Bruce Ware clarifies the complimentarian position.  Follow the links in the post, strengthen your roots in a much-endangered doctrine, rejoice in God’s glory and wisdom!

A helpful introductory interview followed by a brief sermon by John Piper on the question of whether the early church practice of the gift of prophecy is for today or not.

If you benefited from the message, check out part 2 as well.

The best thing about Christianity is its Christ!

That was one of the foundation stones of the message I gave this past Sunday night at the Pivot, where I had the privilege of preaching from one of my all-time favorite passages.  Here are the notes.

In my first year of college, I read Philippians chapter 3 for the first time. I didn’t know anything about Paul’s history with this church or the theological freight this little letter carried, but when Paul contrasted everything he previously valued with the surpassing “worth of knowing Christ Jesus”, I felt a deep “amen” in my soul.

p.s. - Please pray for Ellie, our 3 yr old. She has been sick with pneumonia for 17 days and will need to make another visit to the doctor’s office in the morning to get more shots. This afternoon and through the night, she’ll be on breathing treatments every 2 hours. We brought her in last week but they thought it wasn’t nearly as bad as it proved to be. We appreciate your prayers.

Our first Theoforum study was to read through and discuss R. Scott Smith’s excellent book, Truth and the New Kind of Christian. The study took us into the postmodern conversation. Smith both led the reader into a survey of how deep the rabbit hole goes, as it were, and which is the best way out. I’m sure there would be TheoForum guys who consider that to have been our best study yet.

In related news, Denny Burk has some informative links on what is in many quarters becoming less of a phenomenon and more of the order of the day - namely a loss of evangelical conviction regarding the exclusivity of salvation through faith alone in Christ alone.

Join us Sunday night for a time of worshiping God in song, study and fellowship. We’ll be continuing our study through Philippians entitled, The Gangites Revolution. We’ll be studying one of my all time favorite passages in the entire Bible: Philippians 3:7-14. Hope to see you there - 7pm, corner of Transcontinental and W. Napoleon in Metairie.

If you’re not familiar with the Pivot ministry, check out the website. You can get more acquainted with what we’re about, as well as look at pictures from various events, and download sermons on a range of issues from how singles and families can be practically integrated in local church life to cultivating discernment in everyday life to the privilege we have of learning from dead Christians. We try to mix it up a good bit. Hope you get something helpful off the site. More than that, if you’re in the area, come introduce yourself.

Quick postscript - today is William’s birthday. Any emails or phone calls from you guys would make his day. He loves his large list of Pivot wrestling buddies. He’ll be 7.

Sam Storms might have known members of my family.  I just discovered that he was born in Shawnee, OK, where my dad’s folks lived for many years and not far from my Uncle “Pug” (formally, Harold) and Aunt Mary Mason.  Who knows, I may have shot my first BB gun or rode my first 4 wheeler near his house, or taken my grandparents’ dog, Lullabelle, for a walk through his neighborhood.  Enough speculation.

Dr. Storms is a gifted teacher who is not alone in his profound sense of indebtedness to the luminary Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758).  Storms is continually drawn to Jonathan Edwards because, he says, Edwards combines a brilliant mind, arguably unmatched in the entire history of Christianity with a heart that is tender, passionate and hungry for a relationship of intimacy with Jesus Christ.  For Edwards, who was a philosopher, logician, literary giant, pastor, Bible scholar, scientist, missionary, college President (Princeton), everything was seen in light of the centrality of God.

So, if I want to become more acquainted with Edwards, where to from here?:

• Check out this interview.  Storms introduces us to Edwards and, in particular, his emphasis on what he called religious affections.
• Read a bio.  Storms says the best biography available on Edwards is George Marsden’s, Jonathan Edwards: A Life.
• Dive straight into Edwards himself.  The consensus seems to be that you start with The Religious Affections.  I’ve heard Mark Dever, John Piper, and now, Storms say this in separate contexts.

My wife gave me Don’t Know Much About History, by Kenneth C. Davis, for Father’s Day.  Inside was a bookmark with typed-out Father’s Day remarks from the kids.

‘Thanks for giving me $5 for helping you with the grass.’ -Hunter (9)

‘Thanks for a sweet dog.’ -Will (6)

‘I don’t want to say thank you.’ -Ellie (3)

Well, it’s a work in progress isn’t it?  Anyway, the book looks very interesting and so far I’m enjoying it.

One of the best books I’ve read on history would be Mark Noll’s Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity.  You may not have the book, but here’s an interview with Noll about watershed moments in church history.

Some of the most gospel rich songs that we sing - songs like In Christ Alone and The Power of the Cross - were written and are beautifully performed by Keith and Kristen Getty.  I just found out that they will be at First Baptist New Orleans tonight!  If you have a chance to come I’d highly recommend it.  I’m told that the evening starts at 7pm, but that the Getty’s won’t be coming up until 7:25pm, so if you’re running late that’s ok.

I’m going to try to get stuff done this afternoon and bring the boys out, so if you come look for us, alright?

Just another reminder of the fact that Pivot is NOT this Sunday night.  It is NOT this Sunday.  Did I say that already?  So, I won’t see you Sunday night, not this one at least.  The next one, yes.

Tell your dad’s a big “Happy Father’s Day” from the Pivot and at 7 o’clock instead of gathering to sing, take Dad out to his favorite restaurant.

R.C. Sproul answers with the Gospel:

Verses to memorize:

“This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12)
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (ps. 2:12)
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God…Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:18, 36)