From my favorite preacher:
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
a note on how the eary church 'did' church...
From Justin Martyr (mid 2nd century AD):
And on the day which is called the day of the sun there is an assembly of all those who live in the towns or in the country, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read for as long as time permits. Then the reader ceases, and the president speaks, admonishing and exhorting us to imitate these excellent examples. Then we all rise together and pray and, as we said before, when we have completed our prayer, bread is bought, and wine and water, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings according to his ability and the people assent with Amen; and there is a distribution and partaking by all of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And those who are prosperous and willing give what each thinks fit, and what is collected is deposited with the president, who gives aid to orphans and widows and those who are in want on account of illness or any other cause, and to those also who are in prison and to strangers from abroad, and, in a word, cares for all who are in need” (Apol. 1.67).
And on the day which is called the day of the sun there is an assembly of all those who live in the towns or in the country, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read for as long as time permits. Then the reader ceases, and the president speaks, admonishing and exhorting us to imitate these excellent examples. Then we all rise together and pray and, as we said before, when we have completed our prayer, bread is bought, and wine and water, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings according to his ability and the people assent with Amen; and there is a distribution and partaking by all of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And those who are prosperous and willing give what each thinks fit, and what is collected is deposited with the president, who gives aid to orphans and widows and those who are in want on account of illness or any other cause, and to those also who are in prison and to strangers from abroad, and, in a word, cares for all who are in need” (Apol. 1.67).
Sunday, February 20, 2011
don't draw near to God flippantly...
Jeff Weddle: "If we flippantly deal with God because 'He’s gracious,' rather than out of humility and utter dependence, it shows we have no concept of what God’s grace is and, more than likely, have never been recipients of it."
HT: Jeff Weddle
HT: Jeff Weddle
Saturday, February 19, 2011
great theology & a great hymn
One of my most favorite hymns of all time is Crown Him with Many Crowns. Here is the entire text:
Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
Crown Him the virgin’s Son, the God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won which now His brow adorn;
Fruit of the mystic rose, as of that rose the stem;
The root whence mercy ever flows, the Babe of Bethlehem.
Crown Him the Son of God, before the worlds began,
And ye who tread where He hath trod, crown Him the Son of Man;
Who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast,
And takes and bears them for His own, that all in Him may rest.
Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round His piercèd feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.
Crown Him the Lord of lords, who over all doth reign,
Who once on earth, the incarnate Word, for ransomed sinners slain,
Now lives in realms of light, where saints with angels sing
Their songs before Him day and night, their God, Redeemer, King.
Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou has died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
But by far, here is my favorite verse:
Crown Him the Lord of Heaven, enthroned in worlds above,
Crown Him the King to Whom is given the wondrous name of Love.
Crown Him with many crowns, as thrones before Him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is King of all.
Watch it below by my favorite worship team, Enfield...
Friday, February 18, 2011
the importance of family worship in the home.
Watch Joel Beeke's Sermon here: LEADING FAMILY WORSHIP
The Importance of Family Worship in the Home.
In this sermon, Dr. Beeke marvelously and clearly reveals the importance of fathers & husbands leading their families (=wives and children) in regular, consistent, and vibrant worship times.
In this sermon he lists three ways to engage in family worship:
1) daily instruction from the word of God (Deut 6:4-9)
2) daily prayer to the throne of God (1 Tim 4:4-5; Jer 10:25)
3) daily singing of the praise of God (Ps 118:15; Col 3:16)
One quote from George Whitefield shall suffice:
“And this will appear, if we consider that every governor of a family ought to look upon himself as obliged to act in three capacities as a prophet, to instruct: as a priest, to pray for and with; as a king, to govern, direct, and provide for them….For if, as the apostle argues, he that does not provide for his own house in temporal things has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel, to what greater degree of apostasy must he have arrived who takes no thought to provide for the spiritual welfare of his family?” (“The Great Duty of Family Religion”)
The Importance of Family Worship in the Home.
In this sermon, Dr. Beeke marvelously and clearly reveals the importance of fathers & husbands leading their families (=wives and children) in regular, consistent, and vibrant worship times.
In this sermon he lists three ways to engage in family worship:
1) daily instruction from the word of God (Deut 6:4-9)
2) daily prayer to the throne of God (1 Tim 4:4-5; Jer 10:25)
3) daily singing of the praise of God (Ps 118:15; Col 3:16)
One quote from George Whitefield shall suffice:
“And this will appear, if we consider that every governor of a family ought to look upon himself as obliged to act in three capacities as a prophet, to instruct: as a priest, to pray for and with; as a king, to govern, direct, and provide for them….For if, as the apostle argues, he that does not provide for his own house in temporal things has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel, to what greater degree of apostasy must he have arrived who takes no thought to provide for the spiritual welfare of his family?” (“The Great Duty of Family Religion”)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
the LORD reigns as the central motif of the Psalter
יְהוָ֣ה מָלָךְ֮
Translation: Yahweh reigns.
I agree with James Mays:
The declaration YHWH malak involves a vision of reality that is the theological center of the Psalter. The cosmic and worldly action to which it refers is the etiology of the psalmic situation. The psalmic understanding of the people of God, the city of God, the king of God, and the law of God depends on its validity and implications. The psalmic functions of praise, prayer, and instruction are responses to it and articulations of its wonder, hope, and guidance. The organizing role of the declaration does not ignore or obviate the variety and plurality of thought about God in the psalms. It does announce a metaphor that transcends and lies behind the variety. It is what every reader and user of the psalms may know as the "code" for understanding all of them (The Lord Reigns, 22).
Indeed, Psalm 93:1 - "The Lord reigns."
Translation: Yahweh reigns.
I agree with James Mays:
The declaration YHWH malak involves a vision of reality that is the theological center of the Psalter. The cosmic and worldly action to which it refers is the etiology of the psalmic situation. The psalmic understanding of the people of God, the city of God, the king of God, and the law of God depends on its validity and implications. The psalmic functions of praise, prayer, and instruction are responses to it and articulations of its wonder, hope, and guidance. The organizing role of the declaration does not ignore or obviate the variety and plurality of thought about God in the psalms. It does announce a metaphor that transcends and lies behind the variety. It is what every reader and user of the psalms may know as the "code" for understanding all of them (The Lord Reigns, 22).
Indeed, Psalm 93:1 - "The Lord reigns."
a great text from a kid
"I want my daddy to be there when my kids get married. watch what you eat, please!"
—a text message from a daughter to her daddy as he eats Burger King.
Monday, February 14, 2011
every preacher needs to be humbled... :=)
A conversation with a child that humbles every preacher...
Daughter: "Daddy, why does the pastor pray before he enters the pulpit?"
Dad: "Honey, I do that to ask God to help me with my sermon."
Daughter: "Then why doesn't He, Daddy?"
Daughter: "Daddy, why does the pastor pray before he enters the pulpit?"
Dad: "Honey, I do that to ask God to help me with my sermon."
Daughter: "Then why doesn't He, Daddy?"
marriage counseling in 10 minutes! :=)
From James MacDonald...these are rock solid.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
live by faith in God.
Habakkuk posed a question to God that maybe you have wondered: “God, how long will you permit wickedness on earth without judging it?” It seemed to Habakkuk that God was uninterested, uninvolved, and certainly not judging the wickedness that so pervaded the land of Israel at that time.God responded to Habakkuk and said that He would take care of it. To do so, he would bring in the Chaldeans (=Babylonians) to judge the pervasive wickedness in Israel. Though God answered Habakkuk’s question, that raised yet another question—and, arguably, a more perplexing dilemma. Habakkuk then complained: “God, how could you judge the evil of your people Israel with an army that is even more wicked than Israel?” This had put Habakkuk over the top.
In Habakkuk 2:1, Habakkuk says he will take his stand at his guard post (lit. watchpost) and see how God will answer (note Habakkuk’s trust and anticipation that God will answer him). And in 2:2 the Lord answers Habakkuk and says to record the vision, inscribe it on tablets so that the person may read it and herald it to all people.
The vision is for an appointed time. It hastens toward the goal (=that appointed time) and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay (2:3). The emphasis in this verse is that there is an appointed time that God has decreed and His decree will most surely and most certainly come. It cannot not come. That vision, as the reader of the book of Habakkuk will soon find out, comprises the rest of chapter 2. It is God’s judgment on the wicked Babylonians (by means of 6 “woe” oracles).
But, Habakkuk 2:4 begins with the startling and emphatic marker “behold” that serves to grab the reader & hearer’s attention. It poses a contrast. Behold, God says, as for the proud one, his soul is not right (=upright) within him. The next word “but” indicates the contrast to the arrogant one. That is to say, God tells Habakkuk in 2:4b that the “righteous one” will live by his faith (or, in keeping the original word order: “the righteous one, by his faith, will live”).
In the context, we know that Habakkuk 2:4a refers to the wicked Babylonians (collectively). They are the arrogant ones yet they are not “upright” before God. But in contrast to them, God declares, the righteous one by his faith and trust in Yahweh that He always does what is right (even if it seems confusing to us!). He is sovereign. He is the God of the nations and He is the God of history. He turns events according to the predetermined and sovereign counsel of His will.
Therefore, let us learn from this verse in Habakkuk that we must, like Habakkuk, remember that God owns world history; indeed, He is the creator and executer of world history. And when “events” seem to go the way that does not seem appropriate in our estimation, or when a circumstance seems to be beyond the bounds of God’s control, or when we think that God could have accomplished something by a better way (usually the way that we propound in our minds!), let us remember one simple yet crucial truth: the righteous man will live by his faith.
As the author of Hebrews aptly and appropriately reminds us:
Hebrews 10:38-39 38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. 39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Alter Conversations toward the Gospel and toward the glory of God.
Alter Conversations toward the Gospel and toward the glory of God.If I truly believe that God is glorified in and through all things, and if I truly believe that the gospel is the greatest news that I can present to someone, then why don’t I look for ways to bring the gospel into every conversation?
God has worked in my heart recently and convicted me that I so infrequently—and ashamedly!—bring the gospel and the glory of God into everyday conversations. I spend about an hour and a half each day with many lost people in LA and yet rarely do I engage in gospel-centered conversations with them.
God has called me to be a minister of the gospel. This does not merely happen in sermon preparation. This does not only happen when I proclaim the Scriptures throughout the week. This is to be an all-pervasive and ever-present element of my Christian walk. Every single Christian has no excuse for not sharing the gospel. In America, we have a myriad of opportunities to proclaim the gospel with a myriad of people every day. Just turn to the right and to the left outside—especially in LA! They’re everywhere. People must hear the gospel and believe the gospel to be saved.
My desire is to be more intentional in proclaiming the gospel to lost people in my city as well as veering regular day to day conversations that I have back to the glorious cross of Christ.
With God’s help, I will do this for the glory of His name, for the salvation of souls, and for the encouragement of my soul.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
the foolishness of the cross & the sovereignty of God to save people.
From Martin Hengel:"All this leads to a final conclusion which it is difficult to resist. When Paul spoke in his mission preaching about the 'crucified Christ' (1 Corinthians 1.23; 2.2; Galatians 3.1), every hearer in the Greek-speaking East between Jerusalem and Illyria (Romans 15.19) knew that this 'Christ' - for Paul the title was already a proper name - had suffered a particularly cruel and shameful death, which as a rule was reserved for hardened criminals, rebellious slaves and rebels against the Roman state. That this crucified Jew, Jesus Christ, could truly be a divine being sent on earth, God's Son, the Lord of all and the coming judge of the world, must inevitably have been thought by any educated man to be utter 'madness' and presumptuousness" (83).
This is why it is God's work in saving His own people through the foolishness of the message preached. Otherwise, no one would believe such a scandalous message. But, as Paul says:
1 Corinthians 1:21, 30-31 — For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe ... But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
crucifixion — it is folly!
The Christian message that Jesus died on a cross is a scandal to many and utter foolishness to most. Justin Martyr put it this way:They say that our madness consists in the fact that we put a crucified man in second place after the unchangeable and eternal God, the Creator of the world (Apology I, 13.4).
Note how Paul describes it:
1 Corinthians 1:18-21 18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
I have three books to read on crucifixion before next week when I arrive at school for my modules:
1. Martin Hengel, Crucifixion.
2. Chapman, Ancient Jewish and Christian Perceptions of Crucifixion
3. Samuelsson, Crucifixion in Antiquity: An Inquiry into the Background of the Terminology for Crucifixion.
I eagerly look forward to reading these works and yet there's also a healthy trepidation for reading the gore and horror of this inhumane way of exterminating one's life. Nevertheless, my Savior was killed this way in my stead so I need to be affected by the reality of crucifixion in the ancient world.
I'll keep you posted as to what I learn.
likeminded.
God has richly blessed me in my life with so many friends, classmates, professors, pastors, and family members who are like-minded. And for that I am very grateful. I meet every other week with a couple of other pastors in the area and this is one event in my busy schedule that I treasure greatly.How true it is that God gives us like-minded soldiers who are also fighting this spiritual battle for the glory of Christ to be revealed to our world. God encourages me through these two men and the conversations we have (at Starbucks!), the prayer times in which we engage, and the struggles that we share. God is good and I praise Him for fellowship.
Some of the ways that I treasure this accountability and encouragement time with the men are as follows:
1. Pray for them regularly. I do pray for these men and I pray specifically for the requests that they voice when we meet together.
2. Long for the meeting. I find encouragement to keep pressing on through some of the hardships and struggles of ministry when I know that I will meet with my like-minded brothers in a week or so.
3. Hope in the battle. God grants me stamina as I recognize that there are other men fighting in this spiritual battle. There are other men—godly men!—who also have struggles in the ministry—from those outside and those within! I praise the Lord that together we endeavor to see the gospel of Christ go forth in LA that will glorify Christ. We all earnestly long to be used by God as humble, broken vessels for His ultimate glory and for His sovereign purposes to be carried out.
4. Sharpening of my theology. Yesterday we had a lengthy conversation about God's election to salvation and God's election to damnation (=double predestination). Is God glorified just as much in the eternal damnation of sinners as much as He is in the eternal salvation of sinners? Does God sovereignly choose individuals to go to eternal hell as He does to go to eternal heaven? Questions like these are good to ponder and I praise the LORD for biblically sound men who have a God-centered view of theology and a God-centered view of life to sharpen me in my theology.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 — 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
Monday, February 7, 2011
quote of the day — the grace of God.
The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God—the grace of God which depends not one whit upon anything that is in man, but is absolutely undeserved, resistless and sovereign. The theologians of the Church can be placed in an ascending scale according as they have grasped with less or greater clearness that one great central doctrine, that doctrine that gives consistency to all the rest; and Christian experience also depends for its depth and for its power upon the way in which that blessed.
HT: Dave Black
Thursday, February 3, 2011
winter retreat — pray for us!!
This weekend we’re taking our youth & college to Big Bear for our annual winter retreat where we dig deeply into God’s Word and have an awesome time with friends as we ski/board down the mountain!
The theme this year is: let there be light (2 Corinthians 4:6 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ). It is all about God’s sovereign grace in our salvation.
If you’d like to download the pdf of our weekend notebook to see what I’ll be preaching on and if you’d like to see the songs that we’ll sing, click here.
Here are my 5 sermons:
1) Romans 3:10-20 – You are Radically Sinful!
2) Romans 9:1-33 – God Sovereignly Elected You for Salvation!
3) John 10:11 – Jesus Died and Actually Accomplished Salvation for His Own!
4) John 6:41-51 – God’s Call for Salvation is Effectual and Irresistible!
5) Romans 8:1-38 – God Sovereignly Preserves You as You Persevere Until the End!
They will be up on the website shortly after we return from camp. Please pray for us and for God’s Spirit to stir the hearts of everyone who is there this weekend. Pray for salvation! Soli Deo Gloria.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
great quotes on a father catechizing his children.
When do you start teaching your children the Word of God?Jewish parents teach their children about the one true God from their earliest years (Philo, Embassy to Gaius 115).
The Jews begin to learn the law as soon as they are able to understand anything (Josephus Against Apion 2.18).
Fathers, let us hasten to teach our children the Word of God.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
boy it's cold here in winnetka, CA this morning... :=)
Now, take a look at this...
Winnetka, California (my home)
St. Louis, Missouri (my folks)
Spearfish, South Dakota (friends)
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania (BBS—my school)
There are some days you wake up and just think...thank you Lord for the winters in Southern California!
42°F | °C Current: Mostly Cloudy Wind: N at 5 mph Humidity: 78% Tue  Wed  Thu Fri |
26°F | °C Current: Freezing Rain Wind: N at 9 mph Humidity: 90% Tue  Wed  Thu  Fri |
Spearfish, South Dakota (friends)
-13°F | °C Current: Snow Showers Wind: W at 10 mph Humidity: 65% Tue Wed Thu Fri |
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania (BBS—my school)
18°F | °C
Current: Snow Showers
Wind: NE at 8 mph
Humidity: 82%
Wind: NE at 8 mph
Humidity: 82%
Tue
24°F | 22°F
Wed
28°F | 15°F
Thu
20°F | 6°F
Fri
27°F | 18°F
There are some days you wake up and just think...thank you Lord for the winters in Southern California!
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