May Study

Here is the book for May that I plan to study through.

More reflections on worship

Yes I am still reading about preaching as worship. I came across this post by Steve Camp about 7 perceptions of what biblical worship is not. Here are his seven points.

1. Biblical Worship is not Emotional Exuberance

2. Biblical Worship is not Mystical Experience

3. Biblical Worship is not Musical Performance

4. Biblical Worship is not Religious Ritual

5. Biblical Worship is not Asceticism

6. Biblical Worship is not Self-Indulgence

7. Biblical Worship is not Self-Actualization

His point in 3 is what we talked about two weeks ago. Worship is not just singing. Singing is one form of worship. Preaching is a part of that worship.

Expository Exultation

Last Tuesday in our youth leadership class, I spoke about the idea of preaching as worship. I found this a week later. It is by John Piper. He talks about preaching and it's role as a part of worship.

The Place of Preaching in Worship

Spiritual Watchmen

In his instructions to Timothy about how to be an elder, Paul says "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:16) How can watching our life and doctrine save not only us, but also others?

Our lives are constant examples to others. 1 Timothy 3:2 says an elder must be above reproach. In fact, Paul says in 3:4 that an elder’s family is to be an example. Our lifestyle choices can drive people away from Christ and His church. We need to guard against letting our life be a stumbling block for others. As leaders in our youth group, are you living as an example to our youth and their parents?

How can our doctrine save others? Paul says in 4:13 that the responsibility of an elder is to "devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching." Elders are to be watchmen of God's word. We need to be able to teach that word and doctrine to the congregation. Our doctrine has an impact on people’s salvation. As an example, if we teach salvation by works, we lead people to a hollow relationship with the Lord. They are sent down a wide road of destruction. We need to cherish and learn Biblical doctrine. We also need to understand what doctrine is essential. What doctrines are "hills to die on?"

So this week, ask yourself where have I let my guard down? My life or my doctrine? Also, what doctrines do you think are essential? Post here which ones and why.

Mark Dever

The internet can be a blessing and a curse. It is full of a lot of junk. There is also a bunch of beneficial material. I found one of the greatest treasures of the internet.

Some of you know who Mark Dever is. He graciously spoke at the 2005 OBC Pastor's Conference for us. He is the pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church. He runs the 9Marks ministry. He is also involved in this whole blog thing along with 3 other pastors.

He has posted a Microsoft Word file that lists all the sermons taught at CHBC from November 1993 through December 2005. It also lists who taught it and what was the main scripture passage. Most importantly, each sermon has a link that takes you to a page where you can download the sermon and an article about the sermon. All for FREE!

What a treasure chest of biblical teaching. Here is the link.

CHBC Sermon List

2 more weeks

I am still working in a secure government building. They won't let me bring my laptop into the building. I should be finished in about 2 weeks. Hopefully I will have internet access again and be able to pick up the frequency and quality of posts.

Doing Our Job

I am encouraged as a part of this group of youth leaders that we are doing our job. Paul starts off by warning Timothy about false teachers and encouraging him (in choosing others) to teach doctrine carefully and truthfully in 1 Timothy 1:3-4. Over the past year, both male and female students have assumed teaching positions in the youth group and the leaders have met with these youth to ensure proper instruction. As we focus on developing leaders, much like Paul was doing, we must pay particular attention to how we teach and how our students teach. This is a central and necessary characteristic of an effective leader. As a part of this team, I feel affirmed about our efforts with the youth and a renewed focus on student teaching. I pray these words of Paul will be echoed in the lives of our youth.

Scott

Application of scripture

Tonight at during our leadership class, we were talking about the application of scripture. I mentioned the series Phil Johnson is doing about gambling over at the Pulpit Magazine blog. I think it is a good example of how to apply scripture to an activity in our life that is not expressly forbidden or approved by scripture. Here are the links to the series. I will update this as he adds to it.

Let me know what you think.

Introduction Is Gambling OK? Don't Bet on It
Gambling: Some Definitions and Distinctions

1. Gambling vs. Faithful Stewardship
2. Does 'Mutual Consent' Eliminate the Evil in Gambling?
3. The Sin of Putting God to the Test
4. Gambling: The Moral Antithesis of Charity

April 2006 Book

1 Timothy

I think it will be good to see what instructions Paul (the mentor) gave to Timothy (his mentoree). I think we will find an abundance of application we can use in our ministry to the youth of OBC.

Genesis Review

How has working through Genesis gone this month. I enjoyed looking at the patriarchs of Israel, and learning from their lives. Seeing God's hand in their lives, even when they failed Him. It is encouraging to know God will never abandon us. He has promised to be faithful even though we can't keep up our side of the relationship.

Tell me how it went for you.

I will reveal next months book tomorrow.

(By the way, it was Minute Maid Park and the Houston Astros. My father was the only one to get it right.)

2006 Mission Trip Applications

Kelly and I read through all the applications last night. Here are my initial thoughts.

1. I am disappointed that a few youth did not turn in applications. I do not know their reasons yet, so my disappointment is tempered.

2. On the other hand there are some new youth going that I am very happy about. I hear we may build some muscles on this trip.

3. It was neat to see some affirmation for our ministry from the youth. Especially our time on Tuesdays.

4. Laura is extremely funny.

5. We are losing some great girls this year. I pray that the Lord will use this trip to continue to help them grow.

Any thoughts from you?

Red

Here is a song that I have had on loop on my computer playing over and over for about a week now. I think Kelly is about done listening to it.

Red

The plans I have for you

From Noah and the ark, Abraham the father of a nation, Jacob and his birthright, through Joseph the savior of a nation. Genesis is first and foremost the story of God's sovereignty. Yes it shows the beginning of the world and the start of the nation of Israel, but it so much more than that. God's finger prints are all over each story. Not the thought or even just the worship and obedience of God, but God actively working in peoples lives.

The account of Jacob and Esau is incredible. Before Jacob and Esau had committed any action, God had made a decision about the path of their lives.

10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." Romans 9:10-13

WOW. That is powerful. I know for me, right know in my life, this is an amazingly comforting verse. I am waiting to see what God will do with me this year. I know what I desire, I hope it is what God desires. I know that no matter where the Lord has me ministering a year from now, it is HIS plan. Not only will it not catch Him by surprise, He had it planned while I was in the womb.

Thank you Lord.
Amen.

Newb Alert

Newb definition: Truncation of "newbie". A neophyte.

We have a possible newb in our youth council. The elder board after 30 days of prayer and extensive questioning, will be presenting Rolland Watenpaugh this Sunday, as a deacon candidate in the youth ministry for 30 days of congregational prayer.

The Lord is sending reinforcements!

It was a blessing that the Lord set up the circumstances for Rolland to become a part of our council. He was brought forward by the FLOCKS council, but they are not in dire need of help. I had been letting the elder board know that we have needed more leaders, so when it was time to decide where to put Rolland, the elder board thought youth would be a natural fit.

Rolland, as most of you all ready know, has been teaching 11-12 grade Sunday School. He has been dong a great job with that and was invaluable during my preparation for the retreat.

Make sure you keep Rolland and Mary Beth in prayer for the next 30 days.

Towers

How do you define yourself?

I'm still working through Genesis, but I've been thinking about Genesis 11:4-9 for a couple of days. Shortly after repopulating from the flood, the descendents of Noah's sons began making structures out of brick and got the bright idea to build a tower to the heavens and "make a name" for themselves. Well, it's easy to look at this and think, well duh, God's going to be angry for such self glorification.

But, how often do we create "towers" for ourselves. While making a tower isn't a sin, building it to oneself is. We may not build a physical tower, but we build monuments to ourselves quite frequently (expensive cloths, big house, fancy car, important job, degrees, etc.) While owning these is not wrong, defining yourself by them is. As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to make sure we find our identity in Him, not in the human achievements of this world. So let me ask you again . . .

How do you define yourself?

Scott

Lessons From Abraham's Life

I have not got past Genesis 25 yet. I have read 12 through 25 several times now and wanted to share some quick thoughts I have had about Abraham’s life.

I was struck by the love Abraham had for his nephew Lot. It shows in chapter 13. Abraham is content with what God has provided for him, and is willing to sacrifice having the seemingly better land. Here is Abraham giving Lot the choice of land. I think about how I feel when someone takes “MY” land in front of my car when I am driving.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5


Aside from his nasty habit of telling people his wife was his sister and that whole Ishmael thing, Abraham showed remarkable faith throughout his life. When you read his story, you can see him grow from each situation. By the time the Lord asks him to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham had reached a point where he could trust the Lord. I get a feeling that if this had happened earlier, Abraham would have failed. The Lord perfectly waited until Abraham was ready for such a challenge.

My brethren,  count it all joy  when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3

Chapter 23 showed the testimony Abraham had. The Hittites called Abraham a mighty prince in verse 6. Abraham lived his life following Godly principles. Those made him stand out from the corrupt society around him. Those people were able to see the Lord through Abraham. Abraham did not sequester himself away from those people. He lived in their land. At the same time, he knew that the Lord had chosen him and separated him and his offspring from the Canaanites.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh,  the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And  the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17.

Slip and Slide

Modern Odysseus'

Odysseus is the man credited with the idea for the Trojan horse. We all know the story about how he used it to sneak a group of men into the city of Troy, allowing the Greeks to conquer the city.
In Acts 20:28-31 Paul warns the Ephesians elders to watch for savage wolves that will come from inside the church. The elders are tasked to guard and protect the flock.
I think the greatest danger to the church today is the trend of the leaders, tasked with protecting the flock, bringing the Trojan horse into the city.
Pragmatism, post-modernism, seeker sensitive, ecumenicalism or what ever current label it has. These thoughts and ideas are being brought into the church by the very men tasked with protecting her. At the root of all these strains of thought is the question “How do we relate to the culture?” Unfortunately, the answer all to often includes an immersion in the culture versus an immersion in the word.

I have included some links to some sites that do a good job of explaining some of the dangers.

Absolutely Not!: A critical look at the emerging church movement by Phil Johnson
A transcript of Phil Johnson's session at the 2006 Shepherd's Conference, Friday March 3, 2006. The blog this is posted at, Emergent No , gives some good critiques of the emerging movement.

Putting God in a Box? by James Spurgeon
Great post about the importance of historical theology.

"A Generous Orthodoxy"--Is It Orthodox? by Albert Mohler
A review of Brian McLaren's book, A Generous Orthodoxy.

Church Growth Gone Mad by Clay Miller
Subtitled, a sobering look at the church growth seeker-sensitive models.

Genesis, dangers to the church and more.

I am still working on reading through Genesis. It seems as if everything is conspiring against me finishing it. I will have it done this week and have something to post before the end of the week.

I also plan to have an answer for the question I asked about dangers to the church. It is interesting. I have read several thing over the past week that have affirmed what I see as a danger for the church. I will post the links to those as well.

I am looking forward to our youth leader training tomorrow night. Make sure you hold your small groups accountable to their daily quiet times. My plan is to give you 45 minutes to an hour with your group. Spend the time going over the study, their progress or lack there of for the past week, and in prayer. Pick a passage that you think is relevant and pray through it. I will continue to provide character studies while we go through this study.

No one from our church has figured out what baseball stadium is in the original Genesis post. I have one correct answer from someone outside our church. And if you think that baseball and Christianity don't go together read this.

Hard Rock Store

I wanted to show you what we are working on. It is not really ready yet, but we are getting there. If you want to order something you can, but some of the stuff is not ready or will be changed. Thanks to Scott for the awesome new logo.