Grace Baptist Church

Tim Keller on Fox News

Tim Keller has what looks to be an excellent new book on the life of Jesus Christ called King’s Cross.  Recently, he was interviewed on FoxNews about his new book and in particular the questions skeptics and unbelievers raise about the reliability of the gospel accounts and the attempts of re-making Jesus into their own liking.  I thought his answers were superb.

Labels: Cape Coral, FoxNews, Grace Baptist Church, Jesus, King's Cross, Tim Keller | posted by TimBrister at 11:56 pm | Categories: Books, Gospel, Jesus |

Signs You’re Growing in Grace

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace, Grace Baptist Church, Scotty Smith, Twitter | posted by TimBrister at 1:39 pm | Categories: Encouragement, Gospel |

Give Them Grace

There have been a number of books in recent years that have helped shape parenting with the gospel, but according to Tullian Tchividjian the best book on gospel-centered parenting is about to be released this Spring.  Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse Fitzpatrick is that book.  Here’s a blurb from Crossway:

How are parents to raise children so they don’t become Pharisees (legalists) or prodigals (rebels)? It’s all about grace-filled, gospel-driven parenting, says the mother/daughter team of Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson. Christian parents, in their desire to raise godly children, can drift toward rule-centered discipline. There is, however, a far more effective method—a grace-motivated approach that begins with the glorious truth of God’s love for sinners.

In Give Them Grace, parents will learn how to connect the benefits of the cross—especially regeneration, adoption, and justification—to their children’s daily lives. Chapters address topics such as our inability to follow the law perfectly, God’s forgiveness and love displayed at the cross, and what true heart obedience looks like. Fitzpatrick and Thompson also discuss discipline, dealing with popular culture, and evangelism as a way of life. Parents will find this book a great resource for raising grace-filled, Jesus-loving kids.

The book is not schedule to release until May 31, 2011, but I have already captured some mini-excerpts via Twitter.  Here’s a sampling:

In the life of our regenerate children, the laws function is to show them what gospel-engendered gratitude looks like.

In the life of our unregenerate kids, the law is given for one reason; to crush their self-confidence and drive them to Christ.

Every way we try to make our kids good that isn’t rooted in the good news of Jesus Christ is damnable, crushing, Pharisee-producing law.

Even though our kids can’t & won’t obey God’s law we should teach it. When they say they can’t do it we agree & point them to our Savior.

Telling children 2 seek a right standing be4 God by being obedient 2 us, is drowning them in a ministry of death. Christ righteousness ALONE.

Parents, ask yourselves what percentage of time you spend declaring the rules and what percentage of time you spend reciting the Story.

The primary theme of what we teach our children shouldn’t be commands, but rather Jesus Christ and the work he has already done.

We long to be faithful parents but we rest in the truth that our faithfulness will not save our kids. Salvation belongs entirely to the Lord.

The good news of God’s grace is meant to permeate and transform every relationship we have, including the one with our children.

Instead of sharing the glorious liberating and life-changing truths of the gospel, we’ve taught our children that what God wants is morality.

The good news about Jesus obedience and shameful death is the only motif that will grant our children a heart to obey.

Our children need much less Veggie Tales and much more scandalous cross.

Grace, or the free favor that has been lavished on us thru Christ, ought to make our parenting radically different from what unbelievers do.

Forgetting all we know about the deadliness of relying on our own goodness, we teach our kids that Christianity is all about their behavior.

When we change the story of the Bible from the gospel of grace to a book of moralistic teaching like Aesop’s fables, things go wrong.

Christian children don’t need to learn to be “nice.” They need death & resurrection and a Savior who has gone before them as a faithful high priest, who was a child himself, and who lived perfectly and died in their place.”

What makes your parenting any different than a Mormon, or a moralistic atheist? Give your children Jesus today, give them grace.

I encourage you to get this book when it comes out!  It will help you love Jesus and communicate the gospel to your kids as a shepherd and caregiver of their soul.

Labels: Cape Coral, Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace, Gospel-Centered, Grace Baptist Church, Parenting | posted by TimBrister at 1:43 pm | Categories: Books, Gospel, Parenting/Family |

Marriage Transformed by the Gospel

As we frequently mention, the gospel touches and transforms all aspects of our lives.  In their book, Love That Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace (Crossway, 2006), Gary and Betsy Ricuchi address how transforming the gospel is for marriage.  Consider these words and let them encourage you in pursuing gospel-driven marriage!

Because of the gospel, Christians have become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Therefore, in our marriage, our past does not define us, confine us, or determine our future.

Because of the gospel, we are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7). Therefore we can live free of all guilt and condemnation for every sin, and we can trust that God, in his mercy, will be gracious to us.

Because of the gospel, we can forgive, just as Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). Nothing done against us compares to our sin against God. Therefore all offenses, hostility, and bitterness between Christians can be completely forgiven and removed.

Because of the gospel, we are accepted by God (Romans 15:7). Therefore we are not dependent on a spouse for who we are or what we need.

Because of the gospel, sin’s ruling power over us is broken (Romans 6:6, 14). Therefore we can truly obey all that God calls us to do in our marriage, regardless of any circumstance or situation.

Because of the gospel, we have access to God through Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16). Therefore we can at any time take any need in our marriage to the One who can do all things.

Because of the gospel, we have hope (Romans 5:1-4). Therefore we can endure any marital difficulty, hardship, or suffering, with the assurance that God is working all to our greatest good (Romans 8:28).

Because of the gospel, Christ dwells in us by his Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:13-14). Therefore we are confident that God is always with us and is always at work in our marriage, even when progress is imperceptible (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Because of the gospel, we have power to fight and overcome remaining sin, which continues to dwell and war within us (Romans 7:19-21, 24-25; Galatians 5:16-17). This indwelling enemy represents the essence of what is called the doctrine of sin.

These are just a few of the ways the gospel can transform a marriage. Sometimes it’s not easy to live in the reality of these truths. But it is always possible—and not because of our strength or determination, but because of God’s empowering and enabling grace.

HT :: Justin Taylor

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Gospel-Centered, Grace Baptist Church, Marriage | posted by TimBrister at 10:45 am | Categories: Gospel, Parenting/Family |

Sinclair Ferguson on Union with Christ

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Sinclair Ferguson, Union with Christ | posted by TimBrister at 3:06 pm | Categories: Encouragement, Gospel, Videos |

The Gospel in Every Sermon

One of the things we are very big on here at Grace is gospel-driven preaching and gospel-centered living.  Mark Dever, Mark Driscoll, and James McDonald take some time to discuss the importance of faithful gospel preaching and evangelizing in this short, eight-minute video.

Labels: Cape Coral, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, James McDonald, Mark Dever, Mark Driscoll, Preaching, The Gospel Coalition | posted by TimBrister at 11:55 am | Categories: Evangelism, Gospel, Preaching |

The Hymn of a Legalist

Always funny and yet convicting at the same time, Stephen Altrogge recently penned the hymn of a legalist. Though we might scoff at the lyrics below, without the functional centrality of the gospel in our lives and church, we are left to being legalists at heart, attempting to earn God’s acceptance by what we can do rather than resting in what God has done in the finished work of Christ!

Jesus Paid It Some

I hear the Savior say,
“You’re not doing enough;
Work your fingers to the bone,
I will save those who are tough.”

Jesus paid it some
I will do the rest
Sin had left a crimson stain
Now I will give my best

For now indeed I’ll try
To earn your love and grace
I’ll add the works I have
To complete the price you paid.

REFRAIN

And when before the throne
I’ll give my deeds to you,
I’ll hope I’ve done enough
To make you let me through.

REFRAIN (3x just to be sure)

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Hymn of a Legalist, Stephen Altrogge, Worship | posted by TimBrister at 9:15 am | Categories: Gospel, Worship |

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:

(more…)

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 |