From One Degree to Another

Phil Auxier's Blog

  • Home
  • About
  • Archive

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Powered by Genesis

Ash Wednesday, Lent and Other Things…

March 9, 2011 by Phil Auxier

Today is Ash Wednesday (cue the yawn from most of Protestantism). We don’t tend to think or observe these days in the church year because we perceive that in some cases what they mean has been hijacked for empty ritual (in the best thinking) or we are just plain ignorant (at worst).

Lent was a traditional time in the early life of the church when converts would prepare themselves for baptism. It was a time of deep reflection and purification preparing one’s heart to celebrate the passion week events of Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. Ash Wednesday marks the day in which we’re 40 days out (of Easter).

If you are looking for help in going deeper with God this season, check out the amazing tools at Apostles Church NYC. Specifically, they are doing 40 Days of Prayer, including a daily devotional. Here’s their description of Lent and what they hope to accomplish:

Lent is intended to be a time of refinement, reflection, repentance, worship, and preparation to really celebrate the death of Jesus on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. In 40 Days of Prayer, we sincerely hope to lead our people (and ourselves) through Lent and into a deeper delight in Jesus, appreciation for the gospel, and desire to “seek things above” out of his goodness.

Find ways to seek the Savior and honor Him in this season. May the grace of our Lord be with you richly as you think about Him and His work.

Filed Under: Apostles NYC, Lent, prayer

New Village Church Worship Project, coming soon…

March 8, 2011 by Phil Auxier

Excited about this…

The Village: God of Victory from The Village Church on Vimeo.

Filed Under: Michael Bleecker, recommendations, village church

Weekend Recap – Affluenza, Money, & Family

March 7, 2011 by Phil Auxier

Yesterday was a great day at Crestview as we journeyed together and thought about what God had to say to us about money, possessions, eternity.

In the AM service, my sermon Affluenza (2) from Matthew 6:21 is now online. This sermon sought to show how our hearts follow treasure (and yes I did quote O Brother Where Art Thou — “Do NOT seek the treasure”, thanks for wondering). Seriously, though, we must keep our hearts with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life. I sought to encourage people to check their hearts in terms of the treasure they lay up.

In the PM service, we continued examining what a Gospel centered family is by looking at Families and Money from 1 Timothy 6:17-19. We are given good things from a good God so that we can do good (be generous and ready to share with others) for a good foundation for eternity. Applications were given about instilling these virtues in our children.

I hope this short series of sermon was helpful. Glorify God in these things, they have eternal ramifications.

Filed Under: family, Money, Weekend Recap

Learning To Pray (Again)

March 3, 2011 by Phil Auxier

As a church, we’ve spent a great deal of time over the past few months thinking about prayer and what that means for us. Today, I was encouraged to read a post by Thabiti entitled Learning to Pray…Again. I would commend the post to you because he gets to some core struggles we all face (not praying enough, thinking we don’t pray well, etc.) and offers some wise and godly encouragement. Here’s his conclusion:

I’m learning to pray this way again. I suspect that once I’ve “learned” this time, the Lord will teach me yet more.

Why not head over and check out this post and learn to pray…again, yourself.

Filed Under: encouragement, prayer, Thabiti

Confession as a path to change…

March 2, 2011 by Phil Auxier

Over at the Desiring God blog, they posted part 1 of The Grace of Confession by Paul Tripp. Meanwhile on Take Your Vitamin Z, Zach Nielsen posted an excerpt from Tripp’s book, What Did You Expect, highlighting this same truth (No Change Without Confession). Here’s the excerpt:

The couple is stuck in a cycle of repeating the same things over and over again. They repeat the same misunderstandings. They rehearse and re-rehearse the same arguments. They repeat the same wrongs. Again and again things are not resolved. Night after night they go to bed with nothing reconciled; they awake with memories of another bad moment, and they march toward the next time when the cycle will be repeated. It all becomes predictable and discouraging. They hate the cycle. They wish things were what they once were. Their minds swing between nostalgia and disappointment. They want things to be different, but they don’t seem to know how to break free, and they don’t seem willing to do the one thing that makes change possible—confess.

They tell themselves they will do better. They promise they will spend more time together. They promise they will pray together for a moment before they start their day. They decide to spend more time together outside the house. They promise they will talk more. But it is not long before all the promises fade away. It is not long before they are in the same place again. All their commitments to change have been subverted by the one thing they seem unwilling to do: take the focus off the other and put it on themselves. Here is the point: no change takes place in a marriage that does not begin with confession.

Confession is the doorway to growth and change in your relationship. It is essential. It is fundamental. Without it you are relegated to a cycle of repeated and deepening patterns of misunderstanding, wrong, and conflict. With it, the future is bright and hopeful, no matter how big the issues that you are now facing.

Confess sin and see if God doesn’t work to impart grace and begin to change you.

Filed Under: confession, Paul Tripp, Z

Martyn Lloyd Jones Video Interview

March 1, 2011 by Phil Auxier

30 years ago today, Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones left this life for the next. Here’s a tribute from the Lloyd-Jones Recording Trust including a video interview with the Dr.

Filed Under: Lloyd Jones, tribute, video

Signs You Are Growing in Grace

March 1, 2011 by Phil Auxier

…from Scotty Smith compiled by Tim Brister. Here’s part one:

A sign you’re growing in grace is less bombast about not being a legalist & more humility because you “get” the gospel.

A sign you’re growing in grace is less theological arrogance & greater appreciation for diversity in the Body of Christ.

A sign you’re growing in grace is you work much harder at remembering names and forgetting slights.

A sign you’re growing in grace is that everybody notices it but you.

A sign you’re growing in grace is movement from destructive cynicism towards redemptive engagement. Anybody can spew.

A sign you’re growing in grace is that you’re less like a drive-by-shooting with criticisms & more of a healing presence.

A sign you’re growing in grace is evident when you receive feedback non-defensively and give it clearly & lovingly.

A sign you’re growing in grace is evident when people don’t feel like they have to walk on egg shells around you as much.

A sign you’re growing in grace is when you say, “I’ll be prayin’ for ya”, and you follow through on at least 50%.

A sign you’re growing in grace is committing fewer homicides in your heart of slow drivers.

A sign you’re growing in grace is praying for our government rather than simply being cynical about our government.

A sign you are growing in grace is that you are more disgusted with your critical spirit than offended by others’ sins.

And here’s part two:

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You’ve actually read Nahum and Obadiah.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You catch people “doing it right” in a 3 to 1 ratio to “doing it wrong”.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You don’t try to take 23 items through the 10 item speed check out line at Publix.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You’re in your seat in the worship center 7 minutes early to pray for the service.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. On a 2-lane-becoming-1 road, you don’t speed up just to jet around 3 extra cars.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. Your repentances come quicker with less pouting, excuses and vain promises.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You throw less pity-parties, because you go to Jesus quicker than to self-contempt.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You talk about your justification 10 times more than your victimization.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You quote Jesus more than you quote Tim Keller.

A sign you’re growing in grace is a commitment to give your spouse focused, unrushed attention at the END of the day.

A sign you’re growing in grace is just grabbing a brownie without looking for the biggest or best crust-edged brownie.

A sign you’re growing in grace is when you use less labels to dismiss people or marginalize their comments.

A sign you’re growing in grace is still being gracious to telemarketers when they call your protected phone number.

A sign you’re growing in grace is a commitment to pray for people you’d really rather gossip about.

A sign you’re growing in grace is not texting or reading emails on your pda while driving, with or without kids.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You no longer simply assume if you can pay for something you really can afford it.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You recognize the subtle ways you’re living justification by sanctification.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. Your spouse and children are the first to notice the signs.

Another sign you’re growing in grace. You get sucker-punched by condemnation for sin less often, but convicted much more.

A sign you’re growing in grace. You don’t use your car horn to curse bad drivers, but appropriately caution & warn them.

A sign you’re growing in grace. The gospel still astonishes & humbles you. It’s not just cliche or the name of your tribe.

A sign you’re growing in grace. If you USED to be a Dispensationalist, you’re not cynical about those who still are.

A sign you’re growing in grace. If you USED to be a Charismatic, you don’t atrophy into dead or dry orthodoxy.

A sign you’re growing in grace. If you’re “finally” Reformed, you don’t confuse knowledge with spirituality.

A sign you’re growing in grace. You realize that Presbyterian and Reformed types are .07% of the entire Body of Christ.

A sign you’re growing in grace. The more you learn about Jesus & the gospel the more you realize how little YOU know.

I know this is a lengthy post, but if you are like me at all, I sometimes puff myself in self-righteousness thinking that I’ve arrived and I’m altogether doing pretty well spiritually. Of course, I would never admit this publicly, because to do so would be to crucify my self-righteousness. Reading these helps me see the far reaching nature of the Gospel’s influence into my life. I encourage you to allow the gaze of God to extend to even those minute moments. May these signs encourage you to embrace the Gospel again.

Filed Under: Gospel, Scotty Smith, Tim Brister

Weekend Recap – Affluenza (1)

February 27, 2011 by Phil Auxier

Today’s sermon, Affluenza (1), is now online. Affluence would be defined as having lots of stuff and affluenza would be the disease or sickness associated with having lots of stuff. This sermon, from Matthew 6:19-20, helped diagnose affluenza (laying up earthly treasure) and provide a remedy for affluenza (lay up heavenly treasure).

I hope it was helpful. I did allude to Randy Alcorn’s book, the Treasure Principle. Here are the six keys I pointed to.

Filed Under: affluenza, Randy Alcorn, Weekend Recap

Killa by Lecrae

February 24, 2011 by Phil Auxier

Lecrae‘s song Killa from Rehab is one of the best descriptions of the fight with sin I’ve seen in a while. Here’s the lyrics:Uh, I know it’s going to kill me but I just can’t let it go
And the, taste so appealing it’s got a grip upon my soul
These honey dip lies mesmerize me
Pride’s got its crooked fingers twisted all inside in me
Fools walk the path I’m on, never to be seen again
Sipping on seduction while we eating on some secret sin
(No one will ever know) says the whisper in my ear
And I know I should be over this, but I ain’t seeing clear
And I ain’t leaving here, unless somebody save me
Walking to my grave letting evilness enslave me
Evil looks so lovely covered in her lace of lies
And the silky smooth seduction just manipulates my mind
Her fabric of fabrication is fueling my fascination
While I’m intoxicated she starts her assassination
I’m losing all my honor and my years to the merciless
Giving all my life away but I’m just so immersed in this (Killa)

Hook:
Baby this is innocent (Killa) it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa)
I’m only here for your benefit (Killa) I’m your every wish (Killa)
Come on and let me in (Killa), baby this is innocent (Killa)
And it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa) Close your eyes and let’s get lost tonight
(Killa) It’ll be alright(Killa), You’ll see I’m not a (Killa)

Her feet go down to DEATH, so don’t let her consume you
Even though her heart is black, her exterior’s beautiful
She’ll take your life away, strip away your joy
Pretends that she gon build you up but she’s just gon destroy you
My friends fell low, when they was so high
Got me running scared of myself, no lie
And I know I’m gon die, I tried cold turkey
But when I’m feeling worthy, Satan’s sure trying to merk me
I’m doing myself dirty, flirting with what’s perverted
I should follow the word but I guess I’d rather be murdered
(Eh-hreehmm) —Excuse me I mean martyred ‘cause I’m killing myself
My sin conceived a baby, and we gon name her death, breath
(Gasps) —Taken, she take my breath away
Replaces it with poison and I’m so swept away
I need some PRAYER today hope I wake up
Before they start my wake up somebody make me break up
I’m dating a (Killa)

Hook:
Baby this is innocent (Killa) it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa)
I’m only here for your benefit (Killa) I’m your every wish (Killa)
Come on and let me in (Killa), baby this is innocent (Killa)
And it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa) Close your eyes and let’s get lost tonight
(Killa) It’ll be alright(Killa), You’ll see I’m not a (Killa)

Filed Under: lecrae, mortification, sin

Hillsong United’s Aftermath

February 23, 2011 by Phil Auxier

The latest album from Hillsong United entitled Aftermath is now available. It’s available from Amazon for $7.99 or from iTunes for $9.99. Hillsong United is one of my favorite groups. Songs from their past albums include: Salvation is Here, Lead Me to the Cross, Hosanna. This album came out last Tuesday (the 15th) and I’ve been listening to it pretty regularly. So…download and enjoy.

Filed Under: Hillsong, Music, United

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 136
  • 137
  • 138
  • 139
  • 140
  • …
  • 169
  • Next Page »

From One Degree To Another?

Yeah, that's right. My one, consuming passion is Jesus Christ, my Lord. I'm totally gripped by one message: the Gospel - the good news that God came after me when I was far from Him. So, the life I live, I live by faith in Him: He loved me and gave Himself for me.

From One Degree To Another is the change that He's accomplishing in me by grace. Growing downward in humility, upward into Him, outward toward others, and inward with renewal characterize my existence.

This site is where I flesh all of these types of things out, including my life as a slave to Jesus, husband, father, coffee-enjoyer, and pastor. I hope it encourages you.

RSS My latest sermons at Crestview

  • Sanctify Them In Truth June 1, 2025
  • Abiding in Jesus and His Words May 25, 2025
  • The Spirit Will Teach You May 18, 2025

Categories

  • 1 Corinthians
  • 1 Samuel
  • 2016
  • abide
  • advent
  • Apologetics
  • Baby Dedication
  • Bible Intake
  • Book Review
  • Books
  • Camp
  • CBCH2Go
  • CCM
  • Chandler
  • Church
  • Colossians
  • conference
  • conferences
  • confession
  • COVID
  • Crestview
  • CrestviewKids
  • devotions
  • Easter
  • Elders
  • Elyse Fitzpatrick
  • Ephesians
  • Evangelism
  • Faith
  • family
  • food
    • ChickFilA
  • For The Church
  • Free Audio
  • Funeral
  • Goals
  • Good Friday
  • Gospel Friday
  • Gospel of John
  • gratitude
  • Great Commission
  • H2Go
  • health update
  • heart
  • Heaven
  • Holy Spirit
  • Holy Week
  • Hutchinson
  • Isaiah
  • Jesus
  • Job
  • Judgment
  • kansas
  • leadership
  • life
  • Lord's Supper
  • love
  • LRC
  • LRCAA
  • mental health
  • Missions
  • Music
  • Palm Sunday
  • Parenting
  • Paul Tripp
  • Peace
  • personal
  • Piper
  • Planning
  • prayer
  • Preaching
  • Psalms
  • Ray Ortlund
  • reading
  • recommendations
  • rest
  • Resurrection
  • Retreat
  • revelation
  • Revival
  • Russell Moore
  • salvation
  • Scotty Smith
  • Scripture Memory
  • Sermons
  • service
  • Shai Linne
  • sin
  • Small Groups
  • Suffering
  • Sunday School
  • Technology
  • Thanks
  • Thanksgiving
  • Uncategorized
  • vacation recap
  • valley of vision
  • VBS
  • Weakness
  • Week of Prayer
  • Weekend Preview
  • Weekend Recap
  • women's ministry
  • worship

Recent Posts

  • The Word of Victory
  • The Word of Suffering
  • The Word of Affection
  • Confidence in Suffering?
  • Cutting Through the Fog of Suffering