Sad times… it’s the final afternoon celebration at Bible by the Beach… where we welcome Michael Baughen, formerly Rector of All Souls, Langham Place, and Bishop of Chester.

2 Corinthians 5:9 – 6:2

At the end of a conference… there must be a commissioning message… sent out theologically fatter, and evangelically fitter!

The Corinthians wanted a ‘comfortable Christianity’… they had a ‘get get get’ attitude! We need a ‘give give give’ attitude!

The commitment to our crucified Lord – Whether home or away (5:9)

The compulsion of the cross – a controlling love (5:14)

The cross needs to be a the centre of all life – the the horizon on a plane… the message of the cross, his person and work brings reconciliation - a message our nation needs so desperately! We preach Jesus Christ AND Him Crucified!

May we lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, till all the world adore, his sacred name!

You can buy this talk online at the Bible by the Beach shop.

The final Bible reading from Alistair Begg at Bible by the Beach…

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Pastoral ministry – a ministry of reminding, reminding of the Gospel essentials

Paul says remember 3 things…. how I came, what I said, why I said it…

• Came in weakness, in fear, in trembling… it’s gonna be a miracle if anyone believes this guy – Exactly!
• Called to be a herald first, communicator second.

• Preached Christ and him crucified
• A weak message… but demonstrated in power by the work of the Spirit

“The cross has less than it’s proper place in teaching and theology”  -  James Denney

• So that… your faith my rest on God’s power… not man’s wisdom!

“Telling people the need for the gospel, both their felt need and real need, is plainly important, but it is not the gospel itself. … Whenever people’s sense of assurance of salvation is expressed in the first person, something is amiss. When the question ‘How do you know God will accept you?’ is answered by ‘I have Jesus in my heart,’ ‘I asked Jesus into my life,’ ‘The Holy Spirit is in me,’ and so on, the real gospel basis for assurance needs to be reviewed. We rejoice when the answer comes in the third person: ‘God gave his only Son to die on the cross for me,’ ‘Jesus died, rose, and is in heaven for me.’ When the focus is on the finished and perfect work of Christ, rather than on the yet unfinished work of the Spirit in me, the grounds for assurance are in place.”  -  Graeme Goldsworthy

We’re saved as a result of something done for us!

“To preach salvation by good works is to flatter people and so avoid opposition. This may seem to some to pose the alternative too starkly. But I do not think so. All Christian preachers have to face this issue. Either we preach that human beings are rebels against God, under his just judgment and (if left to themselves) lost, and that Christ crucified who bore their sin and curse is the only available Saviour. Or we emphasize human potential and human ability, with Christ brought in only to boost them, and with no necessity for the cross except to exhibit God’s love and so inspire us to greater endeavour.The former is the way to be faithful, the latter the way to be popular. It is not possible to be faithful and popular simultaneously.” – Cross of Christ, John Stott

You’ll be able to buy the full talk from the BBTB shop.

1 Corinthians 1:25-31

Some thoughts from Alistair Begg…

Gideon  -  you have too many men to defeat Midian… cut down to 300! So that Israel may not boast in their own victory… Pride is a killer!

The wise and the powerful were notable by their absence from the church in Corinth… why? Because the message that Paul proclaimed was foolish! Surely the church needs to win these people to attract people to the gospel? So often we go after the rich, the powerful, the beautiful… don’t forget the words of James 2 about favouritism!

If dependence on God was the objective… wouldn’t weakness be an advantage?

The church is weak, because God designed it that way v.27-28 – “God chose”

Conversation between a fireman and a surgeon… very different in the eyes of the world… nothing in common… but, in Christ… everything in common!

There’s something powerful about seeing the insignificance of ourselves… but seeing to how God works in and through insignificant people, with great intention!  -  2 Kings 5… the unnamed slave girl, the unnamed servants… working for God!

Let the one who boasts… boast only in Jesus!

You’ll be able to buy this talk at the Bible by the Beach online store

Last night we met Alistair Begg, speaking at the main Bible readings and and all the way from Ohio, USA. We found out about his love of Manchester United (he hates Chelsea) and a secret passion for the TV drama Foyles War. This morning he began the first of 3 Bible Readings, looking today at ‘The Wisdom of the Cross’.

Alistair took us to 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5, reminding us first and foremost that the gospel is not the ABC, but the A-Z of the Christian Life. Here are some thoughts and quotes that Alistair brought to us…

“There is nothing in us or done by us, at any stage of our earthly development, because of which we are acceptable to God.We must always be accepted for Christ’s sake, or we cannot ever be accepted at all. This is not true of us only when we believe. It is just as true after we have believed. It will continue to be trust as long as we live. Our need of Christ does not cease with our believing; nor does the nature of our relation to Him or to God through Him ever alter, no matter what our attainments in Christian graces or our achievements in behavior may be. It is always on His “blood and righteousness” alone that we can rest.”  - B.B. Warfield

The message of the cross has two big effects:

1. Those who are perishing… think it’s foolish
2. Those who are being saved… think it’s wise

“To convert one sinner from his way is an event of greater importance than the deliverance of an entire kingdom from temporal evil.” – Doctrine of the Atonement by Smeaton

“…only a person can substitute for a person; only a consenting will can substitute for a rebellious will.” – Alec Motyer

The Gospel is not something we do, it’s something Christ has done! If we exhort, without the gospel then we become legalistic! The Gospel is Historical, it’s rational, and it’s experiential… we couldn’t create it or think it up by our own wisdom… but, v.24 God Calls!

Lady Macbeth, with stained hands… “canst thou not minister to a mind diseas’d?”… Jesus can!
“There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.”
“Jesus, keep me near the cross, There a precious fountain, Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calvary’s mountain.”

No other story, no other Saviour – Jesus the only one qualified!

You’ll be able to get DVDs, CDs and MP3 downloads of this talk after the event in the online shop

Started with a quick lookalike game if famous bald people who look like TK. Tim was interviewed and shared some stuff about Redeemer; how they started by simply preaching about who Jesus is, and aimed to be a church where Christians were edified and non-Christians could learn too. He spoke about the church growth post 9/11 and the significance of churches in cities and the importance of people comitting to being community in the city. He spoke too of his personal suffering and how that has changed and shaped him – suffering enables you to preach to change and to be a good witness.

Then we got to hear from an ex-drug dealer who loves Jesus – awesome! John 19:23-37, I spoke on this at Global Cafe last night… I think TK might do a better job!

1. How he died – in accordance with the Scriptures
Easy to over look, but John makes a point of reminding us. v.28 Jesus does what he does to fulfill the Scriptures. Jesus throughout his life relies on God’s word and does what he does so that it may be fulfilled. When you’re under stress the real, instinctive you comes out – his instinct is to go to the Scriptures for strength and direction. Bathe yourself in the word of God.

2. Why he died – to be our substitute
v.29 Why a hyssop? It’s how they spread the Passover blood. v.36 Not a bone broken – like a perfect lamb.
In the wilderness the Rock is struck and water comes out – like Jesus.
Jesus is the ransom – it is finished. The common theme is substitution!
All love is a substitutionary sacrifice – if you don’t have atonement you don’t have love. You can’t love hurting people without you giving them strength and you hurting yourself. What about the Fugitive? If you take them in you loose your safety and security. All love is substitutionary sacrifice. Refers to a sermon, Christ’s agony – Jonathan Edwards, the garden is where you see Christ’s love – this is the point he could have walked away, it’s them or you.

3. What he offers – the Water of Life
Thirst is a metaphor for agonizing spiritual emptiness. Everyone craves something at the centre of their soul, but anything other than God will leave you spiritually dry. Dying of dehydration is a little picture of hell, and Jesus takes that spiritual thirst on the cross (v.28). You know and experience this water, it changes you, it becomes the centre of everything.

4. How it changes
It is finished. Take Jesus’ pardon then move on, don’t add to his finished work. You’re welcome now! Let the cross change your attitude to yourself.You’ve been at the cross, that’s what you have in common, let he cross change your attitude to others v.26-27. Tale of two cities: Are you dying for him? Sidney is a sacrifice and gives courage to others.