We’re looking forward to having G.K. Beale and Carl Trueman with us at Clarus ‘11 from April 29-May 1. Both men are professors at Westminster Theological Seminary, PA.

Dr. Beale is the former President of the Evangelical Theological Society (2004) and the author of several books, including:

• We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry
• The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism: Responding to New Challenges to Biblical Authority
• The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God

Dr. Trueman is widely regarded as a leading scholar in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and is the author of several books, most recently:

• Republocrat: Confessions of a Liberal Conservative
• Histories and Fallacies: Problems Faced in the Writing of History
• Minority Report: Unpopular Thoughts on Everything from Ancient Christianity to Zen Calvinism
• The Wages of Spin: Critical Writings on Historical and Contemporary Evangelicalism

On March 12th, the Paradox youth and family ministry hosted their first Saturday night “Engage” gathering, part of a new ministry format. I’ve asked Greg Schneeberger, DSC’s Minister to Youth, to share about the new format and their first Saturday gathering:

Paradox youth and family ministry has turned a corner. We’ve decided to drop our ill attended Wednesday night gatherings and switch to two longer, more fun, and deeper Saturday nights per month. The first of these two gatherings occurs every second Saturday night of the month, from 5:00-9:00 PM. This gathering is for all youth and parents in middle school and high school. The second gathering takes place every fourth Saturday of the month during the same timeframe, but this gathering is offsite and exclusive to the high school ministry. We’re calling these gatherings “Paradox Engage.”

Our first foray into our new format was on March 12. In short, it was a huge success. We had almost 100 parents, students, and families gathered with us to celebrate the grace of Christ in worship, community, and mission.

True to the core values of our church, Paradox is committed to creating fun environments where youth and parents can grow together. We want our events to be a great time for relationship building across ages. The 2nd Saturday Paradox Engage did just that. Parents were talking. Young people were outside playing. Young adult and high school leaders were serving. Everyone was eating great food. When our hang out time came to a close, we sang music to our Lord, studied his word, and met together in small groups. The small group time was sweet to watch. Dads, moms, young adults, and kids sat together and discussed the big things of God. At the end, they closed in prayer. I watched with thankfulness as the night went off without a hitch.

No doubt, we’ll have things to change for next time. But our goal was accomplished. We were able to show the world that Christians can gather across ages, hobbies, and styles to be unified in the love of Christ. I’m excited to see where this goes and add fun elements to the gathering in the future. By God’s grace we will continue to gather and be strengthened as an intergenerational body so that both young and old can be equipped to be on mission in the world.

Read more about Paradox, review the schedule, and note upcoming events here.

In Sunday’s sermon, “Prepare for Battle,” Carlos Griego preached from Ephesians 6:10-20, where Paul issues his familiar exhortation for believers to “put on the whole armor of God” (6:11). But it is significant that this is not how Paul begins this section on spiritual warfare. He begins with the command for believers to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (6:10).

In his sermon, Carlos quoted from a helpful article on Ephesians 6 by Sam Storms to draw out the importance this initial command:

The simple exhortation “Be strong!” is both dangerous and useless. Self-reliance in spiritual warfare is suicidal. Believers do not strengthen themselves. Our strength must come from an external source, namely, the Lord. The strength of an earthly general is in his troops. But in the Christian life, the strength of the troops is in their general.

By way of reminder, you can search DSC’s sermon database by topic at the Messages portion of the site. In addition to Carlos’ sermon from Sunday, several other messages are available there on the topic of spiritual warfare.

In Sunday’s sermon, “The Christian’s New Clothes,” Ryan preached from Colossians 3:10-16 where Paul tells us what believers are to “put on” (3:12). The language of “put on” and “put off” calls to mind the imagery of clothing. Christians are to wear the new clothes of new life in Christ. These new clothes are “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (3:12) As we put these things on, we do so, “bearing with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgiving each other” (3:13). Above all, we are to “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (3:14).

Those new clothes have a lot to do with relationships. In fact, those new clothes have everything to do with relationships.

As those who are God’s “chosen ones, holy and beloved,” we are to love one another. And that love is not a matter of mere good thoughts or good intentions towards people. Christian love, which is the capstone of Paul’s list, is defined by this list. It is patient. It is kind. It forgives.

Growing in this love is our glorious occupation as believers.

As you depend upon God’s Spirit for the grace to do so, here are some resources for your help and encouragement:

Books:

• The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, Ken Sande
• War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles, Paul Tripp
• Love in Hard Places, D.A. Carson
• To Love Mercy: Becoming a Person of Compassion, Acceptance, and Forgiveness, Sam Storms
• Love Walked Among Us: Learning To Love Like Jesus, Paul Miller

Sermons:

• “Fighting for Reconciliation,” Ryan Kelly
• “Fighting Conflict at the Root,” Ryan Kelly
• “Conflict, Confrontation, and Peacemaking,” Ryan Kelly

What’s happening in Japan is a reminder to all of us that the present order is out of order. The new creation has dawned in Christ, but creation still groans for the completion of God’s work. Until that time, we pray to our Creator-God, who made this world and is sovereign over it. We pray to Him for the physical rescue, recovery, and comfort of many hurting people. And we pray for the spiritual rescue of many through the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Christ, God entered this very world, with all of its trouble. He knows suffering and He has known it for our sake. John Piper gives us an example of how to pray in a time like this: “We cry for mercy for Japan. Mercy, Father. Not for what they or we deserve. But mercy…May every heart-breaking loss—millions upon millions of losses—be healed by the wounded hands of the risen Christ.”

And as we pray, we also move. We move to help the way that is best from the place we are at: by giving to those who can best leverage our resources for the good of Japan and the glory of God.

As is the case with most disasters around the world, we do not have direct partners on the ground in Japan, but we have friends who do.  We have decided as a church to funnel any giving to Japan for disaster relief through the following organizations. If you would like to give through DSC to these organizations, please use a missions envelope and designate “Japan Relief.”  Or, if you’d prefer, you can give to these organizations directly online at the links below.

CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support, and Hope)

CRASH Japan, working closely with JEMA (the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Association), has a large network of experienced volunteers who know the culture and language. CRASH Japan’s 24-hour fundraising goal is $100,000. In the last few years, CRASH leaders have coordinated relief efforts in China, Haiti, Indonesia, New Zealand, and other major disaster areas.

On Monday, March 14th, CRASH sent four survey teams to the Tohoku region by train, car, and motorcycle as early as 12:00 am to assess the damage, find staging grounds, and make contact with local communities to prioritize their needs. Additional survey teams will be sent out later in the week.

CRASH Japan is using funds to purchase vital equipment, such as satellite phones, printers, computers, and wireless routers. This equipment will be used to facilitate communication between the Tokyo command center and cities where infrastructure has been weakened or destroyed. According to Intel Coordinator David Sedlacek, satellite phones are the most crucial tool in making contact with disaster areas and isolating relief needs.

A vast majority of Japan identifies religiously as either Buddhist or Shinto, or both. Only 1.5% of Japan’s population identifies as Christian, but churches all over the country have volunteered their resources in a coordinated effort with CRASH to offer aid to those who are suffering.

According to JEMA President Dale Little, “CRASH is the second-to-none relief network in Japan. No other agency is able to assess the needs on the ground like CRASH, and then take steps toward meeting those needs. The effectiveness of CRASH includes linking closely with local churches in Japan.”

Click Here to Give!

Churches Helping Churches

Churches Helping Churches is a global partnership of church communities who seek to rebuild other churches in the wake of a catastrophic natural disaster.

…Our efforts are intended to provide spiritual support and development aid to the pastors and their churches who are often the de facto leaders in these affected communities, as a complement to the initial waves of humanitarian aid that pour into a country in the wake of a disaster.

Click Here to Give!

As we run from the trouble of this present age, may we flee to Christ for hope in the age to come. Through these organizations, we pray that God will comfort the broken, heal the hurting, and open eyes to see His love and grace in Jesus Christ.