Mark Dever is finally back in the pulpit at Capitol Hill Baptist (after a sabbatical) and has preached a couple of helpful messages on the Pastor and His People.
Here’s the series: The Pastor and The Church
Feb 22, 2009 – The Pastor
March 1, 2009 – The Church
One of my former professors, Dr. Don Whitney, has a website (Biblical Spirituality), which is really a treasure-trove of resources for your sanctification. It would be worth your time to read some of the content found there, including excerpts of his books.
2 things of recent note:
A new article — 10 Questions to Ask to Benefit from a Conference/Special Event
A free audio book — Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life is available as a free download from Christian Audio.com. Here’s the skinny from Dr. Whitney’s site:
ChristianAudio.com is making Don’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life their free download of the month for March. This unabridged, nine-hour professional recording is still available for purchase on six CDs. But during March it may be obtained for free here. Add the “download” format (not CD) to the shopping cart, and enter the coupon code MAR2009 when prompted at checkout. Afterward, click on the green “Free Newsletter” link and be notified each month about ChristianAudio.com’s free download.
Your soul will benefit from these and other great resources found on Dr. Whitney’s website.
I came across Luke 17:32 in my devotions this morning and really benefited from Mark Altrogge’s post on “Remembering Lot’s Wife” when it came up in my feed reader this AM.
Here’s the final two paragraphs:
Remember her love of the world, her attachment to things. Her failure to wholeheartedly follow the Lord. These things cost her her life.
Jesus is returning. Invest yourself in heaven. Give your life away serving others. Give to the kingdom and the poor. Follow Jesus with all your heart, and you’ll be ready when he comes.
Remember Lot’s wife and I’m sure you will see why these conclusions are reached. Enjoy.
My first installment through the book of Hosea, Spiritual Adultery, is online. At the beginning of the sermon, I quote from Ray Ortlund Jr.’s book, God’s Unfaithful Wife:
The harlotry of Israel and the jealousy of Yahweh exploded in crisis in the 8th century BC. During the northern kingdom’s autumn of prosperity and then their final spams of self-destruction, the prophet Hosea was called to alert the people to the true reason for their national decline. It was not ultimately a failure of political manoeuvering, military power or financial resources. The explanation lay deep within the covenanted people themselves. Israel was an unfaithful wife, sharing her love with both Yahweh and the Baals, and her lawful husband could no longer support her affairs with other lovers through further manifestations of his mercies. (p.47)
Sounds like the American church, doesn’t it?
Over at 9Marks, the latest interview with Dr. Don Carson is online.
I loved this one, especially given my bibliophilic tendencies. This particular interview discusses the incredible breadth of material that has come from Dr. Carson’s pen. Enjoy!
Yes, I’m back in the office today. Hoping to finish sermons on Mark 13:28-37 and Hosea 1:1-2:1. Then, tonight’s class on Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, considers the narrow way we live in the Christian life, based on Matthew 7:13-14. Have phone calls to return, emails to work on, business to attend too. Ah, it’s good to be back.
Yeah, it’s a Tuesday. There are some things hopping in life and I feel like I needed to get away for a study day. I do these occasionally. Sometimes I just read, sometimes I’m quiet, sometimes I’m listening or watching something, but they are always productive.
Today, my big task is prepping for a new sermon series I’m starting this coming Sunday evening through the book of Hosea. Mark in the mornings, Hosea in the evenings — this is my habit now. Needed to get away, though, to wrap my mind around the argument of the book.
Also finished reading (again) Tedd Tripp’s excellent book on parenting, Shepherding a Child’s Heart. After reading I’ve noticed how I settled into some bad habits of just addressing Andrew’s behavior and not his heart. This was a welcome and needed reminder. We are planning on working through this material and the DVD seminar to go with it during the summer.
Anyway, if you read this blog, could you please pray for me today. Spiritual focus is needed and God can provide it. Hope the Lord’s blessing is extended to you as well.
Speaking of our church’s small group curriculum… this quote from Lloyd-Jones really summarized the truth found in last night’s group:
There is nothing, perhaps, in the whole range and realm of doctrine which, if properly grasped and understood, gives greater assurance, greater comfort, and greater hope than this doctrine of our union with Christ. (as quoted in How People Change, p.34. Originally quoted in Lloyd-Jones commentary on Romans, chapter 6, pp.106-148.)
I was greatly encouraged, challenged and edified by listening to a sermon recently preached by Robin Boisvert (who is one of the co-authors of the curriculum our church is currently using for small groups). The sermon is entitled What the Gospel Says to Our Bitterness, and it is part of Covenant Life‘s continued exposition through Ephesians. What is always appreciate about this church and its pastors are their unflinching commitment to center everything they do on the Gospel. Listen and see if you don’t agree.
Here are some incredible lyrics off of Ross King‘s song, Things That Matter…
I’m gonna say it now, should have a long time ago
It’s what we’re all about, we can’t pretend we don’t know
It’s something nobody every really speaks of
it isn’t God but it’s the god that we have given our love
and that love is wasted because
Your honor and Your glory, and Your Kingdom
Are the only things that matter, really
We rarely ever live for what’s eternal
but those are the only things that matter at all
You could take the lamp away, You’ve got the power and the right
Our anorexic faith makes for an unworthy bride
We’ve made a lover of anything that loves us
We’re still trying to find a way to strike it rich and follow Jesus
And it’s crazy because…
If You’re all for me You can never be all for You,
And that won’t do at all
To my surprise, the glory of the Lord is worth much
more than my self-gratification
So the anthem of my generation should be…
Your Kingdom is the only thing that matters, really
It’s sneaking ’round outside, it’s crouching down at my door
It’s teaching me to lie, and it simply can’t be ignored
So when I sit at the table of the rich man
I put a knife to my throat so that I will not give in
To temptation because…
Copyright 2002 by Ross King.
