Next Sunday gospel lover AJ Gibson from To Every Tribe Ministries will preach at Grace & Truth. I look forward to hearing my good friend speak from Philippians 1:12-26. You can learn more about AJ & his family here.
“Doing biblical exegesis is not as exciting as considering planes with raptured pilots or considering whether replacement knees are left behind.” So shares Kim Riddlebarger in his message on eschatology, or end-time events. In this category busting sermon, Riddlebarger points toward a Christ-centered understanding of the fullfillment of Biblical prophecy. You can find this challenging & thought provoking talk here.
-Mike
While on our holiday travels to visit family, Loraena and I had the privilege of worshiping with a young church plant in the Dayton, OH area. Mercy Hill Church began holding meetings in January of this year, led by native Daytonian Ryan Stanley.
From the reading of Scripture, to the passionate leading of one musician at the keyboard, to the exposition of God’s words to the Philippians, to the shared taking of the Lord’s Table from a common cup, we were both struck by the humble authenticity of the entire worship gathering.
I was (and continue to be) deeply convicted by God’s Spirit as the Word was preached. The familiarity of the text in Philippians 2:3-8 melted away as we were together challenged to consider whether we were obeying the command of having the mind of Christ in incarnational living. My tendency has been largely to think of Christ’s incarnation as something that He did but we aren’t really called to follow in. But the words that still rings in my ears a day later come from 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 in describing one of the intended results of the cross:
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Christ became part of broken humanity in order to heal all of humanity’s brokenness, including their greatest brokenness with God. Sadly, I can often feel good about myself by performing “acts of service” without truly following Christ by actually becoming a servant. But doesn’t this passage indicate that all of my living should be for others? The analogy that brought this into the here-and-now for me described how Christ would minister to prison inmates — Christ’s work would not be just to visit these prisoners once or twice and take them Christmas cookies (an act of ministry which is certainly not a bad thing!), but he would actually request to be put into the prison with them, to become one of them (though innocent) for the purpose of ministering to and helping them. That floored me.
Making myself something I am not in order to love and help people who are different than I perceive myself is not natural for me. May God rid me of the selfishness in my heart so I would live for others instead of myself, getting involved in their messiness and brokenness for the sake of the Gospel!
-Josh
My heart was ravished afresh this morning by God’s love for His people in the Gospel! Our gathered worship began as David lead us in singing How Deep the Father’s Love For Us, I Will Glory in My Redeemer & The Lord Is. Man it was a sweet time of singing! Then Stephen spoke on The Proclaimed Kingdom in our series God’s Unfolding Kingdom. What was a trickle in the Old Testament is now like the Hoover Dam overflowing - the Spirit is now calling a New Israel from every nation, language, people & tribe! Stephen challenged & encouraged our participation in this great gospel advance. Because we are God’s dwelling place by the Spirit we are all empowered to be part of this Kingdom surge. An apt illustration was given of a banquet table that we can sample & smell as we await the great feast - the Kingdom has come but we await it’s fullness. In this overlap of ages we are to worship, be on mission, & suffer for God’s glory. Following the message we sang Completely Done & Before The Throne as David gave some piercing exhortations.
Ahhhhh, we tasted something more of the feast to come this morning. And now we have the privilige this week of inviting others to join us at the banquet table.
~ Mike
Yesterday I listened to Mike Bullmore preach on “Distinguishing Marks of a Genuine Gospel Passion” from Philippians 1. It was worth the listen just to hear him read the passage. Mike begins by asking what is the dominating & defining passion in your life. He then uses Philippians, a book that mentions the term “gospel” more than any other in scripture, as a mirror in which we can see whether we are marked by real gospel passion. Are you willing to do an assessment? If you don’t like conviction you won’t want to listen to this message –but though challenging, this sermon is most definitely not guilt-driven, it is grace based–it is about the gospel after all!
His five points are as follows:
1. A particular affection for partners in the gospel.
For whom do I have the greatest affections?
2. A purposed disregard for your circumstances because of a consuming interest in the gospel.
3. The submission of your personal reputation to Christ’s.
Paul’s passion for the gospel was not a front for his passion for his reputation or his ministry.
4. A deep desire to spend one’s life laboring for the gospel.
Do you see your contribution to the advance of the gospel as the dominating factor in your life?
5. A confidence that calls others to costly commitment.
Do you believe in the gospel enough to call others to costly & radical commitment.
You can find the talk here.
~Mike
