Verge 2014 Part 1 of 4 | Redeemed: Jesus is Better Notes of Quotes
I thank God for The Austin Stone Community Church. I thank God for the Austin Stone Worship band led by Aaron Ivey. I thank God for Michael Stewart and for The Austin Stone continuing to support the Verge Network and host the Verge conference. Last year, I went to Verge 2013 and God used my time in Austin to make a profound impact on me. This year, I was not able to go due to the conference schedule shifting from the end of February to the end of March. No worries. Verge streams the conference on a free webcast so I was still able to see a good chunk of it. I'm going to provide a series of posts over the course of the next couple of days featuring some of the highlights I heard from what I was able to catch. These won't be full on reflective posts, but rather notes of quotes for quick perusing.
Halim Suh and Paul Tripp's talks started things off right during the Redeemed: Jesus is Better section of the conference. Right before Halim took the stage, Aaron Ivey and Austin Stone Worship provided the central focus with the song, "Jesus is Better." Here is a video link and lyrics for "Jesus is Better" by Austin Stone Worship for those who have never heard it.
Halim Suh
The Austin Stone Community Church
Pastor of Teaching and Theology
"Sometimes it's difficult to believe that Jesus is better. More than any sorrow? More than any comfort? More than any victory? Jesus is better? That's why we sing, and pray, "Make my heart believe."
Mark 14:3-9 | What do we see Mary doing?
"Simon the leper is throwing a 'thank you' party for Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Mary knew Jesus was going to the cross. She knew He was going to die. And she broke a jar of perfume worth 300 denarii (i.e. 300 days wages = $35,000 – $45,000) on His feet to anoint Him. This was a financial heirloom, potential security for her and her family. The need of this jar would have been all the more prevalent with her and Martha having just witnessed the death of their brother, Lazarus. In fact, after he was raised, the Pharisees actually plotted to kill Lazarus (John 12:9-11)."
"All everyone else could see was the perfume. But all Mary could see was Jesus. And when she lets down her hair, she is saying here is everything that I am and it's Yours, Jesus. In that society, letting down your hair was reserved as the most intimate act between a husband and wife."
"Are we going to Jesus and providing Him with the many things we have done in His name, or do we go to Him with everything that makes us who we are and saying, 'It's all Yours.'? Mary gave everything that she had and everything that she was."
Luke 10:38-42 | How did Mary do it?
"Jesus said to Martha and Mary before, 'But one thing is necessary (to humbly sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His teaching)'. And it's not that this action is unique to Mary. She's been here before."
"With Jesus, mission becomes worship. Without Jesus, mission becomes slavery."
Mark 14:3-9 | What do we see Mary doing?
"Simon the leper is throwing a 'thank you' party for Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Mary knew Jesus was going to the cross. She knew He was going to die. And she broke a jar of perfume worth 300 denarii (i.e. 300 days wages = $35,000 – $45,000) on His feet to anoint Him. This was a financial heirloom, potential security for her and her family. The need of this jar would have been all the more prevalent with her and Martha having just witnessed the death of their brother, Lazarus. In fact, after he was raised, the Pharisees actually plotted to kill Lazarus (John 12:9-11)."
"Mary is saying, 'This is the most valuable thing that I have. Here it is. Jesus, You are more valuable than anything I have.' So we can ask ourselves, 'What is most valuable to me that if I lost it, I would lose all sense of security and safety?' Mary is showing us that Jesus is where our security and safety can rest."
"All everyone else could see was the perfume. But all Mary could see was Jesus. And when she lets down her hair, she is saying here is everything that I am and it's Yours, Jesus. In that society, letting down your hair was reserved as the most intimate act between a husband and wife."
"Are we going to Jesus and providing Him with the many things we have done in His name, or do we go to Him with everything that makes us who we are and saying, 'It's all Yours.'? Mary gave everything that she had and everything that she was."
Luke 10:38-42 | How did Mary do it?
"Jesus said to Martha and Mary before, 'But one thing is necessary (to humbly sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His teaching)'. And it's not that this action is unique to Mary. She's been here before."
"In Luke 10:38-42, Mark 14:3-9, and John 12:1-8, we see Mary again and again at the feet of Jesus. Not doing or accomplishing anything, but sitting. She never forgot how to sit in His joy and listen. So we need to ask ourselves, 'Have I forgotten how to sit with Him and listen so I will know what to do and how to do it?'"
Paul David Tripp
Redeemer Seminary
Professor of Pastoral Life and Care
Paul Tripp Ministries
"Ministry is war. The way we see the horizontal chaos will be dependent on the fruit of a deeper battle between the kingdom of self versus the Kingdom of God."
Matthew 6:19-32 | Direction of the kingdom of self and its treasures that will not satisfy
"Most treasures are assigned value; they don't have any intrinsic value themselves. Everyone lives for some kind of treasure. And our treasures control our heart. And what controls our heart will control our words and our behavior."
"You can want success. You can want to be faithful to God's Word and God's Spirit. You can want to be encouraged and appreciated. You can want leadership, servant leaders, and learners. But none of these things should rule our hearts."
"The kingdom of self is a costume kingdom. Whether you recognize it or not, it will masquerade as the Kingdom of God in your life. The treasures of this world can infiltrate your walk with God, but they will never satisfy your heart in the end."
Matthew 6:33 | Direction of the Kingdom of God and how He meets our needs
"What do we tell ourselves is essential in our home life? In our work life? For our rest? For our ministry? Because our identity, our direction, our security, all of our greatest needs are found at the foot of the cross of Jesus. He paid it all. He gives us everything we need. This is how He brought His kingdom to earth so that all the blessings of heaven would be ours."
"We need to learn how to humbly and continually pray in each area of life 'Your kingdom, Your will be done'. 'Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' (Luke 12:32)."
"When we look at our lives, what are the good things that have become bad things because they've become ruling things? And remember, there is nothing that can be exposed about you that hasn't been covered in the blood of Jesus."
– Sully
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