The Simple Power

Here is an amazing quote:

It is widely repeated that a Korean pastor once visited the United States and remarked at the end of his stay, "It's amazing what you people can do without the Holy Spirit."....

....What is profoundly stupid is the sheer amount of innovation, creativity, energy, ambition, and astounding levels of human wherewithal that go into crafting the most amazing worship experiences Americans have ever seen inside churches where the gospel isn't preached. I can say this because there's only one thing we hold that the New Testament calls "power," and that's the gospel.

From Jared Wilson at The Gospel-Driven Church: The Awesomeness-Driven Church:

The Nowism of Grace

 All believers know (or should know) what the Gospel means in terms of eternal destiny.  Most evangelical Christians could describe their hope of eternity with their Savior.  But what does the Gospel mean for now?

Paul Tripp gives his answer at The Nowism of the Gospel :: Desiring God, explaining four aspects of the “nowism” of the gospel and what grace will do to you:

1. Grace will decimate what you think of you, while it gives you a security of identity you’ve never had.
2. Grace will expose your deepest sins of heart, while it covers every failure with the blood of Jesus.
3. Grace will make you face how weak you are, while it blesses you with power beyond you ability to calculate.
4. Grace will take control out of your hands, while it blesses you with the care of One who plan is unshakable and perfect in every way.

Read the whole thing - this one is really worth it!

Hat Tip to Justin Taylor

Clothing the Gospel

"The Gospel is to be adorned by both sound doctrine and godly living.  To set the Gospel before parishioners and public without these is to preach an unclothed Gospel."

Grounded in the Gospel, J.I. Packer & Gary Parrett, page 100

(I am really enjoying this book)