Ron and I are out of town this week with other members from DSC on an educational tour in the UK. While we’re gone, we’ve left the keys to church in the hands of the youth. For those of you were in worship service yesterday, you had the privilege of hearing Carlos Griego preach from 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 on the foolishness of the cross. Carlos is our minister over The Well, which is the young adults and college ministry at DSC. On Wednesday, Greg Schneeberger will preaching at our Lord’s Supper service. Greg is the minister of Paradox Parent/Student Ministry, and that ministry name basically says it all. Both Carlos and Greg do an amazing job of teaching in their respective ministries, as well as seeking to integrate their groups into the larger body through inter-generational ministry. Then, next Sunday, Parker Landis will be teaching in the main worship service. Parker is our pastoral assistant on staff, which is a nice way of saying “male secretary.” Please keep all of these guys in your prayers as they prepare this week and as they continue to prepare to be future church leaders.

My buddy, Justin Taylor, gives a heads-up on the latest Time magazine cover story, 10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now.

Here are the top 10–but I’ll warn you in advance that you probably didn’t see #3 coming:

Jobs Are the New Assets

Recycling the Suburbs

The New Calvinism

Reinstating the Interstate

Amortality

Africa, Business Destination

The Rent-a-Country

Biobanks

Survival Stores

Ecological Intelligence

Today I’m working hard on some lectures I’ll be giving in the UK later this month. About 40 folks from DSC will be doing a nine-day educational tour through Scotland, Ireland, and England. As we stop in various places of interest, Ron Giese and I will be giving various lectures on architecture, history, and theology. It’s just about a week away and I’m really getting excited (partly because I get to take my 10 year old daughter with me!)

My talks will focus on different aspects of the Reformation in the British Isles. As I’ve been preparing those today I’ve come across several great articles — some new to me, some I’d read years ago and forgotten about — which introduce the Reformation and Puritanism very well. Let me commend one of them to you even if you’re not joining us on the UK tour. In an older Reformation and Revival Journal artice, J.I. Packer gleefully recounts some highlights of The Reformation:

One thinks, for instance, of Luther nailing his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of Wittenberg Castle Church, challenging, as it turned out, the whole Roman system of his day. We think of Luther at Worms a few years later, facing the Holy Roman emperor and being told that he must recant the things he had been saying. His famous response to the emperor, nobles and ecclesiastical dignitaries of central Europe ran thus:

“Unless you prove to me by Scripture and reason that I am mistaken I cannot and will not recant. My conscience is captive to the Word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. There is nothing else I can do. God help me. Amen.”

Those magnificent words have echoed down through the centuries, and no wonder.

Luther stuck to his guns. He translated the Bible into German, and preached and wrote tirelessly to spread the evangelical truth. He became the pioneer of reformation throughout Germany. His name will be honored as long as history lasts.

We think of Calvin, that shy scholar who wanted nothing more than to be a man of letters, reading and writing books for the whole of his adult life. But Farrel told him that he must come to Geneva and share in the work of the Reformation there, which he did. Sleeping only four hours a night he toiled away at the Institutes, that great Christian classic which is still for many of us in a class by itself. He commented on the greater part of Holy Scripture, setting new and superb standards of faithful exposition. Calvin died at 55, absolutely worn out–another of God’s heroes.

We think of John Knox, willing to spend 19 months as a galley slave because of his activities as a Reformer, and then finally rewarded by a few amazing weeks when virtually the whole of Scotland turned to the Reformation. Almost overnight Scotland became the thoroughly Reformed nation that it has been in substance from that day to this.

We think of the English martyrs. There was William Tyndale, defying the king by translating the Bible. He was burned eventually in Belgium because Henry VIII sent word to the continent that he must be put to death.

There was Thomas Cranmer, Henry’s archbishop of Canterbury, who bided his time until it was possible to produce a Reformed confession of faith, a Reformed prayer book, and a Reformed book of discipleship for the Church of England. All too soon his royal monarch, Edward VI, died, and Mary came to the throne. She resolved to bring England back to Rome. She had about 330 English Protestant leaders burned at the stake, including Thomas Cranmer. They put him under intolerable pressure. We would call it brainwashing today. Under this pressure, as others have done since, Cranmer recanted, signing a document to that effect a few days before he was to be burned at the stake. He had been told that when he signed he would be pardoned. But when he found out he was not–he was going to be burned anyway–he sat up all night writing a recanting of his recantation. He died holding his hand outstretched into the flames, saying, “This hand that has offended shall first be burned.”

1) Reformation is a divine visitation

2) Reformation is a work of Jesus Christ

3) Reformation is a constant task for God’s people

4) Reformation always begins with repentance, seeking God in new ways and putting away wrong things

The preaching this Sunday will take us back to our study of Luke’s gospel account, as we examine 7:1-30. There we’ll see three stories of healing, faith, salvation, and mission. Like almost every story in the gospel accounts, these verses show us different angles on similar themes: who Jesus is; how he reveals himself in his public ministry; how people variously respond to the person and work of Jesus. Once again, let me encourage you to read the passage, perhaps with the family or a friend, before our time of corporate worship tomorrow morning. Come prayerfully and expectantly.

Also, remember that this Sunday at 6:30 PM we’ll be having a night of classical and jazz musical performance. We’re calling it “For the Joy of Music and the Glory of God.” I’ve been hearing some of the music practiced for weeks (even months) now since my wife, Sarah, is one of the musicians. If you’re able to come, you’re in for quite a treat…if I may say so! Remember, this is a great thing to invite a non-Christian friend to, especially with someone you think wouldn’t yet be interested in coming to an actual church service yet. It’s simply a night of great jazz and classical music. And it’s free!

By the way, if you’re wondering about the benefit of music performance in the church (ie, music-for-music’s-sake), or, more generally, in the church’s involvement in less overtly religious things like art and culture, take a look at this article by William Edgar, “Good Company, Good Art, and a Good Laugh.” Bill’s written many great articles on similar themes, but this is certainly one of my favorites.

We have the great honor and pleasure of having Matthew Ellison teach us from God’s Word this Sunday. Matthew will be looking at 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, where Paul reminds the Corinthians that “The Worst of Times Are the Best of Times for Giving.” Financially troubling times like these can produce fear, but they also provide many opportunities to help others who are in need. Pray that God would help us to joyfully trust in Him and seek first His kingdom, even though our senses tell us to worry because the world is out of control.