John Piper at SBTS The sadness and beauty of Pauls final words скачать в хорошем качестве

John Piper at SBTS The sadness and beauty of Pauls final words

February 17, 2013 at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - Here are some notes from the message: PIPER: I have about 7 observations about the ministry in church and the ministry in missions. If you live long enough, you will find them all to be true in your life: (1) Christian ministry is relationally hard. (2) Friends in ministry can let you down, and never care for you again. I want to give a warning to culture embracing Christians in the room, because you've got to embrace culture to be relevant. There is an embrace of culture- God ignoring, God denying, God demeaning, Christ distorting products of culture that is mutually exclusive with a deep love for Jesus. There is a love for the world that is irreconcilable with world exposing ministry, witnessing to world ministry. Rescuing from world ministry. If your heart is in love with the world, you just love what unbelievers love, you'll either change your ministry to be compatible with that love, which happens all over the place, or you will leave the ministry, like Dimas did. More people leave Christ, more people leave church, more people leave the ministry, and more people leave the hope of heaven, out of love for the world, than anything else. (3) Good friends in ministry can let you down and still be your friend. (4) Jesus never intended the enjoyment of His presence would replace the enjoyment of other Christians. In other words, when Christ died, so you would enjoy Him supremely, He did not nullify the enjoyment of other Christians. Christ always intended for your friendship with Him to be the centerpiece of your friendship with others. The joy of Christ centered friendship is meant to magnify the worth of Christ, as the common treasure of the friendship, and thus deepen the sweetness of the friendship, not eliminate it. (5) Nevertheless, Jesus is the only totally reliable friend for sinners. He is the only flawless friend, and therefore the all satisfying friend, and therefore the only friend who can make other friendships eternal. As much as you may love your earthly friends and your earthly family, they can't do this for you. They cannot rescue you from every evil deed, and bring you safely to the heavenly kingdom. Only one friend can do that (Jesus). Seek Christian friendships, but when they fail, when they don't show up at your trial, don't turn on your one (6) Friend who will be there. Have you ever thought how insane it is, how many people, being let down by christian friends, use it as the reason to leave the one Friend who will never let them down. (7) Closeness to God at the end of your life does not remove the need or the desire to read or be spiritually nourished. People with great influence and great authority don't need great possessions. Paul handled a lot of money for his day and he kept very little for himself. Don't lay up treasures on earth, lay up treasures in heaven. Keep it simple.