From One Degree to Another

John MacArthur answers over at the Pulpit Magazine blog. In Part 1, MacArthur introduces his subject–the Church. Part 2 answers that the church is being built by Jesus Himself. Part 3 explains how the church is an outworking of an eternal plan. Part 4 simply states that the church is the most precious reality on earth. And the conclusion of the series focuses our vision on how the church is an earthly vision of heaven. These articles were a great blessing in reinstilling in me a love for God’s bride–the Church. I commend them to you.

In their recent book on Relationships, Paul Tripp and Tim Lane say:

We are well aware that we are smack dab in the middle of God’s process of sanctification. And because this is true, we will struggle again. Selfishness, pride, an unforgiving spirit, irritation, and impatience will certain return. But we are neither afraid nor hopeless. We have experienced what God can do in the middle of the mess. This side of heaven, relationships and ministry are always shaped in the forge of struggle. None of us get to relate to perfect people or avoid the effects of the fall on the work we attempt to do. Yet, amid the mess, we find the highest joys of relationship and ministry.

What is this hope and confidence? It is rooted in the Gospel itself. You can have hope, even if you are in the midst of conflict within your marriage, because as a sinner, you can conquer sin in the Gospel. The negative can be healed and restored. That is the Gospel’s work. Therefore, take hope today. The Gospel is able to make your marrriage all God intends it to be.

9 Marks also has their July/August ’07 News online. Check it out as it relates to the gospel.

The latest HeartCry Missionary Society Magazine is online. The back cover summarizes the content of it so well in a quote by Adoniram Judson — “The motto of every missionary, whether preacher, printer or schoolmaster, ought to be Devoted for Life.”

Over at the New Attitude Download page, they have posted videos with some speakers from this year’s conference who are interviewed about various ways their messages can be applied. They are worth your time in checking out…

Mark Dever writes over at T4G a column on Togetherness. He writes:

The real front line is not between Calvinist evangelicals and Arminian evangelicals. It is between those who are lost in their sins and those who have been saved by God’s sheer grace in Christ. And this is not, of course, a war of flesh and blood, but a loving “assault” of sheep charging the wolves with the Good News of Jesus Christ, sheep who were themselves once at enmity with God. Our “weapons” to use the Biblical metaphor (Eph. 6:10-17), are spiritual. Here, on this real front line of conflicting worldviews and God-views, there is much togetherness in the Gospel by evangelical believers. 500 years ago Rome warned us that we Protestants would continue to split into countless groups, if we split with them over this. Well, 500 years of history have passed, and the verdict is in resoundingly. Rome was wrong. The Gospel is clear. Wherever we may mail our checks for missionary support, a Free Methodist evangelist in Brazil, an Assembly of God pastor in the Philippines, an Bible-believing Lutheran pastor in Ethiopia or a conservative Dutch Reformed Christian in South Africa, an evangelical Church of Scotland grandmother, a conservative Anglican in London, and a Southern Baptist deacon in Dallas, when they sit down next to someone on the bus or the plane, and share the Gospel with them, will all share the same Gospel–the good news about the Holy God who sent his Son to die and be raised for the justification of sinners. And that we experience God’s forgiveness and new life through faith alone in Christ alone. We don’t need a bishop in Rome or anywhere else to tell us this. We don’t need a world-wide organization. We just need the Holy Spirit, the Bible and the faithful teaching of this gospel by any one of thousands of congregations around the globe faithful to this gospel.

My friend Tim Ellsworth has some thoughts on Ramsey’s book, The Total Money Makeover.

For today’s Marriage Monday, I wanted to communicate a quick word on love. This word is so often thrown around in our culture. What I have found in marriage is that love is something I am continually growing and developing in. Love is best exemplified in the example of our Lord. He demonstrated the ultimate love by laying down His life for us. As I look to Him as my example, I am consitently amazed as to how my love can grow in marriage. Christ’s love is sacrificial. It was costly. It meant dying to self. This is true in marriage as well. We have to be willing to part with the selfish tendencies that raise themselves in marriage. I hoe you will be enocuraged in this end. Let your love be like Christ’s…

So yes, we are back from staffing. We had a great week at Windermere in Roach, MO serving alongside Student Life. We were able to serve with one of our students. I was really pleased with how our team worked. All week long we dedicate ourselves to looking to others before our own desires. I am happy to report that our team did a great job at this. So all in all, it was a great week. Thanks for your prayers.