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Archive for Gospel

Propaganda shares the G.O.S.P.E.L. #VIDEO (cc: @prophiphop)

By michaelcriner · Comments (0)

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

I have a secret – I wish I was a better with my words. I find myself misusing words or simply not saying what needs to be said poignantly. Propaganda is a STUD with words. He is an artist with http://humblebeast.com/ and you can read more about him HERE.

I first came across Propaganda at a conference in Austin. I’m thankful for his ministry, jealous of his dreads, and his gift of the spoken word.

Here is how he describes the Gospel. I love it!

The G.O.S.P.E.L.
G-God
O-Our
S-Sin
P-Paying
E-Everyone
L-Life

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Categories : Theology

Tags : Gospel, Rap

Sinclair Ferguson on why highlighting the cross is essential [QUOTE]

By michaelcriner · Comments (0)

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

As I was prepping my series of teaching for this upcoming series for our college ministry (THE EXCHANGE), I came across this quote as to the necessity for such a series of messages:

More than thirty years ago in his landmark book Knowing God, J. I. Packer noted, “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thoughts of being God’s child, and having God as his Father.” I would add today: “If you want to judge how well a person understands the gospel, ask him what he makes of the death of Christ, and what the message of the cross is.” The real Christian answers that while the message of the cross is foolishness to some and a stumbling blog to others, to Christians it is the saving wisdom and power of God (1 Cor. 1:18-24). The confession of the real Christian is, “Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal. 6:14).. We need to understand that the cross stands at the center and heart of the gospel. Without it there is no gospel.

-Sinclair Ferguson

Jerry Bridges and Robert C. Bevington, The Great Exchange: My Sin for His Righteousness, Wheaton: Ill.: Crossway Books, 2007, 12.

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Categories : Theology

Tags : Gospel, Quote

Why I’ll be less critical of annoying church signs

By michaelcriner · Comments (0)

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Upon reading the title, many of you automatically know what I mean by “those church signs” – you know, like the ones above. Typically, these signs are made fun of, seen as ridiculous, and in my mind, do more harm for the cause of Jesus than benefit. But as I was getting a hair-cut, the barber-lady began to speak about her life story and the troubles she’s had. I did my best to speak the gospel into her life, and she made the mention of her appreciation for me sharing with her where I find hope in times of distress.

And then the story took a twist. She mentioned her great appreciation to the messages on church signs. She shared that in many instances, those signs brought her closer to God/got her back on track from where she was to where she needed to be in her relationship with God. Pretty crazy huh?

So, maybe I’ll still laugh and scoff at those crazy signs on churches – but I’ll remember that to some, it’s a benefit.

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Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : Barber-lady, Church Signs, Gospel, Hair-cut, Humor, Jesus

How You Can Save Baby Soma’s Life

By michaelcriner · Comments (0)

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

MEET BABY SOMA*

Soma is four months old. Her family is among the poorest in Iraq. Their home consists of two rooms with no kitchen, not even a sink. They live in a town called Kalar, which is about 3 hours south east of Suly. But that isn’t the worst of it: she has Ebstein disease – a heart defect that has caused thousands of children in Iraq to die and more than 3,000 waiting for surgery. If Soma doesn’t receive surgery in January, she will become inoperable and may not live to the age of one or two. Her parents and her older sister’s greatest hope is to see Soma’s heart healed. This is where we get to help. Right now Soma’s family is having difficulty raising funds for her heart surgery. So, we want to partner with her family and PLC so that Soma may receive this critical, potential life-saving surgery. This is where we have the opportunity to touch lives for the sake of the gospel in Iraq.

As a College Ministry, we’re hoping to raise the $7,000 that it will cost to give Soma this much needed heart surgery.

7 ways YOU CAN help Soma

give :: each week, we will take up money and all of it will go directly to Soma.
pray :: ask the Father to provide for Soma.
join a small group :: each group will be collecting as a group to give & to spread the word to friends about Soma.
donate :: you can give in honor of a friend or family member as a gift for Soma.
go to preemptivelove.org :: for more info about what they do.
visit n. iraq :: see Soma and many others during the summer.
Christmas at the Criners :: during the annual Christmas party, we will be collecting funds for Soma.

Send all checks here:

First Woodway

101 Ritchie Rd.

Waco, TX 76712

Make checks out to “First Woodway College Missions” and in the memo line put “Soma”

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Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : Fundraiser, Gospel, Heart Surgery, Preemptive Love Coalition, Soma

Debt

By michaelcriner · Comments (0)

Monday, July 27th, 2009

The question of debt is a very common – specifically among college students who upon arriving at school receive their first piece of mail and it is for a credit card, not cookies from Mom. So what’s the answer to debt? What do we do about it… especially if we’re told to avoid it at all costs (no pun intended) but are faced with situations that necessitate the borrowing of money, etc. This is the nature of a question I received from a former student.

QUESTION:
I feel like I know the answer to this one. I don’t want to incur more debt, almost at any cost. I am willing to if that’s the means of graduate school for me though, although, exhausting all other options initially. My girlfriend is not so sure, but she wanted to ask some people if they took out loans to go to graduate school.

MY RESPONSE:
You’ve heard it:

“‘Debt is dumb.’” Now, go write a song about it Bleecker” – Matt Chandler (he was joking at the time)

Okay. Debt typically isn’t wise. I mean, I have a debt. I went into debt to pay for a home (I would rather have not, but who’s got $90,000-$100,000 lying around??? I don’t. You don’t. My wife doesn’t.) I have undergrad school debt. I don’t like it and most of it is due to my ignorance of how much school actually cost. But I’ve got debt from school and I don’t like it.

Seminary/Grad School cost me very very little. I had an 80% scholarship to SWBTS. I paid the rest out of my own pocket (I worked on campus as a garbage man so that I could avoid debt).

I have no debt from seminary/grad school.

Abby and I have paid off her loans and now we’re tackling my loans. (by ‘tackling’ I mean that we’re paying 2 payments every month). This has put a momentary strain on us, but we’re wanting to be done with debt from school.

When it comes to debt, you have to look at what kind of debt you already have (if any) and judge whether you should/shouldn’t take any more on. If you have to take a momentary hit in regards to loans for graduate school, while it is WAY CHEAPER than your undergrad, is it wise? Maybe. That being said, during the time you have debt (if you’ve incurred any or must) you should avoid other kinds of debt (credit cards, cars, electronics, etc.). This is where it becomes difficult… saying ‘no’ to small pleasures (out to eat, concerts, movies, steak, etc.) so that you can be out of the shadow of debt later. If you already have debt, many of your loans may be able to be deferred until you’re out of grad school – you should definitely look into this. The only issue you MUST be aware of is that while you won’t have to make any payments, you will incur interest depending on if it’s subsidized/unsubsidized loan. You can read HERE on how to tell the difference.

Is it a mortal sin to have debt? Some say that a Christian should NEVER take on debt & if you do, you’re in sin – but these same people have a home loan, credit card, and teenagers. I would say ‘no’, it’s not a mortal is to go into debt, but Scripture does talk about not owing anything… except for love (Romans 13:8) to others. That being said, the Scriptures don’t say that debt isn’t permissible… although, there are strong words against those who lend money and are harsh against those that borrowed from them (Prov. 28:8). I would say that if you’re reckless about money and trying to take on too much then you may fall into sin… besides, money is not evil – the love of it is (1 Timothy 6:10). Why? Because you’ve now treasured something above God – and that’s sin.

Okay – so if you need to take on some debt is it completely wise? Well… it’s usually a better idea to not go into debt simply for this reason: when you’re in debt you become a slave to debt. You have to work off that loan. You have to work off that payment. You now owe back someone or a bank, etc. and many of us have found ourselves limited on what can/could enjoy because we’re stuck in debt. It’s just like sin. We are slaves to sin (Rom. 6:20) and therefore are set/must to ‘pay off’ that debt. The difference with sin is that we can/could never pay back to God what He is owed – so we’re stuck.

This is why I love the Gospel!

We couldn’t pay off the debt of sin, but Christ came and substituted himself for us! Isn’t that cool?! He paid off the debt we could not owe… and now we’re free to be/live/love/walk/talk/relate as we were created to be (2 Cor. 5:21). This is why we need Jesus who redeems us from the woes of our sin burden… all He asks for is obedience to him – and that includes not making money your god… or anything else besides Him for that matter.

So, should you incur debt with graduate school? If at all possible – avoid it. But if you must, be wise about how much you can take on and pay off that which you owe before your loan payment is due. Pay it off and pay it off quick. Deny yourself now and later you’ll be able to enjoy the freedom of a debt free life.

Hope this helps.

enjoy.

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Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : Bible, Debt, Garbage Man, Gospel, Graduate School, Loans, Money, Seminary, Student Question, Wisdom

Reflections from Sunday

By michaelcriner · Comments (0)

Monday, July 13th, 2009

This morning I had the opportunity to preach for the two main worship services at First Woodway. It was a joy to preach and the response from our people was quite overwhelming. My Dad and Mom came from Ennis along with Granddaddy and Bobbie; which was a blast. For them to come and hear me preach was a huge blessing for me… but I think they find more joy in hearing me preach than I do actually preaching!

Below are some of my reflections from the two services:

•calling people to repent of their righteousness is a very difficult… but very rewarding.
•there is a huge difference in feel between the first service and the second service… not a bad feel, just different.
•when adults come to you in tears confessing their sin, you know the Spirit moved.
•’In Christ Alone’ is one of my favorite songs… no really.
•I’m finding more people every day who love Calvin & Spurgeon & Owen & Edwards… and it excites my soul.
•in the end our very best thoughts will never compare to You.
•having a loving wife is the best thing a pastor/preacher/minister can have.
•having family in the service is an added bonus and joy to me…
•Wearing a sweater on a Sunday morning is a really bad idea… but better than wearing a suit!
•the Holy Spirit is te only One who can turn the most crusty hearts towards Jesus.
•the Gospel matters.
•may we accept our depravity so that we might understand God’s fabulous grace.

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Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : First Woodway, Gospel, Preaching, Repentance

Mark Driscoll Yelling ‘How Dare You’

By michaelcriner · Comments (2)

Friday, July 10th, 2009

This is for the boys men who read this blog.

Comments (2)

Categories : Church, Video

Tags : Christianity, Gospel, Jesus, Mark Driscoll, Video

What is the Gospel?

By michaelcriner · Comments (0)

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

My little buddy Matt proposed a wonderful question in response to what I’ll be preaching this upcoming Sunday. Let me first say this about Matt. Matt is someone I love dearly; and at times someone who is a rock in my shoe. But not in a bad way – seriously. This is a good rock. Pastors and preachers shepherds will too often expound rhetoric about the gospel, but won’t ever explain or share the gospel. As Scott Thomas said yesterday via Twitter: “A sermon where the language is perfectly appropriate and pristine and yet devoid of the gospel is both eloquent & shameful.”

About a month ago, I posted a link to what I think is a great explanation of what the gospel is and who the Gospel is about. You can read my original blog HERE. You can read about the Gospel HERE.

That being said – I do want to answer your question rather than sending you all over Cyberspace to find what I perceive the gospel to be. So, your question once again:
What is the gospel?

Here’s my response:
One of the most clear, detailed, and succinct explanations of the gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. It reads: “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…“ (ESV) emphasis mine.

Like I said, I think this pretty much explains the gospel from a Biblical perspective. What I love about this explanation is that it begins with Christ – Jesus Christ that is. It always will be and it always has been about Jesus. When we read the Scriptures we see a free and even radical God who came-into-the-flesh-lived-the-sinless-life-we-were-created-to-live-died-on-the-cross-for-our-sin-rose-again-from-the-grave-so-that-we-might-now-be-made-right-with-God… this story (the Gospel) is so shocking that nobody could have just “made it up” or “pulled it out of a hat” it’s just that good and true. I mean, we are the benefactors of life when we deserve death. That is good news friend!

Then it affirms that the Bible gets it right in regards to Jesus, salvation, life, etc. Everything that took place, happened in such a way to affirm the way in which God said it would happen (Luke 24:27; John 2:19, 22; Acts 17:2–3; Rom. 1:2–4. Paul may be thinking especially of Isa. 53:3–12, which describes the substitutionary death and the vindication, after death, of God’s servant, but also of other OT passages. For the resurrection, see also Hos. 6:2 and Jonah 1:17; 2:1 (Matt. 12:40), and for the OT in general pointing to Christ, see Luke 24:25–27. (thanks ESV Study Bible)!

Now that we have an understanding of what the gospel is, I don’t think that is an oversimplification at all… it’s what the Scriptures say about the gospel. I think we’ve overcomplicated the gospel… or maybe we add to it. In the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, Screwtape says that his aim with Christians is “Christianity and…” The point? The enemy wants to complicate things for us. That is his goal. So, the gospel is actually quite simple to those that believe while it’s foolishness (complicated) to everyone else. I mean, 1 Corinthians 1:18 says as much: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (ESV). What I think is being said here is that the gospel is the message of Jesus Christ and what he has done on the cross (gospel) is sheer silliness to those who are hellbent on destruction… but for those who are saved/being saved/will be saved (justification/sanctification/glorification respectfully) it makes perfect sense.

That being said: there are some implications of the gospel we must take into account. I think this is where you’re getting to. I think many of us don’t really want to be saved from our sin… we just want to be saved from the penalty of our sin. We don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it… we’re merely sorry because God is going to punish us. I think most of us think the the old sinful life is better than the new life Jesus gives us upon confession and repentance. This is why the gospel is good news!

Because of the gospel; this great and wonderful fact, this truth, we come to new life – peace with God and thus free from the bondage of sin, from hell, from Satan – for the glory of his name.
Because of the gospel – I don’t have to worry about momentary things (money, cars, homes, etc.) my focus and perspective changes. I don’t spend my time thinking about life on earth, I think much more about eternity in heaven.
Because of the gospel – when confronted with minor trials I rejoice because my God and King Jesus Christ has endured much much more than I ever will.
Because of the gospel – when/if we have kids I can discipline my children with confidence and then promptly share with them Christ’s redeeming work on the cross who covers all their errors (of which they just committed).
Because of the gospel – I don’t have to be afraid of what my neighbors think about me; I don’t have to worry about rejection, or feel uncomfortable about talking to them about Jesus.
Because of the gospel – I no longer stand in opposition to Jesus rather at his feet as his child.

The list goes on and on and on. One of the best ways to express this to others comes from C.J. Mahaney who shared with me (in a book/not face-to-face) that when someone asks you how you’re doing, your response (because of the gospel) is “I’m doing better than I deserve.“ Why? Because I deserve death, punishment for sin, hell, etc. for my sin – but despite that – God in his loving, sovereign, grace and choice am saved… so I am doing better than I deserve.

I love the gospel. I am striving to live the gospel as well. Living the gospel changes everything – from how we treat others; how we think of others; how we view ourselves; and how grateful we should actually be for what He’s done. I hope that in the (brief) time you were in our ministry you found us not just talking about the gospel rather loving and living the gospel as well.

enjoy.

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Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : Bible, C.J. Mahaney, C.S. Lewis, ESV Bible, Gospel, Jesus, Matt Willingham, Scott Thomas, Screwtape Letters, Twitter

The Silence of the Holy Spirit

By michaelcriner · Comments (0)

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Mark Batterson shared a little bit about how the Holy Spirit is silent at time… go ahead: READ IT HERE.

I’ve been having some difficulties hearing from the Holy Spirit in recent days. Specifically in regards to a camp I’m preaching at in NM. Let’s revisit the verse in John:
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Doesn’t seem that difficult or even really that complicated. But – it’s in wanting to hear from the Lord that we’re I am confronted with my own sin. Mark says it this way:
“if you cannot hear the voice of God maybe it’s because you aren’t willing to hear everything He has to say?”

So, for the sake of being honest, here are three things I’ve been dealing with lately in my personal life that I think are preventing me from hearing the Holy Spirit.

Complaining: It’s not that I’m ungrateful for the job I have… but the complaining (to a select few) reveals my ungrateful heat & spirit. Complaining usually comes out from a heart that thinks it deserves something in reality doesn’t. What do I deserve? is a question I’m constantly asking myself. I have been given so much (loving wife, wonderful job, great friends, etc)… so, I should must be grateful. Complaining in my life really brings out the fact that I’ve forgotten the Gospel… for it’s remembering the Gospel that we remember what we deserve and also what Christ has so graciously done for us. I don’t want to assume you know the Gospel – READ THIS.
Inattention: This is specifically in regards to my wife, Abigail. It never is intentionally not paying attention… it simply creeps up expectantly. I must remind myself that how I love her affects everything about us. Seriously. How I treat Abby affects E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. So, on my way home, I picked up some flowers as a simple reminder to her that I love her. For evidence, you can see them HERE.
Productivity (lack thereof): This could be substituted as laziness, but I’ll keep it to lack of productivity. I’ve actually gotten a ton of things done, but many of the things I’ve done have been all the wrong things. I don’t need to design sermon logos. I’ll leave that up to someone else. I must do what is most important: prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). There is a great blog on Biblical Productivity and you can find it HERE. Or, you can download the pdf file of the same online resource HERE.

May by God’s grace we strive to be honest enough with ourselves and others that we can share openly about our struggles.

enjoy.

[H/T: Mark Batterson]

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Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : Family, Gospel, Life, Mark Batterson, Theology

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Archive for Gospel

Propaganda shares the G.O.S.P.E.L. #VIDEO (cc: @prophiphop)

Sinclair Ferguson on why highlighting the cross is essential [QUOTE]

Why I’ll be less critical of annoying church signs

How You Can Save Baby Soma’s Life

Most Popular for July

Debt

Reflections from Sunday

Mark Driscoll Yelling ‘How Dare You’

What is the Gospel?

The Silence of the Holy Spirit