Apr 7, 2011 | Preaching
The Westminster Confession Larger Catechism states: ‘It is required of those that hear the Word preached that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation and prayer; examine: What they hear by the Scriptures; receive the truth wiht faith, love, meekness, and readiness of mind, as the Word of God; meditate, and confer of it; hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives. quoted in Ken Ramey, Expository Listening,... read more
Apr 7, 2011 | Preaching
[Timothy Turner] explains how TV watching and preaching are diameterically opposed to one another – one is visual, the other is rational; one invovles the yes, the other invovles the ears; one creates passive watchers, the othr requires active hearers. Thurner explains how TV fosters idelness and passivity by providing information that requires no response, whereas preaching seeks to generate some kind of change. If you are not careful, watching TV will turn you into a lazy listener who just sits there on the couch and takes in information and doesn’t have to do anything with it. Typically people tune in to TV to tune out. They disengage their brain and expect to be entertained and amused. The fast-paced images and sound bites have shortened people’s attention spans and created a passive spectator mentality where people are viewers rather than hearers and doers. After watching TV and going to the movies an surfing the Internet all week long, you come to church and have to sit and listen to a lengthy sermon that requires a great deal of concentration and exertion you aren’t used to. You’re expected to go from being a passive viewer to an aggressive listener literally overnight. Ken Ramey, Expository Listening, 42 (speaking of Timothy Turner’s book Preaching to Programmed People: Effective Communication in a Media-Saturated... read more
Apr 6, 2011 | Preaching
Even when preaching the Word of God does not soften and save and heal, it is not necessarily ineffective. This preaching of the Word may be doing God’s terrible work of judgment. It may be hardening people, and making their ears so dull that they will never want to hear again. . . . Don’t be cavalier in the hearing of God’s Word week after week. If it is not softening and saving and healing and bearing fruit, it is probably hardening and blinding and dulling. John Piper, “Take Care How You Listen,” Part 1, Part 2 – quoted in Expository Listening, Ken... read more
Apr 6, 2011 | Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
Mid-Week Minutes 4-6-11 from Summit Woods on... read more
Apr 2, 2011 | Featured Articles, Ordinary Pastor, Pastoral Ministry, Presidential History, Time/Life Management
What should an ordinary pastor glean from how the President”™s office was organized and functioned? The pastorate is not a political machine like the White House, so many issues are simply inappropriate and unnecessary. But I can find a number of helpful points to consider when thinking through how a pastor should think about how to make the best use of his time. A pastor can”™t run ministry on his own, but needs key and capable people to rely upon. The biblical principle of eldership indicates that no one man should be directing the affairs of the church. Qualified and capable men who can collectively oversee the church”™s ministry are needed. Ephesians 4:11-16 is a great picture of every part of the body doing its share, with pastors assuming one key role ““ that of equipping others to carry out the ministry. We need some regular (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) time to think, write, plan, pray, and rest. Otherwise, a pastor”™s time will be reactive rather than proactive; he will lose focus on what is most important for the whole of the church because he is caught up in putting out immediate fires, and he will mentally and emotionally wear himself out from trying to keep up with every conceivable issue beyond his control. Trust and focus are key commodities in how we work with staff around us. Written plans culled and vetted by key staff as opposed to spur-of-the-moment conversations with innumerable personalities provides a more proactive, and thoughtful approach to advancing ministry objectives. Ministry needs to be thought through. What are the biblical parameters and implications... read more
Apr 1, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
Carefully Think Think back on the series we have done on worship and write down how you would answer the question ““ “what defines genuine biblical worship?” What did Jesus mean by “Spirit and truth” in John 4:24? How did you come up with that answer? How does that answer fit with what Jesus and the woman at the well were discussing in the surrounding context? Read through Ephesians 5:18-19. What is the connection between being filled with the Spirit and singing? In addition to edifying one another and adoring God, what other elements about singing do you find addressed in Ephesians 5:19? Prayerfully Meditate Throughout the series on worship, what has been the most impactful truth for you personally? Why? How has your thinking about music changed, been reaffirmed, or been enhanced by thinking through Revelation 4 & 5 and Ephesians 5:19? Consider what “singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” means and how it should affect your singing when the body of Christ gathers. We all have personal preferences when it comes to singing. List what yours are. What Scriptures would you associate with those preferences? Read through Philippians 2. How would this passage impact the way we view preferential issues in regard to music? Actively Respond Read through Revelation 4 & 5 again and reflect on how these passages should enhance the way you think about our public gatherings on Sunday. Read through Ephesians 5:18-19 with your family and discuss how these verses should impact you when you gather with God”™s people and sing this Sunday. Pray for those who will be leading... read more
Apr 1, 2011 | Featured Articles, Presidential History, Time/Life Management
Richard Nixon”™s approach to running the West Wing reshaped the role of the Chief of Staff to the point that it is still largely used to this day in the Office of the President. Interestingly, Eisenhower had a Chief of Staff, but most decisions were made by Cabinet Secretaries. Kennedy did not have a Chief of Staff and operated in a more free style with no intentional chain of command as to how decisions were made. Nixon changed the approach so that decisions were made in the White House and executed then by Cabinet Secretaries. He divided White House responsibilities into 3 areas: Domestic Council, National Security Council, and the Office of the President. Nixon wanted information mostly in written form and received it only from a few people with whom he would discuss it. They created the position of the Staff Secretariat who distributed the paper work appropriately. Trust was the most important commodity. Nixon was a very private person and preferred to consider succinct written proposals, summaries or analyses, with a few people. Decisions were made in the White House and Cabinet Secretaries executed those decisions. 7:30 a.m. was the start time for most White House senior officials. Nixon was careful with his public activities and focused on what would be the most significant issues. The president spent a tremendous amount of time on fewer things. Haldeman had a lack of ego, a passion for anonymity, but a self-confidence in his own ability. Trust and focus were his emphases. The story of the day, everyday, was “Think it Through!” Everything was thought through to the maximum. Every day at 2:00... read more
Mar 30, 2011 | Pastoral Ministry, Worship
Mid-Week Minutes 3-30-11 from Summit Woods on Vimeo. Resources mentioned in the video: Gettymusic.com Here’s a video example of Keith and Kristyn Getty: Sovereign Grace Music Together for the Gospel Here’s some background on the making of the T4G album: Together for the Gospel Live Album from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo. Here’s an example of one of the songs sung at T4G: Red Mountain Music Indelible Grace... read more
Mar 29, 2011 | Featured Articles, Presidential History, Time/Life Management
Last year on President”™s Day, Kelly and I took a trip down to Yorba Linda and the Richard Nixon Library and Foundation. Admission was free, so we joined some 5,000 other people taking advantage of the opportunity. The highlight of the day was the panel lecture on “The Effective Use of the President”™s Time.” The panel was made up of four men who served in the West Wing of the White House and, more specifically, worked directly under H. R. “Bob” Haldeman, Nixon”™s Chief of Staff. They discussed the climate of which Nixon assumed the presidency, how foreign trips were staffed, and most importantly, how they helped the President make the best use of his time. Nixon”™s end is usually where we begin in thinking about his time in office and tends to dominate the flavor of the entirety of his presidency. That is unfortunate. Many, initiatives, policies, and governmental advancements that remain in place today were initiated during his years in the White House. In fact, the entire structure of the modern day Office of the President was essentially created during his tenure and remains in tact today. The lecture was a fascinating look into the Presidency. Today and Friday I”™ll post my bulleted notes from the lecture. On Saturday, I”™ll give a few thoughts on how these themes could bring helpful consideration to an ordinary pastor”™s ministry. Nixon was friendly, but we were not friends. Nixon lost the 1960 election because he tried to run the campaign himself. In 1968 (the year he won the Presidency), he put key managers in every position. Haldeman issued a memo in the 1968... read more
Mar 24, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Worship
Carefully Think Read through Psalms 95-100; 145-150 and make a list of ways the psalmist outwardly expressed what he was inwardly delighted with. Why is music such a controversial element of church life? Read Ephesians 5:19 and list what you learn about the role of music in the life of the church. What role did music play in Exodus 15:1-18; 1 Samuel 16:14-23; 1 Chronicles 15:22; 16:4-6; 23:3-5; 25:1-7; 2 Chronicles 20; Nehemiah 12:42 Prayerfully Meditate How are you living out the expressions of praise you found in the psalms mentioned above? What keeps you from expressing your praise in the biblical ways you see in the Scriptures? How could Ephesians 5:19 affect your approach to singing this week? Actively Respond Pray for those who will be leading the church in our corporate gathering on Sunday. Pray that they will have a focused attention in leading the entire church in a biblical manner. Pray for all those who will be involved in the worship service, from instrumentalists to sound technicians to ushers. Pray that all we do will be done decently and orderly and to God”™s glory, and that we will be free from unnecessary distraction. Meditate often on Ephesians 5:19 and how it should instruct us regarding singing. Meditate on the lyrics to the songs we will be singing this Sunday. If you would like to hear a sample or actually purchase the song, click on the links below. We hope to regularly provide you with audio links to the songs we will sing so you can begin to build a personal library of music we use corporately.... read more
Mar 23, 2011 | Pastoral Ministry, Worship
New Project 5 from Summit Woods on Vimeo. Resources referenced in the video: The Valley of Vision Baptist Hymnal Trinity Hymnal 101 Hymn Stories Then Sings My... read more
Mar 17, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
Carefully Think Write down terms that come to your mind when you think about worship in the Old Testament. What terms come to mind when you think of worship in the New Testament? When you think about our church”™s worship gatherings, what words immediately come to mind? If the worship services at church were exactly as you would want them, what would they consist? Prayerfully Meditate Consider the answers to your questions above in light of what we have been learning together in Revelation 4 & 5. How many of your expectations match the emphases of worship we discussed in last week”™s sermon? What do you find that helps you to be fully prepared to worship God on each Lord”™s Day? What do you find that tends to hinder you from your own preparation for worship each week? How do you prepare yourself to come and worship with God”™s people each week? Read through John 4:20-26. What did the Woman at the well want to emphasize about worship? What did Jesus emphasize about worship? What are the key differences? Actively Respond Pray for those who will be leading the church in worship this week. Pray that they will have focused hearts and minds to lead us. Pray for yourself to have a sharp mind to see who you can serve as you come to worship. Spend specific time reading John 4:20-26 and preparing your heart to receive from God”™s Word. Meditate on the lyrics to this week”™s songs. What are they saying about God? What do they reveal about us? How do these songs reflect the major themes of... read more
Mar 16, 2011 | Pastoral Ministry, Worship
MidWeek Minutes 3-16-11 from Summit Woods on... read more
Mar 14, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
How is heaven affecting earthly worship? Read through Revelation 4 & 5 again, asking, how should this affect the way we gather on Sunday morning. Read through the following questions that were asked at the conclusion of yesterday”™s message and think through your responses to each of them: How does you life acknowledge the centrality of God because it is singularly directed? How do your life decisions exalt the authority of God because those decisions are thoroughly biblical? How does your lifestyle emit the intensity of God, because you respond with passionate God-driven emotions? How is your attitude about life sobered by the severity of God, because you are full of a profound awe-struck fear of God”™s greatness? Do you carry yourself on a regular basis in such a way that you are affected by the majesty of God, impacted by the stunning regality of who God is? How do you live in a way that comprehends the transcendence of God – so you base your living in a very unique and dissimilar way than the norms of the world? Could someone examine your life, your speech, your decisions, your character, your love, your emotions, your anxieties, your confidence and see that you are steeped in rehearsing God”™s redemption through Christ? Review the sermon manuscript below to review the details, or listen again to the message HERE. Heaven help our worship pt 1 View more documents from Summit Woods Baptist... read more
Mar 10, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
Carefully Think Read through Revelation 4 & 5 in one setting (it won”™t take long). Make a list of one-word statements that would describe the kind of worship taking place in heaven. Put a star beside those words in the list that would be transferrable and helpful in how we should think about our own worship when we gather as a church. Prayerfully Meditate Make a list of one-word characteristics that you find to be true about our church”™s worship gatherings. How could the list of heaven”™s characteristics improve our worship? Review this week”™s bulletin and the various elements of our worship gathering. Which elements can you find biblical warrant for? Can you think of biblical texts that would describe each element? Can you think of biblical texts that need to better inform our worship? How would these additions help you worship with all your heart and soul on Sunday? Meditate on the lyrics to this Sunday”™s songs. What are they teaching about the subject of worship? What themes in these songs are also present in the worship scene in heaven? Actively Respond Pray for all those who will be assisting the church in our worship gathering. Pray that they will arrive with humble hearts ready to serve and focused on making God central in what we do together. Pray specifically for Dawson Bryant and Bret Capranica as they work together each week to prepare our weekly gatherings. Pray that they will be driven by God”™s word and sensitive to how we can best express our praise corporately. Read through Revelation 4 & 5 with your family. Talk through... read more
Mar 7, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
Know The sermon manuscript below will help if you want to review references, or review what was covered. Sermon Manuscript The exaltedness of jesus 5.11 14 View more documents from Summit Woods Baptist Church. Worship is central to the activity of heaven. If you are interested in expanding your thinking on the subject of worship, I recommend a few resources to read: 2 Good Books on Worship Christ Centered Worship, Bryan Chapell Worship Matters, Bob Kauflin Be How do our weekly gatherings affect your daily living? In what ways have you chosen to take any of the material that brought conviction or encouragement to your heart and begin to use it practically in your life? Read through Revelation 5:11-14 and review the ways Jesus”™ nature is praised by the angels and creation. In what ways have rested in the sufficiency of Jesus? In what ways have you found yourself trying to rest in something other than his sufficiency? Do Read again through the passage. Write down how you have found Jesus”™ worthy in his: Capability to handle the issues of your life Wealth (spiritually and materially) ““ how would his wealth affect your attraction to earthy wealth? Wisdom ““ has secular philosophies become more predominant in the way you conduct your finances, business, family, personal life? In what ways are you specifically trusting in Christ as an all sufficient and praiseworthy source of wisdom? Might ““ what are you trusting the power of God to do? Or would mere self-effort be an apt description of how you live? Honor ““ what/who are you finding value in to the extent... read more
Mar 3, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
Carefully Think What is the main idea of Revelation 5:11-14 How is Jesus specifically exalted? What characteristics of Christ are specifically mentioned? Why do those who exalt Jesus do so with such exuberance? What has he done (in this context) that causes their worship? Prayerfully Meditate Use the list of Jesus”™ characteristics in personally exalting Christ in a time of prayer (personally, and with your family, or a group of fellow Christians). Meditate on the lyrics of this Sunday”™s songs (see a link below). How do these lyrics help exalt Jesus in unique ways? Lyrics for Sunday Morning Morning service march 6, 2011 View more presentations from Summit Woods Baptist Church. Actively Respond Read the passage (Revelation 5:11-14) with your family (or someone else) this Saturday evening or Sunday morning before coming to church. Pray specifically for those who will attend the service, that all of our hearts will be tuned into what this passage is saying to all of us as a congregation. Pray specifically for those who will be leading us in our worship service (musicians, elders, staff, etc.). Ask that they be spiritually and mentally prepared for leading us in worship. How could this Sunday”™s passage impact the way you interact with people? Pray that you will be sensitive in how you could serve others who are gathered together with us this... read more
Mar 2, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
MidWeek Minutes 3-2-11 from Summit Woods on Vimeo. Books on the Cross The Cross of Christ, John Stott The Cross Centered Life, C. J.... read more
