Mike Yankoski - Under the Overpass

As we finish up this week of sermons examining the Christian's responsibility to love and serve the poor, I am challenged and encouraged. I hope you are as well. I think a message by Mike Yankoski is a fitting way to end. The first two messages were exhorting and inspiring. The next four messages provided the biblical foundation for the necessity of working with the poor. And I believe the message today will complete and finish the week with an excellent challenge. If you don't know his story of spending an intentional 6 months as a homeless person, you will be inspired, convicted and enlightened in a very profound way. I led a inner city/homeless exposure mission trip to San Francisco with 17 high school students. Before they left, they all read this book. It was a very simple yet impactful read.

Here is the link. (scroll down to the very bottom of the page)

John Piper - Good News to the Poor

This sermon on the poor is a great look at the plight of the poor as well as a call to defend and take up the cause of the poor. What speaks to me as well is how this is call to minister to the poor is described in the sermon as #5 of the Fresh Initiatives of the Bethlehem Mission and Vision Statement. How many churches build into their mission statement that the church exists to minister to the poor? Both Tim Keller and John Piper have. Which makes me hope that many will follow in their paths...

Here is the link!

John Piper - Gospel to the nations, Generosity to the Poor

This is the first of two John Piper sermons this week, instructing us and challenging us to spend our days ministering to the poor. I love how Piper in this examination of Galatians illustrated for us how central caring for the poor is as part of the gospel. I had never really heard it that way before. He also combines this talk on a mission's Sunday, and invites people to give their lives as a missionary to the poor. The cool thing about John Piper is combines both great scripture content with a passion that is unmatched in preaching. Another nice thing is that you can either read his sermon or listen to it. So, if you haven't the time today to listen, just take a few minutes and read it. This sermon really continues the education process and builds upon the other sermons this past week that invite us into a world where we have for too long ignored.

Here is the link!

Tim Keller - Blueprint fror Revival:Social Concern

I am heading out of town tomorrow and so I thought I would get tomorrow done today. Tim Keller is one of the leading voices in many areas, but among them is the church, church planting and being a light in the city. For some of the resources that he offers, check out this cool blog. In this talk he is finishing up a five week series of what he views as the five necessary components of every church body. The last is social concern, or working and loving the poor. As I mentioned before, his talk titled Blessed are the Poor was my first sermon added, and it is a thorough apologetic of the Bible, the Christian and the Poor. This talk is a little more roundabout, but in his teaching he gives great theology for why the poor and then answers all the contending questions we all have that keep us from loving on the poor. Tim Keller is amazing at his ability to throughly teach and wholly convince and painfully convict. After listening to Tim Keller, I am not sure how any church can not see that it is God's will for churches to work for love on the poor. Let me know if you agree or disagree...

Here is the link!
It is under the "serving sermons" #3...

Rick McKinley - Good News to the Poor

Imago Dei Community began as a dream to see a church where people could explore the claims of historical Christianity and believers could connect with God in a deep way through Christ. In November, 1999, Pastor Rick McKinley moved with his wife, Jeanne, and their four children back to Portland. He left a ministry in LaGrande, Oregon, where he ran an alternative service on Saturday nights. And the rest is history.

My wife's uncle and aunt go to this church and I have see their lives transformed in this community. Don Miller writes much in his books about this church and his conversations with Rick. My buddy who went to Bible College with Rick just had lunch with him last week and came back changed. I have listened to a few sermons by this great man. I heard a sermon he did at Mars Hill Bible Church in Michigan awhile back that was revolutionary for me in thinking about how church should operate, and that great sermon became his second book, "This Beautiful Mess." There is nothing special about him, and I think that is what makes him such a powerful speaker... He is authentic, honest, humble and real. His life matches his words.

This sermon is a great transition from the previous two because it gives some theological foundation to our responsibility to the poor, but then takes it a step further by helping us see our poverty and how God wants to transform all poverty into the glory that is Christ in us. I know I keep saying, "You have to listen to this" but it is really good.

Here is the link!

Doug Nichols - You give them something to eat

Doug & Margaret Nichols have served in missions for nearly 40 years of which 20 years were in the Philippines. They presently reside in Seattle, Washington, where Doug serves as Founder and International Director Emeritus with Action International Ministries. He is the Facilitator of Children in Crisis, Leadership Development, and Pastoral Leadership Development with a special focus of evangelism, discipleship, and development to the urban poor and underprivileged children.

In case you didn't catch it, he founded the ministry that Stephanie and I are going with to Zambia.

If there is anyone who deserves to speak about the poor, Doug is uniquely qualified. He founded ACTION ministries primarily to reach the needy, the neglected and the nobodies throughout the world. He is an amazing speaker with some amazing stories. He is challenging and inspiring. This message he gave at our church, Northlake Community Church, was full of tears, laughter and practical things we can do to change the world. I can't recommend it enough.

And as an added bonus, he gives a nice little insight about the ministry my family will be doing in Africa training pastors and you hear my voice reading the scripture and praying... Definitely worth your while to listen to this great message from a truly great in grace man.

Here is the link!

Shane Claiborne - Finding Your Calcutta

Since I am still in the beginning stages of this sermon blog, I am able to evaluate and re-evaluate how this blog will evolve. I will change the blog and the blog will change me. I decided that I am going to experiment with themes for a few week. This week I am going to focus on what the Bible says about the poor. I am starting off with a talk by Shane Claiborne. I am not sure if you have heard of him, but if you haven't, I promise you will. He is fast becoming a voice among many college and young adults, and is being featured in many colleges and emerging churches. This talk that he gave was done at Mars Hill Bible Church in Michigan (the church where Rob Bell is the senior pastor). Anyway, it was a great glimpse into how we can make a difference in the world among the poor and suffering... The title comes from his time with Mother Teresa where she told Shane to go find his own Calcutta. He shares many great stories and then challenges the listeners with stories from "normal" people using their gifts and finding their Calcutta's. It isn't necessarily a biblical exposition of how to love the poverty, (for this listen to Tim Keller's Blessed are the Poor-the first very sermon on this blog), but it is inspiring, encouraging, practical and challenging. The first 40 minutes is the sermon and then he does a question and answer which is interesting, but not necessary to listen too... The picture is his book "Irresistible Revolution." I have read it. Though I don't agree with all his opinions, it was catalytic in many ways in our heart for the poor and the world.

Download the message audio from here. It is at the bottom of the page - scroll down and look for his name. There is no date before his name.

Thanks!