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I am a little behind on my reading, but here are some quotes from books I have read recently: "Without coming out and saying it, we consider the gospel powerless to help with such sophisticated struggles...The gospel lifts the burden of self-help off of the victims we have unwittingly placed it on...The grace of god will help him repent of the root and not just the symptom...The cross is the remedy." Byron Yawn in What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him "People share their struggles and, with every good intention, others give good advice or try to step in to be the solution themselves. People do need answers. They are in need of help. But we fail to truly help them if we don't give them Jesus. He is the best answer and the most powerful help they can receive." Jeff Vanderstelt in Gospel Fluency "In other words, what was Christ doing "B.C."? He was experiencing what it means--tasting what it would mean--to be Savior, King, Prophet, Pri...

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’m thankful that God always behaves from His identity, even though I don’t always behave from mine. @JeremyG220 Unfortunately in the church today, we get our doctrine from the Scriptures but our methodology from the world around us. We trust the supernatural for one but not the other. @WhiteHorseInn Legalism is a soul enslaver, joy taker, friendship killer, and church divider. @gospeldriven The gospel saves and brings God's rule into our lives (his kingdom) in order to bring the good news of his power into the world. The gospel changes us from the inside out and spreads through our lives and lips to the world by his Spirit. @JeffVanderstelt        

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 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

Have we separated our theology from practical day to day living? Do we really believe the gospel is the answer to every problem we face?  The answer to these questions is addressed in Gospel Fluency by Jeff Vanderstelt.  Additional resources are available through his website SaturateTheWorld.com Below you will quotes from the end of the book: Growth in gospel fluency required regularly being with others who know and love Jesus, speak about him often, and commit together to regularly remind one another of the gospel when they forget. the whole Bible is the gospel--the good news that God has come to rescue and restore humanity and all creation in and through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus won't be the hero of the story if we don't really need a Savior for our sin. My regular counsel to Christians these days is to spend more time listening than talking if they want to be able to share the gospel of Jesus in a way that meaningfully speaks to the hearts of ot...

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 Christian faith cannot be anchored on the finite work of the redeemed; rather, it must be anchored on the infinite work of the Redeemer. @JustinHWillms Because the gospel is endlessly rich, it can handle the burden of being the one “main thing” of a church. @DailyKeller The word of God, properly understood, never just defines who God is. It redefines who you are as His children. @PaulTripp Fruit to Root: Who is God? What has God done? Who am I in light of God's work? How should I live in light of who I am?  @JeffVanderstelt "It is finished" means I stand at judgment without fear because I stand there in Christ's righteousness not my own.  @Byronyawn God’s grace is just as powerfully demonstrated in our sanctification as our ju...

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.  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 Focus on external behavior & you will miss the internal heart,but focus on the internal heart & you will get both @briandembo I'm convinced many are not aware of how great Jesus is and how amazing his love and grace are to us. @JeffVanderstelt Can you imagine going through a whole day without guilt? That's what Jesus did for you--no guilt in life, no fear in death. @ElyseFitz via @faithandlifeks It's not just the negative Law that doesn't have power to change people but positive Law doesn't have power to change either. @Jaredcwilson I taste now the freedom of the gospel, which say...

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 questions "who am I?" and "why am I here?" are not meant to be answered outside of what God says and what God does. @JeffVanderstelt "Law does not sanctify. Only the Gospel sanctifies. If you want sanctity preach the Gospel." @RScottClark Are you living your life as a lifelong celebration or a lifelong audition? @pauldunk Any measure of OUR faithfulness before God will only condemn us because it can not save us. Faith must be in Christ alone not our works. @robinyawn Putting our faith in Christ is not about trying harder; it means transferring our trust away from ourselves and resting in him. @DailyKeller The more you soak yourself in the good news of the gospel, the more you will delight in good deeds simply becaus...

I am continuing to read Gospel Centered Kids Ministry by Brian Dembowczyk and Gospel Fluency by Jeff Vanderstelt.  Below are quotes from each of these books:  Obedience doesn't save. God saves. Obedience detached from the gospel doesn't please. Christ's righteousness pleases. Focus on the external behavior and you will miss the internal heart, but focus on the internal heart and you will get both. That is the key to righteousness...And that is the key to gospel-centered transformation and application.  Go to the heart, and the hands will follow. We have to point our kids to the heart over and over again just like Jesus did in the Sermon on the Mount. The heart is where the battle is won or lost. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work the gospel deep down into our kids' hearts, it will show itself in what they do with their hands as well. This is the kind of gospel transformation we are after. Helping our kids trust in the gospel, find acceptance from God based on...

Currently, I am reading two books.  The first is Gospel Centered Kids Ministry by Brian Dembowczyk and Gospel Fluency by Jeff Vanderstelt.  Here are some quotes from this week's reading: The battle of sin is won and lost in the heart. The beauty of the gospel is that it would not be based off of human effort; rather, it would rest entirely on what God would do on man's behalf. The gospel is not good advice about how to live; it is good news about what God has done. Our target is a transformed heart, not changed behavior. A transformed heart will always result in changed behavior that honors God, but changed behavior will not always result in a transformed heart that yields to God. We cannot move straight to application through bypassing the gospel. We need to filter everything we teach through the gospel. But we always follow the "what" of God's commands with the "why." And that "why" is always anchored to the gospel in looking at...

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 foundation of our assurance does not lie in us, but in Him. @DrSFerguson Titus 2:11-12. It's GRACE that trains us to renounce unrighteousness. So if you're trying to whip-crack people into straightening up, don't @jaredcwilson "To mix Law and Gospel not only clouds the knowledge of grace, it cuts out Christ altogether." - Luther on Galatians @Ryan_haskins  Satan knows he cannot ultimately destroy those whom Christ saves. He is therefore determined to destroy our enjoyment of our new relationship to the Lord. @DrSFerguson We are journeying together, moving from unbelief to belief in Jesus more each day. @JeffVanderstelt

In a previous post, I shared some favorite quotes from The Gospel Project online seminar.  Today, I am sharing a few more that I listened to before the videos were removed.                  A gospel centered church consistently & constantly reminds its people of the gospel, consistently & constantly reminds people who they were before they heard the gospel & consistently celebrates the present power of the gospel for daily life. (Matt Chandler) The gospel in worship leads people into the beauty of the story of the finished work of Jesus & the power of His resurrection. (Louie Giglio) We have a new identity-child of God, loved by God. This new identity leads to a new way of living-loving others. (Jeff Vanderstelt) Discipleship is not a ministry of your church. Discipleship is THE ministry of the church. (Dhati Lewis) The Church partners with Jesus in saving thru gospel proclamation...