Wouldn’t expect anything less from Platt, but here’s a great video on universalism and the spreading of the Gospel. May we be struck with the awesome implications of this video by diligent application and devotion to the mission.
Do We Really Believe What We’re Saying? from The Church at Brook Hills on Vimeo.
A new episode came out today, which I really appreciated on the Spirit-Led Leader. It seems that leaders are at their best when they are being led by God through the power of the Holy Spirit. If you don’t get this, you can sign up. You would really benefit from them.
Leadership Coaching with Pastor Mark Driscoll
In light of Pastor Mark’s recent post Loving the Pastor’s Wife and my sermon last night on marriage being something God has done to point to the Gospel, I thought I should say something about what a blessing my wife is. I’ve been enormously encouraged by her in recent days through some internal struggles I was facing. She is definitely a “helper fit for me.” What I appreciate about her is her willingness to fly behind the scenes and devote herself to me and our family. Her life is given to serve in the church in ways, but her priority is to the Lord and, as such, the ministry we have been knit together to enjoy.
Even today, I got continual encouragements from her on a pretty consistent basis. So, thank God for the gift that He has given me and pray that Meg will love the Savior first and in so doing continue to be a gift to me (and Crestview).
Great Lord’s Day at Crestview today.
In the AM, we started on the book of Hebrews with a sermon entitled Introductory Matters, which looks at the big themes that we see in the book of Hebrews. Great time around those truths.
In the PM, my sermon Marriage Foundation: God, sought to counter our culture’s view of marriage by looking at how God loved us in Christ as the foundation for marriage.
This Sunday night, I plan to preach on Genesis 2:18-25 and point to God’s desire for our marriages. To put it simply, we are to center on Him.
To open the message, I will allude to this quote on the Girl Talk site on An Ideal Marriage:
What do you want from your marriage? What would you change if you could?
No doubt something, or many things, come to mind. In one way or another marriage has probably fallen short of your expectations. But we must consider: where does our definition of “the ideal marriage” come from?
Do we get our cues from the culture and its illusive ideal of a mutually satisfying relationship? Do we compare our marriage to our friends’ marriages, to our everlasting disappointment? Or are we myopically focused on our husband’s weaknesses as the cause of our less than ideal marriage?
We need to ask: What does God want from my marriage? What does He want to change? What is His ideal?
Would it surprise you to know that His goal is not for you and your husband to have a “mutually satisfying relationship”, or to have a marriage that’s as good as or better than your friends, or to finally change that husband of yours?
His goal is far greater than that. His agenda far more glorious, far more satisfying.
What does God’s ideal marriage look like?
The answer begins with a story. A long story. A beautiful story. The story of marriage in the Bible.
I hope to see you this Sunday PM and hope you find encouragement for your marriage and your lofty ideals.
This Sunday, March 20, Lord willing, we will be starting a sermon series on the book of Hebrews. As a church, we are memorizing Hebrews 1:1-4. If you get time this weekend, try to read the book in one sitting. But, plan to come and be encouraged to persevere in the Gospel.
…from The Blazing Center…
Do Respond Humbly
Do Identify With Their Struggle
Don’t Act Shocked
Don’t Blow It Off
Do Follow Up Later
Do Remember the Gospel
The post gives additional insight on each of these. I have found that I do well at some of these, but don’t do a good job of following up later. So, we need to be inviting those who are struggling with sin, but we can’t be satisfied with mere confession (as important as it is). We must be an instrument in God’s hands for their sanctification. So, let’s pursue this…
This sermon, Cultivating a Healthy Marriage by Tim Keller was recommended to me and I’ve found it helpful. Here’s a summary of one section and how the Gospel brings perspective:
Human Heart Presupposition:
I’ll be the spouse I should be; if and to the degree you’re the spouse you should be.Gospel Reenactment:
I’ll be the spouse I should be even if you’re not the spouse you should be since Jesus loved me in spite of me.
Listen and all your message to be shaped by the Gospel.
(*Updated with the following outline…)
Cultivating a Healthy Marriage
Timothy and Kathy Keller
1.Think of marriage like a garden
A. Whether rain or draught is going to take lots of work
B. Marriage is not the flowers, sod, or leaves but it’s to the best fruit out of the “garden”
C. Can’t walk away from a garden for a few days and think it took care of itself
2.Planning/Planting
A. Why did you get married?
1. Happiness?
2. Family Stability?
3. Both 1 and 2 are unbiblical!
B. Gospel Reenactment is the purpose
1. Requires Gospel Motivation
2. Sacrificial love creates freedom
3. Sacrificial love is always an action first and feeling second
4. Servant or ministry perspective should always be used
3. Headship – both husband and wife play Jesus
A. Husband is the head of the family like Jesus is head of church
B. Wife plays Jesus submitting to the Father to glorify and serve
C. Both headship reveal God’s character because male and female are both created in God’s image
D. Helper possesses strengths the other doesn’t
4. Authority
A. Never used to get something they want
B. Always a gift and used in service to the best interests of the other
C. Voluntary submission between equals
D. Jesus gave used His authority as a sacrifice and will be forever in glory
5. Submission
A. Jesus revolutionizes headship and submission
B. He is exalted above all for His service to God’s children
C. Never submit to a man who is habitually sinning against God
6.Communication
A. Always ask, “What is the goal in what I’m about to say?”
B. Remember the log in your eye
C. Attack the problem not the person
D. Slow down your responses and let the other talk
7.Love Language
A. Behaviors that others do to make me feel loved
B. Speak in the same language. If you speak in French or German your English speaking spouse won’t get it.
8.Conflict Resolution
A. Conflict avoiders and conflict confronters, which are you and why?
B. Use all your energy to solve the problem instead of attacking
C. Keeping a scorecard is a recipe for death in any relationship and especially marriage!
D. The occasion of the conflict never supersedes the cause of the conflict. The cause is always a sinful heart!!
9.Repentance and forgiveness
A. Truth without love ends in breaking people apart
B. Love without truth leads to avoidance of the problem and zero growth
C. No excuses, center on the wrong, and offer to change
Our church is in the midst of a Scripture memory program. The Elder sit down and try to anticipate what the theme will be on Sundays throughout a year and find appropriate passages of Scripture to memorize. We are in the midst of memorizing Hebrews 1:1-4 now to coincide with our Hebrews sermon series starting this weekend.
Here’s a few encouraging links on Scripture memory I’ve found recently.
Andy Naselli blogged on helping younger children memorize and recently updated that post.
Sojourn Church is memorizing Romans 8 in 40 Days and have a devotional with some great tips. We will be memorizing Romans 8:31-39 later this year.
So, I hope you have this week’s verse down (or it’s in process)…
Hebrews 1:1
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets…
For all the Crestview peeps…
Rick Cornish’s sermon, Maturing In Christ Through The Word, from Colossians 1:28-29 is now online. I’ve listened to a bit so far and if you didn’t get a chance to hear it, or would like a refresher from Sunday, take advantage now…