C.J. Mahaney has an article on Ordinary Pastors.
In January James MacDonald named Brian McLaren as a false teacher, here. Now he is explaining why naming false teachers is biblical.
Jon Bloom gives helpful advice for skeptics in our lives.
Trevin Wax writes a very interesting article: Screwtape on the SBC.
John Piper asks Does God Lead Us Into Temptation?
Tim Chester compares communities of grace with communities of performance. Excellent article, you need to be sure to read this one.
Also, perhaps one of the best SBC articles for the year was recently written by Alvin Reid: We Have Reached a Tipping Point.
Mounce discusses John 15:2-3
JT links to an audio series by Paul Tripp on Survivor Skills. Haven't gotten to listen yet but I'm sure they are great.
Pastors what do you think of this dare? (HT: Milton)
INLOW needs to recruit this guy:
(HT:Kim)
Pages: 288 pages
Publisher: Baker Books
Price: 12.23
Genre: Preaching/Pastoral
Quick Summary:
Standing in the long line of Christ-centered preachers Zack Eswine offers Preaching in a Post-Everything World. Quite a bit has changed since the days of Geerhardus Vos and even since the first edition of Bryan Chapell’s landmark manual Christ-centered Preaching. Eswine offers this book as a new chapter in the Christ-centered preaching movement. I cannot summarize this book any better than Tim Keller already has:
“Zack Eswine moves the Christ-centered preaching movement forward with this volume. He not only calls us to carefully contextualize our message to various cultures, sensibilities, and habits of heart, but he also gives us a host of practical tools, inventories, and guidelines for doing so. All the while he assumes and strengthens the foundational commitment to preaching Christ and his restoring grace from every text. A great contribution”.
What I Liked:
Eswine writes in a way that will appeal to the preachers of a post-everything world. The seminary student or graduate will find this a needful corrective to the sometimes impractical world of academia. The non-seminary educated preachers will also benefit greatly from the non-technical everyday approach this book takes. Throughout this book Eswine holds the delicate balance of being Christ-centered and culturally relevant.
There were numerous times in this book when I had to put the book down and pray that the Lord would change my heart. The Lord used this book to reveal idols in my own heart and areas where I lack a pastor’s heart. This book is both convicting and informative. This is one of those books that you have to read numerous times. Thankfully, there are helpful appendixes to assist in preparing sermons.
What I Disliked:
Honestly, there is very little that I could not recommend in this book. It is biblical, practical, well-written, attractive, informative; really everything you would desire in a preaching book. I would say that it will help you best if you have read Bryan Chapell’s Christ-centered Preaching. In my opinion you cannot read one without the other.
Should You Buy It?
Unreservedly, yes. If you are a preacher in the 21st century this book is one that needs to be on your books shelf. Again, I would suggest buying/reading Chapell’s book along with it or as a prerequisite. This is 12 bucks well spent.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
John Newton used to write a hymn/poem after many of his sermons. It has been a desire to do that myself. I've done it twice. You can read Newton's here: Olney Hymns. Here is a poem I wrote in response to a sermon on Zechariah that I preached.
The King Will Rescue Thee
Based on Zechariah 9:9-13
Prisoners held by foreign hand
with chains of oppression
We drown in the pit of strange land
another’s possession
Come, O King, set us free
keep us out of wars dread
No rescue in sight do we see
we will wait on deaths bed
In the distance barely to see
the King is forth coming
Prisoners of hope shout for glee
his beauty is numbing
Rescued we are from foreign rule
yet still we are not free
Bitter irony that tastes cruel
the slave master was me.
Prisoners captive by laws writ,
with chains of mock freedom
We drown in the waterless pit
kings of our own kingdom
Come, O King, set us free
break the chains of sins sway
No rescue in sight do we see
we sink in miry clay.
In the distance barely to see,
the King to come for us
but this time on Calvary’s tree
where he will pardon thus
Blood of freedom flows from his vein
doth cover the sin of thee
King forever always to reign
has cleansed you and me
Jesus, the King, ever to be
Will ye ask Him to rescue thee?
I have a confession to make I sometimes struggle with doubt. Deep doubt. Sinful doubt. One of the greatest areas that I battle is in regards to God's ability to change believers. The sinfulness of believers (myself the chief) causes me to question whether or not God really is able to sanctify his followers. Yes, I know that we have to choose holiness over sin and I know that this is a huge part of the slowness of our progress in holiness.
One of the greatest areas that causes me pain (as I am sure it does Christ as well) is when believers are involved in ridiculous slander and pride. I can be horrible about this myself. I know that I stand guilty of slander and deep pride. Of this I must confess and repent anew.
This is proof that God is in the process of redeeming a people for Himself and that He is able to conquer our sinful hearts and bring unity where there once was discord. Only God could have done what is taking place in the heart of Steve Camp as it concerns Mark Driscoll. You have to read Steve Camp's humble confession and repentance. It caused my heart to leap for joy and my confidence in the power of God to grow. Grace truly does reign.
Isn't it amazing the ripple effect that a humble confession can have? It really proves the truth of Scripture in regards to the unity of the body of Christ. Sin hurts every member and repentance heals! Oh, how I long for the day when the bride is in unity and we stand before Jesus pure and spotless.
If we believe that our greatest good is that God might exalt us, make us happy without him, and affirm our innate goodness then we will be sorely disturbed when everything in creation and in the mission of God cries out the opposite.
God's mission is to be known among the nations not to make much of us. Creation testifies to this. The sun, the moon, and the stars do not cry out to testify of our greatness--they proclaim the majesty of God. Everything but our own hearts testifies to the greatness of God. If we think it's about us then life will deeply disappoint us.
I think I know how it happened but I have conflicting citings. D.A. Carson gives credit to McCheyne, I have it written down as John Owen.
"What a man is on his knees, in secret, before God that he is an no more".
I have an Owen quote that says
"A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public; but what that man is on his knees, in secret, before God Almighty, that he is, and no more."
Does anyone know where the McCheyne quote comes from? Carson does not cite it but attributes it to McCheyne. I have it written down as Owen--but also not cited. My guess is that McCheyne rephrased Owen's quote to make it more universal in scope. Anyone know?
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