"Christianity is a Team Sport"

This sermon by Trip Lee was from the "9 Marks at Southeastern 2016" conference.

Should The Church Be Multi-ethnic and What Does A Church Look Like?

When people think of a church, they normally think of the building. We associate the church with a location, not a people. So when you ask someone what should a church look like, most don't have a clue because of what they see in the media or experienced in attending a church service.

In the video below, we have John Piper talking with Stephen Um and Trip Lee asking the question if every church should be multi-ethnic.



Next we have (audio only) Mark Dever, Crawford Loritts, and Tim Keller discussing, what a church should look like.

Recommended Reading:

9 Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever

Center Church by Tim Keller

The Church: The Gospel Made Visible by Mark Dever

What is the Mission of the Church? by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert

Around the Web-December 11, 2015

All ESV Journaling Bibles are 50% off as well as all ESV Bibles from Crossway till December 31st

Calvinist Batman talks with Voddie Baucham abut his new book, Expository Apologetics

The guys over at Popcorn Theology talk about whether or not Christians should listen to non-Christian music

Can that be Right? The Use of Old Testament Prophesy in the New Testament by Kevin DeYoung

You Just Need to Obey by Steven Lawson

Michael Boling reviews the ESV Men's Devotional Bible

Trip Lee discusses the importance of the local church of the health of the Christian.

Around the Web-October 16, 2015

The Austin Stone's latest live album, This Glorious Grace, releases today.

Transforming Homosexuality, The Imperfect Pastor, and other pastoral resources are sale at Westminster Bookstore

4 Principles for Political Engagement as a Christian by Jared C Wilson

3 Phases of Faithful Gospel Communication by Darrin Patrick

Dave Jenkins talks with Bryan Cosby about his new book Uncensored

Grace For Transparency by Trillia Newbell

Couple Who Believe in Faith-based Healing Convicted of Killing Son by Not Giving Him Medical Care

Ohio Church Congregation Tips Domino’s Driver More Than $1,000 for $5.99 Pizza

Trip Lee on his journey in embracing the doctrines of grace.

Book Review: Rise by Trip Lee

When I was a teenager, I must have heard hundreds of messages on this verse in 1 Timothy:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12, NIV)

The messages were about being a young person of influence. We were to rise above the occasion and make a difference for Christ whether it was in school or our churches. Like a newborn teenage Christian, I ate it up as much as the next guy that felt they were motivated to take on the world.

Young people seem to get written off from time to time and every once in a while, there is a message for them. Trip Lee, who is an amazing rapper and preacher, has written a book for young people called Rise, which his latest album has the same title. Lee writes about not being a bench warmer but to get up and make a difference. He writes on you don't have to be a super-Christian to do great things for God, which seems to be a recurring theme as of late in other books.

Lee also writes about sexual purity, which for young people is a much needed subject to address, while also tackling the issue of pornography. He also talks about marriage and why he got married at a young age. One thing that I really appreciate Lee writing about is being involved in a church and not just attending the worship service. Christians are called to use the gifts the Holy Spirit has given them to serve the church regardless of age.

I love Trip Lee. I love his albums and the sermons I have heard him preach at Capitol Hill Baptist Church from time to time. This book is mostly for a younger audience rather a mature group.

Thanks BookLook Bloggers for letting me review this book.

Music Monday: Top 10 Albums of the Year and my Best of 2014 Playlist

Once again, another year of great music both on the Christian side and non-Christian side. I have to admit I listened to a lot of great worship albums this year while listening to ones from the main stream music industry. This year was a little tough to put together what I thought were the best albums of the year especially number one and two because they were both equally good. So here we go, my top 10 albums of 2014:

10. Hopefully Broken by Zimmerman

9. Attack by Disciple

8. Rise by Trip Lee

7. Below Paradise by Tedashii

6. Anomaly by Lecrae

5. After All These Years by Andrew Peterson

4. 30: Three Decades of Songs for the Church by Sovereign Grace Music

3. Guardians of the Galaxy Deluxe Soundtrack

2. Becoming Who We Are by Kings Kaleidoscope

1. Join The Triumph by Citizens & Saints

Now for you listening pleasure, for the past couple of years, I have made a best of albums of the year playlist on Spotify. So here is my playlist for the best of 2014 which a couple of the albums listed above are not among it. Please note: You must have an account on Spotify to hear the playlist.

Book Review: The Good Life by Trip Lee

I have said it before, and I will say it again, never judge a book by it's title. I am sure when you see the title for Trip Lee's book, The Good Life, you might be thinking it is one of those "living your best life now" books or it has something to do with being healthy and wealthy because you are a child of God and He wants to you to be happy. Of course, if you listen to Trip Lee, he is a Christian rapper, you know this is the same title as his latest album.

Now most Christian singers who have written books usually writer a chapter based on a song from that album that the book is based on. That is not the case for Trip Lee. Although, he does mention some of his songs in the book, Trip Lee talks about the Bible and overwhelming theme of the gospel. He starts out with creation and how sin entered the world. Followed by Jesus coming in the form of a man, dying on the cross for sins, and rising from the dead. Trip Lee also writes about how we need to be faithful in our walk with Christ and share our lives with the people of God, which is called the church.

This was fun to read. It is not a systematic theology book, but it was fun to read. Trip Lee has a unique writing style that anyone can read this book without feeling they have been a seminary class, but instead when to a rap concert. I think I listened to rap a few times while reading the book. Anyways, this is good for teenagers to read as well as those who are lovers of rap, which may not be all of us, but I do recommend the book.

Thanks Moody Publishers for letting me review this book.