Posted in audio/video, books on March 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Prayer, speech on March 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
This last Sunday I exhorted us as a congregation to not let any corrupting communication come out of our mouths this week. It’s a big challenge–one which allows us to stretch our faith and trust the promises of God and obey His commands in a critical area of our lives.
So I was encouraged to see Scotty Smith’s prayer regarding this very area as he meditates on the king’s speech. Some great thoughts and expressions that we can pray this week in our pursuit of grace-filled talk.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32
Dear Jesus, every sunrise inaugurates a day in which we’ll need the gospel and every sunset confirms the same. And there’s no other aspect of our lives which more boldly underscores our need for the gospel than our speech—the various ways we speak to one another and about one another. Have mercy on us. Have mercy on me, King Jesus.
It’s only because you have spoken, and continue to speak, life giving words to us in the gospel that we have hope for change. Indeed, who are we that the King of glory would sayto us, “You are Mine—completely forgiven and enveloped in my righteousness. I know yourall of your sin and have made it my own. I know your weaknesses and enter them freely. I know your burdens and carry them gladly. I cannot love you more than I already do and I will never love you less. My desire is for you and I greatly delight in you. If you have ears to hear, I am constantly singing to you in the gospel. Listen, for I will quiet you with my love and change you by my grace. You are my beloved, now and forevermore.”
What but this gospel is powerful enough to free us from all gangrenous, “unwholesome” and destructive speaking? What but this gospel can evict from our hearts all bitterness, rage, brawling, slander malice? What but this gospel can move us, quickly and deeply, to grieve the ways we grieve the Holy Spirit? What but this gospel can move us to study one another’s needs rather than rehearse one another’s failures? What but this gospel can fill our hearts with our King’s grace and fill our mouths with our King’s speech?
King Jesus, all day long you will be kind and compassionate to us, without a momentary lapse. We are humbled and gladdened. Please love and speak through us, to your glory and by your grace. So very Amen, we pray, in your merciful and mighty name.
Posted in Uncategorized on March 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Flee Rob Bell, well-known pastor and author, who is abandoning the orthodox position of hell now.
From the product description of his new book:
Fans flock to his Facebook page, his NOOMA videos have been viewed by millions, and his Sunday sermons are attended by 10,000 parishioners—with a downloadable podcast reaching 50,000 more. An electrifying, unconventional pastor whom Time magazine calls “a singular rock star in the church world,” Rob Bell is the most vibrant, central religious leader of the millennial generation. Now, in Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, Bell addresses one of the most controversial issues of faith—the afterlife—arguing that a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering. With searing insight, Bell puts hell on trial, and his message is decidedly optimistic—eternal life doesn’t start when we die; it starts right now. And ultimately, Love Wins.
Phil Johnson, The Bayly brothers, Kevin DeYoung, Albert Mohler and Josh Harris, all expose this error. Flee such false teaching.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged martyn lloyd-jones on March 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century, died 30 years ago today, March 1, 1981. He was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London, shepherding that flock faithfully. His ministry still lives on today primarily through books but also recordings of his messages. Justin Taylor has further details on his life. He is one man in church history, who though dead, still speaks. I have valued his commentaries on the Sermon on the Mount, Romans, Philippians, Ephesians, and 1 John and his books On Preaching and Preachers and Spiritual Depression.
Posted in time management, women, tagged women on March 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Cruciform Press releases a new book today–The Organized Heart: A Woman’s Guide to Conquering Chaos written by Staci Eastin. Here’s the publisher’s description:
The fight against chaos is universal, whether it be the outward chaos of disorder and frenzy or the inward chaos of fear and self-criticism. Even if we already know how to do better, something falls apart between our good intentions and getting it done.
Most books on organization just add more rules to your life, whether it be another plan, another calendar, or another method. This book will show you a different, better way that is grounded in the grace of God.
Jesus taught that true change doesn’t come by the addition of more rules, but from the inside out, with a change of the heart that only the gospel can bring. When you identify the heart problems behind the chaos in your life, lasting change can happen. This will not only reduce the stress in your life, but help you be more effective in your service to God.
Staci covers topics such as perfectionism, busyness, possessions, leisure and special circumstances women encounter.
You can read the first chapter here. (Scroll down a bit)
Cruciform Press is a new publishing company, but thus far has produced some excellent books that are trustworthy.
Posted in Prayer, tagged Prayer, spurgeon on March 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
From my message Sunday, February 27, 2011:
What are you passionately and persistently praying for? What are you seeking to laying hold of God for? Does he seem silent? Have others told you, “Stop bothering God about this? What crumb of God’s mercy are you after.”
From the Daily Spurgeon, February 28, 2011:
For my part, brethren and sisters, I desire to feel a spirit of urgency within my soul as I plead with God for the dew of his grace to descend upon this church. I am not bashful in this matter, for I have a license to pray. Mendicancy* is forbidden in the streets, but, before the Lord I am a licensed beggar. Jesus has said, “men ought always to pray and not to faint.” You land on the shores of a foreign country with the greatest confidence when you carry a passport with you, and God has issued passports to his children, by which they come boldly to his mercy seat; he has invited you, he has encouraged you, he has bidden you come to him, and he has promised that whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Come, then, come urgently, come importunately, come with this plea, “I am poor and needy; make no tarrying, O my God,” and a blessing shall surely come; it will not tarrry. God grant we may see it, and give him the glory of it.
* – that is, beggingFrom a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled “Pleading,” delivered October 29, 1871
