baptized in the name of Paul, and Paul rejoices in the fact that there were very few of them in Corinth that he had baptized. Why is Paul so happy that he had baptized so few of them? The answer is in v. 15, “so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.” Paul was not belittling the importance of baptism; he was emphasizing the focus of his ministry.

The focus of Paul’s ministry was in proclaiming the message of the cross. He said, “Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel.” Paul had been sent out to evangelize or to announce the good news, and at the heart of that message is the work of Jesus at the cross. However, the schism of the Corinthian church was an insult to the message of the cross. Their factions centered on individual personalities and belittled what Christ had done on the cross. The cross is the means by which we are reconciled to God, and the means by which we are then brought into fellowship with the family of God. Whenever we are quarreling with one another we are forgetting the great sacrifice Christ made on our behalf and are insulting God’s gracious work on the cross.

Paul called upon the Corinthians to divert their loyalty from human leaders to the One who died for them on the cross. The cross of Christ is to be central to our lives just as it is in the gospel message and the ministry of the apostle Paul. Paul said that ministry is not about cleverly delivered messages but being faithful to the message of the cross. He did not depend on any special skill or wisdom for to depend on those would make the cross of Christ empty or void. He did not use any cleverly planned gimmick to sale the gospel for to do so is to take away the significance and the power of the cross. Paul knew what was to be the central focus of his life and ministry, and he knew what needed to be the central focus of the church – Christ crucified.

I wonder how much we are obscuring the message of the cross in our lives and in the local church. By our division and strife has the cross become impossible to see? By our ungodly loyalty to human leaders, has the cross been diminished? By our gimmicks and clever marketing tricks has the church completely lost sight of the power of the cross?

There is one thing that can bring healing to broken lives and broken relationships. There is one thing that can mend the schisms and strife in our lives - the power of the cross of Christ. The power of the cross makes us whole and complete and mends what is torn and broken.

Most importantly, the power of the cross reconciles us to God. Because of Christ’s sacrificial atonement on the cross, we can have peace with God. Christ went to the cross to die for the sins of the world and among those sins for which He died is the sin of division and strife in the church. Let us look to Christ crucified and may the power of the cross be made whole.

Gratitude for God's Grace

2009-06-08T10:27:00.001-05:00

The grace of God is a glorious and wonderful thing to know and experience. The sinner who has stepped into the grace and favor of God has truly encountered the most extraordinary treasure. It is by the grace of God that we are saved, sanctified and glorified, and if we are to ever blossom and flourish in our spiritual lives, we must give our minds and hearts to know more of God’s grace.

In an effort to help the Corinthian church overcome some of its difficulties, Paul reminded them of God’s grace in 1 Corinthians 1:4-9. Paul expresses his thankfulness of the church at Corinth. It is a thanksgiving expression that is deeply rooted in recognizing and appreciating the work of God’s grace.

Why should you be grateful for God’s grace? Be grateful because the grace of God is free and accomplishes our justification. Paul said said, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus” (v. 4). Paul is speaking of the grace which was given to the Corinthians in the past. In Christ Jesus, God gave them His free grace.

By its very nature grace is free gift. This free grace given to the Corinthians in Christ Jesus is the grace which justifies sinners. It is the grace which saves and brings sinners into a right standing with God. Justification is God’s declaration that a sinner is no longer under condemnation, a declaration that flows from the grace of God. This grace is free to all who will call upon the name of the Lord. It cannot be earned or purchased with a good and moral life. Salvation and justification only comes by God’s free grace found in Christ Jesus.

Why should you be grateful for God’s grace? Be grateful because the grace of God enriches our lives for purpose of sanctification. The grace of God given in Christ Jesus is grace that enriches our lives (v. 5). The Corinthians were made rich by the grace of God in Christ and received an abundance and fullness that they had never known. Like the grace given in our justification, this enriching grace of our sanctification is also found in Christ Jesus.

True riches and wealth are found in Christ Jesus. There is a comprehensive nature to the riches we have in Christ, but Paul has in mind one specific area of which this enriching grace applies, the area of spiritual gifts. He mentions that the Corinthians were rich “in all speech and all knowledge” (v. 5). The church at Corinth was a church that was full of spiritual gifts. In particular, they were rich in the gifts of speech and knowledge.

What did this richness of spiritual gifts signify about the church? The testimony concerning Christ had been confirmed in or among them. The message of Christ which Paul had preached was shown to be true and came with the attesting miracles of the apostles. The message of Christ was also confirmed in the gracious sanctification of the Corinthian believers. The Spirit of God was clearly at work among them in their spiritual gifts so much so that Paul says “that you are not lacking in any gift” (v. 7). The church was not left without anything it needed to do its work. As they eagerly awaited the coming of Christ, they were well equipped.

The Corinthians needed to understand what God’s grace had done and continued to do among them and we also need to understand this. God has graciously equipped and gifted the church for its work. The church does not lack anything needed to do what God has called us to do. We simply need to live in the grace that God has given. We simply need to exercise the spiritual gifts God has poured out among us.

In a recent article published in Facts & Trends by the SBC, pastors were asked what was holding their church back from outreach in the community. Half of the pastor gave one of these four reasons: They lacked sufficient volunteers; they lacked sufficient church staff; they lacked sufficient lay leaders; they lacked sufficient funds.

As I consider these responses, one thought continues to ring through my mind. The first century church had no budget and no buildings but it flourished. How do you explain that? God had enriched the church with all it needed. All those riches and benefits still belong to us in Christ. The Holy Spirit continues to work in the church and gift the church. We should thank God for this enriching grace which sanctifies us for Christ and obediently walk in that grace.

Why should you be grateful for God’s grace? Be grateful because the grace given by God keeps us and accomplishes our glorification. Just as God confirms the testimony of Christ in the church (v. 6), God also confirms His church to the end (v. 8). This means that by His grace, the Lord will keep His people secure to the end. By God’s grace we will be kept until the very end of the age. God intends to preserve His church blameless until the end.

Will you be counted among the blameless/guiltless in the day of the Lord? It is essential to reflect on this question and it is essential to determine how to get an answer. How do you know that you will be among those kept until the end? If you answer that question by saying, “I know I will be kept until the end because I am a good person” you have the wrong answer. If you say, “I know I will be kept by Christ because I am a member of a local church and have been baptized” you have the wrong answer. The assurance of being kept by Christ until the end is not found in personal accomplishment or achievement. If we are kept blameless in the day of the Lord it will not be because of anything we have done but because God is faithful (v. 9); through Him we were called into fellowship with His Son, and through His faithfulness we will be kept to the end.

So we come back to the source of salvation, the grace of God. It is by God’s grace we are justified; it is by God’s grace we are sanctified, and it is by God’s grace that we will be glorified in the day of the Lord. All of us should be pouring out our hearts to God in thanksgiving for His grace.

The Call of the Church

2009-05-06T15:03:00.002-05:00

Who has not been somewhere and suddenly been confronted with an unwelcome ring. Perhaps you are in the middle of a meeting or in the middle of a church service and the phone rings. Everyone immediately plunges into their personal belongings to find the phone. The cell phone must be stopped; the ring must be silenced.

In some ways, this seems to be happening in many quarters of the church today. A great number of people are looking to silence or have silenced the call of God upon His church. Ignoring God’s call is, of course, done to the church’s own peril. This is precisely what the apostle Paul sought to point out to the church at Corinth. Take a look at how he began his first letter to the Corinthians. He wrote, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours” (1 Cor. 1:2).

This first letter of Paul to the Corinthians was written about AD 54-56 from Ephesus during Paul’s 3rd missionary journey. He wrote to the church in Corinth, the capital city of the Roman province of Achaia. The church in Corinth had been planted only a few years earlier by Paul on his second missionary journey and, he wrote to the church in response to reports he had received about the church and in response to some of their questions.

Before addressing these concerns, he establishes a very important tone for the letter in the opening verses. It is a very serious tone that rests on a most solemn calling, the calling of God. The Christians in Corinth needed to remember that God had laid claim to their lives. The church in that ancient city was the “church of God.” Paul knew that the church belongs to God. Paul had founded the church, but it did not belong to him. This was not the church of Paul or of any other person. It was the church of God.

How local churches today need to hear that they belong to God! Who owns the church? God owns the church. We are members of it, but the church is God’s. If that is the case, then we are accountable to God for what takes place in His church. We are accountable to God for what we choose to do or leave undone. It is the will of God, not the will of the majority or the most influential, we should be seeking. So many churches today lie in a state of confusion because they have abandoned the high calling as being the people of God, the church of God. We find ourselves running here and there after every new program and strategy that comes along rather than relentlessly pursuing God’s call.

Paul goes on to say that he wrote to the church or to “those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling. . .” The word sanctified means to be set apart from the world. We are set apart or sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling. We are a holy people, a devoted or consecrated people. This is our calling as the church of God.

In fact, the word church itself carries some of this idea inherently. It means those called out. The church is called out from the world to be God’s possession. Even though the church at Corinth was composed of many different kinds of people from all levels of society, all of them were saints by calling. In Christ we are all saints. Therefore, there should be no distinctions made among us in terms of class or social standing. There is no distinction between rich or poor, black or white, for in Christ we are brothers and sisters. In Christ we are sanctified and are saints by calling.

As those who belong to God and are sanctified in Christ, we are part of a very large family. We are among those “who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” On the one hand, the call of the church speaks to our identity as the people of God. On the other hand, the call of the church speaks to what we do that is distinct from the world, and that is we call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through calling on the name of the Lord Jesus that we are saved. When we call upon the name of the Lord Jesus we are declaring allegiance to Him. We are declaring our dependence upon Him for salvation and all things. It is this allegiance to Christ that we share with other local churches and other Christians. Christ is the Lord over all, and we are to be pursuing a relationship with Him together.

The sanctified life or holy life is not to be left to a few but is to be the life of all who are in the church, to all who call Jesus their Lord. The church has been called; every Christian has been called by God. We are called into fellowship with one another through faith in Christ. We are called into fellowship in order to labor together for Christ. We are called into fellowship as a people who belong to the God of grace and peace.

Are you pursuing a holy and sanctified life that is totally dedicated to Christ? Or have you allowed other things to get in the way and to obscure your calling? I pray that God will work among us to grow churches that are wholeheartedly committed to Him and Christians that will not relinquish their calling as saints.

Christ Is the Sum and Substance

2009-03-30T12:04:00.001-05:00

I recently came across a sermon by Charles Spurgeon which dwells upon the place of the Lord Jesus in God’s covenant of salvation (Isaiah 49:8). Spurgeon’s point was that Christ is the sum and substance of that covenant. There was one portion of the sermon that is definitely worth remembering and I want to leave with you. Spurgeon said,

In fact, if you take Christ out of the covenant, you have just done the same as if you should break the string of a necklace; all the jewels, or beads, or corals, drop off and separate from each other. Christ is the golden string whereon the mercies of the covenant are threaded, and when you lay hold of him, you have obtained the whole string of pearls. But if Christ be taken out, true there will be the pearls, but we can not wear them, we cannot grasp them; they are separated, and poor faith can never know how to get hold of them. O! it is a mercy worth worlds, that Christ is in the covenant.

What Grace is Mine/In Christ Alone

2009-03-18T14:22:00.003-05:00

Reflect upon the grace God has poured out upon undeserving sinners through the Lord Jesus Christ as you listen to these great songs.

Proclaiming the Biblical Doctrine of Creation

2009-02-09T15:08:00.003-05:00

2009 has been declared by some to be the year of Darwin; he was born Feb. 12, 1809 and his book On the Origin of Species was first published in 1859. There are many who are eager to commemorate 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth and 150th anniversary of the publication of his most acclaimed work. With the attention all of this is likely to receive, Christians must be renewed in their commitment to proclaim the biblical doctrine of creation. Preachers in particular must lead the way in proclaiming the truth of God’s Word on this issue. Why is it important for the church and for preachers to faithfully proclaim the Biblical message of creation? Let me offer four reasons.

First, in proclaiming the Biblical doctrine of creation the clear distinction between God and what God has made is maintained. Because of that distinction we are given the fundamental command to worship God alone and avoid the worship of that which God has made (Romans 1:22-25). God alone is to be worshipped; the creature is not to be worshipped. Although most in our congregations are probably not worshipping creation, they are tempted to idolatry. They are tempted to set things over and above God in their lives. Proclaiming the uniqueness and glory of God as Creator protects us from that temptation. We read in 1 John 5:20-21, “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” God has revealed Himself to us through Christ His Son; we have the revelation of the true God in Jesus Christ. In proclaiming the biblical doctrine of creation, we are working to guard our hearts and the hearts of our congregations from idols. We are calling them to worship God exclusively and wholeheartedly (1 Chron. 16:25-26; 1 Cor. 8:4-6). A compromise in the area of biblical creation inevitably leads to a diminished view of God and sets the stage for idolatry (Isaiah 40:18-20, 25).

Second, in proclaiming the Biblical doctrine of creation the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus Christ is maintained. We cannot faithfully preach Christ and fail to preach that Christ Jesus is the Creator (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-20). A lot has been written about the foundational importance of opening chapters of Genesis in the formation Christian doctrine. The biblical message concerning sin and salvation is virtually meaningless without that foundation. The point is that the Biblical doctrine of creation is not a secondary concern or a peripheral doctrine that is somehow not essential for the church today. What we believe about the Biblical creation has implications for Christology, our belief in the person and work of Christ. We must be careful to faithfully expound God’s word concerning creation if we are to faithfully expound the person of Christ and His great work of redemption.

Third, the biblical doctrine of creation also provides a great source of encouragement to believers by calling for a consideration of God’s power. This seems to be at the very heart of Isaiah 40 which begins with the call to “Comfort, O comfort My people.” Closely tied to that comfort is the understanding of God as the Creator (Isaiah 40:12-17, 21-31). Knowledge of God as Creator is knowledge of God as the Almighty God who is sovereign over all that He has made. It is knowledge that our way is not hidden from God. He knows the suffering of His people and He is perfectly capable of helping them in their distress. He is the Eternal God, the Creator of the ends of the earth who does not grow weary or tired.

Finally, proclaiming the biblical doctrine of creation serves as a means to awaken unbelievers to the existence of God and as preparation for them to hear the gospel.
We have two very good examples of this in the ministry of Paul. One is found in Acts 14 at Lystra and the other in Acts 17 in Athens. In Acts 14, a man who had been born lame was miraculously healed, a miracle which provoked a very unexpected response from the people in Lystra. The people began to worship Paul and Barnabas as Zeus and Hermes; this is how they responded,

Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:15-17).

A similar response is found in Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill in which Paul proceeds from proclaiming the one true Creator to proclaiming Christ and the gospel(Acts 17:22-31). In both of these instances, Paul used the doctrine of creation as a means of calling unbelievers to worship the one true God and to repentance and faith in Christ.

For these reasons, I pray that God will help each of us to be faithful to His Word and proclaim Him as our Creator and our Redeemer.

Worthy Reading

2009-01-21T12:05:00.001-05:00

As the New Year has set in, I hope that you are finding time to engage some good books. There are many good books to read and far too little time to read them all. Therefore, I thought I would offer a few suggestions that I read during the course of 2008 and found to be of great value.

First, let me suggest a good biography. Most of you will know something about the life of hymn writer John Newton who penned “Amazing Grace” but you would benefit from reading The Life of John Newton by Josiah Bull. I found that it was a stirring and moving account of the life of a man whose life was steeped in the grace of Almighty God.

Another biography that I found to be extremely enriching is one of a lesser known figure than John Newton. In reading John Elias, His Life and Letters you will be introduced to an ordinary man who was used of God in an extraordinary way during the 19th century revival in Wales. This is a book worthy of being called a Christian classic.

For those of you concerned with proper interpretation of Scripture, you will want to take the time and effort to read Graeme Goldsworthy’s Gospel Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Evangelical Biblical Interpretation. Among the many books available on Biblical interpretation, Goldsworthy’s book is important because it makes the connection between interpretation and theology.

These are just three of the books that I found helpful. If you are looking for some good books, I wholeheartedly recommend them to you. Happy reading!

Jesus Saves!

2008-12-20T14:39:00.000-05:00

Despite the continued secularization of the Christmas holiday, there are still many reminders this time of year about the birth of the Lord Jesus. Perhaps for some, the story of Christ’s birth is a comforting reminder of sentimental childhood memories or simply a tradition that is passed on in our culture. They like the Christmas story but really don’t believe it. There are others who do believe it. They do believe that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. They believe that Jesus was born as a Savior, Christ the Lord, just as the angel announced to the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. They believe the story as a historical fact. It really did happen but is it enough to believe it really happened? Does that faith save us?

I was recently reading a sermon preached by Martin Luther on the afternoon of Christmas in 1530. In this sermon Luther addressed this very subject. He said, “So there are many who have this belief and do not doubt this first belief that Christ is Lord, the Savior, and the virgin’s Son.” But is this enough? Is it sufficient to subscribe to an orthodox creed? Luther said that this is not sufficient. I agree. Being a Christian is more than agreeing with Christian doctrine. To merely acknowledge and agree to a doctrinal statement is not saving faith. It is as Luther put it “only a memory of what has been heard.” True disciples of Jesus are not those who have merely grabbed hold of a memory or signed their churches statement of faith.

The true disciple of Jesus is the one who seizes the announcement of the angels, “To you is born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Do you know and believe that Christ was born for you, to be your Savior? Are you ready and willing to venture everything upon the good news that a Savior was born for you? In Luther’s Christmas sermon he said, “In my sin, my death, I must take leave of all created things. No, sun, moon, stars, all creatures, physicians, emperors, kings, wise men and potentates cannot help me.” Do you believe this? Have you staked your life and eternal soul upon it? There is no savior but the One who was born in Bethlehem. His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. Until you have turned away from all other false “saviors” to the only true Savior, you stand condemned in your sin. Orthodoxy cannot save but Jesus can!

Hearing, Receiving and Accepting the Word

2008-11-14T16:33:00.002-05:00

When it comes to preaching, there is much that takes place that falls far short of the name. I am certainly far from the kind of preacher I desire to be and am continuing to work with the Lord’s help to be a more faithful expositor of His Word. I have written previously here about the task of preaching and could and probably should say more about that. However, I want to say a few words about being on the other side of the preaching event – hearing the Word preached.

While I am concerned about the state of preaching God’s Word, I am equally concerned about the state of hearing God’s Word in the church today. Are there unfaithful preachers and shepherds of the flock of God? Yes. Are there churches who are satisfied with these unfaithful preachers and shepherds? Yes. Many preachers have turned away from the proclamation of Scripture and it seems that many churches are quite happy about it. Many in the pews have turned their ears away from the truth and have turned to fables (2 Tim. 4:4).

The sad and tragic reality is that many people will go to church this Sunday simply because they are in the habit of doing so. It is just the thing to do for some people, but they do not really profit from the preaching. People go to church for a lot of reasons but why should they be going? Let’s make it a bit more personal. Why will you gather with your church this Lord’s Day? I hope that you will go in anticipation of hearing the Word of God. I hope you will go expecting to hear a clear message from God.

In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he expressed gratitude for the way in which the Thessalonians heard God’s word. He wrote, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God” (1 Thess. 2:13). The Thessalonians heard, received and accepted the Word of God which Paul proclaimed. His message was not the message or words of men but the word of God and the Thessalonians received it as such.

I ask again, why will you gather with your church this Lord’s Day? I hope that in the manner of the Thessalonians you will go expecting to hear your pastor preach God’s Word and that you will receive and accept it.

The Real Economic Danger

2008-10-14T15:46:00.001-05:00

If you have not heard about the current economic crisis that has its grip on the global markets, you must certainly be living with your head in the sand. You cannot escape the constant drum beat of phrases like economic crisis and credit crunch. I don’t want to minimize the problems in our economy or the pain felt by many people who face tough financial times. However, in light of the economic climate it is important to know the real economic danger all of us face.

The real economic danger is not in the experience of poverty or the experience of wealth. The danger is in how you respond to poverty and wealth. Take note of these words in Proverbs 30:7-9, “Two things I asked of You, do not refuse me before I die: keep deception far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.”

I wonder how many of us in these uncertain economic times are willing to pray something like that. The concern of this prayer is not to be spared the difficulties of poverty or to enjoy the comfort of wealth. The concern is to live in such a way that the reputation of God is honored. There are very real dangers to be avoided in poverty and wealth. Poverty poses the dangerous temptation to steal in order to satisfy basic needs. Wealth poses an equally dangerous temptation to deny God by a proud attitude that forgets the true source of all that we have.

I hope that during these uncertain times that you are paying careful attention to the condition of your soul before God. I hope you are deeply concerned that in whatever circumstances you face that God’s name is honored and glorified. Let me challenge you to make this prayer of Proverbs 30:7-9 your own prayer. After all, the greatest treasure does not consist of those material things that we accumulate here on earth. The greatest treasure is, in the words of the apostle Paul, “the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

Don’t cling to the things which are temporary and passing but set your heart upon the One who can bring you the greatest and most satisfying joy and contentment. Seek God and His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). Be ready to give up everything for that exceedingly great Treasure (Matthew 13:44-46).

The Heavens Are Talking

2008-09-25T10:50:00.002-05:00

On October 2, 1608 an invention was unveiled to the world that would transform the landscape of scientific inquiry for the next 400 years. That invention was the telescope. Hans Lippershey, a maker of eyeglasses, showed the world his invention and called in the “looker.” You can read more about the fascinating history of the telescope and its impact on scientific discovery by going Space Today Online. Before the invention of the telescope there was no way of observing far away stars or the planets in our own solar system. After 400 years of continued improvement of telescopic technology, we are able to observe the heavens in way that is breathtaking.

These breathtaking images from telescopes like Hubble are much more than mere scientific advancements. They help us hear what the universe has to say. What? You mean the universe is actually talking to us. While no words are used, the heavens are talking. “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1). These glorious images are telling us something about the One who made them. They are declaring the awesome power, majesty and splendor of the Creator. Are you listening?

The vast size of the universe is almost incomprehensible. Its enormity makes our small planet and those of us who live on seem so small and insignificant. What a truly humbling experience to stand outside on a dark night and view the countless number of stars. The universe tells us of a great and glorious God. The universe tells us that it does not exist for us but for the One who made it. “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet” (Psalm 8:3-4).

While it is vital that each of us come to this moment of humility before the Maker of all things, there is more at stake here. The writer of Hebrews certainly thought so. God created human beings to rule over creation or as Psalm 8 puts it, “You crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.” The inspired observation recorded in Hebrews 2 is that we currently do not observe everything subject to him. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).

What a magnificent truth! The Son of God, who is the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” and who sustains or upholds the universe by the power of His word (Hebrews 1:3), humbled Himself and became man and tasted death for us. Paul described the humility of Christ in this way, “Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).

The Son of God graciously and lovingly humbled Himself and died on the cross but there is more. The Lord Jesus Christ died but He was raised up from the dead. He was then crowned with glory and honor. “God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

So the next time you are out gazing up at the heavens, I hope you are listening. I hope you see the glory of a great and gracious God. I hope you think upon the way in which this great and gracious God sent His Son to let us see more of His glory. I hope you will take time to reflect upon Christ’s humility in death and His exaltation to the right hand of God the Father. Above all, I hope you are eagerly waiting for Christ to return when He will be “glorified among His saints” and “marveled at among those who have believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:10).

"The Room" by Josh Harris

2008-09-17T15:10:00.002-05:00

“In that place between wakefulness and dreams,” I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read “Girls I Have Liked.” I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was
watching. A file named “Friends” was next to one marked “Friends I Have Betrayed.”

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. “Books I Have Read,” “Lies I Have Told,” “Comfort I Have Given,” “Jokes I Have Laughed At.” Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at My Brothers.” Others I couldn’t laugh at: “Things I Have
Done in My Anger,” “Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.” I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked “Songs I Have Listened To,” I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more
by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked “Lustful Thoughts,” I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: “No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!” In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But
as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore “People I Have Shared the Gospel With.” The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must
ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.

I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn’t anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have
said so many things. But He didn’t say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His
name over mine on each card.

“No!” I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was “No, no,” as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards.
But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly,
but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, “It
is finished.”

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

By Joshua Harris. Orginally published in New Attitude Magazine © Copyright New Attitude 1995. You have permission to reprint this in any form. We only ask that you include the appropriate copyright byline. To download PDF version, click here.

A Charge to Keep

2008-08-29T14:53:00.002-05:00

I have been reflecting in recent days about the task of preaching. It is something upon which I reflect a great deal given the fact that I am a preacher but I have had some interesting conversation recently about preaching that have caused be to think about this important subject a bit more than usual. If you have had opportunity to attend various churches you will quickly recognize that there is a lot that goes on in churches under the name of preaching. Some “preachers” read a Bible verse or two and then set out on a course that has little or nothing to do with those Bible verses. Others will have a topic in mind and will read from multiple places in the Bible to address that particular subject. With God’s help, I have deliberately chosen a different path in my preaching and I hope to share a little about that here.

Sunday after Sunday, those who attend the church I pastor will typically hear me preach from one book of the Bible. I am currently preaching through 1 Samuel on Sunday mornings. I put my best effort into studying the particular passage for each Sunday that I might understand its message and then prayerfully consider how that message should be applied to my own life and to the lives of those who will listen on Sunday. I try to limit telling stories except when I think a story or illustration is essential to impressing the point of the Biblical text upon those who attend the worship service.

Admittedly, there are a lot more entertaining ways to address an audience gathered at a worship service. Admittedly, there are times when preaching in this manner forces me to say things I would much rather leave unsaid. Admittedly, there are times when the congregation may want to hear another message altogether. Admittedly, it would often be much easier to do something entirely different than what I do each week. So why do I preach the way I do?

The answer to that question is really summed up in the words of one of Charles Wesley’s hymns which says, “A charge to keep I have.” As a preacher of the gospel of the Lord Jesus, I have been entrusted with a task. I have been charged by God to preach His Word and that means that I must preach all of God’s Word. I am not permitted to skip things I would rather not talk about or that the congregation would rather not hear about. I am not permitted to reduce my charge to delivering an entertaining, motivational pep-talk. I am not free to do anything less than to preach the Word.

If I am to be a faithful preacher of the Word, then I must do all that is possible to get out of the way of the text of Scripture. If I offer the congregation anything but the infallible and inerrant truth of holy Scripture then I have failed to keep the charge I have been given. I admit it. I have nothing profound to say other than what profound truth God has revealed in His Word. I admit it. I have no counsel to offer other than what wise counsel God has provided in His Word. I admit it. I have no encouragement or comfort to give other the life-giving encouragement and comfort contained in God’s Word. But it is the Word of God which provides to all people of all time the truth, counsel, encouragement and comfort necessary. Therefore, I will as long as God allows, preach the Word. A charge to keep I have.

A Book and a Beach

2008-08-05T21:09:00.002-05:00

With cooler in hand and folded chairs in nylon bags on his back, a man set out walking to the beach. He wore a hat to shield his eyes from the bright summer sun and watchfully guided his small children along with him. From time to time, the man would have to pause briefly and wait for his meandering children to catch up. Sometimes in his quest to arrive quickly at his beach destination, his walk far outpaced the children’s ability to keep up.

In short time, the man arrived with his family at the beach. The sand was hot and the sun seemed even brighter as its rays reflected from the blue waters and the silvery beach. By now the man was beginning to grow tired from his load of beach gear and his continued watch and prodding of his children. He almost began to wonder why he even started out on this journey in the first place. Could it really be worth the hassle? Was the effort really worthwhile?

Then, lifting his eyes toward the shore and feeling the gentle breeze roll up from the water, he gained new strength to press on across the hot sand. He then remembered that by the water’s edge, he would be relieved of his burdensome load. He pressed on then and came to the place where he laid down his baggage. He unfolded the chairs, drove an umbrella in the sand under which he took shelter from the sun’s heat. There in the shaded comfort of his chair, he unpacked a book and began to read. He read and he rested. He watched his children frolic and play in the sand and water. From time to time, he joined them in their play, building sand castles and digging holes. Then he returned to his shade and his book listening to the cascading sounds of the water and the joyful noises of children, his children, tirelessly at play. With his wife at his side, he realized why he began the journey to the beach. He realized that the journey was worth the hassle and the effort.

I hope this simple story reminds you that the journey of Christian discipleship is also well worth the effort. There are many difficulties and hardships along the way but it is a well-spent journey. For at the end of the path, there is something even more precious than a good book, joyful family relationships, fun and earthly rest. At the end of the journey there is Christ our Lord, the One who is the very brightness and glory of heaven, who yet emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Yes, the journey is worth it! So, let us press on as pilgrims bound toward a better country with the joyous and triumphant anthem of redemption ringing in our hearts.

SBC Resolution on Regenerate Church Membership

2008-06-23T19:10:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago the Southern Baptist Convention adopted an important resolution that I pray will bear much fruit in the years to come. I encourage you to read Resolution 6: On Regenerate Church Membership and Church Member Restoration. I think this is a significant resolution for the following reasons:

It points Southern Baptists to a long-neglected practice of biblical church discipline. It has been my own experience that the average SBC church member knows little or nothing at all about this crucial responsibility laid upon the church by Christ.
The resolution provides a proper biblical focus on the restoration of wayward church members. So often, those who do take a biblical stand for the practice of church discipline loose sight of the goal of winning those who have strayed.
Southern Baptists as a whole are called by this resolution to a more humble and accurate view of who we are as a denomination. The statistics and reports regarding membership in the local church do not accurately reflect the condition of the churches in the SBC.
In addition, as Southern Baptists, we are called to recognize that any action short of repentance in this area is insufficient. There is no programmatic approach that can bring true revival among us. God must lead us to the repentance which this resolutions calls for.
Further, the resolution helps us to think much more biblically about what it means to be a church. It drives us to consider our doctrinal foundations about the church and salvation. I find this extremely encouraging.

Undoubtedly, there are other reasons why this resolution is important for the churches of the SBC, and I hope we will have many opportunities to discuss all of them in the days ahead.

Evangelical Environmentalism

2008-05-19T09:45:00.002-05:00

Evangelicals and other conservative Christian groups have historically distanced themselves from the subject of environmentalism. This distance has been maintained for a variety of reasons but perhaps none is more important than the need to stay removed from any association with any form of liberalism. It has been both the secular liberals and the religious liberals who have been championing the environmental cause.

More and more, however, evangelicals are and have been eradicating this distant stance toward environmental issues. Many conservative Christian groups and denominations have become much more vocal on issues related to the environment. It is important to note that when these conservative Christian groups address these environmental issues that they do so by talking of “creation care” and “stewardship of the environment.”

How should Christians respond to the various environmental issues being discussed today? I want to argue that there must be a balance between the use and the care of God’s creation that exhibits both a concern for God’s glory and the value of human beings who are made in the image of God. What is needed is a more thorough biblical and theological understanding about the place of human beings in the world.

In Genesis 1, we read of the glorious and powerful way in which the Lord created all things. One of the most prominent features of Genesis 1 is the repeated evaluation of the world by God Himself. As God looked out upon His creation, He sees that it is good. From the creation of light to the creation of the beasts of the field God said that His creation was good. What does it mean for God to say that all that He had made was good? It means that He took pleasure in all that He had made. It means that His own character was reflected in what He had made. It also means that creation is not the sort of fragile entity that it is sometimes thought to be. If God’s creation could not withstand the smallest changes without a cataclysmic result, would He declare it to be good? If we could make the earth inhabitable by causing the slightest change in global temperatures, is the creation truly good as God declared it to be?

Some might reply by saying that this declaration of the goodness of creation came before the fall of Adam and Eve and the subsequent curse that has effected all of creation. Remember, that even after the Fall and the Flood, God promised that the cycles for life on earth will continue as long as the earth does (Genesis 8:21-22). Whatever may have happened to the goodness of God’s creation after the Fall cannot be said to involve such a weakening of the earth’s resilience that the planet could be rendered uninhabitable by human beings.

A similar truth is conveyed in Psalm 104:5-9 which celebrates the sustaining power of God over creation so that the waters will not return to cover the earth. This promise and that of Genesis 8:21-22 necessarily implies that there is a theological presupposition that affects how we are to interpret scientific data. The observation and findings of science must be submitted to the supreme authority of God’s Word. After all, human observation and interpretation of the natural world is a subjective exercise that cannot be severed from the observer’s own assumptions and presuppositions.

The other obvious issue that must be addressed is the God-given responsibility to rule over creation (Gen. 1:26-28). As those created in the image of God and according to the likeness of God, human beings are God’s representatives on earth. As God’s representatives, we are given the command to subdue and rule the earth. In some sense, just as God subdued and ruled over the chaos to create an orderly world, we are to subdue and rule over creation. In Genesis 2, the ruling and subduing begins through the cultivation of the garden and by the naming of the animals.

While it is important to avoid an interpretation of these texts that would promote selfish exploitation of the earth, it is also important to avoid an interpretation that would reduce human beings to servants of the environment. Rather than committing either of these errors, let us seek to understand the amazing world that God has created in order that we might fulfill the mandate given to us by our Creator. We cannot rule well nor subdue properly what we do not understand and appreciate.

Undoubtedly, good and wise stewardship of the earth will involve conservation and preservation of natural resources but good stewardship does not mean that we conserve and preserve for nature’s sake. We do so as those who are entrusted with a world that does not belong to us but to God who made it to reflect His power and glory. What we need is a careful balance between the use and the care of God’s creation.

As the people of God set out upon this careful use of creation, we must do so in a theocentric fashion and avoid the anthropocentric and geocentric approaches so common today. Psalm 104 serves as a good example of this kind of theocentric approach. It is a Psalm that highlights the wonders of God’s world but never loses sight of God Himself. It begins by declaring the greatness, splendor and majesty of God (vv. 1-2) and ends with words of praise to God (vv. 31-35). Here we have biblical warrant to pay attention to all that God has made so that we might revel in His greatness and glory.

Finally, let me add that it is vital that both the Christian and the church keep all of these environmental issues in proper perspective. As we set our hearts and hands upon the biblical mandate to be wise and careful stewards of creation, do not forget that we are pilgrims who have set out on a journey to a city whose builder and maker is God. We live in a world that groans under the curse of sin and which waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:18ff). Our hope does not lie in the promise of clean water and clean air. Therefore, we must be careful to point all people to the hope of Christ through whom and for whom all things have been created (Col. 1:16). The church must not lose sight of her greatest mandate, to declare to the nations that “it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven” (Col. 1:19-20).

Together 4 the Gospel 2008

2008-04-21T11:44:00.003-05:00

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity of attending the "Together 4 the Gospel" conference in Lousiville, KY. The entire event was a glorious feast upon the riches of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. My mind and my heart were stirred by the infinite goodness of our gracious God. If you are searching for something to provide rich, spiritual nourishment take some time and listen to each of the sessions of the conference at the T4G website. You will not be disappointed!

Revive Us Again

2008-04-04T14:50:00.002-05:00

The headline was staggering in its claim. It reported that revival had swept through a church in Ohio but as I read the article under the headline, I was deeply disappointed. The “revival” was described in terms of increased activity among church members and expanded ventures in ministry. In my reading of the article I saw not one mention of repentance and only one instance of any of people being converted: a group of children during Vacation Bible School.

I don’t want to discount childhood conversion nor spurn the idea that God saves some children through the ministry of Vacation Bible School, but I have to admit I am skeptical. I am skeptical because of so much I have seen taking place in terms of presenting the gospel to children (and adults!). There is such a rush to decision these days. So little time is given to discern if God is truly working in the heart. Church membership rolls are filled with such decisions, with those who have been too hastily run through the mill of man-centered evangelism.

Can we rightly claim that revival has come under such circumstances? When we see no evidence of repentance among Christian people, can we say that revival has come? In his book, Pentecost Today Iain Murray says six things occur in true revival: 1) restored faith in God’s Word, 2) restored meaning to the term “Christian”, 3) swift advance of the gospel, 4) moral impact on communities, 5) transformed understanding of Christian ministry and 6) transformed public worship of the church.

I hope you are longing and praying for revival, true God-wrought revival. But be sure of this: when our Lord is pleased to send that revival, it will not be measured by the addition of a few programs to our already over-programmed churches. It will be measured by the glorious display of God’s power to convert sinners, renew churches and transform entire communities. Revive us again!

A Friend Named Hopeful

2008-03-18T13:41:00.002-05:00

The Pilgrim’s Progress is a book that has been inspiring Christians for centuries. It was written by John Bunyan, a Puritan preacher and writer in England while he was in prison for preaching the gospel without permission from the established church. It is an allegorical story about Christian and his companions as they travel to the Celestial City.

One of the most stirring sections of the book takes place following the martyrdom of Christian’s friend Faithful. Following the death of his close friend, Christian did not have to travel alone. One by the name of Hopeful came to his side and accompanied him all the way to the Celestial City. Listen to Bunyan as he describes the birth of this new friendship,

Now I saw in my dream that Christian went not forth alone; for there was one whose name was Hopeful (being so named by the beholding of Christian and Faithful in their words and behavior, in their sufferings at the fair), who joined himself unto him, and, entering into a brotherly covenant, told him that he would be his companion. Thus one died to bear testimony of the truth; and another rises out of the ashes to be a companion with Christian in his pilgrimage.

If you are on that same road to the Celestial City, do not forget about your good friend Hopeful. Do not forget that you serve “the God of hope who will fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

For the Love of Church

2008-02-27T15:39:00.004-05:00

Where do you turn in times of distress? The question presupposes that none of us are completely self-sufficient. It admits that at times, many times if we are completely honest, each of us needs other people. You and I need a support system. We need a community to which we belong and from which we find love, help, friendship, devotion, counsel, and encouragement for life’s challenging hours.

I hope that each of you know that God has provided all of this for us in His church. As a pastor, I often come face to face with people who have sharp criticisms of Christians and the church. Some of those criticisms are deserved but many are not. I also come into contact with many people who need help with challenges they have come up against. Very often those who I encounter in need of this help are not affiliated with any local church. Each time that happens, I am reminded of the richness of God’s grace that has brought me into the church, the body of Christ, the household of God. I am reminded how I should daily thank God for the love, help, friendship, devotion, counsel and encouragement I have received from the church over the years. While none of these precious gifts has come in perfect form, they have nonetheless come to me by God’s design through His church. I imagine that if you think about it, you will realize that you have received them as well.

Amid all the criticism of the church in our day, let us not neglect to thank God for all that the church does. We could all use a dose of Paul’s affection that he expressed to the Thessalonians. He wrote, “For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thess. 3:9-10). We would also do well to pray for our churches as he prayed for the Thessalonian church in 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13,

Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

Even if your church is far from what it should be, rather than abandon it and condemn it, why not pray for it? You may be surprised what God will do.

Pick Up the Good Book

2008-02-04T12:46:00.000-05:00

As a follow-up thought to my previous blog entry, I wanted to say something about the importance of a regular and steady reading of the Bible. If Christians are to read anything, they must read the Word of God. This is such a simple and basic notion that we sometimes seldom give it the attention that it deserves. Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) There is little wonder then that we find so many who are languishing spiritually. Apart from a steady diet of God’s Word, we grow spiritually malnourished and unhealthy.

I have recently been reading a biography of the famous hymn writer John Newton. After reading the biography, I gained a greater respect for this man who is in some ways virtually unknown in our time apart from the hymn “Amazing Grace.” Newton was a devoted and faithful pastor who left an indelible mark upon the church of his time. In regard to reading Scripture, Newton wisely commented,

I am thankful that the Scriptures, which are designed to make us wise unto salvation, and the gospel, which is designed for the poor, are not encumbered with metaphysical subtleties. The first Adam brought death and woe into the world by sin; the second Adam repairs all the mischief with respect to those who believe in His name. These positions are plain; they are revealed by the highest authority, and universally confirmed by fact, experience, and observation. What need we more? . . . Now I am grown old I am cautious of recommending books. I advise everybody to study the Scriptures with prayer, to draw from the fountain-head, and to examine and try the writings of men by the infallible standard, and not to pay too implicit a regard to the sentiments of great authors and preachers. The best are defective, and the wisest may be mistaken.

What a good reminder from the pen of a wise and seasoned minister of the gospel! So let us read and read well, but with all the reading may we not neglect the Word of God, the Good Book.

Pick Up a Good Book

2008-01-18T14:37:00.000-05:00

According to a recent report, Americans are reading less than ever before. The report which comes from the National Endowment for the Arts says that American “teens and young adults read less often and for shorter amounts of time compared with other age groups and with Americans of previous years.” As a parent, that is a disturbing piece of information that really impresses upon me the need to encourage my children to love books.

I would like to do more than that. I would like to encourage you to love books as well. I would also like to encourage you to set some reading goals for yourself. Make it a point this year to spend less time watching TV and a little more time reading. In particular, find some good Christian books that will feed your mind as well as your soul. Here are a few of the books that are on my reading list this year:

1. The Life of John Newton (Josiah Bull)
2. A Body of Divinity (Thomas Watson)
3. Him We Proclaim (Dennis Johnson)
4. Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands (Paul Tripp)
5. Knowing God (J.I. Packer)
6. A Husband After God’s Heart (Jim George)
7. Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics (Graeme Goldsworthy)

If none of those catch your eye take a look at the selection of books at Cumberland Valley Books or Banner of Truth. I hope you find many enjoyable hours this year turning the pages of some really good books. Happy reading!

Jehovah-Jesus (by William Cowper)

2007-12-24T10:38:00.000-05:00

My song shall bless the LORD of all,

My praise shall climb to his abode;

Thee, Saviour, by that name I call,

The great Supreme, the mighty GOD.

Without beginning, or decline,

Object of faith, and not of sense;

Eternal ages saw him shine,

He shines eternal ages hence.

As much, when in the manger laid,

Almighty ruler of the sky;

As when the six days' works he made

Fill'd all the morning-stars with joy.

Of all the crowns JEHOVAH bears,

Salvation is his dearest claim;

That gracious sound well-pleas'd he hears,

And owns EMMANUEL for his name.

A cheerful confidence I feel,

My well-plac'd hopes with joy I see;

My bosom glows with heav'nly zeal,

To worship him who died for me.

As man, he pities my complaint,

His pow'r and truth are all divine;

He will not fail, he cannot faint,

Salvation's sure and must be mine.

To Program or Not to Program?

2007-11-26T15:51:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot of buzz in recent weeks about the published study conducted by Willow Creek Community Church. The project and book sets forth the findings of a church survey regarding spiritual behaviors and attitudes of those in the church. The research began with the assumption that there would be a direct link between church activities and spiritual growth. However, the results showed something quite different. What the survey showed is that spiritual maturity and growth is the primary indicator of spiritual attitudes. The study categorized people on a spiritual continuum composed of the following four stages: Exploring Christianity, Growing in Christ, Close to Christ and Christ-centered. Those who are in the “exploring” stage demonstrated lower levels of spiritual behaviors and attitudes than those who are in the “Christ-centered” stage.

I am always grateful when there is hard data to support an idea or belief but I really had to shake my head at this one. Is it not sensible to believe (with or without hard data) that genuine Christ-centered disciples who are passionately following Christ are more spiritually mature than someone is only exploring. This seems self-evident to me. I am grateful, however, that this study highlighted the basic fact the programs do not make disciples. Churches can spend millions of dollars (as Willow Creek has) orchestrating programs and events without fostering a church that is spiritually vibrant and doctrinally sound.

Can you not see the great danger in organizing and structuring a church around the desires of the spiritual seeker or explorer? How can we expect to find healthy churches when the least spiritually mature among us dictates all that we are doing? Most churches in America are failing simply because we are too busy scheduling events with our sensitivities calibrated to the culture rather than shepherding souls with our minds shaped by Scripture.

The Church of Entertainment

2007-11-13T11:38:00.000-05:00

How much benefit could be gained by the church of 21st century from an address delivered in the late 1880’s? The benefits might seem few especially when that address is entitled “The Evils of the Present Time, and Our Object, Necessities, and Encouragements.” However, in this address by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, there is a remarkable amount of applicability to our own day. In many ways, the challenges facing the church are the same as they were more than 100 years ago.

One of the evils that Spurgeon identified is one he describes as “the insatiable craving for amusements.” As we listen to the wise words from this prince of preachers, the church of 21st-century America could learn much. Spurgeon stated, “Within suitable bounds, recreation is necessary and profitable; but it never was the business of the Christian Church to supply the world with amusements.”

In our own time, entire ministries and churches are centered upon providing amusement and recreation. The predominant philosophy of ministry insists that churches cannot be built and certainly cannot thrive without providing a host of activities that do nothing but entertain an already overly entertained people. Along with Spurgeon I ask, “What is to be next done in our chapels? To what length of tomfoolery will ministers of the gospel yet go?” It seems there is no end to the parade of empty antics that has found a home in the church. Light shows, fog-makers, multi-media presentations, drama, interpretive dance, and motivational speakers have replaced the worship of God and the preaching of the Word of God.

Like the people of Spurgeon’s time, there are many people today who are “agog with these vanities.” It is fitting, therefore, that we hear his warning and exhortation, “Brethren, we are not here to play away our time, but to win souls for Jesus and eternal bliss. By the solemnities of death, and judgment, and eternity, I beseech you, keep yourselves clear of the follies, the inanities of the day.”

Luther's Love for Truth

2007-10-30T15:42:00.000-05:00

What we now know as the Protestant Reformation started 490 years ago through the ministry of Martin Luther. It was Luther’s 95 Theses which he posted in Wittenburg that set him on an irreversible course and changed the landscape of church history. Could Luther have possibly known what the posting of those 95 points of debate was going to produce? What was Luther seeking to accomplish? He wrote in the introduction of his 95 theses,

Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.

Despite what Luther may or may not have expected, it is clear what motivated him. He posted those 95 propositions “out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light.”

Those of us who admire Luther and the other Reformers can sometimes seek to emulate them without truly understanding what prompted them to act. Luther was not simply looking to shake up the status quo. Luther loved God’s truth and sought to shed the light of God’s truth on as many minds and hearts as possible. We really need not go looking for a “reformation” of our own. All we need to do is what Paul instructed Titus. As ministers of the gospel who are “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching” and who “are able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict” we will be following the footsteps of Luther and the other Reformers. More importantly, we will be following the footsteps of the Apostles who were given to the church by Christ Himself.

Who knows what God may do in our own day if we will simply be faithful to expound the truth of His Word?

Does God Want Our Worship?

2007-10-15T08:39:00.000-05:00

Does God want us to worship Him? That may seem like an odd question to some of you but it is one that is raised from time to time. Generally, those who raise this question seem to suggest that if God wants us to worship Him then somehow He is a self-centered narcissist. It is clear from the Bible that God does desire to have people worship Him. Jesus said, “But an hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers” (John 4:23). God the Father seeks worshippers!

In fact, the story of the exodus makes this point as well. God said to Moses, “Certainly, I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain” (Exodus 3:12). The Lord intended that those He set free should worship Him. Throughout the Old Testament God demands that His people worship Him exclusively and according to the prescribed mandates which were give by God Himself. Closely connected to worship is the command to “love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Deut. 6:5; cf. Matt. 22:37). God calls us to give Him our highest love and greatest service.

Furthermore, the scenes of heaven described in Revelation 4-5 indicate that the people of God will forever be consumed with worshipping God. One of the most striking statements in this section of Scripture comes from the twenty-four elders who are clothed in white and fall down to worship the One sitting on the throne. The elders say, “Worthy are you, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (Rev. 4:11). It is not only true that God demands and desires our worship, but it is also true that He deserves our worship.

While we should recognize that God demands, desires and deserves our worship, we must also understand that He does not need our worship. Paul said in his sermon on Mars Hill, “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is he served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:24-25). The God revealed in the Bible is not a pathetic personality looking for attention. He is not a self-centered narcissist who needs the admiration and adoration of others.

In His goodness and grace, God created us with a capacity to know Him and serve Him. Through the knowledge and service of God, we find our greatest joy and pleasure. John Piper put it this way, “God’s ultimate goal, therefore, is to preserve and display his infinite and awesome greatness and worth, that is, his glory.” When we realize that the greatest thing God can give us is the gift of Himself, then we come to understand why we find true contentment and joy in the worship and service of God. God is seeking worshippers and it is for His glory and our good that He does.

Our Greatest Need, God's Greatest Gift

2007-10-03T12:50:00.000-05:00

So often the help we offer to people in need really misses the greatest need of all. It is so easy for the church to focus on giving outward and external aid and neglect the real problem of the heart and soul. It is easy to do that because of the kind of help the world expects from us. The world expects the church to promote sobriety, family values and aid to the poor. Christians are expected to make the world a better place to live. However, if we do all of this apart from proclaiming the message of Romans 8:1, we are not practicing the Christian faith. Romans 8:1 states, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

What can we do to change the world and make it a better place to live? Should we start social ministries that feed the hungry and house the homeless? Should we support the needy and bring relief to the downcast? Should we aid the orphans and befriend the widows? I hope that all of you agree that the church should be doing these kinds of ministries. But if we do all of that without sharing Romans 8:1 we are no different than one who grooms the condemned and leaves him to die in the execution chamber.

The very center of all that we do must be to proclaim that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The greatest gift we can ever receive and the greatest message we can proclaim is the one of “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” What we could not accomplish for ourselves through obedience to God’s law has been freely and graciously given to us. God sent His Son into the world that we might receive the gift of no condemnation.

Ephesians 2:3 says that we are all by nature children of wrath. We are born as sinners who deserve the condemnation of God’s wrath. All of us deserve to be in the execution chamber for our crimes against God. In this execution chamber, no superficial gifts will help any of us apart from the gift of “no condemnation.” This is God’s gift to all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. No condemnation is the verdict for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The reality is that some people are in Christ and some people are not. Some are accursed and separated from God; some are not. Only those who are in Christ are no longer under condemnation. Therefore, as we seek to love our neighbor and give aid to the needy, let us not forget the greatest need of all – salvation in Christ Jesus.

In addition, let us who are in Christ Jesus have the truth of our pardon in our minds continually. Let us give continuous thought to the gift we have received. In times of suffering, be reminded that there is now no condemnation. In times of grief and sorrow, be reminded that there is now no condemnation. In times of distress, remember there is now no condemnation. In times when you are tempted to despair, remember there is now no condemnation. In times when you feel all alone, remember there is now no condemnation. When victory seems distant, remember that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You have been declared “not guilty” through Jesus Christ. All your sin – past, present and future – will never be counted against you.

What a precious gift! What a profound gift! With that gift, I need no other. So let us rejoice and celebrate our holy freedom in Christ. And let us hold out that gift for all who would put their faith in Him.

Strength in Weakness

2007-09-24T12:32:00.000-05:00

For many preachers, Charles Spurgeon is one who is turned to time and time again. I have recently been reading through a collection of addresses by Spurgeon that have been put together under the title of An All-Round Ministry. Yesterday, I read one of those addresses entitled "Strength in Weakness." It has been one of the best I have read so far and brought great encouragement to me. Here is one segment from that address:

Since we left the college benches, we have seen many strong men. I think I see one sitting down in his study. He has been reading the Reviews and Quarterlies, and a little of the latest modern thought: now he is looking out for a text. He perfectly understands it, whatever it may be. At any rate, if he does not understand it, who does? When he falls upon his text, he interprets it, not at all desiring to know what the men of God who lived before him have said upon it, for they were of a darker age, and he lives in the nineteenth century, that world of wonders, that region of wisdom, that flower and glory of all time. Now you shall see what you shall see when this cultured divine comes forth from his chamber as a giant refreshed with new wine. No dew of the Spirit of God is upon him, he does not require it; he drinks from other fountains. He speaks with astounding power, his diction is superb, his thought prodigious! But he is as weak as he is polished, as cold as he is pretentious; saints and sinners alike perceive his weakness, and by degrees the empty pews confirm it. He is too strong to ask to be strengthened of the Lord, and therefore he is too weak to bless a congregation. He seeks another sphere, and another, and yet another; but in no position is he powerful, for he is too strong in self. His preaching is like a painted fire, no one is either cheered or alarmed by it.

No one can create a mental image quite like Spurgeon. This image of a preaching like a painted fire is certainly powerful. There is so much preaching today just like this. I pray that by the power of God at work in me that my preaching will not be like a painted fire. More fundamentally, I pray that my life as a Christian will not be like a painted fire. I want my life to truly count for Christ. For that to happen, His power must manifest itself in my weakness.

I would encourage you to read the entirety of Spurgeon's "Strength in Weakness" on line at the Spurgeon Archive.

We Are Not Going to Listen!

2007-08-27T10:36:00.000-05:00

What do you do when people just will not listen? I am not talking about the times when those to whom you speak are distracted by something else. We have all tried to carry on a conversation with someone engrossed in a TV program. It simply doesn’t work. I am not referring to that kind of experience at all. I am referring to those who clearly hear your words but reject them outright. That is certainly not a response that is easy to deal with but it happens. It particularly happens to preachers. I was reminded of this while recently reading through the book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah was a prophet of God during a terribly dark time in the life of God’s Old Testament people. Many within Israel had turned away from the Lord and God’s judgment was coming quickly upon them. Jeremiah was commissioned to deliver this message of judgment. God would send the mighty Babylonians to conquer the land and to take the people captive. While there are certainly shining glimmers of hope expressed in Jeremiah’s preaching, much of it is devoted to announcing this judgment and calling the people to repent.

It is clear that none of this made Jeremiah a popular preacher. In fact, Jeremiah was beaten, imprisoned and almost killed because of his preaching. However, Jeremiah was not deterred in spite of the opposition. When Jeremiah warned Israel not to take refuge in Egypt they said, “As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you!” (Jer. 44:16). Yet Jeremiah continued to deliver the word of the Lord to them.

Preaching is not for the faint hearted. It is not for those wishing to gain popularity and the approval of men. It is for those whom God calls and commissions to speak forthWord of God. We must speak it whatever the cost and whatever the response.

Classical Conversations on CNN

2007-08-13T12:59:00.000-05:00

Most of you will know that my wife and I reached a decision over one year ago to home-school our children. God has very graciously been preparing us for this wonderful adventure in learning. One of the great resources we have found is called Classical Conversations. I would encourage you to visit the Classical Conversations website and find out more about them. I also wanted to make you aware that CNN plans to air a series on home school families. The program on Christian home-schooling will air on August 23 beginning at 9pm EST. Classical Conversations’ leaders will be shown on this program

There Goes the Bride

2007-08-01T12:29:00.000-05:00

Click here to read a great, and succinct article on the important subject of church dicipline.

Scribble?

2007-07-17T11:17:00.000-05:00

I recently came across a wonderful little book. Though the author, Thomas Boston, referred to it as “scribble” it is an excellent work on the subject of evangelism. Boston’s book, The Art of Manfishing, was published in 1773 but contains timeless wisdom and biblical truth that is much needed in our day when so much of evangelism is built upon fads and sensational approaches.

Christ said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). Boston’s reflections upon these words led him to see evangelism as both a promise and a duty. As followers of Christ our duty is to call others to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Thankfully, we are promised success in regard to this immense duty. Boston says that Christ makes us fishers of men “by the power of his Spirit accompanying the word they preach and the discipline they administer.” He then goes on to challenge himself (as well as his readers) not to rely upon their own gifts in evangelism.

I don’t know about you but I certainly need this reminder. I am helpless to convert sinners. I am unable to bring about spiritual rebirth. These things are not left to me or to any of us. Listen to Boston’s words,

“What thinkest thou, O my soul, of that doctrine that lays aside this power of the Spirit, and makes moral suasion all that is requisite to the fishing of men? That doctrine is hateful to thee. My soul loathes it, as attributing too much to the preacher, and too much to corrupt nature in taking away its natural impotency to good, and against the work of God’s Spirit, contrary to experience; and is to me a sign of rottenness of the heart that embraces it. Alas! That it should be owned by any among us, where so much of the Spirit’s power has been felt.”

So let us not forsake this duty to be fishers of men. Nor let us forsake this promise that the Lord Himself will make us fishers of men.

The Church or a Circus?

2007-06-18T14:30:00.000-05:00

When I go to the circus, I expect to find something unusual and innovative. When I go to the circus, I expect to find something novel and entertaining. I do not want to find these in the church. When the church is built upon that which unusual, innovative, novel and entertaining, it is safe to assume that the church has ceased to be the church.

If the church is to be the faithful witness of Christ and the gospel, we are bound to repeat what has been said before. We must not buckle to the demands to offer what no other church offers or develop an innovative and novel message. We must resist the urge to entertain an audience.

So when I go to church, what should I expect to find? I should expect to hear the songs of Zion echoing the salvation story. I should expect to find the heart-felt cries of God’s people calling out to their Redeemer. I should expect to find lives that are being conformed to the image of Christ. I should expect to find a display of the gospel in believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper. I should expect to find a pulpit where the Holy Word of a Holy God is proclaimed by a preacher.

Indeed, none of these things are “cutting-edge.” None of these things will earn your church a cover story in the leading magazines. In fact, you may face scorn and scowls for your antiquated theology and out-dated convictions. Let us determine not to concede God’s truth to the world’s latest trend.

C.H. Spurgeon said, “I had rather be the echo the truth than the voice of falsehood.” Let our churches rise up to silence the voice of falsehood and echo the abiding truth of the gospel.

Ten Helps Against Satan’s Devices

2007-06-05T11:45:00.001-05:00

Some time back I was greatly helped by reading Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks. I would strongly encourage every Christian to read it. This great old book is a great reminder for Christians to be ready to fight the good fight as a soldier of Christ. The following ten points are adapted from Brooks' conclusion:

1. Live under the authority of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:4)

3. Seek after heavenly wisdom (Proverbs 15:24; James 3:13-18)

4. Resist the devil rather than dispute the devil (James 4:7)

5. Seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18)

6. Be humble (Psalm 25:8-9; James 4:6)

7. Be on the alert – keep watch! (1 Peter 5:8)

8. Do not neglect communion with God (Psalm 16:8; 42:1-2)

9. Look to Christ for grace and strength (John 15:5; Hebrews 2:18)

10. Pray (Matthew 26:41)

Memorial Day

2007-05-15T11:58:00.000-05:00

Each year at the end of May, Americans take time to remember those who have given their lives in defense of their nation. The great sacrifices of the brave men and women in our armed forces should not go unnoticed and the lives lost should be remembered. It is proper for our nation to have such a national holiday of remembrance.

It is also good that Christians pay proper tribute and honor to those who have lost their lives in service to this nation. I am concerned, however, that Christians in America have forgotten their own brothers and sisters in Christ who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Lord. Christians in America are largely sheltered from harsh persecution and threats to life and limb but our experience is not shared in other parts of the world.

On April 18, three Christians in Turkey were brutally killed for their faith in Christ. These three believers had their hands and feet bound and their throats were slit while at work. Unfortunately, the experience of these martyrs is not limited to Turkey. Many parts of the world prove to be thirsty for the blood of our Christian brothers and sisters.

It is important that we do not forget the persecuted church. Take some time to learn about the experience of persecuted Christians around the world and pray for them. Their stories will move you, inspire you and perhaps even shame you. To learn more about the persecuted church go to the Voice of the Martyrs. I also recommend learning about the work being done in Central Asia.

Stirring Words

2007-04-20T11:41:00.000-05:00

There is perhaps no other whose name is more synonymous with expository preaching than that of John MacArthur. I don’t think I have ever encountered more stirring words about the preacher’s role as a servant of the Word than those of MacArthur’s book, Rediscovering Expository Preaching. MacArthur provides this stirring admonition concerning those who ascend the pulpit to preach the Word of God:

Fling him into his office. Tear the 'Office' sign from the door and nail on the sign, 'Study'. Take him off the mailing list. Lock him up with his books and his typewriter and his Bible. Slam him down on his knees before texts and broken hearts and the lives of a superficial flock and a holy God.

Force him to be the one man in our surfeited communities who knows about God. Throw him into the ring to box with God until he learns how short his arms are. Engage him to wrestle with God all the night through. And let him come out only when he's bruised and beaten into being a blessing.

Shut his mouth forever spouting remarks, and stop his tongue forever tripping lightly over every non-essential. Require him to have something to say before he dares break the silence. Bend his knees in the lonesome valley.

Burn his eyes with weary study. Wreck his emotional poise with worry for God. And make him exchange his pious stance for a humble walk with God and man. Make him spend and be spent for the glory of God. Rip out his telephone. Burn up his ecclesiastical success sheets.

Put water in his gas [petrol] tank. Give him a Bible and tie him to the pulpit. And make him preach the Word of the living God!

Test him. Quiz him. Examine him. Humiliate him for his ignorance of things divine. Shame him for his good comprehension of finances, batting averages, and political in-fighting. Laugh at his frustrated effort to play psychiatrist. Form a choir and raise a chant and haunt him with it night and day - 'Sir, we would see Jesus.'

When at long last he dares assay the pulpit, ask him if he has a word from God. If he does not, then dismiss him. Tell him you can read the morning paper and digest the television commentaries, and think through the day's superficial problems, and manage the community's weary drives, and bless the sordid baked potatoes and green beans, ad infinitum, better than he can.

Command him not to come back until he's read and reread, written and rewritten, until he can stand up, worn and forlorn, and say, 'Thus saith the Lord.'

Break him across the board of his ill-gotten popularity. Smack him hard with his own prestige. Corner him with questions about God. Cover him with demands for celestial wisdom. And give him no escape until he's back against the wall of the Word. And sit down before him and listen to the only word he has left - God's Word. Let him be totally ignorant of the down-street gossip, but give him a chapter and order him to walk around it, camp on it, sup with it, and come at last to speak it backward and forward, until all he says about it rings with the truth of eternity.

And when he's burned out by the flaming Word, when he's consumed at last by the fiery grace blazing through him, and when he's privileged to translate the truth of God to man, finally transferred from earth to heaven, then bear him away gently and blow a muted trumpet and lay him down softly. Place a two-edged sword in his coffin, and raise the tomb triumphant. For he was a brave soldier of the Word. And ere he died, he had become a man of God.

A Pastor’s Temptations

2007-04-11T13:21:00.000-05:00

As a pastor, I am continually confronted with the temptation to do a thousand things that would keep me from doing that which I should do. As a pastor of a small church, I am tempted to function as church administrator, church secretary, church custodian, and as a host of other good and necessary roles that do not fulfill the role to which I am charged. While there are church members who may expect me to tackle some tasks that would fall into these various functional positions, that is not my biggest problem. My biggest problem is that I sometimes really like to do all of this other work. There is some great satisfaction in shuffling papers, completely hands-on tasks, and having something to show for your labor at the end of the day. Therefore, I am in constant need of reminders to keep me focused upon my real "job".

I was recently reading through a book by William Blaikie for that very purpose. Blaikie (1820-1899) was very influential in the founding of the Free Church of Scotland and was heavily influenced by Thomas Chalmers. Blaikie was a pastor for 25 years and his words about the pastoral ministry carry great weight in light of that experience. In his book, For the Work of the Ministry, he draws on some of the Scriptural images that highlight the function of a pastor. One of those images is that of a nursing mother (1 Thess. 2:7-8). Calvin put it this way,

a mother nursing her children manifests a certain rare and wonderful affection, inasmuch as she spares no labor and trouble, shuns no anxiety, is worn out by no labor, and even with cheerfulness of spirit gives herself to her child.

Another image which portrays pastoral ministry is the image of a shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-3). While much more could be said, this is a sufficient reminder of the ministry to which I am called as a pastor.

What is there to show for such a ministry? I pray that I like John can say, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (3 John 4). Like a father, much of a pastor’s joy, comes years later when he can see the fruit of his care of the household of God. It is great charge that is given to the pastor but there is even greater reward. “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4). When all is said and done, it really just doesn’t get any better than that!

The Perseverance of a Changed Man

2007-03-14T09:18:00.000-05:00

When William Wilberforce experienced the great change Christ brought into his life, the change was truly great. The former party boy who loved the pleasures of this world came to love Christ and to give his life in service to Christ’s Kingdom. He began to spend hours each day reading and studying God’s Word. He no longer wanted to live for himself and his own pleasure. In fact Wilberforce contemplated leaving politics but John Newton (author of the great hymn Amazing Grace) advised, “It is hoped and believed that the Lord has raised you up for the good of His church and for the good of the nation.”

One year following Wilberforce’s great change, he found God’s calling upon his life. He wrote in his diary, “God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners.” As they say, the rest is history. What a remarkable history of perseverance it proved to be. Wilberforce threw himself wholeheartedly into these two great objects but he would face great opposition and many obstacles along the way. In fact, it would take 20 years for the abolition of the slave trade to become a reality.

What is it that kept Wilberforce pursuing this course for so long? I think it was his fundamental belief in God’s enabling grace. On one occasion Wilberforce wrote these words about his life’s work, “If it please God to honor me so far, may I be the instrument of stopping such a course of wickedness and cruelty as never before disgraced a Christian country.” There was an underlying reliance upon God and a recognition that only God could make abolition a reality. All depended upon the good pleasure of God. Is there an echo here in Wilberforce of the apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3:10, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it.” Paul attributed his entire ministry as an apostle to the grace of God which was given to him. I am sure Wilberforce would say the same. By God’s grace alone he was able to labor those 20 years to abolish the slave trade in England. By God’s grace alone he persevered through opposition and obstacles. By God’s grace alone was he an instrument in such a monumental cause. Let us too rest and rely on the enabling grace of God to fulfill the tasks to which he has called us.

The Great Change of William Wilberforce

2007-02-28T10:27:00.000-05:00

I was alerted to the momentous 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade by an article that appeared in World Magazine. The article by Marvin Olasky truly sparked my interest in the life of William Wilberforce who was so instrumental in the fight to end the slave trade. After reading this article, I immediately went to the public library to find some biographies about Wilberforce. I came across Eric Metaxes’ book that was released earlier this year to coincide with the movie that began showing on Feb. 23. I just finished the book and am now a full-fledged admirer of William Wilberforce.

There are many great lessons to be learned from the life of this great man and I hope to set down some of the ones that stand out most clearly to me. One of the most important lessons is found in the way in which Wilberforce recounts his conversion. In the winter of 1784, Wilberforce began to seriously deal with the claims of the Christian faith. During this time he had some very searching conversations with one of his closest friends, Isaac Milner, who was a committed evangelical. It was also during this time that Wilberforce came across Philip Doddridge’s book The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul. Through the reading of this book and the conversations with Milner, Wilberforce came to an “intellectual assent” to the Christian faith. However, what he called his “great change” did not come until the summer of 1785.

As I reflect on Wilberforce’s experience, I see such a great need for us in 21st century evangelicalism to ponder the meaning of saving faith in Christ. We are so quick to baptize anyone who will answer a series of questions regarding the content of the Christian faith. Shouldn’t we be much more attentive to what Wilberforce called the “great change?” Shouldn’t we examine those who say that believe the faith in regard to a life of obedience and spiritual fruit? Saving faith in Christ will be evidenced by a “great change” in the life of the one who has professed that faith.

I really wonder if today’s evangelicals are more interested in real conversions or large numbers of baptisms. According to Thom Rainer, president of Life Way Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, on a given Sunday only about 7 million of the SBC’s 16 million members attend church. Rainer stated, “It would appear that our church rolls are filled with non-members and, likely, unregenerate members.” I would guess that Southern Baptists aren’t alone. There are a great number of people who profess faith in Christ and who no doubt intellectually assent to the claims of the gospel but who simply have not been converted. So let us learn from the life of William Wilberforce. Let us learn what God will do in the life of one who has truly been transformed by the power of the gospel.

Old Paths for a New Day

2007-01-08T10:01:00.000-05:00

Introduction

There are times and seasons of life in which it is essential to evaluate and reflect on where we have been. October 3, 2007 will mark the 70th anniversary of the Highland Avenue Baptist Church. I believe this is the time for us to evaluate and reflect on our past so that we might have a future that honors the Lord. What I will present here is not intended to be new or original. As you reflect on these ideas, you should not expect to find anything that is novel. My aim is not to invent but to re-discover some old truths and bring them into a sharp, clear focus for this time and season.

The Vision

My vision for the Highland Avenue Baptist Church is that we be a people focused on one task and fueled by one purpose.

Focused on One Task: Making Disciples of All Nations

Our world is a busy place filled with busy people. There are events and activities going around the clock. In many ways, the world never sleeps. With so much activity and so many options available to us, we can expend a great deal of energy and effort while accomplishing very little that is of real value. What we need is something to guide us in our activities. We need a mission. A mission is a specific task with which a person or group is charged.

The mission of the church was given by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20. In that passage of Scripture, we read that the mission of the church is to make disciples of all nations. This is the task with which we have been charged.

Arising from this one task, are two primary areas of ministry: Evangelization and Edification. Making disciples of all nations begins with the proclamation of the gospel message. We are commissioned by Christ to evangelize the world. We must focus on taking the gospel to all the people of the earth. We are to be witnesses of Christ at home and abroad (Acts 1:8).

Making disciples also involves teaching those disciples to observe all that Christ has commanded. We are commissioned by Christ to build up (edify) the body of Christ through faithful teaching of the Word of God, through fellowship, and through prayer (Acts 2:42).

Fueled by One Purpose: Magnifying God in All Things

I have always been told that anything worth following and pursuing should be something that has a clear and definite purpose. If that is the case, then the church should give careful attention to understanding its purpose. When I refer to purpose, I am referring to that which we set up as an end to be attained. Purpose is the goal at which we are aiming and the object we are seeking.

What is the church’s purpose? What end are we hoping to attain? What goal are we aiming for? What are we seeking? According to Scripture, our chief purpose is to magnify God as the all satisfying object of life and eternity. In other words, our purpose is to magnify God. Through worship, discipleship and evangelism we seek to magnify the greatness of God (Psalm 34:3; Matthew 5:16; Romans 15:5-13; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 2:11; 1 Peter 2:12).

The magnification of God is the fuel which drives our mission. We execute our task of making disciples not to boast in numbers of conversion, numbers of baptisms or numbers of church members. We make disciples that the LORD our God might be magnified in our lives and in all peoples of the earth.

Arising from our purpose is the area of ministry called exaltation. In many respects, the other areas of ministry (Evangelization and Edification) revolve around this ministry. Human beings were created by God to be worshippers. God is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23). Ministries of evangelization and edification are essential to our mission. The ministry of exaltation is essential to our purpose.

Conclusion

As our church approaches its 70th anniversary, I pray that this vision for our church will become one that is shared by every member. Moreover, I pray that this vision will take shape and form in how we do ministry together. I pray that it will help us to think about where and how we need to reorganize what we do for more effective ministry. It is essential that we align our practice with our purpose and mission. The practical structure and operation of the church must be governed by its purpose and mission. Otherwise, the practical structure and organization will stifle our purpose and mission.

Let us then prepare our hearts and minds to be renewed for a new era of ministry. Let us step forward with a clear vision of our purpose and our mission. Let us commit ourselves and our church to be focused on one task and to be fueled by one purpose.

Christmas Faith

2006-12-18T11:34:00.000-05:00

A popular Christmas poem begins like this:

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

Is this what Christmas is all about? I am afraid that it is for many people. Most Americans see Christmas as a time to get the items on their wish list. It is a wait for the arrival of jolly old St. Nick. However, Christmas is not truly about any of that. Christmas is about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ; it is about the coming of the Savior; it is about the coming of the King of Kings who was born and laid in a manger; it is about the coming of Immanuel, God with us; Christmas is about the fulfillment of God’s promises in the Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the most familiar promises in the Old Testament concerning the coming of Christ is found in Isaiah 7:14-16. The real issue that confronts us in this passage is having faith in the Lord’s promises. Could the Lord be trusted to do what He had promised?

In the verses preceding, Ahaz, king of Judah, is told to ask for a sign. In this case, seeking a sign from God is not testing the Lord but is an expression of faith. Ahaz is called to respond in faith to the Word of God spoken by Isaiah. Ahaz is called to act as one who believes the Lord, but Ahaz refuses and presents his refusal with spiritual words (v. 12). However, the Lord offers a sign and that is not the same as seeking a sign. Ahaz was so entrenched in his unbelief that he refused the offer. His words of response are spiritual words from an unbelieving man.

As Isaiah makes clear in v. 13, the only way we can have the Lord is to trust Him. We must trust His word and demonstrate that trust through our obedience. Ahaz was trying the patience of God. It is here that we come to this sign of the virgin birth. In its context, it is a sign not to persuade for faith but to confirm the lack of faith. It is a confirmation of God’s displeasure and the failure of Ahaz.

A virgin would be with Child and bear a son and His name would be called Immanuel, God with us (v. 14). The fulfillment is seen in Matt. 1:23 in the birth of Jesus. The Son of God would be born into this world by a virgin. He would be reared in dire poverty, eating curds and honey.

Connected to His coming is the destruction of those who do not believe (vv. 16-17). The house of David was on the brink of unparalleled disaster due to the sinful failure of unbelief. Jesus was born because the house of David failed. Jesus was born because the human race had failed. All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christmas is all about faith; it is about faith in Christ to do what no other could do, to bring salvation to a fallen and failing human race.

Growing on the Journey

2006-10-18T14:37:00.000-05:00

Those of us who profess being disciples of Christ are to attain knowledge of the Son of God that we might become mature in Christ (Eph. 4:11-16). We are no longer to be "children tossed here and there by waves . . ." (v. 14); rather, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head (v. 15). Paul goes on to say that this growth is to occur for the proper working of each part of the body and for the building up of the body (v. 16). This is how Paul spoke of church growth. It is about maturity in Christ.

Let me illustrate what Paul said for you in terms of what this means for the church and for inviduals. If I have a baby born into this world but refuse to feed that baby or do not feed the baby properly, what is going to happen? The baby will suffer from malnutrition and will not grow properly and will very possibly die. The point is that local churches must provide spiritual food and teaching that will nourish the spiritual growth of disciples - feeding/teaching the church/disciples is not an option!

Let’s turn the tables for a moment. Suppose I have a baby born into this world but that baby refuses to eat or nurse. The baby shows no interest in the food and nourishment offered. There is no hunger or appetite for food. What happens to a parent in that situation? One thing - ALARM! Something is wrong with this baby and if that problem is not corrected, we are going to have one very sick baby. The point is that disciples are to seek out spiritual nourishment for their souls that they might grow in Christ. Healthy disciples are hungry for Christ and His Word.

In 2 Peter 3, Peter says that followers of Christ are to be on guard against those who are untaught and unstable. The reason to be on guard is so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness. Rather than fall away, we are
to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (v. 18). How am I going to do that? Can I do this all on my own? The Bible says that we cannot do it on our own; God has not intended for us to do that on our own. We need the body of Christ, the church (Hebrews 10:23-25). What is at stake when I forsake the assembly of the church is not just my personal growth but the growth of the entire body. As a disciple of Christ, I must be concerned about that growth and seek to encourage others in following Christ on a well-spent journey.

Sands of Time

2006-09-19T15:25:00.000-05:00

My inspiration for this blog is a great old hymn by Anne Ross Cousin called "The Sands of Time Are Sinking." The hymn focuses the mind and heart of the Christian upon the great prize to be won on this journey through life. Each of us are longing for the "fair sweet morn" when we will enter the glory of Immanuel's land. If you have been around Christian worship services at all, you will know that they are replete with songs of heaven and the life to come. There is nothing quite so encouraging and edifying to the heart of a believer than that blessed hope. However, I do think that we Christians are often focused on the bliss and blessings of heaven and not the Lord Jesus who is the very substance of heavenly bliss and blessing. That is what I love so much about this great hymn, "The Sands of Time Are Sinking." It truly turns our hearts to the Immanuel of Immanul's land.

The King there in His beauty,

Without a veil is seen:

It were a well-spent journey,

Though seven deaths lay between:

The Lamb, with His fair army,

Doth on Mount Zion stand;

And glory, glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.

I pray that my heart and your heart will be set on our Beloved Savior so that we might truly have a well-spent journey for the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.