Gospel Centered Mercy Ministry vs. The Social Gospel

http://tinyurl.com/crwmly

“It’s very hard to give up the gospel. If we know that there is hell.”

The gospel is impossible to give up. If we know that there is God.

The burden of the book not the paragraph

Here is a segment of John Piper’s message at The Gospel Coalition.

And it is a healthy reminder.

Now let the weight of this point sink in as you hear Paul underline it 14 times in this little letter. It is not marginal. It is central. Paul wrote this letter for Timothy—and for you—because the flame of unashamed courage in us is always being smothered by the deadly, seemingly innocent pleasures of this world. May the Lord make this litany of unashamed courage in suffering feed the flame of courage in you:

1:16: “Onesiphorus . . . was not ashamed of my chains.”
2:3: “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
2:9: “I am suffering [for the gospel], bound with chains as a criminal.”
2:10: “I endure everything for the sake of the elect.”
2:12: “If we endure, we will also reign with him.”
2:15: “Do your best to present yourself . . . a worker who has no need to be ashamed.”
2:24: “And the Lord’s servant must . . . patiently endure evil.”
3:1: “In the last days there will come times of difficulty.”
3:10: “You . . . have followed my . . . persecutions and sufferings.”
3:12: “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
4:5: “As for you . . . endure suffering.”
4:6: “I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.”
4:7: “I have fought the good fight.”
4:16: “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me.”

If you want an easy life, secure, esteemed, untroubled, comfortable, safe, then get out of the ministry of Christ. And if you are single, don’t marry a woman who wants that. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:34-35). The Calvary Road is a hard road. And the most joyful road of all—in the power of God.

Praise and Rebuke

Heard this recently:

Public Praise, Private Rebuke.

Reminder to myself to write about someday

The Divinity of THE Son of Man

and

The Sign of Jonah: Jesus’ Resurrection

affirmed

Passion Week

His story is my glory

and in His glory I will glory

His glory is my worship