One Page Overview of Unpacking Forgiveness

Unpacking Forgiveness is an excellent book written by Chris Brauns. Over at his website, the author has posted a one page overview, which would be a great place to start to see what this book is all about.

Update On Reading...

While I'm busy this week prepping for the weekend and getting ready for camp (next week) I thought I'd post on what I've been reading...

I'm doing lots of background work on Luke and specifically Luke 15 for sermon prep. Particularly helpful have been a couple of books by Kenneth Bailey: The Cross and the Prodigal and Poet & Peasant.

I just finished volume 2 (of 4) in Spurgeon's Autobiography.

Along with the Elders, I have really been helped by Elyse Fitzpatrick & Dennis Johnson's recent book entitled Counsel from the Cross, which gives us more practical ways to employ the Gospel in our interactions with others.

I'm almost done with Voddie Baucham's What He Must Be, which has been helpful in reminding me of my role and my responsibilities as a father.

Mark Driscoll's latest, Religion Saves, was quickly worked through. Lots of helpful things in here from birth control to worship to law & grace.

Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck's recent Why We Love The Church has been thoroughly enjoyable. I'm still rather early in it, but the introductions alone drop a grenade of sorts on our preconceived ideas about the church and the casual relationship so many of us have with her.

I know that I struggle consistently with fear of man related tendencies, so I picked up Pleasing People by Lou Priolo to give me some godly counsel.

I think I was tipped off at Piper's Pastor's Conference to the book The Mission of God by Christopher Wright and it was a good tip off. It demonstrates how God has always been on mission and how we can know His heart for missions by looking at His Word. I chop away at this book to the tune of a chapter a week or so.

Also on the list to read soon are:
Manly Dominion by Mark Chanski (another book related to my role in marriage)
Get Outta My Face! by Rick Horne (book on parenting teenagers)

Also, I nearly forgot Broken Down House by Paul David Tripp, an excellent book on issues related to sanctification and living in a way the redeems what sin has destroyed.

That's been all lately. I have some other books that I've finished and would highly recommend, but I'll save those for another post.

Go!

I thought we had a great Lord's Day today. I finished up Mark 16:19-20 on Christ and His Followers. I was struck by a few things...

1) I am not the evangelist I should be.
2) The Gospel sets me free from disobedience to freely sharing the good news.
3) Much strategy can (and should) be employed in this terrifying campaign of advancing the Gospel.

What things stuck out to you?

Keeping the proper perspective on family...

I was directed back to Voddie Baucham's excellent book Family Driven Faith recently. One of the major themes of the book is how God has set apart the family as the primary means of grace for children to be reared on a proper foundation of loving God. Unfortunately, many today feel that this role should be done by the church. Voddie comments on how reading an average youth ministry's purpose statement sounds really incredible, covering all of the bases, but then he laments:

There's just one problem with the aforementioned mission statement. It makes absolutely no mention of parents! This ministry sets out to do for teens what God commands parents to do. Think about it. It is not the job of the youth pastor to evangelize my child -- that's my job. It is not the youth pastor's job to equip (disciple) my child -- it's mine. And it is not the youth pastor's job to send my child out to engage the world; you guessed it -- that's my job too. (pp.176-177)

There are an increasing number of people who think that it is the church's job to provide all this kind of "meaningful programming" for their kids. All the while, in their very admission, they are confessing with their life and lips that they don't measure up the standard God has clearly set forth for them in His Word. This doesn't mean the parenting task is easy or that we shouldn't seek help in doing this most effectively. It does mean that we shouldn't shirk our duties to others.

Isn't this an amazing gift that God has given us? May all of our families be tools in God's hands to further glorifying and enjoying God, forever, in the lives of our children.

For more info on Voddie and his ministry, visit Family Driven Faith.

Spurgeon - Christ and His Co-Workers

In prepping to preach this coming Lord's Day (7/12), I have really benefitted from C.H. Spurgeon's sermon on Mark 16:20 - Christ and His Co-Workers. Among many things, I thought this description of how we need to be proclaiming the Gospel was very revealing:

A great many learned men are defending the Gospel—no doubt it is a very proper and right thing to do—yet I always notice that when there are most books of that kind, it is because the Gospel, itself, is not being preached. Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion, a full-grown king of beasts! There he is in a cage and here come all the soldiers of the army to fight for him. Well, I would suggest to them, if they would not object and feel that it was humbling to them, that they should kindly stand back, open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him, for he would take care of himself—and the best “apology” for the Gospel is to let the Gospel out! Never mind about defending Deuteronomy or the whole of the Pentateuch—preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified! Let the Lion out and see who will dare to approach Him! The Lion of the tribe of Judah will soon drive away all His adversaries! This was how Christ’s first disciples worked—they preached Jesus Christ wherever they went! They did not stop to apologize, but boldly bore their
witness concerning Him.

Pray that God would work through His Word this Sunday to inspire in us this kind of boldness.

iWitnesses to His Glory...

Today's sermon, "iWitness" from Mark 16:9-18 is now online. I thought God's Word just opened up in amazing ways and we were able to see how we can be bold in our witness as well as how vast our witness should be. I hope this message was a service to you.

I was really struck by all the excuses I can make for not sharing the good news. May God shake us with boldness for Him.

Witness...

Tomorrow's sermon, entitled "iWitness", will be over Mark 16:9-18. It seems that in the wake of the resurrection and the surprising ending of v.8, some witnessing did occur. Join as we gather together as the church and are reminded of the big kingdom calling that Jesus the Lord has planned for His followers.

Spurgeon's Prayer - Die to Self, Live for Him

I was really helped by Spurgeon's Autobiography this morning. In Volume 2, Chapter 19, Spurgeon's wife is recounting some of those early years, particularly one time when they were going through a hard season of ministry. Here's her recounting:

It was in the garden of a house belonging to one of the deacons, in the suburbs of Croydon, whither my beloved had been taken in hope that the change and quiet would be beneficial, that the Lord was pleased to restore his mental equilibrium, and unloose the bars which had kept his spirit in darkness. We had been walking together, as usual;--he, restless and anguished; I, sorrowful and amazed, wondering what the end of these things would be;--when, at the foot of the steps which gave access to the house, he stopped suddenly, and turned to me, and with the old sweet light in his eyes, (ah! how grievous had been its absence!) he said, "Dearest, how foolish I have been! Why! what does it matter what becomes of me, if the Lord shall be glorified?" -- and he repeated, with eagerness and intense emphasis, Philippians 2:9-11: "Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name; that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." "If Christ be exalted," he said, -- and his face glowed with holy fervour, -- "let Him do so as He pleases with me; my one prayer shall be, that I may die to self and live wholly for Him and His honour. Oh, wifey, I see it all now! Praise the Lord with me!" (p.192)

This is how we should face the hard times. Oh, for grace to honor God in such a manner!

Loving the Church...

Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, who recently wrote a book Why We Love The Church were guest columnists this week in the religion section of the Washington Post/Newsweek forum. Their comments are very revealing:

Perhaps Christians are leaving the church because it isn't tolerant and open-minded. But perhaps the church-leavers have their own intolerance too--intolerant of tradition, intolerant of authority, intolerant of imperfection except their own. Are you open-minded enough to give the church a chance--a chance for the church to be the church, not a coffee shop, not a mall, not a variety show, not Chuck E. Cheese, not a U2 concert, not a nature walk, but a wonderfully ordinary, blood-bought, Spirit-driven church with pastors, sermons, budgets, hymns, bad carpet and worse coffee?

This is a great challenge for us in this day and age where we church hop and shop around based on our whims and desires. We've heard of going to those churches who can give you an oil change while the service is happening. What Christ calls us to, however, is not a casual relationship with His bride, but a commitment. Let's, to use the words of DeYoung and Kluck, give the church a chance.

9 Marks Weighs In (on Missions)

The latest 9Marks E-Journal (for July/August 09) is online. The focus is on Missions. Good reading!

Free Audio of Crazy Love Book

One of our adult SS classes is studying the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Over at Christian Audio, they are offering as their special for the month of July, a free download of the entire book in audio format, read by Chan himself. Here's the instructions:

Add the download format of Crazy Love to your cart and enter the coupon code JUL2009 when prompted during checkout. This normally runs $13.99 but is free for the month. So enjoy!

Only 3 Weeks?

...Yes. Only three weeks until I leave with students and adults from our church for Student Life Missions Camp. It looks like we will have a great week, with Neil McClendon as Camp Pastor and Billy & Cindy Foote leading our music. The theme is Flip! There's also some great promotional videos available. We have been assigned an amazing missions opportunity. We get to work with a local community service organization that assists women. We will be painting and serving them.

Pray for this week as details come together. Pray for the staff at the camp. They have been doing this for weeks now and we want to refresh the spirits of all we encounter. Pray for our group to minister and reach out. Pray for God's glory to be seen in all we do.

Resurrection Realities

Today's sermon is up and thought I would post on it. Seemed like a different kind of sermon for me. So often, we talk about the resurrection as if it is some huge event and have a hard time drawing application. I'm not bemoaning the importance of it, but simply confessing how difficult it is to apply it to our lives.

Doctrine matters. The resurrection isn't just about an important part of the Gospel. The resurrection affects the way we live. Mark 16:1-8 seems to point to that. How does this show itself in your life.

Update on what's been happening...

Last week, blogging was slow (sorry) due to my being at my Mom's for the week. Got in Friday night. On Saturday, made final preps for Sunday and today is Sunday. Rolling right along. Just thought I'd update everyone.

Free Driscoll E-Book

Mark Driscoll has written a book entitled, Pastor Dad. Enjoy! Evidently the book is targeted to fathers being the men and leaders God has called them to be. If I didn't mention it, the book is available for free online.