Crossway Life

So, now we have this fancy new series, and you’re wondering what’s next. With only 7 weeks left of the Pastors College at the time of this writing (Graduation on June 8th, Lord willing. Bring your noisemakers.), I want to continue to capitalize on all of the great books that have been instrumental in God’s work in my life through the past year. Today’s topic will be sanctification.

First, a definition. Wayne Grudem defines sanctification as: “A progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more like Christ in our actual lives.” We’ve been forgiven because of the substitutionary death of Christ. But we are still sinful people, still pointing one another to the Savior (or Saviour, as the British say). Sin doesn’t leave us alone once we become united to Christ. There will be a perpetual struggle until Jesus returns. Paul Tripp captures this well:

“I still struggle with sin daily, and radical change still needs to take place in me so tht I can be and do what God has planned. Unlike justification and adoption, which are events, this work of personal transformation is a process–a process called sanctification. Sanctification is the process by which God actually makes me what he legally declared me to be in justification–holy.”

That quote is taken from page 122 of his book, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, book one of our recommended reading. Tripp does a masterful job of clearly diagnosing our problem (sin), explaining how sin affects us, and then applying the gospel as the hope and power of change in our lives. Tripp’s book is full of wonderful, helpful bits of truth that will help you in applying the gospel to your own life and to those you love.

Our second book is from the inimitable John Owen, and it is Volume 6 of his collected works, entitled Temptation and Sin. Owen was a brilliant and profound thinker who explored the problem of sin to the depths of his own soul, and thus was able to apply the gospel in deep and significant ways. He has given us wonderful quotables such as, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” In reading selections of this volume I was repeatedly struck and convicted by the penetrating insight that he offered into the nature and workings of sin. The only weakness to Owen is that he apparently thought and wrote in a much more formal and cumbersome style than we are accustomed to today.

Thankfully, the fine folks at Crossway Books have produced some updated and edited volumes of his work, complete with helpful summaries and overviews. Their companion volume, Overcoming Sin and Temptation, is a wonderful update that was released just 18 months ago, yet contains Owen’s deep discernment with a more 21st-century reader friendly format. Any one of these books will get you well on your way in understanding and applying the gospel, so jump in, and happy reading!

What do taxi drivers, dying and evangelism have to do with each other? As you read these two stories, see if you find the connection!

Taxi Experience #1:

Monday, April 14, we traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, for the T4G conference. After landing at the airport and retrieving our bags, Pete, the only pastor with “street smarts,” hailed a cab to take us to our hotel. As we traveled along the highway at speeds comparable with the flight we just took, our taxi driver swerved to avoid a stopping truck. Immediately we found ourselves staring at more stopped traffic. With only a few feet of air as a cushion, he abruptly swerved again, taking us across 3 lanes. Our lives flashed before our eyes as our pumping hearts prepared to meet our Great Savior. Either our taxi driver was very skilled, or God’s hand was upon our lives -you decide. Near-death experiences remind us that our lives are but a vapor here in this world. Praise God we have an inheritance and a hope of eternal life through Christ Jesus our Savior! I will never complain about Bill Haughery’s driving again.

Taxi Experience #2:

At the end of our conference we again took a cab back to the airport for our departure. As we jumped into the taxi, Doug asked our young driver his name. “Cory”, he replied. As we sped off we continued the conversation, seeking to find out more about him. I asked him what one thing affected his life the most this past year. He mentioned that he was diagnosed with cancer, but when the physicians went to operate, they realized it was simply scar tissue. As we were chatting, Bill noticed a Bible tucked under some papers in the center of the car, and asked if he ever read it. Cory said he had in the past, but that someone from the conference had given that one to him. Bill continued to talk with him about his Catholic background and asked if anyone had ever shared the Gospel in a clear manner. “No”, Cory answered. Then, Bill very graciously shared the Gospel with this young man. As he finished, Bill asked, “Why would God let you into heaven?” Cory responded, “Because I do good deeds each day.” Pete then explained that there is nothing we can do to be saved apart from trusting and believing in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. What a joy it was to engage someone and have an opportunity to share the Gospel! Let’s all look for opportunities to share the gospel in everyday life.

Back in late February on a Wednesday afternoon, Bill and I drove down to BWI, flew out to Phoenix, Arizona, spent the night, took a tour of the Sovereign Grace Church in Gilbert, AZ, had lunch and jumped back on the plane. Yes, the weather in Phoenix was wonderful but we barely had time to notice.

We wanted to see what we could learn from the Phoenix church and their building project. We were treated so kindly. Their senior pastor, Rich Richardson, had invited me to come anytime. And their administrator, Jeff Yellets, was the model of hospitality. Jeff was prepared to the max for our visit with drawings, numbers, notes and a planned tour.

The Phoenix church has a beautiful facility, very nice. It is tastefully decorated and has an inviting feel. It has a nice outdoor congregating place which is perfect for their climate. God has also caused the Phoenix church to grow rapidly.

With incredible humility, Rich and Jeff not only shared what they appreciated about their building but they also shared with us what they wish they had done differently. Some things, they told us, you can’t afford to get wrong the first time. Some things cost exponentially more to fix than if you had done them right at the start.

Coming back on the plane I realized that my faith had been stirred by the Phoenix church and their humble leaders. God really will build a community of faith around his saving gospel. And a building facilitates the meetings, work, service and gospel proclamation of that local church.

Here’s my prayer: God, please give us faith, wisdom, clarity and courage to build our building for your glory and the good of your church.

A few weeks ago all of our husbands were at the Pastor’s College. They were in class all day and seeking to do their planning retreat in the evenings and off hours. I am sure that this schedule was gruelling. I almost felt badly for them…until I spoke with Pete. I overheard them yuckin’ it up in the background. I’m talking with Pete and Kurt is inserting funny little comments into the phone. Sounded like a big party to me!

Seriously, I am so truly grateful to know that these men work so hard to serve our families, serve our local church, and truly love being together. They are furthering their theological training, wisely preparing for us as a church, and benefiting from deep fellowship together. They are an example of living out their lives together. What a kindness from God!

While they were away, the wives and all of our kiddos (12 1/2 to 3 ratio) were over at our house for a dinner and movie night. What a fun time we had (we missed you Cynthia-hope you enjoyed your time with Nicholas and Hannah).

Pete and I desire to instill in our girls a love for our local church and a love for the families to whom God has called us. So when Pete is away, I often try to get together with the other pastors’ wives and their kids, create a memory for the girls, and enjoy some Biblical Fellowship along the way. Last night was one of those nights. At any moment in the night someone was having their diaper changed, dressing up, falling down (the basement steps), thirsty, hungry, tired, rambunctious, running to the rest room at mach speed, and the like. Our conversations would begin , “What is God doing in your life?”, then be interrupted with one of us needing to tend to our kiddos, and return a few minutes later to finish answering the question that we couldn’t quite remember.

What a wonderful evening! This is exactly what God has called us to. Living out our lives together. Just everyday, ordinary lives being lived together for God’s glory. I am grateful to God that He has provided these relationships. These ladies see into my life in these contexts. Our Biblical Fellowship wasn’t without interruption or distraction. Our evening wasn’t exactly the picture of serenity. But, we were able to invest in our relationships, right where God has us. And to teach our kids to do the same.

It may have seemed easier for each of us to ride out the week on our own waiting for our hubbies to return. But God has not called us to live out our faith in isolation. He has called us to live out our lives (not usually in a neat package) with one another; to spur one another on in good works and Godliness.

Thank you ladies, for being God’s grace to my life. I am grateful to God for each of you.

As a young boy I loved to catch critters. My earliest memories were of catching grasshoppers. They were so intriguing because they would remain relatively invisible until I got close enough to scare them into flight. I loved the tension of sneaking up on them and catching them before they hopped away. As I got older I graduated to turtles, frogs, lizards, birds, snakes and even chipmunks. For me, nothing was more exhilarating than waking up early on a summer morning and heading off to the woods on an expedition.

One particular morning, I decided to visit “the forbidden swamp.” I had been warned by my mother to steer clear of this particular swampy marsh, but that morning I found myself “irresistibly drawn.” The swamp contained salamanders, a rare find in that area. Wading into the stagnant, mucky water my bare feet sunk well over my ankles. As I stealthily stalked my prey I stepped on something sharp that seemed to slice my big toe as my foot sunk deep in the mud. Undeterred, I completed my quest and returned with my prize. It was only then that I realized that I had seriously cut my toe.

A sense of guilt and fear led me to hide my injury from my mother. Thinking I could doctor myself to health and avoid being exposed, I tried to clean and bandage my injury for a week. Finally, as the pain increased and infection set in, I began to limp noticeably. When my mother asked me what was wrong I confessed my disobedience, and it was off to the doctor’s with one very foolish boy. Stitches and antibiotics saved my toe.

Confession of sin is an important practice in our ongoing Christian life Ps. 32:5. It is a matter of spiritual health. How about you? Do you find confession intimidating? I think we all do. It is hard because we have to stare down our pride. If we don’t, we won’t find our way to spiritual health.

CJ’s comments on Andy Pettitte’s “confession” to steroid use is worth a read. Personally, CJ’s words challenge me to consider how to prepare my own heart for that inevitable moment when I will have the opportunity to confess my sin.

I admire other men who cry easily. King David poured out his heart without shame to God. CJ Mahaney can rarely make it through a message. Corby Megorden, a dear friend and a pastor from Covenant Life Church, can barely make it through a conversation.

Their tears tell me some things that I need to learn and grow in:

1. Affect (emotion) should accompany the most precious things. Otherwise, are those things I label as “precious” really so to me?
2. Affect comes from a softened and humbled heart. Both Corby and CJ readily see where they once were (Eph. 2:1-3). They see and are ruined easily to grateful tears.

Now, I know that it would not be enough to just cry. Crying is not the issue here. The outward manifestations will differ from person to person. But what I do need to learn from Corby and CJ is this: when I encounter the precious things of life (top of the list: Jesus’ blood and sacrifice, my wife and children, church body, etc…) I should be affected and grateful, even to tears.

I thank God that His Spirit does not leave or forsake me, even if affect is dry or distant. The Spirit dwells within and is able to help me to return to a place of grateful and soft-hearted praise, and even to tears of joy in response to the innumerable good gifts that flow from Christ.

I will, however, refuse to cry during romantic dramas.

Since we are partners together with all the churches of Sovereign Grace Ministries I thought you may like to have a few more details on the recent reorganization. A few items to keep in mind:

1. These changes were made primarily to increase care to the pastors and churches of Sovereign Grace Ministries. C.J., with tears, shared how he wants to move closer to us as we grow and not further away. I think this new structure will help greatly in that endeavor and I’ve already seen some of the good effects of the changes.
2. These changes were made secondarily to facilitate our gospel mission. The new structure should help with church planting, inquiries about church adoption, and transferring leadership to the next generation.
3. This will not be the last governmental change. It’s meant to function for us at this time. As Sovereign Grace grows, there will probably be a need for another change in leadership structure (and others after that). As we know, change is here to stay.
4. In regard to care for the pastors and churches, much of the goal involves working toward manageable geographic regions.

Here is the new structure:

Leadership Team

• C.J. Mahaney
• Dave Harvey – leads apostolic team
• Jeff Purswell
• Pat Ennis
• Joshua Harris

Apostolic Team – providing care to our pastors and churches

• Made up of eight men led by Dave Harvey, our apostolic member is Aron Osborne (Northeast region), senior pastor of Grace Community Church in Souderton, PA

Dave Harvey (Team Leader)

Aron Osborne (Northeast & Eastern Canada)

Kenneth Maresco (Maryland, Virginia)

Gene Emerson (Mid-Atlantic)

Danny Jones (South)

Rick Gamache (Midwest)

Craig Cabaniss (Midwest & Southwest)

Steve Shank (West and Western Canada)

Pete Greasely (International)

• Regional Team Leaders (RTLs) help apostolic team members provide care to a smaller set of churches. Our RTL is Warren Boettcher who serves as senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Cherry Hill, NJ

As you can see, it’s not unduly complex but I do believe it will be very effective. After seeing some of the early fruit of our new structure I am eagerly anticipating what God will do over the next several years.