Posts Tagged with "Resources"

In addition to C.J.'s recent sermon series, Faithfulness in a Fractured World, below are resources that the pastors of SGCL commend to you. Race Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian (John Piper) Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race (J. Daniel Hays) Mission of the Church What is the Mission of the Church? (Kevin DeYoung Greg Gilbert) ...

No doubt you are trying to figure out how to faithfully and prayerfully respond to the coronavirus and its implications for daily life. Though we have decided to take the careful step of exchanging our Sunday meeting for a livestream, we will not diminish our pastoral care nor our encouragement for you to walk alongside one another. One way we want to express care is by o...

In the busy-ness of everyday life, it's easy to let Easter sneak up on us without much thought, preparation, or meditation. Despite its centrality, we can sometimes treat it as an after thought or just another Sunday. But whether we recognize it or not and whether we prepare for it or not, the fact remains that the events we remember during the Easter season are of pre-emi...

Last week I had the privilege of revisiting some great books on prayer as I prepared for my message on Luke 11.1-13. Reading on this topic is a joyful reminder of the unspeakable privilege we have as the redeemed to call God, "Father." For me, reading on prayer is a necessary habit, as I tend to so quickly move away from an appropriate mindset of dependence upon God. Thes...

You may remember the encouragement that CJ gave our church several weeks ago to pick a prophet to study. "As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord" James 5:10. Some of you may be able to resonate with my experience of leaving that message ready to choose a prophet and jump in and then, well, you didn't. Me eith...

Last Sunday Jeff inspired us with a thoroughly biblical vision on work. Whether you are a student, stay at home mom, or heading into the office, this message will serve you. To help us further "sanctify" this ordinary part of life, CJ asked Jeff to recommend 3 books that we could benefit from. Here's his list along with a brief description of why each is worth a read. 1....

In the busy-ness of everyday life, it's easy to let Easter sneak up on us without much thought, preparation, or meditation. Despite its centrality, we can sometimes treat it as an after thought or just another Sunday. But whether we recognize it or not and whether we prepare for it or not, the fact remains that the events we remember during the Easter season are of pre-emi...

Recently I had the privilege to read and discuss Bob Kauflin's bookTrue Worshipers, with a group of men from our church. Each of us benefitted from the book and were excited to apply it to our lives. Here's an encouraging glimpse into how it impacted Beau McKenzie. What happens when we don't want to sing? When my affections are low for the great truths of God during the c...

Over the past several weeks, CJ has led our church to look to our God and Savior in our grief. A few weeks ago, in his message from Habakkuk, he specifically explored how we, as christians, should respond when life doesn't make sense. Suffering is a reality in our fallen world. Everyone will, at some point in their lives, experience it. But not everyone will be prepared fo...

“The gospel cannot be preached and heard enough, for it cannot be grasped well enough,” wrote Martin Luther.* By God’s grace I have been a Christian for 42 years. I agree with Luther, "I still cannot hear the gospel enough. Each morning I seek to preach the gospel to myself by my study of Scripture and through the strategic reading of supplemental boo...

What a joy it has been thus far to preach and worship our way through the Gospel of Mark on Sunday mornings. I have been deeply affected by each glimpse of and encounter with the Savior we have experienced through this Gospel. I don't want this series to end and I am proceeding as slowly as possible! As we’re nearing the midpoint of our sermon series, perhaps you...

As I mentioned on Sunday, last week the pastors set aside the day to pray, study, and consider ways we might serve the church more effectively in the months to come. What a joy it was to begin our day with an extended time of prayer, giving thanks for each of you. We also took time to discuss various chapters assigned to us from a book entitled Excellence by Andreas KÃ...

What a delightful Fathers Day we enjoyed together as a church yesterday. Who didn't feel the pleasure of God as McKenna Sturgeon honored her father? And thanks to Bethany Payne for the creation of the very cool and very masculine gift honoring fathers yesterday: duct tape and a Snickers bar! Exactly what real men want on Father's Day! I'm sure every father felt deeply than...

Resources for further study on the book of Mark....

Summary of CJ Mahaney's sermon on Mark 6:1-6...

Summary of Ryan Fullerton's sermon on Ephesians 3:14-21...

This past Sunday, we had the joy of welcoming Dave Odom, who serves as the lead pastor at Redeeming Grace Church in Franklin, Tennessee....

On Sunday, CJ utilized several outstanding quotes to clarify our understanding and application of the text. How kind of the Lord that we have a wealth of scholars and teachers to aid us in our study of God's Word! ...

On Sunday C.J. introduced our church's first gospel series in Mark. Let's pray that in this season we will see and behold the beauty of our Savior and King. And sermon quotes, like the following, will be provided not only stir your memory but inspire your own study of the Gospel according to Mark....

Sunday we took a break between sermon series to explore the important topic of evangelism. Here are several quotes from Jeff Purswell's sermon, "Evangelism and a Sovereign God" that we pray stir your soul for the privilege of evangelism....