“There is no commitment we will make as church planters of greater importance than living close to Jesus.  For church planting can become an idol factory; a prostitution ring; a cruel taskmaster; a breeding ground for addictions… we need church planters who will love Jesus with abandon, and who cultivate a lifestyle of growing in His grace and knowledge.  Until you know yourself to be slow of heart to believe the gospel, you will never cultivate a burning heart for the gospel.  Churches planted with the DNA of the gospel will be led by those who live a life of gospel astonishment.”

Jesus, we thank you for hard-soil church planters who labor so hard with little observable fruit. Increase their tribe.

Jesus, free church planters to be more committed to faithfulness that obsessed with fruitfulness. You will grow your church.

Jesus, may the marriages of church planters thrive not dive because of everything involved in this costly calling.

Jesus, free church planters from the Peter syndrome, “What about John?” Death by comparison.

Jesus, infect the current & coming generations of church planters with an incurable case of gospel astonishment.

Father, help church planters be less proud of their creative strategies and more prostrate before your exalted Son.

Jesus, may new church plants swell by conversion growth, not just by disgruntled transfer growth.

Jesus, raise up church planters who see you everywhere in the Bible and lost people everywhere in the community.

Jesus, give church planters the thick skin and big hearts they’ll need to serve you with abandon today.

Jesus, help church planters in the same city be notorious for mutual encouragement and gospelicious cross pollinating.

Jesus, may the gospel be so real in the homes of church planters the kids will never wish their parents did anything else.

HT :: Collin Hansen

Below is a video which is a good summary of what Tim Keller means by Christ-centered preaching, followed by a summary transcript of the audio excerpt.  Do you, preacher, make your message all about Him? Are you, Christian, satisfied with Christ-less messages?

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you—it’s about him.

HT :: Collin Hansen

Verse 1

Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator
And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater
He triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute
Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes

How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible
Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol

What’s the Bible about? Man’s complete ruin in sin
And what God has done in Christ to bring us to Him again

What is sin? Sin is the breaking of God’s law
Plus our condition, which means from birth we all got flaws

What’s the result? The result is by nature we’re God’s enemies
And must pay the penalty unless God provides the remedy

What the remedy? The remedy is the cross of Christ
Where He suffered all the strikes for the lawless type
I’ve been rescued by the Lamb, I’m convinced that He’s risen
And blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven!

Chorus

Just fall back, and with the eyes of faith
Behold the beauty of surprising grace
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied

Just fall back- there’s an atonement now
The cross of Christ is holy ground
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied

Verse 2

Regeneration- the Holy Spirit’s true work in His love
To the elect, who receive new birth from above

Expiation- expiation means God’s removed my filthiness
The old testament type was the goat into the wilderness

Redemption- we’ve been freed from slavery to sin
And His very own blood is the price He paid, my friend

Propitiation- Propitiation means since the Lamb has died
His work is finished- God’s wrath is satisfied

Adoption- adoption means God is now my Father
I got the hottest Poppa and by the Spirit holler Abba

Reconciliation means there’s no more enmity
God is now a friend to me, we’re no longer enemies

Justification- God declares us righteous
Sanctification- we’re being made into His likeness
Glorification- that’s what happens at the finish
When God conforms believers perfectly to Christ’s image!

Verse 3

God’s grace is magnificent, He slayed His innocent
Son- through faith and repentance we get the benefits

What is faith? Faith is a gift from God- when we receive this
We trust and treasure the person and finished work of Jesus

Repentance? Repentance is turning from your sin
And trusting Christ as the Spirit cleanses you within

What is grace? Oh, grace is unmerited favor
Our inheritance major ‘cause we cherish the Savior
Right, and if I may quote again, we were doomed with Satan
But believers get Jesus’ righteousness through imputation

Imputation? God takes Jesus’ righteousness amount
Through faith He credits it into the Christian’s account

Anything else? Well, I guess this overview must suffice
But none of this is possible apart from union with Christ
And finally, once you know the ways of the Lord than the
only thing that you can say is Soli Deo Gloria!

The guy who made that animation has several previous ones that I have found gripping, not the least of which is this one called “The Prodigal.”

Jesus inaugurates the kingdom by His coming to earth as the Word made flesh (John 1:14).  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18), anointed (Matt. 3:16; 12:18; Luke 4:18) and empowered by the Holy Spirit, through which He gave commands (words) to His disciples (Acts 1:1-2).  The kingdom has come precise because of the mighty works performed by Spirit-anointed Messiah (Matt. 12:28) who utters the words of God as one who has received the Spirit without measure (John 3:34).

Jesus establishes His kingdom in the hearts of men as people are born again by the Spirit of God (John 3:3-8) and brought to faith through hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17; 1 Pet. 1:22-25).  It is the Spirit who gives life (John 6:63), and it is the Word which is able to make one wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 3;15).  Sinners are delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13) and therefore experience the reign and rule of King Jesus through submission to His Word, illumining our paths (Psalm 119:105), as well as submission to His Spirit, who leads us in ways that are pleasing to the King (Gal. 5:18-25).

Jesus advances His kingdom as He empowers His people with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) to proclaim the word of God.  The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), and the Spirit who applies this gospel word to the hearts of men brings resurrection life (Rom. 8:11) to those dead in their trespasses and sins.  When God’s people are filled with the Spirit, there is gospel utterance (Acts 2:4; 4:8; 4:31). Those who are set apart and sent by the Spirit (Acts 13:2-4) continue in what Jesus said and did (Acts 1:2) as His representatives on earth.

Jesus displays His kingdom on earth through a new community formed by the Word of God and animated by the Spirit of God.  As the Word works, the Spirit yields His fruit (Gal. 5:22-23); as the community abides in the Word (John 15:1-8), the Spirit works to conform us to the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18) and reflect the character of God.

Jesus consummates His kingdom as the Spirit brings the gospel word through citizens of the kingdom unto all the peoples of the earth (Matt. 24:14) so that His church would be built, His name worshiped, and His glory manifested among every nation, tongue, and tribe (Rev. 5:9).  As the Word goes out and does not return void (Isaiah 55:10-11), the Spirit goes out to gather in the Bride, who together call out to the King, “Come Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20)

Here are 16 “shout outs” recently posted on the PLNTD website (more forthcoming). Check them out:

Danny Akin
Trevin Wax
Donald Whitney
Owen Strachan
Bruce Ashford
Jonathan McIntosh
Steve Childers
Jared Wilson
Alvin Reid
Tony Merida
Bill Streger
George Robinson
Nathan Finn
Micah Fries
Phil Newton
Tom Ascol

To keep up with the latest with PLNTD, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  You can also subscribe to our e-newsletter for future developments.

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.

Read the whole thing.