FROM THE WEEK ENDING: DECEMBER 11, 2010

Humbled and Assured

"The fact that Jesus had to die for me humbled me out of my pride. The fact that Jesus was glad to die for me assured me out of my fear."
— Timothy Keller
The Reason for God
(New York, NY: Dutton, 2008), 200

The Cradle and the Cross

"The crucial significance of the cradle at Bethlehem lies in its place in the sequence of steps that led the Son of God to the cross of Calvary, and we do not understand it till we see it in this context."

— J. I. Packer
Knowing God
(Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 58

Why Christians Go Postal Over Facebook, Jay-Z, Yoga, Avatar and Culture in General

What I’ve found over the years is that whenever I speak about something culturally related from a Christian perspective, a debate rages. This has been the case since the earliest days of my ministry. This is because I consider myself a missionary in culture. When we started our church we did so in what was among the least churched cities in the nation, seeking to reach the least churched demographic—young, educated, single, urban men. The truth is, these kinds of young men are generally missing from the American church. 
Click on the link below to read the complete article by Mark Driscoll:

CLICK HERE TO READ: Why Christians Go Postal ...

No Accident

No, it was part of a plan. It was a calculated choice. “It was the LORD’s will to crush him.” (Isaiah 53:10) The cross was drawn into the original blueprint. It was written into the script. The moment the forbidden fruit touched the lips of Eve, the shadow of a cross appeared on the horizon. And between that moment and the moment the man with the mallet placed the spike against the wrist of God, a master plan was fulfilled.
Click on the link below to read the complete article by Max Lucado:

CLICK HERE TO READ: No Accident

What You Celebrate As a Church is Just As Important As What You Believe

What your congregation celebrates corporately is just as important as what your church affirms doctrinally. Celebrate the gospel, and cross-cultural ministry will bubble up in surprising ways. Celebrate your church’s preferential distinctions, and your congregation will become an insular group of like-minded individuals.
Click on the link below to read the complete article by Trevin Wax:

CLICK HERE TO READ: What You Celebrate As a Church ...

Advice to Worship Leaders

Just sing the song, Don't sing the la-la-la's, Don't sing in the "key of Tomlin" and six other items. 
Click on the link below to read the complete article by Philip Nation:


CLICK HERE TO READ: Advice to Worship Leaders

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Soli Deo Gloria
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