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The Root of our Rejoicing

Great post over at the DG blog on Luke 10:20. "Our joy is not rooted in our successes, and it's not extinguished by our failures. Our joy is rooted in the unalterable fact that in Christ our names are written on heaven's roll-call." (Dan--I suppose this makes me a liar about my quip about my fermenting blog?)

The Power of Personal Integrity in Preaching

By Ray Ortlan--good stuff.

There is, thirdly, a personal aspect to sermon preparation.  "Out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks."  That is very profound.  Observing preachers through the years, I am convinced this is the secret "genius," so to speak, of great preaching.  A man of authentic humaneness, goodness, Jesus-like-ness, might not be a doctoral-level exegete, he might not be rhetorically sophisticated, but that man's preaching will be compelling because he is compelling.  Something is flowing out of him, something of Jesus himself.  The preacher's good heart, his core being, is well stocked with insights into and personal experiences of the living Christ.  He is therefore able to speak out of both the biblical text and his own intuitive knowledge of the Lord into the hearts of the people where they really live.  And they are helped, freed, lifted, saved.

David Platt on Missions

A most excellent message.

Dear God, Corner Me

Ligon Duncan's message at the T4G conference was so good. The crux of it was this: As with Elijah and Moses, God will deny you the dreams you want if he knows they will become idols that replace him as the treasure of your life. And he does it to give you a better treasure: himself. And it may come to pass that your dream of what would satisfy you in the world most (be it a ministry dream or not) will never be experienced by you simply because he wants to have your heart devoted to and satisfied in him above all. Moses never entered the promised land. Elijah never say Israel restored back to God. But they both, one day, stood on a mountain and saw Jesus when it was all over. And they most certainly were more satisfied in what God gave them than in what they wanted to give themselves.

5 Things for the Inner Life

I'm parking this here for now. I suspect a few more things in the coming days. But then again, I could be imagining it.

A voice of love

What a sappy title. But here's the deal: When we are tempted to walk down a path that leads to sin, that path is not simply on the way to a bad place, it is on a path away from a good place--THE good place: namely, enjoying God. And while on our way to this bad place, God will whisper or in some cases shout (more on this later) to turn us back to the right path. It's amazing to think how much God cares for us that he speaks to our hearts through our consciences in order that we would be spared the sorrow of that bad place we were headed, but more importantly, to reward our obedience to his voice with the gift of more awareness of his very self (and I would argue this is more active than we typically think of it, especially for the Spirit-dwelt believer).

It occurred to me yesterday that we may inwardly desire (and sometimes outwardly express a desire) for an experience like the Apostle Paul had on the road to Damascus. He was on his path to a bad place: sin. And God spoke to him and asked him what he was doing. He asked with whom he was speaking. "The Lord, whom you are persecuting." This changed his life so much that he was able to say that though he was the chief of sinners (off to persecute Christ's bride) he was shown mercy (what grace!) and he also gained a valuation of Christ that made everything else garbage compared to knowing Him. "If only I," we think, "had and experience like that, I would have real faith--I would be stronger, and more attuned to Christ."

But the truth is, God does speak to us. He whispers all the time--especially when we are moving away from him. We hear it, and we ignore it. And in doing so, we miss his love. We miss Him. Like Paul, perhaps we should spend some time thinking about what kind of God (Who are you Lord?) this is that we are dealing with. It's easy for me to think of him as this angry, "how dare you disobey the Omnipotent of the Universe!" kind of God. But when we think a bit harder, we can see that he is really after us much more tenderly than that. I think we imagine a harsh tone, because we think that is what we deserve and what will motivate us. But he doesn't give what we deserve, and he doesn't want us to be motivated that way. He speaks tenderly but with all the authority of the God that he is. And this should awaken us to want to be with such a person. That such a Person would interact with us in such a benevolent way is dumbfounding.

The influence of psychology on pastoral ministry

This is an excellent analysis of how secular psychology has invaded a fundamental responsibility of the Christian faith. This takeover was really pretty overt when you listen to Powlison's analysis. CCEFs mission statement becomes more compelling after you listen to this.

Restore Christ to Counseling and Counseling to the Church.

The Center of the Universe: You, kind of...

About a year ago, John Piper received a sort of exhortation from a woman in his church whom he really respected and which he heeded. He talks about it here. The crux of the matter is that in all of his (right) emphasis on God being the main point, he unintentionally downplays how God feels about us. One way he often puts it is this: do you feel most loved when God makes much of you, or when you are allowed by God to make much of him? This is a good distinction, especially as ballast in our boats as we sail through the frothy seas of our culture's "self-esteem" talk (though my sense is that the current of the self-esteem movement from the 80s and 90s is ebbing and being replaced with other currents to achieve self-actualization). But the question still lingers a bit--God is gospel and therefore our chief hope in heaven ought to be union with him and not merely the absence of pain, reunion with loved ones, etc; however, how do we experience some of God's massive affection for us and do so joyfully in a way that doesn't ultimately make much of us? Or to put it yet another way, how do we seek God in a way that sees him as an end and not as a means to other ends for which we might seek him?


I don't exactly know the answer, but this post (thanks RP) by Kevin DeYoung points to a biblical way to think a little more about it:

Do not think that salvation comes to sinners because God has a cosmic purpose for the universe and individual sinners happen to be a part of that universe. The movement of salvation is not from everything to individuals, but from individuals to everything. Don’t mistake regeneration, redemption, and adoption as byproducts of the larger work God is doing to restore creation. That logic is backwards. Biblically, it’s the renewal of all things that rides in on the coattails of the salvation of sinners. “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:19-21). The creation is waiting to experience the freedom and glory we already experience as the children of God. The next time you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself, or feel unappreciated, or imagine yourself ignored by God, remember: In Christ, you have what the universe is after.

More on Biblical Counseling

As I listen to David Powlison's lectures, I am more and more convinced of his approach and more and more aware of how much secular psychology we have swallowed in the church. And it is really unhelpful--even harmful--to do not correct our wrong thinking here.

Here is an example of some of his wisdom, "couched" in a little humor. (Video only below.)

Some Resources to Help Us Think About Forgiveness

The Forgiveness Project (Tim Keller)
Relating to Someone who Really Hurt You (John Piper)
The Forgiveness Quiz (Chris Brauns)
Forgive us our Debts as We Forgive our Debtors (Piper--a less practical approach than the aforementioned)
So Far as it Depends on You (Piper)
Keller Audio -- Several Messages. Free if you click on the Titles, pay if you click on the "listen" links.
Ligon Duncan message audio or manuscript.

And, well, a bunch of good ones over at Gospel Coalition

Are we excited about the gospel?

"There are some wonderful instances of ordinary Christians, not least the young, who are concerned to preach the whole gospel unabashedly and do good first to the household of God and then, as much as is possible, outside as well. That has got biblical mandate behind it. . . .
My warning would be to those who are coming along and talking a lot about, “I want to be faithful to the gospel, but I also want to do social justice and good works.” My warning would be: it is not just what you do, it is what you are excited about.

If I have learned anything in 35 or 40 years of teaching, it is that students don’t learn everything I teach them. What they learn is what I am excited about, the kinds of things I emphasize again and again and again and again. That had better be the gospel.

If the gospel—even when you are orthodox—becomes something which you primarily assume, but what you are excited about is what you are doing in some sort of social reconstruction, you will be teaching the people that you influence that the gospel really isn’t all that important. You won’t be saying that—you won’t even mean that—but that’s what you will be teaching. And then you are only half a generation away from losing the gospel.

Make sure that in your own practice and excitement, what you talk about, what you think about, what you pray over, what you exude confidence over, joy over, what you are enthusiastic about is Jesus, the gospel, the cross. And out of that framework, by all means, let the transformed life flow."

– Don Carson, lecture, “Is the Culture Shaping Us or are We Shaping the Culture?” delivered at the CBMW Different By Design Conference (Feb. 2, 2009, Minneapolis, MN)

(HT: CJ Mahaney via Tony Reinke via Desiring God)

Tools for seeing and preaching Christ in/from the OT

Here.

Holiness--currently un-hip.

Francis Chan talked in his message at Desiring God's THINK conference about the connection that James speaks of between our righteousness and our prayers being answered. This article draws that out more. And excerpt:

When is the last time we took a verse like Ephesians 5:4–“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving”–when is the last time we took a verse like this and even began to try to apply this to our conversation, our joking, our movies, our you tube clips, our t.v. and commercial intake? The fact of the matter is if you read through the New Testament epistles you will find very few explicit commands that tell us to evangelize and very few explicit commands that tell us to take care of the poor in our communities, but there are dozens and dozens of verses in the New Testament that enjoin us, in one way or another, to be holy as God is holy (e.g., 1 Peter 1:13-16).

Another false gospel exemplified.

Extreme Gospel Makeover

Under Authority: The Bad with the Good

Please give the Scripture authority over you in the areas that you don't want to hear because of you don't how will he ever heal you? [...] What's going to happen when your heart is broken and you feel like a failure (condemnation) and the bible says "when our hearts condemn us he is greater than our hearts"? How can God come in and give you hope and give you love unless you give the bible the authority over you to give you the good things? If you don't let God have authority over you to tell you the bad things, how will he ever heal you? -Tim Keller

Good point. If we can't trust him with the "bad" things, it diminishes our ability to trust him with the good things. Trust and obedience in what is hard makes trusting the great and precious promises plausible.  If we reject his authority over us, we will eventually reject his benevolence upon us.

Kevin DeYoung on being an ordinary Christian.

"In the grand scheme of things, most of us are going to be more of an Ampliatus (Rom. 16:8) or Phlegon (v. 14) than an apostle Paul. And maybe that’s why so many Christians are getting tired of the church. We haven’t learned how to be part of the crowd. We haven’t learned to be ordinary. Our jobs are often mundane. Our devotional times often seem like a waste. Church services are often forgettable. That’s life. We drive to the same places, go through the same routines with the kids, buy the same groceries at the store, and share a bed with the same person every night. Church is often the same too — same doctrines, same basic order of worship, same preacher, same people. But in all the smallness and sameness, God works..."

Two Chapters that Go Great Together

On a fluke that I won't try to explain here, I ended up listening to Luke 16 and Luke 24 back to back. Try it, paying attention to the themes of resurrection, and Moses and the Prophets.

A Needed Corrective to My Achellies Heel

This is an important observation. I think it is safe to say that the gospel-centered movement has as it's main "prefect" Pastor Tim Keller. And while I really doubt that he is liable to make the error described in said article above, it is entirely possible for those of us who see (rightly) the value of gospel-centeredness to forget the vary things that this article talks about. Namely, don't forget the God of the gospel we are excited about nor forget about his work in those who are not necessarily gospel-centric in the sense that we understand that term. They still love the gospel and the God of it. Don't overlook that. [Last phrases to be said in front of mirror.]

Flying Car for the Gospel

What does this have to do with the gospel?
Well, it could be used for missions.
And it will be.

Poem from Newton

From DG:

Prayer Answered by Crosses
By John Newton
I asked the Lord that I might grow 

In faith and love and every grace, 

Might more of his salvation know, 

And seek more earnestly his face.

‘Twas he who taught me thus to pray; 

And he, I trust, has answered prayer; 

But it has been in such a way 

As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that, in some favoured hour, 

At once he’d answer my request, 

And by his love’s constraining power 

Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, he made me feel 

The hidden evils of my heart, 

And let the angry powers of hell 

Assault my soul in every part.

Yea, more, with his own had he seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe, 

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, 

Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this? I trembling cried; 

Wilt thou pursue this worm to death? 

This is the way, the Lord replied
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I now employ 

From self and pride to set thee free,
And break they schemes of earthly joy, 

That thou may’st seek thy all in me.

Erik Raymond

So I ran across his blog today and so far I like what I see. Below in an excerpt from one post that really resonates with why I even post anything here on Gospel Media Tour.

The pastor still shows God’s requirement (law) and exposes our shortcomings (sin). However, instead of bidding the Christian to look inward for righteousness, the pastor lovingly and faithfully raises his brother or sister’s eyes to Christ and what he has done for us.
Don’t get me wrong. I am NOT saying that pastors should not preach the commands of Scripture. I am not even saying that Christians should not feel guilty when they sin. But what I am saying is that when we experience this guilt we are not to look inward for our righteousness but outward. The guilt is not a dark cloud of despair that we sit under until we outrun it through our good works and obedience, instead guilt over sin is to be a divinely dispatched chauffeur that drives us to the cross where we see the culmination of Jesus’ obedience for us.

Imperative vs Indicative

"The challenge, often times, is to make certain the indicative (what Christ has done) before unloading (or confusing) the imperative (what we must do)." -Erik Raymond

I need to find somewhere that unpacks that more, but it is such a crucial distinction.

UPDATE: Thanks to RP for his comment below, which I bring up here to provide the link to more on this idea.

Get the gospel in there.

The Gospel is what we are to proclaim. Obviously, it ought to be central then to our lives and message. In numerous places on this blog I have referred to what it is, so I won't reiterate it here. No, what I want to talk about here is how central the message of the gospel of the cross of Christ needs to be in preaching. There are a ton of reasons for this, but here is just one.

The Bible is not our message, though the message is in our Bibles. It seems to me that we who are passionate about getting our exegesis right forget a cardinal rule: context--specifically, context at a macro level. We are quick to make sure that the verse we are looking at is understood in light of the sentences around it, the flow of the rest of the book and the intent of the author in that book (especially in the epistles) and as long as we have our exegesis right within that scope we've done our job. And this is right and good to do. But at a macro level, we have to not only look at the context of the verse in the chapter in the book; but also the context of the book in the Bible.

What is the Bible about? We cannot preach rightly without taking that into consideration. In numerous places we find Jesus telling people that the Bible is about Him. On the road to Emmaus after his resurrection Jesus said the scriptures were about him. To the pharisees in John he scolded them for studying the scriptures because they thought the right understanding of them gave them eternal life but they missed it because they didn't see that the scriptures were about him. In 1 Corinthians 15, the gospel is outlined "according to the scriptures"--that Christ's death was foretold there. Paul reminds us that his central message was the cross and that he wanted to know nothing more than Jesus and him crucified among his hearers. In 2 Corinthians, the ministry of every believer is the ministry of reconciliation--the gospel of God restoring his relationship with man through the cross. This is what the bible is about. This is what we ought to be about. It is the only hope for those sick with sin.

When our preaching does not drip with blood of the Lamb, what then have we proclaimed? The blood of Christ must splatter upon those who hear our message or our message is not the message of the Bible. Lord give us blood-soaked preachers.

More Old News

This time in song. You may have to imagine the melody. Because of a gifted friend, I don't. If he finishes what he's started, others will get to hear it too. I'm looking forward to that day but this song points to an even better one. Oh what hope we have!

Let us love and sing and wonder,
Let us praise the Savior's Name!
He has hushed the law's loud thunder,
He has quenched Mount Sinai's flame.
He has washed us with His blood,
He has brought us nigh to God.

Let us love the Lord Who bought us,
Pitied us when enemies,
Called us by His grace, and taught us,
Gave us ears and gave us eyes:
He has washed us with His blood,
He presents our souls to God.

Let us sing, though fierce temptation
Threaten hard to bear us down!
For the Lord, our strong Salvation,
Holds in view the conqueror's crown:
He Who washed us with His blood
Soon will bring us home to God.

Let us wonder; grace and justice
Join and point to mercy's store;
When through grace in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles and asks no more:
He Who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God.

Let us praise, and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high;
Here they trusted Him before us,
Now their praises fill the sky:
“Thou hast washed us with Your blood;
Thou art worthy, Lamb of God!'

Hark! the Name of Jesus, sounded
Loud, from golden harps above!
Lord, we blush, and are confounded,
Faint our praises, cold our love!
Wash our souls and songs with blood,
For by Thee we come to God.