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.
One of my favorite pastors to read on the web is Kevin DeYoung. His blog, DeYoung, Restless and Reformed, has now been moved to The Gospel Coalition Website.
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.
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.
I was helped today by Randy Alcorn’s latest post related to giving people perspective on Halloween (with an excerpt from Alcorn’s excellent book, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters). I would encourage you to read this post and remember the role you have in parenting children.
From the people at Passion 2010…
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.
In this particular portion, he speaks of personal time with God:
Yesterday’s sermon is now up and online (Faith, Love and Hope – Colossians 1:4-5a). I thought we had a great time exploring what should inspire gratitude in our hearts for one another. God has done amazing things to knit us together in His body. Therefore, gratefulness to Him should characterize us as a church. Any thoughts on how this influenced anyone?
This Sunday AM, we will be looking at Colossians 1:4-5a. Here’s what vv.3-5a say:
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.
This text will show us the grounds for Paul’s thanksgiving to God, specifically, faith and love, springing from the hope.
As we prep for the weekend, think about your heart and how gratitude is seen in your life, or, specifically, your prayer life?
