This is one of the best tributes to Dr. Keller’s works that I have read. You are right, although the depth of insight and theology on his sermons was unmatched, what I learned from him was the power of the gospel of grace to both give us both deep and lasting rest, underserved, in God’s presence and to motivate us to grow in our Christ-likeness. And the reason I said after every sermon “That was the best sermon I have ever heard” Is because his own source of inspiration was the gospel he preached - how deeply and desperately he needed it for himself. Dr. Keller has shaped my own Christian Counseling more than anyone else in all my education and training as I have learned from him how to help people from a place of brokenness and desperation myself. I am forever grateful.
I stand with Dr. Keller, toward you, Samuel - keep writing. You can help us parse the culture from our own place of broken humility, so we can engage it effectively for the Kingdom.
Well said. The Prodigal God was my introduction to Tim's way of sharing what he had learned about God. I think it was the single most influential book on God, or faith, that I have ever read. My pastor is one of Tim's close friends and he preaches/teaches much the same as Tim did. Tim's influence will only grow, and I thank God for that.
Thanks for this, Samuel. I never met him, but stories like this help me process the passing of one of the Christian leaders I most respect and admire in our world.
So beautifully expressed. You could just sense from his writing and preaching and all this was who he was. I will forever be marked by his winsome, incarnating Jesus presence in the Reason for God videos. He lived grace!
Thank you Samuel for directing me to Tim Keller's 2019 Gospel Coalition sermon. I have previously listened to a good number of Tim Keller's sermons but this one really opened my eyes, and I'm thankful for both you and Tim Keller.
I, too, find Dr. Keller's sermons uplifting and helpful, especially when I'm struggling with a specific practice or area of my Christian walk. He was a rare source of application and practicality for people like me who often come away from sermons thinking, "Okay, that was fantastic, and I learned a lot, but what do I DO with it?" He got down into the weeds and showed us how to work out the gospel through our daily lives.
And thank you for this: "I’m ashamed of how much of my adult life to this point I’ve spent protecting myself, protecting my time, protecting my sand castles. I want to be more like Jesus." It's the kind of conviction I need in my own life. I'm coming to the realization that I over-optimize to the point of being frustrated or overwhelmed by the thought of unplanned encountered or unscheduled meetings. I can't take time to pick up the phone at the moment a friend calls or spontaneously meet someone for coffee because there's always something on my calendar. But Jesus embraced what we so often see as interruptions and turned them into redemptive moments. May we all learn to do the same.
This is one of the best tributes to Dr. Keller’s works that I have read. You are right, although the depth of insight and theology on his sermons was unmatched, what I learned from him was the power of the gospel of grace to both give us both deep and lasting rest, underserved, in God’s presence and to motivate us to grow in our Christ-likeness. And the reason I said after every sermon “That was the best sermon I have ever heard” Is because his own source of inspiration was the gospel he preached - how deeply and desperately he needed it for himself. Dr. Keller has shaped my own Christian Counseling more than anyone else in all my education and training as I have learned from him how to help people from a place of brokenness and desperation myself. I am forever grateful.
I stand with Dr. Keller, toward you, Samuel - keep writing. You can help us parse the culture from our own place of broken humility, so we can engage it effectively for the Kingdom.
Well said. The Prodigal God was my introduction to Tim's way of sharing what he had learned about God. I think it was the single most influential book on God, or faith, that I have ever read. My pastor is one of Tim's close friends and he preaches/teaches much the same as Tim did. Tim's influence will only grow, and I thank God for that.
Thanks for putting into words what many of us were watching unfold in the kaleidoscope of similar anecdotes over the past couple days.
Not much more I can add. This was a beautiful memory. Thank you for sharing.
So thankful for godly men like Tim who speak and live the truth of the gospel.
Thank you for sharing. What a beautiful message about Jesus working through Keller.
Thanks for this, Samuel. I never met him, but stories like this help me process the passing of one of the Christian leaders I most respect and admire in our world.
So beautifully expressed. You could just sense from his writing and preaching and all this was who he was. I will forever be marked by his winsome, incarnating Jesus presence in the Reason for God videos. He lived grace!
Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks for this. It shows me an example I should follow.
A month later, this made tears well up in my eyes. Beautifully written.
Thank you Samuel for directing me to Tim Keller's 2019 Gospel Coalition sermon. I have previously listened to a good number of Tim Keller's sermons but this one really opened my eyes, and I'm thankful for both you and Tim Keller.
I, too, find Dr. Keller's sermons uplifting and helpful, especially when I'm struggling with a specific practice or area of my Christian walk. He was a rare source of application and practicality for people like me who often come away from sermons thinking, "Okay, that was fantastic, and I learned a lot, but what do I DO with it?" He got down into the weeds and showed us how to work out the gospel through our daily lives.
And thank you for this: "I’m ashamed of how much of my adult life to this point I’ve spent protecting myself, protecting my time, protecting my sand castles. I want to be more like Jesus." It's the kind of conviction I need in my own life. I'm coming to the realization that I over-optimize to the point of being frustrated or overwhelmed by the thought of unplanned encountered or unscheduled meetings. I can't take time to pick up the phone at the moment a friend calls or spontaneously meet someone for coffee because there's always something on my calendar. But Jesus embraced what we so often see as interruptions and turned them into redemptive moments. May we all learn to do the same.