I finished reading Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community by Ed Stetzer yesterday. Like Lost and Found before it, there wasn’t much new in this book, especially for people who read Ed’s blog and his research.

Quote

Simply put, evangelism needs to be returned to an ecclesiological (church) focus – the focus of evangelism is people coming to faith in Chris through God’s chosen missional instrument, the church. Conversion is part of discipleship. As God works in the lives of men and women, they have already begun their spiritual journey, and conversion is one step, albeit the most important one of all. (Page 104)

Lost and Found is the first book by Ed Stetzer that I’ve read. I’m a big fan of Ed’s work, both for Lifeway and as a leading missiologist. He is (was?) on the board of the Acts 29 Network and has spoken at many of their events. I was pretty excited to read this book based on all of that.

I have to say, I was a little disappointed. Much of the book was data about what the younger unchurched like and don’t like and the case studies of churches who are “reaching the lost” were nothing new, at least for me. This, like Young, Restless, and Reformed, are good books to bring people up-to-speed, but for people who are already reading lots about being “missional”, this book may not be very helpful.

Quotes

Establishing Depth in churches (p 103)

• Teach the entire Bible, even the difficult setions.
• Foster discussion in Bible study and teaching.
• Addres tough topics and answer difficult questions.
• Do not be afraid to say, “I don’t know!”
• Empower everyone to look for answers.
• Place a priority on Scripture memorization.
• Distrubite the responsibility of spiritual growth to both leaders and learners.
• Provide opportunities to learn about worldview and other religions.
• Make apologetics a priority.
• Provide exegetical Bible teaching.
• Sing theologically sound music.
• Promote life application to Scripture.
• Establish climates of honesty and openness.
• Provide multipel Bible Study options per week.
• Encourage examination.
• Pray.

However, our opportunity as Christ followers goes far beyond any physical acts or humanitarian relief. We have something that not only addresses physical needs, but it addresses our spiritual and emotional needs as well. We have the writte, spoken, andliving gospel. Jesus Christ is the hope of the world! This is something we cannot lost sight of in our efforts regarding social responsibility. If it were not for His atoning work on the cross, this world would be empty and void of what so many are despareately seeking. Put simply, concepts of grace and mercy would be obsolete if it were not for our Savior who originally modeled them. (p 114)

Jesus made an impact while He was on earth, and others followed Him to do the same. He led a movement to change lives and change the world. And this One, the only One who is fully God and fully man, did it by leading with transparency.

In part, transparency has to do with being open and honest, but it is more than that. It involves being open and honest with a purpose – a purpose that is redemptive and developmental, a purpose that allows the light to shine through who you really are so that others are impacted in positive ways. (p 210)

I received a copy of Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists at the Magnifying God converence at University Reformed Church in East Lansing. The book is a very easy read and an enjoyable one. I knew many of the stories from reading blogs, but it was still an entertaining read. 

Quotes

Humanly speaking, God’s sovereignty seems to threaten human responsibility. But Scripture affirms both truths. Even when we don’t understand, we can thank God that he does not limit himself according to our understanding. God gives Christians all the motivation they need to share their faith. We evangelize for God and his glory, out of love for our neighbors. We have confidence because there is no greater evangelist than the Holy Spirit (page 88)

At its best, Calvinish makes a differnece. Transcendence doesn’t just give Christians an excuse to sing songs that mention “glory” in ever other verse. The transcendent God inspires fear and trembling. He demands holiness, but not without offering his Son as a sacrifice for our sings and sending his Holy Spirit to comfort us. Scripture refuses to condone any response but humility. 

As it did for the apostle Paul, humility should engender action. God goes before us. What greater comfort in evangelism could there be, what greater hope for social justice?

Review

I re-read The Prodigal God by Tim Keller on Sunday. I’m not entirely sure why I re-read it, though. My first time through, parts of the book tweaked me, and I wanted to revisit the book to see what my problem is. Basically, the book is analysis of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, which Keller says should be renamed the Parable of the Two Lost Sons because both sons are lost and that calling one prodigal betrays the definition of prodigal “recklessly spendthrift”. Keller argues that, in this a parable, God is the Prodigal One, spending recklessly to reconcile His children to Him. On that point I completely agree. I had never though of this parable in this way until I heard Keller preach on this passage (Luke 15:11-32) and then read this book. I’m truly grateful to have my eyes opened to this.

However, throughout reading the book I felt defensiveness growing up in me. Keller contrasts the younger brother, who lived a life of selfishness, with the elder brother, who lived a life of self-righteousness. In fact, Keller seems to portray the elder brother as the worse of the brothers, primarily because he never reconciles with his father and continues to keep him at arms length. Is my defensiveness because I see much of the elder brother in myself? Am I really trying to keep rules in order to manage God? I was stung by these two quotes

Careful obedience to God’s law may serve as a strategy for rebelling against God (Page 37)

If, like the elder brother, you seek to control God through your obedience, then all your morality is just a way to use God to make him give you the things in life you really want. (Page 39)

I don’t know if I act like an elder brother or not, but the fact that I had such a reaction to this book tells me that there may be much of the elder brother in my soul. I need to constantly die to self and obey God not out of a desire to control Him but out of a appreciation and love.

More Quotes

If the preaching of our minsters and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did. If our churches aren’t appealing to younger brothers, they must be more full of elder brothers than we’d like to think. (Page 15)

Because sin is not just breaking the rules, it is putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge just as each son sought to displace the authority of the father in his own life. (Page 43)

Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrongdoer. If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit it, then it isn’t mercy, but forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting forgiveness (Page 83)

Rather, he (Jesus) is saying that the inevitable sign that you know you are a sinner saved by sheer, costly grace is a sensitive social conscience and a life poured out in deeds of service to the poor. Younger brothers are too selfish and elder brothers are too self-righteous to care for the poor. (Page 112)

If we say “I believe in Jesus” but it doesn’t affect the way we live, the answer is not that now we need to add hard work to our faith so much as that we haven’t truly understood or believed in Jesus at all. (Page 124)

From C.J. Maheney’s Humility

Always

1. Reflect on the wonder of the cross of Christ.

As Each Day Begins

1. Begin your day by acknowledging your dependence upon God and your need for God.
2. Begin your day expressing gratefulness to God.
3. Practice the spiritual disciplines – prayer, study of God’s Word, worship. Do this consistently every day and at the day’s outset, if possible.
4. Seize your commute time to memorize and meditate on Scripture
5. Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

As Each Day Ends

1. At the end of the day, transfer the glory to God.
2. Before going to sleep, receive this gift of sleep from God and acknowledge Hhis purpose for sleep.

For Special Focus

1. Study the attributes of God.
2. Study the doctrines of grace.
3. Study the doctrine of sin.
4. Play golf as much as possible.
5. Laugh often, and laugh often at yourself.

Throughout Your Days and Weeks

1. Identify evidences of grace in others.
2. Encourage and serve others each and every day.
3. Invite and pursue correction.
4. Respond humbly to trials.

One of the things I try to do after finishing a book is record favorite quotes from it in a Google Doc. I’m going to start listing those quotes here at intersected.org as well.

Review

As a short review of the book, I really, really enjoyed Humility
. Pride and arrogance are sins that I struggle with greatly, and this book was quite a challenge. Much of me needs to be radically changed by the Gospel so that I reflect Christ’s humility. Mahaney’s example is commended to all. This is definitely a book to re-read.

Quotes

Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness (Page 22)

Pride is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to acknowledge their dependence upon Him. (Page 31)

Contrast that with the pursuit of true greatness as biblically defined. Serving others for the glory of God. This is the genuine expression of humility; this is true greatness  as the Savior defined it. (Page 44)

Jesus alone came to give His life as a ransom for the sins of many – and this separates Him from any other sacrificial service that anyone else anywhere could ever offer. Here we find what is completely, utterly, and categorically unique about the Savior and His example. And in true humility, our own service to others is always both an effect of His unique sacrifice and the evidence of it. His sacrifice along makes it possible for us to achieve and experience true greatness in God’s eyes. (Page 48)

So make it your aim and lifelong habit, when you see someone who’s serving, to be reminded of the sacrifice of the Savior, for apart from His sacrifice there is no serving. (Page 58)

 God wants me to learn to depend on Him, to need Him, and in the end, to give glory to Him with an ever-deepening appreciation for the mighty hand of God. (Page 77)

 The fundamental explanation of our conversion was not that we were wiser or morally superior to others in choosing God, but that God chose to have mercy on us and intervened in our lives, revealing our need for His provision of the gospel. Our salvation is owed completely to the sovereign grace of God. (Page 102)

Spurgeon quote “I believe in the doctrine of election, because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love.” (Page 103)

Waiting is not resignation; waiting is an active trust in God to provide fulfillment in His perfect timing, according to His ultimate purpose of glorifying His Son. (Page 145)

D.A. Carson quote “In the darkest night of our soul, we have something to hold on to that Job never knew. We know Christ crucified. Christians have learned that when there seems to be no other evidence of God’s love, they cannot escape the cross.” (Page 153)