Here are some good posts for the small church pastor:
The Rural Church Potential – Kyle Borg
Where A Desperate Small Town Pastor Found Hope – Chad Ashby (TGC)
Remarkable for Being Unremarkable – Darryl Dash
Author: Brian
Follower of Jesus, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Pastor
Present Benefit
The present benefit of spiritual discipline is a fulfilled, God-blessed, fruitful, and useful life.
– John MacArthur as quoted in
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Passion Points
It has been a busy week with VBS, so I haven’t had time to blog. But I’m back, and here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
What We Need Is More Knowledge – John Stott (via Tim Challies)
Breaking Free from the Spell of Fantasy – Jon Bloom (DG)
Well-Planned, Hard, Sweat-Inducing Prayer and Work – Joel Beeke (via Tim Challies)
12 Questions for a Six-Month Spiritual Checkup – Chuck Lawless
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping our Great King!
Current
Here is an overview and some helpful initial responses to yesterday’s Supreme Court “same-sex marriage” decision. Don’t miss the last two especially.
Supreme Court rules gay couples nationwide have a right to marry – Robert Barnes (WP)
Here are the key excerpts on religious liberty from the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage – Sarah Pulliam Bailey (WP)
Why the church should neither cave nor panic about the decision on gay marriage – Russell Moore (WP)
What Your Church Needs to Know—and Do—About the Court’s Marriage Ruling – Erik Stanley (TGC)
But What Does The Bible Say? – Kevin DeYoung
So-Called Same-Sex Marriage: Lamenting the New Calamity – John Piper (DG)
Current
Here are some helpful posts for the church on our response to the transgender issue:
What Should the Church Say to Bruce Jenner? – Russell Moore
How Should We Respond to Caitlyn Jenner? – Jon Bloom (DG)
If Rachel Dolezal Isn’t Black, How Is Caitlyn Jenner A Woman? – Sean Davis (Federalist)
Prayer Quote of the Week
Prayer is the antidote for the disease of self-confidence.
– John Piper
Sermon Songs: Isaiah 61
Jesus the Lord’s Anointed One
Proclaims the year of grace
A great reversal, salvation
For us, the human race
The poor receive great hope anew
The humble His mercy
The mourning find His comfort true
The captive liberty
Those ruined by their sin and shame
Once broken and hopeless
Now beautiful in Jesus’ name
Clothed in His righteousness
So go to Jesus every hour
Find grace to meet your need
In all your weakness, seek His power
Upon His favor feed
Our Lord will come, end suffering
All evil He’ll defeat
We’ll praise Him with great rejoicing
Our salvation complete
– From a sermon on Isaiah 61
(To the tune of “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”)
Consider
When the fire of service to God grows cold, consider what great things the Lord has done for you.
– Donald Whitney in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Go to Jesus
In Isaiah 61, we are encouraged to go to Jesus.
Go to Jesus with your poverty and affliction and receive good news of hope for future.
Go to Jesus with your mourning and sorrow and find his comfort.
Go to Jesus with your captivity to sin and find freedom.
Go to Jesus with your sin and receive forgiveness and righteousness.
Go to Jesus with the ruins of your life and let him rebuild you into something beautiful.
Go to Jesus with your shame and dishonor and receive the honor and joy found in him.
What do you need to go to Jesus for today?
Brian J. Mikul 