From One Degree to Another

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Sabbatical

July 14, 2012 by Phil Auxier

Today begins a 3 week (4 Sunday) sabbatical that Crestview has graciously given me.  Having been in full time work here since 2000 and the regular preaching pastor since the fall of 2004, God has blessed me with a great church and people that are eager for His Word.  We’ve seen such amazing evidences of God’s grace over these years.  It really is humbling to be a part of.

About a year ago, I asked our elders what it might look like for me to get some extended time out of the pulpit for rest, refreshment and study.  What emerged from those discussions was a priority to care for my wife, who selflessly serves our 3 children week in and week out, as well as cares for me.  We are attending a retreat devoted to pastors and their marriages.  That begins today.

Part of my time off includes rest with my family.  We are picking up my mother and going to Florida for part of our time.  My children have never been to a beach, so we are quite excited for some good R & R there.

Finally, I’ll wrap up my time at Southern Seminary in Louisville, working on some church stuff, including finalizing some work on the Hebrews series, getting out in front of a series on the book of Revelation in 2013 as well as other vision, planning and thoughts related to Crestview.  I’m hoping to read some books that are a little out of my normal group as well.

Blogging might be hit and miss.  I will continue to update my Tweets Through Revelation Series, so there might be a post in that regard as well as different applications I’m getting our thoughts that stand out.

If you have read this post, I’m guessing you have some degree of care for my world.  Would you pray for me right now.  Pray that my time in each of these things would be well spent.  Pray my time would not just be physically restful, but a spiritual rest as well, drinking deeply in the truth of the Gospel and finding comfort in my soul.

Thanks.

Filed Under: 2012, rest, sabbath

Couple of Things From Elder’s Retreat…

June 22, 2012 by Phil Auxier

As you may know, I am away on an Elder’s Retreat with our church’s leadership.  We have a great time together and have spent all day praying, planning and seeking how God would particularly like us to move.  We also have fun.

Here’s a video of a place we ate at last night, which was excellent:

This morning, we got rolling by working through this recent article entitled Progress In the Christian Life from the latest Life Action Revive Magazine.  Two prayers, in particular, stood out to us as we began our journey today.

George Whitefield: 
“God, give me a deep humility and a burning love, a well-guided zeal and a single eye, and then let men and devils do their worst!”


And a prayer at the end: 
“O Lord Jesus, make me happy enough in you to avoid sin, and wise enough in you to avoid danger, that I may always do what is right in your sight. In your name I pray, amen.”


We have had a truly amazing day.  Thanks for praying for us.  We are humbled to be a part of God’s work and continue to praise Him as THE HOPE for our future. 

Filed Under: 2012, Elders, Retreat

Elders, Unity, Retreat…

June 21, 2012 by Phil Auxier

Starting today, the Elders I get the privilege to serve with will be taking some time to get away, pray, focus on long term vision and have unhurried discussion about many areas of the future.  We are taking our wives with us for some of this, to build into them and experience good fellowship together.  It really is a rich time.  Psalm 133 speaks of how good and pleasing it is for brothers to dwell together in unity and likens it to rich oil dripping down the head.  God is blessed when we lavish a spirit of unity on one another.  This is one component of how meaningful these times are.  While we are by no stretch of the imagination perfect, at the end of the day, we are in this great cause for the Gospel together.

So, if you take the time to read this, would you mention a prayer for our time together, that God would be glorified as we seek Him, seek His heart, and try to shepherd Crestview to the glory of God.

Filed Under: 2012, Elders, Retreat

T4G12 Recap – Part 3

April 19, 2012 by Phil Auxier

Having summarized T4G through Wednesday, here’s a summary of Thursday.

We got off on another strong start from Ligon Duncan and his sermon The Underestimated God: God’s Ruthless, Compassionate Grace In the Pursuit of His Own Glory and His Ministers’ Joy (audio/video).  This exposition of 1 Kings 19 helped each attendee identify with Elijah, who wanted God to do amazing things for His glory, but wasn’t allowed to see those things at the moment he wanted them.  This proved to be a great follow up to Platt’s message in helping us continue to trust our God.


In the afternoon, Matt Chandler walked us through Revelation 21 & 22 to see The Fulfillment of the Gospel (audio/video).  Most people’s lives are wrapped up in the here and now, but this vision of where all of history is headed will sustain us through trials and help us see the aim of our work for the Gospel.


Finally, John Piper rounded out the conference by unfolding Jude 24-25 and how Glory, Majesty, Dominion and Authority Keep Us Safe For Everlasting Joy (audio/video).  We ought to be stunned that we are Christians and Piper explained how God allows this to be so.  It was one of the best sermons on the subject of perseverance that I’ve heard and was a great encouragement to see how God will get the glory for salvation by keeping us from the past, through the present and into the future.  


This was an amazing conference.  The sermons seemed to build on each other and continue to help me see a greater, deeper, richer and fuller picture of the Gospel.  I would encourage you to take advantage of the free audio and video resources and allow your soul to be refreshed in the Underestimated Gospel.  

Filed Under: 2012, conferences, T4G

T4G12 Recap – Part 2

April 18, 2012 by Phil Auxier

Yesterday, I summarized my trip to Louisville and the happenings on Monday and Tuesday.  In this post, I would like to summarize Wednesday, which was a full day.

Our day began with Thabiti Anyabwile asking Will Your Gospel Transform A Terrorist? (audio/video)  This exposition of Paul’s letter to Timothy ended with the point on celebration for all that our powerful Gospel is able to accomplish.

Quickly after Thabiti’s sermon, Kevin DeYoung came and urged us to pursue holiness with Spirit-Powered, Gospel-Driven, Faith-Fueled Effort (audio/video).  There’s lots of discussion these days as to how the Gospel relates to holiness or, as DeYoung said, how the good news produces good works.  DeYoung answers calling on us to simply obey, which is not against the Gospel of grace.

After some afternoon breakout sessions, we had our final talk of Wednesday in the evening with David Platt speaking on Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death-Defying Missions (audio/video).   Many felt that this was the most memorable sermon on missions they had ever heard (including Lig Duncan and John Piper).  It was certainly an amazing sermon from Revelation 5.  There were moments where I stopped taking notes because of what was being said.  God was certainly up to something through this.  We can only hope that this kind of sermon will result in amazing application like we’ve never before seen so that all the nations worship at the Savior’s feet.

I’ll wrap up my summary of everything tomorrow…

Filed Under: 2012, conferences, T4G

T4G12 Recap – Part 1

April 17, 2012 by Phil Auxier

As you may or may not know, last week was a slow week blogging because I was with 8000 some odd others at the 2012 Together for the Gospel Conference.  I enjoyed an amazing week with some guys from Crestview.  We left Easter Sunday and got in to St. Louis that night, then drove on into Louisville on Monday.

On Monday night, we attended the Dinner and Dialogue at Southern Seminary.  The food was amazing and the dialogue included Josh Harris, Carl Trueman, Matt Pinson, Jeff Bethke and J.D. Greear, hosted by Russell D. Moore.


On Tuesday, before the conference began, I took in the Band of Bloggers meeting.  This panel included Owen Strachan, Timmy Brister, Justin Taylor, Collin Hansen, and Tim Challies.  These are the uber-bloggers of the Christian world.  This panel included some great discussion as to how our tone should be on blogs and how we can be light to our world.


Finally, then, the conference began on Tuesday.  The lineup was pretty amazing and I still almost have to pinch myself to think that I actually got to be a part of this.  


C.J. Mahaney began with a talk on The Sustaining Power of the Gospel (audio/video).  This message really opened the conference up by setting the tone and helping all present see how the Gospel is able to help us in the midst of our ministries, sustaining us to persevere through hard times.


Next up was Al Mohler, offering one of the best sermons I’ve ever heard from him on The Power of the Articulated Gospel (audio/video).  This simple unfolding of Romans 10 helped all present know the importance of verbalizing the Gospel.  


Finally on Tuesday, Mark Dever gave a warning on False Conversions: The Suicide of the Church (audio/video).  There’s a fine line of tension drawn in raising this subject matter, but Dever was up to the challenge and helped me see how God can be honored through holding the line of His Word.  


(I’ll summarize more tomorrow)…

Filed Under: 2012, conferences, T4G

Desiring God Pastor’s Conference…

February 7, 2012 by Phil Auxier

Now that all the conference audio/video is available for free online, here’s another link to my recap of my time there:

Part 1 – visiting Bethlehem Baptist Church on Sunday AM
Part 2 – Doug Wilson Monday PM message on Father Hunger in the Home
Part 3 – Crawford Loritts and Darrin Patrick’s messages
Part 4 – Piper’s bio of Ryle and Wilson again on Father Hunger in the Church
Part 5 – Ramez Atallah on the Gospel in Egypt

Still feel really blessed by this opportunity.  Hope my notes help capture some of this for you.

Filed Under: 2012, conference, Desiring God

DGPC Recap – Part 5

February 2, 2012 by Phil Auxier

The conference ended yesterday morning with Ramez Atallah, secretary of the Bible society in Egypt.  The DG Conference always ends with a missions emphasis so that we can be reminded that all we’ve gained in this conference is meant to be deployed in God’s mission to bring all peoples into enjoyment of Himself.  Here’s my few tweets from this session.  Ramez had a gripping story that roped me in and I was drawn to listen at times rather than get a note down.  Here’s my few tweets:


#dgpascon Ramez Atallah, secretary of Bible society in Egypt, is speaking now…


#dgpascon a Christian leader has to have vision, seeing things others don’t see, and point people towards this


#dgpascon pastors must trust God’s sovereignty


#dgpascon church in Egypt was planted by John Mark (who wrote the Gospel of Mark) who was martyred and used in spite of weakness


RT: Ramez Atallah: “When I came to understand the gospel for the first time, I knew that this was what my peopled needed.” #dgpascon


After this session, we got on the road and returned home.  I’m still processing all of these notes, as you can see, but feel really blessed by God to have gotten to enjoy this conference.  

Filed Under: 2012, conferences, Desiring God

DGPC Recap – Part 4

February 2, 2012 by Phil Auxier

After lunch, Piper came and gave a biography on J.C. Ryle.  This talk really helped show what manhood looked like in the life of a historical figure.  Manhood requires courage.  Here’s my tweets:


#dgpascon time for @JohnPiper ‘s bio of JC Ryle #bringit


#dgpascon God has given Christianity a masculine flare


#dgpascon the masculine feel of Christianity is liable to serious misunderstanding and abuse.


#dgpascon 8 features of masculine ministry…1) masculine ministry puts men at head to take the first bullets of criticism


#dgpascon 2) masculine ministry seizes full-orbed doctrine, pressing it into life of people


#dgpascon Ryle took on jellyfish clergyman who lacked doctrinal nerve


#dgpascon 3) masculine ministry brings out rugged aspects of Christian life // sanctification is war!


#dgpascon 4) masculine ministry takes heavy, weighty things (like hell) and never shrinks back from the truth of it


#dgpascon 5) masculine ministry heralds the Scriptures with urgency and forcefulness


#dgpascon 6) masculine ministry welcomes cost of courageous leadership w/o grumbling & complaining for progress of church


#dgpascon 7) masculine ministry publicly & privately promote mobilizing people (women), fully engaging all people in ministry


#dgpascon 8) masculine ministry models caring for wife and children for the good of the church


There are moments as Piper was speaking that I was filled with praise to God for the faithful life of Ryle.  But, deeper still, I recognized the calling upon my life requires courage and boldness as well.


After this session, we had a break for dinner, then, Doug Wilson returned for an evening session on Father Hunger and the Church.  My tweets:


#dgpascon the Gospel means you are privileged to carry your sin around like David carried Goliath’s head (in victory)


#dgpascon we need teachers, instructors & fathers but acknowledge we have One Mediator between God & man. Don’t let them step in between.


#dgpascon role of fatherhood in church esv.to/1cor4:15-16 church & family are not plan a & plan b but plan a & plan a


#dgpascon we need fathers because we can only learn some things by imitation. God designed it this way.


#dgpascon our job as fathers is not to get them to live by the standard but to love the standard


#dgpascon we’re scared by masculine piety


#dgpascon two kinds of authority: of office & of blessing, fruit of death and resurrection, taking responsibility


#dgpascon worship of God the Father fills checkbook: it fuels spiritual responsibility


#dgpascon when we call people to the Father … We are calling people to be like Him


#dgpascon do you want traditional, godly fathers without God the Father? you are dreaming. We were made for this…


#dgpascon when you come to worship corporately, you come to a person (the Father),through Jesus, and are affected, battling unbelief


Again, Wilson brought great God-honoring, Gospel-filled truth.  We need to raise the standard for manhood in the church and not apologize for it.  God has made us for this.  In fact, the power of the Holy Spirit magnifies Jesus because He brings us to the Father.  This direction shows us what our lives were meant for: the glorify the Father.  We reflect this reality in church life.  



Filed Under: 2012, conferences, Desiring God

DGPC Recap – Part 3

February 2, 2012 by Phil Auxier

On Tuesday, we kicked off the morning with a sermon from Crawford Loritts entitled Lessons Learned from his father.  My tweets:


#dgpc Crawford speaking about his human father’s “signature over his soul” ending up in esv.to/gal5


#dgpascon greatness has to do with staying power…passing on integrity to another generation…not pop fads


#dgpascon manhood is not a private matter but public… Manhood is the desired destination we are meant to arrive in, a holy continuity


#dgpascon wanted to be like my father…not 4th member of Trinity. He wasn’t perfect. He had integrity.


#dgpascon manhood is based on responsibility: being courageous, faithful, keeping promises


#dgpascon being father and husband means doing things we don’t feel like doing to keep our responsibilities


RT: Every 28 days a woman is reminded of who she is. A man knows he’s a man only when a key man tells him so. @CrawfordLoritts #dgpascon


#dgpascon a real man embraces responsibility


#dgpascon out of struggle comes strength: sacrifice for what’s important


#dgpascon out of strength comes discipline: don’t do what you feel like


#dgpascon out of discipline comes integrity: we should speak once // 3 things not tolerated: dishonesty, disobedience, disrespect


#dgpascon respect is incubator for honor


#dgpascon out of integrity comes inheritance: how people treat you should never define you, don’t let people recruit u to insecurities/fears


#dgpascon “do right” – all we have to give to next generation is what we’ve become


#dgpascon don’t minimize Spirit’s work producing Christlike character in you esv.to/gal5:22-23


Crawford’s talk was largely biographical, but really helped demonstrate what a life devoted to Biblical manhood looks like in flesh and blood.  It was very helpful.


After Crawford, Darrin Patrick, lead pastor of The Journey Church in STL, spoke on Being and Building Men for the Local Mission.  My tweets:


@darrinpatrick #dgpascon esv.to/Gal 5:16-6:2 scariest thing about being leader is when you lead, people follow


#dgpascon we produce and reproduce what we are @darrinpatrick


#dgpascon how do we build men as God is building us as men? Spiritual fruit = spiritual freedom = biblical masculinity


#dgpascon false teachers said Jesus + Law, Paul is writing Galatians to fight this, giving Biblical view of obeying, working from acceptance


#dgpascon botanical metaphor in esv.to/Gal5 is the most masculine thing in the Bible – explains how men change


#dgpascon struggle for holiness is sign of Spirit’s presence… Fruit grows painfully and interdependently


#dgpascon don’t measure you maturity by comparing yourself to others but by looking to Jesus


#dgpascon you can’t legislate inner character esv.to/gal5:23 law can only deal with results not source … Fruit is inward


#dgpascon only Spirit can do spiritual transformation not mere behavior modification.


#dgpascon God’s growth is gradual. Spike it: esv.to/gal5:24 we are as loved and accepted by Father as Jesus is


#dgpascon crucify your flesh, kill it. Helpful to know what you’re hunting. esv.to/gal5:16-18 under law = accept me b/c of this


#dgpascon key to killing flesh is physical flesh: you need some brosesv.to/gal6:1-3


#dgpascon fruit grows in environment of brotherhood. Men who are surgeons not butchers, cutting to heal carefully, setting fractures


After Darrin’s session, my heart was super-encouraged by Gospel truth.  My greatest need as a man is the Gospel.  Darrin pointed us here and and while there is some work to pursue in obedience, the Gospel makes it possible and richly explored.  


This wrapped up Tues AM.  

Filed Under: 2012, conferences, Desiring God

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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.

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