Christless Christianity

By: Johnny Coggin

"What would things look like if Satan really took control of a city? Over half a century ago, Presbyterian minister Donald Grey Barnhouse offered his own scenario in his weekly sermon that was also broadcast nationwide on CBS radio. Barnhouse speculated that if Satan took over Philadelphia (the city where Barnhouse pastored), all of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The children would say, 'Yes, sir' and 'No ma’am,' and the churches would be full every Sunday . . . where Christ is not preached.

There is a great difference between 'being good' and the gospel. Some call it moralism. Moralism, in fact, blinds us from the gospel by giving us something of 'the real thing' ensuring that we miss out on the true gospel all together. We must remember that Christ came first not to make bad people good but to make dead people live. If we forget that, our Christianity will turn out to be Christless."

--- Michael Horton, Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church

Christ is Deeper Still

By: Johnny Coggin

If you want to read hard-hitting, convicting, glorious biblical truth (and you like it in very short bursts!), you need to check out (and subscribe to) Nashville pastor Ray Ortlund's blog, Christ is Deeper Still.

Here is this morning's shocking commentary on Galatians 3:13:

“To the Jews, this was absolute blasphemy: a cursed Messiah on a cursed cross. No wonder the cross was such a stumbling block to them! To put it in the most shocking and yet perhaps the most accurate way, the apostolic message was about a God-damned Messiah.”

Philip Graham Ryken, Galatians (Phillipsburg, 2005), page 115.

FreeGraceMusic

posted by: Johnny Coggin

If you're interested in hearing some of our more recent music (including "Unto the Lamb" from Easter), I've set up a new site for you: http://graceevan.bandcamp.com/

You can listen to songs and download them for free if you like.

You can also subscribe via RSS (at the bottom of the page) to automatically receive updates as new songs are added. (If you don't know what RSS is and how you can benefit from it, go here: http://bit.ly/cMyrrU - it's simple, really!)

You can even listen from your iPhone or iPad!

So go check out the new site, listen to the three new tracks (by Beth Bittner & Choir, Lindsay Tilson, and Jim Umlauf), and subscribe so you won't miss out on more great music as it's added!

Hope this will serve you all well... And please, let me know what you think! I'd love your feedback.

(below is a little preview of Beth & the choir from Easter Sunday! Email and RSS subscribers may have to open this article in your browser to view the preview)

Easter Music & A Word About Worship

Posted by: Johnny Coggin

Grace Family,

Your response to yesterday's music has been overwhelming. I'll just repeat the song lyric in response: "All praise unto the Lamb who sits on the throne!" That being said, many many thanks to our awesome (all volunteer) choir, orchestra, and rhythm band, who pulled off a very difficult piece. And to Beth, who sings to the Lord with passion and conviction every time. And perhaps especially to Jim Umlauf and the worship zone elders, who plan and guide our worship services so faithfully and wisely, week in and week out, always seeking to better lead us to worship together, both in spirit and in truth. I'm unworthy to serve with such men.

Now, about the recording... Here's the deal: If the recording turns out decent, we'll make it available as soon as possible. But no promises, since we never know how a LIVE recording will end up sounding (and I'd prefer not to release something not good).

In the meantime, you can legally download the (very awesome) Prestonwood arrangement of "Unto the Lamb" that we did yesterday, right from iTunes. Here's a link.

Let me add a word of encouragement to you all, mainly regarding some comments made on Facebook yesterday: If you find yourself stirred to worship God through clapping, shouting, lifting hands, standing, bowing, or kneeling (among other things), and you are stirred as a response to truth about God (who he is, and what he does/has done), you probably shouldn't hold back. These are biblically appropriate expressions of worship, and honor God. They even edify others, I believe. Now, they can be misused, yes. And our emotions can surely be stirred by music without any regard for the content being sung or the One to whom we're singing. But that doesn't mean our emotions and outward expressions should be avoided. Worship is a heart issue, first and foremost. And a genuine heart response of worship to "the Lamb who sits on the throne" can be (and perhaps should be) expressed outwardly sometimes in the congregation. On a personal note, I still struggle here. I often hold back from lifting my hands or clapping, when my heart is leaping for joy in response to a particular truth in a song. But sanctification is gradual, right? Maybe I'm getting there... and hey, maybe we're slowly getting there together.

Thanks again for all the encouragement, and let's press in to worship God even more deeply and truly this week.

Why did Jesus only have to suffer momentary separation from God for us?

By: Johnny Coggin

Here's a Good Friday thought to ponder:

Jesus suffered on the cross for only a few hours. But that suffering was sufficient to pay eternal debts for millions of people. How can that be? Said another way: If our sins are punished by eternal separation from God, why did Jesus only have to suffer momentary separation?

Watch the following video to hear the answer given by pastor John Piper.

(YouTube - Piper: Why did Jesus only have to suffer momentary separation from God?)