Author: Brian

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

The Test

On By BrianIn Church Life, Habit of Stewardship, Heart3 Comments

Summer is here.  And with summer comes numerous activities that compete for our time.  And some of those activities are on Sunday mornings, competing for our time with the Lord and his people.  It may be a game, a race, a family get-together, a trip to the beach, a work picnic, or any number of other things.  Each alternative Sunday morning activity represents a test.

  • It is a test of our priorities.  Will we choose what Christ offers or what the world offers?  Will we choose Christ or that activity?  Which will be first?  Which will take the priority?  The early church devoted themselves to coming together for the Word and prayer.  Paul risked his life to plant and build up local churches.  Will we share their commitment?  Our world is filled with idols that many people worship, but on Sunday mornings the church gathers to declare that there is one true God.  We gather to celebrate the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We gather together to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  What could possibly be more important than that?
  • It is a test of our attitude.  We could come every Sunday to church, but with the wrong attitude.  We could come bitter because we really want to be doing something else.  We could sit through the sermon impatiently, hoping it will end soon so we can go and do what we really want to do.  Or we could gather expectantly, excited to see what God might do among us.  We could gather joyfully to worship the Lord through singing and prayer and His Word.  What is our attitude?
  • It is a test of our witness.  Like it or not, church is a public expression of our commitment to Christ.  Our neighbors see if we leave for church each week.  Our families see if we are committed or not.  If we don’t have a strong commitment to church, it communicates to others that Christ really isn’t that important to us.  And if it isn’t important to us, why should it be important to them?

So this summer when those alternative activities come up, go to church.  Tell your family you will be late to that family get-together.  Tell your coach you can’t make the game.  Save that trip to the beach for another time.  You already have plans for Sunday morning.  You have a prior commitment.  Make church a priority, with a good attitude, as a good witness for Jesus.

Supernatural Power

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

HoleHolinessThe same Spirit who was present at creation and caused you to be born again is at work to empower your inner person (that is, your will or heart) so that you might resist sins you couldn’t resist before and do the good things which would otherwise be impossible.  Defeatist Christians who do not fight against sins because they figure they were “born this way” or “will never change” or “don’t have enough faith” are not being humble.  They dishonor the Holy Spirit who strengthens us with supernatural power.
– Kevin DeYoung in The Hole in our Holiness

The Work of Missions

On By BrianIn Book of Acts, Church Life

Acts 14 gives us four essential elements of the work of missions:  The work of missions includes:

  • The Work of Proclamation (v1-21) – They went about proclaiming the gospel.  At times they could launch straight into the gospel.  At other times they had to go back and start with the “pre-gospel” – that there is one true God who made and sustains the world.  Wherever they had to begin, they proclaimed the Word boldly.  And they were humble: they knew they were mere men and refused to be exalted.  In the same way, the work of missions today is to proclaim the gospel (and the pre-gospel as needed) both boldly and humbly.
  • The Work of Perseverance (v1-21) – They had to flee one town.  One man was stoned in another town.  But they didn’t quit.  They kept preaching the gospel.  They persevered.  Missions is tough.  Missions is war.  The work of missions today, no less than in Acts, includes the need to persevere.
  • The Work of Planting (v22-23) – They didn’t just proclaim the gospel, but they gathered new Christians into churches where they could grow.  They planted churches.  This included building up the churches and appointing leaders.  The work of missions today still requires planting new churches.
  • The Work of Partnering (v24-28) – They returned to their sending church to tell all the great things God had done.  They understood that they were not lone rangers, but rather partners with their supporting church.  In the same way, the work of missions today includes the need for active communicating partnership with supporting churches.

Missions 101

On By BrianIn Book of Acts, Church Life

Acts 13 might be called Missions 101.  It not only tells us of the first missionaries sent out by a church, but in doing so it also offers us a good overview of missions for today.  We see:

  • The Call to Missions (v1-4) – The call comes in the context of worship and fasting.  The Holy Spirit gives the call, and clearly gives it to both the called and the sending church.  They respond to the call with a period of prayer and fasting.  Finally, the church sends the missionaries out, and they go.  What a great model for us!
  • The Warfare of Missions (v4-13) – They face demonic opposition.  Satan doesn’t want the gospel to go forth.  We wrestle not against flesh and blood.  Missions is war.  But God is stronger than the devil.  Sobering reality mixed with great hope!
  • The Message of Missions (v14-43) – They preach the gospel:  Jesus died for sins and rose again as foretold by the prophets and witnessed by the apostles.  His death and resurrection make possible the forgiveness of sins to all who believe.  This is still the message today!
  • The Scope of Missions (v44-47) – The gospel is for the Jew and the Gentile.  It is for everyone – to the ends of the earth.  There are still people groups at the ends of the earth who need to hear the good news!
  • The Response to Missions (v48-52) – Some people oppose the gospel stirring up persecution.  Others embrace the gospel with joy.  And so it will be today!

Passion Points – Graduation

On By BrianIn Holidays, PASSION Points

It is graduation times, so here are some wise posts for graduates – and really all of us – to consider this weekend:

12 Things to Do After Graduating – Matt Jenson (Gospel Coalition)

Preparing College Students for Graduation – Kevin DeYoung

You’ve Been Sent – You Just Don’t Know It – Stephen Witmer (Gospel Coalition)

If King Solomon Gave a Commencement Speech – Joe Carter (Gospel Coalition)

How the World Can Shipwreck a Young Christian – R. C. Ryle

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your church family in true worship of our Lord!

The Lord Pour Out His Spirit

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes1 Comment

The Lord pour out His Spirit upon us that every chamber of our nature
may be sweetened and perfumed with the indwelling of God,
till our imagination shall only delight in things chaste and pure;
till our memory shall cast out the vile stuff from the dark chambers;
till we shall expect and long for heavenly things,
and our treasure shall all be in heaven and our heart be there.

 – Charles Spurgeon

Pentecost Sunday

On By BrianIn Holidays

Tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday – the day we remember the coming of the Spirit.  Where would we be without the Spirit?

  • It is the Spirit who applies Christ’s salvation to us (I Corinthians 6:11, Titus 3:5-7).
  • It is the Spirit who helps and teaches us (John 14:26).
  • It is the Spirit who intercedes for us (Romans 8:26).
  • It is the Spirit who sanctifies us – making us holy and producing in us the “fruit of the Spirit” (I Peter 1:2, Galatians 5:22-23)
  • It is the Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).

We have so many reasons to celebrate the coming of the Spirit!

For more on this, consider: A Pentecost to Celebrate – Ryan Griffith (Desiring God)