Life2gether

Josh Harris:

Last week I drove up to Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia to speak at a weekend conference they were hosting. The highlight for me was having dinner with Paul Tripp and his wife Luella. What a great couple! I learned so much from them and enjoyed hearing all the ways God has guided them over the years.

I have to admit I was distracted when I was with Paul by the sweet pair of retro kicks he was wearing (pictured above). I’m not used to coveting the shoes of a 59-year-old guy. But I confessed my jealousy to Paul and he forgave me. He also told me that his son does marketing work for Nike and so he gets free shoes. (That didn’t really help me.)

During dinner I asked Paul to list the books he has written. As he listed off the 11 books (the latest of which is about to be released), I was amazed at how many of these books have played a key part in equipping and encouraging members of our church. God has used this man in a big way to build up the church. If you’re not familiar with Paul’s books I’d encourage you to acquaint yourself. Here’s the list:

1. Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, Second Edition (Resources for Changing Lives)

2. War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles (Resources for Changing Lives)

3. Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change (Resources for Changing Lives)

4. Lost in the Middle: Midlife and the Grace of God

5. How People Change (co-author)

6. Relationships: A Mess Worth Making (co-author)

7. A Quest for More: Living for Something Bigger Than You

8. Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy

9. A Shelter in the Time of Storm: Meditations on God and Trouble

10. Broken-Down House: Living Productively in a World Gone Bad

11. What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage

Visit the website for Paul Tripp Ministries to learn more about Paul’s work and writing.

My good friend and colleague, Lisle Drury, pointed me to this post.  We both got to sit down and have lunch with Paul Tripp awhile back when he spoke at our Pastor’s Conference with my friend, Justin Taylor.  And we wholeheartedly agree with Josh’s assessment!

Tim Keller, from his new DVD set, Gospel in Life: Grace Changes Everything:

Gospel-shaped people are enabled to form deep community and yet only in deep community can we become gospel-shaped people.

Thabiti Anyabwile, from his post, The Redundancy of “Radical Discipleship”:

I think my walk with Christ took a step in a more radical direction when I began to live actively in a church community.  When the local church really became a family I was committed to, nominalism simply ceased to be a viable option.  You can’t walk together with other saints, commit yourself to the cross-carrying “one anothers” of Scripture, and remain a lukewarm disciple.

(HT: Mark Peterson)

Back in my college years God used a man named Dave Busby to radically affect my faith and life.  Perhaps more than anyone, Dave taught me to see God as a compassionate Savior instead of a disappointed taskmaster.  His deeply penetrating and brutally honest messages encouraged me to rest in God’s grace and taste and see that He truly is good.

Awhile ago I ordered some of Dave’s messages on CD, and just recently I’ve been listening to them again.  In one series of messages entitled Oh Taste and See, Dave invites us to experience Jesus as our Forgiver.  I love what he says here:

The safest place in all the world to be totally exposed is in the presence of Jesus. Why? Because He has a forgiver’s heart. He loves to forgive you… And remember it’s not the quality of your repentance, but the quality of His sacrifice. So will you let him forgive you? Will you let him love you?

Tullian Tchividjian:

Christian growth doesn’t happen by working hard to get something you don’t have. Christian growth happens by working hard to live in the reality of what you do have.

I used to think that when the Bible tells us to work out our salvation, it meant go out and get what you don’t have-get more patience, get more strength, get more joy, get more love, and so on. But after reading the Bible more carefully I now understand that real gospel fruit happens, not as we “work harder” but only as we continually rediscover the gospel. You could put it this way: rediscovering the gospel is the hard work we’re called to.

As a pastor for children and families, sometimes it’s hard to see if you’re really making a difference.  But once in awhile God gives you a little glimpse.

On Tuesday I met with an 8 year old boy in my office.  He had been eager to set up a time to talk with me.  I always enjoy talking with kids and their parents and leaving them with a prayer and a piece of candy from Pastor Doug.  But little did I know that on this particular day, I would be the one who was handed the greater gift.

After a few minutes, his mom finally coaxed him to say what he had come to talk to me about.  So sitting there with a big smile on his face, this little boy looked right at me and said, “I want to be a Children’s Pastor when I grow up!”  I smiled big.  In fact, I’m sure it was bigger than the smile on his face.  Then I asked him WHY he wanted to be a Children’s Pastor.  And his simple answer was basically this: “I love God.  I like kids.  And I want to teach them.”  Cool.  How great is that, huh?!  Needless to say I was happy.  But thankfully God showed me this was also a golden opportunity. 

Instead of thinking so much about his future dreams (sounds funny to say it that way!) that obviously could change, I’m focusing on the present.  So, with his mom and dad’s blessing, we’ve decided to set up a discipleship time twice a month to get together and talk about how to grow in our understanding of the gospel.  I look forward to these conversations and the HOMEwork assignments that follow.  And I thank God for this little glimpse of the gospel at work in children.

I know of no other book that helps children understand one of the most difficult concepts of Christianity – how we are made right with God through Christ’s righteousness, than R.C. Sproul’s book, The Priest With Dirty Clothes.  Here’s a brief description of the book:

Dr. R.C. Sproul tells of a young priest who falls from his horse. The mud ruins his garments, dashing his hopes of appearing before the king. But the great prince offers his own beautiful clothes, echoing the timeless message of the Lord Jesus Christ atoning for our sin and clothing us with the robe of His perfect righteousness, without which no one can see God.

I’m so thankful for theologians like R.C. Sproul who have taken the time to invest in the next generation by putting profound truths into simple language for kids.  What a gift!

• Listen to Sproul read the book in its entirety here 
• Read John Piper’s post on Teaching Doctrine to a Six-Year-Old

All of us grew up in less-than-perfect families.  As a result, we pass on the negative emotional atmosphere of our family-of-origin in both direct and indirect ways.  All this makes Christian parenting very challenging!  With that in mind, Dr. Eric Johnson provides some valuable wisdom for parents in this message entitled: How We Pass on the Emotional Atmosphere of Our Family of Origin.  It was given at our SEEDS Parent Chat and can be streamed or downloaded below:

How We Pass on the Emotional Atmosphere of Our Family of Origin Listen |   Download
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To learn more about our SEEDS Family Ministry, check out the videos below or peruse our website.

Twice a year I teach a discipleship class for children and their parents called First Step.  My goal is to partner with parents in their God-given role as faith nurturers in the home.  To that end this class aims to be a catalyst for more gospel conversations between the parent and child outside of class.

My last First Step class, held on January 31st, can be streamed or downloaded below:

Part 1: Salvation  Listen |   Download
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Part 2: Assurance and Baptism  Listen |   Download
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• You can also check out this document I wrote entitled: Preparing Your Child for Baptism
• Take a look at this gospel presentation for children called, Who Will Be King?
• More parenting, marriage and discipleship resources coming soon on my resource page …