Around The Web-September 19, 2014

South Carolina Pastor Receives Jail Time for Church Service Noise Complaints

God is Our Endgame by Jeff Medders

Loving One Another by Dave Jenkins

Crossway Announces Direct-to-Church

Acts 29 will begin a new podcast

Tullian Tchividjian explains why the gospel is a new operating system.



Donald Sweeting, president of Reformed Theological Seminary, talks with Mark Mellinger about bringing equipping the church to bring theology to life.



The guys at The Reformed Pubcast asked Chad Gardner of Kings Kaleidoscope the meaning behind the band name in this audio video.

What Not to Say to Someone Who's Suffering

When it comes to suffering, a lot of Christians just don't know what to say. When they do say something it can be taken the wrong way. In this short video, Tullian Tchividjian, Dave Furman, and Paul Tripp talk about what not to say when someone is going through suffering. I love what Tullian says in the beginning of the video about Job's three friends, "Job's friends were great counselors, until they opened their mouth."



Also check out these past posts on suffering:

God's Goodness in Your Pain

A Song for the Suffering by Shane & Shane with John Piper

R.C. Sproul on Suffering and The Christian Life

What If God Explained Why He Allows Things To Happen?

God's Sovereignty in the Midst of Tragedy

Around The Web-January 17, 2014

An Open Letter to My Denomination: Have We Lost Our First Love? by Thom Rainer

Do I have to be a Member of a Local Church to Follow Christ? by Daniel Montgomery

God Is Finishing His Mission Now by John Piper

Underdog Christian Movie 'Alone Yet Not Alone' Receives Shocking Oscar Nomination for Best Original Song

John Calvin on Sleeping in Church by Kevin DeYoung

Antinomianism, Legalism And The Relationship Between Law And Gospel by Tullian Tchividjian

Big milestone happened this week. The ESV Study Bible has sold one million copies. Praise God. As a way of saying thanks, Crossway is having a contest: Share their Facebook for a chance to win a calfskin ESV Study Bible

This 2 minute video explains the Gospel:

Around The Web-December 6, 2013

Planned Parenthood Admits Plan B Is a Failure

Errors of the Prosperity Gospel by David W. Jones

5 Reasons to Open Your Blinds by Andrew Lisi

Texas Megachurch Donates More Than Six Tons of Food to Struggling Food Pantry

Student Sues School District for Allegedly Banning ‘See You at the Pole’ Fliers That Included Bible Verses

Tullian Tchividjain talks about his latest book, One Way Love, and the Heart of Christianity on the 700 Club.



Here is a poem John Piper shares called, "The Calvinist."

Book Review: One Way Love by Tullian Tchividijan

Grace is God's unmerited favor to His people. Grace is getting what you do not deserve. Grace is also God's Riches At Christ's Expense (G.R.A.C.E.). These are the three popular definitions of grace that I heard as a new Christian. If we were to take these three definitions and combine them into one definition, it would sound something like this: "Grace is God's favor which no one can earn that is nothing we deserve all because of Christ's expense." Okay, it is more like a working definition.

I fear the church does not understand grace as it should. We sing about it. We preach it from our pulpits as well as teaching it in Sunday School/Small Groups. However, I think some in the church do not understand grace, much less, live the grace of God. They still live by the letter of the law thinking they can keep God happy based on their performance. Grace teaches us that we cannot perform for God to love and accept us, but it is through Jesus and his perfect performance that allows God to love and accept us.

Grace is the subject of Tullian Tchividjian's latest book, One Way Love. Tullian is the pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and is one of the many grandsons of Billy Graham. One Way Love is a call for the church to return to the grace of God. A call to remember that we are all bad people who are in need of grace. Tullian says, "The hub of Christianity is not 'do something for Jesus.' The hub of Christianity is 'Jesus has done everything for you'...Don't get me wrong-what we do is important. But it is infinitely less important than what Jesus has done for us" (pg. 21).

Tullian stresses that grace is dangerous and scandalous which is why religious people do not like grace because it takes the ball from them and gives it to God. We need to be people that remembers the gospel and what it says about us. We are wicked people who stand guilty before a holy God and can do nothing to take that wrath off of us. The gospel reminds that God gives us grace based on the perfection of Jesus. We live in a performance based society which says "perform well, you will get the best out of life." Grace says, "Jesus performs well for you and God will give you His best for all eternity."

This was a delightful book to read. I have always been blessed by Tullian's writings and this book is a great book on the grace of God that will make a good small group study. There have been many books on God's grace, but not many are gospel-centered and will lead you to the gospel. This book is gospel-centered. I highly recommend it.

Thanks David C Cook for letting me review this book.

Around The Web-October 11, 2013

John Calvin on the Holiness of Life by Jerry Bridges

20 Tips for Personal Devotions in the Digital Age by David Murray

Does Grace Make You Lazy? by Tullian Tchividjian

Has God Hardwire Us For A 7 Day Week? by Mark Driscoll

What if you do not like the church you are attending? Seth McBee answers that question.

Around The Web-September 6, 2013

Grace and Personal Identity by Tullian Tchividjian

Massachusetts Supreme Court Weighs Challenge to Pledge of Allegiance

Teen employment hits record lows, suggesting lost generation

Texas Breakaway Churches Can Keep Their Property

Okay, I know Yoga is a big thing for some people which I honestly do not see why so many enjoy it. Now, I love Star Wars, but I am not sure if I want to be part of Yoga Star Wars.

The Gospel of The "Already Been"

If we're suppose to preach the gospel to ourselves every day, what's the actual content of that message? What is it exactly that we need to keep reminding ourselves of?

If God has saved you-if he's given you the faith to believe, and you're now a Christian, if you've transferred trust from your own accomplishments and abilities to Christ's accomplishments on behalf of sinners-then here's the good news. In the phraseology of Colossians 1, it's simply this: you've already been qualified, you've already been delivered, you've already been transferred, you've already been redeemed, and you've already been forgiven.

Day by day, what God wants us to experience practically only happens as we come to a deeper understanding of what we are positionally-a deeper understanding of what's already ours in Christ.

Tullian Tchividjian, Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Tullian Tchividjian Talks About His New Book On Fox & Friends

For the last couple of years, I have been challenged by the teachings of Tullian Tchividjian whether it is through his preaching or his writings. Tullian was recently interviewed on Fox & Friends discussing his new book, Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free:




Also check out Tullian's blog, Liberate

His church also has his sermons available online as well

If you have not read his previous books, I suggest you do:

Do I Know God?

Unfashionable

Surprised By Grace

Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Around the Web-August 24, 2012

When Tradition Trumps Truth by David Crabb

The Pastoral Practicality of Law-Gospel Theology by Tullian Tchividjian

5 Marks of Transformational Small Groups by Ed Stetzer

Last year, DC Comics introduced The New 52, rebooting their entire cast of characters. In a new twist, Superman's main squeeze is no longer Lois Lane, but Wonder Woman

US Anti-Doping Agency to strip Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour De France Titles

Are We Ever Promised Our Best Life is Now?

The one thing the Bible promises us regarding life in this world is that it will be hard, that we'll face endless trials and temptations and tribulations. Nowhere does the Bible promise that we'll have our best life now-nowhere
(Tullian Tchividjian, Jesus + Nothing = Everything)

Does Hebrews 6 Support The Belief That Believers Can Lose Their Salvation?

Every time the issue of the security of the believer, using Southern Baptist lingo, comes up, the one passage of scripture that seems to always be mentioned is Hebrews 6. Many denominations have used this passage saying that salvation can be lost so it is part of our doctrine. Methodists, Free Will Baptists, Assembly of God, Foursquare, and Pentecostals are believe that salvation can be lost. Is this a false teaching or a misinterpretation of scripture?

Lets take a look at those controversial passages:

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt (Hebrews6:4-6, ESV).

The following is a study note on Hebrews 6:4-8 from The ESV Study Bible:

Heb. 6:4–8 This passage has been much debated. The central issue is whether vv. 4–5 describes people who were once true Christians. (1) Some argue that the passage does describe true Christians, meaning that Christians can “fall away” and lose their salvation. Most who hold this view think that those who fall away can still return to Christian faith, so this limits vv. 4–6 to people who refuse to return. (2) Most argue, however, that although these people have participated fully in the Christian community, the fact that they “fall away” shows that they are not true Christians. (3) Another view is that the warnings are addressed to true believers, and that although they will never completely fall away, the warnings are still the means God uses to challenge them to persevere in their faith. (4) Finally, some believe that the falling away has to do with a loss of heavenly rewards. In any case, though the author recognizes that there may be a few in the congregation who fit the description of vv. 4–8, in general he does not think it to be true as a whole of the congregation, for he says, “yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation” (v. 9).

Let me give you some practical application about why a believer cannot lose their salvation. First, if salvation is not based on our works but by grace through faith, why would our sin forfeit that salvation? To paraphrase something Tim Keller said, If are salvation is not earned by grace, what makes us think we can unearn it? Second, if salvation can be lost then God is a liar and Christianity is a scam. Jesus told us that no one can remove us from the Father's hand (see John 10:27-30). Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (see Romans 8:38-39), which also includes our sin, guilt, and even doubt. Ephesians 1:13-14 says the Holy Spirit is our seal guaranteeing our inhertance. Finally, if salvation can be lost, based on what we do, then salvation is no longer based on grace which is God's unmerited favor. God's grace would be based on our work and being good then by what God has done through the Person of Christ.

Here a couple of resources that I recommend:

Dave Jenkins has a great article called, Assurance and Perseverance in Hebrews 6:1-8

Also, Tullian Tchividjian has been preaching on the doctrine of grace during his church's midweek Bible Study. Last week he touched on Hebrews 6:

Midweek | The Doctrines of Grace: Part 11 | Pastor Tullian | November 9, 2011 from Coral Ridge on Vimeo.

Trailer for Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Tullian Tchividjian is one of my favorite preachers and writers. I have read his three of his previous books and looking forward to his new book, Jesus + Nothing = Everything. Here is the trailer for the book:

Jesus + Nothing = Everything: Intro from Crossway on Vimeo.