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Archive for May, 2010

Best Blogs Digest - May 2010

Monday, May 31st, 2010

By Greg Gibson

Six-Word, Evangelism Opener
“Over and over I’ve seen one simple question open people’s hearts to hear the gospel. Until I asked this question, they showed no interest in spiritual matters. But then after six words-only seventeen letters in English-I’ve seen people suddenly begin to weep and their resistance fall. The question is, “How can I pray for you?” Six Words as an Opener to the Gospel by Don Whitney

Four-Point, Evangelism Outline
“Everyone has their own version of the ‘gospel’ story:

    1. Creation – who I am or who I should be
    2. Fall – what’s wrong with me and the world
    3. Redemption – what’s the solution
    4. Consummation – what I hope for”

(GG: If you need an outline for Christ’s redemption, try 2 M’s + 6 R’s:
Messiah, miracles, righteous, Redeemer, risen, reigning, returning, and repent.) Everyone Has a Gospel Story) by Tim Chester

Imperatives - Indicatives = Impossibilities
“The dominant mode of evangelical preaching on sanctification, the main way to motivate for godly living, sounds something like this:

    You are not _____;
    You should be _________;
    Therefore, do or be ________!

Fill in the blank with anything good and biblical (holy; salt and light; feed the poor; walk humbly; give generously; etc.).” (GG: To preserve balance, see the helpful comments by Andrew Faris and Andy Naselli.) Imperatives - Indicatives = Impossibilities by Justin Taylor

Living in Constant Guilt?
“I’m convinced most serious Christians live their lives with an almost constant low-level sense of guilt. How do we feel guilty? Let me count the ways.

    We could pray more.
    We aren’t bold enough in evangelism.
    We like sports too much.
    We watch movies and television too often.
    Our quiet times are too short or too sporadic.
    We don’t give enough.
    We bought a new couch.
    We don’t read to our kids enough.
    Our kids eat Cheetos and french fries.
    We don’t recycle enough.
    We need to lost 20 pounds.
    We could use our time better.
    We could live some place harder or in something smaller.”

Are Christians Meant to Feel Guilty All the Time? by Kevin DeYoung

Christ-Centered Preaching: A 2nd-Century Example
In the 2nd century, Bishop Mileto of Sardis preached, “This is he who made the heavens and the earth, and formed humanity in the beginning, who is announced by the Law and the Prophets…” This Is He by Trevin Wax

Jonah’s Sectarianism vs. God’s Gracious Heart
“We can’t escape a stark contrast in this story—the tribal mindset of Jonah versus the missional mindset of God…A tribal mindset is antithetical to the gospel. The gospel demands that we be missional, because the gospel is the story of God sacrificing himself for his enemies. Both these approaches are robustly present in Jonah’s story. Jonah represents the best of a tribal mindset, the absolute best. He’s like the trophy for the tribal person. And God—ever-gracious, ever-pursuing, ever-compassionate—serves as the trophy for the mission-minded. Jonah runs from his enemies; God runs toward his enemies. Jonah serves himself; God serves the world.” Are You Tribal or Missional? by Trevin Wax

Giving: Tithing, Guilt, or Generosity?
“He begins by identifying two different extremes that Christians often hold with regard to possessions. Either: 1. God wants you to give 10%, and after that you can do whatever you want with your money. 2. Whatever you give, you should be giving more.” The Generosity Matrix by J.D. Greear

How to Write an Awful Worship Song
The top-7 tips…

    3. Be Vague About Your Theology.
    4. Make the Song All About You.

How to Write an Awful Worship Song by Stephen Altrogge

Fruitless: Fifty Years of Christian, Political Activism
“Over the past 50 years, conservatives have spent tens of billions of dollars lobbying, trying to elect candidates, trying to organize in various ways…And what has it gained? Are we any better off…What have all those conservatives and libertarians done with those billions of dollars that has shown any improvement in the political or the moral climate of the country? Now, if that money had been put into the preaching of the gospel…perhaps there would be something completely different to show for it…And I learned a very good lesson on Capitol Hill – that what happens there is of little consequence. That if one is interested in changing society, you don’t go to Capitol Hill, you preach the gospel. If anybody is operating under the illusion that political action is going to make a significant change in society apart from a sea change in the beliefs in the American people, then they’re condemned to futility. They will waste their lives.” (GG: Spend more of your time and money evangelizing than politicizing, changing hearts than changing laws, and working for the kingdom that is eternal rather than temporary.) Co-Belligerency by John Thomson

193 Scientists Who Believe in Creation
Biologists, Chemists, Geologists, Physicists, etc. Some modern scientists who have accepted the biblical account of creation by Answers in Genesis

C.S. Lewis: Not a Christian Leader
“A recent article in Christianity Today admits, ‘Though he shared basic Christian beliefs with evangelicals, he didn’t subscribe to biblical inerrancy or penal substitution. He believed in purgatory and baptismal regeneration.’” C.S. Lewis by Gary Gilley

Should a Calvinist Marry a Pentecostal?
“If you’ve counted the costs laid out above, if you’re able to receive one another in the gospel, if you’re able to be unified in your church life and your child-rearing, if Aimee’s willing to follow cheerfully, if Calvin’s willing to lead self-sacrificially, then I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Should We Marry if We’re Theologically Divided? by Russell Moore

13-Year Old Divorced 5 Times
Date and divorce, marry and divorce. Date, Divorce, Date, Divorce, Date, Divorce, Marry, Divorce, Marry. - 5.0 by Rick Thomas

Joel Osteen or Fortune Cookies: Guess These Quotes?
“I thought ‘This fortune sounds like something Joel Osteen would say.’ And then it struck me–there is very little difference between Joel and those fortune cookies (except that the cookies are delicious, of course). And now, to prove it, I will give you these twelve quotes. You tell me which are from the fortune cookies and which are from Joel Osteen.” Joel Osteen or Fortune Cookies by Tim Challies

Edited 6/01/10

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Best Blogs Digest - April 2010

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

By Greg Gibson

Did Jesus Preach Justification by Grace Alone Through Faith Alone?
“I would use the title “Did Jesus Preach Paul’s Gospel?”—the gospel of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, on the basis of Christ’s blood and righteousness alone, for the glory of God alone…there is the suspicion (or even conviction) that justification by faith alone is part of Paul’s gospel, but not part of Jesus’ gospel…When we start reading one of the Gospels, we already know how it ends—the death and resurrection of Jesus as a substitute for our sins (Mark 10:45; Matthew 26:28)—and we should have that ending in mind with every verse that we read.” Did Jesus Preach the Gospel of Evangelicalism? by John Piper

55 Things the Gospel Isn’t
“Here are ways we often miss the center of the Gospel. Note that these may, or may be not wrong concepts; most have truth in them, and are good things. But they are not the “center” of the Gospel. They can misguide the believer when they are taught as the center, taught as the focus, taught as the key, or become the emphasis of our teaching, because they draw attention from the true center which is person and work of Christ…The Gospel Center is Jesus’ person, work on the cross for forgiveness of sins, and his resurrected triumph over death. From that center we understand the fuller work of the triumphant Christ, from his perfect life to his enthronement and return.” 55 Things the Gospel Isn’t by Jeff Louie

Theistic Evolution vs. Christ’s Virgin Birth, Miracles, and Resurrection?
“Lastly, I am astonished by the naivete of these scholars. Do they think they can restrict the hegemony of science over Scripture to the realm of creation issues? What will science make of the virgin birth, the miracles of Jesus, and the resurrection? The 20th Century gives us the answer. Moreover, do they think they can avoid worldly scorn merely by jettisoning biblical creation, while still holding to even more obnoxious doctrines like substitutionary atonement? The hermeneutics behind theistic evolution are a Trojan horse that, once inside our gates, must cause the entire fortress of Christian belief to fall under the humanistic sword.” (GG: It’s hard to believe that God evolved the old “creation,” but created the new creation.) Theistic Evolution: A Hermeneutical Trojan Horse by Rick Phillips

Pediatricians: Homosexuality Not Genetic or Unchangable
The American College of Pediatricians: “There is no scientific evidence that anyone is born gay or transgendered. Therefore, the College further advises that schools should not teach or imply to students that homosexual attraction is innate, always life-long and unchangeable. Research has shown that therapy to restore heterosexual attraction can be effective for many people…

Dr. Francis Collins, former Director of the Genome Project, has stated that while homosexuality may be genetically influenced, it is “… not hardwired by DNA, and that whatever genes are involved represent predispositions, not predeterminations. He also states [that] “…the prominent role[s] of individual free will choices [has] a profound effect on us.

The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) recently released a landmark survey and analysis of 125 years of scientific studies and clinical experience dealing with homosexuality. This report, What Research Shows, draws three major conclusions:
(1) individuals with unwanted same sex attraction often can be successfully treated;
(2) there is no undue risk to patients from embarking on such therapy and
(3), as a group, homosexuals experience significantly higher levels of mental and physical health problems compared to heterosexuals. Among adolescents who claim a “gay” identity, the health risks include higher rates of sexually transmitted infections, alcoholism, substance abuse, anxiety, depression and suicide.”

(GG: My wife and I know 4 children who formerly acted gay. But my wife exhorted them, and they changed. We’ve also observed that adult, gay males act more feminine than females. They have to practice acting feminine because it is unnatural to them.) American College of Pediatricians: Homosexual Attraction is Neither Innate Nor Unchangeableby Kevin DeYoung

Family Worship Resources Bibliography
Teach your family to worship the Lord with this huge list of articles, sermons, books, and websites. Creating a Family Worship Time (A Compilation of Resources) by IBC Parents (HT:JG)

How to Pray for Revival in Your Church
“You can pray that God would move in way that results in:
* hundreds of people coming to Christ,
* old animosities being removed,
* marriages being reconciled and renewed,
* wayward children coming home,
* long-standing slavery to sin being conquered,
* spiritual dullness being replaced by vibrant joy,
* weak faith being replaced by bold witness,
* disinterest in prayer being replaced by fervent intercession,
* boring Bible reading being replaced by passion for the Word,
* disinterest in global missions being replaced by energy for Christ’s name among the nations, and
* lukewarm worship being replaced by zeal for the greatness of God’s glory.” Pray for an Awakening in Your Church by Justin Taylor

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