Go, Send, or Disobey

By: Johnathan Todd

"Go, send, or disobey" is a quote from John Piper (as noted in the missions video posted by Johnny earlier on this blog). What is John Piper meaning by these three words?

The mission of God begins in Genesis with “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…” God is bringing about a world full of God-glorifying humans. Sin enters and alters humanity’s ability to be God-glorifying and God begins the story of redemption through Jesus. The continuation of God’s plan is tasked to redeemed humans by Jesus: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:18-20)

So, everything you do after saying "I believe" is missions related:

• You Go by leaving the known to learn the unknown in order to live and share the gospel.
• You Send by staying and by prayerfully and financially supporting the work of those who go.
• You Disobey by staying and ignoring your part of prayerful and financial support.

Go, send, or disobey…there isn’t a fourth option.

Song of the Week (08.26.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

At Grace Evan, we've benefited so much from Sovereign Grace Music and their commitment to biblical, Christ-exalting, cross-centered music. I've featured their music here before, and I do so again today.

The song of the week is called "All I Have Is Christ," written by Jordan Kauflin, and found on the Next 2009 live album.

Though it's a very new song, the verses actually read like a hymn, both in their rhythm and their richness of content. You'll find stout doctrine here, folks:

• Our deep depravity and helplessness
• The empty promises of sin
• The unfathomable love of God
  
• The saving work of Jesus
• And the redeemed soul's desire to live a life that points only to his glory
  

The beauty of this gospel leads to a simple chorus of celebration. Blogger and Crossway Publishers editor Justin Taylor made this helpful observation regarding the song's chorus:

One of the consistent raps against contemporary Christian music is its repetitiveness. But for me and my house, I see few downsides to having this refrain as the default setting in my mind throughout the day:

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Below are the full lyrics, followed by a video of the song being sung live at a recent Sovereign Grace young adult conference called Next. (The song can also be purchased here.)

All I Have Is Christ
words & music by Jordan Kauflin

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Video: All I Have Is Christ from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo.

Sounds Like Life To Me

By: Will Savell

Crazy morning. My wife and I put our daughter on the school bus for the first time. There's something about seeing a five year old climb those steps and look out the window and drive off in the distance that sure brought a sense of reality that my world is different than it was just a couple of weeks ago. As I was thinking through this reality, I jumped in the Jeep to head to the church when a song came on the local country station. Darryl Worley was singing "Sounds Like Life To Me," and some of the lyrics stood out...

He was singing about a buddy who was going through some tough times...

• the car's falling apart
• the washer quit
• he just put his mom in the nursing home
• the baby is cutting teeth
• bills need to be paid

And hey, "three kids and a wife depend on me, and I'm just one man."

Maybe the specifics don't apply, but maybe they do. Or maybe there are other things in life breaking down. Who knows? But we all understand this man. Who hasn't felt completely overwhelmed with life? Who hasn't felt as though your world is crashing down and you just can't fix it.

Well, the singer has some advice for his buddy. The chorus goes something like...

Sounds like life to me, it ain’t no fantasy
It’s just a common case of everyday reality
Man, I know it’s tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk, you’re caught up in some tragedy
It sounds like life to me

I don't know about everyone else, but as much as I would like to "suck it up" and just move on with life, that doesn't seem to always work. Sometimes I can't pull on the old bootstraps hard enough. And there lies the problem...

We experience this everyday reality, yet the problems and pain still exist, and life gets more and more exhausting.

You know, it doesn't have to be this way. I believe there's a better life to be lived. However, this doesn't happen by the good ole college try. It doesn't occur through positive thinking or a weekly yoga class.

Real life occurs only through union with Jesus Christ. It’s in Christ where we're able to experience “every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3). It’s in Christ where we become “the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21). It’s in Christ where we find ourselves “alive in God” (Romans 6:11). Real life begins and ends with Christ’s own words found in John 15:5.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

In Christ…Now that sounds like life to me.

People Groups & The Gospel

By: Johnathan Todd

Ok, we pseudo-grasp the inconceivable concept that the completely other God has granted us forgiveness for our full rebellion through Jesus Christ. And we know Jesus has commanded us to make sure this message permeates the globe so spiritual and physical living is altered. But what is this language of “people group” and “unreached” all about? Here are some definitions:

People group – the largest group within which the Gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance.

Unreached - a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group.

Now, if you want to explore the status of the Gospel’s Global Expansion further, check out Joshua Project’s Website.

Finally, here in the United States, the bulk of our population is considered reached (simply meaning there are Christians in that people group who have the numbers and the resources to evangelize). Yet there are over 360 people groups living within the United States, and 60 of these are considered unreached. Has God granted you the privilege of encountering a person from one of these unreached people groups right here in our city?

Song of the Week (08.19.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

Alright folks, this one won't be for everybody. But just to keep things interesting, this week's song is All Creatures by the up and coming singer/songwriter Josh Garrels (click either link to visit his site, and the song will play automatically).

Garrels has a funky quality to his voice that's instantly attention-grabbing, and this song's groove is just so cool and refreshing that I loved it immediately (it kicks in at about 0:45).

Lyrically, it's quite different than the stuff I usually recommend. Garrels begins with a catchy chorus that borrows the first verse of the familiar hymn, "All Creatures of Our God and King." Then he quickly launches into a fast-paced hip-hop flow about the marvels of creation, God's masterful design in it, and its deep groaning for restoration. I admit: I don't necessarily "get" all of his lyrics, but those themes stand out for sure. Ultimately, it's just a cool, unusual song that calls on all of creation to praise the Creator.

Hope you enjoy. If not, come back next week.

(click here if you're interested in purchasing his music)

All Creatures
by Josh Garrels

all creatures of our God and King
lift up your voice and let us sing
o praise him, o praise him, alleluia

creation sent to me the centipede
to witness the complexity of 100 legs
that were moving unexpectedly
ironically just as they were meant to be
they’re fearfully and wonderfully made

an organism praising, circadian rhythms
sun will rise and then the sun will set
and then the sun will rise again
so lift up your head, this is life
not a static object preserved and displayed
like a relic of the dead
you are not a fruitless tree with a rootless disease
growing in a bucket in a rich man’s home
next to the tv, tamed and alone
learning to lust for the things you don’t own
like an armchair warrior who’s been dethroned
declawed and fixed, fighting for your life
with unattended slit wrists

don’t let your name get intermingled with the number
cause it’s time to awaken from the devilish slumber
to freely follow the forerunner to the fatherland
and rally 'round the renaissance man
and the wisdom of his ways and all the work of his hands
catch come as catch can
concentrating on the good words of the Son of Man
the plan is to withstand
the demands of a confused oppressor
a wolf in sheep’s clothes with monotonous lectures
and questionable gestures, unequal measures,
cultural pressures and synthetic textures
force-fed instead of the most beautiful architecture
of our long lost forgotten origins
birds see fiber in the blood of my kin
and that old rock where we confessed our sins

o my God, fellow man, in this great land
they all cry out for full restoration
and this’ll take patience
and this’ll take the tribes and the tongues of all the nations
and all of creation groans in anticipation
waiting for the Son of God to be manifest
i can feel it burning in my chest
the liberation for the oppressed

and it’s beautiful like the feet that bring good news
beautiful like this freedom tomb
beautiful like the power to choose to change
beautiful like the long awaited rain
beautiful like the healing pains
beautiful like the holy flames, coming down

all creatures of our God and King
lift up your voice and let us sing
o praise him, o praise him, alleluia

This Is Why We Do Missions

By: Johnny Coggin

This video is a jolting reminder of the Church's calling in the world. May we not lose sight of our mission.

Song of the Week (08.12.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

*Prepared a Place for Me (from the new Sovereign Grace Music album Sons and Daughters, released August 5, 2009)

Here's a description of the purpose of the project, from the SovGrace website:

Do you live with a nagging suspicion of God?

Many Christians understand that Jesus died in our place to take our punishment, that our sins have been forgiven, and that one day Christ will return. But inwardly we can be tempted to wonder whether God truly loves us, cares about us, or even thinks about us.

The gospel has brought us amazing news, but sometimes we don’t live in the good of it.

The project came out of a perceived lack of songs that help us meditate on the unfathomable love God has shown us in adopting us through Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:5). We are now part of God’s family - in Christ we will forever be the objects of God’s particular and passionate mercy and love. We are not only forgiven, we are co-heirs with Christ, and never again have to doubt God’s care for us. That biblical reality, rather than leaving us focused on ourselves, drives us once again to proclaim the greatness of the God whose grace turns hopeless rebels into the precious children.

“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!” (Gal. 4:6)

The song "Prepared a Place for Me" magnificently displays one aspect of our adoption in Christ, namely that Jesus' victory over sin and death includes preparing an eternal home for us with God (John 14:1-6). And, as always, Sovereign Grace Music makes the truth very singable and enjoyable to listen to.

Click the song title to visit the Sons and Daughters album page at Sovereign Grace Music's site, where you can hear samples of this song ("Prepared a Place for Me" is track 11) as well as the entire album.

Prepared a Place for Me
by Doug Plank

Mystery of mysteries, that God would make for me
A place within His family, though once His enemy
The Judge of every sinner sent Christ to Calvary
To prepare a place for me

Judgment should be given for this guilt upon my head
But the Father of all glory crushed His Son instead
Now I’ve been adopted, for God made this to be
You prepared a place for me

Blessed be, blessed be
My God and Savior, You’ve shown me favor
You prepared a place for me

Father, in the moment
When Your Son shall split the skies
And myriads of angels acclaim Him with their cries
By grace I will be able to join the jubilee
You prepared a place for me

Blessed be, blessed be
My God and Savior, You’ve shown me favor
You prepared a place for me

What does it mean for God to love us?

By: Johnny Coggin

Ideas about "God's love" can often be quite nebulous and meaningless; sometimes even unbiblical. Even when the ideas are correct, the phrase "God's love" can grow so familiar to our ears that it becomes common to yawn at it, rather than staggering at its wonder and its incredible implications for our lives.

Sure, we know God loves us... but what does that really mean?

In this brief video clip (1:42 to be exact), Pastor James MacDonald offers helpful insight on the importance of knowing and believing that God loves us personally. Don't miss what he says in the second half of the clip.

Song of the Week (08.05.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

About a year ago, we here at Grace Evan started releasing some live recordings of music from our worship services. The collections are called simply: Live Cuts.

The goal is to put the songs we sing in our people's cars, iPods, iTunes libraries, or wherever they might listen during the week, so that the truths and glories sung about would be in their minds as well.

We've just finished and released Live Cuts 3, available now at the Grace Media kiosk in our church foyer (for a buck... yeah, $1), and at the freshly updated Listen to Grace Music page. There you'll find a streaming media player and free downloads of all three Live Cuts collections.

For a sample, the Song of the Week is track 16 on Live Cuts 3, called The Mystery of Mercy. Written by our own Jim Umlauf, this song points to the astonishing wonder of God's great and mysterious mercy to sinners like us.

Click the button below to play it (if you don't see it, click the song title), or visit the Listen to Grace Music page to hear and download more... for free!

The Mystery of Mercy
by Jim Umlauf

Out in the great deep, an ocean dark and vast
where I was justly cast away from thee
The whole of my heart was dull and dry as death
but then your saving breath was granted me

And for eternity, I'll love the mystery of mercy - your mercy!

My guilt was exchanged for Jesus' righteousness
and all my filthiness was owned for me
You emptied your wrath and closed your eyes of love
against the horror of the profane scene

And for eternity, I'll love the mystery of mercy - your mercy!

You showed your lovingkindness in the sacrifice of your Son
O the riches of your grace! What great salvation!

You gave me new life in place of dire stone
and mine in Christ alone is health and peace
United with him, equipped with all good things
my approach to the King is bold and free

And for eternity, I'll love the mystery of mercy - your mercy!
And for eternity, I'll love the mystery of mercy - your mercy!

Exalting Marriage

By: Russell Jeffares

There is a video currently circulating the internet that has become so quickly popular that it even caught the attention of the news media. This video shows a wedding ceremony in which the wedding party attendants danced their way to the altar instead of in the usual orderly procession. As you might imagine, responses to this are quite varied.

• Some might say it was great, a unique way of having fun at their wedding. Who are we to criticize? It’s their wedding after all. It’s their day; let them conduct their wedding in the way they choose.

• Others simply think it's funny. This is probably due to the mere absurdity of it or the fact that most people wouldn’t dare attempting this on their own wedding day.

• Some might say that it’s about time. The old-fashioned, traditional way of conducting a marriage ceremony is old hat. Why get married under the sounds of a pipe organ while somberly marching towards the altar. The Bible never says “Thou shall get married in this prescribed manner.” The way in which we get married is simply culturally informed.

Even though my own initial response was not far from those described above, the more I considered it, the more disturbed I became. I think it’s true that marriage ceremonies are culturally informed. But what stands out as most troubling in this case is that this is what our culture is now producing. Despite the criticisms, those “old-fashioned” ceremonies were crafted with one intention in mind: to elevate marriage to it proper place as a holy institution established by God himself. There’s a reason why these ceremonies have been conducted with formality, seriousness, and solemnity. This is the intensely sacred moment when two people commit to each other for life with vows before a holy God. It is not to be taken lightly or flippantly—certainly not in dance club style!

As God’s people, we need to be wary of the cultural impulse to minimize and degrade the sacrosanct institution of marriage.