This Friday at HomeWord, I am going to be addressing the topic of sex in marriage. For the health of our marriages and ultimately the glory of God, this is something that we must talk about. In the book Sex and the Supremacy of Christ, Justin Taylor writes the introduction. On pp.13-14 he laments the church’s shame in discussing these things:

One of the hindrances to a frank and edifying discussion of sexuality is the issue of shame. Shame can be healthy, and shame can be sinful. By and large, our culture is hell-bent on shedding any vestiges of propriety and shame in all things sexual. As an overreaction, the church is often too timid to even broach the topic, for fear of violating Paul’s command that “it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret” (Eph. 5:12). But this proper shame can easily morph into improper embarrassment and an unhealthy reticence to apply the whole counsel of God to an issue of paramount significance.

This is so well said. Part of my tension in preparing this week and part of the tension I feel every time I bring this up with my wife are these same emotions. If we are going to have lives that are fully lived to the glory of God and if we have a conviction that especially this facet of our life is one in which God should be honored (as the context and content of 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 indicate) then we must have a clear communication about these things. Pray for me this week in that regard and faithfully seek to discuss these things in your own home.

It looks as if Paul Tripp will be doing his seminar “Marriage: There Really Is A Better Way” at Metro East Baptist in Wichita, April 4-5. I would like to go, but it appears that it conflicts with our church’s women’s retreat that same weekend. (And since my wife will be at the retreat, I will be with Andrew.) This is a great opportunity, though, for any couple to take advantage of.

The first post I read yesterday was this one by C.J. Mahaney on how to watch the Super Bowl. My wife had never heard C.J.’s thoughts on sports before and it sparked many questions from her.

Among other things, C.J.’s tips for watching include:

1. Strategically assign the remote.
2. Don’t watch passively.
3. Foster fellowship.
4. Draw attention to the eternal.

You have got to read this if you haven’t already. It is just another way that C.J. cares for our souls by giving us such sound, Biblical discernment in these things.

Here’s another link for your benefit:
C.J. Mahaney’s Thoughts on Super Bowl XLII

Some may wonder exactly the nature of how we should cooperate with others. Michael McKinley, though, quoting Mark Dever at a recent Acts 29 Boot Camp gives us some great insight into what this spirit looks like:

Our differences are enough to separate some of my friends—your brothers and sisters in Christ—from you. And perhaps to separate them from me, now that I’m publicly speaking to you. And I don’t want to minimize either the sincerity or the seriousness of some of their concerns (things like: humor, worldliness, pragmatism, authority).

But I perceive some things in common which outweigh our differences—which the Lord Jesus shall soon enough compose between us, either by our maturing, or by His bringing us home. I long to work with those, and count it a privilege to work with those whom My Savior has purchased with His blood, and with whom I share the gospel of Jesus Christ. I perceive that we have in common the knowledge that God is glorified in sinners being reconciled to Him through Christ. This is not taught by other religions, nor clearly by the ancient Christian churches of the East, or by Rome, by liberal Protestant churches, by Mormons, the churches of Christ, or by groups of self-righteous, legalistic, moralistic Christians. And not only do we together affirm the exclusivity of salvation through faith alone in Christ alone—we agree on the sovereignty of God in life and salvation, the regenerate nature of church members, the importance of church membership and discipline, the baptism of believers alone, the priorities of expositional preaching, and evangelism, the importance of authority and a growing appreciation for the significance of complementarianism. These are not slight matters. And they only fire my desire to encourage you and cheer you on, until you cross that finish line that the Lord lays down for us.

Well said and very insightful as to how to exercise fellowship with others.

Just announced were the message titles for the speakers at Together For The Gospel ’08. (The Elders and I have been registered since early last year.)

Ligon Duncan: Sound Doctrine – Essential to Faithful Pastoral Ministry: A Joyful Defense and Declaration of the Necessity and Practicality of Systematic Theology for the Life of the Church

Thabiti Anyabwile: Bearing the Image: Identity, the Work of Christ, and the Church

John MacArthur: The Sinner Neither Able Nor Willing: The Doctrine of Absolute Inability

Mark Dever: Improving the Gospel: Exercises in Unbiblical Theology

R.C. Sproul: The Curse Motif of the Atonement

Albert Mohler: Why Do They Hate It So? The Doctrine of Substitution

John Piper: How the Supremacy of Christ Creates Radical Christian Sacrifice

C.J. Mahaney: Sustaining a Pastor’s Soul (2 Cor. 3:4-6)

Are you going? Excited yet?

(HT: JT)

It’s been a while since I’ve posted what I’m currently reading. Sometimes people ask me, so I thought this would be a nice post.

I use the English Standard Version in both devotional and public ministry:

In my study of the Gospel of Mark, I regularly read:
J.C. Ryle’s Commentary (Crossway Classic)
David Garland’s Commentary (NIVAC)
R.T. France’s Commentary (NIGTC)
James Brooks’ Commentary (NAC)

For HomeWord, next Friday, February 8th, I’m reading:
C.J. Mahaney, Sex, Romance and The Glory of God
Mark Dever’s Chapter on the Song of Songs in The Message of the OT
Tom Gledhill’s Commentary on the Song of Songs
G. Lloyd Carr’s Commentary on the Song of Solomon

My Wednesday night class is reading D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ Studies in the Sermon on the Mount.

At home, after devotions I usually read:
Bryan Chapell’s Christ Centered Preaching

For fun, I’m reading an excellent biography of Vince Lombardi entitled, When Pride Still Mattered by David Maraniss

I also have some books ready to tackle next:
D.A. Carson, Worship by the Book,
Sinclair Ferguson’s latest In Christ Alone,
Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry,
James McPherson, Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg,
and Jay Winik’s April 1865: The Month That Saved America

These books represent a huge part of what I’m normally up to.

Every week I post a free audio sermon that is available on the web. This is a Sermon of the Week sort of feature. I came across a website some time ago and thought this might be a good time to draw your attention to it. The website is Reforming My Mind MP3’s. The site’s creator, Paul Schafer, seeks to put free audio online for easy access to the rest of us. I, for one, am extremely grateful for this. His most recent post highlighted some online sermons by Steve Lawson.

So, run over there and click on a name and get some free audio. I’ll have more recommendations next week.

I’ve linked to, and given a brief description of, a sermon by Mike Bullmore entitled, “The Functional Centrality of the Gospel in the Local Church.” I wish everyone could hear this. It is must listening for any pastor seeking to lead. We discussed this at my small group last night and I told them I would put it up here. So take advangtage of that and give it a listen to.

During the coming weeks (leading to the February HomeWord), I will be thinking a lot about sexual intimacy in a marital relationship that glorfies God. I think often we have this notion that sexual intimacy is something that occurs without any preparation. C.J. Mahaney paints a different picture, though, in his excellent book Sex, Romance, and The Glory of God:

In a strong Christian marriage that glorifies God, a couple’s enjoyment of one another takes place on a long continuum of romantic affection and expression. It’s a continuum made up of many points. Toward one end are things like “companionship” and “fellowship.” Toward teh other end are things like “playful intimacy” and “really serious sex.” But exactly where one point on the continuum begins and the other ends isn’t always clear. That’s because solid Christian marriages are not primarily about one point or the other. They’re about the entire continuum — the relationship itself.

The path to physical intimacy, as another author suggests, “won’t be complete until you’ve cultivated spiritual and emotional intimacy.” How are you in relationship building with your spouse? Maybe what is needed is not therapy about better techinque or better swaying and convincing. What you need is to return to the love you had. Return to loving your spouse for all that they give you — not just the physical, sexual benefits. The path to physical intimacy begins with a love and affection for your spouse in the day to day living of life together. As romance is kindled, the physical intimacy will come and be in proper focus in view of God’s larger glory. Pursue romance in the day to day you will soon know physical intimacy.

Just finished what remains from what has been a busy and fruitful week. I am really anticipating this Sunday’s sermon on the disciples inability to exorcise a demon from a young boy in Mark 9:14-29. Seems they didn’t pray. Odd isn’t it? Ministry in our world today is about so much non-essential stuff. Prayer is a way that we show we are dependent on God.

As for the trip to Sterling. I found those to be most helpful. I got a lot of things accomplished. Wished I would have had more time to do fun reading (out of theological journals no less), but the big things got accomplished. For my first personal retreat, I was encouraged.

I hope you have a blessed weekend and wonderful Lord’s Day.

Oh, and you might save up money for this incredible sale from Sovereign Grace Ministries.