There is a new sermon available.  If you get a chance to listen to the newest sermon you might need to see these.  In discussing Ephesians 4:17-24 we talked about the spiral of rebellious idolatry and the spiral of redemption.  In the coming weeks we will be spending more time on this spiral of redemption.  As I studied the text I thought this was a decent representation of the life of the Gentile (unbeliever) contrasted with the life of the believer. 

This God rejecting spiral is the result of idolatry (or as I have titled it Fighting the Gospel).  When we reject God and fight the gospel we become hardened and calloused (Losing Humanity).  Then this comes to full fruition and we are given over (as in Romans 1) or we give ourselves over (as in Ephesians 4) to sin. 

The God accepting spiral is the result of Ephesians 1-3 happening in our lives (coming to know God and being transferred from the kingdom of rebellion into the kingdom of redemption).  This spiral is contrasted with the idolatry of our former way of living.  Rather than dying in sin we are now fighting sin (Put off the old self).  We are being renewed in our spirits (growing in the gospel—or being redeemed into who God intends humanity to be).  And we begin growing in holiness and righteousness (we start looking like God).

Author: Rick Horne

Pages: 176 pages

Publisher: Shepherd Press

Price: 9.50

Genre: Youth/Counseling

Quick Summary:

If you have spent any time with teenagers then more than likely you have met an angry, unmotivated, or disinterested teen. You may even have one living in your house. Rick Horne hopes to help parents, teachers, and youth workers reach these teenagers with biblical counsel.

His method is really quite simple: Get to Know Your Teen –> Build a Bridge –> Point to the Cross. As Horne explains, “This book will teach you how to build a bridge to young adults on the basis of the ways in which their desires and actions reflect the image of God and the blessing of common grace”.

What I Liked:

This book really shines in the area of helping adults understand what is going on in the mind of today’s teenager. As I read through this I could not help but think of parent’s I would love to get this book to. This book is also written in an easy to remember fashion. It is well outlined and easy to follow.

Horne writes as one on the front lines in the war for the hearts of teens. He knows what he is talking about and provides wise insight and counsel to those uninformed in the battle. He interjects humor, sadness, and hope.

What I Disliked:

I read this book over a month ago, but put off writing a book review so I could think it over. Something about it did not sit well with me. Not that it should be confined to propping up the leg to your kitchen table; nothing that severe. Something seemed to be missing. Had it not been for the last chapter I would have been very disappointed.

After some time to think it over I think I have discovered what sits wrong with me. The book shines in the area of “HOW TO REACH ANGRY, UNMOTIVATED TEENS”. But it is incomplete in doing so “WITH BIBLICAL COUNSEL”. It effectively teaches how to build a bridge, but once that bridge is built it leaves you asking, “what now”? I hope the last chapter serves as introduction to a second book on pointing teenagers to the cross. This important chapter should have been woven into every chapter the preceded it.

Should You Buy It?

Even with the negatives where this book shines it really shines. If you have a general idea of what it means to reach someone with biblical counsel but are unsure how to build a bridge into their lives then this is a great book for you. If you already have built a bridge and are looking for advice on how to offer biblical counsel then this book is not for you. But what do you expect, the title of this book is Get Outta My Face! You expect a book telling you how to reach the unmotivated. I only wish it had been about 250 pages instead of 176. Still, though, every parent and youth worker needs to read this book.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Tony Kummer does an excellent job of creating social networks.  He is the founder of SBC Voices, and he is at it again with Devotional Christian.  His hope with this site is to help people read devotionals online.  To spread the word about this site Tony is offering a $400 Giveaway to help generate traffic.  Just go to here…fill out the form…and do what I just did.  

Have you noticed in the story of The Rich Young Man (Mt. 19:16-30) that Jesus does NOT lower the bar, and does NOT go chasing after him?

Does this story teach us to not lower the standards to get someone to follow Jesus?  I think so.  Jesus told the man the entire truth and was unwilling to lower what it meant to follow Him.  We must never neuter the gospel.  Point taken.

So, does that mean that we do not “go after” people?  I have certainly preached it that way before.  And I think there is some truth to that statement.  However, I missed something.  The very existence of the conversation is proof that Jesus goes after rebel sinners.  It’s not in heaven where this conversation is taking place.  The incarnation is when the holy Jesus invaded the rebellious world. 

Granted there are times (like in this story) where we should not go running after people.  But the incarnation teaches us that as a general principle we are to invade the rebellious world and not stay in our cozy bubble. 

Where do you need to take the gospel today? 

Warning***  If you are a member of Child Services please do not read this post.

Last night around 2:00 am I was woke up by glass shattering.  In a sleep-drunk stupor I fumbled my way into Isaiah’s room just to make certain that someone didn’t break out his window to steal him in all of his amazingness.  To my enjoyment he was still sleeping soundly, and no windows broken.  I made a quick look around the house—saw nothing broken—then just went back to sleep.

This morning our son woke up a little earlier than normal.  And it was obvious that he was not going to go back to sleep no matter how much of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse he watched.  I could tell that my wife was tired, so I offered to watch Isaiah for a little while before I went to work. 

I sat down on the couch to check my e-mail’s and Google Reader, while Isaiah was playing.  It couldn’t have been but a couple of minutes that had passed.  I looked over and Isaiah is gleefully playing with glass shards.  The glass that I heard last night was a drinking glass that my wife had put a flower in; stupid cat (whom we’ll call Battle-axe until my wife notices). 

Now before you put us on the prayer chain (which might be needed for various other things) you should know that Isaiah only cut himself on his thumb just a little.  And I seriously mean a little.  He didn’t even cry or really even notice it.  He was more ticked off about having a band-aid on his thumb than the cut. 

It could have been much much worse.  He was waving a huge chunk of glass in front of his face.  So, I am very thankful for the Lord’s protection even in the midst of my ignorance.  (By the way Isaiah is 16 months old so I’m not quite as bad for letting him play by himself for a few minutes).

Two questions.

1) How does this illustration relate to the gospel?

2) What are some stupid things you have done as a parent to your child’s detriment? 

The preaching notes for the series on Ephesians (at least what has been preached thus far) are now available online.  As always they are the rough copy that I take into the pulpit with me and it always ends up being a tad different than I have originally written.  May the Lord bless you through these.  Here are the sermons and their links:

Ephesians 1:3-14 The Cure for Broken People and a Broken World Part One

Ephesians 1:3-14 The Cure for Broken People and a Broken World Part Two

Ephesians 1:3-14 The Cure for Broken People and a Broken World Part Three

Ephesians 1:15-23 You’ve Already Got It: Living in what Christ has purchased

Ephesians 2:1-5 How Broken Are We?

Ephesians 2:4-6 The Cure for Brokenness, No Matter How Broken

Ephesians 2:7-10 Are You Different? The Gospel Changes You

Ephesians 2:11-22 Don’t Forget to Remember

Ephesians 3:1-13 Losing Heart

Ephesians 3:14-21 Life Shattering Prayer

Ephesians 4:1-6 Walk in Unity

Ephesians 4:7-16 Unified or Unstable?

Ephesians 4:17-24 What Does a Christian Look Like?

Ephesians 4:25—5:2 Living Out Redemption Part One: Lying v. Truth

Headlining the news this week (minus the Swine Flu epidemic) is Danny Akin, Johnny Hunt, and other’s championing The Great Commission Resurgence.  A new website has been put up where like-minded believers can sign the “manifesto”.  Tom Ascol explains why he signed it.  Bart Barber explains why he cannot.

Speaking of Swine Flu, Dr. Mohler has some excellent thoughts on Love in a Time of Swine Flu.

The manuscript for Piper’s sermon at the 2009 Children’s DG Conference is now online:  The God-centeredness of God".  This is also a good read for father’s and mother’s. 

Another phenomenal blog post by Erik Raymond:  How do I make Christ appealing?  Erik is quickly becoming one of my favorite bloggers. 

Also, a favorite blogger of mine is Jared Wilson.  I absolutely love his gospel-centeredness.  “Dude Where’s My Gospel” serves as a reminder of why we must never move away from the gospel.

I was hoping they would make these available and they have.  The workshops from The Gospel Coalition are now available online.  Now all I need is a couple weeks of free time to listen to all of them.  I think I mentioned it last week but if not here it is again:  All the audio and video from the Gospel Coalition is available here. 

Kevin DeYoung discusses church membership with a pastor that believes unbelievers should be able to join a church with a different set of vows. 

Zach Nielsen points us to a very interesting story about an Oakland pastor that chooses jail over a plea bargain. 

Joe Thorn with another “Note to Self”; this time a reminder to LIVE.

Wonderful, Wonderful, discussion on transformation by Bill Mounce.

How can you not love stories of the gospel penetrating hearts: