A Great Sermon.

I really don't know how to describe the impact of this sermon upon me. I think I could listen to this section daily and still be moved. At times it is difficult because the line of work I am in sells this very dream, and this dream is not the dream. In fact, if it is one's dream, it is the dream of a life wasted. Thank God for this sermon. May I and many others be shaped by this call to hundreds and hundreds of college students...

John Piper's Skater Coat

(HT: Resurgence)

Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, and the Example of John Piper

I think it is wonderful how John Piper has been giving young pastors the pulpit at Desiring God conferences. John has now invited Mark Driscoll to two conferences, and I have no doubt that he has received a lot of criticism for that among some of his good friends and the wider evangelical community. It is intriguing too to think that not only does John invite Driscoll, but that he has Mark speaking on the biblical use of "harsh language" at DG's latest conference, a topic of which Mark has received the most criticism for in his ministry.

Now John is inviting another gifted young pastor--Matt Chandler. Matt, a pastor of the Village Church in Texas, will be speaking at the forthcoming Bethlehem Conference for Pastors in '09 on the theme of evangelism. John has given him the task of "help[ing] us think about...saving those who think they are saved." After listening to Matt regularly I am convinced that topic is perfect for him and that he will serve the pastors well. Matt has been known to take the Bible to the backside of Bible-belt Christianity that, at times, resembles something more akin to unbelieving Pharasaism. More importantly Matt is thoroughly Gospel-centered. He consistently draws people back to the Gospel in his sermons and is a great example of saturating every sermon with Jesus.

I am thankful for older godly men like Pastor Piper who is willing to give young pastors this opportunity.

May God raise up more older pastors in local churches who are willing to cultivate the gifts of young men and be mentors of them in their community. The pattern that Paul lays out in modeling his life in relationship with Timothy is one that all pastors should be following. I do not think this is only a pastoral responsibility, but that many older Christian men in general should take upon themselves the responsiblity of training young men not necessarily to be pastors but to be godly men.

Thank you Pastor John for being an example of this to wider evangelical world.

Text-Context: Mark Driscoll's Tearful Introduction of John Piper

One thing I was struck by at the Text/Context conference was Mark Driscoll's tearful introduction of John Piper. (No, I'm not there I'm viewing the live feed.) I have listened to Pastor Driscoll preach from Mars Hill and various conferences around the globe and never heard him or seen him begin to cry. Now this may seem like a weird thing to blog about or even mention, but I found it very moving, in fact I felt much the same way. Mark recovered well, something I would not have been able to do if I was given the same task.

I can't imagine introducing Pastor Piper, as there are few who have influenced me more in my life. I think, Mark felt the same way. He was overwhelmed with joy and with thankfulness to God for Pastor John and he become visibly overcome with emotion. It seemed that Mark was particularly effected by how God has used Piper to shape his own life and how Piper has shaped many around him and was quickened to call other men to learn from Piper.

Why blog this? Well, because I think we as younger men whether pastors or just Christians need to show honor to older men who have been faithful men. We need to honor our fathers who have gone before us, be they earthly fathers, spiritual fathers, or both. May this characterize the young pastors of today to show honor, respect, and thankfulness to those who have taught and lived faithfully and pointed to Jesus in word and deed.

The Pastor as Father and Son

Another Desiring God conference began yesterday, which means new audio of DA Carson, John Piper and others are up. DG is lightning fast at getting audio of there conferences out, and it is a great benefit to all those who cannot attend. This year's subject is the Pastor as Father and Son, and I believe it will be memorable as DA Carson recently wrote a book on his late dad and John Piper is doing his annual biography on his father who recently died. Abraham Piper is blogging and actively updating as summaries, audio, video and interviews come up.

Check it out yo!

Brothers, Draw the Lines!

Piper on The Prosperity Gospel

This has received plenty of attention in the blogosphere, but the message John has to say here is a must listen, and moves me deeply.

Who is Terry Virgo?

Wikipedia gives the following bio for Terry Virgo:

“Terry Virgo is the leader of the Newfrontiers Charismatic Evangelical Christian movement. Born and raised in Brighton on the English South Coast Virgo started a small church movement which has grown into an international group of churches in 29 nations. He is well known for his teaching on the doctrine of grace and is a leading Reformed Charismatic. He teaches a complementarian view of gender relationships. Many charismatics who believe in modern day apostolic ministry recognize him as an apostle.”

Yes, a surprising combination: a reformed apostle and a charismatic complementarian. Maybe even more surprising are the following connections:

Terry Virgo likes Mark Driscoll. In his words:

“Though his unconventional style is mildly shocking to the ears of this particular English preacher, who can no longer claim to be in his middle years, Mark Driscoll, coming clearly through my iPod in this last week, has been a huge blessing.

As I walked to my office, in hopefully not a vain attempt to lose a few pounds, my spirit was soaring as I heard his outstanding commitment to preaching Christ. His Biblical perspective was magnificent. Verse after verse insisted first on Christ’s humanity and then on His deity. How wonderful to hear preaching so centred in Christ albeit with fascinating contemporary asides. How rarely one hears sermons so exclusively about Jesus and simply talking about Him, focusing on Him, glorying in Him and feeding my soul.”

He has reviewed Bill Johnson's book When Heaven Invades Earth and gives the following qualified endorsement:

“In spite of some very serious theological howlers (e.g. Jesus ‘laid his divinity aside’) and some questionable interpretations of Scripture, this is nevertheless a provocative book that will stir all who want to be constantly provoked to be channels of the Holy Spirit’s miraculous power.

His robust faith and remarkable reports of healings and miracles are inspirational and genuinely motivational.”

He has had his own book, God's Lavish Grace, endorsed by Sovereign Grace Ministries CJ Mahaney:

"For anyone struggling to understand and enjoy God's grace, this book will prove to be immediately and immensely helpful."

This next year, Terry Virgo will preach with pastor and author John Piper and New Testament scholar D.A. Carson in Wales at New Word Alive 2008.

I personally recommend his excellent 4 part series on Romans. My wife and I listened to it on our way to her parents for Thanksgiving and it is powerful. It is liberating and saturated with the identity of the Christian in Christ. You can listen to it and more at his personal website.

Controversy over Second-Tier Doctrines?

Should controversy and debate ever occur over second-tier doctrines in the church? John Piper makes an excellent case for the importance of preserving secondary doctrines:

“For the sake of unity and peace, therefore, Paul labors to set the churches straight on numerous issues—including quite a few that do not in themselves involve heresy. He does not exclude controversy from his pastoral writing. And he does not limit his engagement in contro­versy to first-order doctrines, where heresy threatens. He is like a par­ent to his churches. Parents do not correct and discipline their children only for felonies. Good parents long for their children to grow up into all the kindness and courtesy of mature adulthood. And since the fabric of truth is seamless, Paul knows that letting minor strands continue to unravel can eventually rend the whole garment.” (p. 31, The Future of Justification)

John Piper "On Controversy"

This is a wonderful section on controversy by John Piper in his latest book:

“Faithful Christians do not love controversy; they love peace. They love their brothers and sisters who disagree with them. They long for a common mind for the cause of Christ. But for this very reason they are bound by their conscience and by the Word of God to try to persuade the church concerning the fullness of the truth and beauty of God’s word.

We live in a day of politicized discourse that puts no premium on clear assertions. Some use language to conceal where they stand rather than to make clear where they stand. One reason this happens is that clear and open statements usually result in more criticism than ambigu­ous statements do. Vagueness will win more approval in a hostile atmosphere than forthrightness will.

But we want nothing to do with that attitude. Jesus refused to con­verse with religious leaders who crafted their answers so as to conceal what they thought (Mark 11:33). Our aim (if not our achievement) is always to be like Paul when he said, ‘But we have renounced disgrace­ful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God’ (2 Cor. 4:2).” (p. 31-32, The Future of Justification)

John Piper's New Book--Free!

...but it is online.

For those of you who are interested John Piper's response to NT Wright's version of the New Perspective on Paul can be read online for free (HT: DG Blog).

Or you can buy it at Westminster Books (HT: JT)

Here is a quote from the book regarding John Piper's view of NT Wright and Wright's views:

"My conviction concerning N. T. Wright is not that he is under the curse of Galatians 1:8–9, but that his portrayal of the gospel—and of the doctrine of justification in particular—is so disfigured that it becomes difficult to recognize as biblically faithful. It may be that in his own mind and heart Wright has a clear and firm grasp on the gospel of Christ and the biblical meaning of justification. But in my judgment, what he has written will lead to a kind of preaching that will not announce clearly what makes the lordship of Christ good news for guilty sinners or show those who are overwhelmed with sin how they may stand righteous in the presence of God." (p. 15)

Jesus Died for God's Glory

I've heard it said by one preacher that one of the main reasons Jesus died was to preserve the freedom of man. Wrong. Jesus died for God's glory. John Piper, in his classic, The Pleasures of God, writes,

"...God would not just sweep the sins of his chosen people under the rug of the universe. If God was simply going to acquit guilty, God-belittling sinners by faith, then something terrible and awesome had to happen to vindicate his allegiance to the worth of his glory. And that something was the death of his Son. This death demonstrated the inexpressible passion God has for the worth of his glory and for the vindication of righteousness...We know that everything Jesus did in life and death he did for the glory of his Father...The very purpose for which Jesus came to the hour of his death was to glorify the Father. Jesus wants us to see that his willingness to lose his life is because of his love for the glory of the Father. This is how the worth of God's glory is magnified in the death of Jesus." (p. 165, 2000 edition)