Video: "What is the Gospel?"

Here is a video that does a good job of summing up the good news of Jesus Christ. The video was produced by Southern Seminary.  Check it out.

Death by Slow Cooker

"You may be very sure men fall in private long before they fall in public." J. C. Ryle.

Read those words again. They remind us of a brutal reality. Things don't just happen. Moral failure is a slippery slope. Usually, sin begins innocently enough. Many affairs begin with the "simple" exchange of compliments or office gossip. Friendships bud, feelings bloom, and then all of the sudden-boom,lives are destroyed. What starts out as "innocent" flirting, ends with disastrous consequences. In many such situations, people ignore the warning signs as things begin to speed out of control.

Ryle explains that the final, public fall (plunge into sin) is the result of a fall that occurred much earlier. We set ourselves up for a fall when we grow lax in our prayer life. When our devotions grow cold or are abandoned altogether, we teeter on the brink of danger. Negligence in prayer and Scripture intake is a certain path to destruction.

Spiritual decline is difficult to detect because it doesn't happen all at once. It is similar to boiling a frog. I once read that if you tossed a frog into boiling water it would jump out. However, they say that if you put the frog in a pan of water and gradually increase the temperature, the frog will just sit there until it's dead. We are like that frog when it comes to sin. Throw most people into the middle of something they know is wrong, and they run away. Yet when their consciences are gradually worn down, they move deeper and deeper into sin. By the time they realize it, the damage is already done.

The only real solution to falling into public disgrace, it to constantly, diligently keep one's heart focused on the Lord. This focus can only be maintained through prayer and Scripture intake (reading/studying/meditating/memorizing). To resist the devil, we must humble ourselves and draw near to God. As we pray, we pray for protection from evil. We pray to maintain our alertness. We keep turning to the Lord in repentance and faith. And in so doing, we find the strength to face each challenge.

If you have grown lax in your prayer and devotions, be warned: your in dangerous territory.  It doesn't take long for warm water to turn too hot. Take care to honor the Lord in private, and you won't likely dishonor him in public. Don't let sin burn you, consider the frog and be wise.

Spiritual Songs: "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns

This song came to mind while I was working on another blog post. I have decided to post this first. This is the official video for "Slow Fade." I love Casting Crowns. They have a lot of excellent music. This song was in the movie Fireproof.

This song serves as a warning. When people are "blindsided" by sin, it is usually because they have been slowly drifting off center for a long time. I hope this song ministers to you, and I hope you read Wednesday's post. (I can't do anything about the commercials, sorry).

FAQs Mondays: How Do We Come to Know God?

Last week, we answered the big question, "What is God like?" You can read that post here. Now, we turn attention to our next big question: How do we come to know God? The catechism answers the bigger question through these questions.

Where do you learn how to love and obey God?

In the Bible alone.

Who wrote the Bible?

Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.

Can we trust the Bible?

Yes; the Bible is all-sufficient and without error. Note: As with other longer answers, younger children should be allowed to answer with the simple "yes." Then the parent should read the whole answer.

We come to know God through the Bible. It is true that we can see evidence of God through the creation, but it can't tell us everything we need to know about him. If we are to know God as he is, we must read and understand the Bible.

Children (and adults) need to understand that the Bible was written by men under the inspiration of the Spirit. These men recorded the very words that God intended. The Bible is all-sufficient in the sense that it says everything God intended. Wherever the Bible speaks, it speaks without error, and with authority. We don't need an elite leadership, a church council, a board, or an additional book to help us understand it. The Bible alone is enough.

We need to learn early (and often) that the Bible is our guide for life. If we will read and believe it, the Bible will teach us to know God, through Christ Jesus, and how to please him.  Taking the Bible as our guide, we turn to our next big question: "Where did it all begin?". Next week, we'll seek to answer that question. Leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.

Sermon Recap 3-27-11

Morning: The sermon, "Heart of Darkness," explored Romans 3:9-20. In this passage, Paul explores the reasons we need to be born again. The passage begins with the warning that we are no better than anyone else. We are sinners saved by grace. Paul then explains in Romans 3:10-18 what God sees when he looks at fallen humanity apart from faith in Christ. God sees corrupt thoughts, corrupt words, and corrupt deeds. Finally, Paul explains that the law serves to silence us in the presence of God, and to show us that we need cleansing.

Evening: In Foundations 15, we looked at the book of Judges.  Judges can be summed up in one verse, "In those days Israel had no king, everyone did as he saw fit" (Jud. 21:25). We explored the cycle: Israel follows other gods, God sends judgement, Israel cries out to God, God sends a judge to deliver his people. As deliverers, the judges of Israel point to Jesus, who rescues God's people from the oppression of sin and death.

Thursday Humor: Maybe It's Not Your Fault

I like to post humorous stuff on Thursdays. It's like a warm-up for the weekend. Here are a couple of funny pieces from The Onion, a humorous news source. Some of their material can be very crude, but some of it is funny without being offensive. These fall into the latter category.

Watch the video, and then follow the link to read Dave's story. I hope these make you laugh, but if they don't it's probably not my fault.


Cases Of Shaken Manchild Syndrome On The Rise

Have you ever thought the world was out to get you? Maybe you're right. Dave was. Read his story here.

These stories serve as a subtle (or not so subtle) reminder. Both poke fun at our culture's unwillingness to take responsibility and its lack of shame over it. Don't be a manchild, and stop waiting for the world to say, "I'm sorry."

Spending Time with the Lord

Have you ever spent a day in prayer? How about a half of a day? How about a few hours? Have you ever prayed for an hour? Talking about prayer can be intimidating. Most of us have struggled at one point or another in our spiritual walk.

Sometimes, the day sweeps away our good intentions and it is night before we can pray. Sometimes, we rest our weary heads upon our pillows, begin to pray, and discover with the morning alarm that our prayer time was cut short. Some days, things are just so hectic we can only snatch a couple of minutes of prayer at at time.

How do we spend an extended amount of time with the Lord that is both fruitful and invigorating? Here are some ideas:

• Find a time and place that is right for you. When are you most alert? When do you have the most free time? Do you have a place were you can pray in private, that is comfortable (but not too comfortable)?

• Have a plan. You can see a sample plan here.  Consider these elements:

• Prayer. If you are new at praying, find a pattern that will help you get started. There are several acronyms that can help you (ACTS and R.I.G.H.T. H.E.A.R.T. are good ones).
• Read the Scriptures.
• Meditate.
• Pray the Scriptures.
• Journal.
• Sing or play music.
• Read devotional material. 

• Here are some tools you can use:

• Music. Use CDs or MP3s. Listen to music that brings you into a worshipful place. You can also use a hymnal to aid you.
• Bible. Your Bible is an essential tool. It enables you to hear from God, as you talk to him.
• Pen/Paper/Journal. The pen helps to record insights and promise that spring to mind during your devotions. Journaling can be helpful in remembering specific prayers the Lord has answered.
• Prayer list. Keep a list of people and things you are praying for.
• Prayer Guide. There are several guide the can help you spend an extended time in prayer. Check out this one, this one, this one, and this one.
• A Good Devotional Book. There are a lot of excellent Christian books you could read that would help you grow closer to the Lord. Knowing God, Desiring God, The Holiness of God, and Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life are all good places to start.