Current

On April 9, 2014 By BrianIn Current Collection

A weekly collection of current news and issues in the church, country, and world.

Ideological Moralism and Gospel Grace – Derek Rishmawy (GC)
“My life has meaning because of the Cause. You oppose the Cause. You must submit or be destroyed.” — Modern/postmodern ideological moralism

Division Begins with the Departure from the Truth – Jared Wilson
And it isn’t those who believe the Bible when it says sin is sin that are being divisive; it is those who are introducing the idea that some sins aren’t. If you push a decision on something that innovates on the Bible’s testimony, you’re creating the division. Division begins with that first departure. The first step away from the agreement is the original divide. It is simply necessary, then, for Christians to walk away from a divisive person.

The Fault Lines Before the Evangelical Earthquake – Trevin Wax
Can an institution with an historic evangelical identity be divided on an issue as central as marriage and family and still be evangelical? Related to this discussion are questions about the authority and interpretation of Scripture, cultural engagement, and institutional power. All sides of the debate recognize that the definition of evangelical is at stake, which is why some are now publicly casting off the term altogether.

Passion Points

On April 5, 2014December 6, 2014 By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Ten Things To Do During Suffering – Ed Welch (CCEF)

Why God Gives Us More Than We Can Handle – Jon Bloom (DG)

40 Joys Through Jesus – David Murray

How Do You Prepare For Sunday? – Jordan Kauflin (DG)

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

Ministry Moment

On March 31, 2014November 13, 2014 By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Here are some good posts on staying fresh in ministry:

40 Best Online Resources on Burnout – David Murray
If what I’m seeing and hearing is representative of our wider culture, we are facing an epidemic of burnout among Christians, and especially among pastors. Here are the 40 best resources on the subject that I’ve collected over the years.

Eight Ways Leaders Make Themselves Vulnerable to Spiritual Attack – Chuck Lawless
New Testament writers warn us again and again about the reality of spiritual attack. The apostle Paul, a leader extraordinaire, challenged believers to wear the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11), being ever aware of the enemy’s schemes (2 Cor. 2:11). The leader of the church at Jerusalem, James, called followers of Christ to resist the devil (Jms. 4:7). Peter, the leader among Jesus’ apostles, warned against the adversary who seeks someone to devour like a roaring lion (1 Pet. 5:8). It is no wonder, then, Paul reminded the church to choose leaders who are not set up for the devil’s traps (1 Tim. 3:6-7).

A Break Through the Clouds – Tim Bridges
In an uncommon act of love, Calvary Baptist Church allowed my family a solid month of vacation to visit our family and friends in Florida. I think the church saw my shoulders beginning to slump from shovelling snow and wisely prescribed a regimen of medicinal beach sand. The experience was a new one for us. A month to relax, to read, and to reflect. So what did I learn?

Passion Points

On March 29, 2014 By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

How to Fill Your Life with Joy – Matt Chandler via Jonathan Parnell (DG)
For years I tried to figure out what’s the best way for me to flourish in my relationship with Christ. And when all is said and done, I learned I needed to fill my life with things that stir my affections for Jesus. And then pay attention and keep away from my heart the things that rob me of my affections, even if those things are morally neutral.

Warm Yourself at the Fires of Meditation – David Mathis (DG)
In meditation, we pause and reflect over his words. We roll them over in our minds and let them ignite our hearts — we “warm ourselves at the fires of meditation.” We pose questions and seek answers. We go deep in God’s revelation, take it into our very souls, and as we are being changed by his truth, we respond to him in prayer.

How to Memorize Entire Books of the Bible – Jemar Tisby
You don’t have to start by memorizing an entire book. Commit to memorizing a single chapter. If you’re like me, you’ll be hooked and want to keep going. And pray that God would bless your efforts. He wants you to know His word.

Where Preferences Go to Die – Trillia Newbell (GC)
I’m convinced many of our problems with the church result from running away from difficult or uncomfortable situations rather than persevering through them. Since we don’t enjoy facing our fears or finding ourselves in challenging circumstances, the thought of escape brings great comfort.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church worshiping our glorious and gracious God!

Ministry Monday

On March 24, 2014November 13, 2014 By BrianIn Idolatry, Ministry Moments

Here are some good posts addressing idolatry in ministry:

5 Signs You Glorify Self – Paul David Tripp (GC)

5 More Signs You Glorify Self – Paul David Tripp (GC)

Five Questions to Discern Ministry Idolatry – Eric Geiger

Reflections on Church History

On March 11, 2014 By BrianIn Biography/History

My youth/adult Sunday School class recently finished a 20 week study of church history. Looking back, here are a few thoughts:

The giants of church history were yet sinners saved by grace. Time and again as we looked at various heroes of the church, we saw not only great godly achievements, but also sinful failure. How could such a great man or woman of God do that? But God uses sinful people to accomplish his purposes so that we might glory not in the people but in their God. All have sinned and need a Savior.
God is still at work in his world. God wasn’t just active in Bible times, as it is easy to conclude when we ignore the last 2000 years. He has been at work in his church and world during the last two millennium, and he is still at work today.
The church today needs to study church history. It is important for us to know where we came from. It is essential for us to understand how the church came to understand Biblical truths so we can better discern truth from error today. It is helpful for us to look at life through the eyes of those who have gone before so that we might overcome some of the blind spots of our times. And it is a great benefit for us to learn from and be encouraged by the lives and writings of those who have gone before us.

If you have never studied church history, I encourage you to jump in!