Death By Love

 

As I’ve mentioned the last couple of weeks, Pastor Mark Driscoll of Seattle was about to release a new book called Death By Love. I just got an email telling me that it’s in stock at stores now and ready to enjoyed.

Here’s a quick rundown on what the book is about:

Real people. Real sin. Transformed lives. A compilation of heartfelt letters written from a pastor to his people that explains Jesus’ work on the cross. 

Death by Love is a unique book on the cross of Jesus Christ. While many books debate the finer points of the doctrine of the atonement, what is often lost are the real-life implications of Jesus’ death on the cross for those who have sinned and have been sinned against. Written in the form of pastoral letters, Death by Love outlines the twelve primary effects of Jesus’ death on the cross and connects each to the life of a different individual. 

Driscoll, one of America’s most influential pastors, and Breshears, a respected theologian, help readers understand, appreciate, and trust in Jesus’ work on the cross in a way that will transform their lives. Both deeply theological and intensely practical, this book shows how everyone can find hope through the death of Jesus Christ.

You can also read a chapter, watch an intro video and learn more at the Death By Love website or on their Facebook page .

I’m really looking forward to reading this book and I imagine we’ll have a copy on the book table at Friday Nights pretty soon.

Kingdom: God Reigns & 4th of July

Something has gone terribly wrong with the world. Everyone who has ever hoped in a politician, gotten sick, wept at injustice, become angry at evil, tried to help someone, or just felt like giving up knows it and despite all the wars that have been fought, money that has been spent, and good works done in the history of the world sin, death, evil, tyranny, sickness, poverty and the like continue to reign and will to varying degrees until the Kingdom of God is fully established on the earth.

Join us Friday, July 4th, at 244 Berding Street in Ferndale for the thirteenth and final message in Mars Hill Church’s Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe series, entitled Kingdom: God Reigns. Dinner begins at 6:00, teaching begins around 7:00. Childcare will be available.

Because we are meeting on 4th of July, we want to continue hanging out after our dinner/fellowship time and watch the fireworks at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds. There is a $5 parking fee if you park in the lot at the fairgrounds, so we can carpool down there together and there is plenty of seating in the grandstands. The fireworks start around 9:30 pm, so we’ll try and head down there in time to get some good seats.

There will events all day long in Ferndale, so feel free to come over and enjoy the festivities. Click here for info and times.

Unceasing Worship & Harold Best

Here’s a few more resources regarding worship and idolatry from author Dr. Harold Best.

Dr. Harold Best Homepage– articles, bio, etc.

Books

Unceasing Worship– Harold Best- Widely respected as one of the foremost thinkers and practitioners in his field, Best explores the full scope of worship as continuous outpouring in all settings and contexts. With careful exposition and eloquent analysis, Best casts a holistic vision for worship that transcends narrow discussions of musical style or congregational preference.

Audio/Video

Continuous Worship: Is “Worship” the Only Word for Worship?- audio/video

Continuous Worship: Jesus the Sole Mediator of Worship and the Helplessness of Music- audio/video

The Arts in Worship: Can’t Art Just Be Art?

Art For The Church; Art From The Church, Art Facing The Church

What Creative People Can Learn From The Creation

Worship: God Transforms

Author Harold Best defines worship as: “Worship is the continuous outpouring of all that I am, all that I do and all that I can ever become in light of a chosen or choosing god.”

The biblical word for worship is also sometimes translated “sacrifice.” This insight is helpful because what we make the greatest sacrifices for reveals what we truly live to glorify and worship. For example, if we eat and drink in excess, we are worshipping our stomach and sacrificing our health. If we sacrifice relationships with God and people for a hobby (e.g., sport, music, craft), then we are worshipping that hobby. If we are giving our bodies to sexual sin, we are worshipping sex and/or another person whose glory is our highest aim, sacrificing holiness and intimacy with God in the process. In short, we give our time, energy, body, money, focus, devotion, and passion to that which we glorify most and make sacrifices to worship that person or thing. Because we were made for the express purpose of worshipping God, everyone is a worshipper. The only difference is who/what we worship. (from Vintage Jesus, Chapter 9)

Join us tonight, June 20th, at 244 Berding Street in Ferndale for the eleventh message in Mars Hill Church‘s Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe series, entitled Worship:God Transforms. Dinner begins at 6:00, teaching begins around 7:00. Childcare will be available.

Church: God Sends

The local church is a community of regenerated believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. In obedience to Scripture they organize under qualified leadership, gather regularly for preaching and worship, observe the biblical sacraments of baptism and communion, are unified by the Spirit, are disciplined for holiness, and scatter to fulfill the great commandment and the great commission as missionaries to the world for God’s glory and their joy.

Join us tonight, June 13th, at 244 Berding Street in Ferndale for the tenth message in Mars Hill Church’s Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe series, entitled Church: God Sends. Dinner begins at 6:00, teaching begins around 7:00. Childcare will be available.

The Resurrection: An Idle Tale?

As a supplement to the sermon on the Resurrection that we listened to last week, I highly recommend the excellent sermon The Resurrection: An Idle Tale?, preached by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson.

The Resurrection: An Idle Tale?- Download

The Resurrection: An Idle Tale?- Stream

Dr. Ferguson is the preaching pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina and is one of my favorite preachers. I would enthusiastically encourage you to listen to any of his sermons on the FPC site or at Sermon Audio. Dr. Ferguson is also the author of numerous books and we have his book The Christian Life in our Books We Recommend section.

Vintage Jesus sermons

Last week we watched the sermon What Makes Jesus Superior To Other Saviors? That message was part of the Vintage Jesus sermon series that Mark Driscoll preached in the fall of 2006. If you are interested in accessing the content from the other sermons in the series, click on the links below:

10.08.06 – Is Jesus the Only God?
10.15.06 – How human was Jesus?
10.22.06 – What did Jesus accomplish on the cross?
10.29.06 – Did Jesus rise from death?
11.05.06 – Where is Jesus today?
11.12.06 – What will Jesus do upon His return?
11.19.06 – Why should we worship Jesus?
11.26.06 – What makes Jesus superior to other saviors?
12.03.06 – How did people know Jesus was coming?
12.10.06 – Why did Jesus come to earth?
12.17.06 – Why did Jesus’ mom need to be a virgin?
12.24.06 – What difference has Jesus made in history?

Also, you may be interested in reading book Vintage Jesus that Mark wrote with Dr. Gerry Breshears, which you can find in our Books We Recommend section.

What Makes Jesus Superior To Other Saviors?- Video & Notes

What Makes Jesus Superior? Download the Sermon Video (m4v)

What Makes Jesus Superior- Read the Sermon Notes (pdf)

The Shack- A few critiques

During the first sermon (Trinity: God Is) in the Mars Hill Church series Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe, Pastor Mark Driscoll took some time to address a book called The Shack. Here is a clip of what Mark said:

Tim Challies, a popular Christian blogger has also posted a couple helpful reviews of the book. You can find his shorter initial review here or download a more in-depth review here.

While this may seem to be a lot of excitement over a work of fiction, it’s important for Christians to pursue truth about God because what we believe about God drives how we live our lives. The glowing reviews of The Shack online and from people that I have talked to underscore this fact.

Peter Jones on Neopaganism

In the Creation: God Makes sermon we watched last Friday, Pastor Mark Driscoll referenced the research and study of Dr. Peter Jones. I have benefited from hearing some of Dr. Jones’ teaching and wanted to share those links with you.

Walking in the Land of Blur- video/audio

Pastoring in Today’s Zeitgeist- video/audio

Mark Driscoll interview with Peter Jones- video

Resurgence page for Peter Jones

Christian Witness to a Pagan Planet– Dr. Jones’ website