From One Degree to Another

Some of my friends are into this.

Wayne Grudem, commenting on 1 Peter, writes:

Recognizing that one has such responsibility [of leadership in the church] should never engender pride, but rather a continual humility in the awareness that sin remaining in one’s heart is still hateful, and that any growth in holiness of life has only come about by God’s grace. (From p.190 in Wayne Grudem, 1 Peter: Tyndale NT Commentary, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1988.

Well said! We lead the people entrusted to us by humbly waging war in our own hearts against sin.

At least that’s what we were taught in typing class. Question: What are the bare bones essentials of the good news found in Jesus Christ?

I love that Abraham Kuyper quote:

“Oh, no single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest, and there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!'”

So, in light of yesterday’s message on the Lordship of Jesus Christ, how is Christ’s Lordship reflected in your marriage?

Here’s a video (thanks JT):

(Update: Justin charitably responds to Piper)

And a prayer:

Father in heaven, as we approach this election on Tuesday, I pray

1) that your people will vote,

2) and that they will vote with a sense of thankfulness for a democratic system that at least partially holds in check the folly and evil in all our hearts so that power which corrupts so readily is not given to one group or person too easily;

3) that we would know and live the meaning of

* being in the world, but not of it,
* doing politics as though not doing them,
* being on the earth, yet having our lives hidden with Christ in God,
* rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s;

4) that we would discern what truths and values should advance by being made law and which should advance only by the leavening of honest influence;

5) that your people would see what love and justice and far-seeing wisdom demand in regard to the issues of education, business and industry, health care, marriage and family, abortion, welfare, energy, government and taxes, military, terrorism, international relations, and every challenge that we will face in the years to come;

6) and above all, that we will treasure Jesus Christ, and tell everyone of his sovereignty and supremacy over all nations, and that long after America is a footnote to the future world, he will reign with his people from every tribe and tongue and nation.

Keep us faithful to Christ’s all important Word, and may we turn to it every day for light in these dark times.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

I hope these help encourage you in the spiritual task we have before us tomorrow.

My good friend Freddy T spoke this past Sunday at The Gallery Church, his new home. Check out their audio and podcast (Freddy’s sermon is from 10/26/08)

JT reported on the Total Church Conference that was held recently. There is much free audio available. Enjoy!

As we continue our series of posts on the book Total Church, today we speak of world mission (chapter 6 in the book). As they introduce this section, the authors, Tim Chester and Steve Timmis say:

The centrality of the gospel and the gospel community apply not only on our doorstep but to the ends of the earth. God summons us both to “proclaim [his] excellencies” and to be “a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV). It is our responsibility and privilege as Christians to be engaged in world mission. (p.99)

What really stuck out to me in this chapter was the following quote:

In the contemporary and often confused scene, mission has become a non-specific and slippery term. But the words of Jesus that close Matthew’s Gospel provide us with a vital compass point. They make it clear that it is Jesus and his word that are the very heart of mission. He is the one to whom authority has been given; he is the one who commands his disciples to go; his name is among those into which people are baptized; it is his teaching that people are to obey; he is the one who will be with them as they go. At the heart of world mission is Jesus and the gospel word.

As we think about engaging the world on mission, let’s never lose sight of the fact that the Gospel Word must be central.

David Powlison in his book Power Encounters, gives the following quote by Luther:

This life, therefore, is not righteousness but growth in righteousness,
not health but healing,
no being but becoming,
not rest but exercise.
We are not yet what we shall be but we are growing toward it;
the process is not yet finished but is going on;
this is not the end but it is the road;
all does not yet gleam in glory but all is being purified.

Well said and worth hearing!

Robin Boisvert, in the curriculum How Can I Change?, speaks of the following summary of Christian growth:

In a day when quick solutions to longstanding problems are too easily offered, we wish to recommend the old paths, having found them tried and true. There is no short course to Christian maturity. There is no crossless way to follow Christ, no instant secret to the Christian life. But like distance running, if the way of the cross is not easy, neither is it complicated. God presents us with a pathway that is narrow yet straight. He makes his ways plain to those who are sincerely interested in following him, and he will show himself strong on behalf of all whose hearts are fully his.

So, is this kind of growth taking place in your life? Have you availed yourself to the grace to be found by pursuing this in marriage?