Giving it Away: Notes from the A29 Bootcamp | Part 1

"You preserve the gospel by giving it away." —D.A. Carson

These were the final words of D.A. Carson’s session titled ‘Preserving the Gospel’ and were the words that have been imprinted on my heart and resonating through my mind since then. In the same spirit, I hope to preserve all of the things that God spoke to me during the Acts 29 Bootcamp by approaching them with a generous heart. I undeservedly received the gospel and I don’t want to walk through its implications unwittingly. As a grateful beggar telling other beggars where to find bread (another Carson quote, ha!), I offer all of this to you. I’m not the best note-taker in the universe, but whatever I have is yours.

Better still, Acts 29 will be posting the audio/video from this bootcamp. Whatever they have is yours, too. 

This first blog is from the first session at the Bootcamp: "Gospel Transformation" presented by D.A. Carson. Please feel free to comment and question—this stuff is best fleshed out in community!

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It goes without saying (or at least it should): there is no gospel-centered church planter, no gospel-centered mission, no gospel-centered anything apart from gospel transformation. I have to let myself sit there for a minute. Nothing that I write is relevant at all apart from the fact that I have been transformed. None of this information will amount to anything in my life or yours unless we have undergone transformation, utterly and entirely. My biggest fear in arriving, experiencing, departing and now processing this past weekend is that I will have heard much but not known much... learned much but not loved much... affirmed much but not believed much. It is fitting that Carson decided to start here—because without being born again, we will never live.

Carson exegetes with swift, exacting, ninja-like precision. Driscoll is right to call him yoda-smart. Plus, he’s Canadian—and I will always have a special affinity for all things Canada. But beyond this—as one of his colleagues put it—he has a gracious heart. It was an honor to sit under a teacher whose obvious gifts are so obviously submitted to Christ and saturated by grace. 

Overall, I was struck by the way that Carson did not shy away from the heavy lifting in this passage. Consequently, I was admonished to put down my own 5 pound weights start doing some bench pressing. What I mean when I say “heavy lifting” is this. Carson took the time to carefully connect the dots of Jesus’ statements in order to paint the whole picture—he didn’t settle for a kitschy motel portrait of Jesus as sage. Sometimes, when I read Jesus words, I settle. I settle for yesterday’s insights, trying to be satisfied by yesterday’s bread, only to be left emaciated. I hopscotch from verse to verse without looking to see how each one builds upon the last. I say this to my shame. Rather than doing the work of connecting the dots, pleading with the Spirit to give me wisdom on how Jesus’ thoughts come together to form the whole, I just get lazy. I’m glad to have been shaken from sleep and humbled that I’m forgiven for this—now to stay awake, by grace.

There were some key points for me in this session. One, that we need new life—not new laws. Nicodemus, in his great presumption, was looking to Jesus as just another teacher, as another doer, not as a savior. To this, Jesus seems to say, “Nicodemus, you don’t need me to teach you. You can’t bear the weight of the law you do have, let alone any other that I could heap on you. You need me to redeem you, to give you new birth, to give you a new beginning that will never end. You think you see and understand, but you do not... because your heart is unbelieving. You ask how a man can be born again, even when he is old. Do you not know that the new birth I offer is real? You can be made new, despite all the baggage, sin and cynicism that accompanies adulthood. You can start over.” Two, that we can only look to the solution that God has provided for salvation. Jesus likens himself to the serpent lifted up in the wilderness, which is—humanly speaking—an unlikely candidate for salvation. Who fights a serpent by looking at a fake serpent? Who conquers death with death? The Father’s wisdom is so far beyond our own. Look to and believe in no other solution for your sin and death other than the one given by the Father. 

Good Friday

It’s Good Friday… and I sit here overwhelmed. Rather than talk about history or dig into scripture, I just want to pray. I hope that you’ll do the same where you are, that you would take some time to sit at his feet and marvel at him. This Good Friday, behold your Savior with your own eyes.

Jesus, I am overwhelmed by you. I am overwhelmed by the gravity of your sacrifice. I am overwhelmed by your tenacity, your faithfulness, the fact that you kept your word. Your slaying was planned before the foundation of the world. You set your face like flint toward the cross and you didn’t shy away. You had a baptism to undergo and how greatwas your distress until it was accomplished. And not just distress because of the agony of the cross, but the distress over knowing that redemption was so close. Your hands were wrapped around the temple veil and you couldn’t wait for the moment to tear it. You couldn’t wait to rescue us. You couldn’t wait to reconcile us to yourself. You had redemptive ambition for us, for me. And with that redemptive ambition, with that courage, you were like a sheep silent before its shearers. You took every blow with grace. You received every lashing of the whip with grace. You took the nails with grace. And you did all of it to give grace. You didn’t back down. You looked my sin—my sin—straight in the face and said, “It is finished.” You clocked my death—my death—straight in the jaw and called out, “where is your sting?” You said that you would. You said you would take care of it and you did. You saw my empty hands, you saw my helplessness to pay my debt to the Father. You knew my rebellious heart. You knew my affections were easily swayed toward other lovers. You knew my transgressions were without number—and you knew that my days were numbered, death waiting to claim me. And you stepped in to save. You stepped in to save. There is nothing else to say but thank you. There is nothing else to do but thank you. Thank you. In your beautiful, worthy, eternal, holy,saving name—amen.

Maundy Thursday

Holy Thursday--or Maundy Thursday--traditionally seems to the start the same way every year, with this question: what in the heck does 'maundy' mean? I like this tradition. Let's keep it. It's good to ask questions. 

When you get out your wikipedia app, you'll find most scholars agree that the word maundy is derived from the latin word mandatum. Okay. When you take it a step further, you find that the word mandatum is the first word of the latin phrase 'mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos' (say that 3 times fast) meaning, 'a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you.' Hopefully that rings a bell.

Maundy Thursday is about the issuing of this new commandment (found in John 13:34) and our observance of it. Historically, some church traditions have gone as far as to commemorate the new commandment with foot washing, as it was the action that directly preceded it in the text. Not a bad idea. If the Lord provokes us to express his love in this way, let's do it. No day like today. But there's a deeper symbolism here that supersedes the act of foot-washing, doing the dishes, or any other service we can render. (All you people with foot-phobia or caked-on-food-phobia can breathe a sigh of relief.) What was Jesus doing the day before he went to the cross?

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean." When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

--John 13:1-17

Jesus is not only exhibiting the deepest humility by washing the disciples feet (a job reserved for the lowliest servants), but painting a picture of the very humility he would show by humbling himself to an agonizing, heart-wrenching, humiliating death on the cross. He would stop at nothing to purchase us. He would stop at nothing to serve us with salvation.

He's also doing something else by washing the disciples' feet. It's hard for me to put words to the meaning and I never will be able to... but it seems to be an undeniable symbol of the ongoing work of gospel in our lives. Jesus didn't use foot-washing to cleanse the disciples from sin (hence the whole "one who has bathed need not wash his head or hands but is completely clean"), he used it to point to the need for the ongoing application of the gospel to the parts of us that get dirtied up over time as we run this race. By washing one another's feet, we're gospeling one another. We're serving one another in the most important way. We're reminding one another that--in Christ--we are completely clean. Completely forgiven. Clothed in righteousness we couldn't earn and don't deserve. We're also helping one another apply the gospel to those hard-to-reach places of our souls, helping them remember their identity in Jesus. We need this. I need this. We need to do this. A lot. 

Just as we take communion to observe the new covenant, we also must wash one another in the gospel--frequently--to observe the new commandment.

This Maundy Thursday, go out and gospel someone. This is no random act of kindness, this is the foremost act of kindness. Share the gospel with someone who hasn't heard. Share it with someone who has heard, but needs reminding. Just share it. Somehow. Truth be told, it can look like practical means--but practical means (like doing the dishes) are nothing without gospel motivation.

Behold your savior who has washed you once and for all and has passed the towel and bar of soap to you. Use it well. 

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For Good Friday...

One of the historical traditions of the church is to fast on Good Friday. If you feel moved by the Spirit to do so and have time during the day to devote to prayer as you fast, please consider it. Then, may your first meal of the day be the Lord's Supper in remembrance of the price Jesus paid for your redemption. Come to the Living Stones Good Friday gatherings (5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., Downtown Campus) to take communion, celebrate and mourn. 

Holy Wednesday

Before digging into Holy Wednesday, take a look at this Gospel Coalition article called Suffering Servant and Conquering King. It gives a brief overview of the past and present purpose of Old Testament prophesy and how some of the prophets were used to carve out a clearer idea of who Jesus was, is and is to come. Read the article, look over some of the verses noted and adore your Savior. Adore your God, who has always been. Adore your God, who has always had a marvelous, scandalous, exceedingly wise plan—and has let you be part of it.

Part of this marvelous plan was the way of pain. It’s no wonder Isaiah says of Jesus that he would be a man of sorrows and acquainted (well-acquainted) with grief. The main event commemorated on Holy Wednesday is Jesus’ betrayal by Judas Iscariot. 

It’s clear that Judas’ betrayal of Jesus was a necessary step toward the cross and part of God’s marvelous plan. It teems with prophetic accuracy, even down to the price placed on Jesus’ head. Yet the implications of this event run deeper still and keep unfolding into our lives, as well. 

Not only did Jesus suffer the sting of betrayal that he might be our sympathetic High Priest, knowing intimately our life’s trials, but he also suffered that we might have means of fellowship with him. Have you ever thought of betrayal as an occasion to rejoice? It is. You get the privilege of knowing your Savior that much better. You get to run to him with everything because he ran the race to the finish, suffering and loving his own to the end.

On this Holy Wednesday, behold the ways that your Savior’s suffering has become your joy—because you can have fellowship with him in it. 

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And if you have suffered (or are harboring bitterness for) a recent (or not-so-recent) betrayal, pinpoint the individual(s) who you need to forgive—and forgive them today. Extend the grace you have received from your Savior to someone in need of it. Write a letter. Make that phone call. As you participate in Jesus’ sufferings, don’t forget to practice his forgiveness.

Holy Tuesday

Though you can refer to Matthew’s, Mark’s or Luke’s accounts of the day’s events, I’m going to focus on Matthew’s telling. 

As you read the account of Holy Tuesday, it’s hard to ignore the palpable tension. Jesus spends the day—essentially—being challenged and questioned. The entire day. How much patience and decorum can you muster in the face of a day’s worth of contention? Probably not much. Luckily, Jesus is the Man. Not only does he take every sword thrown at him and wield it gracefully, but he takes these swords and pierces his listeners, followers and adversaries to the heart.

One such instance is seen at the beginning of Matthew 23, in which he specifically engages the scribes and pharisees.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

—Matthew 23:1-12

As I read this, I can barely stumble past the first few verses unscathed. “They preach, but do not practice…” If someone were to have watched your actions today, would they have said this about you? Would they have said this about me?

The next verses heap on the conviction—pun intended. How often to we place unrealistic expectations on others—create laws for them to agonize, enforce rules they’ve already broken, impose roles they can’t begin to fulfill—and we ourselves are unwilling to withstand similar scrutiny? This is an ugly expression of pride. We’re called to bear one another’s burdens, not add to them for own selfish gain or sense of righteousness.

“They do all their deeds to be seen by others…” Check.

“Make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long… Love places of honor… demand to be called ‘rabbi…’” The right clothes (not just fashionable, but holy – pridefully modest and immaculate – concerned with utmost perfection of image), the right places at the right times (and with the right people), the right reputation. The pharisees sought these things with all their energy and ended up empty. Dead. White-washed tombs. Beautiful on the outside, full of decay on the inside.

Are you guilty? Me, too. And Jesus makes it clear that these offenses won’t go unpunished.

Yet, what grace! Listen to your savior’s heart:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

—Matthew 23:37-39

Don’t use Jesus’ judgment of pride as an excuse to shy away from him. Use it as an occasion to repent. Jesus longed to gather his people to himself—but they would not accept his grace. Don’t let that be your story. This Holy Tuesday, behold your savior who longs to have you. All of you. And who longs to forgive you, clothe you with his righteousness and bring about your beauty through humility. Behold your savior, who aches to have you beneath his wing, under the safety of his lordship. 

No matter what your sin was this Holy Tuesday, run to Jesus.

Holy Monday

Today—to kick things off—we’re going to get in touch with some the historical background of Holy Week. (And all the prophets, nerds, academics and empirical thinkers of the world rejoiced.)

Justin Taylor, who is a frequent contributor to the Gospel Coalition website, posted a helpful “Who,” What," and “Where” of Holy Week earlier today. It can be accessed here. Some things to notice:

• Bible Gateway has made a visualization of all the events of Holy Week, which is exceptionally rich. It includes scripture references from the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and also the relationships between all of the people involved in the narratives (when they were together/apart, when the ‘crowd’ or ‘religious leaders’ make entrances and exits, etc.). Neat-o.
• Google Map of the proposed area in which Jesus walked during his last days. Pretty cool to see it live and in color.

What about Holy Monday specifically? Taylor also posted a chronological breakdown of the events of Holy Monday by harmonizing the gospels to the best of his ability (with the help of the ESV Study Bible). You can access this by clicking here.

These are great resources and helpful facts, but it wouldn’t be a great idea to leave things at that. We know that knowledge—apart from the humility and love of the gospel—puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). So how can we be built up this Holy Monday?

In their observation of this day, the Roman Catholic church traditionally pairs the accounts of Jesus Cursing the Fig Tree and Jesus Clearing the Temple with readings of Isaiah 42:1-7 and Psalm 27:1-3 & 13-14. Let’s focus on Psalm 27:1-3 for a moment:

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear, though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

—Psalm 27:1-3

How does this connect? Providentially enough, this coincides with what Harvey preached on Palm Sunday. During his life, Jesus knew exactly what he was doing. He came to draw a line in the sand. In many ways, he didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword. With every healing, every sermon, every moment his enemies came closer to assail. Can’t help but wonder if texts like Psalm 27 rung through his head as he brought them to life. 

Behold your savior this Holy Monday. He endured the utmost hostility for our sake. He allowed the enemy to assail him. And he became our victor. Let Jesus’ confidence give you courage. The same God who cleansed the temple has made you his temple… and he shares his victory with you.

Drinking from a Fire Hose

One of my favorite pastors once said that attending a conference is kind of like drinking from a fire hose. Today's Acts 29 Regional Event at Living Stones was certainly no exception. Jeff Vanderstelt from Soma Communities proved himself to be the conduit of a ton of truth, wisdom and much-needed exhortation. I left feeling impacted (as fire hoses inevitably pack a significant punch), soaked and satisfied by the gospel of Jesus. Now, I'm wringing out my head and heart by blogging some of my notes.

Drinking from a fire hose is hard to do second hand, but the good news is that the audio will probably be available from the websites above soon. Keep watch on that.

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A true disciple is someone who knows how to make disciples. Do you know how to make a disciple? Do I? Are you taking the time to consider what it is that you're doing to make disciples? "Making disciples" -- the command we've received from Jesus -- implies not only knowledge of the execution, but intentional and cooperative action.

Before immediately moving in on people's lives with counsel, let the Holy Spirit do some counseling. It's his job, after all. When listening to people expound their struggles, don't immediately think "what advice can I give?" Rather, listen to what they're saying about the gospel.

Every time you preach or teach, you do so to unbelievers. Everyone has areas of their lives in which they have not believed the truth, power and sufficiency of the gospel and been transformed; Christian or not.

Every time you study the Bible, it should result in outward focus. Bible study means we "do" the Bible, not just "hear" the Bible. (James 1:22-25)

We don't come to the Scriptures to know the Scriptures. We come to the Scriptures to know Jesus. (John 5:39)

Knowing someone's story naturally evokes grace. Get to know the story behind people's actions and apply the gospel to it -- it's the only hope for making a happy ending to that story possible.

When leading people, give them something to do. A goal forces us to grow up and forgo the stagnance of comfort to which we are so prone. Better yet, make it an impossible one -- one that cannot even be imagined as being true apart from the sufficiency and work of Jesus. Always lead people to a life that cannot be lived without him, settling for nothing less.

Sanctification first comes from sitting at the cross and saying "thank you." It is faith first and response second. This is not to be confused.

Being filled by the Spirit and led by the Spirit is the overcoming of sin. Think about what this means. When we're completely filled up and satisfied with who Christ by his Spirit and allowing our desires to be led by him through his Spirit, fruit is the outcome -- not sin. It's a fight, but we're not defeated!