Sovereign Grace Ministries

I Want Change

/ Dennis Griffith / 5 Comments

Change is inevitable, but it is not always pleasant.  But perhaps even less pleasant than unexpected change is the lack of change when it is desired and needed – particularly change in ourselves and in our spiritual development.  The questions are common: How Can I Change? When Will I Change? 

C.J. Mahaney & Robin Boisvert have written a helpful little book that addresses these very questions.  Here is an excperpt from the Foreword:

“In a day when quick solutions to longstanding problems are too easily offered, we wish to recommend the old paths, having found them tried and true. There is no short course to Christian maturity. There is no cross-less way to follow Christ, no instant secret to the Christian life. But like distance running, if the way of the cross is not easy, neither is it complicated. God presents us with a pathway that is narrow yet straight. He makes his ways plain to those who are sincerely interested in following him, and he will show himself strong on behalf of all whose hearts are fully his.

Although our vigorous effort is required, all growth is by his grace. With that wonderful truth as our starting block, let us press on toward the mark, each confident that ‘he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 1:6).”

Thanks to Sovereign Grace Ministrires, this little book is available in .pdf for FREE.  Click on the Chapter Titles to read or download:

Introduction

  1. Caught in the Gap Trap
  2. Where It All Begins
  3. United With Christ
  4. The Battle Against Sin
  5. Tools of the Trade – Part 1
  6. Tools of the Trade – Part 2
  7. Living for That Final Day

Appendices

  • Appendix A – Different Roads to Holiness
  • Appendix B – The Old Man and the Flesh 

To Be Or Not To Be Missional

/ Dennis Griffith / 4 Comments

Dave Harvey is an expert church planter and an astute observer of trends in church leadership.  At the Spring 2007 Leadership Conference of Sovereign Grace Ministries Harvey assessed the strengths and weakness of the missional movement in an address titled Watch Your Mission: To Be or Not to Be Missional.

One observation Harvey offers is that sometimes missional practitioners muddy the Cross-centered focus of the Church. 

Here is a sketch outline of Harvey’s message:

What are the Strengths of Missional Churches?

  • Missional Churches Have a Commendable Passion for Evangelism.
  • Missional Churches Have a Laudable Commitment to Engaging Culture.
  • Missional Churches Have a Profitable Impulse for Reexamining Church Tradition.
  • Missional Churches Possess an Admirable Devotion to Social Impact.

What are the Weaknesses of  [Some] Missional Churches?

  • Missional Churches Tend to Be Mission-Centered Rather Than Gospel-Centered.
  • Missional Churches Tend to Have a Reductionistic Ecclesiology.
  • Missional Churches Tend to Confuse Culture Engagement with Cultural Immersion.
  • Missional Churches Tend to Downplay the Institutional and Organizational Nature of the Church.
  • Missional Churches Tend to Have an Insufficient Understanding of Apostolic Ministry.

As one who desires to be both Gospel-centered and Misisonal, I take Harvey’s cautions seriously. I think he has a valid point. I would say that while being Missional does not inherently make one guilty of this, I would have to concede that many who are Missional are guilty of this. 

I suspect this results from an imbalance with the Prophet, Priest, and King tri-perspective. Too much emphasis is placed on the role and influence of the King.  This seems only to be natural since, afterall, one of the important principles recovered by the missional movement is that our mission matters; our mission is as much an expression of who we are as is our theology.

So what is the solution?  Uncompromising Tri-Perspectivalism.

Read Harvey’s full outline here; Download the mp3 for FREE and listen to the audio here.

Note: Thanks to Tony Reinke of Miscellanies for the links.

How Deep

/ Dennis Griffith / 1 Comment

You were broken that I might be healed
You were cast off that I might draw near
You were thirsty that I might come drink
Cried out in anguish that I might sing

How deep is Your love
How high and how wide is Your mercy
How deep is Your grace
Our hearts overflow with praise
To You

You knew darkness that I might know light
Wept great tears that mine might be dried
Stripped of glory that I might be clothed
Crushed by Your Father to call me Your own

© 2006 Sovereign Grace Music (BMI).

From Valley of Vision 

Worship and/or Counseling pt. 2

/ Dennis Griffith / 1 Comment

Several years ago an article in Journal of Biblical Counseling opened my eyes to see that counseling is a Ministry of the Word.  True Christian Counseling often involves helping people discern their bestting sin, personal idols, and functional unbelief, and then helping them apply the gospel to their lives.  This is what the Ministry of the Word does, whether it comes in the form of preaching, teaching, or counseling.  With that understanding, then, it should be no surprise that Worship can also carry a function of Counseling. 

In this video David Powlison of CCEF and Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace Ministries continue their discussion about how worship can effect personal transformation in the participant and the worship leaders’ responsibilty to lead people to fully enter into worship in a way that opens the participant to experience what God will do in them.

[This is Part 2 of 2]

Worship and/or Counseling

/ Dennis Griffith / Leave a comment

What effect can worship have on the worshipper?  In this video Worship Leader Bob Kauflin and counseler David Powlison discuss the therapeutic aspect of worship. 

While this video comes from the perspective of the worship leader, and the awesome opportunity and responsibility the worship leader has, I think this discussion will provide everyone an enhanced perspective about the dynamic that entering into genuine worship offers.

[NOTE: This is the First of Two Parts of this discussion]

Humble Ambition

/ Dennis Griffith / Leave a comment

Pioneer missionary William Carey is noted for his mantra:

“Expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God.”

These are tremendously inspiring words.  They call us to think about the God in whom we believe, and whom we serve.  Jesus reminded us that “With God nothing is impossible.”  (Luke 1.37)  When Paul thought of our God he wrote: “I can do all things though Christ who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4.13  (I know these verses are often taken out of context, but the point is still valid.)  And having thought of God, Carey’s words encourage us to step out in action.  It is putting feet to our faith.

The question for me is: How does humility fit in here?  When I think of the things I would like to accomplish in my life, I have to ask myself: Is this Holy Ambition or simply Wholly Ambitious?  It is a real dilemma.

I am completely honest when I say that what I want most is for God to be glorified in my life and through my life. But at the same time, I confess, there is a part of me that would enjoy at least some credit, a little bit of the noteriety.  How much of the glory I want varies with each day – and with how honest I am being with myself.  In short, I do desire God’s glory, but my ego is all too alive as well.

How do I resolve this tension? How do I live out William Carey’s mission statement?

Dave Harvey, of Sovereign Grace Ministries, has written a new book, Rescuing Ambition, addressing this very issue.  I have yet to read the book, but I am placing it high on my On Deck list. 

A sneak peak is offered through a series of helpful posts Harvey has written for The Gospel Coalition:

Worldliness in Prespective

/ Dennis Griffith / Leave a comment

worldliness1

I recently finished reading the short book Worldliness, edited by C.J. Mahaney.  Each chapter is written by different men from the Sovereign Grace family.  I found it very insightful and practical. 

I appreciate that the writers did not merely resort to the worn out separatist “Us vs. The World” rhetoric.  Instead they wrestled intelligently, theologically, and bibilcally about the pertinent questions: What does worldliness actually mean?  What actual problems does worldliness pose?  Only once those questions are amply answered do the writers delve into practical applications in the various spheres of our culture.

I had given some thought to blogging about the book.  Already in previous posts I have elaborated on some of the insights I have gained.  But then on Crossway.blog I have found that Jonathan Leeman of 9 Marks has shared some highlights from each chapter.  Leeman has done such a good job that it made my intentions unnecessary.  I will still likely interact and expound upon some other insights in future posts, but for a good introduction to and overview of the book I encourage you to check out what Leeman has written.  Click: Worldliness. 

But don’t neglect the book. It is short, but beneficial. I’ve added it to my ‘must read’ list.