“And there they continued to preach the gospel” - Acts 14:7

Each Tuesday a different reflection on the gospel and its continual effect on our lives

This sharing feature is interesting, for instance, I use the shared feature in Google Reader to share articles with folks that aren’t interested in reading a lot of blogs but would like to read some of the “headline” type posts. I have an aggregator picking up that feed and displaying it for them so they don’t have to learn how to use Google Reader (not that that is very hard, just look at Abraham Piper’s post to learn). The only issue I see with this sharing feature is that you have to befriend folks to really use it, kind of like Facebook. So for instance, if folks subscribe to my blog feed, they would have to also subscribe to my Google-shared feed to get these additional Notes. Not a big deal, but I’m not sure how useful this is yet. Folks always get creative with these things so I’ll be interested to see how this new feature gets used.

22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

This passage is similar to the one found in Matthew 6:19-34. There are a few differences though.

• Luke includes v26, If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?, in speaking about worrying adding one hour to your life. This seemed somewhat humorous to me. Basically Jesus says the ability to add an hour to our lifespan is just a small matter.
• Luke says in v30 that all the nations of the world seek after these things, whereas Matthew says Gentiles seek after these things. Not a huge difference but it’s interesting to note that there isn’t anyone exempt from the statement “all nations”.
• The biggest difference is in the endings. Matthew ends with a command to be anxious about nothing but Luke adds a bit more, saying that we should be without fear for God delights to give us the kingdom. Then Luke concludes in the same way that Matthew began in vv.19-24, telling us not to lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven and that we cannot serve two masters; we either serve God or money.
• Oh and one last thing, in v33 Luke’s account includes a command for us to sell our possessions and give to the needy…

I’m going to post another part to this and talk more about this command but I’d like to hear your thoughts on this. I’ve never met a believer that had sold all of their possessions so either we’re all disobeying this command or there is another way this is meant to be interpreted. What do you think?

On a personal note, I’m beginning to dislike the term Calvinism more and more. As I look through what Calvin taught and how he taught it, I’m not so sure he would have agreed to this 5-point summary commonly referred to as TULIP. Not so much because the doctrines are contrary to his beliefs or teaching, but more so because it is such a short and quick summary of it. John Calvin seemed to go about his teaching for the long-term effect of it. He taught seminary-type classes for his more advanced “students” one day per week, every week. Given the fact that John Piper covered TULIP in 9 sessions, and that includes a bit of history and a discussion on Arminianism, it would appear that John Calvin was into a whole lot more than just five points.

If you look through what is commonly called John Calvin’s seminal work, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, you’ll see statements like this:

Moreover, it has been my purpose in this labor to prepare and instruct candidates in sacred theology for the reading of the divine Word, in order that they may be able both to have easy access to it and to advance in it without stumbling. For I believe I have so embraced the sum of religion in all its parts, and have arranged it in such an order, that if anyone rightly grasps it, it will not be difficult for him to determine what he ought especially to seek in Scripture, and to what end he ought to relate its contents.

So, it is difficult to say that Calvin was only interested in these 5-points that bear his name. It was a kind sentiment by his students to name an entire doctrinal system after the great reformer, but it’s unfortunate that something that causes so much misunderstanding and division seems to be the one thing that most folks remember John Calvin for.

Have you ever thought of your family as “a little church?” It is an idea that many Puritans and other believers embraced. Like a church, the family exists to worship, serve and glorify God.

Would he find you commanding your children and your household, and teaching them the way of the Lord? Would he find an altar in your dwelling? Do you worship God with your children? Is there a Church in your house?”

Does anyone practice any kind of “organized worship” in their homes? Singing together Sunday mornings before church. Nightly devotionals. Extended prayer times. Etc. I’d love to hear of some examples if you have any traditions you keep.

Click here to enter to win a set of books. This month challies.com is giving away a great set of books. Every click enters you into the drawing and helps improve my chances. Thanks!

This is pretty cool. Here is a Gibson guitar that will automatically tune itself. A combination of DSP, tiny motors, batteries, and utter nerdines make it all possible. Guitar not sounding so hot? Just pull out the knob and wait a few seconds, the motors will turn the pegs until each string is tuned to your preferred settings. Now if they could just make this work on my voice my joyful noise just might be a little less noisy…

Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Mark 16:20 - And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.

We can assume that if Mark set out to tell the story of the gospel of Jesus Christ, he would end his story once he felt he had accomplished that. Throughout the book, Mark tells the story of the life of Jesus for the purpose of conveying the gospel message and he briefly sums up that message in the last sentence of his book. The gospel is the sacred and imperishable message of eternal salvation.

There are three parts to this message. It is sacred, meant to be revered, treasured, viewed differently than all other messages. It is imperishable, it will not decay, change or lose its value, ever. It describes eternal salvation, not just a one time salvation from your sins, but an eternal existence in a restored relationship with God. Remember this is just a summary statement of the gospel, Mark describes so much more of it in his book!

“And there they continued to preach the gospel” - Acts 14:7

Each Tuesday a different reflection on the gospel and its continual effect on our lives

A month ago, that little grayish blob on the right side of the bigger black blob was confirmed by a guy in scrubs with lots of diplomas on his wall to be my first child!

Today, that same doctor showed us this:

God, how did you do that? It has a nose…

Well, my wife Libby is doing well and has been such a trooper through the first trimester. Please pray for us as we learn how to raise a child in the discipline and instruction of the Lord; God has until November 9th of this year to teach us everything we need to know! I’m certainly open to any advice for expecting dads on this blog but we’ll also be posting pictures and news on www.jasonandlibby.com as well so feel free to comment there as well. Thank you for your prayers!