William Carey's “11 commandments of mission”

Based on my observations and experience, the following might be most difficult:

• #3 (do not impose your own cultural preference as though your culture is superior to that of another culture).
• #8 (do not hold on to your leadership position forever).
• #6 (make friends and not impose yourself, your agenda and your expectation on others).

The Simplicity and Complexity of God

The simplicity and complexity of the Godhead is that God is a triune God, yet God is one (Dt 6:4; Mk 12:29). Being made in the image of the triune God (Gen 1:26-27), we are happy when we live out our being in God by loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Dt 6:5; Mt 22:37; Mk 12:30).

Though this might seem confusing or baffling, I think this diagram is helpful:

FATHER	SON	SPIRIT
Mind	Will	Heart
Thinking	Doing	Feeling
Cognition	Volition	Emotion
Plans	Executes	Sustains

So:

• If we think too much, we might do little to nothing and lose heart.
• If we are primarily doing things, we could become mindless, emotionless robotic people.
• If we mainly depend on our feelings, our minds and lives could degenerate or deteriorate.

Neutrality Helps the Oppressor, Never the Victim

"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

God's Grace is Never for the Good, Wise and Just Person

God's grace is ALWAYS counterintuitive.

The message of Galatians and the teaching of Christ (Mt 5:3) as captured by Martin Luther:

"Therefore, God accepts only the forsaken, cures only the sick, gives sight only to the blind, restores life to only the dead, sanctifies only the sinners, gives wisdom only to the unwise fools. In short, He has mercy only on those who are wretched, and gives grace only to those who are not in grace. Therefore no proud saint, no wise or just person, can become God's material, and God's purpose cannot be fulfilled in him. He remains in his own work and makes a fictitious, pretended, false, and painted saint of himself, that is, a hypocrite." Martin Luther, "The Seven Penitential Psalms."

The Resurrection Changes Everything (Luke 24 outline)

Luke 24:1-53; Key Verses: Lk 24:32

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

• What the resurrection is: A historical fact.
• Why the resurrection is credible: It was based on eyewitness accounts.
• How the resurrection changes the world. The Resurrection is:

1. Life transforming: It changes not only your life, but the world.
2. Scripture clarifying: It elucidates, illuminates and clarifies the Bible.
3. Paradigm shattering: It shatters your strongly held assumptions.
4. King establishing: Finally, you have a worthy king.

The Theology of Deuteronomy for Preachers

Preach the gospel from Deuteronomy by Gary Millar (TGC 2013). 4 reasons why Deuteronomy should be studied and preached:

1. Deuteronomy is an actual biblical sermon. Ecclesiastes is an evangelistic sermon. Hebrews is a sermon. But they can't compare with the richness and pathos and the depth of Deuteronomy. After 40 years of wondering in the wilderness Moses gives one of the greatest speeches of all time. Millar heard John Stott's last public speech and everyone was in tears, for they grew up in Britain on readying and studying John Stott.
2. Deuteronomy is the climax of the Pentateuch. After reading Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers we should read... Deuteronomy is about God's unfolding rescue plan, about the shape of gospel obedience, about the covenant, about the gospel, etc, etc. 
3. Deuteronomy is the foundation of the rest of the OT. One needs to get Deuteronomy before one gets 1, 2 Kings, wisdom literature, Paul and Jesus. 
4. Deuteronomy is the key to biblical theology. Daniel Block talks about the gospel according to Deuteronomy. The Torah of Moses is not some abstract idea of Law, but is actually Deuteronomy, which is then actually gospel, rather than law according to theological categories. In Psalms, O, how I love your law, actually means O, how I love your gospel. Whatever Deuteronomy is it is not a law book. It is nothing like a second law.
   

Jesus In All The Scriptures

Luke 24:1-53 (Read Lk 24:25-32, 44-48); Key Verse: Lk 24:27, 44

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

Change the world. In the movie trailer of The Son of God, Jesus meets Peter, got into his fishing boat and helped him experience a miraculous catch of fish. Surprised, Peter asked, "How did this happen?" Then Jesus called him to be his disciple and said, "Come with me." Peter asked, "What are we going to do?" Jesus said matter of factly, "Change the world."

Indeed, Jesus changed world history. How was this possible? Secular historians (and not just Christian historians) say there is a reason. Within a few centuries world history changed from a pagan society based on classical Greco-Roman culture to Christianity. It was because of the resurrection of Christ. This sermon will consider how the resurrection changes the world.

Broken (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34)

Theme: Broken people often break the hearts of others, thus amplifying the brokenness of the world. Only One who is broken understands a broken world filled with broken people.

“And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')” (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34).

Question: Do you (and others) perceive yourself as truly broken, or as one who has it all together?

Brokenness:

• How does a young man born out of wedlock live his life when he hears the words of his depressed mother saying, "My life is miserable because of you"?

• Who can understand a wife who is devastated by the husband she loves leaving her for a younger woman?

• How does a mother with two young children overcome her heartbreak when her boyfriend leaves her and refuses to adequately support her and their children?

• How does a young woman in her 20s overcome her sorrow when the last time she saw her father was when she was four years old?

• How do Christians deal with disillusionment regarding gossip and slander, politics and one-upmanship in the church they love?

• How do the relatives and friends of the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 cope?

• How does Leah live with being the girl nobody wanted?

• What do people do with a broken woman caught in the very act of adultery?
  

The End (Mk 14:53-15:39), Tim Keller, King's Cross.