“The gate of Mercy is opened, and over the door it is written, ‘This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.‘

Between that word ‘save’ and the next word ‘sinners,’ there is no adjective.

It does not say, ‘penitent sinners,’ ‘awakened sinners,’ ‘sensible sinners,’ ‘grieving sinners’ or ‘alarmed sinners.’

No, it only says, ‘sinners.’

And I know this, that when I come, I come to Christ today, for I feel it is as much a necessity of my life to come to the cross of Christ today as it was to come ten years ago—when I come to him, I dare not come as a conscious sinner or an awakened sinner, but I have to come still as a sinner with nothing in my hands.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, preaching on John 3:18, 17 February 1861.

Via: Ray Ortlund

The caption for this YouTube video from the Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, Florida, reads:

This video supported a live performance of the song during our “I Love the 80s” series.  Pastor David Hughes was speaking on the topic of Baptism. He encouraged the people of CBG to “Jump” in and do it!

After viewing this video, I forgot to mention there is one more thing you do NOT need to preach the Gospel.

You do NOT need to be RELEVANT to preach the Gospel.

The Gospel is relevant.  We make it irrelevant by acting as if people will not understand it or accept it unless we blend some of our culture into it.  I thought the purpose of the church was to preach the Gospel so people would be delivered from the culture of sin, not to be baptized into it in worship.  I pity the church that dares to introduce pagan music it into the worship of the One, True Holy and Sovereign God.

Besides, do you really think the band is really that good?

I readily admit I have done some stupid stuff in worship as a pastor.  And I have had to repent and ask the Lord to forgive me more than a few times for my immature acts of leadership.  I thank the Lord however, for giving me a deeper fear of Him and greater understanding of His Lordship.  Now those days of stupid actions are fewer and farther between.

At what point does the church stand up, speak out and say, “Enough.”  This is dangerous stuff.  This is very dangerous.

These are interesting days.  New churches are popping up on just about every corner.  And it seems more people are flocking to these places where there is 45 minutes of a rock concert called worship followed by a 15 minute Dr. Phil-type, self-help message.  Just because there is a sign out in front of a building that says “church” and a crowd showing up each week, does not mean it is actually a church.

The following is a list of 10 things you do NOT need to preach the Gospel.

#10 You do NOT need a FOLLOWING to preach the gospel.

Athletes have followers, as do rock stars and actors.  True believers follow the Gospel, not preachers.

#9 You do NOT need a “LOOK” to preach the gospel.

And what is the “look” today?  Try whacked out hair, disheveled clothes, a Christian-appearing tattoo and some cool eyewear and you’ve got the “look”.  Preachers of the Gospel do not worry about the coolness of their appearance.

#8 You do NOT need a STYLE to preach the Gospel.

The Gospel message is about content, not style.  Preachers of the Gospel do not dwell on technique.  They work on content.

#7 You do NOT need TECHNOLOGY to preach the Gospel.

The message is what matters, not the medium.

#6 You do NOT need PERSUASIVE SPEECH to preach the Gospel.

It is not the preacher’s job to convince.  That which persuades is the Holy Spirit who works through the Gospel.

#5 You do NOT need an OUTGOING PERSONALITY to preach the Gospel.

Some of the kingdom’s most Gospel-centered preachers are introverts.

#4 You do NOT need LARGE CROWDS to preach the Gospel.

A large crowd is not the measure of the Gospel’s effectiveness.  Even a circus can attract a crowd.  The effectiveness of the Gospel is measured in its faithful communication.

#3 You do not need the APPROVAL of others to preach the Gospel.

“If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).

#2 You do NOT need MAN-CENTERED MESSAGES to preach the Gospel.

The power is in the Gospel: the power that saves, that raises the dead, that meets needs, that remakes the world.

#1 You do NOT need WHAT THE WORLD SAYS YOU NEED to preach the Gospel.

To preach the Gospel, the communicator needs a good grasp of God’s Word, a clear understanding of the Gospel doctrine and a call from God to proclaim it.

As the Apostle Paul declared: For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16).

I discovered the name of the young boy the Lord used to keep me on track last Saturday night.  His name is not Jeremy, as I announced in my weekend message.  His name is Randy.  For those who do not understand the Sunday reference, let me explain.

I was invited to preach at Ignite ’10 last Saturday night in Pell City, Alabama.  Outdoor Christian Festivals just are not my forte.  Don’t misunderstand me; I love to preach the gospel.  And, I am eternally thankful I was invited to preach.  Yet preaching to thousands in an outdoor environment just is not my specialty.  I am much more adept at preaching in a worship center to people I know.

So, I am standing backstage waiting for the moment to preach.  I am fish out of water.  I certainly do not have the “look”.  I am overdressed in my shorts and golf shirt.  The band performing after me is extremely popular.  And they’ve got the look and the sound and the coolness as well as the following.

Besides, I can only think of two people – my wife and my daughter – out of the thousands who came to hear a 48 year-old, overweight, Southern Baptist preacher preach.  So I am nervous.

More than that, I am struggling with what to say.  I’ve got millions of thoughts running through my mind.  What I worked on last Monday is no longer an option.  What I prayed about that morning does make sense that night.  I am struggling over what to preach.

With just a few minutes to go, Randy, an outgoing twelve year-old boy approaches me. He has a backstage pass because His father Kenny is one of the two visionaries behind Ignite.  Randy and I know each other.  We met the week before when I was preaching a revival at his church, First Baptist Pell City.

So Randy approaches me.  He holds up his knuckles for a fist bump.  I obliged.  Then Randy declares matter-of-factly, “I bet I know what you are going to preach about!”

Humored, I reply, “Really?  And what’s that?”

Randy states emphatically, “You’re going to preach about Jesus!”

Now you may be wondering where Randy developed that idea.  I knew immediately to what he was referring.

The week before I declared at Randy’s church what I have said so often.  I informed the fine people of First Baptist, Pell City, that if I had one more sermon to preach, I would preach about Jesus.  If I had one more Sunday of sermons to preach, I would preach about Jesus.  If I had one more month, one more year, one more decade to preach, I would preach about Jesus.

So, Randy remembered my previous declaration.  And that was all I needed.  No more anxiety.  No more struggling over what to say.  God used Randy to remind me why I had been invited to preach at Ignite ‘10.  And so I preached about Jesus.

Thank you, Randy.  The Lord used you in powerful way.

Join Ryan as he speaks at Ignite ’10 in Pell City on Saturday, August 14. The event is free and features numerous musical artists including Rush of Fools and free food and entertainment for the entire family.

Click here for more about Ignite ’10.

Vonda and I start something new today.  Today Vonda and I start experimenting with empty nesting.

So how do we plan to handle it?

Allow me to share a little history.

Years ago, my children and I planned every Friday in the summer and we called them “Daddy Days.” Friday is my day off, and since my kids were out of school, I decided to give them my Friday.  We lived life very large and made some great memories during our Daddy Days.

Taylor would select our activities for one Friday, and the next Friday would be Kelsey’s turn.  You name it we did it.  We spent many Fridays doing simple things like going to the park, swimming at the pool, playing video games or bowling.

About every third Friday we would splurge.  On those days we go to some of our favorite places in Atlanta or Chattanooga.  The best days started very early and ended very late.  Perhaps the most memorable days were ones where we had no plan.  We’d just jump in the car and take off for fun.

“Daddy Days” accomplished two great priorities.  First and foremost, those days gave me undivided time with my children.  Those days also got the kids out of Vonda’s hair, since she spent the other six days of the week with them.

When the school year rolled around, “Daddy Days” were converted into “Vonda Days”.  “Vonda Days” were just that, the days Vonda and I spent together.  Again, we kept things simple. And we called them “Vonda Days” because we did what she wanted to do.

Today is a new day, literally.  Today my kids are grown.  They are in school.  They have jobs.  They have other interests and responsibilities.  And they really don’t need me unless the need cash for food, gas or tuition.  (That is another blog, entirely.)  And since my kids are grown and we are no longer obligated to their schedules, Vonda and I are starting something new.

Today Vonda and I are starting what we are calling “Ryan Time.”

What is “Ryan Time”?

I am so glad you asked.

“Ryan Time” is what Vonda and I will do with our newfound freedom on my day off.  This time, instead of Vonda picking the events and activities, I will do so.  And today I have a real zinger planned for her.  I wish I could tell you where I am taking her and what we are going to do but I have not decided yet.  But this I know: we will have fun!

In the future we plan a 48 hour trip to Hotlanta.  We plan other such excursions to Chattanooga or Nashville.  Who knows what else we will do. I am certainly open for suggestions.  Oh, and if you need me today, I will be busy with my wife.  You are welcome to call my assistant, Kristin.  I am certain she can help you.

I’ve got to run.  It’s time for some “Ryan Time”.

Apparently the Lord continues my reflections from Psalm 30 this week.  The following email is from a grieving CrossPointer.  She’s come a long way since her husband died suddenly and without warning last winter.  I found her email to be so compelling I asked her permission to reprint it:

Ryan, it was good to see you back in action on Sunday.  I have been praying for your renewal and strength as we head into another year.  I know that you must grow weary from the wear and tear of your congregation but also just from your job as the shepherd of the CrossPoint flock and your ministry not to mention the responsibilities you have as husband, father and son!  Thank you for being obedient to God.

I have to say that I have been very weary and weepy for the past couple of weeks.  I’m not sleeping again and I guess I’m in the “second crisis” that I’ve heard about – although I believe there can be several “second crisis” during this thing called “grief journey”.  But I wanted to tell you that as I read your blog today, I felt a lifting of my spirit to be reminded there is joy in the morning!  Strange that I read that scripture last week and it didn’t speak to me (or maybe I wasn’t listening) but as I heard it referenced several times over the past 3 days, it finally dawned on me what God was trying to tell me…I shouldn’t worry about the nights when sleep and rest don’t come easily, for joy will come in the morning!  I feel a certain release having made that discovery; however, it took that sweet story about Taylor and his actions when he revealed joy was here because it was morning!

Thank you for sharing that scripture in such a basic, little baby way…oh my, I feel so foolish for NOT recognizing that as what God has been telling me.

I continue to feel blessed to be part of CrossPoint.  Thank you for not being afraid to share boldly with us what God has laid on your heart.

Blessings,

God’s Word is living and active.  It rebukes, corrects, instructs, reproves, and I might add, it also comforts.  For those of you who are grieving, and I know there are many of you, take heart.  The Lord is near.  He knows your need.  And remind yourself each morning JOY IS HERE.

Even though it is six months away, I want to promote CrossPoint’s Third Annual Men’s Weekend.  Our guest for the January 28 – 30, 2011, weekend is Steve Farrar.  Click here to read more about Steve.  You will notice CrossPoint’s webpage is linked to Steve’s schedule.

Point Man and Finishing Strong are two of my favorite Farrar books.  I also remember Steve preaching at Promise Keepers years ago, and I had the privilege of hearing Steve speak again last Saturday morning in Oneonta, Alabama.  Dr. Farrar was the guest of Union Hill Baptist Church, where my friend Bill Barnett is the pastor.  He was there leading in men’s retreat for that fine church.

I carried several men and college guys with me to hear Steve speak.  And each one walked away excited about having him as our guest in 2011.

Steve’s topic in the session we attended was the providence of God.  Although it only took him a few minutes to begin, Steve said more in the introduction to his message than most pastors communicate in a week of sermons.

Dr. Farrar says God works in a man’s life three ways:

1. God works PROVIDENTIALLY, which means He is involved in every detail.
2. God works STRANGELY, which means sometimes what God’s work does not make sense.
3. God works SLOWLY, which means God’s plan takes time to manifest itself in our lives.

Then Dr. Farrar blessed us by explaining the 10 ways God was in control of Joseph’s life:

• God is in control over DEVASTATING LOSS – Joseph sold into slavery
• God is in control over EVERY EVENT OF YOUR LIFE – no accidents, only providence
• God is in control over ALL ASSIGNMENTS – Joseph being prepared as a slave
• God is in control over GRIEVOUS SETBACKS – The Lord was always with Joseph
• God is in control over BROKEN HOPES – never put a timetable on God’s plans
• God is in control over PROLONGED WAITING – during the two years in prison Joseph had to wonder what God was doing
• God is in control over POWERFUL PEOPLE – God owns them and God runs them
• God is in control over ALL PROMOTION – the Lord prepared Joseph to organize Egypt while he was organizing the prison
• God is in control over ALL WEATHER – seven years of harvest, followed by seven years of famine
• God is in control over ALL EVENTS – according to Genesis 50:20 – good or bad, friend or foe, God will work all things for your good

After preaching for more than an hour on the providence of God (and it seemed like only minutes) Dr. Farrar concluded with this question, “Doesn’t that give you hope?”

I responded audibly and enthusiastically, “Yes, it does.”  My heart was brimming with hope and still bubbles over with God’s hope today.

I trust you can sense the power and potency of Dr. Farrar’s message.  And I trust I can sense my excitement about CrossPoint’s Third Annual Men’s Weekend.

We have already invited more than a dozen churches to partner with us.  The pastors of those churches will be eating lunch with me in a few weeks.  My sister’s church in Richmond, Indiana, is planning to bring a van-load of men to the conference.

Enthusiasm is growing.  Spread the word.  Mark the date on your calendars.  And please start praying for CrossPoint’s Third Annual Men’s Weekend, January 28 – 30, 2011.

While studying Psalm 30 last week for a funeral, the Lord reminded me of the day my little boy saved my ministry.

It was early in my ministry.  I was in my first pastorate.  And as a recent seminary graduate I thought I had all the answers.

The pastor before me split the little church wide open.  The people that remained called me to pick up the pieces, and help them heal.

It did not take long for me to realize I was in over my head.  The people were hurting and I was not helping.  Instead of being the healer I was soon labeled the troublemaker.

Make note: hurting people hurt people.

I had come to the end of my rope.  I was seriously thinking about resigning.  The battle was too much.  It was impossible.  I am not a quitter, but I wanted to quit.  I wanted out.

Vonda asked what I would do.  “Paint houses or cut grass,” I retorted.  It really didn’t matter what I did for a living.  All I wanted to do was get out of that church and probably get out of the ministry.

Vonda and I did what we had done several times before, we turned to God and we turned to His Word.  Vonda had a promise she wanted me to read.  It was a promise the Lord gave in her quiet time that morning.  She asked me to read it aloud.

I opened my Bible to Psalm 30:5 and read:

Weeping may tarry for a night, but with joy comes with the morning.

I read and I wept.  I read and I wept.  I read and I wept.  We then prayed and wept.

Taylor was 2 or 3 at the time, and little did I know how much he was soaking up.  Vonda cuddled him in her lap as we prayed.  He heard God’s word.  He witnessed my tears.  He paid close attention.

Off to bed we went.  I laid there most of the night wondering what we would do.  I arose early the next morning, well before sunrise.  I opened my Bible.  I was searching for answers.

Just before sunrise I heard my little fellow slide out of his bed and come shuffling down the hallway in his footy pajamas.  This was a habit of Taylor’s.  He would often wake up early so he could sit in my lap as I read my Bible.  I cherish those moments.  Many mornings he would sit in my lap rubbing his sleepy head while I rocked him in my recliner and read my Bible.

This morning, instead of coming immediately to my lap, Taylor shuffled over to the floor-to-ceiling window.  There he flung open the curtain and looked back at me with his mouth wide open and his eyes burning bright and announced, “Daddy, joy is here!”

Those are words that have always remained with me: Daddy, joy is here!

Amen.  Joy, indeed, was there.

My little boy got it.  It was morning.  It was time for joy.  God made the promise and He kept it.  The sun was rising and my little boy was literally expecting joy to appear.  And joy did appear that morning.

And that was the day my little boy saved my ministry.

I did not quit.  I did not give up.  And thankfully I did not get out of the ministry.  I stayed on another year.  I waited on God.  I prayed.  And some days I waited until morning.  Yet each day God provided.

There have been many other sleepless nights since then.  There have also been many other tear-filled moments.  And I am sure there will be many more to come.  But thanks be to God weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

I conducted a funeral recently for a CrossPoint family I have known for many, many years.  The children requested I use Psalm 30 in the funeral message, since they felt like portions of the psalm epitomized their mother’s life and faith.

Some of you will recognize that Psalm 30 from our Bible reading plan last Tuesday.  And that is how one of the family members found the psalm, while reading through our plan.  It is inspiring to watch how the Lord uses His word in such a providential manner.

Psalm 30 has a special place in my heart.  Perhaps in the days to come I can write about how it ministered to me several years ago.  Before I do that, however, I want to communicate what I learned from studying the psalm once again.  The more I studied it the more I realized it contained a funeral message that will preach.

Psalm 30 was written by King David.

The psalm opens and closes on a note of thanksgiving:

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me (1).
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! (12)

The emphasis of the psalm is on praise to the Lord for rescuing David from dangerous and difficult situations that included sickness (2), being near death (3, 9), God’s anger (5), weeping (5, 11) and emotional turmoil (7).

We discover three movements in this Psalm of David.  As we examine these movements we learn more about what the Lord has done for us as His children.

The first movement is from DEATH TO LIFE.

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

David had many foes, and they would have been glad to see him die, but the Lord saved David’s life and silenced his enemies.  David was in the depths of despair because of his enemies, and the Lord had to lift him up.

The “Sheol” in verse 3 refers to is the realm of the departed spirits.  The New Testament Greek equivalent is hades.  But instead of allowing David to go down, God lifted him out and brought him up.  God moved David from death to life.

And isn’t that what the Lord does for those who repent of their sin and place their faith in Jesus Christ?  Doesn’t the Lord move us from DEATH TO LIFE when we believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him as our Lord and Savior?
Without Jesus we are destined to die in our sins and live eternally separated from Him.  Every human being is born inherently evil, and we are all indebted to God for our sin.  It is an indebtedness none of us could ever repay, no matter how good we may think we live.

Yet God did for us what we could not do for ourselves; He sent His Son to die in our place in order to pay the debt for our sins.  As a result, when we repent of our sin and place our faith in Jesus, our debt is paid in full not by us but by Jesus Christ in the perfect life he lived and the substitutionary death he died.

The second movement is from TEARS TO JOY.

Next, David records,

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.   5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.  Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” 7 By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.

Psalm 30:4-7

Note the last line in verse 5: weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

David knew what it meant to weep.  He knew what it meant to mourn.  He grieved when he realized he lost fellowship with the Lord by committing adultery with Bathsheba.  The pain was deepened when he had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, murdered on the battlefield.  And then, he knew the deep heartache of loss with the death of his child who was conceived in that sinful relationship.  Yet the Lord in His graciousness, as He did so in so many other circumstances, turned David’s weeping into joy.

Isn’t that a great way to describe what we receive in Jesus Christ?  As followers of Christ our weeping may remain for the night but our joy comes in the morning.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ brought a new dawning, a new morning, a new day for all who trust in Him.  Yes, weeping may be a guest in our life from time to time, but the joy of the Lord is a permanent resident in the life of a believer.

The third movement is MOURNING INTO DANCING.

David concludes,

8 To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: 9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!  O Lord, be my helper!”11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Psalm 30:8-12

Seven times in the psalm David wrote “You have” (vv. 1-3, 7, 11).  David said this to provide testimony to the strong and gracious hand of the Lord working on his behalf.  Even God’s chastening of David was an expression of His love (Heb 12:1-11).  Once David knew he was forgiven and accepted, he moved from the funeral to the feast.  He took off the sackcloth of sadness and put on the garments of gladness.

David was singing to the Lord from the depths of his being.  He realized that he would be singing praises to God forever (v. 12), so he wanted to start getting ready now!  Every difficult experience of life — and David had many of them — is an opportunity to have a “pity party” or attend a rehearsal for singing in the choirs of heaven!  We have a lifetime of grace (v. 5) to prepare us for an eternity of glory.

Make note of the three movements from Psalm 30:

• From death to life
• From tears to joy
• From mourning to dancing

Only God in His grace can do that!