POWER (in weakness)
As Americans we strive to be comfortable. We grasp for power and knowledge for our own personal gain. The American church has even embraced this concept, and that scares me. It also scares me that I wont risk pain or hardships for Christ’s glory. I want to be safe behind a computer telling the world how great our God is. But read this verse. Christ did not want that for Paul. It was God’s will that Paul have pain and weakness in his life. And in that weakness was the power of God.
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
(if you like the font in the graphic, grab it from bitbox)
Filed under other, scripture, theology | Comment (0)No Words Are Good News
“Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
These words are typically (and potentially incorrectly) attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, a thirteenth century merchant’s son who left his privileged home and family to share the gospel and live alongside the poor. They remind us that we are called to live out our faith everyday, preaching the gospel through our acts of love, service, worship, and grace.
As ones who are involved with church marketing, I think this quote is a good reminder that as creative as we can be, and as cool of art as we can produce, there is no better marketing for the good news of Christ than the lives we live.
My question to you today is, how is your church preaching the gospel without using words?
Filed under other, theology | Comments (4)Why I Hate Religion
The Bible only speaks of religion in a positive way in one place. Religion is generally a bad thing, which is why on my facebook my religion sections says: Jesus warned me about religion. This is a great list from Mark Driscoll, though many of these seem to be inspired from a Tim Keller series called Preaching from the Heart. Check them out.
From Dustin From Irish Calvinist.
- Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.
- Religion has good people & bad people. Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.
- Religion values a birth family. Gospel values a new birth.
- Religion depends on what I do. Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.
- Religion claims that sanctification justifies me. Gospel claims that justification enables sanctification.
- Religion has the goal to get from God. Gospel has the goal to get God.
You get the gist… Read the whole thing at Irish Calvinist. You won’t be dissapointed and I don’t want to jack his from him—so read it there.
Filed under other, theology | Comment (0)Ed Marcelle: Theology of Art
Beatnik-poet and Buffalo Troy, NY church planter, Ed Marcelle, is one of my favorite artist-theologians alive today. Ed speaks at many of the Acts 29 bootcamps for church planters (Listen to the Audio), his words widen the minds of rookie church planters to see that art can be one of the best methods to communicate the glories of God.
This is a film on advent that you must see. Ed doesn’t use art as a cleaver skin just to draw people in, like a Geico commercial. Rather, he uses art to expand on the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO WATCH THIS VIDEO!
It would be amazing to see what the artists of the worlds churches could do if pastors told them that their skills are a gift from God and can be used to worship him.
Filed under spotlight, theology | Comment (0)
