A Church That Looks Like Christ

A church will look like Christ as it listens to Christ.

I’ve been pondering the statement above for some time now. I really do believe that a church will look like Christ as it listens to Christ. Also, I believe the same is true for our individual lives. A Christian will look more and more like Christ as he or she submits to Christ’s Word. Think about this with me.

This statement assumes at least two things and implies one huge reality. First, notice that this statement assumes that a church wants to look like Christ. It assumes that reflecting the character of Jesus is important and central. Another way of communicating this would be to say, “A church will mature as it listens to Christ.” As a church (and as a Christian), we must have as our goal to grow in maturity. Likeness to Jesus does not just happen. It is a pursuit. Remember: the goal of the church is not how many people are coming, but what the people are becoming (Ephesians 4:1-16).

Second, notice that this statement assumes that Christ’s voice can be heard. It is possible to listen to Christ today. We find the Word of Christ in the Bible. He has spoken finally and fully, and we have His Words written down and translated into a language we can understand.

Finally, notice the huge implication of this statement. If a church matures as it listens to Christ, the church must position herself to hear God’s Word as clearly and as much as possible. A primary means of grace is the preaching, teaching, reading, and obeying of Christ’s voice contained in the Bible. If we don’t understand this, we will never hear the force of Paul’s charge to Timothy: “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2). Why leave Timothy with this charge? Why not charge him to be a good organizer or vision-caster? Paul leaves this charge with Timothy because Paul knows that God builds (matures) His Church by His Word.

John Piper has often said, “Beholding is becoming.” We become increasingly like whatever we focus on. I could not agree more. The more we behold Christ in and through His Word, the more we will become like Him and reflect His beauty to this world.

Longing to be like Him,
Pastor Justin

The iPad: What's a Brother to do?

What is a brother to do when 2 of the most tech-savy Christian bloggers disagree so strongly on the iPad?
Challies is not about it.
Josh is.

I'm actually just kidding. There is no way I'm getting an iPad. I haven't even tapped the potential of my 5 year old iPod (which is the only thing Apple I own).

The Cross and Christian Ministry

DA Carson's The Cross and Christian Ministry is must reading for all Christian leaders. This book is basically an exposition of the first 4 chapters of 1 Corinthians. Carson shows how the Cross of Jesus Christ must be the content and method of our preaching and ministry. The Cross stands as the test and standard of all vital Christian ministry.

In every generation, the gospel is in danger of being dismissed from the central place it must enjoy. Carson calls us back to the centrality of Christ and Him crucified.

One of the many things I have found helpful about this book is in the way it presses home some of the foundational characteristics of a Cross-centered leader. Here are a few examples:

• A Cross-centered leader focuses on the content rather than the form of preaching.
• A Cross-centered leader ties every subject to the Cross.
• A Cross-centered leader follows the crucified Messiah in to suffering.
• A Cross-centered leader primarily seeks to please Christ not people.
• A Cross-centered leader is empowered by the Spirit.
• A Cross-centered leader does not insist on his own "rights."
• A Cross-centered leader is humble.

Philippians: The Gospel Community

I've never been as excited about a sermon series as I am about the next 5 months in Philippians. My joy is full.

Along with preparing and preaching sermons from Philippians, I am working on 2 gifts for my church family:

1. Depending on the Spirit, I am memorizing all of Philippians.

2. For the glory of God, I am writing a basic commentary on Philippians.

Here is something of an introduction to the commentary, called, "The Gospel Community."

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is about the gospel of Jesus Christ that creates and shapes a community of believers. In this friendly letter, we encounter the supremacy of Jesus Christ. The person and work of Jesus Christ is the dominant subject of Philippians. However, there is nothing abstract or out of touch about this presentation of Christ. In Philippians, Jesus Christ transforms and informs our lives and relationships with each other. In Philippians, Jesus Christ captures our attention in such a way that joy is possible even in the midst of great suffering. Philippians is a practical book about the very center of the Christian faith.

Tebow Super Bowl Ad

I'm looking forward to seeing this. And praying that God would use it.

Significance of the Ascension

Studying Acts 1:9-11 gave me an opportunity to think about the ascension of Jesus. The ascension of Jesus is rarely talked about today. But, it is full of significance. Here are 6 ways to see the importance of the ascension of Jesus.

1. The ascension is a necessary corollary to the resurrection. If someone denied the ascension, they would have to say that either Jesus is still on earth or that He died again at a later time. Belief in the resurrection necessitates belief in the ascension.

2. The ascension assured the disciples that the physical appearances were over. The ascension allowed the disciples to get busy with the work they had been called to do.

3. The ascension is a demonstration of God’s power. Think about it: the ascension of Jesus is just as miraculous as the resurrection.

4. The ascension is representative of Jesus’ exaltation to the right hand of God the Father. How did Jesus get to the place of power and authority? Answer: He ascended there. Now, Jesus intercedes for us continually before the Father. Jesus is our continual advocate. We know this because He ascended. Phil. 2:9: “God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name above every name.”

5. The ascension distinguishes the Son from the Spirit. The Son ascended and the Spirit was sent by the Son to continue His work. This is another pointer to the Trinitarian nature of God.

6. The ascension foreshadows Jesus return. Jesus will return in the same way He was taken up (Acts 1:11).

Thank God for the ascension of Jesus Christ. Because He is ascended, we know He is indeed the center of the universe. He can be trusted and His work continues.

Whose "Acts" are Revealed in Acts?

My church is studying through Acts on Wednesday evenings. Tonight, I'm going to argue that instead of "Acts of the Apostles," it should be called, "The Acts of the Risen Jesus Through the Spirit in the Lives of His Apostles."

I'm not trying to be novel. Just trying to be faithful to what the book is about.

I Dig Dug Down Deep

Josh Harris' new book is worth reading: Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why it Matters.

I received an advance copy from the publisher, Multnomah. You can purchase the book beginning January 19 from their website.

Westminster Book Store has it for 35% off ($12.99).

Honestly, I was a little skeptical of this book at first. The title really doesn't strike me as helpful. And, there is a one line blurb by Donald Miller on the top of the dust jacket. I don't know much about Donald Miller and I've never read any of his books. The few things I've heard about him wouldn't make his recommendation very valuable to me at all. I was pleased to see Piper, Dever, and Packer (Yes, Packer) endorsed the book. I was surprised there was not a recommendation by Mahaney.

Enough about that. This is an excellent book. Very fun to read. Humorous and meaty.

Basically, Dug Down Deep is a defense of theology. Harris argues that the knowledge of God and His Word is essential to growing in the Christian life. He says, "We're either building our lives on the reality of what God is truly like and what he's about, or we're basing our lives on our own imagination and misconceptions" (p. 11).

Harris shows that if you want to feel deeply about the things of God, you have to think deeply (p. 86). "Messed-up theology leads to messed-up living" (p. 12). "Sound doctrine is at the center of loving Jesus with passion and authenticity" (p. 16).

Josh does a great job in this book of pressing this important question on his readers: "What are you building your life on?"

After the first few chapters of passionate call for right thinking about God, Harris spends the majority of the book actually diving into some of the most important theological issues that we must embrace and know. Here are some of the topics/truths Josh helpfully addresses:

• God's passion for His own glory
• The authority and necessity of Scripture
• The deity and humanity of Jesus
• The atonement (chapter 6 is a fantastic and refreshing summary of the gospel)
• The doctrine of salvation (chapter 7 is helpful in explaining that salvation is God's work and not our work)
• Sanctification (chapter 8 has pictures!)
• The Holy Spirit
• The Church

Josh ends with a chapter about the fact that right theology must make us more humble and loving people. The doctrines of the Bible are meant to impact our lives. We must live what we believe.

Here are a few random thoughts:

• This is going to be my "go-to" book for discipleship of new and baby Christians. So helpful.
• I couldn't help but think that Dug Down Deep is basically a modern and simplified version of Knowing God. Anybody else with me on this one?
• This book is filled with personal stories and examples that make it so fun to read.
• In chapter 7, Josh tells the story of how his dad was converted. My heart was so full of joy and confidence in God as I read this chapter. Seriously, its worth the price of the book.
• This is going to be my "go-to" book for challenging any influenced by the emergent church movement. Josh is edgy and cool and relevant and everything else this generation wants to be. But, he is also faithful, Biblical, and gospel-drenched.
• I'm confident this book will make my top 15 books published in 2010.
• It's time to start thinking about which books will be given away at T4G 10. My guess is that this one will certainly be among them.

Philippians Introduction

We learn from Philippians that the Christian life is the pursuit of joy in Jesus Christ. Christ is more valuable than everything we pursue in this life. To live is Christ and to die is gain because it means we get more of Christ. If we have Christ, we can be content in any and every circumstance because Christ is the One who gives us strength. Christ is our example of humility and He is the Savior who was obedient to death, even death on the Cross.

Let us learn from Paul that everything minus Christ is really nothing and Christ minus everything is really everything. Christ is more than enough.

In 1:3-8, Paul thanks God for the Philippians for 3 reasons:
1. Paul thanks God for them because of his own affections for them.
2. Paul thanks God for them because of their partnership in the gospel with him.
3. Paul thanks God for them because of God’s sovereign work in their lives and church.

• God is the sovereign initiator of His redemptive work ("He who began a good work in you...)
• God is the faithful completer of His redemptive work ("will bring it to completion").

Carson Nuggets

A few nuggets from The Cross and Christian Ministry by DA Carson:

“What a great God we have! Not only does he redeem us through the ignominious crucifixion of his much-loved Son, but he sends us his Spirit to enable us to understand what he has done” (p. 55).

“Christian leaders should refrain from presenting themselves as if they had the corner on the truth, or all the gifts, or exclusive authority or insight” (p. 77).

“The apostles of Jesus Christ prize truth above style and quietly refuse to endorse any form that may prove so attractive, even diversionary, that the centrality of gospel truth is jeopardized” (p. 85).

Reformation in Giving

3 Fantastic articles by Aaron Menikoff on Biblical giving. Please take the time to read these.

1. Reformation in Giving 1
2. Reformation in Giving 2 (tithing is the floor, not the ceiling)
3. Reformation in Giving 3

Dug Down Deep

I'm working on a review of Josh Harris' Dug Down Deep. I hear that this book will be available to purchase next week. It is really good. Encouraging. Faith-building. Helpful.

Jesus in Philippians

Here is what I feasted on this morning. These 50 references to my Savior in Philippians:

1:1 – Paul and Timothy are servants of Jesus
1:1 – The saints are in Jesus
1:2 – Grace and Peace are from Jesus
1:6 – God will complete the work He started in us at the day of Jesus
1:8 – Paul yearns for the Philippians with the affections of Jesus
1:10 – Paul prays for them to be pure and blameless for the day of Jesus
1:11 – Righteousness comes through Jesus
1:13 – Paul’s imprisonment is for Jesus
1:15 – Some preach Jesus with impure motives
1:17 – They preach Jesus out of rivalry
1:18 – Paul rejoices that Jesus is proclaimed
1:19 – The Spirit of Jesus will help Paul
1:20 – Paul wants Jesus to be honored in his body
1:21 – For Paul, to live is Jesus
1:23 – To be with Jesus is far better than living on earth
1:26 – Paul wants them to glory in Jesus
1:27 – We are to live worthy of the gospel of Jesus
1:29 – We suffer for the sake of Jesus
2:1 – Encouragement comes from Jesus
2:5 – We are commanded to have the mind of Jesus
2:6 – Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped
2:7 – Jesus made Himself nothing, being born as a servant
2:8 – Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient to death on the cross
2:9 – Jesus has the name above every name
2:10 – At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow
2:11 – Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord
2:16 – Paul looks toward the day of Jesus
2:17 – Paul hopes in Jesus to send Timothy
2:21 – Most people do not seek to glorify Jesus
2:30 – Epaphroditus risked his life for the work of Jesus
3:3 – We are to glory in Jesus
3:7 – Paul counts everything as loss for the sake of Jesus
3:8 – Paul counts everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of Jesus
3:8 – All must be rubbish in order to gain Jesus
3:9 – Righteousness comes through faith in Jesus
3:10 – Paul wants to know Jesus
3:11 – Jesus has made Paul His own
3:14 – Paul presses toward the call of God in Jesus
3:18 – Some walk as enemies of the cross of Jesus
3:20 – Jesus is the Lord and Savior, whom we wait for
3:21 – Jesus will transform our bodies by the power that enables Him to subject all things to himself
4:1 – We are to stand firm in the Lord Jesus
4:2 – We are to agree in the Lord Jesus
4:4 – We are to rejoice in the Lord Jesus
4:5 – The Lord Jesus is at hand
4:7 – God’s peace will guard our hearts in Jesus
4:13 – Paul can do all things through Jesus
4:19 – God will supply all needs according to His riches in Jesus
4:21 – The sains are in Jesus
4:23 – Paul prays that the grace of Jesus will be with the Philippians

What does it mean to be "spiritual"?

“The spiritual person is simply a believer, one who has closed with the message of the cross. Indeed, those who are most mature are most grateful for the cross and keep coming back to it as the measure of God’s love for them and the supreme standard of personal self-denial."

DA Carson, The Cross and Christian Ministry, p. 62.

You Need the Spirit to See the Son

I love the cross-fertilization that comes from reading several books at the same time. Like when the wind blows the seeds from one farmer's field into his neighbor's farm.

For example, I was reading in Josh Harris' new book this morning about the power of the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Josh challenged me to be continually seeking the filling of the Spirit day by day (Eph. 5:18).

Then, I was reading in DA Carson's The Cross and Christian Ministry. Carson opened up 1 Cor. 2 and the point that the natural man sees nothing because he doesn't have the help of the Spirit. The wisdom of the Cross is only seen by those who are enabled by the Spirit. Carson writes: "If we should express unqualified gratitude to God for the gift of his Son, we should express no less gratitude to God for the gift of the Spirit who enables us to grasp the gospel of his Son” (p. 52).

I was reminded that being dominated by the Spirit has a purpose: to see and know and enjoy Christ. Be continually being filled with the Spirit, because otherwise, you won't see Jesus.

I Love the Book of Ruth

I'm glad John Piper has a new book on Ruth: A Sweet and Bitter Providence.

2 Years ago, I preached 5 messages from the book of Ruth. The content of those messages have been among the most faith-building of any sermons I've ever preached. You can listen to them at the church website by selecting "Ruth" from the drop-down menu.

Look Your Eyes Away!

On January 6, 1850, C.H. Spurgeon was converted. 160 years ago today.

Here are the details as I recall them from chapter 7 of "The Early Years":

Spurgeon was heading to a particular place of worship but was hindered by a snowstorm. He turned into a side street and came to a Primitive Methodist Chapel. There were about 15 people and the normal preacher could not be there due to the snow. A layman stood to peach and Spurgeon says, "He was obliged to stick to his text, for the simple reason that he had little else to say." His text was "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." He preached for about 10 minutes and then pointed at Spurgeon and made some comments about his personal appearance and told him to "Look" to Christ. Spurgeon says, "Oh! I looked until I could almost have looked my eyes away."

Challenge 2010: Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly

As I do every year on the Sunday closest to New Years Day, I challenged my church to be saturated with the Bible. We meditated on just nine words from Colossians 3:16: "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly." You can listen to the sermon online and you can view our 2010 all-church Scripture Memory Schedule.

If you don't have a plan to memorize the Bible in 2010, why not join us?

Content and Methods for Preaching

“The cross not only establishes what we are to preach, but how we are to preach."

-DA Carson, The Cross and Christian Minsitry, p. 9.

What Could You Accomplish If You Got Rid Of...

...cable TV. JR Vassar has some of the answer.

Elder Training Ministry

This year, my church is starting an elder training ministry. The idea is very basic: We must always be recognizing and developing men to lead God's church.

We will start meeting regularly with men who have expressed a desire and evidence fruit of leading in the church.

Our plan is simple: meet to talk about, pray about, and pursue godliness together. To guide our discussions, we have chosen 4 books to read together over the next 5 months:

1. The Cross and Christian Ministry by DA Carson
2. The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper
3. Humility by CJ Mahaney
4. The Trellis and the Vine by Marshall and Payne

We will also be discussing various articles and sermons together, evaluating each other's lives, and challenging one another to lead our families well. Pray for us.

Bibline

Spurgeon said of John Bunyan: “His whole being was saturated with Scripture…Prick him anywhere; and you will find that his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him. He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his soul is full of the Word of God.”