Wisdom as Prophet

One may be studying Proverbs and think, here is wisdom literature, but is it not more than that?  You encounter poetry in Proverbs, but surprisingingly you also deal with prophetic aspects as well.

In Proverbs 1:20-31 Wisdom acts as a prophet.  What is a prophet?  It is not easy to define, but we can at least say what a prophet does:  A prophet speaks for God; when the prophet speaks it is as if God is speaking.

There are three traditional tests for to prove if a prophet is true biblically:

1.  Whatever a true prophet of God says will come true  (see Deut. 18:22)

2.  A true prophet of God will speak in keeping with God’s Law, known as the Pentateuch or The first Five Books of the Bible (see Deut. 13:1-3).

3.  A true prophet of God will not speak easy words in hard times (see Jeremiah 23:16-17).

Now, relating these tests to Lady Wisdom, the prophetess per se, she is speaking as a true prophet.

1.  What Lady Wisdom says does come true.  She speaks about those neglecting her counsel and the result being dread, calamity, distress, anguish, unanswered prayers and this did happen to Israel as testified by other true prophets (Jer. 7:13, Isaiah 65:2).

2.  Lady Wisdom seeks to bring people into a relationship with God in keeping with the Law (we see this looking at the whole picture of Proverbs 1-9, which is an appeal for one to worship/fear the Lord).

3.  Lady Wisdom does not speak an easy message during difficult times.  Rather she speaks very hard words stating if you listen you will be blessed, if you do not turn at her reproof you will be condemned.  These are in no way easy words (see Prov. 1:24-32).

By this we can see that Lady Wisdom is a true prophet.  And though she does not use the traditional formula “Thus says the Lord…”  In this section of Proverbs we see poetic, wisdom, and prophetic literature meet and it is clear from reading Proverbs 1:20-33 that she is speaking for the Lord.

While He was praying…

Is this not a striking verse:  “while He was praying, heaven was opened” (Luke 3:21)?  What happened when heaven was opened, while He was praying?  God the Father affirmed Jesus Christ as being the Son of God in whom He was well-pleased.

And such is the need for us every day, not that we are Jesus, but that we need the affirmation or assurance (a more common used term) that we are God’s children, and He is our God.

There is also instruction here as to the most appropriate thing to do when one is baptized, namely, to be praying.  Jesus gave us a grande example.  One which I believe we will do well to imitate daily and for those who will be baptized.  For from the moment of your beginning to walk with God to your last days, there is a great daily need, to know you are God’s child.  So, look to your God today, pray, and may heaven be opened and the voice of God come out of heaven saying, you are my child in Christ, and as I am pleased with His sacrifice, so I am pleased with you because of Him.

amen.

Women Preaching?

“Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her sayings” (Proverbs 1:20-21 NASB).

Here we have Wisdom personified as a woman.  And she is in places like ‘the square’,  ‘the noisy streets’,  and ‘the entrance of the gates in the city’.  These are places that are places of business.  It is where the elders gathered in 4:1-2 to decide on the fate of Ruth and Naomi.  And it had become a regular place where there elders of the city would gather and men would do business, legal business.  And to be known as a man by the elders or to be an elder of the city was indeed a particular privilege (See Prov. 31:22-23).

But here is a woman, being pictured in a most counter-cultural way.  She is shouting in these places, preaching per se. Now, I am not espousing women in pastoral ministry.  The very fact that it is counter cultural for a woman to preach gives weight to the argument that men are to fill such leadership roles.  Even so, I am not sure we are completely biblical in many circles concerning the way God views women in ministry.  And considering this subject, there is much to learn.  So, what does the Bible say concerning women preaching?

Psalm 68:11 NASB says

“The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host”

In addition, Mark 16 the following account is given:

Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. And when they heard that He was alive, and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it. And after that, He appeared in a different form to two of them, while they were walking along on their way to the country. And they went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either. And afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16:9-15)

The above account shows the women sharing the good news that Jesus is alive, but it is not recieved, but disbelieved because of women bringing the news.  It says “they had not believed those…”  ‘those’ being the women who were telling them that Jesus had risen.  And it says that Jesus ‘reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart.’  This tells me that if I am not willing to hear the good news of Jesus Christ from a woman that Jesus is saying I have a hard heart and I am unbelieving.  I should not be unwilling to hear the good news from anyone.  When I came to know Jesus Christ, I just remembered, a woman counseled my wife and I concerning the Gospel.

In addition, John gives us an account of women at the tomb of Jesus:

But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she *beheld two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She *said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around, and *beheld Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She *turned and *said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene *came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
(John 20:11-18)

Mary came announcing to the disciples!  There is other debate by those who espouse woman in the pastorate with use of Romans 16:7 around a person named Junia called ‘outstanding among the Apostles.”  Those wishing to espouse no women in ministry translate it Junias as a male, those wishing to espouse women in ministry translate it Junia; at least this is what I see taking place.  We are not sure.  However, I favor that indeed there is a woman here that served in an extraordinary way, but it in no way means that women should serve as pastors.  In fact that is not the issue here, nor in Proverbs, nor in the Gospel accounts, the issue is one of spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ.  Clearly the Bible teaches us how to live in subordinate and leadership roles in society, in the home, and in work.  The Bible does not do away with that.  But, to humble us perhaps, a woman is seen in Proverbs 1 as preaching; why?  You answer.  It has to at least be to make us see that we need to learn from everyone, and if a woman is preaching in the streets the very truth of God it would do us wise to listen to her and put aside both our cultural and religious norms.

Three Types of Sinners

Proverbs 2:22 states them:

“How long, O naive ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?” (Prov. 2:22 NASB)

So you have:

1. Naive ones who love simplicity- the most complete definition in one place that I have found for the “naive” is found in Prov. 14:15 “The naive believes everything, but the prudent man considers his steps.”  They are in the sense we would say today, gullible.  This gullibility leads them to be as Proverbs 1:32 says killed by their turning away (synonyms for this word ‘turning away’ are: waywardness, apostasy, backsliding, vacillating, indecisiveness).  Anyone who has experienced some trauma will feel this, agnostics feel this, many people feel this and it will kill them if they do not listen to the call of God’s wisdom.
2. Scoffers who delight themselves in scoffing- one of the most notable things about scoffers is that they are intolerable to one whose delight is in the Law of the Lord (Psalm 1).  They are pictured there as seated.  Scoffers are those who exalt themselves by making fun of others.
3. and Fools who hate knowledge- ‘fool’ here is the most general word for fool in Proverbs.  The most notable verse that I found on this word is Proverbs 17:24 “…But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth” meaning that a ‘fool’ does not have the concentration for wisdom, he cannot stay focused; why can he not stay focused?  It is the reason that a lot of people cannot stay focused, not ADD or ADHD, not to discount those medical issues, but here we do not have that, here the diagnosis of the fool is that he cannot stay focused because he simply hates knowledge and doesn’t want to learn.

Something interesting about all three of these types of sinners are that they express by their affections their character:  The one loves simplicity, the other delights in scoffing, and still the other hates knowledge.  Their love, delight, and hatred of things identifies them well.  So it is the case with our affections.  One can see if he falls into the category of one or more of these types of sinners, but I certainly believe most will.  People struggle with indecisiveness, scoffing or mocking, and with concentration on God’s Word.  Could it be that our indecisiveness is an indication that we are lovers of simplicity, order and the like rather than God?; could it be that our mocking of people and things at times indicates that we delight more in making fun of others than in exalting God and exalting others made in God’s image?; could it be that our lack of concentration is really identifying that our affections are not set on God’s Word but something else?  I find these all as not only possible, but likely.  And if likely, Proverbs has much to teach everyone, because everyone is a sinner apart from the Grace of God.

June 28, 2009 AM

Sunday Morning Sermon - Proverbs 1:8-19

Christ Alone

“We see that our whole salvation and all its parts are comprehended in Christ. We should therefore take care not to derive the least portion of it from anywhere else. If we seek salvation, we are taught by the very name of Jesus that it is “of him.” If we seek any other gifts of the Spirit, they will be found in his anointing. If we seek strength, it lies in his dominion; if purity, in his conception; if gentleness, it appears in his birth. For by his birth he was made like us in all respects that he might learn to feel our pain. If we seek redemption, it lies in his passion; if acquittal, in his condemnation; if remission of the curse, in his cross; if satisfaction, in his sacrifice; if purification, in his blood; if reconciliation, in his descent into hell; if mortification of the flesh, in his tomb; if newness of life, in his resurrection; if immortality, in the same; if inheritance of all blessings, in his kingdom; if untroubled expectation of judgment, in the power given to him to judge. In short, since a rich store of every kind of good abounds in him, let us drink our fill from this fountain, and from no other.”

–excerpt from Christ Alone:  Why indulgences are still a bad idea (read entire article here)

The Purposes of Proverbs

There are six purposes indicated from Proverbs 1:1-7 to study Proverbs (to grow, be guarded, glorify God, not be gullible, get ready, and be guided rightly). They are not obvious and require some thinking and study as the entire book demands.  Proverbs are meant to be given thought, reflected and prayed over, and to reach conclusions that are biblical, that make sense, and are personal.  In my journey through this book, here is what I found, may it be of some benefit to you.  (these thoughts also shared in my recent sermon on the subject here.) Grace and Peace.

1.  So you will grow.   v. 2a “to know wisdom and instruction” “instruction” here indicates discipline, it takes hard work to be a disciple, and God will not do your thinking for you, and Christians do not grow without thinking over God’s wise words; see Prov. 16:20, 2 Tim. 2:7.

2.  So you will be guarded from evil. “to understand words of insight”  v. 2b “insight” here speaks of the ability to see further than your senses can take you, your eyes, ears, hands can do only so much, you need the ability to discern what is good and to choose it.  And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” (Job 28:28)

3.  So you will glorify Jesus when God disciplines you as a legitimate son or daughter of God. “instruction [rather discipline] in wise dealing” v. 3b see Isaiah 52:13-15, 53:5.  God’s Son was crucified and brought God the most glory; see also Prov. 3:12,  Heb. 12:8, Rom. 11:36.

4.  So you will not be gullible. “The simple” are those naïve to the complexities of things, they like things simple.   They lack knowledge of God’s Word.  And they are characterized by inexperience and indecision (Prov. 1:32).  God is in the business of saving simple people (Psalm 116:6); see also Prov. 14:15.

5.  So you will get ready. “knowledge and discretion to the youth”  v. 4b  Knowledge of God, and Discretion (often speaking of plans) prepares us to face the future including temptations (Prov. 5:1-3); see also Luke 12:35-40.

6.  So you will be guided rightly.”the one who understands obtain guidance” v. 5  “Guidance” some think comes from a term for ropes used to steer a ship.  Proverbs enables us to lead ourselves and others through life, much like a well-steered ship that navigates a difficult waterway (this thought from New Reformation Study Bible).

Update:  It would not be outside of the text to add a seventh purpose here, namely Worship, based on Pro. 1:7.  “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge…”  All the above purposes lead to one main purpose to worship God.

June 21, 2009 AM

Sunday Morning Sermon - Proverbs 1: 1-7

Commentary Pics for Proverbs

The major commentary that I am using was recommended by C.J. Mahaney.  I purchased it as soon as  I could and if you had to buy just one commentary on Proverbs this would be it, in my opinion at least.  The devotional quality of the character studies in the beginning of the book are worth it all.  In addition, I am using Kidner’s outline of the book to formulate my studies.  It is a very helpful resource that has led me to worship God along the way.

The next commentary I am utilizing is by Charles Bridges.  I checked this out from the church’s library, thank God for that.  It is perhaps the most thorough of the commentaries I am using in the sense it covers each chapter one by one with very helpful notes.  It is a classic

As a supplement to the prior two commentaries, this book, which I have already spoken about here will most likely be a book I will refer to.  So, here they are the commentaries I will be using mainly, at least that is the plan.  I perhaps may add some more reference works along the way.  I am planning 11 weeks in this book, the first nine chapters of Proverbs.  I am encouraged already as I study God’s Word in the genre of Wisdom Literature.  May God be glorified in the church in such a way that his people put their trust in the wisdom of God, Jesus Himself.  amen.

What is the Church?

What is the Church by Mark Driscoll from Vintage21 Church on Vimeo.

Does your conversion lack something?

[please view video at the end of this post prior to reading]

Dear Laura,

In the following video you speak of how you became a Muslim. I appreciate this video because it points out to me that many people use the same argument in how they became a Christian, namely, that they believed certain things about God and started practicing, building fellowship, resulting in moral living. You mention that your family does not know that you are Muslim yet, but are confident that they are noticing how good you are living. Even so, your testimony as well as many Christians’ testimonies lack something when it comes to getting right with the God of the universe.

When sin entered the world through the lie of Satan, a woman believed that she could become wise and know the difference between good and evil. Her husband was a coward who did not protect her, but gave her rules that were not from God. He stood by while his wife was deceived by a Serpent and partook of the Lie himself. The result was and is a diseased and deathly world full of fighting, hatred, and worst of all lies that lead people to utter destruction. And instead of becoming wise, Eve became a sinner and saw her shame. Adam as well, and he and Eve tried to cover themselves and their shame with man-made garments. There God sacrificed an animal and covered them; this was the first blood sacrifice pointing to Jesus Christ who would take away the sin of the world. God promised to one day come and crush the serpent who deceived Adam and Eve and to do away with Sin and to redeem for himself a people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.

Laura, I am sorry to say that even though your religion is indeed resulting in you living morally different, you are heading down a road that is completely unwise. You may be thinking that you are worshiping God, but instead you are worshiping yourself. You are your own idol. The very moral life you boast of and the religion you love are twin gods that are taking the place of the One true God.

Your sins cannot be dealt with by your moral actions. You need a Savior because the most moral person on earth is still a sinner at heart. You need a Savior because there is not a level of good that satisfies God except God Himself. You need a Savior who is also God and his name is Jesus. Instead of having a changed life, Jesus changes your heart, your desires, your love and makes you new. The result is certainly moral living, a new fellowship, a sisterhood, and worship but by the means of God and not you. Instead of worshiping yourself, you can now worship the one true God having become his child. And he will protect you how Adam should have protected Eve, from lies and deception not by man-made rules or religious activity, but by love for the Truth and a innate desire to magnify Him.

It is very sad to me that many Christians have not probably displayed to you this distinction from Islam and other world religions. In fact, many Christians share a similar testimony to yours and make religion and their own selves gods and are doing the same thing you are doing, idolatry. Even so, Jesus Christ is indeed one who saves anyone who will trust in him. Trusting in Jesus means trusting that what he did on the Cross for you was sufficient to take away your sin and bring you to God. It means repenting from the sin of self-worship and turning to God in Christ. I hope that you and others who realize this very moment that you are missing the key elements of saving faith will receive Christ with gladness and joy as the good news that he is. I hope that many thousands of people in our generation especially will turn from the lies and believe the truth about Jesus Christ. May God bless you and encourage you in Him; not to us, but to his Name be the glory, forever and ever, amen.

June 14, 2009 AM

Sunday Morning Sermon - Philemon

The Gathering

In Acts 2, the church began by being all together in one place (Acts 2:1).  Imagine if they were not all together.  They would miss Pentecost; more importantly than missing the festival, they would have missed the Spirit of God.  This raises the level of importance of gathering as a church.

God chose to move in this way when they were gathered.

1.  Gathering raises the sail for God’s Spirit to come.

2.  Gathering as a church, Jesus promises to be in your midst (Matt. 18:20; yes this is in context with a church discipline teaching, but don’t let anyone tell you it still does not apply).

3.  The formation and number of people gathering does play a role in potential fruitfulness; take for example the repeated mention of numbers in Acts, where God adds so many to the church.  This indicates they did keep numbers in a God-glorifying way.  They did have membership.  But the major observation is this:  the formation and number of people gathering does play a role in potential fruitfulness.

Agriculture teaches us this also.  Corn, if grown in long rows, for example four long rows verses eight short rows will not be as good of a crop; the corn will be small.  If planted closer and more compact, they will produce much better corn.  Furthermore, corn, the more you plant of it, the better the crop altogether.   Church is like this.  The more Christians that gather, the more potential fruit can be produced.  God must send His Spirit, but indeed, it is the right environment according to Acts and according to agriculture to be fruitful.  In addition, in smaller churches it is important to bring our gatherings closer together, in means of fellowship and prayer.  This is because it will give greater potential for fruit bearing than if gatherings are spread out and people have little contact and conversation with each other.  I have made an attempt at encouraging some discussion groups on Wed. nights, I think it is a good start, but God is Lord and He will lead us.  In addition, I have been thinking that small churches do better by keeping their church family meeting together, rather than spreading them out in small groups too early (again Jesus is Lord, He will lead us).  The overall need is that we look at Acts and then also consider the natural revelation around us on how things grow, thrive, and produce fruit pleasing to God.  From this point we may grab hold of some wisdom and be greatly encouraged and blessed by God in our gatherings.  Perhaps if we take this to heart, more people will come doing what the early church did:

In number, Devoting themselves to regular church attendance (Acts 2:1),

In expectation, Waiting expectantly for the Holy Spirit to come (Acts 2:2-11)

and in biblical practice, Preaching the Word rightly–that is, telling people how it is all about Jesus. (Acts 2:14-40)

May we pay attention to the witness of the Word (in Acts) and the witness of God’s world (in agriculture) and thus be prepared for God’s Spirit to weekly move us.

Hero Worship and Holy Emulation

John Piper speaks on the subject of Hero Worship and Holy Emulation due to a recent statement right here in our state at the recent conference I attended.  It is a very helpful article.  Well worth the read; it helps us see the way we can in a healthy way appreciate the work of God in others.  Check it out!

Prayer: A War Time Walkie-Talkie

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (Joh 15:16)

John Piper comments on this verse:

The logic is crucial. Why is the Father going to give the disciples what they ask in Jesus’ name? Answer: Because they have been sent to bear fruit. The reason the Father gives the disciples the gift of prayer is because Jesus has given them a mission. In fact, the grammar of John 15:16 implies that the reason Jesus gives them their mission is so that they will be able to enjoy the power of prayer. “I send you to bear fruit so that whatever you ask the Father . . . he may give you.”

So I do not tire of saying to our church, The number one reason why prayer malfunctions in the hands of a believers is that they try to turn a wartime walkie-talkie into a domestic intercom.

Until you believe that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for. Prayer is for the accomplishment of a wartime mission. It is as though the field commander (Jesus) called in the troops, gave them a crucial mission (”Go and bear fruit”), handed each of them a personal transmitter coded to the frequency of the general’s headquarters, and said, “Comrades, the general has a mission for you. He aims to see it accomplished. And to that end he has authorized me to give each of you personal access to him through these transmitters. If you stay true to his mission and seek his victory first, he will always be as close as your transmitter, to give tactical advice and to send in air cover when you or your comrades need it.”

But what have millions of Christians done? They have stopped believing that we are in a war. No urgency, no watching, no vigilance, no strategic planning. Just easy peacetime and prosperity. And what did they do with the walkie-talkie? They tried to rig it up as an intercom in their cushy houses and cabins and boats and cars - not to call in fire power for conflict with a mortal enemy, but to ask the maid to bring another pillow to the den.

Looking Thru The Wrong End of the Telescope

As I returned from Advance 09, I have to admit, I am pumped up about the church.  I asked someone today, so what did you think about Sunday’s sermon, and the response was “you could tell you just got back from a conference.”  I can take the one of two ways, one, that they have seen this before in pastors in a bad way, or in another way, I could see it as I am impacted by what I have heard.  I prefer to take it positively rather than in a way that would diminish my ferver for the church and to lead her to accomplish great things for God.

I thought today in my study, well, maybe I should just preach through the book I planned next and the next one after that, but then I realized after studying further that this stuff has really impacted me about the church.

I understand that some will judge success on lesser scales, like if we are reaching a person here and there.  And I certainly do not want to encourage a judgment of success that bases it’s happiness on if we have a lot of people showing up.  However, I do not think that it is a bad thing to desire and seek to bring many people to Jesus and see them become part of our church family.

That is why I do not think it impossible to see a hundred, several hundred or even thousands gathered here at CLBC in the future.  I find that the words that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us are true.  I also see that the same God who conceived His Son by the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, and who gave a hundred year old couple a baby in the Old Testament, is able and willing to make us fruitful like that.  I find the words “Nothing will be impossible with God” absoutely true.

And though many labor and do not see the ultimate fruit of their labors, I also believe that in the pattern of the Book of Acts that is unusual because the Seed has died and fruit is following greatly.  It is only an exception at times that people must labor long.  While I see many churches in decline and dying, I also see many churches thriving and understanding that they are—-entering into the labor of others especially the labor of our Lord Jesus Christ (see John 4:38).

Therefore, my response to small vision of what God can do at CLBC is this:  Don’t look through the wrong end of the telescope, but look through the lense that gazes at the vastness of God’s glory extended across the heavens.  Realize who we are serving and how magnificent and merciful He really is and with faith as small as a mustard seed we can do great things with and for the glory of God, even our Lord Jesus Christ!

Father, may your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Questions for Discussion of Today’s Message

The following are questions to get you thinking about today’s sermon.  Because the sermon was very personal in nature it and because thankfully our sound guys were so focused on the message that it was not entirely recorded—the message was not posted on the web today, even so, those having been there should take time to reflect over the message they heard, the Scriptures and what God spoke to them.  Here are some suggested questions to help retain better what was proclaimed.   Answer the one’s you can, and if you have a hard time remembering certain thing or finding certain facts, simply move to the application questions, the point here in giving these is to encourage obedience to God.  Grace and Peace.

Study Questions:

See Colossians 4 and Revelation 3 as primary texts.  Also, utilize a study Bible like the ESV Study Bible.

1. What was the reason for Christ’s rebuke to the church of Laodecia in Revelation 3?
2. Name some Scriptures that testify to God’s love for the church.
3. When is the earliest recorded time that churches purchased property for the purpose of worship?
4. What kind of archeological evidence is there for churches meeting in homes?  Is it extensive?
5. What Scriptural evidence is there that the early church met in homes?
6. Why did the early church meet in homes?
7. What are the implications of your discoveries from questions three through six?
8. What is the value for small group meetings and likewise what is the value of large group meetings?  Name Scriptural instances of both.
9. What did Paul say to remember?  What does this imply?
10. What was indicated by the circulation of Paul’s letters?
11. What did Paul tell Archipus and why did he have to tell him this?

Application Questions:  Taking it home

1. Many churches in the South are declining and dying.  What hope do we have to offer each other living where we live and worship?
2. What is the church to be doing mainly during this time?  Why? Be Scriptural with your answer.
3. When a church closes it’s doors, is it God who does this?  Why do you believe it is or is not the case?
4. Why is it important to serve in an area in the church?  What is the danger to you and what is the danger to others when it comes to serving in too many areas?
5. What threatens the church from fulfilling her ministry in Christ?  How can these things be overcome?  Think about what Colossians teaches concerning this question.

Advance 09 News Article

This Article Just Released.

Ready for Resurgence: Advance ‘09 and the Local Church
By: Douglas Baker and Melissa Lilley

DURHAM (BSCNC Communications) - If the church vans parked outside were any indication of the demographic of the crowd inside the Durham Performing Arts Center, Southern Baptists would dominate the attendance of the Advance ‘09 Conference. The conference which drew over 2,500 to Durham was originally an idea to encourage a group of church planters in what has become known as the new urban South. Quickly, however, the event grew to incorporate a spate of speakers certain to draw people from not just the Raleigh/Durham area, but the entire Southeast region of the United States. Pastors like Greg Belser, senior pastor of the Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton, Miss., joined Southern Baptist denominational employees such as Joel Rainey, a Director of Missions from Maryland, as well as others like Jarrod Scott, senior pastor of the Green Pines Baptist Church in Knightdale, N.C., in a regional conference designed to foster new networks for church planting and church revitalization.

Here, the only theme is the local church and the conference is evidence of an entire movement which has largely sprung up organically from local churches. The youthful audience can be attributed in some measure to the impact of technology as most of these pastors and church leaders are connected to each other electronically. They are finding their own way through new networks of their own making. Some say this conference represents the end of one era and the beginning of another - one not dependent on the institutions of the past. Others, such as Southern Baptist blogger Michael Spencer, believe the collapse of evangelicalism is near and this generation might well preside over its demise.

What is certain in this room is that this generation (approximate ages 25 - 45) represents a unique combination of style, liturgy and theology. The conference begins with a responsive call to worship followed by rousing songs (staples among evangelicals these days): Vicki Cook’s, Before the Throne of God Above and Keith Getty’s, O Church Arise. These new hymns are filled with themes which mark classical Christian orthodoxy as a key plank of faith for this age group. These conference participants are knowledgeable of church history and seek to join the church of old by repeating prayers inspired by John Calvin and singing the old hymns of Isaac Watts to new tunes. Old time religionists might find this experience a challenge for them optically (the strobe lights are bright) and musically (the guitars can get quite loud). Overall, the people in this hall seem to share a remarkably personalized Jesus that is not simply emotional, but doctrinal.

Mark Driscoll, perhaps the most noteworthy of the current young evangelical pastors, continues to emerge as a favorite at conferences across the nation. The pattern continues here in Durham. As he begins the afternoon lineup of speakers, Driscoll frames the core doctrine of the church by attempting to Biblically define the church - what it is and what it isn’t. Unlike many in his own generation, he is concerned with the doctrine of ecclesiology to the point that he is careful to challenge those who attempt to “do church” in an un-Biblical manner.

Yet, it was Tyler Jones of Vintage 21 Church in Raleigh who set the tone for what was later to come throughout the afternoon. Jones, a North Carolina native, began Vintage 21 Church in 2003 in downtown Raleigh with a desire to reach the entire community with the gospel of Christ. He admits the church had some terribly rough first days. He can point to areas of theology that he had wrong and some church practices that landed his congregation in the newspaper further creating confusion among some who wondered just what this young man was about in a city which, by some estimation, was full of churches.

Jones’ passion for the region seems to be born of a realization that things are no longer as they once were in the South. Regionally, the South has been known as the Bible belt, but Jones is quick to correct anyone who thinks this description is still applicable to the area. “We’re bleeding,” he says, “and the culture is now openly hostile to the church.” He admits that the temptation is simply to “hunker down and do church events” in reaction to the tidal wave of the cultural onslaughts against the church. This must not happen as he believes this will create a false sense of reality capable of rendering the church’s witness as something of little help to the world that is perishing without Christ.

“We have taken our eyes off Jesus, and Jesus is no longer our first love,” he said. “The toxic nature of many of our churches makes others come to the conclusion that Jesus is a fraud.” Calling pastors to “a long-term repentance” as the only path out of the depths of despair and lack of effectiveness in ministry, Jones stated that many wonderful things “can happen as a result of repentance.” Admitting he was once jealous of other church planters who came to the downtown Raleigh area to plant other congregations, he found freedom and friendship in repentance as he labored to fight against the “sin of territorialism in the ministry.” Jones said that the result of his own personal repentance was the very conference where people now sat to hear him speak.

When Bryan Chappell, President of Covenant Theological Seminary, stepped to the podium, he immediately began to speak of the power of sin. “The only reason sin has power in your life is because you love it,” he said. Sin, as an object of the affections of the heart, possesses the destructive power to “lead you away from Christ.” Chappell believes that to simply attempt to root out sin without replacing it with a greater object of affection capable of capturing the heart in love is simply to prolong sin’s power over the Christian.

Widely known for his book, Christ-Centered Preaching, Chappell has taught thousands of preachers the path toward a fully orbed manner of preaching which displays the Christological focus of the entire Bible in ways which magnify the person and work of Christ as the central character in all of Scripture. “We should be careful never to confuse the indicative with the imperative,” he says. “We behave a certain way because we are new creatures capable of change by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Citing Thomas Chalmers’ famous sermon of the 19th century, The Expulsive Power of a New Affection, he encouraged the pastors to find their hope in a God who went to every extent to redeem them personally and provide for them a place of service capable of sustaining a fervent gospel witness built on Christ-centered truth.

Using the church of Ephesus as a model (Acts 19) of what could happen to a local congregation, Matt Chandler, lead pastor of the Village Church in Highland Village, Texas, began to call those in attendance to a fervent embrace not only of the cognitive aspects of the doctrines already presented during the afternoon session, but a commitment to love God and embrace the gospel in a way that affected them personally. Raised a Southern Baptist, Chandler communicated how spiritually deadly church programs can become for people raised to think “that God is in their debt because they were good as children.” Chandler provided examples of the behaviors and practices that he was taught to avoid as he was growing up. One of the examples, the tragedy of divorce, has been the source of both heartache and confusion. He stated that members of his generation, raised in a strict Baptist tradition, are confused about God because they have been led to believe that God will not allow tragedy to afflict those who live “good lives.” The expression of that confusion is readily seen following tragedy. “Because when our wives leave us or our parents divorce or something happens to us that is bad, we leave the church because our mindset is ‘I was good and this is how you repay me?’” Chandler stated.

Chandler said that such theological thinking is widely in play among many of his generation. The Ephesian church publicly confessed sin in such a way that “things started raw, but over time got cleaned up” to the point that confessing sin all but disappeared. Initially, a radical desperation marked their behavior in ways which caused them to forsake the idols of their hearts and follow after God with an intensity born of brokenness and dependence. When this is lost, Chandler said that the foolishness of the gospel can quickly be replaced by idols capable of both sapping the power once present in a church resulting in “Jesus removing the lampstand from them” as He did said He would do in Revelation 2:1-7.

He admits that he is somewhat fearful of conferences “where the choir is assembled” to hear others talk about things “all of us know or at least should know if you are in the ministry.” His challenge to those present was a call to desperation and an admission of powerlessness that could result in God actually advancing the church. Leading a church is not a “combination of leadership, doctrine and luck.” Rather, he calls the pastors and church leaders to “become nothing; then something happens.”

Advance 09 messages

Here is a link to some of the messages thus far.

Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention one of the reasons it is a great blessing to be here at the conference is the people we are meeting, getting to know and fellowship with some like minded brothers, reconnecting with some that I have not seen in a while. Praise the Lord!

Speaking at FCA Richlands HS

Today I will be speaking at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes event at Richlands High School 3:30pm. See you there, pastor.

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