New York – Tim Keller – My Hero

Dr. Timothy Keller is founder and pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan.
And I’m not afraid to say it. Tim Keller is my hero. I don’t worship him. But I love him. So, let me count the ways…

Tim Keller is the guy who showed me that the entire Bible is about Jesus – Old and New Testament.
It is not mainly a book about moral heroes to imitate.
The BIBLE is not your B-asic I-nstructions B-efore L-eaving E-arth.
It’s a true story about a Holy Hero who has worked redemptively throughout all history to rescue us rebellious sinners.
It’s all about the good news of Jesus.

Tim Keller is the guy who showed me that it is okay for a Christian to have doubts and to face my doubts head on.
His book, The Reason For God, changed my life.
Through reading The Reason For God I went from feeling okay about being a Christian to reveling in the full gospel of Jesus.
I went from embarrassed Trekkie to Captain Kirk – “exploring strange new worlds…seeking out new life…boldly going where no one has gone before.”

Tim Keller is the guy who showed me how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus makes sense of ALL reality – physical and spiritual.

Tim Keller taught me that we all worship a Master – either that Master is Jesus and offers us new mercies every morning,
or it is a false master who enslaves and eventually destroys.
Read his book, Counterfeit Gods.

Tim Keller taught me that we are all on our own self-salvation project. We are all trying to justify our life and existence and earn God’s favor.
But God our Father is running to us to tell us we can’t do it, but that His Son did what we could not do.
“In the gospel we discover that we are far more wicked than we ever dared believe, yet more loved than we ever dared hope.” – TK
Read his book, Prodigal God.

Tim Keller is the guy who got me to deeply care about the poor, the needy, and the marginalized.
His books, Ministries of Mercy and Generous Justice, have set a new focus for my life.
“You cannot call yourself a follower of Christ and not love the poor.
A life poured out in deeds of service to the poor is the inevitable sign of real, true, justifying, gospel-faith.
Grace makes you just.” – TK
And these are just a few reasons I love this guy and call him my hero…

Check out Tim Keller’s books here.

Follow the Twitter I started for Tim Keller quotes here.
Over 8,000 people are now following after only 3 months.

We did not think that we would actually get to hear Tim Keller preach because Redeemer has 5 services and their preaching pastors rotate from week to week.
The best we could do was try to make it to 2 of the morning services on opposite sides of Central Park and hope to catch him.
We caught him in the second service. I discreetly took a couple photos from under my bulletin. I couldn’t help myself.
Add a caption for this photo in the comments.

After the service they served doughnuts and muffins and coffee. We took full advantage.

I didn’t get to actually meet Tim Keller, hug him, joke with him, High-5 him and chest bump him,
or get his autograph for a future tattoo like I wanted to.
But I did get this sweet Redeemer mug – reserved for only the finest of beverages.

We breezed through Central Park on the City Bus, but unfortunately we didn’t get to hang out there at all.
We had to save some stuff for next time.
Central Park and Tim Keller Chest Bump… I’ll getchoo next time.