This Week in Blogworld 5/01

Mike Leake 6 Comments

Headlining the news this week (minus the Swine Flu epidemic) is Danny Akin, Johnny Hunt, and other’s championing The Great Commission Resurgence.  A new website has been put up where like-minded believers can sign the “manifesto”.  Tom Ascol explains why he signed it.  Bart Barber explains why he cannot.

Speaking of Swine Flu, Dr. Mohler has some excellent thoughts on Love in a Time of Swine Flu.

The manuscript for Piper’s sermon at the 2009 Children’s DG Conference is now online:  The God-centeredness of God“.  This is also a good read for father’s and mother’s. 

Another phenomenal blog post by Erik Raymond:  How do I make Christ appealing?  Erik is quickly becoming one of my favorite bloggers. 

Also, a favorite blogger of mine is Jared Wilson.  I absolutely love his gospel-centeredness.  “Dude Where’s My Gospel” serves as a reminder of why we must never move away from the gospel.

I was hoping they would make these available and they have.  The workshops from The Gospel Coalition are now available online.  Now all I need is a couple weeks of free time to listen to all of them.  I think I mentioned it last week but if not here it is again:  All the audio and video from the Gospel Coalition is available here. 

Kevin DeYoung discusses church membership with a pastor that believes unbelievers should be able to join a church with a different set of vows. 

Zach Nielsen points us to a very interesting story about an Oakland pastor that chooses jail over a plea bargain. 

Joe Thorn with another “Note to Self”; this time a reminder to LIVE.

Wonderful, Wonderful, discussion on transformation by Bill Mounce.

How can you not love stories of the gospel penetrating hearts:

(HT: Josh)

Keller on The Gospel v. Religion

Mike Leake

I do not simply mean by ‘gospel-centered’ that ministry is to be doctrinally orthodox. Of course it must certainly be that. I am speaking more specifically.

(1) All religions operate on the principle – “I obey–therefore I am accepted by God.” The basic operating principle of the gospel is – “I am accepted by God through Christ–therefore I obey.” Two people living their lives on the basis of these two principles may (do!) sit right beside one another in the pew–and both are strive to obey God’s law, to pray, to give money generously, to be good family members. But they are doing so out of radically different motives, in two radically different spirits, resulting in two radically different personal characters. Since it is easier to understand the difference between the gospel and irreligion, let’s lay out the differences of religion and the gospel.

(2) We must communicate the gospel clearly–not a click toward legalism and not a click toward license. Legalism/moralism is truth without grace (which is not real truth); relativism is grace without truth (which is not real grace). To the degree a ministry fails to do justice to both, it simply loses life-changing power.

(3) I can’t tell you how important this is in all mission and ministry. Unless you distinguish the gospel from both religion and irreligion–from both traditional moralism and liberal relativism–then newcomers in your services will automatically think you are simply calling them to be good and nice people.

From Being the Church in Our Culture

The truth about lying

Mike Leake

The only way Satan can effectively be the Father of lies is by knowing the truth so well.  pantsonfire

Our lives are not so much a quest to gain truth as it is to live by the truth that has been revealed to us.  Our problem is often not that we are unaware of the truth.  Our problem is that we are painfully aware of the truth and we rebelliously reject it.  Lying is not a problem of information it’s a problem of knowing the truth but not liking it.

Idolatry is at the heart of lying.  How more prideful and idolatrous can you be than to stare reality in the face and attempt to reconstruct it with a reality of your own making? 

The only hope we liars have is that the truth of the gospel might penetrate our hearts in such a way that we love reality more than a lie.

Facebook and Twitter for 2 Weeks

Mike Leake

I started yesterday.  For 2 weeks I am going to try to be active on facebook and twitter.  I will see which of these assists in ministry the most.  I will keep one, probably not the other, maybe neither.  So if you are on facebook feel free to add me as a friend if you have not already.  And you can follow me on twitter at @mikeleake

Am I cool now?