David Cook was voted the 2008 American Idol winner. With 54.6 million votes for him, Cook was deemed the winner. Imagine 54.6 million votes essentially telling you how great, wonderful, special, unique, fabulous, etc. you are. I think it is safe to say that it would be hard to be humble in the face of that sort of adulation. 54.6 million votes can’t be wrong about how great, wonderful, special, unique, fabulous, etc. you really are!
Charles Spurgeon, who is widely regarded as the Prince of Preachers, was standing at the backdoor of his church one morning after he had preached when this alleged exchange took place …
“A man came up to him, gushing and saying, "That was the greatest sermon I have ever heard! And you are the greatest preacher alive!" Spurgeon looked at the man and said, "Yes, the devil told me that ten minutes ago!" It would be hard to stay as humble as Spurgeon with even that one little bit of adulation!
It doesn’t matter if you have 54.6 million instances or just one instance of glowing remarks aimed at you, it is hard for most to stay humble at all times. God has given each of us specific gifts, and when these gifts are being sharpened, and the public sees them being put to good use, we usually get praise for these gifts. It may be speaking skills, or planning skills, or relational skills, or handyman skills, or cooking skills --- chances are that we will be praised for that skill and its outcome. It is hard to stay humble in the face of such remarks!
In Paul’s epistles, we read a good bit about many hardships he faced, but we also read of a few instances of him being showered with adulation. One instance is when Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra, and the people were so overcome by Paul and Barnabas’ miracle working that they started worshipping them as the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes – to the extent of wanting to offer sacrifices! Another instance is in 1 Corinthians, as Paul talks about people who are exclusively following him, or Apollos, or Cephas. How did Paul handle such praise?
We find his very humble answer in 1 Corinthians 11.1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Paul knew that every good and admirable thing in him wasn’t of his own doing – it was of the grace of God shown in Christ. No matter how convincing his sermons were … or the vast ministry of his missionary journeys … or his collecting money for the poor … or taking a young pastor as his mentor … Paul knew that this was all a gift of the good Lord. Not his doing, but the Lord’s. Therefore, he told the churches in Corinth that they could look to him and imitate, but only because his main goal in life was to point people to Christ.
That is what Christian humility does – it longs that God alone gets the glory for all things. It points away from self, and points to God. What Christian humility does NOT do is point towards self. Why? Because who is self? It is someone who is fallen … a sinner … totally depraved … spiritually dead. What good can come from that? When we try to take credit for any good, then we are only pointing someone away from Christ, and, often, we try to point them towards our self. What can we do better than Christ? Why would we rather have someone look to us than to Christ?
The answer to this question is easy – Satan. Satan loves nothing more than to have any and all attention turned away from Christ. He loves to see broken and fallen people try and act as if they are better than Christ. Why? Because, if you aren’t looking to Christ, then you are easier prey for Satan. And, if you aren’t pointing towards Christ, then you inevitably point towards something that Satan can use against Christ.
It can be one instance, or it can 54.6 million instances --- either way, humility can be slippery in our sinful hands and hearts. We each need to take on the manner of Paul, and be so enthralled with Christ that we can tell others to look to us, because we will always point them towards Christ. We need to have the attitude of Spurgeon, who knew that personal adulation can be a tool of Satan. It is the Christian manner to be so enthralled and wrapped up in Christ alone, that when others look to us, they will see Christ, because that is our goal, our desire, and our life.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Maggie Brown McManus
I am thrilled to announce that our daughter, Maggie Brown McManus, was born last Wednesday at 7.10 am! Everyone is home and doing well ... here are a few pics of the family ...
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Beth & baby update
Beth was diagnosed with Cholestasis of Pregnancy, which basically means that her liver is starting to back up. Therefore, the doctors are wanting 'lil Mac to complete her 37th week (to let her lungs grow stronger), and then they will induce labor. The target date, at this time, is Monday, March 24th. At this point, there is no harm for either Beth or the baby, but the medical staff would like to get her out as soon as her lungs are able. Thank you for your prayers!
James
James
Thursday, February 28, 2008
I Have Finally Found a Place to Live in the Presence of the Lord
In the 1960’s, a young guitarist named Eric Clapton roared onto the British blues scene. People became so captivated by his prowess on the guitar that some took to proclaiming that “Clapton is God”. This mantra was repeated by many, and some prominent pieces of graffiti proclaiming this began to appear in London and New York City. It is interesting to think that one young man could produce such passion for someone to proclaim, on any level, that this man was God. Now, does this mean that the Church of Clapton began to appear in major cities? Not at all! But, it does mean that something in Eric Clapton’s guitar playing skills provoked quite a bit of passion in those who heard it … enough passion for them to make some sort of idol out of Clapton and his guitar.
It seems that whenever we hear Scripture speak of idols, our minds may immediately race to the notion of bowing down and worshipping an actual idol – maybe a statue of Buddha, or even a golden calf. We may visualize some giant, physical idol that people are bowing down in front of and offering some sort of sacrifice. However, the truth of the warning from Scripture about idols goes much deeper and further.
An idol can be physical – but is more often than not something that is more mental and spiritual. Idols aren’t always found in the corner of our rooms – rather, they are more often found in the corners of our hearts and minds. They are those things, people, feelings and desires that replace our worship of the Living God. They are those very things that make you uncomfortable before your Creator. These idols are causing you to not find a place to live in the presence of the Lord.
The formula is quite simple – the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is the one responsible for our creation, salvation and life. He is the one who breathed life into our souls … He is the one who loves us through the Gospel … He is the one who is conforming us to the Gospel. Simply put, the Triune God is the only one who loves you enough to save you from all known and unknown danger.
The danger of an idol is that we will set it up to such prominence that it will almost always replace God in our worship. The danger of your idols is that it perverts the equation – instead of the Triune God being responsible for your creation, salvation and life, and you worshipping God for such blessings, we make the idols the ones who will save us. We look to our idols for our further creation, salvation and life. We spiritually bow down before our idols and offer them a worship that has been designed only for the Triune God.
Now, how could this make sense? Who would do such a thing? Maybe the better question is whether we do such a thing? John Calvin is the one who quipped that the heart of man is an idol factory. I believe that one of man’s most natural, and a prevalent, sinful tendency is to make idols out of things. We see it begin in the garden and thread its way all through history to us in the here and now. All of us show the tendency to worship an idol.
How do we know it? Well, let me offer you a couple of questions to help you flesh out the answer … what would you rather offer worship to? Is it God or something else? What do you find yourself spending more time focusing on – the Lord’s blessings in life, or the supposed blessings of this idol? Honestly, what is it you love most – God, or something else? The list of idols is a long one – family, status, vanity, money, sex, power, fame, ourselves, history, heritage, etc. Remember – some folks were able to make an idol of Eric Clapton – a white British boy who was doing his best to emulate blues guitarists from the Delta of Mississippi. What sort of creation, salvation and life could Clapton offer to his fans? None. But, some of them famously proclaimed “Clapton is God”.
What is your god? What god is it that you look to instead of the true God? Who do you offer your worship to? Well, maybe you think this question isn’t important or even relevant to where you are in life right now. Fair enough, except that God finds your worship to be an important question. The first 2 commandments deal explicitly with your worship … Paul deals with the worship of God in some length in some of his epistles … John talks at great length about the worship of heaven he observed in Revelation. God finds it to be very important – it is over sinful natures that wants to destroy true worship and offer it to vain idols.
So, the question remains – what is your idol? It is tough to see, and sometimes even tougher to come to terms that we do such a thing. But, be honest – and you may find some there. When you do, know this – even in the midst of our sinful rebellion and our offering worship to false gods and idols, there is always grace. We can turn from god to God, and find grace. We can turn from the grace-less to the grace-full. Our hearts are bent to idols – and they only way they can be bent towards God is through His grace. Our idols will never produce nor provide the grace we all so desperately need – but the one true God is full of grace and mercy. Turn to Him and find this to be true. And, you will find that living in the presence of the Lord makes more sense, and is more comfortable, when you do so in grace.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
It seems that whenever we hear Scripture speak of idols, our minds may immediately race to the notion of bowing down and worshipping an actual idol – maybe a statue of Buddha, or even a golden calf. We may visualize some giant, physical idol that people are bowing down in front of and offering some sort of sacrifice. However, the truth of the warning from Scripture about idols goes much deeper and further.
An idol can be physical – but is more often than not something that is more mental and spiritual. Idols aren’t always found in the corner of our rooms – rather, they are more often found in the corners of our hearts and minds. They are those things, people, feelings and desires that replace our worship of the Living God. They are those very things that make you uncomfortable before your Creator. These idols are causing you to not find a place to live in the presence of the Lord.
The formula is quite simple – the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is the one responsible for our creation, salvation and life. He is the one who breathed life into our souls … He is the one who loves us through the Gospel … He is the one who is conforming us to the Gospel. Simply put, the Triune God is the only one who loves you enough to save you from all known and unknown danger.
The danger of an idol is that we will set it up to such prominence that it will almost always replace God in our worship. The danger of your idols is that it perverts the equation – instead of the Triune God being responsible for your creation, salvation and life, and you worshipping God for such blessings, we make the idols the ones who will save us. We look to our idols for our further creation, salvation and life. We spiritually bow down before our idols and offer them a worship that has been designed only for the Triune God.
Now, how could this make sense? Who would do such a thing? Maybe the better question is whether we do such a thing? John Calvin is the one who quipped that the heart of man is an idol factory. I believe that one of man’s most natural, and a prevalent, sinful tendency is to make idols out of things. We see it begin in the garden and thread its way all through history to us in the here and now. All of us show the tendency to worship an idol.
How do we know it? Well, let me offer you a couple of questions to help you flesh out the answer … what would you rather offer worship to? Is it God or something else? What do you find yourself spending more time focusing on – the Lord’s blessings in life, or the supposed blessings of this idol? Honestly, what is it you love most – God, or something else? The list of idols is a long one – family, status, vanity, money, sex, power, fame, ourselves, history, heritage, etc. Remember – some folks were able to make an idol of Eric Clapton – a white British boy who was doing his best to emulate blues guitarists from the Delta of Mississippi. What sort of creation, salvation and life could Clapton offer to his fans? None. But, some of them famously proclaimed “Clapton is God”.
What is your god? What god is it that you look to instead of the true God? Who do you offer your worship to? Well, maybe you think this question isn’t important or even relevant to where you are in life right now. Fair enough, except that God finds your worship to be an important question. The first 2 commandments deal explicitly with your worship … Paul deals with the worship of God in some length in some of his epistles … John talks at great length about the worship of heaven he observed in Revelation. God finds it to be very important – it is over sinful natures that wants to destroy true worship and offer it to vain idols.
So, the question remains – what is your idol? It is tough to see, and sometimes even tougher to come to terms that we do such a thing. But, be honest – and you may find some there. When you do, know this – even in the midst of our sinful rebellion and our offering worship to false gods and idols, there is always grace. We can turn from god to God, and find grace. We can turn from the grace-less to the grace-full. Our hearts are bent to idols – and they only way they can be bent towards God is through His grace. Our idols will never produce nor provide the grace we all so desperately need – but the one true God is full of grace and mercy. Turn to Him and find this to be true. And, you will find that living in the presence of the Lord makes more sense, and is more comfortable, when you do so in grace.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
Thursday, January 31, 2008
New Music For You To Enjoy
Our friends, Red Mountain Church Music, have released their 5th album titled "This Breaks My Heart of Stone". With this album, they are still mining the rich depths of the Gadsby Hymnal as they continue to add meaningful hymns back into the church life. They are also flexing their sonic muscle as they get more creative in the studio and add layers of musical depth to these words. I would highly recommend adding this album to your collection - and to be challenged by what this small group of saints are doing ... reaching back into the history of the church, and pulling the truth, words and melodies into our 21st century lives.
Also, another group related to this is Indelible Grace. They have also released their 5th album "Wake Thy Slumbering Children". This is the group that is credited with, at least, popularly beginning to re-do old hymns in modern melodies and instruments. Their new album continues their practice of a consistent rotating roster of musicians: Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, Matthew Perryman Jones, Matthew Smith and others. The songs on here are challenging to the faith and your walk in it. This is another album I would highly recommend getting - it will only add to your worship of our Living and True God.
Also, another group related to this is Indelible Grace. They have also released their 5th album "Wake Thy Slumbering Children". This is the group that is credited with, at least, popularly beginning to re-do old hymns in modern melodies and instruments. Their new album continues their practice of a consistent rotating roster of musicians: Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, Matthew Perryman Jones, Matthew Smith and others. The songs on here are challenging to the faith and your walk in it. This is another album I would highly recommend getting - it will only add to your worship of our Living and True God.
It's the end of the world as we know it ... and I feel fine.
The birth of our daughter is getting closer and closer on the horizon --- we are expecting a late March/early April birth. The nursery is coming together – there is a crib, little pink dresses in the closet, and stuffed animals waiting for a little girl to play with! It is an exciting time, and we would appreciate your prayers in this time!
Ever since we have announced that Beth is pregnant, we have had many wonderful folks give us moral and prayer support --- and that is very encouraging to me and Beth! We have been overwhelmed with how much people care about us, especially in this time. But, to be honest, there have been things said that haven’t been as encouraging.
Beth and I have both been surprised to hear how some parents have related to us how miserable they view parenthood and their children. From things such as “it is just so bad … you will be so lost and scared … they will take away so much of your time … they just will suck the life from you” to “We can’t wait for them to get out of the house … my 18 year sentence is almost done, and we will celebrate … just keep reminding yourself that they will be gone by the time they are 18, and then your life can begin again … it’s the end of your world, and, maybe, one day you will get it back.” Not exactly the model of joyful encouragement, huh?
Now, I am not so naïve as to think that we will have this idyllic time at home – a beautiful baby girl who just smiles, and loves, and sleeps, and never cries! No – I am fully expecting sleepless nights, hours of crying, smelly diapers, and aggravating moments. I know that my daughter is totally depraved, and will act that way. But, how am I any different from her in that respect?
I, too, am totally depraved. You, too, are totally depraved. How would you feel if your Father in heaven spoke about you the way these parents have talked about their children? What encouragement would you have knowing that God viewed His Fatherhood as some of these parents view it?
I still pitch fits … I still throw temper-tantrums … I still kick my legs, thrash my arms, yell and scream until I get my way. The only difference between me and a child is that I have learned how to do it in a more civil and acceptable manner – I do it like other adults do! But, my God in heaven sees through that adult veneer and He sees me, as His child, one who still struggles with being selfish, boorish, arrogant, egotistical, and full of pride. Thankfully, He doesn’t throw up His arms and bemoan ever creating me, loving me and supporting me. No, He does the exact opposite.
In the midst of my sinful struggles, God has said to me, “I have so loved you, that I gave to you My only Son, and because you believe in Him, you will never perish, but will have everlasting life with Me.” Instead of God commiserating with the angels in heaven about what a little demon James McManus is, He says to me, “I want you to call me Abba (Greek equivalent for Daddy), because that is how much I love you and how I want you to relate to me!” Instead of telling others how much He can’t wait until He is rid of me, He is preparing a mansion in Heaven for me, and has thrown open the gates of Heaven for me to enter in. Thankfully, God doesn’t treat me as some earthly parents talk about their true feelings for their children.
The same is, of course, true for you --- you are, spiritually, just like a little child – you cry and moan when you don’t get your way … you throw spiritual fits when you are unhappy … you rebel against your loving Father many, many, many times. Yet, how does God treat you? The same as He has treated me. He loves you, accepts you, takes care of you, and promises eternity to you. Isn’t that a refreshing thought?
As I stare down impending fatherhood, I do so as one who wants to be the best father he can be. I will make mistakes, and I will have a child who will stretch my patience to limits unknown. But, you know what? I pray that I will model the Father in heaven to my daughter. I pray that I show her the same love that God shows His children. I pray that I will take joy in her, because she is my child. My hope is that my model of a Father will be God Himself, and that He will shine forth in my life as I love and father my daughter.
Yes, this may be the end of the world as I know it, but you know what? I feel fine about it. God is in heaven --- He has loved me and my wife more than we can ever deserve --- He has blessed us with a covenant daughter --- and I trust in His love for us. May I be a father like God is to me --- and may you desire to be a parent like God is to you.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
Ever since we have announced that Beth is pregnant, we have had many wonderful folks give us moral and prayer support --- and that is very encouraging to me and Beth! We have been overwhelmed with how much people care about us, especially in this time. But, to be honest, there have been things said that haven’t been as encouraging.
Beth and I have both been surprised to hear how some parents have related to us how miserable they view parenthood and their children. From things such as “it is just so bad … you will be so lost and scared … they will take away so much of your time … they just will suck the life from you” to “We can’t wait for them to get out of the house … my 18 year sentence is almost done, and we will celebrate … just keep reminding yourself that they will be gone by the time they are 18, and then your life can begin again … it’s the end of your world, and, maybe, one day you will get it back.” Not exactly the model of joyful encouragement, huh?
Now, I am not so naïve as to think that we will have this idyllic time at home – a beautiful baby girl who just smiles, and loves, and sleeps, and never cries! No – I am fully expecting sleepless nights, hours of crying, smelly diapers, and aggravating moments. I know that my daughter is totally depraved, and will act that way. But, how am I any different from her in that respect?
I, too, am totally depraved. You, too, are totally depraved. How would you feel if your Father in heaven spoke about you the way these parents have talked about their children? What encouragement would you have knowing that God viewed His Fatherhood as some of these parents view it?
I still pitch fits … I still throw temper-tantrums … I still kick my legs, thrash my arms, yell and scream until I get my way. The only difference between me and a child is that I have learned how to do it in a more civil and acceptable manner – I do it like other adults do! But, my God in heaven sees through that adult veneer and He sees me, as His child, one who still struggles with being selfish, boorish, arrogant, egotistical, and full of pride. Thankfully, He doesn’t throw up His arms and bemoan ever creating me, loving me and supporting me. No, He does the exact opposite.
In the midst of my sinful struggles, God has said to me, “I have so loved you, that I gave to you My only Son, and because you believe in Him, you will never perish, but will have everlasting life with Me.” Instead of God commiserating with the angels in heaven about what a little demon James McManus is, He says to me, “I want you to call me Abba (Greek equivalent for Daddy), because that is how much I love you and how I want you to relate to me!” Instead of telling others how much He can’t wait until He is rid of me, He is preparing a mansion in Heaven for me, and has thrown open the gates of Heaven for me to enter in. Thankfully, God doesn’t treat me as some earthly parents talk about their true feelings for their children.
The same is, of course, true for you --- you are, spiritually, just like a little child – you cry and moan when you don’t get your way … you throw spiritual fits when you are unhappy … you rebel against your loving Father many, many, many times. Yet, how does God treat you? The same as He has treated me. He loves you, accepts you, takes care of you, and promises eternity to you. Isn’t that a refreshing thought?
As I stare down impending fatherhood, I do so as one who wants to be the best father he can be. I will make mistakes, and I will have a child who will stretch my patience to limits unknown. But, you know what? I pray that I will model the Father in heaven to my daughter. I pray that I show her the same love that God shows His children. I pray that I will take joy in her, because she is my child. My hope is that my model of a Father will be God Himself, and that He will shine forth in my life as I love and father my daughter.
Yes, this may be the end of the world as I know it, but you know what? I feel fine about it. God is in heaven --- He has loved me and my wife more than we can ever deserve --- He has blessed us with a covenant daughter --- and I trust in His love for us. May I be a father like God is to me --- and may you desire to be a parent like God is to you.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Some Conferences For You to Know About
There are two conferences coming to the Atlanta area in early spring that I think would be well worth attending:
The Gospel Man Conference, March 28-29 (www.thegospelman.com): This is a conference focused on the graciousness of the Gospel, and how the Gospel truly changes people. Here is their statement:
The Gospel Men Conference is a time to help men grow in why and how they come to Christ and how to live with and for Christ through His grace. We believe that a thorough biblical understanding and experience of His grace offered in the Gospel is the most profound change a man can know and experience. We often miss that not only is the Gospel radical at the onset of faith in Christ, it remains radical still for all a man’s days. It is the source of ongoing power to change us into men that enjoy and glorify God. We want to proclaim and explore how God’s grace changes men!
The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, April 4-6: This conference's theme is "Precious Blood: Christ's Atoning Work" (www.alliancenet.org). The speaker line-up is amazing: Joel Beeke, Robert Godfrey, Philip Ryken & Richard Phillips. The schedule includes seminars and addresses. I think this one is well worth checking out! Here is their statement:
“He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
At the very heart of our Christian faith is a precious red substance: the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The sin-atoning death of Christ is remarkable for being at once, most offensive to the world, most treasured by the church, most astonishing to the mind, and most stirring to the soul. Simply put, the one thing we would least expect to hear about God is that He sent His own Son to die for our sins. Thus it is Christ’s precious blood that puts the amazing into grace, puts the wonderful into the gospel, and puts the marvelous into God’s plan of salvation. There can be no greater truth to be faced than the gospel message of the cross, no greater mystery to be considered, and no greater comfort to be received. The cross is a theme that Christians will meditate on forever without exhausting its wonder, and of the cross, God’s redeemed will sing with glorious praise to unending ages.
With this in mind, the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology returns in 2008 to the doctrine of Christ’s atonement. There are many good reasons to return to this theme. First, the atonement is the divine work on which the entire structure of our salvation rests and the truth on which our doctrine of salvation must be built. Recent years have seen a pastoral neglect of the cross and an increasingly intensive doctrinal assault from the academy. This gives us a second important reason to return to the atonement: if Christians are to have any faith to defend at all, we will have to defend our gospel here.
Thirdly, there is a perennial need to proclaim and explain the doctrinal categories associated with the cross. What are atonement, substantiation, redemption, propitiation, expiation, and reconciliation? These are the themes of the 2008 PCRT, both to refresh the souls and minds of veteran believers and to instruct and inspire those coming to grips with the cross for the first time. Our plenary sessions will set forth the biblical doctrine of the blood of Christ.
We look forward to the contributions of some of the most able preachers of our time: Joel Beeke, Robert Godfrey, Richard Phillips, Philip Ryken, R. C. Sproul, and Derek Thomas. What a delight it will be to sit together before the cross, lifting up our minds and hearts in praise to God through the preaching and hearing of Christ’s precious blood.
The Gospel Man Conference, March 28-29 (www.thegospelman.com): This is a conference focused on the graciousness of the Gospel, and how the Gospel truly changes people. Here is their statement:
The Gospel Men Conference is a time to help men grow in why and how they come to Christ and how to live with and for Christ through His grace. We believe that a thorough biblical understanding and experience of His grace offered in the Gospel is the most profound change a man can know and experience. We often miss that not only is the Gospel radical at the onset of faith in Christ, it remains radical still for all a man’s days. It is the source of ongoing power to change us into men that enjoy and glorify God. We want to proclaim and explore how God’s grace changes men!
The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, April 4-6: This conference's theme is "Precious Blood: Christ's Atoning Work" (www.alliancenet.org). The speaker line-up is amazing: Joel Beeke, Robert Godfrey, Philip Ryken & Richard Phillips. The schedule includes seminars and addresses. I think this one is well worth checking out! Here is their statement:
“He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
At the very heart of our Christian faith is a precious red substance: the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The sin-atoning death of Christ is remarkable for being at once, most offensive to the world, most treasured by the church, most astonishing to the mind, and most stirring to the soul. Simply put, the one thing we would least expect to hear about God is that He sent His own Son to die for our sins. Thus it is Christ’s precious blood that puts the amazing into grace, puts the wonderful into the gospel, and puts the marvelous into God’s plan of salvation. There can be no greater truth to be faced than the gospel message of the cross, no greater mystery to be considered, and no greater comfort to be received. The cross is a theme that Christians will meditate on forever without exhausting its wonder, and of the cross, God’s redeemed will sing with glorious praise to unending ages.
With this in mind, the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology returns in 2008 to the doctrine of Christ’s atonement. There are many good reasons to return to this theme. First, the atonement is the divine work on which the entire structure of our salvation rests and the truth on which our doctrine of salvation must be built. Recent years have seen a pastoral neglect of the cross and an increasingly intensive doctrinal assault from the academy. This gives us a second important reason to return to the atonement: if Christians are to have any faith to defend at all, we will have to defend our gospel here.
Thirdly, there is a perennial need to proclaim and explain the doctrinal categories associated with the cross. What are atonement, substantiation, redemption, propitiation, expiation, and reconciliation? These are the themes of the 2008 PCRT, both to refresh the souls and minds of veteran believers and to instruct and inspire those coming to grips with the cross for the first time. Our plenary sessions will set forth the biblical doctrine of the blood of Christ.
We look forward to the contributions of some of the most able preachers of our time: Joel Beeke, Robert Godfrey, Richard Phillips, Philip Ryken, R. C. Sproul, and Derek Thomas. What a delight it will be to sit together before the cross, lifting up our minds and hearts in praise to God through the preaching and hearing of Christ’s precious blood.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
My So-Called Uniform
We all wear some sort of uniform during our lives. I’m not particularly talking about baseball uniforms, military uniforms or any other sort of organized activity or career that requires uniforms. I am thinking more about the life we choose, and how so many of us claim to be individuals, when in fact we just put on the same uniform as those who claim the same values and doctrines as we do.
I got to thinking about this as Beth and I walked around downtown Asheville a few weeks ago. Asheville is a haven folks looking to find their selves … matter of fact, I have always heard Asheville as the sort of town where you can go and live as you want – a place where individuality is encouraged and embraced. As you walk around the blocks of downtown Asheville, you notice people who dress and act out of the “mainstream” --- a lot dreadlocks … tye-dye shirts … long, shaggy hair … burly beards … long, flowing skirts. I started to notice that a lot of people walking around looked the same, talked the same, acted the same and ate at the same places. Now, I know these sort of people – I grew up with them and even spent time in their ranks! Many of them tout their individuality as some sort of idol – they don’t need to conform to any idea than their own. They march to their own beat. Ironically, most of them are marching to the same beat by the same drummer.
I spent some time amidst this doctrine … I grew my hair long, put in several ear-rings, dyed my hair, and claimed to march to my own beat. However, I never really marched to my own drummer – I looked to others who claimed the same ideas as I did, and took my cues from them … and these people looked to other people, who looked to other people, and so on – a truly vicious cycle. In reality, we were just a group of people lost in the idolatry of ourselves and our own ideas, yet we were too scared and ignorant to truly indulge all our desires, so we looked to others to figure out how to live our lives – and these people were just as clueless as we were.
Time hasn’t really changed this, and this truth isn’t relegated to neo-hippies or anybody who looks like they live outside the mainstream. We all wear a uniform of some form and color and cut. We all tend to take our cues from a group of people who tout the same ideology and doctrine of life that we claim to hold to. We are all like sheep, and all of us we have gone astray.
Scripture never really teaches individuality. Rather, it teaches a union with Christ. In His High Priestly Prayer in John 17, Jesus prays to His Father this request, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” What is important to Jesus isn’t that we go out and claim to be individuals and to truly know ourselves … it is that we all be one in God, because as we are one with Him, then the world will see the Gospel through our lives. Individuality rebels against the idea of conformity, when in reality it is all about conformity – conforming to the ideas and practices that rebel against popular ideas. Christianity is about conformity – that we are broken to the sins that call out for the wrath of God, and molding/conforming us into the image of the one whom so loved us that He saves us from His wrath. It isn’t a conformity that beats us down and turns everyone into robot Christians … whether, it is a conformity that allows us to be the very individuals that God created us to be!
The fall of man revolved around rebellion – rebellion against truth and following that truth. Since that point, mankind has rebelled against God and his created meaning. When God graciously calls us into His grace and mercy, He begins to restore us to be individuals again – individuals who are united to Him through Christ. The basis of true individuality is in union with Christ – that is meant to be our uniform! That our main end in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever – that is our individual uniform! We can never truly be ourselves until we are found in Christ. We can never truly live life as God created us to live until our hearts are found at the Gospel cross. You can never be you until you bow down and call God “Abba”.
What is your uniform? What influences your life and walk? Without Christ, you are not an individual – you are just someone who is lost in the shuffle of a life ruined by sin. With Christ, you will truly know yourself – but, most of all, you will truly know one who loves you more than any other ideology or false prophet. I encourage you to examine the Gospel – and find yourself there. In the Gospel is the only place true individuality can be found.
Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor James
I got to thinking about this as Beth and I walked around downtown Asheville a few weeks ago. Asheville is a haven folks looking to find their selves … matter of fact, I have always heard Asheville as the sort of town where you can go and live as you want – a place where individuality is encouraged and embraced. As you walk around the blocks of downtown Asheville, you notice people who dress and act out of the “mainstream” --- a lot dreadlocks … tye-dye shirts … long, shaggy hair … burly beards … long, flowing skirts. I started to notice that a lot of people walking around looked the same, talked the same, acted the same and ate at the same places. Now, I know these sort of people – I grew up with them and even spent time in their ranks! Many of them tout their individuality as some sort of idol – they don’t need to conform to any idea than their own. They march to their own beat. Ironically, most of them are marching to the same beat by the same drummer.
I spent some time amidst this doctrine … I grew my hair long, put in several ear-rings, dyed my hair, and claimed to march to my own beat. However, I never really marched to my own drummer – I looked to others who claimed the same ideas as I did, and took my cues from them … and these people looked to other people, who looked to other people, and so on – a truly vicious cycle. In reality, we were just a group of people lost in the idolatry of ourselves and our own ideas, yet we were too scared and ignorant to truly indulge all our desires, so we looked to others to figure out how to live our lives – and these people were just as clueless as we were.
Time hasn’t really changed this, and this truth isn’t relegated to neo-hippies or anybody who looks like they live outside the mainstream. We all wear a uniform of some form and color and cut. We all tend to take our cues from a group of people who tout the same ideology and doctrine of life that we claim to hold to. We are all like sheep, and all of us we have gone astray.
Scripture never really teaches individuality. Rather, it teaches a union with Christ. In His High Priestly Prayer in John 17, Jesus prays to His Father this request, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” What is important to Jesus isn’t that we go out and claim to be individuals and to truly know ourselves … it is that we all be one in God, because as we are one with Him, then the world will see the Gospel through our lives. Individuality rebels against the idea of conformity, when in reality it is all about conformity – conforming to the ideas and practices that rebel against popular ideas. Christianity is about conformity – that we are broken to the sins that call out for the wrath of God, and molding/conforming us into the image of the one whom so loved us that He saves us from His wrath. It isn’t a conformity that beats us down and turns everyone into robot Christians … whether, it is a conformity that allows us to be the very individuals that God created us to be!
The fall of man revolved around rebellion – rebellion against truth and following that truth. Since that point, mankind has rebelled against God and his created meaning. When God graciously calls us into His grace and mercy, He begins to restore us to be individuals again – individuals who are united to Him through Christ. The basis of true individuality is in union with Christ – that is meant to be our uniform! That our main end in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever – that is our individual uniform! We can never truly be ourselves until we are found in Christ. We can never truly live life as God created us to live until our hearts are found at the Gospel cross. You can never be you until you bow down and call God “Abba”.
What is your uniform? What influences your life and walk? Without Christ, you are not an individual – you are just someone who is lost in the shuffle of a life ruined by sin. With Christ, you will truly know yourself – but, most of all, you will truly know one who loves you more than any other ideology or false prophet. I encourage you to examine the Gospel – and find yourself there. In the Gospel is the only place true individuality can be found.
Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor James
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Job's Christmas
We often turn to the book of Job to understand more about the sovereignty of God and why bad things happen to “good” people. However, I think we often miss the overall point of the book of Job – and that it is really a story about the grace of God.
First, a quick recap of the story of Job – he was a righteous man, declared so by God himself. Job was wealthy, not just in monetary standards but also in family – he had 7 sons and 3 daughters. His love for his children was so great that Job regularly offered sacrifices on their behalf. He was a man who had everything going for him. Life was good, and Job was quick to give God the glory. Satan debated with God over what was the catalyst for Job being a righteous man – was it because of faith or because he had it so good? God allowed Satan to test Job – all of his finances was wiped away, his children were killed, and his health suffered from it. Yet, in the midst of this happening, Job made this profound statement: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." In the midst of his suffering, Job recognized the grace of God. After this, Job’s 3 friends - Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite – came to comfort him. It is during his conversations with his friends that Job begins to wrestle with the grace of God – and whether God has truly been gracious to him.
We need to understand that Job behaved more valiantly and graciously than many of us would have --- imagine all of your finances taken away … your family being killed … your health taken away from you … how would you have responded? Surely we can understand why Job struggled --- and, if we can understand why, then God would understand even more. It was the Lord who allowed Job to be tested in this way – it was the Lord who set up the boundaries of what Satan could do to this righteous man. What happens next is truly telling of God’s grace – God responds to Job’s charges.
God hears the complaints of Job, and he comes down for a meeting with Job. He challenges Job on whom Job thinks he is --- and he does so by first pointing to creation, and asking Job if he was there when God created all things? The Lord goes on from that point and asks Job if he knows how everything works? God challenges him on whether Job thinks he is God – or is God truly God?
At the end of this challenge, Job verbally recognizes that God is God – and that he is a gracious God. God then graciously restores to Job his fortunes – both in money, family and age. The end of the story of Job is a climax of God’s grace … here is a man who struggled with doubt over whether God was truly gracious, and after being confronted by this God, he repents – and God pours out even more grace on him! Job’s story is truly a story of God’s grace.
This is an important story for us to remember during the Christmas season – because the real story of Christmas is grace. It is easy for us to get caught up in the trappings of Christmas and we can easily forget the meaning behind this season. When we think about Christmas, we need to think about the grace of God. It is grace that called forth the son of God to be born to a woman. It is grace that named this child Immanuel – God with us. It is grace that brought this child to adulthood – and to the cross. It is grace that is the opening chapter of the story of Christmas. We, too, are a people like Job --- we doubt God for various reasons, and challenge the notion that He is truly a loving and gracious God. Each week, from the pulpits of Christ church, we are confronted by God, in His Word, about his true gracious nature. Constantly, we are renewed in grace by God through the Holy Spirit. You see, our story isn’t much different from Job’s – we each struggle and fail, and God’s grace is always there to prop us back up and to go forth to proclaim God’s glory. May we remember the story of grace as we celebrate this season. May the story of grace be our reason for celebrating Christmas.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
First, a quick recap of the story of Job – he was a righteous man, declared so by God himself. Job was wealthy, not just in monetary standards but also in family – he had 7 sons and 3 daughters. His love for his children was so great that Job regularly offered sacrifices on their behalf. He was a man who had everything going for him. Life was good, and Job was quick to give God the glory. Satan debated with God over what was the catalyst for Job being a righteous man – was it because of faith or because he had it so good? God allowed Satan to test Job – all of his finances was wiped away, his children were killed, and his health suffered from it. Yet, in the midst of this happening, Job made this profound statement: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." In the midst of his suffering, Job recognized the grace of God. After this, Job’s 3 friends - Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite – came to comfort him. It is during his conversations with his friends that Job begins to wrestle with the grace of God – and whether God has truly been gracious to him.
We need to understand that Job behaved more valiantly and graciously than many of us would have --- imagine all of your finances taken away … your family being killed … your health taken away from you … how would you have responded? Surely we can understand why Job struggled --- and, if we can understand why, then God would understand even more. It was the Lord who allowed Job to be tested in this way – it was the Lord who set up the boundaries of what Satan could do to this righteous man. What happens next is truly telling of God’s grace – God responds to Job’s charges.
God hears the complaints of Job, and he comes down for a meeting with Job. He challenges Job on whom Job thinks he is --- and he does so by first pointing to creation, and asking Job if he was there when God created all things? The Lord goes on from that point and asks Job if he knows how everything works? God challenges him on whether Job thinks he is God – or is God truly God?
At the end of this challenge, Job verbally recognizes that God is God – and that he is a gracious God. God then graciously restores to Job his fortunes – both in money, family and age. The end of the story of Job is a climax of God’s grace … here is a man who struggled with doubt over whether God was truly gracious, and after being confronted by this God, he repents – and God pours out even more grace on him! Job’s story is truly a story of God’s grace.
This is an important story for us to remember during the Christmas season – because the real story of Christmas is grace. It is easy for us to get caught up in the trappings of Christmas and we can easily forget the meaning behind this season. When we think about Christmas, we need to think about the grace of God. It is grace that called forth the son of God to be born to a woman. It is grace that named this child Immanuel – God with us. It is grace that brought this child to adulthood – and to the cross. It is grace that is the opening chapter of the story of Christmas. We, too, are a people like Job --- we doubt God for various reasons, and challenge the notion that He is truly a loving and gracious God. Each week, from the pulpits of Christ church, we are confronted by God, in His Word, about his true gracious nature. Constantly, we are renewed in grace by God through the Holy Spirit. You see, our story isn’t much different from Job’s – we each struggle and fail, and God’s grace is always there to prop us back up and to go forth to proclaim God’s glory. May we remember the story of grace as we celebrate this season. May the story of grace be our reason for celebrating Christmas.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Westminster and Heidelberg
My favorite book, besides the Bible, is the Westminster Confession of Faith. It is a great summary of the Reformed doctrine, and I find it helpful, not just with understanding a particular strand of doctrine, but also in having the doctrine influence my faith.
Along with that is the Heidelberg Catechism ... some characterize this as being more 'warm' than the Westminster. I think they are both strong - but, I do find that the Heidelberg is probably more geared towards the heart than the mind.
When you put these 2 together, you form a very strong foundation of the richnesss of the Reformed faith in your mind and heart. I would encourage you to dig into the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism - and I believe you will be the better because of it!
Along with that is the Heidelberg Catechism ... some characterize this as being more 'warm' than the Westminster. I think they are both strong - but, I do find that the Heidelberg is probably more geared towards the heart than the mind.
When you put these 2 together, you form a very strong foundation of the richnesss of the Reformed faith in your mind and heart. I would encourage you to dig into the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism - and I believe you will be the better because of it!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
The family that sits together stays together
There is an old Protestant tradition of the family pew. It holds that families should worship together – at home and at church. Therefore, at church, the family should sit together. The result of that was, generally speaking, the family was a stronger unit because of their worship together. The father was the spiritual leader of his family – not just in the home but also in the church. The parents were there to guide, love, comfort and discipline as need be. There are some who are familiar with this tradition who says that this was very influential in the strong family dynamics that were common in Protestant families of years past.
I think it is safe to say that the family unit is under increasing fire and pressure in our day and time. The divorce rate is climbing higher and higher … many children will never know either their mother or their faith – or both … parents have busy schedules that keep them away from home … children have busy schedules that keep them away from home … family time has been reduced due to TVs, DVDs and Ipods. What was once a bedrock has now crumbled. Many times I wonder how much of that is due to the disintegration of the family pew?
Each generation prides itself on how much more “individualistic” it has become. Many times this seems to be code for selfishness. Our society has defined “individualistic” to mean more focus on self – not actual self-realization. The more focused you become on yourself and what makes you happy – and what makes you content – and what makes you feel better about you is what it means to be individualistic. It doesn’t take a genius to realize how quickly this will erode communities and anything that causes a person to give up something for the greater good of the group. It also doesn’t take a genius to see how this idea of “individuality” is tearing apart the family.
One of my concerns is seeing how this is tearing apart the family pew. It has become some unwritten rite of passage that when a child reaches a certain age, then they have “earned” the right to sit with their friends in church. To me, this is code for “I just want to do what makes my child happy”. It is just another symptom of a worldly idea overtaking a heavenly principle and right. Good parents will always ask their child where they are going on a Friday night, who with, for how long and what they will be doing. Yet, the same caution and care isn’t given to the care of their worship. As long as they are happy – or maybe it is just as long as they are there – then that is what matters. No –what ultimately matters is the family pew and the care it provides.
It is in the family pew that the family can gather everything week and worship God. It is in the family pew where the family can bow together and pray. It is in the family pew where families can learn hymns together. It is in the family pew where God’s word can be heard together – and where the sacraments are taken together. The family pew is where family togetherness takes place.
This doesn’t take place when your family is scattered throughout the church. What happens when your child has a question? When they misbehave? When they refuse to fully engage in worship? When they need leadership, and yet are stuck amongst their peers who are looking for the same leadership?
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” There is a sense of totality to this passage – parents are responsible for their children’s spiritual growth and well being, and the large part of this responsibility is on the shoulders of the father. The Lord tells us that children are a blessing … do we treat them as such? The family pew does – because with blessings comes responsibilities – and parents’ responsibilities are for their children’s spiritual well being. Let me encourage you to make and maintain a family pew – gather your family together in one pew every week, and worship the Lord your God together. Sing together … pray together … come under the means of grace together. This will only serve to strengthen your family – and will be a blessing in your lives. If you are maintaining a family pew, continue to do so, up until your children marry - and maybe your family pew will grow at that time! As a pastor, it warms my heart to see those families that worship together – for I see the covenant community at work. May the Lord continue to bless our families – and our family pews.
Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor James
I think it is safe to say that the family unit is under increasing fire and pressure in our day and time. The divorce rate is climbing higher and higher … many children will never know either their mother or their faith – or both … parents have busy schedules that keep them away from home … children have busy schedules that keep them away from home … family time has been reduced due to TVs, DVDs and Ipods. What was once a bedrock has now crumbled. Many times I wonder how much of that is due to the disintegration of the family pew?
Each generation prides itself on how much more “individualistic” it has become. Many times this seems to be code for selfishness. Our society has defined “individualistic” to mean more focus on self – not actual self-realization. The more focused you become on yourself and what makes you happy – and what makes you content – and what makes you feel better about you is what it means to be individualistic. It doesn’t take a genius to realize how quickly this will erode communities and anything that causes a person to give up something for the greater good of the group. It also doesn’t take a genius to see how this idea of “individuality” is tearing apart the family.
One of my concerns is seeing how this is tearing apart the family pew. It has become some unwritten rite of passage that when a child reaches a certain age, then they have “earned” the right to sit with their friends in church. To me, this is code for “I just want to do what makes my child happy”. It is just another symptom of a worldly idea overtaking a heavenly principle and right. Good parents will always ask their child where they are going on a Friday night, who with, for how long and what they will be doing. Yet, the same caution and care isn’t given to the care of their worship. As long as they are happy – or maybe it is just as long as they are there – then that is what matters. No –what ultimately matters is the family pew and the care it provides.
It is in the family pew that the family can gather everything week and worship God. It is in the family pew where the family can bow together and pray. It is in the family pew where families can learn hymns together. It is in the family pew where God’s word can be heard together – and where the sacraments are taken together. The family pew is where family togetherness takes place.
This doesn’t take place when your family is scattered throughout the church. What happens when your child has a question? When they misbehave? When they refuse to fully engage in worship? When they need leadership, and yet are stuck amongst their peers who are looking for the same leadership?
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” There is a sense of totality to this passage – parents are responsible for their children’s spiritual growth and well being, and the large part of this responsibility is on the shoulders of the father. The Lord tells us that children are a blessing … do we treat them as such? The family pew does – because with blessings comes responsibilities – and parents’ responsibilities are for their children’s spiritual well being. Let me encourage you to make and maintain a family pew – gather your family together in one pew every week, and worship the Lord your God together. Sing together … pray together … come under the means of grace together. This will only serve to strengthen your family – and will be a blessing in your lives. If you are maintaining a family pew, continue to do so, up until your children marry - and maybe your family pew will grow at that time! As a pastor, it warms my heart to see those families that worship together – for I see the covenant community at work. May the Lord continue to bless our families – and our family pews.
Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor James
Saturday, October 27, 2007
By the way ...
did I mention that we are going to be parents?!?!?!? 'Lil McManus is due in early April - so Beth & I are busy preparing for this blessed arrival!
Questions, answers and websites
I was asked by Joshua Espinosa, church administrator for Christ Church of the Carolinas, to answer 10 questions about expository preaching and preparation. I have posted the answers and my questions - and also his website, where others have given far better answers than mine! His site is great for resources and encouragement - so please check it out!
www.thehavensc.com
10 Questions for Expositors
1. Where do you place the importance of preaching in the grand scheme of church life?
I believe in the ordinary means of grace - word, prayer and sacraments. I think these means are the main (and, really, only) essence of ministry in the true evangelical church. Out of these means, I hold the preaching of the word to be the most essential to the church. It is through the preaching of the Word that God communicates with His people. The Westminster Confession of Faith states in 1.2 that the Bible is the written word of God … and I think that the Divines were allowing for the view that proper preaching is the spoken word of God. A right and true exposition of a Biblical text will communicate God's truth. Of course, the work of the Spirit has to be present in order for this to happen.
Terry Johnson of Independent Presbyterian in Savannah, GA argues that a minister’s most important ministry is in the pulpit - and I agree with that idea. It is from the pulpit that you can do the greatest ministry through the preaching of the Word. Therefore, I hold that the preaching of the Word is most important in the life of the church.
2. In a paragraph, how did you discover your gifts in preaching?
Through an inward calling and lots of practice! Thankfully, while I was in seminary, I was able to do a good bit of preaching - and a lot of my discovering my gifts were done through trial and error. I am still discovering my gifts and how to use them - and I think I will continue to hone these gifts over the course of my pastorate.
3. How long (on average) does it take you to prepare a sermon?
On average, I start a couple of weeks before the sermon thinking about it and running it over in my head. I try to get a handle on the text and come up with a rough outline. That Tues. before the sermon, I sit down with different commentaries and read through them at least 2-3 times. Then, I sit back down with the text and bang out a rough draft. I then spend the next couple of days looking it over, and on that Friday I will rework it as I need to. All told, I probably put in between 10-15 hours per sermon … sometimes I put in less, sometimes I put in more.
4. Is it important to you that a sermon contain one major theme or idea? If so, how do you crystallise it?
I think this is relevant to the congregation. Some congregations can handle more than one theme/idea … others can only handle one theme/idea. In my preaching, I usually stay with one idea, but try to incorporate "secondary" themes into it. For instance, in preaching on Mark 5.1-20, my main theme is spiritual warfare … but, I also spend some time discussing how Jesus is always victorious in spiritual warfare and how that should influence our thinking and participating in spiritual warfare. I will usually try and tie in other ideas with the main idea.
5. What is the most important aspect of a preacher’s style and what should he avoid?
My answer to both parts of this question is the preacher's personality. The Lord uses a man's personality in the development and delivery of a sermon - but his personality should never become the sermon. I think the Gospel writers are a good example - each writer's style tells us about their personality (Matthew's concern for the Jews, Luke's analytical doctor view, Mark's [Peter's] blunt and to the point, and John's lofty view, which I think is due to him spending so much time with Christ and knowing who He really is). Yet, their personalities never get in the way in the message - they each drive home the same message of the good news of Jesus Christ. The Lord uses our personalities - but never intends for that to overshadow our preaching. Christ is to be preeminent in all things- including our preaching.
6. What notes, if any, do you use?
I always take a full manuscript into the pulpit. This is a safety net for me, in case I lose my place or train of thought. I try to be as comfortable with the sermon as I can be so I don't rely on my notes. It is always my goal to never "read" a sermon. I try to preach it to the people. I also pray before each preaching opportunity that the Holy Spirit would lead me - and I pray the same before I prepare my sermon! It is my custom to always allow for the Holy Spirit to work in the pulpit - and I trust that He was at work when I was writing out the sermon.
7. What are the greatest perils that preacher must avoid?
The greatest peril a preacher must avoid is thinking that he goes into the pulpit alone. John Calvin fought great nervousness when he entered the pulpit - and he made it his custom to pray with each step to the pulpit "come, Holy Spirit, come". I think many men think that it is just them with many sets of eyes and ears focused on him. However, I believe that the Holy Spirit is present in the pulpit, and that the power of Heaven is behind every word. Understanding this has helped me to understand that I am a conduit of God - and that helps me from focusing on myself … am I speaking well? Are my notes in order? Is this a good illustration? Instead, I can understand, and believe, that God is at work in this time - and His word will go out and produce the desired effect according to the will of God.
8. How do you fight to balance preparation for preaching with other important responsibilities (eg. pastoral care, leadership responsibilities)
I always try and take a day off to spend in the sermon. I will have done some mental prep beforehand - but I hide out on that day and just focus on my sermon. I try to avoid phone calls and emails, unless they are absolutely necessary. After this day, which is usually Tuesday, I will do some reworking here and there, but the main work has already been done. I do it this way because of the great importance of preaching.
9. What books on preaching, or exemplars of it, have you found most influential in your own preaching?
I have enjoyed Martin Lloyd Jones, Bryan Chappell, and Terry Johnson's works on preaching. I find that listening to other preachers is very helpful for me - I enjoy servants such as Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, Rev. Bowers of Christ Church of the Carolinas, Rev. Rich Lambert of New St. Peters PCA, and Dr. Ligon Duncan. I also find listening to my peers very helpful - each of my good buddies from seminary each bring something different to their sermons, and I am always challenged by that.
10. What steps do you take to nurture or encourage developing or future preachers?
I think having young preachers come into your church and preach is the most nurturing thing a pastor can do. This allows them to figure it all out. Also, an older pastor can encourage and direct these men. We all start in the same place - and I love the idea of older pastors passing along wisdom to younger men. I think if there was more of this, maybe preaching would be more inspired and better directed to the glory of God.
www.thehavensc.com
10 Questions for Expositors
1. Where do you place the importance of preaching in the grand scheme of church life?
I believe in the ordinary means of grace - word, prayer and sacraments. I think these means are the main (and, really, only) essence of ministry in the true evangelical church. Out of these means, I hold the preaching of the word to be the most essential to the church. It is through the preaching of the Word that God communicates with His people. The Westminster Confession of Faith states in 1.2 that the Bible is the written word of God … and I think that the Divines were allowing for the view that proper preaching is the spoken word of God. A right and true exposition of a Biblical text will communicate God's truth. Of course, the work of the Spirit has to be present in order for this to happen.
Terry Johnson of Independent Presbyterian in Savannah, GA argues that a minister’s most important ministry is in the pulpit - and I agree with that idea. It is from the pulpit that you can do the greatest ministry through the preaching of the Word. Therefore, I hold that the preaching of the Word is most important in the life of the church.
2. In a paragraph, how did you discover your gifts in preaching?
Through an inward calling and lots of practice! Thankfully, while I was in seminary, I was able to do a good bit of preaching - and a lot of my discovering my gifts were done through trial and error. I am still discovering my gifts and how to use them - and I think I will continue to hone these gifts over the course of my pastorate.
3. How long (on average) does it take you to prepare a sermon?
On average, I start a couple of weeks before the sermon thinking about it and running it over in my head. I try to get a handle on the text and come up with a rough outline. That Tues. before the sermon, I sit down with different commentaries and read through them at least 2-3 times. Then, I sit back down with the text and bang out a rough draft. I then spend the next couple of days looking it over, and on that Friday I will rework it as I need to. All told, I probably put in between 10-15 hours per sermon … sometimes I put in less, sometimes I put in more.
4. Is it important to you that a sermon contain one major theme or idea? If so, how do you crystallise it?
I think this is relevant to the congregation. Some congregations can handle more than one theme/idea … others can only handle one theme/idea. In my preaching, I usually stay with one idea, but try to incorporate "secondary" themes into it. For instance, in preaching on Mark 5.1-20, my main theme is spiritual warfare … but, I also spend some time discussing how Jesus is always victorious in spiritual warfare and how that should influence our thinking and participating in spiritual warfare. I will usually try and tie in other ideas with the main idea.
5. What is the most important aspect of a preacher’s style and what should he avoid?
My answer to both parts of this question is the preacher's personality. The Lord uses a man's personality in the development and delivery of a sermon - but his personality should never become the sermon. I think the Gospel writers are a good example - each writer's style tells us about their personality (Matthew's concern for the Jews, Luke's analytical doctor view, Mark's [Peter's] blunt and to the point, and John's lofty view, which I think is due to him spending so much time with Christ and knowing who He really is). Yet, their personalities never get in the way in the message - they each drive home the same message of the good news of Jesus Christ. The Lord uses our personalities - but never intends for that to overshadow our preaching. Christ is to be preeminent in all things- including our preaching.
6. What notes, if any, do you use?
I always take a full manuscript into the pulpit. This is a safety net for me, in case I lose my place or train of thought. I try to be as comfortable with the sermon as I can be so I don't rely on my notes. It is always my goal to never "read" a sermon. I try to preach it to the people. I also pray before each preaching opportunity that the Holy Spirit would lead me - and I pray the same before I prepare my sermon! It is my custom to always allow for the Holy Spirit to work in the pulpit - and I trust that He was at work when I was writing out the sermon.
7. What are the greatest perils that preacher must avoid?
The greatest peril a preacher must avoid is thinking that he goes into the pulpit alone. John Calvin fought great nervousness when he entered the pulpit - and he made it his custom to pray with each step to the pulpit "come, Holy Spirit, come". I think many men think that it is just them with many sets of eyes and ears focused on him. However, I believe that the Holy Spirit is present in the pulpit, and that the power of Heaven is behind every word. Understanding this has helped me to understand that I am a conduit of God - and that helps me from focusing on myself … am I speaking well? Are my notes in order? Is this a good illustration? Instead, I can understand, and believe, that God is at work in this time - and His word will go out and produce the desired effect according to the will of God.
8. How do you fight to balance preparation for preaching with other important responsibilities (eg. pastoral care, leadership responsibilities)
I always try and take a day off to spend in the sermon. I will have done some mental prep beforehand - but I hide out on that day and just focus on my sermon. I try to avoid phone calls and emails, unless they are absolutely necessary. After this day, which is usually Tuesday, I will do some reworking here and there, but the main work has already been done. I do it this way because of the great importance of preaching.
9. What books on preaching, or exemplars of it, have you found most influential in your own preaching?
I have enjoyed Martin Lloyd Jones, Bryan Chappell, and Terry Johnson's works on preaching. I find that listening to other preachers is very helpful for me - I enjoy servants such as Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, Rev. Bowers of Christ Church of the Carolinas, Rev. Rich Lambert of New St. Peters PCA, and Dr. Ligon Duncan. I also find listening to my peers very helpful - each of my good buddies from seminary each bring something different to their sermons, and I am always challenged by that.
10. What steps do you take to nurture or encourage developing or future preachers?
I think having young preachers come into your church and preach is the most nurturing thing a pastor can do. This allows them to figure it all out. Also, an older pastor can encourage and direct these men. We all start in the same place - and I love the idea of older pastors passing along wisdom to younger men. I think if there was more of this, maybe preaching would be more inspired and better directed to the glory of God.
Questions and Website
I was asked by Joshua Espinosa, church administrator of Christ Church of the Carolinas, to answer 10 questions concerning expository preaching. I have first posted Joshua's website where he posted the questions and answers from myself and others ... and he also includes a great deal of information on this site! I have also posted the questions and my answers. I hope you enjoy!
Sumter SC Presbyterian
Right outside my hometown of Sumter, SC is a beautiful, older Presbyterian church near the town of Mayesville. Here are some pics of that church, Salem Black River Presbyterian Church ...
Session house of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church
Rear view of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church
Entrance to the church cemetary
A Presbyterian church located in between Camden and Lancaster SC
Session house of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church
Rear view of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church
Entrance to the church cemetary
A Presbyterian church located in between Camden and Lancaster SC
Southern Presbyterian History
Over the years, I have developed an interest in the history of Southern Presbyterian churches. While I was an intern at Olivet Presbyterian Church in McConnells, SC, I went around York County and photographed some of the older Presbyterian churches in that area. Here they are ...
This is the view from the pulpit of Olivet PCA, McConnells SC
Another view from the Olivet pulpit
Olivet Presbyterian Church, McConnells SC
Bethesda Presbyterian Church, York SC
First Presbyterian Church, York SC
Bethel Presbyterian Church, Clover SC
This is the view from the pulpit of Olivet PCA, McConnells SC
Another view from the Olivet pulpit
Olivet Presbyterian Church, McConnells SC
Bethesda Presbyterian Church, York SC
First Presbyterian Church, York SC
Bethel Presbyterian Church, Clover SC
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Inheritance
I recently "inherited" an 80GB IPod - and I have been feverishly downloading all of my music onto it! Of course, I will come nowhere close to using up 80GB of memory from my own album collection. With that in mind, I started doing some exploring and found some great sermon podcasts that you may be interested in ...
The first is from First Presbyterian in Columbia, SC. The senior pastor is Dr. Sinclair Ferguson. His sermons are winsomely Reformed, and always a joy to listen to.
Another is Woodruff Road PCA in Simpsonville, SC. The senior pastor is Rev. Carl Robbins - a true scholar of Reformed doctrine!
Finally, Christ Church of the Carolinas, where my good friend, Frank Legare, is associate pastor. The senior pastor of this church is the Rev. Bowers (I was in seminary with his son). These pastors are routinely used by the Lord to produce powerful and thought provoking sermons.
I think if you were to listen to any of these groups of sermons, you would be greatly blessed in hearing the Gospel of our Christ proclaimed boldly by humble servants. They are quickly filling up my IPod!
The first is from First Presbyterian in Columbia, SC. The senior pastor is Dr. Sinclair Ferguson. His sermons are winsomely Reformed, and always a joy to listen to.
Another is Woodruff Road PCA in Simpsonville, SC. The senior pastor is Rev. Carl Robbins - a true scholar of Reformed doctrine!
Finally, Christ Church of the Carolinas, where my good friend, Frank Legare, is associate pastor. The senior pastor of this church is the Rev. Bowers (I was in seminary with his son). These pastors are routinely used by the Lord to produce powerful and thought provoking sermons.
I think if you were to listen to any of these groups of sermons, you would be greatly blessed in hearing the Gospel of our Christ proclaimed boldly by humble servants. They are quickly filling up my IPod!
Feedback
It is coming up on a year that we have had this blog running - and I was wondering what are your thoughts on it? Are you liking the set up? Any suggestions?
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The God of Bluegrass
It is safe to say that I was raised in a musical home. It wasn’t a home where my parents played different musical instruments. It was a home where music was constantly listened to. If a chore was being done, music was selected to go along with the chore. If you were going to sit on the couch, then you needed a good album selection to go along with this time. My childhood was filled with music! What I really enjoyed about it was the vast genres of music I was exposed to. I never knew what kind of album would be played next – country, rock, blues, jazz, bluegrass … I just never knew! All I know is that I usually enjoyed most of what was played.
Over the years, I have gained more and more of an appreciation for bluegrass. Now, I know that this isn’t a first choice for a number of folks when it comes to musical styles. It took some time to grow on me! But, I have grown to be a fan of it. One of the reasons why I like bluegrass is because of its organic nature. Bluegrass can be played anywhere! You can find folks playing bluegrass - on the front porch “pickin’ n’ grinnin’”, on the big stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and even in White Oak Hall! Bluegrass just has an organic nature to it – and I think that is why it reverberates with so many folks. It is a music that can be enjoyed at any time, in any place with any number of folks joining in.
Another part of its organic nature is that each part in the group contributes to the whole. Many times in a bluegrass setting, each instrument will add something very important to the song, which adds up to the completion of the song. The banjo, mandolin, guitar and bass all join together to complete the melody. You take away one piece, and there is something missing with the song. Bluegrass is really the musical equivalent of a team effort! It takes all band members to complete the song.
The same is true for Christians. We are all part of an important team – the church. We each play a vital role in the way that the church operates. Not only that, but the church is very organic – we can meet together in a sanctuary, or in a field, or in a gym, or on a front porch. No matter where the church meets, it is still the church. Christ tells us that “for where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18.20) What is required is that believers gather together for His glory. I have heard from people who worshipped in Africa that their meeting place was a concrete slab – and that is it. Christians in China must secretly gather in houses to worship for fear of what the authorities would do if they were found. Folks in the Gulf Region worshipped in public parks after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their church. However, their main goal was to gather together and give God the glory. Because the church is organic, it only depends on Christ – and He promises that if we gather, He will be there.
As the church, we all play a vital role in its function. There is never an unimportant person in the church – we are all equally important when we are a part of the body of Christ! Either it be through teaching, serving, cleaning, hugging or a simple hand shake – we are all part of the same team, aiming for the same goal. As long as our goal is to give God all the glory, then we will succeed in our role. Being a part of the same team also means respecting each others roles – no one is more important than the other, and no ones work means any less because of its visibility! God has designed the church to operate like a body – and a body needs the eye to act like an eye, and an ear to act like an ear. The church needs each of us to act like the way He has ordained for us to act in our God-given role.
The church is one of the most beautiful gifts God has given to us and to the world. My prayer is that we would each love the church in the same way that God loves the church – which He describes as being His bride! May we long for the greater good of the church, and may we each thrive in our roles, knowing that it is God himself who has prepared us and put us in these roles.
Semper Refomanda – Pastor James
Over the years, I have gained more and more of an appreciation for bluegrass. Now, I know that this isn’t a first choice for a number of folks when it comes to musical styles. It took some time to grow on me! But, I have grown to be a fan of it. One of the reasons why I like bluegrass is because of its organic nature. Bluegrass can be played anywhere! You can find folks playing bluegrass - on the front porch “pickin’ n’ grinnin’”, on the big stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and even in White Oak Hall! Bluegrass just has an organic nature to it – and I think that is why it reverberates with so many folks. It is a music that can be enjoyed at any time, in any place with any number of folks joining in.
Another part of its organic nature is that each part in the group contributes to the whole. Many times in a bluegrass setting, each instrument will add something very important to the song, which adds up to the completion of the song. The banjo, mandolin, guitar and bass all join together to complete the melody. You take away one piece, and there is something missing with the song. Bluegrass is really the musical equivalent of a team effort! It takes all band members to complete the song.
The same is true for Christians. We are all part of an important team – the church. We each play a vital role in the way that the church operates. Not only that, but the church is very organic – we can meet together in a sanctuary, or in a field, or in a gym, or on a front porch. No matter where the church meets, it is still the church. Christ tells us that “for where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18.20) What is required is that believers gather together for His glory. I have heard from people who worshipped in Africa that their meeting place was a concrete slab – and that is it. Christians in China must secretly gather in houses to worship for fear of what the authorities would do if they were found. Folks in the Gulf Region worshipped in public parks after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their church. However, their main goal was to gather together and give God the glory. Because the church is organic, it only depends on Christ – and He promises that if we gather, He will be there.
As the church, we all play a vital role in its function. There is never an unimportant person in the church – we are all equally important when we are a part of the body of Christ! Either it be through teaching, serving, cleaning, hugging or a simple hand shake – we are all part of the same team, aiming for the same goal. As long as our goal is to give God all the glory, then we will succeed in our role. Being a part of the same team also means respecting each others roles – no one is more important than the other, and no ones work means any less because of its visibility! God has designed the church to operate like a body – and a body needs the eye to act like an eye, and an ear to act like an ear. The church needs each of us to act like the way He has ordained for us to act in our God-given role.
The church is one of the most beautiful gifts God has given to us and to the world. My prayer is that we would each love the church in the same way that God loves the church – which He describes as being His bride! May we long for the greater good of the church, and may we each thrive in our roles, knowing that it is God himself who has prepared us and put us in these roles.
Semper Refomanda – Pastor James
Friday, August 24, 2007
It, too, is under my porch
On his album “Illinois”, Christian musician Sufjan Stevens sings a song about the life of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. You may not be as familiar with his name as you are with his actions. Gacy confessed to the murders of 33 young men and boys. When the police went and searched his property, they found a number of these victims buried underneath the porch of Gacy’s house. What makes Gacy’s story even more chilling is that he would hold block parties for his neighbors, and he would dress up as a clown to entertain the children at these parties.
In his song about Gacy, Sufjan Stevens gives a recap of the life and actions of Gacy – and he ends the song with this chilling stanza: “And in my best behavior I am really just like him; Look beneath the floorboards; For the secrets I have hid.” What a chilling end to a song – it is unexpected in the flow of the lyrics. However, I think it is most chilling because the essence of what Stevens is singing is true – in my best behavior, is there really any difference between me (and you) and John Wayne Gacy, Jr.? What have sins have you hid beneath the floorboards of your life, pretending as if they aren’t even there?
This is what makes grace so amazing. Evolutionists like to say that there isn’t much separating man from ape – just a few tweaks here and there, and all of sudden you can take an ape and make him into an Einstein, or a Mozart, or Luther. No matter the debate on that, what is true is that there isn’t much separating you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. All that separates you from being that “bad” is the grace of God.
A favorite mantra of Christians is “there but for the grace of God go I”. I am sure you have heard it said – and may even have said it yourself. Have you ever stopped to think about what that really means? This phrase was said by John Bradford, an English Reformer. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and several men being escorted to their execution. Bradford was so moved by this scene that he said “There but for the grace of God goes John Bradford”. He would eventually be burned at the stake, condemned for being a heretic. When Bradford saw these men, who were guilty of crimes (unlike Bradford, whose crime was being a Christian and sharing the Gospel) and who were on their way to their death, maybe not even knowing Christ – Bradford understood that he could have been in their shoes. Instead of being guilty of loving Christ so much that he would want to share this love with others, his crime could have been more worldly – robbery, murder, kidnapping and the likes. When Bradford saw a man who would be guilty for an eternity, he didn’t puff up his chest and proclaim some sort of moral victory. No, what he did was look at that guilty, and release that it was grace that saved him – and it was only grace that made him any different.
Sufjan Stevens understood that when he looked at the life of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. What stopped him from being that vile? Grace. What stopped him from committing such heinous acts? Grace. What stopped him from being that evil? Grace. What makes you any different from being that evil? Grace.
Every day, God’s grace is at work in your life – it is God’s grace that gives you breath … it is God’s grace that places food on your table … it is God’s grace that you have a house, clothes, cars, boats, guns, and other sundry items. My question for you is this – do you realize the magnitude of God’s grace and the way it works in your life? Do you understand the price for this grace? It is no less than the perfect work and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Do you understand what works this grace in your life every day? The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who lives and works within your life to show you grace. The grace of God isn’t a little pithy item in life – it is the work of the Gospel … this work which changes you … this work that keeps you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. May you understand this grace – and, as you understand it, may you embrace it and love it – and may you, through the work of the Spirit, allow it to guide your life – and may it make you humble before the Grace Giver.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
In his song about Gacy, Sufjan Stevens gives a recap of the life and actions of Gacy – and he ends the song with this chilling stanza: “And in my best behavior I am really just like him; Look beneath the floorboards; For the secrets I have hid.” What a chilling end to a song – it is unexpected in the flow of the lyrics. However, I think it is most chilling because the essence of what Stevens is singing is true – in my best behavior, is there really any difference between me (and you) and John Wayne Gacy, Jr.? What have sins have you hid beneath the floorboards of your life, pretending as if they aren’t even there?
This is what makes grace so amazing. Evolutionists like to say that there isn’t much separating man from ape – just a few tweaks here and there, and all of sudden you can take an ape and make him into an Einstein, or a Mozart, or Luther. No matter the debate on that, what is true is that there isn’t much separating you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. All that separates you from being that “bad” is the grace of God.
A favorite mantra of Christians is “there but for the grace of God go I”. I am sure you have heard it said – and may even have said it yourself. Have you ever stopped to think about what that really means? This phrase was said by John Bradford, an English Reformer. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and several men being escorted to their execution. Bradford was so moved by this scene that he said “There but for the grace of God goes John Bradford”. He would eventually be burned at the stake, condemned for being a heretic. When Bradford saw these men, who were guilty of crimes (unlike Bradford, whose crime was being a Christian and sharing the Gospel) and who were on their way to their death, maybe not even knowing Christ – Bradford understood that he could have been in their shoes. Instead of being guilty of loving Christ so much that he would want to share this love with others, his crime could have been more worldly – robbery, murder, kidnapping and the likes. When Bradford saw a man who would be guilty for an eternity, he didn’t puff up his chest and proclaim some sort of moral victory. No, what he did was look at that guilty, and release that it was grace that saved him – and it was only grace that made him any different.
Sufjan Stevens understood that when he looked at the life of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. What stopped him from being that vile? Grace. What stopped him from committing such heinous acts? Grace. What stopped him from being that evil? Grace. What makes you any different from being that evil? Grace.
Every day, God’s grace is at work in your life – it is God’s grace that gives you breath … it is God’s grace that places food on your table … it is God’s grace that you have a house, clothes, cars, boats, guns, and other sundry items. My question for you is this – do you realize the magnitude of God’s grace and the way it works in your life? Do you understand the price for this grace? It is no less than the perfect work and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Do you understand what works this grace in your life every day? The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who lives and works within your life to show you grace. The grace of God isn’t a little pithy item in life – it is the work of the Gospel … this work which changes you … this work that keeps you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. May you understand this grace – and, as you understand it, may you embrace it and love it – and may you, through the work of the Spirit, allow it to guide your life – and may it make you humble before the Grace Giver.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Worship
I think that Pastor Tom and I have the best seats in the house week after week. We get to be right in front of the choir and enjoy their singing … we are sandwiched in between the organ and piano so we are able to fully hear and enjoy Mrs. Kathy and Mrs. Janice’s (and sometimes Ms. Mary June’s) playing … we are in the direction in which most of the congregation is singing … and, we get to sit next to each other when we preach!
I also say we have the best seats in the house because, week after week, we each can look out and see which of the congregants are engaged in worship. And, rest assured, we do scan the sanctuary during the worship service. To be honest, what I often see are some people who are disengaged from worship. Either it be the singing, the reading of scripture, the prayers, or the exhorting of God’s word to His people, there are many Sunday mornings where I see some people who are not fully participating in worship. It is quite a sad sight to behold.
Go to Athens, Georgia … or Columbia, South Carolina … or Atlanta, Georgia on any given fall Saturday afternoon, and what do you find? Thousands of people who have directed their full attention to a group of young men who are using their God-given talents in the game of football. These groups of fans hang onto every play, every call, every timeout, every score as if it is the most important thing happening at that moment. In all the college football games that I have witnessed, I can’t ever remember seeing some people sleeping during a goal-line stand. I can’t remember seeing some people reading the program while the home team is marching down the field with less than a minute left in the game, and they are down by 6 points. I also can’t remember seeing some people looking at their watch while they wait for a kick-off to be returned for a touchdown. However, I can remember people sleeping during a sermon … or looking at their watch during the service … or flipping through the hymnbook while the covenant community around them sings praises to their merciful and faithful God.
Why is this? I know there are many reasons to this, but I think it truly boils down to one fundamental fact- the worship of God isn’t as exciting, and therefore isn’t as meaningful, as a college football game (or any other sport or hobby). Frankly, some people find the worship of God to pale in comparison to other activities. We can find more meaning in other things, such as a college football game, than in the worship of God. Sunday has just become a part of the routine of life. It is something else for us to endure in between the more ‘meaningful’ parts of life. Well, if this is true, then would these bored parties find satisfaction in heaven?
It is interesting to note how Scripture describes heaven. The book we often turn to for details of heaven is the book of Revelation. The first detail we get of heaven from the apostle John is his seemingly involuntary reaction to fall down and worship. He didn’t run around and high five the angels … he didn’t hug Jesus … he didn’t turn a full 360 degrees to take in the sight of heaven. No, his first reaction was to worship.
John then goes on to talk about heaven – and the common thread is worship. What are the angels doing in heaven? Worshipping! What are the elders doing in heaven? Worshipping! What are the martyred saints doing in heaven? They are worshipping! What are the saints in heaven doing? Worshipping? Why is this? Because “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” – meaning, worship. We have been created to worship God in all spheres of life – but especially when we gather together as the bride to come before our bridegroom. Our spiritual DNA screams out for us to worship. As Christians, we should know no other way to live.
Do you find worship boring? Is it not as ‘meaningful’ as other things in life? Maybe you need to reintroduce yourself to the living God. There is nothing boring or meaningless about this God. He is the one whose very presence calls for all of heaven to bow down and worship. He is the God whose very grace and mercy calls for us to offer Him our worship. He is the living God who gives His people life – and they naturally respond in worship. He is God, and, as Christians, we are His chosen people. Can this really be boring? Can this truth really call us away from worship? No, it isn’t and it can’t. This truth should resound in our heart and motivate us to worship this Triune God – in His word, in the prayers and in the hymns. May we be reminded of this often, and remember the words of the apostle Peter, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
I also say we have the best seats in the house because, week after week, we each can look out and see which of the congregants are engaged in worship. And, rest assured, we do scan the sanctuary during the worship service. To be honest, what I often see are some people who are disengaged from worship. Either it be the singing, the reading of scripture, the prayers, or the exhorting of God’s word to His people, there are many Sunday mornings where I see some people who are not fully participating in worship. It is quite a sad sight to behold.
Go to Athens, Georgia … or Columbia, South Carolina … or Atlanta, Georgia on any given fall Saturday afternoon, and what do you find? Thousands of people who have directed their full attention to a group of young men who are using their God-given talents in the game of football. These groups of fans hang onto every play, every call, every timeout, every score as if it is the most important thing happening at that moment. In all the college football games that I have witnessed, I can’t ever remember seeing some people sleeping during a goal-line stand. I can’t remember seeing some people reading the program while the home team is marching down the field with less than a minute left in the game, and they are down by 6 points. I also can’t remember seeing some people looking at their watch while they wait for a kick-off to be returned for a touchdown. However, I can remember people sleeping during a sermon … or looking at their watch during the service … or flipping through the hymnbook while the covenant community around them sings praises to their merciful and faithful God.
Why is this? I know there are many reasons to this, but I think it truly boils down to one fundamental fact- the worship of God isn’t as exciting, and therefore isn’t as meaningful, as a college football game (or any other sport or hobby). Frankly, some people find the worship of God to pale in comparison to other activities. We can find more meaning in other things, such as a college football game, than in the worship of God. Sunday has just become a part of the routine of life. It is something else for us to endure in between the more ‘meaningful’ parts of life. Well, if this is true, then would these bored parties find satisfaction in heaven?
It is interesting to note how Scripture describes heaven. The book we often turn to for details of heaven is the book of Revelation. The first detail we get of heaven from the apostle John is his seemingly involuntary reaction to fall down and worship. He didn’t run around and high five the angels … he didn’t hug Jesus … he didn’t turn a full 360 degrees to take in the sight of heaven. No, his first reaction was to worship.
John then goes on to talk about heaven – and the common thread is worship. What are the angels doing in heaven? Worshipping! What are the elders doing in heaven? Worshipping! What are the martyred saints doing in heaven? They are worshipping! What are the saints in heaven doing? Worshipping? Why is this? Because “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” – meaning, worship. We have been created to worship God in all spheres of life – but especially when we gather together as the bride to come before our bridegroom. Our spiritual DNA screams out for us to worship. As Christians, we should know no other way to live.
Do you find worship boring? Is it not as ‘meaningful’ as other things in life? Maybe you need to reintroduce yourself to the living God. There is nothing boring or meaningless about this God. He is the one whose very presence calls for all of heaven to bow down and worship. He is the God whose very grace and mercy calls for us to offer Him our worship. He is the living God who gives His people life – and they naturally respond in worship. He is God, and, as Christians, we are His chosen people. Can this really be boring? Can this truth really call us away from worship? No, it isn’t and it can’t. This truth should resound in our heart and motivate us to worship this Triune God – in His word, in the prayers and in the hymns. May we be reminded of this often, and remember the words of the apostle Peter, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Days 2-3
Yesterday was really busy for us --- up early so we can eat breakfast, then an hour drive (mostly in and around the mountains) to go to church. The church we are having VBS at, Upper Fork Methodist Church, was kind enough to provide a covered lunch for all of us after the service! I even got a chance to stand in front of the congregation and tell them where we were from and what we were there for. After the lunch, some of us set up the site for the week, and others went and drove the route - which was even more curvy and windy than the main roads! We finished soon enough to get back to play some baseball, and then it was off to Middlesboro to eat and make a Wal-Mart run! The day was finished up at Sonic ...
And, then the alarm clock rang at 5.45 am for me to start our week of VBS! Pretty soon, most of the group was up and down in the cafeteria for a bite to eat before leaving the campus at 7.15 am. The first day of VBS went well - we had 14 kids from the community come! There were some 'technical' difficulties, but we can quickly clear those up! Thankfully, our set up is pretty quick - so, after the kids leaving and eating lunch, we were able to get back to our rooms by 2.30 - and it was off to the baseball field for more baseball and football games (and, for some of, some sunburning!). Dinner was on the grounds - some kind of BBQ - and now we are getting ready to attend our evening meeting - and hopefully get some much needed rest!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Appalachia 2007 - Day One
We made it! No problems, no excitement - just dull driving to get to our destination. We had our first meeting tonight, and, so far, everything is good. I will try and post some more pics and give you updates on the week.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Family Time
Back to the Future
When I was young, Whitney Houston had a hit song with these lyrics: “I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way …” I remember this song being played all over the place, and so many people singing along with the radio. It’s a shame that the sentiment expressed in those lyrics have fallen to the wayside in our society, both in and out of the church.
As the pastor for youth and family, I have a passion for Christian covenantal families. Being a product of a broken family that suffered from many familial dysfunctions, I am fully aware of what kind of spiritual and emotional damage that can be done to children who are not raised in the loving and merciful Scriptural standards and boundaries. And, as I am entering into my 30s, I look around and see so many discarded carcasses of the covenantal family – and it is all being done in the name of self.
I had a pastor recently tell me that a large amount of problems with families stems directly from the selfish attitudes of parents, and how they mistakenly view their calling as parents. Providentially, the same day this pastor made this remark to me was the same day a devotion was emailed to me, detailing a mother’s struggle with this same thing. Here are some things that were mentioned in this devotion:
When my third child was born, my oldest was three. And they were all active boys … In those difficult three years I kept trying to regain my old life. An organizer and leader by nature, I’d volunteer to oversee something at church and then make my kids and me miserable trying to get it done. My heart is heavy when I remember the times I dragged my three little boys to one event or another, only to leave angry and in tears because they couldn’t sit still … instead of accepting my life as it was, I plowed ahead, wanting to serve God and feeling certain He was pleased with my sacrifices … what I know now is that sometimes God calls us to a new mission field that on the surface looks like we’ve been called out of the “game”, but nothing could be further from the truth! Instead I missed the opportunity to minister more deeply to my children … I wish someone had told me that God would not forget me, that I was right where He wanted me, and that I should relax and see the opportunities He had placed in front of me.
These are powerful words of regret from a mother who loved her family. But, notice what she said – she sacrificed her family all in order to regain her old self. She lost sight that God wasn’t calling her back to her old self, but that He had given her a ministry of the here and now – and this ministry was her family! Her Father in heaven had called her to be a mother to three sons – three sons she was to minister to by being a Godly mother.
God places a very high importance on the family. He relates to us in a familiar sense – He is our Father and we are his beloved children who have the privilege of calling Him “Abba, Father”. He loves the family so much that He gives instructions on how the family should be ministered to (Deuteronomy 6). God so desires that the covenantal family will be successful that He outlines what a Godly mother and wife is to be (Proverbs 31). He even tells husbands that they are to love their wives like He has sacrificially loved the church (Ephesians 5). God is not silent on the family … not in the least bit. Rather, God has spoken to families through His word – He has told each covenantal family what He lovingly desires of them. To have a family is a high calling from God.
Interestingly, when God talks about families, He never talks about ‘self’. He never equates a successful mother and father with ‘self’. Rather, it is the absence of self – a Godly parent is one who never focuses on him or her self. No – this parent always looks to God first and longs for God to be honored in the home and in the family. It is never their selves who comes first – it always the will of God in all things.
The covenantal children of the home are indeed the future of the church – these little ones may be future elders, deacons, pastors, Sunday School teachers, etc. They need to be loved and cared in the same way that God has loved and cared for us. Can you think of a higher selfless act than the sacrifice of an only son, all in order for a relationship to be repaired with a rebellious child? That is exactly what the Father in heaven did … He sent His son in order to call you out of rebellion. Parents – let me ask you the very blunt question: do you selflessly love your children? Are you emulating the love of the Heavenly Father with your children? Do they truly come first in all things and in all ways? This is the mission field that God has called each parent to. Fathers and mothers – are you answering this call? Are you ministering to the family that God has so blessed you with?
Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor James
When I was young, Whitney Houston had a hit song with these lyrics: “I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way …” I remember this song being played all over the place, and so many people singing along with the radio. It’s a shame that the sentiment expressed in those lyrics have fallen to the wayside in our society, both in and out of the church.
As the pastor for youth and family, I have a passion for Christian covenantal families. Being a product of a broken family that suffered from many familial dysfunctions, I am fully aware of what kind of spiritual and emotional damage that can be done to children who are not raised in the loving and merciful Scriptural standards and boundaries. And, as I am entering into my 30s, I look around and see so many discarded carcasses of the covenantal family – and it is all being done in the name of self.
I had a pastor recently tell me that a large amount of problems with families stems directly from the selfish attitudes of parents, and how they mistakenly view their calling as parents. Providentially, the same day this pastor made this remark to me was the same day a devotion was emailed to me, detailing a mother’s struggle with this same thing. Here are some things that were mentioned in this devotion:
When my third child was born, my oldest was three. And they were all active boys … In those difficult three years I kept trying to regain my old life. An organizer and leader by nature, I’d volunteer to oversee something at church and then make my kids and me miserable trying to get it done. My heart is heavy when I remember the times I dragged my three little boys to one event or another, only to leave angry and in tears because they couldn’t sit still … instead of accepting my life as it was, I plowed ahead, wanting to serve God and feeling certain He was pleased with my sacrifices … what I know now is that sometimes God calls us to a new mission field that on the surface looks like we’ve been called out of the “game”, but nothing could be further from the truth! Instead I missed the opportunity to minister more deeply to my children … I wish someone had told me that God would not forget me, that I was right where He wanted me, and that I should relax and see the opportunities He had placed in front of me.
These are powerful words of regret from a mother who loved her family. But, notice what she said – she sacrificed her family all in order to regain her old self. She lost sight that God wasn’t calling her back to her old self, but that He had given her a ministry of the here and now – and this ministry was her family! Her Father in heaven had called her to be a mother to three sons – three sons she was to minister to by being a Godly mother.
God places a very high importance on the family. He relates to us in a familiar sense – He is our Father and we are his beloved children who have the privilege of calling Him “Abba, Father”. He loves the family so much that He gives instructions on how the family should be ministered to (Deuteronomy 6). God so desires that the covenantal family will be successful that He outlines what a Godly mother and wife is to be (Proverbs 31). He even tells husbands that they are to love their wives like He has sacrificially loved the church (Ephesians 5). God is not silent on the family … not in the least bit. Rather, God has spoken to families through His word – He has told each covenantal family what He lovingly desires of them. To have a family is a high calling from God.
Interestingly, when God talks about families, He never talks about ‘self’. He never equates a successful mother and father with ‘self’. Rather, it is the absence of self – a Godly parent is one who never focuses on him or her self. No – this parent always looks to God first and longs for God to be honored in the home and in the family. It is never their selves who comes first – it always the will of God in all things.
The covenantal children of the home are indeed the future of the church – these little ones may be future elders, deacons, pastors, Sunday School teachers, etc. They need to be loved and cared in the same way that God has loved and cared for us. Can you think of a higher selfless act than the sacrifice of an only son, all in order for a relationship to be repaired with a rebellious child? That is exactly what the Father in heaven did … He sent His son in order to call you out of rebellion. Parents – let me ask you the very blunt question: do you selflessly love your children? Are you emulating the love of the Heavenly Father with your children? Do they truly come first in all things and in all ways? This is the mission field that God has called each parent to. Fathers and mothers – are you answering this call? Are you ministering to the family that God has so blessed you with?
Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor James
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
The Internet: Good or evil? Heaven-bound or hell-sent?
The internet is an interesting tool. You can find almost anything you want on the internet, from daily Bible devotions to the most wretched of pornography. It is a source of great good, and sometimes a source of even greater evil. The current generation of youth and children are exposed to the internet in great amounts. Do you, as their parents and loved ones, know exactly what is going on when your child logs on to the computer? From MySpace to Facebook to message boards, your child is interacting with a superior technology, and is able to be in contact with thousands and thousands of people. They can find information on how to commit suicide, how to poison someone, and people who are willing to sexually exploit them. They can also find information on how to read their Bible better, what church camps are worth going to, and meet other like-minded believers. It is with this in mind that I encourage you to attend this workshop. I will take you through different sites that your children like to frequent, and show you some of the pitfalls of the Web, along with some of the bright spots. We will meet on Saturday, May 5th at 9.00 am, and we will be done by lunch time. Please put this date on your calendar and plan to attend – and don’t assume your child is immune to the bad side of the Internet. The average age a child is exposed to internet pornography is 11, and by the time they are 17, there is an 80% chance they have had multiple experiences with pornography. If that isn’t scary enough, 90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed pornography. Plan on joining us as we equip you with weapons to defend the soul of your child.
Prayer Thoughts
The Puritans were an unusual group of men and women. They devoted their whole lives to being pure before God, hence their name. Their devotion was so deep that they left England and migrated to America, all in order to practice Christianity without the sinful regulations defined by the government. The Puritans are our spiritual forefathers in many ways. There is so much we have learned from them, and there is so much more that we can learn from them.
One of their pastors was a man named Thomas Watson. He was not only a devoted pastor, but also an author. One of his works is titled ‘Heaven Taken by Storm’, which explains that Christians are to be violent (i.e. acting with or characterized by rough force; intense in force, effect, etc.) in their pursuit of being more like Jesus Christ. Rev. Watson counsels believers to be violent in their reading of the word, hearing of the word, sanctifying the Lord’s Day, etc. One of his more striking points is when he talks about prayer.
“Jesus Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.”
Is this true for you? Be encouraged to think about these words – Rev. Watson wrote this to people who had devoted their lives to being pure before God. As one who has full access to the throne of grace, go to it with all the willingness that God has given you, and enjoy the sweet fellowship of heaven that can only be obtained through prayer.
One of their pastors was a man named Thomas Watson. He was not only a devoted pastor, but also an author. One of his works is titled ‘Heaven Taken by Storm’, which explains that Christians are to be violent (i.e. acting with or characterized by rough force; intense in force, effect, etc.) in their pursuit of being more like Jesus Christ. Rev. Watson counsels believers to be violent in their reading of the word, hearing of the word, sanctifying the Lord’s Day, etc. One of his more striking points is when he talks about prayer.
“Jesus Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.”
Is this true for you? Be encouraged to think about these words – Rev. Watson wrote this to people who had devoted their lives to being pure before God. As one who has full access to the throne of grace, go to it with all the willingness that God has given you, and enjoy the sweet fellowship of heaven that can only be obtained through prayer.
Live at the Fillmore: The Psalms
My dad is a voracious music fan. He listens to all kinds and styles of music. His record collection boasts albums from Ry Cooder to Willie Nelson to Hank Williams to the Beatles to Miles Davis to Led Zeppelin, and so on. From the earliest time that I can remember, there was always some kind of music being played in the car and around the house. So, it was virtually inevitable that I would develop the same sort of passion for music – and, I did!
One of the musical forms that I have a keen interest in is the blues and blues-rock. I love this style of music … the rough recordings of Robert Johnson … the opening slide riff of ‘Statesboro Blues’ by the Allman Brothers … Derek and the Dominoes pouring out blues guitar in “Live from the Fillmore East”. One of the things that I love about this style of music is its brutal honesty. The musical side of the blues is really unpretentious, and is based upon letting your feelings show in the way that you play your instrument. Many times, this is what is recognized as being the blues. However, the lyrics of blues songs also portray the raw emotions of the human heart, with Robert Johnson singing about the hardships of life in the delta of the Mississippi and John Lee Hooker wondering whether heaven and hell really exist because of the conditions that he sees right here on earth. The blues can really be characterized as being a form of music that provides a platform for a man or woman to expose their emotions and desires in both music and lyrics.
Interestingly enough, the same could be said for the book of Psalms. Bono, lead singer of the rock group, U2, says the same thing, “That's what a lot of the psalms feel like to me -- the blues …” In this book of the Bible, we have so many examples of man laying himself bare before his God. There are times when he is shouting for joy before the Lord … there are other times when he contemplates about who God is … there are times when he is verbally shaking his fist at God … and there are times when he is bent down in tears, wondering where his God is. Psalm 22 is a striking example of an emotive psalm – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” We tend to remember this psalm only around Easter, when we recount the story of Jesus on the cross. But, we need to remember that this was first written by David, and given to the choirmaster for use in worship. Think of David’s words again, “My God, why have you forsaken me? … why are you so far from saving me?” Can you read in between the lines and see the stark emotion of a man who feels as if God is so far from him that he cannot be saved? A man, who is later described as being a man after God’s own heart, is in a place where he sees no hope, because he sees no God. You can almost imagine David’s tears falling down on the parchment of this psalm, causing some of the ink to run down the page.
There are numerous examples of the psalmist laying his soul bare before God. Psalm 69 actually has the audacity to say “My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God”, and Psalm 109 opens with these words, “Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.” These words inspired and directed by God himself, gives to us the example of a heart being laid wide open for God. Emotions are not hid nor imagined to not really exist. On the contrary, they are presented before God, and the psalmist pleas with Him from his broken heart.
However, there is a stark difference between the blues and the psalms. Many times, the blues end on a low note – hence the appropriate title for this style of music! Usually, there is no resolution to the problem … life is hard, and this will never change. The psalmist never sees his life that way. Even in the midst of great trials and hardships expressed in the words of the psalms, he always comes back to God – and how great and trustworthy our Lord in heaven truly is. He knows that life is hard – but that God is greater than any hardship. He knows that life can be unfair – but that God is eternally gracious to his children. He knows that life can seem to be filled more with enemies than with friends – but that God is always the victor, and claims victory for his people.
There are many things we can learn from the psalms – and one of the greatest lessons is that we need to be honest with God, because He already knows how we feel. We also need to learn to see our problems in the larger context than our hole of pity – God is always victorious, and the cross of Jesus Christ should always remind us that this victory is now our victory. We can sing the blues, but we can always end with a smile, because God is our God and Father.
Soli Deo Gloria
Pastor James
One of the musical forms that I have a keen interest in is the blues and blues-rock. I love this style of music … the rough recordings of Robert Johnson … the opening slide riff of ‘Statesboro Blues’ by the Allman Brothers … Derek and the Dominoes pouring out blues guitar in “Live from the Fillmore East”. One of the things that I love about this style of music is its brutal honesty. The musical side of the blues is really unpretentious, and is based upon letting your feelings show in the way that you play your instrument. Many times, this is what is recognized as being the blues. However, the lyrics of blues songs also portray the raw emotions of the human heart, with Robert Johnson singing about the hardships of life in the delta of the Mississippi and John Lee Hooker wondering whether heaven and hell really exist because of the conditions that he sees right here on earth. The blues can really be characterized as being a form of music that provides a platform for a man or woman to expose their emotions and desires in both music and lyrics.
Interestingly enough, the same could be said for the book of Psalms. Bono, lead singer of the rock group, U2, says the same thing, “That's what a lot of the psalms feel like to me -- the blues …” In this book of the Bible, we have so many examples of man laying himself bare before his God. There are times when he is shouting for joy before the Lord … there are other times when he contemplates about who God is … there are times when he is verbally shaking his fist at God … and there are times when he is bent down in tears, wondering where his God is. Psalm 22 is a striking example of an emotive psalm – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” We tend to remember this psalm only around Easter, when we recount the story of Jesus on the cross. But, we need to remember that this was first written by David, and given to the choirmaster for use in worship. Think of David’s words again, “My God, why have you forsaken me? … why are you so far from saving me?” Can you read in between the lines and see the stark emotion of a man who feels as if God is so far from him that he cannot be saved? A man, who is later described as being a man after God’s own heart, is in a place where he sees no hope, because he sees no God. You can almost imagine David’s tears falling down on the parchment of this psalm, causing some of the ink to run down the page.
There are numerous examples of the psalmist laying his soul bare before God. Psalm 69 actually has the audacity to say “My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God”, and Psalm 109 opens with these words, “Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.” These words inspired and directed by God himself, gives to us the example of a heart being laid wide open for God. Emotions are not hid nor imagined to not really exist. On the contrary, they are presented before God, and the psalmist pleas with Him from his broken heart.
However, there is a stark difference between the blues and the psalms. Many times, the blues end on a low note – hence the appropriate title for this style of music! Usually, there is no resolution to the problem … life is hard, and this will never change. The psalmist never sees his life that way. Even in the midst of great trials and hardships expressed in the words of the psalms, he always comes back to God – and how great and trustworthy our Lord in heaven truly is. He knows that life is hard – but that God is greater than any hardship. He knows that life can be unfair – but that God is eternally gracious to his children. He knows that life can seem to be filled more with enemies than with friends – but that God is always the victor, and claims victory for his people.
There are many things we can learn from the psalms – and one of the greatest lessons is that we need to be honest with God, because He already knows how we feel. We also need to learn to see our problems in the larger context than our hole of pity – God is always victorious, and the cross of Jesus Christ should always remind us that this victory is now our victory. We can sing the blues, but we can always end with a smile, because God is our God and Father.
Soli Deo Gloria
Pastor James
Thursday, March 1, 2007
March Newsletter piece
Hug a Presbyterian!
This coming Sunday, I have the privilege of starting to teach the communicants class. The format for this class is to teach through each of the six membership questions each child will have to satisfactorily answer. I am responsible for teaching through the last three questions – do you now resolve and promise in humble reliance upon the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ? Do you promise to support the church in its worship and work, to the best of your ability? Do you submit yourself in the spirit of love to the government and discipline of this church and promise to strive for its purity, peace and prosperity? I am looking forward to this time with our six youth who desire to join the church. I am especially looking forward to teaching on the last question.
I have come to find that I am somewhat unusual in my passion and fervor of being a Presbyterian. Many times, when I tell someone that I make it a habit to thank the living God for calling me to be a Presbyterian, they give me a weird look – as if they are wondering why in the world I would ever pray about something that divisive? In our current Church society and philosophy, denominations have been branded as being outdated and exclusive – and why in the world would we ever want to do something that our forefathers held to & practice something that may offend just one single person?
Well, there are good reasons why we have Presbyterian denominations – and why each one of us is Presbyterian. The main reason – and really the sole reason – is that it is Biblical. The absolute genius and beauty of our theological heritage is that it reminds us that God’s holy writ – the Scriptures – is the sole authority on all matters. This is even true when it comes to something as dry and boring as church government. Isn’t it amazing that God, in his absolute sovereignty, saw fit to instruct his bride in how she should be organized? He did – and, as Presbyterians, we truly understand and believe that we are keeping as close to his word as we can – even in our church government.
Presbyterianism really started with Moses. In Exodus 18, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, saw how much work Moses was doing for Israel. Out of concern for Moses’ health, Jethro advised him that he needed to choose some able men to go out and start doing some of this spiritual work that was totally upon Moses’ shoulders. So, Moses chose from the nation some able men to help do the spiritual work that these people needed. Sounds suspiciously like elders, doesn’t it?
Where we start to see the fruition of the foundation of Presbyterianism is in the early church of Acts. In chapter six of the book, we read of widows being neglected, so the twelve disciples gathered together and hatched the plan of electing deacons – men who would spiritually serve the church by taking care of the physical needs. This enabled the 12 disciples to fully focus on being elders. Is this starting to sound familiar to your Presbyterian ears?
Finally, in Acts 15, we read of the first General Synod. The elders from the churches of Jerusalem gathered together to do the work of the church – in this instance, to grapple with a theological issue concerning circumcision. They met and discussed this issue, and issued a ruling that would help the church to deal with these sorts of situations. If you were to go to Bonclarken for General Synod, you would see the same sort of thing happening.
These are just a few of the Biblical references to our Presbyterian church government. I don’t think it is being divisive in being humbly proud of your church and the way that it operates – because we understand that our form of government is seeking to be true to Scripture. I think we should all thank God that he has called us to be Presbyterians! It is in his providence that we are members of a Presbyterian church – and it is in his grace and mercy that we operate in such a way. Let us all endeavor, then, to be the best Presbyterian that God has called us to be, because “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10.31) – even being a Presbyterian, because it is Biblical.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor James
This coming Sunday, I have the privilege of starting to teach the communicants class. The format for this class is to teach through each of the six membership questions each child will have to satisfactorily answer. I am responsible for teaching through the last three questions – do you now resolve and promise in humble reliance upon the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ? Do you promise to support the church in its worship and work, to the best of your ability? Do you submit yourself in the spirit of love to the government and discipline of this church and promise to strive for its purity, peace and prosperity? I am looking forward to this time with our six youth who desire to join the church. I am especially looking forward to teaching on the last question.
I have come to find that I am somewhat unusual in my passion and fervor of being a Presbyterian. Many times, when I tell someone that I make it a habit to thank the living God for calling me to be a Presbyterian, they give me a weird look – as if they are wondering why in the world I would ever pray about something that divisive? In our current Church society and philosophy, denominations have been branded as being outdated and exclusive – and why in the world would we ever want to do something that our forefathers held to & practice something that may offend just one single person?
Well, there are good reasons why we have Presbyterian denominations – and why each one of us is Presbyterian. The main reason – and really the sole reason – is that it is Biblical. The absolute genius and beauty of our theological heritage is that it reminds us that God’s holy writ – the Scriptures – is the sole authority on all matters. This is even true when it comes to something as dry and boring as church government. Isn’t it amazing that God, in his absolute sovereignty, saw fit to instruct his bride in how she should be organized? He did – and, as Presbyterians, we truly understand and believe that we are keeping as close to his word as we can – even in our church government.
Presbyterianism really started with Moses. In Exodus 18, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, saw how much work Moses was doing for Israel. Out of concern for Moses’ health, Jethro advised him that he needed to choose some able men to go out and start doing some of this spiritual work that was totally upon Moses’ shoulders. So, Moses chose from the nation some able men to help do the spiritual work that these people needed. Sounds suspiciously like elders, doesn’t it?
Where we start to see the fruition of the foundation of Presbyterianism is in the early church of Acts. In chapter six of the book, we read of widows being neglected, so the twelve disciples gathered together and hatched the plan of electing deacons – men who would spiritually serve the church by taking care of the physical needs. This enabled the 12 disciples to fully focus on being elders. Is this starting to sound familiar to your Presbyterian ears?
Finally, in Acts 15, we read of the first General Synod. The elders from the churches of Jerusalem gathered together to do the work of the church – in this instance, to grapple with a theological issue concerning circumcision. They met and discussed this issue, and issued a ruling that would help the church to deal with these sorts of situations. If you were to go to Bonclarken for General Synod, you would see the same sort of thing happening.
These are just a few of the Biblical references to our Presbyterian church government. I don’t think it is being divisive in being humbly proud of your church and the way that it operates – because we understand that our form of government is seeking to be true to Scripture. I think we should all thank God that he has called us to be Presbyterians! It is in his providence that we are members of a Presbyterian church – and it is in his grace and mercy that we operate in such a way. Let us all endeavor, then, to be the best Presbyterian that God has called us to be, because “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10.31) – even being a Presbyterian, because it is Biblical.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor James
Friday, February 16, 2007
Thoughts on getting deeper into the Scriptures
I found this post on another site, and would like to share it with you ...
And I will show you a still more excellent way ...
I'd like to share a happy discovery I've made since I've been back in my home state of Texas. My family and I came here a month ago to spend the holidays with our families. And here, as in Scotland, I've been reading a lot of church history and theology, off- and online (mainly blogs). I want to highlight the most life-changing post I've read in months -- maybe ever. In it Justin Taylor cited Joe Carter, who had taken a strategy from a book by the late James M. Gray. Taylor's post was entitled, 'Four Steps to Transform Your Life'. Here they are:
1. Choose a book of the Bible.
2. Read it in its entirety.
3. Repeat Step 2 twenty times.
4. Repeat this process for all 66 books of the Bible.
To make a long post (that has very little to do with the Puritans) short, I decided to take Gray's/Carter's/Taylor's advice, and I'm now beginning my 15th reading of 1 Thessalonians. The results? Well, I haven't been caught up to the third heaven or had any epiphanies.
But I can say, without exaggerating, that I've experienced more sublime peace and gained more insight and encouragement reading Paul's heartfelt epistle these 14 times than I've ever known scouring the musings of men in print or around the blogosphere.
In fact, since I started following this plan I've come to the conviction that an intimate knowledge of God's sacred Word -- the kind of familiarity I believe anyone with a 6th-grade education can obtain by simply following these four steps in earnest -- is many times more valuable and profitable than any education any theological institution can offer. Don't get me wrong: I've had eight years of formal theological training, and I still recommend a (conservative) seminary education to anyone thinking seriously about going into full-time ministry. But if you finish all of that and you don't know and love the Scriptures, I can't help but think it's all an expensive waste.
This program isn't a magic formula for spiritual maturity. In its essence it's simply a way to master the Bible, one book at a time. And it's effective.
Read books, read blogs, read the news, read whatever you feel edifies you -- but you'll never find rest for your harried soul until you return to the pages of God's Word and make it your home. If you're preparing for vocational ministry or are already immersed in it, I can think of no better way to train yourself than to follow the four steps above prayerfully and obediently. I guarantee that if you do, you'll never lack the power or resources needed to feed the Lord's flock. By God's grace you'll be a holy powerhouse. Try it!
And I will show you a still more excellent way ...
I'd like to share a happy discovery I've made since I've been back in my home state of Texas. My family and I came here a month ago to spend the holidays with our families. And here, as in Scotland, I've been reading a lot of church history and theology, off- and online (mainly blogs). I want to highlight the most life-changing post I've read in months -- maybe ever. In it Justin Taylor cited Joe Carter, who had taken a strategy from a book by the late James M. Gray. Taylor's post was entitled, 'Four Steps to Transform Your Life'. Here they are:
1. Choose a book of the Bible.
2. Read it in its entirety.
3. Repeat Step 2 twenty times.
4. Repeat this process for all 66 books of the Bible.
To make a long post (that has very little to do with the Puritans) short, I decided to take Gray's/Carter's/Taylor's advice, and I'm now beginning my 15th reading of 1 Thessalonians. The results? Well, I haven't been caught up to the third heaven or had any epiphanies.
But I can say, without exaggerating, that I've experienced more sublime peace and gained more insight and encouragement reading Paul's heartfelt epistle these 14 times than I've ever known scouring the musings of men in print or around the blogosphere.
In fact, since I started following this plan I've come to the conviction that an intimate knowledge of God's sacred Word -- the kind of familiarity I believe anyone with a 6th-grade education can obtain by simply following these four steps in earnest -- is many times more valuable and profitable than any education any theological institution can offer. Don't get me wrong: I've had eight years of formal theological training, and I still recommend a (conservative) seminary education to anyone thinking seriously about going into full-time ministry. But if you finish all of that and you don't know and love the Scriptures, I can't help but think it's all an expensive waste.
This program isn't a magic formula for spiritual maturity. In its essence it's simply a way to master the Bible, one book at a time. And it's effective.
Read books, read blogs, read the news, read whatever you feel edifies you -- but you'll never find rest for your harried soul until you return to the pages of God's Word and make it your home. If you're preparing for vocational ministry or are already immersed in it, I can think of no better way to train yourself than to follow the four steps above prayerfully and obediently. I guarantee that if you do, you'll never lack the power or resources needed to feed the Lord's flock. By God's grace you'll be a holy powerhouse. Try it!
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Girls Gone Wild
This week's edition of Newsweek has an article about the effect that celebrities and their actions have on teenagers. It is an eye-opening article that makes one reconsider how much influence and power we allow celebrities to have over our children. Should these people who we don't really know - all we know is the image they choose to put forth - be allowed to shape our children? From casual sex to casual drug-usage to their lack of clothing - is this who we really want our children to grow up to be, especially our girls, who tend to be more susceptible to this? Whatever happened to the shining example of the Proverbs 31 woman?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16961761/site/newsweek/
Please be aware that there is some frank talk in this article - and some pictorial slide shows that go along with it. Proceed with caution ...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16961761/site/newsweek/
Please be aware that there is some frank talk in this article - and some pictorial slide shows that go along with it. Proceed with caution ...
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Interesting Thoughts
A friend of mine, who is an ARP pastor in the upstate of SC, has a blog, and he posted this quotes - interesting thoughts to ponder on ...
Richard Baxter: "All churches either rise or fall as the ministry doth rise or fall, not in riches or worldly grandeur, but in knowledge, zeal, and ability for their work."
Charles Spurgeon: "Today there is not very much Gospel about; the church has given it up; a great many preachers preach everything but the living truth. This is sad; but it is a strong reason why you and I should teach more Gospel than ever. I have often thought to myself -- Other men may teach socialism, deliver lectures, or collect a band of fiddlers, that they may gather a congregation; but I will preach the Gospel. I will preach more Gospel than ever if I can; I will stick more to the one cardinal point. The other brethren can attend to the odds and ends, but I will keep to Christ crucified. To the men of vast ability, who are looking to the events of the day, I would say, 'Allow one poor fool to keep preaching the Gospel.' Beloved teachers, be fools for Christ, and keep to the Gospel. Don't you be afraid; it has life in it, and it will grow: only bring it out and let it grow."
John Calvin: "It is certain that if we come to church we shall not hear only a mortal man speaking but we shall feel (even by his secret power) that God is speaking to our souls, that he is the teacher. He so touches us that the human voice enters into us and so profits us that we are refreshed and nourished by it. God calls us to him as if he had his mouth open and we saw him there in person."
Richard Baxter: "All churches either rise or fall as the ministry doth rise or fall, not in riches or worldly grandeur, but in knowledge, zeal, and ability for their work."
Charles Spurgeon: "Today there is not very much Gospel about; the church has given it up; a great many preachers preach everything but the living truth. This is sad; but it is a strong reason why you and I should teach more Gospel than ever. I have often thought to myself -- Other men may teach socialism, deliver lectures, or collect a band of fiddlers, that they may gather a congregation; but I will preach the Gospel. I will preach more Gospel than ever if I can; I will stick more to the one cardinal point. The other brethren can attend to the odds and ends, but I will keep to Christ crucified. To the men of vast ability, who are looking to the events of the day, I would say, 'Allow one poor fool to keep preaching the Gospel.' Beloved teachers, be fools for Christ, and keep to the Gospel. Don't you be afraid; it has life in it, and it will grow: only bring it out and let it grow."
John Calvin: "It is certain that if we come to church we shall not hear only a mortal man speaking but we shall feel (even by his secret power) that God is speaking to our souls, that he is the teacher. He so touches us that the human voice enters into us and so profits us that we are refreshed and nourished by it. God calls us to him as if he had his mouth open and we saw him there in person."
Monday, January 29, 2007
Super Bowl XLI
February 4th – 6.00 p.m. at Garry, Abbie & Katie Wakefield’s – 45 Tanqueray Street, Sharpsburg. We will provide transportation from the church to their house. Please be at the church at 5.30 pm if you need a ride. There will be pizza provided – guys, please bring a 2 liter drink; girls, please bring a dessert. If you need any more information, please contact Pastor James.
Feb newsletter column
Aiming for Worship
Last month, I talked about the importance of family worship. One of the reasons why it is important to have family worship is that it daily brings us into the presence of our God, and reminds us of the eternal Gospel. One of the tools of this Gospel worship is music.
Martin Luther once said that music is a gift of God, and that it is the handmaiden of theology, and second only to theology. Music plays a large role in our worshipping and understanding our God. When you read Biblical accounts of heaven, a very striking and dominant theme is that everyone is singing in heaven! Their worship is marked by their heartfelt songs, not matter their talent. Worshipful singing is meant to be a trademark of a true child of God. With this in mind, I would like to inform you about some resources available to help you and your family in your journey of worshipping our great God through music.
Judy Rogers has devoted herself to producing CD’s of music for children. She is the wife of a Presbyterian pastor, and has written many songs to help children understand their heavenly Father better. She has recorded an album of songs based on the Children’s Catechism, and another on who God really is. The great thing about her endeavors is that she wants to encourage children to always be biblically based. You can find out more about her and her albums at www.judyrogers.com.
There is a movement taking place where a number of artists are taking theologically rich older hymns and putting them to new tunes. This has really exploded, and it is seeping its way into mainstream contemporary Christian radio. It is really exciting to hear their results, and to be challenged by their music and the text. The first to do this is a group called Indelible Grace – www.igracemusic.com . They are taking many familiar hymns and reworking the tunes to more modern sounds and harmonies. On their website, they have a wealth of information about worship that is well worth reading. Another group in this movement is from a Presbyterian church in Birmingham, AL - www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/. This group is taking a 17th century hymnal, The Gadsby Hymnal, and writing new tunes for it. Their latest album, “Help My Unbelief”, looks at the themes of Christian doubt and longing. Jars of Clay have also recently put out an album of older hymns, “Redemption Songs”. I would encourage you to go to these sites and listen to some clips to see if you are interested … I am using these albums as a part of our worship time in our evening youth meetings.
If you are more inclined to the more traditional renditions of hymns, don’t be worried! There are plenty of resources available to help you in your worship. Ligonier Ministries - www.ligonier.org – has made available some beautiful recordings of many favorite hymns and psalms. They even offer a CD of James Montgomery Boice’s “Hymns for a Modern Reformation” – a number of hymns he wrote based on Biblical truths. It is a very encouraging album!
I hope you will listen to some of these albums, because I truly believe they will spiritually benefit you and your family. As Dr. Luther said, music is the handmaiden of theology – and all theology truly is, is a deeper understanding of God. Why not immerse yourself into something that will help you to know God better & that will aid you in your worship of Him? May we all endeavor to worship like the saints in heaven – and may we do it at home with our family, and in the church with our fellow brothers and sisters.
Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory)
Pastor James
Last month, I talked about the importance of family worship. One of the reasons why it is important to have family worship is that it daily brings us into the presence of our God, and reminds us of the eternal Gospel. One of the tools of this Gospel worship is music.
Martin Luther once said that music is a gift of God, and that it is the handmaiden of theology, and second only to theology. Music plays a large role in our worshipping and understanding our God. When you read Biblical accounts of heaven, a very striking and dominant theme is that everyone is singing in heaven! Their worship is marked by their heartfelt songs, not matter their talent. Worshipful singing is meant to be a trademark of a true child of God. With this in mind, I would like to inform you about some resources available to help you and your family in your journey of worshipping our great God through music.
Judy Rogers has devoted herself to producing CD’s of music for children. She is the wife of a Presbyterian pastor, and has written many songs to help children understand their heavenly Father better. She has recorded an album of songs based on the Children’s Catechism, and another on who God really is. The great thing about her endeavors is that she wants to encourage children to always be biblically based. You can find out more about her and her albums at www.judyrogers.com.
There is a movement taking place where a number of artists are taking theologically rich older hymns and putting them to new tunes. This has really exploded, and it is seeping its way into mainstream contemporary Christian radio. It is really exciting to hear their results, and to be challenged by their music and the text. The first to do this is a group called Indelible Grace – www.igracemusic.com . They are taking many familiar hymns and reworking the tunes to more modern sounds and harmonies. On their website, they have a wealth of information about worship that is well worth reading. Another group in this movement is from a Presbyterian church in Birmingham, AL - www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/. This group is taking a 17th century hymnal, The Gadsby Hymnal, and writing new tunes for it. Their latest album, “Help My Unbelief”, looks at the themes of Christian doubt and longing. Jars of Clay have also recently put out an album of older hymns, “Redemption Songs”. I would encourage you to go to these sites and listen to some clips to see if you are interested … I am using these albums as a part of our worship time in our evening youth meetings.
If you are more inclined to the more traditional renditions of hymns, don’t be worried! There are plenty of resources available to help you in your worship. Ligonier Ministries - www.ligonier.org – has made available some beautiful recordings of many favorite hymns and psalms. They even offer a CD of James Montgomery Boice’s “Hymns for a Modern Reformation” – a number of hymns he wrote based on Biblical truths. It is a very encouraging album!
I hope you will listen to some of these albums, because I truly believe they will spiritually benefit you and your family. As Dr. Luther said, music is the handmaiden of theology – and all theology truly is, is a deeper understanding of God. Why not immerse yourself into something that will help you to know God better & that will aid you in your worship of Him? May we all endeavor to worship like the saints in heaven – and may we do it at home with our family, and in the church with our fellow brothers and sisters.
Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory)
Pastor James
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