Driscoll, Piper, & Mahaney
Last Sunday, at Mars Hill Church, Mark Driscoll preached a sermon on the Regulative Principle. For a few minutes, just at the end of the sermon, he discussed some “behind-the-scenes” time he has spent with both C.J. Mahaney and John Piper. In this brief audio excerpt, posted below, he explains to his congregation some of the ways he has failed to serve them and how he hopes to grow in and by God’s grace. This is in light of some private brotherly correction and feedback he received from John Piper and C.J. Mahaney at the recent Resurgence conference.
When I hear things like this, I am filled with gratitude for this incredible, unique body called the church. I love to see Christians serving, challenging, exhorting and blessing other Christians in this way. I thank God for Piper and Mahaney and their ministry to Mark Driscoll and, through him, to the church at large. Listen and be encouraged.
Comments (33) »
1. Tim Challies
March 6, 2008
9:55 AM
Before you post a comment please realize…this is a post not about Mark Driscoll but about Piper, Mahaney, and service to the church. Let’s not wade back into the Driscoll discussion!
2. Abraham
March 6, 2008
10:16 AM
Thanks for posting this clip, Tim.
I think it is wonderful evidence that if you want to helpfully admonish a brother in Christ, you have to associate with him.
3. Timothy Durey
March 6, 2008
10:20 AM
Wow! That’s awesome.
4. Todd Pruitt
March 6, 2008
10:24 AM
How great it is to see the New Testament pattern for love producing fruit. It works much better than throwing stones. Thank God for wise older men who know how to love a younger brother.
5. Jerry
March 6, 2008
10:25 AM
In God’s providence, the “9th Inning rally” that pushed Timmy Brister’s question up to the top led to this moment, and this revelation.
Isn’t God good?
6. Darryl
March 6, 2008
10:27 AM
All of life is repentance - thank God for people who are there to help us do this. I know I need it.
7. Yogi Taylor
March 6, 2008
10:37 AM
I wouldn’t expect anything less from these men who preach a great gospel as well as live that same great gospel.
I thank God for those who are willing to give their time, love, wisdom, encouragement, and rebuke when needed… I know that many have done this for me and I have greatly benefited.
Yogi
8. John
March 6, 2008
10:56 AM
Iron sharpening iron, to be sure. But to paraphrase Abraham above, iron can’t sharpen iron without contact! It challenges me to engage with brothers with whom I disagree, rather than just lob shots from a distance. It also challenges me to be open to correction the next time someone points out a weakness or sin or deficiency in my own life. I pray that I would have the kind of humility that Mark showed in that sermon.
9. Kyle Martineau
March 6, 2008
11:01 AM
I’m amazed at this because the Gospel is the only explanation for change in all of us. It truly is a uniting Gospel, isn’t it?
10. donsands
March 6, 2008
11:04 AM
That was pleasant. I hope this admonishing, and encouraging continue for this young pastor. For it’s the way we build one another up, so we can be strong for the name of Christ in such a perverse and terribly dark culture and age.
We all need it. The Apostle Peter needed it from Paul.
Thanks Tim for putting this up. Very encouraging.
11. Fusion!@letmypeopleread
March 6, 2008
11:45 AM
Sad to say many people at http://biblicalthought.com/blog/apostasy-warning-tim-keller/
have been going back and forth on him. Thanks to be sure to piper and Mahaney for their work. Tim mentioned that D.A. Carson told him about Mark being on a good trajectory, I think he was right. I might add, CARM.org has just come out with an Emergent page and it gives Mars Hill a thumbs up.
12. Frank Turk
March 6, 2008
11:59 AM
Huh. You mean you don’t divide the first time someone makes a mistake?
You Canadians.
13. Robert
March 6, 2008
12:30 PM
I find it curious that you stopped the audio where you did. Along with Maheney and Piper, Driscoll also expressed his gratitude for the phone call and encouragement he received from Rick Warren that week as well.
14. Doug Selph
March 6, 2008
12:33 PM
Thanks for posting this, Tim. It is encouraging to see these seasoned pastors coming alongside a younger one.
Pray for those pastors who don’t have relationships with more experienced men who can speak into their lives.
15. Jason
March 6, 2008
1:00 PM
This needs to happen more often! I pray that men I respect would consider doing the same for me. What Grace! I know it’s not about Driscoll, but it does show something that he infact “received it.” ——
16. Marc Backes
March 6, 2008
1:05 PM
Tim,
I wrote these words over at my blog this week:
As a side note, I saw a different Mark Driscoll than I’ve listened to when I was in Seattle last week. The man, from my perspective, is changing and growing. And that was evident last week. As God continues to work in him and through Mars Hill, I think the best is still in front of them and I think Driscoll could become even more influential than he is right now.
For anyone who was there (@ Text and Context), it was obvious that something was going on and that God (through other people apparently) was working on him. And here’s what’s great and what nobody who will read your blog will ever hear about because it was in a small room with a select group of people…Piper shared his heart with a room of church planters and you would have been amazed at what Piper said.
And after hearing about Piper’s comments to that small group of men, I began to realize and put a lot together about why guys like Mahaney and Piper love this guy. And I suspect it’s because they see themselves when they were younger and they don’t want him to make the same mistakes they did. Which says a lot about what Mark’s trajectory is and what his influence and voice could become.
17. J.J.
March 6, 2008
4:15 PM
I absolutely love seeing pastors like John Piper and CJ reaching out to other pastors like this. I’ve seen far too many people tearing down other churches over the years, looking for any misstep in another leader and then going to town on it. It’s encouraging to see more and more church leaders reaching out like John and CJ do. I attend a Sovereign Grace Church in VA and have had the joy of hearing CJ speak at our church numerous times (as well as the amazing teaching I receive from my own pastors). Guys like CJ love Jesus and are passionate about seeing people grow and love Jesus more. They love God’s people! It’s so great to see more and more godly men like that in leadership, and humble men like Mark Driscoll so joyfully and humbly receiving input from them.
18. jennifer
March 6, 2008
6:28 PM
Robert, Thanks for the heads-up - was able to listen to the whole quote. If the audio had gone a little bit longer the blog heading would have had to read “Driscoll, Piper, Mahaney, & Warren”!
19. dj essence
March 6, 2008
6:35 PM
This is great! Praise God for the older men in our lives that are examples and praise God for Driscoll’s humility to respond in a gracious way.
20. Reg Schofield
March 6, 2008
11:11 PM
Is this not what we all need in our lives , mature Christians that will in a gentle and sincere way set you down and talk to you about your short comings and sins . Driscoll has much passion and zeal for Christ and having men like Piper ,Mahaney etc..coming along side him is great.Granted I’m not a big fan of Warren , but you cannot go wrong with the others , God bless them .
21. Gordon Cheng
March 7, 2008
12:20 AM
Before you post a comment please realize…this is a post not about Mark Driscoll but about Piper, Mahaney, and service to the church. Let’s not wade back into the Driscoll discussion!
Yeesh! I see what you mean. I had linked the same Driscoll sermon on my blog and received a fairly ordinary comment from some fairly ordinary person which caused me to both employ and praise God for comment moderation, once again.
Driscoll is not without flaw, but I believe we can learn from the gracious example of Piper, Mahaney and others and pray for both Mark and his ministry. The temptation to pride must be immense.
22. Jacob Vanhorn
March 7, 2008
12:57 AM
I was at Text & Context and it was perhaps the best conference I have ever attended (Preaching Christ in a Postmodern World was also very strong!).
It was strong because of the great passion for Jesus, the scriptures and for the love and fellowship of God’s people. Those passions were evident, in large part, by the presence and influence of John Piper and CJ Mahaney. When Mark Driscoll and Matt Chandler speak it is powerful, biblical and God-honoring. When Piper and Mahaney speak it is those things plus the weight of lives well lived, tested and proven. They bring such dignity and respect with them to the text and to their people. Not to say it is lacking in younger pastors, but rather that it overflowing in the lives of Mahaney and Piper.
After hearing Mark Dever’s presentation at the Acts 29 Chicago conference, it led me to write a blog post titled “An Encouraging Trend for Acts 29 Pastors”. In Dever’s message, he made clear the need for us to continue to work together for the gospel of Christ. Dever is also a gifted preacher and a man who brings great dignity and respect to any pulpit he enters. I am glad to see all three of them influencing Acts 29 pastors.
Thanks Tim for the link to the audio.
Disclaimer: I was formerly on staff with Chandler and I am an Acts 29 church plant candidate in Austin. I may appear biased, but I am also informed as a result.
23. steve tu
March 7, 2008
3:09 AM
hey tim - not sure if you’ve heard over in ontario but j.i. packer’s church here in vancouver (st. john’s shaugnessy) recently voted to leave their diocese - he’s facing ecclesiastical action from the anglican church of canada:
http://your.sydneyanglicans.net/sydneystories/davidshortjipackerfacelegalaction/
24. Vicki
March 7, 2008
12:34 PM
Hey Tim. I lurk here a lot but wanted to leave a comment today. Praising God for the lives of Piper & Mahaney, but also that Mark Driscoll so graciously received their exhortations and correction. As I listened to the audio clip, I was greatly encouraged.
25. mikbry24
March 7, 2008
4:12 PM
“If the audio had gone a little bit longer the blog heading would have had to read “Driscoll, Piper, Mahaney, & Warren”!”
Stop it! That is making my eyes burn!
26. Timmy Brister
March 7, 2008
4:43 PM
What is so helpful with this, Tim, is that you have two men encouraging Driscoll to be more gracious who are themselves very gracious and humble men. You cannot admonish and exhort where you do not live and minister. I do not know Driscoll personally, but I praise God for him as I praise God for Piper and Mahaney who all are building their lives on the gospel—the gospel which transforms lives and strengthens relationships in God’s service. Thank you for providing us with this excerpt. I look forward to seeing the grace of God at work in Driscoll’s life and rejoicing in the great things God is doing at Mars Hill and Acts 29.
27. Mark
March 7, 2008
7:14 PM
At the risk of sounding cynical. I just did not hear what all else are hearing. Repenting for not recognizing the grace of good health? The grace of a long marriage? While both of these things are wonderful blessings to be thankful for. The sin that would be appropriate to confess is a lack of thankgsgiving. The sin of entitlement and a lack of gratefulness. To reduce grace to not having a cold today, in the context of a public confession to a congregation, gets back to the concern for a lack of clarity on the most essential of gospel treatment. A confession that results in looking good in the eyes of man is in fact a compounding of the problem.
I actually believe Driscoll may have good intentions, and loves people. I am just reserving my excitement until change in the critical approaches to a conviction of the absolute preciseness of the Gospel to pierce beyond any culture or context. This will result in a fleeing of the culture, not an immersion in it. I pray this too will follow.
28. donsands
March 7, 2008
7:30 PM
Mark, what do you feel about John Piper and CJ ? Do you have any thoughts on what they might say about Mark Driscoll?
I have to think they would be encouraged, and that our sovereign Lord is perhaps helping Mark to “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ”, because the Lord is faithful, not us.
29. fred
March 7, 2008
10:52 PM
I am glad to see that Mark took counsel from these men. I believe this is as it should be. I am still a little confused that a man is allowed to preach when he seemed to lack the very elemental principles of reverence, however , I will lay that aside for now. By their fruits you shall know them. I will watch for, what I believe in regards to the reverence issue that has been raised here and elsewhere these last couple weeks, some instantaeous fruits. This I do not believe is to much to hope for regarding language and reverance.
30. Cindy Bleil
March 8, 2008
12:02 PM
A few years ago at the Shepherds’ Conference, Dr. MacArthur told a story about how Bill Hybels mentioned to him that he was meeting privately with and discipling President Bill Clinton. Hybels asked John, “What do you think about this?” to which MacArthur replied, “Well, you’re not doing a very good job, are you?”
Private meetings like the one described here between CJ, Piper and Driscoll are good and we hope profitable. We can only hope that Mark sincerely listened to CJ’s and Piper’s concerns. However, the adulation that some are expressing here seems naively premature, considering another irreverent and vulgar video by Driscoll was released on YouTube around the same time frame that this meeting occurred with CJ and Piper. You can watch the video here.
We all need to bear in mind that if his alleged repentance is real, if he truly desires to follow after the counsel of these humble and godly men that everyone respects so much, he’d make EVERY effort to have his people pull that promo video of him.
He can’t control what’s on youtube, but he CAN request his administrators pull it.
I will continue to pray for Driscoll, that the Lord will restore a reverence and holiness to his ministry once again.
31. Carla Rolfe
March 8, 2008
12:14 PM
Cindy,
I couldn’t agree more. Good words here. I find myself praying for MD and the folks at MHC much more often these days.
I missed most of John MacArthur’s opening session at the Shepherds Conference this week, but one thing I did catch him saying is that we (Christians) are to maintain and aim for the HIGH road. I’m afraid too many of us have settled for the low road (in many areas), and find that good enough.
SDG, Carla
32. Mark
March 8, 2008
10:52 PM
“Mark, what do you feel about John Piper and CJ ? Do you have any thoughts on what they might say about Mark Driscoll?”
donsands,
I do not really understand what exactly was said to Mark. That is what I refer to in my first sentence. Mark uses the idea that they confronted him, but his actual “confession” is a bit confusing as to what exactly they said to him. I do not know if they actually confronted him, as in Galatians 6 & Matthew 18, or if they had a ministry discussion and out of that Mark felt some conviction about his lack of grace preaching (which seems to be ironic, considering the willingness of Mars Hill to push most every traditional, dignified approach to the gospel and lean on grace for defending what many would say is worldliness). Either way, I have tremendous respect for both C.J. and Piper, and have found their material to be helpful and sharpening. I have read and heard both quite a bit. I quite frankly am confused why they feel the need to become so closely associated with such a controversial ministry, that has yet to see the test of time and maturity. Based on the audio, I do not hear anything that would allow me to conclulde what exactly occured, and whether or not is was a heartfelt pursuit of a brother to expose an area of concern in his life. As I strive to be a “Berean”, I cannot find the scripural defense for Text, Context, Contextualization, etc. Paul sure did not do any of that before the Areopagus. Phil Johnson did a masterful treatment of Acts 17 at the just concluded Shepherd’s conference in presenting Paul’s absence of “contextualization” and other Emerging ecclesiastical approaches.
33. donsands
March 10, 2008
11:55 AM
Thanks for your response. That makes sense.
Time will show forth the fruit in Mark Driscoll, if indeed the lord will give increase from Pastor Piper and Mahaney’s watering and planting.