An Evangelical Manifesto: A Declaration of Evangelical Identity and Public Commitment was officially released today. This is a document that seeks to clarify what it means to be an evangelical and how we should engage culture and politics. I like it a lot, but have only read it through once.
For more check out Ed Stetzer’s blog, Justin Taylor’s interaction here, and his interview with Os Guinness here.
I am preaching on Philippians 2:12, 13 this weekend on “Learning Obedience.” Preaching on obedience is tricky. If all I do is call people to keep the law (obey) it will only result in pride or despair. Pride for those who only superficially examine their lives and see themselves as good performers, and despair for those who see their inability to meet God’s standards. In preaching on obedience I have to be careful to show 1) our ultimate hope is not our obedience, but Jesus’ fulfillment of the law, and 2) that there is real hope for our own progress in obedience - but even that is found outside of ourselves. As Paul wrote, “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
In The Gospel for Real Life Jerry Bridges says it this way,
…just as we by faith look to Christ for our righteous standing before God, so by faith we are to look to Him for the enabling power to live the Christian life. This power comes to us a result of our vital and living union with Him.
This is our hope; this is our encouragement to press on in the midst of our frequent falling and failing - the gospel itself!
It is the assurance in the gospel that we have indeed died to the guilt of sin; that there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus; that the Lord will never count our sins against us; and that we are truly delivered from the reigning power of sin, that will motivate us and keep us going even in the midst of the tension between the Spirit and the sinful nature.
Bridges goes on to quote Horatius Bonar whose words were the best thing I’ve read this week:
The secret of a believer’s holy walk is his continual recurrence to the blood of the Surety, and his daily [communion] with a crucified and risen Lord. All divine life, and all precious fruits of it, pardon, peace, and holiness, spring from the cross. All fancied sanctification which does not arise wholly from the blood of the cross is nothing better than Pharisaism. If we would be holy, we must get to the cross, and dwell there; else, notwithstanding all our labour, diligence, fasting, praying and good works, we shall be yet void of real sanctification, destitute of those humble, gracious tempers which accompany a clear view of the cross.
False ideas of holiness are common, not only among those who profess false religions, but among those who profess the true. The love of God to us, and our love to Him, work together for producing holiness. Terror accomplishes no real obedience. Suspense brings forth no fruit unto holiness. No gloomy uncertainty as to God’s favor can subdue one lust, or correct our crookedness of will. But the free pardon of the cross uproots sin, and withers all its branches. Only the certainty of love, forgiving love, can do this….
Free and warm reception into the divine favor is the strongest of all motives in leading a man to seek conformity to Him who has thus freely forgiven him all trespasses.
Whether you are preaching, teaching or listening this Sunday - let the law and the gospel do their work, but do not confuse the two. The law should show us the way to live, expose our guilt and condemnation since we do not live that way, and show us our need for God’s mercy. The gospel shows us that Jesus fulfilled the law of God for us (our justification), and empowers us to obey (our sanctification) from a sense of love and joy.
If you are going to the SBC in Indy this year you should consider hitting the Missional Network Discussion Panel and Dinner. It’s at Buca di Beppo, so while I think the gathering will be good - I know for a fact that the food will be great. Here’s the scoop:
Missional Network Discussion Panel and Dinner
Connect with other missional leaders at the SBC in Indianapolis, IndianaJune 9, 2008, 4:45 - 6:15 at Buca De Beppo Italian Restaurant
Featuring a discussion panel of missional leaders and church planters:
Kerry Shook, The Church at the Woodlands, The Woodlands, TX
Brian Bloye, Westridge Church, Dallas, GA
Daniel Floyd, Lifepoint Church, Fredericksburg, VA
Shawn Lovejoy, Mountain Lake Church, Cumming GARegister at missionalnetwork.org, limited seating!
I am looking to sign up for a few more periodicals, but thought I would get some recommendations from my readers. From The Founders Journal to Fast Company there is some great stuff out there for the thoughtful Christian engaged in ministry. So, here’s the question: if you could only get three periodicals (magazines, journals, etc.) regularly delivered to your home, which ones would they be?
Some people from Redeemer went to a local benefit in which one of our worship leaders played with different musicians on a few different sets. It was held in the classic Arcada Theater - where my Dad took me to see many movies as a kid. The show was great. You can see a few more photos here.
Ed Stetzer offers some good commentary on the recently released stats on our denomination’s apparent decline. His are good words of warning and encouragement, and I hope people are listening. Chris Elrod has uploaded a great conversation with Ed to youtube. It’s all worth your time. Check out Ed’s post, and the conversation at Chris’s blog.
I found out today that Founders Ministries is now giving away their conference audio for free. My first Founders Conference was in 1995 and I came away being very encouraged by the doctrinal preaching and the gathering of men who sang great hymns with real conviction. What you’ve been hearing about T4G is what many were saying about the Founders Conference back in the day.
As of right now the audio only covers 2002-2007, but that’s plenty to get started on. Tom Ascol told me they will be putting up the audio from this year’s upcoming conference on “Renewing and Planting Local Churches” featuring Ed Stetzer, Tom Nettles, Voddie Baucham, Andy Davis, Don Whitney, Phil Newton and Ted Christman. For those of us unable to attend, the free audio will be a real blessing.
So, I am working on Philippians 2:6-11 for our upcoming worship gathering. In my sermon prep throughout the week, and again after the studying is complete, I typically ask myself a number of questions. These questions help to clarify and correct my preaching even before I stand up on Sunday.
1. Does this message exalt the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Will people walk away from this gathering encouraged to trust in law or grace? Can a person hear this message and know our only hope of redemption?
2. Will people know what to do after hearing the message?
I never want my preaching to merely grant knowledge. Good theology always impacts the will. Does a man know what he should do in response to the truths unpacked in the message beyond the general call to repent, and believe? What will repentance and faith look like for my audience?
3. Am I saying anything that will distract from the point I am trying to make?
Here I am thinking less of content and more of expression. Might the language I use, or the illustrations I choose, become the focus rather than the message I am trying to communicate?
4. Do I, at any point, make much of myself in this sermon?
I have heard a number of people express frustration with how some preachers make much of themselves in their preaching and teaching. It is as if some men are ever the example of how to do things well. This will either lead men to think “That pastor is awesome!” or “That pastor sure thinks a lot of himself.” Either way I am getting in Jesus’ way during the sermon if I make much of myself.
5. Would I like this to be the last sermon I ever preach?
It’s a good question to ask, because it just might be the case. Believing that this may be my last opportunity to preach Christ will clarify what really needs to be said. Am I okay with this message being the last thing my family and church hears from my lips? And more importantly, am I okay with this message potentially being the last thing a man, woman or child will hear about the gospel before they die? This too just might be the case.
When asked, these questions bring a sense of sobriety and urgency to my preaching. Do you ask yourself any questions like these before preaching/teaching? What else might we ask ourselves?
Yeah, I know you’re disappointed and surprised. At least I am watching it online at WCSN.com this morning. How can you not love a race that is based on the last day of Pheidippides, the famous Athenian herald. In 490 BC he was sent “from the battlefield by the town of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persia in the Battle of Marathon.” After completing the 26 mile run he shouted “Victory!” and dropped dead.
Boston is a special race, the only marathon a person must qualify for in order to run it. For some interesting facts on the Boston Marathon check out Tom’s post at The Runner’s Lounge.
Today we are having a birthday party for our kids Katherine (turning 7) and Elias (just turned 4). It’s a Pirates and Princesses theme. We’ve never done anything like this before, and though this is very small scale, it’s a busy day finishing up prep. So I woke up early ready to hit the streets running - and it was raining. So I worked on the house until the rain stopped and then headed out for a five mile run through town. Good run.