Bye Bye To Riseup

Well for the few of you that are still reading this I am saying so long to this blog. My blogs will now be posted at andybship.tumblr.com

This site will let me post audio on my blog. So after a few weeks I will be closing this account.

Glory To God

This past weekend I went to Knoxville TN to preach at a D-Now weekend for the folks at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The theme was the Atonement. Session one was about the bad news...the total depravity of man...the sin nature that we were born with that Ephesians 2 tells us makes us children of wrath. To bring this message to a close I spent some time teaching the students what a crucifixion was like. Just preaching that overwhelmed me and many in the audience. Then we sang a song called Glory to God Forever. It was some of the best worship.

This got me thinking about worship. Why do we sing and pray first then preach on sundays? Shouldn't worship be our response to God; His nature and will revealed to us by the Word?

Just a thought if anyone is still reading this thing.

Eating Bread Like Cooper

I have got bread on the brain because of the passage I am getting ready to exposit on Sunday. As I have been digging into the text I came to the realization that I want to dive into scripture like my daughter eats bread at a restaurant. Cooper will get me to butter up her bread then she will put the whole piece up to her face and literally gnaw away at the inner portion of the bread because that is the best part.

I am currently preaching through the miracles of Jesus from John's gospel account. This Sunday I am preaching from John 6:1-15...the feeding of the 5000. Something that God has shown me, through guys like Tim Keller, is that all of scripture is ultimately about Christ. Well my text this week couldn't be more true.

At face value the text we like to make this text more about Jesus doing a lot with a little or about the Short-sighted Disciples; like Philip and Andrew. However, a deeper look into the text shows us this is about Jesus; its about the Gospel. The bread of lowly beginnings is blessed by God, broken, then passed out to the masses for their filling, then there is enough left over to pick up 12 baskets (represents sustenance). This whole passage screams of what Jesus did. He came from lowly or humble beginnings; was broken then distributed to the masses; and there is enough of Him to sustain.

Tired of Religion

This if for the pastor that got in my face about not preaching from the King James and for the guy that told me Voddie Bauchaum is a heretic because his church doesn't do Sunday School and because he is a calvinist. I will let Mark Driscoll speak for me. Hope you enjoy.

I love Jesus!!

Jesus is amazing!! A Savior who didn't simply take our sin but became our sin; who suffered a vile and horrific death, the death of a criminal; A Jesus whose precious blood washes away sin; who suffered the wrath of God and provided atonement for sin. A Christ that gave me His righteousness and took my shame; and a Messiah that causes men to become a new creation.

Who cares that its not Christmas anymore. Everyday is a day to praise God and magnify the name of Jesus Christ!!!!!!!

Doxology IS Theology

As I have been preparing to preach my Christmas sermon series God has been revealing some truth to me that I feel compelled to share with the two of you that read this blog. My sermon series will come from the various songs that people sang in and around the time of Christ's birth; the song of Mary, Simeon, Angels, etc.

The conviction I have come to is this.....worship today is much too man centered! In our culture we like to start at the bottom and work upward. We start with self; our wants, our feelings, our emotions, our agendas, our opinions. Once that box has been constructed we then try to put God in it. The result of this doxology or worship is theology that is as far away from biblical precepts that its pathetic. Worship today teaches that man is the apex and that he is worthy of God's time and attention. This theology produces selfishness, greed and pride.

In scripture we see worship begins with God and everything else stems from Him. His holiness, goodness, judgement, omniscience, etc are the things that fuel the wonderful worship of scripture. This biblical method of worship produces sound theology where God is the top of the food chain. It is a theology where man is so unlike God, sinful, poor, blind and naked that the reality that God would even look upon us is overwhelming.

My challenge for you in this is simple. Worship out of the overflow of who God is and what God has done; not out of how you feel and what you think. Worship in a way that produces and teaches sound theology and not this modern-day garbage that is being produced!!

Our Joy

No poem today like yesterday. But I do have some thoughts. As it turns out I am not a popular guy in my community. Apparently I am a male chauvinist and archaic in my views. I must admit that my flesh is infuriated and vengeful by the rumor-mill that is circulating about me; a small town Baptist Preacher that is trying really hard to preach sound doctrine and win souls to Christ. But in my heart and the deepest crevasses of my being I am hurt no I am crushed. I am grieved that tempers are flaring and pride is springing up in some who think they are doing good but in reality they are hurting the body of Christ. It is nothing more than gossip and slander.

What does this have to do with joy? The truth of scripture is clear that we are blessed when we face trial and tribulation of many kinds. Weeks like the ones I've had are working out God's will for my life. These weeks are trying to teach me submission to God and they are developing character. So as weird as this sounds I find myself filled with joy in Christ in the middle of my circumstances. I am joyful in Christ and the Bible teaches that the joy of the Lord is my strength.

So today I make this declaration for Satan and his demons and for any who read this blog. My joy is Jesus Christ!!!! Not this world...not popularity....nor your opinion of me. My joy comes from the inescapable beauty and grace of God Almighty. My obsession will from this day forth be with what God thinks and what His opinion is of me. I wish to live this way in order to please God and make the world look the way it really is to the Christian; like a fleeting, trivial, worthless thing that has no power and produce zero joy.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!!

The Nature of Beauty

Sunrise, sunset, symphonies and sonnets are pale by comparison.
To compare Thee to these is worthless and weak expressions.
How could we seek to compare Your awesomeness to ashes?
We attribute beauty to things that will be trampled where You’ve trod
This makes us guilty of sin; we belittle a gigantic God.

Our God is the superlative of every good thing we choose to call Him by.
You are far more lovely than earth or moon or sky.
The amazing beauty of God is prototypical, inherent and intrinsic.
All other beauty is derived, contingent and dependent.
They are but streams flowing from your radiance.

The hope of the believer is to forever gaze upon this beauty. (Psalm 27:4)
A gaze that should be our tremendous joy not just duty.
Astounding is the reality that You are the God we cannot see.
Invisible yet more beautiful than any word our mind could birth.
You are the nature of beauty!!

Mind Dump

I can remember when I figured out that Santa Clause was not real. I believe I was about 8 years old. Christmas had come and gone and my brother and I had really racked up!! One day we were playing in the house and we found our way into my mom's closet; a place that we were never to go. Now I know why. This was the place our toys were kept. It was also the place that my mom kept a few of the boxes of the toys that "Santa" had just left a few nights before. I have never been a smart guy but I could always put two and two together.

I remember feeling horrible. The reason I didn't get certain toys wasn't because Santa was watching but it was due the fact that my mom and dad didn't get them for me!!!

After being in ministry for a number of years I am starting relive some of those same emotions. You see I have always thought of myself and a good judge of character. I spend time with people and listen to them and watch them; sometimes without their knowledge and I can just figure them out. But what I am finding is just how wrong I can be. People who I thought had discernment faithfully watch TV preachers that teach false doctrine. I have people in my area that love a man who doesn't believe in The Trinity!!!! There are people who will nod and smile to your face and vote in ways that support your agenda...then on Monday they will spread gossip and miss-information throughout the community.

The past 10 days have been humbling to say the very least. I have been reminded of just how flawed and imperfect I am. It has also been a week of mind battles and spiritual warfare.

It is weeks like this one that make the return of Christ all the more sweet. Hurry Lord Jesus!!!!!

Wow...

Check out this video that someone sent to me this morning. Take 12 minutes and watch this.

It Never Fails!!!

Sometimes when we sit down as a family to eat the phone will ring and my wife will say, "It never fails!" This is a quote from her grandmother. It seems like the telemarketers just know when your about to eat and they show up right on time.

I am convinced that Satan is the same way. For the better part of three months every sermon I have preached as been about Jesus Christ; His Divinity, His humanity, His Substitutionary Atonement, His Imputed Righteousness, and the Justification issued by God. With God's blessing people have been moved. Conviction has been brought on. People are asking the tough and real questions about their salvation. And I know the Devil just hates it!!!

There has been opportunity to exercise true Church Discipline. God is giving me opportunity to confront heretical theology in some of my members.

God is moving and working and bringing glory to His name and Satan can't stand it! That is why he has shown up and is doing some things of his own. I have members fighting mind battles of fear and doubt. I have others struggling with emotional issues like depression. Some are even fighting the battle with their flesh trying to not to get angry and take things personally.

I have never been more mentally and spiritually fatigued. But I am also excited that for reasons I can't explain we have become worthy of such satanic opposition.

Please pray for my church and for me and above all else pray that God would be mighty and that He would be glorified!!!

The Marvelous Magnet

My personal Bible study and sermon time has solely revolved around the person and work of Jesus Christ. Not fluffy...make you feel good junk but doctrinal study. But I must admit that all of the wonderful doctrines surrounding Christ invoke within me more worship and awe than any pragmatic sermon or book.

Let me give you an example. The Crucifixion of Christ is so wonderful that if we only had the scriptures that deal with the death of Christ that would be enough to warrant our fear and worship of God forever.

Spurgeon called His crucifixion the "Marvelous Magnet." He said, "Preach Jesus Christ. That is the recipe for catching men's ears and laying hold upon men's hearts."

What a wonderful truth...The Son of Man lays His life done willing; to be crushed; to be cursed; to be cussed; so that sinful men might be saved!!! Who needs these modern day "ear tickling" messages and books? What could possible be better than the thing that Luther referred to as "The Great Exchange?" Christ was crushed for our sin and we received His righteousness? The imagination of man could never cook up something better than that.

Eggs, Toast, and Revelation

Monday morning I had breakfast with a good friend of mine at The Huddle House....man I love the Huddle House. We talked about many things; mostly college football. However in the middle of bashing Georgia's offensive play calling, my friend began sharing something that is still blowing me away on Wednesday.

The Church is trying to be more than it was intended to be. You see the most important thing in my life is my personal relationship with Christ; being right with the Thrice Holy God of creation. With this primary relationship comes responsibilities. For example its my job, given unto me by Christ, to evangelize and then make disciples. This according to the Great Commission, which is a call for every individual disciple. The next relationship in the created order of things is my marriage. I am called to be a husband. This marital relationship led to children which is third in the order of things. I am a father!!

What has happened throughout the ages is the church which comes after personal relationship with Christ and family has taken it upon herself to try to relieve me of my duties in the other relationships. As a result people are forsaking their God-given responsibilities because we have this idea that when the collective is doing okay we are all okay.

For example; I wonder how many people never share their faith because their church has a visitation team or FAITH team or something similar? How many people never serve in missions because they sprinkled their conscience clean by giving money to Lottie Moon? How many parents never open the Bible at home and disciple their children because they think the Youth Worker or Children's leader is teaching them all they need to know?

Are the previously mentioned programs bad things? I don't think so but they don't take the place of what I am called to do and be personally. The church exists to be a support for a person's individual faith and for the family. She doesn't exist to take the place of those things. As a pastor my conviction is to be a leader that places responsibility where it belongs and to preach and teach and pray in a way that would empower people to be what God created them to be; not to take away from those things.

Man...its amazing where God will show up and reveal things!!!

Best Baptism Service

Last night I got the chance to see the best baptism service of my life. Thad a man from my church got to baptize his oldest son, Nate. It was so intimate and sweet. Words can't really do the whole thing justice. After the service I told Thad that his pastor was jealous. I can't wait to lead my children to Christ and Baptize them.

And We Wonder Why People Don't Know Christ

After my son's pediatricians appointment I went by Lifeway to look for some material for men's bible study at my church. Man I hit the jack pot too....I found some Charles Spurgeon sermons on men in the Bible. But just a few shelves over was some of the most horrible garbage I have ever seen being passed off as a bible study. Yes that's right you can learn how to be a follower of Christ with the Beverly Hillbillies bible study. There was also one for I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith, Gilligan's Island and Bonanza.

I didn't know if I should laugh or set the store on fire. I thought is was a joke at first but it wasn't. Is this what the church has come to? To be honest I don't even know what to say except heaven help us!

Sovereign in Stupidity

In our world of pragmatism and humanism many people are under the delusion that God can only do great and amazing things if and when we do enough to "help Him out." In our culture we have elevated man to place of superiority and importance that he doesn't belong. We assume that we have a pretty good grip on things when in reality we are not even hanging by a thread.

God has been constantly showing me two things; His sovereignty and my complete lack of control. Just yesterday our Lord revealed to me through Scripture that even in stupidity; those moments where we act in compulsion or haste; He is in complete control and is working His will out for His glory.

Let me explain. Judges 11:29-40 is a passage that shows Jephthah making a ridiculous vow to sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his house if God would grant unto him victory. At the end of this story, after God gives the victory, it is Jephthah's one and only child that comes from his house. Every sermon I viewed and commentary I read said this guys was an idiot for not only making this vow but also for carrying it out. While this is certainly the case in the flesh in the spiritual realm this was the only way that the nation could be forgiven once again by God.

You see in Chapter 10:13 God made a vow; a promise. He told the nation that we was done delivering or saving them. God was tired of their idolatry and playing the harlot with other gods. The only way a vow could be broken was for one of the parties to die. God being God isn't going to die so that only leaves the nation. So in the act of, what appeared to be a random act of stupidity on the part of Jephthah God was working out a way that His grace and mercy could be shown once again to the nation.

What a beautiful image of Jesus Christ. It seems ridiculous that the only begotten Son of God would die. The Apostle Peter understood this which is why he tried to talk Jesus out of it until Christ rebuked him. Jesus died so that God could forgive my sin. Without that death, something that in the flesh seemed crazy, I would be lost and helpless.

Praise God for His Sovereign grace and mercy!!!

The De-Churched

If you are a pastor or you heavily associate with pastors you will find our very quickly that inactive membership is a point of interest. Why do people just stop going to church? Specifically we are seeing writers, teachers and preachers speak in volume about the epidimic that is the almost total absence of people in their 20's in our churches.

I just started pod-casting a guy at the request of several friends of mine. He is a young guy (35 years old) but he is so insightful. Take a listen to Matt Chandler and some of his thoughts about the "de-churched." This is good stuff!!!!

Willing Willful To Be Willed

A month ago I was in our Association office and I listened to three older pastors argue and debate on the issue of free-will. At this year's Southern Baptist Convention one of the opening addresses dealt with the divide over the issue of the Sovereignty of God and the free-will of man. The plea was for Southern Baptist to lay down their arguments and preach the Gospel.

A brief time spent in reading and research would reveal that this debate has been a long one to say the least. And it has been a heated debate also. I saw a little heat from those 3 older pastors as they debated the topic. I heard some grumbling and saw a few heads shake at the convention when that guy mentioned the "doctrines of grace".

While this topic has been one of great interest to me over the years I just can't make myself get all up in arms. Do I disagree with people? Most certainly! But I don't get fighting mad.

At the end of day I accept the Bible as authoritative and I do by best to let it be my guide as I seek to please Christ.

In my sermon prep this month I have been in Exodus and recently I came across a gem. Exodus 6:1, which says, "Then the LORD said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion he shall let them go and under compulsion he shall drive them out of his land." What a great verse for in it the Sovereignty of God and the will of man are clearly seen and they fit together perfectly. God tells Moses that He is going to actively do something in and with Pharaoh yet Pharaoh will be acting under compulsion. Did he know it was God? I don't think he did. He thought it was his idea and based on his authority.

Do I have a free-will? Yes I do. But could it be that my choosing Christ was guided by an Omnipotent God whose will is stronger than mine? I must admit that from my reading of the Bible I believe the answer to this question is yes. Might I be wrong? Certainly but at this point in my life I am okay with being being willing willful to be willed by God.

Whats In a Name?

Ive been preparing for a new sermon series...a series that will deal with the Gospel. My desire in this is to see lost people saved and saved people set a fire.

I thought that a good place to start is with our understanding of God...and the best place to start is with God's name. My studies led me to a passage in Psalm 9:10 which says, "And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee..."

Do we lack trust and understanding because we don't know God's name? This knowing means that we understand God's character and nature. I can't wait to see where this sermon series will go and what will happen. Pray for me and my church. There is much underneath the surface. We just need revival and awakening.

The importance of obedient kids

A wonderful revelation has come to me in recent weeks about children. Ask yourself...why is important for children to be obedient? Some would say obedient kids are not an embarrassment to their parents. Otherwise might say they they want their kids to be obedient for their safety. While these are valid these answers to the question are no different that the answers that pagan parents would give.

It is in Ephesians 6:1-3 that much is revealed about the spiritual implications of obedience. In order to understand the context of this passage the reader would have to back up to chapter 5:15 and then read. Paul teaches us that God wants us to be wise, understanding, spirit-filled people. Those who fit this description will follow proper authority in their life. For children this is their parents. Therefore the reason I want to raise my children to be obedient is much more important that their safety and my embarrassment. I want to teach them how to live a spirit-filled, wise life by submitting to authority.

If only we could get our churches to embrace this truth. Maybe just maybe there would be more who were obedient to Christ!!!!