Center Church: Chapters 1 & 2

Center Church

By: Timothy Keller     

Introduction: Theological Vision

    The purpose of this book can be understood by reading its introduction. Tim Keller depicts how churches often miss out on ministering to their communities for lack of good theological vision. What is theological vision? Its the middle place between Doctrine (teachings about God) and Ministry (the service of a community) in many ways theological vision will determine whether a particular Churches Doctrine can be understood by a people group, or whether that Churches ministry will be received by the culture they are seeking to serve. Theological vision is not simple to develop, it requires hard work, and a particular patience for listening and learning on behalf of the Church. But it is undervalued by most churches and is likely "THE" reason many churches fail to relate to, serve well, love affectionately, know intimately, and share in, the culture and community of the people they are supposed to be serving. Good Christian Theological Vision will include Doctrine derived from the Bible, reflection on the current culture of one's community, a godly understanding of reason, and constant consideration of where and how a particular culture can and should be challenged and or affirmed.

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Center Church

By: Timothy Keller     

Part 1: Gospel Theology

Chapter 1: Gospel

     The Gospel is not everything. Its not a moral code, or ethical teaching, it is not a pragmatic logic or method of accomplishing something. Rather the Gospel is a message of salvation. It is "the good news" and is to be shared as a result of its goodness. Since the fall of man Genesis 3:17-19 sin has brought God's curse on the entire created order. Because of this we are physically, socially, and psychologically alienated from God and our selves at birth. The hope brought by the Gospel is that Jesus Christ being God (John 1:1-14) died on the cross for all sins (John 1:29; 5:21; 10:28 Hebrews 9:15). Now any and all who will receive him are forgiven of their sin (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). This is the only promise ever delivered to man for the salvation of sin and the restoration of right relationship with God and our selves (Ephesians 1:13,14,18; ). The Gospel must never be mistaken as a way for us to get to God, it is and will always be about God coming down to earth, taking the weight of sin, abolishing it, and delivering that freedom of abolished sin to those who will receive him. Since this is true of the Gospel, no religion can bring about the salvation that Christianity offers, because no religion offers salvation the way Christ offers salvation. There is no mono theistic religion (belief in one God) in which a "personal God" comes down from heaven to save his people or suffer the consequences of there unholiness. This is the distinction that is Jesus Christ, this is why the Gospel is good news

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Center Church

By: Timothy Keller     

Part 1: Gospel Theology

Chapter 2: The Gospel is not a Simple Thing

Introduction:

     This chapter is extremely doctrinal. I can't help but feel a bit disabled in my present knowledge of the information being shared in this chapter. In order to reflect everything that Tim Keller is teaching. In addition to my thoughts and reflections on this chapter I felt it every bit of necessary to provided a summary and outline explaining the chapters key points. I was weary about sharing this information as a part of my original post, because my goal in writing these chapter summaries, is not to rewrite the chapter but to communicate with as few words as possible what was taught in them. But in the case of ths information it's not a great idea to reword to much of what is being said. Simply put "don't go fixin what ain't broke."

Thoughts & Reflections:

     Man, I both enjoyed and disliked this chapter. There was a lot being said and I knew that for the purposes of writing this blog I wouldn't be able to fit all of the information being communicated into my post. Center Church is a very deep and rich book aimed at equipping its readers with every detail necessary to understand the inter workings of the Gospel, this world, culture, history, God, and much more. Being such, the understanding articulated in these pages leaves one feeling less than adequate to readily comprehend it. I have reviewed this chapter a total of six times now three in audio and three in print. This is no complaint I have already read this book all the way through and thoroughly enjoyed it. But the mental stamina necessary for enjoying this work of truth, is not equivalent to that necessary for sharing this truth as accurately as Keller does. I am particularly encouraged by this thought, it is to me a sure sign that The Lord is not only shaping my heart but my mind!

 

Summary:

   The Gospel is not simple. It can be communicated simply and understood simply (Romans 10:9). But to fully know all that the Gospel is, is in it self very complicated. Through out the Bible both harmony and variance in the ways the Gospel message is portrayed are found. In the Gospel of Matthew the emphasis is on the coming Kingdom of God, the new socioeconomic order of this kingdom, and other things concerning the nature of God's heavenly Kingdom both in heaven and on earth. John on the other hand gives emphasis to the eternal life, a relationship with the Lord, and cultivating/experiencing His love daily. Paul's letters and epistles, present different aspects that neither of these Gospels clearly reveal. In them we find a familiar theme, that justification through salvation by faith alone will expose one to the redemption of Jesus' blood shed on the cross. Each of these differences are equally important to the essence of the Gospel message, but they are not mere interchangeable truths. The Kingdom of God is not a reference to eternal life in Christ, and justification through salvation by faith alone is not the same thing as having eternal Life.

Here is an excerpt from the text. "In Galatians 1:8 Paul condemns anyone who preaches a Gospel other than the one we preached to you. In 1 Corinthians 15:11 he takes pains to show that the Gospel he declares is the same as that preached by Peter, John, and the others." "Whether then it was I or they, this is what we preached, and this is what you believed (1Corinthians 15:11)" "It would be impossible for Paul to condemn a false Gospel and affirm the preaching of Peter as the Gospel without assuming a consensus body of Gospel content."

     The second part of this chapter explains how these themes are discovered. When studying the Bible. Scholars must take into account the language in which all 66 books were originally written. There are two ways this can be done. The first is a synchronic approach also called the Systematic Theological Method or STM, this method focuses on the structure of a language at a particular time in history. Through the synchronic method we find a story less order. Mainly comprised of the topics a given text includes i.e. the gospel narratives can be read as God, sin, Christ and faith. The synchronic approach falls short By failing to provide narrative or context by which to apply the topics observed. We know that the Bible can be read synchronically because it has a single author, God. The second is a diachronic approach also called the Redemptive Historical Method or RHM, this method reveals the way in which a language and its meaning change as a result of life experiences. Through the diachronic method we find what the bible says as a whole by stages in history, the plotline of a story, or the narative overview of the bible itself. Diachronically we see the Gospel message presented through out all of scripture: God's creation, the fall of man, and God's reentry into history to create a new people for Himself, and eventually about a new creation that emerges out of a marred and broken world through Christ. the "We believe we can read the Bible this way because God used human beings to reveal his revelation - and because as hope-based creatures we respond to the beauty of narative." 

There is no one standard outline found in the Bible to describe the Gospel. When we compare John, The Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), with Paul we find variance in the descriptions of the Gospel message, but also find that the essence of the Gospel remains the same. That is that Christ offers redemption through substitution for our sins. 

• Compare Matthew 25:31-46 (Kingdom) and John 10:17-31 (Eternal Life)
• With John 3:16, 17
• See that these words Kingdom and Eternal Life are not synonyms. These terms convey different aspects of God's salvation.
• Matthew along with the other synoptic Gospels (Mark and Luke) use the word Kingdom in reference to God's salvation because the writers were concerned with the future of new life in Christ. 
• The synoptics give a "more external and corporate emphasis", revealing the actual "social and behavioral changes that the gospel brings."
• "Money is not made and Idol" - Mark 10:17-31
• "The hungry, naked, and homeless are cared for" - Matthew 25:31-46
• John on the other had puts great emphasis on the individual and inward parts of living in the Kingdom of God! 
• The Kingdom of God is not an earthly sociopolitical order - John 18:36
• Together John and the Synoptic writers show complementary parts of a whole that is the Gospel.
•  Paul uses both Kingdom, and Eternal Life, but spends more time focussing on the concept of justification. This is not a different Gospel, but again another part of the whole.
• "Jesus takes the curse of the Law (legal penalty for sin), so that we can receive the blessing of Christ obedience" - Galatians 3:13-14
• Simon Gathercole reveals that the variations between The Synoptics, John, and Paul are not contradicting. At the heart of all of these descriptions of the Gospel the message remains "redemption through substitution." This is the Gospel.
• "In Jesus God substitutes himself for us, and on our behalf pays the debt."
• Mark the disciple- Mark 10:45
• John the disciple - John 12:20-36
• Paul the apostle - 1 Timothy 2:6 
• "Defeats the evil powers"
• Paul the apostle - Colossians 2:15
• John the disciple - 1 John 3:8
• "Bears the curse and divine wrath"
• Matthew the disciple- Matthew 27:35
• Paul the apostle - Galatians 3:13
• John the disciple - 1 John 2:2, 4:10
• "Secures for us Salvation by grace, not by our works."
• Paul the apostle - Ephesians 2:8-9
• Paul the apostle - 2 Timothy 1:9
• "Becomes for us an exemplar."
• Paul the apostle - 1 Timothy 1:16
• Unknown - Hebrews 12:2
• Peter the disciple - 1 Peter 2:21

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Conflicting modification on October 28, 2013 at 1:19:00 PM:

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Center Church

By: Timothy Keller     

Introduction: Theological Vision

    The purpose of this book can be understood by reading its introduction. Tim Keller depicts how churches often miss out on ministering to their communities for lack of good theological vision. What is theological vision? Its the middle place between Doctrine (teachings about God) and Ministry (the service of a community) in many ways theological vision will determine whether a particular Churches Doctrine can be understood by a people group, or whether that Churches ministry will be received by the culture they are seeking to serve. Theological vision is not simple to develop, it requires hard work, and a particular patience for listening and learning on behalf of the Church. But it is undervalued by most churches and is likely "THE" reason many churches fail to relate to, serve well, love affectionately, know intimately, and share in, the culture and community of the people they are supposed to be serving. Good Christian Theological Vision will include Doctrine derived from the Bible, reflection on the current culture of one's community, a godly understanding of reason, and constant consideration of where and how a particular culture can and should be challenged and or affirmed.

---

Center Church

By: Timothy Keller     

Part 1: Gospel Theology

Chapter 1: Gospel

     The Gospel is not everything. Its not a moral code, or ethical teaching, it is not a pragmatic logic or method of accomplishing something. Rather the Gospel is a message of salvation. It is "the good news" and is to be shared as a result of its goodness. Since the fall of man Genesis 3:17-19 sin has brought God's curse on the entire created order. Because of this we are physically, socially, and psychologically alienated from God and our selves at birth. The hope brought by the Gospel is that Jesus Christ being God (John 1:1-14) died on the cross for all sins (John 1:29; 5:21; 10:28 Hebrews 9:15). Now any and all who will receive him are forgiven of their sin (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). This is the only promise ever delivered to man for the salvation of sin and the restoration of right relationship with God and our selves (Ephesians 1:13,14,18; ). The Gospel must never be mistaken as a way for us to get to God, it is and will always be about God coming down to earth, taking the weight of sin, abolishing it, and delivering that freedom of abolished sin to those who will receive him. Since this is true of the Gospel, no religion can bring about the salvation that Christianity offers, because no religion offers salvation the way Christ offers salvation. There is no mono theistic religion (belief in one God) in which a "personal God" comes down from heaven to save his people or suffer the consequences of there unholiness. This is the distinction that is Jesus Christ, this is why the Gospel is good news.

Center Church

By: Timothy Keller     

Part 1: Gospel Theology

Chapter 2: The Gospel is not a Simple Thing

Introduction:

     This chapter is extremely doctrinal. I can't help but feel a bit disabled in my present knowledge of the information being shared in this chapter. In order to reflect everything that Tim Keller is teaching. In addition to my thoughts and reflections on this chapter I felt it every bit of necessary to provided a summary and outline explaining the chapters key points. I was weary about sharing this information as a part of my original post, because my goal in writing these chapter summaries, is not to rewrite the chapter but to communicate with as few words as possible what was taught in them. But in the case of ths information it's not a great idea to reword to much of what is being said. Simply put "don't go fixin what ain't broke."

Thoughts & Reflections:

     Man, I both enjoyed and disliked this chapter. There was a lot being said and I knew that for the purposes of writing this blog I wouldn't be able to fit all of the information being communicated into my post. Center Church is a very deep and rich book aimed at equipping its readers with every detail necessary to understand the inter workings of the Gospel, this world, culture, history, God, and much more. Being such, the understanding articulated in these pages leaves one feeling less than adequate to readily comprehend it. I have reviewed this chapter a total of six times now three in audio and three in print. This is no complaint I have already read this book all the way through and thoroughly enjoyed it. But the mental stamina necessary for enjoying this work of truth, is not equivalent to that necessary for sharing this truth as accurately as Keller does. I am particularly encouraged by this thought, it is to me a sure sign that The Lord is not only shaping my heart but my mind!

 

Summary:

   The Gospel is not simple. It can be communicated simply and understood simply (Romans 10:9). But to fully know all that the Gospel is, is in it self very complicated. Through out the Bible both harmony and variance in the ways the Gospel message is portrayed are found. In the Gospel of Matthew the emphasis is on the coming Kingdom of God, the new socioeconomic order of this kingdom, and other things concerning the nature of God's heavenly Kingdom both in heaven and on earth. John on the other hand gives emphasis to the eternal life, a relationship with the Lord, and cultivating/experiencing His love daily. Paul's letters and epistles, present different aspects that neither of these Gospels clearly reveal. In them we find a familiar theme, that justification through salvation by faith alone will expose one to the redemption of Jesus' blood shed on the cross. Each of these differences are equally important to the essence of the Gospel message, but they are not mere interchangeable truths. The Kingdom of God is not a reference to eternal life in Christ, and justification through salvation by faith alone is not the same thing as having eternal Life.

     Here is an excerpt from the text. "In Galatians 1:8 Paul condemns anyone who preaches a Gospel other than the one we preached to you. In 1 Corinthians 15:11 he takes pains to show that the Gospel he declares is the same as that preached by Peter, John, and the others." "Whether then it was I or they, this is what we preached, and this is what you believed (1Corinthians 15:11)" "It would be impossible for Paul to condemn a false Gospel and affirm the preaching of Peter as the Gospel without assuming a consensus body of Gospel content."

     The second part of this chapter explains how these themes are discovered. When studying the Bible. Scholars must take into account the language in which all 66 books were originally written. There are two ways this can be done. The first is a synchronic approach also called the Systematic Theological Method or STM, this method focuses on the structure of a language at a particular time in history. Through the synchronic method we find a story less order. Mainly comprised of the topics a given text includes i.e. the gospel narratives can be read as God, sin, Christ and faith. The synchronic approach falls short By failing to provide narrative or context by which to apply the topics observed. We know that the Bible can be read synchronically because it has a single author, God. The second is a diachronic approach also called the Redemptive Historical Method or RHM, this method reveals the way in which a language and its meaning change as a result of life experiences. Through the diachronic method we find what the bible says as a whole by stages in history, the plotline of a story, or the narative overview of the bible itself. Diachronically we see the Gospel message presented through out all of scripture: God's creation, the fall of man, and God's reentry into history to create a new people for Himself, and eventually about a new creation that emerges out of a marred and broken world through Christ. the "We believe we can read the Bible this way because God used human beings to reveal his revelation - and because as hope-based creatures we respond to the beauty of narative." 

There is no one standard outline found in the Bible to describe the Gospel. When we compare John, The Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), with Paul we find variance in the descriptions of the Gospel message, but also find that the essence of the Gospel remains the same. That is that Christ offers redemption through substitution for our sins. 

• Compare Matthew 25:31-46 (Kingdom) and John 10:17-31 (Eternal Life)
• With John 3:16, 17
• See that these words Kingdom and Eternal Life are not synonyms. These terms convey different aspects of God's salvation.
• Matthew along with the other synoptic Gospels (Mark and Luke) use the word Kingdom in reference to God's salvation because the writers were concerned with the future of new life in Christ. 
• The synoptics give a "more external and corporate emphasis", revealing the actual "social and behavioral changes that the gospel brings."
• "Money is not made and Idol" - Mark 10:17-31
• "The hungry, naked, and homeless are cared for" - Matthew 25:31-46
• John on the other had puts great emphasis on the individual and inward parts of living in the Kingdom of God! 
• The Kingdom of God is not an earthly sociopolitical order - John 18:36
• Together John and the Synoptic writers show complementary parts of a whole that is the Gospel.
•  Paul uses both Kingdom, and Eternal Life, but spends more time focussing on the concept of justification. This is not a different Gospel, but again another part of the whole.
• "Jesus takes the curse of the Law (legal penalty for sin), so that we can receive the blessing of Christ obedience" - Galatians 3:13-14
• Simon Gathercole reveals that the variations between The Synoptics, John, and Paul are not contradicting. At the heart of all of these descriptions of the Gospel the message remains "redemption through substitution." This is the Gospel.
• "In Jesus God substitutes himself for us, and on our behalf pays the debt."
• Mark the disciple- Mark 10:45
• John the disciple - John 12:20-36
• Paul the apostle - 1 Timothy 2:6 
• "Defeats the evil powers"
• Paul the apostle - Colossians 2:15
• John the disciple - 1 John 3:8
• "Bears the curse and divine wrath"
• Matthew the disciple- Matthew 27:35
• Paul the apostle - Galatians 3:13
• John the disciple - 1 John 2:2, 4:10
• "Secures for us Salvation by grace, not by our works."
• Paul the apostle - Ephesians 2:8-9
• Paul the apostle - 2 Timothy 1:9
• "Becomes for us an exemplar."
• Paul the apostle - 1 Timothy 1:16
• Unknown - Hebrews 12:2
• Peter the disciple - 1 Peter 2:21

Here is my Bio for the Blue Ridge Community Church web page

     Hello, my name is Elliott Knoch. I've lived in NC my whole life, and still love it. Growing up I was certain that I had no idea who I was, and I couldn't grasp how anyone else my age could be so certain as to who they were. Like most children I understood myself according to what others said of me, and what I could see of myself. Having had such a hard time distinguishing who I was I began to ask the questions who is Elliott Knoch, and what does Elliott like? I felt incapable of answering these questions for myself. In reality this feeling of inability was simple naivety. I had not experienced enough of my life to know who I was, or what I was asking of myself in order to know it. By instinct I'm quite curious, in fact as a boy I remember identifying with the children's book character Curious George. As such my life has been riddled with questions, some of which, by pure exhaustion, I have stopped asking. Since an early age I have seen that my quality in the art of curiosity is an ironic one, it seems that often enough I do not quite know what it is I'm looking for. What I mean is, to a degree, I am keenly aware of what I have yet to learn, and this since of something yet learned inspires me. In the case of discovering my identity this quest for knowing myself was permanently redefined the day that I became a Christian.

     At ages 4 and 5 I began playing soccer and golf, I often wondered off in my head during soccer games, leaving me vulnerable to attack. This was always me, I've never cared very much about winning in sports, it seemed pointless, I didn't identify with why winning a game mattered. I liked playing these sports but never felt like I belonged in them, because of this. I always considered myself as a "mediocre player." I continued playing all the way through high school in addition to running cross country, which I also enjoyed but failed to excel at. As it turns out, I have never become very competitive in view of sports. From ages 5 to 18 I experienced almost every aspect of boy scouts that a boy could. I was taught to think strategically, plan well, take action, face challenges, and cultivate virtuous character. I learned how to care for my self, and others. Scouting was a crucial influence in my life. And my mom is to thank for that. She is the one who made me go and the one who found good scout troops for me despite moving several times. Eventually I graduated with my Eagle Scout rank, which is the highest honor any scout can receive. This was perhaps the best I had felt about my identity, but I knew that I often failed my own standards of measure, and the standards of measure that others had for me. Through out elementary and middle school I sang in the NC Boys Choir and eventually the Tar River Children's Chorus. Despite my thorough involvement in these vocal programs I never wanted to be in them. I mostly just had to go, this resulted in me not caring very much about learning the music. If my musical instructors had asked me to recite the words of any of our songs, I don't think I could have sang even one of them by memory. I mostly listened to what the others were singing and faked it.  I didn't like that I sang. I would not have called it girly then, but somewhere inside thats exactly the way it felt. Eventually my musical life lead me to playing the guitar and the harmonica, but away from vocals. During high school I was both accepted into and kicked out of the National Honors Society due to my grades. My senior year of high school was 2007-2008 and it was filled with weed, other random drugs (but not many), confusion, loneliness, abuse, and sadness. Three people stick out in my mind as having mattered most to me during this hard time. The first two; were my best friends John Hughes and Charles Tolan. The third was my soon to be pastor Peter Gilliland.

Because I found my identity in the things I did, it was common for me to act differently dependent on what I was doing. I often changed my diction, tone, slang use, and more, in order to fit the mold of any given moment. I did this not out of deception, but out of a desire to be someone who "fit in." Now I regret not having been a stronger more defined person, especially as a teenager. I knew that I didn't like my identity very much, but I wasn't so sure why, and I definitely had no clue how to change it. Thankfully God was preparing to reveal Himself to me, and in doing so would reveal to me my true identity. 

     That spring (2008) of my senior year, and around the time I was receiving my Eagle Scout rank I was accepted to Western Carolina University. Peter had shared with me the Gospel. Shortly after this, under a star lit night sky I received salvation through Jesus Christ. I cried, because I was afraid of what God must think of me. Up until then I thought He didn't exist. But in that moment He was for no apparent reason more real than I could have ever imagined. I know that from the moment I feared Him, I believed in Him (Pro 1:7). This belief was not my salvation, but it was the nudge I needed from Him to receive salvation through Christ. That night through my tears I spoke with a broken voice, "I will receive your son Jesus Christ as My God, and for the forgiveness of my sins. But I need You to show me that you are real, that I'm not some how imagining you. I need you to make it so obvious to me, that I would not be able to ignore you." He answered my prayer from that night in two very powerful ways the first of which I will not share here, the second is this: that over the next 5 years of my life He has sovereignly made me, to know Him, and to know myself according to his plans for me (Matt 6:33). 

     Since knowing God I know much more about who I am than I ever have before. This is because I know Him who created me, and He delights in revealing to me His creation, which in this case is myself. To date I have learned through knowing Him that I am His, and no one can change that! My image is forever in Christ's likeness. And God's sovereignty will forever reign over my life, not absent from my thoughts and actions, but present through them. Jesus died for this truth, and I live daily to know it. He has made me for Christian ministry, and that doesn't mean that I have to be a pastor. I graduated from WCU with a degree in Parks and Recreation Management, and wonder how God will use this for His Glory. On a personality and preference level, I can't wait to be married, I look forward to this every day of my life as I prepare my self for it, and wait for Him with patience and hopefulness. I love the pursuit and attainment of fitness, for me the ability to move is an inspirational metaphor representing life with God. I often prefer to worship the Lord through a work out rather than music; but I seek both with diligence! I enjoy details that explain almost any answer, the things that make great questions great, and that moment when you understand something for the first time. I have found few things to be as valuable as the loyalty of good friends, for they are not easily replaced. And yes as you may have noticed I am gifted at complicating the simplest of things. This was supposed to be a short bio for the church website. I have managed to make it my life story!  Much of the details that others tend to regard as annoying or confusing, is for me the clarification and closure that needed in order to gain a wholistic understanding. This often causes people to misunderstand me or what I mean to communicate. I dislike this and am working very hard to improve the way I communicate, so that this doesn't happen. However I trust that there is a skill which with time and practice can be developed. A skill to explain very deep and complex ideas to people in a way that is simple and easily shared. In contrast and complement to this, I like that I'm weird and confusing. I see it as a constant reminder that I was uniquely made by God. And that my depth of thought will serve a significant purpose in His Kingdom on this earth. 

   

     I hope that these details may serve you as an an authentic attempt to provide a glimpse of myself; who I am, what I am, and why. I'd like to close by saying what an honor it is to be serving this body of Christ at BRCC. I am tremendously blessed to be working in ministry, and pouring into this church community all the love and effort that has been poured so deeply into myself. In the Great Commission (Matt 20:18-20) Jesus clearly states that we are to "go out and make disciples" (Matt 20:18). Knowing my identity in Christ, and who God made Elliott to be, is a result of living out my salvation according to God's plan. You see, I didn't simply discover all of these things about myself. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ through Darryl Handy's discipling of me, because of BRCC's presence in this community. It was through this discipleship that the Lord has grown in me so much. Darryl has had this opportunity because of his role in BRCC. Truly, I would know God and myself much less than I do today with out having become a part of this church. Thank you so much Pastor Darryl Handy for all that you have poured into me. Your discipling of my life, has been God's hand in my heart!