Pattern for our lives set in the Miracles of Christ

The renewal of Christ’s salvation ultimately includes a renewed universe… Christ’s miracles were miracles of the kingdom, performed as signs of what the kingdom means… His blessing was pronounced upon the poor, the afflicted, the burdened and heavy-laden who came to Him and believed in Him… The miraculous signs that attested Jesus’ deity and authenticated the witness of those who transmitted the gospel to the church is not continued, for their purpose was fulfilled. But the pattern of the kingdom that was revealed through those signs must continue in the church… Kingdom evangelism is therefore holistic as it transmits by word and deed Christ’s promise for body and soul as well as Christ’s demand for body and soul.

– Ed Clowney

Miracles are not unnatural

In my preparations for a lesson on the Kingdom of God, I came across this line in "Gospel Christianity" from Redeemer:

'Often it is said that a miracle is a violation of the natural order. That may be true in a sense, but it would be more true to say that Jesus' miracles were restorations of the natural order.'

In an ever increasing broken world I pray for these moments of restoration to come more often.

Sin leads to brokenness

Romans 3:9-20, Paul marks out three types of sins: Global, Relational, and Personal.

Global sins are those ones that leave the world broken and twisted. It is the sin that makes the world a mere echo of what it really could be. Global sins are those ones that we feel so overwhelmed by but never know what really we can do about them so we just suppress them and let them continue without any response on our part. If the problem is too big I guess I just won’t worry about it.

Relational sins is the breakdown of society. This effects our global community efforts all the way to the most intimate relationships like family and marriage. Marriages are breaking apart all around us, yet we are all drawn to them like a drug. We try to describe the Trinity but always fail because we can’t understand that type of unity. We might be able to wrap some words around it, but sin blocks us from really knowing it.

Personal sins break the heart. They lie to us and tell us that taking care of number one is what will bring true happiness. They tell us the most important Gospel in the world is the Gospel that brings me prosperity in this lifetime. Personal sin divides us from God at the core and leaves us unable to truly seek him, let alone connect with him.

The hope we have in this world is Jesus as a man who walked the world. He has come not to condemn the world, but to save the world. He heals the global brokenness.

The hope we have in this world is Jesus and him crucified. He is the restorer of our separation of from God by taking the penalty due us all. He heals the relational brokenness.

The hope we have in this world is Jesus and him resurrected. Our future hope is living out the full expression of Jesus in eternity. He heals our personal brokenness.

Prayer

I had never heard of Matthew Henry's method for prayer until I stumbled upon this site put together by Ligon Duncan and the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. On the site they discuss the different aspects of prayer and how we can pray in all areas upon which we are called to as Christians. If you get trapped in your prayers by always asking God for stuff, but never really get to thanksgiving, or confession I think the insights from this site could help you.

Keller on Counterfeit Gods

Tim Keller's new book "Counterfeit Gods" just arrived today in my office. He wrote a blog entry at Redeemer Church Planting website as to how he got on the topic of idols.

I also saw on The Gospel Coalition, on Justin Taylor's blog a link to an article that Keller drew a lot of wisdom and inspiration from.

Francis Chan

The more I listen to and read Francis Chan the more I like. His heart is sold out for the gospel and is heart is connecting people to the gospel in a real and powerful way. Besides having a fun time texting to Will about the Sovereignty of God, I read this article about him on The Gospel Coalition Blog, which was referring to this article being done by Christianity Today.

HT: Mike Pohlman

Every Parents Worst Nightmare

It's Gonna Be Good

On the Resurrection

Indeed, it would seem that he who disbelieves this bodily rising of the Lord is ignorant of the power of the Word and Wisdom of God. ~ Athanasius

The Gospel spoken to Abraham

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” Gal. 3:8

God's provision for his people never ceases. Christ reveals himself throughout the ages to all nations so they may be blessed. We are all covered under the blessings of God through his presentation of the son. Praise be to God.

Missions in the Front Yard

HT: Take Your Vitamin Z

Mark Driscoll on idols.

Tim Keller's book is coming out soon, it would have been cool to see them interview him instead, but Mark Driscoll does great. Check it out here.

Sticking by a Friend

Real love loves the beloved enough to be “tough.” Real love “is so passionately devoted to the beloved so that it hates every evil which is incompatible with his or her highest welfare.” (Stott)

True friendship seeks after truth into one another's life. It does not settle for kindness, gentleness, and humility when justice is required. What does justice look like in friendships? Justice in relationship is an upholding of truth in the midst of temptation.

It is easy to be tempted to allow my friends to do things that harm them because confronting them can be so difficult. I don't want to make a big deal out of their shortcomings because they might call out my shortcomings. Let's be real, if our friends are true friends, they have plenty of dirt on us.

This is the beauty of true friendship though, we know one another's dirt and we keep loving each other towards dealing with it in the light of God's love and truth. Keep growing others and you will grow yourself.

Atonement

The answer is the gospel.