Preaching the Gospel to Yourself

Drew Goodmanson has a very helpful article on how Christians can and must preach the Gospel to their own souls.

Read his entire article here. See also his visual diagram here.

He suggests doing two primary things; one downward and one upward.

I. Down the Slope of Repentance (Objective: To see and confess that I am a bigger sinner than I thought.)

a. See and own your sin.

b. See the sin beneath the sin.

c. Expose the idols of your heart.

II. Up the Slope of Faith (Objective: To thank God that Jesus is a much bigger Savior than I thought.)

a. View repentance as a gift.

b. See Jesus as the only true Savior.

c. Embrace the Gospel as your motivation for living.

Interesting New Data from Thom Rainer

This week, Thom Rainer has posted two articles of interest for those involved with church leadership.

The first deals with major trends for churches in America. Read the entire post here. The five major trends he identifies are:

1. Our nation will see the emergence of the largest generational mission field in over a century.

2. The dominant attitude of this huge generation toward Christianity will be largely indifferent.

3. Senior adult ministries in churches will experience steep declines.

4. The large Boomer generation will become more receptive to the Gospel.

5. Family will be a key value for both of the large generations.

He concludes:

"Trend projecting is a meaningless exercise if it fails to engender action. Ultimately each local church must determine where God is leading the congregation. In the case of the five trends noted here, the opportunities seem significant. May the response of Christians and churches be nothing less than radical obedience."

The second post is entitled, "Why Church Guests Return."

He provided three main reasons:

1. Doctrinal Integrity.

2. Passion.

3. Relevance.

Read the whole post here.

Two GCRTF Articles of Interest

Jerry Rankin leaves no room for wondering where he stands in all of this at his blog post today.

His conclusion:

"I realize there is a diversity of perspectives, and I respect those who are passionately defending their programs and ministries. However, it is tragic if we should defend the wonderful programs and ministries for which we are responsible to the detriment of a lost world knowing Jesus Christ. To me the alternative is clear—change or continue the status quo. The GCR Task Force may not have it all correct, but they have cast a challenge for how we can make a difference and reverse the trends."

Danny Akin on why he believes the GCRTF recommendations is good for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention: Part 2a with Steve McKinion

His conclusion:

"The Conservative Resurgence was a great effort among Southern Baptists to reflect our common commitment to the Truth of Scripture. But simply to claim a belief in an inerrant Bible is not enough. Because we believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God – the only reliable and infallible account of God’s work of salvation – we have no option but to join Him in the work of the Gospel. As Southern Baptists stand together on the truth of God’s Word, our celebration of the Gospel will naturally result in its proclamation to the nations."

ESV On-line (FREE!)

I found this at Zach Nielson's blog:

New ESV Online

Crossway Blog:

Crossway is pleased to announce the new ESV Online. A key part of Crossway’s ESV Digital initiative, the ESV Online is a powerful and convenient tool giving access to the ESV Bible and other resources for understanding and applying God’s Word.Free access to the ESV Online is now available by signing up at http://www.esvonline.org/. Users are able to customize their own interface, highlight and mark verse numbers, add bookmark ribbons, search the ESV text, and manage personal notes. The free version also includes a variety of daily reading plans and devotional calendars.

Want to try the highly acclaimed ESV Study Bible free? For a limited time, everyone who signs up for an ESV Online account will receive a free 30 day trial access to the ESV Study Bible. Current Online ESV Study Bible users will be contacted via email over the coming weeks and will have their accounts migrated to the ESV Online site with access to all the study notes and resources. The Study Bible module is also available to purchase within the ESV Online platform or for free with the purchase of any print edition of the ESV Study Bible.

In addition to the above, Crossway is developing many more ESV Online modules to enhance the study of God’s Word. Stay tuned for the release of Greek tools, MacArthur study notes, commentaries, Bible Audio recordings in numerous languages, and much more!

Coming this summer, ESV Online users will be able to sync their account with mobile ESV Bible apps so personal highlights and notes can be accessed and updated anywhere.Crossway also invites ESV Online users to offer their thoughts and suggestions for future improvements and new ESV Bible resources. We look forward to serving you with ESV digital initiatives and the development of innovative tools—to make the ESV Bible accessible to everyone, everywhere, every way.

The Poison of Quaint Moralism

I don't know Tyler Jones, but I think he gets it EXACTLY right about the main problem with Chrisitianity in the South.

Click here to read his hard, yet correct assessment of 'Southern' Christians.

A portion:

"The South has been poisoned, and the poison is "quaint moralism." This poison has systematically infected tens of millions in the South and we are now in the midst of a moralistic pandemic. Who has dispensed this quaint moralistic poison? The blame lies with Christianity! We have blared from pulpits, on radio waves, even in movie theaters that "it's good to be good." We have taught that when you do what the Bible says, your wife will obey, your dog will obey, and your kids will obey. For decades now we have filled churches by declaring that those among us who are ethical churchgoers will be accepted by God and those of us who don't go to church will burn, burn, burn."

And again,

"Our churches are full of good-looking, upright, moral people. The tragic irony is that our goodness is our poision. A great many Southerners claim Christianity as their religion, mimicking righteousness on the surface while their hearts remain unchanged by the gospel of Jesus. I understand the gravity of that statement and do not make it hastily. Here in the South, the gospel has either been ignored or foolishly assumed. We have satiated our desire for God through quaint morality, allowing people to ignore their need for Jesus."

May God help us.

How Can I Know My Spiritual Gift?

Juan Sanchez has a great and helpful article here.

He offers these five suggestions:

1. First, find out what the body needs.

2. Once you see and begin to see the nees of the body, PRAY!

3. Ask yourself, 'What Do I Enjoy Doing?'

4. Seek godly counsel.

5. Serve! Don't just sit there, do something!

When I preached through 1 Corinthians 12, 13, and 14 a few years ago at WBC, I developed the following questions based on that study. Intriguing to me how similar the questions are. I will post them tomorrow (God willing) when I get back to the office.

UPDATED:

Here are five observations/challenges I gleaned from the study in 1 Corinthians several years ago:

How Can I Determine My Spiritual Gift?

• Ask God to reveal what your spiritual gift is.
• Evaluate your church and determine, in your opinion, what areas are lacking.
• Evaluate your own soul and ask, 'what is my passion as far as it relates to the glory of Jesus Christ and making Him known?'
• Begin to serve immediately in various capacities to see if blessings come from it (blessing for you and for others).
• Ask the Lord to interweave it all together for the good of the church, the joy of your soul, and the glory of His name.

More on the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force and the SBC

Other articles of interest in the blogosphere in addition to the ones I posted yesterday:

Danny Akin on why he (and others) believe the GCR Task Force Recommendation is good for the future of the SBC.

Alvin Reid on "Why Attend the Southern Baptist Convention in 2010."

Jon Akin on "What Are We Voting for in Orlando: A GCR or CPR?"

Great Christian Audio

Some great (and free) audio is available for download at various sites around cyberspace.

Here are a few I have recently come across and have downloaded (or plan to shortly) to my itunes:

1. John Piper on adoption and orphan care at the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit VI.

2. Breakout sessions at the recent Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville, KY (including David Platt).

3. Recent Advance the Church conference sessions (including David Platt).

4. Free audio book download of the month at Christian Audio: Richard Stearns' The Whole in Our Gospel.

5. Al Mohler's radio program ALWAYS has recent, relevant, and intelligent Christian conversation about the issues that matter (to use his words).

Are Christians Meant to Feel Guilty All the Time?

An incredibly interesting, insightful, and helpful post from Kevin DeYoung here.

I encourage you to read the whole thing. Here I will post his four answers to the question, "Why do Christians feel guilty all the time?"

1. We don't fully embrace the good news of the Gospel.

2. Christians tend to motivate each other by guilt rather than grace.

3. Most of our low level guilt falls under the ambiguous category of "not doing enough."

4. When are truly guilty of sin, it is imperative that we repent and receive God's mercy.

The Latest News/Info. on the Southern Baptist Convention and the Great Commission Resurgence

There is alot of talk out there about the Southern Baptist Convention and the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force (GCRTF) recommendations. Below is a list of links that will help better inform as to what is going on and what is being said.

The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force Report and Recommendations.

Jerry Rankin in Responding to the Challenges from the GCRTF

Jerry Rankin on Alternative Futures of the SBC Based on Responses to the GCRTF Recommendations:

Here. Here. Here. and Here.

Thabiti Anyabwile's Compilation of SBC Related News and Notes

Discussion Questions from 05/09/2010 Sermon at WBC

Yesterday morning, I was back in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 16:14-17.

The title of the message was, "Self is the Salvation of Man." You can watch or listen by going here later today.

Here a some questions to continue your thinking on the Scripture text and the message:

1. Bro. Matt said that he seemed to think the theme of the entire chapter of Luke 16 is found in verse 15 where Jesus said to the Pharisees: "For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." What are some themes/subjects you see in Luke 16 that men exalt and God hates?

2. Which one of these subjects do you most wrestle with? Why?

3. Bro. Matt said that he believed the correct interpretation of Jesus' words in Luke 16:16 regarding "everyone forcing his way into the kingdom" was that those who are members of the kingdom of God have had a supernatural, Holy Spirit driven force awaken them to their understanding of their need of Christ.

Supporting texts he used were: Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 3:3-8; John 6:44; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 John 5:1

Do you agree with his interpretation? Why or why not?

How does the context of Luke 16 help with this interpretation?

4. Why is it that deciding to "turn over a new leaf in life" regarding one's relationship with God is really something God hates?

5. Why is it that trying to make yourself right with God on your own an abomination to God?

6. In what ways have you been guilty of trying to earn a right status with God by reflecting on your own good works and deeds and efforts? How have you been guilty of trying to ease your own conscience by reflecting on your 'righteous works'? Why is doing this something that is despised by God?

7. What is the biblical way of being right with God? Why is this SO important?

8. The Pharisees were guilty of ridiculing Jesus after they heard his discussion about money. What has Jesus been calling you to do with your resources that you have been putting off, or ignoring, or in a sense 'ridiculing' Jesus for calling you to such radical action?

Radical Releases Today

David Platt's book Radical releases today. Praise God.

Find out about the book here.

Watch a video introducing the book here (scroll down).

Find out about the Bible Study being released here.

Sign up to receive and read the first chapter on-line for free here.

May God use the biblical truth(s) found in this book through the heart of His servant David Platt to stir up a radical revolution for the glory of His name around the world!

Great Advice and Counsel on Praying Well

Consider these prayers for an awakening at our church.

Consider this exhortation from JT's blog:

"If Jesus answered all your prayers from the last 30 days, would anything change in THE World or just YOUR world?"

Consider John Paton's advice on the best way to punish one's children.

Consider the components and challenges presented in the GCR Task Force Report.

Great Commission Resurgence Task Force Report

The new and revised report from the Great Commission Task Force was made public this morning.

Click here to watch, read, and/or download the report.

So far, from what I have been able to thorougly skim, I love what I read. It makes me proud and excited (again!) to be a Southern Baptist.

I encourage you to take to heart what the task force recommends for everyone within the SBC.

Consider the challenge(s) given to individual families in the report:

Challenges for Individual Families

- Emphasize biblical gender roles with believing fathers taking the lead in modeling Great Commission Christianity and taking the primary responsibility for the spiritual welfare of their families.

- Recognize that parents have the primary responsibility of educating their children and helping them to cultivate a Christian worldview way of thinking and living.

- Build gospel saturated homes that see children as a gift from God and our initial mission field. Consider, in this context, the vital ministries of adoption and orphan care.

- Make prayer for and the evangelism and discipleship of children a family priority that begins with parents and is assisted by local churches.

- Develop strategies as a family for praying for, serving, and sharing the gospel with neighbors, coworkers, and others with whom family members come into regular contact.

- Adopt a different unreached people group each month and pray as a family 1) for IMB missionaries working with the people group, 2) for the conversion, baptism and discipling of countless individuals within the people group, and 3) for the establishment of biblical churches among the people group.

- Adopt a different North American church plant each month and pray as a family 1) for the church’s leadership team, 2) for the conversion, baptism and discipling of countless individuals in the church’s region, and 3) for the birthing of future church plants from the church.

- Spend a family vacation participating in a local church or association sponsored mission trip.

- Consider setting up a mission’s savings account for each of your children that would enable them to spend six months to a year in a North America or International Missions context soon after graduating from high school.

That's what I call being RADICALLY INTENTIONAL as a family!!!!

I love it! Let's do it!

All I Have Is Christ!

My new favorite song.

Click here.

Or,

Click here.

Listen. Watch. Learn it. Love on Your King.