Weekly Wisdom [08.17.18]

Need some Weekly Wisdom?  Here are my favorite resources of the week.

VERSE OF THE WEEK

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth [Ps. 115:1].

BOOK OF THE WEEK

All of Grace by Charles Spurgeon

All of Grace presents a comprehensive teaching on the subject of God’s grace. Spurgeon shows how salvation is all of grace, and he bases this thesis on several Scriptures, including Ephesians 2:8–9. Spurgeon outlines the plan of salvation in this book in the hope that many who read it will trust Christ for salvation. In fact, he opens the book with these words, “My intention in writing this message is that many will be led to the Lord Jesus.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon, known as the Prince of Preachers, was a British Baptist Minister at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, England. Greatly blessed by the Holy Spirit, his success and worldwide popularity were largely due to his genius intellect, his natural gift of oratory, thoroughly biblical expository messages, and the fervent prayers of his congregation. Spurgeon’s many writings and brilliant sermons are still widely published today, testifying to his timeless appeal.

Great quotes:

  1. The Lord Himself invites you to a conference concerning your immediate and endless happiness, and He would not have done this if He did not mean well towards you (262).
  2. Oh my brother, however guilty you may be, if you will only come back to your God and Father, He will treat you as if you had never done wrong (278)!
  3. If we are found faithful, it will be because God is faithful (383).
  4. The tears are in my eyes as I look at you and say, Why will you die?  Will you not give your soul a thought?  Will you persist thought sheer carelessness?  Oh, do not so; but weigh these solemn matters, and make sure work for eternity!  Do not refuse Jesus, His love, His blood, His salvation.  Why should you do so?  Can you do it?  I beseech you, Do not turn away from your Redeemer (390)!

PODCAST OF THE WEEK

The Briefing – Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018 by Al Mohler

But before leaving this general theme, we have to note that there has also been a humiliation to evangelical Protestantism, or at least what the media and American popular culture would identify with American evangelicalism. Just in the last several days, there has been a series of resignations at the Willow Creek community church in suburban Chicago, Illinois. Once again, the New York Times broke much of the story again on the front page of the print edition. This time, it was Monday, August 6th. The reporter was again Laurie Goodstein.

The headline of this article: A Superstar Pastor, Now Accused of Harassment. The epicenter of the scandal was not New Jersey, New York, or Washington, but suburban Chicago, where in South Barrington, Illinois the Willow Creek Church and its larger movement known as the Willow Creek Association had served its leading models of the so-called Seeker Sensitive Movement. Bill Hybels was the celebrity pastor at the center of that movement, and before long, many churches across the nation had begun to adopt both his mannerisms and the Willow Creek method.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves. -A.W. Tozer

SONG OF THE WEEK

Live recording of “Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor”, a powerful new congregational worship song by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa. Filmed and recorded live at Providence Church in Frisco, Texas with worship leader Matt Boswell and Boyce College Choir.

POST OF THE WEEK

So, What Comes After Church Growth? by Ed Stetzer

The regrettable shortage of multiplying churches can be explained, at least in part, by the lingering implications of the wholesale adoption of business principles and pragmatic schemes that distinguished the church growth era. Today, we awaken to a church growth hangover that colors our thoughts on what we should do next.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Plan a Night of Prayer at Your Church.

Taking each phrase as a prayer emphasis, you could develop a specific prayer sheet or prayer stations.  Here’s how we used it once for a night of prayer at our church.