tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-297268972024-03-07T12:48:55.542-05:00The View from the Cheap SeatsFarther from the stage...further into real life.Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-16604065416214243932020-07-21T11:15:00.002-04:002020-07-21T11:15:41.781-04:00How Can I Rejoice Now?
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope... (Romans 5:3-4)
As Paul sat in a Roman prison, he wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice" (Phil. 4:4). If you're a Christian, you've heard this text quoted often. Through it, we're reminded that rejoicing Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-74434427182277350892020-07-20T10:31:00.000-04:002020-07-20T10:42:58.655-04:00Family Ties
"...faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness...The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised" (Romans 4:9, 11-12).
In Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-80769015842521930822020-06-09T15:41:00.000-04:002020-06-09T16:12:54.479-04:00The Phrase or the Organization?Black lives matter. Black Lives Matter. These three words seem to be everywhere around us. They're on T-shirts. They're on posters. They're on bumper stickers. They're spray painted on plywood boards that cover holes where windows once were. They're on social media and television. They were on the lips of a parade of peaceful protesters I saw while Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-59355056978952079592020-01-07T17:56:00.000-05:002020-01-07T17:56:13.346-05:00Are you behind yet?When a new year rolls around, it's not uncommon for Christians to recommit themselves to the spiritual discipline of Bible reading. It's a great goal, and our spiritual lives are fed by such a discipline (Mt. 4:4).
Was that one of your goals for 2020? Is this the year you're finally going to read through the New Testament? Or maybe the whole Bible? There are Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-24001424725228420572019-10-08T18:13:00.004-04:002019-10-08T18:13:42.450-04:00Walking by Sight, Not by FaithIn 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul says that Christians "walk by faith, not by sight." This should be the normal rhythm of the Christian life. What God says, not what I see, governs how I live. God's Word determines how I walk through the circumstances of life. The circumstances of life do not determine how or whether I walk with God.
Yet, so often, the circumstances of life are Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-82834851296237436252015-05-19T10:22:00.000-04:002015-05-19T10:22:50.615-04:00Worship with RegularityHow do we approach public worship as a Christian? What about private worship? Have we made it a habit to worship the Lord publicly, as well as privately? Do we discipline ourselves to do both regularly? Now, I realize that asking such questions may result in confusion or even accusation. After all, when we talk about making habits and establishingToby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-34575910348151032462014-10-21T11:31:00.001-04:002014-10-21T11:31:36.052-04:00The New Phonebooks Are Here!: Church Directories, and My Bittersweet ExperienceIn the 1979 movie, The Jerk, Steve Martin plays Navin R. Johnson, a
character described as a "befuddled homeless simpleton". In one
scene, Navin yanks a phone book out of a delivery guys
hands and begins furiously whipping through pages. Then, he stops
and yells that most famous line. "The new phonebook's here!
The new phonebook's here!"
Why is he Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-67067395246934169312014-02-03T14:36:00.002-05:002014-02-03T14:47:08.514-05:00Reflections on "The Soulwinner's Reward"
One of the books I'm currently reading is The Soulwinner by C.H. Spurgeon. My colleagues and I on the pastoral staff are reading and discussing it together. I have found this book and our discussions on it to be helpful and challenging.
The chapter we are reading this week is called "The Soulwinner's Reward." In it, Spurgeon addresses rewards for those who are activelyToby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-56336279954446316992014-01-11T13:10:00.002-05:002014-01-11T13:10:57.513-05:00Grace, Gladness, and a Good Man
"The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord." - Acts 11:21-24
I've been to a lot of Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-65177501439488769972014-01-09T13:53:00.000-05:002014-01-09T14:09:12.623-05:00Sickness, Snow, and the Sunday Offering[Even before you start reading, it's best to just say it. Just seeing this post is a bit comical, isn't it? A pastor. Writing about giving. On a week after there was no church service. No offering. Giggle to yourself. I did. Then I thought, "How should we think about these things?" And I decided this question was worth the giggles...the rolledToby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-47134224615652401132013-10-07T13:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T13:04:14.059-04:00So Others Will Glory in Christ"...so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again." - Philippians 1:26
This morning, as I read Philippians 1, I was struck by this verse. I paused. Went back. Read the paragraph again. And was struck even more deeply.
In this verse, Paul is telling the Philippians that he wants to be part of the reason they glory in Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-2574655183058136212013-09-11T16:41:00.001-04:002013-09-11T16:41:17.207-04:00Grace is Not a MulliganAt this point in our church's life, I have the joyful responsibility of not only preaching the Word of God to the people of God...I also have the privilege of leading God's people in God's praise. I get to lead an talented group of brothers and sisters in our praise team. Together, we work hard preparing for Sunday morning's service. I spend time writing chord charts Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-15072370325592808652013-06-25T16:08:00.001-04:002013-06-25T16:08:14.500-04:00Forgive and Forget?[This post follows a sermon titled "From Forgiven to Forgiving."]
There are times, as a preacher, when I have a clear sense that what I will say is particularly relevant. Three important Sundays come to mind in this respect. The first was April 18, 2004. Six days prior I had been called to a 9 PM meeting of all the pastoral staff of the church where I served. That Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-297441816501259782013-06-04T17:54:00.002-04:002013-06-04T17:54:43.472-04:00Applying Philippians 3 to Our Lives[This entry follows a sermon titled "That I May Know Him."]
In Philippians 1, the apostle Paul tells his readers that they must contend side by side for the sake of the gospel. They must defend it and advance it in the midst of adverse conditions. In chapter 3, we get a glimpse of this glorious gospel. Paul describes what it is to be part of the "real circumcision"...the true Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-12362541177638981972013-05-07T13:59:00.001-04:002013-05-07T13:59:49.575-04:00Grumbling, Isolation, and Sound Judgment[This entry follows a sermon titled, "Work Out Your Own Salvation, Part 2."]
This past Sunday, we studied Philippians 2:14-16
together. Having told the Philippians
church that they must "work out their own salvation with fear and
trembling" (v. 12), the apostle Paul goes on to give them a practical
example of how they might do this: "do all things without grumbling or
questioning" (v. 14).Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-60713863648245983932013-03-20T18:02:00.004-04:002013-03-20T18:02:48.518-04:00Helping Others Interpret Life Biblically[This entry follows a sermon titled "Interpreting Life Biblically."]
As we studied Philippians 1:12-26 on Sunday, we saw that Paul interpreted his past, present, and future biblically. He was constantly wanting to see his life through the lens of the Bible, and we were all challenged to do the same.
If I am going to see life with a biblical lens, then I am going to need help.&Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-33952275619530615152013-03-12T12:54:00.000-04:002013-03-12T12:54:01.181-04:00Recognizing Evidences of Grace[This entry follows a sermon titled "Paul's Confidence and Concern."]
There are times when we all struggle in our journey of spiritual growth. Times we feel stagnant. Times we think we're going backward rather than forward. Times when we unwisely compare ourselves with brothers and sisters in our church, wondering why we aren't as spiritually mature as that person. These Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-80181630337894339432013-02-28T10:56:00.002-05:002013-02-28T10:56:41.022-05:00A Prayer for Grace[This entry follows last Sunday's sermon, titled "Grace to You."]
This past Sunday, we looked at Paul's greeting to the Philippians. There, we saw that Paul's greeting was centered on Jesus Christ. Not only that, but the entire letter centers on Jesus Christ. Much more, Paul's whole ministry and life centered on Jesus Christ.
Also, we looked at the two ways that Paul refers toToby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-1619658506395281782013-01-23T14:05:00.002-05:002013-01-23T14:06:02.605-05:00Too Much Month at the End of My Money[This entry follows a sermon titled "The Conflict We Must Win," the second in a three-part series on financial stewardship.]
This past Sunday, we looked at the parable of the rich fool and the text that follows it in Luke 12, and we thought about the way we must battle against the sin covetousness. "Covetousness" may seem a strange word to some, but it essentially means greed.&Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-61576053636802276512012-12-11T16:40:00.001-05:002012-12-11T16:40:18.197-05:00Submission in Congregations[This entry follows a sermon titled "Follow the Leaders".]
This past Sunday, we finished our sermon series on church leadership with a study on the congregation's response to its pastors. Namely, we talked about "the 's' word"...submission.
Submission is really a nasty word in many people's minds. In our culture, submission (in general) is taken to mean that the one Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-45030204122420624912012-12-05T22:35:00.001-05:002012-12-06T11:46:05.437-05:00A Few More Words on Deacons[This entry follow a sermon titled "Deacons: A Fresh Look at a Familiar Office."]
This past Sunday, we continued our sermon series called "Church Leadership: Understanding God's Plan for God's People." Specifically, we looked at the office and function of deacons in a local church by asking three questions.
Let's answer again briefly. First, what is a deacon? A deacon is Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-39628972699536714892012-11-13T17:27:00.002-05:002012-11-13T17:27:49.777-05:00Defeated by Demands[This entry follows a sermon titled "A Few Good Men: The Character of Church Leadership."]
Anytime I teach or preach on the biblical qualifications for pastors, found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, I am challenged and convicted. To be honest, I don't have to be teaching it. All it takes is a thoughtful reading of these texts, and the Lord challenges and Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-16721773928469333242012-11-07T14:32:00.001-05:002012-11-07T14:32:20.242-05:00Keep Reading and Studying the BibleWhen I was in high school, I attended the First Baptist Church of Concord in Knoxville, Tennessee. Each Sunday, our music minister, Dave Hyers, would stand up, tell us the page number of the hymn we would sing, and then he would conduct the congregation as a large choir of worshippers. Many people have a similar experience and love their memories of those kinds of services.
Now, Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-10170049184120857822012-10-31T15:33:00.001-04:002012-10-31T15:33:17.778-04:00The Office of Pastor: Avoiding Extremes[This entry follows a sermon entitled "The Longing to Lead."]
In Sunday's sermon, we looked at a man's aspiration and desire for the office of overseer/elder/pastor from 1 Timothy 3:1. Considering that text and its context, we thought about the nature of the desire, the object of the desire, and the limit of the desire. As we work through this series on church Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29726897.post-515005531193325982012-10-23T16:59:00.001-04:002012-10-23T17:53:02.148-04:00An Appropriate Affection for Pastors[This entry follows a sermon titled "Paul's Pastoral Pattern: An Example for Leadership."]
NOTE: It is very awkward, as a pastor, to write anything encouraging "an appropriate affection for pastors." I'm sure it may seem self-serving to some...like a desperate cry for love. However, as I write, I think not of myself, for I could not imagine serving among a more loving Toby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03244489295902919877noreply@blogger.com