Live the Cross

5 Ways to Pray for the Thailand Team

2012-01-16T14:06:00.007-05:00

The Thailand team (Dr. John, John Hetrick, and I) are leaving Thursday morning at 8am for a ten day trip that will be split between visiting UB churches in northern Thailand and Hong Kong. The following is a brief list of specifics you can pray about while we are gone.

1. Ask God to forge friendships. This trip will have many introductions and first impressions. Ask the Lord to help us open our hearts to new friends.

2. Ask the Father to give us clarity of thought. Much of our time will be spent listening and asking questions, so we need sharp minds despite the long travels.

3. Ask God to help us boil down the differing perspectives on our team into a firm understanding of the ministries we assess. The better information we bring home, the better decisions we will be able to make for the future.

4. Ask the Lord to keep us sensitive to cultural differences so that we bring honor to our hosts.

5. And finally, ask God to give us opportunities to bless our hosts and minister in their community, and for the courage to do so.

God Wins

2011-06-01T16:32:00.001-04:00

Here is a sermon from this past Sunday addressing the doctrine of Hell.

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Hoping vs. Wishing for an Impermanent Hell

2011-05-25T16:11:00.001-04:00

As I prepare this week to speak on the doctrine of Hell, I am struggling a bit with my feelings. I think Michael Wittmer summarizes well the tension I have:

Our hopes are only as strong as the reasons we have for holding them. Some hopes are nothing more than a wish—I hope that it doesn’t rain tomorrow or that my team will win the game. But Christian hope, the kind that makes the top cut with faith and love (1 Cor. 13:13), is grounded in the promises of God. Such hope is “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Heb. 6:19), because it rests in what “God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time” (Titus 1:2).

I wish that God would empty hell, that he would save everyone who has ever lived. But I can’t say I hope for that, because I don’t have a promise from God to hang my hope on. Christians may have lots of good wishes for deceased atheists, but we don’t have hope. Not because we are mean or stingy, but because we dare not offer more hope than God promises in Scripture. That would be false hope, the cruelest hope of all.

Michael Wittmer, Christ Alone: An Evangelical Response to Rob Bell's "Love Wins," (Edenridge Press: 2011), Kindle Edition.

Is God Celebrating Osama bin Laden's Death? Should We?

2011-05-02T14:07:00.004-04:00

There is a palpable joy in the streets because a man is dead.

This isn't going to win me any elections, or friends, but it needs to be said. God is not happy that Osama bin Laden is dead; not if you understand happiness to be a feeling of pleasure. God certainly brought about this death, as he does with all deaths. And in my opinion I believe both human and divine justice were served by this death. But there is no pleasure in this for God, and something sick in the human heart is revealed when we find there a pleasure that God himself does not share.

Consider Ezekiel 18:21-24
21 “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? 24 But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

The rhetorical question is answered explicitly in vs. 32, just in case you thought God was just asking questions and not communicating a proposition.

"For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live."

Osama bin Laden's death should be a somber, sobering occasion for anyone who knows the Lord, who understands the weight of sin because of the price paid for it. Justice glorifies God's holy character, his sinless perfection, and his utter rejection of all evil, but it brings him no joy at all.

So why are so many in the street celebrating justice like their team just won the Superbowl? There are probably lots of reasons. I'm not saying everyone standing in the street draped in a flag is sinning just like I'm not saying everyone who reacted calmly is righteous in their hearts. Instead, I think this occasion is a fine time to check our hearts to see how close to Christ we are on the issue of justice and joy, and I think Ezekiel can help us.

Meditate on this changed scenario and question:

Osama bin Laden is captured and imprisoned. He is tried and convicted of his crimes and receives capital punishment. During the trial, he has a change of heart. He hears a message of forgiveness in Jesus and understands the grave sin of his heart and life. He is transformed by the Holy Spirit. He puts his faith in Jesus and goes to the gallows with the peace of knowing he has been forgiven and will be with Jesus in a few short moments. He will never receive any punishment from God for the 9/11 attacks, because Jesus died for that sin.

Compared to reality, does this scenario bring you more or less joy?

Refreshing Your Bible Reading

2011-03-30T15:13:00.007-04:00

In recent weeks God has brought me into a few conversations with friends who are struggling to read the Bible with interest and devotion. It is not uncommon for a Christian to experience "dry spells" in this vital spiritual discipline. My advice varies based on the person with whom I am speaking, but generally it falls along the line of reading smaller sections and using the Scripture itself to inform your prayer life.

There are generally two kinds of reader (or non-reader in this case.) Either the person knows a lot about the Bible and is burned out from reading it, or the person is not a reader (of any kind) and finds sitting down to read anything at all a challenge.

David Powlison is part of the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, which has ties to the school where I am currently studying, Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He offers some excellent advice in this video from their website: http://www.ccef.org/.

Dr. David Powlison - Making Scripture Personal from CCEF on Vimeo.

Re-Thinking Mission with Kevin DeYoung

2011-01-31T17:13:00.002-05:00

At the 2010 Sovereign Grace Ministries conference, Kevin DeYoung, a pastor in East Lansing, MI, gave an address on the mission of the church. It is over an hour in length and worth listening to in full. DeYoung calls us to think about the mission of the church in terms of the Great Commission in response to popular notions today of expanding the mission to include humanitarian aid or social justice work.

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/blogs/sgm/post/Kevin-DeYoung-Rethinking-the-Mission-of-the-Church.aspx

Some intial thoughts.

1. Changing the "oughts" to "cans" is brilliant. There are all sorts of ways the church can spread the Gospel in their communities. We don't need to argue that Jesus' ministry included equal emphasis on spiritual salvation and meeting physical needs in order to help people. Jesus did meet needs while he proclaimed the Gospel because of his compassion for the people. We can meet needs as we fulfill the mission of making disciples.

2. The church should purpose to do what only the church can do. DeYoung's survey of Acts clearly demonstrates the priority the early church placed on proclaiming the Gospel and establishing the local church. Acts does contain plenty of giving, sharing, and caring for the poor (e.g. Acts 2, 5, 6), but these examples demonstrate how the church functions internally, not how it reached the Gentile world.

3. As a missions pastor of a very large church, one of my tasks is to keep the many missions passions of my congregation tied to the anchor of the biblical mission of the church. So as my church considers a missions endeavor, it is a good idea to ask the question, "How is this endeavor going to create disciples who passionately follow Jesus in the context of the body of Christ?"

Meeting a Baseball Hero: One Year Later

2011-01-12T09:37:00.002-05:00

For those who remember my brief but tragic saga from a year ago, this year is the year! For those of you who don't, last year I was given the gift of speaking after Tom Brookens, third baseman for the Detroit Tigers in the late 70s and 80s. He is the current first base coach for the Tigers. I grew up rooting for Tom Brookens. When I was six, they won the World Series. Tom was a household favorite, and I was asked to speak after him at the Wild Game feast last year.

And then it hit.

The great storm of 2010. Now, in Michigan this was just your average snowstorm. But here in PA, people lost their brains. Mothers were raiding Walmart for canned goods like the first horseman of the apocalypse had just been spotted. So the event was canceled, and along with it my shot at meeting a baseball hero from my childhood.

But the Lord has remembered his servant Kyle (He probably has way bigger plans than just me, but this is how I like to see it.) The 2011 Wild Game Feast is happening January 29th at King Street Church in the Baker Center. Exhibits are open at 5pm with dinner to begin at 6pm. Tickets are available at the KSC office, and if you come they are asking people to bring a hot and a cold dish to serve 8 people.

So if you're local, come on out and meet Tom Brookens and listen to him tell cool baseball stories. I'm hoping for some insider info on the 1984 World Series win over the Padres. And when he's finished regaling us with cool stuff, you'll get to hear from one really excited little boy.

Kick Off with Tim Keller

2011-01-03T15:15:00.002-05:00

Hope you had a good holiday season. Rachel and I spent some time away and I took the month off from blogging. But now I'm back and hope to share some small insights with you in 2011.

Here's an intriguing speech from Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York. Much of my thinking and research lately has been on the mission of the church, particularly as it relates to its local context. In this speech, Keller makes his case for the city and the grace that is found there. Since King Street Church is a large congregation in a downtown environment, I found a lot of food for thought here, particularly the discussion of Jeremiah 29 and the call to seek the peace (shalom) of the city as a part of the church's mission.

http://qideas.org/video/grace-and-the-city.aspx

Thankful to...

2010-11-25T09:24:00.002-05:00

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone.

Remember, there is always an object to thankfulness. A general feeling of thankfulness is the popular sentiment of Thanksgiving. But what is that? If you give thanks, you must give it to someone. So remember to take some time today to thank the Lord, whose face shines on his people in so many ways.

Psalm 67
To the Choirmaster: With Stringed Instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.

7 God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

The Hardest Thing I Have Ever Done

2010-11-15T09:39:00.004-05:00

It's been 24 hours since I ran the Harrisburg Marathon, and I have been trying to decide if saying that it's the hardest thing I've ever done is an overstatement. But I think it's probably correct to say that the last nine miles of this race were the mentally and physically most taxing accomplishment of my 32 years. In my four years of high school football I'm sure I came close to the physical fatigue of this race, but I did not have the mental anguish. Conversely, my graduate studies posed signnificant mental hurdles, but you don't have to jog 26 miles when writing your 80 page paper. So I think it's safe to say the last nine miles of this marathon have no true equal in my life.

The race was fun for the first 13 miles. It was a beautiful day: 63 degrees, partly sunny, no wind, fall colors, lots of cheering spectators including my wife, who surprised me by showing up several times throughout the course. She has really been a great support in this whole journey and it was awesome to have her there.

But I made a few rookie mistakes that really cost me near the end of the race.

The first mistake was starting too close to the front of the pack. I run 10 minute miles pretty consistently, but I started near people who ran nine minute miles or faster. So I was being passed quite a bit, and mentally that caused me to speed up, because it felt like I was going in slow motion. At the five mile mark I was at 45 minutes. That's a nine minute mile. I should have been a half mile back. I was using too much energy trying to maintain a pace for which I hadn't trained.

My second mistake was failing to walk at the water stations long enough. In training I walked for a full minute. But again, no one in the race was walking at the water stations, so I felt compelled, for no reason at all, to walk less at the water.

My third and most fatal mistake was trusting the race organizers when they said there would be gel packs available at the water stations after 13 miles. Gel is a small pack of high carbohydrate and electrolyte ooze that you eat while running to give your muscles energy. Long distance runners have to eat to keep going. I trusted that the gel would be there, but it wasn't. I got one pack at mile 13, but after that no other station had any gel. By mile 17 I could tell I was out of fuel. That's when I started to pray that God would give me strength to finish the final nine miles without the necessary energy. Miles 18-20 were all hills. When I got through those hills I was completely drained without any hope of refueling, and I still had to run six miles.

The final six miles I was in severe pain. Every muscle hurt, including my arms. A headache was forming due to the lack of calories. Everything in me told me to stop, and I had to battle through those thoughts. At one point I just had to tell myself to stop feeling bad about not having the calories, that nothing was going to change my situation, and that if I stopped moving I wouldn't start again. So at mile 21 I just started pushing myself and preaching at myself not to quit moving for any reason. It was a pretty surreal moment.

When I crossed the finish line, all I can remember is people cheering followed by people asking me if I was ok. I must have looked pretty sapped. Rachel came and gave me a big hug, put my medal around my neck, and wrapped a solar blanket around me. At first I couldn't enjoy it because I thought I was going to be sick or collapse. Neither happened.

A friend recently said if you can run a marathon you can do anything. It does feel a little like that now. Right now I can barely stand up, but in a few days I'll be back at it and, who knows, I might even sign up for another one.

Paranoia: 2 Days to 26.2 miles

2010-11-12T22:37:00.003-05:00

Even writing this post is adding to the paranoia.

I have a bad back. Normally it's fine, but about twice a year I'll be doing something really strenuous, like breathing or sitting, and all of the sudden my back will wrench itself in some horrible way, forcing me to lay flat for a couple of days. No joke. One time I was eating dinner with some friends. Mid-sentence I was raising my fork to my mouth and it threw my back out.

So since the beginning of this week I have been paranoid that I'll do something totally normal and injure myself before running this marathon. And then 18 weeks of vigorous training will culminate in nothing but a back injury incurred while sleeping (again, I'm not kidding, three weeks ago I tweaked my back while sleeping.)

So if you think of me over the next two days, ask God to protect me from myself until at least Sunday afternoon. Thankfully, I did not injure myself typing this post.

Carb Loading: 4 Days to 26.2 Miles

2010-11-10T10:45:00.003-05:00

So this has to be the best/worst week of marathon training. It's like one of those old "Got Milk" commercials. Allow me to explain.

This week I train like a sumo wrestler: I'm supposed to eat carbohydrate rich foods like bread, fruit, pasta, and other stuff that would make Dr. Atkins cringe. I also don't have to run very much. The idea is to fill my muscles with glucose so that I have the energy I need for the race. I'm like a squirrel preparing for winter.

But the problem is that I don't really want to eat. I'm too nervous, so nothing sounds very good. So while I would normally enjoy eating, especially during a week when I can write it off as part of my "athletic lifestyle," I'm not in the mood for anything. So much to eat, but I can't enjoy it. Got milk?

6 Days to 26.2 Miles

2010-11-07T19:58:00.007-05:00

This is it. Game week. I've been training for 17 weeks, and next Sunday is the day I run the Harrisburg Marathon. I must admit I'm pretty nervous. But over the last 17 weeks I've learned a few things that have kept me going, and I thought I would share them.

1. I Can Do This

My biggest hesitation back in May/June when I was wringing my hands was the thought, "I really don't think I can do this." The longest I had ever ran was 7 miles, and I knew what that felt like. So I put running 26.2 miles on par with learning to fly an airplane or running for president: a nice idea but not really feasible. At one point early in the training I had to stop 2 times during a 3 mile run because I thought I was going to collapse. I thought a marathon was a fairytale that day.

But now an 8 mile run seems short. Two weeks ago I ran 40 miles during the week, 20 of that at one time! I am simply amazed how discipline can prepare us for the unimaginable.

2. I Can Change

Back in April my doctor said something I thought I would never hear: "Kyle, you're slightly overweight." That was a first, and it pretty much ruined that day for me. Over the last 3-4 years or so I put on 25 pounds, taking me out of my ideal range. But I learned I don't have to accept this as "the new me." Like they say, if you burn more calories than you eat, you will lose weight. And sure enough, I've lost 20 pounds in 17 weeks. I'm at my high school weight! For me it took setting a goal other than weight loss. But I've learned that if I can get the right goal, I can change.

3. Exercise Takes Planning

If I have a long day at work and a long run scheduled, guess which one gets compromised. I figured out that if I'm going to actually run (not just say I am) I have to have both a schedule and a plan for accomplishing it. Of course, the fear of entering a marathon I can't finish keeps me pretty motivated. I'm now really careful to find the time I need to exercise.

4. Physical Fitness is Part of Discipleship

This one deserves its own blog post, but I'll summarize it here. God did not make disembodied spirits. The human body is not a result of the Fall, no matter how bad some of them look. He made us out of matter and breathes life into us. That makes our bodies important, and as unpopular as it is to say it in the church, the disregard many followers of Jesus show for their weight is sinful. Caring for our body is as much a stewardship issue as tithing faithfully or serving in the children's ministry. If God gives it to us, we need to care for it.

I knew this before I started running, but I have really learned it through the whole experience. Beyond health issues, staying fit has given me more energy, which means all the other stuff I do in life as worship to the Lord is higher quality, and that certainly affects my growth in Christ.

Slavery and Myth

2010-11-04T14:05:00.004-04:00

Here is a link to a remarkable speech from Joseph D'Souza, a leader in the church of India. In a little over eight minutes, he speaks on the largest source of modern slavery, the caste system and the degradation of the Dalit people. D'Souza gave this speech at the Third Lausanna Congress on World Evangelization, held last month in Cape Town, South Africa.

Reconciliation - Exploited and Oppressed People The Lausanne Global Conversation

Two of his points stand out to me as related and devastating.

Slavery is Founded in Creation Myth
At the base of the evil that causes a person to enslave another person is a belief that each person is created with greater or lesser value. If race is seen as a biological difference that reflects God's value on us, then we are not far from dividing ourselves along the same lines we believe God percieves. And the worst part of this sort of thinking is that our devaluing of another person can then be defended as reflective of our Creator's own design. This is what is happening in India. American slaveholders used the same myth.

The Church is Susceptible to Functioning Under the Same Myth
The consistent message of the Bible is that all humans are made in God's image and this high value in the eyes of God is modeled among his people, who live together and value each other in counter-cultural ways. There is no line that divides us one from another in value. Paul makes this point very carefully in Galatians 3:28-29. God certainly makes us different from each other with differing roles to play, but the value of each person is not determined by role.

And yet, the church gets this wrong so often. I found it chilling to hear D'Souza describe the church graveyard where the dead were divided by caste. Those graves now stand as a permanent reminder that the church can profess equality at the feet of Jesus and yet not allow the Gospel to shatter the sin endemic in so many cultural norms.

Missions Month: Week 3 -- Special Guest Mike Leonzo

2010-10-25T20:27:00.002-04:00

This week my friend Mike Leonzo was able to come share. Mike is the lead pastor at Living Water Community Church in Harrisburg, PA and also serves on the advisory board for Mosaix Global Network. Check out this very challenging message on Jesus' prayer of unity for his church.

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Missions Month: Week 2

2010-10-25T20:25:00.000-04:00

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Missions Month: Week 1

2010-10-11T17:20:00.002-04:00

For the benefit of my non-KSC readers, here's week one of The Fraglie Army sermon series.

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Missions Month Begins This Week

2010-10-06T23:27:00.002-04:00

For those of you who are part of King Street Church, this Sunday begins Missions Month, four weeks of focusing on the mission of the church in the world. We'll be studying 2Cor.4, with guest speaker Mike Leonzo joining us Oct.24 for what will be a very interesting look at multi-ethnic churches.

So what exactly is the mission of the church? In the video below, Kevin DeYoung, Ryan Kelly, and Greg Gilbert offer what I believe is a very helpful and thought-provoking discussion.

The Mission of the Church from Ben Peays on Vimeo.

Ed Stetzer Explaining What it Means to be "On Mission" with Jesus

2010-09-29T09:18:00.003-04:00

Ed Stetzer is among the clearest speakers and writers on the "missional movement" in the church today. The video quality here is not very high, but I share it with you because Stetzer offers a very good explanation to those who are interested in understanding how mission is a integral part of the calling of the church.

Tim Keller on Being Salt and Light

2010-09-23T09:54:00.002-04:00

Tim Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. He has written some extraordinary books and articles dealing with how Christians relate to and engage with society, particularly the city. Here he describes Jesus' metaphor of salt and light and how it is applied by two very different theologians: Dutch politician Abraham Kuyper and American professor Stanley Hauerwas, who teaches at Duke.

Mark Driscoll on the Missional Church

2010-09-09T13:17:00.003-04:00

Here is Pastor Mark Driscoll speaking on the missional church. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of what it means to be missional, this is a good primer. I will be speaking on this topic during Missions Month, Oct.10-31, at King Street Church. Between now and then I am going to focus the posts of this blog on understanding what it means to be on mission with Jesus in the world.

The Two Fisted, All American, Red Blooded, Heavy Weight Championship Run for Liberty, Justice, and the American Way

2010-08-21T16:40:00.014-04:00

Early this morning I lived the dream. But before I can tell you about it I need to explain three things. First, I'm in Philadelphia currently, studying for two weeks at Westminster Theological Seminary as I begin my doctorate program. Second, I'm in week 6 of an 18 week marathon training program. Third, and most importantly, I am a huge fan of Rocky. It's my favorite movie (the first one, if you're wondering.) So if you combine these ingredients, some of you will probably know where I'm going with this.

This morning I got up at 5am, cracked 5 eggs into a glass (ok, I had cereal,) jumped in my car, and headed to central Philly for the best 7 mile run on the planet for a Rocky fan. Like the jewel in the center of the ring, the run was made perfect by living out one of the best scenes in cinematic history. But, the rest of the run was pretty great too. In fact, I think it would be pretty tough to come up with a 7-mile running route that includes more history central to our country than the one I made today. Here is a list in order of everything I passed along the way.

Penn's Landing

I started at the base of the bridge that takes you over to the shore at Penn's Landing, where all the ships are docked. I got started at about 6:30am. No one was on the street, and there was almost no traffic, making this an ideal starting point.

Benjamin Franklin's Post Office and Print Shop

A few blocks down on the left is Ben Franklin's home and work complex. It's a very cool replica of his post office and printing shop. In the shop you can actually buy type-set prints of the Declaration of Independence. The remains of his actual house can also be viewed.

Independence Hall

This is the building where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. If you take the tour, you can sit in the rooms that housed the First Continental Congress.

The Liberty Bell

As you pass Independence Hall on your left, to your right is a nice view of the Liberty Bell. Did I mention this run was historic? On this jog, history wraps around you like a Snuggie.

City Hall

At this point we pass from history to pseudo-history. Philadelphia City Hall is certainly important in it's own right, but for me its real importance is the fact that in Rocky's training montage, he runs right through here. This was when Gonna Fly Now started playing through my head. I started to pick up the pace.

Philadelphia Museum of Art
I approached the historic steps from the left, dodging a few cars. I took them two at a time at full speed. There are a lot of steps! I was panting pretty heavily when I got to the top, but was it ever worth it! I turned around and gazed out over the city. It is a very cool view from up there.

Now, I was debating whether or not to throw my hands up in true Rocky fashion and jump up and down, but I must admit that I didn't. There were quite a number of other joggers and cyclists there, and none of them were carrying on like that. I decided not to be the guy who looked like a tourist, since, after all, I am actually training for something. But it really didn't take away from the experience. I couldn't stop smiling. The Rocky statue sits at the base of the steps and I ran past it as I continued my journey

The German Society of Pennsylvania
I then ran down Spring Garden St., which is anything but spring or garden-like. In fact, if I were to change anything about this run, I would probably alter the route at this point. However, I did pass the German Society of Pennsylvania, which, from the first sentence of the plaque I read as I ran by, I learned was a society to help German immigrants get the help they needed to live in America. It's historic, but wholly unimpressive. Not worth a picture.

Chinatown
I ran through the heart of Chinatown, which was kinda cool, but it's not nearly as big or colorful as the Chinatown in Washington D.C. Still, I was glad to see it, and there were at least three restaurants that grabbed my attention.

Christ Church
You'd think after a run so chock full of American goodness I couldn't fit one more stop. But alas, Penn's Landing is right next to Christ Church, where I parked. This is the church George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Betsy Ross attended, along with 15 signers of the Declaration of Independence. What did I do here, you ask? Cool down exercises in the courtyard, of course. Nothing completes the ultimate American run like quad stretches where the fathers of our country worshiped.

Cardboard Ministries

2010-08-03T12:15:00.005-04:00

This is an example of a cardboard ministries event. The power is in the numbers and the faces. Nothing transforms humanity like the Gospel.

A Week Among the Children of Bulawayo

2010-07-27T21:21:00.006-04:00

While my time in exotic Wisconsin shaped my mind, my time among the people of Bulawayo Zimbabwe sculpted my heart. This was not my first time among orphans in Africa, but it was the first time I lived with them, sat in their homes, and spent afternoons playing with them.

What comes to mind when you hear about African orphans? Need? Broken lives? What you can do with the price of a cup of coffee? I'll be honest, most of what I knew came from Sally Struthers commercials and odd parental warnings when I didn't eat all my dinner.

Here's what I saw: Smiling faces, kids playing soccer (futbol) in the yard, children and adults seated in the living room an hour each evening for Bible study prefaced with exuberant worship songs during which the children danced together. Yep, danced together. I spoke with one of the "aunties" who cares for the children. She lives in the home with her husband and biological child. All the kids see her as a parent, and she sees all the kids as her children. Her own child embraces all the kids as brothers and sisters. If I said that about Americans we might agree that this would be nice in theory but assume it would not happen in practice. I'm telling you, I saw it.

Can 94 children and a host of "aunties" and "uncles" truly be a family? I think so. I believe I saw the body of Christ formed from brokenness. He makes all things new.

A Few Days with Dallas Willard

2010-07-22T14:41:00.005-04:00

God molded me in two different ways over the past two weeks. Both were spiritual challenges, but one came through the molding of my mind and the other the molding of my heart.

As I mentioned in the last post, I took two trips back to back. I'll cover the first trip in this post. The first was a conference with Dallas Willard as the keynote speaker. It is not an overstatement to say that Dr. Willard's work has been one of the most influential factors in my Christian life. To spend a few days with him listening to his insights on the state of human depravity and the call to make disciples of Christ-like character was both a thrill and a challenge. It was an honor to be able to sit down with a man like this and thank him for the influence he has been on my life.

A few quotes will give you a taste of my experience:

On the question of original design: "What did God create us to be? For many Christians there is no answer to this question."

On the source of the human problem: "All of the troubles and failures of human existence are rooted in failure to think rightly about God."

On the Lord's prayer: "Unless we desire to hallow his name, then we will not want his kingdom to come or his will to be done."

On the full message of the Gospel: "Put your confidence in Jesus and live with him as a disciple now in the present Kingdom of God."

On the question of who we are: "You are a never ceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God's great universe."

On the relationship between faith and knowledge: "We are a people of knowledge, not of faith. Faith is based on knowledge." "It is on the basis of knowledge that people come to faith."

On the sermon on the mount: "We make a mistake when we try to do the things in the sermon rather than trying to become the kind of person who would do these things naturally."

On the relationship between grace and effort: "Grace is God accomplishing in my life what I cannot accomplish on my own." "Grace is not opposed to effort. It is opposed to earning. Those touched by grace exert tremendous responsive effort."

On the use of God's commandments: "Once you begin to grow in the Christian life, you see that God's commandments are a natural expression of who we are."

On becoming like Jesus: "As Jesus' apprentice I am learning from him how to lead my life in the Kingdom of God as he would lead it if he were I. I am with him in all my circumstances learning to be like him."

Dr. Willard's thought inspires to think more deeply about my spiritual growth. We are told to be renewed through the transformation of our minds, and I believe Dr. Willard is a Spirit-led guide for those pursuing this sort of transformation. If you are thinking of reading something from him, I highly recommend The Spirit of the Disciplines.

2 Weeks, 2 Extraordinary Trips

2010-07-05T18:45:00.007-04:00

Tomorrow morning I set out on a two week whirlwind trip that will take me to both exotic Zimbabwe and exotic Wisconsin. You heard me, exotic Wisconsin.

Though I have to kiss my family goodbye and send them off to Michigan to stay with family, which I'm not excited about, I am excited about these two trips I'll be making back-to-back over the next two weeks. First, I'll be hanging out with about 40 other pastors in Green Lake, WI. Our host? Dallas Willard, professor of philosophy at USC and and author of some of the best books you'll ever read on spiritual growth, spiritual discipline, and life in Christ. His big ones are The Divine Conspiracy and The Spirit of the Disciplines, but almost everything he writes is golden.

On Friday I come home for two days; long enough to wash my clothes and repack. Then it's off to Zimbabwe where I will be staying with a small team at an orphanage just outside of Bulawayo. There I will be doing some work projects, playing with the children, and preaching. Mostly what I will be doing is working with my friend and travel companion John Hetrick to learn about the orphanage for the possibility of future partnership.

I'm sure I'll have plenty to share when I return. Please pray that God will use this time both to pour out his Spirit in me and to use me for solid ministry. Also ask God to make the time away from my wife and son bearable. Thanks.

How Do You Start Your Day?

2010-06-16T20:52:00.007-04:00

Here's a bit of biblical teaching that absolutely astounds me with its clarity and depth. It is from a wonderful but weighty book entitled Dynamics of Spiritual Life by Richard Lovelace. Lovelace addresses what I believe to be the principle problem for both guilt-ridden Christians and nominal religious people.

Only a fraction of the present body of professing Christians are solidly appropriating the justifying work of Christ in their lives. Many have so light an apprehension of God's holiness and of the extent and guilt of their sin that conciously they see little need for justification, although below the surface of their lives they are deeply guilt-ridden and insecure. Many others have a theoretical commitment to this doctrine, but in their day-to-day existence they rely on their sanctification for justification... drawing their assurance of acceptance with God from their sincerity, their past experience of conversion, their recent religious performance, or the relative infrequency of their conscious, willful disobedience.

Few know enough to start each day with a thoroughgoing stand on Luther's platform: you are accepted, looking outward in faith and claiming the wholly alien righteousness of Christ as the only ground for acceptance, relaxing in that quality of trust which will produce increasing sanctification as faith is active in love and gratitude.

Sadly I think Lovelace is exactly right. Justification is God's legal pronouncement that we as Christians are pardoned because of the substitute death of Jesus. That is the ground of all our hope. And yet, I meet people within the church all the time that cannot articulate this hope, and it's clear that being justified by Christ's sacrifice and being bathed in Christ's righteousness (his sinless right standing before God) is not where they draw their strength and joy. The guilty hand-wringers feel like they haven't done enough to earn God's favor and the cultural religious types see no need for a deep, passionate embrace of the Gospel that results is a transformed life. It would not be an overstatement to say nearly every counseling situation I have had falls into one of these two errors.

Thankfully, Lovelace and Luther's answer to this problem is also entirely accurate. In fact, it is the core of the Gospel message: you are accepted. You cannot earn acceptance by cleaning up your life, but you can lean on the acceptance of God in Christ and let that truth turn your life into passionate, sanctified worship. In Jesus, you are accepted. If this truth is the fuel of your life, it will drive you into the relaxed "quality of trust which will produce increasing sanctification as faith is active in love and gratitude."

Amazing Grace on the Field

2010-06-10T09:20:00.003-04:00

As a life-long fan of the Detroit Tigers, allow me to throw my hat in the ring with all the others who have commented on the extraordinary events surrounding the Tigers vs. Indians game last week. Armando Galarraga pitched a perfect game, but a blown call by first base umpire Jim Joyce robbed Galarraga of his spot in history as only the 21st pitcher ever to retire 27 batters in a row, and the first in Tiger's history.

What makes this story extaordinary is not the blown call. That happens all the time. It's not even the perfect game, though that's why everyone is taking such notice. In my opinion, what is truly amazing is the outpouring of grace by Galarraga himself that began the moment the call was blown and history was lost. You see, it was Galarraga himself who covered first base for the final out. He was the one who caught the ball and looked to the umpire for the out-signal. And in that moment, when Galarraga's hands started to climb to the air in victory, and he saw the safe call from Jim Joyce, all Galarraga did was smile. He smiled.

I was watching the game. I was yelling at the screen, nearly waking my son. And my anger compounded when seconds later I was subjected to viewing the replay from about 6 angles, all clearly portraying a not-even-close out. But not Galarraga. He just walked back out and coaxed a ground ball from the next guy, giving him the only 28 out perfect game in MLB history.

Grace. This is costly grace. When he saw the replay, Galarraga simply said, "Nobody's perfect. Everyone is human." He's right. But it's one thing to say that in retrospect, when the emotions subside. It takes a new level of grace all together to let this be your guide in the heat of the moment when it costs you everything.

The next day, Galarraga walked the line-up card out to a very contrite, emotional Jim Joyce standing at the plate. This is normally a task for the manager, but in perhaps the classiest move I have ever seen in sports, Tiger's manager Jim Leyland asked Galarraga to walk out there. And with grace unbounded, he not only gave Joyce the card, but shook his hand and showed the sporting world the power of forgiving grace.

Are We Really Ready for This?

2010-05-26T16:48:00.002-04:00

In a letter to one of his missionaries, Jack Miller, a pastor and the founder of World Harvest Mission, discussed his desire to see the churches he wanted to plant grow in biblical character. Miller wanted to move beyond a small, human-sized vision to embrace a grand, God-sized mission, but he also understood the sacrifice required. Here is a portion of that letter that challenges me as I think about the new visions being formed by the various outreach bodies of my church. (The North he references here is Brownlow North, a Presbyterian leader who challenged his church about the lack of prayer and leadership development within the church.)

Our aim is to gain a bigger vision for what God can do in church planting and mobilizing leaders. As I believe you have put it, "I have been thinking too much about planting a single church, when I should also be thinking about how we can moblize and train our own missionaries and leaders to plant 200 churches..."

The rest of us share your vision, I do believe. But if North is right about us, then we have problems. It simply cannot happen unless we learn to pray better and train better--and also to think more clearly. We all have a heart burden to plant churches in the world's darkest places. But think for a moment. This requires sacrifice, suffering, endurance, even death on the part of American and national missionaries. Are we really ready for this?

I do believe that of ourselves we would never be ready. But in spite of our many weaknesses, I am persuaded we are moving in the right direction. The glory is all God's.

Three items draw my attention here and deeply humble me as a pastor.

1. We are right to seek the bigger vision of God. It is good for God's people to be so passionate for his glory that we want to see the Gospel proclaimed everywhere. We don't need to settle for what is currently working, or even for what seems possible. If God gives us a vision for what seems impossible, we should pursue it and assume the Holy Spirit will act in ways we cannot.

2. We will almost certainly underestimate the cost of God's bigger vision. That first point makes me feel good. This one doesn't. To press into God's bigger vision does not mean we will be safe or happy. All wars have casualties, and it was Jesus himself who said that those who lose their lives for his sake and the Gospel's will find eternal life. Sometimes we lose our lives metaphorically by obedience and sometimes we lose our lives physically by obedience. But make no mistake, all followers of Jesus lose their lives. And if we embrace a greater vision given to us by God, it will certainly come with greater personal sacrifice. Miller is right to ask, "Are we really ready for this?"

3. To achieve God's bigger vision, we need to pray, train, and even think better. If we are going to embrace a grand, God-sized vision for our ministry, and we know with it will come greater sacrifice, then we need to prepare spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and even physically. If we are going to do greater things as a church, we need to pray more fervently and think through the plans with more clarity. I know that I have a tendency to assume I can do more work without exerting more effort; that somehow success will just "happen." But the fact is God calls his church to pray, work, and think hard. That's why he gave us a day to rest: he knows how hard we need to work to do our part in the Kingdom of God!

Contemporvant Worship

2010-05-18T22:48:00.002-04:00

There's a new video getting a lot of attention around the web in evangelical circles. I'm not sure what to think of it. It's very funny. I love parody, especially when it's produced by those who are making fun of themselves (This was produced by North Point, a big church in Atlanta that looks just like this.) I'm 32, so I'm supposed to like this sort of service, and sometimes I do. Most of the time, though, I prefer a more contemplative form of worship that prizes Scripture reading, communion, corporate prayer, and lengthy expository preaching. But I see a place for sevices like this, and I think elements of these services should be incorporated into all church services. So I'm torn. Watch it and decide how it makes you feel.

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

You Give and Take Away...

2010-05-17T20:55:00.002-04:00

How do you understand the trials of life? Do you explain them away? Do you believe there are certain aspects of reality over which God has no control? Or do you, like Job, James, Paul, Peter, and Jesus himself, give God the glory for everything, understanding that he is in full control?

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

Hudson Taylor on Leadership

2010-05-11T20:51:00.003-04:00

In his book Spiritual Leadership, Oswald Sanders records a letter that the missionary Hudson Taylor sent to his secretary while serving in China. In the letter, Taylor outlined 6 areas he felt needed improvement within China Inland Mission, the organization he founded. The 6 points are pretty insightful for pastors, leaders at all levels within the church, and really for leaders anywhere.

I have listed them here in Taylor's words, followed by a brief description of each offered by Sanders.

Improve the character of the work
The leader must discover which departments are functioning below standards and remedy the defect.

Deepen the piety, devotion, and success of the workers
The spiritual health of the leadership group should be the top concern among higher echelon leadership.

Remove stones of stumbling, if possible
Friction among a team should be minimized. When problems are neglected, morale drops and performance decreases. If the problem has a remedy, it should be put into place at once.

Oil the wheels where they stick
Warm relationships among team members are vital. Some workers prefer to administer; others want to love people. Only the latter are leaders.

Amend whatever is defective
Creating problems is easy; solving them is difficult. The leader must face the problem realistically, and follow through until the solution is reached.

Supplement, as far as may be, what is lacking
Criticizing plans is easier than creating them. The leader must see the goal clearly, plan imaginatively, and employ tactics that lead to success. In this department there is always a short supply of people ready and qualified to perform.

In these points I see both my own weaknesses, strengths, and the weaknesses and strengths of the teams with which I work.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-07T11:54:00.004-04:00

If you're downtown tomorrow afternoon, be sure to check out the Cinco de May block party between King St. and the Square all along Main St. And be sure to stop by the King Street Church booth, which will be near the KSC Main St. office. It should be a really good time.

If you're wondering, Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of the unlikely victory of Mexican forces over the invading French army in 1862. It is not Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated Sept.16. You can read an excellent article here.

What I find most interesting about the history of Cinco de Mayo is that this French invasion was taking place during the middle of the U.S. Civil War. There was a significant threat during the Civil War that France and England would join forces with the Confederate army in order to secure cotton imports. Had the Mexicans not held off France in 1862, France would have been in a very good position to help the Confederates and there may have been a different ending to the war in the north.

So if you love the U.S., you should be thankful for Cinco de Mayo and our neighbors to the south! Viva la Mexico!

Antony Flew Dies

2010-05-02T22:58:00.006-04:00

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Antony Flew was a British philosopher renowned for his commitment to atheism. He was an author and debater committed to the notion that in the absence of confirming evidence, and by that he meant scientific evidence, one should not hold to belief in God. He held this view from the age of 15 to the the age of 81.

When he turned 81, Antony Flew changed his mind.

Al Mohler wrote a very good article here, in which he processes Flew's transformation from an evangelical perspective.

One of the most striking aspects of Flew's change of mind is his willingness to radically shift his worldview later in life and in the face of his legacy. The man wrote dozens of books arguing for the futility and nonsense of belief in God, and then, when impressed by theistic philosophers and the discoveries of design through scientific inquiry, he was willing to set aside his life's work and accept the view of his partners in the debate at the age of 81.

There is much to learn from Antony Flew, not the least of which is that there is something far more important than human ego. There is truth.

Never Read a Bible Verse

2010-04-28T14:34:00.003-04:00

Some of you, especially those of you in my Acts class, know what an advocate I am for careful reading of Scripture. Here is an excerpt from an excellent article written by Gregory Koukl on the subject of Bible verses. Take this to heart.

Meaning always flows from the top down, from the larger units to the smaller units, not the other way around. The key to the meaning of any verse comes from the paragraph, not just from the individual words.

The numbers in front of the sentences give the illusion the verses stand alone in their meaning. They were not in the originals, though. Numbers were added hundreds of years later. Chapter and verse breaks sometimes pop up in unfortunate places, separating relevant material that should be grouped together.

First, ignore the verse numbers and try to get the big picture. Then begin to narrow your focus. It's not very hard or time consuming. It takes only a few moments and a little observation of the text.

Begin with the broad context of the book. What type of literature is it history, poetry, proverb? What is the passage about in general? What idea is being developed?

Stand back from the verse and look for breaks in the narrative that identify major units of thought. Ask, "What in this paragraph or group of paragraphs gives any clue to the meaning of the verse?"

There's a reason this little exercise is so important. Words have different meanings in different contexts (that's what makes puns work). When we consider a verse in isolation, one meaning may occur to us. But how do we know it's the right one? Help won't come from the dictionary. Dictionaries only complicate the issue, giving us more choices, not fewer. Help must come from somewhere else close by: the surrounding paragraph.

With the larger context now in view, you can narrow your focus and speculate on the meaning of the verse itself. Sum it up in your own words.

Finally and this is critical see if your paraphrase makes sense when inserted in the passage. Does it dovetail naturally with the bigger picture?

The rest of the article contains soild examples of how to avoid the traps and do sound Bible reading. You can read it here.

Visit to Minneapolis

2010-04-25T23:59:00.002-04:00

I haven't blogged for a bit because I've been in Minneapolis receiving some training on how to lead short-term missions teams well. I had the chance tonight to visit The Fusion Community, a ministry led by my friend Bryan McWhite, in whose guest room I am currently typing this and where I've been sleeping for the last 4 nights.

Bryan is a gifted teacher, and I recommend to you the sermon he presented tonight which covered the end of 1 Cor.10. Check it out here.

In hope to share with you some insights on my training in the days to come.

Life in the Vine

2010-04-19T20:07:00.004-04:00

My two part Life in the Vine series is now available. I welcome any comments or helpful suggestions. Thanks.

Part 1 John 15:1-8

Part 2 John 15:9-17

Election as a Call to Love First

2010-04-17T18:47:00.007-04:00

I have enjoyed carefully examining a short portion of Jesus' discussion with his disciples during the last supper in John 15:1-17. Over the last few days I have been pondering 15:16, a verse that I am sure will raise some eyebrows tomorrow when I discuss it in the sermon. It stands out for its theological bluntness on the doctrine of election.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:16 ESV

What it says is plain enough. We did not choose Jesus. Jesus chose us. His move was primary, and any decision we feel we've made with regard to Jesus is a result of his sovereign choice. That's clear enough; but what I've been pondering is the location of this particular bit of theological precision. Jesus is talking about his love and how we as his beloved friends are to abide in his love and love others in the same way he loves us. Why, seemingly out of the blue, does Jesus switch to the topic of his sovereign choice?

And then it hit me. Election is not only Christ's sovereign choice of the people for whom he will sacrificially give his life; election is also the model for how we are to love others first. Now, my thoughts on this are just now simmering, so I would welcome any perspective or critique you may bring to them.

Here's what I think I'm seeing. In 15:12, Jesus says we are to love others as he has loved us. This means sacrificially, which is clear from the next verse that says no one has greater love than he who gives his life for his friends. Now that's challenging enough. To love to the point where you are willing to die in the place of the other person is beautiful, costly love, and it is absolutely the central message of the cross, because Jesus dies as the substitute sacrifice for the sins of his people.

But 15:16 heightens the challenge by showing us yet one more aspect of Jesus' love for his people that must be modeled in the loving fruit they produce, namely, that we are to be the people who love others first. The disciples didn't choose to love and abide in Jesus. Jesus chose them when they were perfectly content to keep on fishing, collecting taxes, etc. without any love for Jesus at all.

I've talked to enough people, done enough counseling, and searched my own heart enough to know that we humans are not inclined to love first. What I am inclined to do is love conditionally. I will extend love as an invitation to others, and if it is accepted, friendship begins. When it's rejected, I assume the other person is not worth my love and move on. That's what my sinful heart wants to do. I want to revoke the invitation.

But Jesus' love isn't an invitation, it's a selection. He chooses us, and we become his beloved friends. As such, my love isn't to be simply an invitation, but a choice to love. I don't get to decide how and to what extent I'm going to love other people anymore than I decided how and to what extent Jesus was going to love me.

Now of course, my love for another person is not irresistable like Jesus' love. My love doesn't bring about new birth or new creation in another person. But it is not the doctrine of irresistable grace that Jesus references. It is the doctrine of unconditional election, and to that end my love for another person must pour from me regardless of how it is received.

Imagine if everyone who followed Jesus realized that they were chosen, in spite of themselves, by Jesus, and used that love as a model for loving everyone else. Imagine if we said, "No matter what you do to me or how you receive me, I am going to love you first as unconditionally as Jesus loved me first, even if it kills me."

Another Reflection on John 15:3

2010-04-12T09:32:00.003-04:00

Following the service yesterday I had a great discussion with my wife about John 15:3, a seemingly enigmatic little sentence in the middle of Jesus' analogy of the vine and the branches.

"Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you." 15:3

The word clean here is the same as the word prunes in 15:2, so Jesus is saying that the eleven remaining disciples are pruned, fruit-bearing branches. Judas is the ideal example of the dead branch that seemed to be "in Christ" but whom the Father has "taken away."

At this point in the sermon I made the comment that what Jesus says next is directed to fruit-bearing branches. Rachel told me that she wondered whether she would have understood Jesus to be speaking to only one kind of branch following this verse if I hadn't pointed it out. This caused me to go back to the verse and have another look at it.

This short verse is even more important than I thought. Here's why:

1. Often people quoting or referencing this passage will start in 15:4. "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me."

2. Had Jesus begun his speech here, you might be able to make a good case that Jesus is arguing for a sort of works righteousness, where it is the responsibility of the individual to stop being a dead branch and start producing fruit that God will accept. Try reading 15:1-2, skipping 15:3, and moving right to 15:4 to see what I mean.

3. 15:3 is the pronouncement of grace. The Gospel has cleaned these remaining eleven apostles. They are being pruned by the vinedresser to bear more fruit. Their responsibility is not to clean themselves, but to endure and partner in the continued discipleship process by abiding in the source of their spiritual life, Jesus Christ.

4. 15:3 and 15:6 work together to make certain that fruit-bearing branches realize it is God's sovereign grace that saves them and allows them to bear the fruit of Christ-like love.

What an important little sentence!

Sermon Series Begins This Week

2010-04-08T15:04:00.003-04:00

I just want to let you all know that I will be starting a new sermon series at King Street this week entitled Life in the Vine. Over two weeks we'll explore John 15:1-17, a passage I've been reflecting on in my personal study over the last few months. It's great when I have the opportunity to share Scripture that is addressing some of my own current questions. Hope you can join us.

Christ Endured So That I...

2010-04-01T12:01:00.002-04:00

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy, cast off that I might be brought in, trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend, surrendered to hell’s worst that I might attain heaven’s best, stripped that I might be clothed, wounded that I might be healed, athirst that I might drink, tormented that I might be comforted, made a shame that I might inherit glory, entered darkness that I might have eternal life.My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes, groaned that I might have endless song, endured all pain that I might have unfading health, bore a thorned crown that I might have a glory-diadem, bowed his head that I might uplift mine, experienced reproach that I might receive welcome, closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness, expired that I might for ever live.

The Valley of Vision, “Love Lustres at Calvary”

HT: Kevin DeYoung, read more here.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

2010-03-31T09:36:00.002-04:00

The following song was written by Stuart Townend in 2004. It is a deeply reflective song that causes me to experience both great joy and humility at the thought of what the Father and the Son were willing to do for me. The first video is Townend describing the song, and the second is the song itself. I suggest watching them in that order.

The Darkness at the Cross

2010-03-28T14:12:00.003-04:00

We begin Holy Week with Palm Sunday and march with Christ steadily to the cross. Please use this week to dwell on the terror and the beauty of Jesus' atoning sacrifice. Reflecting on the darkness that covered the sky at the moment Jesus died, the writers of Pierced for Our Transgressions note this:

The meaning of the darkness at the cross seems unambiguous. God was angry. But angry with whom? One possibility is that his wrath was directed against those crucifying his Son. There may be some truth in this, but the juxtaposition of the darkness with Jesus' cry of abandonment suggests that another meaning is primary: God's judgment was falling on his Son as he died as a substitute, bearing the sins of his people. p.72 [emphasis mine]

Father, you poured your wrath and fierce anger on your own willing Son, displaying your justice on my sin and your mercy toward me. Thank you.

Focusing on the Cross this Easter

2010-03-24T16:24:00.002-04:00

Over the last 6-7 years or so, Rachel and I have tried to increase our focus at Easter on Good Friday, something that neither of us observed in great detail growing up. Easter Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ, and rightly so, but it is Christ's substitutionary atonement on Friday that makes any sort of celebration on Sunday possible.

We've done this in various ways, and if you're interested I'll tell you about them. But one of the ways I have been trying to increase the depth of my understanding of the cross is by using this time before Easter to read one of the many excellent books that are being written lately that focus on the cross. I don't always get to do this, but I'm trying to make it a personal tradition. Just glancing over my shoulder at my bookcase I see several:

The Cross of Christ, John Stott (This one is particularly good.)

In My Place Condemned He Stood, J.I. Packer and Mark Dever (Read this last year.)

The Great Exchange, Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington

The Future of Justification, John Piper

The Passion of Jesus Christ, John Piper (Contains 50 reasons why Christ suffered and died!)

The Cross and Christian Ministry, D.A. Carson (I took Dr. Carson's course in which much of this material was taught.)

The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, John Owen (This is one is daunting, but at some point I'll take on the challenge.)

And there are others. Many, excellent others. But this year I am reading Pierced for Our Transgressions, by Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, and Andrew Sach. It focuses on the glory of penal substitutionary atonement. Over the next few weeks leading to Easter, I will share interesting bits with you.

It is absolutley essential for growth in Christ to ponder and plumb the depths of the cross. I encourage you to use this time before Easter to do just that. Live the cross.

Identifying the Hidden Rules

2010-03-22T16:28:00.002-04:00

I just spent a day in a seminar taught by Megan Shreve, the executive director of South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP.) The content dealt with the issues of generational poverty. Megan did an excellent job informing us of the facts and figures of poverty and drawing our attention to the value structure of poverty that is so very different from the values and thought processes of middle class or wealthy individuals. The facts were shocking, but it was the different set of values that caused me to see why so many people, myself included, become frustrated with the choices made by those in poverty.

I'm still digesting most of what I've learned, but since it's so fresh in my mind I thought I would list for you a few of the "key points" of the presentation that caught my attention:

1. An individual brings with him/her the hidden rules of the class in which he/she was raised.
2. Schools and businesses operate from the middle-class norms and use the hidden rules of middle class.
3. (To effectively help those in poverty) to be successful, we must understand their hidden rules and teach the rules that will make them successful at school, at work, and in the community.

Let the Madness Begin

2010-03-17T23:13:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year again when I begin to care about whether schools I have never heard of have basketball teams that can beat the basketball teams of schools I have vaguely heard of. I love a Cinderella, and almost every March Madness tournament has at least one.

But more than that, I love my Spartans. In my mind I know they probably won't go deep in the tournament this year, given some shaky play against big schools and at least one suspension in the starting five. But in my heart, they're already in the Final Four. How about you? Who's your team in this year's field?

On the Balance of Evangelism and Social Justice

2010-03-16T10:49:00.003-04:00

I have been doing a lot of thinking about the church's unique role in our world, particularly as it relates to the church's responsibility in the areas of evangelism and what has come to be called "social justice."

Evangelism is the proclamation of the Gospel in words. When we tell others of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and glorification, we are sharing the Good News that God uses to open blind eyes and save dead souls. When we tell Jesus' story, the Holy Spirit convicts and transforms as God sees fit. Missions today is driven by the truth that God's people are all over the world, and the church is called to seek them like Jesus sought the lost sheep. Evangelism addresses the deepest need of humanity: The need to be reconciled to our Creator.

But what about the other needs in the world? The meeting of material needs and the destruction of systemic sin in society that creates inequality and oppresses people is the aim of social justice. Doesn't the Gospel address these issues? Doesn't the Gospel teach the church to love the poor, advocate for the voiceless, and bring peace to the hurting world? I would say that it does, but there is a growing trend in evangelicalism that places social justice as the primary responsibility of the church in the world; or if not primary, at least equal to the task of evangelism.

So here are some of the thoughts I have been having recently. I'm still putting them together.

1. The Bible is clear that the purpose of missions is to make disciples of all nations. (Matt.28) That's what Jesus did, so that's what we're supposed to do. Evangelism is the primary reason to go into the world. Paul did not go into Ephesus to start a food pantry and second hand clothing store. He went to start a church, and he did that (at the cost of his safety and eventually his life) wherever he went.

2. The Bible is clear that the mark of the church is love. The extent to which we love each other is the extent to which we are a city on a hill, light in the darkness, and preserving salt to the dying. So, when the church uses its gifts to build itself up in love, we are a shining, counter-cultural example of the Gospel of grace. This is not an optional part of the church. It is central to its mission.

3. Part of the church's expression of love for its people is sacrifical giving and the meeting of material needs within the church. The early church is rife with examples of sacrifical love and giving. People sold their lands and gave the money to the apostles for the purpose of helping the poorer church members. And Acts insists that the love the church showed for its people caused the community to have a good view of the church, and "the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47)

4. So, I conclude from the first three points that evangelism, social justice, and the expansion of the Kingdom of God are indeed tied intimately together, but in this way:

The church proclaims the Good News and God saves people.
The new, larger church cares for its people in radical, sacrifical, loving ways.
The people of the greater community see the good deeds of the church and come to know Christ by both the church's proclamation and example.
God grows his church.
Repeat.

5. So are social justice issues addressed by the church? Yes. But this does not mean the church is the crusading task force charged with righting the wrongs of society. The church is to be the city on the hill that the rest of the world can see. It is the social justice found within the church that will bring healing and shalom to the world.

I'm still working on these thoughts. What do you think? For further reading, check out Kevin DeYoung's post here.

Fancy New Digs

2010-03-14T23:37:00.002-04:00

How do you like the new place? I feel like my blog just graduated from college and had to buy some new furniture. I'm going to try to improve what I have to offer, including more consistently writing new entries and, in time, some special features like recommended reading lists.

Do you have a suggestion on what you'd like to see offered here?

The Gospel is for Believers

2010-03-10T12:02:00.002-05:00

"And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." Acts 5:42

This is the most solid assurance I have yet found in Scripture that the Gospel is not simply the gateway into the Kingdom, but the full substance of what is taught to those who follow Jesus. The apostles did boldly profess Jesus to the unbeliving council (5:29-32), but after being beaten, charged not to teach in Jesus' name, and released, they went right back to speaking Jesus' name and explaining that he is the Messiah (Christ.) And they did this not simply to the lost. The text explains plainly that they taught in the temple and from house to house, the two places we know the church gathered (Acts 2:46).

Is it redundant to hear the Good News of Jesus life, death, burial, and resurrected new life over and over again, week after week, day after day? Not if your goal is that every thought, feeling, and action of your life would be lived as a testimony to the cross. Not if you are a living sacrifice to Christ. In fact, every moral teaching or life-changing command found in Scripture is designed both to convict us of our need of the cross and to instruct us how to live in light of the cross. Without this perspective, we lose focus on the grace of God, and we begin to treat obedience to him like something used to earn his favor.

So let's move past this erroneous notion that somehow the message that Jesus is the Messiah is the starter message only; that salvation comes by grace through faith but is maintained by works and right living. Grace cannot be assumed in the message of the church. The church needs to be constantly reminded of the glorious news that Jesus has died for our sins and given us new life, because it is the first thing we are apt to forget, and it is the truth of the cross that God uses to shape us into fully devoted followers of Jesus.

This Weekend @ King Street: James and Nicky Poarch

2010-03-08T14:04:00.003-05:00

It is an honor to know and learn what God is doing in the world to expand his Kingdom. This week, the King Street Church community has the extraordinary opportunity to experience a bit of what God is doing in Borneo, Indonesia from our missionaries James and Nicky Poarch. The Poarch family works with New Tribes Mission to translate the Bible and plant churches among the Da'an people. They will tell their story at special presentation in the Student Ministry Center, located in the basement of the Baker Center. There are two opportunities to hear the presentation, 9:45am and 11:00am.

Even if you have to change your plans, I highly recommend that you make it to one of these presentations. To give you a taste of what the Poarch family and New Tribes Mission does, watch the following video. This version is narrated in translation, but the original is spoken by Awayo himself. This is a true story.

Revival in Haiti?

2010-03-01T09:29:00.002-05:00

Here is an excerpt from a message forwarded to me from a friend at KSC who has missionary friends in Haiti.

Haiti spent Fri., Sat. and today in prayer and fasting. I doubt that made the news media but it is truly remarkable. The people have dedicated themselves to following God. The President of the country, President Preval, went on TV and declared he had become a Christian through this tragedy. That is a first in Haiti. It is just all so remarkable. In our own neighborhood we hear Christian songs playing all the time. On the streets lines of people coming or going to church can be seen singing as they go. We all felt so spiritually renewed afterwards. Joy and strength have been renewed.

Now of course its impossible to say what everyone in Haiti is doing, but this is a remarkable perspective from some Christians in Haiti. I am reminded of all the biblical stories where God uses national tragedy as a precursor to spiritual renewal.

Needing the Holy Spirit

2010-02-24T11:43:00.002-05:00

The following is a passage from Francis Chan in his book Forgotten God.

God is not interested in numbers. He cares most about the faithfulness, not the size, of his bride. He cares about whether people are lovers of Him. And while I might be able to get people in the doors of a church or auditoruim if I tell enough jokes or use enough visuals, the fact remains that I cannot convince people to be obsessed with Jesus. Perhaps I can talk people into praying a prayer, but I cannot talk anyone into falling in love with Christ. I cannot make someone understand and accept the gift of grace. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. So by every measure that actually counts, I need the Holy Spirit. Desperately. P.143 [emphasis his]

Some qualifying is in order. I do not think Chan is arguing that God is not interested in the size of his universal church, or in the number of people whom he saves. The Book of Acts records numbers of converts, for instance, and the numbers aren't small.

What Chan is arguing is that God doesn't care about the size of our local churches. He only cares about their faithfulness to Christ. Enormous churches can be faithful and experience God's growth, but this size can also be manufactured through charisma, talent, and the use of media. This doesn't require the Holy Spirit, and it is illegitimate growth. Some of the biggest churches in America exist quite apart from the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, and their seeming "success" masks the enormous spiritual danger.

So how does a church, even a large church, remain faithful? By desperately needing the Holy Spirit; by remembering that true regeneration that manifests itself in love for Christ comes through the powerful work of God alone. We are not in the business of church growth. We are in the business of teaching the whole counsel of God, praying faithfully, serving our members, and sharing the Gospel with everyone. If he chooses, God provides the growth.

John 15:1-17

2010-02-23T14:46:00.002-05:00

I'm beginning to dig into a passage I will be preaching over two weeks in April, John 15:1-17. It is a passage that has been challenging my walk with Christ, especially as it pertains to my decision-making and my prayer life. Without any of my own analysis, here it is in the ESV:

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Missional Church

2010-02-17T09:48:00.004-05:00

A number of people from the KSC community have approached me to find out what my plan is for outreach. I suppose since I serve as Pastor of Outreach, it's a pretty understandable assumption that I would, in fact, have a plan for how to do outreach.

However, the real fact of the matter is, I'm not sure.

Don't get me wrong. I have some ideas, some direction, and some knowledge of biblical concepts that is growing steadily as I study. But as I crest only the five month mark of my time here in Chambersburg, I am still almost fully in recon mode, attempting to learn my church, my community, and the values of my new culture. The last thing I want to do is announce a plan without being informed by the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of the community.

But if you're wondering generally how I envision church outreach, please watch the following video. I stumbled across it recently, and I believe the concept of missional church that it teaches is absolutely essential. If the church is to be faithful to biblical evangelism, the change this short video decribes must become reality.

I am not in any way saying that churches cannot have attractive buildings, compelling speakers, or extremely well-organized, quality worship services. KSC has all of these. The video is not arguing for getting rid of these items, but to use these items to equip and propel all of the church people into the community, to share the loving message of Jesus with friends and neighbors.

That is true outreach. That is what Jesus did. That is what he commands us to do.

My Hope as a Pastor

2010-02-14T15:14:00.007-05:00

Sometimes you read a book that just makes you angry, not because you disagree with its argument, but because you agree so heartily and care so deeply about the abuses and errors the book exposes. I have just finished such a book. The book is Iain Murray's Revival and Revivalism, an historical journey through the years of extraordinary revival in our country that were followed by years of revival-ism. Though they appear similar, the two terms refer to concepts that are theologically stark opposites.

I'll attempt to summarize the difference. Revival is the mysterious work of God, who through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit regenerates spiritually dead souls and brings them to life, giving them faith to believe in Jesus Christ, opening blind eyes to see and respond to the Gospel of grace. There have been times when God does this in great measure, not because the church does anything extraordinary, but because God wills to use the ordinary work of the church (Scripture preaching and prayer) to affect massive change. Since its inception, the church has seen seasons of this sort of outpouring, and it has been called revival.

Revivalism is human initiative to create the effects of revival. It begins with the premise that human beings are not, by their nature, totally spiritually dead. If sinful humans have the capacity to save themselves, then it only takes a decision of the will to become a Christian. Revivalism capitalizes on this theology by using methods to bring about decisions. All one needs to do to bring about "revival" is to persuade a person to will to be a Christian, and that can be done using techniques that I grew up seeing all the time: altar calls, prayer rooms, closing songs that never seem to end, closing the eyes and lifting the hand, praying a prayer that the leader speaks, etc. These visible methods were developed by certain pastors in the early to mid-1800s in order to quantify revival. Those who responded to the methods were told that they were Christians, that the very act of responding was the equivalent of being regenerated by God. Today, most people in the church equate this sort of methodological revivalism with revival.

Murray's purpose in telling the history is to separate these terms, embracing revival poured out by God through the Holy Spirit and exposing methods embraced by the church that mislead it and obscure true revival.

I'm sure some reading my synopsis here will protest: "Can there be any harm in using methods like this to get people to accept Jesus?" Yes. How many people are trusting in a prayer they prayed one time, or that time as a child that they "went forward?" How many parents are resting their hope for their kids on that baptism at age five, even though there has been no discernable Spiritual fruit in 25 years?

If someone prays the "sinner's prayer" at my prompting, and even raises his hand afterward, and I tell that young man he has now passed from death to life, and he hasn't, have I done any harm? I'm speaking from actual experience. I have baptized people that today have no discernable faith in Jesus. I want to be sure as a pastor that I lean into the work of the church as described in Scripture, faithful to the methods of Scripture and prayer, careful to discern the work of the Spirit in the life of individuals.

Murray ends his book with this hope for pastors.

It may be that a generation of freshly-anointed preachers is already being prepared. Whether that is so or not, when such men are sent forth by Christ we can be sure of certain things.

(I list them here as bullets for ease of reading.)

They will be hard students of Scripture.

They will prize a great spiritual heritage.

They will see the danger of 'unsanctified learning.'

While they will not be afraid of controversy, nor of being called hyper-orthodox, they will fear to spend their days in controvesy.

They will believe with John Rice that 'the church is not purified by controversy, but by holy love.'

They will not forget that the wise, who will shine 'as the stars for ever and ever,' are those who 'turn many to righteousness.' (Dan. 12:3)

They will covet the wisdom which Scripture attributes to the one 'that winneth souls.' (Prov. 11:30)

But their cheerfulness will have a higher source than their work. To know God himself will be their supreme concern and joy. They will therefore not be strangers to humility. And their experience will not be without trials and discouragements, not least because they fall so far short of their aspirations. If they are spared to live as long as John Leland they will be ready to say with him at last: 'I have been unwearedly trying to preach Jesus, but have not yet risen to that state of holy zeal and evangelical knowledge, that I have been longing after.' Whether their days be bright or dark they will learn to say with Nettleton that 'the milk and honey lie beyond this wilderness world.'

Father, let it be so of me.

John Stott on the Use of Our Bodies

2010-02-11T12:55:00.002-05:00

The following addresses the use of our bodies for those of us who have been created by God, purchased through Christ's blood, and indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

Our body has not only been created by God and will one day be resurrected by him, but it has been bought by Christ's blood and indwelled by his Spirit. Thus it belongs to God three times over, by creation, redemption, and indwelling. How then, since it does not belong to us, can we misuse it? Instead, we are to honor God with it, by obedience and self-control. Bought by Christ, we have no business to become the slaves of anybody or anything else. Once we were the slaves of sin; now we are the slaves of Christ, and his service is the true freedom.

John Stott, The Cross of Christ, p.179

He Washed it White as Snow

2010-02-09T20:04:00.003-05:00

Walking home in fresh snow, the flakes swirling and layering, covering asphalt, bricks, cars, and muddy pools from the weather earlier in the week, a song popped into my mind. It is a song we sang as a church community this past Sunday.

Jesus paid it all.
All to him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

The Big Red Tractor

2010-02-09T20:01:00.004-05:00

A very interesting parable from Francis Chan, author of the new book Forgotten God and the phenomenal Crazy Love. If you have not yet read Crazy Love, you should drop what you're doing this instant (unless you're holding a laptop while you read this), go buy a copy, and read the whole thing over the next couple of days.

The Big Red Tractor from Jacob Lewis on Vimeo.

Debt Free Video Now Available

2010-02-09T13:36:00.007-05:00

For those of you who were snowed in but wanted to catch my sermon this week, here it is. I welcome any comments or questions you have, even if you don't agree. Constructive criticism makes me a better teacher.

Not Meeting a Baseball Hero

2010-02-08T14:37:00.004-05:00

Well, that was disappointing! Just disregard everything I said in the last post. Nothing will kill a golden opportunity quite like 2 feet of snow in 24 hours. I am now the proud owner of a sermon that can only be used specifically if ever I have the opportunity to preach following a speech by Tom Brookens. I'm sure that will come up again. That happens all the time, right? Tom, if you're reading this, I have the perfect sermon to follow up anything you have to say, anywhere, anytime. Just let me know.

Seriously, though, I have no doubt that God is sovereign and knows what he's doing. He has both a plan and a purpose for the plan. I learned a long time ago that the work to create sermons is worth it even if it only teaches me something. While I admit it's disappointing not to share with others (and meet Tom Brookens), I also have to admit that the study of God's Word in preparation changed my heart, dashed some idols, and caused me to become more like Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria

Meeting a Baseball Hero

2010-02-04T17:08:00.004-05:00

This weekend I get to do something I never saw coming: I get to share the Gospel at an event following a speech from one of my favorite childhood baseball heroes, Tom Brookens. Tom played third base for the Detroit Tigers throughout the 80's. He was a household favorite at the hot corner. With his trademark mustache and fierce competitive play in the field, Tom is a fond part of my childhood memories. And this weekend, if the Lord will just curb the impending blizzard, I'll get to both meet him and speak after him. In addition to the insider's perspective on the Tigers, particularly their 1984 World Series Championship season, I look forward to asking him about his faith in Jesus. This is going to be a great weekend.

Being Led by the Spirit into All Truth

2010-02-02T13:04:00.003-05:00

Check out Kevin DeYoung's article on the work of the Holy Spirit here. Note especially his very sober look at what it means to be led by the Spirit into all truth. Certain people I have encountered within the Church, particularly people I have counseled, have excused their disobedient behavior or poor theological stands by calling for spiritual revelation apart from Scripture. The idea is that the Holy Spirit will provide fresh revelation from God that will address their particular circumstance as opposed to simply pointing to the truth already revealed in Scripture that speaks to the issue. This is usually just an excuse; a way of getting around the Bible. As DeYoung makes clear, that's not what being led by the Spirit is about at all.

Debt Free: Preaching this Week

2010-02-01T11:30:00.006-05:00

Hey Everyone,

I want to extend a personal invitation to you to join us at King Street Church for one of our services this Sunday morning, Feb.7, at 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00am. I'll be up to bat, preaching on the topic of the debt of our sin and the payment necessary to clear it. Every week is a great week to bring friends, but I guarantee you that this will be a week when the service will help you share Jesus with a non-Christian friend. So build up your courage, and ask. Hope to see you there.

Some Observations on Pentecost

2010-01-28T11:00:00.005-05:00

My reading and teaching is taking me deeply into the profound declarations and mysteries of the Spirit's infilling at Pentecost. Here are some of my obeservations from Acts 2:1-21. If these seem confusing, that's probably because I'm still working out my own understanding of the text and the ramifications of its meaning.

1. Pentecost is a visualization of the kind of whole-world vision the church is to have in its scope of outreach.

Pentecost is the reverse Babel. At Babel (Genesis 11) humans made a tower to reach God for human glory. At Pentecost, God declares his work of salvation to reach humans for God’s glory. At Babel, God confuses speech to divide a single nation. At Pentecost, God clarifies speech to unite disparate nations under one Gospel to build one holy nation. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, we begin to see the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham to bless all the nations of the world through him. So our vision for missions should match God's passion for all nations.

2. Peter is arguing that the sign of Pentecost is the inauguration of the last days that lead to the Day of the Lord.

We are in the time between the times. And in this epoch of human history, God does mighty things in the name of Jesus, through the power of his Spirit, working in his church. Which puts us in an already-but-not-yet situation. God’s Kingdom has come, is coming, and will come.

3. This church age is the promised time when God pours out his Holy Spirit on all his people. The Spirit gives utterance to his people to declare the Gospel. The Spirit gives visions and dreams, though their content is not explained here.

This is perhaps the observation that challenges me most. We live in a world where the Holy Spirit is active among all of his "sons and daughters." Every true follower of Jesus is indwelled with the Spirit and is led by the Spirit. They are empowered by the Spirit to do work that far exceeds any work humans can do on their own. So why do I choose so often to make decisions based on what I know I can do? Why doesn't the church take more risks and make more sacrifices? Why do I let my inadequacy determine my willingness to share the Gospel with another person?

Value of Life

2010-01-22T00:43:00.003-05:00

As you watch this incredible video, consider the source of such joy.

99 Balloons from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

HT: JT

After Jesus and Before the Spirit

2010-01-20T16:16:00.005-05:00

I've always been intrigued by the period of time between Jesus' ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It strikes me a little like wilderness camping where you have neither the guide who trained you nor the supplies you were trained to use. I pictured a scared huddled mass of humanity, afraid to step out the door. But over the past few days I've had the opportunity to study Acts 1:12-26, which is really the only narrative we have describing this period of time. To my amazement, the first church didn't see themselves as lacking anything. They were just waiting for more. Let me show you what I mean. Here's a list of their activities:

They went home as they were instructed by Jesus. (vs.12)

They devoted themselves to praying "with one accord." (vs.14)

They met in large groups. (vs.15)

They interpreted their experience with Judas using Scripture. (vs.15-20)

They sought the Holy Spirit's guidance through Scripture. (also vs.15) (This is the one that really changed my view.)

They selected nominees based on wise discernment. (vs.21-23)

They asked God to select between their nominees. (vs.24-26)

There is nothing about this narrative that would give the impression that the disciples were anything but confident in their ability to live as Christ's community. Sure they were waiting per Christ's instructions so they would recieve the power to do the work they were called to do, but they weren't powerless. On the contrary, they went to the same sources we do today to determine how to interpret our experience and to hear what the Lord wants of his people: Scripture, wise discernment, and prayer.

Shai Linne: Spread His Fame

2010-01-16T15:40:00.003-05:00

Here is a man with passion for Christ and a gift to proclaim it.

Shai Linne with "Spread His Fame." from Grace EV Free on Vimeo.

This incredible poetry is both theologically sound and breathtaking. Enjoy this. Here are the words.

All praise to the name of the savior who reigns.
He’s taken our blame, embraced all our shame,
He’s raised from the grave so his fame we proclaim.
Salvation by grace through faith in his name.

All praise to the name of the savior who reigns.
He’s taken our blame, embraced all our shame,
He’s raised from the grave so his fame we proclaim.
Salvation by grace through faith in his name.

Jesus, the beautiful and blessed Son,
Immutable, majestic one
Who was resurrected from the grave
for the depraved.
He paved the path for some
Place faith in His passion, son
Be saved from the wrath to come.

He’s fabulous, His status is immaculate
I’m lacking the vernacular to adequately capture His glory.
Incomparable, unconquerable, all powerful, unstoppable
Absolutely phenomenal.

No obstacle He can’t navigate.
He’s God and so He fascinates.
With Him it’s impossible to exaggerate.

Lord of all continents,
Source of all consciousness,
His compliments are the consequence of His accomplishments
Every sphere of life, He’s the Lord of it
And every other power is either fraudulent or subordinate.

At first we snubbed Him,
Now His vessels of mercy love Him.
Your highest thought is infinitely unworthy of Him.
Beyond vocabulary His actions vary,
His wrath is scary
All His adversaries are imaginary.

He has no competitors.
Ask Nebuchadnezzar, bro
He’ll mess you up, have you eating grass,
You can bet He’s amazing.

He takes in blatant, flagrant vagrants, breaks them, remakes them, and shapes them
to hate sin.

Jesus!
There’s no better name!
That’ll never change and He’ll forever reign while we spread His fame.

So all praise to the name of the Savior who reigns
He’s taken our blame
Embraced all our shame
He’s raised from the grave so His fame we proclaim
Salvation by grace through faith in His name!

All praise to the name of the Savior who reigns
He’s taken our blame
Embraced all our shame
He’s raised from the grave so His fame we proclaim
Salvation by grace through faith in His name!

HT: Justin Taylor

We Have the Same Power as Jesus

2010-01-14T09:58:00.006-05:00

Luke wrote two accounts of the time between Jesus' resurrection and ascension. In them, he tells of the power Jesus used to open the minds of disciples, and then he gives that power to the disciples to use for the glory of God. Consider the following verses:

____________________
Luke 24:45a Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures...

Acts 1:1-2 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

Acts 1:5b ...you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

Acts 1:8 But you will recieve power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
____________________

There appears to be a lot more to "being like Jesus" and "following Jesus" than taking on his character and being a better person. That's important, but it's not the extent of the mission Jesus has given his people. As a commissioned disciple of Jesus, a Christian, I am one small extension of Jesus' ministry in the world. And the Spirit empowers all of Jesus' disciples to do ministry they never could do as mere human beings. Like Jesus, we move and act in the power of the Holy Spirit, and that should change the way we see our purpose in the world.

I want to be clear.

I'm not suggesting we have the power to command the Holy Spirit. We cannot open people's minds to the Scriptures on command. But we can read, preach, and speak them knowing the Spirit can use our efforts to carry out his purposes and enact his power. We can pray for the Spirit's power to be poured out. And we can take risks, choosing to follow the leading of the Spirit, trusting that he has the power to sustain us and bring about his purposes through us.

"Sure to Bring Joy and Comfort to All Who Wear It"

2010-01-11T21:38:00.004-05:00

The above title is a quote in the ad for this cross necklace. Wow. The other day I received a mass mailing letting me know I could receive a free blessed prayer cross from some scam organization down in the south. The first is a legal business, the second is an illegal trap, but I don't see much difference. Why is the church so susceptible to this kind of slick marketing and trickery? Is there something within the Church that opens it's members to thinking along these lines?

HT:Tim Challies

Do You Embrace True Blessing?

2010-01-09T12:34:00.004-05:00

I want the Lord's blessing. I do. Whatever great things God has to pour into my life, I want him to bring it. I'm not switching my theology to health and wealth or anything crazy like that. But if God gives out good gifts to his people so that they will use them to worship him, magnify his glory, and find their greatest joy in treasuring him, my answer is "Thank you, sir, may I have another?"

But I don't understand what I'm asking for, and perhaps you don't either. When I think of God's blessings, I think of stuff I enjoy: Good food, money to pay my bills and buy other stuff too, a happy family, vacation time, etc. In the picture album of my mind, God's blessing looks a awful lot like the dream life of your average materialistic hedonist. There's nothing wrong with anything I've mentioned, and indeed God does give us those things in order to worship and enjoy him. But there is something wrong with interpreting God's blessings entirely as stuff we would give to ourselves.

Consider Aaron's Blessing

Here is the blessing God instructed Aaron to speak at the dedication of the tabernacle:

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

"So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."
Numbers 6:24-27

What an incredible promise. I can't tell you the number of times I've heard or seen this blessing in sermons, benedictions, weddings, coffee mugs, etc. God's blessing is graciousness, peace, and his promise to stand in our presence.

But notice the phrase "So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel..." "They" are the priests, and the priests will put the Lord's name on the people who will, in turn, recieve God's blessing. But what does it mean to wear God's name?

Here is the part of the blessing I would never give myself. This short speech falls in the middle of a load of instructions on how to live faithfully before the Lord as his people. Chapter 5 instructs people to confess their guilt and repay those they wrong beyond the offense. It also has a method for exposing adultery that would never pass today! Chapter 6 contains instructions for sacred vows and the aesthetic discipline necessary to carry them out. Chapter 7 calls for the sacrifice of material possessions by each tribe in order to dedicate God's temple. And right in the middle of all of this sacrifice, piety, and confession, God says, "Wear my name, and I will bless you."

God Knows What Blessing Is

My conception of God's blessing in my life needs to include all of the ways he makes me more like Jesus, including the discipline that strengthens me, the confession that rights wrong relationships, and the punishment he uses to correct and guide me through my sin. It includes the way he calls me to sacrifice my money for his glory. God is truly gracious and brings us peace through Jesus. And he knows just how to bless me.

A Great Start

2010-01-07T12:16:00.002-05:00

If you were part of our first In-Depth Study of the Book of Acts class last night, thanks for coming! Almost 40 of you packed into that little room to start off on an exciting journey. And don't worry, I'm on the space issues. In fact, I've already reassigned the class to room M27/29, which is the Feet to Faith Sunday School classroom. It's quite large, with round tables and plenty of room to breath. Next week I'll post signs on the other doors pointing eveyone to the new classroom.

I will be posting on my blog periodically concerning the content of the class. If you have questions or comments about what you're learning, please feel free to comment here and let us know what you're discovering in the Scripture.

Also, I am always open to feedback in order to improve the class. If you have ideas that would make the class more enjoyable or more productive, let me know. Constructive criticism is always welcome as well.

What are your thoughts following the first class? What are your initial impressions of the book of Acts?

The Birth of the Church

2010-01-05T01:05:00.002-05:00

On the morning of May 27 in A.D. 30, the day of the Jewish feast of Pentecost, a sabbath, 120 men and women were gathered in Jerusalem--people who were convinced, after having met the risen Jesus, that the eschatological kingdom of God had dawned with Jesus, who had been crucified seven weeks earlier, and that it was a tangible reality in the presence of the risen and exalted Jesus Christ. And they were convinced that the kingdom of God, inaugurated by Jesus, would be carried from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth through their ministry as witnesses empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:3-15).

- Eckhard Schnabel
Early Christian Mission

They were convinced. Are you? If you're not doing anything Wednesday night at 7:00pm, and you live in the greater Chambersburg PA area, let the above summary of the birth of the church inspire you to join me for my new class at King Street Church, room M21/23. Hope to see you there.

Join Me for an In-Depth Study of Acts

2009-12-29T19:58:00.006-05:00

This one's for my King Street pals. I am very excited to invite you to join me for a new class at King Street on Wednesday nights, 7:00pm, in M21/23. Starting Jan. 6 (a week from tomorrow) I will be leading a group on an expedition through the first 12 chapters of the book of Acts, a book known in antiquity as the Acts of the Apostles. The class is open to anyone who wants to attend.

Why Acts? Well, apart from my general desire to study the book myself, I believe there are central doctrines (teachings) in the book of Acts that need to be highlighted and cherished by the Church today. Some have been ignored (e.g. ecclesiology, the study of the church.) Some have been misunderstood (pneumatology, the study of the Holy Spirit.) Some cause great fear (e.g. missiology, the study of evangelism.) And some simply do not receive the kind of attention and care they should (e.g. soteriology, the study of salvation.) Acts takes us on a wild thrill ride through all of these doctrines!

But wait, there's more! By carefully considering these chapters verse by verse, the class will equip students with valuable Bible reading and study skills, which will strengthen their reading comprehension and their ability to handle any text of the Bible. Imagine a church filled with people who could be described like the Jewish Bereans in Acts 17 who diligently searched the Scriptures for themselves to see if Paul was telling the truth. What if all of King Street could handle the text with this sort of eagerness and skill?

So please do me two favors, King Streeters. First, join my class if you're able. Second, could you get the word out by sending people you know in the church links to this post? I'm so new I don't have the connections to get the word out, and it would be sweet to have a great turn-out. Thanks everyone.

"Kyle, why do you keep messing with your blog layout?"

2009-12-29T16:01:00.003-05:00

Thank you, my dear reader, for noticing. The truth is, I'm trying to find a template that does all the stuff I want it to do. The last one I had was almost perfect, but it wasn't displaying recent comments for some odd reason. This one displays comments, but doesn't fill the page, which I find annoying. So I'll keep dinking with it. Does anyone have a suggestion on where I can find more templates?

A Quiet Week of Preparation

2009-12-28T11:39:00.003-05:00

Perhaps you didn't know this, but this is the slowest week of the year in a pastor's schedule. Christmas is over, so there is no more special service prep. The congregation is in holiday mode, so no one is scheduling appointments. And most of the staff is using up they're use-it-or-lose-it vacation time, so collaboration is at a minimum. So, in an effort to redeem the time well, I am in full preperation mode. Now is the time to read good books, outline upcoming meetings, write classroom curriculum, and pray for vision.

What is the week between Christmas and New Years Day like for you. Do things slow down? How do you redeem the time?

My Mobile Little Friend

2009-12-26T18:49:00.002-05:00

My boy is on the move, with greater proficiency than ever. He has gone from rolling, to scooting, to crawling, to standing up on anything and everything he can wrap his fist around. As I write, he's pulling himself up to the couch to add his own special brand of keyboard-banging rhetoric to this blog post.

What's unfortunate is that this new found mobility has not come standard with a dose of new found caution. He'll pull himself up on anything, even if that thing has no way of supporting his efforts. Such items include the Christmas tree, lightweight stools, the drink cart in our dining room, and various plastic toys. He will pull until these items topple on him as he careens to the floor.

Just because you can treat something as sound and foundational doesn't mean it is. The careless abandon of Samuel somehow reminds me to read the Bible with care and make sure my thoughts of God are founded upon it.

A Christmas Message for our Culture

2009-12-22T08:58:00.004-05:00

Bewildered by the cornucopia of disparate Christmas messages, icons, themes, and traditions? Here's a message that points us to the very thing Christmas is all about.

That's Christmas (Short Film) HD from St Helen’s Church on Vimeo.

HT: Justin Taylor

Holy to the Lord

2009-12-21T12:02:00.000-05:00

Having now completed my Worthy: A Celebration of Jesus sermon series, I've been reflecting on the gift that Jesus is to me and to all of those who know and follow Jesus. My devotional reading is in Exodus right now, and this morning I read a passage in Exodus 28 that stood out to me more profoundly than ever.

"You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ And you shall fasten it on the turban by a cord of blue. It shall be on the front of the turban. It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.

Exodus 28:36-38

Aaron wore a sign that declared he was holy to the Lord, and represented all of the people by bearing the guilt from the holy things that the people brought as gifts (read: sacrifices).

Aaron bears the guilt, so that the people are declared holy and able to stand in right relationship with God. We, too, have a great high priest who bears the guilt of the people he represents that we might be accepted before the Lord. Merry Christmas.

Life Preaches the Gospel

2009-12-17T08:55:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was a day that requires some reflection. It was one of those days that will probably become more profound in my mind as time passes.

It was the 9th anniversary for my wife and me. We were married Dec.16, 2000 in the aftermath of an ice storm. Our marriage is strong, based on our commitment to loving Jesus and letting that priority shape our love for each other. We had a great time yesterday. For dinner, Rachel made my favorite dish, lasagne. She ran out of lasagne noodles and had to use a layer of spaghetti to make it work. It did work. She's a genius.

But to really celebrate nine years of marriage, we had a son. It just so happens that our day in court to officially finalize our adoption of Samuel David fell yesterday at 11:30am. We bundled up the family and made the journey to the courthouse in Carlisle, where our lawyer said these words. I'll paraphrase:

Do you understand that with this adoption, Samuel will be your son with all the rights and privileges of a natural born child? And do you understand that you will be charged with taking care of him, providing for his needs and caring for him as his parents?

Do we understand this? Yes. We understand because we love Samuel; we chose him, traveled to get him, picked him up out of his dire situation, made room for him in our family, and we now give him everything he needs, including the promise of a share in this family forever. Does Samuel understand the ramifications of all that has happened. No. He just knows he's loved. And as he grows, he'll come to understand all of the parts of that love.

It was a very good day.

Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

The Bad News Part 5: Sharing the Whole Gospel with Humility and Love

2009-12-15T16:32:00.003-05:00

Here's the last thing I want to share on the topic of the role of sin in evangelism, at least for this little series: If you can't share the consequences of sin and the life-changing news of the Savior with humility and love, please don't share them at all. At least, don't share them until you fully understand and embrace the love and humility of Jesus.

I can't think of a more humbling doctrine than the truth of pervasive, human-shattering sin. Can it really be that all the evil of the war in Afghanistan, the horrible human trafficking in South East Asia, the genocide in Africa, the drug-related gangland killings of South and Central America, and the continuing violence in North American cities is a product of the same evil that makes me struggle to keep my eyes pure, my pride checked, and my money from becoming my idol?

I don't live the life of a drug addict, but I've worked with them. Recovering addicts have been my friends in the past. And perhaps one of the most profound lessons I have learned from those relationships is that those men and I are the same. I could share Jesus with them because they knew I was just as sinful and in need of a Savior as they were.

When you share the problem of sin and the solution of Jesus, please do so as one of the sinners. We weren't saved because we're better than anyone else. We were saved by grace through faith in Jesus. That faith is a gift we did not earn and do not deserve. There is no reason for any sense of pride on our part. The only thing we can boast about is the greatness of Jesus, and when that's our perspective we are sure to share in humility and love.

The Bad News Part 4: The Consequences of a Sinless Gospel--My Thoughts

2009-12-09T19:35:00.005-05:00

Ok, I get it. My fault. I posed a question, hoping for some comments, but stated your answer would reflect your knowledge of the Gospel. Who's going to answer that one! Sorry about that. Let me rephrase. How you answer the question will tell you something about how you see the Gospel.

Here's what I'm getting at. Many people would read the accounts of Bob and Don and immediately see Don as very in need of help. Bob, to most of his friends and family, is doing fine. So, if faith in Jesus is designed to bring help in this life, obviously Don needs Jesus far more than Bob.

But that is wrong. Bob and Don both need Jesus desperately. The error is in thinking the Gospel is designed to cure life's difficulties. Jesus does not make your life better; he takes your life, throws it out, and gives you a new one. Sin corrupts our lives to the point of death, but Jesus' death in our place gives us life free from the bondage of sin; freedom to love and glorify God.

If you take sin out of the story of Jesus, then Jesus died for no reason. Many in the church today want to share Jesus, but don't want to tell anyone they are sinners deserving death. So instead, they lead with Jesus as the solver of problems and the healer of wounds. Who wouldn't want that? I'll tell you: Bob. And Don will end up hearing about a God who can solve his problems without hearing about his ultimate problem. We end up with therapeutic deism, a God-solution for those whose lives don't seem very happy.

Can you start sharing Jesus by addressing the felt needs of a person? Of course! Jesus did this all the time: the woman at the well, the blind man, the lame man who came through the roof, just to name a few. But as it was for Jesus, felt needs must be an in-road to contemplating the real issue of sin if your friend is ever to realize his need for new life, not just a happier old life.

I'm Loco for Logos

2009-12-09T11:10:00.005-05:00

Hey Everyone,

Nothing will spark your study of the Bible better than getting the right tools around you. If you're looking for some premium Bible software, check out Logos. It's what I use. They have various levels of software for beginners and scholars alike. They're also running this cool Bible giveaway promotion, and by telling you about their product (which I'm glad to do) I'm entering the contest. So check out the links below.

______________________________________

Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.

The Bad News Part 4: The Consequences of a Sinless Gospel--A Question

2009-11-30T20:48:00.006-05:00

Because Kevin DeYoung beat me to the punch and unloaded a haymaker to the "New Gospel," I'm going to illustrate the consequences of a sinless Gospel with a little exercise. We'll see how helpful this is.

Consider Bob. Bob is your average guy with a good job, a wife, and a couple of kids. He works hard, pays his taxes, and is generally known as a great guy. You can catch him on weekends walking the dog, having a little date at the coffee shop with his wife, or throwing the football around in the backyard with his boys. His marriage has all the usual fights, but he and his wife get through them and they are doing better than most of their friends whose marriages are far more rocky. Bob brings home enough money for the family, and they live quite comfortably, though no one would accuse them of living extravagantly. Ask anyone in the family, and they will tell you everything is going just fine.

Consider Don. Don's wife just took the kids and moved in with her parents because Don's online gambling addiction, which started as what he called "harmless fun," has depleted the family savings and burned through the paychecks to the point of ruin. There's not even money for food. Don loves his family and wants them back, but his wife won't return until Don gets the help he needs and breaks this addiction.

Which man is more in need of Jesus, Bob or Don, and why? The way you answer this question will give you some insight into how well you understand the Gospel. What do you think?

The New Gospel

2009-11-24T17:15:00.002-05:00

The following article is a must read for any of you following along in my Bad News series. Please read it carefully here.

Now I almost don't even need to write on the consequences of a sinless Gospel, though I will!

The Bad News Part 3: Is it Intolerant to Talk About Sin?

2009-11-23T17:39:00.004-05:00

Intolerant is conversation stopper. Today its used to label people who hold views that others find too restrictive, however they define restricitve. The moment you are accused of being intolerant, you have to either back-pedal and choose a different opinion that doesn't really match what you think, or you have to accept the label and be socially ostracized as an unenlightened moron. That's because intolerance has come to mean having a view of truth that excludes other people's views of truth.

But the popular use of the word intolerant today is incorrect. It is not intolerant to have an exclusive view of what is true. Truth, by definition, is exclusive. It excludes all views and propositions to the contrary. Anyone who states an opinion or holds to a view of truth (even the view that there is no truth) does so in distiction from contrary opinions. A person can hold a view and tolerate the views of others, even if he thinks those other views are wrong.

Let me try to clarify. Here's a dictionary definition of tolerance:

A fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.

According to this definition, tolerance has nothing to do with your view or what is actually true. It has to do with how you treat the views of other people. I can disagree with someone completely and passionately without becoming intolerant. The beauty of the "permissive attitude" of this definition is that it allows me to be kind and generous, tolerating another person's opinion and practices, permitting them to make their own decisions even if they are, in my opinion, profoundly wrong.

So let's take up our original question: Is it intolerant to talk about sin? Though people who talk about human sin and evil are often labeled intolerant, I hope you can now see that this question has no answer. Tolerance doesn't address a person's view; it addresses the responses to that view. If you share with someone that the Bible calls sinners to repent and turn to Jesus, the only intolerance that could come from that encounter would be from the person who listens and must now choose how to respond. Ironically, some of the most intolerant people in the world are those who insist on ridiculing the views of others by inappropriately labeling them intolerant!

Don't be bullied by the tolerance police. If you share your view lovingly and get labeled intolerant, simply ask the question, "Why are you not willing to thoughtfully, carefully, and lovingly consider my view. Are you intolerant?"

My Son Says "Da Da"

2009-11-23T17:28:00.003-05:00

But apparently there is no discernment. He will wake up saying Da Da over and over, but in my presence it seems not to occur to him. My question is, does this count? Does he have to be looking at me for this to be counted as a "word he knows." If not, how will I know when it counts? Parents, help me out here.

The Bad News Part 2: Speaking of Sin as a Universal Problem

2009-11-16T07:25:00.006-05:00

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned...
Romans 5:12

One of the reasons it is so hard for us to share the problem of sin with other people is that we aren't broad enough in our discussion of the problem of sin. A very natural response to the statement "You have sin in your life" is either a harsh charge of intolerance (see Part 3), or the more benign, "yeah, but no one is perfect." In fact, most people when faced with their sins will simply turn to the rest of the world and state how comparitively normal they are. Where we see a problem of sin, they see normalcy.

I would contend that they are right. Sin is normal. It may seem like a problem, but it's everyone's problem. It's like the national debt: Yeah, it's there and it stinks, but what can we really do about it.

So how do we help our friend see the weight of his own personal sin debt against God and his need for a Savior? I believe it actually helps to start with talking about sin as a universal problem. The Bible speaks of sin as a disease that entered humanity through the sin of Adam, which has resulted in our own disobedience. This means that every human is born into a sinful state as an enemy of God. The result is a world full of every kind of evil, which is evident today. This is the doctrine of original sin, a teaching of the Bible that needs to be reclaimed and understood by the church.

Talking about the universality of original sin does a few things.

First, it puts all of us in the same boat. No one is holier than anyone else. Finally the pope and I have something in common!

Second, it shows how the evil we see out there in the world is a result of the evil I see right here in my own life and heart. The damage done by termites to the destroyed foundation of a house is the result of thousands of tiny creatures taking tiny bites of wood. The result of evil in the world is enormous, but it's the result of the evil of individuals.

Third, it gives the proper persepctive for assessing sin responsibility. If you start with individual sin and compare outward, individual sin seems small and inconsequential. When you start with the evil world and the disobedience of all humanity, it's easier to see your own part in it.

Fourth, salvation is seen not as a personal choice for living morally, but a freedom from the world's slavery to sin.

And finally, focusing my friend's attention on the universal problem of sin will allow me to humbly share Jesus and his Good News. You now approach the topic as sinner saved by grace, not a religious zealot.

For further reading, look over Romans 5, where Paul discusses the universality of sin through Adam as compared to the grace that comes to all people through Jesus.

The Bad News Part 1: The Truth that Makes the Good News Good

2009-11-10T08:41:00.001-05:00

The good news that Jesus died on the cross for me makes no sense outside the context of my sin. Sin gives the cross its purpose. Human sin and rebellion against God, with its impending and deserved punishment, is bad news that makes the good news about Jesus good. Consider this summary of sin and the gracious gift of Jesus from Will Metzger in his excellent book Tell the Truth.

Grace only functions as grace when it comes to people who have absolutely nothing to recommend them as a candidate for God's favor. People deserve the very opposite--his disfavor in this life and for eternity. Grace is magnified when I see myself as undeserving. I have no right to and no claim on God's mercy. God is not obligated to love me. He does not exist just to make me happy. Grace is highlighted by my inability to keep from sinning. Salvation by my efforts is unattainable, no matter how hard I try to improve myself.

This may seem obvious to anyone who follows Christ, but I believe it is a point of vital importance for the believer as it pertains to how we think about our own faith in Christ and how we share that faith with other people. For many who talk about Jesus with others, the reality of sin, the bad news, is never shared as part of the good news.

Why? If the good news is that we can be saved from the punishment of our sins by the God who created us and took the punishment himself in our place, why wouldn't we share that?

Over the next several posts, I am going to try to unpack this question under the following titles:

The Bad News Part 2: Speaking of Sin as a Universal Problem
The Bad News Part 3: Is it Intolerant to Talk About Sin?
The Bad News Part 4: The Consequences of a Sinless Gospel
The Bad News Part 5: Sharing the Whole Gospel with Humility and Love

I'm excited about the discussions this will raise. Please post your thoughts in the comments section and feel free to interact with me and each other on these topics.

How to Comment

2009-11-05T09:52:00.000-05:00

There have been some questions about how to comment, so let me see if I can clear them up. To post a comment, click the phrase "___ comments" at the bottom of each post. The blank is filled by the number of comments that have been made on the post. Then, write your comment in the text box. Below that box is a field that allows you to select how you want to identify yourself. If you have a Google account, or any of the other accounts listed, you can select that as your identity. However, if you want to make a comment and don't have one of those other accounts, you can select the "Name/URL" option and simply type the name you want to use online. You can also choose "Anonymous," though for the sake of discussion I would prefer that you at least use a web name so that you can be addressed directly.

As for the comments themselves, let me encourage you to speak up! You may think you have nothing to add, or may feel unsure if what you have to say is valid. Throw that thinking out. Your perspective is always welcome. This is not to say that others, including me, won't disagree with you, but that's how learning works. Furthermore, the comment section is a great place to ask questions to find greater clarity or to challenge the thinking of others. So speak up and let your thoughts be heard to the glory of God.

A Day with Billy Simbo

2009-11-04T09:19:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of spending the last 24 hours with Billy Simbo, Bishop of the United Brethren in Christ Conference of Sierra Leone, West Africa. He and his son Alan, who serves as the External Business Manager of the conference, spent the evening with Rachel and me. Billy gave a very challenging, thought-provoking presentation of the state of the conference at our missions commission meeting on Monday night. Tuesday morning was spent sipping coffee and discussing the details of what God is doing in this tiny, impoverished, spiritually alive yet embattled country.

Sierra Leone is in a unique position. They are recovering from a devastating civil war, yet the church sees the encroachment of a spiritual war in their country. There are two fronts. The first is Islam of the more militant variety. This is indicated by the growing number of mosques and service organizations that serve as fronts for training Muslim soldiers, mostly teens.

The second front is more subtle, and perhaps more devastating. There is a growing surge of the "health and wealth," or "prosperity" Gospel in the churches of Sierra Leone. If you're unfamiliar, this is the theological error that says salvation leads to wholistic healing and financial gain. God's purpose in saving is to bless, and those blessings are only found in physical well-being and material abundance. This teaching completely ignores what Jesus said about the sort of life his followers would experience while living out his Kingdom purposes in a fallen, sinful world. When this error is preached, it creates congregations that define their walks with Jesus using health and wealth as markers indicating their progress. If God loves you, you'll get rich. If God has problems with you, you'll get sick. The church begins to seek acceptance from God in the same way the world finds its hope. The problem: You can't serve both God and money.

Two fronts to the war for the souls of Sierra Leone. I can't help but see the parallels in our own country. What are the fronts here in the U.S.?

A New Online Discussion Community

2009-10-27T13:18:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Live the Cross. This site is dedicated to discovering and declaring what it means to follow Jesus; to both cherish Christ's work on the cross and live in light of that work. In this first post, I'd like to share a little with you about my purpose in writing.

First of all, I am creating a space to share my thoughts and reflections with my King Street church family, the community of Chambersburg, and any other person that happens to stumble in. The information we take from Scripture and the thoughts we are privileged to think as we reflect on Christ are gifts to us from God. My hope is that in writing this blog, I am able to steward the ideas and information God grants me.

Second, I want to capture the ideas of others in order to learn and grow in community. My hope is for a robust community discussion of various matters that will cause us to dig deeper into Scripture, that encourages and inspires us during the week, and that propels us to come together on Sunday with a greater passion for corporate worship of Christ.

And finally, I am excited use this site as a place to recommend resources that will help people on their journey to live the cross.

So here's what you can expect. I will create a post at least once a week, perhaps twice if I have time. You will have the opportunity to post comments and begin disscussion on the topic. I encourage you to talk to each other, but please keep the words and attitudes God honoring at all times.

So what do you think? What are some topics you would like to discuss in a forum like this?

KB