Budgeting for larger book sets

Last week's announcement of the Logos Zondervan Collection got me thinking about how pastors and laypeople should approach buying larger book sets. For most of us, the cost of such sets is too prohibitive to buy up front, but this shouldn't discourage us from adding good books and sets to our libraries over the long haul.

With a little bit of planning and financial discipline, any set can be yours in a matter of months or years. When you break it down over time, even the largest set becomes quite attainable.

Here's a chart that shows the cost of a book or set, and how long it will take you to save enough money to buy it. This is just basic math, but it can be very helpful and encouraging to see it broken down.
The numbers across the top represent the amount you will commit to save per month. The numbers down the left represent the total cost of a book or set (don't forget tax and shipping, if they apply). The blue numbers in the middle calculate how many months it will take you to save and purchase the book or set for yourself.

Now let's try a few examples:

• I have created a list called 10 Books every new Christian should own. The total cost of these books is $182.39. You could, of course, buy each book individually, or you could budget $20 a month and buy the whole set in less than 10 months.

• The Puritan Paperback bundle is $186 plus shipping. If you laid aside just $10 a month, you could own this entire set of 37 books in just over a year and a half.


• Now let's tackle a larger set: the Zondervan Bible Reference Bundle. By the time you save up for this, it probably won't be on pre-pub discount, so let's look at the regular Logos Sale Price of $2162. If a pastor had a $40 library allowance, he could save up enough money to buy this massive set in about 50 months (just over 4 years). Not bad for 87 books.

To keep your commitment, I would recommend setting aside the money each month in a cash envelope somewhere safe. Print out the picture and list of books to remind yourself of what you're saving for. How rewarding it will be when you can finally buy the whole set, and don't have to pay a single dime of finance charges on your credit card!

No matter what your budget size or library goals, I hope this little exercise will encourage you to take a long-range approach to building your family or ministry library.

Talking practically about evangelism

The Apostle John does not include the "Great Commission" in his Gospel, as reported in the other Gospels and the Book of Acts (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Lk. 24:47-48; Acts 1:8). However, if we wanted to point to a single text that serves as a Great Commission in John's Gospel, it would be this: "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (Jn. 20:21).

Jesus says that just as His Father sent Him into the world to seek and save the lost, so He has sent us into the world to make disciples and be His witnesses (cf. Jn. 17:18). This is why we're here, my friends. This is our mission, plain and simple.

Two weeks ago, our church studied this "Great Commission" from John 20:19-23. But rather than doing a full exposition, I taught briefly through the passage and then led a discussion panel on evangelism with three church members: Jerry, Janet, and Marty. It was a fun and instructive time. You can listen to the audio here.

Here are the questions I posed during the interview. We didn't get through all of them, but you get a sense of what kinds of issues determine whether we're obeying the Great Commission. I think each of you would benefit from answering these for yourself:

• The fact that you’re here today is because of someone else’s obedience to the Great Commission. How did you come to know the Lord?
  
• The Great Commission that Christ gave His apostles applies to each of us as well. Who are one or two unbelievers the Lord has brought into your life? How are you trying to reach them with the gospel, and what struggles have you faced?
  
• If someone in our church doesn’t know any unbelievers, or is not developing relationships with them, how could they begin to change?
  
• The mission of our church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ who love God and love people, by reaching and teaching everyone.” Love is an important mark of a true disciple of Christ. What are some ways people are hurting in our community, and how could we show greater Christian love?
  
• Young people are the next generation of Christian leaders. What are some issues we need to think through if we’re going to reach young people in our community?
  

Christians persecuted in Iran

From Voice of the Martyrs:

Maryam, 27, and Marzieh, 30, were arrested and sent to Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran. The two women did not rob a bank, kill a man or beat up someone.

Their crime? Loving Jesus. And it is for this reason alone they are still imprisoned.

In August during a court hearing, the two were questioned repeatedly about their faith.

They were told to return to Islam.

"We love Jesus," was their reply. Prosecutors asked the women, who had already spent five months in prison, if they regretted being Christians.

"We have no regrets," they said. "We will not deny our faith."

The judge sent them back to Evin Prison - notorious for its brutality - to "think about" their decision.

"We have already done our thinking," they told him.

Maryam and Marzieh are among dozens of Iranian Christians arrested, detained or interrogated in Iran in recent months. The harassment is the radical Islamic government's response to an Iranian revival that has thousands of Iranians coming to Christ each month.

Please pray for these two sisters and millions more across the globe who face daily threats and violence for their Christian faith.

"Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." (Hebrews 13:3)

Making an eternal difference

I believe we all want to be part of something greater than ourselves, to touch lives and make an impact that will outlast our short lives under the sun.

One of the greatest ways to do this is to be committed and involved in a local church. Those who think they are doing great and noble things for God's kingdom apart from His church are driving down a dead-end street. Ray Ortlund writes...

Suppose I said, “My passion isn’t to build up my marriage. My passion is for Marriage. I want the institution of Marriage to be revered again. I’ll work for that. I’ll pray for that. I’ll sacrifice for that. But don’t expect me to hunker down in the humble daily realities of building a great marriage with my wife Jani. I’m aiming at something grander.”

If I said that, would you think, “Wow, Ray is so committed”? Or would you wonder if I had lost my mind?

If you care about the Kingdom, be the kind of person who can be counted on in your own church. Join your church, pray for your church, tithe to your church, participate in your church every Sunday with wholehearted passion.

We build great churches the same way we build great marriages — real commitment that makes a positive difference every day.

HT: Justin Taylor

Coronary Christians

Are you growing weary in well-doing? John Piper gives us great encouragement to persevere...

As I write this Preface I have just preached to my people several messages in which I pleaded with them to be 'coronary Christians,' not 'adrenal Christians.' Not that adrenaline is bad, I said; it gets me through lots of Sundays. But it lets you down on Mondays. The heart is another kind of friend. It just keeps on serving - very quietly, through good days and bad days, happy and sad, high and low, appreciated and unappreciated. It never says, 'I don't like your attitude, Piper, I'm taking a day off.' It just keeps humbly lub-dubbing along. It endures the way adrenaline doesn't.

Coronary Christians are like the heart in the causes they serve. Adrenal Christians are like adrenaline - a spurt of energy and then fatigue. What we need in the cause of social justice (for example, against racism and abortion), and the cause of world missions (to plant churches among the unreached peoples of the world), and the cause of personal holiness and evangelism (to lead people to Christ and love them no matter what) is not spurts of energy, but people who endure for the long haul. Marathoners, not sprinters. (John Piper, The Roots of Endurance: Invincible Perseverance in the Lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce), pp. 11-12)

Are you a coronary Christian?

Free harvest festival - October 17th

On Saturday, October 17th, 2009, First Southern Baptist will host an evangelistic harvest festival open to the public. There will be free food, kids games, door prizes, a bounce house, and country music concert.

The BBQ begins at 4:30 pm, followed by the Christian country band Southland at 5. Right after the concert, we'll have ice cream and a raffle drawing. Come join us, and bring a friend!

How to do inductive Bible study

Have you ever wondered how to study the Bible for yourself, or how to write your own study for teaching others? One of the best ways to prepare a Bible lesson is through inductive Bible Study.

Inductive Bible Study is the process of examining a specific passage in the Bible and then drawing general conclusions. It's looking at the individual words, phrases, and units of thought, and then developing the doctrines, principles, and applications that naturally flow out of the text.

The opposite of Inductive Bible Study is Deductive Bible Study, which starts with a general truth, and then tries to find particular verses that teach or illustrate that truth. As a general rule, expository preaching is more inductive, while topical preaching is more deductive.

As our church moves toward a more inductive approach to Bible Study in our "Life Group" Sunday School classes, our teachers have been learning how to prepare and lead an Inductive Bible Study. It's a process that is quite rewarding because it forces us to immerse ourselves in the text and listen directly to God. We learn to rely on the Holy Spirit and not depend too much on other study tools, which can become a crutch.

Inductive Bible Study can be done by approaching the text with 6 kinds of questions. The first three are observation, meaning, and doctrine questions. Here's a diagram I made to illustrate:

Observation questions ask, "What does the text say?" Meaning questions ask, "What does the text mean?" Doctrine questions ask, "Where else does the Bible explain this truth, and what does this text teach us about Christ?"

Let's take Psalm 119:105 for example. The text says, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Sample observation questions: What's the main theme of this verse? Read 10 verses before and 10 verses after. What seems to be the recurring theme of this chapter? Whose word is spoken of here? Do we know who is speaking? What two metaphors describe the Word in v. 105?

Sample meaning questions: What does the psalmist mean by the "word?" What other words are used in the context to describe the "word"? Is the psalmist speaking literally or figuratively? Taken as poetic parallels, what do the "lamp" and "light" metaphors mean? What do "feet" and "path" refer to?

Sample doctrinal questions: What main doctrine is discussed in this verse? Look up Ps. 119:1; Prov. 6:23; 2 Peter 1:19. Explain how they relate to Psalm 119:105. How does this verse point us to the gospel of Jesus?

The dotted line in my diagram points straight from the text to the heart. This represents the application phase. After studying the text, it's time to move toward application, asking a series of principle, application, and implementation questions. I'll discuss these kinds of questions in a future post.

An expensive coffee spill

Here's an interesting headline I came across yesterday: "Coffee Spill Costs Community College $200,000." Ouch! Just for fun, which one do you think was the cause?

A) Piano student sues after scalding hands
B) Ruptured water line damages labs and classrooms
C) Computer lab assistant fries main network station

Click here to see the answer and read the full story of what happened at St. Louis Community College.

New missionaries enter the field

The International Missions Board reports,

While in college, Emma Zondervan called the International Mission Board almost every week for two years to keep informed of opportunities to serve the Deaf. While still a student, she raised her own support and worked with Southern Baptist missionaries in Europe ministering to the Deaf in the summer of 2006. After graduation, she spent several months in Asia working with the Deaf — once again, on her own dime. These trips confirmed her calling and now Zondervan is going to Asia to minister to the Deaf.

Emma is one of 60 new missionaries appointed by the International Missions Board last week. Finances have been tight in this economy, but we praise the Lord new missionaries are still entering the field. More exciting news:

Southern Baptist missionaries are experiencing unprecedented victories in sharing the Gospel around the world, according to Gordon Fort, vice president of the IMB’s office of global strategy. Fort reported that in the past five years, thousands of people from Muslim backgrounds in South Asia accepted the message of salvation.

You can read the whole article here.

HT: SBC Voices

I have seen the Lord!

Mary Magdalene gave this stunning testimony in John 20:18. I can just picture her -– racing toward the disciples, weeping tears of joy, voice trembling in excitement, face beaming as she gives her report. My Bible doesn’t have an exclamation mark in verse 18 (the original Greek didn’t have any punctuation marks), but I think we could add one here. I just can’t read this verse without some emotion. This is amazing! This is miraculous! This is life-changing!

Have you grown bored and blasé over the resurrection? The expression “familiarity breeds contempt” is never more true than in Jesus rising from the dead. For most of us, we’ve known this fact for decades. It has become so common to us that we are in grave danger of listening with a yawn and then moving on to discuss other, “more exciting” things like national health care and next weekend’s football matchup. But friends, JESUS IS ALIVE!

Last Sunday, as we studied John 20:1-18, we tried to approach the resurrection with a renewed sense of wonder and excitement, reliving the event from two different perspectives:

1. The Apostle John (Jn. 20:1-10). The author of the Gospel gives a personal account of what he saw and felt the day Jesus rose from the dead. When John and Peter received word that Jesus’ body was missing, they ran to the tomb to investigate the scene of the crime. But after looking inside and entering the tomb, John realizes the linen wrappings and face cloth are still there, neatly wrapped and in their place. This is not the scene of a forcible entry and robbery! After investigating the tomb, John’s doubt turns to faith. He believes that Jesus is alive, and later that night, would see Him face to face (Jn. 20:19-20).
2. Mary Magdalene (Jn. 20:11-18). Mary, a woman from the Galileean village of Magdala, had once been possessed by seven demons (Lk. 8:2). Ever since Jesus had saved her, she had faithfully followed Him wherever He went, even witnessing His death and burial. Her tears of grief turned to tears of joy when Jesus revealed Himself in the garden and proved He was alive! Mary immediately clung to Him, but Jesus cautioned her to let go, and that Mary needed to tell the disciples that His ascension was coming soon.

Both John and Mary were firmly convinced that Jesus had risen from the dead. He was not merely a spirit or a ghost. John had seen the cloths neatly arranged and believed. Mary was the first to see Jesus, hear Him, speak to Him, and touch Him.  Both of these people who knew Jesus so well were absolutely sure Jesus was alive. And their faith is intended to strengthen our faith in the risen Christ.

We concluded on Sunday with five reasons the resurrection matters to us today: forgiveness (1 Cor. 15:17); new life (1 Pet. 1:3); peace with God (Jn. 20:17); victory over temptation (Rom. 8:34-37); and hope in our own resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20). The doctrine and proof of Christ’s resurrection should never grow boring to us! It is the greatest miracle God has ever performed, and is at the very heart of our Christian faith.

Questions for thought and discussion:

• When did you first hear about Christ’s resurrection? What did you feel and think?
• Do you still have a sense of awe and wonder that Jesus is risen from the dead?
• What are some proofs that Jesus is alive?
• What does John 20:17 say about your new relationship with God? Do other people see this in you?
• What is the #1 sin you are struggling with right now? How can Christ’s resurrection power give you victory?
• How do you feel about death? How can Christ’s resurrection give you hope?

Sunday’s sermon will be uploaded to our podcast site soon and available for free download.

Related posts:

• Dead to sin
• How to face death

God's precious and magnificent promises

God's promises in 2 Peter 1:4 are described as "precious and magnificent." I cannot think of two more wonderful words to describe the promises of God.

Many things are precious to me. My wife. My children. My church. My health. My home. A quiet hour with the Lord and a cup of coffee. A good book. A family walk. Earlier this week, I got to hold baby Ethan McCullah. That was precious. I'm so grateful for the precious gifts and memories God has given me, but more precious than all these things are the promises of God.

I have also seen many things that are magnificent. The sunrise. The moon. The Milky Way Galaxy. A shooting star. Niagara Falls. The Grand Canyon. The birth of a child. A Spirit-filled sermon. A concert pianist. A fighter jet soaring across the sky. I feel so privileged to have witnessed all these things, but more magnificent than all these things are the promises of God.

What are some of God's precious and magnificent promises? J. C. Ryle considers:

There are an abundance of promises supplied by God in the Word, revealing of His character, especially His infinite mercy and compassion. There are promises regarding His willingness to forgive, pardon and absolve the chief of sinners; there are encouragements to pray and hear the gospel and draw near to the throne of grace; there are promises that he will give strength for duty, comfort in trouble, guidance in perplexity, help in sickness, consolation in death, support under bereavement, happiness beyond the grave, reward in glory. His promises are so abundant that we fail to even concieve of them. (Holiness, p. 263)

God's promises are certainly abundant. But perhaps the most precious and magnificent promise of all is this:

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus.

A more wonderful union

Ephesians 5 is one of the clearest passages in all the Bible dealing with marriage and the family. But what's so fascinating about this passage is that Paul is teaching on two levels at the same time.

First, Paul is describing the literal level, that a man is to love his wife; that a woman is to submit to her husband; and that they are joined together as "one flesh." There is intimacy, permanence, and mutual respect in marriage.

But there's a second level Paul is teaching on. In verse 32, he says something extraordinary. "This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church" (Eph. 5:32). Wait a second, Paul, weren't you just speaking with reference to man and woman in marriage?? Well, yes. But he was also speaking of something deeper and even more wonderful: the union between Christ and His bride, the church. This is the second level.

I love being married. I'm so thankful the Lord has given me a wonderful bride Natalie. But Ephesians 5 teaches there is an even more wonderful union that Christ is producing in us. Marriage is temporary, but union with Christ is permanent. Marriage is wonderful, but fellowship among believers and our Savior is in many ways actually superior.

Jayne Clark explains how the joyful relationship of Christ with His church outshines the relationship between husband and wife:

Consider Genesis 2 through the lens of the New Testament. As surprising and awesome as it must have been for Adam to open his eyes and see a woman who was like him but not like him, how much more awesome it is when we meet brothers and sisters who differ from us in innumerable ways—culture, background, social class, political views, education, interests, everything imaginable—but with whom we still have a sense of recognition and connection, a sense of familiarity that says, “I feel like I know you. Have we met before?”

As beautiful and miraculous as it is for a husband and wife to become one flesh, how
much more beautiful and miraculous it is to be the body of Christ, so connected with one another that if one part suffers, we all suffer. If one part is honored, we are all honored. We are all the bride of Christ together.

As incredible as it is for a husband and wife to come together so that they can be fruitful and multiply, how much more incredible it is that Christ should multiply and grow His kingdom by sending flawed people like us to make disciples of all nations.

As wonderful as it must have been for Adam and Eve to be naked and unashamed with each other, how much more wonderful it is that dirty, rotten scoundrels like us should have our sins washed away by the blood of Christ and now stand clothed in His righteousness! We no longer need to hide behind fig leaves when our sin is exposed. Now we can confess our sins one to another. ("Loneliness: God's Remedy," Journal of Biblical Counseling, Fall 2005)

This is a strong cure for the sorrow of singleness and loneliness that many people face. Whether we're married or single, we have much to be thankful for in our union with Jesus Christ and one another. Marriage is great, and it does offer great companionship in this life, but it's still only a picture of a spiritual unity even more permanent and profound, a relationship available to all people, that will outlast this life and carry on through the rest of eternity.

New NASA photos

NASA has finished some repairs and upgrades to the Hubble Telescope and is releasing beautiful new images from space. You can view a slide show here.

My favorite picture was the Abell Galaxy Cluster, located 5 billion light years away. My mind can't comprehend that kind of distance! It's so far way that the gravitational fields of closer galaxies stretch the light and warp the appearance of galaxies lying further back.

O how wise and beautiful is our Almighty Creator!

Psalm 19:1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Related posts:

• Starry nights
  
• The importance of creation
  

Look upon the pierced One

Many people today deny the deity of Jesus Christ. In historical theology, this is known as the heresy of "Arianism," named after the 3rd century elder Arius. But did you know there's another heresy that attacks Christ's nature? It's called Docetism, and it was already cropping up by the end of the first century.

The label "Docetism" comes from the Greek word dokeo, meaning to "seem" or "appear." This heresy teaches that Christ was fully God, but that He only appeared to be human. He was really just a phantom, a ghost, a spirit . He was not God in flesh. Docetists felt it was impossible for God to have a Son, and felt that having a material body would somehow defile God's nature.

The Apostle John vigorously opposed this doctrine in his letters to the churches. In 1 John 4:2, he writes, "By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Chrsit has come in the flesh is from God." His defense against Docetism even shows up in his Gospel, as we learned together on Sunday. When studying John 19:31-42, we made two observations that show the genuine humanity of Jesus Christ:

1. Jesus' Body is Pierced (John 19:31-37). In contrast to the two thieves, Jesus' bones are not broken. He has already given up His spirit before the soldiers come to Him. But just to ensure He is dead, a soldier pierces His body with a spear, causing blood and water to flow out. John Himself witnessed these things firsthand (John 19:35) and tells us they all came to pass to fulfill the Scriptures (vv. 36-37; cf. Ps. 34:20; Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Zech. 12:10).
   
2. Jesus' Body is Buried (John 19:38-42). Two unexpected people arrive on the scene in verse 38. Joseph and Nicodemus, Pharisees who followed Jesus in secret, get permission from Pilate to remove the body and give it a proper burial. Pilate agrees, which is itself remarkable. They take special care of His body, removing it from the cross and placing it in a newly hewn tomb before sundown.

Questions for thought and discussion:

• What are the consequences of rejecting Christ as fully Man?
• How could we use John 19:31-42 to refute Docetism?
• What does John 1:14 tell us about Christ's nature?
• Have you believed in the testimony of John and the saving work of Jesus? (John 19:35)
  
• Do you regularly thank Jesus for taking on human flesh, becoming like His creation in order to become our substitute?
• Why was Joseph a secret disciple of Jesus? (John 19:38)
• Have you ever been afraid to share your faith? What can we learn from Joseph's example in this passage? (cf. Mark 15:43)

Sunday’s sermon will be uploaded to our podcast site soon and available for free download.

Related posts:

• God became flesh
  

The great Builder of the church

"Upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it" (Matt. 16:18).

J. C. Ryle says of this passage:

"Great is the wisdom wherewith the Lord Jesus Christ builds His Church! All is done at the right time, and in the right way. Each stone in its turn is put in its right place. Sometimes He chooses great stones, and sometimes He chooses small stones. Sometimes the work goes on fast, and sometimes it goes on slowly. Man is frequently impatient, and thinks that nothing is doing. But man’s time is not God’s time. A thousand years in His sight are but as a single day. The great Builder makes no mistakes. He knows what He is doing. He sees the end from the beginning. He works by a perfect, unalterable and certain plan. The mightiest conceptions of architects, like Michaelangelo and Wren, are mere trifling and child’s play, in comparison with Christ’s wise counsels respecting His Church." (Ryle, Holiness, p. 213)

The great Builder of the church makes no mistakes. None. This quote by Ryle brings me to my knees in repentance. So often, I find myself questioning Jesus' wisdom in how He is building His church. Why is He so slow to bring growth? Why doesn't He save more people? Why doesn't He sanctify us faster? Why does He tolerate so much sin? Why doesn't He raise up more men? Why doesn't He answer more of my prayers? Why are so many ministries short-handed? Why did the "sign" gifts of the Holy Spirit cease? Why is ministry so hard?

But how foolish I am to think I have a better plan than the great Builder. If God were to speak audibly to me today, He would probably say the same thing He asked Job long ago, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?...Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding!" (Job 38:2, 4).

Like Job, I lay my hand on my mouth (Job 40:4). I humbly bow the knee to Jesus Christ as the great Builder of His church. His plans are always wise and His timing is always perfect. I may not always understand them, but I can rest assured His ways are best. Praise be to Jesus.

Related posts:

• Reflections on my first years as pastor
• Do you love the church?
  

Sunday School in the 21st century

This month, our church is taking a new direction in our Sunday School. For the last two years, we've tried an "elective" format with limited success. We had some great teachers and offered some outstanding classes, but the idea just never really took off with many of our members, and the quarterly elective model did not lend itself to building a deeper sense of community.

In some ways, we're moving back to a more traditional Sunday School model, but with a twist. Our focus will shift from strictly teaching toward fellowship (sharing in common). About 2/3 of our time will be spent in interactive, verse-by-verse Bible Study, while the other 1/3 will be spent in prayer. Time for socializing and evangelism will also be encouraged as the small groups develop.

Thom Rainer, Director of Lifeway, admits that Sunday School has lost the "coolness factor" and fallen out of fashion in many churches across the country. But statistics show it still has value:

Do you realize that a person in a Sunday School class is five times more likely to be assimilated and discipled in a church than a person who attends worship only? Did you know that Sunday School increases biblical literacy and encourages personal Bible study? Are you aware that churches with the healthiest Sunday School organizations are likely the healthiest churches evangelistically?

And what makes a healthy Sunday School? Rainer explains,

For one, it is the priority of the leadership of the church, particularly the senior pastor. And the plan of study or curriculum is not haphazard where all are doing their own thing. What takes place in Sunday School is no less planned than what is preached in the pulpit.

A healthy Sunday School is an open group, where anyone can attend at any point. A healthy Sunday School has the best teachers who are trained and capable. And a healthy Sunday School is well organized and given a prominent place in the life of the church.

We at First Southern are not ready to give up on Sunday School yet. Times have changed, and our tactics for discipleship must change. But we believe Sunday School still has big potential. People are already traveling to our church campus for Morning Worship, so why not seize this opportunity to build deeper relationships, small group Bible study, and prayer? There's the added bonus of having a good program available for the kids.

Since the focus of our new Sunday School program will be on fellowship and relationships, we will be phasing out the name adult "Sunday School" and replacing it with "Life Groups," which we hope will better capture our purpose.

I join Rainer in the conclusion of his article,

I pray that the small group Bible study called Sunday School will begin to be embraced with similar fervor. I’m not hung up on the name assigned to it. I just pray that men, women, boys and girls will return to the experience of regular group Bible study. It’s the trend of some of the healthiest churches in America. And that's really cool.

Book review – The Truth of the Cross

What gives the old rugged cross such a “wondrous attraction” to believers? It is by that cross of Jesus alone that we can be saved. The cross captures the greatness of our sin, the greatness of God’s love, and the greatness of Christ’s sacrifice.

I’ve read a handful of books on the cross, but I pray with each passing year the subject will grow nearer and dearer to my heart. My latest reading on the cross was a little hardback by R.C. Sproul called The Truth of the Cross.

Early on, Sproul notes the spiritual apathy he has observed, even among many Christians: “People are not concerned about an atonement. They are basically convinced they have no need for it. They aren’t asking: ‘How can I be reconciled to God? How can I escape the judgment of God?’ If anything has been lost from our culture, it is the idea that human beings are privately, personally, individually, ultimately, inexorably accountable to God for their lives” (p. 8).

The author begins by explaining how God’s justice and man’s sinfulness make an atonement absolutely necessary. In the chapters that follow, he unpacks the different ways the Bible describes Christ’s work on the cross. The Lord paid for our debt, mediated our peace, and was punished for our crime (ch. 3). He purchased our redemption (ch. 4), satisfied God’s wrath (ch. 5), and stood condemned in our place (ch. 6). Christ suffered as foreseen in the Old Testament (ch. 7) and became a curse for us (ch. 8). Chapter 9 takes a short glance at the limited atonement debate, and the final chapter answers some very intriguing questions (e.g. “Is it accurate to say God died on the cross?”).

Sproul is a gracious and masterful teacher. He tackles contemporary issues while pooling effortlessly from two thousand years of church history. He’s clear and easy to read even when introducing big words like “propitiation,” “justification,” and “expiation.” Sproul lacks the practical application of Mahaney’s Living the Cross-Centered Life, but he handles the theology of the cross a bit more fully.

Because of its size and style, I believe The Truth of the Cross would be an excellent primer for any Christian to gain a deeper appreciation for Christ’s work on that old rugged cross. Only when we more fully understand what Christ did can we adequately thank Him for it, and then tell others what He has done.

Why a new blog?

If you're reading this post, then congratulations, you've successfully navigated over to my new blog site! I'm sorry for the inconvenience in switching. Change is always easier said than done.

My new web address is a bit easier to remember (http://stephen-jones.blogspot.com). But the title of my blog was the main reason for switching. I've always wanted a title that was a bit "catchier" than The Desert Chronicle. Finally, I decided on "Life Under the Sun." I think it fits exactly what this blog is all about.

The phrase "under the sun" comes from Ecclesiastes. Solomon uses it a total of 29 times in his book. It is a major theme and first appears in his opening question, "What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?" (Eccl. 1:3). Here are my two favorite occurrences of the phrase:

Ecclesiastes 5:18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.

What does the expression "under the sun" mean?

"This phrase (also translated as 'under heaven' in Eccl. 1:13; 2:3; 3:1) describes life lived here on this earth, as God has been pleased to place us. In these two verses (Eccl. 1:2, 3), the Preacher has established one of his principal ideas: Life may seem pointless because it is quickly passing. It is the burden of the rest of his book to help the assembly of the wise understand how to truly value life because it does indeed pass so very quickly." (Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary).

"This phrase is synonymous with 'under heaven' and 'on earth.' Paul’s equivalent is 'this present evil age' (Gal. 1:4). The energies poured into earthly kingdoms are often of no value to the kingdom of heaven (Mark 8:36). By contrast, the work of the Lord is not in vain (John 6:27–29; 1 Cor. 15:58)" (Reformation Study Bible).

And that's really what this blog is all about - the pain and pleasure of following Christ on this earth. The complexities of life and leadership, where God has been pleased to place us. This is not merely a chronicle of events by a desert-dwelling pastor, but a quest to love God, love people, and find meaning in this quickly-passing life "under the sun."

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Spiritual elbow grease

Two men approached the village water pump. The first man slung down his bucket with a thud. He seemed annoyed and aloof. He jerked the pump with a scowl and soon snatched up his bucket, sloshing half the water out in the process.

The second man then approached and placed his bucket with care. He grabbed the pump handle firmly. He began to pump steadily and vigorously, and a smile spread across his face as the vessel filled up with cool, fresh water.

These two men describe the two ways we can approach God’s Word, our “fountain of life” (Prov. 13:14). Many people read the Bible and listen to preaching with a sense of duty. They put little joy or effort into it, and get little out of it. They’re glad to just check it off their list and move on to other, “more important” things in life. They really can’t understand why anyone would make such a fuss over spiritual things.

Others take time to enjoy the Word of God. They love to read it, to study it, to drink deeply of it. They can never seem to get enough. They cherish their times of fellowship with the Lord, and walk away refreshed and satisfied.

It’s amazing that the same book can produce such different results. Some people love it. Others tolerate it. some even revile it. Only the Spirit can give us that hunger and thirst for righteousness, and open our eyes to the truth of God’s Word. But we do need some good, old-fashioned spiritual “elbow grease” if we expect to reap any benefits from the Bible.

Holiness does not arrive by surfing the net and checking baseball scores. Christlikness is not produced by watching sitcoms and crime dramas. It takes hard work, pumping the Word of God into our lives. We must discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). Yet all the while, it remains a labor of love.

Why not put more effort and joy into your time with the Lord each day? You may just be surprised by the results.

It is finished!

If I had to choose a single word from all the Bible that is most important, it would probably be Jesus’ word from the cross “tetelestai!” which we translate “It is finished!” Of course, every word of God is tested and profitable, but this word captures so much of the gospel. Without the finished work of Jesus, we would still be separated from God and dead in our sin.

As we studied John 19:28-30 last Sunday, we learned of two things Christ finished on the cross:

1. He fulfilled every Scripture (Jn. 19:28-29). Moments before Jesus gave up His spirit, He declared “I thirst.” He expressed a genuine human need, but even more importantly, He was setting into motion the fulfillment of psalm 69:21, the very last Old Testament prophecy He needed to fulfill.
2. He paid completely for our atonement (Jn. 19:30). With freshly moistened throat and lips, He exclaimed “It is finished!” In other words, Mission Accomplished. Jesus was saying not merely that His life was finished, but that the entire work of atonement was finished. He had made it possible for us to be made “at one” with God. The debt was fully paid. The crime was justly punished. The enmity was completely removed. By faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross, we now can have peace with God. Hallelujah!

Questions for thought and discussion:

• Which seems more real to you - that Jesus is God, or that Jesus is Man? Do you keep a proper balance between His deity and humanity, or tend to have a lopsided view of Him?
• How can Christ’s genuine humanity encourage us in times of trial and temptation?
• “Atonement” is at the very heart of the gospel. How would you explain this concept to someone? (click here if you need help)
• Choose one biblical metaphor for sin (e.g. debt, crime, enmity) and write in a single sentence what Christ’s death on the cross accomplished.
• Read 2 Corinthians 5:15. According to this verse, why did Jesus die for us? Does this describe you?

Sunday’s sermon will be uploaded to our podcast site soon and available for free download.

Related posts:

• What is limited atonement?
• Our hiding place