Passion Points

On September 14, 2013December 6, 2014 By BrianIn PASSION Points1 Comment

Here are some good posts related to the church for your weekend reading. As a pastor, I’d highly recommend the last two.

How To Stop Church-Killing Gossip – Justin Taylor

The Difference between Congregational Worship and a Concert – Justin Taylor

How To Criticize a Preacher – David Murray
So you’ve heard a sermon and you’re not happy. You feel the preacher got it badly wrong in either his interpretation, his words, his manner, his length, his whatever.
What now?

Praying for Your Pastor – Joe Thorn
There are a number of ways we should be praying for our leaders in the church, but as we approach Sunday I want to encourage you to pray for your pastors and their preaching in 4 specific ways.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church!

Passion Ethics

On September 11, 2013 By BrianIn Current Collection

Apparently the answer to people hating homosexuals is to now hate people who believe homosexual behavior is wrong. The answer to discriminating against homosexuals is to now discriminate against those who disagree with homosexual behavior. The answer to drumming homosexuals out of the military is to drum out those who disagree with homosexual behavior. The answer to same-sex couples being unable to marry is to make people opposed to same-sex marriage unable to not participate in such ceremonies. Isn’t it more than a little interesting that the very things the gay lobby decried when aimed at them, they so quickly pick up to use against others? And I suspect it is only the beginning. Standing up for Biblical morality is quickly becoming an American anathema.

Gospel Singer McClurkin Cut From MLK Event Over Gay Rights – Gospel Coalition

Sergeant dismissed for saying … nothing – Baptist Press

N.M. Supreme Court: Photographers Can’t Refuse Gay Weddings – Christianity Today

Ministry Monday

On September 9, 2013November 13, 2014 By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Here are some helpful posts on preaching:

6 Bullet Points on Preaching – Tim Challies
The Apostle Paul had a lot to say about preaching, but I think the majority of it can be grouped under six main headings or ideas. You could, of course, extract specific teaching points from each one, but I think there’s value in looking at them in a broad sense. Here is what Paul says about the preaching of God’s Word…

3 Questions To Ask of Your Sermon – Trevin Wax
The more I’ve thought about these questions, the more I am convinced that pastors ought to ask these questions of every sermon they preach. Teachers ought to ask these questions of every lesson they prepare. The questions are a helpful guide to keeping Christ as the focus of our ministry.

Preaching That Cuts to the Heart – Tim Keller (via Gospel Coalition)
Put another way, you should preach the truth, not just your opinion; you should preach the good news, not just good advice; and you should preach to make the truth real to the heart, not just clear to the mind.

Passion Points

On September 7, 2013 By BrianIn PASSION Points1 Comment

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Why Then Must We Still Do Good? – Kevin DeYoung
…there are at least five reasons we who have been saved by grace alone through faith alone must still do good….

9-Point Battle Plan for Temptation – Gospel Reign
Temptation. We all face it in a variety of ways. The problem is, we don’t view temptation as a war-time activity, which it is. As Christians, we have an enemy tirelessly working against us for our downfall. In response, we ought to be as trained and prepared as possible to know what we’re up against, in order to defend ourselves victoriously. Here are 9 tactics to add to your battle plan for dealing with temptation….

Offering H.E.L.P. in Times of Suffering – Justin Taylor
Doug Wolter, a pastor in Humboldt, Iowa, who is leading his church through a tragedy in their town after two high school graduates were killed in a car accident. Sometimes aacronyms can be helpful as prompts for us to remember basic truths that can be easy to forget. Here is what Doug offers….

I Know Not What I Am, But to You I Flee – William Wilberforce via Trevin Wax
O Lord, reassure me with Your quickening Spirit; without You I can do nothing.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping the Lord together with your local church!

Passion Ethics

On September 4, 2013 By BrianIn Current Collection1 Comment

This week we are going to focus on homeschooling – specifically a recent incident in Germany:

Children Seized in Shocking Raid – HSLDA

Police Storm Homeschool Class, Take Children By Force – WND

There are at least four troubling ethical problems related to this event:

First, that homeschooling is illegal in Germany at all. The state wants the ability to indoctrinate all of the nation’s children, and no parent will get in their way. The articles above note the scary Nazi parallels. But the Bible is clear that it is first and foremost the parents’ responsibility to instruct their children (Deuteronomy 6, Ephesians 6, etc.). The state has over-reached its God-given sphere.
That the penalty for homeschooling is not only possible fines and jail time, but losing custody of your children. According to this article, the German Constitutional Court has ruled “that homeschooling is a violation of custody which necessitates a loss of custody.” Just like in Nazi Germany, today’s Germany views children as belonging to the state rather than the parents. But let’s be clear: the state does not give parents the right of custody, God does when he knits the child together in the mother’s womb (Psalm 139). And custody should only be removed in cases of dire danger to the child.
That the government chose to remove the children in a violent manner that traumatized not only the parents but also the children. The hatred shown by the authorities speaks volumes.
That our government apparently supports Germany’s policies and actions. The current administration has been fighting hard to deport another German family that if sent back could experience the same actions by the German government. Siding with wrong behavior is wrong too.

Ministry Monday

On September 2, 2013November 13, 2014 By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Here are some challenging posts that I’ve been saving by Paul Tripp. Though written for pastors, they would be helpful for anyone. I’ve included excerpts; follow each link for the whole post.

Lost the Awe
I am convinced that many of us live and do ministry day after day without any awe whatsoever. We live days, maybe even weeks, without wonder and amazement even in gospel ministry. What should stun us doesn’t stun us any more. What should leave us in silent, amazed worship has become so familiar it barely gets our attention in clutter of all the other things in ministry that command our attention. We walk through our daily ministries without an overwhelming sense of gratitude. We don’t notice the glory displayed all around us that points us to the one glory that is truly glorious: the glory of God.

If You Think You’ve Arrived
If you think you have arrived, you prepare material from above for people who sadly still need what you no longer need. Are you desperately hungry for the truths that you regularly prepare to expound to others?

If You Still Think You’ve Arrived
Communion with Christ is fueled by humility. Communion with Christ is fueled by sadness and celebration. Communion with Christ is propelled by an accurate sense of who you are, what you need, and a celebration of the One who gives it. Awareness of sin and the promise of salvation daily drives you to Christ, not to rush through a passage in his Word and say a quick prayer, but to sit at his feet and grieve your sin and give praise for the grace that meets you in it. Assessments of arrival crush personal worship.

No Pastor Is Greater Than His Master
As you consider these diagnostic questions, remember the grace that frees you to look at yourself and your ministry with humility and honesty.

Where in your ministry is there evidence of self-glory?
Where are you more dominant than you should be?
Where do you fail to listen when you should?
Where do you attempt to control things that you do not need to control?
Where do you find it hard to delegate ministry to others?
Where are you tempted to speak more than you should?
Where do you fail to recognize and esteem the gifts of others?
Where are you unwilling to examine your weaknesses and to admit you failures?
Where are you tempted to think of yourself as more essential than you actually are?
Where do you care too much about people’s respect, esteem, and appreciation?
Where to you find it easier to confront than to receive confrontation?
Where are you less than thankful for the ministry partners whom God has connected you to?
Where are you too confident of your own strength and wisdom?

Passion Points

On August 3, 2013December 6, 2014 By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts to ponder as you gather with your local church this Lord’s Day:

The Excitement and Anticipation – Tim Challies
…there is value in elevating the preparations we make for worshipping in the local church, and elevating the anticipation we feel for Sunday morning’s sermon.

How to Listen to to a Sermon – Phil Ryken (Reformation 21)
So what is the right way to listen to a sermon? With a soul that is prepared, a mind that is alert, a Bible that is open, a heart that is receptive, and a life that is ready to spring into action.

How to Listen to a Sermon – Justin Taylor
More resources to consider on this important topic.

Ten tips for going to church with your family – Christine Jensen
Church-going should not be a drudgery and mere duty. If you treat it as such, so will your children. If it is an opportunity to meet the Lord and to meet the Lord’s people, why would we not greet it with enthusiasm and expectation? Do we really think that will happen?