Reviewing Prepare Him Room
Jake Phillips reviews "Prepare Him Room," the latest Christmas album from Sovereign Grace and Bob Kauflin. He's mostly interested in the title of the album and what it means. ...
Keep ReadingJanuary 31, 2012
"The gospel, applied to our hearts every day, frees us to be brutally honest with ourselves and with God. The assurance of His total forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ means we don't have to play defensive games anymore. We don't have to rationalize and excuse our sins. We can say we told a lie instead of saying we exaggerated a bit. We can admit an unforgiving spirit instead of continuing to blame our parents for our emotional distress. We can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be, because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross. With the assurance of total forgiveness through Christ, we have no reason to hide from our sins anymore."...
January 6, 2012
I'm at a season of life where it seems like it's time to slow down. Nothing is working quite right anymore. I need glasses for aging eyes and anti-inflammtories for aging joints. I forget names and what commonly used household gadgets are called. Solitude invites me to steal away (which I enjoy doing at times!) while a growing family and new church lovingly require me to get even busier than ever. The commercials say Benny and I should be anticipating retirement after all the years of being in the throes of parenting and pastoring. Sometimes I envy those who can....
September 30, 2014 | Category: Current Events | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, Christmas, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona, Christmas music, Prepare Him Room
Jake Phillips reviews "Prepare Him Room," the latest Christmas album from Sovereign Grace and Bob Kauflin. He's mostly interested in the title of the album and what it means. ...
Keep ReadingSeptember 30, 2014 | Category: Cultural Values | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, humility, redeemer, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona, postmodernism, college, education, cultural engagement, postmodernity, pseudo-modernism, pseudo-modernity, Outrage Industry
Jake Phillips addresses issues related to the death of postmodernism and the rise of pseudo-modernism, which he calls "narcissism as epistemology." How does this impact how we should prepare (either ourselves or our kids) for cultural engagement in college?...
Keep ReadingSeptember 26, 2014 | 2 Comments by Benny and Sheree Phillips | Category: Parenting | Tags: Redeemer Church, Benny Phillips, Lake Nona Church, blog, lake Nona, Lake Nona Churches, parenting, lee vista, lee vista church, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, motherhood, Gospel-centeredness, church blog, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona, fatherhood, teenagers
As the parents of 7 and grandparents of 15, people sometimes ask us for parenting advice. Perhaps we've gotten to a place in our lives where we have something to offer, if only due to the fact that we survived 35 years of parenting, are still married and actually have a warm relationship with all the once-little people who are now giving us little ones of their own. Really...
Keep ReadingSeptember 24, 2014 by Eric Garrett | Category: Church Values | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, blog, lake Nona, bible, church life, Orlando Church, Lake Nona Churches, Community, Scripture, Eric Garrett, lee vista, lee vista church, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, The church, church ministry, church blog, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona, unity, diversity, unified diversity
Something unexpected happened to me on Sunday morning. While I was preparing to teach for our children's ministry, Truth Miners, I was struck by the profundity of the passage I was about to teach from. One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how God reveals to both young and old the same truths in profound ways. I was so affected by what I studied that I want to share s...
Keep ReadingSeptember 23, 2014 | 1 Comments by | Category: Poetry | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, grace, healing, Orlando Church, Lake Nona Churches, Hope, Sin, lee vista, lee vista church, the coming light, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, church blog, poetry, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona
Constant friend, my soul's own darkness, constant still, my soul's repose In the alley of soul's shadow, lurks a monster of my own Chained by sinful thoughts immoral, chained by sinful deeds done bold Soul and spirit war between me, making war, my corpse gone cold...
Keep ReadingSeptember 22, 2014 by Bob Putman | Category: Sermon Review | Tags: Redeemer Church, Benny Phillips, Lake Nona Church, blog, lake Nona, bible, gospel, Orlando Church, Lake Nona Churches, Scripture, lee vista, lee vista church, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, sermon review, redeemer blog, sermon, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona, Galatians, Galatian's series, from slavery to sonship
On Sunday morning Pastor Benny reprised his excellent intro to the Book of Galatians by focusing on the Apostle Paul as a “freedom fighter for truth.” Judaizers from Jerusalem had come to the churches Paul had planted in Galatia making three accusations against Paul: 1. He was not an apostle. 2. He was not preaching the true gospel. 3. The gospel (of grace) he preac...
Keep ReadingSeptember 19, 2014 | 1 Comments by Sarah Grace Pavelchak | Category: Friends of Redeemer | Tags: military, military families, Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, blog, lake Nona, evangelism, gospel, Lake Nona Churches, Faith, cultural values, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, Gospel-centeredness, cultural issues, evangelize, church blog, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona
Being a Christian in modern military life could be compared to a salmon making the tough journey up stream. There are times it can feel as though everything in life is coming at you trying to drive you in the mainstream direction, opposite of what you're striving towards. There are so many hardships and uncertainties: low finances, multiple moves, many times having a lack ...
Keep ReadingSeptember 18, 2014 | Category: Moments in Church History | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, abortion, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona, history, church history, Ireland, Irish history, priest, mother, social transmission, Irish constitution, divorce
Jake Phillips begins our periodic series on Moments in Church History by writing about the historic connection in Irish society between the Priest (church) and the Mother (cultural values). Is there a connection to the current conversation in the United States about the role that Judeo-Christian values should have on government and society?...
Keep ReadingSeptember 17, 2014 by Eric Garrett | Category: Cultural Values | Tags: Redeemer Church of Lake Nona, Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, wealth, money, folly, Sin, wisdom, Proverbs
What does it mean to pursue wealth? We know that the love of money is the root of evil, but is pursuing wealth necessarily a bad thing? Eric Garrett explores what can often be a touchy subject....
Keep ReadingSeptember 16, 2014 | 1 Comments | Category: Cultural Values | Tags: Redeemer Church, lake Nona, Lake Nona Church, redeemer, false humility, humility, Criticism, rape culture, modesty, internalizing criticism, 2 Corinthians 11
What does it mean to internalize illegitimate criticism? For starters, it is evidence not of humility but of false humility, and it neither serves nor is loving towards others. Jake Phillips explains further, using 2 Corinthians 11 as an example. ...
Keep ReadingSeptember 12, 2014 | Category: Cultural Values | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, bible, Orlando Church, Lake Nona Churches, Sin, lee vista, Fighting the battle of temptation, lee vista church, cultural values, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, social issues, cultural issues, church blog, sex, sexual ethics
“Oh, great,” said everyone. “Another church railing against promiscuity, homosexuality, and how society is going to hell in a handbasket. Just what I want to read today (this is not what I want to read today).” I know there is something archaic and cliché to read a blog post about sexual ethics from an evangelical church. Having admitted that, I hope you’ll bear...
Keep ReadingSeptember 11, 2014 | 3 Comments by Daniel Bell | Category: Friends of Redeemer | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, gospel, Orlando Church, Lake Nona Churches, lee vista, lee vista church, art, artist, cultural values, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, cultural issues, church blog, poetry, written art, spoken word
If you step inside a major city, you see art everywhere. You see it on the billboards and the crossing signs; you hear it in the form of music on radio or see it on giant T.V.'s in places like New York City. If you pay attention to those things, they have one thing in common--communication. These mediums of art usually bring a message to the viewer or listener to express s...
Keep ReadingSeptember 10, 2014 by Eric Garrett | Category: Church Values | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, Fellowship, lake Nona, vision, ministry, bible, church life, grace, Orlando Church, Lake Nona Churches, Community, Scripture, lee vista, lee vista church, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, church ministry, church blog
There is something that's been on my heart about the life of our church (and others) for some time. Although I've discussed it briefly in various contexts I've never really sat down to try and succinctly articulate what it is...here it goes. I hope this turns out to be helpful for you. Week in and week out, as we gather together to lift up our Savior with one voice as a ch...
Keep ReadingSeptember 9, 2014 | Category: Evangelism | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, evangelism, gospel, Lake Nona Churches, Racism, cultural values, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, the gospel, Muslim, redeemer blog, social issues, cultural issues, preaching the gospel, evangelize, church blog, duck dynasty, Islam, ISIS
There are reasons to respect Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the family at the center of AMC’s blockbuster hit Duck Dynasty. He was a good enough athlete to start over 4-time Super Bowl champion Terry Bradshaw while in college even though he didn’t think much about practice. He was, by his own admission, a borderline alcoholic and druggie until he was miraculously sav...
Keep ReadingSeptember 8, 2014 by Bob Putman | Category: Sermon Review | Tags: ordination, qualifications for ministry, pastoral ordination, pastor, Redeemer Church, Benny Phillips, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, Orlando Church, Lake Nona Churches, Jesse Phillips, news, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, leadership
Sunday was an historic day at Redeemer Church, as we celebrated the ordination of Jesse Phillips, son of Pastor Benny Phillips and his wife Sheree. Numerous visitors were present for the service, including guests from Metro Life Church, Orlando, where Jesse grew up and was called to ministry....
Keep ReadingSeptember 5, 2014 | 1 Comments by Jesse Phillips | Category: Parenting | Tags: parenting, Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, blog, lake Nona, Lake Nona Churches, Faith, lee vista, family, lee vista church, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, church blog
The other lesson we have learned as parents is to trust. With each new child comes a new challenge. As each child enters a new season of life, a new challenge is introduced. As parents we are constantly relearning how to be parents, trying to remember how we did things with our older kids and driven to our knees to trust God for wisdom when we have none of our own. If your...
Keep ReadingSeptember 4, 2014 | Category: Friends of Redeemer | Tags: criminal law, extrospective understanding, introspective understanding, Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, bible, Lake Nona Churches, Sin, Christian Character, lee vista, lee vista church, cultural values, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, the gospel, redeemer blog, social issues, Gospel-centeredness, cultural issues, church blog
When I decided to go to law school, I received many comments like “Are you going to be one of the ones who keeps the criminals off the street?” and “Nice. So you’re going to get the bad guys and make sure they pay.” At the time, I had no difficulty with these statements. Though I had no intention of pursuing a career in criminal law, I figured that if I did, it w...
Keep ReadingSeptember 3, 2014 by Eric Garrett | Category: Evangelism | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, evangelism, bible, gospel, Orlando Church, Lake Nona Churches, Scripture, mission, Eric Garrett, lee vista, lee vista church, redeemerchurch, redeemer, the gospel, redeemer blog, steps to disciple making, discipling, making disciples, kingdom of God, evangelize, church blog
Like my good friend Alex Thermenos, you may have thought that last week's post was the final post in this series on making disciples. Now this is understandable. I mean, after touching base with the lost, talking to them, enjoying meals with them at your dinner table, teaching them how the gospel relates to their lives, tying them into the fellowship of the church, and cal...
Keep ReadingSeptember 2, 2014 by | Category: Poetry | Tags: poetry, Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, grace, healing, Lake Nona Churches, Idolatry, lee vista, Fighting the battle of temptation, lee vista church, art, redeemerchurch, lakenonachurch, Mercy, redeemer blog
A twisted seed writhing forth, converging in the soil Bringing darkness, birthing fear, mindless in its toil Distorts the call of shameless grace, rejects the call of hope It cannot see the barren soul from which its blackness sloped...
Keep Reading