Philippians: August 3 Sermon Handout

This week at New Life Fellowship we'll be looking at the series of commands or instructions that the Paul writes to the Philippian church. Paul's main hope is that the Philippians will stand firm in the Lord Jesus-- that they will not run or retreat as the going gets tough. He provides eight other instructions that are intended to help the Philippians (and all who follow Jesus) know how to stand firm in the Lord. 

If you're a part of the New Life Fellowship community, or you're thinking of checking us out (the service begins around 10:30 AM), you can download an outline for Sunday's message by clicking here.

Philippians: July 27 Sermon Handout

This upcoming Sunday I'll be preaching at New Life Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in Red Deer. The sermon, on Philippians 3:12–21, will be the sixth of an eight week series examining Paul's letter to the Philippians. You can download an outline to accompany Sunday's sermon by clicking here.

The Humiliation and Exalation of Jesus from Philippians 2

The sermon yesterday was an exposition of Philippians 2:1–13. In this passage, Paul commands the Philippians to put off selfish ambition and conceitedness-- two things that would destroy the unity Paul sought for the Philippians in Philippians 1:27–30-- and to instead share the same attitude, the same love, and humbly consider others as more important than one's own interests.

Perhaps for the purpose of motivation, or perhaps for instructional purposes, Paul points to the ministry of Jesus as the example they should follow. In six sweeping verses, Paul moves from a picture of Jesus at the beginning of time to a picture of Jesus at the end of time; however, it's the middle verses that highlight the selfless, sacrificial service that Christ performed on behalf of those he would redeem. The following diagram-- my personal adaptation of the diagram formed in the ESV Study Bible-- illustrates the movement of Jesus from the glories of heaven to the agonies of earth to his final exaltation by the Father. 

 

Please excuse the mild pixelation and formatting issues that arose when I posted online. The diagram did not translated as smoothly as I had hoped.

Wise and Godly Counselors: A Diagnostic Checklist

The book of Proverbs makes clear that having wise and godly counselors is an essential part of living wisely and living well. We cannot fly solo and fly well at the same time. We need other people to speak into our lives, to gently and lovingly expose our sin, to pray with us, to encourage us, and to challenge us (Paul Tripp puts it helpfully when he says, 'Our walk with God is a community project'). Here are some diagnostic questions to consider whether you have the godly counselors that Proverbs says that we need: 

1. Do I have multiple people with whom I have regular conversations about things that matter? 
2. Are these people wise, trustworthy, and do they fear the LORD (which Proverbs says is the beginning of wisdom)?
3. Do I have friends in my life who know me, love me, and who feel free to speak truth even when it's not something easy to say or hear? Their names are... (If you're married this should include your spouse, but not be limited to your spouse. If your spouse is the only person who you count on for this type of input you're putting a crushing responsibility on their shoulders.)
4. When someone comes to me with a constructive criticism or correction I view this as [or I respond by]... 

Sermon Summary: The Importance of Wise and Godly Counselors

On Sunday I preached from the book of Proverbs. The second half of Proverbs is sentence literature, meaning that a new theme or topic might be addressed from one sentence to the next without any warning or transition. The proverbs are not necessarily sorted by topic, but are often scattered throughout the book, which makes it difficult to preach (how often have you heard sermons preached from the book of Proverbs? I think I've only heard one sermon from Proverbs in person). One way to approach the book of Proverbs (which is what I did) is to collect proverbs based around a single theme. The theme I preached on was the importance of wise and godly counselors in living wisely (Proverbs 11:14; 12:15; 15:22; 24:5–6; 15:5; 15:31–33; 17:10; 25:11–12). 
 

Image Source

Two basic principles emerge from these Proverbs: 

1. Listening to good advisors and listening to many advisors is wise and profitable. 
2. Listening carefully to correction and instruction-- even when it is hard to hear-- is the way of wisdom. 

After unpacking these two principles, we considered: 

1. How this wisdom plays out in day-to-day life in general.
2. How we need to apply this wisdom more frequently to our lives as Christians.
3. How the gospel of Jesus Christ frees us to receive this wisdom by moving us past responses to correction of devastation and avoidance.

The Genius of Puritanism

To some, the suggestion that the Puritan movement possessed a genius to it would be a laughable suggestion. Those who sat under their preaching, who received counsel in their studies--or today while reading republished sermons and books-- would know that Puritan pastors did indeed possess a genius in one area especially that has, quite possibly, outstripped any group of pastors before or since the Puritans ministered in 16th and 17th century England. The Puritans excelled in teaching all theology as practical theology; and, as such, the typical Puritan sermon would not merely announce a theological idea, but would explain why it mattered and how the average layperson might apply this truth from Scripture to their life. If the sermon was on a text that called men and women to trust in the Lord, the sermon would first discuss the selected text, then identify the theological truth or doctrine to be found within the text (while also explaining how that doctrine was derived from Scripture), and then would apply that doctrine to the lives of that specific congregation using vivid examples and memorable aphorisms. In applying the text, the Puritan pastor would be sure to give counsel on how to (for instance) trust in God-- perhaps giving three, six, or nine helps for trusting in God in their current situations. The typical Puritan sermon was not vague, general, or trite, but sought to equip and empower the immediate congregation for living out God's Word and growing in faith, regardless of the ease or difficulty of personal circumstances.


Peter Lewis' The Genius of Puritanism is an punchy examination of Puritan preaching, worship, and spiritual counseling practices. The book begins by a brief introduction to Puritan history and thought that would be helpful for any who are wondering who the Puritans were and what they were about. Then it proceeds to discuss the Puritan in the pulpit, in the pew, and in private. It is this third element that demands most of the book's attention. 

With regard to the Puritan in private (and by this Lewis is referring to the Puritan Pastor in his study as he cared for those people under his care), Lewis directs his attention to the Puritan pastors treatment of spiritual depression, or as the Puritans also called it, spiritual desertion-- the feeling in a person that God has abandoned them. While God does not actually abandon those he has forgiven and claimed as his own, certain individuals may truly feel as if God has deserted. This feeling is not imaginary or foolish, but is a genuine heaviness of heart and soul that comes upon a person who believes that they are God forsaken. For the pastor, he might encounter this as a woman comes into his study and complains that she no longer feels like God is there when she prays or reads her Bible. God feels distant to her! A teenager might come to the pastor because he has done something that he knew was wrong and now wrestles with deep-seated guilt and the fear that God could no longer accept him back. Or, the pastor may be confronted with a father who has suddenly lost his son, and feels that God has abandoned him. All three people really feel like God is distant and, quite possibly in their minds, that he no longer loves them. To these scenarios, which are quite plausible today, the Puritans offer tremendously keen insights on how to explain this feeling of desertion and what might be done to alleviate this spiritual darkness. 

Lewis, an English pastor, is writing as one who has enjoyed and revered the wisdom of the Puritans and it clearly shows through his writing. While for some readers Lewis' bias might detract from the book, his interest in the Puritans makes him more than willing to let them speak for themselves. Though The Genius of Puritanism is small, it is slow reading because of extensive quotations from a wide range of Puritan works. This allows the reader to hear the Puritan voice firsthand and to truly take in the compassionate tone that these pastors preached with and the practical counsel they offered-- in private and in public-- to those who were struggling to find the peace and comfort that was supposedly offered in Christ. 

The book offers its own commendation in the conclusion, when it says, "Every Christian is aware of the many forms of spiritual depression that can and do accompany the Christian life in this uncertain world. Perhaps few ages have been more neurotic than our own, and the crying need for an adequate, biblical, pastoral ministry to anguished minds, disillusioned Christians, stricken consciences and subconscious fears, was never more evidence than in our day. Such cases, and in such number, need more studied and scriptural treatment than they are receiving... In this matter, as in all others, we have the Puritans' Bible, the Puritans' God-- why may we not have 'the Puritan genius'?" (136). This genius, this acute ability to diagnosis the heart and prescribe treatment for our spiritual difficulties, is clearly introduced in this fine work. 

To students of the Puritans, to pastors, and to those who desire to see what a nuanced and practical theology looks like, I suggest the slow-reading, but valuable, The Genius of Puritanism.

We Preached Christ Crucified by D.A. Carson

Don Carson, preaching 1 Corinthians 15:1-19, gives a really edifying summary of the gospel. He sets out the gospel in "eight words, five sentences, and an eclectic summary." The summary was so helpful that I have created a summary of the talk in hopes of enticing readers to listen to the full sermon here. 

Eight Words 

1. The gospel is christological. The gospel is Christ-centered. The gospel is not bland theism, nor is it impersonal pantheism. "The gospel is not preached if Christ is not preached." The gospel focuses not just on Christ's person, but on his death as well.
2. The gospel is theological. The gospel is God-centered. God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. God sent his Son to be the Savior. It is not as though the Father and the Son are at odds. The cross and the resurrection are bound up with Christ and with the Father. It is also theological in the sense that the gospel deals with God's wrath against sin. Sin is against God and as a result the gospel addresses judgment. We require God's forgiveness.
3. The gospel is biblical. Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.
4. The gospel is apostolic. The gospel is relayed to all Christians by the witness and testimony of the apostles.
5. The gospel is historical. The cross and the resurrection are inseparably tied together in history. While the credibility of other religions (i.e. Buddhism) depends on philosophical concepts, the credibility of the Gospel is entirely contingent upon historical facticity of the death and resurrection of Christ. If Jesus lives in your heart but not in history, all is lost. 
6. The gospel is personal. The gospel is not only theological and historical events, but it sets out the way of personal salvation. Any gospel that isn't also personal is nothing more than interesting history.
7. The gospel is universal. The gospel has a comprehensive vision of salvation (this does not mean that everyone will be saved). The gospel offers the hope of redemption to every culture and corner of creation.
8. The gospel is eschatological. The gospel is bound up with the "last things". The gospel saves us now and it also prepares us for the new heaven and the new earth. The gospel is also eschatological in the sense that the verdict we shall receive at the end of time is pronounced on Christians already, "Not guilty."

Five Sentences 

1. The gospel is normally disseminated by proclamation (1 Cor. 15:11). 
2. This gospel is fruitfully received in authentic, persevering faith (1 Cor. 15:11). 
3. The gospel is properly disclosed in personal self-humiliation (1 Cor. 15:8).
4. This gospel is rightly asserted to be the central confession of the whole Church. 
5. This gospel boldly advances under the contested reign and the inevitable victory of King Jesus.

Eclectic Summary: The gospel has an important propositional or cognitive material (the "news" of the Good News has an important cognitive element). Yet, while we are saved by faith alone, genuine faith does not exist alone. It is always accompanied by a changed life.

The preceding chapters of 1 Corinthians 1-14 are a discussion of the transformative power of God, whereby lives are changed, holiness is exemplified, and the gospel is lived out. The gospel is the transformative power of God.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

The Martyn Lloyd-Jones trust made news last week by announcing that they would be making 1600 sermons from the good doctor available free of charge (what a gift! what an image of the gospel!). Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was known for his thorough exposition of the Scripture, his gospel preaching, and his love for the gospel of Jesus. Here is an introduction to his life:

Hopefully this has piqued your interest in the work and gospel ministry of Dr. Lloyd-Jones and you will make good use of this new (and free!) resource. Register now at the MLJ trust website and begin downloading today.

Our Debt to Heresy

Following up on my previous post about Sunday evening services, I thought I would introduce you to one of the cool sermon series that Kevin DeYoung has preached University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan.

In the Spring of 2009, DeYoung preached a ten week sermon titled "Our Debt to Heresy". DeYoung introduces varies false doctrines that have arisen throughout the history of the church (giving some interesting historical background along the way), diagnosis the problem with that particular viewpoint, and how the Bible speaks to the issue in question.

I learned a lot by listening to this series and took away some important theological cautions. This is one example of how Sunday evening services can be used to instruct congregations in true doctrine and further come together to worship our God. 

What do you think of this sort of teaching series? Would you like to have this sort of teaching-style service as part of your church's ministry? 

Our Debt to Heresy, Part 1  

Our Debt to Heresy, Part 2

Our Debt to Heresy, Part 3

Nestorianism and Eutychianism

Marcionism

Our Debt to Heresy, Part 6

Pelagianism

Theopaschitism

Gnosticism

The Heresy of the Free Spirit