Cheap grace is...

[Cheap grace is] the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin and from whom sin departs. Cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship; 

as quoted in Kevin DeYoung's book: What does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?

To those who have cracked the problem of unity in the church.

Listen: 

Unity in the church, amongst believers, was an essential thing for Paul the Apostle. On multiple occasions, he either wrote about the need for unity directly or it was implied through one of the many "one another" passages. Many a church leader has pondered this need for unity, have taught extensively on its practicalities, and worked tirelessly with members of their churches to promote it -- all to be met with tension in the church, relational strains with their members, and sometimes disunity that leads to division. 

Well, I want to offer some hope to church leaders everywhere.  Right in the middle of my own unity prepping, studying, teaching, and training, I accidentally found that there are some people who have already solved the unity problem. They were right around us and were probably there all along but went unnoticed by us pastors and teachers. There are at least five types of unity I've discovered with these unity triumphant people who have made themselves manifest to their own unity. Here are those five types, in no particular order. 

Disclaimer: any resemblance to actual people is mostly coincidental. This is meant to represent conglomerations of people, not any one person in particular. I've met multiple people in each of these categories... and most likely, so have you - that is what makes it funny. 

Not now...

 I feel I should write this book: 

Ep. 93 - Saturday Unscripted No. 3

 In this episode: 

• This week: life with the ADD mind!
• Thoughts on Tomorrow's Sermon.
• Book Thoughts / Book Quote: This week from George MacDonald's At the Back of the North Wind. 

At The Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald

 I've started reading my next public domain book. This time it is a children's book. It is called At The Back of the North Wind and it is written by George MacDonald. You can listen to the first chapter here: 

Great Thoughts (From Paul Washer) on Worship

 

Great Faith or Great God

Luke 17:5-6

 

Ep. 91 Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin Chapter 13 Part 3

 Episode 91

Reading with Pastor Matt

On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 13 Part 3