July 2010 Newsletter Available Online Now

I have just posted the newsletter for July 2010.  You can access it by clicking here or as always by clicking on the link at the top left-hand column on this page.

June 27, 2010 - Matthew 6:16-18 - The Gospel of Self-Denial: Why Fasting is Biblical and What It Says About Our Faith

Unfortunately my battery died again this week, only this time it only recorded for 8 minutes.  As a result, there is no audio available from Sunday, but I have made the notes available.  Fasting is a subject that few Christians discuss and practice, but it is an important biblical principle nonetheless. 

Here is the description:

Not many Christians talk about fasting and even fewer actually practice it.  In an obese society, fasting seems rather ridiculous.  But the gospel says something different.  Fasting is not a self-righteous ritual to be practiced or a formula to be tried, it is a symbol of something greater:  self-denial.  The heart of the gospel is a call to self-denial.  Unfortunately, most in our culture are preaching a message of self-fulfillment and self-esteem, but the gospel is not such a message.  If we are not willing to fast and focus on God for one meal, can we honestly say we are willing to give up everything, take up our crosses, and follow Christ?

Notes

For more:
Calvin on Fasting 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:43-48 - Love God as He Loved You
May 23, 2010 - Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 6:1-4 - Camouflaged Gold:  Why Christians Should Give In Secret
May 30, 2010 - Matthew 6:5-8 - Jesus on Prayer:  Our Inward Motivations  

Has Science Buried God?: A Helpful Video

I thought this video was helpful.  In Sunday School, the youth has been walking through the book of Genesis and we spent a long time on creation.  In this short video, Andy Davis provides some of the problems with the theory of evolution (such as genetics, etc.) and how science hasn't buried God.



HT: Pure Church

Weekly Recommendation - "Hard to Believe" by John MacArthur

Ok, its been a LONG time since I've done a weekly recommendation, but better late than never.  Tomorrow we will be discussing the issue of fasting.  In order to understand the importance of fasting, we must first understand the gospel and its call to self-denial and self-hatred.  This is what Jesus meant when He said "take up your cross and follow me" (Luke 9:23).  The cross in Roman times was an instrument of death and Jesus is calling for us to be willing to die on a daily basis.

Only in this context can we understand what fasting really is.  Fasting won't be that big of a deal if we understand the concept of how radical the self-denial gospel truly is.

So in that spirit, I highly recommend and would love it if everybody in the congregation read John MacArthur's book Hard to Believe: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus.  MacArthur's point in the book is to show that the gospel is unpopular and difficult.  It calls for us to deny ourselves, forsake everything and everyone, and be considered a fool.  The cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18ff).  We are fools for Christs sake.

I once heard MacArthur preach in Northern Kentucky where he admitted that of all of his books, this one didn't sell very well.  And no wonder.  Nobody in our world today wants to hear a message of self-hate and self-denial especially in a culture of self-esteem.  So if there is one book you read this summer, read this one.  Let is break you and let it convict you of what the gospel truly is.  If we as a church took this message seriously, we could change the world for Christ.  Isn't that what we want?


To read a full review on the book, click here. 

Calvin on Fasting

This upcoming Sunday we will be discussing the issue of fasting (yes that is a Christian discipline).  I am convinced that this is an area we need to work on as a church and as individual believers.  As I was studying, I came across the following quote from the Great Reformation theologian John Calvin who summed up our text from Matthew 6:16-18 quit well.  He wrote:

May for want of knowing its usefulness undervalue its necessity.  And some reject it all together as superfluous, while on the other hand, where the proper use of fasting is not well understood, it easily degenerates into superstition. 

In his infamous Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin wrote:

fasting in itself is not of great value in the sight of God, unless accompanied with internal affection of the heart, true dissatisfaction with sin and with one's self true humiliation, and true griefs from the fear of God; nay, that fasting is useful for no other reasons than because it is added to these as an inferior help. There is nothing which God more abominates than when men endeavour to cloak themselves by substituting signs and external appearance for integrity of heart. -IV.12.19

I find myself in there.  I oftentimes "undervalue" the "necessity" of fasting and at the same time find it to be "superfluous."  As we will discuss Sunday, there are a number of biblical reasons to fast.  It should be an interesting discussion.

This is Who We Are: What a Baptist Is and Believes - God

Amanda and I disagree regarding food.  I like my bacon to still have meat and fat on it.  Amanda, on the other hand, likes for her bacon to be so burnt it could hold up a bridge.  I like my steak to be medium-rare while she likes hers to be like charcoal.  We also disagree with buffets.  I love them and always try to get my money’s worth by stuffing my face.  Amanda, however, isn’t so fond of them.  Why is one of the many mysteries of marriage.

Buffets are great because one can easily pick and choose what they want.  I like steak, but I don’t like broccoli, so I’ll take the steak and leave the broccoli.  I especially like fixing my own desert: a chocolate chip brownie covered in Hersey’s chocolate syrup with chocolate ice cream on top covered again with more Hersey’s chocolate syrup.  Is your mouth watering yet? – mine is.

Buffets are great when it comes to food, but not so great when it comes to theology.  In our postmodern, relativistic, tolerant society, we have turned our understanding of God into a buffet of beliefs.  We want a God of love, but don’t want the wrath and judgment part.  In goes God’s love, out goes His righteousness. We want a God who is personal yet distant enough to not hold us accountable.  In goes God’s as personal, out goes His Omnipresence.  We want a God who is like us and our culture and so we reject His Immutability.  In other words, though God created us in His image, we have to return the favor.

Thankfully, God isn’t limited to our wants and needs.  God is not clay that we can mold and shape.  The motivation behind such theology is to turn us into gods where we determine truth, morality, and righteousness.

God is greater than our imagination.  The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 writes concerning God (before venturing into discussing the Trinity):

There is one & only one living & true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, & personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, & Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness & all other perfections. God is all powerful & all knowing; & His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present & future including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, & obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

If I can sum up this description of God is would be: God is beyond human language and description.  By my count, the BF&M 2000, in this one paragraph, uses approximately twenty different adjectives to describe God.  The statement of faith says that He is one, personal, the Creator, the Redeemer, infinite, holy, perfect, Omnipotent, Omniscient, triune, and eternal just to name a few.

This is an important reality when we speak about God: our human language is limited and cannot adequately describe God.  This is why so many confessions of faith and theologies utilize multiple and countless adjectives to describe God.  He is greater than our human language.

But there is a serious danger at this point.  Though we can never fully describe or grasp God, that does not mean that we ought not seek to understand and study His character.  Many in modern evangelicalism that simply ceases to try to explain or understand God.  This is a convenient way of excusing licentiousness and bad theology.  After all, how can you say that your theology is right when theology (the science and study of God) is impossible since God is beyond human description?

At this point we must admit that though God is beyond complete understanding, He has clearly revealed Himself to us.  Our responsibility is to take what He has revealed about Himself and affirm, believe, and apply those truths.  We know God is holy because the angels in heaven sings such wonder (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).  We know that God is immutable because Scripture clearly says that He does not change (Malachi 3:6-7a; Romans 11:28-36; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17).  We know that God is love because it has been revealed to us (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8, 16).  We could do this all day.  Christian theology is not the art of guessing about God.  Yes, God is beyond words, but that does not mean that God cannot be known at all.  In His grace, God has not only revealed Himself in the creation and in our conscience, but also through the canon of Scripture.

This means that we have a responsibility in understanding, studying, and applying what God has revealed.  Scripture, at its center, is direct revelation from God about God.  Apart from the Bible we would know very little and what could be known would be speculative.  If God can be known (though not exhaustively), are we taking advantage of it or are we simply leaving our Bible’s on the shelf until next Sunday?  We say much about God, but because of our infrequent study of Him, we know very little about Him.  We struggle and want to know where God is and yet are unwilling to understand His nature.  All theology is practical and the study of God is no different.  If God is Omnipresent (everywhere) then I am not alone.  If God is immutable (unchanging) then my salvation is secure.  If God is holy then injustice and evil will be judged and I need not retaliate.  If God is forgiving, then I know how to forgive.  If God is love, then I know how to love.  If God is Sovereign then I need not fear.  If God is provident, then I need not worry about tomorrow.  If God is creator then I know that I am not an accident and God has a purpose for me.  Will I fulfill and do His will?  Though I struggle, I know God.  Though I mourn, I know God.  Though I am worried and anxious, I know God. 

There is a God and He has made Himself known to us and what we know is far beyond our comprehension.  So though we cannot pull God down, let us instead lift Him up and praise Him name as he truly is.  Thanks be to God that we are not in the dark but can enjoy the light of truly knowing who God is.  To study and encounter God is to be overwhelmed.  Are you overwhelmed?



For more:
This is Who We Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - Introduction 
This is Who We Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - Scripture  

Bibledex on 2 Corinthians

Here is the video from Bibledex regarding 2 Corinthians.  Again I must admit that I disagree with some of their assessment.  They argue that 2 Corinthians is a collection of 2 or 3 letters.  I am convinced that it is one letter originally written by Paul.  I am aware of the argument surrounding the change in tone, etc., but that does not necessarily mean that this is a collection of letters.



For more:
Bibledex on Ephesians 
Bibledex on Philippians
Bibledex on Colossians 
Bibledex on 2 Thessalonians

Joseph, the Hyksos, and Archeology

A few Sunday's ago we discussed the story of Joseph and how it is a tail of God's Providence and an amazing story of forgiveness.  We pointed out some of the difficulties of dating Joseph and the story of the Exodus.  One of the popular beliefs is that Joseph was under Hyksos rule and not Egyptian.  This would explain why in Exodus 1 we are told that a king arose in Egypt who didn't know Joseph and didn't keep the promises made to Joseph's family and people.  If Joseph was under the Hyksos and Moses under the Egyptians, then this would make sense.

Well, recently archeologists have discovered what they believe to be the capital of the Hyksos kingdom known as Avaris.  The is the first time such a city has been discovered and could give us new insights into the Joseph story.  Interesting to say the least.


BBC - Ancient Egyptian city located in Nile Delta by radar
Evangel - Joseph in Egypt  

How To Grow a Church and Fill It With Unconverted Believers: A Humorous But Sad Video

I found this video funny, but at the same time it is unfortunately true.  A lot of churches and ministers care more about numbers than they do about true conversions.  Therefore, the gospel becomes a product to sell and converts and church members become customers.  This is a serious problem as many in our churches today are empty so-call Christians.  Parents, be careful of this.  Many parents rush their child and do everything they can to get them baptized and then afterward think their job is done.  In my experience, that is a bad way to approach evangelizing young kids.

Anyways, here is the video:



HT: Defending. Contending

June 20, 2010: Revelation 19:1-10 - On Being the Bride: What Can Brides Learn from the Bride of Christ?

I enjoyed our discussion of Revelation 19 on Father's Day as we discussed the Bride of Christ.  One word of warning though, the audio stops just prior to the 23 minute mark.  My battery pretty much died and stopped recording.  Oops.  I thought I had plenty of battery.  But I went ahead and posted the audio anyways.  Hope everyone had a good Father's Day!




Audio
Notes


For more:
Father's Day 2009 - The Faithful Father 
Myths of Fatherhood 
Mother's Day 2010 - Manly God for Godly Men:  A Word to Men on Mother's Day 
Mother's day 2009 - 1 Samuel 1:  A Portrait of a Godly Woman - Audio

The Church as Family

I thought this video was really good.  Its a portion of a sermon delivered by Mark Driscoll who serves in Seattle, WA.  Driscoll goes into detail into why the local church is a family and what that means.  It would be important that we see our church in the same way.  Though we are perfect, we are still a family . . . not a business.



HT: Andrian Warnock

June 13, 2010 - Matthew 6:14-15 - The Forgiven Forgive: The Inseparable Reality of the Gospel of Forgiveness

Sorry, I know I'm behind, but I haven't been able to load the audio and notes from this past Sunday until now.  Anyways, here's the description of our discussion of Matthew 6:14-15:


The forgiven forgive.  Of course they do.  Being forgiven by God and forgiving others as a result is an inseparable reality.  Those who have been forgiven must forgive.  Jesus speaks in the clearest terms in Matthew 6:14-15 that the two are inseparable.  We will know if we are Christians by our forgiveness.  Do you forgive?



Audio
Notes


For more:
Some Light Reading:  On Prayer and Forgiveness  
Wax on Forgiveness  
Colson on Forgiveness 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:43-48 - Love God as He Loved You
May 23, 2010 - Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 6:1-4 - Camouflaged Gold:  Why Christians Should Give In Secret
May 30, 2010 - Matthew 6:5-8 - Jesus on Prayer:  Our Inward Motivations  

What is the Gospel?: A Helpful Video

Southern Seminary has put together a helpful video explaining the gospel.  Its pretty cool.


What is the Gospel? from Southern Seminary on Vimeo.

Some Light Reading: Books on Prayer and Forgiveness

Over the past three weeks I read and glanced at a number of books covering the subjects of prayer and forgiveness as we continue to walk through the Sermon on the Mount.  This is a partial list and my goal is to put some resources in your hands so you can learn more about the subject.

Prayer:

EM Bounds Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer, The: Experience the Wonders of God through Prayer - This is a classic work



Warren Weirsbe On Earth as It Is in Heaven: How the Lord's Prayer Teaches Us to Pray More Effectively - Much of Weirsbe's work is well worth your time.

John MacArthur Lord, Teach Me to Pray - An excellent and yet brief look at the many components of prayer.


Bruce Wilkinson The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life - a best-selling book but one that raises a number of dangerous suggestions.  We discussed this last Sunday Night.  There is no magical formula in prayer and this book makes that suggestion.

Hank Hanegraaff The Prayer of Jesus: Secrets of Real Intimacy with God - this book was written after the Prayer of Jabez craze.  It is a good summary of the Lord's prayer.

John MacArthur Alone with God: Rediscovering the Power and Passion of Prayer (John Macarthur Study) - I did not get a chance to read this book, but one I'm sure is well worth our read.  Finding it has turned out to be difficult.

Forgiveness:

John MacArthur The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness - Easily the best book on the subject I have read.  MacArthur covers the doctrine of our forgiveness and reconciliation made through the atonement of Christ and then applies it to us.  An important book that we should all read.  It is theological and practical.  All theology is practical.

Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy - This is now a Lifetime Movie.  It covers the story of the mass murder of a number of Amish school girls and how the community responded to the heinous act.  In short:  they forgave. 

Denise George Cultivating a Forgiving Heart: Forgiveness Frees Us to Flourish (Secrets of Soul Gardening) - A pretty good book available at our local library discussing the issue of forgiveness.  Well written and practical.


Rabbi Harold S. Kushner  How Good Do We Have to Be? A New Understanding of Guilt and Forgiveness - Kushner is a heretic.  So no, I didn't like this book, but nonetheless it is about forgiveness (at least it is supposed to be).  The theology presented in this book falls short of the gospel to say the least.




General/Other:

Thabiti Anyabwile What Is a Healthy Church Member? (IX Marks) - an excellent short book that includes a chapter on prayer. Read the book!

Karl Barth Evangelical Theology: An Introduction - Barth is a controversial theologian, but this is a pretty solid book.  For those wanting to know how to do theology and the mindset behind it, turn here.

Kevin DeYoung The Good News We Almost Forgot: Rediscovering the Gospel in a 16th Century Catechism - this is a fascinating book that includes a section on the Lord's Prayer.  It is a good introduction to Reformed, sound theology.

Martin Luther Table Talk (Fount Classics Series) - I love Luther's table talk.  You never know what is going to come out of Luther's mouth.

Timothy Lull Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings (w/ CD-ROM) - A great collection of Luther's most famous and important writings and sermons.  His chapter on prayer is important.

Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine - One of the best and concise systematic theologies out there.


As I said before, this is just a short list of some of the books I have consulted for the past 3 weeks.  More could be added, but hopefully this will get you started.

Wax on Forgiveness

As I continue to study our text for next Sunday, Matthew 6:14-15, I have come across yet another interesting treatment of what Jesus meant.  Trevin Wax uses the following illustration to illustrate that one who has been forgiven should forgive:

A crucial part of Jesus’ Kingdom message was the announcement of forgiveness. Many times, before Jesus would heal someone, He would announce their sins forgiven. He called His disciples to forgive others no matter how many times they had been wronged. He demanded His followers forgive not only the personal offences of their neighbors, but also their outstanding financial and social debts. Within this ministry of forgiveness, Jesus states that one cannot refuse to forgive others and still hope to bask in God’s forgiveness.

It does not help you to have one artery clear for blood to come rushing to your heart if the artery going out from your heart is blocked. A heart attack is still inevitable. You cannot stay alive by simply taking in one big breath of air and refusing to exhale. You cannot climb a tree and expect to remain up high if you cut off the branch you are sitting on.

Forgiveness works the same way. You cannot expect to receive God’s forgiveness unless you are an open vessel through which His mercy can flow on out to others. A blocked artery that refuses to allow blood to be pumped through will only cause heart failure. If we think we have accepted God’s forgiveness but are not forgiving others their debts, spiritually, we are as good as dead.

He is right.  Unless we are willing to forgive, we should consider ourselves forgiven.


Wax - Why an Unforgiving "Christian" is Unforgiven 

Colson on Forgiveness

This Sunday we'll be discussing forgiveness and how true gospel-believing followers of Christ ought to be persons characterized by forgiveness.  Since we have been forgiven much, we ought to forgive much.  Ironically, this week Charles Colson has written an interesting article at his Breakpoint website regarding how forgiveness has come center stage in our culture in light of the recent wrong call in a game that robbed one major league baseball player of a perfect game.

Colson concludes:

The Christian message summed up in the words “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,” provided a revolutionary new basis for human relationships. And it has the power to transform lives—both of victims and offenders—as I’ve witnessed over and over in 30 years of prison ministry. It has the power to heal nations, as the world witnessed in the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda.

What happened after that baseball game was more beautiful than Galarraga’s pitching. Especially for a postmodern culture that rejects the faith that gave meaning to the words “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you.”

And that’s one call I’m sure of.

I encourage you all to read the article.


Colson - Perfect Sportsmanship 

Bibledex on Ephesians

Tonight we'll be discussing the book of Ephesians.  So in preparation for that, here are the folks at Bibledex discussing the book.  Like always, there are some difficult elements in their discussion (for example, they begin by discussing the textual issue of verse 1, something we will discuss).  But nonetheless, the video forces us to think about some of the issues within the book.  I must vehemently point out, however, that I disagree with their assessment that perhaps Ephesians was written by someone other than Paul.  I affirm Pauline authorship.




For more:
Bibledex on Philippians
Bibledex on Colossians 
Bibledex on 2 Thessalonians

June 6, 2010 - Matthew 6:9-13: The Model Prayer

I have been gone for the past few days and so have not been able to upload the audio and notes from this past Sunday.  So, finally, here they are.  I really enjoyed our time looking at one of the more famous passages of Scripture from the Gospels covering what is commonly known as the Lord's Prayer.  Let us use it as a model (or blueprint) in understanding how we ought to pray.  Do we pray for God's glory or for our own?

Here is the description:

We've all heard and can probably recite the Lord's Prayer, but unfortunately most of us misunderstand it.  By completely ignoring what Jesus said in the passage prior to the prayer (Matthew 6:5-8) regarding turning prayer into a ritual or formula.  The Lord's Prayer is better titled the Model Prayer in which Jesus sets for a model for what our prayers should be like.  Our prayers ought to be God-centered, not man centered and Jesus shows us how in this blueprint for prayer.



Audio
Notes


For more:
Calvin on Prayer:  Why Bother?
Grudem on Prayer:  Why Bother?
Is This How We Pray?  
Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:43-48 - Love God as He Loved You
May 23, 2010 - Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 6:1-4 - Camouflaged Gold:  Why Christians Should Give In Secret 
May 30, 2010 - Matthew 6:5-8 - Jesus on Prayer:  Our Inward Motivations  

Bibledex on Philippians

Here is the Bibledex video for Philippains as we will be discussing it tonight.  Should be a good discussion.




For more:
Bibledex on Colossians 
Bibledex on 2 Thessalonians