Mar 13 2012
Uncategorized

the gospel shapes the home

this gospel calls us to a new way of living that makes the gospel known to others.
Paul describes this life in the context of the church community- and then applies it directly to the home.

the summary of this life is found in v.17- ‘and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’

everywhere and in everything.  all that we do, is to point to Christ’s rule and the grace that is ours in the gospel.

a question was asked this sunday that bears great weight:
in light of the application of Christ’s rule in my home,
‘where am i making my home more about me and less about Jesus?’

may our homes proclaim the glory of the gospel- as we model jesus in our relationships, pursuing peace, repentance, and reconciliation through faith in the gospel of grace. 

COLOSSIANS 3.  

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Feb 28 2012
ourPurpose

Under Christ’s Rule, Known for Christ’s Love

we have so many different pictures of what it means to be the church.  so many different ideas about what the church is.

colossians 3 paints a beautiful picture for us to follow.  the church is a people, saved by God, living in light of Christ’s victory and Christ’s reign, seeking to make Christ’s rule visible throughout the earth.
this past sunday, we walked through Col. 3:9-17.

as a community, it is our desire to live in light of Christ’s reign (v.17): that every act, attitude and word would reflect Christ’s Lordship and proclaim His work in defeating sin, reuniting sinners with God, and securing for them God’s vision for their complete transformation.

we are to live out this devotion in Love.  (v.14)

i know, LOVE is one of those terms we throw around frequently with little meaning attached.

but the love that the scripture is referring to is so radical and so extreme that it overthrows everything that divides and results in a community that values and loves each other equally.  (v.11)

a community that is known for this kind of love
must be so obsessed with Christ’s victory and work (v.1),
so overwhelmed with God’s vision of transformation for each believer (v.10),
so committed to the ‘new identity’ that Christ accomplished for those of faith (v.3-4/10),
that it earnestly pushes through all forms of segregation, finding its greatest commonality
in the life and work of Jesus Christ.

may our prayer be, Oh great and glorious God,
send your people to make Christ’s victory known
as you shape your church, a community under Christ rule, characterized by Christ’s love.

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Feb 21 2012
theGospel

Living in Light of a Glorious Reveal

i can still remember the musty smell of the carpet of an old catholic church in Philadelphia.  it was the winter of my senior year of high school.  i was face down on the floor, sobbing.

i guess finding yourself facedown in tears would standout in anyone’s story- but truth be told, it was a fairly regular occurrence in my teen years.   as i reflect through the mental images of the 90s, i find myself sobbing on the floor of the sanctuary on a near-weekly basis.  no, it wasn’t out of a gut-wrenching burden or an overwhelming compassion- but a deep rooted sense of failure.

‘living the christian life’ was exhausting.

perhaps this is why Paul goes to great lengths to remind the colossian believers of their ‘hidden’ identity in Christ Jesus.
“If then, you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where
Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with
Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear
with him in glory.”  col. 3:1-3

As Paul talks about how we live the christian life, he roots it in our new identity in Christ.  for all who trust in Him, have been identified in is death, burial and resurrection.  we have been justified- made right, saved- made alive, declared righteous and made new.

in Christ, we have a new identity.  all who were once dead in sin have now died to sin.  sin no longer holds sway- no longer masters- no longer enslaves.  those who live by faith, now live in the new reality of Christ’s resurrection.  we live in light of christ’s triumphant work over sin and death, over our great debt and greatest failures.

our hidden identity, is that which is being kept by God for the glorious reveal- the day when the people of God will be presented perfect in Christ.  all who believe, have been made new, restored, redeemed and reborn.  the identity which is ours has not yet been revealed- it is being kept- kept for the great reveal- that at the coming of Christ, those who are His will be displayed gloriously.

let us not grow weary of our daily failures but let us remember that God has a greater vision for our lives- that in Christ, God already sees us victorious, pure and perfect.  today, God’s great work is to make us practically the way that He sees us.  He is restoring every aspect of who we are and one day He will make our true identity known.

‘beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see him as He is.’ 1 John 3:2

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Jan 23 2012
Update on Plant

GATHERING around the GOSPEL [an update]

i know, it has been a while since i posted on this site.  it would be impossible for me to give you a clear picture of all that the Lord has done for us over the last 10 weeks within the confines of a single blog post.  so, i’m going to break it up into small bites.

lets begin with the Lord’s faithfulness in drawing people to His vision.

for those of you who have followed our journey, you know that we are planting  a new church in the over-churched, under-gospeled culture of the southeast.  to be faithful to the great commission, we are seeking to launch slowly.  it is our desire to see God shape a culture that passionately seeks to see the gospel restore all things, beginning with ourselves and spreading to our neighbors and the nations.

our first step is to begin meeting with a few believers.  to submit to the scripture, to love one another, to pursue christ-likeness and to reach out to our neighbors.  in just 10 short weeks, the Lord has brought to us 18 adults who feel called to explore with us and shape a community that will pursue Christ and make Him known.  As of 2 weeks ago, we are now meeting twice a week- corporately on Sunday and in small community during the week.  It is our prayer that we would be formed by the Word and that it would inform how we live.

 

Please join me in praying that God will unite us around the gospel truth, that it will take root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives (Col. 1:4-6).

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Dec 05 2011
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theGospel

Our Great Need for Hope

i must say, the past 3 weeks have been a whirlwind of activity- full of tremendous blessing and difficult trials.

over the last week i have been studying Paul’s letter to the Colossians. in his opening prayer he says of them:

‘we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints . . .’ [Col. 1:4]

over the last 3 weeks i have prayed often for a greater faith in trusting God and also for a greater affection others. i find that both my faith and love seem to run dry too quickly. as though the well of my soul is too shallow.

it is because of this drain that the Word of God was so encouraging. Paul goes on to identify in v.5 the source of the this faith and love, ‘the faith and love the Spring from HOPE.’ what Hope, i ask. perhaps, if this hope is a deep well, then the faith and love that spring from it can be full and rich.

and the Spirit reminds us via the Apostle Paul of the source of this hope. . . it is none other than the GOSPEL. (v.5-6)

it is a hope that is eternal, stored up in Heaven, kept by God for those caught up in the person of Christ as revealed in the Good News of the gospel of Christ. (v.5)

oh great God, may my prayer always be, ‘overwhelm me by the Gospel of Christ.’

May the promises that find their root in the work and person of Christ lead me to an understanding of such great hope that the overflowing work produced within results in rich and eternal faith in Christ Jesus and a great love for others.

if you find yourself in my place- tired, stretched, and running dry, focus first on the gospel truth and let it motivate you towards Hope and produce such fruit in your life.

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Nov 20 2011
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Steps to a New Church

Week 1: an update

it has been 8 days since we loaded the truck and made the 7 hour drive to cherokee county, GA.

we rejoice in God’s provision!  we were so blessed by so many who helped pack, transport and unpack.  It was a long Saturday of loading and driving.  3 vehicles, 1 large trailer, 400 miles, multiple mountains and only 1 flat tire.

the first 4 days in GA were blessed but a blur.  Abby Grace was a champ- she was very flexible and is still on a sleeping schedule [praise God].  by Day 3 we jumped through all the gov’t hoops and picked up our drivers license, license plat and the keys to the church’s PO BOX.

by God’s grace, waiting for us at the post office were our first 2 support checks!  God is so gracious.  the two checks covered our first 3 bills post Louisville- including our mortgage and health insurance.  I’m praying for faith enough to trust God with our daily bread but also for grace enough to be able to budget a little farther ahead.

on day 5 i met with Alan Morris from the GA Baptist Convention and talk about partnership possibilities for the church plant.  I love his heart and enthusiasm for the Kingdom of God and his desire to see churches planted in North Metro ATL.

thursday afternoon was a 4 hour coffee conversation with Scott Hollis about the church’s next steps.  I love the Hollis family!

by day 5 we were finally in a routine and out of boxes (well, the few that we didn’t store).  We made the most of this day and then packed our luggage, Emily’s car and drove 15 hours to TX for thanksgiving with the family.

granted week one was a blur.  but each day was filled with reminders of God’s faithfulness and of God’s provision.

 

 

[click here] to join the prayer team

[click here] to support the plant

 

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Oct 28 2011
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ourPurpose

Prayer and the Promise of God

emily and i have been reading through Nehemiah: what a blessing in preparation of the ministry that is laid out before us.

when Nehemiah receives word of the hopeless state of God’s people, the Scripture says he wept, fasted, and prayed for days before the Lord.

there is much to be said about the richness of this prayer.

yet, in many ways, Nehemiah’s prayer seems so foreign to me.  Nehemiah never asks a question.  He never asks God, ‘Lord, what are You calling me to do? make Your will clear to me, do i need to go to jerusalem?  do i need to get into the construction business?’

what is recorded is a prayer of praise [of God's majesty and faithfulness], confession [of the sins of the people of God] and remembrance [of God's promise to redeem His people for the sake of His glory].

in essence, Nehemiah’s prayer is:
Oh Great and Glorious God, glorify Your Name among the earth by redeeming a people for Yourself.  Be faithful to the promise of Your faithfulness.

Nehemiah’s prayer was rooted in the promise of God’s glory.  the request that follows is that God would be glorified by providing for the vision to rebuild the place where His glory will shine before the world.

as we prepare to move to Woodstock and begin the work of gospel ministry, our prayer is:
Oh Great and Glorious God, glorify Your name among the earth by redeeming a people for Yourself.  Be faithful to the promise of You faithfulness.

We are stepping into His story of redemption, His plan to advance His kingdom, His strategy to proclaim His grace and glory in the gospel of Christ Jesus.  We can be confident in praying that God will be glorified to advance the gospel- because His promise and faithfulness are sure and certain.

To join us in praying for God’s glory in redeeming a people and restoring a city through the Gospel of Grace, [click here].

Oct 24 2011
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theNEED, whyPLANT

Flapjacks and Church Planting

​Last Sunday we stepped away from life and ministry at Hursbtourne. In great need of rest, Emily, Abby Grace and I loaded up the car and drove to the Smokies. I love seeing the mountains. The only thing more constant and visible than the beauty of the Smokies are the Pancake Diners that litter the Gatlinburg area.

​It seems that it is not meat, beer or chocolate that people crave in East TN, but flapjacks. Honestly, I get a little irritated when I’m driving past the t-shirt shops, dinner shows and flapjack diners to get into the national forest. With the hundreds of sideshows, outlet stores and buffets, I wonder how many people stop and settle for the attractions without ever reaching the forest. It seems the need to be entertained is much more prevalent than the desire to be overwhelmed by the grandeur of our Creator’s handiwork.

​About every other day someone asks me why I’m planting a church in GA. Perhaps there are as many churches in GA as Pankcake Diners in Gatlinburg. But don’t be deceived, Pankcake Diners don’t persuade people to drive to the mountains and even if they did, the church is not a christian attraction.
​We are not seeking to build some sideshow that entertains but to plant a community of believers who live their lives for the glory of God. We are on mission to turn every eye, ear and heart towards the majesty of our Creator and His triumphant work to redeem, restore, and sanctify those who trust in Christ.
​
Millions of people, hiding in the shadows of the steeples of GA, have decided never to darken the door of the church. In 2020, an estimated 10.5million GA residents will live life completely segregated from the church. That is a number much greater than the entire population of the state in 1990 (6.4mil) and more than the population of the state today (9.6mil). With stats like these, flapjack makers would flock to build more diners.
​
I desire to see 100s of new churches planted in GA, joining 1000s of congregations all partnering together to point all people toward the majesty of our Savior. God is at work expanding His kingdom and making His glory known. The harvest field is vast. More workers are needed. Regardless of where God is calling you to minister, please pray for the work being done among this over-churched, under-gospeled culture.

As you pray, remember we are not drawing people to ourselves but pointing them toward the glory of the one who draws. May your life attract people to God and not distract them from Him.

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Oct 03 2011
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theGospel

Making Christ Known

i must admit, lately i have been overwhelmed with an ever increasing, abounding, never-ending to do list.

as i bear witness to God’s movement and begin to struggle with what it means to shepherd a church, disciple all and mature leaders. . . i have so many questions.  ’what do i need to teach the first 6 months?’  how can we articulate faithfully our values and beliefs?’  ’what are the first steps in compiling a “curriculum” for the core team?’  in the midst of my drowning, Luke reminded me of a very fundamental and blessed truth:

“We proclaim Him.”

this profound statement immediately convicted my anxiousness and calmed my heart.  yes, there are still many questions that need be answered- many details to be nailed down.  however, it is not simply a well articulated message that we proclaim, nor is it a clear doctrinal statement, counseling strategy or missional strategy- it is He- Christ the King.  it is not simply a message that we make known, it is a PERSON that we proclaim.  A person to hear about, trust in, know personally and be changed by.

“we proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”  Col. 1:28

Oh Lord, that i might seek to know Christ more fully,His character more deeply, His power, promise, affection, vision, and might more passionately.  May you glorify yourself by drawing us closer to you- and, gazing at the glory of Christ, may we, with unveiled faced, reflect His glory.  (2 Cor. 3:18)

in all our efforts, preparation, articulation, planning and compiling, may we never move from our chief aim, to know Christ and to Make Christ Known.

Sep 28 2011
1 Comment
Uncategorized

the Fame of His Name

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.

“LORD, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.”    Habakkuk 3:1-2

 

it is a blessed truth to remember that the prophets of old spoke as they were carried and prompted by the Spirit of God.  Oh that we may join with God Himself and make this prayer- ‘May your FAME be known in our day.  May the news of your deads spread through our city.  May your Mercy be on display!’

as we pray for the Gospel Work in our nation and around the world, we pray that God’s deeds will be made famous.

for us, He has called us toward this end in the city of Woodstock, GA.  may we, empowered by the Spirit, dependent on Christ Jesus, strive daily to make known His great work- the in Christ, the Work that began in Genesis 3:21 was brought to completion through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  The Work is finished.  the Kingdom freedom now advances.  May all hear of the Grace of God, be drawn to Him and find rest.  May we, the church, make Him famous with our lives, attitudes and speech.

Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
Psalm 96:2

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