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Books I Read in April 2018

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Like I mentioned in March, I’m trying to do a better job this year of keeping track of books I’ve completed reading.  As usual, there are some books/things, I’m always working in like the Bible (praying through the Psalms of the Day and doing lots of reading in 1 Peter in different translations), Sonship, as well as Crestview’s Leadership Pipeline material.

In April, I was also able to work through the following:

True Spirituality – Alan Chapple
Under Our Skin – Benjamin Watson
Devotional Doctrine – Aaron Armstrong
A Time for Confidence – Stephen Nichols
Biblical Theology – Nick Roark and Robert Cline
Acts: A Visual Guide – Kevin DeYoung and Chris Ranson
Take Heart – Matt Chandler with David Roark
The challenge, always, is to do something with what I’ve read.  Some of this simply encouraged devotional living.  Many of these books had the effect of giving courage and hope.  So, I hope you’re reading, as well, and, more importantly, being shaped by what you read.

Weekend Recap – Joy in Trials

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I received a week off from preaching duties yesterday, 4/29/18, but was blessed to be able to hear Luke preach on 1 Peter 1:6-9.  His sermon, Joy In Trials, is online.  The quote above really got at the heart of this sermon.  In suffering, we try to soothe our souls with pithy cliches or by looking inward.  And, Peter’s point in these opening verses of 1 Peter is to look, by faith, to the value that Christ has and rest there.  I hope this sermon encourages you.

Weekend Recap – Kept For A Hopeful Inheritance

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My 4/22/18AM sermon, Kept for a Hopeful Inheritance from 1 Peter 1:3-5 is now online.  This sermon continued our 1 Peter series, giving hope to exiles and outcasts, which is what Christians are in this world.  Peter, remarkably, didn’t begin this letter with a fixation on the world or even how believers should act towards the world (although that is certainly coming in the letter).  He begins by blessing God and rehearsing some reasons why God the Father is worthy of praise.  I hope this sermon encourages you.

Weekend Recap – To Elect Exiles

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My 4/15/18AM sermon, To Elect Exiles from 1 Peter 1:1-2; 5:12-14, is now online.  This sermon introduced everyone to the book of 1 Peter, which is the book we’ll be studying for a while.  It took those who are believers into tension between who we are in God and who we are related to the world.  Specfiically, Peter wrote to elect exiles, to give us hope from God.  I hope it encourages you.

Hope for the Outcasts

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This coming Sunday, 4/15, we are starting a new series at Crestview on the book of 1 Peter.  The tag for this series is “hope for the outcasts.”  Peter understands the problems believers face living life in the tension of the reality that we will be forever in heaven with the Lord but are stuck living life here in this world.  We are very much not at home in this world.  We are outcasts, exiles, aliens.  So, this series will hopefully aim to help us have some insight for really living in this world.  I hope it encourages you.  Join me in praying to this end and, if you have time, read the book of 1 Peter.

Books I Read in March 2018

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Like I mentioned in February, I’m trying to do a better job this year of keeping track of books I’ve completed reading.  As usual, there are some books/things, I’m always working in like the Bible (praying through the Psalms of the Day and doing lots of reading in 1 Peter in different translations), Sonship, as well as Crestview’s Leadership Pipeline material.

In February 2018, I worked through the following:

Expositional Preaching – David Helm
The Good of Giving Up – Aaron Damiani
Church on the Couch – Jim Elliff
Slower month for me (in terms of reading) with Leadership Reno County, a 9Marks conference, family spring break trip, and Passion week, but I really enjoyed these books and the edification they brought me.

April’s New Song at Crestview – My Worth Is Not In What I Own (At the Cross)

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In April at Crestview, we’re learning Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Graham Kendrick’s song, My Worth Is Now In What I Own (At the Cross).

Here are the lyrics:

My worth is not in what I own
Not in the strength of flesh and bone
But in the costly wounds of love
At the cross

My worth is not in skill or name
In win or lose, in pride or shame
But in the blood of Christ that flowed
At the cross

Refrain:
I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure,
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other.
My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

As summer flowers we fade and die
Fame, youth and beauty hurry by
But life eternal calls to us
At the cross

I will not boast in wealth or might
Or human wisdom’s fleeting light
But I will boast in knowing Christ
At the cross

Refrain

Two wonders here that I confess
My worth and my unworthiness
My value fixed – my ransom paid
At the cross

Refrain


I hope this song helps you give voice to what God’s done for you through His Son.

Weekend Recap – Race, Injustice, and Friendship

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I was blessed this past weekend getting some fellowship time with my friend Adrion Roberson.  Adrion pastors in Kansas City, Kansas in Wyandotte County.  He’s laboring hard doing difficult work and I asked him to come and help our people understand race, injustice, and what the Bible demands from us.  His 4/8/18 sermon, Racism and Injustice from an Adaptive, Biblical Perspective is now online.  I’m still processing what my next steps of obedience and application are, but this challenge was big and the implications for the mission we’ve been called to are numerous.  Take some time and dig into this sermon and experience the refreshment I did this past weekend.

Easter Weekend Recap – Holy Spirit and Jesus

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My 4/1/18AM sermon (Easter), The Holy Spirit’s Power in Jesus, is now online.  I know it seems counterintuitive to think of the Holy Spirit on Easter.  But, if the Holy Spirit is all about Christ.  And, if the Holy Spirit was behind His being conceived a virgin, set apart for ministry, and rising from the dead, then it would be great encouragement to know how He helps us, as well.  That was the thrust of this sermon.  I hope it encourages you.