The Seven "A's" of Confession

In chapter 6 of The Peacemaker, Ken Sande has a helpful process for confessing our sin to others. He says, "If you really want to make peace, ask God to help you breathe grace by humbly and thoroughly admitting your wrongs."

1. Address Everyone Involved: Your confession should reach as far as your offense.
2. Avoid If, But, and Maybe: The best way to ruin a confession is to use words that shift the blame to others or that appear to minimize or excuse your guilt.
3. Admit Specifically: Don't generalize.
4. Acknowledge the Hurt: Express sorrow for how you have hurt or affected the person.
5. Accept the Consequences: This demonstrates genuine repentance.
6. Alter Your Behavior: What steps will you take to change?
7. Ask for Forgiveness (and Allow Time): Humble yourself and ask for the person to forgive you for your contribution to the conflict.

4 Ways to Study The Bible

Christians should love to study God’s Word. It is a sad testimony to our remaining sin that we are often bored with the Bible and resistant to study it. One of the means and effects of pursuing maturity is a deeper desire to study God’s Word. Here are four practical helps to assist you in studying the most precious book on earth:

1. Study the Bible repentantly.
James 1:21 says, “Put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” The reason we aren’t transformed by Scripture as we should be is mainly because our own wickedness keeps us from receiving and applying the Bible to our lives. This is the point of the parable Jesus told about the different kinds of soils. The seed is the same for each type of soil. In the first three types of soil, the Word is kept from thriving because of thorns, weeds, and rocks. So, when you come to God’s Word, spend some time confessing and forsaking your sin and freshly embrace Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. As you read, identify specific ways in which you have rebelled and find yourself rejoicing in Christ.

2. Study the Bible prayerfully.
Ephesians 4:18 says that, apart from Christ, we are darkened in our understanding. On our own, we will never be able to understand and apply God’s Word. We need God’s help to open our eyes and allow us to see His glory. Thus, the Psalmist prayed, “Open my eyes that I might see wonderful things in Your word” (Psalm 119:18). The Psalmist understood that he needed God’s help and so he asked God for supernatural assistance. Our constant plea should be, “Help” as we read God’s Word. Charles Spurgeon said, “If you would understand the Word of God in its difficult points, if you would comprehend the mystery of the gospel of Christ, remember, Christ’s scholars must study upon their knees.”

3. Study the Bible constantly.
Psalm 1 encourages us to meditate on God’s Word “day and night.” We are to not just study the Bible every now and then. We are to study the Bible all the time. This makes sense doesn’t it? Maximum exposure to God’s Word will lead to maximum transformation in our lives. Donald Whitney wrote, “Little Bible intake will result in little resemblance to God’s Son.” Let’s figure out ways to maximize our intake of Scripture.

4. Study the Bible purposefully.
What should be our purpose in studying the Bible? I propose that we should not study Scripture merely to gain information (although that will certainly happen), but to study the Bible in order to encounter Jesus Christ. Every page, chapter, story, command, and event is meant to reveal the glory of the Savior. The Bible is not merely a manual for how to live successfully. The Bible reveals God’s sovereign purposes to center everything in the universe on Jesus Christ. John Calvin said, “The scriptures should be read with the aim of finding Christ in them.” Whenever we lose sight of the hill of Calvary, we have lost our way.

Thankful for God’s Word,
Pastor Justin

Repentance

I just listened to Michael Vick's "apology" on ESPN.com. I am sure if you watch Sports Center, you will be hearing his words over and over again for the next few days. First, let me say that I think his apology is genuine. He seemed broken and sorrowful. Of course, facing jail time, having your name drug through the mud, and loosing hundreds of millions of dollars would break just about anyone.

In his apology, he took full responsibility for his actions and placed the blame fully on himself. Also, he is willing to accept whatever consequences the judge hands out.

Also, in his apology, he said something like, "Through this ordeal, I have found Jesus, and have turned my life over to God. I think this is the best thing to do." As I was listening, I was thinking, "Praise God."

However, toward the end of the apology, he said something that totally contradicted everything he was saying. He said, "I will redeem myself."

Thankfully, I am not the judge of Vick's heart. However, that kind of language is certainly not compatable with true repentance. True repentance never says, "I've messed up and I will do better." True repentance says, "I've messed up and I am messed up. There is no hope for me apart from the shed blood of Christ. I'm not going to try harder. I'm going to trust Christ more."

Your thoughts on Vick's apology?

The Books are Preaching to Me

There are many reasons to own good, Bible-saturated, Gospel-centered books. One of the least-obvious reasons is that they will preach to you about your sin and the sufficency of Christ from the shelf. Often, you don't even have to read them to benefit from their preaching.

Here's what I mean: I cannot count the times that I have simply scanned my shelves and focused on a particular book. God uses the title or content of that book to encourage, challenge, or rebuke me. Let me give you a few examples:

1. Chapell's "Christ-Centered Preaching" challenges me think deeply about my sermons and if Christ is central in my preaching. I have only read a few sections of that book. However, its mere presence on my shelf has been used of God.
2. Scott's "The Exemplary Husband" often reminds me to love and care for my wife. Whenever I see the title, a question immediately comes to mind: "Justin, are you an exemplary husband?"
3. Wells' "Above All Earthly Pow'rs" sits directly across from my desk as the very last book on the shelf that is just lower than eye-level from where I sit. I see it often. It spurs me to worship Christ when I see it. It reminds me that Jesus Christ is the sovereign Lord of history and that one day every knee will bow to His authority.

These counselors are gifts of God's grace to me every day.

Let me give one last, very personal, example from last week. This example is what prompted my thinking on this gift of grace.

God graciously led me to repentance last week through the mere presence of these biographies on my shelf. As you can see, they have very colorful dust jackets. When I look at my biography section, they immediately stand out.
I had been sinning by wasting precious time that had been given to me as a gift to be redeemed for Christ (Eph. 5:16). I was justifying my sin by reasoning that "everyone needs a little recreation and time to take it easy."
I just recieved these biographies as a gift from a generous friend. They have only been on my shelf for a few months (at most). There they sat, rebuking me. They said, "Justin, remember all the godly men who have recommended these 2 volumes as among the most influential biographies they have ever read? Why don't you pick us up and read us?" My answer: "I don't have time right now. I am busy and am reading other things." They gently replied, "What about that time that you call recreation? You could have read at least one of us in this past month if you had maximized your time."

God used that conversation in my conscience to preach the gospel to me. I was reminded that I am still in need of a Savior. God is good to lead me to repentance using unlikely sources: the mere presence of good books. How many countless times has he used the acutal content of these books? Myriads!