On January 1 my role at NorthWood will be changing to become Teaching Pastor from my current Worship/Communications role. This will bring a change to my focus as my two main responsibilities will be:
1. Teaching. Preaching, curriculum, doctrinal stuff, etc.
2. Strategic Systems and Process. Helping NorthWood’s systems be user friendly, efficient and effective in a God glorifying way.
With this change in focus will come a change in what I write about. I will leave up worshiptrench as a monument of God’s faithfulness and grace to allow me to serve in a worship leader role over the past 11 years at NorthWood and for 21 years in total. The dispensation of grace given still amazes me. If you know me personally, you know that I have received much grace to be able to serve in this role. Worshiptrench’s free tools and tips will remain for WL’s to grab. As for my writing, something new will be coming that focuses on teaching, theology, leadership and systems, and whatever else clangs around in my brain.
The new site name is still to be determined…suggestions?
How much should we incorporate stylization and how much should we not?
Puritan preaching, though profound in its content, was popular in its style. Thomas Goodwin complained in other preacher of ‘the eminentist farrago of all sorts of flowers of wit that are found in any of the Fathers, poets, histories, similitudes, or whatever has the elegancy of wit in it’. But the Puritans eschewed ‘witty’ and clever preaching, which exalts the preacher rather than the Saviour. Weighty matters demand plain words. In Ryle’s autobiographical words, they ‘crucified their style’, and preached with dignified simplicity. Source is here.
God has wired us how yet also gives us the ability to crucify some elements (humor, seriousness, etc). Love to hear your thoughts on how much of our personality should make it into our messages and/or worship leading. Thoughts?
Wow. Way less sarcasm or complaining than normal. Even my family has noticed. Piper commented that I seemed more apt to just do something while we went camping that I normally wouldn’t enjoy without any griping or complaining for the sake of the kids and her. We shot a b.b. gun waaaaay longer than I normally would have. Corbin was having a blast doing it. Thank you, Jesus.
Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
What would it look like if I ONLY spoke words of gratitude the Sunday through Saturday (one week) of Thanksgiving. If I went so far as to look at a pile of laundered clothes that awaits my folding and putting up, a job I normally hate, and instead think and speak out loud, “God, thank you for these clothes, for providing covering.” When my kids are arguing with one another, “God thank you that they have voices that work and you are shaping them towards independence of Piper and me, give them reliance on you.” If every time next week I see a person, I tell them why I am thankful to God they are in my life.
What would that week look like and feel like. I am going to try my best. I will post my successes (by God’s grace) and failures (by my own flesh) next week as time allows.
If I bought only one series of New Testament commentaries, I would buy NICNT series. However, I recommend buying individual commentaries based upon author. I would also buy Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology book as a primary reference work. Please note that some of the commentaries below are Greek based, but you can follow them without knowing Greek.
Matthew—Expositors Bible Commentary D.A. Carson includes Mark(Wessel) Luke Liefeld
Mark—New American Commentary James Brooks
Luke –
John – New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT) series The Gospel According To John** Leon Morris | NIV Application Gary M. Burge** (This particular one is greatness for setting context. Do not discount it simply because it is in a “lay series.”)
Acts—The Acts of the Apostles A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary Ben Witherington III
Romans—The Epistle to the Romans (not part of series) John Murray; Romans 1-8 Wycliffe New Testament Series Moo;
I Corinthians– NICNT Gordon Fee**
II Corinthians–
Galatians–
Ephesians– Pillar New Testament Commentary O’Brien; Ephesians Harold W. Hoehner, NIV Application Klyne Snodgrass
Philippians– NIGCT, Peter. T O’Brien**
Colossians–
I Thessalonians— NICNT, Leon Morris
II Thessalonians— NICNT, Leon Morris (1 and 2 Epistles in one commentary)
I Timothy—The Pastoral Epistles, New International Greek Testament Commentary George Knight III
II Timothy— The Pastoral Epistles, New International Greek Testament Commentary George Knight III
Titus— The Pastoral Epistles, New International Greek Testament Commentary George Knight III
Philemon—
Hebrews—Tyndale New Testament Commentary, Guthrie
James—
I Peter-Tyndale New Testament Commentary, Wayne Grudem**
II Peter
I John –Anchor Bible Commentary, Raymond Brown.
II John– Anchor Bible Commentary, Raymond Brown.
III John– Anchor Bible Commentary, Raymond Brown.
Jude—
Revelation—NIGTC, G.K. Beale | Tyndale New Testament Commentary, Leon Morris
I have commentaries on the other books, but haven’t spent enough time working through the whole commentary, only using it for certain passages, to give it value to make my fave list.
