There are many existing plans for reading through the Bible in a year. Some have you reading from four places in the Bible every day. Some go through the Psalms and/or the New Testament twice. This one is meant to give you weekends off, be late with that New Year’s Resolution, allow for temporary backsliding, and take you very simply through the Old and New Testaments simultaneously. And if you absolutely must be legalistic about it, I even gave you checkboxes.
You can download the reading plan PDF here.
Cheers!
A Division of Labor: Individual and Church
The church’s gospel ministry includes both evangelizing non-believers and shaping every area of believers’ lives with the gospel, but that doesn’t mean that the church as an institution under its elders is to carry out corporately all the activity that we equip our members to do. For example, while the church should disciple its members who are film-makers so that their cinematic art will be profoundly influenced by the gospel, the church should not operate a film production company. Here is where Abraham Kuyper’s “sphere sovereignty” can be of some help (though I recognize its limits and problems). Kuyper rightly insists that the church qua church is to preach the gospel (evangelize and disciple), worship and observe the sacraments, and engage in church discipline. In these activities it is producing members who will engage in art, science, education, journalism, film-making, business, and so on. But the church itself should not itself engage in these enterprises. [Tim Keller, “The Gospel and the Poor,” Themelios 33.3, p. 20]
Dr. Keller goes on to apply this idea to ministry to the poor by churches and individuals, but I would pause here. Usually, when I run into this position, it is among “Means of Grace” types: those who believe that the exercises of the “Church Proper” ought to be limited to the regular means of grace (i.e., Word, Sacrament and Prayer). Again, usually, it seems to me that these types aren’t big fans of Keller, because of his (old) language of “redeeming the culture.” (At a conference I attended in NYC in April 2008, Keller said he is trying to get away from such “transformational” language, thinking it sounds “too triumphalist,” preferring the concept/language of “witnessing to the culture” about the coming Kingdom.)
But does this clarify for us that Keller could be counted among the “Means of Grace” types? Or can these types at least see that Keller’s ecclesiology isn’t so different from their (our?) own, even if he does focus heavily on getting Christians to move out into the world with the Gospel?
theokosmos.org is now dot com!
Please update your bookmarks accordingly.
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Dot org will still get you here, but… I’m… not… sure… how… long… I… can… hold… it… here!
What about his Pecca fortiter, sed fortius fide et gaude in Christo (”Sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ more boldly still”)?…
For Luther “sin boldly” could only be his very last refuge, the consolation for one whose attempts to follow Christ had taught him that he can never become sinless, who in his fear of sin despairs of the grace of God.… Take courage and confess your sin, says Luther, do not try to run away from it, but believe more boldly still. You are a sinner, so be a sinner, and don’t try to become what you are not. Yes, and become a sinner again and again every day, and be bold about it. But to whom can such words be addressed, except to those who from the bottom of their hearts make a daily renunciation of sin and of every barrier which hinders them from following Christ, but who nevertheless are troubled by their daily faithlessness and sin? Who can hear these words without endangering his faith but he who hears their consolation as a renewed summons to follow Christ? [Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship]
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. [Philippians 4.10-20]
Epaphroditus had traveled some 1200 miles to carry a gift from the church at Philippi to Paul in Rome, and had fallen terribly ill, almost dying. He recovered, and now Paul was sending him back to the Philippians with this letter, thanking them for their gracious gift, and encouraging them in their faith. This passage is Paul’s expression of thanks to them, and praise to God, which their sacrificial giving had evoked.
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It’s a bit late to sway opinions for the 2008 Presidential Election. But I came across this today, and felt compelled to share. The tone is scathing. The argument is moving. The photograph is so terrible that I wept; you couldn’t prepare yourself for it, no matter how much I warned you.
Barbara Nicolosi on why she won’t vote Obama.
Sorry, friends. 3,500 each day in the U.S. makes this The Single Issue.
