BrittMerrick

Truth and Postmodernism

Published on July 2, 2009 in Bible, Culture, Ministry, Mission, Postmodernism, Preaching and Theology. 0 Comments

Last month, I was asked to teach at The Movement 2009. Knowing that a growing number in our culture are questioning what used to be viewed as self-evident truths, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ is centered on truth… I felt led to address the subject of Truth in a Postmodern Era.I have uploaded the mp3 below for you to listen to.

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I hope it blesses you!

D. A. Carson on Prayer

Published on June 28, 2009 in Theology. 0 Comments

One of my favorite authors is D.A. Carson. I have been reading his book A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers, and came across a most profound and yet elementary statement on the nature and purpose of prayer:

“Prayer is God’s means of appropriating the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus.” (p. 99)

This is true. It is not all that we would want to say about prayer of course, but it is an important thing to say about prayer.

It will appeal to many because most are concerned with being blessed. Because of this it has the danger of offending the more Theocentric among us. Carson’s statement can seem very anthropocentric in nature - “God bless me!” And certainly this would be a prayer we are familiar with. But what we need to realize is that God blesses us for His glory, and not our own. Furthermore, we can only be blessed, in certain ways, because of the Work of the Cross. When we experience and display “the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus,” we bring glory to Him! It is the glory of God that He would love and save sinners like us. It is most correctly a glorious commentary on who God is, rather than who we are. In this way, the above statement is more rightly seen as actually being quite Theocentric.

So, glorify God today by praying that you would experience all the benefits and blessings of the Cross in Christ Jesus! Better yet, pray for someone else to experience them. After all, praying for others seems to be the greater emphasis concerning prayer in the New Testament. If the prayers of Paul in the epistles are any indication, we should spend a lot more time praying for others than ourselves. It is not wrong to pray for yourself, not at all. But, it is wrong to never pray for others. In esteeming others to be more important than ourselves (Phil. 2:3) we discover more of the heart of the Cross and the likeness of Christ in us!

Reality Ventura Update

Published on June 16, 2009 in Miscellaneous. 4 Comments

For more information about the Reality Ventura campus go to http://jesusisreality.com/

Reality Ventura Update from Reality Carpinteria on Vimeo.

Jesus in Hebrews

Published on June 6, 2009 in Bible and Jesus. 7 Comments

I am finishing teaching through the book of Hebrews this Sunday. It has taken me 63 sermons to do so. The book of Hebrews has less than 10,000 words. My average sermon has less than 10,000 words. The book of Hebrews can be read aloud in less than hour. My average sermon is just under an hour long. The author of Hebrews calls his exhortation, meaning the whole book, brief (13:22). Summation, I gave 63 brief exhortations on one brief exhortation… what a typical dork preacher. Blah, blah, blah.

Anyway, the book is all about Jesus. Here is a brief list of Christ as seen in Hebrews:

· He is better than the prophets (1:1-2)

· Better than the angels (1:4-7, 13-14)

· He is the Son of God (1:2)

· The heir of all things (1:2)

· The sustainer of the universe (1:2)

· The creator of the world (1:2)

· The radiance of God’s glory (1:3)

· The exact representation of God’s nature (1:3)

· The High Priest of perfection (1:3)

· Jesus is seated at the right hand of Majesty on high (1:3)

· He has a more excellent Name (1:4)

· He is the one whom the angels worship (1:6)

· He is the Exalted King (1:8)

· The Lord of Righteousness (1:8-9)

· The Anointed One (1:9)

· The Eternal (1:11-12)

· The Unchanging One (1:12)

· The Ultimate Conqueror (1:13)

· He is crowned with glory and honor (2:9)

· The One for Whom all things exists (2:10)

· The One Who rendered the devil powerless (2:14)

· Our deliverer (2:15)

· Our helper (2:16)

· A merciful and faithful high priest (2:17)

· The One who is able to help the tempted (2:18)

· The Apostle and High Priest of our confession (3:1)

· Worthy of more glory than Moses (3:3)

· A faithful Son (3:6)

· Our Sabbath rest (4:9)

· A great high priest (4:14)

· A sympathetic high priest (4:15)

· The sinless and enthroned One that brings us near (4:15)

· The Son of God (5:5)

· A priest forever (5:6)

· The perfect One (5:9)

· The source of eternal salvation (5:9)

· Jesus is our hope (6:19)

· He is the anchor to our souls (6:19)

· He is sure & steadfast (6:19)

· The forerunner into heaven for us (6:20)

· The high priest forever (6:20)

· Our Lord (7:14)

· An indestructible life (7:16)

· A better hope (7:19)

· The guarantee of a better covenant (7:22)

· The one who abides forever (7:24)

· The one who lives to make intercession for us (7:25)

· Holy (7:26)

· Innocent (7:26)

· Undefiled (7:26)

· Separate from sinners (7:26)

· Exalted above the heavens (7:26)

· The One who offered Himself once, and or all (7:27)

· The Son made perfect forever (7:28)

· He is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty on high (8:1)

· He is the mediator of a better covenant (8:6)

· He is the one who gives better promises (8:6)

· The high priest of the good things to come (9:11)

· The One who obtained eternal redemption for us (9:12)

· The One without blemish (9:14)

· The One whose blood cleanses our consciences (9:14)

· The mediator of a new covenant (9:15)

· The One who puts away sin (9:26)

· The One who shall appear again (9:28)

· He is the all sufficient sacrifice (10:10)

· He is the One who perfects those who are sanctified (10:14)

· He forgives our sins forever (10:18)

· He is the author and finisher of our faith (12:2)

· He is the One who endured the cross, because of the joy set before him (12:2)

· He is the discipliner of those who he loves (12:6)

· He is the judge of all (12:23)

· His blood speaks better than Abel’s sacrifice (12:24)

· He is the One who will never leave us or forsake us (13:5)

· He is the same yesterday, today and forever (13:8)

· He is the One through whom we praise God (13:15)

· Jesus is our great Shepherd (13:20)

· Jesus is our Lord (13:20)

· And Jesus is the One to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen (13:21)

Praise God!!!

Tips for Preachers | No.1

Published on May 16, 2009 in Ministry and Preaching. 13 Comments Tags: Bible teaching, G. Cambell Morgan, Preaching.

This might be a series, so I put #1 in the title. Knowing me though, it could be the first and the last. Nevertheless, I have a few things on my mind that I want to share with other preachers in hopes that it might be helpful, and I’ll just dish out one today. Here it is:

Live with the text.

If you are going to be preaching on a text, you need to have some time to live with the text. That means, you need to allow time to “let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Colossians 3:16). Here are some reasons why:

1. Jesus said the Holy Spirit is the teacher of all things who guides us into all truth (John 14: 26 & 16:13). One thing I have learned is that if we want to really hear from God we will have to wait on God. Listening to the Holy Spirit in a real meaningful, transformational way takes more than a few hours on a Saturday evening. Additionally, we have no right to teach others what the Holy Spirit has not first taught us. This does not only mean only doctrinally, but practically. Not in mere theory but in praxis. Allow time for the Lord to correct and transform your own thoughts and behavior before you call others to do the same. This does not mean we have to be perfect or have it all together before we preach–we won’t. It does mean that we need to lead in what we preach and that means we will have to live with the text a while before we call others to do the same.

2. Speaking of Jesus, the Scriptures say that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Dwell with Jesus in and through the Word before you stand to proclaim Jesus in and through the Word. The people we speak to rightly expect that we have “been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Before Jesus ever allowed His boys to preach for Him, he required that they be with him (See Mark 3:13-14). Our hearts and minds and lives and preaching need more time with Jesus.

3. Jesus spent time with real people in the real world. If the only time we interact with our text is in the study we run the risk of being merely students in the pulpit and not people in the pulpit. When God wanted to communicate most throughly to humanity He became human (See Hebrews 1:1-3 & 1 John 1:1-3). If we are going to communicate the text most faithfully to people we need to be people of the text. We have to allow time for the text to interact with us as we interact with real people in the real world. This will yield the best illustrations and applications of the text, and this takes time. This concept alludes to something called the exegesis of life which we will talk about next time.

What I am not saying is that you need to study more… although maybe you do. May God have mercy on the preacher who is a lazy student! The best preachers are also the best students. What I am saying is that we need to live more! More living with and in and through the text, so that the Word is fleshed out in us and then ultimately through us as we endeavor to faithfully proclaim Christ to others.

Each time I add to this series (if ever again), I will recommend a book on preaching. There are many, and it takes self-control to just mention one right now. There are books on preaching that I like that are both old and new, but since I like old things best (guitars and books in particular), I will start with an oldie but a goodie:

Preaching by G. Cambell Morgan

This book is simply wonderful and very worth owning. The copy I have was printed in London in 1955 and I am sure it is out of print. Many of the best books in existence are out of print. You can find out of print books at abebooks.com. Whereas Charles Spurgeon was known as the “Prince of Preachers”, G. Cambell Morgan was known as the “Prince of Expositors.” You can read a little more about G. Cambell at theopedia.com.

My prayer is that we would live and preach Christ faithfully to a culture that needs Him desperately.

britt

Movement

Published on May 6, 2009 in Miscellaneous. 5 Comments Tags: Movement.

I will be speaking at an event in Orange County, CA on Saturday May 30th called Movement.

Here is the vision for the conference:

“For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers” (Acts 13:36)

Every generation has a responsibility to reach its own generation. And every generation must find its own voice in its worship of God and its declaration of truth. Our desire is to see a new generation of young people passionate about their faith and active in reaching their world for Christ.

I will be speaking on the topic of “Truth in a Postmodern Era”

For more information and the location check out www.movement2009.com

Hope to see you there!