Rehearsing the Gospel

by Joe Thorn on April 10, 2009

The gospel is so foolish (according to my natural wisdom), so scandalous (according to my conscience), and so incredible (according to my timid heart), that it is a daily battle to believe the full scope of it as I should. There is simply no other way to compete with the forbodings of my conscience, the comdemnings of my heart, and the lies of the world and the Devil than to overwhelm them with daily rehearsings of the gospel.
(A Gospel Primer for Christians, pg 14)

Preaching the gospel to myself each day nourishes with me a holy brazenness to believe what God says, enjoy what He offers, and do what He commands. Admittedly, I don’t deserve to be free of sin’s guilt and power. I don’t deserve the staggering privilege of intimacy with God, nor any other blessing that Christ has purchased for me with His blood. I don’t even deserve to be useful to God. But by the grace of God I am what I am and I have what I have, and I hereby resolve not to let any portion of God’s grace prove vain for me! And to the degree that I fail to live up to this resolve, I will boldly take for myself the forgiveness that God says is mine and continue walking in His grace. This is my manifesto, my daily resolve; and may God be glorified by this confidence that I place in Him.
(A Gospel Primer for Christians, pg 52)

There is a very short list of books that I attempt to read once a year, and A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent has just made that list. Having just read it for the first time this morning I am eager to go back through it again later this weekend. This is an absolute must read.

About Joe Thorn

I am the Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, IL, and author of Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself. Jen is my wife, and Katherine, Elias, Madeline and Kilian are my kids.

If you liked this post subscribe to the feed for more of the same.

  • Andrew

    Joe – thanks for sharing that! I have the Primer in it’s pre-publication edition and the “My Manifesto” section is absent from that. Was blessed by it!

  • http://blog.gtbc.org Josh

    I totally agree this is a regular “must-read” book. Milton Vincent really makes practical the need I have to daily preach the Gospel to myself. I cannot help but glory in the cross afresh when reading this little book!

    You going to be at the Gospel Coalition?

    • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

      Yeah, I’ll be there. I’ll put up a post when it gets closer if people want to meet up.

  • noah

    What other books are on your short list of “must read once a year?”

  • http://www.vellezerit-shkoder.com 68guns

    Good question Noah…

    I was just about to post the same thing.

    I don’t have a re-read list, but I think I should do it for maybe 3-5 books.

    I remember hearing Eric Alexander when he was at the Tron(Glasgow) saying that he re-read every year E. M Bounds “Power through Prayer” .

    I would agree with that for a book on prayer.
    for Evangelism -
    Packer – Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God or Spurgeon – The Soul winner

    I think that would be enough for a start.

Previous post:

Next post: