Holy Contentment

In some ways and for a particular group of people (of which I am one) the title of this post doesn’t quite seem right.  There is a phrase that in recent years has really taken hold within some evangelical circles, namely, “Holy Discontent”".  By using this phrase, people are driving at keeping moving forward for God, to strive for better, to not settle for what we have but rather believe God has more to do among us, and I truly subscribe to having a healthy doze of “Holy Discontentment” , therefore, it is perhaps all the stranger that the title of this post is “Holy Contentment”.

So what am I saying then? 

Well, let me explain, as usual it is borne out of the book I am reading, Gospel by J.D. Greear.  What has driven this post is the part of the Gospel prayer from the book that says:

“You are all I need today for everlasting joy”

As I have mulled that over, it has really struck me how impacted I have been with this materialistic world view that is all around us.  When you boil it all down, all the marketing and advertisements around us are geared towards stoking up our discontentment.  Whether it be discontentment with your mobile phone or your toilet roll, the message is the same -  you are missing out!  Having this world view drive our materialistic society is all well and good, however, if it seeps in to our spiritual life, as it often does, then we are in trouble.

So I urge you to join me this week in focusing on the Gospel, let the truth that in Christ, the Father’s love, acceptance and presence is all we need today for everlasting joy.  Please, like me, resist the message of the world that tell us we never have enough, there is always something better to be desired.  Proclaim with me this week:

Christ IS enough and there is NOTHING better!

Gospel Finances

As you know if you have been keeping up to date with the blog recently I am enjoying working my way through the book GOSPEL by JD Greear and the latest chapter on handling our finances through a Gospel framework was particularly challenging and pertinent.  So I thoughts I would put the headlines here so you can feel the challenge too .

 

 

The Gospel Generosity Matrix:

1. God gives excess to some so that they can share with those who have less
2. Jesus’ radical generosity toward us serves as a model and a motivation for our radical generosity.
3. The Holy Spirit must guide us as to which sacrifices we, personally, are to make.
4. God DOES enjoy in our enjoyment of His material gifts
5. God, not money, should be our primary source of beauty and security
6. wealth-building can be wise

 

Greear, then makes the great point that we all we want to know is how much a Christian should give, a tithe, more?  Well I think he is right that this stems from our hearts that  love laws to follow so we can earn God’s acceptance, the reality really is a challenge of the heart and it is that he tackles with the following questions:

 

• What does your spending show that you delight in?
• What does your savings show you find security in?
• Whose kingdom are you building?

Please if you find the above helpful or challenging, then please get the book, it is very practical and challenging.

God Bless

Jim

After Church Conversations

I read this article on the Gospel Coalition website and it got me thinking.  After the service we, like many churches, have a cup of coffee and a biscuit to try and aid fellowship.  However, how often are the conversations we have at that point spiritual in nature?  How often is it that we exchange views on what the Lord was saying through His word etc.?

I would encourage you to have a read through this short article by clicking here and see if we can’t add a little spiritual flavour to our conversations this Sunday

God Bless
Jim

Good Book : JD Greear – Gospel

    I know we all like a good book and here today I have one for you that I can so far heartily recommend ( I am up to chapter 7).
    So far this book has really gripped me, as you can tell from the number of people I have pointed in it’s direction.  The main thing thus far that has made a difference in my daily walk with God has been the truth that the Gospel isn’t just our entrance ticket to the Kingdom but the very Power of God to transform our daily lives in day to day sanctification. 

Greear, makes the point well that we are apt to forget the truths of the Gospel and their live changing power so developed a prayer that he encourages to pray daily so as to remind ourselves daily of the amazing Gospel we have to share.  Obviously, he makes the point clear that there is no great mystical power in the prayer itself but is purely a tool to aid our Gospel focus.

The Prayer is as follows:

A big chunk of the book is about unpacking these truths and appliying them to daily life.  As I say, please if you get the chance have a read and let me know what you think, and if you have read it already then drop a comment below of what you think.

 

God Bless
Jim

 

Here is some info on the man himself:

J.D. Greear is the lead pastor of The Summit Church, in Raleigh-Durham, NC and author of Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary (2011) and Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved (2013). Two main things characterize The Summit Church: its gospel focus and sending culture. The gospel is not merely the diving board off of which we jump into the pool of Christianity, it’s also the pool itself. Joy, reckless generosity, and audacious faith all come by learning more about God’s extravagant love found in Christ.

God has blessed The Summit Church with tremendous growth. Under J.D.’s leadership, the Summit has grown from a plateaued church of 300 to one of nearly 8,000, making it one of Outreach magazine’s “top 25 fastest-growing churches in America” for several years running.

J.D. has also led the Summit to further the kingdom of God by pursuing a bold vision to plant one thousand new churches by the year 2050. In the last ten years, the church has sent out more than 300 people to serve on church planting teams, both domestically and internationally. J.D. completed his Ph.D. in Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he is also a faculty member, writing on the correlations between early church presentations of the gospel and Islamic theology. Having lived serving among Muslims, he has a burden to see them, as well as every nation on earth, come to know and love the salvation of God in Christ.

He and his beautiful wife Veronica live in Raleigh, NC and are raising four ridiculously cute kids: Kharis, Alethia, Ryah, and Adon.

We are back!

We are back in business. I thought it about time to get blogging again as a good way of keeping you all informed of all the things going on at PEC of which there are many.

So watch this space!

Jim.