Crossroads

A quote by John Piper that’s been very helpful to me personally (It’s a bit lengthy, but it’s worth the read!):

"God decreed from all eternity to display the greatness of the glory of his grace for the enjoyment of his creatures, and he revealed to us that this is the ultimate aim and explanation of why there is sin and why there is suffering, and why there is a great suffering Savior. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came in the flesh to suffer and die and by that suffering and death to save undeserving sinners like you and me. This coming to suffer and die is the supreme manifestation of the greatness of the glory of the grace of God. Or to say it a little differently, the death of Christ in supreme suffering is the highest, clearest, surest display of the glory of the grace of God. If that is true, then a stunning truth is revealed, namely, suffering is an essential part of the created universe in which the greatness of the glory of the grace of God can be most fully revealed. Suffering is an essential part of the tapestry of the universe so that the weaving of grace can be seen for what it really is."  (John Piper, Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, pp.81-82)

Desiring God Ministries is selling all the books they carry on their website for $5! That’s right, any book for only $5…  The sale ends tomorrow.

The career groups will not be meeting during the month of July. There is no Crossroads meeting for July either… But, as I said last night, I want to encourage you to pursue one another for fellowship. Unfortunately, sin doesn’t take a break in July, and inevitably, we will need help with our souls. Also, God doesn’t take a break in July either, so you will have plenty of God’s activities in your life to share with your friends!

Last night at our Crossroads meeting, Mark Mullery preached from Isaiah 41:10 about God’s sovereignty and our suffering and how these two things connect. Here is a brief summary:

1. Sovereignty prepares you for suffering
2. Sovereignty comforts you in suffering
3. Sovereignty enables you to profit from suffering
4. Sovereignty equips you to comfort those who suffer
5. Sovereignty and suffering collide at the cross

I trust the truth of God’s sovereignty brought you comfort in your suffering as it did for me. I was particularly encouraged by the last point, thinking about the suffering that Christ went through so that our suffering would one day end… In heaven, there will be no more suffering, no more sickness, and no more death! Imagine that!

Well, just because we heard a message on suffering and sovereignty, it’s not going to make a difference in suffering unless we apply the truth. So here are some application questions:

• How have you responded when you suffered? How does God’s sovereignty help you in your suffering?
• What is your ‘home base’ (go-to verse) when it comes to suffering?
• How can you care for your friends who are suffering? What’s one thing you can do to help them remember God’s sovereignty? 

Mark mentioned 3 books that will help us think about suffering and God’s sovereignty. Here they are:

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God (John Piper & Justin Taylor)

How Long, O Lord (D.A. Carson)

Trusting God (Jerry Bridges)

We have our Crossroads meeting this Thursday at 7:30pm. Mark Mullery will be preaching a message titled "Sovereignty & Suffering" from Isaiah 41:10. He will be addressing the issue of human suffering and how to view suffering in light of God’s sovereignty. D.A. Carson once said, "…all we have to do is live long enough, and we will suffer." I believe this message will be of great comfort to those of you who are experiencing suffering in various ways, and it will prepare those of you who aren’t suffering currently for the inevitable. I want to encourage you to invite your friend who might be going through a trial. Maybe you have a "Each One Reach One" person who is going through a difficult time. This message will give you a great opportunity to care for this person by inviting him/her to come and hear God’s Word preached. I hope to see you all there!

All the messages given at NA 07 is available for download for free! You can get them here.

7 lbs. 10 oz., 19 1/2 inches… 

On 5/25, God has graciously given Emma and me a daughter! We are both thrilled that she is finally here. You might have already heard that she was born with Down syndrome and has holes on her heart, requiring a surgery in 4-6 months. While we are rejoicing tremendously in this wonderful gift from God, we know there will be some challenges in the coming months, and we would appreciate your prayers.

By God’s grace, we are doing well. We have been experiencing grace daily in God’s Word as He reminds us of His goodness and sovereignty. I’ve written a letter to our family and friends describing some of our thoughts so people can know how we are doing. You can read it here. Thanks for your prayers and support!

I hope you had a great time at New Attitude 07! I’d love to hear how the Lord met you at the conference. Please email me (ssakaguchi@sovgracefairfax.org) and tell me about your experience at NA. Here is a document that is designed to promote application. I heard that CJ Mahaney gave a message on application toward the end of the conference, so I know you are aware that change won’t happen without application. I want to encourage you to bring your notes and application points to your accountability group meeting and talk about how the Lord met you at NA with your friends.