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Who is your favorite author?  There are many great authors out there.  I will be sharing over the next several months authors who have helped me grow in grace and the gospel.  I will try and include images of some of my favorite books by them. These will be shared in alphabetical order. Author: Steve Brown

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!

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. Commands to be more joyful as a Christian only push us to focus inward. True, lasting joy comes from outside of us. @WhiteHorseInn Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He died on the cross to free us from sin and empower us to say no to temptation. #thegospelprojectkids Sanctification is about daily putting off idols, our God – substitutes, and putting on Jesus Christ and his love. (Jack Miller) You might feel burdened and weighed down by all the things you feel you ought to do for God, or by all of your repeated sins, but remember, God is your Savior. When Jesus died on the cross, your day of wrath was over – it is finished. (Jack Miller)   But I don’t have to fix anything or anyone. That is God’s business. When I let him be God, I’m in...

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 false idol of super – Christians has destroyed the freedom of those who aren’t! @DrSteveWBrown Justification is still the doctrine upon which the church stands or falls. @MichaelHorton_ I am a Christian not because I think that I can walk in Jesus’s footsteps but because he is the only one who can carry me. I am not the gospel; Jesus Christ alone is the gospel. —Michael Horton via @birdchadlouis Love doesn’t come from us. We only love because God loved us first. We need to lift our eyes. @simplestapleton When we don’t have an assurance of God’s love, we don’t want to be in his presence because of our sin. Faith can’t flourish when you see God this way… Faith looks at least 10 times more at Christ then at your sin. (Jack Miller) God gives...

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 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 Bible was never intended to be a systematic theology text, a compendium of helpful hints for everyday living or comforting maxims to carry you through your day. The core content of your Bible is one single story, a grand redemptive story. @PaulTripp Want to be #reconciled to God? Listen to John Murray’s words on how: Believe that the message (of reconciliation) is one of fact and enter into the joy and blessing of what God has wrought. Receive the reconciliation. #done #itisfinished  When I am obsessed with being better instead of being consumed with God’s love and grace, I become prideful if I can pull it off and self-centered if I can’t. @DrSteveWBrown I hope ur ready to hear the gospel preached. But remember we no less need the grace of t...

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.  Christ is the standard for everything a Christian should think about God. If something we think about God violates what we know of Jesus, what he taught, and how he acted, then that thought lies. @DrSteveWBrown Improvement of the world through political & social reforms is both necessary & possible. But it is carried out under the terms of Christian freedom, not according to the prescriptions of biblical law. (Martin Luther) “Sometimes the Lord shows us something that seems so wrong so we can change it. Other times, He shows us something that seems so wrong so it change can change us.” (C.H. Spurgeon) in Steal Away Home @aaronivey @_matt_carter  Bad News: Liberals and Conservatives are both sinners. Good News: Jesus wasn't either a...

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.  I think when it comes to Christianity we need to stop telling people what they should do and start telling them what's been done. @evanheadrick  How can we glorify God? Bear fruit. See John 15. But in the church we have focused on the fruit without remembering the Vine. It’s not about what we do, but what God in Christ through the Holy Spirit does through us. Church, abide (be with Jesus) & the fruit will come! #hesstonmb That is what God‘s goodness has done to me. He has created in my heart a great desire to please the one who loves me, knowing that, if I don’t please him or even have the desire to please him, he will remain quite fond of me. @DrSteveWBrown A salvation from sin divorced from justification is an impossibility and justi...

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.  Antinomians don’t need more law, but gospel. Legalists don’t need less law, but gospel. The gospel answers every wrong use of God’s law. @joshwaulk As believers, we should be working towards what unites us, not what divides us. (Terry Hunt) @usmbchurches  In Isaiah 61, we see Trinity followed by 7 verbs showing the work of God. Every aspect of this work is focused on US. @birdchadlouis How do you kill an awakening? Add some requirements. Add some kickers (what we should do) @DrSteveWBrown Whenever I hear the law, I get excited because the gospel is coming. But many times in church all we hear is all law. @danemeryprice Preaching 45 minutes of law and then throwing the gospel in at the end is not gospel-centered, it's gospel-caboose...

Below are quotes from various speakers at Here We Still Stand: How do you kill an awakening?  Add some requirements. Throw in some kickers (what to do). Limit God's love. Be too serious.  There's something unreasonable about God's love toward us. If we never get better, he will love us the same. Jesus gives us the message of reconciliation.  This includes forgiveness of sin (taking our all our sins) AND giving us His righteousness. Double imputation is a hill worth dying on. Christ died on it. Capon-We talk so loudly about "shoulds" and shouldn'ts" that they eclipse forgiveness of sins. Preaching 45 minutes of law and then throwing the gospel in at the end is not gospel centered, it's gospel caboosed. There is more than one way to be legalistic. Legalism is not just "thou shalt nots" but also tips/steps we tell people to do.  In Christ, you are as secure as Christ is. It's not that we are not hearing law. Social medi...

The first session at Here We Still Stand was Steve Brown from Key Life. Here are some quotes: God never speaks to just one person. He began by sharing a story about Jerry Bridges. Romans 3:21-28 and Luke 18:9-14 Tell him that "Jesus loves him" I believe we are sitting on another great awakening. William Hendricks-"Most churches preach grace but live works." From Exit Interview Faith Alone might be the most controversial of all the solas.  How do you kill an awakening?  Add some requirements. Throw in some kickers (what to do). Limit God's love. Be too serious. There is only one "good and faithful servant" and it is not any of us. The tax collector was justified, but he was not fixed. There's something unreasonable about God's love toward us. If we never get better, he will love us the same.

I am so excited!  As you read this, I am headed to beautiful San Diego, California for Here We Still Stand.  This conference is a celebration of the Reformation that occurred 500 years ago.  Some of the speakers include: Jared C Wilson, Elyse Fitzpatrick, and Steve Brown.  I will be sharing quotes from the event on the blog over the next few days so check back to read what I have been hearing. I will also be spending time at the beach, at the pool, participating in a live recording of Front Porch with the Fitzes podcast (maybe even glow paddle boarding), and enjoying being with brothers and sisters in Christ from around the country. Check back for quotes from the speakers and workshops from Thursday-Saturday!

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.  From the way you talk about your faith, do people get the impression that Jesus is great, or that you are? @jaredcwilson  The only real comfort from and silencer of shame is what the King of Creation says about me. @ScottyWardSmith Jesus died for your sins...including your cold & distant heart towards Him. We need grace to bring us home, not law. Unconditional grace! @jonmoffitt What draws people to Christ aren't your multitudinous rules & straitlaced life but the 1 way love of Jesus who loves to save/welcome sinners @DrSteveWBrown None of our efforts at obedience or morality can make us more saved, holy, or fit for Heaven, or complete than we already are in Christ.-OW @thejesslou Sanctification is God's work. He changes us as ...

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 good news is that while I see more & more of my own sinfulness each new day,I also see more & more of God's grace. @elysefitz Beholding his glory not only makes our souls happy, but it is the best and surest way to make our souls holy. @JMellinger "For it is God who works in you..." Philippians 2:12a. God is at work in you and me now. Today. @feastonChrist The Gospel is substitution. The false gospel is contribution. #galatians @pauldunk 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 No matter what grade we'd give ourselves at the end of this day, in Christ, we're 100% beloved, forgiven, righteous, loved and His @Sco...

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 faith that saves you is the faith that sustains you because it is in the same object. @Byronyawn Cheer up-you're a lot worse than you think you are & cheer up-God's Grace is a lot bigger than you think it is-Jack Miller via @DRStevewBrown How do our passions for God grow? Not by being told that they're supposed to grow, but by marveling at what God has done for us. @jdgreear All we needed when we first came to Jesus was his grace & Grace is all we need to grow in Christ. Grace liberates us. @JudWilhite If, when we speak the word gospel, we mean anything other than or less than the person and work of Jesus, we need an adjustment. @ScottyWardSmith What kind of reputation should a church have? One where people sneak in "...