Meet Tim Keller

Here is a Christian voice that you need to be listening to. Tim Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Redeemer is 4,400 strong and had helped to plant nearly 100 churches... that is right... they have sent out leaders around the city and the world to start 100 new churches.

I used to think the gospel was just about getting people to heaven... then I heard Keller. I used to think social justice was for liberal churches and had nothing to do with the gospel... then I heard Keller. I used to think church planting was not necessary... then I heard Keller. I used to think Presbyterians were... well... Presbyterians... then I heard Keller.

You can enjoy a bunch of FREE teaching and articles here... from a voice you can trust. And if you want your world turned upside down by the simple story of the good samaritan... then read his book Ministries of Mercy.

"If you listen to one voice, you become a clone. If you listen to two voices, you become confused. If you listen to 10 voices, you get your own voice." -Tim Keller

The Elephant in the Church

It's been quite enlightening following the blog brainstorm over at Mark Batterson's blog about his upcoming series... The Elephant in the Church. The comments are pouring in with things that people always think but never say about the church. Check it out!

The distracted church...

When in Huntington, I preached at the Crew and I had a blast. My message was titled "When the church becomes a distraction to Jesus." My burden is that churches often focus excessively on quality or size of their weekend service... to the detriment of creating a space where Jesus is on display. The issue is all about your heart and your motivation. But the result of giving in to these distractions can be spiritually disastrous.

I stumbled across a section of scripture where God warns his people against such distracting idolatry... Exodus 20:24-26. And I think it is a word from God that applies to the church today. Exodus 20:24b should be what the church is all about... In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. Here are my notes.



















By the way... check out the write-up about my family that showed up in the Sunday morning bulletin. Only Josh could get away with this in church. I love this guy!

I'm off to Huntington...

I'm excited to be heading down to Huntington, WV today. I will be preaching at Crew Community Church right near the campus of Marshall University. My good friends from seminary Josh and Sarah Perry launched this church just over three years ago. They meet on Sundays at the Renaissance Theater. I've never been to a church that meets in a theater... now I'm speaking at one. I'm excited to see what Crew looks like up close and to have the opportunity to encourage them from the Word.

They put this little film together as an introduction to the Church. Please pray for the Crew as I try to encourage them in their efforts to transform their city.

Have voice... will speak

I got a cool phone call last week... but let me set it up.

There is one thing that every seminary students dreams of... their first Sunday morning sermon (at least let me speak for this seminary student). After putting in 4 years of blood, sweat and tears struggling with Greek & Hebrew and things that you can't even spell like Eschatology and Supra-Lapsarianism... you dream of the day when you can stand before the congregation and communicate God's Word to the flock.

I just got that call... last week. You see 10 days ago... I walked away from my first full-time ministry position at a church. And while I taught within my ministry a number of times... I never had the honor of speaking to the wider body. So when I left my ministry... I gave that dream back to God and thought... "I guess it wasn't meant to be."

Then just days later... a friend mine... who is a pastor... a leader... a church planter... and a dear brother... called me and invited me to come preach at his church. It was the breath of fresh air that I needed... which let me know that God is not done with me yet. And really... it is not about me... but it encourages me to know that God has not put me on the shelf.

So pray with me... and for me.. as I will have the humbling privilege of speaking forth God's Word on Sunday, August 26 at Crew Community Church in Huntington, WV.

I KNOW THAT GOD IS NOT DONE WITH ME YET!

How has God shown you that he is not done with you yet?