Thomas Watson
There is no idol like self.
The Gospel of Matthew
An Introduction
One of the most effective ways I have found to study the Bible is to break it up into small passages and study them separately. I have been doing this with the Gospel of Matthew this year, and have found it to be incredibly effective for digesting Scripture in such a way that it can bear fruit in my life, rather than just simply reading it and then forgetting it.
I call this method the Golden Nugget approach. I have written about it here, but in a nutshell, you simply read until God points out three things to you that you think he wants you to pay attention to. Why three? Because I can remember three easier than I can remember five, or nine, or some other amount. I take these three things, and then I watch for God to teach me about them throughout my day, assuming that if he pointed them out to me, then he wants to teach me something about them.
It has worked for me over the years. I still read through the Bible annually, much of it more than once. But this method has enabled me to apply the passages I read into my life easier, and hopefully I become more of the person God wants me to be.
I have been studying the book of Matthew in this way this year, jotting down my thoughts and journaling about what I read. I’d like to share some of my insights here and work my way through this amazingly practical gospel.
But first, let me share an introduction to the Gospel of Matthew, some details about the author, the date it was written, and the original audience. Knowing this can help us place a lot of what Matthew says in context, and can give us a deeper understanding of his work.
Book Review – Becoming A Welcoming Church by Thom Rainer
I have long been a fan of Thom Rainer and his books on church leadership and church growth. But one of his most recent works may just be his best yet. Although it is small, and you can sit down and read it in a couple of hours or an evening, Rainer’s book, Becoming A Welcoming Church, is one of the most vital works on how to attract people to our churches, and how to retain them. To use a phrase he repeats often within these pages, it’s a gospel issue.
Let’s face it. Church culture in western culture is largely running from 35-50 years behind the times. In other words, what worked in the 60s, 70s, or even in the 80s or 90s, doesn’t work anymore in 2018. And if we are going to present a life-saving message to a word that needs to hear it, our methods need to change to something the culture can hear and respond to. That means, among other things, that we need to make sure that when we have a guest in our churches, we make them feel loved and welcome, and give them a reason to come back. Because the more they return, the more they have the opportunity to hear the message of the gospel. It’s that important.
Rainer’s book covers every aspect of what a first time guest might experience. From the church website to the welcome center and greeters, he covers it all. To read this through in one sitting is easy. But to really absorb what he is saying, you might need to read it again and again, and pass it on to other leaders in your church.
Coffee Break – 04.23.2018
Your Monday Dose Of Inspiration
On this day in history: In 1789, President George Washington moved into Franklin House, New York. It was the first executive mansion. In 1900, the word “hillbilly” was first used in print in an article in the New York Journal. It was spelled “Hill-Billie.” And in 1954, Hank Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves hit his first major-league home run.
Today Is National Take A Chance Day!
Break out of your comfort zone and do something bold!
Hacking Dark Roast – I’m a fan of a light roast coffee. I find darker roasts carry a burnt taste that I just don’t care for; I’d rather taste the flavors inherent in the bean itself. But if you like dark roast, here are few ways you can make it better.
Turn Off Your Push Notifications – How many times a day does your phone draw your attention away from your work to see what just came in? Now ask yourself how many of those distractions do you really need. Now read this article.
The Truth About Wildlife Photography – This is disappointing, but hardly surprising. It’s a long article, but very informative.
The Bendy Straw – Have you ever wondered how this was invented? Well now you can know.
Memorize Scripture: Psalm 119:45-48
Hiding God’s Word In Our Hearts
In the first half of this stanza, we saw the psalmist speak of his experiences of God’s love. In the second half, we will see what his response must be. Take a look at it for yourself in Psalm 119:45-48:
The writer of Psalm 119 describes the outpouring of God’s love and the salvation that is linked to it in the first verses of this strophe, and concludes that there must be a response on his part, and ours. Those two responses must be as genuine from our hearts as his love and saving grace are for us. What really stands out about this though is that God’s love and salvation result in practical, tangible responses. These are things we must do in response to his love and salvation. Not because that earns us any point, but because we love in return.
These two practical responses are obedience to God’s Word, and sharing his love with those around us, or evangelism.
Till men have faith in Christ, their best services are but glorious sins.
Thomas Brooks
Ministers Of Mercy: The New Testament Deacon (Littleton, CO: Lewis & Roth Publishers, 1992)
Church leadership is a critical aspect of ministry and the life of any local congregation, but there are so many churches that approach it differently and in varied ways. Some of those approaches are beneficial, others not as much. But the New Testament lays out a solid and necessary approach to church leadership in the form of elder or overseers and deacons.
Our church is currently examining these two offices describes in the New Testament and evaluating how we are doing in in comparison to the letters from Paul to the Philippians and to Timothy and Titus, along with Acts 6, where we see the first examples of deacons.
To that end, we are reading Aeaxander Strauch’s excellent work called Ministers Of Mercy: The New Testament Deacon. In this detailed examination of this office, Strauch looks deeply at the occurrences of the term “deacon,” and the examples and descriptions of this role in the New Testament.
I read this book for the first time in college, in a class on pastoral ministry. It has been very good to read it again, along with several other men who are serious about following the instructions the New Testament gives us, especially in the area of church leadership.
This is a book worth your time to read, especially if you play any role in the leadership of your church. You can get a copy at Amazon. I highly recommend that you do. You’ll be challenged, and encouraged, and blessed as you read it.