article, "The Gospel in all its Forms"

The following is a 6 pg article by Tim Keller on the "forms" of the Gospel. Very worthwhile read, especially for leaders.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2008/spring/9.74.html?start=1

"...if you will come to us, we will help you!"

"I am constrained to say that I believe at this very hour one of the secrets of arrest, and one of the reasons for the condition of things in the Christian Church that is troubling us in many ways, is the aloofness of the Christian Church from sinning men and women. We still build our sanctuaries, and set up our standards, and institute our arrangements, and say to the sinning ones: if you will come to us, we will help you!"
- G.C. Morgan
From commentary on Mark 2:15-17 when Jesus was accused of making friendly with sinners.

This was a problem in the late 19th - early 20th century and STILL IS TODAY.

Mike Foster: Why I Don't Believe In Accountability Part 2 | conversantlife.com

Here's part 2.

Mike Foster: Why I Don't Believe In Accountability Part 2 | conversantlife.com

Posted using ShareThis

Mike Foster: Why I don't believe in Christian accountability, part 1 | conversantlife.com

Great article on Christian accountability here from Mike Foster. (there's a part 2 to this part 1) Been walking closely with a group of men now for more than a year and I am seeing so clearly how former notions of accountability are worth far less than what I have come to understand as submission to one another. In part two of this article on accountability Mike talks about advocacy, a great way to frame what it is that we're after as we live out the gospel in community with others.

Mike Foster: Why I don't believe in Christian accountability, part 1 | conversantlife.com

Posted using ShareThis

Interview with Jeff Vanderstelt

There have been a few things lately that have begun to deeply impact my view of what the church can be in and among the people it is sent to reach.  In particular it has been the book Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis and also a church in Tacoma, WA by the name of Soma Communities.  Below is an interview of the planter of that church, Jeff Vanderstelt.  If you have 40 minutes it's worth the watch.  Incidentally Jeff will be in Raleigh for an advancethechurch.com event in later this year.

Noah's story ... re-learned

Tonight I read a post on my former youth pastor's blog that prompted a response. So I left a comment, a rather long comment. In the comment I described how some new light being shed on an "old and familiar" story, like the story of Noah, has helped me understand even more the character of God.
Here are the words from my "comment."

I have recently re-learned some of the story of Noah and it has helped me focus more on the act(s) of God in the story rather than on those of Noah. I think the statement "All Genesis tells us is that Noah was a righteous man" is not completely correct. If we begin reading the story where most Bibles put a sub-heading (verse 9) then we are led to this conclusion but if instead we begin the story of Noah back at verse 5 we will come to see something said of Noah that makes a significant impact on the telling of his tale. When we do begin reading at verse 5 we see that God is grieved at the condition of ALL of mankind (that all would include Mr. Noah) and thus considers blotting the earth clean of them as he says in verse 7. But then comes the all important verse 8: "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord." I missed these all important 10 words for at least a decade, and seeing them has changed the story for me. Many translations use the word Grace instead of favor which is probably better for most of us to understand that this was an unmerited, ill-deserved act of God upon Noah's life to make him righteous, not by his works but "by grace...through faith" as Paul explains it in Ephesians 2.

So Noah is not picked by God because he's the only righteous one left, as though he's cleaned up his act enough to get God's attention. Rather, Noah is wicked like the rest and God looks upon him with favor, or better said, GIVES MUCH GRACE and in response Noah's life is different and he obeys the Lord.

I'm telling you, this has messed up my life! Jesus has given me grace, I have found favor in the eyes of God Almighty and my life is lived out of response to this. Talk about taking my worship deeper than I ever thought possible! Thanks be to God.

Now, I am not attempting to right my former youth pastor with these words but rather wanted to share with you the glorious riches that I continue to discover in the loving words of my great God and Savior even in "old" and "comfortable" stories like that of Noah. I think the most amazing part about Noah's life is that his righteousness came from God, just like Abraham, Moses, David and so many millions of others after him...he got to be part of the redemption of men by the Grace of God through Faith in the one who had called him, just like you and me.

To Hell with such lies!

EMAILING TO EVERY MAN I KNOW:

from a blog I read this morning...

I'll finish this section with some words from John Piper in reference to a cigarette billboard with the slogan, Where a Man Belongs:

"To hell with such lies! Where a man belongs is on his knees beside his wife, leading in prayer. Where a man belongs is at the bedside of his children, leading in devotion and prayer. Where a man belongs is in the driver's seat, leading his family to the house of God. Where a man belongs is up early and alone with God, seeking vision and direction for the family. Men, I challenge you in the name of Jesus Christ our King, be where you belong!"