Acts 20- Troas to Assos

"We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He made this arrangement because he was going there on foot." Acts 20:13

Much speculation has been made about this little verse and the reason why Paul might have chosen to go it by foot while the rest of the gang sailed around... I tend to favor the idea of solitude. Maybe, because I can relate most easily to this idea.

Recall that Paul had just preached possibly a 10+ hour sermon. He preached from after dinner until midnight. Then after Eutychus fell and was raised, he preached until daybreak. Also, take note that Paul is in a hurry to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost(vs 16). Furthermore, he was about to give a farewell address to the elders of Ephesus. In his commentary on Acts, J.W. McGarvey lists some additional stresses that might have caused the apostle to desire solitude:

"the deep gloom which shrouded his feelings, caused by prophetic warnings of great dangers ahead; by the critical state of the Churches everywhere; and by the final farewell which he was giving to Churches which he had planted and nourished, naturally prompted him to seek solitude for a time."

So, Paul chose to walk by himself. In the ship there would hardly be a place or time that Paul could retreat to. The small quarters, and demands of his travelling companions, would likely hinder his ability quietly reflect and pray. Here is my question for you: do you seek opportunities for God to refresh you and meet with you alone? Are you so busy that God doesn't have your ear unless He divinely invades your to do list? When is the last time that you got alone with God? He desires it and your soul should too! Even if there are many things on the horizon, like Pentecost, pressures of the churches, farewell addresses and the like, the most important thing for you to do would be to meet with God alone. It will strengthen you for the task.

Acts 20- Falling Asleep

Hmmm... How can we sanely navigate this text?

While Paul is giving his long-winded farewell address, Eutychus, falls asleep and falls from the third story window.

Let's explore this from a couple angles:

First, it is a reminder of our physical limitations. We need to humble ourselves enough to get the rest we need. This is an important lesson for our western culture. Slow down. Get some sleep. Trust that when you are sleeping God is able to take care of the world. Perhaps, if Eutychus had been well rested he would not have dozed. Additionally, the many candles in a crowded third story room would create very sleepy conditions. Between the smoke and the warmth, mixed with a cool breeze from the outside, it must have been rather easy to nod off. We must be careful that we are aware of how the physical effects the spiritual. Spurgeon says, "A mouthful of sea air, or a stiff walk in the wind's face would not give grace to the soul, but it would yield oxygen to the body, which is next best" (Lectures to My Students, page 158). Take care of your physical body. This will help to prepare you to train your spiritual body. Therefore, position yourself in a place where you can be most attentive to the Spirit.

Second, this story reminds me of a post from a couple days ago, In Need of Grace. Each of us can become so familiar with truth that it lulls us to sleep. Think about how this is quite possibly the last time that Paul was able to address this church in Troas. This final address is the occasion of the preaching. He obviously had much to say. And you can imagine there must have been weight to what he was saying. It doesn't seem to make sense that he would casually address this group for six hours, as if he was just rambling and shooting the breeze. And, even after raising Eutychus from the dead he continues till morning!?! No, Paul was standing on the brink of eternity preaching with all his soul for the progress and joy in the faith! To fall asleep during a sermon from the apostle Paul is, in a sense, a disregard of your own soul. A flippancy toward eternal things. When we grow casual to the ways of God we are in jeopardy of allow ourselves to spiritually fall asleep. Let this serve as a warning.

1) Position yourself physically to not hinder yourself spiritually

2) Do not grow casual to God's ways

Maybe the text doesn't allow for these conclusions, but doesn't your soul tell you they are true?

Books of 07'

Theology:

Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

Ministry Theology:

Lectures To My Students by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Christian Living:

Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

When I don't Desire God by John Piper

Books of 08'

Theology:

God's Pursuit of Man by A.W. Tozer

Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Best of Tozer v.1 by A.W. Tozer

Ministry:

Brothers We Are Not Professionals by John Piper

The Living Church by John Stott

Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry by Doug Fields [p]

The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges [p]

Preaching:

Preaching and Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Between Two Worlds by John Stott

Communicating For a Change by Andy Stanley

How to Speak to Youth and Keep Them Awake at the Same Time by Ken Davis

Christian Living:

For Men Only by Jeff Feldhahn

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality by Rob Bell

Student Interest:

Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris

Battlecry For My Generation by Ron Luce

Biography:

Confessions of a Reformissional Reverend by Mark Driscoll

A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer by Lyle Dorsett

[p] indicates partial read

In Need of Grace

"Of all the people who are most resistant to the gospel it is going to be pastors. It is going to be the elders. It is going to be the church leaders. For what obvious reason would pastors be the most resistant? Why did Jesus say it was difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom, more difficult than passing a camel through an eye of a needle? ...Because to get into the kingdom of God the only thing required is that you acknowledge your spiritual bankruptcy. So it is very obvious that it would be hard for the rich to get into the kingdom of God. Harder than anyone else because it's the hardest for them to see themselves as bankrupt. Right? So who's the hardest person to convict and convert? Who's the hardest person to transform? ...clearly the people that are in religious work. Clearly pastors." -Ray Cortese

My plea is that you would pray for me! Pray for the staff of Central. Pray for anyone you know in a leadership role. We need it.

It is so hard to not become numb to it all. The other day I was sitting in a service at a church in Chicago and watched a man get baptized. My Ashley was crying beside me and I was looking at the layout of the baptismal and listening to the way the pastor prayed. 'Is this prayer biblically sound?' I thought to myself as the man publicly professed Christ as Lord. That is messed up. Pray that God would soften my heart again. Pray that I wouldn't be a Pharisaical hypocrite.

Books of 09'

It's that time of year again.... the time of year when people look back and reflect on what they have experienced over the year. In the blog world people are coming out with their 'best books of 09.' I figured I would follow suit. Here are the majority of the books that I have read this year and are worth mentioning:

Theology:

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Holiness by R.C. Sproul

The Cross of Christ by John Stott [p]

Knowing God by J.I. Packer

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer

Ministry Theology:

The Cross and Christian Ministry by D.A. Carson

On Being a Pastor by Derek Prime and Alistair Begg

Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears [p]

Total Church by Steve Timmis and Tim Chester [p]

Simple Church by Rainer & Geiger

Preaching:

Why Johnny Can't Preach by T. David Gordon

Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching

What is Biblical Preaching by Eric J. Alexander

Expositions:

Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians by D.A. Carson

Let's Study Philippians by Sinclair Ferguson

Christian Living:

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

Letters Along the Way by D.A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge

Rediscovering Holiness by J.I. Packer

Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle

Growing in Grace by Sinclair Ferguson

The Forgotten God by Francis Chan

Porn Again Christian: Online Book by Mark Driscoll

Biography:

Spurgeon by Arnold Dallimore

Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D.A. Carson

Agape Leadership: Lessons on Spiritual Leadership from the Life of RC Chapman by Robert L. Peterson

John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor by W. Robert Godfrey

Devotional:

Valley of Vision by Arthur Bennett [p]

Language:

Learn to Read New Testament Greek by David Alan Black [p]

Bible Study:

Living by the Book by Howard and William Hendricks

Reference:

Commentary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament by G.K. Beale and D.A. Carson [p]

[p] indicates partially read.

Hit it Out

For those of you that are fasting today, and in the Wednesdays to come, I want to give you a piece of advice for lunch time.... It is going to be glaringly obvious at lunch time that something is different. Many will say, "where is your lunch?" or, "why are you not eating?" And you can pull a Peter... You can come up with a reason or an excuse so that way you aren't labeled 'one of those people.' That is my default. I don't want to be labeled a "crazy Christian."

Or you can go over the top. You can say too much too fast.... this generally leaves people thinking about you and other Christians, 'don't cram your Jesus down my throat' or 'you think you're so much better than anyone else, you religious twit.' So option 2 is bogus because you may be having a great experience with the fast but you are turning people away from Christ.

There is a third way... When people ask you why you are not eating, you can give them a simple answer about fasting. This might lead them to be interested in why. When they ask more questions imagine that God is lobbing you a softball. So, crank it out of the park. Explain to them why Christians fast. Do it gently and slowly so that they actually understand what you are saying.

Many people fail because they don't have a plan... so pray that you would be ready. "In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15). So when the questions start coming today... be ready.

Let me give you a couple of thoughts on fasting so that you can meditate on them all day today:

“More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We cover up what is inside of us with food and other things.” -Richard Foster in The Celebration of Discipline

"I humbled my soul with fasting" (Psalm 31:13)

"It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world." -John Piper in A Hunger for God pg. 14