On his blog, blogger Justin Taylor recently interviewed CJ Mahaney. Since CJ spoke at our church the last two Sundays, I thought you might be interested to read this. Among other things, Justin and CJ discuss CJ’s forthcoming book, Humility: True Greatness. Here is my favorite segment of the interview:

JT: Many would agree with you… that humility is essential, and that looking to Jesus is essential. They would argue that what we need most from Jesus is his personal example of humble service. Do you agree with that?

CJ: Nope. We desperately need more than his personal example of humble service. Actually what we need is the ultimate expression of his humble service. We need his death. We need forgiveness through his substitutionary sacrifice on the cross for our sins. We need to be ransomed or liberated from the corruption of sin and our captivity to sin by his atoning death. Any and all humility and servanthood that is present in the life of a Christian is the effect of his death on the cross and should draw attention to our crucified and risen Lord who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

You can read the entire interview here.

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Did you guys know that you can download sermons that have been preached at Sovereign Grace Church for free? You can! Click here and follow the instructions.

I would highly recommend that you download and review CJ’s “Encourage” and “Guard” messages.

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I know a lot of you are starting school this week, so I spent some time praying for you guys this morning. I think the Lord especially put on my heart those of you who are in public school. I prayed for you guys from a couple verses:

“Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15. I prayed that despite the many worldly allurements that may confront you, God would give you grace to find joy and satisfaction in him alone.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8. This prayer is simple: Lord, help them to be humble and to trust You.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16. I ended by praying that you would conduct yourselves in a way that leaves no doubt that you are living for the Audience of One.

Finally, may the gospel be of “first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3). May you remember that “Christ died for our sins.”

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…that Jimmy Matthews is the only cricketer to have bowled two hat tricks in one match, a feat achieved during the 1912 Triangular Tournament in England?

Source: Wikipedia.

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This morning I read 1 Corinthians 10. In this chapter, Paul briefly recounts Israel’s rebellion while wandering in the wilderness. As Dr. D.A. Carson points out in For the Love of God, Vol. 1, verse 6 explains that at least part of the reason these stories are recorded in Holy Scripture is so that we might learn from the bad example of our forebears and not repeat their sinful mistakes:

“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.”

Carson explains:

“Implicitly, it is all the more shocking if we who have received so much instruction and warning from ages past ignore the wealth of privilege that is ours. In our blindness we sometimes marvel at how some Old Testament figures or groups could so quickly abandon the godly heritage and covenant they received. How much worse if we do so!”

What should you, as young people, do about this? I think you’re in a wonderful position. Not only do you have the benefit of the examples in Scripture and church history, you have mini-church historians in your home: your parents. God has given them to you that you might benefit from their instruction and the lesson they’ve learned in their many years as Christians.

Here’s a simple assignment: don’t just wait to until the next time your parents get nostalgic and start telling stories about the “old days.” Humble yourself today by asking your parents questions that posture you to learn from them. Here are two questions you might ask:

• “If you could live your teenage years over again, what would you do differently?”
• “What do you know now that you wish you had known then?”

Let us know how it goes.

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Saturday I commented on what you can DO in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and I promised to provide some resources about how to THINK about Hurricane Katrina. Here it is. There have been a lot of commentaries and writings about God’s sovereignty and natural disasters, but I’ve found the following to be the most helpful.

We gave out two articles at church yesterday. Both of these require some theological consideration, but I think you’ll find them worth the effort.

First, theologian and seminary professor Russell Moore wrote an article called “Christ, Katrina, and My Hometown.” A quotation that briefly sums up this article:

“As Christians we know something about Katrina that the rest of the world just can’t know: This is not the way it is meant to be.”

Next, pastor/theologian Sam Storms wrote “Katrina, Common Grace, and a Theory About the End of the Age” in his email newsletter. This is a weighty article, but I think it’s the best thing I’ve read that has been written about Katrina. This quotation will give you a taste of this article’s flavor:

“All Christians know that divine grace is the unmerited favor and mercy of God that saves sinners from a well-deserved eternal death, but few have given thought to the concept of common grace.”

Finally, John Piper wrote a hymn about God’s sovereignty and natural disasters called “Famine Flood and Failing Fortune.” It’s based on Psalm 105:16:

“When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread…”

This will make for a rather long post, but I thought it would be worth reprinting the text of the hymn here:

When the staff is broken,
And in judgment spoken
Righteousness is heard,
Think not God is silent,
Though the famine violent,
This is but His word.
He stands not to give account.
It is we who must before Him.
Come, let us adore Him!

When the flood is breaking
And your fear is waking,
Comfort not your soul,
Thinking the Almighty
Yielded up the right He
Once had to control.
Every river and the seas
Do His sovereign bidding purely.
This is comfort surely.

When your fortunes fail you,
Deep diseases ail you
And your death is near,
Know that Christ your Maker
He alone is Taker
Of your life and fear,
Fall before His power and pray:
Jesus, I now trust you merely,
You have bought me dearly.

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To all of you who completed the Summer Reading Challenge: WELL DONE! You have my respect, and I know the Lord is pleased with your efforts. How cool is this - where else but the church are a bunch of teens spending their summer reading John Owen?!

Thanks to all of you who turned in your form and/or your paragraph explaining how you benefitted. It’s been very encouraging to read those.

We’ll be awarding your prizes after the five15 meeting next Saturday, September 10.

Once again: WELL DONE!

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Fellas: if you are in high school, you should have received from me an invitation for you and your Dad to participate in Leadership Development this year. If you didn’t, it was an oversight that we missed you; I want you to come. Thanks to all of you who have already responded, telling me that you’re planning to attend! If you haven’t RSVP’d yet, please send me an email letting me know your plans.

Remember that the first Leadership Development is a week from today: Saturday, September 10.

Breakfast is served at 7:30am. Bring your Bible.

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Much has been said already about Hurricane Katrina, and much more will be said. I want to encourage you to think about the action you can be taking…

This is a tragedy of unthinkable proportions. Many people are in a very dire siutation. If you’re like me, you might watch the TV reports and think, “Yeah, but what can I do?” I’d like to suggest two primary ways for us to respond, whether teen or parent:

1. Pray.This is the best thing you can do. God is still sovereign and active in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. One of the ways he works is by responding to the prayers of his people. Not sure how to pray? I’d recommend you review an article I referenced on July 11: it’s by Dr. Al Mohler entitled “On Praying About the Weather: A Meditation on Hurricane Dennis.” I found it tremendously helpful. You can find it here. A quotation from Dr. Mohler:

Perhaps we should pray as Jesus taught us, praying that the Father’s will would be done, that all persons would be spared harm, and that Christians would respond in the aftermath of disaster with a clear Christian witness of care, assistance, and witness. We should pray that any ‘natural’ disaster would be an opportunity for Christian witness to the supernatural Gospel, and for Christian reflection on the beauty of the Savior.

2. Give. There are people down there who have literally lost everything. This struck me last night as I paused to listen to a story on the news about “refugees” en route to the Astrodome in Houston. We have received so much so that we can give and serve others from our prosperity. There are a number of wonderful agencies doing a great deal of good, but I’d like you to consider putting the Sovereign Grace Ministries Disaster Relief Fund at the top of your list. In fact, we’ll be taking an offering for this tomorrow, and all of our Outreach Fund giving in the month of September will be going to this Fund. What’s great about this is that it not only meets the physical needs of the hurricane victims, it aids a local church in New Orleans that will be able to preach the gospel to so many people who so badly need to hear it.

So, that’s what you can DO about Hurricane Katrina. In my next post, I’ll direct you to some resources so you’ll know how to THINK about Hurricane Katrina.

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If you had a digital camera at the retreat, we desperately need your help. Our Media Team is working on a slide show of the retreat for the first five15 meeting of the year (a week from tomorrow!).

If you took digital pictures, can you please put them on a CD and deliver them to Andrew G or myself on Sunday morning?

You know what you’ll get out of the deal? The satisfaction of knowing that you’ve used your photographic skill to serve others. And that will feel really good.

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