February 28, 2009
Steve Timmis preaching Acts 20:17-38 on leadership/eldership/oversight/pastoral ministry
Steve Timmis preaching Acts 20:17-38 on leadership/eldership/oversight/pastoral ministry (Download the MP3)
6 features of Paul’s leadership:
1. Consistency (v. 18) – He wasn’t hot and cold or ruled by his emotion. He was with them the whole time characterized by these other things.
2. suffering (v. 19) – despite trials Paul displayed this consistent style of leadership
3. comprehensive (v. 20) – in its scope and in its depth. He seized every opportunity and focused on their needs. It was about them, not him. He gave himself tirelessly in serving them.
4. gospel (vv. 21, 24) – Paul had one message, the gospel of the grace of God.
5. Responsible (v. 24) – he wanted to complete the task the Lord gave him.
6. Biblical – (vv. 25, 27) – he taught the Scriptures, Christ, and God’s plan and purposes.
5 features of local church leadership:
1. Watchful of themselves and the flock (v. 28) – they have to pastor one another and themselves individually.
2. Responsible (v. 28) – they are responsible as overseers, pastors, elders.
3. Vulnerability (v. 30) – savage wolves will come in. Every church is a target of false teaching and false teachers.
4. Dependent (v. 32) – on God and the word of his grace.
5. Industry (vv. 33-35) – Paul worked to supply needs (his own and others). Work hard. Expend yourselves. Make sure you’re a net giver, not a net receiver.
Two challenges:
1. Challenge to all (including leaders): indifference and skepticism of leadership should not be characteristic of Christians. They should respect leadership, because leadership is ordained by God. We must respond well to the leaders God has raised up. If you have problems with leadership generally or your leaders in particular you have to ask if the problem is them or if it is you. Is it their failure to live up to this model? Then you must talk to them about it. Encourage them by loving them enough to challenge them and hold them to the word of God. What you can’t do is talk about them to others. You can’t undermine them or grow resentful toward them. That just isn’t an option. Love them enough to come and tell them. Christians should be hallmarked by a godly submissiveness.
2. Challenge to leaders: live up to this standard. You’ll feel a sense of inadequacy. If you do, then it’s the gospel sharing the bad news so that you can be served by the good news. Make sure that no one has any legitimate reason to call you to account unaccountable.
Blessed is the church that has a godly leadership. Blessed is the church where the congregation honors that leadership. Make it a delight to your leaders to lead you. Leaders, make it a delight for your people to follow you.
February 27, 2009
February 24, 2009
A Recommended Bible Reading Plan
First let me quote my comment on the system, which will only make sense after you read the description of this system:
I’ve seen connections in the Bible I haven’t seen before! That would happen anytime I’m reading the Bible, but the variety and amount of chapters read make these connections all the more likely. My only draw back three weeks into this reading is that I didn’t write the connections down and will probably not read that same combination of chapters again. Another blessing is that when I miss a day, I just pick up without feeling that I have to read 20 chapters the next day. Sometimes I just read the Old Testament or New Testament and don’t find time to get the other readings in for the day. The next day I just do the 10 readings and feel no need to keep all 10 lists moving exactly together. That is extremely freeing!
So here’s Prof. Horner’s Bible Reading System (download the pdf):
“I have more wisdom than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation.” Psalm 119:99, right-hand page, left-hand column, dead center of page. Many people ask me how it is that I know precisely where virtually *everything* is in my Bible. The answer: this system. I began in 1983 (adapting and tweaking the basic design of another system) as a brand-new convert; within 3 years I knew the text of my Bible very well. Twenty-five years later it is essentially imprinted on my mind and heart. I have been all over the country and have taught this system in many churches. I have done open-microphone Q&As on Bible and theology — with 1200 people in the audience — as well as cultural-analysis live radio shows where you have to think fast — and it has been the “imprinting” value of this system that has helped me provide quick, clear, heavily contextualized scriptural answers (I Peter 3:15; right-hand page, right hand column, 1/3rd way down). I have no Seminary degrees, no Bible-college or Christian school education — hey, I never even went to Sunday School (the first church I went to, just months after my conversion, threw me into Sunday School– to teach!!! *BIG* mistake, by the way…) All I DID have was a chair, a lamp … and my Bible.
This is *not* merely a speed-reading program, nor is it a ’study’ system. Read the 1-page description provided here to see how it works. (I’d also recommend you look at my first few posts in the Discussion Board ‘Starting Up’ below as well, for more thoughts.) DO NOT be intimidated! I was a college drop-out, ex-heavy-druggie when I started it. If I can do it — so can you!
TRY IT FOR A MONTH. Then tell me what is happening!
Join if you wish to try it; stay if you keep it up for one month! And make posts about your struggles, the effects it is having on your biblical understanding and discernment, and to encourage others.
HERE IT IS:
* PROFESSOR GRANT HORNER’S ‘TEN LISTS BIBLE READING SYSTEM’*
Each day you will read one chapter from each list, in order. THAT’S RIGHT — *TEN CHAPTERS PER DAY*!!! Use ten bookmarks or sticky notes with the individual lists on them to keep track of your locations. (LOOK BELOW at the Wall for several posts on Feb 1 2009 and you will find links to handy bookmarks made by users.) On day one, you read Matthew 1, Genesis 1, Romans 1, and so forth. On day 2, read Matthew 2, Genesis 2, etc. On day 29, you will have just finished Matthew, so go to Mark 1 on the Gospel list; you’ll also be almost to the end of 2nd Corinthians and Proverbs, you’ll be reading Psalm 29 and Genesis 29, and so forth. When you reach the last chapter of the last book in a list – start over again. Rotate all the way through all the Scriptures constantly. Since the lists vary in length, the readings begin interweaving in constantly changing ways. You will NEVER read the same set of ten chapters together again! Every year you’ll read through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the OT wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the OT History and prophetic books about 1 ½ times. Since the interweaving is constantly changing, you will experience the Bible commenting *on itself* in constantly changing ways — the Reformer’s principle of ’scriptura interpretans scripturam’ — ’scripture interpreting scripture’ IN ACTION!
After you’ve read any particular book once or twice, your speed in that book usually *doubles or triples* because you’re familiar with it and can move quickly and confidently — because you are no longer merely decoding the text but thinking it through in the context of all of the scripture! Acts 20:27. Even an ‘average’ reader, if focusing on moving through the text, rather than trying to figure everything out, can usually do this in about an hour a day – 5-6 minutes per chapter. If it is taking you longer, then you are ‘reading wrong’ – stay relaxed, focus, and just keep it moving. Moderate but consistent speed is the key. This is “gross anatomy” — looking at the whole body; you’re *not* closely studying organs or systems or tissues or cells — it is *not* microbiology. BUT
– microbiology and the study or organs makes more sense when you know what the *whole* structure of the human body is like, and how all the parts, large and small, relate in perfect interdependence. After just a few days the reading gets *much* easier; in a month it will be a habit, and in six months you’ll wonder how you ever survived before on such a slim diet of the WORD. And then — you’ll tell others to start the system!I began in 1983 as a new Christian and have now read (most of) the Bible hundreds and hundreds of times. You also need to get ONE Bible, keep it, and do all your reading in it, so you learn where everything is. I’ve had the same Bible since 1983 and I know it intimately. If you keep switching Bibles, you ‘lose’ this intimacy with the text. Find a translation and format you like and stick with it. THIS IS CRUCIAL.
When I was flown out by Masters for a 3-day interview/theological-grilling process, the culmination was of course being ushered in to Dr. John MacArthur’s private study, which is where he asked me this one question: “Can I see your Bible?” I thought he would be horrified, because it looked like it had been through a typhoon — it looked unloved and neglected. Something from a dumpster. It was unbound, with stringy mess and paper debris hanging out. I was so embarrassed. I thought he would chastise me and recommend I get a new study Bible if I was serious about the Word. (No doubt which study Bible he would recommend!!!) He flipped through it and handed it to his wife and said “If your Bible is falling apart, you probably aren’t.” I was basically hired on the spot.
Your Bible is the only thing on Earth that, as you wear it out, will actually work better and better.
THE TEN LISTS:
List 1 (89 days)
Matthew, Mark, Luke, JohnList 2 (187 days)
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, DeuteronomyList 3 (78 days)
Romans, I&II Cor, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, HebrewsList 4 (65 days)
I&II Thess, I&II Tim, Titus, Philemon, James, I&II Peter, I,II&III John, Jude, RevelationList 5 (62 days)
Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon [PJ's note: I moved Isaiah, Daniel, and Jonah here to make it 142 days]List 6 (150 days)
PsalmsList 7 (31 days)
ProverbsList 8 (249 days)
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I&II Samuel, I&II Kings, I&II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, EstherList 9 (250 days)
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi [PJ's note, I moved Isaiah, Daniel, and Jonah to List 5 to make List 9 170 days]List 10 (28 days)
ActsIf you are wondering why you should read Acts (or Proverbs) all the way through *every single month* then
– you’ve just shown that you NEED to read them that much!*Put these instructions in your Bible and review them from time to time*
SECRETS TO SUCCESS WITH THIS SYTEM:
• Read one chapter from each list each day, in one sitting or two. At the end of a book, go to the next book. At the end of the list – start it again. Do it in the order given above.
• Read quickly (without “speedreading”) in order to get the overall sense. Read as fast as you comfortably can with moderate retention. You’re not studying deeply or memorizing; shoot for 5-6 minutes per chapter. At the end of a chapter, move immediately to the next list.
• GET THROUGH THE TEXT – no dawdling, back-reading, looking up cross-references!
• There are different ‘kinds’ of reading: super-quick skimming, careful moderate-paced, studying the text, deep meditation. You should be between the first and second kind.
• Most people decrease their time spent and increase their retention after just two-three weeks! I now read and retain the entire text of Matthew in 35 minutes, Romans in 20, Genesis in *one hour*!
• Don’t look up anything you ‘don’t get’ – real understanding will come through contextualizing by reading a LOT of scripture over time. Get through the text!
• If you miss a day or two – ok, get over it, then keep going. Don’t cover yourself in sackcloth and ashes and quit! Move the bookmarks along, to find your place(s) quickly next day.
Heb 4:12&5:11-14; Eph 5:26&6:17; Col 3:16; 2 Tim 3:16; Ps 119; Ezra 8; Prov 3: 1-2, 10:14; Dan 1*PLEASE* INVITE ALL THE CHRISTIANS YOU KNOW TO LOOK AT THIS GROUP — AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE WHO’S THINKING ABOUT READING THE BIBLE, EVEN FOR THE FIRST TIME!
The goal of this sytem is simple, and twofold: To know scripture, and to love and obey God more!
SOLI DEO GLORIA
February 20, 2009
The problem with Seeker Churches
Tim Chester writes:
The problem with a lot of attractional churches is not their missiology, but their ecclesiology. Church is seen as a meeting. Attracting means attracting people to an event or even a performance. But biblical mission is about a community life, ordinary life, lived under God’s Word that attracts people to God.
Read the whole thing on attraction vs. mission in churches (which is only 4 short paragraphs)
Mohler on Faith-Based Government funding
Insightful as usual. God shows his goodness to his church by giving us these insights through Al Mohler on issues like there. Here’s a piece of what he wrote:
I would never advise a Christian organization to participate in these federal programs or to receive tax monies. The brutal reality is that when government money flows, government regulation inevitably follows. Furthermore, taking government money sets a bad precedent and can easily become a seductive snare. When government policies violate the organization’s convictions, or when regulations would require a compromise of those convictions, government funding is a trap.
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February 19, 2009
ReThinking the Church (mp3) with Tim Chester
On this page you can find 4 messages on Rethinking the Church by Tim Chester. Tim Chester is co-author of the book Total Church. I’ve also enjoyed his books, Delighting in the Trinity and From Creation to New Creation. He also has an edifying and insightful blog on Reformed spirituality and the missional church.
February 18, 2009
How should we think about the Lord’s Supper? Is Jesus there or not? Is it just a symbol?
Russ Moore and Robert Sager had an insightful way of talking about the significance of the Lord’s Supper that sees it (I think accurately) as more than mere symbols (avoiding the fabricated[?] Zwingli-Calvin distinction):
No doubt many Baptists have misunderstood the sign nature of the Lord’s Supper and baptism, translating the ordinances into hyper-Zwinglian terms. Baptists are reight to deny sacredotalism, but we would not speak of the baptistmal waters or the Eucharistic bread and wine as “just symbols” any more than we’ would speak of the Bible preached as “just words.” All of these are proclamations – the voice of Jesus announcing an invading Kingdom through the first stage of the invasion force, his church. Where Jesus speaks, he is there. And he is there as King and Lord (80-1).
February 17, 2009
Download ESV Bible mp3 files for free to memorize/meditate!
This is awesome! You can download mp3 audio for any passage of the ESV!
From the Weight of Glory blog:
And here’s the most amazing part: It’s free! If it were almost any other organization there would be a subscription fee or a download fee or a 1-month access fee, etc., etc. Thank you to the good people at Crossway and the English Standard Version!
(HT: JT)
Listen to these statements about John Piper’s new book
These three make me really want me to read and buy the book, Finally Alive:
1. Adrian Warnock said: ” I believe this is the most important book Piper has written.”
2. Challies said: “Piper’s tone is gracious and compassionate throughout this book. He shows the heart of a pastor from the first page to the last. But he also shows the skill of a theologian and the passion of a prophet. I’m inclined to agree with my friend Adrian Warnock who says of Finally Alive, “I believe this is the most important book Piper has written.” I cannot recommend this book too highly. I really believe it is Piper’s best.”
3. D.A. Carson said: “I cannot too strongly celebrate the publication of this book.”
