July 17, 2009

• blogging to build up the ruined Church of God

  Here's a little lengthy yet meaty clip from John Piper on preaching. Definitely worth watching if you care at all about the current state of the Church. I urge you to watch it all the way through to the end (to me, that's when it really gets good)...

  In "Puritan Preaching in England," John Brown reminds us of the essential connection between preaching and the spiritual health and welfare of the Church.

  ...he who realizes the living place which preaching, in its most vital forms, has ever taken in the spiritual life of the Church will need no further assurance of its great importance. He will not fail to note that the preacher's message and the Church's spiritual condition have risen or fallen together. When life has gone out of the preacher it is not long before it has gone out of the Church also. On the other hand, when there has been a revived message of life on the preacher's lips there comes as a consequence of a revived condition in the Church itself. The connection between these two things has been close, uniform and constant.

  Though not all of us are all called to preach from a pulpit, please remember each of us is called to gossip the word.

  I challenge all of you, both pastors and people, to ask yourselves these questions based on Dr. Piper's words:

  Do you genuinely exult in the Word you preach/teach/blog/speak about?
  Do you have a sense of urgency as you preach/teach/blog/speak?
  Are you longing to be eternally helpful to the flock?

  Brown gave a brief review of the history of preaching in the time period prior to the Puritans. He described the Friars preachers of the 13th century as

  Puritans before Puritan times. Gathered from every country and speaking therefore various languages and dialects, Christendom was soon overspread by a host of zealous, active, devoted men whose great aim was the religious instruction and elevation of the people. While within monastic rules and bound by the common vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, seclusion in a walled-up monastery was no part of their discipline. They were bent, not on fleeing the world, but on subjugating or winning it. Their work was among their fellow-men in village and hamlet, in town and city, in market and camp. One of their founders, St. Francis of Assisi, has been called the John Wesley of the thirteenth century and he and his followers went forth without purse or scrip, relying entirely on the voluntary principle for maintenance. The apostles of poverty and pity and an all-embracing love, they went forth by two and two to build up the ruined Church of God.

  Moving about among the people and asking to be allowed to help them, like their Master they had compassion on the multitude and began to teach them many things. Compassion is the strength of the true teacher, and instruction is a work of true compassion. Above all things, these men aimed at being effective preachers...

  I got really excited when I read those words because I was reminded of host of zealous, active, devoted bloggers God is raising up in all places, whose great aim is the religious instruction and elevation of the people! Can we not help but wonder if God might not be using us as precursors to a sorely needed reformation?

  How is God calling you to build up the ruined Church of God? How is He calling you to use your blog to build up the ruined Church of God?

  

  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
  

  –I Peter 4:10-11
  

  
  Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
  

  –Ephesians 5:15-16

   
  Our Father,

  You Son Jesus Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for us. How much do we love Your Church? Are we willing to give ourselves for her? Gracious and merciful Father, We have freely received Your Gospel of grace, we are to freely give it. May we exult in Your Gospel of grace and in Your holy word.  Holy Spirit, give us hearts of compassion like our Savior, hearts that weep for the lost and scattered sheep who have not received Your Gospel. Open our eyes to see the ruins in the Church today. Give us a passion to be eternally helpful to Your flock. May we not be lax. Give us a sense of urgency so we might work diligently while we have opportunity to do so. Put it in our hearts to desire to be used by You however and wherever You send us to rebuild Your ruined Church. For those of us who do blog, You have given us a platform to gossip Your Gospel. Lord God, rend the heavens and come down. Rend our lips and put a revived message of life on our lips so Your ruined Church might be built up and revived once more! May we be good and wise stewards of all You have given us. May we do what we can to be effective and appointed workmen for You. May Your good hand be upon us as we seek the well-being of Your Church. Your sit enthroned above the circle of the earth. You are the Almighty God. We have confidence You will prosper us, therefore we Your servants will arise and build in Your power for Your glory!

  Amen.

  
  

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  Suggested reading: Nehemiah

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