Grace Baptist Church of Arlington

For those of you making a New Year’s Resolution to more actively read your Bible this year, you may want to consider the following resources from Good News Publishers and Crossway Books.  You can find 10 different reading plans here.  They make these plans available in 6 different forms (Web, Rss, Email, iCal, Mobile, and Print).  If you don’t understand half of what those resources I just listed mean, don’t worry, you’re in good company with me.  Happy New Year!

HT: JT

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Under Reflections

How can God allow suffering and evil in the world? from A Passion for Life on Vimeo.

HT: JT

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Under Evangelism, Theology

“The really staggering Christian claim is that Jesus of Nazareth was God made man – that the second person of the Godhead became the ‘second man’ (1 Cor 15:47), determining human destiny, the second representative head of the race, and that he took humanity without loss of deity, so that Jesus of Nazareth was as truly and fully divine as he was human.  Here are two mysteries for the price of one – the plurality of persons within the unity of God, and the union of Godhead and manhood in the person of Jesus” – J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 53

“The Incarnation is in itself an unfathomable mystery, but it makes sense of everything else in the New Testament.” – J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 54

“The baby born at Bethlehem was God made man.  The Word had become flesh: a real human baby.  He had not ceased to be God; he was no less God than before; but he had begun to be man.  He was not now God minus some elements of deity, but God plus all that he made his own by taking manhood to himself.”  – J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 57

“The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity – hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory – because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later he might hang on a cross.  It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.”  – J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 63

“For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor – spending and being spent – to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care, and concern, to do others good – and not just their own friends – in whatever way there seems need.” – J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 64

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Under Theology

That’s Christmas (Short Film) HD from St Helen’s Church on Vimeo.

HT: JT

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Under Evangelism, Reflections, Theology

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Under Grace Happenings, Reflections

I really appreciate Dr. Don Whitney’s ministry of helping Christians to apply biblical doctrine to their lives.  In a number of discipling relationships, I have read through two of his books (Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life and Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health).  I just got an email update from his ministry, The Center for Biblical Spirituality, that offered me practical ideas of how to have spiritual and meaningful conversations with friends and relatives during this Christmas season.

Here are the ten questions that Dr. Whitney suggests we ask ourselves, our friends, and family this Christmas:

1.  What’s the best thing that’s happened to you since last Christmas?
2. What was your best Christmas ever? Why?
3. What’s the most meaningful Christmas gift you’ve ever received?
4. What was the most appreciated Christmas gift you’ve ever given?
5. What was your favorite Christmas tradition as a child?
6. What is your favorite Christmas tradition now?
7. What do you do to try to keep Christ in Christmas?
8. Why do you think people started celebrating the birth of Jesus?
9. Do you think the birth of Jesus deserves such a nearly worldwide celebration?
10. Why do you think Jesus came to earth?

Ten Questions to Ask at a Christmas Gathering, Copyright © 2003 Donald S. Whitney.

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Under Church, Evangelism

I’ve been reading a book entitled The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne in preparation for meeting with a group of pastors to discuss the book.  I’d love to encourage members and especially leaders in our congregation to pick up a copy and read it.

One of the main points, if not the main point, of the book is that disciples are to be disciple-making disciples.  If that’s true (and I think that it is), then such a paradigm inevitably involves training/discipling other Christians around you.  In chapter 6 the authors walk through the heart of training. In doing so, they summarize the Apostle Paul’s training in one word, “parenting.”  I thought that was an interesting way to put it.  Here’s how they describe how Paul’s model of ministry training as parenting:

• It begins as someone is instrumental in bringing someone else to new birth.
• It is long-term and loving.
• It includes passing on knowledge, wisdom and practical instruction.
• It involves modeling and imitation.
• It forms not only beliefs and abilities, but also character and lifestyle.[1]

The book is largely addressed to pastors, encouraging them to make a shift in the way they think about ministry, but I think Christians in general can benefit from this book.  You can pick up a copy here.  Read and enjoy!

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Under Church, Reflections

I’ve been enjoying Andrew Peterson’s Christmas CD, Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ. I’ve got the original edition, but I am sure the 10th anniversary edition is every bit as good if not better.  You’ll remember that it was Peterson who brought us the catchy tune of Matthew’S Begats.

Behold the Lamb is wonderfully unconventional, but biblical, in the way it approaches the Christmas story.  It begins in the Old Testament and works its way to the New Testament.  My two favorite songs on the CD are “Deliver Us,” and “So Long, Moses.”

It would be difficult not to appreciate the biblical theology of this:

Our enemy, our captor is no pharaoh on the Nile
Our toil is neither mud nor brick nor sand
Our ankles bear no calluses from chains, yet Lord, we’re bound
Imprisoned here, we dwell in our own land

Deliver us, deliver us
Oh Yahweh, hear our cry
And gather us beneath your wings tonight

That’s from the song “Deliver Us.”  And because the whole song of “So Long, Moses” is so good, here are all of the lyrics:

So long, Moses
Hello, Promised Land
It was a long, long road
But your people are home
So long, Moses

Hello, Joshua
Goodbye, Canaanites
We’re coming to town
Twelve tribes and no crown
No crown, Oh Lord

We want a king on a throne
Full of power, with a sword in his fist
Will there ever be, ever be a king like this?

Hello, Saul
First king of Israel
You were foolish and strong
So you didn’t last long
Goodbye, Saul

Hail, King David
Shepherd from Bethlehem
Set the temple of God
In mighty Jerusalem

You were a king on a throne
Full of power, with a sword in his fist
Has there ever been, ever been a king like this?
Full of wisdom, full of strength, the hearts of the people are his
Hear, O Israel, was ever there a king like this?

Hello, prophets
The kingdom is broken now
The people of God
Have been scattered abroad
How long, O Lord?

So speak, Isaiah
Prophet of Judah
Can you tell of the One
This king who’s going to come

Will he be a king on a throne
Full of power with a sword in his fist?
Prophet, tell us will there be another king like this?
Full of wisdom, full of strength,
The hearts of the people are his
Prophet, tell us will there be
another king like this?

“He’ll bear no beauty or glory
Rejected, despised
A man of such sorrow
We’ll cover our eyes

He’ll take up our sickness
Carry our tears
For his people
He will be pierced

He’ll be crushed for our evils
Our punishment feel
By his wounds
We will be healed.”

“From you, O Bethlehem
Small among Judah
A ruler will come
Ancient and strong.”

Buy Peterson’s CD and enjoy great Christmas music!

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Under Theology

I’ve thought this for a few years now, but Jay Younts over that the Shepherd Press Blog says it better than I could.  His main point is that so often in the celebration of Christmas,  Biblical truth is combined with cultural myth.  When that happens, the heart of the Biblical truth is obscured and many are misled.  The truth of Christmas then becomes only a half truth, and as J.I. Packer would put it, “A half-truth masquerading as a whole truth becomes a complete untruth.”

Here are a couple of important paragraphs:

Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

This proclamation from the heavens has commonly been recast to say that the goal of Christmas is peace on earth. This recasting of the truth conveniently leaves out the necessity of the gospel, and makes the temporal peace of man the highest good. This reinterpreted phrasing, peace on earth, dominates Christmas cards, product advertising, and Christmas-themed TV programs and movies. You will see Peace on Earth on billboards and bumper stickers. Peace on Earth is even politically correct. No one is offended by calling for world peace.

The problem is that man’s version of world peace was not what the heavenly host was proclaiming to the shepherds 2,000 years ago. That proclamation came straight from heaven. The first line of the proclamation ascribes glory to God who reigns in the highest of all places. That, of course, is not politically correct, because it implies that there is a God to whom all men must be accountable. It assumes that there must be someone above man, to whom praise and honor is rightfully due. The second half of the couplet proclaims that peace will come only to those with whom God is pleased. This statement is definitely not politically correct–it does not have the makings of a Hallmark moment.  Do you see how recasting this line to say only Peace on Earth strikes at the heart of gospel? This heavenly proclamation is one of hope precisely because the world (apart from Christ) is at war with God and hopelessly lost. There is no possibility of peace without a Savior.

Younts gives a strong warning toward the end:

Be aware of the culture’s attempts to mix the truth of God with the myth of man’s goodness.

And equally important Younts gives important counsel to Christians (like myself) who are tempted to be arrogant during this holiday season.  He counsels Christians to have compassion. Why have compassion?  Because apart from God’s work of opening your blind eyes (and my blind eyes), we would all believe that peace on earth were possible, and so be badly misled.

We must remember that, as Younts says,

“…true peace can come only from being made righteous by the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus. Jesus was born to die and then to live again. He was born to make beautiful that which was ugly and dark. Only by embracing his life and finding forgiveness through his mercy can there truly be peace.”

That’s the good news of Christmas.  Let’s know and celebrate this Biblically-bold and eternally-wonderful peace this Christmas.

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Under Reflections, Theology

I was sitting in a meeting of pastors a few days ago and that was the counsel given to us.  We were told that we should communicate “I’m sorry.  I can’t help you.” to some folks who come into our offices.  It’s good counsel, if you understand the context of course.

We were talking about various counseling situations we’ve faced, and we focused in on especially difficult cases involving suicide.  Often people will come to pastors just before they are about to attempt suicide and they ask for help.  Usually, they’re looking for a magic bullet of sorts.  They’re hoping that pastors can recommend some medicine or give them some bit of life counsel that will make it all go away instantly, and honestly who can blame them when desperate situations/circumstances are combined with our “your way, right away” culture.  In short, people often look to a pastor as a savior of sorts.

There’s at least two reasons why the counsel, “I’m sorry.  I can’t help you” is important.  First, those in need must understand that the pastor they are talking is not The Savior.  Secondly, a pastor needs to understand that he is not The Savior.  Pastors have to learn their insufficiency and utter inabilities.

A pastor’s job is to introduce others to the Savior — Jesus.  In fact a pastor’s job is, for the rest of his life and yours, to introduce you to Jesus over and over again.  You can never know the Savior well enough, and as pastor I can’t be too clear about the fact that I am not your Savior.  I’m sorry.  I can’t help you, but I know someone who can and his name is Jesus.

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Under Church, Reflections