Philippians

I'm absolutely loving studying, memorizing, and preaching Philippians. Each morning, I can't wait to soak in it and memorize the next portion. Each week, I can't wait to explore what the sermon passage is going to pour forth. Each Sunday, I can't wait to proclaim Christ from Philippians.

Sovereign Lord, make us say with Paul, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Ruin us for ever lesser pleasure by making us see the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. Give us contentment in the inexhaustible treasure of Jesus.

Pillar Commentary Sale!

If you don't have some or any of the Pillar NT Commentary volumes, now is a good time to buy. WTS has a special Pillar sale and the new Hebrews volume is available.

Idea: Send this link to someone who might want to have an idea of what to get you for your birthday.

Seriously?

A large-print ESV Study Bible? I don't even want to know how big that thing is.

Something Very Great is at Stake

Preparing for our elder training meeting tonight has reminded me afresh just how influential Piper's The Supremacy of God in Preaching has been in my life over the last 10+ years. I'm aware of how far I have to go in striving to be a faithful preacher. But, I'm also aware of how trivial my preaching would be had God not brought this powerful little book my way.

Looking back through my original copy with its ink-stained pages has freshly given me resolve to preach the Word in the power of the Spirit for the glory of God and the joy of my people's souls.

In chapter 7, Piper ends the book with 10 characteristics of good preaching:

1. Stir Up Holy Affections (target the heart).
2. Enlighten the Mind.
3. Saturate with Scripture.
4. Employ Analogies and Images.
5. Use Threat and Warning.
6. Plead for a Response.
7. Probe the Workings of the Heart.
8. Yield to the Holy Spirit in Prayer.
9. Be Broken and Tenderhearted.
-“There is in the Spirit-filled preacher a tender affection that sweetens every promise and softens with tears every warning and rebuke.”
10. Be Intense.
-“Good preaching gives the impression that something very great is at stake.”

A Gaggle of New Books

Here are just some of the notable new books available:

1. Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus by DA Carson
2. When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety by Ed Welch
3. The Biblical Counseling Movement by David Powlison
4. The Masculine Mandate: God's Calling to Men by Richard Phillips
5. Be Still My Soul: Embracing God's Purpose and Provision in Suffering edited by Nancy Guthrie
6. A Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ by Sam Storms (2 Volumes on 2 Cor.)
7. The Church and the Surprising Offense of God's Love by Jonathan Leeman

God Revealed Conference

Christ Baptist Church is co-sponsoring a conference on the attributes of God with several other area churches March 21-24.

You can find out all the details on this flyer. Please plan to join us and pass this flyer along to anyone you think may be interested in attending.

New Book for Pastors - $5 for a few hours

WTS Books has an introductory sale on a new book for pastors: The Shepherd Leader: Achieving Effective Shepherding in Your Church. It is only $5 for 48 hours (72% off!).

This looks like a very helpful, practical book about an area we all need to grow in. Check out the endorsements from men like Ferguson, Ryken, and Chapell.

To Be With Christ is Much Greater Better

In Philippians 1:23, Paul expresses his desire to depart from this life and be with Christ. The reason: because Christ is far better than anything or anyone.

Here is some of Spurgeon's meditation on this verse: “That bare thing, just to be with Christ is all the heaven a believer wants. The angels may be there or not, as they will, and the golden crowns and harps present or absent as may be, but if I am to be where Jesus is, I will find angels in his eyes, and crowns in every lock of his hair; to me the golden streets shall be my fellowship with him, and the harpings of the harpers shall be the sound of his voice. Only to be near him, to be with him — this is all we want. The apostle does not say, “to be in heaven, which is far better: “no, but, “to be with Christ; which is far better,” and he adds no description; he leaves the thoughts just as they are, in all their majestic simplicity. “To be with Christ; which is far better.”

What is your Center?

Here are a few questions that will help you begin to explore what is most important to you:

• What are you preoccupied with? What is the first thing on your mind in the morning or the last thing on your mind at night?
• Fill in this blank: “If only ______, then I would be happy, fulfilled, and secure.”
• What do you day-dream about? When your mind goes to neutral, what castles do you build in the sky?
• What do you try to preserve at any cost? What are you willing to fight for?
• What do you try to avoid at any cost? What would be the worst thing you could imagine ever happening in your life?

You Have a Reason to Dance Today

If you own a Bible you can read, find a place and a time to dance and sing today.

They did.

A Carnival Mirror

"I need you in order to really see and know myself. Otherwise, I will listen to my own arguments, believe my own lies, and buy into my own delusions. My self-perception is as accurate as a carnival mirror. If I am going to see myself clearly, I need you to hold the mirror of God's Word in front of me...As Christians who still have pockets of spiritual blindness, we need two character qualities. First, we need the loving courage of honesty. We need to love others more than we love ourselves, and so, with humble, patient love, help them see what they need to see. Second, we need the thankful humility of approachability. We need to forsake defensiveness, be thankful that God has surrounded us with help, and be ready to receive it--every day!"

Paul Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, p. 54.

Read Biographies!

In the sermon this morning, I encouraged my church to read Christian biographies. Lisa has posted a list of her favorites (very good list).

I'd be interested to hear some of your most-influencial biographies.

Give us Dependent Preachers

One of the gifts of God we should pray for is dependent preachers. I would rather sit under the preaching of a man who understands his dependence on the Spirit than 10,000 preachers who just go through the motions. You can tell the difference. God, make me desperate.

"How utterly dependent we are on the Holy Spirit in the work of preaching! All genuine preaching is rooted in a feeling of desperation. You wake up on Sunday morning and you can smell the smoke of hell on one side and feel the crisp breezes of heaven on the other. You go to your study and look down at your pitiful manuscript, and you kneel down and cry, “O God, this is so weak! Who do I think I am? What audacity to think that in three hours my words will be the odor of death to death and the fragrance of life to life (2 Cor. 2:16). My God, who is sufficient for these things?”"

John Piper, The Supremancy of God in Preaching, pp. 41-42.

What Timing!

A cause for great gratefulness:

The Pillar Series is my favorite commentary series.
Peter O'Brien is one of my favorite commentators (mainly b/c of his Ephesians contribution).
I'm planning to preach through Hebrews later this year and into next.
Hebrews doesn't have any really good commentaries.

So, you can see why I'm thrilled to hear that the next Pillar volume is Hebrews by PT O'Brien.

Taking Criticism as a Justified Sinner

Giving and receiving criticism is a lost reality today. Most people simply try to avoid anything negative, and thus remain shallow and surface all their lives. There is just no way to go deep without drilling beneath the surface.

Alfred Poirier has written a fantastic article called The Cross and Criticism. This is as close to a "must-read" article as possible.

Poirier helps us realize why we get defensive when criticised. We defend that which we deem of great value (our name and reputation). We justify our self and parade our good deeds for all to see. We sacrifice those closest to us for the sake of our own glory.

What we need is to believe what God says about us at the Cross. In Christ's Cross, I agree with God's judgment of me. God has judged me more intensely than anyone else ever could. Those who criticize us don't even know a fraction of the depth of our sin.

Also, in Christ's Cross, I agree with God's justification of me. The Cross declares God's verdict of acceptance of me through faith in Christ. I have nothing in myself to boast about, so I will gladly boast in the Cross of Jesus Christ.

God intends criticism to serve us in our growth in godliness. Therefore, we should respond humbly and graciously.

Spend some time with this article.

Sovereign Grace Crazy Sale

Sovereign Grace has their annual February "crazy" sale going on.

If you have kids, Be Like Jesus is a must have cd. We listen to it all the time. It is great to hear my kids singing the gospel.