The MP3s of three talks from Mark Driscoll’s recent visit to Scotland are now online. The first one is the only one I was there for, and for which I wrote notes.

God’s Plan for the Church in This City (right click to download MP3).

Sex—A Study of the Good Bits from the Song of Solomon by Mark Driscoll (right click to download MP3).

The Gospel We Preach—A Message for Leaders by Mark Driscoll (right click to download MP3).

Driscoll is an important voice for the Church today. One thing he addressed in his well-rounded talk on the cross was the notion that Jesus died to take our shame. I came across the following post which demonstrates both the rarity of preaching that addresses this and its importance. Rik Fleming was undone by Mark Driscoll:

“On Sunday morning I was watching a sermon on the internet by Mark Driscoll titled “The Cross of Christ.” Something in this sermon got through to me for the very first time. Perhaps I have heard this before, but it had never been rooted in my mind and soul before now.

The truth of the gospel is this: Jesus not only took upon Himself my guilt, my sin, and God’s wrath for it on the cross—he also took upon himself throughout all of his suffering MY SHAME!

I have a B.A. in Biblical studies, an M.A. in theology, and I have a library full of books. Yet, somehow this truth had never gripped me.

Why?

I have 18 books on Systematic Theology and NOT ONE discusses shame or develops a doctrine of Christ in which is discussed how he has borne our shame. I have an entire shelf full of books on Christian counseling and yet not NOT ONE discusses the impact of shame on the mind of the victim and the sinner. (Perhaps I need to search for more books on the subject?)

The truth that Christ has borne our shame has significant implications for the believer—especially to those who have been sexually abused, molested as a child (like myself) or in other ways have been treated as less than a person who bears the image of God. Even more so, it is essential that those who have suffered such shame and then lived out of that shame by living in sin to understand this important aspect of Christ’s humiliation in the process of his crucifixion.”

More information on the atonement is available in a series of MP3s from a recent UCCF student conference on the subject.

They say that the Victorians loved to talk about death but never mentioned sex. In the modern world we have reveresed that trend. Todays group book review from diet of bookworms is of a substantial work bringing together contributions from some outstanding Christian authors on the subject of sex and the supremacy of Christ.

Contibutors include John Piper, Scott Croft, David Powlinson and Albert Mohler so you should know immediately that you are in for a treat.

I often feel that books containing the views of several authors sacrifice a consistent flow for am invaluable sense of community. In fact unusually for books of this nature S and S of G reads as one book. It is easy to forget that it started life as a series of talks given at a conference.

The book covers Gods view of sex, addresses sexual sin and brokeness, addresses men and women, then ends with a section on the history of the christian view of sex. This book is a vital step in us developing a Christian worldview of this vital subject. I hope that many will read it and that it will be the subject of much discussion between friends and online.

In an age that makes sex into a God, this book shows us that God is interested in sex. He invented it after all, which is probably proof positive that God does have a sense of humour. The book manages to steer clear of any notion that Gods love for us is in any way sexual. If you are anything like me, you may have gone “Eeewww” when someone has tried to spiritualise a particularly sensual bit of the song of songs. If so, you will no doubt be pleased the book claims that Solomon was celebrating sexual love not describing his relationship with God. God really does intend for us to enjoy sex within the appropriate boundaries he has placed on it.

The book is perhaps slightly less practical than the last book on sex I reviewed- Hedges. Having said that CJ and Carolyn Mahaney contribute a chapter each both of which are very practical. If you are a wife you will want your husband to read C.J’s chapter. If you are a man you will bribe your wife to read Carolyns!!

There are some great quotes in the book, but my favorite is this from Piper:

“There are many practical strategies for being sexually pure in mind and body. I don’t demean them. I use them! But with all my heart I know, and with the authority of Scripture I know, that the tiny spaceships of our moral strategies will be useless in nudging the planet of sexuality into orbit unless the sun of our solar system is the supremacy of Christ.”

Overall I strongly recommend this book, and it came very close to being included in my list of books I believe every chrisitian should read.