I just realized I have a new spiritual problem.

Truth be told, I have had it for a while, but the light bulb just finally came on in my soul that illuminated what has been going on. I can get so caught up in trying to figure out why I sinned that I forget to repent of my sin.

Getting to the Root

As a “gospel-centrality” guy who believes that all true change begins at the heart level, I consider it a goal not just to stop doing something evil, but to try to figure out why I was doing that evil in the first place. My hope in doing so is to be led to as specific of an application of the gospel as possible, and to cut off the snake’s head and not just shorten his tail.

Theologically speaking, I believe this effort to deal with the root causes of our sin (Matthew 5:29) is a good practice modeled by Jesus, Paul, Keller, the Tripp brothers, and all of us who follow in their footsteps. However, practically speaking, even a good tool in the hands of sinners like us can do significant damage.

Gazing at Your Navel Instead of Jesus

I have found that in an effort to get to the root of my sin, I can become so navel-gazing that I cease to be cross-focused. I have found that I can get so wrapped up in the complexities and nuances of my sin and ‘how deep the rabbit-hole goes’ that I forget to repent of the fact that it was my fault that I climbed into the rabbit-hole in the first place.
I have also found, perhaps worst of all, that I can become so despairing or despondent because of my sin that I cease to be dependent upon the only One who can save me from that sin—Jesus.

Who Will Deliver Us?

And in those dark moments, thankfully, I am confronted afresh with the good news of the gospel: Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25) Most of us reading this can agree that we are wretched. But who or what is to save us from this wretchedness? Our self-evaluative introspection? Our repentance?

No. Neither is strong enough.

In Christ Alone

But Jesus is strong enough. And worthy enough. And holy enough. Only Jesus can save us from our sins and ourselves! In the midst of Paul’s own spiritual angst, this is the good news of the gospel that Paul himself is retelling and praising God for. In the midst of our own angst, we would be wise to follow suit.

So when you sin, repent—first! Then evaluate and seek to get to the root of what is going on. And when you find yourself confronted with your latest spiritual problem, whether it is like mine or not, ask yourself, “What good news am I retelling? Mine or Jesus’?”

Luke Sermon Series

The current Mars Hill sermon series traces the life of Jesus through the Gospel of Luke. Watch the preview.

God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27).

When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 1:27 because the religious couldn’t accept a defeated Savior, and philosophers couldn’t believe in a God who would take on frail flesh and die. Paul honed the point later by repeating what God said to him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Basking in this promise, Paul declared: “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).

The Inverted Way of Jesus

Jesus’ life and shameful death informed Paul’s thinking. Jesus spent lots of his time with the lost and the least. He talked about the last becoming first and the first becoming last. He embraced the meek and the broken—the humble ones who felt swamped with heavy burdens. He died alone, bitterly forsaken by all.

This is Jesus’ upside-down approach to our world. It is the way of his grace. We live in a world where the biggest, best, and brightest succeed and the littlest, last, and least get trampled. But Jesus disrupts and interrupts our power-fetish and our lust for significance, polishing our reputations and annihilating other people for our success. The ways of our world are interrupted by the inverted way of Jesus. Because of this, Christianity has from its beginning prized weakness and rebuffed strength.

In his book on leadership lessons from 1 Corinthians, D.A. Carson writes: “God has not arranged things so that the foolishness of the gospel saves those of us with an IQ above 130. Where would that leave the rest of us? Nor does the foolishness of what is preached transform the young, the beautiful, the extroverts, the educated, the healthy, the wealthy, the upright. Where would that leave the old, the ugly, the illiterate, the introverts, the poor, the sick, and the perverse?”

Despair of Your Ability

This leaves us in despair. But it can be “gospel despair” if it leads to trusting in Christ and not in ourselves. Martin Luther writes: “It is certain the man must utterly despair of his own ability before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ.”

This means that we are not operating out of self-sufficiency, but out of total dependency on Christ and in need of being empowered by the Spirit. So, let’s boast in our weakness instead of displaying our self-righteousness and strength. This is obviously folly and nonsense to the world, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God.

Re:Train

We are launching The Resurgence Training Center (Re:Train) to prepare leaders for ministry locally and around the world. Additional details and downloadable application form here.

with Nate Navarro

1. Know God

• Cultivate a steady devotional and prayer life.
• Participate in gospel-centered accountability, like a Fight Club.
• Serve with the strength God supplies (2 Peter 4:11).

2. Know Your People

• Pastor your Missional Community. Don't just lead discussions.
• Take notice when somebody disappears and make sure they are loved well.

3. Know Your Neighborhood

• Know the culture and relate to it well.
• Know your neighbors and invite them into your community.

4. Don't Go Alone

• Share leadership by appointing leaders for hosting, meals, prayer, and mission.
• Participate in monthly leaders' meetings.
• Participate in monthly coaching meetings.

5. Say Who You Are (And Who You Aren't) Every Week

• Graciously deconstruct the small group/Bible study/social group approach and reconstruct your Missional Community.
• Reaffirm your Missional Community practices each week.

6. Get Out of the Living Room

• Be on mission every month as a community.
• Celebrate life and good culture.

7. Live the Missionally

• Read and apply the 8 ways to be missional.
• Live out loud. Let gospel talk be ordinary talk, not obnoxious but genuine.

8. Eat, Laugh, Pray, and Serve Together

• A healthy group does all four.

9. Share Your Stories

• In the living room.
• On the blog.
• In social media. Use Twitter or Facebook to facilitate community (not replace it).

10. Come to Serve (Not Just Be Served) on Sundays

• Missional community doesn't stop on Sundays.
• Always be the church.

Check out Jonathan Dodson's new site, Creation Project, which includes his writings on Gospel & Culture and Missional Church, at jonathandodson.org.

Gospel-Centered Discipleship

In this book, Jonathan Dodson calls us to fight the good fight of faith in the strength of the gospel. Read a free chapter and get the book here.

The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Composition, and Interpretation by John Sailhamer

If you saw this Facebook post by Mark Driscoll or John Piper’s blog post in response, you know that John Sailhamer’s book The Meaning of the Pentateuch was released in late 2009. Check out this recent article from Christianity Today for an interview with Dr. Sailhamer on biblical criticism and finding meaning in the text of Scripture.

You can also read the introduction to the book free online here.

Scripture Wallpapers

Download free Scripture wallpapers for your desktop and iPhone. Get them here.

In Matthew 28, Jesus told his disciples to make disciples of all nations, and his methods of teaching gave them incredibly powerful tools to execute the vision. This series of reflections based on the book of John shows that Jesus is the model for our own discipling and we should look to him, learn from him, and seek to be like him in our ministry.

Posts in this series:

1. Hospitality
2. Mission
3. Emotion
4. Monologue & Dialogue
5. Stupid Questions
6. The Heart
7. Testing
8. Object Lessons
9. Discomfort
10. Sending & Praying
11. Pointing to the Father
12. Pointing to the Spirit
13. Dying
14. Jesus Equips
15. Jesus’ Teaching Methods

Vintage Church

In this book, Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears discuss the essentials of what it means to be a biblical church. Find out more.

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord
- Proverbs 16:33

Leaders Who Last

Too many Christian leaders stumble, burn out, or veer off track. Learn how to endure from a seasoned pastor and leadership coach in Leaders Who Last.

Click through to the Resurgence if you can’t see the video.

John Piper spoke about the enormous influene of C.S. Lewis in his life at the Desiring God 2010 Pastors Conference, which just finished in Minneapolis. You can watch the video above, read the text, download the audio, and get all the rest of the conference messages here.

Recommended Books

Get the best books on various important topics. Check out our recommended reading section.

We created these prayer guides to help adults and children pray for Haiti (in the aftermath of the recent earthquake), assisting them in composing prayers based on Psalms 123, 124, and 126. The prayer guides follow a specific order: a prayer of lament (Psalm 123), a prayer of confidence (Psalm 124), and a prayer for restoration (Psalm 126). You are encouraged to pray these prayers in that order.

Download the Resources

• A Prayer of Lament (Psalm 123)
• A Prayer of Confidence (Psalm 124)
• A Prayer for Restoration (Psalm 126)

These prayer guides are based on the ones created by Richard Pratt in Pray with Your Eyes Open.

Why a Prayer Guide?

Prayer guides are just that: guides. They are a tool to help you think about what to pray. As you use them, spend time thinking about the Psalms that you find before each prayer. Spend time thinking about the situation in Haiti. Write down your thoughts as directed. Once your prayer is written out, get on your knees (a posture of humility) and read your prayer to God. Finally, allow your emotions to enter into your prayer.

Following the guides, you will find yourself spending more time thinking about your prayer and writing it out than you do actually praying it. That’s not a bad thing! You are approaching Almighty God, the King of Universe, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Thoughtful prayer, therefore, is always appropriate.

Pins and Needles

Dr. John Catanzaro discusses acupuncture in this blog series on Christian engagement with alternative medicine, Pins and Needles.

Let Your Food Be Your Medicine

Your food should be your medicine. It should nurture you in good health, promote longevity, and reduce the effects of aging. Adding 10 of the most powerful foods to your diet can dramatically change your health. These foods contain phytonutrients (plant nutrients) and proteins known to sustain vibrant health.

1. Apples

Yes, an apple a day can keep the doctor away. Apples contain pectin, which is known to protect against cancer, excessive weight accumulation, and damage caused by inflammation. Apples are a rich source of usable fiber that assists in the cleansing of bowel toxins and reduces the likelihood of colon cancer. Antioxidants in apples, known as quercetin and catechin, are known to protect human cells from free radical damage and increase the longevity of healthy cells.

2. Avocados

Avocados are a rich source of monounsaturated fat known to decrease the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The average amount of fiber contained in one fruit is about 10-18 grams, which is valuable to detoxifying the colon, stabilizing blood sugar, and preventing diabetes. A vital nutrient known as lutein in avocado increases the health of the eyes and skin.

3. Blueberries

If you ever choose one food to help slow down the aging process, it should be blueberries. They are rich in carotenes, proanthocyanidins, and other biochemical nutrients that stop inflammation, increase circulation, nurture and strengthen vision, and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and diabetes. This simple fruit is the most powerful brain fruit.

4. Cabbage

This powerful food is known for its ability to reduce colon cancer risk by over 60%. It is also known for its cleansing properties, as it assists in detoxifying blood of impurities. Cabbage juice is often used in detoxification programs. Cabbage also kills bacteria and viruses, and it has nurturing antioxidants that prevent inflammatory diseases.

5. Garlic

Garlic is an amazing food that is known to lower blood pressure, increase circulation, stimulate immune function, and kill harmful bacteria and viruses. Raw garlic is an excellent food in cleansing diets. If you cannot stand garlic breath, both fennel and parsley help to take away the offensive odor. Freshly crushed raw garlic is best. Two to three cloves per day are recommended.

6. Fish and Fish Oil

I cannot say enough about the nurturing and medicinal properties of fish. Fish and fish oils are known to reduce inflammation, strengthen immune health, reduce diabetic risk, decrease heart and vessel damage, improve mental function, and reduce depression. Avoid mercury-containing varieties like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and albacore tuna. Wild white tuna is fine, as is white flesh fish in general. Exotic fish are known to have more mercury. A serving of 3-6 times weekly is recommended.

7. Flaxseed

Flaxseed has been used for centuries for medicinal and health reasons. The seeds contain Omega-3 and -6 essential fatty acids that help reduce inflammation and strengthen cell health. It has nutritional value, very usable protein, healthy fatty acids, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Flaxseed is also a rich source of fiber.

8. Mushrooms

Research has proven that maitake, reishi, and shiitake mushrooms have anti-cancer properties. These mushrooms also are known to reduce inflammatory disease and assist in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

9. Pomegranates

Pomegranates are known to have 3 times the antioxidants of red wine and green tea. This fruit reduces the formation of plaque and fat buildup in the arteries, which results in heart attach and stroke. Research shows that long-term consumption of pomegranate juice may also help to slow aging and protect against cancer.

10. Red Wine

One to two small glasses of red wine per day is proven to assist in digestion, reduce cardiovascular inflammation, support blood sugar balance, and decrease cancer risk. Excessive alcohol consumption, however, does not improve any of the health benefits mentioned above. A small amount of red wine each day can be nurturing and medicinal. There are many biochemical components in red wine that contribute to overall health, such as reservatrol and saponins, two powerful compounds that are known to reduce inflammation and cancer risk.

Boost your health by trying some of these power foods. They will make a difference to your health. If you want to learn more, consult The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden.

Grow E-Book

Winfield Bevins explains organic discipleship in his free e-book. Get it here.

A number of pastors and ministry leaders have been seeking to inform their people about Haiti so they can mobilize prayer and support. I had my research assistant put together some basic data on Haiti and I am posting it to be of service to anyone who can benefit from it. For those of you who use the content we give away, thank you for letting us have some influence in your life and ministry.

Click here to download this information sheet (with footnotes) as a PDF.

1. How many people live in Haiti?

9,035,536

2. How many people live in Port Au Prince?

704,766 at the 2003 census but all estimates have it at over 2 million in the metro area

3. How many people have died in the quake thus far?

• Estimated Number of Deaths: At least 65,000 people
• Estimated Number Displaced: 200,000
• Estimated Affected Population: Approximately 3 million people

(Jan 19, 2010 USAID Fact Sheet)

4. How many aftershocks have there been?

In total, Haiti has suffered 49 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater since the devastating 7.0 quake in Port-au-Prince....
Click here to keep reading