From One Degree to Another

Phil Auxier's Blog

Connect

Weekend Preview – Enter God’s Rest…

by

This coming Lord’s day, we hope to gather together to celebrate how we can enter in God’s rest — through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. We will gather at the Lord’s Table and continue to proclaim His death until He returns. We will also plan to spend some time in Hebrews 4:1-11 and its call for us to not miss out on God’s rest.

Commenting on the amazing rest we can know through faith in Christ, Kent Hughes writes:

Fellow-Christians, God does not offer us just any rest. He offers us, in his own words, “my rest” — the repose of soul — divine rest. It is cosmic in its origination, as old as the universe. And as such, a continuing Sabbath is available to all. It is the ideal rest, for it comes from a loving, almighty God.

Take time to consider God’s Word — God offers you rest for your weary soul in Jesus. Come to Him. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Weekend Recap – Greater Crime

by

Yesterday’s sermon, The Greater Crime, from Hebrews 3:7-19 is now online. This sermon series in Hebrews is really pressing our perseverance beyond the traditional praying it and really meaning it and then being done to persevering in the Gospel itself. We must continue in the things we have heard and become convinced of to the end to prove we are sharers in Christ. At any rate, I hope the message is profitable for you.

Weekend Prep – Perseverance

by

This Sunday, Lord-willing, we will be back in the book of Hebrews, specifically Hebrews 3:7-19 (yes, this will take us through chapter 3). It’s long been said that the Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon; it’s not so much about starting but finishing well. I think chapter 3 of Hebrews gives us insight into this.

Specifically, this week’s sermon will orient us as to how to avoid the mistakes of the children of Israel in the desert as well as use insights from Psalm 95 to direct us to persevere by believing.

We will also be exhorted to exhort one another so that we aren’t hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Do you realize that sin is very deceiving? If so, what steps are you taking to remedy it? And, are you embracing the remedy clearly demonstrated in God’s Word: community? There is quite simply lots to think about as we come to worship. If you get a chance, look over Psalm 95, then read Hebrews 3 and ask God to stir your heart to persevere to the end.

One Reason Why We’re Doing VBS in the Evening This Year…

by

…is because we are complementarian. Being complementarian simply means that God has hard wired the universe with men and women having unique roles to fulfill in their personhood. Both men and women are made in the image of God and have value in that. However, God has called men and women to different roles. And this calling doesn’t negate or determine value.

So, how does this relate to VBS? In recent years, as we tried to do VBS in the morning, I noticed that it was mainly women doing all the work. The daytime schedule meant that men, by and large, were at work in secular jobs and thus unable to serve in VBS. Couple with this truth the recent statistics on the influence that fathers (read men) can have on learning, and you can see why the need to change happened because we are complementarian.

So, this year, our VBS will be held from 6:30-8:30PM so that men, after working all day in many cases, can come and demonstrate Christ’s love by serving children in VBS. We’ve structured each class so that they have a man present. Each class is not necessarily taught by a man (again showing God’s creative complementarian design) but men are there to give grace to the children by offering an encouraging presence in the class. We are excited about what this might mean for our children and for the men who are serving in a way that God gets the glory.

Hardness of Heart…

by

This coming Lord’s Day, we will be looking at Hebrews 3:7-19 and a negative example of what faithfulness to God looks like (from the children of Israel in Numbers 13-14). One of the big warnings is to not have a hard heart. Here’s an excellent definition from William Lane in his book Hebrews: A Call To Commitment:

Hardness of heart signifies treating the Lord with contempt; it is the refusal to believe in the Lord; it is choosing to listen to human voices of despair rather than listening to the voice of God. (p.64)

As you think about your response to God’s Word, are you characterized by a hard heart? Think about your response? Do you treat God with contempt? Are you refusing to believe Him in any area? Are you choosing to listen to human voices over God’s voice? Check your heart and keep it with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).

Weekend Recap – Focus on Faithfulness

by

After my week off for vacation, I was back at Crestview today with a sermon Focus on Faithfulness from Hebrews 3:1-6. God’s Word seemed to compel us to continue to focus on Christ as the confidence, boast and hope of our lives. Sad to say, but some strands of evangelicalism place stock in a decision and not in Christ. The writer of Hebrews has timeless truth for them and us: Christ.

Slow Blogging Week…

by

Yes, I know it’s been a slow blogging week. Lots of little things happening.

Tuesday I was at Lincoln Elementary for their end of the school year activities.
Wednesday I was supposed to be at Andrew’s school for end of the year activities, but that was postponed due to the rain and ended up getting some good time with a former student who currently ministers in Tulsa.
Thursday was wrapping up lots of little odds and ends including morning coffee date with Meg and lunch with family to celebrate Andrew’s last day of school.

Today, is Gabe’s Birthday – #3.

Tomorrow, we leave for vacation for a few days.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Heading To Lincoln Today

by

Heading to Lincoln Elementary today for their end of year party. Should be a fun day and hoping the weather cooperates. Then, this afternoon, get to be a part of a Communities That Care training. All in all, good day to get some relationships cooking.