tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174847298303049272024-03-13T15:26:27.631-04:00Redemption GroaningsOne man's musings as he longs for the restoration of all thingsLarry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.comBlogger950125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-54732865247189203652012-07-18T11:08:00.000-04:002012-07-18T11:08:46.521-04:00Piper Ministering to WomenTwo messages from John Piper:<br />
<br />
http://vimeo.com/45282216#<br />
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/the-ultimate-meaning-of-true-womanhood<br />
<br />Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-36481999486734858252012-07-09T10:17:00.001-04:002012-07-09T10:17:19.763-04:00Redemption Groanings has Moved<div id="pagecontent">
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No, the Gospel Coalition has not asked me to join their team of bloggers.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But with the church I serve launching a new website last week, I've decided to start blogging on our site. It will be quite similar to what I have posted here for the last few years, but hopefully will serve people well over on the church's site. And I think my fellow pastor Jason Tyrell will also be doing some blogging there as well.</div>
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You can track with JCF pastor's blog by clicking <a href="http://joycf.org/blog" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
</div>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-51322570717756915362012-07-02T16:23:00.000-04:002012-07-02T16:23:40.890-04:00Why I'm Tweeting Again<div id="pagecontent">
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For around three years I've been fascinated by Twitter. It may
be the journalist in me, but there's something intriguing to me about
trying to say something meaningful and memorable in 140 characters.
When I read these words from John Piper awhile back, they really
resonated with me:<br />
<br />
<i>The sovereign Lord of the earth and sky</i><br />
<i>Puts camels through a needle’s eye.</i><br />
<i>And if his wisdom see it mete,</i><br />
<i>He will put worlds inside a tweet.</i><br />
<br />
But
for nearly two years, I've done very little tweeting. I think that's
because as I began tweeting, I realized I was doing so not to serve
people, but to serve myself. There is something that feels good about
knowing you're being "followed", hoping that more and more people will
follow you and be impressed with you. <i> </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7vcnpNJ41w/T_IDAQYZpuI/AAAAAAAABUc/xJQOqPQY5cM/s1600/twitter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7vcnpNJ41w/T_IDAQYZpuI/AAAAAAAABUc/xJQOqPQY5cM/s320/twitter2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i></i>But I tweet to a very small audience. And when I wasn't seeing that
audience grow, I just figured it wasn't worth continuing. But as I
pondered that response, I realized that the only reason I thought a
minimal audience made my tweeting irrelevant was because I was consumed
with pride and self-absorption. When I came to the conclusion that
tweeting was simply an expression of my pride and vanity, I gave it up.<br />
<br />
Last week I picked up tweeting again. I've been going through a discipleship manual called <a href="http://somatacoma.org/mediafiles/gospel-dna-leaders-guide.pdf">Gospel DNA</a>
with some guys, and it was talking about the importance of being
involved in one anothers' lives to help each other remember Jesus
throughout the week. The question was asked, "What are some ways you
can help each other fight sin by reminding each other of the cross?"<br />
<br />
Twitter came to mind. It's certainly not the only or the best way to
encourage others. But it is one way to regularly encourage a
significant number of people at one time (as many as choose to follow
along). So I picked it back up, and I think maybe it's here to stay.<br />
<br />
I can say with a pure heart now that I don't want to tweet to gain a
bunch of followers. I don't need my Twitter account to go viral. I
just want to provide some bite-sized pieces of encouragement for the
people of God as we carry on our pilgrimage to glory. So if you're so
inclined, you can check out my tweets <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/larrylaz">@larrylaz</a>.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful to be at a place where I sincerely don't care if anyone
chooses to follow along. If I never have more than 19 followers (my
current total), I'm totally cool with that. But I hope that as many as
do read will be strengthened and nourished as you fight the fight of
faith. </div>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-12840119586594241502012-06-30T15:09:00.000-04:002012-06-30T15:09:02.538-04:00Does Eternal Punishment Fit the Crime?In the discussion in our Life Group meeting earlier in the week, the question arose: how could crimes committed in a finite period of time justly merit an eternal punishment?<br />
<br />
The best explanation that I have come across is from the pen of Jonathan Edwards. He wrote (it's long and nearly 300 years old, but make the effort to think this through):<br />
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A crime is more or less heinous,
according as we are under greater or less obligations to the contrary. This is
self-evident; because it is herein that the criminalness or faultiness of any
thing consists, that it is contrary to what we are obliged or bound to, or what
ought to be in us. So the faultiness of one being hating another, is in
proportion to his obligation to love him. The crime of one being despising and
casting contempt on another, is proportionably more or less heinous, as he was
under greater or less obligations to honour him. The fault of disobeying
another, is greater or less, as any one is under greater or less obligations to
obey him. And therefore if there be any being that we are under infinite
obligations to love, and honour, and obey, the contrary towards him must be
infinitely faulty.<br />
<br />
Our obligation to love, honour, and obey any being, is in proportion to his
loveliness, honourableness, and authority; for that is the very meaning of the
words. When we say any one is very lovely, it is the same as to say, that he is
one very much to be loved. Or if we say such a one is more honourable than
another, the meaning of the words is, that he is one that we are more obliged
to honour. If we say any one has great authority over us, it is the same as to
say, that he has great right to our subjection and obedience.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But God is a being infinitely
lovely, because he hath infinite excellency and beauty. To have infinite
excellency and beauty, is the same thing as to have infinite loveliness. He is
a being of infinite greatness, majesty, and glory; and therefore he is
infinitely honourable. He is infinitely exalted above the greatest potentates
of the earth, and highest angels in heaven; and therefore he is infinitely more
honourable than they. His authority over us is infinite; and the ground of his
right to our obedience is infinitely strong; for he is infinitely worthy to be
obeyed himself, and we have an absolute, universal, and infinite dependence
upon him.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So that sin against God, being a
violation of infinite obligations, must be a crime infinitely heinous, and so
deserving of infinite punishment.- Nothing is more agreeable to the common
sense of mankind, than that sins committed against any one, must be
proportionably heinous to the dignity of the being offended and abused; as it
is also agreeable to the word of God, I Samuel 2:25. "If one man sin
against another, the judge shall judge him;" (i.e. shall judge him, and
inflict a finite punishment, such as finite judges can inflict;) "but if a
man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?" This was the
aggravation of sin that made Joseph afraid of it. Genesis 39:9. "How shall
I commit this great wickedness, and sin against God?" This was the
aggravation of David's sin, in comparison of which he esteemed all others as nothing,
because they were infinitely exceeded by it. Psalm 51:4. "Against thee,
thee only have I sinned."-The eternity of the punishment of ungodly men
renders it infinite: and it renders it no more than infinite; and therefore
renders no more than proportionable to the heinousness of what they are guilty
of.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This man's utter God-centeredness is such a blessing. For the highly ambitious, here is<i> </i>whole essay from which this quote is taken: <a href="http://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/je-justice.htm" target="_blank">The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span></i></div>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-81207679139688790342012-06-29T11:50:00.001-04:002012-06-29T11:50:33.559-04:00Encourage Your PastorsI realize this may seem a bit self-serving, but since the Scriptures command church members to relate to their leaders in such a way that they find their ministry a joy (Hebrews 13:17), I figured I'd take that risk. Brian Croft (who has <a href="http://practicalshepherding.com/" target="_blank">an excellent blog</a> for pastors) writes of five ways to encourage your pastors:<br />
<br />
1)<strong> Share appreciation for how hard he works.</strong> Maybe
the most hurtful words a pastor and his wife can hear are not, “Bad
sermon” or “that was a dumb decision” or “I don’t like the way you do
that.” Rather I submit words that imply this message can be the most
hurtful, “You are lazy.” Because of this, some of the most encouraging
words a pastor and his wife can hear are words of gratefulness for how
hard he works to preach faithfully and care for God’s people.<br />
<br />
<strong>2) Give specific feedback to a sermon.</strong> I’m not
talking about the slap on the back, “Nice sermon” comment. Instead be
specific…”that insight into the text was really helpful, or that
application really met me where I am struggling.”<br />
<br />
<strong>3) Acknowledge the sacrifice of his family. </strong> This
will encourage his wife and children, but it will also be very
meaningful to the pastor. The pastor knowing you are thinking of his
family can often times mean more than you thinking of him.<br />
<br />
<strong>4) Reveal how you have spiritually grown under his ministry. </strong> This
is one thing a pastor labors to hear and hopes is taking place all over
his congregation. Stop keeping him in suspense and tell him so he
knows.<br />
<br />
<strong>5) Tell him how you specifically pray for him. </strong> Your
pastor of all people should know the significance of prayer. The most
meaningful things I hear isn’t, “I prayed for you” but, “I prayed that
your sermon would be powerfully preached and eagerly received, or I
prayed God would protect you and your family from the enemy through
this important week.”<br />
<br />
If not in these ways, find some way to encourage your pastor this
week. Never underestimate how meaningful and well-timed it can be when
God would so lead you to do so.Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-68871578393327904062012-06-27T09:30:00.000-04:002012-06-27T09:30:01.912-04:00The Doctrine of HellThe other night, my Life Group got into a pretty challenging, sobering discussion on the biblical teaching of hell. Here are a couple of resources (one from Tim Keller, the other from John Piper) on the doctrine of hell, and why it is important:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.redeemer.com/news_and_events/articles/the_importance_of_hell.html" target="_blank">The Importance of Hell, by Tim Keller</a><br />
<a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/the-echo-and-insufficiency-of-hell-part-1" target="_blank">The Echo and Insufficiency of Hell, by John Piper</a><br />
<br />
And I'm always mindful of a statement from Don Carson on this subject (I'm paraphrasing): if we can discuss or think about these things without tears in our eyes, we betray the character of Jesus even though our doctrinal knowledge might be orthodox. Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-37409169918134314732012-06-15T08:51:00.000-04:002012-06-15T08:51:38.707-04:00Newness of LifeYesterday morning (after a very rough night of sleep for our family) I texted my wife:<br />
<br />
<i>As surely as Jesus is raised from the dead, you have power today to walk in newness of life.</i><br />
<br />
I grounded that in Paul's statement to the Romans: <br />
<br />
<i>We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.</i> (Romans 6:4 ESV)<br />
<br />
It is true today, and every day, until we see Him face to face. Through union with Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and the very power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us who believe. While I cherish the gospel truth that we are made right with God and secure in His love through no work of our own, but simply be resting in Christ's perfect obedience in our behalf, let's not minimize the fact that one gospel blessing we get through our union with Jesus is resurrection power to walk in newness of life and bear fruit for God (Romans 7:4). <br />
<br />
Christians, let's stop whining and complaining that we just can't obey Him. Yes, there is a real struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, and sometimes the struggle just seems too hard to bear. But the key word there is "seems." You, Christian, have power to say no to sin. Power to put sin to death. Ultimately, "I can't..." is not a knock on yourself, but a knock on the One who dwells in you.Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-50450403760829524072012-06-14T11:13:00.001-04:002012-06-14T11:13:13.715-04:00Gospel-Driven SanctificationIn our church, we talk a lot about the gospel being crucial not only to our justification (how we are brought into right standing with God), but also our sanctification (the progressive work of being made more like Jesus in our practice). In this video, Don Carson puts a little flesh and blood on that reality:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36553022" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-20739163369237183752012-06-11T10:58:00.000-04:002012-06-11T10:58:01.342-04:00Forgiveness & ReconciliationMy friend Jason Tyrell preached an excellent message yesterday morning from Luke 6 on loving our enemies. Those who want to think through in more depth on how to love our enemies, and how to see relationships heal that have been fractured, may be helped by <a href="http://theresurgence.com/files/2011/04/10/Keller-Forgiveness_and_Reconciliation.pdf" target="_blank">this article</a> from Tim Keller.<br />
<br />
The gospel is vividly on display when sinners learn how to love one another in the midst of hurt and misunderstanding. So articles like this are beneficial in learning how to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior (Titus 2:10).Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-24871599876787995862012-06-08T11:45:00.000-04:002012-06-08T11:45:08.077-04:00The One You NeedMakes me want to go home right now and hug my girls...what a gift:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SEYjSQipL60" width="420"></iframe>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-5896039078941545512012-05-31T12:25:00.002-04:002012-05-31T12:25:18.622-04:00Coming and Leaving WellOver the next two Sundays, I will be leading a class to introduce newcomers to our church. As I have served as a pastor for the last four years or so, I have seen a lot of people come and go from the church. And a lot of the people who come are people who have recently left other churches and are looking for a new church home.<br />
<br />
While I believe there are good, wise and legitimate reasons to leave a church, I also believe that all Bible-believing churches together compose Christ's universal Body, and therefore each local should have some responsibility to other churches in how they welcome and receive new folks who come from another church. <br />
<br />
For this reason I was really grateful for the wisdom I received from Kevin DeYoung in these two blog posts. The <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/05/24/how-to-start-at-your-new-church/" target="_blank">first one</a> addresses how to start at your new church, and the <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/05/25/how-to-leave-your-old-church/" target="_blank">second one</a> addresses how to leave your old church. I plan on giving a copy of these two articles to everyone in attendance at the class this Sunday, and to future newcomers in the months and years to come. <br />
<br />
Something I am really learning over the past few months is the seriousness and importance of membership in the local church. So I am glad for resources like these, which put practical advise on how to walk out such important matters.Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-65384614766254319992012-05-25T13:20:00.000-04:002012-05-25T13:20:00.864-04:00Resigning Church MembershipAdd <a href="http://www.9marks.org/blog/pastors-don%E2%80%99t-let-your-people-resign-thin-air-part-2?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+9marks%2Fblog+%289Marks+Blog%3A+Building+Healthy+Churches+%29&utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">this</a> to the file of posts I'm making to help myself find a link to something I want to refer to in the future: Jonathan Leeman applying his pastoral wisdom on matters of church membership and discipline.Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-90360821098387201172012-05-24T13:04:00.002-04:002012-05-24T13:04:26.414-04:00The Gospel of Paul & the Gospel of the KingdomNot sure if anyone else will have the time and/or desire to read this, but I hope to read <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/files/2012/05/Gathercole-GODS-POWER-TO-SAVE-p138-154.pdf" target="_blank">this essay</a> by Simon Gathercole, and am posting it here so I'll know where to find it when I have time to dig into it.Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-62188934563295280222012-05-23T13:13:00.002-04:002012-05-23T13:13:48.931-04:00Gospel DiagnosticsDavid Fairchild posts twenty questions to help us think through what our hearts are really treasuring. He writes:<br />
<br />
<i>It [is] the loving responsibility for each of us to run
gospel diagnostics to determine whether or not what motivates our heart
and lives is “in step” with the gospel (Gal. 2:14).</i><br />
<br />
<i>Here are twenty gospel questions to ask ourselves:</i><br />
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(1) What is my greatest nightmare? What do I worry about most?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(2) What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I did not even want to live? What keeps me going?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i> (3) What do I rely on to comfort myself when things go bad or get difficult?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(4) What do I think about most easily? Where does my mind go to when I am free? What preoccupies me?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(5) What prayer, unanswered, would make me seriously think about turning away from God?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(6) What makes me feel the most self-worth? What am I the proudest of?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>( 7) What do I really want and expect out of life? What would really make me happy?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(8) What position of authority do I desire to give me a sense of power?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>( 9) Whose opinion of me do I hold so dear that if lost I would be undone?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(10) What type of financial loss or gain would change my sense of security?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(11) What one criticism would cause me to
respond in anger (wife, children, work, ministry, family, friends,
etc.)? What am I most touchy about when brought to my attention?</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(12) If I had ______________, then I’d be truly happy and feel as if my life has meaning and value.</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>( 13) If I lost ______________, I would be undone.</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i> (14) I’m impatient because I’m ____________.</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(15) I’m critical because I’m _____________.</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(16) I’m angry because I’m _____________.</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i> (17) I’m unhappy because I’m ____________.</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(18) I’m in despair because I’m ____________.</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(19) I have hope because I’m ___________.</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<i>(20) I feel worthy because I’m ___________.</i></div>
<br />
<i>These are only a few questions to help us be truthful with ourselves
about the gospel. There is no benefit answering these questions with the
“right” answers at the expense of the “true” answers (how we really
feel and think).</i><br />
<br />
You can read the whole article from which this list is taken <a href="http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/gospel-diagnostic-questions/" target="_blank">here</a>.Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-82285545372559113502012-05-19T10:58:00.000-04:002012-05-19T10:58:00.188-04:00The Contraconditional Love of GodI'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that there probably aren't many people unable to sleep at night until the question I posed <a href="http://redemptiongroanings.blogspot.com/2012/05/gods-love-conditional-or-unconditional.html" target="_blank">the other day</a> about the conditional/unconditional love of God gets resolved. But let me suggest a solution that comes from David Powlison, in his book <a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/11/nm/Seeing+with+New+Eyes%3A+Counseling+and+the+Human+Condition+through+the+Lens+of+Scripture+%28Paperback%29" target="_blank"><i>Seeing with New Eyes</i></a>: <br />
<blockquote>
<i>Saying “God’s love is unconditional love” is a bit like saying “The sun’s light at high noon is a flashlight in a blackout.”</i><br />
<i>Come again?</i><br />
<i>A dim bulb sustains certain analogies to the sun.</i><br />
<i>Unconditional love does sustain certain analogies to God’s love.</i><br />
<i>But why not start with the blazing sun rather than the flashlight?</i><br />
<i>When you look closely, God’s love is very different from
“unconditional positive regard,” the seedbed of contemporary notions of
unconditional love.</i><br />
<i>God does not accept me just as I am;</i><br />
<i>He loves me despite how I am;</i><br />
<i>He loves me just as Jesus is;</i><br />
<i>He loves me enough to devote my life to renewing me in the image of Jesus.</i><br />
<i>This love is much, much, much better than unconditional! Perhaps we could call it “contraconditional” love.</i><br />
<i>Contrary to the conditions for knowing God’s blessing, He has blessed me because His Son fulfilled the conditions.</i><br />
<i>Contrary to my due, He loves me.</i><br />
<i>And now I can begin to change, not to earn love but because of love.</i><br />
<i>. . . You need something better than unconditional love.</i><br />
<i>You need the crown of thorns.</i><br />
<i>You need the touch of life to the dead son of the widow of Nain.</i><br />
<i>You need the promise to the repentant thief.</i><br />
<i>You need to know, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”</i><br />
<i>You need forgiveness.</i><br />
<i>You need a Vinedresser, a Shepherd, a Father, a Savior.</i><br />
<i>You need to become like the one who loves you.</i><br />
<i>You need the better love of Jesus.</i></blockquote>
To dig a little deeper, check out <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/02/17/why-gods-love-is-better-than-unconditional/" target="_blank">this blog post</a> by Justin Taylor.Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-60700567223671401592012-05-18T10:13:00.000-04:002012-05-18T10:13:47.893-04:00The Verdict that Matters<a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2012/05/17/right-now-counts-forever/" target="_blank">This man's blog</a> really is a regular source of encouragement to me:<br />
<br />
<i>“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each
one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether
good or evil.” <a class="lbsBibleRef lbsBibleRef" data-reference="2 Corinthians 5.10" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Corinthians%205.10" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:10</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>This is our ultimate accountability. Let’s get ready. Let’s live
with intentionality. Let’s live in repentance. Let be aware, moment by
moment, that right now counts forever. What we think, what we say,
what we feel, what we do and don’t do — we matter. We matter to
Christ. We will matter forever. And very soon we will “report in.”</i><br />
<br />
<i>This is solemnizing. This is dignifying. It is also encouraging.</i><br />
<br />
<i>What if, as you stand there before Christ your Judge on that great
and final day, surrounded by all the redeemed, each one awaiting his or
her moment before the Lord — what if, standing there before him, he
asks, “Everyone, I want to know who among you appreciated this person’s
ministry? Who would like to bear witness to how he helped you for my
sake?” And no one says anything. Total silence. Awkward silence.
Everyone is embarrassed. Everyone is thinking, “Would somebody please
say <em>something</em>?” You are standing there wondering, “So my entire life comes down to <em>this</em>? What a failure I am!” Only one voice breaks that terrible silence. The Lord himself stands and says, “Well, <em>I</em> appreciated his ministry!”</i><br />
<br />
<i>It’s an improbable scenario. But putting it like that does isolate
the most urgent question of all. Is the approval of Jesus enough for
you and for me? Do we love him enough, do we revere him enough, that
his judgment is the one we’re living for?</i><br />
<br />
<i>We care what others think. We want to please them (<a class="lbsBibleRef lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Corinthians 10.33" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%2010.33" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 10:33</a>). But whose opinion will count forever?</i>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-41651145888185028902012-05-17T14:35:00.003-04:002012-05-17T14:35:21.544-04:00God's Love: Conditional or Unconditional?I really enjoy the music of Shane & Shane. On their latest CD is a song called Future Version, which basically celebrates the reality that God loves us as we are, right now, and not just some future, cleaned-up version of ourselves. Here is the refrain, which is written as if God is addressing us:<br />
<br />
<i>You I love <br />
Regardless of the things you've said and done<br />
No mistake can change my mind<br />
Come, seek, and find<br />
My love is yours right now</i><br />
<br />
In John 14:21 and 23 Jesus says,<br />
<br />
<i>Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.<br />(John 14:21-23 ESV)</i><br />
<br />
These verses seem to contradict the lyrics of Shane & Shane, don't they? "You I love, regardless of things you've said and done." His love is not conditioned on our obedience. But then Jesus seems to be saying, "If you demonstrate your love for me through obedience to my commands, my Father will love you." Sounds conditional to me, no?<br />
<br />
So are the Shanes wrong on this one? Or is defining the love of God maybe more complex than we sometimes think it is?Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-19047795080461178352012-05-16T15:32:00.004-04:002012-05-16T15:32:53.601-04:00Celebrity PastorsI really enjoyed this panel discussion from the Together for the Gospel conference last month:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/41783507?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe> <br />
<br />
<br />Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-78634775534734480472012-05-15T10:31:00.002-04:002012-05-15T10:31:53.123-04:00Die to YourselfI think he's on to something...what do you think?<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JPdBRqFq7Lw" width="560"></iframe>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-40592538982636959252012-05-14T06:52:00.001-04:002012-05-14T06:52:48.102-04:00Life is a Festive OccasionMore wisdom from Ray Ortlund:<br />
<br />
<i>“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart,
for God has already approved what you do. Let your garments be always
white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife
whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you
under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at
which you toil under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:7-9</i><br />
<br />
<i>We could take any of three approaches to the daily experience of this earthly life.</i><br />
<br />
<i>One, this present experience is all we have, our only chance at a
little happiness. But absolutizing this life puts enormous pressure on
us, intensifying our desperation and pushing us toward doing stupid
things. Worse, it cuts us off from the endless love of God in Christ.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Two, this present experience is a stepping-stone into eternity, which
is all that matters even now. This broken world is more to be endured
than enjoyed. Indeed, this world and everything about it are an
embarrassment to any serious person.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Three, this present experience is brief, non-ultimate and good.
While it lasts, it is to be dignified — not absolutized or despised but
dignified — as a gift from God. This life is a mixture of grace and
tragedy, a good creation marred by our human folly. So, the wise seek
the things that are above, where Christ is (Colossians 3:1), <em>and</em> they receive with thanksgiving the good things God gives here and now (1 Timothy 4:1-5).</i><br />
<br />
<i>The first approach is the unbelief of visceral idolatry. The second
approach is the unbelief of pious negativism. The third approach is
wisdom. It is biblical, humane, sustainable.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Have a good day.</i>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-76833671560276762132012-05-12T10:42:00.001-04:002012-05-12T10:42:47.343-04:00Resource on HomosexualitySince homosexuality is in the news this week, I thought would be good to highlight <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/05/10/some-seminars-on-homosexuality-change-and-the-gospel/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29&utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">this post</a> from Justin Taylor, in which he links to some resources to help Christians address the topic. <br />
<br />
I especially appreciated the videos from Matt Chandler. I remember watching these a couple of years ago, and I resonated with both the content and the spirit of the teaching.<br />
<br />
In the first video below Chandler begins by tracing the biblical
storyline. In the second video, he gives some basic responses to several
street-level objections, like:<br />
<br />
1. If you’re not hurting anyone else, what’s wrong with it?<br />
2. Since you’re a sinner, too, who are you to call out others?<br />
3. Jesus didn’t say anything about homosexuality.<br />
4. Some animals have same-sex relations, so if it’s in nature it must natural.<br />
5. The homosexuality condemned by Paul is a different type of homosexuality than we see today.<br />
6. Revisionist arguments from modern scholarship.<br />
<br />
He also talks about the way in which he seeks to engage in dialogue with homosexuals in a gospel-centered way.<br />
<br />
In the third video he fields questions via text message—e.g., on how
parents should handle their adult kids who are gay with partners coming
to visit.<br />
<br />
I didn't see a way to embed the videos into this post, so you'll have to click through to Justin's site and watch the videos there. <br />
<br />Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-64484792396070510892012-05-09T09:24:00.001-04:002012-05-09T09:24:10.181-04:00Ian and Larissa's Awesome GodIf you read any other Christian blog besides this one, you've probably seen this by now. Nevertheless, it's worth posting, because this video, like Ian and Larissa's God, is awesome:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/38033654?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-27671956240088680842012-05-07T10:14:00.001-04:002012-05-07T10:15:08.787-04:00"You're Intolerant"If you've ever heard that criticism, or some form of it, in sharing your beliefs about the exclusivity of Christ, here's a good primer on how to respond to that:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QSMcheh4KI4" width="560"></iframe>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-29044467655814005442012-05-07T08:39:00.001-04:002012-05-07T08:39:41.597-04:00Questions for Sermon PreparationIn the beginning of my sermon yesterday, I mentioned a list of questions that I work through with each passage to help me think through the text from a number of different angles. I had a couple of people ask me for the list, so here they are:<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
What does the text tell me about God?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
What does the text tell me about mankind (examples to follow/avoid, commands to
obey, promises to believe)?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
What key truth(s) is the author communicating in this text?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4.
Where do our lives fail to conform to these key truths?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, what areas of unbelief does
the text expose or confront?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">5.
How does the text point to, deepen our understanding of, or flow from the
gospel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does Jesus' work on the
cross come to bear on the text?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">6.
How would our lives be different if the key truth(s) became explosively alive
in our innermost being?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">7.
How does the text address the unbeliever?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How does it touch on unbelievers' common objections or difficulties with
Christianity?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">8.
Why has God brought this text to us this week?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">9. What
are the missional implications of this text?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">10.
How does the text impact our corporate lives together as the church?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">11.
What aspects of the text highlight areas in which our church flourishing or
excelling?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">12.
What other texts illuminate, expand on, or cross-reference this text?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">13.
What questions will the congregation have about this text upon the initial
reading of the text?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">14.
Summarize the text's meaning in a sentence</span></div>Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617484729830304927.post-65693308032577858292012-05-05T20:27:00.003-04:002012-05-05T20:27:38.704-04:00Not Of...But Sent Into<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PCr34T-5EJc/T6XFLw6H33I/AAAAAAAABUQ/sNrHdiGS_9I/s1600/sent.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PCr34T-5EJc/T6XFLw6H33I/AAAAAAAABUQ/sNrHdiGS_9I/s400/sent.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I've posted this before, but was reminded of it this week as I prepared to preach on Luke 5:27-32. David Mathis writes:<br />
<br />
<i>“<em>In</em>. . . but not <em>of</em>” — are you familiar with this
popular phrase? It captures a truth about Jesus’ followers. We are “in”
this world, but not “of” it. </i><br />
<br />
<i>“<em>In</em>. . . but not <em>of</em>.” Yes, yes, of course.</i><br />
<br />
<i>But might this pithy slogan give the wrong impression about our
(co)mission in this world as Christians? You see, the motto seems to
give the drift, <em>We are in this world, alas, but we need to make sure that we’re not of it</em>. In this scheme, the starting place is our unfortunate condition of being “in” this world. <em>Sigh</em>.
And our mission, it appears, is to not be “of” it. The force is moving
away from the world. “Shucks, we’re frustratingly stuck <em>in</em> this ole world, but let’s marshal our best energies to not be <em>of</em> it.” It’s an emphasis that’s sometimes needed.</i><br />
<br />
<i>But we’d do well to run stuff like this through biblical texts. And
on this one in particular, we do well to turn to John 17, where Jesus is
using these “in” and “not of” categories. So what’s Jesus’ sentiment on
the whole thing?</i><br />
<br />
Read the rest <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/getting-the-accent-right-not-of-but-sent-into" target="_blank">here</a>.Larry Lazarushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758221565157522047noreply@blogger.com0