Five Hours On The Road...Five Sermons

This last year of so, since I got an IPod Nano, I've really enjoyed traveling. What I mean is, I enjoy the driving part - a lot. I've gotten in the practice of loading up the Nano with more mp3 sermons than I can possibly listen to - sermons that I hand-pick because of specific topics I'm working on in my life, or certain things I'm dealing with in ministry, or the latest conference messages from some of my pastoral heroes.

This trip has been no different. It takes five hours to get from our house to Onalaska, Wisconsin, and I was able to listen to five one-hour sermons. One by C. J. Mahaney, two by John Piper, and two by D. A. Carson (links below). These men are giants of the faith, and towering examples for those of us in the ministry. I so enjoy learning from them. These messages are excellent examples of why the above statements are true. I hope you take the time to listen to them - or at least bookmark them so that you can put them on your Nano for your next trip...

(1) C. J. Mahaney, "The Holiness of God" [from perhaps 25 years ago!]

Apparently C. J. had just recently read R. C. Sproul's The Holiness of God, and was greatly affected - as evidenced by the passion exhibited in this sermon. If you need to hear of the holiness of God, and hear again why it is not unjust for God to have killed folks in the Old Testament, then proceed. You will benefit from this sermon.

(2) and (3) John Piper, "Jesus and the Rescue of Joy (Parts 1 and 2)" [Boston, April 19, 2009]

Have you seen the Piper DVD series, "The Blazing Center"? This is that series in a nutshell, but in two sermons (with a short-but-great Q&A at the end of the second sermon). Great content here. Why is it okay for God to orchestrate and demand the worship of Himself? How are His glory and our pursuit of happiness reconciled? Can they be? And, if we are to pursue our joy in God and at all costs, doesn't that simply produce really selfish and unloving Christians? ...Piper answers all of these questions masterfully here.

(4) D. A. Carson, "The Cross and Christian Ministry (Acts 17:16-34)" [October 8, 2006]

What was Paul's evangelistic or gospel-telling strategy in a polytheistic and pluralistic and relativistic culture, and a culture that literally has no awareness of the greater biblical narrative? Proceed. It's interesting how our current cultural environment is looking more and more like the First Century...

(5) D. A. Carson, "Motivation for Ministry" [Australia, September 1, 2008]

An exposition of 2 Timothy 1 and 2. What ought to motivate the Christian minister?

Leader Study: What Is A Healthy Church Member?

Beginning next week, the leaders of First Baptist Church (Brookings) will be reading, studying and discussing Thabiti Anyabwile's newest book,"What Is A Healthy Church Member?" (from 9 Marks Ministries, published by Crossway).

In the following video, Thabiti shares a bit about the purpose of the book, and Ligon Duncan shares the reason why he is using this book in his church as part of an evangelism class.

Perhaps the best thing about this video is that, for the first time ever, I heard Thabiti's full name pronounced - I had no idea how to pronounce his name!

Six Study Essentials

Mark Driscoll and the Resurgence share with us six study essentials for the Christian (for more explanation and a fair bit of links under each header, visit their post):

1. Have a good Bible.

2. Have some good Christian books.

3. Have some good (free) online study resources.

4. Have some good Bible software.

5. Have some good websites.

6. Have some good community.

God NOT The Author of Sin

At last night's group study at church, after watching the first session of John Piper's newly recorded TULIP series, our discussion turned to the problem of evil, and the question of whether or not God authored sin. I believe the question arose mainly from Piper's reading of Revelation 13:8 - in the context of explaining some of the mindboggling truths in Scripture - as well as his reference to his sermon series, "Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ."

Other texts which beg the question: Acts 4:27-28; Genesis 50:20; Job 42:10-11

Quoting John Piper, from the above sermon series (quotes courtesy of David Mathis):

• August 12: “God created [Satan and his demons] knowing what they would become and how, in that very evil role, they would glorify Christ. Knowing everything they would become, God created them for the glory of Christ.”
• August 19: “God is sovereign over Satan, and therefore Satan’s will does not move without God’s permission. And therefore every move of Satan is part of God’s overall purpose and plan.”
• August 26: “[E]verything that exists—including evil—is ordained by an infinitely holy and all-wise God to make the glory of Christ shine more brightly. . . . Adam’s sin and the fall of the human race with him into sin and misery did not take God off guard and is part of his overarching plan to display the fullness of the glory of Jesus Christ.”
  

For the record, I believe it would be a mistake, and in error, to suggest or outright teach that God is the author of sin. As provocative as the above statements are, I don't hear Piper suggesting there that God is the author of evil/sin. I have never heard or read John Piper suggest that God is the author of sin.

Here is John Frame wrestling with the two truths that (1) God is totally and ultimately sovereign over all things, and (2) evil/sin exists...and yet, God is not the author of sin (courtesy of David Mathis, from his (Frame's) book The Doctrine of God):

The term authors is almost universally condemned in the theological literature. It is rarely defined, but it seems to mean both that God is the efficient cause of evil and that by causing evil he actually does something wrong.¹ So the [Westminster Confession] says that God “neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin” (5:4). Despite this denial in a major Reformed confession, Arminians regularly charge that Reformed theology makes God the author of sin. They assume that if God brings about evil in any sense, he must therefore approve it and deserve the blame. In their view, nothing less than libertarian freedom will serve to absolve God from the charge of authoring sin.

But as we saw [in chapter 8] libertarian freedom is incoherent and unbiblical. And as we saw [in chapter 4] God does bring about sinful human actions. To deny this, or to charge God with wickedness on account of it, is not open to a Bible-believing Christian. Somehow, we must confess both that God has a role in bringing evil about, and that in doing so he is holy and blameless. . . . God does bring sins about, but always for his own good purposes. So in bringing sin to pass he does not himself commit sin. If that argument is sound, then a Reformed doctrine of the sovereignty of God does not imply that God is the author of sin.

Suggested Reading:

Theopedia's Resource Page on "The Problem of Evil"
John Piper's sermon series, "Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ"
Does God Author Sin? (David Mathis, DesiringGod)
Does God Cause Sin? (David Mathis, DesiringGod)
Does God Permit Sin? (David Mathis, DesiringGod)
The Author-Story Model (David Mathis, DesiringGod)
Piper sermon: Is God Less Glorious Because He Ordain That Evil Be? Jonathan Edwards on the Decrees of God
Piper sermon: The Suffering of Christ and the Sovereignty of God (from the 2005 DG National Conference)
John MacArthur sermon: The Problem of Evil
John Frame: The Bible On The Problem of Evil: Insights from Romans 3, 5, and 8

How to Pray, What to Read...Some Words of Advice

Thanks again to Adrian Warnock for doing this interview with John Piper. Priceless stuff here...

Ministry to High School and College Students: Equipping with the Essentials

Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology is an excellent resource for Christians (personal study and reference) and churches (pastors, church libraries, group studies). I recommend it to everyone - layperson, seminary student, high school student - anyone who is seeking to go deeper in the knowledge of God...

The problem is that it's basically a million pages long - not incredibly accessible for group study - and I want to do some serious theology with our High School and college students. But Grudem's Systematic Theology is awfully big, and it costs around $35.

That's where another of Grudem's resources comes in - Christian Beliefs: 20 Basics Every Christian Should Know. This approximately 150-page book is designed for group study... One blogger offered this review:

It's a great resource for new believers, for anyone who wants to strengthen their doctrinal foundation, and I especially think it would be terrific for a study group.

The book is divided into 20 chapters on major topics like the Bible, God, the Trinity, creation, prayer, the atonement, the Resurrection, etc. Each chapter is about 5 pages long and hits the high points of the doctrine with ample Scripture references, and also shows the importance and relevance of the doctrine to the Christian life. There are also review and application questions at the end of each chapter. These are sometimes a little trite, but many could be good discussion starters.

So, beginning this September, I'll be taking our Wednesday student group through this study - while also recommending and utilizing the bigger and more robust Systematic Theology. I'm certain that this will prove very helpful to both the High School students and the college students who come.

1 Corinthians 1:9-10 [NKJV]:

"For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God..."

P.S. Rent This Movie...

I resisted at first.

She wouldn't (and still hasn't) watched "Gladiator" with me.

But she insisted, and I promised. So...

We watched "P.S. I Love You" tonight. I'm a sucker for a sappy romantic comedy. Really, I am. This one, though, is really more of a romantic tragedy. Heartwrenching and heartwarming.

I laughed, and cried, and in the end, it left me smiling.

It gets two thumbs up from me...

Oh - and guys - the main male star? He was King Leonidas in "300". Thus, you can watch "P.S. I Love You" and still keep your man card...

Recommendations For Your Devotional Reading

This morning, as I was finishing one devotional book (Pierced by the Word) and beginning another (A Godward Life), the thought came to me to share with you what I use for devotional readings - at least what I have been using lately...

So may I recommend to you:

TableTalk, from Ligonier Ministries, a monthly devotional, which includes articles from various influential pastors and theologians, the articles and devotionals all centering around a general theme.

Pierced By The Word: 31 Meditations for Your Soul [John Piper]

A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life (120 Daily Readings) [John Piper]