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I came across this today as I was researching for a message. I am still amazed by how God uses John Piper to blow my mind.

Our very lives hang on not working for God. “To the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (Rom. 4:4–5). Workmen get no gifts. They get their due. If we would have the gift of justification, we dare not work. God is the workman in this affair. And what He gets is the glory of being the benefactor of grace, not the beneficiary of service. – John Piper, Brother’s we are not professionals

I wonder if this is why so many of my friends who love God are so worn out all the time?  We are trying to sustain ourselves on “our due” and missing out on the gifts of God.

One thing I have seen over the course of my time in ministry is that spiritual development is tied to learning. In one study of great leaders, two consistent attributes were found—avid reading and journal writing. So, if you aren’t already reading something or if you need a new book take a look below at three choices I highly recommend:

We are continuing our series on Mark this week. Bring your Bible, ready chapter one, and invite your neighbor. See you Sunday at 10am or 5pm.

Books I highly recommend:
Okay, I lied, I’m actually going to suggest four books. If you have not already read Blue Like Jazz by Miller then start there.

A great book for spiritual growth
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life, by Donald Miller

Donald Miller has a way of writing out exactly what I am trying to say. His insights and observations are awesome. In the simplest form he challenges us to live a better story.

A great book to grow in leadership
Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands, by Nancy Ortberg

Nancy Ortberg is one of my leadership heroes. In addition to serving as an ER nurse, mother, and wife she also created Axis, the 20-somethings ministry of Willowcreek church. She is now working as a leadership consultant in church and corporate environments. Her book will help you develop strategies for managing tension, nurturing healthy conflict, and motivating others.

A great book to grow in understanding of culture
Unchristian, by Dave Kinnaman and  Gabe Lyons

This book will cause you to pray, think, and rethink the way you approach the world with the gospel. Kinnaman and Lyons wrote the book after doing extensive research through the Barna group on young people’s perceptions of Christianity. When asked to describe what Christians were all about, they found six overriding themes as Non-Christians described the church… Hypocritical, too focused on getting converts, anti-homosexual, sheltered, too political and judgmental. You really need to read this book, even if you disagree.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. -Isaiah 7:14

God is with us.  I wonder if a devotional writer ever just simply wrote that one sentence and then stopped?  What could we possibly add to that simple and powerful statement, “God is with us?”  The theology term to describe what Isaiah is prophesying is incarnation.  The word literally means embodied in flesh or taking on flesh.  For those of us who are followers of Jesus it describes the most significant event in human history.  As the Gospel author John says, “The word became flesh.”

“God is with us.” What does that little sentence do to you? What does it do in you?

For John the Baptist it drove him to the woods to preach about the coming of the Messiah.  John was wearing strange clothes, and had an even stranger diet.  We often make him our to be the freak of the New Testament.  Granted he was eccentric, like so many of the great prophets, but it is clear he was deeply affected by the word becoming flesh.

I wonder if John the Baptist had a chance to look at our lives what he might say.  “Okay, I know it’s strange to live in the woods, I know it’s strange to eat locust… I know I am strange, but how are you so normal?”

We see in the John the Baptist a man so deeply affected by the incarnation of Christ he would never live a normal life again.
How does the simple phrase, “God is with us,” change your day-to-day routine?

Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. —Matthew 28:19-20 (The Message)

Historically Christians have done a lot of stressing out about the above passage, especially Christians who have to figure out how to follow God and keep their day job. If you aren’t in a place to sell your possesions and move to Africa, the idea of evangelism can seem frustrating, not inspiring. I was recently reminded by a simple conversation that evangelism is a lifestlye of simply knowing the people God places in your path every day. My wife had an idea one evening to walk over to our neighbors house to say, “Hi.” They have a son just a little older than ours. We have occasionally hung out, but for the most part live separate lives. After returning from the neighbors house, Shannon informed me that just a couple of months back his wife left him and his four-year-old son. He was struggling to make ends meet and trying to figure out how to parent a four-year-old through a nasty divorce. I was instantly convicted, my neigbor’s life was falling apart and the pastor next door was completly oblivious.

The opening two words of this verse say it all: “Go out.” The recent encounter Shannon had with our neighbor reminded me before we fly to the ends of the earth to share the good news of Christ, there are people in our direct circle of influence who desparately need people of faith to just ask them how their lives are doing.

There are three people we all need to meet: Our neighbor, our barista, and our coworker/classmates. Everyday we drive past our neighbors homes, we take coffee from our barista (that’s the people in the coffee shop. If you don’t drink coffee consider the people you buy stuff from on a regular basis.), and we sit next to coworkers and classmates. Instead of flying half way around the world to make an impact, try taking two minutes to introduce yourself to these people. God has ordered our steps. The people you see everyday are a great place to start in living out the commands in Matthew 28.

By the way, my Barista’s name is Carlos.