Friday, February 27, 2009
Good Series Starting...
at Wil Owens' blog. Wil has had a very difficult year that led him to pastor First Baptist Church in Paintsville, KY. God has taught him much. I truly believe Wil is one of the few people I know who truly walks with the Lord. He has challenged me much. I encourage you to check out his blog to find out more about him and Search and See Ministries. He has a heart for missions and the local church. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Friday's Question
How do you preach the gospel to yourself? Why do you preach the gospel to yourself?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sick Again
I woke up this morning at 4:00 with the knowledge that I am yet sick again. I thought it would be nice for me to let you know the extent of my illness with a video. I've shown this before, but it really helps to capture a man's sickness.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
SEBTS and the Gospel
I'm a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I am presently working on a Master's of Divinity degree there after having received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies with a Minor in the History of Ideas from The College at Southeastern. However, there was a time when I had decided I would not go back to SEBTS for my Master's Degree. In fact, I began taking some classes from Reformed Theological Seminary's Virtual Campus. Just before I graduated in 2005 SEBTS went through a transition from one president to another. I was quite anguish to see how the new president would be before I would change my mind. This post is about why I decided to go back to SEBTS and why I'm glad that I did.
When Dr. Akin came in I was a college student with enough pride in what I knew to ruin just about any church. I left the church I was serving to help plant a church in Matthews, NC having convinced myself that I knew all there was to know about the Bible and the church. That was a huge mistake. I knew very little. That became evident to me fairly quickly, which is why I decided to start taking classes from RTS. As that was taking place I was hearing great things from SEBTS including the emphasis that Dr. Akin and the school had for the gospel. Sure, SEBTS already had a great missions sending program (and they still do!), but there seemed to be a peace forming on campus that I didn't sense when I was in college there. In college I felt (maybe it was just me, maybe not) that I had to be careful to speak up with what I believed about the Bible because there was a fighting mentality. I do want to be careful not to say that was the former president's fault. I'll leave that for you to decide. There were constant comments from Calvinist against non-Calvinist and the other way around.
That all changed soon after Dr. Akin arrived. In fact, I have no idea which professors are Reformed and which are not. I have no idea how many students may or may not hold to the Doctrines of Grace. What I do know is there is a major emphasis on the gospel. This school is really about preparing the students to take the gospel to the nations. While I do not want to blame the previous president for what I felt, I do applaud the current president for his focus on the gospel. He doesn't care about where someone is on the 5 points. He doesn't care which view of the end time they hold to. But he cares deeply about their understanding of the gospel. This is what has not only kept me at SEBTS, but it has given me a love for the school. I am thankful to be a student at this seminary and I look forward to the pastors, missionaries, teachers, church planters, evangelists, and probably thousands of other things that are being trained there now.
This leads me to one more point. There is a lot of talk among the younger generation (I'm still there being only 31) about whether or not to stay in the Southern Baptist Convention. After the Conservative Resurgence took place I now see some great benefits ahead. I am part of the SBC because I love the emphasis on missions. I love the vision. Sure, I have opinions about some of it that I would love to see changed, but overall I think there's great potential. I also see great hope because of what I see taking place on the Seminary campus. There is a great focus on reaching people for Christ. As more and more students are equipped with this training I believe we will see that same focus spread across the convention.
So there it is. A brief point to say I'm thankful for Dr. Danny Akin, SEBTS, and God's grace within our convention. I look forward to what will happen in the years to come.
When Dr. Akin came in I was a college student with enough pride in what I knew to ruin just about any church. I left the church I was serving to help plant a church in Matthews, NC having convinced myself that I knew all there was to know about the Bible and the church. That was a huge mistake. I knew very little. That became evident to me fairly quickly, which is why I decided to start taking classes from RTS. As that was taking place I was hearing great things from SEBTS including the emphasis that Dr. Akin and the school had for the gospel. Sure, SEBTS already had a great missions sending program (and they still do!), but there seemed to be a peace forming on campus that I didn't sense when I was in college there. In college I felt (maybe it was just me, maybe not) that I had to be careful to speak up with what I believed about the Bible because there was a fighting mentality. I do want to be careful not to say that was the former president's fault. I'll leave that for you to decide. There were constant comments from Calvinist against non-Calvinist and the other way around.
That all changed soon after Dr. Akin arrived. In fact, I have no idea which professors are Reformed and which are not. I have no idea how many students may or may not hold to the Doctrines of Grace. What I do know is there is a major emphasis on the gospel. This school is really about preparing the students to take the gospel to the nations. While I do not want to blame the previous president for what I felt, I do applaud the current president for his focus on the gospel. He doesn't care about where someone is on the 5 points. He doesn't care which view of the end time they hold to. But he cares deeply about their understanding of the gospel. This is what has not only kept me at SEBTS, but it has given me a love for the school. I am thankful to be a student at this seminary and I look forward to the pastors, missionaries, teachers, church planters, evangelists, and probably thousands of other things that are being trained there now.
This leads me to one more point. There is a lot of talk among the younger generation (I'm still there being only 31) about whether or not to stay in the Southern Baptist Convention. After the Conservative Resurgence took place I now see some great benefits ahead. I am part of the SBC because I love the emphasis on missions. I love the vision. Sure, I have opinions about some of it that I would love to see changed, but overall I think there's great potential. I also see great hope because of what I see taking place on the Seminary campus. There is a great focus on reaching people for Christ. As more and more students are equipped with this training I believe we will see that same focus spread across the convention.
So there it is. A brief point to say I'm thankful for Dr. Danny Akin, SEBTS, and God's grace within our convention. I look forward to what will happen in the years to come.
Friday's Question
How can the church better reach the lost world around her?
I've heard Mark Driscoll say something to the affect that it's important to study the culture. Others have stated we don't need to know anything about the culture other than they're lost and need the gospel. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
And certainly I know the gospel is what's needed, I'm thinking in terms of how the church can better get the gospel to the world.
I've heard Mark Driscoll say something to the affect that it's important to study the culture. Others have stated we don't need to know anything about the culture other than they're lost and need the gospel. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
And certainly I know the gospel is what's needed, I'm thinking in terms of how the church can better get the gospel to the world.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
My Valentine's Day Card from Abigail
This morning when I woke Abigail was sitting at the bottom of the stairs with my card. She could not wait to give it to me. This is what the inside of her homemade card said:
I Love you Daddy because ...
1. "He loves Roxie and me and you" (Shannon is the you).
2. "Because he loves to play golf balls.
3. "He can save my life."
4. "He loves me and Jesus."
5. "He loves trees and I love trees."
6. "He lets me get on his shoulders."
7. "He loves God."
I thought it was sweet. She is definitely daddy's little girl. She's got me where she wants me.
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Cross and Humility
I am preparing to preach James 4 this weekend. Through my preparation I am feeling very convicted about my own pride. This has caused me to think more about the cross. Here are a couple of quotes about the cross that ought to help us fight against our pride.
John Calvin: “In the cross of Christ, as in a splendid theater, the incomparable goodness of God is set before the whole world. The glory of God shines in all creatures on high and below, but ever more brightly than in the cross, in which there was a wonderful change of things - the condemnation of all men was manifested, sin blotted out, salvation restored to men; in short, the whole world was renewed and all things restored to order.”
Sinclair Ferguson: “When we think of Christ dying on the cross, we are shown the lengths to which God’s love goes in order to win us back to Himself. We would almost think that God loved us more than He loves His son.”
Colossians 2:13-14: And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
John Calvin: “In the cross of Christ, as in a splendid theater, the incomparable goodness of God is set before the whole world. The glory of God shines in all creatures on high and below, but ever more brightly than in the cross, in which there was a wonderful change of things - the condemnation of all men was manifested, sin blotted out, salvation restored to men; in short, the whole world was renewed and all things restored to order.”
Sinclair Ferguson: “When we think of Christ dying on the cross, we are shown the lengths to which God’s love goes in order to win us back to Himself. We would almost think that God loved us more than He loves His son.”
Colossians 2:13-14: And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Friday's Question
What ways do you fight against pride and foster humility in your life? If you haven't yet, you should read C. J. Mahaney's Humility: True Greatness.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Obedience without Grumbling
I have the privilege of working through Philippians with y church family on Wednesday nights. It has proved to be a very fruitful time for us (I think and hope). Tonight we are looking at Philippians 2:14-18. Interestingly, this has just followed the statement by Paul that says the church is to be obedient to God even when Paul is not around. That is followed by the statement that shows the human responsibility of working out one's own salvation in fear in trembling because the sovereign God is at work in the church to will and to work for His good pleasure. So we are all to work because God is at work!
This is important for us to understand verse 14, "Do all things without grumbling or questioning." This is referring back to following the commands of Christ. They are to be obedient without grumbling or questioning God. I will stop there for this post simply because I think it's convicting enough without me saying anything else.
This is important for us to understand verse 14, "Do all things without grumbling or questioning." This is referring back to following the commands of Christ. They are to be obedient without grumbling or questioning God. I will stop there for this post simply because I think it's convicting enough without me saying anything else.
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