Cultivating the Beatitudes

Cultivating the Beatitudes

by | May 8, 2012 | Biblical Studies, Christian Living, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching

This past Sunday, I completed a series of sermons on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Each passing week’s message was used by God in some of the most providentially challenging ways in my life. My heart has been exposed and, I pray, helped in so many ways. I titled the series, “Values for Ultimate Satisfaction.” These are characteristics that people who are genuinely a part of Christ’s kingdom value and display as a result of the work of the gospel in our hearts. You can listen to the series HERE. Below is a summary of how I defined each value (beatitude) and then steps, by God’s grace, you can cultivate each one. Essentially, cultivating these values is simply applying the gospel to your heart: Be Broken – 5:1-3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. What is this value? Poor in spirit is a radical dependence upon God from a thorough understanding of yourself before a holy God. How can you cultivate it? Meditate continually on the gospel, its message, cost, and application to you personally. Meditate consistently in God’s Word. Fellowship consistently with God’s people. Pray continually. Confess sin consistently and thoroughly. Avoid those things that cultivate circumstantial happiness and immerse yourself in the sorts of things that cultivate a concentration on  your spiritual position in Christ. Evaluate what tends to make you a satisfied person. Be Sad – 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. What is this value? Biblical mourning is a continual, internal sorrow over those things that grieve God. How can you cultivate it?...
Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:10-12

Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:10-12

by | May 3, 2012 | Pastoral Ministry, Preaching

Here are a number of suggestions for those who will be attending Summit Woods Baptist Church this Sunday on how you can be prepared for the study of God’s word. Carefully Think Read Matthew 5:1-12 – focus on 5:10-12. What is persecution? What is Jesus not referring to when bringing up persecution? Why is persecution listed last in the list of the beatitudes? Even though 5:11-12 contain the word “blessed,” and refers to persecution, these verses are quite different than the rest of the beatitudes. List all the differences in form and style between 5:11-12 and the rest of the beatitudes. Why these differences? What are the different forms of persecution one can face (v 11)? What should be our response to persecution and why (v 12)? What biblical examples of persecution can you think of? What is the result of persecution (v 10)? Note the similarity with the result in the first beatitude. What is the difference between this one and the others? Prayerfully Meditate For what about your devotion to Jesus and His definition of righteousness have you most recently been persecuted? How often do you seem to face persecution for your faith? Why? Why not? Do you think Christians should expect regular persecution? Why or why not? Is there anything you intentionally hold back in your relationships with friends, at work, at home, etc., because you seek to avoid inevitable persecution? If so, why? If not, how has it provided opportunity to help people understand or be helped by the gospel? What challenges you most about finding joy in persecution? Why? What would help you to...

Cap-Review: The Pastor As Scholar/Scholar As Pastor

by | Apr 30, 2012 | Bookreviews, Pastoral Ministry, Video

The blend of a pastor and a scholar is a helpful one for the church. Though the average churchgoer may not immediately sense it, a Scripturally deeper pastor makes for a more Scripturally robust people. The blend of a scholar and a pastor is equally helpful. Those of us who have been to seminary know the personal value of having shepherd-hearted scholars who sharpened us while grilling us in the details of grammar and plunging us into reams of reading. While many church-goers may not know it, such scholars have blessed their congregations as well as their pastors. John Piper and D. A. Carson may be two of the best modern examples of pastor-scholars and scholar-pastors. The book they have produced, The Pastor as Scholar and The Scholar as Pastor is an encouraging biographical exhortation from these two men as to how ministry and scholarship have been blended in their respective ministries. Pastors and church members would do well to read this short volume. The contents of the book were first produced as lectures at an event sponsored by The Gospel Coalition. Owen Strachan and David Mathis contribute an introduction and conclusion respectively, and were instrumental in the event that was the genesis for the book. The book contains primarily biographical descriptions from Piper and Carson on the providential work of God to challenge them in terms of academic excellence and pastoral practicalities. Piper’s chapter on “The Pastor as Scholar,” biographically chronicles his own pilgrimage from childhood to doctoral studies in Germany, to pastoral ministry in Minneapolis. The chapter demonstrates the potential pitfalls of what some pursue as academic...