A Brick in the Valley

One of my concerns for the church in North America today is that local churches are too disconnected from one another. While there are several highly visible churches, many of the people in our local churches have relatively little awareness of what is going on in modest congregations like the Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley, IL.

In the coming weeks, I have asked several pastors to introduce us to their churches.  Today I am introducing Jeremy Carr and Oxford Bible Fellowship.  It is Jeremy’s good fortune to be married to one of the loveliest young ladies on earth, our niece Michelle McWilliams Carr. 

In addition to the fact that our niece is the pastor’s wife, another exciting aspect of Oxford Bible Fellowship is that it is located adjacent to the campus of Miami.  The church has an exciting ministry with college students.

Tell us where your church is at geographically and give us your web site.

We are located in Oxford, Ohio, 30 minutes north of Cincinnati.  Our church is on the corner of the campus of Miami University.  www.obf.org

How long have you been the pastor there?

Two and a half years.

Tell us about your family.

This March, celebrating 9 years of marriage to Chris Brauns’ niece Michelle.  She’s beautiful and loyal like crazy.  We have 3 little girls: Lexys (5), Sydney (3), Quinn (1).  We don’t sleep.  We do watch a lot of princess movies.  I’m trying to talk Michelle into a dog or an SUV.

Is there a blog or web site where we can read more about you?

Well, blogged like a dying man for 3 months, then I guess I said everything I know, but here is the address: http://jeremyacarr.blogspot.com/

What is the theological or denominational heritage of your church?  Is that identity changed?

The church was started by a group of Miami professors and their wives, including Edwin Yamauchi, who is still at the church.  It started with a Brethren model of no paid pastors, but as it grew hired pastors. I’m just the third senior pastor in 40 years.  In 2001, the church joined the EFCA.   I’m pretty reformed theologically, so that has been a change in the past couple years.  Probably not as much of a change as an increased emphasis on theology and the Bible.

Are there any other pastoral staff?

We have staffed more with support staff and directors (children, youth, worship) that are mostly part-time.  But we are about to hire a Pastor of Community Life.

Briefly, what is your approach to preaching?  Do you topical series?  Book by book?

Exposition through books interspersed with series (relationships, stewardship, etc.), but typically the series focus on an exposition of a particular text.  I try to balance OT series with NT series.  In 2 1/2 years I have done Daniel, Nehemiah, Colossians, and Ephesians.  God needs to speak.  He uses me as a preacher, but he speaks through His Word by the power of the Spirit.

What is currently being preached on at your church?  Can we listen online?

"Walk Worthy" Ephesians 4-6.  You can listen by visiting www.obf.org and clicking on Messages.

What style of music do you use as a part of your worship service?

Full band with a mix of main stream songs and hymns.  Hymns are usually set to modern music.  Our criteria has more to do with content (God-centered songs) than style, although style is also important.

Why should someone who lives in your area and is looking for a church home think about visiting your church?

By God’s grace we are doing our best to faithfully teach His Word in a relevant way.  We emphasize Christ, the Gospel, and relational Christian living.  We seek to minister to every member of the family.  We long to change our community and world for Christ. 

Tell us about one memory or incident from your church in which you believe God was glorified and you and your flock experienced joy.

Being in a college town, one of my deepest joys is baptizing students who have given their lives to Christ.  Our church really responds to this, and it builds our faith.  I just baptized 4 students a few weeks ago and hearing their excitement is contagious. 

Yesterday, I posted that we should be praying for fires when the Word is preached in our local churches (see here). 

Below are more quotes on unction or Spirit empowered boldness and clarity.

“We are not inspired as the apostles were, but the Spirit of inspiration illumines our minds and grants unction to our lips as we, too, seek to combine spiritual truths with spiritual words.” Edmund Clowney[1]

“It appears to me that in the Bible, it is the message that is anointed by God as much as the messenger. Unction seems to live in God-given messages, as fire dwells in lava. The fire is in the message and the warning to the preacher is not to let it cool. Unction is not so much poured out as lifted up and delivered . . .when we faithfully reiterate Scripture, when our exposition exhales what the Lord has breathed into it, when our hearts are impassioned with Bible truth and our characters are refined by its heat, there is unction.” Lee Eclov[2]

“What is preaching? Logic on fire! Eloquent reason! Are these contradictions? Of they are not. Reason concerning this Truth ought to be mightily eloquent, as you see it in the case of the Apostle Paul and others. It is theology on fire. And a theology which does not take fire, I maintain, is a defective theology.”[3] David Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

“What is [unction]? It is the Holy Spirit falling upon the preacher in a special manner. It is an access of power. It is God giving power, and enabling, through the Spirit, to the preacher in order that he may do this work in a manner that lifts it up beyond the efforts and endeavours of man to a position in which the preacher is being used by the Spirit and becomes the channel through whom the Spirit works.” David Martyn Lloyd-Jones.[4]

[1] Edmund P. Clowney and Gerald Lewis Bray, The Church, Contours of Christian Theology (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1995), 251.

[2] Lee Eclov, "How Does Unction Function?," in The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching, ed. Haddon Robinson and Craig Brian Larson (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005), 82, 84.

[3] D. Martyn LLoyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1972), 97.

[4] Ibid., 305.

One of the marks of biblical preaching should be unction or Spirit enabled boldness and clarity.  Or, as Lloyd-Jones more vividly stated, biblical preaching should be “logic on fire.”

Below is an excerpt from something I am currently writing.

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Biblical preaching should be “fired!” That is, preachers should proclaim the Word with a special unction or boldness. The word “unction” may not be familiar to you. Where preaching is concerned, it refers to, “a Spirit-empowered boldness that enables us to proclaim the Gospel with boldness, clarity and power.[1] Lee Eclov summarizes it this way:

Unction means the anointing of the Holy Spirit on a sermon so that something holy and powerful is added to the message that no preacher can generate, know matter how great his skills. Lee Eclov.[2]

Unction was Paul’s goal when he preached. In giving prayer requests to the Ephesians, he asked for prayer in the following way.

. . . and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak (Ephesians 6:19-20, emphasis added).

When Paul asks for prayer that he would be “bold,” he isn’t talking about the absence of fear. We know from elsewhere in Scripture that there were times when he felt fear. He wrote to the Corinthians:

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:1-5, ESV).

Paul says, “I was scared. But, it didn’t matter that I had weakness and fear and trembling.” Nor was it of concern to Paul that his words weren’t brilliant in terms of a human assessment. Paul’s preaching was life changing because he had unction: a Spirit empowered boldness that changed the lives of receptive listeners. This Spirit empowered unction allowed Paul to preach the Word not only boldly, but also understandably and clearly.

A great example of preaching with unction or boldness is found in Acts 4. Here the Greek word for “boldness” that Paul used in Ephesians 6:19-20 appears twice. Peter and John pray for unction or as it is translated here, “boldness.”

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:29-31, ESV, emphasis added).

Whatever people felt in Acts 4, nobody grumbled about boredom or complained that the sermon was irrelevant. Working powerfully in their midst, the Holy Spirit gave remarkable unity and response (Acts 4:32 ff).

Returning to Paul’s prayer request to the Ephesians, he requested prayer support that he would have this “unction” or boldness so that he could make known the mystery of the Gospel. The Gospel is a “mystery” in the sense that it can only be understood through the work of the Holy Spirit in conjunction with His Word. In Christ, the full plan of salvation can be clearly understood. Paul points to this in 1 Corinthians.

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:12-14, ESV).

The Bible and history describe many examples of powerful responses when God’s Word is preached. In Acts 4 when the Word is preached with boldness or “unction,” we read, “… great grace was upon them all (Acts 4:33).” The last word in Acts about the Apostle Paul was that he continued preaching the Word with all boldness. Again we could substitute “unction.” In a sense, Luke doesn’t end the book of Acts. He wants the reader to know that the story of the spread of the Word through the preaching is still being written.

[1] John H. Armstrong, True Revival (Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2001), 139.

[2] Eclov, "How Does Unction Function?," 81.

One of the authors I plan to read this summer on my sabbatical is Marilynne Robinson.  Regarding her Gilead: A Novel, John Piper posts:

“[It] continues to move me, months after I read it. I have waited to comment on it since I knew it would be around for decades (centuries?). I wanted to let it ripen in my memory.

Rev. John Ames is dying. The book is a kind of last testament he would like his young son to read when he is twenty-five, long after his father is dead. His voice is still with me.

So I went back to gather a few treasures. Gilead is not a "must read.” There are no “must reads” but the Bible. None.

So how do you choose what to read before you die and give an account to Jesus? I do it largely by what is awakened in me when I read samples. I hope these help. Some of the treasures.

He’d walk fifteen miles across open country in the dead of winter to settle a point of interpretation. We’d have to thaw him out before he could tell us what it was he had on his mind. (p. 16)

Existence seems to me now the most remarkable thing that could ever be imagined. (p. 53)

Read more of Piper’s quotes here.

HT: Z

An ordinary hero is a person who quietly (pastors don’t qualify) and faithfully serves.  These are people we should honor.  Do you know any ordinary heroes?  Send them to me at chris [at] theredbrickchurch.org

One of the reasons that missions is happening at the Red Brick Church in the way that it is happening is because of Dick’s leadership.  But, Dick and Shirley also mean a great deal here.

When I read a one paragraph summary like this one, I am amazed at the beauty of the Body of Christ.

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Dick & Shirley have been my heroes for several years.  I first really got to know them when they had a Bible study in their home. Later, they came to the hospital and sat with me when my son was in intensive care.  They have prayed for me and my family during many difficult times.  They have been here for me in a caring and non-judgmental way: through my bouts of depression and job loss and my son’s bad life choices and during his recovery from drug addiction.  When my mom was sick and later died I was so comforted by their prayers and their love. And the food they brought too.  Their hugs and phone calls and love have made them heroes to me.

One of the first steps to a recovering of authentic Christian preaching is to stop saying, “I prefer expository preaching.” Rather, we should define exactly what we mean when we say “preach.” What we mean is, very simply, reading the text and explaining it—reproving, rebuking, exhorting, and patiently teaching directly from the text of Scripture. If you are not doing that, then you are not preaching. Mohler, 42.

Monday is for meeting other churches and pastors

One of my concerns for the church in North America today is that local churches are too disconnected from one another. While there are several highly visible churches, many of the people in our local churches have relatively little awareness of what is going on in modest congregations like the Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley, IL.

In the coming weeks, I have asked several pastors to introduce us to their churches.  One of the real highlights for me in ministry in recent years was the opportunity to speak for Manor Park Church in England.  What struck me most about this church is how close they are as church family.  (You can see a picture of Roy and I on the right at Malvern Hill).  Not only did I enjoy preaching on forgiveness – - I was also entertained by their talent show.

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Tell us where your church is at geographically and give us your web site.

Our church is in Worcester, England, which is in the Midlands of England, www.manorparkchurch.org

How long have you been the pastor there?

Three and a half years.

Tell us about your family.

One wonderful wife, Yvonne, four boys from 18 to 8.

Is there a blog or web site where we can read more about you?

There’s a little bit of stuff on our website.

What is the theological or denominational heritage of your church? Is that identity changed?

Evangelical-conservative-reformed.

Are there any other pastoral staff?

One assistant, Ryan Muliette.

Briefly, what is your approach to preaching? Do you topical series? Book by book?

Varied! Mainly exegetical, but can be topical.

What is currently being preached on at your church? Can we listen online?

“The Walk of Faith: lessons from the life of Abraham” Yes.

What style of music do you use as a part of your worship service?

Contemporary with traditional.

Why should someone who lives in your area and is looking for a church home think about visiting your church?

Because we are Gospel centred with a passion to reach out with the Good News.

Tell us about one memory or incident from your church in which you believe God was glorified and you and your flock experienced joy.

About a year ago a 27 year old member was instantly killed in a cycle accident. The way his parents and friends passed through the trial with faith, hope and even joy has been an amazing witness to those around.

"Parochialism: “Narrowly restricted in scope or outlook; provincial”

I often tell our people that, “a local church is not a local church.”  While we certainly should be concerned across the street, we need also to think about around the world.

Stuart Briscoe writes that parochialism is a scourge:

The vision of John recorded in Revelation 5:9 tells of the throne of the Lamb of God being surrounded by people from ‘every tribe and language and people and nation.’  This is a fulfillment of the promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  In between these bookend statements, there is ample evidence that right from the beginning the church was both local and global – -some call it glocal!  Call it what you will, there is no doubt that the resource-laden church in the West and the comparatively impoverished church in the developing world are all part of one body, the church of Christ.  They belong to each other.  Parochialism is a scourge; a worldview is imperative.  Both must learn to share and encourage, to instruct and support – - the West from their abundant resources while carefully avoiding loading David with Saul’s armour; the developing world from their rich store of experience of fundamental spiritual dynamics and brave commitment, which the West all too often lacks.  This requires more than a casual interest in international affairs on the part of many believers.  International affairs are happening where our brothers and sisters live – -and many die.  It demands more than a ten-day mission trip . . .

It’s worth reading through this point from Stuart Briscoe to get to the summary statement at the end.

So great is our commitment to the thought patters of the modern world that assume every effect has a traceable, measurable, and understandable cause, that we can assume that if we get the causes right or fix them when they are not right, we can guarantee the effects.  So we have seven steps to this an five principles of that.  We have five year plans full of goals and measurable goals and intermediate goals, all of which we believe can be reached if we take the right steps and organise sufficient resources.  Then if we can keep the program running smoothly – - presto! – - the kingdom will be built.  But what of the mysterious, unmanageable, uncontrollable, unpredictable, irresistible, indefinable, unmistakable work of the Spirit?  He is the dynamic fact without whom our latest state-of-the-art, cutting-edge technology and know-how and our most sophisticated management principles are useless to penetrate the closed minds, to open the blind eyes, to demolish the spiritual strongholds, and to work the miracle of regeneration  The Holy Spirit’s dynamic working in the hearts of  individual believers and the soul of the community of faith must not be lost in the gloss of our sophistication and the polish of our performance.  He works as he chooses, not as we plan.  If we overlook this, the more likely it is that we will finish with a manmade system of canals and locks rather than a free network of brooks, streams, and rivers flowing into the brimming river of the relentless life-transforming work of the Spirit of God.  True, we will be able to keep control, and undoubtedly we can regulate the depth of the water, organise the times when the locks are open and shut, and manage the order in which the boats pass through.  But canals don’t flow; they stagnate.