It was the elephant in the room. One just can’t write a book on ambition without facing the hulking presence of humility. In the historical stare-down, humility always won. Why not just campaign for greed? … or theft? But what I discovered in studying scripture and the experience of people pursuing ambition—some historic, some quietly heroic—really grabbed me. Here’s a snapshot: The greatest ambitions are realized on the path of humility. In this short series of posts, I want to explore the goal of ambition found on the path of humility.
Tag Archives: Gospel
All Roads Lead to Heaven?
May 14, 2010 – 9:07 AM
What catches the attention of a columnist for The Washington Post? A recent column by Kathleen Parker indicates that theology has become a focus of national attention. Kathleen Parker used her column in The Washington Post to take on Franklin Graham and his belief that belief in Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.
Gospel-Centered Church Life
May 5, 2010 – 10:53 AM
Here is a great word from Michael Horton regarding the relationship between the inner life of the church and effective outreach, taken from his book A Better Way: John Calvin’s Geneva was a model city, historians say, in part because of the effectiveness of its restored diaconate (deacon board). As refugees fled persecution from all over [...]
TGC Bay Area Conference: Christ, Sex, and the City
April 23, 2010 – 1:53 PM
Last month nearly 400 people (mostly twentysomethings) from across the Bay Area showed up for our TGC: Bay Area; Christ, Sex, & The City Conference with Peter Jones. It was a great night and very encouraging to see this many people gathered together in the Bay Area to hear a message about responding to the sexuality of our culture with the gospel. Now we’re working on plans for the next conference. Here are some glimpses from the night...
The Gospel and Children
April 22, 2010 – 7:39 AM
On April 20, 2010 Mark Dever preached on Mark 10:13-16 at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary chapel.
Francis Chan Leaving Cornerstone Church
April 19, 2010 – 2:29 PM
UPDATE: For more from Chan on his transition out of Cornerstone Church please see Justin Taylor's post that includes the video of Chan talking to his congregation last Sunday and the letter he wrote them explaining his new direction in ministry. *** Francis Chan is stepping down as senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi [...]
Higher Up and Further Back
April 6, 2010 – 7:11 AM
In one of the most powerful and poetic paragraphs I’ve ever read on human yearning and the hope of the gospel, Cornelius Plantinga (President of Calvin Theological Seminary) writes: The truth is that nothing in this earth can finally satisfy us. Much can make us content for a time but nothing can fill us to the brim. [...]
Praying About Health Care Reform
March 23, 2010 – 8:35 AM
With all the noise around the country yesterday and today about health care (and no sign of it quieting any time soon) it is good to pause and pray. But regardless of your position on the new health care bill, how should Christians pray? Scotty Smith charted the gospel-centered course yesterday in his Heavenward blog. [...]
Have You "Graduated" From the Gospel?
March 18, 2010 – 8:38 AM
Scotty Smith helps us remember how desperately Christians still need the gospel. Here's an excerpt from his prayer this morning based on Mark 8:31-33: Dear Lord Jesus, one of the many things I cherish about the Bible is its unfiltered, no-hype, non-spin honesty. Who but God would write a book documenting the foibles and failures [...]
Can Ambition be too Humble?
In talking about humility and ambition, think spiritual crime scene. Ambition starts out as a business partner with humility, but doesn’t want to share control. An argument ensues. Ambition gets carried away, whacks humility and the next thing you know humility is a chalk line on the sidewalk. Ambition becomes a partner of one.