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Spurgeon on Speaking Well…

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This Sunday, Lord willing, we will be exploring Colossians 1:7-8 and seeing how we can be helpful people in the body of Christ. Again, I quote Spurgeon:

“I like to read of godly men speaking well of one another. Nowadays, it is thought to be a distinguishing work of faithfulness to be able to pick holes in the coats of our fellow Christians. Now we cannot help perceiving some of their defects and sometimes it is our duty to speak of them – and to speak of them faithfully – but let us also observe all the virtues that are to be found in them, otherwise we may despise the work of the Holy Spirit and rob Him of His glory! How kindly Paul speaks of Epaphras, and how kindly Epaphras speaks of the church at Colossae!”

I was struck by these words because we are such a negative culture. We are always quick to voice our disagreements. Paul sets a great tone for encouraging body life. I hope we can take a cue from him and be encouraging people in the body of Christ.

DeYoung on Reaching People…

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I really resonate with Kevin DeYoung’s honest assessment of his heart as he seeks to reach out to others:

There have been times as a pastor where I’ve been discouraged by the slowness of growth in my congregation. I’ve thought, “Why is that church over there so successful? Why did they go from 150 to 1500 in three years?” I’ve even been borderline snippy at times, “Lord, if I get to heaven and find out there was some secret musical style or movie clip or new program I was supposed to use in order to be successful, I’m going to feel pretty bummed.” But in my saner moments I’ve come to see two things: One, it’s more my sin that wants success than my sanctification. And two, the secret is that there is no secret.

He is in the middle of a series on reaching younger people. Here are the five suggestions he offers:

Grab Them With Passion
Win Them With Love
Hold Them With Holiness
Challenge Them With Truth
Amaze Them With God

Current Reading List

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It’s been a while since I’ve updated everyone on what I’m currently reading, so here goes:

I still use D.A. Carson’s For the Love of God, Volume 2 for my morning devotions (I also use an ESV Study Bible).

Speaking of devotions, I am reading Global Prayer Digest this month (they sent me a free sample issue) and it is helpful in enlarging my view of the world.

I read a prayer from Water of the Word, which helps me remember my spiritual responsibilities toward Meghan.

During devotions I’m also reading A Praying Life by Paul Miller. I kept reading blog after blog comment and post snippets from this book. It really is helpful. We are all busy. Miller helps demonstrate what a life devoted to prayer looks like.

Besides devotions, I’m also reading The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo. This has really been helpful in calming me down in addressing my 3 and 1 year old boys. I noticed I was starting to demonstrate my authority through voice inflection. This is just one of the many benefits of this book and what it shows.

I’m enjoying Feelings and Faith by Brian Borgman. This book was written to encourage the “cultivation of godly emotions in the Christian life” and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. I’m in a culture in which emotions are subdued. This book has helped me see Biblical use of emotions. Very helpful stuff (and very biblically grounded).

I am still plodding through The Mission of God by Christopher Wright. Moving slowly through this has reminded me of God’s mission for His church and how we need to be involved in it.

Other books on the docket:
Gospel Powered Parenting comes highly recommended and will continue my being equipped in parenting.
The End of the Law is a theological discussion on the relationship between the law and grace. As Piper has said about this book: “For the last forty years of my ministry no biblical issue ahs proved more recurrent or more vexing than the nature of the Mosaic law as it relates to the gospel and the new covenant. The pastoral implications for how you preach the gospel, aim at sanctification, comfort strugglers, give assurance, and admit people to membership in the church are huge. Jason Meyer is a good guide. I found myself writing ‘YES!’ in the margins repeatedly. And there were enough ‘Aha’ moments of fresh discovery to make me want to keep going. I thank God for this young scholar. His book is a precious gift to the church.”
Words From The Fire is Al Mohler’s latest book on the 10 Commandments.
Crossway’s latest edition of The Pilgrim’s Progress, a classic tale with some amazing edits for readability and enjoyment.
Our Boys is my next book to check out of the public library, which highlights a season of high school football here in KS by a team that has won 5 consecutive state titles.

That’s the currently happenings, in terms of my bibliophilic tendencies. Hope it helps.

The Universal, Effective Gospel, full of grace and truth…

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Today’s sermon from Colossians 1:5-6, entitled The Gospel, is now online. This sermon highlighted God’s Word speaking of the Gospel as truth, universal, effective, and grace. It was really enjoyable to see what God’s Word clearly has to communicate to us about what the Gospel is and what it produces in us.

I hope it encouraged you and, deeper still, hope God takes it and works repentance and belief in the lives of others.

God Speaks…

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Last night, in my Wed PM discussion group, we were discussing part 1, chapter 7 of D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones book Life in Christ. On p.80, MLJ says:

We have said that communion [with God] means realizing the presence of God, and there is a basic minimum in this matter, that those who can claim that they are in communion with God and say they have fellowship with Him must be able to say, ‘I have known that I was in the presence of God who graciously give me tokens of this; He gives me manifestations.’ You can see the dangerous thing I am saying, how it opens the door to fanaticism and excesses; but we have no fellowship with God unless in some way we have known that He was there, that He gave His gracious intimation of His nearness and His presence. He also speaks in His own way to the soul, not always with an audible voice, but He speaks. He gives us consolation, He creates within us holy desires and longings; it is He who does that.

My mind immediately went to the many-linked-to story from yesterday from Justin Taylor celebrating and remembering John Piper’s call to ministry 30 years earlier. God does speak in amazing ways often. Praise God that we aren’t left wondering if we have fellowship with God but that He makes Himself known by speaking.

Keller on the Gospel & Its Forms

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Tim Keller recently wrote an article entitled The Gospel In All Its Forms. I found this article helpful as I try to weave the Gospel into conversations and sermons each week. I do tend to leave out some elements at times and feel almost guilty. Keller’s article provides some good help in thinking through these things and gives some historical background on some current charges leveled at the Gospel.

Previewing the Week — The Gospel

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This Sunday, we plan to look at Colossians 1:5-6. Here’s a quote from Spurgeon on this section:

We do not know the grace of God in truth unless it brings forth fruit in us! We may know it with the head very correctly, but we do not truly know it unless it is knowledge in the heart, knowledge in the innner man.

Well said! As always, be meditating on where we’re headed this week and pray that I will have words from God to speak in a way that builds up the body.