Gospel

Lots-o-Links 7.9.08

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Joe Thorn and I have an announcement coming on Friday.  Stay tuned.

Justin Childers has some great questions from John Bunyan.  Do these characterize your life?

If you haven't found it yet, Re:Lit (Resurgence Literature) has a new site.

In sports news, I'm enjoying following the Tour de France, though it doesn't come close to the Lance years.  And good news for the Cubs comes in a trade for two pitchers.

I remember years ago hearing Mark Dever talk about the book The Gospel Blimp by Joseph Bayly, a book on how to do and not to do evangelism.  The author's sons have put up the comic book version for your enjoyment.  Well worth checking out.

Andy Davis talks "Dangers in Reforming a Church."  Thoughtful.

How can you encourage expressiveness in worship?  Some thoughts from Bob Kauflin.

Jonathan Dodson: Help on leading an organic church and Driscoll on movements.

Chuck Lawless on evangelistic goal setting.

Jeremy Pryor: 3 powerful tools for discipleship.

Craig Groeschel: 10 lessons on developing people.

Matt Chandler audio: Creating pathways for spiritual formation.

Quite coddling your kids.  Please!  And don't miss the excellent TED video in the article.

Tony Morgan: 9 do's and don'ts for ministry growth.

Prepare for Keller's book The Prodigal God by listening to his sermon The Prodigal Sons.

Keller, Hell and The Prodigal God

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080208_SO0Xkeller_vl-verticalSome who read The Reason for God found Keller a bit light on the issue of "hell."  Keller's article, "The Importance of Hell" may just alleviate those concerns. (via)

Alex Chediak interviews Keller on The Prodigal God, Keller's new book out in October.  Pre-order it here.  While I can't wait to read it (*cough*...someone send me a...*cough*...preview copy...*cough*), I hope summer doesn't push past us too quickly just for the sake of reading a book. 

Lots-o-Links 3.2.08

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The_ghost_with_black_fingers_by_raiQuick God Story: My family is still sick, sick, sick.  Unbelievable virus we are dealing with.  We were all feeling better and now most of us are getting symptoms back.  Our youngest now has 103+ temp again.  Ugh.  But all praise to God for this story.  Saturday afternoon my debilitating fever and aches stopped and I had tons of energy Saturday night and plenty for the task this morning.  I mean I went from the worst day so far on Saturday morning, and then full of energy and vigor Saturday evening.  Then soon after gathered worship today my fever came back as did my aches and terrible cough (I didn't cough once during the sermon).  There may be some medical explanation for why I had such a dramatic health hiccup, but I know WHO is getting the credit.  I was truly singing this morning, "How Great is Our God."

Speaking of how sick I am, it would really help me turn this frown upside-down if someone would present me something this awesome with Joe Thorn's likeness on it.  It would make my year! (HT)

When was the last time you wondered how Michael Foster would approach church planting differently?  Exactly.  And he promises to elaborate.  I'm demanding he gets on it asap.

You need to make your way to the Vintage Jesus Newsroom, where Steve Camp goes for his devotional time.

Poythress, The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses, online free.

PastorHacks is into Jott (and Pinger).  I've been using Jott for a while now with great success and productivity.  I think Joe Thorn told me about Jott (I had to say that because he will speak harshly to me this week if I don't mention it.  I don't like it when Hobbits get mean, especially when I'm sick.).

I may have mentioned this before, but Piper/Bethlehem's accountability stuff is worth checking out. 

You should check out Abraham Piper's crazy little experiment of a blog.  Alas, he is his father's son.  (Only four more words.)

Speaking of numbers, Baptist Reformed types will probably not like Scot McKnight's new article, "The 8 Marks of a Robust Gospel."  Why?  It's one short.  I actually haven't read it yet, but McKnight is always worth reading (even when tragically wrong!).  No heckling me please.  I'm sick.

Here's Eugene Peterson at the 2007 Writer's Symposium by the Sea (isn't that where George McFly first kissed that chick from Howard the Duck?).  The story he tells about Bono is worth the whole thing.  (HT)

Spiritual Combustion Cycle

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Repentance and faith have been called the two dynamics of a “spiritual combustion cycle” that God means to be at work in our hearts at all times, changing us into the image of his Son. In order for us to experience the transforming power of the gospel in our lives, we must continually be repenting and believing in the gospel.

When this “spiritual combustion cycle” of ongoing repentance and faith is at work in the heart, there will be change. The reverse is also true. When there is no true change in the heart and life, it is certain that this cycle of ongoing repentance and faith is not taking place.

Steven Childers, "True Spirituality: The Transforming Power of the Gospel," p 4.

Keller Sermons on The Reason for God

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Rohrmayer: 3 x 5 Rule Ideas

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I've been sharing links to Gary Rohrmayer's helpful posts on Engaging in More Spiritual Conversations.  His newest addition provides "Ideas for Practicing the 3 x 5 Rule."  From the post...

The 3 by 5 rule is simple:  A leader seeks to find 5 contacts a day or35 a week until they get 3 meetings or sit downs to either share the gospel or the vision of the church.  A contact is securing a person's name and contact information (a business card, phone number or email.) A sit down is a follow up appointment with one of the contacts you have generated.

The primary question generated by this rule is "How do you find 35 contacts a week?" There are three sources of contacts we will look at today. 1) Follow-up Contacts 2) Networking Contacts and 3) Cold Calling Contacts.

Read more...

"Engaging in More Spiritual Conversations" (Part 1, 2, 3, & 3x5 Ideas)

Derek Webb Interview

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Webb_2I really enjoyed Said at Southern's two-part podcast interview with Derek Webb (one, two) and encourage you to give it a listen.

One thing I love about Webb is his musical and creative progress, as well as his theological progress over the years from the gospel to the implications of the gospel.  His Caedmon's and early solo writing is more gospel and his current stuff is more implications.  This is how we all should progress, right?  Some think that an album like Mockingbird shows gospel changes in Webb, but I think that's a steaming pile.  His second interview shows that his thinking on the gospel hasn't changed except that he has actually tried to work out the implications of the gospel. 

I also love the discussion on labels (they ask him several very good questions) and how hard Webb tries to avoid them and why.  Even as the first half of this interview drew fire from the more reformed crowd, Webb proves himself more humble and more thoughtful and more generous than that crowd in the second interview (which was obviously recorded at the same time as the first and before he knew the response). 

Some don't like Webb for his thoughts on politics, or friendship with Don Miller or Jim Wallis, but these interviews show that Webb is one of the most thoughtful, helpful, dynamic, engaging and self-aware artists out there.  He personifies what it means to be able to hold tight to truth and theology while still listening to other voices. 

Congrats to Tony and the Said at Southern folk.  It was not only a good interview, but it challenged me to think about the gospel, faithfulness, music, and more.  And I love the fact that this interview is done by a website that includes the name of Southern Seminary even as the interview brought fire on Webb from SBTS alumni.  Funny...and sad.

Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and Some Dudes

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Sam Storms' response to the whole baptism and the Lord's Supper thing that has been buzzing around online: "Piper, Grudem, Dever, et al, on Baptism, the Lord's Table, and Church Membership (just how "Together for the Gospel" are we?)"

I read the article this morning but with no direct link available (and some grocery shopping to do) I left it alone.  In the mean time Glenn Lucke wrote a great post and Abraham Piper quoted some Storms.

You need to read the whole Storm's article for context, but I agree with him and loved this paragraph...

My question...is this: How can we claim to be "together" or "united" for the sake of the gospel and turn away a brother or sister from the very expression and proclamation of that gospel that is so central to the life and testimony of the church? What does this prohibition say to the world around us? What must they think of our professed "togetherness" or "unity" when the elements of the Eucharist would be withheld from a brother such as Ligon Duncan?

John Piper Seminars

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From Tyler at the Desiring God blog...

Every two years John Piper completes a rotation of weekend seminars on different aspects of Christian doctrine and practice. These seminars include:

The  audio for each of these seminars is now online. Complete course notes are also available so that you can follow along.

Piper on the Bridge Collapse

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John Piper reflects on the bridge collapse in Minneapolis today.  For some reason this paragraph (near the end) stood out to me...

The word “bridge” does not occur in the Bible. There may be tworeasons. One is that God doesn’t build bridges, he divides seas. The other is that usually his people must pass through the deadly currents of suffering and death, not simply ride over them. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2). They may drown you. But I will be with you in life and death.

Gospel Coalition: Tim Keller Interviews

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KellerThe Gospel Coalition website (which has gone from a little helpful toward really helpful in a short period of time) has a number of short video interviews (linkable) with key players: Don Carson, John Piper, Mark Driscoll, and yes, Tim Keller.  As you could have guessed, I'm linking the Keller (and Carson/Keller) ones here for you.  To see them more quickly, just go to the interviews page and scroll to them.  And don't forget to visit my Tim Keller Resources page.

  • Tim Keller - What do you see yourself doing in The Gospel Coalition? | m4v
  • Tim Keller - What is the state of the pulpit in America today?| m4v
  • Tim Keller - How does preaching affect how christians see culture?| m4v
  • Tim Keller - What do you tell pastors about their family life? | m4v
  • Tim Keller - What ways can people learn from your teachings | m4v
  • Don Carson & Tim Keller - What started The Gospel Coalition? | m4v
  • Don Carson & Tim Keller - What makes The Gospel Coalition different? | m4v
  • Don Carson & Tim Keller - Assessing The Gospel Coalition | m4v
  • Don Carson & Tim Keller - How were the leaders of The Gospel Coalition gathered?| m4v
  • Don Carson & Tim Keller - What is the future of The Gospel Coalition? | m4v
  • Don Carson & Tim Keller - What threats and challenges face The Gospel Coalition? | m4v
  • Don Carson & Tim Keller - What causes fragmentation in evangelicalism today? | m4v

    • Keller on Idolatry

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    (New link to Keller's "Talking About Idolatry in a Postmodern Age.")

    I can't find a way to link to it directly, but you can read Tim Keller's "Talking About Idolatry in a Postmodern Age" at the Gospel Coalition site.  I don't think I have it linked elsewhere.

    Start on the Gospel Coalition articles page, click on "authors," click on "Tim Keller" under the "Contemporary Authors" section.

    Personally, I don't understand why sites are built so you can't link directly to everything.  But at least it's there.  Maybe they will eventually add permalinks to everything.

    UPDATE: They have added url's to all the articles. Good work guys. "Talking About Idolatry in a Postmodern Age."