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Hell is for the Little Sins

Joe Thorn — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

"Ah!" says Satan, "It is but a little pride, a little worldliness, a little uncleanness, a little drunkenness..." "Alas!" says Satan, "It is but a very little sin that you stick so at. You may commit it without any danger to your soul. It is but a little one; you may commit it, and yet your soul shall live.

Solemnly consider, that those sins which we are apt to account small, have brought upon men the greatest wrath of God, as the eating of an apple, gathering a few sticks on the Sabbath day, and touching of the ark. Oh! the dreadful wrath that these sins brought down upon the heads and hearts of men! The least sin is contrary to the law of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the glory of God…

Consider, that there is great danger, yes, many times most danger—in the smallest sins. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (1 Cor. 5:6). If the serpent sneaks in his head, he will draw in his whole body after him. Greater sins do sooner startle the soul, and awaken and rouse up the soul to repentance, than lesser sins do. Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and indiscernibly in the soul, until they come to be so strong, as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul. There is oftentimes greatest danger to our bodies in the least diseases that hang upon us, because we are apt to make light of them, and to neglect the timely use of means for removing of them, until they are grown so strong that they prove mortal to us. So there is most danger often in the least sins...

A little hole in the ship sinks it. A small breach in a dyke carries away all before it. A little stab at the heart kills a man. A little sin, without a great deal of mercy, will damn a man!

- Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices

Hell Awakened Me

Joe Thorn — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Album art from Slayer's "Hell Awaits"

I didn't go to church as a kid, but I did watch a lot of horror movies so I felt pretty educated when it came to the subject of hell. From the The Gates of Hell (1980) to Hellraiser (1987), and everything in-between, Hell was a scary but fictional place. Hell didn't bother me. It was thrilling. Fun, even. Until 1989.

By then I was hearing the truths of Scripture for the first time: God's holiness, my sinfulness, and Christ's sacrifice. The more I heard and the more I read the more I became convinced of both the reality and the justice of a very real hell. I knew that hell awaited me, and that this was right. My own sins and guilt were always weighing on my conscience and the wrath of God was what I deserved.

Yes, I was hearing the gospel, but it seemed too far away, too good for me, too good to be true. I couldn't wrap my mind around the idea that God would pardon me and embrace me. For over 9 months I despaired for my soul. And all along the way through Scripture and providence God was pressing in on me.

I can remember singing the lyrics to Slayer's "Hell Awaits," "The gates of hell lie waiting as you see--There's no price to pay just follow me--I can take your lost soul from the grave--Jesus knows your soul can not be saved," and agreeing with them. I can remember listening to Steve Vai's album, Passion and Warfare, in 1990 and being stunned when, at the end of an instrumental piece, David Coverdale says, "Walking the fine line... between Pagan and Christian." I wanted to be a Christian. I wanted to know God. But that seemed impossible. I found no relief.

The doctrine of hell and the fear of endless punishment did not convert me. I was unworthy, and hell was fair. Purchasing some kind of spiritual fire insurance was not an option. I had no "money." But Hell awakened me. Hell stirred me enough to pay close attention to the good news of Jesus' atonement, forgiveness, and the sinner's reconciliation to God--even though it seemed too far away for someone like me to grasp.

So I read the Bible. I went to church a few times. I listened to my new Christian friends. I even started praying. I threw out all my satanic music and jewelry. But I still found no relief. No turn, no new start, would change what I had done and what I was.

And then it happened. Not at church. Not at some Christian concert. I was alone in my bedroom reading the Gospel of Matthew when God sovereignly opened my eyes to see what I was missing. He opened my heart to respond to the good news. I went from unbelief and despair to belief and peace with the first beat of my new heart. I actually rolled off my bed, onto my knees, and began talking to the God who was now mine--to the God who received me as his own. Everything changed.

Do not forsake the doctrine of hell and God's justice, my friends. There is no good news apart from bad news. And until a man or a woman tastes the bitterness of their sin and feels the weight of the just judgment of God they will never find the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be sweet and liberating. Give 'em hell, and give 'em the gospel.

Giving Them Hell

Joe Thorn — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:42:28 +0000

This coming Sunday I will be preaching on the subject of judgement, focusing on the doctrine of hell specifically. This isn't the first time I've preached a sermon on hell, but every time I do I am reminded that of all the teaching in the Bible on the subject, Jesus speaks of it more than any Biblical writer, and his words also offer a more vivid and terrifying picture than can be found elsewhere in Scripture. Biblical writers speak of it, but

“The Apostles enter far less into detailed description, and are far less emphatic upon this solemn theme, than their divine Lord and Master. And well they might be. For as none but God has the right, and would dare, to sentence a soul to eternal misery, for sin; and as none but God has the right, and would dare, to execute the sentence; so none but God has the right, and should presume, to delineate the nature and consequences of this sentence. This is the reason why most of the awful imagery in which the sufferings of the lost are described is found in the discourses of our Lord and Saviour.”

— WGT Shedd, The Doctrine of Endless Punishment

Hell is a doctrine hated by many. Some reject the idea of hell as nothing more than a primitive way of keeping followers in line with threats of punishment. Others reject hell, believing that it will ultimately lose and God's love will "win" everyone into heaven. Many reject the idea of hell because it is simply too much--too hard a thing to consider seriously. Of course, it is an exceedingly hard truth. In his book, Concise Theology, JI Packer explains that the "New Testament teaching about hell is meant to appall us and strike us dumb with horror, assuring us that, as heaven will be better than we could dream, so hell will be worse than we can conceive." Maybe this is one of the reasons so few Christians today seem to talk about hell. It's just too hard.

I have posted some brief thoughts on hell in the past (here and here), and will do so again throughout this week. But let me encourage you to consider that if you want to give someone the gospel you will first need to give them hell. More on all this to come.

Buy WGT Shedd's "Doctrine of Endless Punishment" here

The Moral Must Repent

Joe Thorn — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:25:34 +0000

“Repentance is necessary for civil persons. These have no visible spots on them. They are free from gross sin, and one would think they had nothing to do with the business of repentance. They are so good that they scorn a psalm of mercy. Indeed these are often in the worst condition: these are they who need no repentance (Luke 15:7). Their civility undoes them. They make a Christ of it, and so on this shelf they suffer shipwreck. Morality shoots short of heaven. It is only nature refined. A moral man is but old Adam dressed in fine clothes. The king’s image counterfeited and stamped upon brass will not go current. The civil person seems to have the image of God, but he is only brass metal, which will never pass for current. Civility is insufficient for salvation. Though the life be moralized, the lust may be unmortified. The heart may be full of pride and atheism. Under the fair leaves of a tree there may be a worm. I am not saying, repent that your are civil, but that you are no more than civil. Satan entered into the house that had just been swept and garnished (Luke 11:26). This is the emblem of a moral man, who is swept by civility and garnished with common gifts, but is not washed by true repentance. The unclean spirit enters into such a one. If civility were sufficient to salvation, Christ need not have died. The civilian has a fair lamp, but it lacks the oil of grace.”

— Thomas Watson, The Doctrine of Repentance

Order Thomas Watson's "The Doctrine of Repentance" here

Idle of the Heart

Joe Thorn — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:04:19 +0000

I continue to find young men who are frustrated at their stage in life in part because of a lack of clarity about their calling, or a lack of opportunity to do what they really want to do. This frustration leads many to become idle. Inactive if not aimless. And this leads many to become jobless (or nearly so) while becoming overly dependent on others (parents, friends, credit cards). If you find yourself at this stage I would like to address you, my friends. No, I'm not going to lecture you about your motives, growing up, or prolonged adolescence, though such things might be issues for you to deal with. I only want to remind you of three truths than can change how you understand and experience this time in your life.

This time is hard, and it is easy to conclude there is little to no value in these days of uncertainty and disappointment. While you are figuring out (or waiting to do) what you are called to do vocationally, know this: you are called by God to work hard now, to share with others, and to love your neighbor...

Read the rest at Christianity.com

The Way of Keeping Your Heart

Joe Thorn — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:11:38 +0000

One of the 10 most important books I have read outside of Scripture is John Flavel's, Keeping the Heart. I have greatly benefitted from it personally, and the truths within have come to mark much of my teaching and preaching. Flavel, interacting with Prov. 4:23, defines keeping the heart as "the diligent and constant use of all holy means to preserve the soul from sin, and maintain its sweet and free communion with God."

In my previous post I warned against the danger of neglecting the heart, particularly as it relates to knowing our own corruptions and weaknesses. The author of Hebrews warns us of this danger as well when he wrote,

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

— Hebrews 3:12-13

Notice what Hebrews is teaching us. Not just the danger of neglecting the heart, but also the means of protecting it. "exhort one another." This is not generic encouragement or try-harder coaching. This is gospel application to one another's hearts. This is pressing Scripture into each others' lives. Of all of the "holy means" we have to keep the heart none is more important than Scripture.

We don't talk about "Scripture" being useful today like we used to. We use the word "gospel" a lot without much further direction. But merely saying "gospel" is not enough. In fact the degree to which anyone can be "gospel-centered" is largely determined by his Bible-fluency. I'm not talking about getting the 10 commandments in the right order, or knowing what was created on which day in Genesis 1. I mean that keeping the heart (guarding against the danger of sin, but also cultivating love for and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ--see John 15) is a gospel issue, and the gospel can only be known in God's word.

So, as we think about this practically, "How can I keep the heart?", the word Scripture will be central. Below are three Scripture-driven ways of keeping the heart.

Let the Word of God Expose You

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13, ESV)

If you can read the Bible without coming away feeling the conviction of God over your sin and your desperate need for daily grace you are reading without receiving. Whether we are reading about the character and work of God or his laws and commands, we should be struck with both his holiness and his our unholiness, his purity and our impurity, his provision and our great need.

In other words part of keeping your heart is seeing, owning, and repenting of your sin daily. You will not guard your heart against the danger of sin if you do not recognize both its presence and its damaging influence. Look to God's word to expose the darkness in you, and this will lead you to the next, and vitally connected, way of keeping the heart.

Let The Word of God Rescue You

"Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21, ESV)

Of course Jesus saves. By his life, death, and resurrection we who believe are counted as fully righteous, we are fully forgiven, and we are being progressively transformed into his image. But the knowledge of Jesus only comes by the word of God, and in that God's word rescues us.
To say that we must let the word of God rescue us means that we must daily believe on this Christ that has been revealed who alone atones for our sins, conquers our enemies, and puts us at peace with our Maker. We must read God's word with the aim of deepening our dependence on Christ while distancing ourselves from pseudo-saviors like self, morality, success, or knowledge.We really keep our hearts when we look to the One who promises to keep our souls (Jn. 17:15; Ps. 121:7).

Let the Word of God Guide You

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

The word of God reveals his will (law) to us and consequently exposes our guilt. In doing this it shows us our need for redemption, and by the work of the Spirit through the ministry of the word we believe in Christ who rescues us from our guilt. But if this is all we do with God's law we have stopped short of God's intention.

God hasn't told us what he desires of us only to show us we can't do it. In Jesus Christ we are rescued from our lawlessness unto a life of godliness. "[Jesus Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." (Titus 2:14) And he has given us his word that we would be "equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16, 17)

Our hope before God is not our performance, but the righteousness of God imputed to us through faith in Jesus (Phil 3:8, 9). And yet there a safe keeping of the heart to be found in allowing God's word to guide us in the "normative" use of God's law. His word, his law, remains a rule for Godly living and by his Spirit he empowers us to do what he commands. (Ez. 36:26, 27)

One way we keep our hearts is by letting the word of God guide us, or lead us, in godliness.

“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

— 1 Timothy 4:6-10, ESV

May we, by the grace of God and the ministry of the word, seek the preservation of our souls from sin, while maintaining sweet and free communion with our great God and Savior.

My Wife's Recommended Reads

Joe Thorn — Sun, 12 May 2013 23:16:07 +0000

We had a great Mother's Day today: worshipping with our church family, lunch with the my extended family at my grandmother's, and play time back our our house. At the moment I'm sitting outside watching the kids run around and climb trees. I just asked my wife, Jen (the greatest woman I know, and the mother of our four children), what are some books she would encourage other women to read. Here are a few off the top of her head, including a few she recently read.

Female Piety by John Angell James (online for free)

The Two Fears by Chris Poblete

A Mother's Heart by Jean Flemming

The Prodigal God by Tim Keller

The Surprising Grace of Disappointment by John Koessler

Gospel Powered Parenting by William P Farley

Surprised by Grace by Tullian Tchavidjian

Best Video of the Week

Joe Thorn — Sat, 11 May 2013 13:21:26 +0000

I love this couple. You need to watch it all. Easily the best video of the week. Probably of the month.

The Danger of Heart Neglect

Joe Thorn — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:31:24 +0000

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
(Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)

How well do you know your heart? I'm not talking about your feelings, but your deepest motives, desires, corruptions, and idols. It is not as simple as some might think. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9) The heart is tricky, even for the Christian. For though we have been given a new heart that beats with love for God, corruption remains.

“Though every part of the man is renewed, there is no part of him perfectly renewed... Although, in regeneration, there is a heavenly light let into the mind, there is still some darkness there. Though the will is renewed, it is not perfectly renewed, there is still some of the old inclination to sin remaining. ”

— Thomas Boston, The Human Nature In Its Fourfold State

The human heart (even your heart, Christian) is a mess and needs to be watched, guarded, and kept. It is too easy to focus on our behavior while leaving the heart behind. And one part of the work of guarding your heart means knowing it, or clearly seeing your inner weaknesses and root sins. Ah, but you think you know your heart. Are you sure?

“Job thought he knew his heart—but affliction came and he found he did not. David thought he knew his heart—but he learned by bitter experience how woefully he was mistaken. Peter thought he knew his heart, and in a short time he was repenting in tears. Oh, pray, beloved, if you love your souls, for some insight into your own corruption; the truest saints of God do never quite discover the exceeding sinfulness of that old man which is in them.”

— J.C. Ryle, A Bad Heart

There is real danger when we neglect our hearts by remaining ignorant and insensitive to our corruption. By not examining ourselves, uncovering sin, repenting, and trusting Christ daily we can expect the pain of three heart conditions.

More Sin

One way we neglect the heart is by dealing with our sin on the level of doing instead of being. Addressing your behavior without addressing the heart will lead to a sanctification as thin as a Christian t-shirt. In fact, by neglecting the heart you leave yourself exposed to the sticky and spreading nature of sin. "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." (James 1:15, ESV) Sin that remains unchecked will gain ground in your life. And to check it means to hit it at the heart level.

Less Joy

A neglected heart will not grieved by its sin. It grows a kind of callous that leaves it numb. This not only leads to the spread of sin, but also to a lack of joy. The deepest joy to be found is in the Savior who rescues us from our sin and guilt and welcomes us into his presence and Kingdom. Such joy is lost when we continue in sin unchecked. "Restore to me the joy of your salvation,and uphold me with a willing spirit." (Psalm 51:12, ESV) David lost the joy of the Lord and his salvation after neglecting his heart. The turning point was seeing and sensing the depths of his own sin and returning to God in humble repentance.

Weak Love

When we neglect our hearts we lose sight of how sinful we really are. Not were, but are. This not only leads to pride, but it also weakens our love for our Savior because we no longer see just what we have been rescued from, and how vast and unending is his grace toward us. It is the one who knows how much he has been forgiven that loves deeply. "He who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Lk. 7:36-50) The one who begins to understand the depths and dangers of his sin will swell with love for Jesus who laid down his own life to save the ungodly.

Do not neglect your heart. But keep it. "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)

In a follow-up post I will offer some general and specific counsel on how we can know and keep our hearts.

Artwork - album cover for Soul Embraced: This is My Blood

Kevin Galloway

Joe Thorn — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

My friend Kevin Galloway is the Lead Pastor of Christ Church, a young, fast growing, multi-site church. But it's not what some of you think. This is a theology heavy, gospel and mission driven church that is seeing a lot of conversions. Christ Church meets in two beautiful and historic church buildings in Michigan City and LaPorte, Indiana, and I am thrilled that former members of Redeemer are now a part of Christ Church!

Kevin is now blogging and sharing some great stuff. In fact, we had a chance to hang out last week and he shot a quick video while asking me a few question about writing. Head over to kevingalloway.com and subscribe to the feed.

The Best Book

Joe Thorn — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

I love books. I love to read and learn. As a guy who graduated second to last in his high school class I have always felt like with each book I take some ground. "Nice. I'm 360 pages less dumb than when I started." I used to say that a lot.

Throughout my early twenties I poured over the pages of Systematic Theology. Berkhof, Dabney, Hodge, and Shedd were my friends. Professors, really. In my mid-to-late twenties it was mostly the Puritans: Owen, Watson, Sibbes, Brooks, and Bunyan were like pastors to me. My college dorm room was a kind of library for others to use instead of heading across campus. None of this was wrong. What was wrong is that at some point along the way my hunger for God's word was replaced with a hunger for mere knowledge. I longed for truths more than the truth. It didn't take long for the word of God to become something I used to simply footnote what I was reading in other books. I didn't even notice this was happening. I thought I was good. Thankfully, at some point my fiancé (now my lovely wife) softly reminded me, "Joe, you know the Bible is the best book."

When she spoke those words I was left speechless. I wanted to defend myself, but it was like someone turned the lights on, and it was obvious that she was right. I could see it. The next few years were years of repentance. No, I didn't stop reading books (after all I was entering seminary), but they moved to a secondary position. And the more time I spent in Scripture the more it towered above all other writings. The more I read the more precious it became to me, and in the middle of seminary I finally rediscovered what I had experienced during the first few years after my conversion: the word of God was life-giving, heart-transforming, and more precious than anything else I could get my hands on.

“More to be desired are they [the Scriptures] than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb. ”

— Psalm 19:10

I still read. A lot. And I still feel like with each book I read I move forward. In thinking through, understanding, agreeing, or disagreeing with an author I am helped along in many ways. But now such books are a means, not the end. As they teach well they guide me back to the word of God, and in that is real power.

I am confident I am not alone in this experience. We have access to over 2,000 years of Christian writing, and still today the church is producing wonderful books. We encourage reading at our church. We have a "book rack" of great titles. But the Bible is the best book, and we don't want anyone to lose sight of that.

So stay in the word. Hold it in your heart. Read other books that direct you back to Scripture, knowing that it alone is what makes us wise unto salvation, it alone is the means by which God sanctifies us, and it alone is what God has given us by which we can not just know something about him, but truly know him.

“In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. ”

— Psalm 119:14-16

Rock of Ages

Joe Thorn — Sun, 05 May 2013 23:08:59 +0000

Ascend the Hill's "Hymns" is one of my favorite worship albums. Watch the video and you'll see why. The whole thing is truly amazing. Check it out at their website and download the whole thing.

Weekend Catch Up

Joe Thorn — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:56:29 +0000

There's a lot to see on the interwebs, and it's easy to miss some of the good stuff. Here are some things you should be sure to check out.

Proud vs Broken People by Nick Batzig

What African Americans Bring to Reformed Theology

10 Pictures of Faith in Jesus by David Murray

We Are A Deeply Needy People by Tim Brister

Two Posts on Hell: one by R.C. Sproul Jr. and another by Dane Ortlund

Two Poems from Tom Schmidt: O, Seductive Self-Pity and O Selfless Christ

A Note to Preachers

Joe Thorn — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:59:52 +0000

Hey, preachers. As we begin to lean into Sunday let us consider that our best preparation, our most eloquent delivery, and our most passionate pleas have no power in them. Your best sermon cannot touch the soul or change the heart. Your best is impotent. But God's word is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb. 4:12)

As you preach this weekend your hope for "success," for power, for fruit, is not found in your words, but in God's word. It isn't your script that God will bless, but his Scripture. Yes, plan well. Preach hard. Aim for the glory of Jesus and the heart-broken reception of the gospel. But let your confidence rest in what God does through the ministry of his word. He will do it, and he will graciously use weak men like you.

Joe Holland

Joe Thorn — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

There are a lot of blogs out there, and I try not to follow too many. Just those that prove to be genuinely helpful to me. Here's one I follow and hope you will to.

Joe Holland is the founding pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Culpeper, VA, and he is blogging. It's good stuff: theological, practical, honest. Head over to joeholland.net and subscribe to the feed where he talks about the converting power of Scripture, the truth behind Ninja Warrior, and the value of acting like a 3rd grader. Go get some.

Gospel Peace in Suffering

Joe Thorn — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:35:21 +0000

“Gospel peace prepares the heart for suffering, as it brings along with it and possesseth the soul where it comes, with such glorious privileges as lift it above all danger from any sufferings whatever, from God, man, or devils. If a man could be assured that he might walk as safely on the waves of the sea, or in the flames of fire, as he doth in his garden, he would be no more afraid of the one than he is to do the other. Or, if a man had some coat of mail secretly about him, that would undoubtedly resist all blows and quench all shot that are sent against him, it would be no such scareful things for him to stand in the midst of swords and guns. Now, the soul that is indeed at peace with God, is invested with such privileges as do set it above all hurt and damage from sufferings. ‘The peace of God’ is said ‘to garrison the believer’s heart and mind’, Phi. iv. 7. He is surrounded with such blessed privileges, that he is as safe as one in an impregnable castle.”

— William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour

Order The Christian In Complete Armour here

Secret Sauce?

Joe Thorn — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:53:13 +0000

On Wednesday mornings I meet with Pastor Jamie Page, founding and Lead Pastor of The Church in DeKalb. We meet to share what is going on in our lives, what God is teaching us, and to pray together. It's always a good and fruitful time. This morning I busted out my iPad and asked Jamie to let me record him explaining something they talk about at TCD. It's their "secret sauce." The secret sauce is sort of a hermeneutical recipe for fruitful Bible reading. He encourages the church to not just read the Scripture, but to come to it with these specific questions.

Jamie was kind enough to let me record him summarizing the whole thing off the cuff, and he didn't even ask for makeup. Below is the recipe itself for TCD's secret sauce.

When reading your Bible, you must ask these questions:

1. What does this passage say about God?

2. What does this passage say about people?

3. Therefore, what should I do?

4. Let’s be honest: How do I fail to do what I ought to do?

5. How has Christ done this thing perfectly?

6. How is Christ’s death sufficient and satisfactory for my sin of not doing what I ought to do (Romans 8.1)? And how is Christ’s resurrection empowering me to be transformed and live as I ought (Romans 8.11)?

7. Because the Gospel is true, therefore, what am I going to do?

Music by Moral One/Gungor

Knowing The Bible Study Guides

Joe Thorn — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:27:26 +0000

Today Crossway releases Knowing the Bible, a series of Bible study guides that will cover the whole Bible, Lord willing, in 6 years. Read more and watch a video at Dane Ortlund's blog.

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

Joe Thorn — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

We all know how easy it is as Christians to unintentionally cocoon ourselves inside the safe and familiar confines of the church and Christian relationships. These are, or at least should be, our most important relationships. But as Christ's ambassadors we are called to represent our King and his Kingdom to those among whom we sojourn. As the witnesses of Jesus we are called to testify of him through word and deed to the people he has sent us to. And yet, for many Christians witness-bearing is removed from the everyday life of faith and the normal relationships we have, and is relegated to the occasional evangelistic presentation offered to strangers. If we even do that.

Common Ground

For most Christians it will take more than desire to connect with the lost around them in meaningful ways. For many it helps to have a common ground. This can be a place or a recurring event that allows you to connect to others relationally. Merely being present isn't enough, here we have to engage.

The local coffee house can be such a place, but only if that becomes a place where you can cultivate new and ongoing relationships. For others the gym is a great common ground. Others like a running club that meets outdoors. It can be a book club, a sewing group, the barber shop, the shooting range, or the office. It can even be your neighborhood! Imagine your actual neighborhood being the context in which everyone knows your name and the name of your God; where they receive you as a friend.

For me, it's our local tobacconist (think, very nice cigar shop). I've been a regular there for 13 years, and count the owners and the regulars as my friends. And we talk, openly, about everything--including church, God and the gospel. Everyone knows who I am, what I am about, and that I'm there most Thursdays at 2pm (and if God allows I'm there a couple other times during the week).

The Work of Evangelism

If someone were to ask me how I "do the work of an evangelist," I would say by God's grace I am afforded many spontaneous and surprising opportunities to share the gospel. But I do this most strategically in the pulpit, in counsel, in the home, and in the cigar shop. I know men who are everywhere-evangelists, and easily preach Christ crucified to anything that moves. I praise God for them. But there is an advantage to having a context, a common ground with others in the community, that affords long term relationships and opportunities to not only share the gospel with others, but follow up with them as well.

Where in the world does everyone know your name? What is your favored common ground for developing relationship outside of the church and bearing witness to our risen Lord? I'd love to hear! Please share in the comments.

Taking It All In

Joe Thorn — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

In our day of fast-paced ingestion and digestion we don't leave ourselves much time for contemplation. For thinking. For taking it all in. We are often too busy taking photos of an event or scene to really see it, capturing images before (or in place of) capturing memories. I fear this translates into our interaction with Scripture and the Christian faith. We get the beats, but miss the melody and arrangement of the gospel song. And if we are not willing to slow down and take a long look we will continue to merely gain the smallest glimpse of what God wants us to have a God-sized vision of.

The sermon your pastor preached this Sunday--can you remember the text? Did you talk it over with your friends or family? You see, that sermon is more likely to bear fruit if you take the word preached and hide it in your heart. The passage of Scripture you read this morning--did you carry it with you after your "devotional time," or was it more like brushing your teeth. It was good to do. Important even. It made you feel good. But it is out of your mind once you walk away for work.

Taking it all in means that the truth of God is something to ponder. To look deeply into, and hold it in your heart. I want to do better, and I want our people to do better. Here are six helps for taking it all in today (and tomorrow).

Read the passage several times.

Do you really think you've got it after one reading? Pour over those verses. Take your time.

Write it down.

This will help more than you might imagine. You don;t have to write down the whole passage, but put pencil to paper where the word is striking your heart.

Ask a lot of questions.

What does this passage tell me about God? About our human condition? Our sinfulness, our neediness? What should I do, stop doing, and believe in response to this passage?

Pray through it.

Ask God to open your eyes, help you understand and receive his word, and to sanctify you through it, just as Jesus prayed.

Revisit the passage throughout the day.

You can do this via your memory, or by opening the word. Use your lunch break, or down time between meetings or projects to seek the Lord in the word you have been taking in today. Let that Scripture penetrate your prayers as you go through your day.

Share it with someone when the opportunity presents itself.

And the opportunity will present itself. You may not have done this before, but when the word is on your heart, and you interact with the people God has placed around you, you are more equipped than you can imagine. Sure, share it on Twitter. But share it with those you can look in the eyes as well.

Don't miss what God has said in his word. Don't skim. Take it all in.