This was by far my favorite part of the conference, mainly because I'm a Driscoll fanatic. I highly recommend you go to www.desiringgod.org and view this message. It was intense and there is no way I got down everything he said...
Mark Driscoll: The Biblical Use of Sharp, Cutting Language
- Our words need to be free but not reckless, biblical and faithful in correct speech.
1. Christians need to feed the sheep.
- Sheep: Believers or those honestly seeking truth
- Ephesians 4:32, Jesus and the woman at the well, Zacheus
- Love your sheep, take care of your sheep, edify your sheep, be kind to sheep
2. Rebuke the Swine
- Swine: People who are unrepentant
- Isaiah 3:14-16, Amos 4:1, Amos 6:4-6
- God uses sharp, cutting language towards swine
- Without the strong and sharp rebuke no change would be made
- The bible is easy to read when we are talking about them, but it becomes hard when we realize it is talking about us.
- Don’t use good words to soften bad acts ie. Fair=Adultery. Call it what it is…
- DO NOT REBUKE THE SHEEP!!
3. Shoot the wolves
- Wolves: False teachers
- Martin Luther says, “With the wolves you cannot be too severe; with the sheep you cannot be too gentle
- We shoot wolves because we love the sheep
- FIGHT for the Gospel and the well being of your church.
4. Bark at the dogs
- Make fun of religious people (people who try to bind themselves to God by their works)
- Religion always leads to depression or pride
- Religious people take themselves too seriously and God too lightly
- Show them how ridiculous they are
- God thinks our religion is disgusting (Isaiah 64:6
- Religion is crap Philippians 3:8 (rubbish is translated dung)
5. Pray for the Sheppard’s
- Pastors have to decide who are sheep, swine, wolves, dogs
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Confessions of a Youth Pastor
I came to the office with all intentions of giving you my final notes from the Desiring God Conference, but I have a need in my life for confession and repentance this morning. I was reading some of John Piper's thoughts on blogging, and he had a question to ask us bloggers:
1. I would say, "Get on your knees and ask the Lord to clarify your motives." That's the first thing I'd say: "Why are you considering this?" and, "How much of the desire for notoriety is in it?" because we all battle that. There's not a human being on the planet that doesn't love the praise of man, or doesn't like being known, or doesn't like being considered intelligent or wise or helpful.
And I'm not just indicting blogging here. I'm talking about preaching and doing what I'm doing right now. It is all possibly contaminated with a desire for the praise of man. And Jesus said, "How can you believe when you seek the praises of man and don't seek my glory." So pride and the desire for praise is a deadly thing.
So that's the first thing I'd say: search your heart--on your knees, in the word, and in prayer--as to whether or not there is a contamination that will make blogging more hurtful for you and for your people than otherwise. That's the main thing.
While my sole intention was not praise when I began this blog sometime ago, I searched my heart and now I must repent. I have allowed myself to glory in the praise of man instead of glorying only in the cross. I repent...I turn from my selfish motives of gaining praise for myself and direct all glory to the only One worth glorifying. I pray that this blog makes you laugh. I pray that it some ways it may teach you some things about Jesus. I pray that while reading this blog you see the glory of God in changing a dirty, wretched guy like me. He alone is worthy...
What would you say to a pastor who is considering blogging?
1. I would say, "Get on your knees and ask the Lord to clarify your motives." That's the first thing I'd say: "Why are you considering this?" and, "How much of the desire for notoriety is in it?" because we all battle that. There's not a human being on the planet that doesn't love the praise of man, or doesn't like being known, or doesn't like being considered intelligent or wise or helpful.
And I'm not just indicting blogging here. I'm talking about preaching and doing what I'm doing right now. It is all possibly contaminated with a desire for the praise of man. And Jesus said, "How can you believe when you seek the praises of man and don't seek my glory." So pride and the desire for praise is a deadly thing.
So that's the first thing I'd say: search your heart--on your knees, in the word, and in prayer--as to whether or not there is a contamination that will make blogging more hurtful for you and for your people than otherwise. That's the main thing.
While my sole intention was not praise when I began this blog sometime ago, I searched my heart and now I must repent. I have allowed myself to glory in the praise of man instead of glorying only in the cross. I repent...I turn from my selfish motives of gaining praise for myself and direct all glory to the only One worth glorifying. I pray that this blog makes you laugh. I pray that it some ways it may teach you some things about Jesus. I pray that while reading this blog you see the glory of God in changing a dirty, wretched guy like me. He alone is worthy...
Monday, October 6, 2008
To My Dad...
Today is my Dad's birthday, and in honor of that I want to tell you a few amazing facts about him:
- He always seemed to stay extremely gentle with his family, and now that I'm a husband and father, I see how incredibly difficult this can be.
- My dad has worked swing shifts ever since I was born, but he hardly ever missed anything I did in when I was in school. When I say "hardly ever" I mean I can think of like three games he ever missed.
- Me and Megan were talking about how kind-hearted he was just the other day. He'll do anything for anybody...especially his family.
- He reminds me of one of the greatest men I ever knew...my granddad...his dad.
- He was always under appreciated, but he never stopped loving and giving. That is remarkable.
- He showed me how to always love my wife no matter the situation, and to do everything possible to make sure your kids know that you love them. He is my example as a father and a husband.
I love you dad, and with the deepest affection...thank you for being the dad you are.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Sunday's Songs
I love music. I love biblical music. Here are some songs that have helped me realize who Jesus is, what He did, and how I should respond. These are Sunday's Songs:)
Just a few songs for you to listen to, download, and enjoy...
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Saturday's Seven
- I'm about to head to Rogers with the family to do some shopping. Oh how I love to shop...
- We went to the Green Forest homecoming game last night to see our very own Tiana Anderson get crowned Homecoming Queen. I know now after last night why God didn't give me a sister because when those two guys gave her kisses on the cheek I freaked out. I don't like that kissing stuff.
- I'm not sure if you have ever felt your heart-break at the same time that it is overflowing with joy. That's how I feel with our students. Some completely turning their backs on Christ and some digging so deep...Ministry is so tough.
- I read a John Owens sermon on "The Mortification of Sin" this week. I now realized you can place John Owens up there with John Calvin, Johnathon Edwards, Martin Luther, and Augustine.
- Me and Megan really want to name our children meaningful things. JP's name actually has a double meaning. James: my grandad (an incredible man of God) and James the half brother of Jesus. Paul: my middle name and the Apostle Paul, my hero. We have already picked out a girls name if we have one of those things:) If a boy I would really like to name him...I can't tell you yet, but it will be posted at a later date.
- I'm reading a couple of books right now I would definitely recommend: Death by Love by Mark Driscoll and Taste and See by John Piper.
- I need to preach...it is erupting inside of me.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Toilet Water
To take a break from the Desiring God posts...I thought I would do a little plug for, what I think, one of the most helpful books ever on the struggles of pornography. If you don't know already, I'm a HUGE fan of Mark Driscoll. I know, I know some of you think he is very vulgar and mean, but I just appreciate his heart to do what Jesus has called him to do. He is ministering in one of the darkest places in the world, and God is truly glorifying Himself through Mars Hill Church. He has a passion for truth and he is a completely honest guy. Yes, I agree, sometimes his statements can seem edgy, but I think he has tons of wisdom for today's people. Like Piper said about Driscoll, "I didn't like where you were, not sure about where you are, but hopeful to where you are going." Here is a chapter one of his new online book "Porn-Again Christian". (I'm not sure if this copy and paste is illegal or not but I'll take my chances:)
chapter 1
A Tall Glass of Toilet Water
God tells us that his people tend to satisfy their thirst not by drinking from his streams of living water, but instead drinking from man-made toilets (Jer. 2:13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. [ESV]). This metaphor is particularly adept in a world where men such as Tom Leykis, Dr. Drew, Howard Stern, and a legion of men’s magazines and porno providers become wealthy by selling glasses of toilet water to thirsty men across our nation, many of whom claim to be sons of God. Meanwhile, the church alone has access to the living water from God’s perfect Word, but largely fails to teach men masculinity in any area, particularly regarding their sexuality.
The causes for this sin of omission are many. First, there is a propensity in many churches to take sexuality out of the hands of theologians and place it in the hands of secular counselors, whose philosophy is dominated by unbiblical evolutionary concepts of humanity and gender. This error prevents the church from speaking about men and women because they’re only permitted to see androgynous humanity. Second, the effeminate nature of pastors and churches causes many masculine men to feel unwelcome in what they perceive as an organization solely for women, children, and weaker men. Third, there is a timidity among weak pastors to wade into controversial issues in general, and sexual ones in particular. Lastly, the sad truth is that many pastors are also enslaved to their own sexual sins and/or are languishing in unfulfilling and infrequent sex with their wives, and therefore are unable to speak of sexual matters out of a sense of disqualification.
To speak of the matters of pornography and masturbation, I must speak frankly, as frankly as the Scriptures do on important issues. In 2 Timothy 3:16 God says through Paul that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” These Scriptures that God breathed for our profit include the very frank discussions of sexuality throughout the Song of Songs and Ezekiel.
In Ezekiel 16:25–27 God says, “At the head of every street you built your lofty place and made your beauty an abomination, offering yourself to any passerby and multiplying your whoring. You also played the whore with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, multiplying your whoring, to provoke me to anger. Behold, therefore, I stretched out my hand against you and diminished your allotted portion and delivered you to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior.”
Also, in Ezekiel 23:18–21, God says, “When she carried on her whoring so openly and flaunted her nakedness, I turned in disgust from her, as I had turned in disgust from her sister. Yet she increased her whoring, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the whore in the land of Egypt and lusted after her paramours there, whose members were like those of donkeys, and whose issue was like that of horses. Thus you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians handled your bosom and pressed your young breasts.” God basically called his people tramps for lifting up their shirts like it was Mardi Gras and chasing men with huge penises and semen emissions like fire hoses.
While God spoke frankly to Israel, he is certainly not crass like some meat-headed high school boys killing time in a locker room. God is honest and forthright about the truth and his people must not be so prudish as to try and speak in ways that are holier than their God. In our age of lewdness and perversion we, like our Father, must avoid crassness, while wisely and boldly speaking frankly about the joy and beauty of sexual intimacy when it is confined by the loving directions of the God who created both us and our desires. And, we must refuse to speak in sanitized clinical euphemisms like calling adulteries “affairs,” fornication “dating,” and perverts “partners” because God uses frank words for deplorable sin so we will feel its sickness without anesthesia.
chapter 1
A Tall Glass of Toilet Water
God tells us that his people tend to satisfy their thirst not by drinking from his streams of living water, but instead drinking from man-made toilets (Jer. 2:13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. [ESV]). This metaphor is particularly adept in a world where men such as Tom Leykis, Dr. Drew, Howard Stern, and a legion of men’s magazines and porno providers become wealthy by selling glasses of toilet water to thirsty men across our nation, many of whom claim to be sons of God. Meanwhile, the church alone has access to the living water from God’s perfect Word, but largely fails to teach men masculinity in any area, particularly regarding their sexuality.
The causes for this sin of omission are many. First, there is a propensity in many churches to take sexuality out of the hands of theologians and place it in the hands of secular counselors, whose philosophy is dominated by unbiblical evolutionary concepts of humanity and gender. This error prevents the church from speaking about men and women because they’re only permitted to see androgynous humanity. Second, the effeminate nature of pastors and churches causes many masculine men to feel unwelcome in what they perceive as an organization solely for women, children, and weaker men. Third, there is a timidity among weak pastors to wade into controversial issues in general, and sexual ones in particular. Lastly, the sad truth is that many pastors are also enslaved to their own sexual sins and/or are languishing in unfulfilling and infrequent sex with their wives, and therefore are unable to speak of sexual matters out of a sense of disqualification.
To speak of the matters of pornography and masturbation, I must speak frankly, as frankly as the Scriptures do on important issues. In 2 Timothy 3:16 God says through Paul that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” These Scriptures that God breathed for our profit include the very frank discussions of sexuality throughout the Song of Songs and Ezekiel.
In Ezekiel 16:25–27 God says, “At the head of every street you built your lofty place and made your beauty an abomination, offering yourself to any passerby and multiplying your whoring. You also played the whore with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, multiplying your whoring, to provoke me to anger. Behold, therefore, I stretched out my hand against you and diminished your allotted portion and delivered you to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior.”
Also, in Ezekiel 23:18–21, God says, “When she carried on her whoring so openly and flaunted her nakedness, I turned in disgust from her, as I had turned in disgust from her sister. Yet she increased her whoring, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the whore in the land of Egypt and lusted after her paramours there, whose members were like those of donkeys, and whose issue was like that of horses. Thus you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians handled your bosom and pressed your young breasts.” God basically called his people tramps for lifting up their shirts like it was Mardi Gras and chasing men with huge penises and semen emissions like fire hoses.
While God spoke frankly to Israel, he is certainly not crass like some meat-headed high school boys killing time in a locker room. God is honest and forthright about the truth and his people must not be so prudish as to try and speak in ways that are holier than their God. In our age of lewdness and perversion we, like our Father, must avoid crassness, while wisely and boldly speaking frankly about the joy and beauty of sexual intimacy when it is confined by the loving directions of the God who created both us and our desires. And, we must refuse to speak in sanitized clinical euphemisms like calling adulteries “affairs,” fornication “dating,” and perverts “partners” because God uses frank words for deplorable sin so we will feel its sickness without anesthesia.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Desiring God Part 3
After the panel discussion we went home for the night and rested really well. We got up early Saturday Morning for Bob Kauflin who was incredible. He spoke about words in song but focused on the fact that our words in song should be Gospel centered. This guy had a ton of wisdom. Check him out at www.worshipmatters.com...
Bob Kauflin, www.worshipmatters.com
What Happens When We Sing
- Over 400 references to singing
- Over 50 direct commands to sing
- When I become more moved by the singing than what was sung; I have sinned wickedly. I would have rathered never to have sung. –Augustine
- Don’t wait until moves you. God has already done something to move us.
I. 3 Ways Singing Helps us Engage the Word
1. Singing helps us remember the words.
- Use effective melodies in worship…the melodies that people want to learn.
- You can leave music behind but not the words.
- We should sing what God wants us to remember.
- Show me a churches song selection and I’ll show you their theology. –Gordon Fee
- If the songs sung were the only teaching your church receives, how educated would your church be?
2. Singing Helps us Engage Emotionally with Words.
- We need to be solid in what God has made clear in his word and discerning in what He has not.
- Singing allows us to stretch out portions of the song we may need more time to think on.
- When people begin to complain about repeating the chorus of a song too many times tell them to read Psalm 136…to get the point across REPEAT IT!!
- There is a difference between emotional moving and spiritual illumination. Emotions fizzle. Illumination sticks.
3. Singing Helps us Demonstrate Unity.
- Christ did not die for a soloist but for the universal choir…Everyone matters
- Sing songs that unite rather than divide.
- It must be clear that it is the sung Gospel and not the sung music that unites.
- The Bible makes clear what we should sing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain.”
- It is not the style…It’s the Lamb
- Going to 2 services because of difference in musical styles is wrong. Be united over the Gospel and not the style. If music style can separate us than we are not a Gospel united Church.
Bob Kauflin, www.worshipmatters.com
What Happens When We Sing
- Over 400 references to singing
- Over 50 direct commands to sing
- When I become more moved by the singing than what was sung; I have sinned wickedly. I would have rathered never to have sung. –Augustine
- Don’t wait until moves you. God has already done something to move us.
I. 3 Ways Singing Helps us Engage the Word
1. Singing helps us remember the words.
- Use effective melodies in worship…the melodies that people want to learn.
- You can leave music behind but not the words.
- We should sing what God wants us to remember.
- Show me a churches song selection and I’ll show you their theology. –Gordon Fee
- If the songs sung were the only teaching your church receives, how educated would your church be?
2. Singing Helps us Engage Emotionally with Words.
- We need to be solid in what God has made clear in his word and discerning in what He has not.
- Singing allows us to stretch out portions of the song we may need more time to think on.
- When people begin to complain about repeating the chorus of a song too many times tell them to read Psalm 136…to get the point across REPEAT IT!!
- There is a difference between emotional moving and spiritual illumination. Emotions fizzle. Illumination sticks.
3. Singing Helps us Demonstrate Unity.
- Christ did not die for a soloist but for the universal choir…Everyone matters
- Sing songs that unite rather than divide.
- It must be clear that it is the sung Gospel and not the sung music that unites.
- The Bible makes clear what we should sing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain.”
- It is not the style…It’s the Lamb
- Going to 2 services because of difference in musical styles is wrong. Be united over the Gospel and not the style. If music style can separate us than we are not a Gospel united Church.
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