Quote Of The Day: Mark Dever

I want you to try a thought exercise. Suppose a business school class on non-profit organizations assigns its students the task of building a successful church. And ssume all the students are non-Christians. Could they succeed?

Sure they could! With the right poll-tested methods, just about anyone can draw a crowd. If ambience sells coffee, why not use it to sell Jesus? If music sells clothing, why not use it to market the church? The church might even with a "Most Innovative!" award.

Yet think about this: what does it say about God if we need to market his glory and gospel with the same tools we use to sell toothpaste and laundry detergent? Is he really that desperate?

God is so much more glorious. He has declared a mighty gospel and then backed us his words by changing a group of people. There's the church's appeal: The wisdom of God. The might of God. The love of God. On display in the lives of a changed people for all the world to see!

Is your church relying on natural appeal or supernatural? Whose glory does it display?

frustrated.

New Attitude 2008 is Memorial Weekend. Unfortunately for me, my fellowship study at church has a retreat the same weekend. I really do not want to miss NA this year. However, I don't think it would be right for me to miss the Grace retreat.

Resolved & NA 2008

Resolved 2008 June 13-16 Palm Springs, CA
Registration is now open.
Speakers:
John MacArthur
John Piper
C.J. Mahaney
Steve Lawson
Randy Alcorn
Rick Holland















New Attitude 2008 May 24-27 Louisville, KY
Registration opens January 10th.
Speakers:
Al Mohler
Mark Dever
John Piper
C.J. Mahaney
Josh Harris
Eric Simmons

T4G

Here is a classic ad for Together For The Gospel 2008:
(im going by myself so far. anyone coming with me?)

What Is A Healthy Church?

I didn't even know that this book came out. Dever delivers another one (it seems like he just released "The Gospel And Personal Evangelism").

Here is what Tim Challies says:

"What is a Healthy Church? is a shortened, introductory version of Dever's previous book 9 Marks of a Healthy Church written primarily for people in the pews rather than the men in the pulpits. After all, church health is not the sole responsibility of a local church's leadership. "If you call yourself a Christian but you think a book about healthy churches is a book for church leaders or maybe for those `theological types,' while you would rather read books about the church life, it may be time to stop and consider again exactly what the Bible says a Christian is." Said even more forcefully, "you and all the members of your church, Christian, are finally responsible before God for what your church becomes, not your pastors and other leaders--you."

Here is a quote from the book:

"If you call yourself a Christian but you are not a member of the church you regularly attend, I worry that you might be going to hell."

Why so harsh?

"I want [the reader] to see something of the urgency of the need for a healthy local church in the Christian's life and to begin sharing the passion for the church that characterizes both Christ and his followers."

That's intense... passion for the church characterizes not only Christ but should also characterize us. Kind of like how oranges characterize an orange tree.

NA08

new attitude 2008