I’m really interested to know if John Piper has ever read Ebenezer Erskine. Compare the following extract from Ebenezer Erskine’s sermon on the first commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”, with an article from John Piper’s church website:

This commandment requires us to believe and be persuaded, that this glorious God is the chief good of the rational soul; that as his glory is to be our ultimate end, so our chief happiness lies in the enjoyment of him alone; Thou shalt have no other gods before me”; i.e. Thou shalt place thy chief happiness in the enjoyment of me, who “am the Lord thy God.” So that, when God commands us to have him as our God, he commands us to be happy for ever in himself, and to say with David, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none in all the earth that I desire besides thee.”

This extract is from the Bethlehem Baptist church’s article “Quest for Joy”

God made us to magnify his greatness – the way telescopes magnify stars. He created us to put his goodness and truth and beauty and wisdom and justice on display. The greatest display of God’s glory comes from deep delight in all that he is. This means that God gets the praise and we get the pleasure. God created us so that he is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

Collin Hansen, Young, Restless, Reformed: A journalist’s journey with the New Calvinists (158 pages, Wheaton, USA: Crossway), 2008.

In recent years there has been an enormous increase in youth and young adults being interested and wrestling with Reformed Theology. Hansen, a journalist with CT, travels the USA interviewing the leaders that are sparking this movement. It is somewhat of a biographical, church history type book but makes for very intriguing reading. It is amazing to see how Reformed Theology and Calvinism has made its way into churches and university groups around the country and quite possibly the world.
Hansen begins by nailing what he believes was the spark that lit this proverbial match, Louie Giglio and the Passion Conferences. The emphasis on God’s glory and the vision of a powerful, all-transcendent God through the teaching of John Piper began what is now quite clearly a movement. Hansen gets the opportunity to interview John Piper in his home (what an experience that must have been!) and talks with a number from the Passion conferences and from Piper’s church, Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

SBTS is next on his radar, where Al Mohler, some 15 years ago began a Calvinistic resurgence by taking over the presidency of the college. The influence he, the college and the large evangelical staff within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has sporned many new church plants and new pastors with a passion for the doctrines of grace.

Hansen continues to shoot around the country talking with all the leaders and detractors of the movement. He looks at original sermon manuscripts and notes of Jonathan Edwards at Yale University and speaks with a number of enamoured Edwards fans. He interviews both C.J. Mahaney and Joshua Harris about their role in producing charismatic Calvinists through their church, Covenant Life, and which has also produced a number of church plants under the Sovereign Grace banner. Of course, no book regarding the increase in Calvinism can be done without speaking of the booming congregation at Mars Hill Church, Seattle, where Mark Driscoll is based.

Along the way Hansen also talks to a number of others, including those who do not agree with the theology or methods of what has been happening. The SBC is a good example of this where many pastors are reticent to give Calvinism a foot in the door. However, due ot the influence of Mohler and the SBTS it cannot be helped. Other university professors and preachers around the country who disagree with this theology are humble but concerned with this rising tide.

I thought it was a great book. Coming from a reformed theology, Calvinistic type thought and having been heavily influenced by the likes of Piper, Mohler, Mahaney, Driscoll, Dever and the like i was very encouraged to see God working in wonderful ways through this movement. But, it wasn’t seeing these big guys and hearing from them that was the most encouraging. It was hearing of the small churches and youth groups who are steadily and faithfully proclaiming the Word. It certainly makes you want to get involved and learn and practice this theology and then teach it to others. May i be pushed by God to do so and be enraptured at his grace and glory.

Overall i’d give it an 8/10. I liked it a lot. I’m sure some people would be concerned about this rise, but i think it’s great.

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.” ~2 Peter 2:1-2

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:3-5

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” ~ Romans 16:17-19

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruit.” ~ Matthew 7:15-16

“And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” ~ Matthew 24:11

Scripture very clearly warns that there will always be false teachers among us whose heretical teachings will lead many away from the narrow path of salvation. Paul identified two types of people who would follow poor teaching. There are some who will not endure sound teaching, and who surround themselves with those who tell them what they want to hear. Others are deceived because of their naïveté. They are susceptible to “smooth talk” because they lack the wisdom to discern what is good. As followers of Christ, we must take every precaution to prevent our being led astray, so let’s briefly address these two conditions.

First of all, we must be clear on one thing: True Biblical teaching is not easy, and it’s not comfortable. There’s a reason many people don’t endure sound doctrine!  Jesus’ own disciples grumbled in John 6:60, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” In Mark 3:21 we learn that Jesus’ family at one point tried to seize him, thinking He was “out of his mind.” If Christ’s own family and friends struggled to make sense of his teaching, we should not presume that we will be any more receptive to it.

Jesus’ words (and we must remember that the entirety of Scripture is the Word of Christ) are convicting. They force conflict. They bring us face to face with our own depravity. Naturally, we want to turn away from things which make us uncomfortable. There will always be plenty of “teachers” available who will tell us exactly what we want to hear, but only Christ offers the words of eternal life (John 6:68). Choosing to follow Christ means choosing a radical way of life that contradicts everything our culture and our own sinful nature tells us about how we ought to live. This is why Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” These verses (Mt. 7:13-14) are then followed by Christ’s warning against false prophets quoted at the top of this post.

Not all who are deceived choose their own deception, though. Many others are led astray despite good intentions and an earnest desire to seek God. Many Christians blindly trust teaching simply because it has come from the pulpit or from the shelf in their local Christian bookstore. We may empathize with those who have a trusting spirit (as should we all, to some degree), but Paul calls this sort of misplaced trust exactly what it is: Naïve.

As Christians we are called to be like the Bereans in Acts 17, who, after hearing the teaching of Paul & Silas, examined the Scriptures daily to see if what they had been taught was true. We are not to rely on the word of preachers and teachers — though the Lord has raised up many great Bible expositors — but on the Word of God. When we search the Scriptures daily, asking the Lord for wisdom, we begin to mature in our faith, developing the discernment to distinguish good doctrine from bad.

Unfortunately, many of us are like those to whom the author of Hebrews was writing:

“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” ~ Hebrews 5:11-14

Paul told the Christians in Corinth that they were children in the faith — infants, even — because they were not spiritually ready for the deeper things of God, what he called “solid food”. In Ephesians, though, he tells us how we can move beyond our own spiritual infancy:

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” ~ Ephesians 4:11-16

Just as this post began with a warning to recognize and avoid false teachers, it will end with an encouragement to recognize and seek out the true apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers that God has provided for us. Preaching — no matter how good — will never take the place of our own personal Bible study, but God does provide good preachers for our benefit, so we should avail ourselves of their teaching whenever we can.

In the coming weeks and months I’ll be sharing a bit of my own journey from infancy toward maturity. I’ll be linking to helpful online resources, reviewing books, and responding to what the Lord has been teaching me in my own study. I’ll show Scripture that points out errors in popular teachings that are contrary to God’s Word.

For starters, here are some teachers that I greatly admire, and links to where you can listen to their sermons online. Please share teachers that have influenced your walk with the Lord as well!

John Piper, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN

Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA

Tim Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Manhattan, NY

Alistair Begg, Parkside Church, Cleveland, OH

Jimmy Arms, Stevens Street Baptist Church, Cookeville, TN

Since this is my first post about my trip to India, I don’t want to assume you know everything/anything that’s going on:

• I along with 11 other folks are going to Delhi, India from July 8th to August 15th.
• There, we will be learning from and ministering to college students at St. Stephen’s College.
• We are going with Campus Outreach, the college ministry of Bethlehem Baptist Church.

On this Saturday, June 27th, my 21st birthday (wink, wink), our team will be flying down to South Carolina. There we will join with about 130 other college students who are on Campus Outreach’s Summer Beach Project. While there our team will be doing India specific ministry training for nine days before we leave for India.

To put it lightly, I’M EXCITED. This is such a wonderful opportunity and privilege to be used by God to show people the joy that comes from having a relationship with Him. Please pray for us. I encourage you to pray through some of the things in this list for India and our team.

I shared part of the story of  Habakkuk yesterday in worship. This poor prophet lived in the midst of chaios and constant threat of war. Where was God? Why did God raise up fierce persecution in order to make a point?

Habakkuk remained consistant in his song…consistantly asking the tough questions…consistant in reminding the readers and hearers that God was still in control…consistantly bewildered!

Now the rainy day…the sky was dark, the room lights we a little lower than normal…the topic, while ultimately uplifting…was dark. A great morning to snooze during the sermon…LOL-

peace my friends

Here is an excerpt from Pastor John Piper on December 28, 2008 casting a vision for prayer for the new year.  You can find the entire sermon on itunes or at www.desiringGod.org

Prayer: A Wartime Walkie-Talkie

This is where I get the image that prayer is a wartime walkie-talkie, not a domestic intercom. It exists for advancing the mission, not for calling the butler to turn up the thermostat. Not that God is opposed to practical, nitty-gritty daily prayers. He simply wants all of them to relate to the mission of your life—that his name be glorified, that people live for fruitful ministry.

That’s why the first petition in the Lord’s prayer is “Hallowed be thy name,” and the second is “Bring your kingdom,” and third is “Cause your will to happen here the way the angels do it in heaven”—and only now, under this mission, comes the fourth petition “Give us this day our daily bread.”

So Jesus says that our prayers get answered in proportion to the way the word of Christ is shaping our requests according to God’s will (see 1 John 5:14), and that prayer exists for the glory of God, and that prayer is a wartime walkie-talkie, not a domestic intercom. All requests serve the mission, or the thing malfunctions in our hand.

We had a mission action plan meeting at St Luke’s a few weeks back. Part of the day was spent discussing our current aim statement and whether or not we needed a vision statement. As we reviewed vision statements of other churches, their strengths and weaknesses, I saw the Redeemer Presbyterian, Bethlehem Baptist and Mars Hill Seattle vision statements side by side for the first time.

What was striking was the language of each seemed, as far as I am aware with as little as I know each of the senior pastors of these churches, to reflect the core vision and values of the leader himself, as scripture is filtered through him. Here’s the vision statements. Have a read and work out which matches which personality:

Seeking to renew the City, Socially, Spiritually and Culturally.
To spread the gospel, first through ourselves and then through the city by word, deed, and community; To bring about personal changes, social healing, and cultural renewal through a movement of churches and ministries that change [this] City and through it, the world.

[This church] lives for Jesus as a city within the city – knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus.

Spreading a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.

Vision statements, it seems to me, reflect scriptural mandates not objectively but, as Keller talks about with preaching, according to the personality, questions and motivation of the person or people who develop them.

Vision statements only really work, therefore, if they are consistent with the nature and personality of the church leader(ship) as well as scripture. They must be seen by congregation and the church leadership as capable of fulfilment, according to their visionary gifts and ability. It will not do to ape the vision of others if we are not built by God to function in the same way as them.

I came across this beautiful poem written and told by John Piper, author and pastor of preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN.  In this visually creative and faith awakening video, Piper poetically narrates the story of the testing of Job’s faith.  If you haven’t read Job, I strongly recommend reading it, if you have already, read it again.  Watch this video…..

Seeing this video and reading Job has helped me in a very practical way lately.  After a long, tough, stressful job hunt, I have finally moved away from home and started a post-college career.  Things seem great right now. I am finally getting some income, I’m near close friends again and I finally feel like I’m growing up and becoming a man.  But things aren’t as peachy as they seem, I still find myself worrying and thinking what if this was all taken away from me?  What if the job doesn’t pan out?  What if I can’t find a church to get plugged into?  What if my health fails, or my money dissipates?  Would I still be able to persevere?  Call Christ my treasure?  Would I continue to read the word of God and call him father?  I think so.  I hope so.

Job’s family was killed, his house was destroyed, his possessions were crushed, he became diseased, his friends mocked and left him.  But Job’s faith didn’t waver, he grew stronger, he persevered.  That made God look glorious, treasured, valuable.  I must listen to Christ daily, and trust that my life is his, my money is his, my relationships are his.  I pray that if and when we meet trials in life, that we would be like Job and know that our redeemer lives.  Here is a taste of Job’s love and excitement for the Lord…..

23 “Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth. [2]
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in [3] my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!

Job 19: 23-27

I have always had difficulty when academic institutions acknowledge that they are not a local church (no church polity, no church discipline, etc. ) yet claim to be accomplishing a task that only the church is given the authority to do; namely, the work of preparing the saints for the work of the ministry. As I understand it, the Church is the only institution that is given the authority to prepare the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). However, it is difficult to undergo the necessary theological studies in a local church context. As a result of this, there have been some attempts to integrate rigorous theological study done at a seminary, with practical apprenticeship done at a local church. Almost all of these experiments fail to properly integrate the two. These programs often end up lacking a genuine apprenticeship or fail to offer a theological education that is academically rigorous.  However, there are a few churches/schools/apprenticeships that have made significant contributions to the reform of ministerial training.  Here are three: 

1.  Bethlehem Seminary (www.thebethleheminstitute.org) is currently the only Seminary of its kind because both the apprenticeship and the theological study are governed by a local church, in which they can be properly integrated.  The new M.Div. program is a 4 year commitment and involves rigorous theological studies, including extensive Greek and Hebrew studies.  Bethlehem Seminary will only accept 12-14 M.Div “apprentices” every year into their program.  Each of these students is mentored by a Pastor and progressively becomes more involved in ministry at the local Church level throughout the 4 years of the program. 

2.  Sovereign Grace Pastor’s College (www.sovereigngraceministries.org/PC/Overview.aspx) is a one year program, ranges from 15-25 students at a time, and is restricted to those who are commited to ministering within the Sovereign Grace network of churches.  It is only one year, and because of this, it is not academically as rigorous as a typical seminary.  It does include a limited amount of Greek study and there is a special focus on the spiritual life of the potential pastor.  The goal of this Pastor’s college is not only to impart a general theological framework and practical study skills, but to give opportunity for hands on ministry within a local church context and to promote growth in Christ like character.  This is a great opportunity for those who can fit into the ministry ethos of Sovereign Grace, and are in a season of life where a 3 or 4 year seminary commitment is not reasonable. 

3.  Mark Dever of Capitol Hill Baptist Church has an internship (www.capitolhillbaptist.org/we-provide/internships/description/) is 5 months long, and is for those who sense a call to the pastorate.  It is not intended to be a seminary replacement, but rather to compliment a seminary education with an internship experience.  Throughout the program, an intern writes about 100 papers and reads over 5000 pages of text.  The 6 interns attend elders meetings, are involved in ministry at the local church, and spend weekly time with one of the elders at Capitol Hill Baptist Church.  If you are currently are planning to attend a run-of-the-mill seminary, or have already attended one, I would highly recommend taking a look into this program as a supplement to those studies.

PART 1

Last night, John Piper presented the vision and educational philosophy for our church’s new college and seminary.  Bethlehem College and Seminary wll remain tethered to the original ideals which have grown strong and proved frutiful over 10 years as The Bethlehem Institute (of Bethlehem Baptist Church).

Piper had some interesting things to say contrasting education/persuasion and indoctrination.  I hope to post on that when the audio of his message becomes available.  Right now, however, I want to focus on God’s sovereignty.

Piper reiterated somewhat his recent blog post regarding being thankful for whatever government God sends our way.  And later he quoted from our church’s elder affirmation of faith when he was declaring that this college and seminary holds unwaveringly to God’s sovereignty.  That quote, which I’ve shared before, really captures the heart of a Biblical and God-honoring view of sovereignty.  In light of the recent election, and the continuing economic woes, it would do good for us to ponder and rejoice over these words.

We believe that God, from all eternity, in order to display the full extent of His glory for the eternal and ever-increasing enjoyment of all who love Him, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His will, freely and unchangeably ordain and foreknow whatever comes to pass.

We believe that God upholds and governs all things – from galaxies to subatomic particles, from the forces of nature to the movements of nations, and from the public plans of politicians to the secret acts of solitary persons – all in accord with His eternal, all-wise purposes to glorify Himself, yet in such a way that He never sins, nor ever condemns a person unjustly; but that His ordaining and governing all things is compatible with the moral accountability of all persons created in His image.

This section is taken from Article 3 sections 1 and 2 of The Bethlehem Elder Affirmation of Faith.  The section goes on to assert God’s sovereignty in salvation.  I’d encourage you to read the entire affirmation of Faith.  I blog through the entire document in a series of blog posts, which you’re welcome to peruse as well.

This is a surprising but encouraging development.  For 10 years now, Bethlehem Baptist Church (pastored by John Piper) has offered one of the finest church-based Bible institutes around.  The Bethlehem Institute teaches a variety of courses designed for everyone from the average Joe (or Jane) in the church pew to the pre-seminary young person preparing for full time ministry.  They have had a wonderful apprenticeship program with intensive classes which is accepted as 1 or more years of seminary credits at several leading theological seminaries.

Recently, the institute partnered with Northwestern College to offer a freshman year of college at a discounted price, taught at Bethlehem Baptist by our TBI instructors.  Now, however, God has blessed us significantly, to allow the institute to become a College and Seminary.  The Desiring God blog recently highlighted the freshman year of college program and also mentioned the news of a 4 year program plus a seminary just yesterday, so this is still breaking news.

Last night the announcement was made that in next week’s Wednesday church service, Pastor John will explain the vision for the new College and Seminary.  I’m really excited about this, as I have a few TBI classes under my belt, and am currently taking 1st year Hebrew through the institute.  The quality of education is superb, and the commitment to a conservative approach to the Bible, as well as the priority of the local church, is singular.

With this announcement, when the details are fully released, I’m sure that the doors will open for even more poeple to come and study here.  I would encourage anyone who is checking out seminary options to pay close attention to this option.

Thanks to Peter Cockrell for posting his notes from Don Carson’s talk at Bethlehem Baptist Church last Friday. In a nutshell, Carson seems to be saying:

1. there’s lots of detailed academic knowledge but little mission in today’s church
2. churches are “clumping” around non-core values
3. mainline churches are losing mission minded, determined men because of the distractions of fighting over bygone (largely liberal) issues
4. social concern should go hand-in-hand with but not trump the gospel
5. neonomianism is a big problem in the church

Each issue is arguably caused by an absence of the cross in church life. When the cross is decentralised other things become more important, don’t they?

I am blessed to be a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, where my pastor is John Piper.  His sermons and writings have made a lasting impact in my walk with Christ.  He is a very humble man, even though he is an evangelical leader with an ever-growing influence.  Desiring God is the ministry our church started to help spread pastor John’s writings and books.  And for the past several years they’ve held a national conference here in Minneapolis.

I haven’t yet attended one, largely because it conflicts with my job schedule and I can’t afford it.  But with Desiring God’s policy to spread sermons in print, audio and video formats for free, I get to enjoy them anyway.  Here’s a run down on this year’s conference.  I haven’t started listening yet, but I’m planning on downloading and listening to all the messages.

• This link will take you to the conference online headquarters with info about the speakers, and all the introductory videos, etc.
• This link will list the links for downloading all the messages or listening/watching them online.
• Here is a list of a series of blog posts at DG’s blog which summarize the 6 messages and 2 speaker panels:

• The Tongue, the Bridle, and the Blessing: An Exposition of James 3:1-12 by Sinclair Ferguson
• Panel Discussion – Piper, Driscoll, and Ferguson
• Words of Wonder: What Happens When We Sing? by Bob Kauflin
• How Sharp the Edge? Christ, Controversy, and Cutting Words by Mark Driscoll
• The Life-Shaping Power of Story: God’s and Ours by Dan Taylor
• Panel Discussion – Piper, Tripp, Kauflin, and Taylor
• War of Words: Getting to the Heart for God’s Sake by Paul Tripp
• Is There Christian Eloquence? Clear Words and the Wonder of the Cross by John Piper

If you did attend the conference, share your thoughts with us.  In the meantime, I think I’ll start with Bob Kauflin’s message.  I have great respect for his wisdom and insights, and he has written some of the best and richest songs I’ve ever heard.

As a follow-up to Lauren Winner’s talk, I happened to go to a P31 talk at Northwestern the other night.  The Women’s Ministries’ Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist spoke on submission.  Since I’m still in a “list” mood I’ll do the same as I did with the Lauren Winner talk.  Here you go!

• Submission: stand in awe
• Reverence for God produces wisdom which produces virtue
• Submission is NOT: being a doormat, being passive, sinning under the authority of a husband, indicative of inferior
• Submission involves respect, joyfully placing under, trusting God
• Before the fall there was “joint-rulership”
• Women are not to submit to all men–the charge is about wives submitting to one husband
• Genesis 4:6-7 talks about the curse and how “her desire is to rule over him”
• 1 Cor. 11:3 makes a distinction of roles including that between God and Christ–there is role distinction, but in the same way one is not better than the other, they are equal.
• Submission is not about putting the husband in the place of Christ
• The Bible never tells *men* to make their wives submit–submission is the wife’s responsibility

Verses To Look Up/Mentioned: Proverbs 31, Psalm 110:1, Ephesians 5:22-24, Ephesians 5:33, Col. 3:18, Titus 2:3-5, 1 Cor. 7, 1 Peter 3:1-6, 1 Cor. 11, Genesis 4:6-7

Suggested Books: Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow, True Woman by Susan Hunt, Sex for Christians by Lewis Smedes (suggested by Lauren Winner)

Two Years ago my son Hunter and I set out on the adventure of reading through the Bible in a year. We again are going to commit to doing this, Lord willing.

We used Bethlehem Baptist’s scripture reading plan. We wanted to pass this along to you in case you would like to join us.

Scripture Reading Plan

Bookmark for 1st Half of Year

Bookmarks for 2nd Half of Year

Regardless, of whether you use this tool, may God continually bless you by His grace in your reading of His word.

Eric