Immigration and the Gospel

Immigration and illegal aliens are a hot topic right now. I appreciate Dr. Moore's gospel-centered position on this issue. We all need a biblical worldview but he takes it a step further and helps us see how the gospel relates to illegal immigration.

Immigration and the Gospel

Marriage & Social Media

This Fox News interview discusses the dangers of social media and adultery. However, as the lawyer so rightly identifies, people who are now begin adulterous relationships through social media already had a marriage problems. The enemy will use anything to destroy marriages. Social media and texting are two very dangerous ways people get started. They begin a conversation and are in way to deep before they know it. Social media is like a rip tide, it does not seem that big a deal at first and then before you know it you are thirty miles out to sea. Proverbs says that committing adultery is like carrying hot coals on your chest. Anyone who does it will get burn and have lots of scars.

Rejoice in the Wife of Your Youth: The Cross and the Jukebox by Russell Moore

In his blog, The Cross and the Jukebok, Dr. Russell Moore tackles Conway Twitty's hit song from many moons ago, Lay You Down. I remember hearing this song when I was a kid and like Dr. Moore, I did not know what it meant. Dr. Moore uses this song to address something that is sadly missing in our culture and in the church, a positive view of fidelity marriage and sexuality in a married couple's old age. Proverbs calls husbands are to rejoice in the wives of their youth so that when they are old they will still rejoice in the wives of their old age. Dr. Moore does a great job of addressing an awkward topic for couples.

“Lay You Down” by Conway Twitty

The Red Bull Gospel | LeadershipJournal.net

This an excellent article about youth ministry and the gospel. Having been a youth minister for 12 years I certainly identify with what this article says. The big event and hoopla stuff that happened in youth ministry always bothered me. I am not opposed to having fun, anyone who knows me knows that to be true. However, to build youth ministries around big events and not on discipleship is a sin. I am glad to hear there are youth ministers trying to turn the tide back to a word-driven ministry. I am grateful for our youth minister and his wife at Grand because discipling students in the word is the most important thing to them. Keep up the good work Tim and Sam Young! I thank our Lord Jesus for you and your ministry.

The Red Bull Gospel | LeadershipJournal.net

The Ministry of the Pew

How many of us give much thought to where we sit in worship each Sunday morning? Do you ever think about the "people work" that needs to be done each Sunday? Colin Marshall gives some much needed attention to the importance of training our people in "The Ministry of the Pew." He says to take this article and teach it in your small groups. It is practical, helpful and full of keen insight. This little study is sure to enhance anyone's evangelistic efforts.

The Briefing Library: Factotum #1: The Ministry of the Pew

Salvation's Fullness a Meditation on Psalm 27

I love Psalm 27, I always have. In this Psalm, David says he wants to dwell in the house of the Lord forever so that the may gaze on the beauty of the Lord. Dr. Carson connects. Ps. 27 and Ps. 84 saying that in Ps. 84 the psalmist wanted to be at least a door keeper in the house of the Lord forever rather than possess all the carnal pleasures of the wicked. Is this my heart?

Why would I not want to dwell in the house of the Lord and worship His beauty when this Holy, most beautiful God sings over me (Zeph. 3:17)? He sings over me!! Of course I want to dwell in his presence forever and ever!

When he sings over me, my heart bursts open in wonder and exclaims, “My God, my God, why have you adopted me, claimed me and made me yours?” Then I know that the reason I love the beauty of the Lord is that there was One who, for my sake and to remove my sin, said, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me? (Ps. 22:1)”

He was forsaken that I may be claimed, adopted, and forgiven. The cross is the assurance of my forgiveness and perfection so that I may gaze on the beauty of the Lord forever.

Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me!

Culture of Discipling

Stacy and I had a great time at The Gospel Coalition 2011 this past week. Matt Chandler said it was like drinking water from a fire hose and it was but there was plenty of time to reflect so that the nurture of the word went deep in the soul. It was a conference with a nice blend of both prescriptive and descriptive information to strengthen ministry of any pastor.

I am more convinced now than ever that the gospel must be the driving force for the church. Not that I lacked that conviction before I attended the conference but it was nice to be informed that the conviction I hold and the the Bible teaches is acurate. So it is with that statement that I post the link to this audio file on what it means to build a culture of discipleship in a church. My next few posts will contain audio files that educate on the gospel and discipleship.

Just click on the link and listen to Mark Dever explain why it is important for a church to develop a culture of discipleship.

Culture of Discipling