From One Degree to Another

Phil Auxier's Blog

Connect

TGC Recap – Wed, April 22

by

Enjoyed good sleep after a busy first day yesterday.

Session 5 featured K. Edward Copeland preaching on 2 Timothy 3:1-9, urging us to faithful ministry as we seek to wisely minister in these last days.

Session 6 was Bryan Chappel on 2 Timothy 3:10-4:5 with a message aimed at inspiring our preaching of God’s Word.

For lunch, Joe, Brad, and I visited Paradise Pup, a restaurant featured on Food Network’s show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy Fieri (follow the link for a short video on the burger I got).

After a fill up at Starbucks, we headed back for afternoon workshops.

My first workshop was with Andy Davis on the Gospel and Social Action, which really highlighted importance Gospel priorities in terms of social action.

My second highlight was with Tim Savage, who wrote a book that has been highly influential in my life: Power Through Weakness. Savage was presenting on this very topic today and getting to visit with him afterwards was a highlight of the week for me.

After a short break, we were back for Session 7 with Ajith Fernando on Gospel Faithful Ministry in the Next Christendom, which was an amazing message encouraging us at one point to demonstrate the uniqueness of Christ through servant spirit.

Finally, we had Session 8 featuring a panel discussion between Crawford Lorrits, Tim Keller, John Piper and Lig Duncan. Lots of good practical encouragement emerged here to get our noses in Scripture and allow our suffering to marinade us for rich ministry.

Just a few more sessions tomorrow and I’ll be returning home.

Recap of Phil Ryken on 2 Timothy 1:13-2:13

by

Phil Ryken’s sermon on 2 Timothy 1:13-2:13 was really quite outstanding. Some things that stuck out to me were:
– the ministry of transmission
– the faithful work of ministry
– the closing encouragement for perseverance in the Gospel

Here’s the outline…

6 sections related to faithfulness in life and ministry…

1) An apostolic call to faithful ministry (13-14)
This call includes a doctrinal (body of knowledge) aspect and a practical (living what we actually believe) aspect.

2) A personal example in faithful ministry (15-18)
Negatively in the people who had abandoned Paul and positively in Onesiphorus who: 1) loved men who preached God’s Word, 2) was courageous, 3) was effective and fruitful wherever God placed him.

3) Further instructions about the sacred trust entrusted to faithful men (1-2)
In ministry, hard work is combined with enabling grace. Grace flows through us to others. We are called not only to a ministry of reception, but also a ministry of transmission.

4) Illustrations of the faithful work of ministry (3-7)
Three illustrations emerge: 1) military – soldiers don’t get distracted, 2) athletic – with all diligence, 3) agriculture – hard work is a synonym for pastoral ministry. We must work hard.

5) Command to remember the faithful Savior (8-10)
Jesus went to the cross/rose again and in so doing, demonstrated the heartfelt, lifelong commitment to which we are called. This Word of the Gospel can’t be bound, but will bear fruit.

6) Absolute faithfulness of faithful God to His people (11-13)
Even we are faithless, God is faithful and can’t deny Himself. Our unfaithfulness (not final rejection, but failing in life and ministry to serve and obey like we should) can’t stop the Gospel’s work through us.

Lots of encouragement emerged from these works. May God continue to inspire applications from this.

Tuesday at TGC…

by

Well, we are through day 1. There were so many rich things today. I was talking to Brad on our walk back to the hotel and we were talking about how we feel so fed and challenged already. Truly as 2 Timothy 2:9 says, the Word of God is not bound and is living and active.

There are some great recaps available.

Tim Keller urged us to address the idols that exist in others.

John Piper exhorted us to fan the flame of faithful ministry.

Phil Ryken called us to yield to God as He perfects faithful ministry in us.

Mark Driscoll compelled us to be positive and not negative.

Another bonus: bumped into my good friend Joe Braden and was able to have dinner with him. God has shown me such grace today and I’m trusting Him for more tomorrow.

Tuesday’s Schedule at TGC…

by

Things get underway here today. Met up with my friend Brad, pastor of Old Powhatan Baptist Church (we are rooming together at this conference).

Today, remember main sessions are livecast and audio will be online afterwards.

The schedule includes:
10:00AM – Check in and try to pick up giveaways

1:30PM – Introduction, Worship and Session 1: Tim Keller, “The Grand Demythologizer: The Gospel and Idolatry” (Acts 19:21-41)

3:30PM – Sung Worship and Session 2: John Piper, “Feed the Flame of God’s Gift: Unashamed Courage in the Gospel” (2 Timothy 1:1-12)

7:00PM – Session 3: Phil Ryken, “The Pattern of Sound Words” (2 Timothy 1:13-2:13)

8:00PM – Session 4: Mark Driscoll, “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:14-26)

Fight Sin…

by

Somehow yesterday’s AM Sermon and PM sermon came together. The over-arching thrust of both messages was how we should strive to be holy.

In the AM, we were looking at Jesus in Gethsemane from Mark 14:32-42. Jesus was the model of spiritual strength, submitting to the Father’s will and demonstrating humility in His actions. Meanwhile, the disciples were asleep. Jesus encouraged them to “watch and pray” that they might not enter into temptation. The word “watch” speaks of a diligence or a passion to stay alert. We must exercise some passion in our striving to be holy.

In the PM, God had a contention with His people due to their adultery and wickedness in Hosea 4:1-19. They had forsaken Him. The leadership failed to direct the people to holiness. Men had failed to take leadership in their homes. God was going to punish the people to warn Judah from the same plight. Holiness was not the direction of the people, therefore, they were languishing in wickedness.

This weekend inspired my passion to strive to be holy. Hope that is the case for you as well.

Matt Chandler Video…

by

At the recent Desiring God Pastor’s Conference, John Piper sat down with Matt Chandler to discuss life and ministry. This interview is broken into 4 segments:

Part 1 – Chandler’s early life
Part 2 – More on the story including how Chandler became a pastor
Part 3 – Thoughts on being a pastor, Calvinist and Complementarian
Part 4 – Chandler and Piper with practical advice for pastors

I love Matt Chandler and I’m sure these links will show you why.

Rape of Solomon’s Song…

by

John MacArthur just finished a series of posts on modern interpretation of the Song of Solomon.

Here’s the posts:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4/Conclusion

I think overall, there is some helpful things for all of us as pastors who have to speak in public week in and week out.

Challies also has some insight. And Abraham Piper answers a question he asks.

My only critique in reading all of this was that I wish I could know Driscoll’s thoughts. MacArthur says he’s tried to contact him, but that Driscoll has ignored his counsel. Just would like to know the other side. Especially in light of this recent apology Driscoll made about things he’s said. But overall, what I take from it is a renewed passion for holiness in my speech.

Sun AM Preview – Sleep…

by

On Sunday AM, this weekend, (and Lord-willing), we will be looking at Mark 14:32-42. This section really gets at spiritual weakness again. Jesus demonstrating such spiritual strength in His humble submission to the Father’s will and the disciples’ failure to “watch and pray that they don’t enter into temptation.” David Garland, in his excellent commentary on Mark, writes how “spiritual drowsiness is dangerous and will prove the Christian’s undoing.” He then outlines 4 descriptions of what it means to sleep, largely informed from this passage:
– to sleep is to stop praying
– to sleep is to be unable to recognize the onset of trial or accept it as God’s will
– to sleep is to presume that the Spirit is willing without being mindful of the weakness of the flesh
– to sleep is to assume that we have arrived
(pp.555-556)

Spiritual drowsiness is spiritual weakness. Join us this Sunday as we seek to get remedies for this dreadful condition.

Sun PM – God’s Charge…

by

This coming Sunday night, we encounter some strong language from God for the people of Israel from the prophet Hosea. In Hosea 4:1-19, God has a contention with the people for their lack of devotion to Him. I hope to see you there as we look at God’s Word and wonder what affect our compromise and lack of passion are having upon our fellowship with God.