“Watch me!”

10ofthose.com just put together a really nice video using audio of D.A. Carson where he “challenges us from the Bible how we must be sharing our lives, opening up the Bible and changing generations as we point them to Jesus.”

Good Christians Don’t Listen to…: Why A Blanket Divide on “Secular” Music Doesn’t Work

Douglas Adu-Boahen:

Let’s be clear – not all music that is produced by unbelievers makes for good listening. There’s a distinct reason I don’t listen to secular hiphop – no matter how talented some rappers are. Now I appreciate that for some, this comes into the category of Christian liberty (a claim I would quietly question), but I’m just down with hearing a guy talks about his life as a rich man’s harem fueled by drugs and drinks with the option to end your life if you cross him. In the words of Sweet Brown, “Ain’t nobody got time for dat!”

So how do I make that work and sleep well at night? Here are a couple of thoughts.

Get Defending Your Faith for $5 at Ligonier.org

The ePub edition of Defending Your Faith by R.C. Sproul is featured in today’s $5 Friday sale at Ligonier.org. Also on sale:

• By Grace Alone by Sinclair Ferguson (hardcover)
• Dealing with Difficult Problems teaching series by R.C. Sproul (audio and video download)
• A Taste of Heaven by R.C. Sproul (hardcover)

$5 Friday ends tonight at 11:59:59 Eastern.

SPAM: stop affirming positive message?

David Murray:

Scientists estimate that for every hundred pieces of information that enters our brain, ninety nine end up in our SPAM folder. We remember only one thing out of every hundred. And that’s a good thing. As many autistic people will tell you, if you don’t have a good SPAM filter, you can be overwhelmed with useless data.

The problem is that many of us have SPAM filters that are fantastic at filtering out the positive and letting in only the negative things of life. That’s partly because our education, political, and business culture rewards negativity experts, those who can pick out a single negative in a sea of positives.

Living as if I’m Waiting

Amber Van Schooneveld:

The problem with waiting mode is it steals us of our joy today. Nothing will ever be complete or perfect this side of Hades. We can’t wait to embrace and live fully in the joy God has given us today.

I’m preaching to myself here: I know that others have experienced tragedy and to simply say, “life isn’t perfect, live in today anyway” would be trite and even cruel.

The Gospel Project Experience

Not too long ago I hosted a giveaway for simulcast passes for the upcoming Gospel Project experience. Check out the new promo video for the event:

If you’re in the Nashville area and want to be physically present for the event, there are details over on the Gospel Project website.

In the Crosshairs of the Discernment Bloggers

Tim Challies:

I have sometimes warned about these discernment bloggers that are now all over the Internet, but somewhere in the back of my mind I’ve reserved a place for them. I’ve allowed myself to believe that they may serve a helpful purpose, that even while they go too far at times, a lot of their information is helpful. I’ve occasionally found myself visiting some of the sites, reading their articles, and justifying it all in my mind. After all, it is important that I know the truth about Christian leaders and their ministries, isn’t it?

Only As Deep As Your Gospel

Jared Wilson:

Yesterday morning I tweeted this: “The marriage controversy is not unrelated to the fact that many churches will be overdosing on silliness this Sunday.”

Some asked me what I meant by it. This is what I meant:

Steven Lawson and Chris Larson on The Heroic Boldness of Martin Luther

Ligonier’s president, Chris Larson, sits down with author Steven Lawson to discuss his book, The Heroic Boldness of Martin Luther:

One Mark of a Truly Spiritual Church

Mike Leake:

“We don’t have bulletins”, said the pastor quite proudly.

“Why not?”, enquires a sheepish visitor.

The pastor confidently answers, “We want to give the Spirit freedom to work and move in our worship services. We do not want to be shackled and confined by some order of service”.

To Death’s Great Surprise

Stephen Altrogge:

I took a long drag on my cigarette – Marlboro unfiltered if you must know – then tossed it to the ground. I know it’s bad habit, and with a pack of smokes running six bucks, it’s going to bankrupt me, but I figure I’m entitled to at least one vice. If you had my job you’d smoke too. I ground the cigarette into the ground with my black boot then surveyed the scene.

Aaah yes, this was nice. A good old fashioned crucifixion. I pulled out another cigarette, lit it with my black Zippo, and took a long, unhurried pull. There was no rush with a crucifixion. Those poor saps would be hanging on those wooden crosses for hours before I was required to pull the plug. I miss the days of the crucifixions. These days it’s all gunshots and stab wounds. I usually arrive on the scene and have to pull the plug before I can even catch my breath. I have to move quickly to ensure that I get the job done before the paramedics arrive on the scene. In my hurry I occasionally make mistakes. Then I have to go into the ambulance and brawl with the paramedics as they try to revive the victim. I miss the long, slow, unhurried death of crucifixion.

Cheap eBooks

Here are some excellent deals on a number of terrific books:

• Rid of My Disgrace by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb—99¢ (if you don’t already have this, you must get it)
• Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved by JD Greear—$4.90
• Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church by Chandler, Patterson and Geiger—$3.99
• What Is the Mission of the Church? by DeYoung and Gilbert—$5.99
• Practicing Affirmation by Sam Crabtree—$2.96
• Modest: Men and Women Clothed in the Gospel by R W Glenn and Tim Challies—$2.92
• The Gospel-Centered Woman by Wendy Alsup—$4.77
• On the Grace of God by Justin Holcomb—$4.00
• Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary by JD Greear—$3.99
• Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry (Updated and Expanded Edition) by John Piper—$4.99

The Missing Ingredient: Devoted to ________ and Preaching

Gary Millar:

Everyone who has ever preached regularly knows something about the mystery of the sermon that you thought was brilliantly constructed but fell completely flat. In God’s kindness, you may also have listened to yourself giving a really dud sermon and then led someone to become a Christian (I much prefer those days). Why does that happen? It’s because God works through preaching. We need to remember that, and we need to remember to rely on him for that. How?

Prayer.

 The Best Kind of Protest

Daniel Darling:

Last week, on the way home from classes at TEDS, I listened in on a radio conversation on Moody Radio (90.1 FM). The host was my friend, Chris Fabry. Chris told the story of a listener who wrote in to express his appreciation for Christian radio. The man had come across Moody in a roundabout way. His car was in the shop for repair and the mechanic had not done the work in the time the customer thought appropriate. So he berated the mechanic quite forcefully.

First-Day Thoughts on Not Being a Pastor Anymore

John Piper:

How can one speak of finishing a ministry — a pastorate? Can one really finish? Death snatches some men away in the midst of their ministry, and they feel, “I wasn’t finished.” Others are removed against their will, and they don’t feel like it was finished. Others run away from a hard situation, and no one feels it was finished.

4 Ways to Respond to the Gay Community

John Freeman:

Homosexuality is one of those topics that draws vibrant reactions. Complex issues of the heart usually do. Christians are in a sort of no-man’sland here. Suggesting that homosexuality is sinful can appear, to the world, as uneducated, rude, and stupid. On the other hand, suggesting that God loves and forgives sinners who struggle with homosexuality and that we should do the same may appear compromising and wishy-washy.

While we can oppose the advancement of this movement by vocalizing our concerns and participating in the political process, for the Christian a far deeper response to homosexuality and the gay community is needed. In such a heated debate, Christians have a responsibility to represent Christ to a fallen world in four ways.

Intended Allegory in the Song of Songs?

Jim Hamilton:

…is it possible that Solomonintended to represent the spiritual relationship between God and his people through a poetic depiction of the human relationship between the King and the Bride in the Song of Songs?

 

Why So Many Preachers Annoy So Many Christians

Clint Roberts:

Maybe this is due in part to having simply grown older and having heard so many sermons from so many preachers over the years – in person, online, by television, etc. – but I find myself increasingly annoyed by things preachers say and how they say it.  Maybe it’s the repetition of all of those preacherly terms & phrases, or the pulpit personas that preachers adopt. Maybe I’m just cynical & unfair in my overall perspective on the subject.

Or maybe T. David Gordon was onto something when he wrote a book a few years ago arguing that “preaching today is ordinarily poor” as a result, more or less, of our culture.

Evangelism and the Better Story

Logan Gentry:

It can be easy to view the Sermon on the Mount as directed simply to believers, but Jesus’s view was beyond the disciples sitting with him; it involved the non-believing, curious, and even the antagonistic crowd around him. He doesn’t supply a complete explanation of any of the topics he addresses. He spends two verses dealing with divorce, makes simple statements about how we should use our money, and provides a small insight on anger and lust being rooted in the heart.

In all of the issues Jesus addresses, he is presenting a better story, a better narrative to follow than the world offers. It truly is picture-perfect evangelism, declaring through “you have heard it said, but I say” statements that contrast of the cultural narrative lived around us and the Kingdom life he brings.

Edith Schaeffer (1914 – 2013)

Tim Challies offers a lovely tribute:

Edith Schaeffer (nee Seville) has gone to be with the Lord at the age of 98. She was born on November 3, 1914 in Wenzhou, China, the child of missionaries associated with China Inland Missions. As a young adult she attended Beaver College in Glenside, Pennsylvania and it was there that she met Francis Schaeffer. The two were married in 1935. Francis subsequently attended Westminster Theological Seminary and went on to pastorates in Pennsylvania and Missouri.

Shocking—simply shocking

I echo Trevin’s assessment—”there are no words“:

Why do (modern) Christians rarely talk about rewards in heaven?

Michael Kruger:

When is the last time you heard a sermon that suggested that a motive for our obedience should be the rewards we receive in heaven?  I imagine for most of us it has been a long time, maybe even never. Whenever a sermon (or book) provides a motive for obedience, it is almost always thankfulness for what Christ has done.  And certainly that is a wonderful and foundational motivation.  But is it theonly motivation?

State of the Bible 2013

Barna’s released some new stats on America’s view of the Bible. Check out the helpful infographic:

HT: Marc Cortez

What You Can’t Sing Without Penal Substitution

Kevin DeYoung:

The notion that Christ died as our sin-bearing substitute who bore the curse for our sakes is considered, by some, too primitive, too violent, and too narrow. Penal substitution is only a theory of the atonement, just one idea among many, maybe not even a good theory, at the very least not the best or the most important once. I would argue that texts like Isaiah 53, Mark 10, Romans 3, 2 Corinthians 5, Galatians 3, and Philippians 3 demonstrate that Christ is not only our wrath-sustaining Savior, he is also the Lord our Righteousness. The Son’s propiatory sacrifice for sinners is the best news of the good news, the biblical truth that holds the gospel together.

The cup and the crucifixion

HT: Joe Thorn

Jesus paid it all

King’s Kaleidoscope’s rendition of this song is very nice:

Expiation and Propitiation: Two Important Words This Good Friday

R.C. Sproul in an excerpt from The Truth of the Cross:

When we talk about the vicarious aspect of the atonement, two rather technical words come up again and again: expiation and propitiation. These words spark all kinds of arguments about which one should be used to translate a particular Greek word, and some versions of the Bible will use one of these words and some will use the other one. I’m often asked to explain the difference between propitiation and expiation. The difficulty is that even though these words are in the Bible, we don’t use them as part of our day-to-day vocabulary, so we aren’t sure exactly what they are communicating in Scripture. We lack reference points in relation to these words.

Can we say ‘God died’?

Douglas Wilson:

One of the central tenets of the Christian faith is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Another is that Jesus was divine—Jesus was fully God. What is to keep us from putting these two things together in a particular way and saying, “God died on the cross”?

Actually, there is a way of saying this that would be quite appropriate, as we shall see in a moment. But there is another way of saying it that would quickly lead (within minutes) into various bad heresies. God is immortal (1 Tim. 1:17), for example, and the definition of immortal is “incapable of dying.” Wouldn’t this mean that, if we say God died, are we saying that God ceased to be God?

Why the Arguments for Gay Marriage Are Persuasive

Kevin DeYoung:

I don’t think the arguments or gay marriage are biblically faithfully, logically persuasive, or good for human flourishing in the long run, but they are almost impossible to overcome with most Americans, especially in younger generations. By and large, people don’t support gay marriage because they’ve done a lot of reading and soul searching, just like people didn’t oppose it on high flying intellectual grounds either. For a long time, homosexuality seemed weird or gross. Now it seems normal. More than that, it fits in perfectly with the dominant themes and narratives shared in our culture. Gay marriage is the logical conclusion to a long argument, which means convincing people it’s a bad idea requires overturning some of our most cherished values and most powerful ideologies.

Think of all the ways gay marriage fits in with our cultural mood and assumptions.

Underwear, Discernment, and Truly Bright Young Things

Jeremy Pierre:

No one should be surprised that Victoria’s Secret is now targeting “tweens” with their new Bright Young Things line. In our market culture, it no longer feels all that wrong for our preteens to don underwear (yes, I use that antiquated term intentionally) that draws attention to their private parts (that ancient phrase is intentional, too) with exaggerated cuts and printed suggestions. Columbus, Ohio, takes a step closer to Bangkok, Thailand. We’re just more understated about it all.

Cheap eBooks

• The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected by Nik Ripken—$2.99
• Embracing Obscurity—$2.99
• Standing Strong: How to Resist the Enemy of Your Soul by John MacArthur—$2.96
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis—$2.22
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• Finally Alive by John Piper—$3.99
• Leaders Who Make a Difference: Leadership Lessons from Three Great Bible Leaders by Paul W. Chappell—$3.92
• The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything by Fred Sanders—$3.75
• Counterfeit Gospels: Rediscovering the Good News in a World of False Hope by Trevin Wax—$4.97

And don’t forget, R.C. Sproul’s The Truth of the Cross is free at Amazon, the Ligonier store and Logos.

The unavoidable fact of our utter inadequacy

Jeremy Walker:

Preachers are meant to be conduits for the pure word of God. Sometimes the pipe gets dirty and what comes out is impure. Sometimes the pipe gets clogged and the truth gets impeded. Some preachers have poorer settings: trickle, fine spray, jet. I suppose gush can be healthy, if sometimes a little overwhelming. Conrad Mbewe has a delightful setting labelled ‘flow.’ As one brother commented, he gets a lot said without using too many words.

Marriage in the Dock—The Supreme Court Considers Same-Sex Marriage

Albert Mohler:

The next two days are destined to stand as among the most significant days in our nation’s constitutional history, but the issues at stake reach far beyond the U.S. Constitution. Nothing less than marriage is in the dock, with the nation’s highest court set to consider two cases that deal with the question of the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Save at the new WTSBooks.com

Westminster Books recently relaunched their website with a new, tablet friendly, highly functional design. For the next couple of days you can save $5 off your order with the discount code WTSBOOKS. So if, for example, you’ve not already purchased a copy of Awaiting a Savior or Contend, now might be a good time to pick up yours (just sayin’).

8 Tips for Short-Term Mission Trips

Mark Hampton:

As summer approaches, churches across the nation prepare to send out teams for their summer mission trips. Those who are going on trips typically go through some type of training, but as flawed individuals, it’s more than easy to make some mistakes. Some are only minor and will lead to a good laugh and a great story to bring home; however, there are others that can have more collateral damage than meets the eye, and could prevent the work we do as missionaries from being effective.

Here is my list of eight important things that I have learned from doing mission work and I hope that it helps all of us going on trips this summer to have a greater impact, realistic mindset, and do the least damage to others and ourselves.

10 Things I’ve Learned About Church Drama

Ron Edmonson:

I love the local church. I really do. I believe it is God’s design and His plan to reach the world with the Gospel…with life and hope.

But, I hate church drama.

I really do. I hate destructive drama in any setting, but especially in the church. It shouldn’t exist. It especially shouldn’t exist in the church. We have to violate a lot of principles of God’s plan for the church and for believers for it to exist at all, but, even still, it does.

Drama. Gossip. Back-stabbing. Politics. Jockeying for power. Rumors. It’s destructive and has no part in the local church. I’ve seen lots of it. And, along the way I’ve learned a few things.

The Old Man and His Big Book

David Mathis:

We knew we were in for a memorable day. Robert Duncan Culver is the only surviving founding member of the Evangelical Theological Society — and his mind is sharp enough to recall his membership number was 158. He taught a combined 25 years at Wheaton College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and stirred up his share of controversy.

“I don’t mind disagreeing,” says Culver. “I can live without everyone’s short-term friendship.”

The Truth of the Cross—Free from Ligonier Ministries

Ligonier Ministries is making R.C. Sproul’s excellent book, The Truth of the Cross, available for free until April 30th in a variety of eBook editions:

• The Truth of the Cross (ePub)
• The Truth of the Cross (Kindle)
• The Truth of the Cross (Logos)

Why Christians Should Read Fiction

Russell Moore:

I’ve found that most people who tell me that fiction is a waste of time are folks who seem to hold to a kind of sola cerebra vision of the Christian life that just doesn’t square with the Bible. The Bible doesn’t simply address man as a cognitive process but as a complex image-bearer who recognizes truth not only through categorizing syllogisms but through imagination, beauty, wonder, awe. Fiction helps to shape and hone what Russell Kirk called the moral imagination.

Call Your People to Marketable Skills and Degrees

J.D. Payne:

We pastors often forget that stewardship extends beyond the realm of giving money for gospel advancement.  For the longest time, we have allowed the notion of being a wise steward to be defined according to money.  And while the issue of finances does exist within the jurisdiction of stewardship, stewardship embraces all of the Christian life.

One of the areas we often overlook is recognizing the connection between being a wise steward and career-making decisions.  Sadly, we do not consider this matter related to our equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.

Weakness Evangelism

Darryl Dash:

This past year, as we went through another round of confronting our weaknesses, my wife said something profound to me. What if our weaknesses aren’t a distraction from ministry? What if our weaknesses are actually part of the way God wants to use us in ministry? I know this conceptually, but I haven’t always been great at remembering it when I’m weak.

Don’t Begrudge Your Cheerful Sister

Trillia Newbell:

The term “Stepford wife” refers to a docile woman who cooks, cleans, organizes her home, obeys her husband, and dresses nicely. She has it all together. But she doesn’t have personality.

Unfortunately this caricature can be attributed to any woman who appears to have it all together. We cry out against the woman who cooks a nice meal or talks kindly about her kids.Surely she is putting on a mask, we might assume. Yet have we ever stepped back to consider that some woman have been especially gifted by God as cheerful, thankful homemakers?

A Christian Nation in Need of Christ

Charles Bota with Dennis Roberts:

There are about 13 million people in Zambia. Although most go to church, evangelicalism is at a low point in that most of those churchgoers are not born again. As in every other country, many people believe that because they are Catholic or Anglican or members of some church, they are going to Heaven.

But the hunger is growing for truth found only in God’s Word. As recently as 25 years ago, there was not a single reformed Baptist Church in Zambia. Now there are nearly 50, present in all 10 provinces of Zambia and counting. The Lord has been very gracious in yielding fruit to the hard labour of his saints.

How Many Hours Should Pastors Work?

Darryl Dash:

Here’s the real issue. Our challenge in ministry isn’t to buy into a lifestyle that’s driven by busyness and the lack of healthy rhythms. For instance, if nobody in the church is taking a weekly Sabbath, the answer isn’t for the pastor to stop taking a Sabbath. Instead, the pastor should be model what it’s like to pause, rest, and find refreshment one day a week. If the fathers in a community never make it home for dinner with the family, the pastor should not necessarily follow that pattern and work through dinner. Instead, the pastor should wrestle with how often to be around for the family even when work is calling.

When Jesus Makes You Wait in Pain

Jon Bloom:

We know how this story from John chapter eleven ends. But in the horrible days of Lazarus’s agonizing illness and in the dark misery of the days following his death, Martha did not know what God was doing. He seemed silent and unresponsive. Jesus didn’t come. It’s likely that she knew word had reached him. She was confused, disappointed, and overwhelmed with grief.

And yet, Jesus delayed precisely because he loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus.

The Fruit of Grace

Tullian Tchividjian:

Hollywood is not known as a culture of grace. Dog eat dog is more like it. People love you one day and hate you the next. Personal value is very much attached to box office revenues and the unpredictable and often cruel winds of fashion. It was doubly shocking, therefore, when one way love—and its fruit—made such a powerful appearance on the big stage in 2011. The occasion for it was Robert Downey Jr receiving the American Cinematheque Award, a prize given to “an extraordinary artist in the entertainment industry who is fully engaged in his or her work and is committed to making a significant contribution to the art of the motion pictures.” A big deal, in other words. Downey Jr. was allowed to choose who would present him with the award, and he made a bold decision. He selected his one-time co-star Mel Gibson to do the honors.

Ranting on websites may just make you angrier

While you might like getting your point of view off your chest, over the long term your rants may be making you less happy and more angry, suggest two new studies by a single research team.

The first study showed that while visitors to common “rant” websites reported feeling more relaxed immediately after posting a comment, overall they tend to experience more anger in general and can express their frustration in maladaptive ways.

The second study found that both reading other people’s rants and writing your own are associated with negative mood shifts. The research was published online in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.