"Amazing Grace" As It's Meant to Be Sung!

This Thursday I'll be conducting a funeral for a lady I've never met. Her son is a professing believer and wanted to be sure that a "salvation message" was preached. I assured him that I always make it my aim to preach the Gospel wherever I go, and this funeral would be no exception.

As we thought through other aspects of the service, it was decided that we should sing a hymn. But since most of the people there would be nonChristians, we decided to go with - you guessed it - "Amazing Grace." That hymn is probably the most famous of any that's ever been sung.

No doubt many of you know who wrote it and also the history behind it. But do you know the full story? And have you ever heard this hymn sung in a way that honors its historical context? I first saw this video at The Gospel Coalition website, where it had been posted by Thabiti Anyabwile. It takes nine minutes to watch. It's worth every second. Enjoy!

The Second Coming: Comfort or Conflict?

Do the following terms mean anything to you?

• Dispensationalism
• Preterism
• Amillennialism
• Postmillennialism
• Historic Premillennialism
• Pretribulational Premillennialism

All of these are schools of theological thought, interpretive approaches to Scripture, and/or particular views of eschatology (the study of the end times). When and How Will Jesus Return? is a question that has produced much interest, discussion - and often heated debate - within the evangelical church.

Despite the many disagreements that exist over the manner and timing of the Second Coming, there is one truth concerning this doctrine on which all evangelical Christians agree:

There will be a sudden, personal, visible, bodily return of Christ!

Can you say "Amen!" to that? Every true disciple of Christ exclaims with the apostle John, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20). The reality of Jesus' return motivates us "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12-13).

I have a pastor-friend who is currently preaching through the book of Revelation. He has admitted how difficult it is to exposit the Apocalypse! The other day I sent him a portion of a blog by Dr. Hershael York, professor at Southern Seminary, wherein he offered some good thoughts on eschatology. My brother was encouraged by this, and I hope you will be too, regardless of your eschatological views.

I often think we have missed the purpose of eschatology. We are not encouraged to be convinced of a system but to be comforted by a promise. Paul told the Thessalonians that he didn’t want them to be uninformed so they wouldn’t grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13) and they were to use his words to comfort and encourage one another (1 Thess. 4:18). The reason Paul explains the resurrection of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15 is because it ensures our resurrection. The entire book of Revelation was written to a persecuted and suffering church to hearten and cheer her with the good news that the Bridegroom is returning. In spite of whatever trouble we may be enduring, we have the assurance that Jesus reigns and will vanquish all enemies—especially death!

When I, as a pastor, hold the hand of a parent whose child cannot breathe and is dying in an incubator, eschatology matters desperately—but not necessarily a system or school of eschatology as we often debate and discuss. That grieving mother needs to know that Jesus has taken the sting out of death, that He is one day returning and is going to right the wrongs and defeat our enemy. That father beside her needs to have confidence in a big God who is absolutely in control and will one day send His Son to gather to Himself the very people He has redeemed from the sin that escorted death into this world.

Eschatological investigation and systemization has its place. We might find profit in studying the way events surrounding Christ’s return will unfold or the nature of the tribulation period. But when everything in life but life itself has been stripped away, when believing families huddle in grief beside a dying father, the reality of the resurrection of Christ matters far more than the identity of the 144,000. The things that the Scriptures most plainly teach are the very things we most urgently need. I do not know if my historic premillennial beliefs are more correct than my father’s dispensationalism, but this I know: my Redeemer lives!

Christian Encouragement

This morning just before leaving the house I got a text message on my cell phone that read, "Thinking about you and praying for you. May GOD give you his power and strength. Good word on Sunday."

Talk about an instant high! My spirit was immediately encouraged, and I walked across the street to the church with an extra skip in my step.

This text message was timely, because last night as I walked home after an evening meeting, I turned back and looked at the church building. (I know the church is not actually the building but the fellowship of believers who gather there to worship and serve the Lord. Nevertheless, the building represents the visible presence of our church in this community.) In looking back at the empty church building and parking lot, I was subdued by a melancholy spirit. I felt insufficient for the task of pastoring my congregation. I wondered what the future held for us. So many opportunities before us, yet so much sin that easily besets us.

The irony is that just a couple hours before this, I had received a very affirming message on facebook by a gentleman who is fairly new to our church. He told me how moved he has been by the preaching of God's Word, how he hangs on to every word (after so many years of non-attendance and disinterest), and how much he was looking forward already to this coming Lord's Day.

Two encouraging messages within a span of 13 hours, yet in between them my heart still sunk temporarily into discouragement (even if only for a moment). In fact, before turning out the light for the night as I lay in bed, I read the final chapter of Kent Hughes' book, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome - a scripturally rich book that I had been reading for the last few weeks in my battle against despondency. This, coupled with the psalms, has buoyed my spirit and kept me focused on what success truly is in God's eyes: faithfulness.

This morning I had a sister in Christ weeping in my office over her wayward child. We prayed together, lifting him up - and the whole family - before the Lord. I encouraged her to be strong in faith, giving glory to God by clinging to His promises.

The bottom line in all of this (and I know I've been rambling somewhat) is that Christians need encouragement. And I can find nothing more encouraging than that personal touch of kindness and especially knowing that I am being prayed for.

The prophet Samuel, who was mightily used of the Lord in his generation, spoke these assuring words to the despairing people of Israel:

The Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth wih all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

- 1 Samuel 12:22-24

Samuel saw not praying for God's people as a sin against the Lord. How many times do we think of it that way? Notice, too, that Samuel's commitment to pray for the people was accompanied by encouraging words to the people.

May we be typified by such love and grace in our relationships with one another. The Bible tells us to "comfort and encourage one another daily" (1 Thes. 5:11). The Lord knows we all need it. By His grace let's be sure to give it!

A Good Word for Would-Be World-Changers

Last evening I returned from the Spring Conference of the New England Center for Expository Preaching (NECEP). More than 120 ministry leaders (most of them pastors) participated in this conference. The theme had to do with the primacy and power of preaching in the local church. Our two keynotes were Drs. Derek Thomas and Mark Dever.

On Monday afternoon, Dr. Thomas preached a message on "Christ's Design for the Church" from Matthew 16. One of the outstanding features of the sermon was the tremendous price Jesus paid to purchase His church: His own blood. Those who would be true followers of Christ and be involved in the building of His church must also pay a price - what Paul referred to as "filling up in my flesh what is still lacking in regards to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church" (Col. 1:24). Dr. Thomas, who serves as Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, pointed out that one of the prevailing challenges that seminary faculties face in regards to incoming students is that they stride in with an air of entitlement.

Today I read a one-paragraph article that captures the essence of the problem that Dr. Thomas was describing. Those pastors who were middle-aged and older knew exactly what he was talking about. It is amazing how many aspiring young pastors have a mouthful, when they have yet to be faithful! On the other hand, I had the privilege of interacting with many pastors attending the conference who have persevered in their place of ministry for many years. For the most part, they struck me as "faithful plodders" - and I thank God for them!

A Call for Faithful Plodders

POSTED BY JUSTIN TAYLOR

SHARETHIS

From Kevin DeYoung's Tabletalk article:

"My generation in particular is prone to radicalism without followthrough. We have dreams of changing the world, and the world should take notice accordingly. But we've not proved faithful in much of anything yet. We haven't held a steady job or raised godly kids or done our time in VBSor, in some cases, even moved off the parental dole. We want global change and expect a few more dollars to the ONE campaign or Habitat for Humanity chapter to just about wrap things up. What the church and the world needs, we imagine, is for us to be another Bono -- Christian, but more spiritual than religious and more into social justice than the church. As great as it is that Bono is using his fame for some noble purpose, I just don't believe that the happy future of the church, or the world for that matter, rests on our ability to raise up a million more Bonos (as at least one author suggests). With all due respect, what's harder: to be an idolized rock star who travels around the world touting good causes and chiding governments for their lack of foreign aid, or to be a line worker at GM with four kids and a mortgage, who tithes to his church, sings in the choir every week, serves on the school board, and supports a Christian relief agency and a few missionaries from his disposable income?"