One year later: An interview with Matt Chandler

Justin Taylor asks Matt Chandler a few questions about the last year since he was diagnosed with cancer with the aim for readers to "pray for our dear brother."

Here's a list of the questions:

• If you could go back and have a conversation with yourself on the evening of November 24, 2009, what would you have said to prepare Matt Chandler for the year ahead?
• What role has your theology played in sustaining you throughout this year?
• It sounds like the Lord not only prepared you personally for suffering, but also enabled you to prepare the people at your church by teaching them about the theology of suffering?
• What about the role of your friends in helping you during this painful time?
• For those who are walking with others who are suffering, what are some of the dumb things to avoid doing and saying?
• What do you wish people understood more about how to relate to those who suffer?
• How can we be praying for you and your family?

Read Chandler's answers and learn how he would like God's people to pray for him.

How members can serve the church on Sunday morning

Colin Marshall on ways "ordinary church members can serve the church on Sunday mornings":

Before the Service

• Read the passage in advance
• Pray for the gathering
• Greet newcomers (act like you are the host)
• Think strategically about who you should sit with
• Arrive Early

During the Service

• Sing with gusto (even if you can’t sing)
• Help with logistics (if there’s a problem, help fix it)
• Don’t be distracted
• Listen carefully
• Be aware of your facial expressions (you may affect others and discourage preachers)

After the Service

• Connect newcomers with others
• Get newcomers information
• Start a conversation about the sermon
• Ask someone how they became a Christian
• Stay late

(HT: The 9Marks.org Blog)

The doctrine of the Trinity in a nutshell

Michael Patton:

The doctrine of Trinity is a foundational cardinal truth in Christianity. All three major Christian traditions, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, throughout the history of the Church have been united on this doctrine. A denial of it constitutes a serious departure from the Christian faith and a rejection of the clear biblical witness to God as he has introduced himself to us. Sadly, many have gone astray from the faith because of their refusal to accept these truths.

Basic Definition: Christians worship one God who eternally exists in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, all of whom are fully God, all of whom are equal.

For a "breakdown" of the basic definition, read the rest of Patton's article.

The nature of saving faith

“The nature of saving faith demands more than facts as a ground — not less, but more. . . . [S]aving faith is not mere receiving of facts. It is the receiving of Christ as the one who died for us and rose again, and is infinitely glorious, and wondrously beautiful, and supremely valuable. Therefore, the ground of such faith must be the spiritual sight of such glory and beauty and value.” - John Piper, Think: The life of the Mind and the Love of God (Wheaton, Ill.; Crossway, 2010), 73

(HT: Of First Importance)

Treasuring him in and above all things

“The main reason God has given us minds is that we might seek out and find all the reasons that exist for treasuring him in all things and above all things. He created the world so that through it and above it we might treasure him.” - John Piper, Think: The life of the Mind and the Love of God (Wheaton, Ill.; Crossway, 2010), 15.

(HT: Of First Importance)