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Gratitude Guide

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This past Sunday, at Crestview, we released a gratitude guide (Access it here: Gratitude Guide) meant to stir our people to fresh expressions of gratitude rooted in the Gospel.  I love how Milton Vincent connects gratitude to the Gospel in The Gospel Primer.  He writes:

When I look at any circumstance God apportions me, I am first grateful for the wrath I am not receiving in that moment (the empty part of the cup never looked so good!).  Second, I am grateful for the blessings that are given to me instead of His wrath. (Life’s blessings, however small, always appear exceedingly precious when viewed against the backdrop of the wrath I deserve.)  This two-layered gratitude disposes my heart to give things in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and it also lends a certain intensity to my giving of thanks.  Such a gospel-generated gratitude glorifies God, contributes to peace of mind (Philippians 4:6-7), and keeps my foot from the path of foolishness and ruin (Romans 1:21-22, 28-29).  (p.48)

So, I hope this encourages you and equips you with reasons to be grateful to God as we approach Thanksgiving.

Weekend Review – Pilate’s Problems

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My 11/13/16AM sermon, Pilate’s Problems from John 18:28-19:16a, is now online.  This sermon teased out some of the ways that Jesus posed a big problem for the Roman governor, Pilate.  The sub-theme of this sermon might be: how Jesus poses a problem for our relationship with the kingdoms of this world.  And, while I do hit at some applications related to politics, this sermon is about Jesus being sentenced to death (and being handed over by His own people).  After being betrayed, arrested/tried, and denied, the religious leaders come to Pilate to get Jesus killed.  Pilate has Jesus flogged, mocked, and works out the charge of His being the King of the Jews.  So, I hope you’ll listen and that this sermon helps you.

Gospel Friday – Bear Witness To The Truth

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Jesus came and He was a king, but His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).  Today, as we think about the Gospel and what it means for us, remember this truth: as a believer, you are part of a kingdom that is outside of this world.  Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, you have been put to death and raised with Him as you believe in Him.  Therefore, seek the things that are above where Christ is.  Seek first His kingdom, which is not of this world.

Weekend Preview – Pilate’s Problem

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This coming Sunday, Lord willing, we’ll continue our plodding through the Gospel of John, camping out in John 18:28-19:16.  This section of the Gospel gets at Jesus appearing before Pilate, with he and Pilate have a lot of interaction together.  Specifically, Jesus poses a big problem for Pilate and this gives us insight into how we think of politics today.  I hope you come eager to pursue Christ’s glory as He moves to the cross.  (We’ll also be discussing this in Small Groups…here are some questions.)

Unless The Lord…

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I was reflecting and praying through Psalm 127.  Maybe you could join me in praying these things.  This might be a pastor’s heart for their local church reflected through the lens of Psalm 127…

[1] Unless the LORD builds the church, any kind of service in her is in vain.

Unless the LORD watches over the church, her leaders stay awake in vain.

[2] Early morning devotions or late night ministry meetings are vain, too, like eating anxiety about ministry stuff for dinner;

for when God is building and watching the church, He gives His people sleep.

[3] Behold, new converts are a heritage from the LORD,

the fruit of the church’s witness a reward.

[4] Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are new converts in the life of the church.

[5] Blessed is the church who fills their quiver with them!

That church shall not be put to shame when she speaks with the world about her impact.

So, God, build your church by using her witness.  You build the church.  You watch over her.  You care for her.  You add to her as you see fit.  And, let local churches know the exhilaration and life that comes through seeing the Gospel change people among them.  For your glory, Amen. 

Weekend Review – Sufferings of Jesus

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My 11/6/16AM sermon, Betrayed, Tried, Denied from John 18:1-27 is now online.  This sermon began our pointing to the end of John’s Gospel in what is known as the Passion Narrative.  The Latin word for suffering is where we get our English word “passion” so theologians have used this term to describe the events of Jesus’s suffering.  Specifically, this passage shows Jesus being betrayed by one of His disciples, being arrested and tried by the high priest, and being denied by one who promised he’d die for Him.  So, the sufferings of Jesus were many as His hour had come and He willingly endured these for sinners like you and me, for the Father’s glory and out of love for us.  I hope this sermon encourages you.

Are You Abandoned to Jesus and His Mission?

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After emphasizing how the Great Commission (you know, that call to make disciples from Jesus Himself in Matthew 28:18-20) is not just for the 11 disciples, but is really the basic agenda for any disciple and how being a disciple means being a disciple-maker, I was convicted by this quote from The Trellis and the Vine:

The radicalism of this demand often feels a world away from the ordinariness of our normal Christian habits and customs.  We go to church, where we sing a few songs, try to concentrate on the prayers, and hear a sermon.  We chat to people afterwards, and then go home for a normal week of work or study or whatever it is that we do, in time to come again next week.  We might read our Bible and pray during the week.  We may even attend a small group.  But would someone observing from outside say, “Look: there is someone who has abandoned his life to Jesus Christ and His mission?” (p.43)

This might be a question you need to consider (like I have).  What would it look like for you to be abandoned to Jesus and His mission.  You’re not exempt from being a disciple-maker if you follow Him.  You either obey that or disobey.  Maybe it’s time for repentance to begin in those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus.

Gospel Friday – Nothing Can Separate Us

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Hear these encouraging words from Romans 8…

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 ESV)

Get it?  As a believer, who is in Christ Jesus our Lord, you are secure and loved, regardless of what you may be facing in these short days you have on the earth.  So, be encouraged in His love today.

Weekend Preview – Jesus Must Suffer

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This coming Sunday, Lord willing, we’ll continue our study of John’s Gospel, focusing in on John 18:1-27.  Jesus asked Peter in the midst of the happenings of this chapter “Shall I not drink the cup that Father has for me?”  And, this chapter is humbling and encouraging as we see Jesus suffer for sinners like us.  He drank the cup of the Father’s wrath dry.  And, specifically, this passage shows Jesus suffer in His betrayal, arrest and trial, as well as being denied by one who promised loyalty.  Plan to join us and see  Jesus.