I read the ending.  Jesus wins.

When you know that Jesus wins it puts everything in perspective.  If you know the ending of a book the rough parts do not seem so bad.  You read the entire book through the lens of a happy ending.  Well…Jesus wins—hopefully, that’s a happy ending to you. 

Yes, things might seem bleak in our nation.  It may seem like the gospel is dying in Europe.  It may seem like Islam is winning.  But Jesus wins.

Yes, things might seem bleak in your own life.  It may seem like each day is clothed in darkness.  It may seem like your world is coming to an end.  You may feel like a reject, a disappointment to God and society, and a big giant failure.  And things may legitimately stink.  But you know what?  Jesus wins. 

And if Jesus wins and you are “hidden in him” that means you win too.

PS:  That’s why I don’t get too worried about this stuff:

Abraham Piper interviews Paul Tripp.  The first question concerns the difference between adult ministry and youth ministry. The second question is about motivation for obedience. 

This is a repost by Erik Raymond, but every preacher needs to read it: Preachers, Please Sweat Out the Text.

It’s a simple statement but it hit me like a ton of bricks: Why seek fame when you already have it?

Are we called to storm the gates of hell?  Kevin DeYoung points out a few exegetical oops.  This one is Matthew 16:18.

Kevin Bussey wonders why we say “but” if we know it’s truth.

Thabiti makes a good point of 5 things we do that other “religions” do not.

Matt Svoboda offers a profile of the lukewarm.

Greg Gilbert offers some “help” to those wanting to defend the guy you think is really cool.

Abraham Piper gives us 5 foundations for a Truth-Based Youth Ministry.

Greg Gilbert challenges Rob Bell’s definition of the gospel.

Have you ever watched Mystery Men?  I think these guys have:

Posting may be a little slow this weekend.  My father-in-law will be undergoing minor heart surgery on Friday so we will be going to St. Louis for the weekend.  I will also be preaching on Sunday morning at a church on the way back home from St. Louis.  Please be in prayer for Nikki’s dad this weekend.

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?