New C.J. Mahaney Videos

Now this is a real treat. Sovereign Grace Ministries has just uploaded several new C.J. Mahaney videos to their Vimeo page. If you're not familiar with him, please watch just one of these videos.

Do Not Love the World
1 John 2:12–17
New Attitude
January 3, 2002

Sovereign Grace
Ephesians 1:4
Sovereign Grace Small Group Leaders Conference
November 14, 2002

Only One Gospel
Galatians 1:1–5
Covenant Life Church
December 8, 2002

Interrogating the Legalist Within
Galatians 3:1–5
Covenant Life Church
February 9, 2003

Cravings and Conflict
James 4:1–2
Covenant Life Church
March 21, 2004

The Morning After
Psalm 33
Covenant Life Church
October 31, 2004

Encourage
Ephesians 4:29
Covenant Life Church
December 12, 2004

Different by Design, Session 2
1 Timothy 3:14–16
Different by Design Conference
January 31, 2005

The Cross: A Meditation on Jesus's Atoning Death
Isaiah 53
New Attitude Conference
May 29, 2006 The Assessment That Matters
1 Corinthians 3:18–4:5
Covenant Life Church
October 22, 2006

Deflating the Puffed Up Church
1 Corinthians 4:6–13
Covenant Life Church
November 5, 2006

Trinitarian Pastoral Ministry
2 Corinthians 13:14
Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference
April 13, 2007

The Idol Factory
Exodus 20:1–3
New Attitude Conference
May 27, 2007

Discern How to Apply
James 1:22
New Attitude Conference
May 29, 2007

The Cup
Mark 14:22–42
Covenant Fellowship
October 21, 2007

Who's Really at Work?
Philippians 2:12–13
The Pursuit
November 10, 2007

Q&A on Biblical Masculinity
The Pursuit
November 10, 2007

A Warning Label
1 Corinthians 2:6–16
Sovereign Grace Church
February 3, 2008

Pastoral Character and Loving People
1 Corinthians 1:1–9
Resurgence: Text & Context Conference
February 25, 2008

Death Swallowed Up in Victory
1 Corinthians 15:17
Covenant Life Church
March 23, 2008

Sustaining a Pastor's Soul
Philippians 1:3–8
Together for the Gospel
April 17, 2008

The Troubled Soul
Psalm 42
New Attitude Conference
May 25, 2008

Knowing God as Father
Galatians 4:1–7
Resolved Conference
June 17, 2008

The Scream of the Damned
Mark 15
Resolved Conference
June 16, 2008

Hidden in Plain Sight
1 Corinthians 1:1–9
Straight Up Conference
October 7, 2008

Q&A with James MacDonald
Straight Up Conference
October 7, 2008

Extravagant Devotion
Mark 14:1–11
20/20 Collegiate Conference
February 6, 2009

Death
Mark 15:33–39
Next Conference
May 25, 2009

A Gospel-Centered Reader

Timmy Brister has an excellent collection of articles, essays, and sermons all categorized under the topic, "Gospel-Centered."

Thanks to: Justin Taylor

Doug Wilson on Brian McLaren & Ramadan

I was dumbfounded when I read this post by Pastor Doug Wilson. Apparently, Brian McLaren has decided to observe the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. That's a pretty dangerous creek to paddle down Mr. McLaren.

Mark Driscoll Preaches at the Crystal Cathedral

Mark Driscoll just recently made an appearance on the "Hour of Power" at Crystal Cathedral. His sermon was basically a condensed version of his book, Vintage Jesus. Well worth your time. Watch the video here.

FYI, this is probably the only time you will ever see Mark Driscoll wearing a suit while preaching.

Piper on the Tornado, the Lutherans, & Homosexuality

John Piper has set the blogosphere ablaze with his recent post entitled, The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality. It has caused so much ruckus that he has written a follow-up to this post to ensure that his readers do not misconstrue his words. You can also read CBMW, TheResurgence, Christianity Today, and Justin Taylor's comments on and support for Piper's posts. If you have not heard about the tornado that struck during the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's national convention, here's an eyewitnesses account of the calamity.

On a day when no severe weather was predicted or expected...a tornado forms, baffling the weather experts—most saying they’ve never seen anything like it. It happens right in the city. The city: Minneapolis.

The tornado happens on a Wednesday...during the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's national convention in the Minneapolis Convention Center. The convention is using Central Lutheran across the street as its church. The church has set up tents around it’s building for this purpose.

Piper notes the schedule of what was to occur during the 5th session of ELCA's convention.

Date: Wednesday, August 19
Time: 2PM
Title: "Consideration: Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality"
Description: Whether practicing homosexuality should disqualify someone from pastoral ministry.

The eyewitness then continues his account of the tornado.

This curious tornado touches down just south of downtown and follows 35W straight towards the city center. It crosses I94. It is now downtown.

The time: 2PM.

The first buildings on the downtown side of I94 are the Minneapolis Convention Center and Central Lutheran. The tornado severely damages the convention center roof, shreds the tents, breaks off the steeple of Central Lutheran, splits what’s left of the steeple in two...and then lifts.

Did this tornado just by chance hit the church that the ELCA was meeting at, at the exact moment of the beginning of their meeting? Looks more like design than coincidence to me. Or was this tornado sent by God as judgment upon the ELCA? They did, in fact, eventually pass the proposed social statement on human sexuality, which allows practicing homosexual pastors. Or was this tornado a warning sent not only to the ELCA, but also to everyone who hears of this phenomenon? With more wisdom than I have, Dr. Piper reminds us all of Luke 13:4-5.

“Those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Therefore, we would be wise to take this event as an opportunity to repent of our own sins, lest we be judged and find ourselves outside the Cross of Christ.

Fight to the Death & the City Is Your Own

I have just begun reading The Christian in Complete Armor by William Gurnall. The whole book is a call to arm yourself in the battle that is the Christian life. I've only read the first 18 pages, but I can already feel God using the words of Mr. Gurnall to revive the Christian soldier within. Here is one passage that has affected as of late.

As part of Christ's army, you march in the ranks of gallant spirits. Every one of your fellow soldiers is the child of a King. Some, like you, are in the midst of the battle, besieged on every side by affliction and temptation. Others, after many assaults, repulses, and rallyings of their faith, are already standing upon the wall of heaven as conquerors. From there they look down and urge you, their comrades on earth, to march up the hill after them. This is their cry: 'Fight to the death and the City is your own, as now it is ours! For the waging of a few days' conflict, you will be rewarded with heaven's glory. One moment of this celestial joy will dry up all your tears, heal all your wounds, and erase the sharpness of the fight with the joy of your permanent victory.'

Preach Christ or Go Home

At Miscellanies, Tony Reinke has posted six of his favorite Spurgeon quotes about preaching Christ & Him crucified. Here's my favorite by far.

The motto of all true servants of God must be, “We preach Christ; and him crucified.” A sermon without Christ in it is like a loaf of bread without any flour in it. No Christ in your sermon, sir? Then go home, and never preach again until you have something worth preaching. [Exposition of Acts 13:13-49 published in 1904]

Thanks to: Tony Reinke

A New Look

With the help of my better half, Pondering Christ & His Cross has a new look. Enjoy!