C2C

Christmas is not a family holiday. Think about it. The birth of our Savior and King, the advent of the promised Messiah, the incarnation of God’s Son . . . these are not family-centered truths. Jesus did not come to save “the family.” He came to save His people, the Church.

It is a fitting blessing that Christmas falls on the Lord’s Day this year. (Maybe we should move it permanently to Sunday.) What better way to celebrate our hope of salvation than by gathering together as His people and proclaiming His glory and praise? For those who have removed Christ from Christmas, only tradition, family, and sentimentalism form an adequate explanation for participating in the holiday season. But for those redeemed from the eternal flames of Hell, Christmas is not about any of those things. It’s about Jesus.

Other pastors have asked whether FRAC (my congregation) is having a Christmas Day service. My answer is, “Of course!” Worshipping Christ together in His congregation is no intrusion on my “family time.” It is my family time. Christmas celebrates salvation, peace with God, forgiveness, eternal hope, and the lordship of Christ. Where else would I want to be to celebrate those things than with my brothers and sisters in Christ?

Linking does not constitute a wholesale endorsement. Some things are helpful, others interesting, thought-provoking, or worthy of response.

Seth Godin on decision-making

Those who live to make everyone happy or to avoid making anyone upset at them will be paralyzed when real decisions have to be made. Every day, Christians have to choose whether to please Jesus or man. Choose Jesus and celebrate the trade-offs.

Marriage blog makes a painful comparison to our jobs

It’s a challenging question: If your marriage was a job, would you be fired or promoted? And then there’s this: “Some of us wouldn’t be caught dead talking to our boss the way we talk to our spouse.”

Dane Ortlund writes about Trinitarian vs Christ-centeredness

Is it possible to be “too Christ-centered”? Systematic Theology wants us to be preeminently Trinitarian. But the Triune God is unashamedly Christocentric. The Father gave the universe to His Son. The Spirit was sent to glorify the Son. Lovers of God will worship the Son.

John Owen on pondering Christ and thanksgiving

Thanksgiving must be daily, not yearly. And it will be, if we ponder the excellencies of Christ every day.

…fail their congregations and their Lord (not to mention their wives).

If the body of Christ cannot look to the elders for models of something as important as marriage, how can they respect us in anything else? Managing the home well is one of the basic qualifications to lead.

Husbands are called to reflect Christ to their wives. Christ doesn’t abandon, shun, or push us to the corner. His bride is way up on the priority list. And He never makes us wonder if His attention is elsewhere. Pastors, of all people, should be leading the way for other married men. Let’s show our people a Christ-like romance.

And, our wives married men, not ministries. There was no fine print in our wedding vows that releases us from them if we get called to church leadership. Loving, cherishing, and spending time with our wives is not optional. If we cannot do that while serving the body, we should choose her and find a new job.

Pastors and elders, let’s love our wife like Christ loves His.

A couple of weeks ago, I asked ten questions about the Law of Moses. Josh asked if I would answer them. He specifically requested two-sentence responses. I accept that challenge. Here’s the first:

Where does the Bible say that we are free to categorize the Law and dismiss just two-thirds of the categories?

Categorizing the Law of Moses for the purpose of easy reference and examination (a la biblical chapters and verses) is fine. But the Scripture nowhere suggests that there is a distinction between moral, civil, and ceremonial portions of the Law which may be considered or abrogated independently.

It’s week two of Church Leadership, Pastoral Epistles. Last Monday and Tuesday, we went through the entire letters of 1 & 2 Timothy, every verse. Tonight, Titus en toto. It occurred to me how rare it is to cover books of the Bible like this in seminary training. My own experience placed a priority on systematic theology, relegating the NT to a few survey courses. That approach seems inadequate and unwise for a curriculum designed to train men to preach the Scriptures vocationally.

Studying Paul’s instruction to Timothy in one sitting made it clear that the apostle was greatly concerned with false teachers. He warned against men who stirred up controversies and distracted the church from the primacy of Christ and the gospel. Timothy was not urged to teach systematic theology. His charge was to preach the word, i.e. the story of Jesus. Anything else threatened to lead believers into dangerous or tangential territory. Timothy’s task was to keep the main thing the main thing, and to command other teachers in the church to do the same.

Seminary students and graduates need to receive Paul’s instruction. Systematic theology, church history, apologetics, and entertaining stories are no substitute for Christ and Him crucified. It’s the God-approved church and seminary curriculum.

</p> <div> <p>Agitated in Jesus’ Name (Acts 17:16-21)</p> <p><br /></p> <p><br /></p> <p>Overview:</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Paul entered the hub of Greek civilization, the center of culture, art, philosophy, education, and politics. Given such an auspicious audience, he preached the gospel.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>For pondering and discussion:</p> <p><br /></p> <p>In what ways is America like ancient Greek culture? How are the Epicurean and Stoic philosophies still alive and well today?</p> <p>What were the reactions of Paul’s hearers? Describe how people have responded when you have proclaimed Christ to them.</p> <p>Why are people so preoccupied with “news”? What is so special about that which is new?</p> <p>Paul’s response to pagan culture was not political reform, legal reform, or educational reform. He proclaimed Christ. How can we do that today in Colorado Springs?</p> <p>Do you see the idols of Colorado Springs? Are you provoked by the masses of people who do not love and honor your King?</p> <p>Response:</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Open your eyes to the idols of your city, be agitated in Jesus’ name, and preach the gospel.</p> </div>

Overview:

Paul entered the hub of Greek civilization, the center of culture, art, philosophy, education, and politics. Given such an auspicious audience, he preached the gospel.

For Pondering and Discussion

In what ways is America like ancient Greek culture? How are the Epicurean and Stoic philosophies still alive and well today?

What were the reactions of Paul’s hearers? Describe how people have responded when you have proclaimed Christ to them.

Why are people so preoccupied with “news”? What is so special about that which is new?

Paul’s response to pagan culture was not political reform, legal reform, or educational reform. He proclaimed Christ. How can we do that today in Colorado Springs?

Do you see the idols of Colorado Springs? Are you provoked by the masses of people who do not love and honor your King?

Response:

Open your eyes to the idols of your city, be agitated in Jesus’ name, and preach the gospel.

However, whenever Reformed theologians attempt to explore and explain the riches of Scripture, they are always thinking covenantally about every topic they take up. Michael Horton. Introducing Covenant Theology (p. 14). Kindle Edition.

Therein lies the key difference between Reformed theologians (aka Covenant theologians) and New Covenant theologians. We are always thinking Christocentrically about every topic we take up. Why? Because that’s what God tells us to do. He never says, “Moses wrote about the covenant.” It’s,”Moses wrote about Me.”

Throughout our study of Galatians, this question has spurred much discussion, “How is walking by the Spirit different from law keeping?”

Law keeping can be done by both those who belong to Christ and those who do not follow Him. We drive among people who obey the speed limits everyday. The limits bring order and constrain behavior. One may hate the speed limit, be annoyed by drivers keeping the limit, grumble or rage against other drivers, and yet drive lawfully. Other drivers (even police) would observe this obedience to the law and confirm this one as a law keeper.

Walking by the Spirit is demonstrated by what happens on the inside of the car. In contrast, law keeping can happen even though the attitudes and motivations stink. This was said of Jesus, “I delight to do Thy will, O my God; Thy Law is within my heart.” We may distinguish “walking” from “law keeping when our conduct flows from a heart yielded to the control of the Spirit and graced by His fruit.” Walking by His Spirit means that we live by faith in Him and His Word; we listen and obey when His Spirit reminds us of His truths. The way He has called us to love Him is not in soft, happy feelings, but He says, “If you love Me, you will obey me.” We may obey because we have new hearts.

This week we will celebrate a national holiday. We will eat our traditional foods. Some will think about shopping, while others will watch ball games. National law gives us this day to gather and celebrate in whatever manner we choose. We, who walk by the Spirit, will celebrate this day as most Americans do. However, as followers of Christ, we will separate from our fellow citizens and do what only heart-changed people can do. We will think of Him from whom all blessing flow, we will worship Him and thank Him. May we joyfully remember as the Spirit brings to mind all the ways the Lord has providentially worked and may our words of gratitude rise like incense!

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood…1 Peter 2:9

A priest is one with access to God. Under the Old Covenant, it was a privilege the whole nation enjoyed but only the high priest experienced in fullness. But now, in the New Covenant age, every person in the community has full fellowship with God.

This is an incredible reversal of fortune, especially for Gentiles like most of us! Under the Old Covenant, Gentiles could not enter the temple on pain of death. Not just the Holy of Holies, but the entire inner court of the temple was for Jews only. By law, Gentiles were kept outside. But now, we are no longer outsiders. We are…

…no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22

So what changed? Did God rewrite the Law to admit Gentiles? No, He fulfilled it! The ceremonial washing, the blood-soaked offerings, the symbolic rite of circumcision—all these Christ brought to completion through His death and resurrection. He made real what the ceremonies could only picture.

Do you take advantage of this new and incredible privilege? Do you often press through the veil and commune with your God? He has made you a priest. Do not let your backstage pass go unused!

</p> <p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”><strong>Overview:</strong></p> <p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”>Paul preached Christ from the Old Testament. Some of the Jews searched the Scriptures and saw the Truth. Others became jealous and accused Paul of upsetting the world.</p> <p><strong>For pondering and discussion:</strong></p> <p>Paul refused to allow persecution, lies, imprisonment, etc. to slow or discourage his evangelism. What kinds of things do we use as excuses not to preach the gospel? How can we change?</p> <p>Some people believed the gospel, others reacted with hostility. Describe occasions when you have encountered these two reactions?</p> <p>How can we be more like the Bereans? Notice that their nobility was not in merely studying the Bible daily, but in searching to find Christ in the Scripture.</p> <p><strong>Response:</strong></p> <p>Pray for boldness in preaching the gospel (Eph. 6:18-19).</p> <p>Turn someone’s world upside down with the gospel this week. </p> <p>When you read the Old Testament, have as your primary purpose to find the story of Jesus.</p>

Overview:

Paul preached Christ from the Old Testament. Some of the Jews searched the Scriptures and saw the Truth. Others became jealous and accused Paul of upsetting the world.

For pondering and discussion:

Paul refused to allow persecution, lies, imprisonment, etc. to slow or discourage his evangelism. What kinds of things do we use as excuses not to preach the gospel? How can we change?

Some people believed the gospel, others reacted with hostility. Describe occasions when you have encountered these two reactions? 

How can we be more like the Bereans? Notice that their nobility was not in merely studying the Bible daily, but in searching to find Christ in the Scripture. 

Response:

Pray for boldness in preaching the gospel (Eph. 6:18-19).

Turn someone’s world upside down with the gospel this week. 

When you read the Old Testament, have as your primary purpose to find the story of Jesus.