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Cappucino Hour

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Here’s a post I wrote that was featured on AVANT ministries blog:

Need a coffee break? I’m guessing that if you have a heartbeat, you can appreciate taking a break to stop and refresh. At the Avant Ministries headquarters in Kansas City, there’s a regular rhythm that speaks well beyond a simple break. This break, which I’ve dubbed “Cappuccino Hour,” involves many staff members from Avant and Crossworld (remember they share an office space) spilling out of their offices and down the stairs for a 10AM gathering. Think high quality coffee prepared by staff with a background serving in Italy coupled with the collaborative genius that happens when we come together around a common purpose. It doesn’t last an hour, but occurs at the top of the hour. This is what comes to mind as I’ve seen (and partaken) in “Cappuccino Hour.”
Cappuccino Hour is really what strategic partnership around God’s global work demands. Imagine the energy you’d experience if you could connect with a like-minded believer after serving in a country “closed” to the Gospel. You would not only need these kind of relationships, but you would also want them. As the Apostle John said, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).
The great moves of God come when we collaborate, rope people into a common purpose and foster fellowship worthy of the Gospel we herald.   Cappuccino is simply one way we can get at this destination.
Another practical benefit of Cappuccino Hour is that it is simply encouraging. Much of the work that Avant is involved in around the world takes place in contexts that are somewhat difficult. There are workers on the frontlines who believe that the Savior will have the reward of His suffering and is worthy of receiving worship from every tribe, tongue, language and nation. Sometimes this work is difficult and often it is slow. But, whenever I’ve shown up at Cappuccino Hour, tales of the Gospel flourishing from one end of the earth to the other are readily available. Encouragement abounds when staff members who have connections to our friends in distant lands are able to come together and tell tales of the Gospel’s prevailing.
Therefore, next time you take a sip of your coffee in the morning or even rest at the water cooler, would you be mindful of the fellowship you have with others in the Gospel? Would you find encouragement in the Gospel’s advance? And, would you give yourself to pray that our Savior’s great cause would prevail, for the glory of His name and the good of all people?

Summer Reading Docket (Update)

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You might remember a few weeks ago, I wrote about my Summer Reading Docket:

I’ve made some great progress on this:  For instance, I read…

Just Ride: A Practical Guide To Riding Your Bike by Grant Peterson
Just as I hoped, it provided some good, practical tips for riding.  

Side By Side: Walking With Others in Wisdom and Love by Ed Welch
About halfway done with this and reading this as a devotional each morning.  Soul penetrating with good questions towards application. 

The Matheny Manifesto by Mike Matheny
I wish I could give a copy to EVERY PERSON involved in youth sports.  So good.  It’s even affected how I support my kids in summer baseball.  

God Dwells Among Us by Greg Beale
Good, easy to read Biblical Theology.  There are some interesting ideas set forth here, but, when you consider these in light of the Biblical storyline, many resonate with truth.  

The Pastor and Counseling by Jeremy Pierre
Very practical help for allowing to Bible to be wielded in the lives of busy pastors.  

India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha
It’s 800 pages long, roughly, but getting a lot of practical information on the backstory of India.  

What Does The Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung
This is a great, clear, relevant unpacking of the Biblical view of marriage as well as some of the pushback against that vision.  Many will be helped by this.  

Testimony of the Beloved Disciple by Richard Bauckham
Bauckham sees things differently that I do in many areas, but he is a great scholar on John and has given me some good things to think about.  

I’m also (continuing to) work my way through Andrew Fuller’s sermons (I’m using the Logos edition)…

Tony Reinke’s book Newton on the Christian Life emerged, spoke and conquered me.  What a book.  It’s excellent.  I have some copies if you’d like to read this.  I’d be happy to give you one.  I agree with Ray Ortlund, Jr. who said that for some, this may be one of the most important books they ever read.  This is like sitting across for coffee with someone who’s thought about a lot of life and application.  Newton speaks clear through Reinke’s pen.  You’ll love this, I promise.  

I still anticipate Don Whitney’s Praying the Bible for the summer.


I grabbed Keller’s book on Preaching and am working through it.  Vintage Keller.  

Also, I grabbed the NSBT on Trinity in John’s Gospel.  That’s going to be fun. 

I would reiterate, though, I am not allowing this reading to crowd out reading the Bible.  I’m spending a lot of time in 1 John these days.  So if you dig these recommendations, why not dig into 1 John with me this summer.  Just read a chapter each weekday and you’ll be steeping long and with much fruit.  Tolle Lege!  

Some Videos from Sunday School

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I was privileged to teach the Fundamentals of the Faith summer Sunday School class today and showed a couple of videos.  Here they are:

Jason DeRouchie (OT in 10 Minutes):

The Old Testament in Ten Minutes from Desiring God on Vimeo.

Andy Naselli (NT in 10 Minutes):

The New Testament in Ten Minutes from Desiring God on Vimeo.

John Piper (a video I call God Wrote a Book):

I also recommended the class take in Devin Brown’s (10 Minute History of the English Bible):

I hope these are helpful in introducing you to the message and thrust of the Bible.

Walking In The Light

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My 6/14/15 sermon, Walking in the Light from 1 John 1:5-7, is now online.  The sermon helped show what it means that God is Light and from there, pointed to how we respond, either with saying something more than is true or actually living accordingly.  I’m hoping it serves you well.  If you’d like Small Group Questions to go along with it, they are available too.

Meet Jesus

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My 6/7/15AM Sermon, Meet Jesus from 1 John 1:1-4, is now online.  On top of serving as an introduction to the series as a whole, this sermon helped move us to know that we have eternal life by showing how the message about Jesus leads to fellowship and joy.  I hope you’ll listen and I hope it’s helpful.

New Sermon Series Begins This Sunday

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This Sunday, Lord willing, I hope to start a week by week journey through John’s Letters.

To help prepare for this, I’ve been taking time to steep in these letters for the past few months.  Here’s a reading plan you might consider as we walk through this together:
Sunday – 1 John 1
Monday – 1 John 2
Tuesday – 1 John 3
Wednesday – 1 John 4
Thursday – 1 John 5
Friday – 2 John
Saturday – 3 John
Enjoy and I look forward to starting this on Sunday, 6/7/15.  

HomeWord Series in Complete

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I just finished up, on Sunday mornings, a short series on God-centered marriage and family relationships.  I entitled this HomeWord.  As you can see in our graphic, the home’s foundation is on God’s Word and the overall trajectory is upward to glorify God.

This series, in particular, involved 4 sermons.  Most of them were unpacking some truth from Genesis 1-3.  The final sermon was from James 4:1-10.  Here’s a link to the series and to each sermon:
I hope you enjoy these and they help equip you for your life ahead.  

In uno Jesu omnia – #JNXL

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In Newton on the Christian Life, I came across this outstanding quote from Newton:

Dr. [Isaac] Watts’ motto shall be mine, it is big enough for him, me, you and for thousands that approve it, In uno Jesu omnia [In Jesus alone is my everything].  In him I have an offering, an altar, a temple, a priest, a sun, a shield, a savior, a shepherd, a hiding place, a resting place, food, medicine, riches, honor, wisdom, righteousness, holiness, in short, everything.
In Jesus we find everything we need to sustain our confidence in him.

By the way, the best buy on this is at WTS Books now…

Marriage Sermons Online…

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My sermons from 5/24/15 and 5/31/15 are now online:

God-Centered Marriage (Communication) – Genesis 1-3 was given on 5/24 and helped come up with a Biblical foundation for communication and, turning the corner, impart some measure of grace in how we can use our words for God’s glory.

God-Centered Marriage (Conflict) – James 4:1-10 was given on 5/31 and helped show how conflict is rooted in our our selfish hearts.  Humility was encouraged as the God-given way to engage in conflict.

I hope these contributions help encourage positive actions in marriage.