How Do You Make a World Wide Difference?

I thank God for John Piper. He continually reminds me to not waste my life, but to make it count for the cause of Christ.

You Never Let Go by David Crowder

In joy and pain, sun and rain, Christ never lets go. No matter the trial, never forget that.



When clouds veil sun
And disaster comes
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
When waters rise
And hope takes flight
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

Ever faithful
Ever true
You I know
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go

When clouds brought rain
And disaster came
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
When waters rose
And hope had flown
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

Oh, my soul
Overflows
Oh, what love, oh, what love
Oh, my soul
Fills hope
Perfect love that never lets go

Oh, what love, oh, what love
Oh, what love, oh, what love
In joy and pain
In sun and rain
You?re the same
Oh, You never let go

Isaiah 61: Fulfilled by Christ

The first thing that must be noted about Isaiah 61 is that this is not the only place in Scripture where these words are used. In fact, Isaiah 61 is a prophecy that is quoted and fulfilled by Jesus in Luke 4.

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.'

And he rolled up the scroll and fave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.'"

Having Jesus Christ interpret Isaiah 61 makes it much easier to understand and interpret his words as well as the words of Isaiah. Therefore, when interpreting Isaiah 61, we must keep in mind that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy. Jesus Christ is the one whom the Spirit resides upon, Jesus is the one proclaiming the good news, and Jesus is the one who is freeing captives, giving sight to the blind, and proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor. Keep that in mind as you read through Isaiah 61.

In the next posts, I'll begin to work through the text bit by bit, unpacking as much as I can in order to see the unveiled glory of Christ.

Recommended Reading

There is only one book that holds authority over my life, is necessary for my salvation, and remains sufficient to guide me in the way everlasting... the Bible. In addition, the Bible is not only authoritative, necessary, and sufficient, but it is also clear. Therefore, I can know that when I sit down to read my bible, God is able to open my eyes so that I might clearly see & understand his Word to me. However, I am still a sinful man. Because of this, I am apt to interpret Scripture in ways contrary to the true meaning of it. That is why I read. Over the years, I have benefited greatly from the wise interpretations & applications of men & women more godly than I. It keeps my beliefs and my practice in check. Man was not meant to interpret Scripture alone. He must do it in community. Reading is one way to do that. To that end, please check out this list of book recommendations. My hope is that these books will help you as you try to rightly interpret the powerful Word of God. May we all become homo unius libri.

Apologetics

The Reason for God by Tim Keller
The God Who Is There by Francis Schaeffer
Escape from Reason by Francis Schaeffer
He Is There & He Is Not Silent by Francis Schaeffer
Basic Christianity by John Stott
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Who Made God? by Edgar Andrews
Christian Apologetics: Past & Present by W. Edgar
Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig

Biblical Manhood & Womanhood

The Masculine Mandate by Richard Phillips
Biblical Foundations for Manhood & Womanhood by Wayne Grudem
Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood by John Piper & Wayne Grudem
Biblical Womanhood in the Home by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Evangelical Feminism & Biblical Truth by Wayne Grudem
Fifty Crucial Questions by John Piper & Wayne Grudem
Pastoral Leadership for Manhood & Womanhood by Wayne Grudem & Dennis Rainey
Women's Ministry in the Local Church by Ligon Duncan & Susan Hunt
Women in the Church by Tom Schreiner & Andreas Kostenberger
Through His Eyes: Women in the Bible by Jerram Barrs
Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley
Shopping for Time by Caroline Mahaney

Biographies & Autobiographies

Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life by Colin Duriez
The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun
Living Water by Brother Yun
The Roots of Endurance by John Piper
The Hidden Smile of God by John Piper
Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ by John Piper
Confessions by Augustine
Confessions of a Reformission Reverend by Mark Driscoll
Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D.A. Carson
John Calvin by Burk Parsons
Portrait of Calvin by THL Parker
Jonathan Edwards by George Marsden
The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards by Steven Lawson
Here I Stand by Bainton
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan
John Calvin: Pilgim & Pastor by Robert Godfrey
David Brainerd: A Flame for God by Vance Christie

Catechisms

The Good News We Almost Forgot by Kevin DeYoung
Heidelberg Catechism
Westminster Catechism
Spurgeon's Catechism
Training Hearts & Teaching Minds by Starr Meade

Christian Fiction

Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Betrayal by Douglas Bond
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Christian Living

Humility by C.J. Mahaney
Worldliness edited by CJ Mahaney
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
Desiring God by John Piper
When I Don't Desire God by John Piper
A Call to Spiritual Reformation by DA Carson
Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns
Uprooting Anger by Robert Jones
Feelings and Faith by Brian Borgman
Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Don Whitney
Generous Justice by Tim Keller
A Sweet & Bitter Providence by John Piper
Ruth: Under the Wings of God by John Piper
Holy Subversion by Trevin Wax
Rescuing Ambition by Dave Harvey
Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff
The Reason for Sports by Ted Kluck
The Walk by Stephen Smallman
Try Higher by Trevor Harris
The Power of Words & the Wonder of God edited by John Piper
Christ-Centered Worship by Bryan Chapell
Your Jesus Is Too Safe by Jared Wilson
Risking the Truth by Martin Downes
Religion Saves by Mark Driscoll
Broken Down House by Paul Tripp
Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller
You Are the Treasure that I Seek by Greg Dutcher
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs
Crossroads by Colin Creel
A Praying Life by Paul Miller
Prayer by John Bunyan

The Church

The New Shape of World Christianity by Mark Noll
Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll
Why We Love the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
The Mission of God by Christopher Wright
The Mission of God's People by Christopher Wright
The Church & the Surprising Offense of God's Love by Jonathan Leeman
Christless Christianity by Michael Horton
Gospel-Centered Church by Steve Timmis & Tim Chester
Total Church by Steve Timmis & Tim Chester
The Intolerance of Tolerance by DA Carson
The Trellis & the Vine by Colin Marshall & Tony Payne

Church History

Abortion & the Early Church by Gene Veith
Christianity's Dangerous Idea by McGrath
Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley
A Summary of Christian History by Robert Baker
The Rise of Evangelicalism by Mark Noll
Christian History Made Easy by Timothy Paul Jones
Predestination by Peter Thuesen
Historical Theology by Alister McGrath
Heresy: A History of Defending Truth by Alistair McGrath

Church Movements

The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World by John Piper
Why We're Not Emergent by Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck
Becoming Conversant with the Emergent Church by DA Carson
Don't Stop Believing by Michael Wittmer
Evangelicalism by DA Carson

Evangelism

Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
Tactics by Gregory Koukl
Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman
Learning Evangelism from Jesus by Jerram Barrs
The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman

The Gospel

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper
50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die by John Piper
God Is the Gospel by John Piper
Counted Righteous in Christ by John Piper
The Future of Justification by John Piper
In My Place Condemned He Stood by J.I. Packer & Mark Dever
The Cross of Christ by John Stott
In Christ Alone by Sinclair Ferguson
The Great Exchange by Jerry Bridges
The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges
Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
Death by Love by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
The Radical Cross by A.W. Tozer
The Cross He Bore by Frederick Leahy
The Glory of Christ by John Owen
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen
The Power of the Cross of Christ by Charles Spurgeon
The Cross by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Pierced for Our Transgressions by Steve Jeffrey
Whiter than Snow by Paul Tripp
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller
What Jesus Demands from the World by John Piper
Redemption Accomplished & Applied by John Murray
Gospel Worship by Jeremiah Burroughs
Gospel Fear by Jeremiah Burroughs
Scandalous by DA Carson
By Grace Alone by Sinclair Ferguson
A Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson
Raised with Christ by Adrian Warnock
Surprised by Grace by Tullian Tchividjian
The Gospel for Muslims by Thabiti Anyabwile
Grounded in the Gospel by JI Packer
God the Peacemaker by Graham Cole
The Reign of Grace by Scotty Smith
Counsel from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick
Outrageous Mercy by William Farley
The Gospel-Driven Life by Michael Horton
The Atonement by Leon Morris
The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
Christ's Doctrine of the Atonement by George Smeaton
The Apostle's Doctrine of the Atonement by George Smeaton
The Resurrection of the Son of God by NT Wright
The Marrow of Modern Divinity by Edward Fisher

Leadership

Sticky Teams by Larry Osbourne

On Money

Money Map by Howard Dayton
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn

On Preaching

Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell
The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper
Spirit Empowered Preaching by Arturo Azurdia III
He Is Not Silent by Albert Moehler
Preaching & Preachers by Martyn Lloyd Jones
Spurgeon vs. Hyper Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching by Iain Murray

On Scripture

The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism by GK Beale
Why Johnny Can't Preach by T. David Gordon
Words of Life by Timothy Ward
A Clear and Present Word by Mark Thomson
Lost in Transmission? by Nicholas Perrin
Why Is the Choice of Bible Translation So Important? by Wayne Grudem
The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy by Wayne Grudem & Vern Poythress
Collected Writings on Scripture by DA Carson
Words of Life by Guy Davies
Exegetical Fallacies by DA Carson

Sex, Dating, Marriage, & Family

This Momentary Marriage by John Piper
Desire and Deceit by Al Mohler
Teach Them Diligently by Lou Priolo
Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris
Reforming Marriage by Doug Wilson
When Sinner's Say I Do by Dave Harvey
What He Must Be by Voddie Baucham Jr
Sex and the Supremacy of Christ by John Piper
Start Your Family: Inspiration for Having Babies by Steve & Candice Watters
Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham Jr
Get Outta My Face! by Rick Horne
Instructing a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp
God, Family, & Marriage by Andreas Kostenberger
What Did You Expect by Paul Tripp
Intended for Pleasure by Ed Wheat
Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware
Gospel-Powered Parenting by William Farley

Social Justice

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert
From Every People and Nation by Stephen Meyer

Study Bibles

ESV Study Bible
Reformation Study Bible (ESV Translation)

Suffering

Spectacular Sins by John Piper
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor
How Long, O Lord? by D.A. Carson
The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God by John Piper
When God Weeps by Joni Eareckson Tada
Suffering and the Goodness of God by Christopher Morgan
The God I Don't Understand by Christopher Wright
All Things for Good by Thomas Watson
Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ by John Piper
Be Still, My Soul by Nancy Guthrie
If God Is Good by Randy Alcorn
Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Suffering by Nancy Guthrie
Does Grace Grow Best in Winter? by Ligon Duncan
Beyond Suffering by Layton Talbert

Systematic & Biblical Theology

Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Great Doctrines of the Bible by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Theology in the Context of World Christianity by Timothy Tennet
Reformed Dogmatics by Herman Bavinck
The Mission of God by Christopher Wright
Books You'll Actually Read Series by Mark Driscoll
Doctrine by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears
Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris
Systematic Theology by Michael Horton
God's Big Picture by Vaughn Roberts
Institutes of Elentic Theology by Francis Turretin
Biblical Theology by Geerhardus Vos
Outlines of Theology by A. A. Hodge
Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R. C. Sproul
The Essential Edwards Collection by Owen Strachan
According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy
God's Big Picture by Vaughn Roberts
The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God by John Frame
A Theology of John's Gospels & Letters by Andreas Kostenberger
Biblical Theology by John Owen

Theology: Doctrine of Man

The Truth About Man by Paul Washer

Theology: Old Testament

The Meaning of the Pentateuch by John Salihamer
An Old Testament Theology by Bruce Waltke
He Gave Us Stories by Richard Pratt
The End of the Law by Jason Meyer
The Word Became Flesh by Ralph Davis
The Unfolding Mystery by Edmund Clowney
The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses by Vern Poythress

Theology: The Sovereignty of God

The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther
Still Sovereign edited by Thomas Schreiner and Bruce Ware
Putting Amazing Back into Grace by Michael Horton
Finally Alive by John Piper
The Justification of God by John Piper
The Grace of Repentance by Sinclair Ferguson
The Freedom of the Will by Jonathan Edwards
God's Passion for His Glory by John Piper
The Pleasures of God by John Piper
The End for Which God Created the World by Jonathan Edwards
Living for God's Glory by Joel Beeke
Chosen for Life by Sam Storms
What Happened to the Gospel of Grace? by James Boice
Putting Amazing Back into Grace by Michael Horton
Lectures on Calvinism by Abraham Kuyper

Theology: The Trinity

Communion with the Triune God by John Owen
Father, Son, & Holy Spirit by Bruce Ware

Theology: The Holy Spirit

Baptism & Fullness by John Stott
Showing the Spirit by D.A. Carson
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
The Gift of Prophecy by Wayne Grudem

Theology: Sanctification

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
How People Change by Paul Tripp & Tim Lane
Future Grace by John Piper
Take Charge of Your Life by Richard Ganz
Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell
Growing in Christ by JI Packer

Theology: God

The Holiness of God by RC Sproul
Godology by Christian George
The One True God by Paul Washer
The Doctrine of God by John Frame

Articles

Coming Soon!!

Greek, Hebrew, and NOOMA

If you have read, listened to, or watched anything by Rob Bell, you'll be well accustomed with his frequent use of the Greek and Hebrew vocabulary. For those of us who have no experience with either of these biblical languages, it can be hard (if not impossible) to discern the correct use of these words. Therefore, when it comes to interpreting Scripture from its original Greek and Hebrew, I'll leave it up to the scholars.

Here are two scholars who are questioning Bell's use of Greek and Hebrew terms in order to prove certain points in his NOOMA videos.

Thanks to: Justin Taylor

Hate Sin

"We must hate all sin, as sin, and just that which troubles us. Love for Christ, because He went to the cross, and hate for sin that sent Him there, is the solid foundation for true spiritual mortification."

- John Owen, The Mortification of Sin

John Piper on the Prosperity Gospel

Out of all the videos I have posted on this blog, none start a fire deep within my bones like this one.



"God is most glorified in you, when you are most satisfied in him... in the midst of loss, not prosperity."

Unequaled Greatness by Dr. Arturo Azurdia III

"God has spoken. He is not silent. And his word to us is Jesus Christ, the one who is unequally great."



Thanks to: Reformation Theology

Isaiah 61

The providence of God is a majestic and mysterious wonder that I will never fully understand but will wholeheartedly trust in. God's providence is seen in the manner in which he upholds the universe as well as his causing of the events that occur throughout the day. His providence is collective and individual. I want to focus on the individual for a moment.

As of late, I have noticed a certain passage of Scripture that God, in his divine providence, continues to toss across my path. Three times this past week alone. #1. Just recently, my favorite blog has been updated with a new look and a new name, Beauty for Ashes. The name comes from Isaiah 61:3. #2. Misha and I just visited our old college church in Lafayette, IN. They are starting a new series based upon Isaiah 61:1-2. #3. One of the CDs that I like to listen to on my drive to and from work is This Is Our God by Hillsong. One of the songs references Isaiah 61.

One week, three encounters with Isaiah 61. Therefore, I have decided to take a little time and meditate upon Isaiah 61:1-3. These blog posts will kind of serve as a blog series, if you will. The passage I will be resting upon is below.

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to
bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are
bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengenance of
our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion - to give
them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of
mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be
called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be
glorified." - Isaiah 61:1-3