When God Comes to Church

"For those of us who have been Christians for a while, it becomes easy to think that we've pretty much exhausted the possibilities of the Christian life. WE can settle into a routine of activities at church and in our small groups and Bible studies, with little expectation of anything new. The familiar becomes the predictable, and everything from here on out will be more of the same. We dip our teaspoon into the vast ocean of the living God. Holding that teaspoon in our hand, we say, "This is God." We pour it out into our lives, and we say, "This is the Christian experience."

God calls us to dive into the ocean. he calls us into ever new regions of his fullness, his immensity, his all-sufficiency. there is more for us in Christ than we have yet apprehended. Let's never think that we have figured out or that we've seen all he can do. the Bible is not a guidebook to a theological museum. It is a road map showing us the way into neglected or even forgotten glories of the living God. "

                                                                         --Ray Ortlund, Jr., When God Comes to Church

Why Do I Need Forgiveness?

We all like the word forgiveness. Somehow it feels refreshing to say, liberating to see in print.  But why do I need it? Why do you need it? We are all very familiar with having things we don’t need–my garage is always filled with stuff I can’t seem to get rid of, but I’m not sure I really need. Perhaps it makes me feel good to see stacks of stuff ready for deployment–even if I don’t really need it.  Is that how forgiveness is? It’s available…if I ever really need it? Like that odd tool in your garage that you only need once every few years, but in that moment,  sure is nice to have.

Let me list a few reasons why I need forgiveness, not as a random tool, but as a declaration over every moment of my life.

God made me and He owns me.  A hard concept, especially in our country, but absolutely true.
God requires obedience to His Word and love for His Person all the time.
God is aware of every act of disobedience and disloyal affection.
God has the right to hold judgement over me for my failure to be what he made me to be.  God is not blameworthy or capricious in this; He is simply being God.

Forgiveness is God’s decision to not judge me for my sin, to count my punishment fulfilled in the death of his Son, and to remove the barrier of sin in our fellowship.  Nothing outside of God compels him to forgive.  Nothing inside of me compelled him to forgive.  He simply chose to forgive.

I need forgiveness, not as an abandoned garage relic, but as the dawning sun, as my daily bread, my water, my constant companion.  I need forgiveness because without God I am dead. But I cannot have God, unless I have His forgiveness. And in Jesus he forgives all my trespasses and remembers my sins no more.

*Originally posted at www.rhchurch.com

Church Planting in Austin Texas

       I’m sitting in a coffee shop about 35 minutes north of central Austin.  I’m surrounded by people that live here, work here, and call Austin, Texas, home. These people are the reason I’m here.  Two months ago you might have found me sitting in a coffee shop about 35 minutes east of Phoenix, Arizona.  I loved the people in Phoenix and especially the members of my home church, Sovereign Grace Church of Gilbert, AZ.  But our church felt that God was calling us to look outside the borders of our community and answer the New Testament call to plant churches.  So over the last few months a team of 22 people from Arizona have moved away from their familiar surroundings, their offices, homes, neighbors, and church to come to this new city.  We have also been joined by a number of people here in the city that have heard of our church plant and are excited about participating with us to found this new church. Because of God’s work in all of these team members, Redemption Hill Church is about to begin. By the grace of God, in just a few months, we’ll have our launch Sunday on September 15th, at 123. E Old Settlers Road, in Round Rock.  We are praying that people in our area, perhaps even some of the people sitting in this coffee shop now, will become friends and that some of them will join the church.  We are praying that God will lead us to our new neighbors that do not know the gospel, but would be willing to hear our testimony about the Lord Jesus Christ.  May the Lord give us boldness, kindness, and opportunities.  It’s good to be here.

*Originally posted at www.rhchurch.com 

We're Here

I haven't posted in a long while--many apologies to any readers who came back hoping for a new post!

But we did have good reason--we have now
arrived in Round Rock, Texas, North of Austin!  The move represented a lot of hard work and even some unexpected challenges on the road, but the Lord was faithful to bring us across Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas safely.  We were greeted by an amazing moving team of servants, some of whom left AZ ahead of us and some who were here in North Austin waiting for us to arrive.  These are some of the families that will comprise our initial church plant group.  We are so grateful for them!! 

Now, the real adventure begins--and we are looking forward to all that God has planned for us as we meet our neighbors, figure out where our grocery stores and gas stations are located, and pray for the Lord to establish the work of our hands. 

Thank you Lord for bringing us to Austin!

In the Grave He Lay

How can it be that the eternal God lay entombed in a grave on that day we commemorate today?
How did the eternal light lay in darkness?
How did the life of heaven submit to death?
How did the Word of Power bow his head to the silence of the grave?
How did the Overseer of the Church close his all-seeing eyes?
How did the Warrior King surrender His soul?
How did the blazing sun of glory lie cold and lifeless on a slab of stone?

Today is the day of mystery, of light and life concealed in darkness and death. 

Amazing love, how can it be
That you, my Lord, should die for me?

Love in Hopeless Places

Have you ever cared for a friend who felt hopeless all the time? Have you ever come across a person suffering severe depression or frequent bouts with despair?  Those are the moments when truth seems trivial, when advice seems callous. Grand depictions of God's glory come across like diatribes and sermons about hope are receive as hype.

What do you do when you come across a friend in the dark?  Tell them you love them. Tell them you'll be there for them no matter what happens, that you won't leave, that you'll be glad to hear their deepest fears and their most depressing doubts.  Tell them you want to hear about their pain until you understand it a little better.  Enduring love increases the capacity to hear truth.

And when you do speak, lace your words with small phrases of Scripture.  Don't overload the depressed person with four chapters, or a dense systematic argument.  Give them small sips from the fountain, a few words with a gentle tone.  God is faithful. Their spirit will get the taste for the Word and thirst for another drop
before long.

Gospel Comfort

My latest sin was covered by the blood of Christ.
My greatest sin was punished in the wounds of Christ.
My greatest need is provided by the righteousness of Christ.
My greatest dreams are fulfilled in the promises of Christ.
My greatest loneliness is ended by the invitation of Christ.
My greatest sadness is reversed in the inheritance of Christ.
My greatest ambition is provided in the glory of Christ.
My greatest calling is found in the voice of Christ.
My greatest identity is found in union with Christ.
My latest day is determined by the wisdom of Christ.


Hallelujah, All I Have is Christ 
Hallelujah, Jesus is My Life --Jordan Kauflin