Musings and Meditations of a Country Preacher
I just read an article by Trevin Wax that challenged me tremendously. It’s titled, “What You Celebrate as a Church is Just as Important as What You Believe.” I believe this guy has been reading my (our) mail! Please take a few minutes to read it, then tell me what you think. I truly want us to celebrate the gospel as a priority.
Thanks to Todd Benkert for posting it on Facebook.
The September 28 issue of the New York Times carried this thought-provoking article. It opens with these words, “Americans are by all measures a deeply religious people, but they are also deeply ignorant about religion.” I was interested to learn that atheists and agnostics scored better on a quiz dealing with general issues of religion than the people who hold to those religions. I think it underscores the fact that for too many Americans, religion is based more upon feelings than fact. If we are ever going to see the world won to Jesus, then we ought to pay more attention to knowing what we believe, why we believe, and how it makes a difference in our lives.
The article quotes Dave Silverman, president of American Atheists, who says, “I have heard many times that atheists know more about religion than religious people,” Mr. Silverman said. “Atheism is an effect of that knowledge, not a lack of knowledge. I gave a Bible to my daughter. That’s how you make atheists.” I think Mr. Silverman’s ideas are living proof of the biblical truth that the human mind is darkened and dead to spiritual things, unless the Holy Spirit awakens understanding. I would argue that giving a Bible to someone is more likely to make a believer than an atheist, because it is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.”
Friends, we have to be diligent to love the LORD our God with all our MINDS, as the Great Commandment says. As I said in the sermon this past Sunday, “We have to do better!”
You can read the entire article here. By the way, I got six out of six correct in the sample quiz (that’s a relief!).
My apologies to the two of you who occasionally take a look at this blog for not putting anything up for so long.
Now for something new.
For quite some time, I have been struggling to try and define an accurate, biblical doctrine of the Church. The way we currently “do Church” just seems to be missing something on so many fronts. The more I study and read, the more I am convinced that the Western Church is far more individualistic than the New Testament pattern. Just this morning, I ran across a stunning article in “Christianity Today” that scratches where I have been itching for so long. Joseph Hellerman has written a landmark (in my humble opinion) contribution that every Christian ought to give serious consideration.
He states, “Despite what we know about spiritual growth, nearly all churches in America are characterized by an unwillingness of members to commit themselves deeply to their respective church. For some, it means church hopping; for most, it means keeping the church at arm’s length—that is, living as if the individual’s life is primary and that of the church is secondary. . . The early Christians had a markedly different perspective. Jesus’ early followers were convinced that the group comes first—that I as an individual will become all God wants me to be only when I begin to view my goals, desires, and relational needs as secondary to what God is doing through his people, the local church. The group, not the individual, took priority in a believer’s life in the early church. And this perspective (social scientists refer to it as “strong group”) was hardly unique to Christianity. Strong-group values defined the broader social landscape of the ancient world and characterized the lives of Jews, Christians, and pagans alike.”
It’s a fairly lengthy article, but please take the time to read it entirely. You can find it here. Also, I would recommend, Stop Dating the Church by Joshua Harris, The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne, and Why We Love the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. There are other worthy books, but these are the most recent I’ve read and the freshest in my mind in terms of influence.
As far as I can tell, Hellerman’s article offers a clear description of what the Bible calls koinonia, or fellowship. Without this kind of community, the Church will always be lacking in power, influence, and effectiveness. My prayer is that I can lead the congregation I serve toward achieving this kind of fellowship. As I often say, “There is no “I” in Church!”
While our attention is rightly turned to the issue of life and specifically, abortion this week. Let’s make sure we remember that sexuality is a much larger issue than abortion alone. Please read this article from today’s USA Today - Teen pregnancy, abortion rates rise
If you can stand a real eye-opener, be sure to read the comments at the bottom of the page.
Let’s teach the kids the right things and do it ourselves.
Thanks to my dear friend, Matt Perry, for calling attention to this article on his own blog. It’s by Josh Harris and the original is here. If you care about the Church of Jesus, and particularly the congregation of which you are a part, the read this carefully and prayerfully.
WRONG REASONS TO LOVE THE CHURCH
Do you love the church? Romans 12:10 tells Christians to “Love one another with brotherly affection.”
The affection and love we’re to have for fellow-Christians is to be based on the work of Jesus Christ for us. It’s not about elitism, it’s not because Christians are better than anyone else, it certainly isn’t because Christians are necessarily more lovable. We love the church because we love the Savior who redeemed the church.
Acts 20:28 tells us that Jesus obtained the church with his own blood. Is this what your love for the church is based on? If it’s anything less, it won’t last long.
- Don’t love the church because of what it does for you. Because sooner or later it won’t do enough.
- Don’t love the church because of a leader. Because human leaders are fallible and will let you down.
- Don’t love the church because of a program or a building or activities because all those things get old.
- Don’t love the church because of a certain group of friends because friendships change and people move.
Excerpted from the sermon “We Are Here to Love the Church.”
On Wednesday, Dec. 30, I received an e-mail from Don Whitney’s “Biblical Spirituality” ministry. He poses “10 Questions to Ask at the Start of the New Year.” I share them here in hopes of fostering a sense of purpose and intentionality for our lives in the year ahead. Please read and consider these prayerfully.
Happy New Year!
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity
Mohler on the future of the SBC
more about "SBTS – Resources – Video: The Preside…", posted with vodpod
From time to time, I like to listen to recordings of the Scriptures. I recently discovered a free Audio New Testament that presents the English Standard Version. This is an awesome translation, and I think you might want to look into downloading it for you own use. Here is the link to it — http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/ambassador/free-audio-bible-download
This is a HUGE FILE, but worth the effort. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
I just did the funeral for one of the old faithful “pillars” of our congregation. It was a great celebration of the life of a saint. While I was visiting with the family, making plans for the service, one of the daughters handed me a Bible her dad had given her and asked me to read the note in the flyleaf. It truly blessed me. With her permission, I share the content of that note with you here.
Dear Jan, Scott, & Derek,
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. I urge you to use this One Year Bible to study the Word to know the way of the Lord in your life. To fear God is true wisdom and to forsake evil is real understanding (Job 28:28).
Everyone needs to work out their own salvation but remember faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
I have gathered a few thoughts that I believe will help you as you travel life’s highway:
1. Use you mind for creative ideas.
2. Surround yourself with creative Christian people.
3. Use your time wisely.
4. Study money. Learn how you can make it work for you.
5. Realize that God owns everything.
6. God is the source of everything. God loves a cheerful giver and a good steward.
7. Sow a seed to meet your need.
8. Trust God and obey Him. Remember Jesus is Lord and He is our great interceder
9. Combat stress by reading the Word. Examine your heart to see where your treasure is. Rebuke the devil and spend time in prayer daily.
10. The Joy of the Lord is your strength. Through it all God loves you and cares about you and your family. Household salvation is of the Lord.
My wish for you and your family is that God will bless you with a long, full life filled with good health, happiness, and prosperity. Give God your best and ask Him for His best for you. I am grateful to God for His many blessings. Among them is the privilege of living in the greatest country in the all the earth where opportunity abounds. To have a very full life with two wonderful wives each quite different and a large loving family. Isn’t it great when we can all get
together and reminisce the good times we have had. My hope and prayer is that when life on this earth is over we will all be a part of the great family of God and joint heirs with Jesus. Thank you for all your love, support, and kindness.
Love, Dad.
PS. Claim the power of the blood of Jesus Christ through faith.
Wouldn’t our world be a better place if there were more dads like this one?
I’ve been seeing and hearing a lot of input about the new ESV Study Bible from Crossway, and it all sounds pretty convincing. I began to look for a copy at all my usual sources, but this thing is EXPENSIVE! A couple weeks ago, I got a mid-week sale e-mail from CBD, which offered a leather-bound edition for $37.99, which is close to half of what it usually goes for, and I bit. I just got it here yesterday, and I AM IMPRESSED! The content and layout of this Study Bible is great, and the scholarship of the supporting material is outstanding.
I have been exposed to the ESV in varying degrees since it was first introduced several years ago, but I’m not one to switch Bible Translations very easily. I’ve been using NASB for many years, and most of my study materials are compatible with that translation. I’ll be reading this new translation through before I decide to make it my preaching Bible (if Idecide to make it my preaching Bible), but my initial impression is very favorable. After all, it’s always good to have multiple translations available for comparison when studying God’s Word. I’ll try to keep you posted on the progress of this enterprise.
Just a word of friendly, pastorly advice here on the use of “Study Bibles.” The most important aspect of any Bible is the biblical text itself. I personally own and use a few different Study Bibles, but when it all comes down to studying the Word of God, it must come down to the study of the Word of God itself. Remember, only the actual Bible is inspired, and the rest is simply (potentially) helpful information. As far as the study helps, footnotes, maps, charts, and comments go, it’s always helpful to consider who has contributed to that material and their personal theological convictions as you choose a Study Bible. Some good examples include The NASB Study Bible, The ESV Study Bible, The Apologetics Study Bible, The Life Application Study Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, and a classic, The Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible. With these later ones, be sure to select a translation that is fitting. I would avoid The Liviing Bible, for example, because it is not a translation but a paraphrase. Someone has said that the best translation is the one you will actually read, so choose wisely. 
