Archive for Commentary
The Gospel Shows Up in the Strangest Places
Posted by: | Comments(tongue in cheek title)
Russell Moore offers a helpful take on the David Letterman situation.
HT: Tim Challies
Redesign: monergism.com
Posted by: | CommentsOne of my favorite sites just got a makeover and now it’s even better!
Joy (in God) - Quick Topical Study
Posted by: | CommentsI was watching the DVD version of John Piper’s “When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy” and below are a few of the verses mentioned (and a couple of extras also). True joy, ultimate joy, eternal joy is only found in one place: in God. Since we are sinful creatures and evil and suffering are realities, that quest can also be characterized as a fight.
Perhaps it will be helpful to you, as it was to me, to meditate on the them.
(All from the ESV)
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:11
Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.
Deuteronomy 28:47-48
..for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
2 Corinthians 8:2
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
..but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 6:4-10
Gladness in the Gospel
Posted by: | CommentsFrom Of First Importance (If you’re not a subscriber to their email list, you should head right over and sign up! )
“Truth will readily be exchanged for error when no more sweetness and joy is to be found in it than is to be found in error. When we find any of the good truths of the gospel coming home to our souls with power, giving us gladness of heart and transforming us into the image and likeness of it, the Holy Spirit is then at his work. He is pouring out his oil.”
- John Owen, Communion with God, abridged by R.J.K. Law (Carlisle, Pa.: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1991), 189.
Simplified Missional Living
Posted by: | CommentsA very helpful post by Jonathan Dodson on simple ways to be intentional in spending time with non-Christians.
(HT: Justin Tayl0r)
Love in a Time of Swine Flu
Posted by: | CommentsFrom Al Mohler’s blog, a Christian perspective on the outbreak of swine flu.
Monergism Interview with Tim Keller
Posted by: | CommentsThere are several more recent interviews of Tim Keller available but I thought I would pass along this one that Monergism did with him last year. At the time, his book The Reason for God was out and the interview was conducted in light of that book which is a winsome, reasoned defense of the Christian faith. I actually have only read a small portion of the book (need to bump it up to the top of my reading list!) but am nearly done listening to the sermons he preached that gave form to the book. I highly recommend the audio and a ton of people recommend the book. I’ve benefited from his ministry and would encourage others to check him out.
Several things stood out to me in the interview.
1) Keller’s answer to question #4:
When you field questions from skeptics what is the first thing you are looking for in their question?
I want to be able to understand it well enough that, when I articulate it back to them, they feel I have said it better and more persuasively than they could have.
I think we show much respect and care for the other person (1 Peter 3:15, see my previous post) when we are able to understand and effectively restate the question (insert “statement”, “argument” or “conviction” as well). Most people want to know that they are being heard and understood, especially when it comes to religi0us convictions. He actually sets the bar pretty high in desiring to say it “better and more persuasively than they could have”.
2) The tone and overall nature of his answers. The way he answers objections here (and in the book and audio) is one based on addressing the other person’s presuppositions. This is an approach that is not often enough employed in my estimation when defending and sharing the gospel.
3) His answer to question #10. Reminded me that I’ve been wanting to renew my subscription to Time and Newsweek!
4) He recommends John Frame’s books. I haven’t read any of Frame’s books yet but his free seminary courses on audio and papers have been very helpful. I’m very much an audio freak in case anyone was wondering.
Gentleness and Respect
Posted by: | CommentsLately I’ve been thinking about what it means to share and defend the Gospel with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Or with the same love, compassion and directness of Jesus when He spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well. Or the way Paul speaks to people in the Book of Acts. To talk with people in such a way, even when defending the faith, that the love of Christ shines through. Genuine love for people that colors my words, my tone, my attitude, my actions as I tell people of the reality of sin and the supremacy of Christ. The ability to conduct myself in this manner comes only by the power of the Holy Spirit. Left to myself, I am simply not capable. The Lord by His grace exposes our inability to truly love, or truly obey, apart from Him. He empowers us to love others and show gentleness and respect.
Some Scripture that come to mind:
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved- 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1-10
With a proper perspective I now have a foundation (the Gospel!) with which to understand and obey 1 Peter 3:15 (in context):
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:13-17
Out of obedience and because of the grace that God has shown us personally, will we commit to communicate the Gospel with gentleness and respect as we tell others about Jesus?
Culvitating Expositional Listening - #6: Cultivate Humility
Posted by: | CommentsThis is the final posts in the series where we’re reviewing the six practical ways Thabiti Anyabwile suggests for developing “expositional listening” in his book What is a Healthy Church Member? Click here to bring up all the posts in the series. Also, by way of review, here are the first five ways to develop expositional listening according to Anyabwile:
1. Meditate on the Sermon Passage During Your Quiet Time
2. Invest in a Good Set of Commentaries
3. Talk and Pray with Friends After Church
4. Listen to and Act on the Sermon Throughout the Week
5. Develop the Habit of Addressing Any Questions About the Text Itself
The 6th and final suggestion for developing a habit of expositional listening is to cultivate humility. As we hear the Word preached, read the Word and take in the truth of God, we will by God’s grace grow spiritually. Anyabwile cautions us though against becoming “professional sermon listeners” as we move along in our spiritual maturity, becoming one who is always hearing but never learning. Beware of false knowledge that puffs up:
Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind
Colossians 2:18
Furthermore, pride, the condemnation of others and “critical nit-picking” are sins that should be dealt with, mortified, as soon as we see them.
We should instead look to meet Jesus each time we come to Scripture, discovering and applying the truth to all of life. Instead of exalting ourselves we should humble ourselves according to Peter’s admonition: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6).
Thoughts
As someone who takes in a lot of “content” I appreciated this point. I can easily veer into “professional sermon listener” territory and have had to check myself, evaluate my motives and ask myself what the goal is of listening/reading to all the preaching and teaching. Knowledge puffs me up easily. “Good knowledge”, never mind false knowledge (although of course we should all be on guard for this constantly).
May we humbly come before God, seeking His grace and power by the Holy Spirit, to kill the sin of pride whenever it rears its ugly head.
Men of High Pointe, by God’s grace we have the priviledge of sitting under faithful, Christ-exalting preaching that holds up God’s Word as sufficient for all of life and Jesus as the Greatest Treasure. Let us humbly receive the Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit apply what we hear for the Glory of God and for our joy!
I’m reminded of Isaiah 66:2
But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
So, this wraps up this series on Expositional Listening. Although it took quite a bit longer than I had anticipated I hope that you found it helpful. I would highly recommend reading the whole book. It might still be available for free at the information desk.
True Identity
Posted by: Bob Perez | Comments (0)1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1-7)
I’m struck by just how much Paul in introducing himself in the book of Romans, in the traditional way of greeting and introduction of the times, goes completely out of his way to minimize himself, to draw attention away from himself and instead towards the Living God. The spotlight is on the Lord and not on Paul. The Apostle Paul was very clear on where his identity came from, what his mission was, who he was and “whose he was”. Filter this passage through who, what, where, when, why and how and you pretty much have all the answers!
All the answers point to God.
Speaking specifically about verse 1, John Piper puts it like this (emphasis mine):
“In all three phrases the crucial thing is not who Paul is, but whose Paul is. And this will, in the end, be what makes your life significant or not - not who you are, but whose you are.”
So, Paul was:
1. a servant of Christ Jesus
2. called to be an apostle
3. set apart for the gospel of God
What a glorious identity Paul had! And although we know that the foundation was laid once for all by the apostles and prophets, what a glorious identity we have! We are servants of Christ, we are called to be ambassadors for Christ and we’ve been set apart to live out and share the Gospel of God.
Questions I’m asking myself:
1. Am I embracing, walking in, living out, proclaiming with my life, the fact that I am a servant of Christ?
2. Does my life testify, in word and in deed, whose I am?
3. Will I attempt to address #1 and #2 in my own strength? Or will I pursue the Lord, petition Him, seek Him sincerely and ask Him to change me through His Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit?
4. Will “works” consume me or will I desire God Himself? Will “doing the right things” be my concern or will knowing the right person, and increasing in that knowledge be my aim?
5. Will I be self-centered (living for/by myself, as if I am “my own”) or will I be God-centered, living as a servant of Christ, because I am in fact, not my own?
Praise be to God for His steadfast love and faithfulness as he deals mercifully with us as we fight sin to live out our true identity.
(Image credit: Spekulator)