Here’s a few books that I’ve read recently and can recommend. These are all available for between $5 and $12 (bargain!!) from Stef’s book stall on Sunday each week.

The Prodigal God, by Tim Keller

Finally read a Tim Keller book! I loved it, very engaging. His main point — there are two brothers in the parable, not just one. And thus, moralism is just as bad as the behaivour we normally call sin. Which means that both the ‘sinful’ person and the ‘moral’ person are both far from the Father, because neither is relying on his grace to meet their true need. I also loved the chapter on hope, where he looks at the biblical theme of exile and homecoming. This was the chapter where I most agreed with the comparisons I’ve heard between Tim Keller and CS Lewis.

Investigating Jesus, by John Dickson

Loved it. John Dickson looks at the way normal historians understand Jesus, and what they know about him.  As an old history undergrad, I really enjoy John Dickson’s ‘pure historian’ viewpoint, but the best thing is that it’s not at all dry or technical. He doesn’t make much comment, because the evidence speaks for itself. I reckon this would be a great gift for someone that you’ve talked to about Jesus, but is still a bit skeptical.

The Legacy of Soverign Joy, by John Piper

Encouraging, bite sized, theological biographies (This book features Augustine, Martin Luther and John Calvin). The chapter on Augustine made me very keen to read his ‘Confessions’. The chapter on Luther was really inspiring, heaps of stuff which spurred me on in ministry. I also liked the honest examination of their faults. These are not ‘neutral’ accounts of their lives, they are themed around Piper’s own theological passions. I quite enjoy this, because Piper’s aim is to encourage, not just to recount history. There are 5 books in this series.

Religion Saves, and Nine Other Misconceptions, by Mark Driscoll

I liked this book a lot. I was expecting ‘Mark Driscoll Lite’, based on the way it’s presented — but I don’t think such a thing exists! It seems at first like a random collection of interesting and controversial topics, but he is consistent as he contrasts a ‘religious’ approach to a grace/gospel approach on each issue. I loved the chapters on Grace and Faith/Works for the very practical and encouraging theology, the chapter on birth control was helpful stuff I haven’t seen explained as well elsewhere, and I always find his perspective on the emerging church helpful.

Lakeshore@Night in 90 seconds

If you’ve never been to LakeshoreNight, here’s a 90 second preview of a typical night…

My name is Shane and this is my story;

I grew up in a loving but non-religious home, however my mother did see to it that I was exposed to moral religious teaching by sending me off to Sabbath school from time to time. So although I didn’t know who Jesus was I do remember having a healthy fear of the Lord, or maybe that was a health fear of going to hell. I remember regally saying the Lords pray as a boy before going to bed like it was a get out jail free card in case I never woke up.

As teenager in high school I was one of those kids that didn’t quite fit with a group. You know how High School is there were the Basketballers, the footy guys, Library crew, a mix of different ethnic or social groups and then the smokes behind the toilet block, well I didn’t really belong anywhere, so I hung with a few misfits who saw me as the runt of there litter so I coped the butt of most of their jokes. This lead me to a relative depressed place, at one point I gained permission to leave the school grounds at lunch because socially I was outcasted, and I found it hard to be in a place where I was a nobody

Things changed for me in my senior years and like all great stories, it all began, with a girl. So socially not fitting in, I had a attractive & older girl asked me if I would like to go to church with her on Sunday,  I was quick to say yes because firstly a girl was talking to me, and secondly in my mind hanging out with her on a weekend well that was kinda like a date? so I went along.

The service was youthful energetic and a kinda rough around the edges bald dude gave a simple gospel message, when the opportunity was given I responded. Looking back, my initial response was not because I felt convicted of my sin, but because of the acceptance I experienced, but for whatever reason I give, it was defiantly the moment God got a hold of me and started changing my life.

In Romans 5 is says;  8 …God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

In the years that followed and through the help of a few other teenage Christians at my school the Gospel became clearer to me and I grew in my confidence in Jesus. I became to see my heart for what it was, selfish and sinful. This made me rely more and more on Gods Grace through Jesus’ death and resurrection that had purchased my forgiveness.

Even tho the Christian title didn’t initially gain me any respect at school, I didn’t need it, I was accepted in Jesus and that was enough for me. By Gods grace I soon found myself involved in a sport with whom my teammates were a mix of all the different groups within school and from being outcasted I soon was accepted in most groups. From downtrodden I was lifted up. Opportunities arose to share the gospel with others and some came along to church and respond to the alter calls. So God was even beginning to use me.

But like most stories there were a few twists and for a while there was a gap where the acceptance of people began to trump the acceptance I had in Jesus and I found myself partying, drinking and doing few other silly things. You know the funny thing is even through this time saw myself as being Christian, even tho I was totally unrepentant, in fact I would look for out of context bible passages that would vaguely say it was ok to act like I was.

You see what was lacking in me was acknowledgment of my sin, even tho I knew that that I could came to the cross, and find forgiveness. Deep down I didn’t want to give up the acceptance I had gained in other people. But again by God grace and over time God revealed these things in me broke me and helped me to deal with them. And He made it clear to me that a big part of my slipping away from Him was because I hadn’t invested in His word, the Bible. I dabbled but never studied it; I quoted from it but never had it as the authority in my life. I am so grateful and humbled by the lessons God has thought me, and the patience He has had with me.

And now stand here in 2010 striving to be Godly husband, father and friend. Not perfect by any means but loving Jesus, His word, and loving others with all God has given me. I look forward to a future that no doubtablely will include a more focused roll in ministry however that might play out.

This has been my story.

 

 This is my story... Shane [5:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1168)

It’s been 6 weeks since Lakeshore@Night made the big step and started meeting every Sunday Night. After 6 months of meeting monthly, it’s been exciting to take the step and become a new Lakeshore congregation in our own right.

It’s early days, but a community is beginning to come together! Not quite as quickly as the church we’re hearing about in the book of Acts — there’s about 15 of us most weeks. Some of us arrive early to set up, which takes a while since Lakeshore@Night looks and feels pretty different to church in the morning. Our meeting is taking a regular shape. Singing (an acoustic feel), prayer from up front, a casual interview, read the passage, pause for coffee, and then the bible talk, communion and a couple of songs to finish. We believe Jesus speaks through the Bible, so it’s at the heart of the meeting, and LT’s messages from Acts have been clear and challenging.

If you haven’t come along yet, don’t miss the chance to be part of something that’s just geting going! Lakeshore@Night is church with a young adult feel, for people with no church experience. Join our Facebook group, comments welcome there.

Even before I came to Lakeshore I have been daydreaming about what God might do on the Sunshine Coast through His church we call Lakeshore. Dreaming about how God would build on what he has been doing for many years before. The church is central to God’s plan. His people.

When Jesus left the earth what was his plan to continue his work on earth? At the end of the Gospels and the beginning of Acts Jesus take us into a stadium for the launch of this plan for the universe. The ground is in darkness. The big lights come on and what is before us? His 11 disciples. Men who were denying Jesus what would seem like only moments before. But this God plan for the world. So now we as the church of Jesus are the plan of God to make Jesus known.

 

 2015 VISION [30:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6)
 2015 Vision Summary: Download (58)
 Vision Questionaire: Download (33)

The Trellis and the Vine is an excellant book on the nature of what we are to be on about as disciples in a local church and so what we should be on about as a church. Go to the link; watch the review; buy the book and read it. You won’t regret it. It will give you a clear Biblical conviction of who disciples are and so what they are to be on about. Here’s the basic definition of ministry in summary form: “The prayerful speaking of one person to another.”

Incarnation of Jesus: God on earth, God with us, God became man.

How can we know God? Jesus is the answer.

 

 Incarnation of Jesus [35:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6)

Lakeshore@night

 

 Is Jesus the only Way [32:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (8)

L-T Hopper
Luke 1:1-4

 

 Why Jesus [35:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (10)