For Biblical Lay Ministry
One (all?) of the community groups here at Desert Springs is going through Paul Tripp’s Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change. I guess that is one of the reasons I see this congregation as a great fit for me. I’d have recommended this material, and they are already studying it.
It is a book I read during my transition period. I posted some thoughts on it. I decided to bring it home with me last night to review. Yes, most of my books are now out of boxes. When you go back to something you can often wonder why you liked it in the first place. But this is one of those times you are reminded just how thoughtful and profound a book is. Paul Tripp is one of those guys more Christians need to read. That he has been a serious student of Scripture for a long time is evident as you read his books. In the opening chapters I (re)discovered material suitable for my sermon Sunday and my upcoming series on Genesis. You can read the first chapter here.
Here are some thoughts from the first few chapters, and the preface.
“For most of us, church is merely an event we attend or an organization we belong to. We do not see it as a calling that shapes our entire lives.”
This is a great summary of what good pastors want to tell their people, often. We are shaped by the ministry of the Word, both public and private or personal. It is not enough to show up- but to engage with the Word by believing it and acting upon it. One of the things I appreciate the most about this book is its call to do just that. He has a very Word-centered view of ministry, for it is there that we meet with the Living Word- Jesus Himself.
“The King came not to make our agenda possible, but to draw us into something more amazing, glorious, and wonderful than we could ever imagine. “
He develops this thought elsewhere when he talks about glory- the party is not for us. It is hard to fight the individualistic & consumeristic mindset of the average church goer in America today. One reason I am starting in Genesis is to bring them back into the story, God’s story. We are a part of that plan, but not the center of the plan. There is something big and exciting going on that transcends building programs and flashy services. But, like an incredible meal, it won’t be obvious until Jesus returns.
“Sin not only causes me to respond sinfully to suffering, it causes me to respond sinfully to blessing.”
He has a firm grasp on the power and pervasiveness of sin. He is not operating (or writing) in some Pelagian daydream. Too often books on church leaders do this very thing. They “fail to properly estimate the great burden of sin” to paraphrase Anselm. As a result, Tripp’s book is more honest about ministry, and more dependent upon the Redeemer whose instruments we are.
“God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the lives of others. … God never intended us to simply be the objects of his love. We are also called to be instruments of that love in the lives of others.”
We are the objects of His love and affection. Tripp affirms that. But we are also the instruments of His love and affection. This is found particularly in John’s Gospel and 1st letter. The test of the authenticity of our love for God is love for others. We are to love as we’ve been loved by Jesus (and that should scare all of us due to it sacrificial nature).
He talks about the rebar that holds life together. He mentions God’s sovereignty, grace, and glory. As fallen people we try to get our way, in our strength for our glory. The Bible brings us back to God’s overarching agenda, His strength to support us, and for His glory. Though we are marked by sin, our lives are to defined by grace. Our sin is not the end or totality of the story. As Jack Miller used to say, “Cheer up, you’re worse than you think you are. Cheer up, Christ is greater than you think he is.” The God of grace is greater than all our sin (our pride, greed, sexual lust and immorality, lies, hatred, abuse, theft, slander, gluttony, drunkenness, sloth, rebellion, autonomy etc.).
I’m glad I get to re-read this book. It will challenge and encourage me. At the same time, I’m reading his book War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles. Other books of his I’d recommend are:
Cavman Considers 
Leave a Reply