The Gospel Coalition

Father, hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children.

Keep them from the powers of evil,
From the secret, hidden peril,
From the whirlpool that would suck them,
From the treacherous quicksand pluck them.

From the worldling’s hollow gladness,
From the sting of faithless sadness,
Holy Father, save our children.

Through life’s troubled waters steer them,
Through life’s bitter battle cheer them,
Father, Father, be thou near them.

Read the language of our longing,
Read the wordless pleadings thronging.
Holy Father for our children,
And wherever they may bide,
Lead them home at eventide.”

- Amy Carmichael’s 19th century prayer for the children of the Dohnavur Fellowship in India

My sentiments exactly:

Seven links for your weekend reading:

1. Why Polls Make Us Dumb

2. A Man’s World: The sexual economics of college campuses empower men at the expense of women

3. Civil War: Why Tennessee Seceded from the Union, and Why It Took So Long

4. A Parody of Over-Interpreting the Bible

5. Some Thoughts on Sanctification from Jerry Bridges

6. Why Apple is Doomed

7. Don’t Show Them What You’re Made Of

Good questions prod us along toward greater effectiveness in fulfilling our calling. Here are some probing questions that I have found helpful in pastoral ministry.

About Preaching

1. How can I show the congregation how this passage / topic fits into the grand narrative of Scripture?

• This question reminds me to connect the dots of the Bible’s storyline, so that the people in our congregation see application in light of the great story of God’s redemption.

2. As I preach from the Old Testament, is there anything in my sermon that a faithful Jew could not affirm?

• This question reminds me to consider whether I am approaching the Old Testament from a distinctly Christian perspective. It increases my desire to show the congregation how the gospel is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises.

3. As I preach from the New Testament, is there anything in my sermon that a Mormon could not affirm?

• This question reminds me to examine whether or not my admonitions are rooted in the gospel or in morality. It points me toward Christ as Savior, not just Christ as example and helper.

4. Am I addressing this topic or cultural issue from a distinctly Christian point of view?

• This question challenges both conservative and liberal talking points and forces me back to the gospel of grace as the message that makes Christian preaching unique.

5. What is there in me/us (preacher and congregation) that will rebel against the truth of this text and how can I  move us beyond that rebellion?

• This question reminds me that God’s word must capture my heart and affections before I can properly proclaim it to the congregation. It also helps me to look for obstacles that would keep us from obedience.

6. How does the truth I am proclaiming equip Christ’s church to be on mission for the kingdom of God?

• This question helps me look past doctrine for doctrine’s sake, and causes me to focus on missional application of biblical truth.

About the Mission of the Church

7. If our church were to cease to exist, would anyone in the community be affected? Would anyone mourn the loss?

• This question challenges a view of the church that exists only for itself and its members. It forces us to ask hard questions regarding our impact as a body of believers in the world God has placed us.

8. What would the result be if everyone in our church shared the gospel as often as I do?

• This question challenges me in regards to personal evangelism. Am I asking church members to do something I myself am not doing regularly? Am I modeling evangelistic faithfulness?

9. What are the unique needs of our community that our church members could address as part of providing a platform for proclaiming the gospel?

• This question challenges me to see community engagement as an opportunity to build a platform upon which to present the gospel faithfully. It also causes me to look for the ways God has gifted individuals in our churches to faithfully represent Christ in areas of need.

10. Are the programs and activities of our church the best way to spend our time, money, and energy to spread the gospel locally and globally?

• This question challenges us to look at our programs and ask difficult questions related to our church’s mission. We shouldn’t be satisfied with relying on the good things we do if those good things do not aid us in fulfilling our primary calling: to fulfill the Great Commission.

11. Am I focused primarily on training people to bring the lost to church where I will present the gospel? Or am I focused on equipping people to share the gospel throughout the week in their workplace, neighborhood, and schools?

• This question challenges us to see evangelism as a life-long exercise, and not merely an event-driven practice done by professionals.

What about you? What questions do you ask yourself regularly as you seek to faithfully fulfill your calling?

Shock Value: Pro-Life Transgressions of the Avant Garde

The avant-garde theater at Chapel Hill no longer attacks the sensibilities of the students, but rather provides them with the sort of work they want to see in the first place—work that does not challenge their moral paradigm, but confirms it—because the moral paradigm implicit in the avant-garde has now become the moral paradigm of much of the middle class. This, of course, is done in the guise of carrying on the tradition of the avant-garde. What is really avant-garde today, in the original, combative sense of the term, is to stand for life, for beauty, and for truth. Nothing shocks us more.

Millennials and Email in the Workplace:

Many of you Millennials will be evaluated to some degree by what you communicate and how you communicate. Email for now is the dominant form of communication in businesses and other organizations. With humility, allow me to suggest a few guidelines for your younger generation to be most effective in this mode of communication. And it wouldn’t hurt for your older peers to follow along as well.

Egypt’s Christians Fear Violence as Changes Embolden Islamists:

The Arab Spring initially appeared to open a welcoming door to the dwindling number of Christian Arabs who, after years of feeling marginalized, eagerly joined the call for democracy and rule of law. But now many Christians here say they fear that the fall of the police state has allowed long-simmering tensions to explode, potentially threatening the character of Egypt, and the region.

I can’t wait for this album from Steven Curtis Chapman:

His new album, re:creation, due out in August, will include new versions of some S.C.C. classics along with a handful of new tunes. ”I have found that so many of my songs have taken on such new meaning for me,” Chapman says, explaining why he didn’t just release a greatest-hits disc. “They mean something different, so I wanted to re-create them from where I am now.” While the lyrics won’t change, the sound will, going in a more organic, acoustic direction (hint: listen for some banjo and ukulele).

Kevin Ezell reflects on his first eight months as president of the North American Mission Board. Exciting days ahead!

It’s been eight months since I stepped into the role of president here at the North American Mission Board. I’d like to thank you, Southern Baptists, for allowing me a few months to get a better understanding of how we do what we do. I appreciate your patience and your prayers.  My hope is that I can clearly communicate our direction in the midst of a very complex transition.

Brief notes on two books I’ve read recently:

Radical Together:
Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God
David Platt (Multnomah)
My Rating: ****

Building on his best-selling book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, pastor David Platt challenges churches to seek the glory of God as churches, not merely individuals. Calling into question our devotion to “good things” that distract us from the “best things,” Platt reminds readers that the gospel that saves us from work saves us to work. Along the way, he clarifies the need for grace—not guilt—to be our motivation as we make disciples of all nations.

The Legacy of the King James Bible:
Celebrating 400 Years of the Most Influential English Translation
Leland Ryken (Crossway)
My Rating: ***

English professor Leland Ryken celebrates the anniversary of the King James Version by recounting the translation’s history and influence throughout the world. This book is an extended apologetic for the literary superiority of the KJV and other translations that hold to the same philosophy. In Ryken’s demonstration of KJV influence, however, it is not always apparent if the ubiquity of KJV references is directly attributable to the translation quality of the KJV or simply more evidence of the power of the biblical text.

- these reviews were first published in Christianity Today, May 2011

10 pieces of counsel for seminarians:

As I finish I wanted to write down general advice for those just starting or thinking about starting Seminary where ever it may be. I realize my advice will be somewhat specific to my situation. I went to a particular school, had particular interests, and enjoyed particular classes, and was in a particular degree program. But I still hope that this will be of some value.

The Foot-Washers of Ethiopia (Love this story!):

Physician Larry Thomas remembers a luncheon two years ago in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where many folks interested in a dreadful, newly discovered disease called podoconiosis—”podo” for short—met for the first time. ”As we were about to eat, I asked, on an impulse, if anyone would mind if we thanked God for the food. The response was startling,” says Thomas, also the founder of Tropical Health Alliance Foundation. “Not only did everyone want to pray, they began to share about their faith. We soon realized that we were all fully vested Christians.”

Nancy Guthrie: “What Do You Mean When You Talk about Christ in the Old Testament?”

Only a few years ago my own understanding of how Christ is seen in the Old Testament was mostly limited to prophecies of Christ’s coming and a few of the more obvious types and symbols that point to Christ. But I experienced a real breakthrough as I began to listen to Christ-centered preachers who presented Christ from every part of the Scripture.

Doug Wilson: Seven Thoughts on Time Management

Strive for deep conviction more than superficial originality, and deep originality will come. Your tomatoes will take the ribbon at the fair, provided you learned how to grow them in your own dirt.