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Weekend Recap – The Church and Her God

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Today’s sermons are now online. In the AM, I entitled the sermon Ecclesiology 101. We were looking at Titus 2:1-8 and how a church that glorifies God ought to function. Specifically, churches ought to teach doctrine so that lives are affected, have specific ministries that equip men and women to be who God intended them to be and, finally, churches are to be godly examples and adorn the Gospel through their actions. It was good to be reminded of how God thinks the church ought to function.

In the PM, we finished up Hosea, looking at Hosea 13:4-14:9 in a sermon I entitled “Love and Justice.” In these two chapters, God’s attributes are on display for us to behold. As we beheld, them, though, I was driven to marvel at the Gospel implications that are found therein. Hosea has been a great study. It is the first time I marched through a prophet, which was a challenge but a very rich thing.

All in all, it was a great Lord’s Day being with the church, learning about the church and marveling at her great God.

Weekend Preview – Ecclesiology

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This weekend, we are taking a break from Colossians in the AM to address some issues in church life from Titus 2:1-8. I’ve entitled the sermon Ecclesiology 101. Ecclesiology is the “study of things pertaining to the church.” This passage holds relevant instruction for: why we put such a priority on teaching, how men’s and women’s ministries should function and what kind of life we are all called to live. It really will be a good, fresh reminder of some core convictions we hold to.

In the evening, we will finish up Hosea, looking at Hosea 13:4-14:9. This book has been a great treasure for us on Sunday evenings this year. My basic outline for this sermon has to do with God’s attributes of justice and love.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Shane and Shane – Everything Is Different

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Shane and Shane‘s new CD is now available. Titled Everything Is Different, it has everything we love about these guys: soaring vocals, memorable tracks and God-exalting music. The CD is $8.99 for download on Amazon, $9.99 for download on ITunes, or at their site for $10. What struck me as I listened to this album was how the Gospel is up front and central. From the opening song, Everything Is Different, to a modern arrangement of The Lord’s Prayer musically, to a song entitled “Worthy of Affection” which speaks of “[Jesus] being worthy of affection, the radiance of all of His glory, let adoration fill this place, You hold everything together by the word of your immovable power, we sing this song of praise”, this album soars with praise to Jesus Christ and would be a great addition of worship music to anyone you know this Christmas (or Thanksgiving for that matter). Enjoy.

To Manhattan (KS)

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Today, I am rolling out of the office and taking my “show” on the road up to Manhattan, KS. I am visiting with students and friends from our church attending school up at K-State. The plan is to get there, grab some lunch, and come back to Hutch.

I posted yesterday some thoughts on Facebook. My trip today is even further proof that there is a different dynamic at work when I visit these people face to face. You see if I was a friend of theirs on Facebook or sent them an email saying “I’m hoping your doing well” those would be kind gestures. However, when I actually go visit face to face with them, they feel cared for and I am able to communicate so much more effectively my love, concern, appreciation and knowledge of their lives and circumstances. These are things that Facebook can’t really deliver on to this degree of depth.

Anyway, you can tell I’m still ranting away on this issue. It will probably never die as long as I’m alive, but it seems good today to be able to visit with friends and see how God is working in their lives. Pray that I have a productive visit with them all.

Thoughts on Facebook…

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I’ve had people nagging me for some time to join Facebook. For me personally, it is time consuming enough simply to get posts on a blog and I find my blog helpful in helping me catalog helpful things I’ve found online. It also makes it easy to recommend a site to someone to have them visit my site, where I’ve linked to it.

Facebook is more than these things, though. A recent report said the average user of Facebook spends 3 days messing with it over the course of a year. Couple this with a recent report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, which says that their can be some positives in new media.

Here’s the rub for me: the Bible commends the local church as the community in which life is to function. People will, for instance, get on Facebook and communicate for everyone what their struggles are or what’s happening in their lives, but not even communicate those things in a small group or with the Elders or people in the local church (unless those people are “friends on Facebook”). I don’t think this should be. Maybe I need to get on Facebook and become friends with all the people in the church that are on it (so I can effectively shepherd). I don’t know. It just seems to be a disconnect. Sure Paul wrote letters to communicate with churches and we do have amazing gifts in technology. But there is still something unique about practicing the one anothers with, well, one another. How can these be balanced?

Elder’s Meeting Help

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Jim Elliff writes an excellent post on Elder’s Meeting That Do Something. His tips:
1. Plan for meeting together more often and for a longer period of time.
2. Challenge each other spiritually.
3. Discuss the state of the flock.
4. Have an agenda.
5. Actually pray for individuals and issues being faced.
6. Study together toward a unified position on difficult issues.
7. Make these meetings non-optional.

Are You Rocking Or Rowing the Boat?

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From Ed Stetzer:

In church life, the people that are rocking the boat are hardly ever the ones rowing it.

I think this has generally been my experience, although we can even get insight and learn from those who are doing the rocking. A godly view of Biblical criticism is a must for church life.