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Weekend Recap – Matt Perman’s Visit

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We enjoyed a great weekend at Crestview yesterday (10/12/14).  Matt Perman of What’s Best Next was at church serving our people.  During Sunday School, Matt visited with the class we have working through his book, fielding some questions and offering up solid answers.  The class seemed energized through the content we were engaging.

Matt preached during the AM service from Ephesians 6:5-9 on a Christian View of Work.  This sermon really challenged us with a biblical vision of work that helps us do all that we do for the glory of God and the good of others.

Later in the day, Matt spoke at our annual Men and Boys Chili Supper.  He gave an apologetic for Christianity through the lens of time management in what I labeled a TED(like) Talk.

Like I said, many enjoyed this full day with Matt.  I was grateful to have some unhurried time of fellowship with Matt and left encouraged and challenged to work more fully for the good of others.  It was a great weekend.  Hope you enjoy the audio and take advantage of the practical information on Matt’s site, What’s Best Next.

Weekend Recap – Gospel Response

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My 9/21/14AM sermon, Gospel Response from Romans 10:14-21, is now online.  In this sermon, I sought to show how neither God’s Word nor His saving intentions had failed, but that the God who is overflowing in mercy demands a response to the good news that He’s made known to others.  This sermon helped call for a response from both believers and unbelievers to the message of the Bible.

Weekend Recap – Christ Is The End

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My 9/7/14AM sermon, Christ The End, from Romans 9:30-10:4 is now online.  This sermon was a deep one for me, one that I care about.  I think Romans 10:4 is close to what some may call a life verse.  It speaks of Christ being the point, the destination, the signpost of everything.  He’s the end of righteousness (the destination of what it means to be in a right relationship with God) for those who believe.  Having Him is everything.   I hope this sermon helps you (should you choose to listen) and encourages you to more deeply glorify the God who made you for Himself.

Good News for Weary Women – 3 Questions with Elyse Fitzpatrick

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I’m very grateful for the work and ministry of Elyse Fitzpatrick.  Our Elders have been helped as she encourages readers to Counsel From The Cross.  As I’m preaching through Romans, her devotional book has brought great Gospel vision to my understanding of God’s heart.  Her latest book Good News for Weary Women helps women find hope in the liberating message of the Gospel.  I had the chance to ask Elyse three questions about her latest book and here’s how she answered…

1) When you are writing for weary women, who are the women you anticipate serving through this particular project?

“In writing to weary women I primarily anticipate serving women who are serious about their faith and who listen very carefully when they hear messages about what they should be doing to fulfill what they believe is their calling. Of course, women who are not terribly concerned about what God wants them to do are weary also, but they aren’t my primary audience. And yes, of course, they need to know about the good news of God’s love for them in Christ, but they aren’t my principle audience.”

2) How can even good, religious activity slowly drive women into a state of weariness (why do church-going women need the Gospel message)?

“Women who go to church are inundated with the message of “do more, try harder,” and although there are commands they should heed in the Bible, what they are to do is not the foremost message of the Bible. The foremost message of the Bible is what Jesus has already done for them. Unfortunately, many women have been taught (and we all by nature believe) that what we need are the three secret steps to happiness, so we listen carefully hoping to find the secret keys that will unlock a life of contented bliss. We know and acknowledge the gospel, but we think it’s for unsaved folks and beginners. We think we’ve matured past it…and it’s that deception that wears us out.”

3) What is the good news for weary women?

“The good news for weary women is that Jesus, in His incarnation, sinless life, shameful death, bodily resurrection and ascension has done everything that needed to be done for his daughters, and that we can rest in this work He’s done and serve our neighbor out of the love that has already been bestowed on us. The good news is that we can finally stop looking at ourselves, seeing if we measure up, and begin to look at Him, knowing that He measured up in our place.”

So, I hope this post and these questions help to deepen your longing for the message of first importance – the glorious Gospel.  And, I hope you’ll take advantage of this amazing resource, Good News for Weary Women, and find encouragement through Elyse’s message.

Weekend Recap – Unbreakable Security

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My 8/3/14AM sermon, Unbreakable Security from Romans 8:31-39, is now online.  The sermon sought to simply ground all people in the unbreakable secure, life-giving foundation that we have in Jesus Christ our Lord.  This passage was stirring and moving and personally encouraging, that no matter what face in life, we have hope.  So, grab this sermon and find encouragement through it.  And, if you were at Crestview this morning, what was the effect of this sermon on your life?

Hope you have a great week.

Weekend Recap – Real Life

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My 7/20/14AM sermon, Real Life from Romans 8:1-17, is now online.  Romans 8 is a high point in the Bible and I did my best to summarize the main themes and thrusts of this section.  God is holding out real life to us in the Gospel.  This means we live free, have hope and are adopted.  I hope this sermon encourages you and I hope you had a productive Lord’s Day.

Weekend Recap – Married To Christ

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My 7/6/14AM sermon entitled Married to Christ from Romans 7:1-6 is now online.  It was great to be back in the pulpit after some time of vacation with my family.  My sermon picked up my exposition of Romans where I left off before vacation.  Paul’s point in the early parts of Romans 7 is that we’re all married to something (either the law or gospel) and only one leads to life.  I hope you’ll listen and be encouraged to explore the depths of what the Gospel has done for you.

Weekend Recap – Grace Reigns

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My 5/18/14AM sermon, Grace Reigns from Romans 5:12-21, is now online.  This sermon helped equip us to show the glory of God through a united church on mission under grace as we walked through the progression of grace’s work in the lives of people.  What began with sin carrying us off into death was fixed through Jesus and culminates in a changed people where grace reigns in eternal life.  I hope it’s encouraging for you to consider this…have a blessed Sunday.

Weekend Recap – No Boasting

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Boasting is such a sinister, sneaky thing in our lives.  It seems like we’re merely drawing attention to something that we had a  part in, but our motives for such a pursuit are often suspicious.  My sermon on 4/27/14AM entitled Faith Alone: No Boasting from Romans 3:27-4:12 is now online.  This sermon sought to show how being made right before God by faith alone should mean that we don’t boast in it as something we’ve done, but that we boast in the Lord.  I hope this sermon encourages you in this regard and hope you had a blessed Lord’s Day.

Weekend Recap – Impartial Judgment

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My 3/2/14AM sermon, Impartial Judgment from Romans 2:1-11, is online.  The sermon really went after God’s desire for us to be humble before Him, in light of our sin, fleeing our self-righteousness and hiding in Christ.  I hope it’s an encouragement to you as you struggle to fight to honor God in the way think about sin, others and yourself.

This week also featured the launch of Crestview Live (live stream of our service).  You can watch an archived video of that sermon on the Live page, starting around the 29:30 mark of the 3/2/14 AM Service.