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Books, Theology, and Gospel-Centered Living

Philippians

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What does a pastor’s heart look like?

An open Bible being read

Five years ago, I worked hard to memorize the book of Philippians in its entirety. I agonized over every verse, working diligently to make sure that I had these verses locked in my mind and (hopefully) in my heart. I didn’t keep up on my practice, so my ability to recite the book has long since escaped me. Even so, the effect this book has had on my heart has stayed with me since.

I think one thing in it that makes my soul sing is the evident love Paul has for his readers in the first eleven verses of Philippians. He thanks God for them. He remembers them in his prayers continually and with joy (1:3-4). He yearns for them with the affection of Christ (1:8).

These are beautiful, powerful sentiments. But make no mistake—they’re not mere sentiments. They express the heart of a true pastor.

I’m thankful to count many great pastors among my friends. What I’m most thankful for about them is they are men who love the people they serve, who know the importance of the responsibility they have before God. And in my conversations, even in the moments when they’ve expressed frustration about specific situations, they show they share Paul’s heart for the Philippians.

They are men who pray for their people—and do so regularly (even if they don’t think they do it enough). They want their people’s love to grow. They desire for them discernment and knowledge so they might approve what his excellent and so be pure and blameless before Christ.

When I read these verses, I’m thankful for Paul’s pastoral heart. I’m grateful for the example it gives me of how I can love and serve my family in a pastoral way.1 But it also makes me so grateful for my friends who share these affections. Friends who model them, admittedly in an imperfect way.

I might forget the precise words of Philippians. I might never get back to the place where I have it all locked down word-for-word. But this truth is one thing I carry with me continually. And that is something I’ll always be grateful for.

  1. I am not a pastor, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be pastoral. ↵

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Links I like

Links

Kindle deals for Christian readers

Crossway’s got a few books on marriage on sale this week:

Does the Bible say anything about sleep habits?

David Roach:

Americans aren’t getting enough shut-eye. That’s the conclusion of a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that nearly nine million Americans take prescription sleeping pills and such prescriptions have tripled for people between 18 and 24. Of course, occasional sleepless nights are normal for nearly everyone and sometimes insomnia is caused by uncontrollable factors like physical pain or nightmares. But can a lack of sleep indicate a spiritual problem? Does the Bible say anything to guide us in our sleep patterns? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is yes to both questions.

How Do You Define Joy?

John Piper starts a new six-part study series on Philippians:

3 Ways to Grow in Faith

Mike Leake:

Just as in any relationship our communion is often in direct proportion to our faith and love. If I sin against you our relationship is going to be harmed. Likewise, if I feel slighted by you then it will impact the way we relate to one another. How much worse does a human relationship get if one person loses trust in the other one? In the same way—our lively experience of the Lord is often in proportion to our faith.

So how do we grow in our faith?

Creating a New Wrong Way when the Right Way seems to be a Wrong Way

JD Payne offers an interesting perspective on Mark 1:44-45.

How We Became Too Busy For Friends

Pam Lau:

Too many of today’s friendships—both inside and outside of the church—suffer from fragmentation and superficiality. That is, we are too scattered to commit knowing and caring for a person deeply. Instead, we settle for friends who are merely familiar faces for extended small talk. Perhaps it’s because we are afraid of the intimacy or have been burned by bad relationships in the past. Or perhaps it’s because this is the kind of relationship we see modeled and expected in our neighborhoods, schools, and small groups. Dr. Daniel J Siegel, a neuropsychiatrist, advises that little bit of empathy goes a long way. He believes in what he calls mindsight—a new approach to relationships that teaches the skills of reflection, relationships, and resilience.

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My Memory Moleskine: Wash, Rinse, Repeat…

Memory Moleskine - Image by Tim Brister

For the last several months, a few thousand people have been working to memorize the book of Philippians as part of the Partnering to Remember project started by Pastor Tim Brister. Now that the formal part is over, one of the biggest challenges I’ve found is making time to actually practice going through the whole book. I usually try to get through even a chapter a day in the morning, but with little kids who seem to know just when not to wake up, I rarely seem to get through it. I try to make up for it by working on it a bit in the car on the way to the office (or my office away from the office [read: Starbucks]) and on the way home, but… sometimes the day just gets in the way.

But I’ve not given up. I’m committed to not letting the last four months of work go to waste because it’s probably been the best use of my private worship time so far in 2011.

Now what about you? Are you in the “wash, rinse, repeat” phase of memorizing Philippians? If so, how are you keeping on track?