This past Sunday it was a joy to have John Piper with us at Jubilee Church in London. He seemed to be very much at home with us, and was clearly enjoying preaching one of the very few sermons he will preach this year. We benefitted greatly from this talk as Jubilee continues to aim to break the rule some church growth experts lay down, which argues that a church will always tend towards being largely monocultural. I thank God for the racial harmony and multicolored growth that we have experienced. But I do not take it for granted, which is why it was so helpful to hear from our friend, John Piper, on the subject. My brief notes will follow the video:

Watch on Vimeo. Downloads: LowDef , DVD or audio

Piper began with a great introductory illustration based on why, as an American Christian, he had divided loyalties watching the recent USA World Cup game. He then took five biblical teachings that are loved by churches like Jubilee, the so-called “doctrines of grace,” and showed how they each have a profound impact on how we should view ethnic diversity.

1. We are all sinners. We are all fallen. No one is righteous. It is so bad no one can save themselves. Romans 8:7-8. We are morally unable to please God. Ephesians 2:1-10. You were dead. If you are a Christian, you have been raised from the dead. You didn’t do that. London is filled with millions of people who are dead. When it comes to racial harmony, a major implication of this doctrine is that no matter what your race, you are equally dead without Christ. Hell will be racially diverse. Romans 2:9. Evey color will be there. We are all depraved. We are all lost. We are all dying of the same disease. This should humble us for our own sin. If I am as dead as the most evil person, I should be less proud and more gracious to others. You cannot be more dead than dead. No ethnic group has any edge at all.
2. God almighty before the foundation of the world chose to save you. Acts 13:48. “Those who were ordained to eternal life believed.” God’s decision was why they believed. It’s totally unconditional. Faith comes about because of this choice of God. Huge implications. He doesn’t choose anybody because of skin color, education, or any other reason. Watch out then for pride or despair. Nothing in you caused him to choose you. Nothing could have stopped him from choosing you. This is stunningly powerful in evangelism. Nothing you have done has anything to do with whether he has chosen you. The only way you know if you are chosen is right now whether you will you accept Jesus. If you will, then you are chosen. Therefore no black person, or white person can have any idea that their ethnic identity has anything to do with God setting his favor on them.
3. Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her Ephesians 5:25. Jesus laid down his life for the sheep. There is a wide door for the world. If anyone wants he can come. But Jesus is also taking for himself a bride. He knew whom he was after Revelation 5:9: slain so that a body of people could be purchased from every nation. Not every tribe, but people FROM every tribe. He will lay claim to those people he has bought. God intends to have this multicolored people. People, tribe, nation, language: God is interested in all these groupings. His intent is for them to be in harmony with each other. We are a kingdom. We are more related to Christians from other nations than to others of our own nation. Interracial marriage reflects God’s glory. Free to marry in the Lord. Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers. It is infinitely costly for God to purchase this people. The racial issue is not a social issue, it’s a blood issue. It cost Jesus everything in order to pull off diversity in his kingdom. If it was costly for Jesus, it will be for you.
4. Not only are we helpless and dead, he chose us, he paid for us, he also comes to us and overcomes all our rebellion and saves us. Ephesians 2:8. Faith is a gift. God grants repentance. Triumphant grace. Your ethnic distinctives contributed nothing to the rise of faith in your heart. Even racist scoundrels cannot stop God from saving them, if he chooses to. God can kill racism.
5. We are comrades in the fall, in God’s choice, in the infinite cost, in God’s triumphant grace, and in God keeping his own. Romans 8. If you are justified you are glorified. It’s as good as done that you will be in heaven. He preserves his saints. No one can pluck you out of Gods hand. He will finish the job. He will go on helping us with the racial issue. Keep trying. Don’t retreat and say “these people are impossible to please.” Be committed to keep working at this issue, expecting to fail, but persevering and hoping to see some success. One day we will all gather round the throne together.

Mark Driscoll is at his very best in the following clip. Ever wondered how family and mission entwine, especially in a growing church where you don’t know anyone? Ever wished for more intimacy and a greater relational feel in your church? Ever felt neglected and rejected in your church? Ever felt like your church was not your home? Watch this clip and be prepared to be blown away. I love the way he begins: Family is a category of relationship that the world knows nothing about. What’s better than friends? Family. It’s a huge painful annoying mess, family is awkward, trying and hard, but you love the family, and you serve the family, and you don’t give up on family. This sermon speaks about our need to find a way to contribute to our church. commit to it, and connect to a small group. Christians must change from being consumers to being active participants in the mission of God. When you are contributing to something, you will feel connected to it.

The full sermon this clip comes from is available from the Mars Hill Website.

I preached this message at Jubilee Church a little over a week ago. It was part of our series from Acts and based on Stephen’s Martyrdom from Acts 6 and 7. Brief notes follow the video.

Downloads: Video Audio HighDef

Till now, Acts had been a time of glorious growth and excitement power. Their friend had RISEN AGAIN and been glorified. All of their sermons in Acts were about this wonderful truth. MOST exciting, most GLORIOUS message MUST share caught up on a wonderful mission. It is almost breathless…the “and” of God.

“And Steven full of grace of power was doing signs and wonders” v8

Even the one appointed to do practical jobs had the SPIRITS power. One might almost have been convinced that it was all going to be fantastic now. It is a bit like that in a growing church, especially if a lot of young people around (i.e. you are not experiencing much sickness and death.) Caught up in what God doing. This one healed. That one saved. That one got a new job. No one can hurt us. We could kid ourselves that life is just fantastic for everyone. My son George even when he is upset says “but I still love my life dad!” I LOVE Jubilee life!

In Acts no significant setbacks so far, despite some hints of greater opposition to come. That was about to change. Joys and challenges, theology must have both. In the crowd of joy can feel as if you are only one here is in pain and a challenging situation. Maybe you are worried that you can’t feel God.

Jesus promised us that in this world we will have troubles. He always keeps his promises, but I don’t hear too many people naming and claiming that one!

Imagine if you will Philip and Steven being called by God:

“Hy guys, couple of jobs for you. One of you to be a great evangelist and caught up in a Holy Spirit transporter. Both mentioned in the Bible for all time. One of you gets to be an inspiration for thousands of martyrs”

Martyr is Greek word for witness. Amazing to realise that so many people died for bearing witness to Christ the meaning of the word changed! 20th century more than any previous! Would Steven have chosen that path?

Like every Christian, he had trusted his life into God’s hands. We don’t get to choose when life suddenly gets “interesting.” It was not because he sinned that it happened to him.

The challenge comes because VAST difference between the people of God and the world:

People of God: v 8 grace, power, V10 wisdom, Spirit

Contrast World: synagogue- religious people often hate us most true even today. “Freedman” arrogant claim that their life showed to be false: slaves of legalism. Dispute, withstand, secretive, deceptive, stirring up, VIOLENT. The violence of the so-called “free” continues today hatred of the so called “intolerant” ie us!

One more thing OBLIVIOUS to God! His face like an angel and all they can think of is killing him. Be not deceived, such an attitude is in the heart of everyone who rejects Christ, it just hides. IF we are honest such evil lies within our old selves too and we have to fight it today. The Bible says we all hate God and choose our own way. Christians are not better in themselves, just saved by Jesus!

Steven is snatched and given a chance to speak his defense. He has one eye on his captors, but one on the believers who are listening, wants them to know they are caught up in the people of God. On a mission together started way before them, won’t stop whatever happens to him, and will continue way after them.

God uses individuals to bless the many. History is always about the story of significant people that impacted the whole. This is the stuff of culture, of identity. In England, we would hear of Kings and Queens, of Robin Hood, and Greatest Briton Winston Churchill who embodied everything British—standing alone against a European threat. Greatest African Nelson Mandella South Africa.Christians belong to another people, Abrahams children, the people of faith.

The “Ands” of God, and the “Buts”

Chapter 7
Abraham: AND God of glory appeared, sent him. BUT he never got an inheritance, not even a foot. Promised his people would first be slaves then inherit. Sometimes the but is just about God’s sovereign timing.

V9 Joseph His BUT came first, as he was sold into Egypt and yet we see GOD was with him and the whole known world were saved from famine. Sometimes the but is caused by other’s jealousy and hatred.

Moses was beautiful, saved as a young child, well educated BUT his foolish actions sin of MURDER led to his first 40 years in the wilderness. – Sometimes the “but” is our own fault. Maybe you are struggling with sin. Porn. Murder abortion. Maybe guy left a woman feeling she had no choice.

God’s grace doesn’t not forsake him, however, GOD loves choosing the rejected, the hated like Moses and using them to bring his salvation. God can use YOU to do the same. No matter what buts you have experienced.

V51 Steven is BRAVE and CONFRONTS the people with their rebellion. Just as they were with Moses, and other heroes of faith they were to that day, they had KILLED the Righteous one! He was stoned for his efforts. Someone once said that the trouble with Western christians today is that no one wants to kill them for their words.

What gave Stephen this boldness? What helps the people of God fight thru and persevere despite the many troubles that come their way?

It’s very simple: JESUS. As Tope said last week “Jesus is better” we show He is better than health when we praise him despite our health being taken away. He is better than money when we can still be generous with it and praise him when our budget is under incredible pressure. He is better than the esteem of people, when we are not afraid to risk the rejection of men but honor Jesus in front of them. At work it is hard to share gospel. Friendship. Time needed.

HE is better than freedom if we are willing to risk being imprisoned for him. Hugh palmer Better than life if we look forward to being with him for ever.

It really is all about Jesus. To live is Christ and to die is gain…

Notice the wonderful grace of God. Faced with certain death, Steven is granted a wonderful glimpse of heaven and the glorious Jesus waiting for him. Many would want the same, “prove yourself to me, Jesus” and yet this is given to one who already has faith. It IS a comfort to him, it DOES lift him up, but he has already passed the test that this situation posed to him:

“Will you honor me and be faithful to the mission I have called you to, even when people are against you and I feel far away?”

IT is to those who are seeking him, and being faithful to what they know of him that Jesus will reveal himself more and more. In that revealing, we can know GOD is WITH US, and so we can do ALL THINGS through him who strengthens us! God is faithful hold onto Jesus. Jesus sees the joyful crowd and the one who is suffering.

And so, as a faithful servant who had accomplished EVERYTHING God had for him to do, Steven goes home. The wonderful truth is that this is NOT the end of Stevens story!

As he prays for forgiveness for his tormenters, he could not have known how wonderfully that prayer would be answered: Paul the apostle was there, and would become the greatest missionary the world has known!

Chapter 8
The death of Steven emboldened the persecutors, and suddenly it was open season on Christians. But, far from depressing them, the scattered went about preaching the word. In fact it was this that led to the gospel breaking out of Judea. No wonder people have said the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.

British martyrs who said that they had lit a candle that will never go out. As we listen to this story of Stephen does it not make us want to be faithful in the midst of the relatively minor trials we face now, or will face?

Does it not challenge us to conquer our fears and become a missional people?

Does it not encourage us that the same Jesus is WITH US? We live by him… nothing will separate us life nor death, suffering, or delight. All things work together.

Do both and say he is faithful then you are mature. Walking with him. Chose difficult root so you are suffering for Christ.

About ten days ago, Matt Chandler preached the following sermon at Jubilee Church in London.  In it he preaches the gospel, focusing in on the parable of the prodigal son from Luke’s gospel.  Many readers will remember seeing Matt’s “Jesus wants the battered rose” illustration. If you want to see that illustration in context this is a good video.  It is vital that Christian’s expose themselves to clear gospel teaching often. This talk will make fresh for you the wonderful good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and their glorious implications for us today. I encourage you strongly to watch this, and watch it often, and allow this man of God to minister good to your soul. Grace will conquer legalism every time, but only if we allow ourselves to be shaped by anointed preaching such as this. Are we like the older brother? Do we really want our churches to grow? Or would we rather they stayed a small cozy family caring for our needs? What would a missional church mean for you and me?

The Gospel from Jubilee Church on Vimeo.

This weekend I thought I would share a list of my top Twenty Five videos ordered by total number of views. As you can see, one of my Chandler videos has already jumped in above Mark Driscoll in second place. Terry’s fantastic sermon on prayer is way ahead of that one even, however. I enjoyed filming or watching all of these videos. Why not watch one or two you have missed?

1		Elijah Prays For Rain Tue Jun 23, 2009
2		Matt Chandler on being a reformed charismatic without much of a seatbelt Thu May 13, 2010
3		Mark Driscoll and Adrian Warnock talk about the resurrection Mon Mar 29, 2010
4		Mark Driscoll and Adrian Warnock talk about Doctrine Tue Mar 30, 2010
5		1st Canon EOS 5D Mark II Video Wed Mar 25, 2009
6		Raised With Christ: How The Resurrection Changes Everything Thu Oct 22, 2009
7		A Call To Prayer For Matt Chandler Thu Dec 03, 2009
8		Keith Getty – Co-Writer of In Christ Alone Thu Apr 09, 2009
9		Stuart Townend Interview Tue Apr 07, 2009
10		Dare To Believe God For Miracles – Tope Koleoso Thu May 14, 2009
11		Nathan and Lou Fellingham of Phatfish Sun Apr 05, 2009
12		Elijah Prays Part Two Wed Jun 24, 2009
13		EOS 5D Mark II Testing Rode Videomic and iMovie Fri Mar 27, 2009
14		Interview With Liam Goligher Thu Apr 09, 2009
15		Wayne Grudem on Politics and the Christian Sat Apr 24, 2010
16		Richard Cunningham at New Word Alive Tue May 12, 2009
17		Matt Chandler Interview on London, Newfrontiers, and “Prayer and Fasting” Thu May 13, 2010
18		Interview with Vaughan Roberts Sat Apr 11, 2009
19		Sam Storms Interviews Adrian Warnock Wed Feb 03, 2010
20		Wayne Grudem on Atonement, Unity, Rick Warren and John Piper Thu May 06, 2010
21		Matt Chandler on the call to ministry Thu May 13, 2010
22		Sam Storms On Pastoring As A Reformed Charismatic Wed Feb 03, 2010
23		Sunrise Over Welsh Mountains Mon Apr 13, 2009
24		Wayne Grudem on whether God’s revelation has really stopped or not Sat May 08, 2010
25		Matt Chandler on why he IS friends with people on his staff Thu May 13, 2010

When a pastor tells you that a certain passage of Scripture has been one of the most influential on his life, and is among the most precious to him you take notice. When he says that it is a passage he thinks about, or makes reference to almost every week your ears should prick up. When he then spends just a few minutes explaining why that is so it is well worth watching. This excerpt from Jubilee’s service last Sunday is Tope Koleoso introducing communion and explaining why only one thing is necessary. The refrain “Jesus is better” which Tope took from a Matt Chandler sermon and drove home in this clip has been going round my head this week. Allow God’s Spirit to draw your heart back to Jesus through this video. If we could just learn to pursue Jesus our lives would be very different, and the world would feel the impact.

Watch on vimeo

Matt preached to 800 church leaders here in the UK after they had spent the day praying, worshipping and fasting. If you will be at 300 you may want to check this out before you come:

Watch P&F May’10: Matt Chandler on vimeo

Quite simply, you absolutely have to watch this. Chandler is in the UK this week, and will be addressing the Newfrontiers prayer and fasting event, a 300 leaders gathering, and next Sunday will be preaching at Jubilee Church.  Try and come to hear him live if you possibly can. But please do watch this, and ask yourself, am I preparing myself and those dear to me for suffering?

Watch on vimeo