Dwelling Deep

“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philipians 4:7)

There are depths in the ocean, I am told, which no tempest ever stirs – beyond the reach of all storms that sweep and agitate the surface of the sea. And there are heights in the blue sky above, to which no cloud ever ascends; where no tempest ever rages; where all is perpetual sunshine; where naught exists to disturb the deep serenity. Even at the center of the cyclone there is rest. Each of these is an emblem of the soul which Jesus visits, to whom He speaks peace, whose fear He dispels, whose lamps of hope He trims.

During the test of a submarine it remained submerged for many hours. When it had returned to the harbor, the commander was asked: “Well, how did the storm affect you last night?” The commander looked at him in surprise and said: “Storm? We knew nothing of any storm!”

Dwell deep. When doubts assail and stealthy shadows creep across your sky, filling you with a sense of doom. Where thunders roar, and lightnings frighten with their glare, and old foundations seem to crumble beneath your feet. Dwell deep and rest your soul amid eternal things. Upon the surface storms may rage, and billows break on every beach of life, and fling disaster far and wide. If your soul is dwelling quiet in the depths, naught can harm you evermore. Therefore dwell deep, and rest your head upon the heart of God.

- Anonymous

“When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble” – (Job 34:29)

HT: Come and Live

Making Your Meetings More Productive

Meetings, meeting, and more meetings, but little accomplished. It sometimes seems as though groups meet more out of routine than purpose. I appreciate these suggestions from the folks at the 99 percent (and if you've never been to their website, go, it's full of great advice about being productive, getting organized, and making your ideas become more than a foggy memory).

Spontaneous Worship Among Strangers

HT: Ragamuffin Soul

Jesus' Teaching Methods

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matt. 16:13–20)

In this Scripture, Jesus uses his rhetorical style to lead Peter to understand his role. Jesus doesn't ask questions because he needs to know the answer; he asks questions to cause the subject to think.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

I've been reading Donald Miller's newest book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, and I have really been enjoying it. It starts slow, basically telling some of the behind the scenes activity surrounding the making of the soon to be released movie, Blue Like Jazz. One of my favorite sections tells of a dad who is having problems with his thirteen year old daughter. The dad realizes that at the root of the problem is the bad story that his family has been living out.

Clay Pots and the Glory of God

Do you ever judge the gifts and talents of others in church? Do you ever find yourself imposing your own worldly standards to judge the quality and worthiness of a gift that another is giving to God. I must admit, I do, especially if the gift being shared is in an area in which I am also gifted and talented. In fact that is when criticism can be most harsh; my pride rears its ugly head and I think, "I could do better than that." I can't help but wonder what impact this sinfulness has on those who offer to use their gifts to God, but produce quite ordinary results?

Jesus Storybook Bible

This is one of the Christmas presents I bought for my daughter this year. We're going to use it for family devotions throughout the next year and I'm really looking forward to it. Above is a video of the story of the birth of Jesus ... Merry Christmas to all!

Born to Die for Freedom

John Piper writes:

If you don’t have time to read this now stick it in your Bible and use it for a morning meditation later on. Hebrews 2:14-15 is worth more than two minutes over an advent communion. These verses connect the beginning and the end of Jesus’ earthly life. They make clear why he came. They would be great to use with an unbelieving friend or family member to take them step by step through your Christian view of Christmas. It might go something like this… 

Please Pray for Matt Chandler: The Game Plan

Let me start by saying, Thank You! The outpouring of love and prayers for my family and me has been so overwhelming that it has moved us to sobs. To see the tangible love of God for us in the saints has been overwhelming and a great comfort…Thanks.

Prognosis: Anaplastic oligodendroglioma

Battle Plan: Radiation and chemotherapy start on Dec. 29, bolstering my system with some homeopathic means.

Dec. 29 at 1 p.m.
Start radiation. This will continue every day for six weeks.
Chemo will be happening right along side of radiation and will go through February, and then we’ll take a four-week break, get an MRI and see where we stand.

The players:

Dr. Karen Fink, neuro-oncologist – Dr. Fink is the quarterback for my team, and she happens to be the Peyton Manning of neuro-oncology. Please pray for her as she monitors my treatment and vitals through all of this. Pray for her wisdom and insight.

Dr. Scott Cheek, radiation oncologist – I enjoy Dr. Cheek very much. He has a refreshing and encouraging personality with a great sense of humor.

Dr. David Barnett, neuro-surgeon – David performed my brain surgery, and it was an amazing success. He is a man of great faith, and I have enjoyed getting to know him as a surgeon and a brother.

Dr. Hammon, homeopathic doctor – He’s working with my other doctors. I have been moved by everyone’s humility and willingness to hear from each other

Prayers:

* My doctors
* That God might glorify Himself in amazing ways through all of this
* The Village Church and our elders
* Complete healing
* Healthy appetite
* Protection from side effects of radiation
* Protection from side effects of chemotherapy
* Peace for my family…specifically my children and their salvation
o Audrey 7 yrs. old
o Reid 4 yrs. old
o Norah 6 ½ months

Christ is All,

Matt Chandler

New John Piper Book

A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God

The timeless themes of sex, racial tension, and God’s perplexing and perfect plans are as much a part of our human experience today as they were for Ruth and Boaz over three thousand years ago.

In A Sweet and Bitter Providence, the book of Ruth comes alive as a story of how God uses the most dangerous and tenuous circumstances to accomplish his wise and gracious purposes.

HT: Desiring God

What Christmas Means to Me

By C.S. Lewis

Three things go by the name of Christmas. One is a religious festival. This is important and obligatory for Christians; but as it can be of no interest to anyone else, I shall naturally say no more about it here. The second (it has complex historical connections with the first, but we needn’t go into them) is a popular holiday, an occasion for merry-making and hospitality. If it were my business to have a ‘view’ on this, I should say that I much approve of merry-making. But what I approve of much more is everybody minding his own business. I see no reason why I should volunteer views as to how other people should spend their own money in their own leisure among their own friends. It is highly probable that they want my advice on such matters as little as I want theirs. But the third thing called Christmas is unfortunately everyone’s business.

Christmas Invasion

In Chuck Colson's book, The Faith, written in collaboration with Harold Fickett, he includes a chapter entitled "The Invasion."

He describes an experience he had as a young Marine when he was part of an invasion with a flotilla of warships, including an aircraft carrier, in activities off the coast of Guatemala that broke the back of the Communist insurgency, and then he goes on to declare how that military event pales in comparison with the invasion of Normandy on D-day, June 6, 1944, the largest seaborne landing in history. He writes about the invasion of Normandy being the first successful opposed landing across the English Channel in nine centuries.

Looking Back at 2009 for Evidences of Grace

“Most people are more aware of the absence of God than the presence of God. Most people are more aware of the presence of sin than evidences of grace. What a privilege and joy it is in pastoral ministry…to turn one’s attention to ways in which God is at work, because so often people are unaware of God’s work. And much of God’s work in our lives is quiet; it’s not ‘spectacular.’ It’s rarely obvious to the individual, and normally it’s incremental and takes place over a lengthy period of time.” - C.J. Mahaney

A while back I attended a Resurgence Conference where CJ Mahaney issued a challenge to pastors to look for evidence of God's work in their lives. I think we all can benefit from accepting this challenge. Are you aware of the ways in which God has blessed you this past year? Do you actively look for evidences of grace in your life? Here's a list of ways in which you can reflect on the past year and look for the evidences of grace you've experienced in 2009:

So how do we identify evidences of grace?

Start by reflecting on the list of fruit of the Spirit. How has God demonstrated Himself through the fruit? How have others shown the gospel through demonstrations of the fruit of the Spirit? You may find the evidences of God’s grace in places you have never looked.

Love - "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him" (1 John 4:16). Through Jesus Christ, our greatest goal is to do all things in love. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Joy - "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

Peace - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

Long Suffering (Patience) -- We are "strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness" (Colossians 1:11). "With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

Gentleness (Kindness) -- We should live "in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left" (2 Corinthians 6:6-7).

Goodness - "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11). "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth" (Ephesians 5:9).

Faith (Faithfulness) - "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isaiah 25:1). "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:16-17).

Meekness - "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1). "With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

Temperance (Self-Control) - "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love" (2 Peter 1:5-7).
 

HT: Acts 29

The Top Atheism Books of the Decade

Former preacher John W. Loftus, who studied under the #1 Christian apologist in the world, William Lane Craig, explains how he lost his faith and why evangelical Christianity is false. American Christians who are sick of Dawkins & company misunderstanding their faith at every turn will be glad to finally read an atheist who thoroughly understands the Christianity they live and believe. Christian apologist Norman Geisler has recommended the book to his students, and Christian philosopher Mark Linville writes that “Evangelicals cannot afford to ignore Why I Became an Atheist.” This is an atheist book written directly to Christians which has been highly recommended from both sides of the fence. The new edition was just released in October 2009.

See which other titles are on this list here.

HT: Common Sense Atheism

Christmas Resources

In the Fullness of Time
 Jesus is introduced to the world, the complete fulfillment of prophecy...

The Incarnation
The Kenosis, the Hypostatic Union, the Deity of Christ

Profile of a Savior
Jesus was a man, but not an ordinary man; He was God Himself.

The Long Silence
Jesus became a man to identify with mankind, to stand in our stead.

These articles are adapted from "The Bible: Fast Forward" by Greg Koukl.

You Are the Light of the World

You've probably seen this before, but I think it serves as a good reminder of just what the mission of the church is all about. Especially this time of year, it's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and lose focus of Jesus. We're called to worship Him, know Him, and make Him known wherever we are in the world - and as you can, it's still a dark world. Are you spreading light in your home, your church, and your community?

Francis Chan: Watch Out For Others

 

This should blow your hair back.

Ezekiel Is Israel's Watchman

33:1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.

Please Pray for Matt Chandler: Update

Village Church Elders write:

On Tuesday, Dr. Barnett informed Matt and Lauren that the findings of the pathology report revealed a malignant brain tumor that was not encapsulated. The surgery to remove the tumor, the doctor said, was an extremely positive first step; however, because of the nature of the tumor, he was not able to remove all of it.

Matt, who is being released from the hospital today, is meeting with a neuro-oncologist this week to outline the next steps of the recovery process. There is a range of treatment possibilities but the exact course of action has not yet been determined. He will continue outpatient rehab.

The Lord is calling Matt and Lauren and The Village Church body to endure this trial. It will be a challenging road for Matt, his family and our church body. The gospel is our hope and the Lord is our strength. Matt and Lauren continue to find solace and hope in Christ. They weep facing this trial, but not as those without hope and perspective. The gospel clarifies their suffering and promises more of Christ through it all.

6 Misconceptions About Discipleship

A disciple of Jesus is a person learning what it means to live their whole life in light of the gospel of Jesus. Through faith in the gospel of Jesus, Christians have been given a new freedom from sin, a new love for God, a new Spirit, a new heart, a new identity, a new power, and literally a whole new life. And living as a disciple of Jesus is learning how to live in the reality of this new life you’ve been given through faith in the gospel. Discipleship is the joyful and exciting process of learning to live out the new life that Jesus has given to us in the gospel. Not that it’s easy, or without pain or cost, but the joy and excitement of living in light of all that God is and all that God has done for us and promised us in the gospel certainly outweighs any pain or cost. And yet, if you were to ask a Christian how they’re doing at living as a disciple of Jesus or making disciples of Jesus, you wouldn’t encounter joy and excitement as much as you would confusion, guilt, and frustration.

Sexual Detox

Tim Challies has put together two guides, one for married men and another for single men, focused on the Biblical position on sex and applying that truth to a several important peripheral issues (pornography, addiction, masturbation, and so on).

Below is a spinet, directed at married men, that I especially appreciated. If husbands who struggle with pornography can come to see pornography in this way, as a sin that is radically changing their hearts and minds (even the way in which they look and feel for their wives), then I think it will mark a first step toward conquering this sin. Here's what Challies writes:

(Pornography) has reshaped your mind and your heart in certain ways, and has even shaped your understanding of your own wife! You are looking at her through the eyes of a pornographer! Would you want Hugh Hefner staring at your wife’s body, looking it up and down? And yet there you are looking at her through his eyes—through the eyes he and others like him have given you through your consumption of their pornography.

What you need to do is to borrow God’s eyes and prepare yourself to look at your wife through that lens, through that filter. You need to replace lies with truth. And God has given you the Bible so you can do just that. Through the Bible we are able to borrow God’s eyes and to see the world as he sees it.

You can download these two resources in e-book form for free:

Sexual Detox: A Guide for the Single Guy

Sexual Detox: A Guide for the Married Guy

HT: Challies

How Does Unbelief Contribute To The Need I Feel For Pornography?

HT: Desiring God

New Study on the Effects of Pornography

A new study done by Patrick F. Fagan examines the effects of pornography on individuals, marriage, family and community. Fagan is Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Research on Marriage and Religion at the Family Research Council. He specializes in examining the relationships among family, marriage, religion, community, and America's social problems. This study is important for everyone to read as it demonstrates that it has damaging effects on individuals and families.

In the summary Fagan explains:

Pornography is a visual representation of sexuality which distorts an individual's concept of the nature of conjugal relations. This, in turn, alters both sexual attitudes and behavior. It is a major threat to marriage, to family, to children and to individual happiness. In undermining marriage it is one of the factors in undermining social stability.

Social scientists, clinical psychologists, and biologists have begun to clarify some of the social and psychological effects, and neurologists are beginning to delineate the biological mechanisms through which pornography produces its powerful negative effects.

The Bait-and-Switch, the Sales Pitch, and the Motive of Love

By Greg Gilbert

If you give someone a cup of cold water and then share the gospel with them, are you guilty of pulling a bait-and-switch tactic in evangelism? That argument is often made against Christians who engage in social ministry while they are sharing the gospel with the people they're ministering to. You're doing "kind" things for them, the argument goes, so you can share the gospel with them, and that's not real compassion.

A Humerous Christmas Video: Me Be Gone

ME BE GONE from Two Rivers on Vimeo.

HT: Ed Stetzer

How We See Christmas Symbols

John & Noël Piper write:

What do you think of this paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 5:16:

“From now on we do not know anyone or anything according to the flesh. Even though we once knew Christmas according to the flesh, we know it thus no longer”? Noël told me last week that she went to a store to find some Christmas decorations, but that in six long aisles only a couple small items related to Christ. All the rest was “Christmas according to the flesh.” How should Christians respond to the desecration of Christmas?

Merry Christmas? What about Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, and Jewish people?

HT: Desiring God

A Kind of Christmas Tale: The Poor Man and His Cow And the Rich Man and His Wall

Based (very loosely) on a story in T. H. White’s The Once and Future King.

Once upon a time there was a very wise old man named Job. In his old age God gave to him a daughter whom he named Jemima, which means little dove. He loved his little girl and she loved her daddy.

One day Job decided to go on journey and asked Jemima if she would like to go along. “Oh, yes,” Jemima said. “I would love to go along.”

But Job said, “It will be a journey that takes us several days. So we will be staying each night wherever people will have us. So I can’t promise it will be nice. But God will take care of us. He always does what is right. He always meets the needs of those who trust him.”

Three Things We All Can Learn From Tiger

Scott Thomas writes:

Today, Tiger posted the following on his website

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What's most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.

Tiger admitted to infidelity and has accepted the consequences for his actions. Here is what we can learn from this when interpreted through the gospel.

Three things we learn from Tiger Woods' transgression:

1. Don’t delay confession
2. Don’t Run from the Truth
3. Don’t Hide in Isolation

Advent Songs

What Christmas music are you enjoying this year? Advent Songs, which highlights original and traditional Christmas songs from Sojourn artists, including Jamie Barnes, Dirt Poor Robins, Brooks Ritter, and more, has me in the right Christmas frame of mind this year.

The emphasis of this project is on the already/ not-yet tension of Advent, the season of waiting and anticipation before Christmas. Advent comes to us in the darkest season of the year — a season when the nights are long, the days are cold, and we look with anticipation for the return of the warmth in the spring. These songs have both a dark sense of anticipation and glimpses of light dawning in the face of the Christ child.

If you're looking for something to help you focus your eyes upon the remembrance of the birth of King Jesus, I would highly recommend Advent Songs - and you can get it for free if you're willing to tell five friends about this CD! Check it out.

* You can get the chord sheets here if you're interested in that sort of thing.

HT: Sojourn Music

Why Require Unregenerate Children to Act Like They're Good?

John Piper writes:

If mere external conformity to God’s commands (like don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t kill) is hypocritical and spiritually defective, then why should parents require obedience from their unregenerate children?

Won’t this simply confirm them in unspiritual religious conformity, hypocritical patterns of life, and legalistic moralism?

Here are at least three reasons why Christian parents should require their small children (regenerate or unregenerate) to behave in ways that conform externally to God’s revealed will.

New Birth Portraits

Jesus said, "Truly, truly, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." But what does that mean? What does being "born again" look like? Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City has began posting a series of video portraits, highlighting the new birth stories of New Yorkers from within their own congregation.

The portrait above is of Alan Kleinberg, a man who spent his younger years working as a photographer and music video/ film producer. I was taken by his story, not because it tells of a miraculous conversion experience, but that because of the rather ordinary way he felt God changing him from within has he received a Bible as a gift and tried to dealt with the loss of loved ones, including his wife. We don't hear these kinds of stories enough in church today and as a result we tend to focus on what God accomplished in the lives of disciples rather than of work God is doing today all around us. I pray that this work from Redeemer inspires others to share their stories of how God is still at work in our day.

HT: Redeemer Presbyertian Church

16 Christmas Tips for Dads from Mark Driscoll

’Tis the season for Dad to drop the holiday ball, stress out as the money is being spent for presents, and miss yet another providential opportunity to lovingly lead his family. So, this blog is intended to help dads not fall into the same old rut of holiday humdrum, sitting on the couch watching football and eating carbs, but rather intentionally plan out the upcoming holiday season. Our children grow quickly and if we miss the sacred moments God opens up for us to connect with and bless our families, everyone suffers and we set in motion generations of missed opportunity.

Dad needs:

1. a plan for the holidays to ensure his family is loved and memories are made. Dad, what’s your plan?
2. to check the local guides for what’s going on to make fun holiday plans for the family. In Seattle it’s here.
3. to carve out time for sacred events and experiences to build family traditions that are fun and point to Jesus. Dad, is your calendar ready for December?
4. to not let the stress of the holidays, including money, cause him to be grumpy with Mom or the kids. Dad, how’s your joy?

Why It's Okay to Celebrate Christmas

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer (1 Timothy 4:4-5).

Back in the apostle Paul’s day, people who had converted from paganism to faith in Christ had lots of difficulty determining which of their culture’s customs were inherently evil and which of them could be practiced in new ways that now honored God.

Should Christians Celebrate Christmas: Do We Have to Choose Between Christ and Christmas?

I don't know about you, but Christmas sometimes seems like anything but a "Holy Day." It's become a season of hyper-consumerism and self-worship (e.g., What do you want for Christmas?). As a result, I wonder if Christians should even celebrate Christmas at all.

John MacArthur writes:

Scripture doesn't specifically command believers to celebrate Christmas--there are no prescribed "Holy Days" the church must observe. In fact, Christmas was not observed as a holiday until well after the biblical era. It wasn't until the mid-fifth century that Christmas received any official recognition.

God Uses the Gospel to Strengthen Believers

John Piper writes:

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. - Romans 16:25-27

Verse 25: “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel.” Everything Paul says in verses 25 and 26 is an unpacking of the gospel which strengthens believers. This gospel which strengthens is “the preaching of Jesus Christ” (v. 25b). Jesus is the central reality of the gospel. This gospel is “according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages” (v. 25c). That’s the mystery that the Gentiles—the nations—are full fellow citizens with Jewish believers by faith in Jesus (Ephesians 3:6). That good news “has now been disclosed” (v. 26a), and even though it was hidden in past ages, it is the very Old Testament “prophetic writings” (v. 26b) themselves that Paul uses to reveal the mystery to “all nations” (v. 26b). And all of this good news for the nations was “the command of the eternal God” and aims at “the obedience of faith” (v. 26c).
All of that is an unpacking of the gospel in verse 25 which God uses to strengthen believers so that they will indeed persevere in the obedience of faith and draw all attention to the glory of God.

I Asked the Lord that I Might Grow

By John Newton

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.
’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.
I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.
Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.
Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.
These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

Who is Jesus?

Jesus is such a simple name but one that stirs the soul of humanity in a profound way. He is venerated as God by adherents to one of the world’s largest faiths and is unavoidable when you draw up a short list of names of people who have quite literally changed history. Many people have an opinion about the identity of Jesus. Robert Bowman and J. Ed Kmoszewski begin their book, Putting Jesus in His Place with a profound observation:

Interpretations of Jesus are fraught with bias. He’s a powerful figure whom people want on their sides—and they’re willing to re-create him in their image to enlist his support. Animal-rights activists imagine a vegetarian Jesus. New Agers make him an example of finding the god within. And radical feminists strip him of divinity so that Christianity doesn’t appear sexist. “Frankly, it’s hard to escape the feeling that our culture has taken Jesus’ question ‘Who do you say that I am?’ and changed it to ‘Who do you want me to be?’”

Are you worshiping the Biblical Jesus or a made-to-order "Jesus" who doesn't disrupt your lifestyle or preferred ideologies?

Conversion and Contextualization

Re-Examining Our Expectations of Gospel Change

According to Andrew Walls, the word "conversion" has been used in two main ways throughout Christian history .[1] The first meaning of conversion denotes "an external act of religious change." This act reflects a movement towards Christian faith, individually or collectively. The other meaning of conversion refers to "critical internal religious change" within the Christian community. This meaning of conversion gets at what we might call “gospel change.”

Not All Gospel Change is Identical

Missionaries of the 19th and 20th centuries exported their understanding and experience of Western “gospel change” to non-Western peoples. This often included a conversion that issued “in a holy life typically marked by a period of deep consciousness of personal sin followed by a sense of joyous liberation dawning with the realization of personal forgiveness through Christ ." In other words, missionaries expected Non-Western peoples to undergo a pattern of gospel change similar to their own. However, while the gospel certainly changed the peoples of Africa, India, and Asia, not all change produced by the gospel was identical.

What is Incarnation? Spread the News

This poster explains the doctrine of the Incarnation, which means “becoming flesh.” This doctrine is important for us to understand as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, the second person of the Trinity entering into human history. Download the Incarnation poster here.  If you need ideas for how to use the posters, click here. 

HT: The Resurgence

John Piper's Taste & See Articles Now Online

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34: 8)!  Seventeen years' worth (1981-1997) of previously unavailable Taste & See (a.k.a. Star) articles are now online. We've announced the progressive addition of them from time to time over the past year or so, but yesterday marked the posting of the final article and the last day of work on this project. 

Among the benefits to having them online is that they are now categorized according to topic and are available to be searched alongside the rest of Pastor John's works. For those interested, they also provide a fuller view of the history of Bethlehem Baptist church and of John Piper's ministry there.

HT: Desiring God

Contemplating Christmas

By George Whitefield


“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

It was love, mere love; it was free love that brought the Lord Jesus Christ into our world. What, shall we not remember the birth of our Jesus? Shall we yearly celebrate the birth of our temporal king, and shall that of the King of kings be quite forgotten? Shall that only, which ought to be had chiefly in remembrance, be quite forgotten? God forbid! No, my dear brethren, let us celebrate and keep this festival of our church with joy in our hearts: let the birth of a Redeemer, which redeemed us from sin, from wrath, from death, from hell, be always remembered; may this Savior’s love never be forgotten! But may we sing forth all his love and glory as long as life shall last here, and through an endless eternity in the world above! May we chant forth the wonders of redeeming love and the riches of free grace, amidst angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, without intermission, forever and ever! And as, my brethren, the time for keeping this festival is approaching, let us consider our duty in the true observation thereof, of the right way for the glory of God, and the good of immortal souls, to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; an event which ought to be had in eternal remembrance.

Christmas Was Not Optional

No incarnation, no regeneration. No faith. No justification. No purification. No final glorification. Christmas was not optional. And therefore being rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, while we were dead in trespasses, God sent his Son into the world to live without sin and die in our place. What a great love the Father has shown to us! What a great obedience and sacrifice the Lord Jesus gave for us! What a great awakening the Spirit has worked in us to bring us to faith and everlasting life! Amen.

HT: Desiring God

Have you seen this man?

Now this is crime fighting at its best.

HT: Denny Burk

Please Pray for Matt Chandler: Update

Matt Chandler recognized his surgeon and was responding well after a seven-hour surgery to remove a brain tumor.

The tumor’s pathology report, originally thought to be available on Friday, is not expected until next week. Doctors were pleased with the surgery, especially after Matt responded to questions in recovery. He will remain in the hospital for a few days before being released. His wife, Lauren, is staying with him. Full recovery is expected to take several weeks.

On behalf of the church, we thank God for Dr. David Barnett, for his skill and thoroughness of the surgery.

Evidences of God’s grace abounded throughout the day, as people from all over the world prayed and fasted. A young woman came to faith through this situation, and time and time again, everyone responded with prayers and testimonies of God’s goodness and mercy.

We will continue to post updates as they become available. Thank you for your continued prayers. Praise God for His grace. Praise Him. Praise Him.

Who is Matt Chandler?

Alright, that title is a little presumptuous, obviously there is no way I can answer that question, at least not beyond telling you that he is a pastor, father, husband, and has become one of the foremost speakers within reformed circles. However, considering the outpouring of prayer and support from all over the world in response to the Matt's condition and for his surgery which is taking place right now, I thought it might be helpful for those of you who do not know who Matt Chandler is to learn a little about him. Earlier this year Pastor John Piper interview Matt after the Desiring God Pastors' Conference and in that interview Matt was asked to give a brief biography about who he is, his testimony, as well as about his ministry. Even if you've already watched the interview, I think it's worth a second look; and please take time to pray for Matt before, during, and after his surgery.

Please Pray for Matt Chandler: Update

UPDATE: Reflections Before Surgery

Matt Chandler:

The last seven days have been some of the most interesting of my life. I have felt anxiety, fear, sadness and a deep and unmovable joy simultaneously and in deeper ways than I have felt before. I am grateful for this heightened sense of things. Today at noon I will have a good portion of my right frontal lobe removed. I head into that surgery with a heart that is filled with gratitude and hope.

Best Contemporary Christian Albums of the Decade

It's that time of the year again - time to reflect on the best of the best of every imaginable thing. However this year the process will be magnified times ten because we approach the close of a decade. Here is one list of the best Christian albums of the decade - do you agree? What would you add? Check out more lists here.

1. House of Heroes - The End Is Not The End (2008)
2. Skillet - Comatose (2006)
3. Newsboys - Go (2006)
4. Switchfoot - Hello Hurricane (2009)
5. The Afters - Never Going Back To OK (2008)
6. TobyMac - Portable Sounds (2007)
7. Paul Colman Trio - New Map of the World (2002)
8. All Star United - Love and Radiation (2006/2007)
9. Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago (2007)
10. Audio Adrenaline - Lift (2001)

HT: Jesus Freaks Hideout

Hunting Tiger

CJ Mahaney writes:

Tiger Woods wants his privacy back.

He wants the media entourage to disappear from his life.

He wants to be left alone so he can manage his personal problems in private.

Not a chance.

The story began unfolding in the early hours of last Friday when he crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a tree and a fire hydrant near his Florida home. He refused to speak with the police about the incident, raising curiosity about the circumstances. The story has now escalated into allegations of marital infidelity, and that generated a blog post from Tiger that stated, “I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart.” This statement by Tiger has led most to believe that the allegations of infidelity are true.

Read more here.

Advent Conspiracy

The story of Christ’s birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love. So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists. And when it’s all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

Worms or Cannibals

John Piper's book "Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ" which features the stories of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson and John Paton. It is the fifth book in his "The Swans are Not Silent" series drawn from his biographical sermons. If you've never read these books or heard Piper's sermons on great saints from church history, I highly recommend them. They're also available online to read or listen to for free. I found the following story from the life of missionary John Paton compelling.

[When Paton declared his intention to take the gospel to the New Hebrides islands] a Mr. Dickson exploded, "The cannibals! You will be eaten by cannibals!" The memory of Williams and Harris on Erromanga was only 19 years old. But to this Paton responded: Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.

This is the kind of in-your-face spiritual moxie that would mark Paton's whole life. It's a big part of what makes reading his story so invigorating.

May God raise up a new generation of Christians with this kind of "spiritual moxie" and zeal for the gospel! Read the full sermon or Listen online.

HT: Joshua Harris

Christmas: Mystery or Myth?

Peter, as an eyewitness, flatly denies he followed any myth. "We did not follow cleverly invented stories [muvqoi = myths] when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty" (2 Peter 1:16). Paul forewarned Timothy that some would follow myths rather than the truth. "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine . . . they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths [muvqou]" (2 Tim. 4:3-5). Moreover, Paul insisted that any notion of a fable that was not fact, even if the religious context were Judaism, was to be rejected (cf., Tit. 1:13-14; 1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7).

Instead of claiming that Jesus is the "myth" of God incarnate, he claims that Jesus is God's mystery (Col. 2:2). Though Christ is identified with the mystery rather than with God in Colossians 2:2, verse 3 says that Christ is God's mystery because "in him [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Since Paul just affirmed the supremacy of Christ in his creative activity (1:15-20), and he goes on to affirm Christ as the complete embodiment of the divine essence (2:9), the wisdom and knowledge here are most likely divine wisdom and knowledge. In other words, all that is deepest in God is mysteriously summed up in Christ. There were false teachers who were trying to deceive the Colossian believers by claiming they were a better source of esoteric wisdom and knowledge (cf., 2:4, 8, 16, 18). Paul counters, in effect, by saying that Christ is the 'once-hidden-but-now-revealed-God' - the divine secret made known by his bodily presence. True spiritual knowledge lies nowhere else but in Christ who is God's wisdom (cf., 1 Cor. 1:24, 30; Col. 2:8

Why Did Christmas Happen?

By John Piper

Two times in 1 John 3:1-10 we are told why Christmas happened—that is, why the eternal, divine Son of God came into the world as a human being. In verse 5, John says, “You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.” So the sinlessness of Christ is affirmed—“in him there is no sin.” And the reason for his coming is affirmed—“He appeared to take away sins.”

Then in the second part of verse 8, John says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” And the specific focus John has in mind when he says “works of the devil” is the sin that the devil promotes. We see that in the first part of verse 8: “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” So the works of the devil that Jesus came to destroy are the works of sin.

So two times John tells us that Christmas happened—the Son of God became a human being—to take away sin, or to destroy the works of the devil, namely, sin. So Jesus was born of a virgin by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18, 20), and “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man,” (Luke 2:52), and was perfectly obedient and sinless in all his life and ministry, all the way to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:15)—in order to destroy the works of the devil—to take away sin.

HT: Desiring God

Advent Cards

I like the idea behind this Advent card idea, using everyday experiences to help us remember and reflect on the true reason for the season - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given" (Isaiah 9:6).

Photo Source: Ben Bell

Advent Reading: The Light of Christ

We see time and again throughout the scriptures that God uses the metaphor of light to reflect his character and how we should live. From the goodness of his creation, to the ‘light’ of his son, to the ways in which we are to be ‘light’ to the world. During the advent season, as the days shorten we are reminded of the darkness of the world, and of our own lives and hearts without the light of creation and of Christ! Without God, in Christ, our whole world would be deep darkness indeed!

Introduction:

Every year the advent season calls us to both reflect on the story surrounding Jesus’ birth and a reminder that he promised to come again.

This year at Christ the King we will be reading selections through the whole Bible reflecting on how the light of Christ began in the creation story of Genesis and unveiled itself in the incarnation in the Gospel accounts.

Reading 1 – The Light of Creation

The bible is full of motifs that speak to the nature of God. During the advent season we will look at the theme of ‘light’ as it reveals the character of Jesus Christ from Genesis to the Gospel of John.

Genesis (ESV) 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Isaiah 9:1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.

HT: Cardiphonia