Today in Blogworld 08.28.13

Mike Leake

18 Sermon See-Saws

If you don’t think preaching is a daunting task consider these 18 see-saws that a preacher is constantly riding.

Cigar Smoke and Mirrors and Transformation

There is so much wisdom in this post by Carl Trueman. “It is time to look again at the New Testament’s teaching on the church as a sojourning people where here we have no lasting home.”

People Aren’t Following You Because You Aren’t Being Clear

Dare to be clear.

Don’t Waste Your Waiting

Great advice for singles. Wish I had this when I was waiting.

Count me as impressed:

Pray For Your Wife: 31 Day Challenge—Day Twenty-Seven

Mike Leake 3 Comments

Day Twenty-Seven: that He would keep her from falling

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. –Jude 1:24-25

If your wife is in Christ this pray absolutely will be answered. The glorious, majestic God that reigns in all authority for all of eternity has determined to save and secure your wife for Himself. He will keep her from stumbling, and he will present her blameless before His presence. So let us celebrate God’s provision for our wives. He will do this in “great joy”. May we respond to this truth with great joy as well. Brothers, as we strive to be faithful to God in the way that we care for our wives, let us also remember that One far more mighty than us is determined to keep her from falling.

Lord, thank you that you hold my wife up. You have purposed to keep her from stumbling and one day you will present her holy and blameless before you. Help me to see her today in light of who she will be tomorrow. Help me to rest in your care for her—knowing that You will keep her. All the glory and honor for my wife’s salvation is yours and yours alone. Thank you, Father, for your passion for my wife’s heart. Amen.

A Shocking Secret Exposed

Mike Leake

I’m about to expose a massive secret. You will never be the same after having this knowledge. I offer it free of charge but I’ve warned you—you’ll never be the same. Are you ready for it?

Wait…

First you should hide yo’ kids and hide yo’ wife.

Ready?

Here it is: Burger King doesn’t love you.

I know that BK lets you “Have It Your Way”. And I know that this makes you feel really loved and valued as an individual. You don’t have to conform to the Burger King, he conforms to you. That’s because you’re awesome and he recognizes how awesome and unique you are.

You want the Burger King to make you a slushy out of leftover fry grease? He’ll do it if that’s the way you want it. Hold the lettuce and tomato and replace it with lard straight off the pig, the King doesn’t care. Have it your way. He’ll give you anything that you want…

But he doesn’t love you.

And neither does the Burger-King Jesus that you’ve invented. You know, the Jesus that bends to your whims and desires—because that’s just what he does. Poor guy can’t help himself. He’s smitten for you. Just tell him what you want and he will make it happen.

(Read this paragraph in your Budweiser: Real Men of Genius voice)

You want to leave your spouse because she isn’t making you happy? That’s cool with Burger-King Jesus. Have it your way. You don’t like reading your Bible or going to church or covenanting with a group of blood-bought believers? That’s alright with BK Jesus. Have it your way…he’ll adjust to you.

Listen, if such a Jesus existed he’d be a sign of damnation and not of love. “Have It Your Way” is what happens in Romans 1:24 when God says that “He gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity”. You don’t want God giving you over to your desires. That’s the not cool in Romans 1. That is God pouring out His wrath, not His love.

You and I need a different Jesus. A Jesus that loves us enough to tell us no. A Jesus that doesn’t give us over to the whims of a fallen heart and mind—but instead a Jesus that transforms us and gives us His holy heart and mind. That’s the Jesus that you and I need.

Today in Blogworld 08.27.13

Mike Leake

7 Hints for Pastors Who Blog

Thom Rainer gives us blogging pastors seven helpful tips.

When You Pray With Your Children, You Are Teaching Your Children to Pray

“But now I know this is not a time to fulfill a duty or cross something off my list. When I pray with my children, I am teaching my children to pray.” Solid words from Challies.

What Is the Unforgivable Sin?

I’m grateful to now have this article to point people to. I get this question frequently.

5 Back-to-School Basics

It’s that time of year again. These are 5 truths that will help students.

I actually laughed out loud a couple times: