Last night, Third Avenue Baptist Church called a Senior Pastor. And what a long time coming it has been! The Lord has blessed this congregation in countless ways over the last few years–sometimes even through difficulty. But this has to be one of the greatest blessings He has given us yet.
I called Kurt last night to tell him the good news. His wife Jayna had just picked him up from the airport. He was really excited, and we let him know how much we had been praying and hoping for this time.
Finding and calling a man to be 3ABC’s Senior Pastor has been one of the highest priorities of the Elders since the beginning. You know, it’s amazing how much God has blessed this church with a church-wide love and unity. As I’ve said many times to many different people, it feels like we as a church are all facing in the same direction, and what we need is for a man to come, stand in front of us, pull the sword, and say “March!” Now, thank God, we have one.
I’m excited to see what God will do with this congregation over the next few years. So congratulations to 3ABC. And especially to Kurt. We look forward to having you step into our pulpit for the first time . . . as our senior shepherd.
Oh . . . and maybe he can break the elders’ logjam on this whole “Golf v. Sports” question, too.
Bruce, this should be your own personal blog. Your brilliant! And no one else is home. (word on the street is others have found a different blogosphere)
Noting our distinctive of having TWO Sunday services: a freshman at U of L visited us last night, not because he heard of our great reputation, but because we were the only Baptist church in town he could find that offered an evening service. Bless this young man for his efforts to attend church throughout college, and to be faithful even to an old fashioned Sunday evening service. Good thing we are not progressive, eh.
It was impressive to me last night after the service that the majority of folk there did not leave until after 8:30 (service was over by 7). I would say this is something quite unique about us–we actually like, and even love one another. The family atmosphere God has blessed us with is unlike anything I have ever experienced. It is one of the benefits of being smaller. Why is it bigger is always thought to be better. I am afraid of too much growth because this dynamic would only be more difficult.
BAT’s right, of course. Penal substitution has been under attack from certain quarters for quite a while now, and the discomfort with it has only intensified over the last few years. Why is that? On that question, let me just defer to one of the most eminent New Testament scholars in the world today, D.A. Carson: “Why Is the Doctrine of Penal Substitution Again Coming Under Attack?”
As for your other questions, the first one is difficult. What is the simple gospel? I think the way you and I talked about it was “justification by faith alone through Christ alone.” But of course you could and should then unpack the meaning of every word in that phrase. Here’s how I put it in a forum conducted by 9Marks:
There is only one God, who created the world and everything in it. Though God intended humans to rule the world under him, each of us has sinned against him, the penalty for which is death and hell. But because he loves us, God sent his Son Jesus to live a perfect life and die on a cross as a substitute for his people. On the third day, he rose bodily from the grave and now reigns in heaven, offering forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life to all those who repent of their sin and trust solely in him for salvation.
Honestly, I think there’s a danger in pushing too hard to simplify the Gospel and “boil it down.” To be sure, the Gospel is simple, but it’s possible to boil it for so long that you end up with not much more than “Jesus loves you. Do you want to say a prayer with me?”
I read the GARBC statement about why it can’t cooperate with the SBC. Very interesting. It reminds of what someone told me years ago. I think there is only a grain of truth in it: an evangelical likes Billy Graham, a fundamentalist doesn’t.
I apologize if I am repeating the same ol’ thang. I don’t remember the question here. Maybe it was a question for one of your other blogs AMEN. I appreciate you playing along though. I gave up on y’all answering. Actually, I assumed I was the only one who prepared for sermons. The rest of you guys probably get a direct Word from God and just dictate exactly what he wants said in your manuscripts. I was disappointed that this is not what AMEN does.
To keep playing with AMEN (since he is the only one who is game), you did not say how you get application? This is probably dictated because you always say what I need to hear. (That is very arrogant of me to think God only wants to speak to me through your sermons–but hey, that’s me).
Goad asked a few posts ago what’s in our toolbox. Good question, though I feel a sense of deja vu, haven’t we discussed this before? Anyway, some sources that have served me well include:
D. A. Carson, New Commentary Survey & Tremper Longman, Old Testament Commentary Survey — After all, if you are going to use commentaries, you might as well have some guidance to see that you are using good ones.
Eerdman’s Handbook to the Bible – I like the quick overviews it gives me of books/chapters. Very helpful.
New Bible Dictionary (IVP) — Invaluable resource!
New Dictionary of Biblical Theology (IVP) — Also wonderful for seeing themes in the Old and New Testament
Paul House, Old Testament Theology (IVP) & Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament (Eerdmans ) — both of these serve a similar purpose, helping me see the themes within books, taking individual books of the Bible on their own, appreciating them for their own contribution
Longman & Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament and Carson, Moo, and Morris, An Introduction to the New Testament
