daddy4ms

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. We can never overestimate the unleashing of new-creation power that Jesus brought about when he took his seat at the right hand of God the Father & then celebrated his enthronement by lavishing the great gift, the Holy Spirit of God... (Dennis Johnson) When affection turns to annoyance, delight to drudgery, grace to a grudge, rest to restlessness, we have forgotten about Jesus and grace. # IrresistibleFaithBook @scottsauls Conformity to Christ’s image (sanctification) is the process of dying to self (mortification) and living to God (vivification) that results from being regularly immersed in the gospel’s story of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.  @MichaelHorton_ Reduce Christianity to good advice & it blends in perfectly with t...

Today, Scott Sauls' newest book releases called Irresistible Faith . I would definitely recommend the book.  The nine chapters are broken into three parts: Abiding in the Irresistible Christ, Belonging to an Irresistible Community and Becoming an Irresistible Christian. One of my favorite things about the book is the flow from abiding with Christ to community to world. Too often Christian books focus on one of those three and in the process we miss the connection and importance of all three. Also, one of the things that Scott Sauls does so well is show how a “conservative” understanding of Scripture leads to a “liberal” way of loving others. He did this in Jesus Outside the Lines and this book reinforces that again. In this day and age, we need more unity and I believe Scott’s book will help us experience it.  I plan to use this book in an adult class I teach at church.  Go and pick up the book today!

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. According to the Bible, the greatest need of human beings is to know that they have been forgiven. One of the greatest inhibitors to flourishing is the shame we carry around with us. @scottsauls Jesus, always intent on wooing us away from our demons and into his life-giving arms, does not come after us with a whip. Instead, he pursues us in the power of his resurrected love. @scottsauls Living in the Spirit-filled awareness of Christ’s love toward us will cause love to flow out from us toward others. “Majoring” in the things of Jesus will, over time, become more natural to us as the Spirit transforms us into his likeness. @scottsauls Want to be like Jesus? Focus less on being like him and more on being with him. His attributes must be caught bef...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. The enemy is real and he speaks. Whose voice over you will you choose to agree with? God’s? Let’s be # mightywarriors who believe that God can transform us & our lives. @SDCMBYouth @usmb_youth #sdyc18   We need the eyes of our heart opened if we are going to understand what the Father of glory is doing. (Jack Miller) Behind every sin is a lie...Not many people thinks of themselves as someone who believes lies. But every time we don’t trust God’s word we’re believing something else, and that something is always a lie. @timchestercouk It is far better to be known and loved than it is to be followed, tweeted, and applauded. @scottsauls Do you approach the Bible with the expectation that the same Spirit who inspired these words once, long a...

For the rest of 2018, I will be sharing books I recommend because they are some of my favorites.  New Book Friday will resume in January. Enjoy!

For the rest of 2018, I will be sharing books I recommend because they are some of my favorites.  New Book Friday will resume in January. Enjoy!

I love to teach!  One of the things I missed most during the last 3 months while I was preaching was teaching an adult class during Go Deeper Hour (Sunday School).  I believe every person needs an opportunity to not just listen to a preacher or teacher, but to also process what they are learning in their head, heart, and hands.  This is why I am a firm believer in Sunday School and small groups.  Both of these provide people the opportunity to ask questions as well as process what they are hearing and thinking. SO, let me encourage every person--child, youth and adult to join a Go Deeper Hour Class if you attend Hesston MB.  But also want to encourage you no matter where you go to church, find a Sunday School class or Small group to join and participate in.  If you don't like the one you attend, try another class.  Don't just give up!   It is important for you. For the next year, the class I lead will be going through 2 books together as well ...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. When your heart is abiding in Jesus, you want to worship him. @pauldunk And once you get alone with God, you begin to discover that being with God – that knowing him and his love for you – is the best and most beautiful thing in the world. (Jack Miller) It's possible to be drawn to the Bible, theological study and discourse, and even to teaching, preaching, serving, and church -- yet be disconnected relationally from Jesus. If we are seeking "his kingdom" but not seeking HIM, then we are missing the point entirely. @scottsauls Without the words, “for you,” the good news, the Gospel, does not exist, only more rules. Without these words Christianity becomes meaningless. Jesus died for you. It is finished for you. The words “for you” are the m...

Last week, I finished A Scandalous Freedom by Steve Brown and Befriend by Scott Sauls.  Here are some quotes from the final chapters of the books: the difference between Christians and pagans when both fail is that pagans blame luck and Christians blame God. the law of God provides a schematic for the way the world works...God explains how certain things will hurt you and certain things will help you...The law of God, as revealed in the Bible, is the best way to live...The law is the tutor that brings you to Christ. one major reason Christians don't obey is they obsess over their obedience...When you obsess over anything but him--and that includes being free--you can lose it. You take the first step, God will take the second step, and by the time you get to the third step, you will know that it was God who took the first step. Every human bears the image of God. This is what the scribes and Pharisees were know for doing. They demanded that people keep God's law--do...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. Grace is an inward power that enables us to do what we would not ordinarily want to do. Paul emphasizes inward Grace to show us it’s not about just about what we do; it’s about who we are. If you get the “you” straight, then the doing will come straight too. (Jack Miller) The Father planned your redemption, the Son accomplished it and the Spirit is now applying it. It is finished. @pauldunk Someone will always have better coffee, better music, better facilities, better speaking, better marketing. Showcase Christ and his gospel. Nobody can improve on that. @jaredcwilson I’m not the guru. I’m just a pointer, pointing to the One who, by his very presence, is himself the freedom he gives to his own. @DrSteveWBrown Energy to serve God and love our neigh...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. Unless you’re assured that God loves you, it’s pretty hard to do anything in the Christian life...the foundation of our assurance of God’s love for us is Christ, and we must continue to root ourselves more deeply in him. (Jack Miller) Nicodemus needed new life—eternal life—but he could not earn it. Eternal life is a gift that comes only from God. #thegospelprojectkids “It is not our goal to be more amazing for Jesus. It is our goal to be more amazed *by* Jesus.” @rayortlund via @jaredcwilson Christian, you are loved by the holy God of the universe faithfully and infinitely. @jaredcwilson Indicatives first, then imperatives. Forgiveness first, then repentance. Grace first, then obedience. Rest first, then fruit. @scottsauls  Jesus doesn’...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. God is a God who weeps over things gone wrong in his world. He is a tender God who takes no pleasure in sorrow, suffering, or death. He is a God who comes alongside and assures us that he is here and that we are never alone. @scottsauls What is repentance? Repentance is returning to God as the center. If repentance is coming to God as the center, praise is lifting up God as the center. (Jack Miller in Saving Grace) Union with Christ is irreducibly mysterious. Since it's enchanted, we can't contain it, control it, or explain it, And this is fantastically hard for a solution-focused, technique-oriented, productivity-minded people like ourselves to accept. @WilbourneWisdom True spiritual fruit comes from getting swept up in intimate, loving encounte...

Here is a list of my favorite authors of 2017: Rankin Wilbourne  Steve Brown Jared C Wilson Elyse Fitzpatrick  Scott Sauls Sinclair Ferguson Paul Tripp Michael Horton Jeff Vanderstelt  Jessica Thompson

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  When we grasp how secure we are in Christ we don't respond with the desire to sin more but we love God more and desire to sin less. @JohnH4Christ Christians do not live for an identity; they live from an identity. They do not achieve an identity; they receive an identity in Christ. @WePreachChrist Rest in the reality that God isn't simply your just Judge but also your loving Heavenly Father. @MattChandler74 I share the Gospel. Not because I think that they are not saved; I share the Gospel to remind them that they are loved. @RaleighSadler "I do not condemn you. Now leave your life of sin." - Jesus-- Reverse the order of these sentences, and you lose both Christianity and Jesus. @scottsauls Our target is a transformed heart, not ch...

If you are regular reader of the blog, on Fridays I have shared new books, favorite books, and most recently kid books.  Now, I am going to share discipleship resources that I would recommend each Friday. We used this resource this past year in our Go Deeper Hour with adults. This book prompted great discussions on a variety of topics.  Sauls has a free study guide available that goes along with the book.  Many in my class commented how it challenged them to think more deeply about difficult topics facing the church and culture.

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  We aren't defined by what we do for a living or with our day. We are defined by what Christ has done for us. @TheJesslou  The Gospel is karma's worst nightmare: we get the exact opposite of what we deserve. @birdchadlouis God loves you NOT to the degree that you are LIKE Christ, but to the degree that you are IN Christ. And that's 100% - Rankin Wilbourne via @scottsauls Grace is a pool where elephants can swim and children can play. Grace isn't just a doctrine; it's a 24–7 context for living. @DrSteveWBrown the point of scripture isn't to instill more confidence in ourselves, but to strengthen our confidence in Christ & His finished work for us @RelevantChris My preaching aim? To exalt Christ so much & hold out his g...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  So none of us is far from real Discipleship. We don't have to be experts, just converts pointing each other to Jesus. @jaredcwilson Because when the volume of grace and freedom goes up over our shame, the voices of shame can't help but be silenced. @scottsauls How do our passions for God grow? Not my being told that they're supposed to grow, but by marveling at what God has done for us. @jdgreear Pietism cannot comprehend an obedience that flows naturally from the heart & is motivated by assurance rather than fear. @theocast_org There are no handbooks or manuals that walk me through what faithfulness and obedience look like. @TarynJost We appreciate the clarity of the law only when we gaze fully into Christ's face.This is freedom...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  The irony of legalism is that it doesn't take God's holiness seriously *enough*, since it presumes ability to measure up. @jaredcwilson You cannot grow in holiness and holier-than-thou-ness at the same time. @jaredcwilson Shame, whether it comes from the outside or from within, has great power over us emotionally. @scottsauls #befriend Because when the volume of grace and freedom goes up over our shame, the voices of shame can't help but be silenced. @scottsauls #befriend How do our passions for God grow? Not my being told that they're supposed to grow, but by marveling at what God has done for us. @jdgreear The gospel isn’t doing something or joining something, but receiving something. @WhiteHorseInn  

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  Mother's Day: pastor preaches on mom's awesomeness. Father's Day: pastor tells dad to get his act together. Two sides of a non-gospel coin. @jaredcwilson After 18 years of pastoral ministry, I have never met a person who fell in love w/Jesus bc a Christian scolded them about ethics. @scottsauls We must become convinced that Love has to be a person to us before it can become a verb. @scottsauls The central message of Christianity isn't "do" but "done." The good news announces to us not "get to work" but "it is finished @jaredcwilson The Spirit who empowers our conversion will empower our discipleship.  @jaredcwilson Jesus didn't die for some better version of us; those people don't even exist...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  Do you know why there are 1000 new self-help books every year? It's bc they don't work. We keep looking for answer within us @jaredcwilson The Law cannot save, sustain, or sanctify you. Only the gospel can. @jonmoffitt Maturing as a Christian means that you feel your need for Christ more desperately than you did the day before. @thejesslou don't forget that in Jesus, you are highly esteemed. Don't forget that in Jesus, with you the father is well pleased. @scottsauls this writer had done what too many of our disciplers do. He turned gospel into law; he took news and turned it into advice. @jaredcwilson We have turned incarnation into a once-a-year precious moment, parables into moralistic fables, miracles into production values @jare...