Author: Brian

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

Scholarship or Insurrection?

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes3 Comments

I want to share and ponder one more quote from John Piper’s book, Think, that really caught my attention:

If all the universe and everything in it exist by the design of an infinite, personal God, to make his manifold glory known and loved, then to treat any subject without reference to God’s glory is not scholarship but insurrection.

What do you think? 

And do you think we can apply this statement to everyday thinking about everyday life?  That is: if I am thinking without reference to God’s glory, I am being rebellious.

If that is so, it seems to me we are much more rebellious and sinful than we probably thought.  And it raises some good self-reflection questions: 

Why do you think about what you think about?  For God’s glory?  Or for man’s applause?  To please people?  To impress yourself?  For your own glory? 

And then there is Jesus who always sought to to do will of the Father – to live for God’s glory even in his thinking.  And we realize we don’t measure up and never could and desperately need him to be our Savior.

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

There are a lot of good posts out there this week, but let me just share four of them – all related to thinking:

First, Stephen Nichols gives us some helpful questions to ask as we read the Bible to help us think about the passage.  I love the focus on God evident in the questions.

Second, Nichols shares suggestions for those who need to start reading (and thinking) their way through the Bible.

Third, Tim Challies reminds us of the importance of clearly and biblically thinking through the creation/evolution question.  I think I will need to look into the book he discusses.

Finally, Randy Alcorn asks whether the word “evangelical” means anything anymore.  Going beyond mere labels, he calls us to think about the clear teachings of Scripture that many who call themselves evangelical are dismissing.

I hope you enjoy thinking through the posts above.  Even more, I hope you have a great Lord’s Day thinking about the words you sing and the preached Word you hear.

Thinking and Treasuring God

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

John Piper writes in Think about the connection between thinking and treasuring God.  A few worthwhile quotes to consider:

The way we glorify him is by knowing him truly, by treasuring him above all things, and by living in a way that shows he is our supreme treasure….  The main reason God has given us minds is that we might seek out and find all the reasons that exist for treasuring him in all things and above all things.

Thinking is indispensible on the path to passion for God.

Our thinking should be wholly engaged to do all it can to awaken and express the heartfelt fullness of treasuring God above all things.

I love God because I know God.  And I want to know him more because I love him.

Book Look: Think

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Think by John Piper reminds us that thinking is important.  It is a “plea to embrace serious thinking as a means of loving God and people” (p15).  Thinking, he argues, “exists to help us know God more so that we may treasure him more.  It exists to bring as much good to other people as we can – especially the eternal good of enjoying God through Christ” (p167).

The book is divided into several sections.  He begins by considering the importance of reading as it relates to thinking, and then addresses the importance of thinking in conversion.  He then combats two giants in our world (and too often our churches): relativism and anti-intellectualism.  His section on relativism I found to be particularly timely and helpful as he argues that relativism undermines thinking, and hence love.  He further outlines seven specific problems with relativism which I found particularly compelling.  His section on anti-intellectualism addresses the all too common suspicion in the church of study and learning by relooking at some common misunderstood passages. 

All in all a most helpful and needed book.  Read it to be encouraged to think more about God that you might love him more.  Read it to decimate any traces of relativism and anti-intellectualism in your own life, and to lovingly help others do the same in their lives.  Highly recommended.

Passion Quotes – The Gospel

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

Here are some good quotes I’ve collected on the gospel.  The last is my favorite – may these quotes help beat the gospel into our heads!

The gospel frees us to realize that while we matter, we’re not the point.
– Tullian Tchividjian

Other religions are spelled ‘do’… Christianity is spelled ‘done.’
– Bill Piper

The banner under which Christians live reads “It is finished.”
– Tullian Tchividjian

Slight thoughts of sin lead to slight thoughts of grace!  And what can be worse?
– Charles Spurgeon

If God has forgiven you the grisly things you’ve done, you must learn to be at peace with yourself now that you’re at peace with God.
– J. I. Packer

One thief was converted in his last hour that none might despair. But only one was converted that none might presume.
– J. C. Ryle

The truth of the Gospel is the principal article of all Christian doctrine . . . Most necessary is it that we know this article well, teach it to others, and beat it into their heads continually.
– Martin Luther

Book Look: Christ Alone

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Christ Alone by Michael Wittmer does exactly what the sub-title states: it is “An Evangelical Response to Rob Bell’s Love Wins.”  In ten chapters, Wittmer address the major themes in Bell’s book.  In doing so, Wittmer goes way beyond the question of hell, showing that Bell’s view of hell has important ramifications for the doctrines of God, sin, Christ, and salvation.  In the end, the issue touches on the gospel itself.   Along the way, Wittmer helpfully sets the various issues in their historical contexts, granting further thought and insight.

Overall, he gives a careful biblical critique in a gentle and charitable tone.  No ranting and raving here.  His critique is further very readable and accessible, with even a touch of humor.  Though a response to Bell’s book, it can easily be read on its own.  If you have read Bell’s book and want another perspective, or if you are just curious about what all the fuss is about, or if you just want to understand these issues better, this is a great book to pick up.

Responding To Hell

On By BrianIn Uncategorized3 Comments

Yesterday I preached a sermon on Jesus’ parable about hell in Luke 16:19-31.  I showed that hell is not only real, but that it is a place of torment.  Hell is directly related to God’s justice (we really do deserve to go there).  And once you are there, there is no escape. This is the traditional and Biblical way of understanding hell.  But what should a Christian do with hell?  Just defend these truths from those who reject them?  This is necessary, but I suggest that there are many other responses we should make (and I am indebted to Michael Wittmer and Francis Chan for helping me think this through).

Humbly Submit to God

It is not up to me if there is a hell or not.  It is up to God, and he tells us it exists.  It doesn’t matter if I like it, if I consent to its existence, or if I understand it.  It doesn’t matter how I feel about it.  God says hell exists and I should humbly submit to what he says.  Or as Rick Warren apparently put it: “I believe in hell because Jesus says it’s real and he knows more about it than anyone.”

Examine Your Heart

Are you certain you are going to heaven and not hell?  Are you trusting in what Jesus did for you on the cross and through the resurrection?  Have you really received Jesus as your Savior?  Is there evidence of your salvation?  Has there been a change in your life?  Are you following Christ?  We will never be perfect here, but if we are God’s children, there will be a difference.  Our eternal destiny is on the line here.  We must be sure we are saved.

Rejoice In Your Salvation

Because of our sin, we deserve hell.  Every sin is rebellion against the King, a terrible offense against God.  We deserve eternal punishment.  But Jesus died to take our punishment upon himself so we could go free, so we could escape hell.  The more we grasp hell, the more we will praise God for saving us from it.  No wonder Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4).  It doesn’t matter how bad your life is going right now – if God has saved you from hell, you have reason to rejoice.

Weep For The Lost

If hell is real, and people are going there, then we should weep.  We should mourn.  We should cry.  Too often we live without enough passion.  Not only don’t we rejoice enough in our salvation, we don’t weep enough for the lost.  And as we weep, we should:

Cry Out To God For People To Get Saved

Plead with God for your family, your friends, your co-workers, your neighbors, your community.  Let passionate cries for mercy ascend constantly to the throne of grace.  And as you pray:

Go And Share The Gospel

Look for opportunities to share the gospel with the people you see.  And if you don’t see opportunities, look for ways to create opportunities.  We need to give thought to ways we can reach out to people with the good news of Jesus.  The more we believe in hell, the more we will have a burden for the lost. 

Send Missionaries Around The World

Finally, if hell is real, we need to send people out with the gospel to those who have never heard.  We need to not only invest our time in sharing the gospel, but also our money to help others share the gospel in places we will never go.

How do you need to respond to hell today?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Growing…

Some good quotes from Jerry Bridges on sanctification (via Ed Stetzer).

John Newton writes about how we grow in grace (via Justin Taylor).

Compassion for People

Paul Tripp talks about how sin dehumanizes people (via Justin Taylor).

Ray Ortlund considers seven ways we can guard and restore relationships.

Church

And as you prepare to gather with God’s people tomorrow in your local church, consider how churches die from The Gospel-Driven Church.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshipping our great God.

If Sinners Be Damned

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes1 Comment

If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. 
And if they perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees,
imploring them to stay. 
If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions,
and let not one person go there unwarned and unprayed for.

– Charles Spurgeon (as quoted in Christ Alone by Michael E. Wittmer)

Book Look: Erasing Hell

On By BrianIn Book Look3 Comments

Erasing Hell by Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle addresses the current hell controvery.  In a simple easy-to-read fashion they explore the various verses in Scripture that speak about hell.  In the process they write against Rob Bell’s recent book as well as the American “everyone goes to heaven” funeral mentality.  This is much needed in the world and church today.

Still, where the book really shines is when it challenges the way Christians respond to this doctrine of hell.  Hell should make us weep.  Hell doesn’t make sense to us, and so should humble us before a God that is greater than we are.  Hell should cause us to examine ourselves to see if we are really of the faith.  Hell is more than a doctrine to fight about or an issue only for the lost.  Hell is something that Christians must wrestle with and live in light of.  The reality of hell has ramifications for how we live.  And these reminders are much needed in the church today.