Grace Blog
The Bible Is Not About You
For the past seven weeks, I have been leading a group of men through Tim Keller and Ed Clowney’s class on Preaching Christ in a Postmodern World. The 35 MP3’s are available for free on RTS iTunesU, and a PDF of the class notes are available as well. It has really be a lot of fun to learn together how to expound Christ, apply Christ, and adore Christ in our preaching. Below is a video which is a good summary of what Tim Keller means by Christ-centered preaching, followed by a summary transcript of the audio excerpt. Check it out.
Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.
Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.
Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.
Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”
Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.
Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.
Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.
Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.
Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.
Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.
Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.
Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.
Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.
The Bible’s really not about you—it’s about him.
HT :: Collin Hansen
Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Jesus, Praeching, Tim Keller | posted by TimBrister at 9:31 am | Categories: Gospel, Preaching |
The Gospel, Posessions, and Prosperity
David Platt, lead pastor of The Church at Brook Hills and author of Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, encourages us to think biblically about our possessions and prosperity. Platt leads an event called “Secret Church” which is their “house church” where they meet periodically for an intense time of Bible study–lasting 4-6 hours–and prayer for persecuted brothers and sisters across the globe. Each Secret Church meeting has a theme, the most recent being on “The Gospel, Possessions, and Prosperity.”
The Greater Things Initiative is an opportunity, as Pastor Tom explained, to leverage our resources to impact eternity. Focusing on facilitating growth, fueling plant, and fostering mission, we are seeking to make greater impact both here and abroad. In for this to happen, such greater things will require greater sacrifice–the kind of sacrifice that is joyfully and freely offered up because the King made the greatest offering to bring us into His kingdom.
I am providing the video and notes below in hopes that these would challenge our thinking and more importantly or living in light of God’s Word. Check them out! To download the notes of “The Gospel, Possessions, and Prosperity,” click here.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Labels: Cape Coral, David Platt, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Greater Things, Possessions, Prosperity, Radical, Secret Church | posted by TimBrister at 1:59 pm | Categories: Gospel, Greater Things |
SBC Resolution on the Centrality of the Gospel
A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Tom got the call to help draft a resolution on the centrality of the gospel for the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando. The resolution was edited with other insertions, but the language provided by Tom was largely kept in tact. In particular, you will see from the outset of the resolution that the gospel is about “who Jesus is, what He has done, and what that matters” - language peculiar to Grace. In the years past where resolutions were much about the cultural ills that Southern Baptists were against, it is great to see resolutions being passed on what we are for. This new direction, under the leadership of resolutions committee chair Dr. Russell Moore, is something to be praised. Here is the resolution on the centrality of the gospel:
Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Gospel-Centered, Grace Baptist Church, SBC, Tom Ascol | posted by TimBrister at 10:30 am | Categories: Gospel, News and Announcements |
Steve Timmis on the the Nature of Gospel Community
Below is a short but clear explanation of what gospel community looks like by Steve Timmis, author of Total Church. The Towers, the news service of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, interviewed Timmis which can be viewed here. Check it out.
Labels: Cape Coral, Community, Gospel, Gospel Community, Grace Baptist Church, Steve Timmis | posted by TimBrister at 10:28 pm | Categories: Community, Gospel, Small Groups |
2010 Together for the Gospel Videos
I mentioned this past Sunday that the videos from the 2010 Together for the Gospel have been posted online. To make them more accessible to you, I am posting them below. Enjoy!
Mark Dever - “The Church Is the Gospel Made Visible”
T4G 2010 — Session 1 — Mark Dever from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
R.C. Sproul - “The Defense and Confirmation of the Gospel”
T4G 2010 — Session 2 — R.C. Sproul from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
Albert Mohler - “Trajectories Toward an Adjusted Gospel”
T4G 2010 — Session 3 — Al Mohler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
Thabiti Anyabwile - “Fine-Sounding Arguments - How Wrongly Engaging the Culture Adjusts the Gospel”
T4G 2010 — Session 4 — Thabiti Anyabwile from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
John MacArthur - “The Theology of Sleep”
T4G 2010 — Session 5 — John MacArthur from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
John Piper - “Did Jesus Preach Paul’s Gospel?”
T4G 2010 — Session 6 — John Piper from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
Ligon Duncan - “Did the Father’s Know the Gospel?”
T4G 2010 — Session 7 — Ligon Duncan from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
Matt Chandler (with C.J. Mahaney)
T4G 2010 — Session 8 — Matt Chandler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
C.J. Mahaney - “Ordinary Pastors”
T4G 2010 — Session 9 — C.J. Mahaney from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
Labels: 2010 Together for the Gospel, Albert Mohler, C.J. Mahaney, John Piper, Ligon Duncan, Mark Dever, Matt Chandler, R.C. Sproul, Thabiti Anyabwile, Videos | posted by TimBrister at 12:42 pm | Categories: Gospel, Resources |
12 Principles for a Gospel-Centered Family
Coming up this summer during our Bible Study hour of Grace Gathered, we will be looking at what it means to be a gospel-centered family. Last Fall, we spent 20 weeks working through the gospel-centered life, and Pastor Tom, through his expositional preaching of 1 Corinthians, has been showing us the gospel-centered church. This summer, we will seek to apply the gospel in a crucial area of our lives–the family.
At the SojournKids blog, Jared Kennedy posted 12 principles for a gospel-centered family from Tim Chester and Ed Moll’s book, Gospel-Centered Family: becoming the parents God wants you to be. As a primer for this summer, take a look at these principles (we will be using this book as well).
1. Your family can show how great it is to live under God’s reign of love (Ephesians 6:1-4).
2. Knowing God is far more important than “succeeding” in life (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
3. The biggest obstacle to good discipline is our own selfish hearts (James 4:1-10).
4. Trying to be a good parent will crush you if you don’t embrace grace (Luke 18:9-14).
5. Addressing the heart matters more than controlling behavior (Colossians 2:20-3:10).
6. Don’t train your child to be a legalist (Luke 15:11-32).
7. Make sure you enjoy your children (Psalm 127).
8. Teach your children about God in the context of everyday life (Deuteronomy 11:16-21).
9. Shape WHAT younger children watch and HOW older children watch (Proverbs 4:1-9).
10. Teach children to pray by praying with them (Matthew 6:5-15).
11. We belong to two families (Mark 3:31-35).
12. Children are not the center of the world (Mark 12:28-34).
Labels: Cape Coral, Family, Gospel-Centered Family, Grace Baptist Church, Parenting, Tim Chester | posted by TimBrister at 11:49 am | Categories: Gospel, Parenting/Family, Sunday School Stuff |
Gospel-Empowered Parenting
Juan Sanchez has written some helpful thoughts on the difference between gospel-empowered parenting versus fear-based parenting. Consider these points of application based on gospel realities in the home:
We must confess that we are not perfect parents - we have failed often and miserably! First, as Farley reminds us, know that if we were perfect parents, then our children would not need Christ. Second, know that if we were perfect parents, then we would not need Christ. Embracing the good news of the gospel begins with uncovering my sin, my failures and looks to the perfect Father who sent the perfect Son to live the life that pleases the Father and who received the punishment that we deserved.
Therefore, confess your sins: to the Father, to your family, your children as/when appropriate. Let them see your need for Christ and point them to Christ in their sin and failures. Build relationships with your children on the unconditional love of the gospel of the Father so that our children will not think that our love for them is conditioned on their performance. Spend much time on positive instruction: catechizing, reading together, doing life together in light of the gospel.
Be your child’s/children’s encourager. At our house, we (mom and dad) continually tell our children that we are their number one fans. It’s corny; we laugh; they get embarrassed. But we want them to know that we are for them, not against them. Finally, regardless of what kind of father you may or may not have had, remember that God is the perfect Father, and that His love is unconditional. He loves us because He chooses to love us, not because of anything in us or because of our performance. He loves us in Christ, and nothing will ever sever that love He has for us in Christ (Romans 8:29ff).
Be sure to read the whole thing.
Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Parenting | posted by TimBrister at 12:01 pm | Categories: Gospel, Parenting/Family |
Explaining Community Life
Here is an excellent clip from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA (Francis Chan is lead pastor) about community life shaped by the gospel.
Community from Cornerstone Church on Vimeo.
Labels: Cape Coral, Community, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church | posted by TimBrister at 11:23 am | Categories: Community, Gospel, Small Groups |
Gospel and Poor: Implications from the Resurrection of Christ
To date, I have addressed the gospel implications related to the poor from the life and death of Jesus Christ. The third reality of the gospel that I want to bring to our attention is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The seven implications I have touched on are intended to show how the vertical realities of the gospel bring forth horizontal implications as it relates specifically to the poor.
Gospel and Poor: Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the vindication of God’s character and fulfillment of all God’s promises through the life and death of His Son. A quick glance at the early church and you will find that the fundamental doctrine and reality that irritated crowds and caused others to retaliate was the faithful preaching of Jesus Christ risen from the dead (e.g. Acts 4:2, 33; 17:18, 32; 23:6; 24:21). In his powerful argumentation in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul explains that without the resurrection of Jesus, all preaching is in vain and all faith is in vain (1 Cor. 15:14). Furthermore, everyone who has testified about Jesus Christ is a liar and has misrepresented God (1 Cor. 15:15). The outcome of a Christ crucified but not risen is a world remaining in their sins, without hope or rescue (1 Cor. 15:17).
Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Jesus, Poor, Resurrection | posted by TimBrister at 12:20 am | Categories: Gospel, Jesus, Poor |
Gospel and Poor: Implications from the Death of Christ
Picking up where I left off on the horizontal gospel implications regarding the poor, I want pick up on the death of Jesus Christ. I mentioned that the gospel realities from the life of Jesus should horizontally cause us to work out His righteousness in us through dwelling with the poor (presence), intentionally pursuing relationships with the poor (community), and demonstrating personal hospitality towards the poor (welcoming).
Gospel and Poor: Death of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ lived the life we could never live (righteousness) and died the death we all deserve to die (substitute). Jesus was motivated to give Himself on the cross “for the joy that was set before Him” (Heb. 12:1)–a joy to please the Father by completing His earthly mission. At the very heart of the gospel message is the reality of substitution (e.g., 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 3:18): His death that we might experience everlasting life; His righteousness for our sinfulness; His condemnation for our acceptance: His taking the wrath of God that we might know the love of God; His bearing God’s judgment for sin that we might know God’s infinite mercies; His becoming cursed that we might experience God’s blessing, etc.
Labels: Cape Coral, Cross, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Jesus, Poor | posted by TimBrister at 10:04 pm | Categories: Gospel, Jesus, Poor |
Events vs. Family - Giving Appropriate Emphasis
Tim Chester, author of several books include Total Church, recently wrote a thought-provoking blogpost about performance-based ministry and real-life ministry as it relates to the “store-front” image of the church. His desire is that people not ask about their meetings (events) but rather ask about how the church lives their lives together with gospel intentionality.
Chester writes:
For many Christians church is an event. It is a meeting you attend or a place you enter. Churches may talk about being a family, but most of their resources go into the Sunday morning event. Acquiring a building. Preparing the sermon. Producing the bulletin. Equipping a venue with sound and light. Planning the show. Practicing the band. That’s were their money and their staff time go. We talk about being family and community, but when you look at how we spend our time and money it becomes clear that in practice we view church as an event.
People often ask me about our meetings. ‘When do you meet? Where? What do you do when you meet together?’ But if you ask those questions then you have completely missed the point! We’re not advocating a new way of doing meetings. Actually our meetings are not good! The music is poor and the teaching is nothing you’d go out of your way to hear. What matters to us is our shared life: sharing our lives, doing ordinary life with gospel intentionality.
The church will never out perform TV shows and music videos. But there is nothing like the community life of the church. There is nowhere else where diverse people come together. There is nowhere else were broken people find a home. There is nowhere else when grace is experienced. There is nowhere else where God is present by his Spirit.
Although our corporate times of gathered worship are very important in the life of our church, relatively speaking if we are a healthy church, we would view church life much more than an “event” but a shared journey where we live life together on mission in our community with a gospel-driven passion. While the de-churched in our community will perhaps find their way to one of our corporate gatherings, the unchurched and unreached people will not exposed to the glorious realities of the gospel without the community apologetic and everyday witness of kingdom living through word (proclamation) and deed (service).
While we do not want diminish the significance of our times of gathered corporate worship, we ought to raise the significance of everyday life in between these gatherings to authentically and intentionality demonstrate how the gospel continues to transform our lives where the Spirit of God makes ordinary moments extraordinary opportunities for glorying in Jesus Christ!
Labels: Cape Coral, Community, Family Life, Grace Baptist Church, Tim Chester | posted by TimBrister at 8:28 am | Categories: Community, Gospel, Small Groups |
What the Gospel Is Saying
Of First Importance is a blog that is dedicated to giving you daily gospel gold. If you have not bookmarked or subscribed to their feed, I encourage you to do so. Here is an entry from last week:
“The gospel is saying that, what man cannot do in order to be accepted with God, this God Himself has done for us in the person of Jesus Christ. To be acceptable to God we must present to God a life of perfect and unceasing obedience to his will. The gospel declares that Jesus has done this for us. For God to be righteous he must deal with our sin. This also he has done for us in Jesus. The holy law of God was lived out perfectly for us by Christ, and its penalty was paid perfectly for us by Christ. The living and dying of Christ for us, and this alone is the basis of our acceptance with God.”
- Graeme Goldsworthy, Gospel and Kingdom, p. 86
Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Graeme Goldsworthy, Of First Importance | posted by TimBrister at 10:58 am | Categories: Gospel, Jesus |
Grace in 60 Seconds: The Gospel
A couple of weeks ago, I shared on our blog that I was starting a series called “Grace in 60 Seconds.” This is a series that seeks to distill the very essence of Grace Baptist Church in six words in order to answer the question, “In sixty seconds or less, what distinctly defines Grace Baptist Church?”
This evening, I addressed the first word - gospel. It is the first word because it is “of first importance.” Looking at 1 Cor. 15:1-3 alone, we see just how crucial it is. It is preached, believed, held fast, stood upon, delivered, and received. If we want to get at the heart of God and the Christian faith, we need to look nowhere else than His gospel. I want to elaborate on the gospel through five aspects: fluency, centrality, intentionality, sufficiency, intensity.
Gospel Fluency (Definition)
The first element of the gospel is fluency–that is, how well one understands the gospel. We never want to assume the gospel in any context nor do we want to find ourselves in a context where a clear understanding of the gospel is not necessary. Our familiarity with the gospel should not breed contempt but contemplation and competency in grasping the most important news in the whole world. Every member should be able to explain who Jesus is, what He has done, and what that matters to every single person on the face of the planet. They ought to be able to speak of the gospel as it relates to God, man and sin, Jesus Christ, and the response it invokes. Christians ought to be able to tell the gospel story as the overarching theme of all of Scripture beginning with creation to the Fall to redemption and ending in consummation. For there to be fluency in the gospel, there must be a commitment to meditate, rehearse and pray the gospel into our lives on a daily basis. Those who are most fluent in the gospel are most prepared to speak much of Jesus, and because we are prone to forget the gospel, we like Martin Luther ought to “beat it continually in our heads.”
(more…)
Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church | posted by TimBrister at 5:15 am | Categories: Core Values/Practices, Gospel |
The Biblical Gospel and It’s Social Implications
Here’s a short video clip from James MacDonald of Harvest Bible Chapel in which he rejects the substitution of the social gospel for the biblical gospel and yet affirms the social implications which result from a right understanding of the gospel.
Social Gospel vs. Proclamation Gospel from Harvest Bible Chapel on Vimeo.
Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, James MacDonald, Social Responsibility | posted by TimBrister at 7:29 pm | Categories: Gospel, Social Renewal |
Gospel and Poor: Implications from the Life of Christ
Continuing the commentary on what the Scriptures say about the poor, I want to turn to the heart of biblical revelation–the gospel of Jesus Christ–and see what implications we can draw as it relates to the poor. In other words, when we understand what God has given us in His Son from a vertical perspective, what kind of implications does that have from a horizontal perspective as it relates to the poor? What difference does being recipients of the gospel mean for us? Do the vertical (spiritual) realities bear any consequence on the horizontal (physical) application of such realities in the way in which we treat the poor and needy? I want to begin first with the life of Jesus Christ.
Gospel and Poor: Life of Jesus Christ
Why is the life of Jesus so important to us? God sent His Son into the world that we might behold Him and believe in Him. We behold Him because he dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we have come to see Him who is full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The life of Jesus is essential to the gospel because He accomplished for us what we could never do for ourselves–live a perfectly righteous, sinless life before a holy God. Every Christian is saved by good works–the works of Jesus Christ.
Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Poor, Social Responsibility | posted by TimBrister at 10:48 pm | Categories: Gospel, Jesus, Poor, Social Renewal |
