Tag: Christian Life
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Can Mission Become an Idol?
“There is a first-rate commitment to a second-rate mission.” That is what Roger, a leader in global church planting, said as he looked at the rock climbers ascending a cliff in the Alps. Many of us called into ministry feel the same way. Rather than giving our lives to climbing a rock, building a business,…
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Gospel Fluency pt 2
I have been listening these past few days to the audio of Jeff Vanderstelt on Gospel Fluency. The concept of Gospel Fluency is simply to learn to speak the language of the gospel, and gospel-centeredness, in every aspect of our everyday lives. Like any language, the the vernacular surrounding gospel-centeredness may initially feel somewhat foreign,…
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Gospel Fluency pt 1
I have been listening these past few days to the audio of Jeff Vanderstelt on Gospel Fluency. The concept of Gospel Fluency is simply to learn to speak the language of the gospel, and gospel-centeredness, in every aspect of our everyday lives. Like any language, the the vernacular surrounding gospel-centeredness may initially feel somewhat foreign,…
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Help Me Follow the Savior
God of all grace, You have given me a Savior, produce in me a faith to live by him, to make him all my desire, all my hope, all my glory. May I enter him as my refuge, build on him as my foundation, walk in him as my way, follow him as my guide,…
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Disinfecting Ourselves of Spiritual Malware
In his masterful work, Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin observed: “Man’s nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols.” That may seem to be a peculiar notion. Some will, no doubt, simply chalk it up to “O, that Calvin guy had a lot of strange ideas”. Some, being a bit more…
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Scandalous Freedom
I have been listening to Steve Brown‘s Scandalous Freedom podcasts over the past couple weeks. For those not familiar with Steve, let me issue a warning: Don’t listen to him if you take yourself too seriously or think Christianity is about putting a stamp of approval on your goodness. I guarantee that if you think that…
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The Advent of Humility
The following article, by Tim Keller, first appeared in the December 2008 edition of Christianity Today Magazine. In this article Keller explains why the Advent of Jesus gives us reason to stop concentrating on ourselves. *** Innumerable Christmas devotionals point out the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth—among shepherds, in a crude stable, with a feed…
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What Sort of People?
The day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought…
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Poem of Your Life
The Bible tells us that each of our lives tell a story. We are like masterpieces of God’s artistry. The greek word is poiema, from which we get our English word “poem”. We are God’s poems. (Ephesians 2.10) We are living epistles (2 Corinthians 3.3). In this video Phil Keaggy joins Michael Card to play Poem of Your…
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Deconstructing the Twin Enemies of the Gospel
Perhaps the two of the most effective enemies of the gospel within the Church in North America are the twins: Moralism and Legalism. While there are other enemies at work, such as Relativism and Licentiousness, these are far more obvious in their opposition to the gospel. Moralism and Legalism, however, are so potent, especially among…
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The Call to Discipleship Is…
Colin Marshall & Tony Payne give us a good concise definition of what it means to be a follower of Jesus: The call to discipleship is thus a call to confess our allegiance to Jesus in the face of a hostel world; to serve him and his mission, whatever the cost. ~ from The Trellis…
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How Can I Be Sure I Would?
Steve Timmis of The Crowded House and co-author of the book Total Church posed the following questions and thoughts for reflection: How can I be sure I would lay down my life for sake of Jesus & the gospel? Perhaps I’ll be like Peter in his bravado and subsequent denial? Can’t ultimately be sure until…
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4 Keys to Cultivating Inner Peace
How can one cultivate genuine inner peace? Thomas a Kempis suggests embracing the following four attitudes and practices: Seek to do the will of others rather than your own. (Matthew 26.39; John 5.30; John 6.38) Always choose to have less rather than more. (1 Corinthians 10.24) Always seek the lowest place and consider others better…
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5 Key Missional Questions
In this video Jonathan Dodson answers important questions like: Who are you? Is the Gospel dangerous? What does risk look like in following Jesus? How are we called and equipped for the risk that comes with mission? How does entertainment prohibit mission? How does the gospel compel risky mission? You can also read Dodson’s follow-up…
