Today in Blogworld 09.08.15

Mike Leake

The Mark of Christianity That is Disappearing From Our Worship

I agree with Trevin. Now to think about how to begin incorporating this into our gatherings.

My Goal in Every Conversation with Mormons

I think this could be extended with any evangelistic conversation, but I think its helpful to have this simple goal in conversations with Mormons. Just because they come to try to convert us in a visit or two doesn’t mean it should be our expectation to change their mind in a visit or two.

A Dangerous Posting

I too was disappointed in Paul Tripp’s (now removed) comment on the dissolved marriage of Tullian Tchvidjian.

How Making Time for Books Made Me Feel Less Busy

Interesting.

This is amazing…and also likely makes every busy mom feel terrible about not even making Mickey Mouse looking pancakes:

Don’t Move the Fence

Mike Leake 2 Comments

I apologize for my unannounced weeklong hiatus. I was able to go to the For the Church Conference in Kansas City. Since being a pastor comes before being a blogger, the blog had to take a back seat. But I think we can get back on a regular schedule now.

Speaking of For the Church, they recently posted an article I wrote for them. Here’s the intro, click through for the full article:

G.K. Chesterton once said:

In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.

In other words, it isn’t wise to go about moving fences unless you realize why that fence was there in the first place.

I was reminded of this quote the other day while doing sermon preparation. The last sermon I preached stopped at Mark 3:6 and, as is my custom, I knew I’d pick up in Mark 3:7. But I was not sure how far I should go. What was the appropriate textual unit? I wondered if I should stop somewhere around verse 22 before I picked up that section on blasphemy of the Spirit. But then verses 31-35 seemed to just hang there. These were obviously connected with 3:20-21, so maybe I should preach from Mark 3:7-35.

Then I had a brilliant idea. I’d skip verses 22-30 and pick that section up next week and do a whole new sermon centered upon blasphemy of the Spirit. It was a great idea, until I remembered the Chesterton quote. I had to admit I really hadn’t wrestled with why Mark put verses 22-30 where he did. And so, if I was going to “move the fence” and skip those verses I figured I had better do a little more digging.

Keep reading…

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Photo source: here

Today in Blogworld 09.07.15

Mike Leake

10 Descriptors of Bad Teachers and Bad Leaders

I like the list. I don’t like that I’m occasionally on this list.

Darwin’s Theory Doesn’t Work in the Church

Oh, that we really embraced this.

The Shrug That Scares Me to Death

Agreed.

Cultivate a Gracious Climate in Your Church

I’m realizing more and more how much influence a pastor has on influencing the climate in the church. I pray that the Lord uses me to cultivate a climate of grace.

I’m pretty sure I did the same thing the first time I saw a doorstop:

The Carnival of the Macabre

Nick Horton

Just down the highway from my home a gunman murdered a reporter and a cameraman on live TV yesterday. Not only did he murder them live on air, he filmed himself doing it and posted it to social media. This murderer took his moment of infamy to complain he wasn’t treated well at work while running from the police. 15 minutes from my house the police identified his car and while pursuing him, the murderous coward committed suicide.

In the pain strewn wake of these events, while the bodies of the slain were not yet cold, politicians took to the airwaves to use the event to further their political talking points. “We need more gun control.” “We need more mental health services.” “We need more…” In every case the solutions offered do not address the core issue of what happened. Every time these heinous events occur, politicians whiff at addressing the real issue involved. Controlling behavior doesn’t fix a person.

The nation will argue and debate today and in the coming weeks over why this happened. Newspapers are putting still images of from the murder on their front page to attract viewers to their carnival of the macabre. They’re showing they have no objectivity but instead desire more readers to sell advertising. Talking heads will argue the same partisan talking points. They’ll show outrage and fear, and maybe they’ll actually feel it.

The nation will not mourn its present state. We shrug at death and move on to the next thing to medicate us with happiness. Sure, conversations about why things are falling apart occur, yet I have as many conversations with people who don’t feel that way and give a shrug at current events as they mentally move on.

The problem with us is that we’re evil.

The problem with our nation is that we’re evil.

The murderer yesterday did what he did because he’s evil.

Unless and until we come face to face with these facts, we will continue to pour water on a grease fire. Our nation, our people, our friends and coworkers, the average person on the street, needs the Gospel. Behavior modification and conformity only works for so long before the nature of mankind rebels and does what it desires to do. We cannot change hearts and minds. Jesus can. Jesus does.

This is not an either/or proposition of the Gospel or the common graces of law, medical care, and mental health. This is calling sin what it is, evil, and restating there is only one remedy for sin, Jesus Christ.

Do you want to see everything change? Do you want to see a tangible difference in your community? Share the gospel. With people. Use words. God will regenerate hearts and bring people out of darkness into his marvelous light. God will bring the only renewal and revival that lasts. God will take our broken vessels and mend them for his glory.

Do you believe it? Do you really believe he can do that?

Friends, let’s start living like it. You have the only hope of the world. You have eternal joy in Jesus Christ. You have it. It’s time to share it.