Friday, June 27, 2008

Glory in the Lord's Supper: Songs of Communion



Flesh and Blood, Andrew Peterson, Album: Appendix A (free sheet music)



Remember Me, Jason Germain & Marc Martel, Album: Wide-Eyed and Mystified (free download)



Communion Song, John Michael Talbot, Album: The Lord's Supper



Communion, Cliff & Danielle Young, Album: Sing Alleluia



Resources unpacking and glorying in the mystery and beauty of the Lord's Supper -

A Summary of the Lord's Supper, John Knox

An Overview of The Lord's Supper, Charles Hodge

The Remembrance of Christ, C.H. Spurgeon (Sermon, January 7th, 1855, New Park Street Chapel, Southwark)

John Piper, Bethlehem Baptist Church

Songs, Choruses, and Hymns for Communion, Ed. Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

The Mystery of the Lord's Supper: Sermons by Robert Bruce preached at St. Giles, Edinburgh, Robert Bruce

The Lord's Supper: Eternal Word in Broken Bread, Robert Letham

Take Eat, Take Drink: The Lord's Supper Through the Centuries, Ernest Bartels

Sermons on the Lord's Supper, Jonathan Edwards

Monergism.com's abundant resources on the Lord's Supper

Saturday, June 21, 2008

War of Words: Who's In Charge Here?!

"Many of the problems we experience when talking with one another emerge from the fact that we have usurped the authority of God: We say what we want to say, when and how we want to say it. We speak as if we are in charge and as if we have the right to use words to advance our purpose, and to achieve what would make us happy. We speak as if we were God rather than his creatures, called to submit to his authority in every idle word we speak."
(Paul David Tripp, War of Words, Chapter 2, pgs. 20-21)

Read 1st Chapter, God Speaks

Matthew 12:36
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless [idle] word they speak.

2 Corinthians 10:5b
Take every thought captive to obey Christ.

James 3:3-12
If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Vacation + Leadership: A Winning Combination

C.J. Mahaney:
"The difference between forgettable vacations and unforgettable vacations is not the location or attractions. Nope. The difference between forgettable and unforgettable vacations is the father’s attitude and leadership. This makes all the difference. Family vacations provide a unique opportunity each year for fathers to create memories their children will never forget. Memories that will last a lifetime. Memories that will be recreated by your children with your grandchildren. Memories that will outlive a father. But in order to create these memories, a father must be diligent to serve and lead during a vacation. How a father views his role on a vacation will make all the difference in the vacation."

With this introduction, C.J. Mahaney proceeds to outline seven lessons he's learned over the years in hopes that your family vacation will be a God-glorifying, grace-filled, relationship-building, memory-making time together.

Lessons:
1. A Servant Heart
2. A Tone-Setting Attitude
3. An Awareness of Indwelling Sin
4. Studying Your Family
5. Skillful Surprises
6. Intentionally Together
7. Gratefulness to God

Read more here, or here.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Church Youth "Must Reads" List: What Say You?

**Updated Below**

If a church asked you to fashion a reading curriculum for the youth of the congregation, 1st grade through 12th grade, consisting of yearly “must reads,” grade-by-grade, with one or more fictional, non-fictional, and Biblical/theological works, how would you advise?

My main focus: Biblical/theological/doctrinal works.

Is there already a list of which you are aware that you would access and provide? If so, what is that list and where might it be obtained?

Or would such a curriculum have to be created? And if created, what book(s) would you recommend for each grade, in each category?

I thought about putting together such a list after talking with some guys at church about what we’d love to see the kids of our church read by the time they graduate, i.e., “these are the books that we want to make sure the youth have read while in our care.”

I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions. Please forward/link to friends and family and ask them to weigh in as well.

**Update**
The resulting reading list is posted here.