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Watch Your Language in the Pulpit

February 6, 2010 · 1 Comment

“My advice is simple. Be careful with your words. You only have so many to use in your upcoming sermon, so choose them wisely. Those words may comprise your very last sermon. Have you considered that? What words will be most useful in communicating truth, and the gospel? What words will help you best uncover man’s hypocrisy, stubbornness and idolatry while pointing them to the hope of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus?

“Your words should be appropriate for your audience and context, they should clarify truth, expose error and exalt Jesus. If you are a teacher, then you are not a child, so don’t speak like one. Be thoughtful, provocative, and clear. Know your audience. Do not use words that will interfere with the message you are called by God to communicate, but do not neglect to use words that will arrest their attention and display the significance of the message.”

Read entire article where Stetzer addresses ‘inappropriate language’ in the pulpit.

→ 1 CommentCategories: Preaching

Tyndale NLT in Calfskin with 3 Red Ribbons

February 6, 2010 · 5 Comments

Three new red ribbons on my new Tyndale NLT in Calfskin

Taking a cue from Matthew Blair’s Bible hacks & tips, I replaced the two very short 2″, cheap black ribbons that were in my Tyndale Select NLT, with three better quality, longer 4″ red ribbons. What a difference red on black makes…practically identical to my Allan’s PSR in black highland goatskin.

Here are a few more pics of my new Bible with the new red ribbons:

BEFORE: The original two black, very short ribbons

AFTER: The three red ribbons at 4 inches long

My Allan PSR on top of my Tyndale NLT

→ 5 CommentsCategories: Bible
Tagged: Bible Ribbons, New Living Translation, NLT

100 Pictures of my Tyndale Select NLT in Ebony Calfskin

February 5, 2010 · 8 Comments

Tyndale Select NLT Slimline Reference Edition in Ebony Calfskin

Here are 100 pictures of my Tyndale Select New Living Translation (NLT) in Ebony Calfskin.

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UPDATE: After just 1 day, I removed the 2 original very short, black ribbons and replaced them 3 longer, red ribbons. Absolutely LOVE the new look. Click HERE to get a glance of the ‘new and improved’ Tyndale Select NLT.

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For a fantastic and thorough review of this incredible Bible see Mark Bertrand’s take at Bible Design and Binding, where he reviews the Tyndale Select NLT in Mahogany Calfskin.

You’ll notice that the ebony calfskin grain which I have is much more ‘pronounced’ and visible than the mahogany calfskin on Mark’s review.

A few things that I really like about this particular Bible:

Leather: Call me crazy, but the feel of this NLT calfskin is softer and more flexible than the highland goatskin on my Allan’s PSR. Yea, I just typed that.

I know this sounds like ‘heresy’ among the loyal followers of Allan, but I’ve got both in front of me right now, and trust me, the calfskin wins in my book. Soft and supple…melts like butter in your hand.

Binding: Smyth-sewn. Enough said. Every 64 pages beginning at pages 14 & 15 (actually, the stitches begin between the third and fourth white pages), you’ll notice the threads that are very visible to the naked eye.

Font: The Bible is typeset in the typeface “Lucerna” (latin for “lamp” and seemed to go along with Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” NLT…see Rick Mansfield) in 9.8 font size. The typeface was designed by Brian Sooy & Co. exclusively for Tyndale House Publishers. I really like this particular typeface since it’s very easy on the eyes. The font is dark and crisp on the black text and the red letter is red, not pink. I’ve seen red letter Bibles before that just kill my eyes because the red letters are just so faint. Not here.

Layout: I prefer a single column layout, however, I like that there is no cross reference columns in this double column Bible, which leaves more room for the text, an average of anywhere between 8 and 12 words per column.

Paper: Honestly, the paper could be better. It’s not ‘top notch’ Cambridge paper by any means, yet it’s not so terrible that it bleed-through and ‘ghosting’ all over the place. It’s a middle of the road paper, and because the font is larger (9.8) and the font is dark, it’s easier to read.

Ribbons: There are two ribbons and they’re certainly nothing to write home about. Short (see pics) and nothing even close to an Allan’s in term of length. Thanks goodness for Matthew Blair’s creative idea of adding ribbons to your Bible. Just might do that for my new Bible. UPDATE: I cut out the 2 black ribbons and replaced them with 3 longer, red ribbons. LOVE it! Click HERE to view the new ribbons.

Maps: 8 very colorful maps in the back.

Overall: My new NLT Bible is hand-bound, high quality, and superb craftsmanship. I couldn’t be happier with this Bible and the New Living Translation.

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Here are the ’stats’ on this gorgeous Bible from Tyndale Publishing:

“The Tyndale Select Bible is the finest New Living Translation Bible ever made. Guaranteed for a lifetime, these exquisite Bibles feature supple hand-made calfskin covers and Smythe-sewn binding with two ribbons and a deluxe gift box. Available in mahogany and black bindings.”

FEATURES:

* Beautiful, top quality calfskin leather

* Deluxe gift box with bonded leather as part of box package

* Lifetime Smyth-sewn binding

* Lifetime guarantee

* Words of Christ in red

* Dictionary/concordance

* Gilded page edge

* 2 ribbon markers

* Full-color maps

* Color presentation pages

* Favorite-passages index

* 9.8 font size

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Below are a handful of the 100 pictures of my Tyndale Select New Living Translation (NLT) in Ebony Calfskin.

Tyndale Select Bible on top of box

Does the 'Bertrand yogo bend' with absolutely no problem.

This calfskin has amazing flexibility. Just droops to the sides.

Only a mere 1.8 lbs; perfect for a slimline Bible.

Font is dark and easy on the eyes; bleed-through is minimal.

Ebony Calfskin...feels and smells so good.

View more Bible pics below:

>>> 100 Pictures of Allan ESV Personal Size Reference in Highland Goatskin

>>> 100 Pictures of Allan’s ESV Reader’s Edition in Highland Goatskin

>>> 100 Pictures of ESV Study Bible in Calfskin

>>> 30+ Pictures of ESV Classic Reference Bible Calfskin

>>> 50 Pictures of ESV Personal Size Reference Bible

>>> 50 Pictures of ESV Study Bible in TruTone Natural Brown

>>> 40 Pictures of NASB Cambridge Wide Margin Reference in Goatskin

→ 8 CommentsCategories: Bible · NLT
Tagged: Calfskin Bible, New Living Translation, NLT

Killing Remaining Sin

February 3, 2010 · 1 Comment

I just finished listening to the most convicting sermon I’ve EVER heard on the broad subject of sin entitled “Killing Remaining Sin” by a man who really appreciates expository preaching and the Puritans, Joel Beeke. He is ‘coincidently’, president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.

The sermon is so thoroughly Biblical and full of passionate application. If you listen to only one sermon in 2010, this is the one you should hear. Be careful; prepare yourself for some intense soul surgery.

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Tagged: Joel Beeke

You Think YOU Have Problems? Think Again

January 31, 2010 · Leave a Comment

HT: Beggars Beyond Our Door

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Tagged: Haiti

How To Wreck Your Church in Three Weeks

January 25, 2010 · 1 Comment

From Ray Ortlund:

How to wreck your church in three weeks:

Week One: Walk into church today and think about how long you’ve been a member, how much you’ve sacrificed, how under-appreciated you are. Take note of every way you’re dissatisfied with your church now. Take note of every person who displeases you.

Meet for coffee this week with another member and “share your heart.” Discuss how your church is changing, how you are being left out. Ask your friend who else in the church has “concerns.” Agree together that you must “pray about it.”

Week Two: Send an email to a few other “concerned” members. Inform them that a groundswell of grievance is surfacing in your church. Problems have gone unaddressed for too long. Ask them to keep the matter to themselves “for the sake of the body.”

As complaints come in, form them into a petition to demand an accounting from the leaders of the church. Circulate the petition quietly. Gathering support will be easy. Even happy members can be used if you appeal to their sense of fairness – that your side deserves a hearing. Be sure to proceed in a way that conforms to your church constitution, so that your petition is procedurally correct.

Week Three: When the growing moral fervor, ill-defined but powerful, reaches critical mass, confront the elders with your demands. Inform them of all the woundedness in the church, which leaves you with no choice but to put your petition forward. Inform them that, for the sake of reconciliation, the concerns of the body must be satisfied.

Whatever happens from this point on, you have won. You have changed the subject in your church from gospel advance to your own grievances. To some degree, you will get your way. Your church will need three or four years for recovery. But at any future time, you can do it all again. It only takes three weeks.

HT: Thabiti Anyabwile

→ 1 CommentCategories: Church

John Piper Reciting Philippians From Memory

January 24, 2010 · 2 Comments

From Justin Taylor:

There is such value in memorizing the Word, and also in hearing whole books of the Bible recited well.

If you want to hear a model of the former and have an opportunity for the latter, here’s John Piper reciting the whole book of Philippians for his congregation during a sermon on Scripture meditation and memory:

→ 2 CommentsCategories: Bible
Tagged: John Piper

Wrong Reasons to Love the Church

January 24, 2010 · 1 Comment

From Josh Harris:

Acts 20:28 tells us that Jesus obtained the church with his own blood. Is this what your love for the church is based on? If it’s anything less, it won’t last long.

Don’t love the church because of what it does for you. Because sooner or later it won’t do enough.

Don’t love the church because of a leader. Because human leaders are fallible and will let you down.

Don’t love the church because of a program or a building or activities because all those things get old.

Don’t love the church because of a certain group of friends because friendships change and people move.

Love the church because of who shed his blood to obtain the church. Love the church because of who the church belongs to. Love the church because of who the church worships. Love the church because you love Jesus Christ and his glory. Love the church because Jesus is worthy and faithful and true. Love the church because Jesus loves the church.

→ 1 CommentCategories: Church

My Dad’s Message To Me The Day He Died

January 22, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Ray Ortlund shares his father’s final words for him:

Sunday, July 22, 2007. Dad woke up very early in his hospital room in Newport Beach. He knew it was finally his day of release. He had the nurse call the family in. Jani and I had just arrived in Northern Ireland for ministry there. We didn’t know what was happening back home. But the family gathered around dad’s bed. They read Scripture. They sang hymns. Dad spoke of word of patriarchal blessing and admonition to each one. He pronounced over them the Aaronic blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). He fell asleep.

I asked my sister about dad’s message to me. It was this: “Tell Bud, ministry isn’t everything. Jesus is.”

HT: Tim Challies

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