Archive for August, 2007
Retreat Photo Gallery 1
August 29, 2007 11:35 am
Retreat Quotes: Session 3
7:00 amSteve Whitacre
Mark 15.16-47—Now I See the Cross
The Son of God took the wrath of God for the people of God.
1. The preparation
2. The crucifixion
“Even the mere word, Cross, must remain far not only from the lips of the citizens of Rome, but also from their thoughts, their eyes, their ears. Crucifixion is the grossest, cruelest, or most hideous manner of execution.” Cicero, in William Lane, The Gospel of Mark, 561.
“The most wretched of all ways of dying.” Josephus, in William Lane, The Gospel of Mark, 561.
“Death by crucifixion was one of the cruelest and most degrading forms of punishment ever conceived by human perversity, even in the eyes of the pagan world.” William Lane, The Gospel of Mark, 561.
“The wounds swelled about the rough nails, and the torn and lacerated tendons and nerves caused excruciating agony. The arteries of the head and stomach were surcharged with blood and a terrific throbbing headache ensued… The victim of crucifixion literally died a thousand deaths…” Josephus, in John Piper, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, 75.
“You shall measure the height of His love, if it is ever measured, by the depth of His grief, it that can ever be known. Charles Spurgeon, The Power of the Cross of Christ, 104.
3. The declaration
“As Jesus dies, bearing in mind all that his death signifies for the saving of sinners, the way is truly opened directly to God for all who come by faith. This is the glorious meaning of the tearing of the curtain, and particularly from top to bottom, signifying God’s action in Christ, a point to be constantly remembered in all our reflections on the meaning of Christ’s death. Donald English, The Message of Mark, 235.
[I didn’t use this quote because of time, but I liked it…]
“In Jesus’ death on the cross a Gentile outside — a Roman officer in charge of Jesus’ execution — becomes the first person to confess Jesus in faith as God’s Son, thus fulfilling the purpose of Mark’s Gospel. While Jesus is alive, humanity wills his death; only in his death can humanity see him as the way to life. James Edwards, The Gospel According to Mark, 475.
Retreat Quotes: Session 2
August 28, 2007 7:00 amMark Mullery
2 Samuel 11—Now I See Sin
1. What is David’s situation?
2. How is he reacting?
3. What does he want?
4. What are the consequences?
5. The believer’s capacity for sin
“But it is one thing for a man to know in general that there is a law of sin; another thing for a man to have an experience of the power of this law of sin in himself.” John Owen
“Our enemy is not only upon us, as it was with Samson, but it is also in us.” John Owen
“This then is the dwelling place of sin—the human heart. Here dwells our enemy. Within this fort the tyrant sin maintains its rebellion against God all our days. Like an enemy at war, it is not just his numbers and force of men under arms that are to be feared, but also the impregnable fortress that he possesses.” John Owen
“Yet the believer must remember that the power is from God, not himself, and do it all in a spirit of prayerful dependence, or else he will fail.” J. I. Packer
Retreat Quotes: Session 1
August 27, 2007 7:58 amI’m going to be posting quotes from the retreat sermons over the next few days. Here is the first installment. Enjoy!
Steve Whitacre
Exodus 34:6-7 — Now I See God
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, 1.
“Left to ourselves we tend immediately to reduce God to manageable terms.” A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, 13.
1. God is sovereign
“In the Bible, names often had a serious significance, and in the case of the Lord, his ‘name’ was his ‘story’, it summed up who he was and what he wanted to make known about himself.” J. Alec Motyer, The Message of Exodus, 68.
2. God is good
“The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted, and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of His people.” A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, 127.
[I didn’t get to use these two quotes because of time, but I wanted to…]
“God’s mercy is his goodness towards those in distress, his grace is his goodness towards those who deserve only punishment, and his patience is his goodness toward those who continue to sin over a period of time.” Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 198.
“…the penitent will find Him merciful; the self-condemned will find Him generous and kind. To the frightened He is friendly, to the poor in spirit He is forgiving, to the ignorant, considerate; to the weak, gentle, to the stranger, hospitable.” A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, 130.
3. God is holy
“Divine love triumphed divine wrath by divine self-sacrifice.” John Stott, The Cross of Christ, 159.
Retreat Highlights
August 26, 2007 1:56 pmHere is a Top Ten list of my Retreat07 highlights:
- Preaching God’s Word and hearing it preached by Mark and Vince. There is nothing I would rather do.
- Humility on display: people serving all over the place and encouraging one another for it every morning. I particularly enjoyed seeing so many parents and teens serving together.
- Meditating together on Psalm 145 and Psalm 150. Let’s pour forth the fame of His abundant goodness!
- Worship & ministry night. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard five15 worship the Savior together so passionately.
- “Peeps in the hood”.
- Family discussions. Even though my family wasn’t there, I love to see parents and teens experience fellowship and grow together!
- Ultimate frisbee: I just can’t get enough.
- Jonny & Sara’s testimonies.
- Mellow Yellow vs. Green Giants vs. Blue Bonnets vs. Santa’s Redneck Tide. You had to be there.
- Massanetta Springs. What an upgrade!
- AND A BONUS: Kline’s Dairy feast: watching all my friends enjoy the world’s best milkshake!
What about you? What were your highlights?
Sovereign Grace Ministries Audio — FREE!
August 25, 2007 10:23 pmWhile you’re waiting for the retreat audio to be uploaded to the website, you can max out your iPod like this: Sovereign Grace Ministries has just made every Sovereign Grace audio message (ever!) available for free! You can search by speaker, topic, or sets:
And We’re Back…
12:30 pmWe’re back. What a wonderful retreat. What was your highlight? How did God meet you?
Stay tuned for message quotes and outlines, photo galleries, and more highlights…
NOTE: If you have some favorite pictures of your own from the retreat that you would like to have included in the photo gallery, bring me a CD at church tomorrow!
A New Logo Unveiled
August 23, 2007 2:31 pmFor those of you not at the retreat, one of the things most obviously different is the new logo: it’s on the shirts, banner, Moleskines, and slides.
If you like it, thank Peter Lewis:
And We’re Off…
August 22, 2007 8:15 amLast Minute Details
August 21, 2007 12:29 pm
Important stuff for tomorrow:
- Don’t forget to pack.
- Directions.
- Weather.
- Cell phone coverage is mediocre. There are landlines, but you will need a calling card. If a family member has an emergency, call Massanetta Springs: (540) 434-3829. Please use this number only for emergencies.
- Dinner at 6pm, first session at 7:30pm.
- Please don’t forget to pray.
