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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.

See Jesus This Passion Week

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Paul Miller and his organization (See Jesus) are offering a free devotional for Passion Week (delivered to inboxes starting Palm Sunday).

Here’s his invite:

This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of what is known as Holy Week or Passion Week. It is a week when we remember Jesus’ final steps to the cross. I don’t know about you, but for many years, I disliked it. Holy Week was heavy and dark. It was one bad thing after another. I wanted to look away, to fast-forward to Easter Sunday.

But when God turned up the heat on my life, and I began to immerse myself in the gritty details of Jesus’ story, I was riveted by his beauty under incredible pressure—his compassion, his honesty, his oneness with the Father, his focus on others. I no longer wanted to look away from the person of Jesus; I wanted to see him more clearly.

I’m inviting you to join me next week in looking closely at Jesus. We’re sending out a free Passion Week devotional to help you see the real Jesus—full of purpose, dedication, and—yes—passion. Together we will slow down and watch how Jesus lived as a human because seeing Jesus is inseparable from learning how to love.

Will you join me?

–Paul E. Miller

I’m sure, like me, you want to be magnifying Jesus and glorifying God for the work Jesus has done.  Sign up for this devotional and draw near to God this coming week.

Weekend Preview – Palm Sunday 2018

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This coming Sunday, March 25, is Palm Sunday.  At Crestview, we’ll also be celebrating the Lord’s Supper.  I love the collect from Thomas Cranmer for this day:

Almighty and everlasting God, which of thy tender love toward man, hast sent our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; mercifully grant that we both follow the example of his patience, and be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

There’s no crown without the cross.  So, we’ll be celebrating Jesus’s life and work during this Palm Sunday.

In terms of preaching, we’ll be continuing our series on the Holy Spirit, thinking about the less obvious works that He does on our behalf.  I hope you come and join us for an exciting day.

My Favorite Pre-Marital Counseling Tool

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I’m currently working through pre-marital counseling with a couple and I was reminded that it might be helpful to share my “toys” with others.  For a few years, I’ve enjoyed using Preparing for Marriage by the Good Book Company.

Here’s how they describe this curriculum:

Preparing for Marriage seeks to show that a relationship with God is the very best basis on which to build a life, and helps churches which are preparing couples for marriage get on with one of our primary tasks – teaching the gospel to those who are lost without Christ.

Now, I’m not suggesting that every person I meet with is lost.  What I am suggesting is that the greatest need for all people in the pre-married queue is the good news of what God’s done for them through His Son.  This book leads through 4 sessions, builds a Biblical understanding of marriage, roots it in the Gospel, and also provides all kinds of helpful questions to discuss and applications to practice.  If you’re looking for a resource to use in this regard, I’d recommend this one to you.

 

Weekend Recap – Vivek (Psalm 107) and Luke (Spirit’s Mission)

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We enjoyed a great weekend at Crestview, this past weekend.  Our good friend, Vivek, arrived on Friday and we had a weekend filled with meetings, unhurried time together, and getting an update on his life and ministry (and studies!).  He spoke during the Sunday School hour, giving a brief devotional from Psalm 107 and updating us on his family and needs.  Here’s his talk:

Vivek’s Update in Sunday School (March 2018)

Luke continued preaching in our Holy Spirit series.  He drew insights from the book of Acts and how we relate to the Spirit’s Mission.  Specifically, we’re called to Ask, Act, and seeking Affirmation from others.  Here’s his talk:

The Spirit’s Mission

Like I said, we had a great weekend.  I hope these links help you connect to these two great friends of mine.  Have a great week delighting in God’s work in the world.