Your Mission Field

"If we would obey Jesus, we must go into the world. I've been challenged by the example of other churches to study my local community with the evangelistic intentionality of a missionary. To ask questions like "If I were a missionary to another nation, how would I view my life? What decisions would I make about where I live or how much I need to live on? Where would I spend my time so I could form friendships with unbelieving people? What would I seek to learn about the culture so that I could befriend and clearly communicate the gospel? What are the idols and false gods people are worshiping?

Ask these questions, and then apply them to your current location. The mission field is right in front of you. Imagine how this kind of evangelistic urgency could be used by God to touch your campus, workplace, neighborhood, and community."

from Dug Down Deep
by Joshua Harris

Proper Self-Assesment

"Time and time again throughout the pages of Scripture, believers are referred to as slaves of God and slaves of Christ. In fact, whereas the outside world called them "Christians," the earliest believers repeatedly referred to themselves in the New Testament as the Lord's slaves. For them, the two ideas were synonymous. To be a Christian was to be a slave of Christ.

We don't hear that concept much in churches today. In contemporary Christianity the language is anything but slave terminology. It is about success, health, wealth, prosperity, and the pursuit of happiness. We often hear that God loves people unconditionally and wants them to be all they want to be. He wants to fulfill every desire, hope, and dream. Personal ambition, personal fulfillment, personal gratification—these have all become part of the language of evangelical Christianity—and part of what it means to have a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Instead of teaching the New Testament gospel—where sinners are called to submit to Christ—the contemporary message is exactly the opposite: Jesus is here to fulfill all your wishes. Likening him to a personal assistant or a personal trainer, many churchgoers speak of a personal savior who is eager to do their bidding and help them in their quest for self-satisfaction or individual accomplishment.

The New Testament understanding of the believer's relationship to Christ could not be more opposite. He is the Master and Owner. We are His possession. He is the King, the Lord, and the Son of God. We are His subjects and His subordinates.

In a word, we are His slaves."

from Slave
by John McArthur

McArthur Series on Spiritual Growth

I mentioned this series in class weeks ago, and I'm finally getting around to posting it...if I haven't already posted it. I can't find it, so I'm going to assume that I haven't. I am linking to the written sermons here, but you can also listen online or download the audio versions. They are well worth your time.

Spiritual Growth, Part 1

Spiritual Growth, Part 2

Spiritual Growth, Part 3

Spiritual Growth, Part 4

Self-Diagnosis

Are you proud? Here's a test...
The Fifty Fruits of Pride: A Self-Diagnostic

Delight Yourself in the Lord...

Journal Entry 1-26-11: Snapshot of the First Church

Reading: Exodus 14-16, Acts 2

Scripture
And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. —Acts 2:42

Observations
devoted—zealous or ardent in attachment. loyalty, or affection (dictionary.com)

What were they devoted to?

• Apostles' teaching. For us this would be the Bible.
• Fellowship = spending time together AND sharing material possessions. The word "hospitality" also comes to mind.
• Breaking of bread = Eating meals together. May also include the Lord's Supper.
• Prayers.

Application
This appears quite different from the church today. We are not devoted to the Word and to prayer. We isolate ourselves rather than spending time together, and when we are together we tend to discuss the trivial and the mundane. We accumulate possessions for ourselves rather than helping those in need. John Piper says it is because we do not fear God as the saints in this passage did.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, revive your church to fear You and transform us that we may live as did the early church—devoted to the apostles teaching, fellowship, hospitality, and prayer.

Redirect 1-22-11

Tim Challies writes here about how Biblical submission can look very different from marriage to marriage. Don't miss it!

Journaling isn't just popular in our church right now. If you like notebooks and writing instruments, you will enjoy this article.

If you grew up in the seventies and eighties like I did, you were there when rap music originated. Remember Fantastic Voyage? Here is a wonderful example of the potential for rap music.

Here is a great post on how being online and social media can hinder your walk with God.

John Piper writes a wonderful poem about grieving the Holy Spirit.