Interns

This year we have G2 interns. A group of young men and young women have dedicated their summer to reading, writing, and working here at the church. They have been assigned to read over 100 pages of theological study each week and summarize what they have learned each week in a personal paper. They have worked to serve the church in building clean-up, organization, G2 retreat preparation--they even did some yard work last week.

I wanted to take a blog post to say how grateful I am for their willingness to press into studying God's Word this summer. Its amazing that highschoolers, heading into another serious school year, would dedicate their summer to learning the way that these interns have.


Interns, congratulations, you have done an excellent job. I have greatly enjoyed getting to know each of you better.

Sunday Morning

It's Sunday morning. And in one hour we will be singing together with the entire church and then listening to God's Word. The Church gathering is one of those events we can grow quickly familiar with--even bored with--unless we believe what God has promised to do when his people gather together.
First, he has promised to be among us. Whenever we gather as a church, God himself, in the Holy Spirit, is present, receiving our songs, ministering to us through the spiritual gifts he has given to his people, and transforming us through his Word. Every Sunday is a gathering before the Holy and All Powerful God for his purposes for us to be realized.
Second, he has promised to give us the privilege of serving one another. All of us have many responsibilities with work and school and families. But on Sunday we have the responsibility of building each up in our faith, encouraging one another to follow after God with all of our hearts, and reminding each other of the glory of our Savior. If we show up on Sunday with only the hope that the songs will be familiar or the music will conform to our preferences or even that the sermon will be entertaining or funny, we'll miss the purpose God has for US in serving OTHERS as we gather together. God has someone for me to encourage in their faith today.

Lord, give me eyes to see what you are doing in my heart and what you are calling me to do for your people today. Build my faith and anticipation to encounter you. I present my life, in all of my dreams and desires, with full submission before your Word today. Speak to me from your Word and transform my life so that I will love you more fully and passionately. Use me for your glory as a result of this Sunday. Amen.

John 1

I was reading in the gospel of John this morning and was amazed by the glory of Jesus Christ. Creator. Fully God. The Word--the proclamation of God's truth and grace. The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The Eternal One made into flesh and dwelling among us.
Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty. I pray with Moses that the Lord would show us his glory, glory that shines in the face of his Son.

Learning from a Legend

You may not know who J.C. Ryle is--but he's one of those men who can rightly be called a giant in the Christian faith. Here is a great quote from him that says again what Jason preached about so well at our last G2 meeting.

The Spirituality of Taste

J.C. Ryle:

The man whose soul is “growing” takes more interest in spiritual things every year. He does not neglect his duty in the world. He discharges faithfully, diligently, and conscientiously every relation of life, whether at home or abroad. But the things he loves best are spiritual things. The ways, and fashions, and amusements, and recreations of the world have a continually decreasing place in his heart. He does not condemn them as downright sinful, nor say that those who have anything to do with them are going to hell. He only feels that they have a constantly diminishing hold on his own affections, and gradually seem smaller and more trifling in his eyes. Spiritual companions, spiritual occupations, spiritual conversation, appear of ever-increasing value to him. Would any one know if he is growing in grace? Then let him look within for increasing spirituality of taste. (Holiness, 107)

The Truth About Hell

Hi Everyone,

Our last G2 meeting I preached about hell. It's the first time that I remember preaching about this topic and I am grateful for the opportunity to encourage all who heard the message to claim Jesus as their Savior--Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
If you haven't heard it, here's the link. Feel free to move past the intro comments reviewing the previous Truth messages.

http://sovgracechurch.com/podcast/G2.09.04.2010.mp3

Dug Down Deep Chapter 3....finally.

Hi Everyone,

Well, for those of you reading this post. Congratulations--you have endured the ridiculously long and curiously unexplained blog absence this summer! So sorry to keep you waiting. My summer has been filled with our Together church conference and other church stuff. If you've continued reading Dug Down Deep I hope you have been transformed and inspired. This post will be an opportunity to remember the great points of the book. If you haven't read these chapters yet, let me encourage you to do so.

Chapter 3--Near But Not in My Pocket

This chapter highlights the importance of "theology proper"--the study of God himself. Josh focused most of the chapter on God's transcendence--beyond us in his being and in each of his characteristics. I loved the analogy he drew from sitting in the coffee shop and watching people evaluate their appearance in the glass--as though it was a mirror rather than a window. We are like that with God. We wake up and look into our lives assuming that all of life is intended to be all about us, rather than as a window through which we should be looking to see the glory of God. He also mentions that many young people today see God as a divine therapist--available to sooth our hearts but not particularly relevant as an object of adoration. This is seen most clear in the gospel--which so many church kids see merely a safeguard against judgment or a "get out of punishment free card." Yet the gospel is most importantly the revelation of God's glory--as Creator, Judge, Redeemer. The gospel is God reconciling the world to himself, vindicating his justice, redeeming his people, declaring his righteousness. The gospel is a display of God's glory unlike any other. Yet for many church kids the gospel is a trite rehearsal of "Jesus died on the cross for my sins..." without any of the awe, worship, or humility that such a glorious truth should produce.
Ok...if I go any further I might as well have printed the whole chapter. Read it. It's good.

A few questions.
1. What are a few ways that God is bigger/better than us?
2. Has your study of God (in Bible reading or messages) produced an awe of God's greatness?
3. What things in your life produce greater enthusiasm than God's glory?
4. What would it take for you to meditate on God's glory until it produced worship from you?

G2 Summer Begins