From One Degree to Another

Last night, our church enjoyed great fellowship as we gathered in small groups. Meg and I were privileged to get to be a part of a time with another couple in our church. I was so thankful for the give and take transperancy with which we could operate and it reminded me of how helpful the eyes of others are in my life. Not only do I need a wife who will encouragement my pursuit of sanctification, but the helpful, encouraging eyes of another godly couple can be invaluable as we seek to honor God in our relationship. Small groups were a blessing to us because they helped facilitate this. We need others–even as couples. Avail yourself to grace found in the penetrating gaze of others.

Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA, preached through Ruth in early 2007. Here are the sermons, many of which have been very edifying and helpful to me in preparing my own series.

Week One: God’s Hand in Our Suffering (Ruth 1)
Preached 1.07.07 by Pastor Mark Driscoll
Pastor Mark Driscoll introduces us to the main characters in the story of Ruth, as well as gives insight into how each of their true beliefs about God are revealed when suffering comes upon their family.

Week Two: God’s Hand in Our Luck (Ruth 2:1-13)
Preached 1.14.07 by Pastor Mark Driscoll
Pastor Mark introduces us to Boaz, the hero of the story of Ruth. It is in Boaz’s masculine strength that he seeks to protect and provide for Ruth from their very first providential meeting.

Week Three: God’s Hand in Our Blessing (Ruth 2:13-24)
Preached 1.21.07 by Pastor Mark Driscoll
Pastor Mark describes Boaz’s generous and kind response to Ruth and Naomi in their time of great need.

Week Four: God’s Hand in Our Risks (Ruth 3:1-18)
Preached 1.28.07 by Pastor Mark Driscoll
Ruth takes a risk and makes her interest in Boaz known in this fourth sermon in the Redeeming Ruth series. Pastor Mark explains Boaz’s humble and loving response and how it reflects the character of our gracious God.

Week Five: God’s Hand in Our Shrewdness (Ruth 4:1-12)
Preached 2.04.07 by Pastor Mark DriscollPastor Mark encourages men to follow the example of Boaz, whose wise and prudent negotiation proves successful in becoming Ruth and Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer.

Week Six: God’s Hand in Our Redemption (Ruth 4:13-22)
Preached 2.11.07 by Pastor Mark Driscoll
Boaz takes Ruth as his wife and their first child, Obed, is born. Pastor Mark illuminates our understanding of this great love story by bringing it back to Jesus, our great Redeemer, who is eventually born through the line of this godly couple.

I really like Abraham Piper’s blog, 22 Words. Recently he gave this challenge:

1. Write a Jesus-centered sermon.

2. List 10 words pivotal to that sermon’s content.

3. Rewrite the sermon, making the same point without those words.

A good exercise for all of us, in keeping with Abraham’s idea, would be to write out a presentation of the Gospel. Then list 10 words pivotal to that content. Then rewrite that content without using those words. Why would this be a good exercise?

1) It would foster good, Gospel meditation.
2) It would keep us from using the same language (Christianese) that many of us use to describe these realities.
3) It would, therefore, help us not only embrace the truth of the Gospel with our own lives but to make that content readily available for each and every lost person we encounter.

On of my favorite churches, Covenant Life, has recently redone their website. Check it out.

John Piper in a recent blog:

God cannot make plain all he is doing, because there are millions and millions and millions and millions of effects of every event in your life, the good and the bad. God guides them all. They all have micro purposes and macro purposes. He cannot tell you all of them because your brain can’t hold all of them.

Trust does not demand more than God has told us. And he has given us immeasurably precious promises that he is in control of all things and only does good to his children. And he has given us a very thick book where we can read story after story after story about how he rules for the good of his people.

Let’s trust him and not ask for what our brains cannot contain.

…has a new website. Check it out.

I own a couple of books by John Ensor and when he preached last week at Covenant Life, it was good to hear some of the truths he emphasizes in sermon form. The sermon, “Doing Right in Heart Matters“, really gets at the truth of his book. Enjoy this free audio, then.

Oh, and I guess I should mention, the “heart issues” in question relate to manhood and womanhood. Enjoy.

John Piper exhorts us to take care as to how we hear the Word of God. Here is his closing exhortation:

When you hear preaching or read your Bible take hold of it like a miser taking hold of gold and silver. Take hold of it like a pearl of great price and a treasure in a field. Take hold of it like a drowning man seizes a float. Fight off every word-destroying demonic bird and burning affliction and deceitful desire. Then you will “have” and “more will be given.” You will bear fruit with patience.

For today’s marriage Monday, thinking of applying yesterday’s message to our marriages, I thought a word could be said about kindness to our spouses. I think we assume this is a given in marriage, but it is not always the case. Often our spouses or families are the ones who see us at our worse. Therefore, it is in our marriages that we need to express kindness above all.

I am still struck by that quote from Daniel Block about Boaz (again commenting on Ruth 2:8-16)): “In th[is] man who speaks to this Moabite field worker, biblical chesed [or kindness] becomes flesh and dwells among human kind.” I wonder if God’s convenant faithfulness, kindness and goodness are ever incaranated in your marriage. Does your spouse and family see a consistent expression of God’s kindness flowing through you? This is to be the pattern that we follow. Let’s God’s kindness from through you to your spouse and family by lavishing goodness and providing/protecting for them, even when they are most unworthy.

Isn’t this what Ruth is experiencing from Boaz in Ruth 2:8-16?

I really like how Chris Elrod weighs in on how this kindness to those we don’t deem worthy is expressed in evangelism at the church entrusted to his care, Compass Point.