Men,
We all consider ourselves "servant leaders." Do we really know what that means or looks like?
Check out this sermon given by Voddie Baucham "Leading as a Servant" at the Truth & Life Conference 2011. Below is an excerpt:
His first act as a servant leader:
The Creator of the universe, wraps Himself in human flesh, not only that, but He submits Himself as an obedient Son not only to sinful parents, but to parents that sinned against Him, not only to sinful parents that sinned against Him, but sinful parents He created who sin against Him. And He submits to them in everything.
Christ the servant leader, takes upon the sins of those whom He serves and He dies in their stead, but WHY???
For His Father's Glory!!!
Does He get exalted, yes He does...by His Father...AFTER He dies.
So then, you and I as servant leaders...what do we do???
We give ourselves away as slaves, and we serve those to whom we have been called. Experiencing humiliation if necessary in the process. Why? So eventually we can become well known?
THAT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO A SERVANT LEADER.
No. So that Christ, may be glorified in the lives of those whom we serve.
When that happens, not only do you not turn it around and seek the higher position of notoriaty, but you're actually terrified of it. Because it makes it more and more difficult to be humble. And when people come up to you and say "How much you meant to me" and when a servant leader hears that, the one thing that goes through their mind is, "Oh how terrible it would be for me to take that into myself and rob God of His Glory."
Servant leadership is not about becoming rich or well known, its about you making much of Christ, and He will not share His Glory with another.
Dec 15, 2011
Dec 8, 2011
"And the peace of God..."
Men,
During our Bible study of Philippians this morning, my brothers and I were working on Philippians 4:4-7. We kinda camped out on verse 7 a bit and discussed a little more thoroughly "the peace of God" and "guard your hearts." It was rich and we were able to work through to the understanding that God had intended. Afterwards, I was killing some time at our Seminary Library and decided to pickup the Word Biblical Commentary, by Hawthorne and Thomas Nelson publishers. If you haven't read any of the Christian classics published by Thomas Nelson, you ought to. They do a fantastic job of introducing you to the authors.
Anyway…to the point. I went straight to the section that we kinda parked on this morning and I wanted to share some deep stuff I read. Through this commentary God had reaffirmed what He helped us glean during our study this morning, but the section regarding "the peace of God" blew me away. I always understood as a believer I would know peace, but I'm here to tell you, the level of peace that Paul is referring to in this verse is BEYOND comprehension.
I wanted to share Enjoy.
“the peace of God,” This expression is found nowhere else in the NT. With it Paul is not referring to the peace with God that the Philippians had as a result of their being justified by faith in Christ, such peace is presupposed. Nor is he exclusively referring to that “inward peace of soul which comes from God, and is grounded in God’s presence and promise…the fruit of believing prayer.” Paul seems here to be referring to the tranquility of God’s own eternal being, the peace that God himself has, the calm serenity that characterizes God’s very nature and that grateful, trusting Christians are welcome to share.
“will stand guard over your thoughts and feelings in Christ Jesus.” The verb "guard" is a military term picturing God’s peace as a detachment of soldiers “standing guard over” a city so as to protect it from attack. Philippi in Paul’s time housed a Roman garrison. Thus the metaphor would have been easily understood and appreciated by the Philippian Christians who read it: God’s peace, like a garrison of soldiers, will keep guard over our thoughts and feelings so that they will be safe against the assaults of worry and fear as any fortress.
“heart,” in the NT never means the physical organ that pumps the blood. Nor is it used solely to refer to the center of one’s emotions (Rom 9:2; 10:1; 2 Cor 2:4; Phil 1:7). It is sometimes used to describe the source of thought and moral choice—that which “gives impulse and character to action. Here, Paul places heart alongside thought, grammatically in such a way as to distinguish the one from the other “your hearts and your thoughts” heart, very likely has its meaning narrowed to the “seat of one’s emotions or deepest feelings” or simply to the “emotions” and “feelings” themselves. Thoughts, however, are the products of the “mind” and hence thoughts.
During our Bible study of Philippians this morning, my brothers and I were working on Philippians 4:4-7. We kinda camped out on verse 7 a bit and discussed a little more thoroughly "the peace of God" and "guard your hearts." It was rich and we were able to work through to the understanding that God had intended. Afterwards, I was killing some time at our Seminary Library and decided to pickup the Word Biblical Commentary, by Hawthorne and Thomas Nelson publishers. If you haven't read any of the Christian classics published by Thomas Nelson, you ought to. They do a fantastic job of introducing you to the authors.
Anyway…to the point. I went straight to the section that we kinda parked on this morning and I wanted to share some deep stuff I read. Through this commentary God had reaffirmed what He helped us glean during our study this morning, but the section regarding "the peace of God" blew me away. I always understood as a believer I would know peace, but I'm here to tell you, the level of peace that Paul is referring to in this verse is BEYOND comprehension.
I wanted to share Enjoy.
“the peace of God,” This expression is found nowhere else in the NT. With it Paul is not referring to the peace with God that the Philippians had as a result of their being justified by faith in Christ, such peace is presupposed. Nor is he exclusively referring to that “inward peace of soul which comes from God, and is grounded in God’s presence and promise…the fruit of believing prayer.” Paul seems here to be referring to the tranquility of God’s own eternal being, the peace that God himself has, the calm serenity that characterizes God’s very nature and that grateful, trusting Christians are welcome to share.
“will stand guard over your thoughts and feelings in Christ Jesus.” The verb "guard" is a military term picturing God’s peace as a detachment of soldiers “standing guard over” a city so as to protect it from attack. Philippi in Paul’s time housed a Roman garrison. Thus the metaphor would have been easily understood and appreciated by the Philippian Christians who read it: God’s peace, like a garrison of soldiers, will keep guard over our thoughts and feelings so that they will be safe against the assaults of worry and fear as any fortress.
“heart,” in the NT never means the physical organ that pumps the blood. Nor is it used solely to refer to the center of one’s emotions (Rom 9:2; 10:1; 2 Cor 2:4; Phil 1:7). It is sometimes used to describe the source of thought and moral choice—that which “gives impulse and character to action. Here, Paul places heart alongside thought, grammatically in such a way as to distinguish the one from the other “your hearts and your thoughts” heart, very likely has its meaning narrowed to the “seat of one’s emotions or deepest feelings” or simply to the “emotions” and “feelings” themselves. Thoughts, however, are the products of the “mind” and hence thoughts.
Dec 7, 2011
That's Deep!!
"After this had transpired the blood of these people, although misled, fell so hot on my heart that I could not stand it, nor find rest in my soul. I reflected upon my unclean, carnal life, also the hypocritical doctrine and idolatry which I still practiced daily in appearance of godliness, but without relish. I saw that these zealous children, although in error, willingly gave their lives and their estates for their doctrine and faith. And I was one of those who disclosed to some of them the abominations of the papal system. But I myself continued in my comfortable life and acknowledge abominations simply in order that I might enjoy physical comfort and escape the cross of Christ."
The Theology of the Cross or Theology of Glory?
Men,
Martin Luther called any theology that tried to discover God through human reason unaided by supernatural grace and the gift of faith a "Theology of Glory," or Glory of Man.
"The theology of glory, then, is a human-centered theology that leads to an overestimation of natural human power and ability. The theology of the cross shows the true condition of humans as helpless sinners alienated from God in mind and heart and desperately in need of God’s rescue mission, the cross of Christ. The theology of glory implies that humans can pull themselves up to God by their own bootstraps, so to speak, and leads to projects of self-salvation and theological speculation. The theology of the cross proclaims that humans are totally dependent and unable to figure out anything about God apart from God’s own self-disclosure and leads to discipleship marked by suffering for God and others." (Olsen, 382).
Martin Luther called any theology that tried to discover God through human reason unaided by supernatural grace and the gift of faith a "Theology of Glory," or Glory of Man.
"The theology of glory, then, is a human-centered theology that leads to an overestimation of natural human power and ability. The theology of the cross shows the true condition of humans as helpless sinners alienated from God in mind and heart and desperately in need of God’s rescue mission, the cross of Christ. The theology of glory implies that humans can pull themselves up to God by their own bootstraps, so to speak, and leads to projects of self-salvation and theological speculation. The theology of the cross proclaims that humans are totally dependent and unable to figure out anything about God apart from God’s own self-disclosure and leads to discipleship marked by suffering for God and others." (Olsen, 382).
Dec 1, 2011
Spartan, what will you gain by this victory?
Men,
Check out this quote from John MacArthur's commentary on Romans:
A victor at an ancient Greek olympic game is said to have been asked, "Spartan, what will you gain from this victory?" He replied, "I, sir, shall have the honor to fight on the front line for my king."
MacArthur says, "That should typify everyone for whom Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior."
"The Lord never provides conversion without commission."
CAN I GET AN AMEN!?!?!
Check out this quote from John MacArthur's commentary on Romans:
A victor at an ancient Greek olympic game is said to have been asked, "Spartan, what will you gain from this victory?" He replied, "I, sir, shall have the honor to fight on the front line for my king."
MacArthur says, "That should typify everyone for whom Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior."
"The Lord never provides conversion without commission."
CAN I GET AN AMEN!?!?!
Nov 23, 2011
The "world" is but a great inn
Thomas Watson, a Puritan theologian and church
leader, said,
“The world is but a great inn, where we are to lodge a night or two, and be gone; what madness is it to set our heart upon this inn, and forget our home.”
leader, said,
“The world is but a great inn, where we are to lodge a night or two, and be gone; what madness is it to set our heart upon this inn, and forget our home.”
Oct 19, 2011
Dulins and Team are Guatemala Bound
Men,
I am counting on you to be in prayer for me, my wife and our missions trip team as we prepare to head to Guatemala for a missions trip. Below are a list of the activities and members.
I am counting on you to be in prayer for me, my wife and our missions trip team as we prepare to head to Guatemala for a missions trip. Below are a list of the activities and members.
Guatemala Team Members
Kelly Richardson
James Lashley
Andy Richardson
Diane Richardson
Travis Richardson
Rachel Miller
J.P. Polinsky
Dave Babb
David Babb
Jacque Dulin
Danny Dulin
Stewart Eastep
Tom Cooney
Saturday, October 22 Team members arrive in Guatemala City at various times throughout the day. Pray for coordination in pickup and transportation to the team staging area. Pray also that all the dental supplies team members are transporting in their luggage will clear customs without any problems.
Sunday, October 23 Worship in Guatemala City at La Iglesia Camino Y Verdad, pastor Andy is preaching. The team will travel 4 hours into rugged highland terrain (6,000+ ft elevation) to Piedras Grandes, a village area. Pray that there will be no rains and that the roads will be passable.
Monday-Tuesday, October 24-25 Dental clinic evangelism in Piedras Grandes. Pray for physical endurance for the dentists, patience for the team members supporting them, and wisdom and enthusiasm for the team evangelists. Pray that many people will respond in faith to the gospel.
Wednesday, October 26 Travel back to Guatemala City... safety. Pray for Andy and Tom as they engage in pastoral counseling for an on-going situation for a local family in the church.
Thursday, October 27 Convoy into Ciudad Quetzal, a drug-gang controlled area of the city that is very dangerous. The team will set up a dental clinic in a new church (Casa Mana) starting with mostly women and children. Pray for a good response to the gospel and for safety coming back out at night
Friday, October 28 Convoy back to Ciudad Quetzal and the team’s preparations for a large children’s concert in the afternoon with Chochy Ruano, recording artist. The team will canvas the neighborhood extending invitations to children for the concert, which could be both the most exciting and dangerous part of the whole trip.
Saturday, October 29 Pray for a safe return to the USA
Kelly Richardson
James Lashley
Andy Richardson
Diane Richardson
Travis Richardson
Rachel Miller
J.P. Polinsky
Dave Babb
David Babb
Jacque Dulin
Danny Dulin
Stewart Eastep
Tom Cooney
Saturday, October 22 Team members arrive in Guatemala City at various times throughout the day. Pray for coordination in pickup and transportation to the team staging area. Pray also that all the dental supplies team members are transporting in their luggage will clear customs without any problems.
Sunday, October 23 Worship in Guatemala City at La Iglesia Camino Y Verdad, pastor Andy is preaching. The team will travel 4 hours into rugged highland terrain (6,000+ ft elevation) to Piedras Grandes, a village area. Pray that there will be no rains and that the roads will be passable.
Monday-Tuesday, October 24-25 Dental clinic evangelism in Piedras Grandes. Pray for physical endurance for the dentists, patience for the team members supporting them, and wisdom and enthusiasm for the team evangelists. Pray that many people will respond in faith to the gospel.
Wednesday, October 26 Travel back to Guatemala City... safety. Pray for Andy and Tom as they engage in pastoral counseling for an on-going situation for a local family in the church.
Thursday, October 27 Convoy into Ciudad Quetzal, a drug-gang controlled area of the city that is very dangerous. The team will set up a dental clinic in a new church (Casa Mana) starting with mostly women and children. Pray for a good response to the gospel and for safety coming back out at night
Friday, October 28 Convoy back to Ciudad Quetzal and the team’s preparations for a large children’s concert in the afternoon with Chochy Ruano, recording artist. The team will canvas the neighborhood extending invitations to children for the concert, which could be both the most exciting and dangerous part of the whole trip.
Saturday, October 29 Pray for a safe return to the USA