No Greater Joy

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.--3 John 4

Our daughter has just finished a fabulous first grade year. She enjoys reading and has developed quite well.

Two years ago, when she was in her kindergarten interview, her (public) school teacher asked her, "And why do we go to school?"

Her answer: "To learn about Jesus."

The teacher wasn't sure what to make of that, but I was proud of her answer and actually found it quite deep. My number one goal for her literacy is not getting a good job or succeeding in society, but that the gift of literacy allows her the joy of reading the very words of God. I thought her answer was great!

This week, Charity and I gave out daughter the NASB Study Bible for Girls. (Unfortunately, this Bible has been discontinued and took me about three weeks to find a copy). In the last four days, I've had the following father high-lights:

--Walking through the living room to find my daughter sitting on the couch, reading her Bible in the morning...just like Mommy.

--Reading Romans 8:18-21 along with her as Jason led our congregation in that passage.

--Having her read John 8:31-37 as one of our TableTalk Discussions for the week. Then, while I cleared up dishes, to have her read John 1:6-13 and answer questions as she and I slowly go through the book of John together.

At the end of our discussion, she said, "Daddy, I wish everyone would love Jesus and go to heaven." Me too, kiddo.

May God grant her a heart that loves the Lord with all that she has, and may He protect me from underestimating what she (or our other three) can handle.

Lesson Learned [3]

As I mentioned previously, Charity and I have recently come out of an intense time of learning. It is my desire to record some of these lessons learned for the sake of perhaps encouraging others. It is also my desire that I do not forget the lessons learned, even by encouraging accountability from readers to help me remember these lessons.

Lesson Three: My lack of gratitude is sinful.

For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?--1 Corinthians 4:7

--21 years ago I was in awe that God made a woman so gorgeous.

--About 18 years ago, I finally worked up the courage to speak to her, and was surprised that she would be so kind and friendly to me.

--17 years ago, I spent a summer with her, marveling that her inner beauty exceeds her outer.

--14 years ago (July 20, 1995), I was dumbfounded when she told me she loved me.

--13 years ago (July 21, 1996), I was flabbergasted that she said, "I will."

--12 years ago (July 12, 1997), I was overjoyed when she said, "I do."

--7 years ago (August 24, 2002), I was amazed that she could continue to love me and my daughter so well. (And continue to prove that three more times!)

--35 days ago, I sat on my couch in shock...thinking I was going to lose her.

Sadly, somewhere between 21 years ago and 35 days ago, I started to take her for granted. I acknowledged that I didn't deserve her and I knew that to be true. However, I wasn't fully seeing the grace of God in my bride. It should not take fear or tragedy to wake me up, yet I was not appreciating her as I should.

God laid the following things on my heart:

If God takes my wife from me today, He has already given me varying levels of undeserved joy for the last 21 years. That first encounter with her was better than I deserved.

I am a dolt, therefore, I am prone to forgetting this lesson. Yet another evidence that I have been treated far better than I deserve.

A License to Shame?

For the last couple weeks, there has been a car parked on our street that has a red and yellow Ohio license tag. I had no idea what this was until some guest recently informed me that it means the driver has been convicted of multiple DUI's. Apparently, these tags have been available--but rarely ordered by judges--since 1967.

So my questions are:

a) The police can see your driving record simply by running the plate number, right? So, are these tags issued to inform the general public?

b) If this is for the general public, does it actually work if most people (I assume) probably don't know why these tags exist either? (I simply thought they were specialty tags.)

c) If this is for the general public, is this for the purpose of safety? But if I am close enough to notice that their tag is issued from Ohio (and isn't merely an out of state or specialty tag), am I already in harm's way? Would this inform my driving near them in ways that observing their driving (swerving/speeding/etc) would not?

c) Is the real purpose to shame the DUI offender? If so, does this work as a deterrent?

d) Is shame ever a good deterrent? Does it matter if the person is a believer or not?

Lessons Learned [2]

As I mentioned previously, Charity and I have recently come out of an intense time of learning. If it my desire to record some of these lessons learned for the sake of perhaps encouraging others. It is also my desire that I do not forget the lessons learned, even by encouraging accountability from readers to help me remember these lessons.

Lesson Two: God's goodness

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.--Romans 8:28-30

Non-believers and immature Christians will say:

I am facing this trial, despite the fact that God is good.

Their trial and God's goodness are not related. They will seek to construct a system where God excuses Himself from sovereign responsibility while we endure a trial. They know God must be good, yet He does not seem to be acting good at the moment.

A slightly more mature believer will say:

I am facing this trial, yet God is good.

This person will be tempted to acknowledge God's goodness in the results that will come from the trial, but not in the trial itself. They trust that God can "trump" any situation and make it turn good.

A matured believer will say:

I am facing this trial because God is good.

While waiting to hear Charity's test results, many well meaning people would tell me how they were praying. Often, I would hear people say things like, "God is good. I just know that the test results are going to come back OK." However, by God's grace, God pushed me deeper into the Text. Real peace is not in trusting your desired outcome because you claim God's goodness. Peace is found in trusting that God's goodness is revealed in the trial, not just the results.

Through this recent situation, God reminded me of passage after passage dealing with His sovereignty and drove me to remembering the goal when enduring a trial. The goal is not merely survival. The goal is not just to trust God for the results. The goal is to trust God for the trial.

Book Review: Spirit Empowered Preaching

Spirit Empowered Preaching
Involving the Holy Spirit in Your Preaching
by Arturo G. Azurdia III
©1998, Christian Focus Publications
183 pages

I absolutely love this book. Here's my struggle: Every time I teach a class on preaching--or walk through a book with others regarding preaching--I always end up reading a better book before we finish the class. I've always enjoyed teaching the preaching classes, but once you've read a better resource it is a temptation to look ahead to the next class rather than finish strong. While I loved Mohler's He Is Not Silent (and am not disappointed we are using it), I can't wait to teach a class using this resource. I simply can't imagine a better book on preaching.

Preaching is often described as a combination of art and science. Some preachers will focus more on the art; the illustrations, delivery and presentation. Others focus on the science; the exegesis, structural outline and doctrine. In most conversations, the goal seems to be the healthy balance. Rarely does a book exhibit fully pursuing both. Arturo fills the book with chapter end-notes (I personally prefer footnotes, but have been told it intimidates too many readers), showing that he has done his homework. Many of his points are supported and built up through commentaries and greek exegesis. Yet, this book is far from a text book. Azurdia regularly reminds the reader that the goal is not simply filling the head. We are not just aiming to inform, but are seeking to see transformation. Azurdia does not encourage us to seek the balance between art and science, but beautifully displays fully pursuing both. Yet success will not be in your art or science. Success will be the work of the Holy Spirit.

Uh oh, I just said "Holy Spirit," a topic some believers have occasionally disagreed over. Azurdia quotes William Still as saying:

It is often lamented that the Holy Spirit is the least understood Person of the Trinity, but surely we see why this is so; for the Holy Spirit comes not to speak of Himself, but to glorify Christ. Where preachers are intent on glorifying Christ (and only crucified men can do so!), the Spirit is there with all His aid. All true showing forth of Christ is by the Holy Spirit.

Speaking of quotes...the preceding ten quotes were gems in Azurdia's book.

Arturo summarizes Spirit Empowered Preaching as:

1. Spirit empowered preaching is the principle means of advancing the kingdom of Christ.

2. Spirit Empowered Preaching will be evangelical in emphasis.

3. Spirit Empowered Preaching is the responsibility of the Church.

If you don't understand what I mean by Christ-centered preaching...you need to read this book. He explains it better than I do.

If you do understand what I mean by Christ-centered preaching...you need to read this book, for it will encourage you and refine your preaching.

If you are prone to overly academic/scholarly preaching...you need to read this book.

If you are prone to overly emotive preaching...you need to read this book.

If you preach...you will be blessed to read this book.

At this point, if a man could only read one book in addition to the Bible to understand preaching, I would have them read Spirit Empowered Preaching. (Of course, that could change when I get an opportunity to teach this book.)

[By the way, if you read this post and do not aspire to ever preach, Azurdia has a wonderful concluding chapter on the congregation's responsibility in preaching. Azurdia exhorts the reader that "the congregation must earnestly take up its mandate to make intercession for the effects of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word of God." I would covet those prayers.]

Lessons Learned [1]

As I mentioned previously, Charity and I have recently come out of an intense time of learning. It is my desire to record some of these lessons learned for the sake of perhaps encouraging others. It is also my desire that I do not forget the lessons learned, even by encouraging accountability from readers to help me remember these lessons.

Lesson One: It is the Word of God, not the trial itself, that sanctifies.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.--James 1:2-5

Though I knew better, I think I had become tempted to think "life" simply has a maturing and sanctifying effect upon believers. I tend to become distracted by the word "trials", and forget that the issue is faith. This is why James reminds us to ask for wisdom from God, and that He will grant it. Our faith is not simply developed by enduring a trial, but our endurance through a trial can plant the Biblical truth deeper into our hearts.

By God's grace, I can see recent ways He used the Word to begin the sanctification process in advance of the trial. He had me search out His sovereignty in the midst of suffering for the April 19th sermon from Leviticus 14. (This was just 10 days before hearing one very troubling diagnosis.) Then, God reinforced His victory over death from the April 26th sermon from Leviticus 18 (while we awaited test results).

As a pastor, this served as a reminder for me as to why we preach the Word. My experiences cannot prepare the congregation for suffering, nor can they provide real comfort. It will certainly effect the way I preach and will provide a greater understanding of a text, but the answers are still found in the text. In the same way that God provided comfort and growth through Scripture, God desires the pastor to present the Word of God in ways that prepare the congregation for unforeseen trials.

However, God revealed His grace to me in that His Word is truly sufficient, and that He will even point us to exactly the right text we need in order to grow. Then He will apply that Word to the trial so that we will be made mature and complete, enduring--not by our willpower--but by His grace!

A Testimony Much Like Mine

When I scan my Christian pilgrimage, I can quickly identify the three most significant high points. The first is my conversion. God saved me when I was twenty years old. The second is the evening God's Spirit opened my eyes to see the implications of the doctrines of Grace. It felt as though I had been saved a second time. The third occurred a few years ago when I enrolled in a class at Westminster Seminary taught by Dr. Edmund Clowney. It was entitled, 'Preaching Christ form the Old Testament.'

Admittedly, I began the class with my resistance level turned up to full capacity. 'Never preach Christ if He is not specifically mentioned in the Text from which you are preaching,' I had always heard. And yet for three hours each day Dr. Clowney showed us, from both exegetical and theological perspectives, how the Old Testament ruthlessly point to Jesus Christ. Each day I left class saying to my roommate, 'I love Jesus more today than I have ever before loved Him.' Without sounding hopelessly sentimental, it was something akin to an Emmaus road experience. Each day my heart would burn.

Equally unexpected, however, was the deep humility that accompanied this fresh experience of joy. After the second or third day into class a painful realization broke open in my consciousness: though I had been preaching the Bible expositionally for eleven years, I had altogether missed the Spirit-intended purpose for the first two-thirds of it! Even more to the point was the lingering memory of a recently concluded twelve-part series on the book of Nehemiah. As diligently as I tried I failed to recollect one occasion of speaking about Jesus Christ during those twelve weeks of preaching, save for the mention of His name in my closing prayer at the conclusion of the sermon. And the haunting question which forcibly impressed itself upon my mind was this: how can I ask for the Holy Spirit's power in preaching when I am completely out of step with the Holy Spirit's purpose in His Word?