Aug 23, 2012 
Paul urges the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 towards a pure and sincere devotion. These are important words we must take to heart as well.
This is my sermon preached on August 19, 2012.
worshipping God, building up His church, reaching the world
Browsing the archives for the commitment tag
No Comments There are two dangers we face: being spiritually empty or thinking we are spiritually full but in reality being spiritually empty. Jesus address these dangers in Matthew 12:43-45. This is the sermon I preached on December 11, 2011
Another sleep-troubled night filled with worry and anxiety and “what-ifs” and maybe’s – it would just be easier to spend the time on trying to sleep instead of worrying. Grab on to a good worry and you can stay up for hours! Really good worrying is an art form, birthed and crafted and molded and shaped and painted and put on display for all to see.
I resolve today not to spend my time worrying anymore. “Be anxious for nothing.” “Whatever is true and noble and worthy and pure, think on these things.” “Be thankful and let your requests be known to God.” This is a much better use of my time and a more beautiful piece of art.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
The elders and I read through these verses and prayed for our church this past week. These are positive and exciting and thankful verses to read and pray through for the church body! We have salvation through Jesus and we will live with Him for eternity (which started “the hour I first believed”). We can then take this good news and encourage and build up one another throughout the week as we pray and read and meet and fellowship. What a wonderful picture of our lives in Christ as individuals and as a community!
I hope you are encouraged and built up today as you think about and apply all who Jesus is and what He has done in your life, as a believer. If you are not a believer and follower, I pray you would consider the truth of His claims and receive Him as Lord and Savior.
The Revised Edition of Desiring God by John Piper is a dense book, rich with complex thought and emotion and theology. It is not a book to be read lightly, nor can it be done so. This is the 25th year reprint of the book and all of the original work is meaningful for today, although much of the world itself has changed. A chapter on suffering has been added, and a study guide is included. Detailed Scripture, person, and subject indexes are included as well. The purpose of the book is to explore the relationship between seeking happiness and walking closely with God; the author’s premise is that these concepts are not opposed to each other, but go hand-in-hand. We are commanded to seek happiness in life, which only comes from God and can only be fulfilled by and in Him. In the ten chapters that follow, the author explains and expands and explores this concept, and puts it into daily practice through the disciplines of Word and prayer, missions, worship, marriage and stewardship and suffering. The author approaches his subject deeply and passionately and personally. This is not an easy book to read, but many rewards and much fruit is to be found on every page. It is highly recommended for followers of Jesus and others who may be curious about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This book was provided to me at no cost by the publisher for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.
“You get one pass at life. That’s all. Only one. And the lasting measure of that life is Jesus Christ.”
John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life
As we start the new year, we look at the end of Paul’s life from 2 Timothy 4:9-18. How Paul lived his last days are good indicators for us to live in the new year and for the rest of our lives. We are to imitate Paul as he imitates Christ, and all of the points brought up can be seen in the life of Christ.
John Macarthur has once again written a thought-provoking and illuminating book, Slave. Reflecting on some of his personal studies on the word (and meaning) of “slave” and its occurences (or lack of) in the Bible, Pastor Macarthur has provided Christians with powerful insight and application. Macarthur’s premise is that the word “slave” has been often mistranslated in our Bibles as the word “servant”, and the true impact of slavery to the Lord is missed today. Macarthur makes detailed anaylsis of the Greek word and cultural understandings and presents his thoughts on why many Bibles today are mistranslated. He then devotes the rest of his work to discuss practical meaning and application for the believer. In an age when many Christian books today deal with current political climate or “health and wealth” promises, it is refreshing and penetrating to read solid exegesis and reflection and application of the Word. Macarthur’s book is well-documented with footnotes and indexes. It is highly recommended for any believer wanting to understand who they are in Christ and what that relationship entails.
This book was provided to me at no charge by Thomas Nelson publishers for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.
I shared a quote from Augustine this past Sunday, “He who loves little prays little, he who loves much prays much.” That is a reflective and challenging thought. How much do I love God? How much do I trust Him? How much do I rely on Him? Who do I rely on more, Him or me – His methods or my methods, His strength or my strength? If I pray little, why is that? What else am I doing with my time and thoughts?
Somewhere I read or heard that the average evangelical Christian today spends about 4 minutes in prayer daily. Don’t know if that’s accurate or not, but I’ve asked some people I know about their prayer lives – some are honest and agree with that statistic, others say they pray more. Some were embarassed I asked and changed the subject….
I pray right now that I and you would be moved in our lives to pray more and more constantly and more consistently, “without ceasing.” Thank you Lord for drawing and growing and shaping us and maturing us in our lives of prayer.
Radical by Dr. David Platt is a troubling and aggravating book. It kicks the American church in the pants and challenges and stirs its members to renewed, real, and radical devotion to Christ (hence the title of the book, “radical”). Dr. Platt writes from the perspective of pastoring a larger (4,000 member) church and questions if what we do today that is “church” is really what Jesus expects and demands from His disciples. Across five areas (the Word, stewardship and giving, missions and evangelism, the gathering of the church in community, and dependence on the Holy Spirit) Pastor Platt contrasts Jesus’ call to disciples with what today passes for church and Christianity in America. The writing is honest and the book is not written negatively, but it is a critical assessment of today’s “church of the American dream.” Many real people and experiences overseas and historical accounts are offered to illustrate the author’s point. Dr. Platt has many of these questions for himself and leaves much of his topic unanswered as he continues to travel on this journey. The conclusion outlines a year’s challenge that he and his church are pursuing, addressing the five areas. This book is recommended for leaders and members of church who are tired of “same old playing church” and looking for something more in their Christian faith.
Disclaimer: This book was provided to me at no cost from the publisher for purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.
Links
Blogs
