Preparing for Sunday

This Sunday, God-willing, we will complete Galatians at FBC. It is a sweet time, but also difficult. I have really enjoyed preaching through this book and working through the theological and practical implications of being justified in Christ apart from any works. So this week we plan to look at 6:11-18. I have loved my prep time this week. I have also been very convicted in my own life from my study. I would like to point out a very real truth that I fear many in the church today have abandoned based on this text.

There are two different types of people in this text. There are the false teachers (teaching the people they must be circumcised in order to be saved), and then there is Paul (trusting in the death of Christ alone for salvation). But what I have found striking about those two types of people is the motivation for going where they are. For the false teachers Paul writes in verse 12, "It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ." Two things stand out from that verse. First is that they want to have people circumcised so they can boast in their flesh. The second is that they do this so they can avoid persecution.

On the other hand is Paul. Paul refused to boast in his flesh. In fact, Paul says in verse 14, "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." His only boast is in the very thing that the Judaizers were trying to avoid. They didn't want to be persecuted for the cross of Christ (vs. 12) so they added to the cross and were accepted by the other Jews, and Paul says I will not back down from persecution and avoid the cross. In fact, he goes on to say in verse 17, "From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." Paul not only did not boast in his flesh but rather the cross, he also did not avoid persecution but rather was branded under the ownership of Christ.

In many churches today (at least in the West) we have taught that the Lord wants us to be safe and therefore we move away from the hard places. We have said it is right that we place our children, homes, spouses, etc. in the safest of neighborhoods. I am sure the Lord leads some of us there. But is our motivation to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ? Have we used Him to get out of taking the gospel to those who need to hear? May we be more like Paul and bear the marks of Christ on our bodies than like the false teachers who cared more about boosting their numbers than the salvation of souls!

How do you Organize your Books?

I posted on Twitter and Facebook that I needed to organize my books and would be open to suggestions for doing so. I have had a few responses (some serious, most not!), but thought I would open it up for others. So how do you organize your books. I'm thinking in terms of author, subject, sets (commentaries, or works of a particular author for instance), books of the Bible, etc.

One more question: how much room do you leave on a shelf for future additions?

Errbody in the Church Helpin' Lottie

May we give for missions!



In all seriousness, the Lottie Moon Christmas offering will help send missionaries to places that do not have access to the gospel. I pray we will raise up this year, spend less on ourselves, and more for the sake of the gospel.

Core Values

I have been thinking through what we as First Baptist Church should say/believe we're committed to. I have come up with 9 so far that are in rough shape and order. I would like to tighten this up so we'll be able to use it to bring glory to God and to continue to unify our church.

What do you think?

What would you add?

1. Biblical Preaching and Teaching
2. Corporate Worship
3. Personal Disciplines
4. Prayer Dependent
5. Biblical Community
6. Discipling Others
7. Sacrificial Care
8. Missions
9. Personal Evangelism

Galatians Commentaries

I plan (God-willing) to finish preaching through the book of Galatians this Sunday at First Baptist. I have consulted several commentaries, but ended up really using only five. They all have their strengths, and I think they really help when used together. Here they are:

Reformed Expository Commentary - Philip Graham Ryken

A Mentor Commentary - David B. McWilliams

The Message of Galatians - John R. W. Stott

The Crossway Classic Commentary - Martin Luther, Edited by Alister McGrath and J. I. Packer

The New American Commentary - Timothy George

Limited Time - Great Price

The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift that Changes Everything is a book that looks to be very good. Right now WTSBooks has it at a great price here. You can also listen to what Mark Dever says about it here:

Preparing for Sunday

I am sitting in The Coffee Mill. I have been looking over my sermon notes and reading through a couple more commentaries before I finalize my outline for Sunday morning. My sermon text is Galatians 6:1-10 (actually begins back in 5:26). Paul has worked through Galatians pointing out the importance of the gospel and how one is saved (justification by faith alone). In chapter five he began dealing with the outward implications of being born again and ended with being led by the Spirit (which produces specific fruit found in 5:22-23).

I am very excited about this sermon for Sunday because he is also going to deal with how Christians are to live within community with one another. Galatians 6:2 is very important, "Bear one another's burden, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Since I do not want to spoil my sermon for Sunday, let me quickly say one very important thing. If we are going to live as a community of believers, then we must learn that we are not in this thing alone. If we were not conceited or envious (5:26) of others and realized that we are created and molded by God to be unique in His image, and yet, part of the corporate body of Christ, then maybe we would start to love one another enough to carry each other's burdens.

I like what John Stott has said about this in his commentary on Galatians, "Very different is that love which is the fruit of the Spirit, which Christians exhibit when they are walking by the Spirit. Such people have no self-conceit, or rather are continually seeking by the Spirit to subdue it. They do not think of themselves more highly than they ought to think; they think soberly (Rom. 12:3). They Holy Spirit has opened their eyes to see both their own sin and unworthiness and also the importance and value of other people in the sight of God. People with such love regard others as 'more important' and seek every opportunity to serve them."

Brothers and sisters, do you love others in this way? Are you willing to carry burdens with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

I want to Know you

I've realized over the past couple of years that it is sometimes difficult to get people to actually comment on here. I really would like to know who you are as you come by. If you do not mind, would do me a favor and fill out some information about yourself in the comment section? I would love to know your name, location, and (if applicable) what church you are a part of. Any other information would be great as well so I can better know who reads this blog. Thanks, and I look forward to getting to know you.

Ways to Stay Connected

For those few of you who may be interested:

You can find me on Facebook here

You can find me on Twitter here

You can become of a fan of FBC Pulaski on Facebook here

You can follow FBC Pulaski on Twitter here

Hebrews Ministering to my Soul

I am reading through the book of Hebrews and have been challenged, encouraged, and humbled quickly. These three verses have been especially sweet to my soul this day.

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.