Author: Brian

Follower of Jesus, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Pastor

I Am an Image-Bearer of God

On By BrianIn Identity

Who am I? Last week we said that we are creatures made by God and dependent upon God. We are also image-bearers of God. God made us in his image after his likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). That means that I am like God in certain ways:

• I am a rational being – God made me like him to think. Consider the thought that went into creating the world. And then God gives Adam and Eve the task of having dominion over it (Genesis 1:26). In one day, Adam names the animals (Genesis 2:19). Consider the thought required to do all of that. God made us to think like he does. And so we ought to think! We ought to use the minds God gave us. We ought to learn. We ought to think through our actions. We ought to think.

• I am a relational being – God made me like him to love. God is three persons in an eternal loving relationship with each other. God shows his love for Adam and Eve as he provides for their needs and enters into a relationship with them. And God made us to love as he does. The two great commands are to love God and love people. We are to live in a relationship with God and the people around us. And those relationships are to be governed by love.

• I am an occupational being – God made me like him to work. Again consider the work that went into creating the world. And then God gives Adam and Eve the job of having dominion over it (Genesis 1:26). He creates a garden and tells Adam to take care of it (Genesis 2:15). God made us to work like he does. Whether it is a job, the raising of our families, or the chores around the house, God made us to work.

• I am a recreational being – God made me like him to rest. After 6 days of creating, God rested on the seventh day. He looked at his creation, and proclaimed it good. He enjoyed the results of his work. And we too are called to rest, to enjoy the work of our hands, the work of our minds. Rest from our labors is a good thing. God created us to rest like he did.

• I am a moral being – God created me like him to live uprightly. God is righteous, holy, pure, good – without any taint of evil. And we are to be holy as he is holy (I Peter 1:15-16). God commanded Adam not to eat of a certain tree, and Adam was to obey (Genesis 2:16-17). And God has given us commands that we are to obey. God made us to live uprightly.

I am like God – made in his likeness as a rational, relational, occupational, recreational, moral being. That is who I am. And I ought to live like it.

Ministry Monday

On By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Here are some helpful posts on worship for pastors and worship leaders:

What Is Worship? – Matt Mason (TGC Worship)
Some helpful summaries…

Scripture in Worship – Joe Thorn
Because God’s word is what revives the soul, makes us wise, enlightens the eyes, and is the means by which God sanctifies us (Ps. 19; Jn. 17:17), we should be eager to give it a prominent place in our worship. While it is common to read the Scripture with the sermon and before the Lord’s Supper, I want to suggest 5 more places in worship where the word of God can be lifted up.

Truth We Believe and Songs We Sing – Matt Smethurst (Gospel Coalition)
Sound theology should shape everything we do in corporate worship. But what does that mean for music in particular? Don Carson recently sat down with worship leaders Keith Getty and Matt Boswell to discuss the relationship between the truth we believe and the songs we sing.

Declaring the Glory

On By BrianIn Declaring the Glory

Fam2013 104Au Sable River in Lower Michigan

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Do People Bark? – John Starke (Gospel Coalition)
Christians base the dignity of a “person” on the imago Dei. Created in the image of God, humans have been given status and dignity above all other creatures in this world. We’ve been given the ability to make sense of the world and make something of it.

A Friend of Sinners and No Friend of Sin – Kevin DeYoung
The gospel–if we are talking about the true gospel–works through repentance and relationships. We need both. Jesus had relationships with sinners and tax collectors. And through those relationships what did he call them to do? He didn’t say call them to self-expression, or invite them to despise religious people, or summon them to eat, drink, and be merry (in our language: eat, drink, and be tolerant). He called them to repentance. One commentator says, “Jesus neither condoned sin, left people in their sin, nor communicated any disdain for sinners.”

The Loving Intolerance of God – Melissa Kruger (Gospel Coalition)
The cross demonstrates God’s character in all its complexity. It shows his love, kindness, and mercy united with his justice, holiness, and wrath. It perfectly demonstrates a God who surpasses understanding. The Lord is giving us a glimpse into the immensity of his love for us. The love of God is not a tolerant love. It is much better. It is a redemptive love.

What Makes A Full Atonement Full? – Mike Wittmer (Gospel Coalition)
The cross isn’t an act of love without penal substitution, because love is only love if it does something. If the cross isn’t necessary for God to forgive us, then what would be the point? If the cross is merely God expressing his solidarity with sinners, then why didn’t he simply use his outdoor voice and say, “Attention, people of Earth! I love you and I’m on your side!” The Father was silent when his Son begged for any other way, which proves that God believes the cross was necessary to defeat sin, death, and Satan.

Light Eternal, Shine in My Heart – Alcuin of York, 735-804 A.D. (via Trevin Wax)
Give me, O Lord, I ask You, firm faith, unwavering hope, perfect charity…

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day celebrating our great God and Savior!

I Am a Creature

On By BrianIn Identity

Who am I? This is a huge question in our world. And many people are looking for the answer in all the wrong places. Who am I? The Bible has a lot to say about who we are. And the answer begins in creation: I am a creature.

I am a creature made by God. “So God created man” (Genesis 1:27). God made us. He is the Creator; we are the created – the creatures. There is an infinite difference between God and us. He is God; we are not. What’s more, we were formed from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7). We are living walking dirt.

And we are dependent dirt. He made us – our very existence depends on God. We depend upon God for food – we have food only because God created a world for us to live in that has food. We depend upon him for our abilities – he made us with mouths, eyes, ears, hands, and feet able to do numerous things. We are creatures made by God and dependent upon God.

My identity as a creature made by God and dependent on God calls for a response of humility. The cocky “look at me” attitude so common in our world is completely out of place – and downright foolish. What are we saying? Look at me – one big pile of dirt! I am dust boy. I am dust girl. Not very impressive. Not much to look at. We need humility.

And as a creature, I am not God. The world doesn’t revolve around me. God is not at my beck and call to answer my every whim. The people around me are not my personal slaves. Things don’t have to go my way. I need humility.

I am a creature made by God and dependent upon God – and my identity calls for humility.

Passion Ethics

On By BrianIn Current Collection8 Comments

So a federal judge may overturn Michigan’s state constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman.  Maybe it is time to think about so called same-sex marriage some more:

The Case for Marriage – Brief video by Iona Institute (via Kevin DeYoung)

The New Purpose of Marriage – Collin Hansen (Gospel Coalition)

Three More Thoughts on the Gay Marriage Debate – Kevin DeYoung

The Myth of a Grand Bargain on Marriage – Robert George (via Kevin DeYoung)

 

 

Ministry Monday

On By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Here are some good posts on preaching:

The Preacher at His Best – Kevin DeYoung
The best preacher is the preacher who is at his best when he is closest to the text.

John Stott’s 8 Keys to Preaching with Authority – Nicholas McDonald

5 Types of Sermon Illustrations and How to Use Them – Eric McKiddie (Gospel Coalition)

Nicholas McDonald

Operation Christmas Child

On By BrianIn Uncategorized

Operation Christmas Child

My family and church have been packing boxes for a few years now.  My family goes to the stores together, and each of our children packs a box for a child their own age.  It makes for a great family outing and is a great way to get children involved in giving.  And of course, it can be a huge blessing to the child who receives the box – and even provides an opportunity for the child to learn about Jesus.  Great family or church project!