Some interesting resources in Jan 2012

Before I forget, here are some things that I want to come back to and check out:

• Hymns of the Faith series at First Presbyterian Church (Ligon Duncan and Derek Thomas’ church).
• 9 Marks media page with a ton of interviews and other interesting thingums.
• Vimeo links of D A Carson preaching at Veritas Church on Eschatology.
• AFES conference Vimeo links of D A Carson preaching, over a few sermons, on how Christians preserve the gospel in different capacities.
• Vimeo links of The Don preaching at St Helen’s Bishopgate in London on preserving again.
• 2 Vimeo sermons of Francis Chan preaching at Fearless.
• 5 part series by Paul Tripp on the Nowism of the Gospel at New City Church Gahanna.

From Passion 2011: Words that brought clarity and conviction out of confusion

Tonight as I sat in the carpark after hearing this sermon, I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, reminded of how gracious and good God is to a sinner like me. These 7 truths showed me afresh the truth that God makes much of me BY freeing me to make much of God. In other words, by being God-centered in how He loves me, God is loving me most. Loving God is the highest joy there is, and God loves me most when He guards His own glory and the source of my joy. While this may sound complicated and philosophical, it was a fresh blessing to my soul to taste this truth from Scripture again. 

In addition God also makes much of me in Christ. Piper preached magnificently on this topic too, showing that the truth that God makes much of Himself and that He makes much of me are two compatible and complementary, if not, mutual-affirming truths, when one understands that the second is fulfilled IN the first. These 7 truths blew my mind, and brought me to tears as I was so amazed by how much God has in store for me.

Helpfully, Piper referenced John Newton’s analogy of the man going to receive a million dollar inheritance but suffered a punctured tyre in his chariot. Muttering the whole way, “I have a puncture in my tyre. I have a puncture in my tyre,” the man acts like a fool failing to anticipate his joy and great inheritance. That’s how we live our lives, most of the time! Look forward to the great inheritance, the great reward that is in Christ Jesus. These are the 7 things that God used to soothe my soul and demonstrate His love for me in Christ:

 1.) God makes much of us by being pleased with us and commending our lives.

2.) God makes much of us by making fellow heirs with His son who owns everything.

3.) God makes much of us by having us sit at the table when Jesus returns and he serves us as if He was the slave and we were the masters.

4.) God makes much of us by appointing us to carry out the judgement of angels.

5.) God makes much of by ascribing value to us and rejoicing over us as his treasured possession.

6.) God makes much of us by giving us a glorious body like Jesus’ resurrection body.

7.) God makes much of you by granting you to sit with Christ on His throne.

Source: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/getting-to-the-bottom-of-your-joy