May
11
2009
Come Die With Me
Last night I was officially installed as Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge. It was an amazing night. As one new church, we celebrated God’s promise to build his church. Through the praying, praising, preaching, and taking of vows, God came near and reminded us that it’s all about him and his glory, his fame, his renown. God’s presence was indeed thick and unmistakable. He was, “surely in that place.”
My friend Os Guinness reminded all of us that the church in America is indeed facing a crisis and the answer is not structural renovation but spiritual renewal. He exhorted all of us from Exodus 33 to never stop praying, “Lord, show me your glory.” When the weightiness of God rests on the church and spills out from the church, the world is changed. It was a great reminder that the ultimate factor in the church’s engagement with society is the church’s engagement with God.
And then one of my dearest friends, John Wood (senior minister of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville), charged both the congregation and me to die. With God-fueled fire in his eyes, he reminded all of us that bearing fruit requires death. Jesus said we must die in order that we might live. Daily Christian living, in other words, is daily Christian dying: dying to our trivial comforts, soul-shrinking conveniences, arrogant preferences, and self-centered entitlements, and living for something much larger than what makes us comfortable and safe. God does everything through people who understand they’re nothing. And God does nothing through those who think they’re everything.
Through these men and the vows that both I and the congregation took before God to love and support one another in mutual service, God reminded us that he will do great things if we embody his life giving Gospel for each other and the world.
I believe this one new church will thrive beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine if it’s packed with Gospel intoxicated people: people who understand that since Christ laid his life down for us, we must lay our lives down for others; people who love sacrifice over safety–serving others rather than being served. A Gospel saturated church is a church filled with people who give everything they have because they understand that in Christ they already have everything they need. It’s a church filled with people who, like Jesus, love giving up their place for others, not guarding in their place from others.
So, having been duly installed and charged, I invite all of you to spend your life dying with me.
Let this one new church show the watching world what human life and community can look like when a pack of God-centered missionaries spend their life seeking to serve rather than be served.
Fasten your seatbelts.
26 Comments
I’m still “on reverb” from last night; what an INCREDIBLE Lord’s day yesterday, both Sunday morning and Sunday night. John Wood absolutely rocked! And heartfelt thanks to Brandon and John Wilson for collaborating on the marvelous blended worship. My family is so excited to be a part of what God is doing at Coral Ridge. We could not be happier to serve under you, Pastor Tullian, our shepherd/teacher, as you serve under the Great Shepherd. Side-to-side and back-to-back … with seatbelts cinched tight and hair blown back!
Something God-great is happening in South Florida.
It was encouraging to see the community represented during the Installation reminding us all that we serve a great God who wants us to Spend Time with Him, Trust Him, Obey Him, and Tell others about Him as we get ready to be led by our new “Joshua” into the land promised by our Faithful God.
It’s all about Him.
Amazing evening…truly blessed, honored and privileged to have witnessed and been a part of such a celebration of proclaiming God’s truths and watching His will unfold. All GLORY to God. Seatbelt – check!
Congratulations, Tullian. Yeah, the charge by John Wood was outstanding. If I ever have the privelege to be ordained, I hope I have a charge like that. I loved the part where he said something roughly to this effect: “One day even this whole beautiful campus will be gone. And the kingdom will not have lost a single thing, because the kingdom God is building is made of living stones with Christ as foundation, not of concrete and glass.” Amen! AMEN! I hope the way we use our resources here at CRPC will begin to better reflect the priorities of the kingdom GOD is building.
And the charge to remain humble in the face of all the attention was crucial. If I was in your position, I don’t know how I would last a week without becoming puffed up. May God give you amazing grace as you take this very public position of leadership in American evangelicalism.
Amen Tullian, we’re all strapped in, ready to go. Blessings on each and every one of us.
Rev. Tullian,
It has been an ‘out of this world’ experience witnessing all that GOD has done and is continuing to do here at Coral Ridge through you & your God-fearing, spirit-led team. There was so much love in that place for you & your ministry, it was awe-inspiring! I whole-heartedly affirmed the vows set before our congregation last night & pray that God will use me in some small way to turn hearts toward home.
Thank you for reminding me, just how much I need the GOSPEL and that ‘dying’ to self is a process that must continue to happen each & every day of my life. May you continue to always honor GOD with all your words, actions & deeds. I joyfully join you in His work,—dying to self in order to LIVE.
Blessings to you & your precious family. Thank you, Lord for placing my family in South Florida so that we may continue to walk the ‘unfashionable’ road with Rev. Tullian.
~Laura Testa
Just remember to keep you eyes on Jesus and we all will be able to walk on water…even during the dark times to come. Peace be with you all, in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit…AMEN!
My husband, Richard, and I are so thankful for your answering God’s call to come to Coral Ridge Church to be our pastor. How we have prayed and watched and waited to see what God would do–how He would bring revival to this church that was slowly fading like a lovely flower past its bloom. While we were waiting, God was pruning; sometimes it was painful. Now, in bringing you here as our pastor, God has also grafted in new and vibrant shoots! Already we can see that the original tree is getting healthier and stronger, and we are excitedly anticipating the fruit to come.
I’ve been thinking of what God has done in lifting you up–placing you on the shoulders of two great men, your grandfather and Dr. Kennedy. This should give you a vision that exceeds most in your generation. Our prayer is that given that vision, your heart will be kept pure so that you will able to lead us through whatever the future holds–even adversity and persecution.
We pray God will give you His wisdom, guidance, and His refreshing peace in your heart–even when storms howl around you.
Standing with you and for Him,
Karen and Richard Gushta
I just listened to a biography on Martin Luther by John Piper. In this talk, he highlighted Luther’s hermeneutic there: Oration, meditatio, tentatio (Prayer, meditation, trial)
“5. Which leads us to the next characteristic of Luther at study, namely, suffering. For Luther, trials make a theologian. Temptation and affliction are the hermeneutical touchstones.
…He proved the value of trials over and over again in his own experience. “For as soon as God’s Word becomes known through you,” he says, “the devil will afflict you will make a real doctor of you, and will teach you by his temptations to seek and to love God’s Word. For I myself … owe my papists many thanks for so beating, pressing, and frightening me through the devil’s raging that they have turned me into a fairly good theologian, driving me to a goal I should never have reached” (see note 58).”
tune in for much encouragement of soul!
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1470_Martin_Luther_Lessons_from_His_Life_and_Labor/
First off, congratulations again. I wish I could have been there. I’m jealous for God’s Presence.
Dying to self, hmm, sounds like an Andrew Murray book. I read a ton of his stuff when I was a younger Christian. Of course, it sounds like Christ. I think that up until this point (and beyond, I’m sure), there has been a lot of excitement, and that’s wonderful. But what will happen when we leave the mountain top and enter the plains, or even the valleys, which are promised. God indeed promises us wonderful times, but He also promises us hard times, tribulation and trial. Will we die to self then? Will we die when feelings are hurt, jobs are lost, relationships are damaged, loved ones are lost, and tragedy strikes? Will we covenant with God to forgive the oppressor, encourage the weak, rebuke in love the offender, comfort the afflicted and hide under the shadow of our wings the trembling? This is where Christ’s glory is truly seen, in weakness, in pain, in tragedy, in hardship. Praise God for the good and wonderful times, God’s health and prosperity. But praise Him all the more for the “thorn”, in the “dark night of the soul”. “Rise up, O men of God. Have done with lesser things. Give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of Kings. ” Let’s indeed die to self!!
I thought I’d put the rest of the words of the hymn on the blog, if you don’t mind. What a reminder!!
Let’s die to self for Christ together, shall we?
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To serve the King of Kings.
Rise up, O men of God,
In one united throng.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.
Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up, and make her great!
Rise up, O men of God!
Tread where his feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!
I am so excited to see the direction Coral Ridge is taking! I love your passion for the Gospel–that’s what truly makes a difference! God bless you in your new leadership role.
Here, here, Sam!! The Gospel is the power and wisdom of God. Why have we been searching for the wisdom and power of God in other places?
Tully as a old song once stated my bags are packed I’m ready to go ! Sit down, buckle up
were going for a ride into the construction zone . God working through you and the church
will lead us all on a earth moving mission .
My family and i are ready to make the full commitment with great enthusiam, postive attitude
and the never look back, just keep going philosphy . I believe that anything less would
be a disappointment to god .
Tullian, in your sermon last Sunday you encouraged those who were grieving loss for the past ‘glories’ of both premerged congregants. I do have a question for you. You comforted those who were grieving. What do you have to say to those of us who are so excited, thrilled, beside ourselves with what we see God doing in our midst that we, at times, can’t contain ourselves and don’t know what to do with ourselves? I am also tearing out my Jonah notes from my bulletin each week to compile them, hole punch them, etc. I even find myself going to the Classical Service after Sunday School so that I can’t get another round of what I heard in the Blended Service. Don’t give me an answer right away about I should do with myself, but you may want to address the several ecstatic, crazies like me sometime in the future. Maybe what I could do in the interim is to comfort the grieving.
Tullian,
You surely have brought the much needed “gift of tears” with you.
Thank you
R J,
I feel the same why that you do! It’s like a fire of light has been lit at CRPR and I can’t help but smile & praise God for his faithfullness!! I, too, have not come in contact with the ‘grieved’ or ‘disenchanted’ and I pray that the spirit can work through me and outwardly to those who need the comfort. All I can do is share my experience, I guess,—and I feel peace knowing that GOD is surely at CRPC and with Tullian in the driver’s seat, I feel safe, & secure that the ride will be amazing & God-honoring! We have so much to learn, each & every one of us…we all fall short & I’m thankful that Tullian preaches this each & every week…I need to hear it over & over again…because maybe one of these days, it will stick!!
It is my fervent prayer that God will touch every human heart at CRPC and effect them in such a way that they desire, yearn, and run toward being the self-sacrificial disciple that we are truly meant to be in CHRIST!!!
P.S. — I received the audio version for Unfashionable as well as the written book…..I suggest everyone get a copy of the audio version & listen to it as your driving because it sure is making wise use of my time!!
~Laura Testa
I’m so encouraged by the posts on this blog. It is refreshment to hear from the hearts of Christians that I miss between our gathering on Sundays. I guess when I think about our present emotions with the renewal taking place at CRPC, and when I read what David wrote above, the thought comes to mind: what goes up must come down. I don’t think this is the case for Christians. Our God can make the axe head float! In the midst of famine, the widow of Zarepath thinks she and her son may only eat one more meal before they die, but she believes the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah, “The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.” By faith she gave Elijah what she thought was her last meal, and then the Scripture says, “she and he and her household ate for many days.” So if things seem to subside in the days to come, keep the faith and abide with Christ. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” So let us indeed die together! In doing so we will see that there is no diminishment in God’s work, for even the worm which ate the plant at the end of Jonah was appointed by God. It’s when we reject the pursuit of God in our lives that we become like Jonah–asleep in the inner part of the ship, unconscious of the great wind “the Lord hurled”.
I’d also like to push two upcoming CRPC events. First is the cookout this Saturday over at the Westminster picnic area starting at 4pm. This is a great time of fun and getting to know one another. The second is the monthly time of prayer that will be meeting again on Saturday, June 6th, from 9am until 10am in the fellowship hall. Just as goodness comes when we feast and play, it also comes when we fast and pray.
…also, in order to keep myself from getting into further trouble, everyone should attend the CHILDREN’S CHOIR MUSICAL this Sunday at 1pm in the Sanctuary.
Tullian:
We’ve not met yet…Just completed “Unfashionable.” Thanks for synthesizing so well (and communicating so clearly) what needs to be said for generation next among evangelicals. I’m an aging boomer who longs to know that my generation’s passion for Jesus and his kingdom has found rootage among those now assuming spiritual leadership. Count me in as one who longs to see our churches rise up as the “fellowship of the unfashionable” who are willing to die….Many are watching–and praying for–God’s work through your pastoral leadership @ CRPC. May our Lord be pleased to raise up generation next here in the Memphis area. Hope you will have opportunities to minister in our part of the country.
Kendell Easley
Union University
I am still reflecting on and basking in the “afterglow” of last Sunday. What a day!
What a Mother’s Day gift!!!
It is difficult for me to envision ever being in another such glorious ( in every way) worship service until I worship Him in Glory.
I am thinking, reflecting and pondering the words of OS and John.
I was priviledged to be at Tullian’s ordination and hear John’s charge. He didn’t mince words then and he didn’t mince words this time. What a message! This was for all of us.
Brandon and John, thank you for an absolutely God glorifying, beautifully blended, musical worship experience.
Again, from a mother’s heart thank you.
Thank you to each one of you, the members, Elders, Deacons, leaders and all the support staff of the merged churches. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do, to accept, support, and come alongside Tullian. Thank you for your gracious love and open arms to Kim and the precious children.
Now, for a mother’s caution. Satan is mad.
Yes, this is a time of excitement, rejoicing, thanksgiving, but it is also a serious time.
When we were young, my father told us, “the devil is a good devil”. When we showed surprise at his words, he explained. The devil is very effective and does his job well.
So dear ones, it is also a time to watch and pray…… clothed in full armour.
Mom
Thank you, “Mom”, for the reminder about the devil & his ‘ways’! I can only imagine your joy in the witnessing of your son’s welcome & charge last Sunday! (I’ve read many of your books in which you shared your heart & aches over the trials & challenges Tullian faced as a prodigal.) What incredible, indescribable joy!
I rejoice with you as a mom & fellow follower of the KING of KINGS & LORD of LORDS!!
…..Got to go get my armour on & see that my kid’s have their’s on as well!…..
Patty
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serving others…
On Earth as it is in Heaven ” Blog Archive ” Come Die With Me is an excellent post. But I feel it is missing on a few points….