Bond-Servant

False Doctrine Cries for Unity

2009-08-17T08:22:00.000-05:00

I think that it is so important to know this. In a time like this of tolerance, listen, false teaching will always cry intolerance. It will always say you are being divisive, you are being unloving, you are being ungracious, because it can only survive when it doesn’t get scrutinized. So it cries against any intolerance. It cries against any examination, any scrutiny—just let’s embrace each other; let’s love each other; let’s put all that behind us.

False doctrine cries the loudest about unity. Listen carefully when you hear the cry for unity, because it may be the cover of false doctrine encroaching. If ever we should follow 1 Thessalonians 5, and examine everything carefully, it’s when somebody is crying unity, love, and acceptance.

~John MacArthur

John 15 - The Vine and the Branches

2009-06-28T14:42:00.003-05:00

Hey Friends,

This is the sermon my new pastor, Tom Lutz preached today at my church here in Anderson, IN.

...Doesn't he look like John Piper?!? haha!

enjoy.

P.S... can you guess where I am? :)

... (facebookers go to http://www.joshryanbrown.blogspot.com )

-josh

The King of the king of pop - ALIVE!

2009-06-28T13:49:00.003-05:00

The following is a post from one of my favorite Pastors, Jim McClarty.

The King Is Alive

Most of you know that I come from an entertainment and music background. Among my musical peers and associates, Michael Jackson was considered an icon; someone who had gone further in the business than anyone had imagined possible. Years ago Elvis Presley was dubbed the King of Rock'n'Roll. So, intent on dubbing himself musical royalty, Michael granted himself the mantle of King of Pop. In fact, in his last press conferences in London, the podium bore that moniker.

This evening, as the news of Michael's death swirled around the news cycles, the most common headline I saw was "The King is Dead."

No He's not.

The real King is alive and reigning at God's right hand.

Paul Simon wrote, "Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts." As I've often said, people want to worship something. And if they cannot worship God, they'll worship other humans -- the creature rather than the Creator. Michael basked in that worship for most of his life.

Like ancient people and long-forgotten empires, earthly kings, icons, and idols come and go. But, when Michael stands before the King of Kings, there will only be one star in the room. And it won't be Michael.

I used to hobnob with wealthy, famous folk. Some were happy, some were miserable, most were obsessed with their fame and wealth. But, they all die. Death is the great equalizer. And, no matter how much stuff you accumulate here and now, only one thing has any eternal value. And it's not fame. In Heaven, only one person is famous.

The news tonight really drove home that point again. I'm 53. Michael was 50. I survive on what would have been his pocket change. But, I have eternal riches in glory.

I wouldn't trade.

The Relevance Of The Puritans

2009-06-20T18:18:00.004-05:00

Taken from "The Story Of The Puritans" by Erroll Hulse

Read the full book here: The Story of the Puritans

Who were the Puritans? When did they live? What did they accomplish?

What did they teach? History is not a popular subject.

We cannot assume that those who are British are automatically

well-educated in English history. It is rare for those outside Britain

to know English history. How can we introduce overseas Christians

to the best theological inheritance ever?

My concern extends beyond narrating the story. I want to create

enthusiasm for the Puritans in order to profit from their practical

example and benefit from their unique balance of doctrine, experience,

and practice. The Puritans were men of deep theological

understanding and vision who prayed for the earth to be filled with

a knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

Today missionaries are involved as never before in taking the

Gospel to all the world. Bible-based Christianity is spreading

gradually in most of the 240 nations of the world. Believers have

multiplied in great numbers, especially in sub-Sahara Africa, the

Far East, and South America. Teaching which engenders holy living

and stability is vastly needed. Historically the Puritan epoch is best

able to supply this need for they were strongest where the churches

in general are weakest today.

In face of the philosophic and religious trends of today, the Puritans

are certainly relevant.

Post-modernism (PM) — Gradually from the 1960s and 1970s,

the Western World has moved philosophically from Modernism to

Post-modernism. For about two centuries thinking has been shaped

by the Enlightenment with its emphasis on human reason and its

optimism about human ability and human achievement. This arrogance

has by-passed God and his revelation and led to the collapse

of morality. Is Puritanism relevant within the present philosophical

climate of Post-modernism? Writing on the subject of PM in Foun2

dations, Autumn 1997, Andrew Patterson of Kensington Baptist

Church, Bristol, suggests that the Puritan approach is relevant. He

maintains that “genuine spirituality consists in a re-discovery of the

cohesive and comprehensive nature of the grace of God in the life

of the believer.” This he urges, “rejects the isolating, fracturing and

compartmentalizing effects of the last two centuries, and looks back

to the time of the Puritans and Pietists, when there was an approach

that was far healthier, vibrant, holistic, real, scriptural, and Godhonouring.”

With the demise of Modernism (the Enlightenment) we now

have a vacuum. This provides us with a unique opportunity to rebuild

the foundations. We are challenged to understand and apply

the Word of God today. As we do so we can look back and draw on

the legacies of the Puritans. We can avoid their mistakes and weaknesses

but learn a great deal from their strengths. Part 3 consists of

ten subjects in which we can obtain help from the Puritans.

PM is fiercely antinomian. It is admitted that people make mistakes,

but the word “sin” is seldom mentioned and the idea that we

all sin against God is avoided. Right and wrong are judged according

to human feelings. The idea that God has an unchangeable,

holy, moral law by which he will judge every person is unpopular.

What does Puritanism have to say to the different evangelical

sectors of the Church world-wide today?

Neo-orthodoxy — Of the theologians classified as Neoorthodox,

Karl Barth (1886-1968) is the most significant as he,

more than any other this century, affected the course of Protestant

theology in Europe and beyond. He set some on the road of studying

Luther and Calvin and the Reformation of the 16th century. But

while Barth challenged the Liberal establishment, there was a failure

to set the record straight with regard to liberal views of the

Bible. For instance, it is absolutely vital to believe in the historicity

of Adam and Eve. It is essential to endorse the supernaturalism that

pervades the biblical records. With Neo-orthodoxy one is never sure

about the foundations. It is like walking on sinking sand. Puritanism

shares with Neo-orthodoxy the challenge to use the mind, to think,

and to analyze. But the strength of the Puritans is that there is never

any question about the validity of the Scriptures. One walks always

on the solid rock of the infallible Word of God.

Fundamentalism — Thankfully the Church of Jesus Christ on

earth is always wider and larger than any one segment or denomination.

The evangelical movement known as Fundamentalism is only

a part of the wider body. That movement gathered momentum in

the 1920s and 1930s. Fundamentalists came together into a movement

out of the need to combat modernist theology. The leaders

drew up a list of basic truths designed to keep intact doctrines

which were denied or undermined by Liberals. Fundamentalism

was strong in the USA and spread to other countries. The Puritans

would agree with the passion to defend and promote basic truths

such as the reliability of Scripture, the Trinity, and the deity of

Christ. Unhappily Fundamentalism added to the “basics” a premillennial

view of prophecy and in some cases dispensationalism,

which is a view of history as specific time periods. The biblical basis

for these periods is tenuous to say the least, yet the system is

imposed by its propagators in an arbitrary way on the Bible. The

Puritans were mostly postmillennial. A small number were premillennial.

Eschatology was not made a point of division. We can learn

from the Puritans not to major on minors. Christ’s second coming to

judgment, the end of the world, the universal, physical resurrection

from the dead, eternal heaven and hell are major issues in which we

cannot compromise. But apart from a general outline we cannot

map out the future. Evangelical unity is a precious commodity, and

we should avoid damaging unity over matters which are not central.

Fundamentalists have also been inclined to add such issues as a

ban on alcohol, card-playing, tobacco, dancing, and theater going.

This has been the cause of endless strife and division. For instance,

concerning alcohol, the Bible teaches temperance, not total abstinence.

Wine is used at the Lord’s Table. Some fundamentalists

even try to change the meaning of the word wine to uphold their

total abstinence view. Puritanism is a wonderful antidote to the

harmful and needless divisions which are caused by adding manmade

rules to Scripture. Worldliness is an enemy. The cure is in the

heart. A man can keep many rules but be worldly still, and at the

same time possess a deadly spirit of Pharisaic self-righteousness.

Puritanism concentrates on the great issue of the state of a person’s

soul. When a soul is truly joined to Christ, every part of him—his

thoughts, his words, and his actions—will be subject to the Word of

God. While he makes rules for his own life, he will avoid making

them for others. The Puritans included a chapter in the Westminster

Confession on the subject of Christian liberty and liberty of con4

science. The Puritan message is one of liberty combined with selfcontrol

and discipline. The Puritan Confessions of Faith (Presbyterian,

Congregational and Baptist) are silent where the Scripture is

silent. For instance, there is nothing in the Bible about smoking, but

there are passages which urge that we should care for our bodies as

temples of the Holy Spirit. Liberation from harmful habits comes

through the freedom imparted by Christ. That freedom comes by the

inward persuasion of the Holy Spirit.

The New Evangelicalism — Fundamentalism has worn an angry

face being fiercely separatistic, intolerant, and aggressive. It has

been viewed as the religion of the clenched fist. It was inevitable,

therefore, that more friendly and reasonable avenues of expression

would be sought. This came in the form of The New Evangelicalism:

broad, scholarly, and friendly. However, this movement within

evangelicalism has been troubled by compromise on the central issue

of the inspiration and authority of Scripture. The New

Evangelicalism split over the issue of the inerrancy of Scripture.

Again Puritanism is commended. While the Puritans could not anticipate

the details of this controversy, we appreciate the solid

foundation that is laid with regard to the nature and authority of

Scripture in the opening chapter of The Westminster Confession.

Pentecostalism — The Pentecostal movement, which is as wide

and diverse as a rainbow, is noted for emphasis on three important

subjects: the reality of spiritual experience, the demonstration of

spiritual power, and joy in public worship. These matters were also

stressed by the Puritans.

First, the Puritans placed great stress on the spiritual experience

of God’s free grace in conversion. The parameters of spiritual experience

with regard to joy in justification, the love of the Father in

adoption, patience in tribulation, and enjoyment of Christ were explored

to the full by the Puritans. The Puritan view is that we are

now complete in Christ. Spiritual experience consists of the ongoing

application of the believer’s experimental union with the three

Persons of the Trinity. The New Testament does not suggest or

command a specific second experience after conversion as though

something has to be added to what we already are in Christ. Many

in the Pentecostal movement concede that all who are in Christ have

been baptized spiritually into Christ (1 Cor 12:12); no second specific

experience is mandatory, and no second experience is to be

regarded as a type of “open sesame” to a Pandora’s box of new experiences.

The Puritans would concur that spiritual power or the

anointing of the Holy Spirit is needed not only for preaching but for

service generally and for endurance in tribulation. The Holy Spirit

is always at work in the believer to correct, guide, comfort, and empower.

Second, there is a stress in some Pentecostal denominations on

the continuation of signs, wonders, and miracles. The Puritan view

is that the apostles and prophets of the New Testament were extraordinary.

They were given a special enduement for the work of

setting the foundations. We do not have to repeat their work. It is

not necessary to vindicate the Word of God with new signs and

wonders. Puritan teaching is wonderfully liberating because spiritual

leaders are not required to walk on water, replace missing

limbs, raise the dead, or perform stupendous miracles such as creating

fish and bread. The Word of God is all-sufficient, and we do not

need to exercise the supernatural gifts of prophecies, tongues, and

interpretation of tongues. As we examine the history of the Christian

Church through the centuries and through the 20th century, the

absence of miracles is evident. A major ethical embarrassment takes

place when miracles are offered, especially miracles of healing, and

then failure is evident. How sad it is to claim to be a miracle-worker

and then to disappoint the hopes of hurting people. When such

promises fail, disillusionment sets in which is very deep and

wounding. We do not make promises we cannot fulfil. Rather, we

point to the promise which will never fail, and that is the promise of

the gospel—eternal life to everyone who repents and believes.

Third, there is the need for joyful public worship. Dull, lifeless

worship is a contradiction of the joy of salvation. The regulative

principle is important. This is a principle by which public worship

is regulated according to the specifics of the New Testament. In

other words, we should engage only in spiritual worship which is

specified by Scripture—the public reading of Scripture, preaching,

intercessory prayer, and singing. There is no specification as to how

these elements are to be arranged. This suggests freedom. There is

no reason why we should not have great joy and edification in our

public worship. We do not need to resort to imitating the world or

to entertainment. We can combine dignity and reverence with joy

and gladness. Stephen Charnock, in an exposition on John 4:24,

places the focus on God as central in worship when he refers to

some of the essential elements involved:

“God is a Spirit infinitely happy, therefore we must approach

him with cheerfulness; he is a Spirit of infinite majesty, therefore

we must come before him with reverence; he is a Spirit infinitely

high, therefore we must offer up our sacrifices with deepest humility;

he is a Spirit infinitely holy, therefore we must address him with

purity; he is a Spirit infinitely glorious, we therefore must acknowledge

his excellency; he is a Spirit provoked by us, therefore we

must offer up our worship in the name of a pacifying mediator and

intercessor.”

Needless to say, tedium must be avoided in worship. The challenge

for preachers not to weary their hearers will be addressed in a

separate chapter on preaching.

Shallow evangelism — Possibly here more than anywhere the

Puritans can help evangelicals who use the altar call and who too

readily pronounce people converted simply because a decision for

Christ has been recorded. One of the legacies of the Puritan era is a

stable doctrine of divine sovereignty and human responsibility to

insure against the errors of Arminianism on the one hand and Hyper-

Calvinism on the other.

Reconstructionism — This is a movement emanating out of

America which stresses the importance of the moral law and holds

to a post-millennial position which foresees that Christianity will

prevail to the point where civil governments around the world will

become Christian. Reconstructionism stresses the application of

biblical teaching to every facet of life, private and public, and by

exposition of the Scriptures seeks to equip politicians to apply biblical

law to public life. Puritanism would endorse the emphasis on

the Ten Commandments and the need to persuade and teach politicians

to apply these commandments in legislation. However, the

Puritans would part company with any who sought to follow theonomy,

that is the application of Old Testament laws to public life.

With regard to the future, as has already been pointed out, the Puritans

varied. They were mostly postmillennial, but their optimism

was centered in the transforming power of the gospel and the building

up of churches, rather than preoccupation with the powers of

civil government.

Broad evangelicalism — Broad evangelicalism is innocuous

and is no threat to the world, to sin, or the devil. The Puritans exer7

cised spiritual power. They brought down the opposition of darkness.

The English Puritans gave to England the Christian family and

the Lord’s Day. Allied also to broad evangelicalism is impotent

scholarship which is undisciplined and effete. Allied too to broad

evangelicalism is shallow evangelism. In a recent book Are You

Really Born Again? – Understanding True and False Conversion

(EP), Kent Philpott testifies how he has moved in his ministry from

shallow evangelistic practice with its altar call to Reformed and Puritan

practice. With regard to scholarship the Puritans were full of

practical application. Sadly, often where we find substantial evangelical

scholarship today, it can be lacking in the area of

application.

Calvinistic Sovereign Graceism — Some readers may wonder

what this is. The fact is that many churches disown the description

“reformed” because they disagree with the Law and the Lord’s Day

chapters (chapters 19 and 21 in The Westminster Confession of

Faith or its Baptist counterpart The 1689 London Confession of

Faith*). They embrace the five points of Calvinism. These five

points are easily remembered by the acrostic TULIP: total depravity,

unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace,

perseverance of the saints. This formulation originated at the Synod

of Dort in Holland in 1618-19.

The five points highlight the truth that we are saved by grace

alone. There are, however, dangers in a simplistic reduction of Calvinism

to five points. In Scripture wherever the truth of salvation by

grace alone is stated, it is in the context of practical application.

Without spiritual application there is the danger of being merely

academic or intellectual. This was largely characteristic of fundamentalism.

As with other groupings of churches, Sovereign Grace

churches vary widely in character. A few have fallen prey to a cultic

spirit by implying that only those who believe in the five points are

true, born-again Christians. Puritanism corrects such error by keeping

to the biblical centrality of union with Christ as the main feature

of the Christian, a union which brings with it at one and the same

time justification imputed and holiness of life shown by fruitfulness

(Rom 6:1-18). The Puritans were careful not to add to justification

by faith alone. In some instances “Calvinistic Sovereign Graceism”

adds to justification by faith by insisting that to be a true believer

one must possess the five points. But faith alone joins the believer

to Christ. To that nothing must be added.

Hyper-Calvinism — The essence of Hyper-Calvinism is to deny

common grace of the love of God to all men. In other words, God

only loves the elect and only hates the non-elect. Further, Hyper-

Calvinism denies the sincere free offers of the Gospel to all men. C.

H. Spurgeon was a Puritan in every fiber of his being. In his preaching

we have wonderful examples of the five points of Calvinism

preached evangelistically. For instance, Spurgeon poured scorn on a

general redemption that supposedly made salvation possible but

does not in fact actually save anyone. Spurgeon preached particular

redemption in a most powerful evangelistic manner. The Puritans

can provide stability today in the biblical manner that they held to

the different facets of the love of God and the way in which they

held in harmony the doctrines of divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

One example of that is John Flavel’s Christ Knocking

at the Door of Sinners’ Hearts which was published as a paperback

by Baker Book House, 400 pages of gripping exposition all from

one text, Revelation 3:20.

The Church of Christ on earth at the end of the 20th century is

larger and more diverse than it has ever been. Only some aspects

and strands of that huge body have been referred to, yet from these

descriptions it should be evident that the Puritan writings are relevant

today.

Why I Left The Honor Academy...

2009-06-17T15:42:00.007-05:00

It's true. I officially left the Honor Academy on Sunday. I know for many of you this came as a complete suprise. For many of you, I didn't have the chance to say goodbye... let alone explain why I left. Let me say to all of you at Teen Mania that I love you and I'm praying for you, and I'm sorry for any pain or confusion my leaving may have caused. My attention was not to hurt anyone or cause any trouble.

First let me say, that my decision to leave the Honor Academy came purely from conviction. I was not dismissed from the Honor Academy, and Teen Mania leadership even granted me a release from my commitment. I did my best to leave honorably, and I made sure to seek council and wisdom before deciding to leave. That is not saying that we shouldn't always honor our commitments. I believe we should. However, my decision to leave came from conviction about many things we do at Teen Mania that I believe to be unbiblical.

Please forgive me if I've caused any of you sadness or if my words seem arragant. I simply want to Glorify God in every aspect of my life. And I truly believe if I stayed at the Honor Academy for another 2 months I would be in sin. My Family Core and my duties with Terra Nova had a huge involvement in deciding to stay as long as I did. I actually began to seek a way to be released back in March.

If you'd like more information behind my actions, I'd like you to personally speak to me. I'd be more than happy to explain in detail why I left. I'll finally have a cell phone this Saturday and I want to do my best to stay in touch with you. I'm also planning on blogging and using Facebook as much as I can.

So what am I doing now?

I have a lot of free time on my hands. A LOT of free time. I found a church in my area that I really want to plug in to and will begin this Sunday. Check out their website:

http://www.edgewoodbaptistchurch.net/

I'm setting aside the next several weeks to study, pray, and catch up with Family. After that, try to find a car, a job, and start college.

I miss all of you already! Continue to seek truth at all costs and fall in love with the Glorious Gospel daily!

grace and peace,

-josh

Effective Prayer

2009-06-14T09:32:00.002-05:00

Check out this sermon on how to have an effective prayer life by Charles Spurgeon.

Effective Prayer

You Follow Calvin? Well, I Follow Christ! Part 2

2009-06-10T00:20:00.003-05:00

Wow, so here's something ironic. Right after posting my last blog on 1 Cor 1:10-17, I stumbled upon this youtube video entitled "Calling All Calvinist: A Call To Repentance."

The video is 31 minutes and 20 seconds long. Props to anyone who can watch past 11 minutes. That's as far as I could go.

The Speaker in this video is Monica Dennington. A Christian Musician and Speaker for Christian women's conferences. If you can stomach this video by her, there are three other videos in this series.

I think there are several errors in her call for Calvinist to repent. (At least in the 11 minutes that I watched.)

For one, I don't know of any Calvinist that views John Calvin as an Idol or higher then our Saviour Jesus Christ. This seems to be her main argument. She even starts the video by using Phil 2:3 to imply that argument... not to mention she uses this verse to show that Calvinist apparently belief that their better then non-Calvinist and therefore must struggle with humility more then non-Calvinist.

If I may use my own experience as to how I came to the Doctrines of Grace, (Calvinism)I barely knew anything about John Calvin when I first began studying the Reformation. Most of my coming to Reformed Theology was by simply reading God's Word.

Secondly, she calls it "dangerous territory" that Calvinist believe Calvinism is a good ideology for the Gospel... and then uses Isaiah 48:11 to somehow prove that we're again giving John Calvin the glory for the Gospel instead of Christ.

I would argue (which arguing in its self is wrong to this lady when it comes to Christian matters... ironically she's arguing her own point to Christians)that Calvinism is indeed the Gospel!

Please tell me.... how can anyone... Calvinist or not... preach a Gospel without a theology behind it? It's not possible.

Thirdly, please read my last blog if you haven't already.

I pray that Monica Dennington would repent of such arrogant attacks on Calvinist and come to a true understanding of the Gospel.

Now, here's the video. (again, if you're reading this on Facebook, go to my actual blog page)

-josh

You follow Calvin? Well, I follow Christ!

2009-06-09T22:43:00.003-05:00

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (ESV)

Sectarianism Is Sin

10I appeal to you, brothers,[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no(Q) divisions among you, but that you be united(R) in the same mind and the same judgment. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is(S) quarreling among you, my brothers. 12What I mean is that(T) each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow(U) Apollos," or "I follow(V) Cephas," or "I follow Christ." 13(W) Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you(X) baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except(Y) Crispus and(Z) Gaius, 15so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16(I did baptize also(AA) the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and(AB) not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Sectarianism is what Paul's talking about in this passage of scripture. Sectarianism, can be described as Denomination zeal, or a devotion to a certain party. Paul is urging us in this passage not to be Sectarian for the sake of unity.

So where does this passage come in on the topic of Calvinism or Arminianism?

I don't believe it does.

I know of many people (including myself not too long ago) that refuse to carry the title of "Calvinist" or "Arminian" because of this passage of scripture.

But let's look deeper in to this passage.

Verse 10 - Paul is strictly speaking about Doctrine in this verse, not spiritual unity of the Church as a whole. Paul is saying that we should all agree with the same Doctrine. Without a strong commitment to Biblical Doctrine inside the Church, the Church will weaken. We should also be united with the same mind and judgement. (Phil 3:15-16.) We are to be unified in our beliefs, convictions, standards, and in applied principles of living. (Acts 4:32; Eph 4:3)

Verse 13 - this verse is stressing that no human leader should receive the praise or Glory of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Paul hated the idea of receiving more glory then God.

So the question is, does this passage apply to the Calvinism-Arminianism debate?

No.

Christ, Chloe, Paul, Apollos, and Peter all had the exact same theology.

So on the issue of Calvinism or Arminianism, we have to understand that one of two theologies is wrong... because they both have completely different Doctrinal stances.

So if I were to call myself a Calvinist, it's because I believe Calvinist theology is Biblically correct... as opposed to Arminian theology, which I believe is Biblically incorrect.

Now lets look at verse 10 again.

10I appeal to you, brothers,[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no(Q) divisions among you, but that you be united(R) in the same mind and the same judgment

Now, if we're supposed to be united in mind and judgement... and believe in the same Doctrine.... should we belong to a Church that holds to a theology different from our own? I don't believe so.

Check out this video. (if you're reading this on facebook.... go to my actual Blog)

-josh

The New Calvinism

2009-06-01T14:02:00.007-05:00

I like Reformed theology. At this point, it's obviously not a secret. It wasn't until about 9 months ago that God slowly began to give me true revelation while reading his word. As an Undergrad at Teen Mania's Honor Academy last year, I'm very thankful for the discipline of daily quiet times made as an Honor Academy rule. But as I'd read my Bible...I couldn't help but wonder about how literal the words on the page actually were. (Previous to becoming an HA intern....I never had quiet times, never prayed, didn't have a passion for God's word, and I'm convinced I wasn't actually saved by God's grace until coming to Teen Mania.)

But God in his sovereignty still gave me a passion to pursuing God and his plan for my life, which led me to the Honor Academy. I came to campus with two main goals: to get a grip on this whole Christianity thing..... and figuring out what to do for the rest of my life.

That was back in August of 07. Almost 2 years later, I now know I'll never get a full grip...as I'm a fallen creature who won't be fully redeemed until I enter God's Kingdom. And I strongly believe God's call for my life is to be a Pastor.

I'm a young man who's been given grace by a good and merciful God. I believe Christ is my Saviour. I believe in prayer. I believe in the Bible, and take every word of it literally as "God-breathed" truth - 2 Tim 3:16

The Bible has shown me some amazing truths that completely contradict everything my flesh wants to believe.

But I believe the Bible is true. There really is a literal Heaven and Hell. God is in complete control over the entire universe...even Satan. I am totally depraved. God's grace is unconditional. God has a limited atonement. God's grace is irresistible. And all true Christians will persevere until the end.

Below is a blog originally posted by Pastor Jim McClarty from Grace Christian Assembly Church in Smyrna, Tennessee. This post by Pastor McClarty brings me a lot of encouragement, seeing that I'm not alone in my Biblical convictions. It brings me great joy to see that young and old alike are turning back to the theologians of Spurgeon, Tozer, Ravenill, Edwards, Piper, and today's Paul Washer. Let me know what you think.

grace and peace,

-josh

The New Calvinism

I know sometimes we Reformed folk feel very alone. I get email all the time from folk asking "Is there a church like GCA in my area?" We all want to fellowship with like-minded people, just so we don't feel so isolated from the church world at large. Worse, I receive regular correspondence from people -- especially young people -- who are ostracized or rejected by their church leaders and families because they have embraced Calvinism. Words like "cult" get tossed around and the critics insist that Calvinism divides churches and ruins fellowship.

Well, this past March TIME magazine published a series entitled "10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now." Number 3 on the list is: The New Calvinism. And they do a pretty good job of describing it.

So the next time that someone tells you that you're involved in some fringe group or that what you believe as a Calvinist is unbiblical, schismatic, or just plain "made up," point them to the TIME article and help them understand that Calvinism was once the bedrock of early American thought and politics. In fact, the author of this article closes by mentioning the fact that Calvinistic Theology represents the God of this country's infancy.

Here's the link:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1884779_1884782_1884760,00.html

It's interesting that Calvinistic theology is making such inroads into modern thought and culture that even a secular magazine like TIME has recognized it. And that fact give me hope for the future of Christianity in America.

T.D. Jakes Doesn't Proclaim Salvation In Jesus Christ Alone

2009-06-01T00:19:00.003-05:00

Listen carefully to T.D. Jakes on this one.

Another Victim Of The Modern Gospel?

2009-06-01T00:10:00.001-05:00

NO, MR. PRESIDENT!

2009-05-25T01:40:00.002-05:00

Shai Linne - The Atonement

2009-05-25T01:29:00.001-05:00

Verse 1

Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator

And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater

He triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute

Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes

How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible

Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol

What’s the Bible about? Man’s complete ruin in sin

And what God has done in Christ to bring us to Him again

What is sin? Sin is the breaking of God’s law

Plus our condition, which means from birth we all got flaws

What’s the result? The result is by nature we’re God’s enemies

And must pay the penalty unless God provides the remedy

What the remedy? The remedy is the cross of Christ

Where He suffered all the strikes for the lawless type

I’ve been rescued by the Lamb, I’m convinced that He’s risen

And blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven!

Chorus

Just fall back, and with the eyes of faith

Behold the beauty of surprising grace

Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise

He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied

Just fall back- there’s an atonement now

The cross of Christ is holy ground

Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise

He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied

Verse 2

Regeneration- the Holy Spirit’s true work in His love

To the elect, who receive new birth from above

Expiation- expiation means God’s removed my filthiness

The old testament type was the goat into the wilderness

Redemption- we’ve been freed from slavery to sin

And His very own blood is the price He paid, my friend

Propitiation- Propitiation means since the Lamb has died

His work is finished- God’s wrath is satisfied

Adoption- adoption means God is now my Father

I got the hottest Poppa and by the Spirit holler Abba

Reconciliation means there’s no more enmity

God is now a friend to me, we’re no longer enemies

Justification- God declares us righteous

Sanctification- we’re being made into His likeness

Glorification- that’s what happens at the finish

When God conforms believers perfectly to Christ’s image!

Chorus

Verse 3

God’s grace is magnificent, He slayed His innocent

Son- through faith and repentance we get the benefits

What is faith? Faith is a gift from God- when we receive this

We trust and treasure the person and finished work of Jesus

Repentance? Repentance is turning from your sin

And trusting Christ as the Spirit cleanses you within

What is grace? Oh, grace is unmerited favor

Our inheritance major ‘cause we cherish the Savior

Right, and if I may quote again, we were doomed with Satan

But believers get Jesus’ righteousness through imputation

Imputation? God takes Jesus’ righteousness amount

Through faith He credits it into the Christian’s account

Anything else? Well, I guess this overview must suffice

But none of this is possible apart from union with Christ

And finally, once you know the ways of the Lord than the

only thing that you can say is Soli Deo Gloria!

Chorus

The Atonement - John Murray

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Preface

Perhaps no biblical doctrine has been attacked with so many forms of subtlety as that of the atonement. Some subtle forms of error have been cleverly robed with biblical phraseology and have deceived the unsuspecting. The offence of the cross has been avoided by employing biblical terminology with a sense that finds no parallel in Scripture. Such terms as sacrifice, propitiation, reconciliation, and redemption have been drained of well-defined biblical signification and refilled with the thoughts and concepts of men. The motivation for this, as some claim, is to protect the love of God.

Since the way by which God may be propitiated and reconciled is a matter of pure revelation, it is most important to allow the Scriptures to define its own terms. In a warm devotional manner and with a lucid style, Professor Murray brings to light the biblical significance of the terms used to express the atonement. He clearly reveals that the definitive terms of Scripture do not impugn the love of God but bring it out in bold relief.

Professor John Murray was born in Scotland and is still a British subject. He is a graduate of the University of Glasgow (1923) and of Princeton Theological Seminary (1927), and he studied at the University of Edinburgh during 1928 and 1929. In 1929-1930 he served on the faculty of the Princeton Theological Seminary. Since then he has taught at the Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia where he is now Professor of Systematic Theology. A frequent contributor to theological journals, Professor Murray is the author of Christian Baptism (1952), Divorce (1953), Redemption Accomplished and Applied (1955), Principles of Conduct (1957), The Imputation of Adam’s Sin (1960), Calvin on Scripture and Divine Sovereignty (1960), and The Epistle to the Romans, Vol. I,

Chapters I-VIII (1960).

—J. MARCELLUS KIK, Editor

International Library of Philosophy and Theology

BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

To read this book in its entirety...go to this link: http://www.mountzion.org/PDFs/aton.pdf

The Revival Hymn

2009-05-25T00:39:00.000-05:00

The Seeker-Sensitive Movement

2009-05-22T16:16:00.000-05:00

Anxiety - A.W. Pink

2009-05-22T14:09:00.002-05:00

"In nothing be anxious." (Phil. 4:6, R.V.)

WORRYING is as definitely forbidden as theft. This needs to be carefully pondered and definitely

realized by us, so that we do not excuse it as an innocent "infirmity." The more we are convicted of the

sinfulness of anxiety, the sooner are we likely to perceive that it is most dishonoring to God, and "strive

against" it. (Heb. 12:4) Buy how are we to "strive against" it? First, by begging the Holy Spirit to grant us a

deeper conviction of its enormity. Second, by making it a subject of special and earnest prayer, that we may

be delivered from this evil. Third, by watching its beginning, and as soon as we are conscious of harassment

of mind, as soon as we detect the unbelieving thought, lift up our heart to God and ask Him for deliverance

from it. The best antidote for anxiety is frequent meditation upon Gods goodness, power and sufficiency.

When the saint can confidently realize "The Lord is My Shepherd," he must draw the conclusion, "I shall not

want!" Immediately following our exhortation is, "but in everything by prayer and supplication, with

thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God." Nothing is too big and nothing is too little to

spread before and cast upon the Lord. The "with thanksgiving" is most important, yet it is the point at which

we most fail. It means that before we receive Gods answer, we thank Him for the same: it is the confidence

of the child expecting his Father to be gracious. --A. W. Pink

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought (anxious concern) for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye

shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than

raiment?" "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added

unto you." (Matt. 6:25,33)

What Roman Catholics Find When They Study Their Own Bible

2009-05-22T01:36:00.003-05:00

What Roman Catholics Find

When They Study Their Own Bible

(When we say “their” Bible, we have reference to the New American Bible published by Confraternity of Christian

Doctrine, Washington D.C. with the encouragement of Archbishop Cicognani, Delegate to the United States.)

Roman Catholics are taught many things. They are often told about the contents of their Bible. If they would study it

for themselves, they would find that their Bible encourages investigation and reading.

They would find — that they are admonished by Christ Himself to “Search the Scriptures” (John 5:39); that people

are liable to make mistakes if they do not know the Scriptures (Matt. 22:29); that those are blessed who read the

Scriptures (Revelation 1:3); and that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching” (2 Tim. 3:16).

They would find — that their Bible is the only rule of life and that no man has right or authority to make any church

laws contrary to it, nor dare they add to or take from it. “For I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this

book: If anyone adds to them, God will add unto him the plagues described in this book, And if anyone takes away

from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the of life and in the holy city described in this

book.” (Rev. 22:18, 19). “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Add nothing to

His words, lest He reprove you, and you be exposed as a deceiver.” (Prov. 30:5, 6).

They would find — that there is no Bible record of Peter being in Rome at any time, hence no apostolic succession.

Paul never built upon another man's foundation, so that is evidence no apostle had been in Rome before him (To the

Rom. 15:20). In writing to the Romans in A.D. 58 he salutes twenty-six people and never mentions Peter. Peter writing

from A.D. 60-63 was then in Babylon (1 Pet. 5:13). Paul writing to Timothy in the last year of his life says, “Luke is

the only one with me” (2 Tim. 4:9-12). Not a word about the apostle Peter. Finally, it is further proven that Peter was

the apostle of the circumcision and worked among the Jews, while Paul was the apostle to the uncircumcision and

worked among the Gentiles, therefore, it was the Lord's will that Paul, not Peter, go to Rome (To the Gal. 2:7-8; The

Acts 23:11).

They would find — that Peter (also called Simon), who is claimed to be the first pope, was a married man (St. Mark

1:29-31).

They would find — that Zachary was a married priest (St. Luke 1:5, 13). Also that bishops were permitted to marry (1

Tim. 3:1-4) and that to forbid marriage is not sound doctrine (1 Tim. 4:1-3).

They would find — that their Bible forbids bowing down and the worship of images, pictures or relics (Exo. 20:3-5).

They would find — that God only can forgive sins (St. Mark 2:7).

They would find — that there is no mention made of purgatory or prayers for the dead, but that if men are ever fitted

for heaven, they must be before death or not at all. “Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the

judgment” (Heb. 9:27). Abraham could not help the dead (St. Luke 16:19-31). David knew it was no use praying for

the dead (2 Sam. 12:16, 19, 22, 23).

They would find — that their Bible forbids them to call any man “ father” as a religious title. “Call no one on earth

your father; you have but one Father in heaven” (St. Matt. 23:9).

They would find — that the Gospel is free “without paying and without cost” (Isa. 55:1). No charges should be made

for it (St. Matt. 10:7, 8).

They would find — that there is only one Mediator between God and men, and that this Mediator is neither Mary the

mother of Jesus according to the flesh, nor some priest, but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. “For there is one God.

There is also one mediator between God and then human race, Christ Jesus, himself human” (1 Tim. 2:5, 6). “But if

anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one” (1 St. John 2:1-3). “Then all of

you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified,

whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. There is no salvation through anyone

else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” (The Acts 4:10,

12).

They would find — that Christ is the only way of salvation and that no man-made system of religion can take the

place of, or even assist God's way of saving sinners. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one

comes to the Father except through me.” (St. John 14:6). “For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so

that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21).

They would find — that a person can be saved and know it in this life, that a person can realize and experience peace

in his heart and have the assurance of his sins forgiven . These precious facts come to us only through faith in the Lord

Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross. “In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of

transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). “Realizing that you were ransomed from your futile

conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold” (1 Pet. 1:18, 19). “He himself bore

our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have

been healed.” (1 Pet. 2:24). (Also read Isa. 53:4-6; Gal. 3:13; St. John 6:37; 2 Cor. 5:21; Col. 1:20-22).

They would find — that when men and women die, they go to either heaven or hell; and that it is an eternal place, a

state of conscious joy, or torment from which there is no deliverance (St. Luke 16:19-31; St. Matt. 25:41,46).

They would find — that the hope of the church is not earthly power and greatness, but a path of suffering as her

rejected Lord suffered; and to wait for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal, visible manner as He once left

this earth, and that He may come at any moment. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and

take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” (St. John 14:3). “They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you

standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way

as you have seen him going into heaven.” (The Acts 1:11). “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day

your Lord will come. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

(St. Matt. 24:42, 44).

__________________________

In conclusion — We would advise Catholics to read their Bibles and find the simple way of salvation as revealed

therein. The Bible itself declares the way is so plain that “nor fools go astray on it.” (Isa. 35:8). We are more and more

convinced that the need of the day is to search the unchanging Scriptures. Let us see if what bishops, priests, ministers

and teachers tell us is the truth or not. In Apostolic days, this was done. “These Jews were more fair-minded than those

in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all willingness and examined the scriptures daily to determine whether

these things were so.” (The Acts 17:11). They who do not preach and teach the Gospel as it is found in the Scriptures

are under the curse of God and should not be received into the house. “But even if we or an angel from heaven should

preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before,

and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!”

(Gal. 1:8, 9). “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet

him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works.”(2 John 10-11).

What the Bible Says About...

2009-05-22T01:13:00.003-05:00

What the Bible Says About…

THE BIBLE

2 Timothy 3:15, 16

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able
to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness.”

Psalm 19:7

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is
sure, making wise the simple.”

GOD

Psalm 99:9

“...for the Lord our God is holy.”

1 Timothy 1:17

“Now unto the King etema1, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour
and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Isaiah 45:21, 22

“...and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none
beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is
none else.”

MAN

Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male
and female created he them.”

Genesis 2:7

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Isaiah 43:7

“Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I
have formed him; yea, I have made him.”

HEAVEN

Revelation 21:3, 4

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of
God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himseIf
shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; there
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the
former things are passed away.”

Revelation 21:27

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither
whatsoeverworketh abomination or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book
of life.”

SIN

Romans 5:12

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

Isaiah 59:2

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have
hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

HELL

2 Thessalonians 1:8,9

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”

Revelation 20:15

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire.”

CHRIST - HIS ADVENT

Micah 5:2

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have
been from of old, from everlasting.”

Matthew 1:21-23

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he
shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken of the Lord by the prophets, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
forth a son, and they shall call his narne Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Luke 2:10,11

“And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

CHRIST - HIS PERSON

John 10:30

“I and my Father are one.”

John 14:6

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.”

CHRIST - HIS WORK

Luke 22:19, 20

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it’ and gave unto them, saying,
This is mybody which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup
aftersupper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

1 Peter 2:24

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to
sins, should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Colossians 1:14

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

Isaiah 53:5, 6

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep
have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all.”

CHRIST - HIS RESURRECTION

Luke 24:36, 39

“And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto
them, Peace be unto you... Behold my hands and rny feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see;
for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

I Corinthians 15:3, 4

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose
again the third day ac-cording to the scriptures.”

FAITH

Acts 20:20, 21

“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you,
and have taught you publicly.. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must

believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Ephesians 2:8, 9

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast”

LIFE

John 3:3

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 1:12, 13

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 3:36

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son
shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

THE WAY OF SALVATION

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 14:6

“Jesus saith unto him, l am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.’

Acts 16:31

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy
house.

Romans 10:9

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Exodus 20:1-17

“And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow
down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate
me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless
that taketh his name in vain.
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou lahour, and do all thy work: But
the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy
son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is
within thy gates:For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all thai in them is,
and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Honour thy father andd thy mother: that thy days may be long upor the land which the Lord thy
God giveth thee.
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not cornnit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his
manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

THE CREATlON

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Revelation 4:11

“Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou has

created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

CHRIST’S NEW COMMANDMENT

John 13:34,35

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another: as I have loved
you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
havelove one to another.”

THE VALUE OF THE SOUL

Mark 8:36,37

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Matthew 6:9-13

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done In earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our
debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For
Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

THE GOLDEN RULE

Matthew 7:12

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them:for this is the law and the prophets.”

THE BEATITUDES

Matthew 5:3-12

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in
heaven:for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: and in Jesus Christ His only
Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose
again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father
Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy
Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the
resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

HELP IN THE TIME OF NEED
RELIEF IN TIME OF SUFFERING

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ
may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in
persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

GUIDANCE IN TIME OF DECISION

James 1:5,6

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Proverbs 3:5,6

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

STRENGTH IN TIME OF TEMPTATION

James 1:12-16

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, be shall
receive thecrown of life, which the Lord bath promised to them that love him Let no man say
when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth
he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

COMFORT IN TIME OF LONELINESS

Psalm 23

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the
pathsof righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil; For Thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou
preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I
will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

COMFORT IN TIME OF SORROW

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be
able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are
comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ.”

Romans 8:26-28

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for the saints according to
the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to his purpose.”

SUGGESTED BIBLE READINGS
Protection in Time of Danger Psalm 91, Psalm 12
Courage in Time of Fear Hebrews 13:5,6,
Ephesians 6:10-18
Peace in Time of Turmoil Isaiah 26:3,4,
Philippians 4:6, 7
Rest in Time of Weariness Matthew 11:28, 29,
Psalm 23
Warning In Time of Indifference Galatians 5:19-21, Hebrews 10:26-31
Forgiveness in Time of Convictiion Isaiah 1:18, 1 John 1:7-9
The Fall of Man Genesis 3
The Flood of Noah Genesis 6-9
The Call of Abraham Genesis 12:1-9
Deliverance of Israel from Egypt Exodus 11-14
Dedication of the Temple Chronicles 5-7
Babylonian Captivity of Israel 2 Chronicles 36
Revival of Israel after Captivity Nehemiah 8 and 9
Promises of the Coming Messiah Isaiah 9:2-7,
Psalm 22, Isaiah 53
The Birth of Christ Matthew 1:18-2:23,
Luke 1:26-2:40
The Triumphal Entry Luke 19:28-44
The Last Supper Mark 14:12-26
The Garden of Gethsemane Matthew 26: 36-46
The Betrayal of Jesus Matthew 26:47-56
The Arrest and Trial of Jesus John 18:12-19:16
The Death of Christ Luke 23:26-56,
John 19:16-42
The Resurrection of Christ Luke 24, John 20
The Ascension of Christ Acts 1:1-12
The Coming of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1-21
The Conversion of Paul Acts 9:1-31
The Heroes of Faith Hebrews 11
The Greatest Commandment Matthew 22:36-40
The Righteousness of Faith Romans 3:19-28
The Royal Law James 2:8, Romans 13:8-10
Christian Love 1 Corinthians 13
God’s Greatness and Man’s Weakness Isaiah 40
The Twofold Revelation of God Psalm 19
Man’s Universal Guilt Romans 1:18-2:16
Atonement Leviticus 16, Romans 5
The New Birth John 3
Justiflcation by Faith Ephesians 2:1-10,
Galatians 2:16-21
Christ’s Intercession for His Own John 17,
Hebrews 7:25
The High Priestly Work of Christ Hebrews 9:11-15,
Hebrews 4:14-16
Christ’s Humiliation and Exaltation
Philippians 2:5-11
Resurrection of theChristian Dead 1 Corinthians 15,
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Second ComIng of Christ Matthew 24,
2 Thessalonians 1:7-2:12,
Revelation 20:10-15
The New Heaven and New Earth
Revelation 21 and 22
Christian Home Relationships Ephesians 5:22-6:4
A Model Wife and Mother Proverbs 31:10-31
Marriage and Divorce Matthew 19:3-9,
Malachi 2:14-16
The Sin of Adultery Proverbs 6:23-33
The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32
Employer-Employee Relationships
Colossians 3:22-4:1
Business and Professional Principles Psalm 15, Proverbs 3:1-12
Separation from Worldliness Corinthians 6:14-7:1,
1 John 2:15-17
Decisions on Doubtful Things Romans 14
Christian Fruitfulness John 15
Heavenly Wisdom James 3:14-18
Christian Responsibilities Romans 12 and 13
Christian Stewardship 2 Corinthians 8 and 9
Christian Witnessing Matthew 28:18-20,
John 17:18-20
Prevailing Prayer Matthew 6:5-15,
Philippians 4:6,7
Heavenly Priorities Matthew 6:25-33
Brevity of Man’s Days Psalm 90
Consequences of Forgetting God Hosea 4:1-11
The Causes of War James 4:1-4
The Last Judgment Revelation 20:10-15

Regeneration VS. The Idolatry of Decisional Evangelism

2009-05-22T00:56:00.002-05:00

The Ultimate Christian Family

2009-04-30T13:02:00.005-05:00

This video documentary has really challenged my way of thinking when it comes to raising a family. What do you think? I didn't post the 6th video in this series due to inappropriate content. Keep in mind that this is a secular documentary about a Christian family.

Mark Driscoll...my confession

2009-04-20T10:27:00.002-05:00

...yeah...I still love the guy. His theology is amazing. And he preaches doctrine like no other.

(josh screams in frustration)

i just think it would be wiser to listen to Piper instead...ok?

Paul Washer...Missionary Footage

2009-04-17T23:34:00.000-05:00

Tim Conway Videos

2009-04-17T23:09:00.002-05:00

Should Christians Watch TV For Entertainment?

Can A Christian Be Possessed?

Jesus Is Lord - Sermon Jam

To Deny Yourself and Take Up Your Cross?

Roles Women In The Church Can Take

Hell Is Necessary

Don Johnson's Testimony

2009-04-17T22:55:00.000-05:00

Don Johnson's Testimony from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

The Best News You've Ever Heard!

2009-04-17T21:13:00.001-05:00

Why Would The Father Send His Son?

2009-04-17T21:11:00.001-05:00

Sound Doctrine; Sound Words

2009-04-17T20:34:00.002-05:00

Friends,

I've posted on previous blogs how much I love Mark Driscoll and his theology. I even started his 13 week sermon series on Doctrine - "What all Christians should believe." As you can see, I've been posting them on my blog...and I've been encouraging you to study them with me.

Well folks... consider this blog my personal apology for doing so.

I have ceased listening to Mark Driscoll...and I've ceased posting his series on my blog. I still love Mark Driscoll and think his theology is spot on...but I can no longer ignore the profane language and pornographic themes that come from his pulpit.

After listening to this sermon by Phil Johnson, called "Sound Doctrine; Sound Words," I realize that character should support your preaching and your doctrine...and as Christians we must not sacrifice character for doctrine by any means.

I hope this sermon reveals this truth to you through Phil's teaching on Titus 2.

grace and peace,

-josh

John Farese

2009-04-17T01:43:00.002-05:00

This is one reason why I reject that God wants to heal everyone physically while living in a non redeemed body here on Earth. What do you think?

Also....one of these videos will address the topic of abortion...a heated topic in evangelical circles.

I hope this video will show why abortion is always wrong...and we can never justify it.

-josh

If Paul's Epistle to the Galatians was published in "Christianity Today"

2009-04-17T00:53:00.001-05:00

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Christianity Today:
In response to Paul D. Apostle’s article about the Galatian church in your January issue, I have to say how appalled I am by the unchristian tone of this hit piece. Why the negativity? Has he been to the Galatian church recently? I happen to know some of the people at that church, and they are the most loving, caring people I’ve ever met.
Phyllis Snodgrass; Ann Arbor, MI
————————————————————————
Dear Editor:
How arrogant of Mr. Apostle to think he has the right to judge these people and label them accursed. Isn’t that God’s job? Regardless of this circumcision issue, these Galatians believe in Jesus just as much as he does, and it is very Pharisaical to condemn them just because they differ on such a secondary issue. Personally, I don’t want a sharp instrument anywhere near my zipper, but that doesn’t give me the right to judge how someone else follows Christ. Can’t we just focus on our common commitment to Christ and furthering His kingdom, instead of tearing down fellow believers over petty doctrinal matters?
Ed Bilgeway; Tonganoxie, KS
————————————————————————–
Dear CT:
I’ve seen other dubious articles by Paul Apostle in the past, and frankly I’m surprised you felt that his recurrent criticisms of the Church deserved to be printed in your magazine. Mr. Apostle for many years now has had a penchant for thinking he has a right to “mark” certain Christian teachers who don’t agree with his biblical position. Certainly I commend him for desiring to stay faithful to God’s word, but I think he errs in being so dogmatic about his views to the point where he feels free to openly attack his brethren. His attitude makes it difficult to fully unify the Church, and gives credence to the opposition’s view that Christians are judgmental, arrogant people who never show God’s love.
Ken Groener; San Diego, CA
—————————————————————————-
To the Editors:
Paul Apostle says that he hopes the Galatian teachers will cut off their own privates? What kind of Christian attitude is that? Shame on him!
Martha Bobbitt; Boulder, CO
—————————————————————————-
Dear Christianity Today:
The fact that Paul Apostle brags about his public run-in with Peter Cephas, a well-respected leader and brother in Christ, exposes Mr. Apostle for the divisive figure that he has become in the Church today. His diatribe against the Galatian church is just more of the same misguided focus on an antiquated reliance on doctrine instead of love and tolerance. Just look how his hypercritical attitude has cast aspersions on homosexual believers and women elders! The real problem within the Church today is not the lack of doctrinal devotion, as Apostle seems to believe, but in our inability to be transformed by our individual journeys in the Spirit. Evidently, Apostle has failed to detach himself from his legalistic background as a Pharisee, and is unable to let go and experience the genuine love for Christ that is coming from the Galatians who strive to worship God in their own special way.
William Zenby; Richmond, VA
——————————————————————————
Kind Editors:
I happen to be a member of First Christian Church of Galatia, and I take issue with Mr. Apostle’s article. How can he criticize a ministry that has been so blessed by God? Our church has baptized many new members and has made huge in-roads in the Jewish community with our pragmatic view on circumcision. Such a “seeker-sensitive” approach has given the Jews the respect they deserve for being God’s chosen people for thousands of years. In addition, every Gentile in our midst has felt honored to engage in the many edifying rituals of the Hebrew heritage, including circumcision, without losing their passion for Jesus. My advice to Mr. Apostle is to stick to spreading the gospel message of Christ’s unconditional love, and quit criticizing what God is clearly blessing in other churches.
Miriam “Betty” Ben-Hur; Galatia, Turkey
——————————————————————————-
EDITOR’S NOTE: Christianity Today apologizes for our rash decision in publishing Paul Apostle’s exposé of the Galatian church. Had we known the extent in which our readership and advertisers would withdraw their financial support, we never would have printed such unpopular biblical truth. We regret any damage we may have caused in propagating the doctrines of Christ.

Doctrine: Revelation - God Speaks - Week 2

2009-04-11T21:42:00.002-05:00

Hey Everyone

Here's week 2 of the Doctrine Series by Mark Driscoll. My next post should include my notes from week 1 about the Trinity.

2009-04-05T20:33:00.003-05:00

A Catechism for Boys and Girls
by Erroll Hulse

Part 1

Questions about GOD, MAN and SIN

Q.1. Who made you?
A. God made me.

Q.2. What else did God make?
A. God made all things.

Q.3. Why did God make you and all things?
A. For his own glory.

Q.4. How can you glorify God?
A. By loving him and doing what he commands.

Q.5. Why ought you to glorify God?
A. Because he made me and takes care of me.

Q.6. Are there more gods than one?
A. There is only one God.

Q.7. In how many persons does this one God exist?
A. In three persons.

Q.8. Who are they?
A. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Q.9. Who is God?
A. God is a Spirit, and has not a body like men.

Q.10. Where is God?
A. God is everywhere.

Q.11. Can you see God?
A. No. I cannot see God, but he always sees me.

Q.12. Does God know all things?
A. Yes. Nothing can be hidden from God.

Q.13. Can God do all things?
A. Yes. God can do all his holy will.

Q.14. Where do you learn how to love and obey God?
A. In the Bible alone.

Q.15. Who wrote the Bible?
A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.

Q.16. Who were our first parents?
A. Adam and Eve.

Q.17. Of what were our first parents made?
A. God made the body of Adam out of the ground, and formed Eve from
the body of Adam.

Q.18. What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies?
A. He gave them souls that could never die.

Q.19. Have you a soul as well as a body?
A. Yes. I have a soul that can never die.

Q.20. How do you know that you have a soul?
A. Because the Bible tells me so.

Q.21. In what condition did God make Adam and Eve?
A. He made them holy and happy.

Q.22. Did Adam and Eve stay holy and happy?
A. No. They sinned against God.

Q.23. What is sin?
A. Sin is any transgression of the law of God.

Q.24. What is meant by transgression?
A. Doing what God forbids.

Q.25. What was the sin of our first parents?
A. Eating the forbidden fruit.

Q.26. Why did they eat the forbidden fruit?
A. Because they did not believe what God had said.

Q.27. Who tempted them to this sin?
A. The devil tempted Eve, and she gave the fruit
to Adam.

Q.28. What happened to our first parents when they had sinned?
A. Instead of being holy and happy, they became sinful and miserable.

Q.29. What effect had the sin of Adam on all mankind?
A. All mankind is born in a state of sin and misery.

Q.30. What do we inherit from Adam as a result of this original sin?
A. A sinful nature.

Q.31. What does every sin deserve?
A. The anger and judgment of God.

Q.32. Can anyone go to heaven with this sinful nature?
A. No. Our hearts must be changed before we
can be fit for heaven.

Q.33. What is a change of heart called?
A. Regeneration.

Q.34. Who can change a sinner's heart?
A. The Holy Spirit alone.

Q.35. What is righteousness?
A. It is God's goodness.

Q.36. Can anyone be saved by his own righteousness?
A. No. No one is good enough for God.

Part 2

Questions About SALVATION

Q.37. What is a covenant?
A. An agreement between two or more persons.

Q.38. What is the covenant of grace?
A. The agreement God the Father made with
Christ concerning his elect people to save
them from their sins.

Q.39. What did Christ undertake in the covenant of grace?
A. To keep the whole law for his people, and to
suffer the punishment due to their sins.

Q.40. Did our Lord Jesus Christ ever sin?
A. No. He was holy, blameless, and undefiled.

Q.41. How could the Son of God suffer?
A. Christ, the Son of God, took flesh and blood,
that he might obey and suffer as a man.

Q.42. What is meant by the atonement?
A. Christ satisfying divine justice, by his
sufferings and death, in the place of sinners.

Q.43. What did God the Father undertake in the covenant of grace?
A. To justify and sanctify those for whom Christ should die.

Q.44. What is justification?
A. It is God regarding sinners as if they had
never sinned.

Q.45. What is sanctification?
A. It is God making sinners holy in heart and conduct.

Q.46. For whom did Christ obey and suffer?
A. For those whom the Father had given him.

Q.47. What kind of life did Christ live on earth?
A. A life of perfect obedience to the law of God?

Q.48. What kind of death did Christ die?
A. The painful and shameful death of the cross.

Q.49. Who will be saved?
A. Only those who repent of sin and believe in Christ.

Q.50. What is it to repent?
A. To be sorry for sin, and to hate and forsake it
because it is displeasing to God.

Q.51. What is it to believe in Christ?
A. To trust in Christ alone for salvation.

Q.52. Can you repent and believe in Christ by your own power?
A. No. I can do nothing good without God's Holy Spirit.

Q.53. How can you receive the Holy Spirit?
A. God has told us that we must pray to him for the Holy Spirit.

Q.54. How were godly persons saved before the coming of Christ?
A. By believing in the Saviour to come.

Q.55. How did they show their faith?
A. By offering sacrifices on God's altar.

Q.56. What did these sacrifices represent?
A. Christ, the Lamb of God, who was to die for
sinners.

Q.57. What does Christ do for his people?
A. He does the work of a prophet, a priest, and a king.

Q.58. Why is Christ a prophet?
A. Because he teaches us the will of God.

Q.59. Why is Christ a priest?
A. Because he died for our sins and prays to God for us.

Q.60. Why is Christ a king?
A. Because he rules over us and defends us.

Q.61. Why do you need Christ as a prophet?
A. Because I am ignorant.

Q.62. Why do you need Christ as a priest?
A. Because I am guilty.

Q.63. Why do you need Christ as a king?
A. Because I am weak and helpless.

Part 3

Questions About THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Q.64. How many commandments did God give on Mount Sinai?
A. Ten commandments.

Q.65. What are the ten commandments sometimes called?
A. God's moral law.

Q.66. What do the first four commandments teach?
A. Our duty to God.

Q.67. What do the last six commandments teach?
A. Our duty to our fellow men.

Q.68. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. To love God with all my heart, and my
neighbour as myself.

Q.69. Who is your neighbour?
A. All my fellow men are my neighbours.

Q.70. Is God pleased with those who love
and obey him?
A. Yes. He says, “I love them that love me.”

Q.71. Is God pleased with those who do not love and obey him?
A. No. “God is angry with the wicked every day.”

Q.72. What is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have
no other gods before me.

Q.73. What does the first commandment teach us?
A. To worship God only.

Q.74. What is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is, Thou
shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any
likeness of anything that is in heaven above,
or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth: thou shalt not bow
down thyself to them: for I, the LORD thy
God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity
of the fathers upon the children unto the third
and fourth generation of them that hate me;
and showing mercy unto thousands of them
that love me, and keep my commandments.

Q.75. What does the second commandment teach us?
A. To worship God in the right way, and to avoid idolatry.

Q.76. What is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not
take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;
for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that
taketh his name in vain.

Q.77. What does the third commandment teach us?
A. To reverence God's name, word, and works.

Q.78. What is the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment is, Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou
labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day
is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou
shalt not do any work, thou nor thy son, nor
thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that
is within thy gates: for in six days the LORD made
heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is,
and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD
blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Q.79. What does the fourth commandment teach us?
A. To keep the Sabbath holy.

Q.80. What day of the week is the Christian Sabbath?
A. The first day of the week, called the Lord's Day.

Q.81. Why is it called the Lord's Day?
A. Because on that day Christ rose from the dead.

Q.82. How should the Sabbath be kept?
A. In prayer and praise, in hearing and reading God's Word and in
doing good to our fellow men.

Q.83. What is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother that
thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy
God giveth thee.

Q.84. What does the fifth commandment teach us?
A. To love and obey our parents.

Q.85. What is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.

Q.86. What does the sixth commandment teach us?
A. To avoid hatred.

Q.87. What is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Q.88. What does the seventh commandment teach us?
A. To be pure in heart, language and conduct.

Q.89. What is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.

Q.90. What does the eighth commandment teach us?
A. To be honest and not to take the things of others.

Q.91. What is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Q.92. What does the ninth commandment teach us?
A. To tell the truth and not to speak evil of others.

Q.93. What is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's
wife, nor his manservant, nor his
maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's.

Q.94. What does the tenth commandment teach us?
A. To be content with what we have.

Q.95. Can any man keep these ten commandments perfectly?
A. No mere man, since the fall of Adam, ever did or can keep the
ten commandments perfectly.

Q.96. Of what use are the ten commandments to us?
A. They teach us our duty, and show us our need
of a Saviour.

Part 4

Questions About PRAYER

Q.97. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is talking with God.

Q.98. In whose name should we pray?
A. Only in the name of Christ.

Q.99. What has Christ given to teach us how to pray?
A. The Lord's Prayer.

Q.100. Can you repeat the Lord's prayer?
A. Our Father which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in
earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And
forgive us our trespasses, as we
forgive them that trespass against us. And lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the
glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Q.101. How many petitions are there in the Lord's Prayer?
A. Six.

Q.102. What is the first petition?
A. “Hallowed be thy name.”

Q.103. What do we pray for in the first petition?
A. That God's name may be honoured by us and all men.

Q.104. What is the second petition?
A. “Thy kingdom come.”

Q.105. What do we pray for in the second petition?
A. That the gospel may be preached in all the world, and believed
and obeyed by us and all men.

Q.106. What is the third petition?
A. “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Q.107. What do we pray for in the third petition?
A. That men on earth may serve God as the angels do in heaven.

Q.108. What is the fourth petition?
A. “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Q.109. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
A. That God will give us all things needful for our bodies.

Q.110. What is the fifth petition?
A. “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass
against us.”

Q.111. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?
A. That God will pardon our sins, and help us to forgive those who
have sinned against us.

Q.112. What is the sixth petition?
A. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil.”

Q.113. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?
A. That God will keep us from sin.

Part 5

Questions about the WORD, the CHURCH and the ORDINANCES

Q.114. How does the Holy Spirit bring us to salvation?
A. He uses the Bible, which is the Word of God.

Q.115. How can we know the Word of God?
A. We are commanded to hear, read and search
the Scriptures.

Q.116. What is a church?
A. An assembly of believers met together under
the preaching of the Word of God.

Q.117. What two ordinances did Christ give to his church?
A. Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Q.118. Why did Christ give these ordinances?
A. To show that his disciples belong to him, and
to remind them of what he has done for them.

Q.119. What is baptism?
A. The dipping of believers into water, as a sign
of their union with Christ in his death, burial
and resurrection.

Q.120. What is the purpose of baptism?
A. To show believers that God has cleansed them from their sins through
Jesus Christ.

Q.121. Who are to be baptized?
A. Only those who repent of their sins, and
believe in Christ for salvation.

Q.122. Should babies be baptized?
A. No; because the Bible neither commands it,
nor gives any example of it.

Q.123. What is the Lord's Supper?
A. The eating of bread and drinking of wine to
remember the sufferings and death of Christ.

Q.124. What does the bread represent?
A. The body of Christ, broken for our sins.

Q.125. What does the wine represent?
A. The blood of Christ, shed for our salvation.

Q.126. Who should partake of the Lord's Supper?
A. Only those who repent of their sins, believe in Christ for salvation,
and love their fellow men.

Part 6

Questions About The LAST THINGS

Q.127. Did Christ remain in the tomb after his crucifixion?
A. No. He rose from the tomb on the third day
after his death.

Q.128. Where is Christ now?
A. In heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father.

Q.129. Will Christ come again?
A. Yes. At the last day he will come to judge the world.

Q.130. What happens to men when they die?
A. The body returns to dust, and the soul goes
into the world of spirits.

Q.131. Will the bodies of the dead be raised
to life again?
A. Yes. “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the
just and unjust.”

Q.132. What will happen to the wicked in the day
of judgment?
A. They shall be cast into hell.

Q.133. What is hell?
A. A place of dreadful and endless punishment.

Q.134. What will happen to the righteous in the day of
judgment?
A. They shall live with Christ for ever, in a new heaven and a new
earth.

BIBLE REFERENCES AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH PAGE
The teaching of the Bible is not proved by just a few texts.
Each text of scripture should be understood in the light of the passage
in which it is found. Sometimes a truth is stated clearly in a single
verse. When this is the case just one or two references are given.
More usually the truths to which the Catechism refer are woven throughout
the whole Bible, and when this is so several references are given.

Q.1 Gen 1:26,27; 2:7; Eccl 12:1; Acts 17:24-29
Q.2 Gen1 esp.vv1&31;Acts14:15;Rom
11:36; Col 1:16
Q.3 Psa 19:1; Jer 9:23,24; Rev 4:11; 5:13
Q.4 Eccl 12:13; Mark 12:29-31; John 15:8-10; 1 Cor 10:31
Q.5 Rom 11:36; Rev 4:11; cf.Dan 5:23
Q.6 Deut 6:4; Jer 10:10; Mark 12:29; Acts 17:22-31
Q.7 Matt 3:16,17; John 5:23; 10:30; 14:9,10; 15:26;
16:13-15; 1 John 5:20; 2 John 9; Rev 1:4,5
Q.8 Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2; Jude 20 & 21
Q.9 John 4:24; 2 Cor 3:17; 1 Tim 1:17
Q.10 Psa 139:7-12; Jer 23:23,24; Acts 17:27,28
Q.11 Exo 33:20; John 1:18; 1 Tim 6:16; Psa 139 esp.vv 1-5;
Prov 5:21; Heb 4:12,13
Q.12 1 Chron 28:9; 2 Chron 16:9; Luke 12:6,7; Rom 2:16
Q.13 Psa 147:5; Jer 32:17; Dan 4:34,35; Eph 1:11
Q.14 Job 11:7; Psa 119:104; Isa 8:20; Matt 22:29;
2 Tim 3:15-17
Q.15 2 Pet 1:20,21; Acts 1:16; 2 Tim 3:16; 1 Pet 1:10,11
Q.16 Gen 2:18-25; 3:20; 5:1,2; Acts 17:26; 1 Tim 2:13
Q.17 Gen 2:7,21-23; 3:19; Psa 103:14
Q.18 1 Cor 15:45; Eccl 12:7; Zech 12:1
Q.19 Matt 10:28; Mark 8:34-38; 12:30
Q.20 See references for Q.19
Q.21 Gen 1:26-28; Psa 8:4-8
Q.22 Gen 3:1-7; Eccl 7:29; Hosea 6:7;
(where “men”=Adam)
Q.23 1 John 3:4; Rom 3:20; James 2:9-11
Q.24 1 Sam 13:8-14; 15:22,23; Hosea 6:7; Rom 1:21-32
Q.25 Gen 2:16,17; 3:6
Q.26 Gen 3:1-6; cf. Heb 11:6
Q.27 Gen 3:1-13; 2 Cor 11:3; 1 Tim 2:13,14; cf. Rev 12:9
Q.28 Gen 3:14-24; 4:1-24; James 1:14,15
Q.29 Psa 51:5; Rom 5:12,18,19; 1 Cor 15:21,22; 1John
5:19
Q.30 1Kings 8:46;Psa 14:2,3; 58:3;Eccl 9:3;Matt
15:18-20; John 2:24,25; Rom 8:7
Q.31 Deut 27:26; Rom 1:18; 2:2, Gal 3:10; Eph 5:6
Q.32 Jer 31:33,34; Ezek 36:25-27; John 1:12,13; 3:1-10;
1 John 5:1,4,18
Q.33 Titus 3:5-7
Q.34 John 3:3; Rom 8:6-11; 1 Cor 2:9-14; 2 Thess 2:13,14;
Titus 3:5-6
Q.35 Exo 33:19; 34:6; Psa 33:5; Hosea 3:5; Rom 11:22
Q.36 Prov 20:9; Eccl 7:20; Rom 3:10-23
Q.37 e.g. 1 Sam 18:3; Matt 26:14,15
Q.38 Psa 2:7,8; 40:6-8; 89:3,4; John 6:37-39; 17:6;
Heb 13:20
Titus 1:2; 2 Tim 1:9; Eph 3:11
Q.39 Rom 8:3,4; Gal 4:4,5; Heb 9:14,15
Q.40 Luke 23:47; Heb 7:26; 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22;
1 John 3:5
Q.41 John 1:14; Rom 8:3; Gal 4:4; Phil 2:7,8;
Heb 2:14,17; 4:15
Q.42 Mark 10:45; Acts 13:38,39; Rom 3:24-26; 5:8,9;
2 Cor 5:19-21; Gal 3:13; 1 Pet 3:18
Q.43 Rom 8:29-33; Heb 10:9,10; 1 Cor 1:8,9; Phil 1:6;
1 Thess 4:3,7
Q.44 Zech 3:1-5; Rom 3:24-26; 4:5;
8:33; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 8:12
Q.45 John 17:17; Eph 2:10; 4:22-24;
Phil 2:12,13; 1 Thess 5:23
Q.46 Isa 53:8; Matt 1:21; John 10:11,15,16,26-29; 17:9;
Heb 2:13
Q.47 Matt 5:17; Rom 10:4; 1 Pet 2:21,22
Q.48 Psa 22; Isa 53; the gospel records
Q.49 Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:37-41; 16:30,31; 20:21;
26:20
Q.50 Luke 19:8-10; Rom 6:1,2; 2 Cor 7:9-11; 1 Thess 1:9,10
Q.51 John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim 2:5; 1 John 5:11,12
Q.52 John 3:5,6; 6:44; Rom 8:2,5,8-11; 1 Cor 2:9-14;
Gal 5:17,18; Eph 2:4-6
Q.53 Luke 11:9-13; John 4:10; 16:24
Q.54 John 8:56; Gal 3:8,9; 1 Cor 10:1-4; Heb 9:15; 11:13
Q.55 Exo 24:3-8; 1 Chron 29:20-25; Heb 9:19-23;10:1;11:28
Q.56 Exo 12:46 (cf. John 19:36); Heb 9 and 10; John 1:29;
1 Cor 5:7; 1 Pet 1:19
Q.57 Heb 1:1-3; 5:5-10 Rev 1:5; Matt 13:57; John 18:37
Q.58 Deut 18:15,18; John 1:18; 4:25; 14:23,24; 1 John 5:20
Q.59 Psa 110:4; 1 Tim 2:5,6; Heb 4:14-16; 7:24,25;
1 John 2:1,2
Q.60 Psa 2:6-9; Matt 28:18-20; Eph 1:19-23; Col 1:13,18;
Rev 15:3,4
Q.61 Job 11:7; Matt 11:25-27; John 6:67-69; 17:25,26;
1 Cor 2:14-16; 2 Cor 4:3-6
Q.62 Prov 20:9; Eccl 7:20; Rom 3:19-23; Heb 10:14,27,28;
1 John 1:8,9
Q.63 John 15:4,5; 2 Cor 12:9; Phil 4:13: Col 1:11;
Jude 24,25
Q.64 Exo 20:1-17; Deut 5:1-22
Q.65 Luke 20:25-28; Rom 2:14,15; 10:5
Q.66 Deut 6:5,6; 10:12,13
Q.67 Deut 10:19; Micah 6:8; cf. Gal 6:10
Q.68 Deut 6:1-15; 11:1; Matt 22:35-40; James 2:8
Q.69 Luke 10:25-37; 6:35
Q.70 Prov 8:17; Exo 20:6
Q.71 Psa 7:11; Mal 2:17; Prov 6:16-19
Q.72 Exo 20:3; Deut 5:7
Q.73 Isa 45:5,6; Matt 4:10; Rev 22:8,9
Q.74 Exo 20:4-6; Deut 5:8-10
Q.75 Isa 44:9-20; 46:5-9; John 4:23,24; Acts 17:29
Q.76 Exo 20:7; Deut 5:11
Q.77 Isa 8:13; Psa 29:2; 138:2; Rev 15:3,4
Q.78 Exo 20:8-11; 23:12; Deut 5:12-15
Q.79 Lev 19:30; 23:3; Isa 58:13,14
Q.80 Acts 20:7; Rev 1:10
Q.81 Matt 28:1; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:1-6; John 20:1
Q.82 Isa 58:13,14; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2; Luke 4:16;
Matt 12:10-13
Q.83 Exo 20:12; Deut 5:16
Q.84 Matt 15:3-6; Eph 6:1-3; Col 3:20
Q.85 Exo 20:13; Deut 5:17
Q.86 Matt 5:21-24; 1 John 3:15
Q.87 Exo 20:14; Deut 5:18
Q.88 Matt 5:27,28; Eph 5:3,5; Phil 4:8,9
Q.89 Exo 20:15; Deut 5:19
Q.90 Exo 23:4; Prov 21:6,7; Eph 4:28
Q.91 Exo 20:16; Deut 5:20
Q.92 Psa 15:1-3; Zech 8:16; 1 Cor 13:6; James 4:11
Q.93 Exo 20:17; Deut 5:21; Rom 7:7
Q.94 Phil 4:11; 1 Tim 6:6-8; Heb 13:5
Q.95 Prov 20:9; Eccl 7:20; Rom 3:19,20; James 2:10;
1 John 1:8,10
Q.96 1 Tim 1:8-11; Rom 3:20; Gal 3:24
Q.97 Gen 17:22;18:33; Neh 1:4-11; 2:4; Matt
6:6; Rom 8:26,27
Q.98 John 14:13,14; 16:23,24; Heb 4:14-16
Q.99 Matt 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-13
Q.102 Matt 6:9; Luke 11:2
Q.103 Psa 8:1; 72:17-19; 113:1-3; 145:21; Isa 8:13
Q.104 Matt 6:10; Luke 11:2
Q.105 Matt 28:19,20; John 17:20,21; Acts 8:12; 28:30,31;
2 Thess 3:1
Q.106 Matt 6:10; Luke 11:2
Q.107 Psa 67; 103:19-22; John 9:31; Rev 4:11
Q.108 Matt 6:11; Luke 11:3
Q.109 Psa 145:15,16; Prov 30:8,9; 1 Tim 4:4,5
Q.110 Matt 6:12; Luke 11:4
Q.111 Psa 51; Matt 5:23,24; 18:21-35; 1 John 4:20,21
Q.112 Matt 6:13; Luke 11:4
Q.113 1 Chron 4:10; Psa 119:11; Matt 26:41
Q.114 1 Thess 1:5,6;2:13; 2 Tim 3:15,16; James 1:18;
1 Pet 1:22,23
Q.115 1 Pet 2:2; Rev 3:22; Matt 21:42; 22:29; 2 Tim 3:14-17
Q.116 Matt 18:20; Acts 2:42
Q.117 Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:23-26
Q.118 Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:24-26
Q.119 John 3:23; Acts 2:41; 8:12,35-38; Col 2:12
Q.120 Acts 22:16; Col 2:11-14
Q.121 Acts 2:37-41; 8:12; 18:8; 19:4,5
Q.123 Mark 14:22-24; 1 Cor 11:23-29
Q.124 Matt 26:26; 1 Cor 11:24
Q.125 Matt 26:27,28; 1 Cor 11:25
Q.126 Matt 5:21-24; 1 Cor 10:16,17; 11:18, 20, 27-33;
1 John 3:14-17; 4:9-11
Q.127 Luke 24:45-47; 1 Cor 15:3,4
Q.128 Rom 8:34; Heb 1:3; 10:12; 12:2
Q.129 Matt 25:31-46; 2 Thess 1:7-10; 2 Tim 4:1
Q.130 Gen 3:19; Eccl 12:7; 2 Cor 5:1-6
Q.131 Acts 24:14,15; John 5:28,29; Dan 12:2
Q.132 Psa 9:16,17; Luke 12:5; Rev 20:12-15
Q.133 Matt 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31
Q.134 Isa 66:22; 1 Thess 4:16,17; 2 Pet 3:10-13; Rev 21:1-4

Sharing the Gospel with a Homeless Man at 3:30 am

2009-04-05T14:37:00.001-05:00

The Treasure Map

2009-04-01T22:52:00.002-05:00

Below is Dr. C Matthew McMahon's take on the Gospel.

You can read more about the Gospel through his book ''How Faith Works"

The Treasure Map

by Dr. C Matthew McMahon

Imagine finding a map which described the way you could locate a long-lost chest of buried treasure? Imagine obtaini`ng doubloons, gems, precious stones, pearl necklaces, and the like—a treasure worth billions! It would be all yours for the taking if you followed the map’s instructions to the hidden treasure. It may be that the map described difficult circumstances to overcome, maybe a perilous journey to reach the buried treasure. Would that stop you from trying to obtain it? What if you knew that without a shadow of a doubt the treasure would be yours absolutely? Would that make the journey any more tempting? I think it would.
What you are holding in your hands is a map to a treasure. Yet this is a very peculiar treasure indeed. You do not have to traverse the raging sea on an old pirate ship, or climb the Alps, or work your way through a dozen life-threatening booby-traps to obtain it. There is difficulty involved in obtaining it, but not that kind of difficulty. It is also a unique map, in that, without gaining the treasure which this map leads you to, you will not only lose your life, but your very soul as well.

This map is a map to the treasure of eternal life and the glory of God. Eternal life should be far more pleasing to gain than a few nuggets of gold which can be stolen or spent on worldly pleasures. Eternal life, for those who have it, is a treasure they can keep for all eternity. The map I am speaking of is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In its full context, the treasure map to eternal life is fully explained in the Bible, but I believe we can traverse the basics of that map here in a short outline.
Salvation is a mighty work of the One True God of the Universe. He has outlined in His Word the map to gain this treasure of salvation very clearly. First we must ask, what is "salvation"? Salvation by God through Jesus Christ is the deliverance from His wrath due to us by sin, and regaining the ability of glorify Him in righteous living. The salvation which God offers us begins with an understanding of who God is and what He requires of us. This is the first clear marker to the treasure of eternal life on our map.

What is God? God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. He is the Sovereign King over all of creation. He rules us with all the perfections of His character. Psalm 47:8 says, "God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne." He is not an idol of gold, or a image of a bird-man. He is not part of creation. He is not a mere force. He is the Creator, not the created. Our first marker to eternal life is the glorious God of creation.

Our second marker on the map to eternal life tells us what God requires of us. God requires that all men should perfectly obey His commandments and imitate His righteous, just, and holy character to the glory of God. In other words, we are to be perfect. Are you perfect? Have you ever sinned? Matthew 5:48 says, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect." If we are to be perfect, and we know we are not perfect, does not that present a great problem for us? Has any man born under Adam ever been perfect? The answer to this is "NO!" The problem: God is holy and we are not. He has given us His law that binds our conscience to perfect conformity in character and conduct. But we are not able to keep His law. His commandments condemn us at every turn. They continually point out our sin. The Ten Commandments exist to demonstrate God's holy character and our sinfulness. Romans 3:20, "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Through the law we are made conscious of sin, but we cannot keep the law, and always sin before the face of God and His holiness. There is nothing He does not see us do, and nothing we can think that escape Him. He is all knowing, and knows our thoughts and actions completely. We are open books to His holy gaze that sees all our sinful deeds. The law stands to condemn us in this. We stand guilty before Him because of our sin and wickedness (disobeying the law). Why do we do what we do? Why do we sin so much? That leads us to our next marker.

Our third marker helps us to understand who we are before God. God created Adam, the first man, in righteousness, holiness and truth, with dominion over the animals. When Adam sinned, he sinned as a representative of the whole human race. We all sinned in him and with him because he was our representative. Through Adam we have inherited a corrupt and sinful nature. That is why we can never be perfect. God counted Adam's sin to our account. This corruption of our nature is wholly at odds with God. Its lacks righteousness before God because it is not a perfect righteousness. Our sin nature has an inclination toward evil thoughts and renders us unable to save ourselves by keeping the commandments God gave us. Nothing we can do can make us perfect. Romans 5:12 says, "...through one man, sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all sinned." We are all sinful before God. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." And none of us can earn our way into heaven; "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight." (Romans 3:20) No work is good enough to merit eternal life before God.

The next marker on our map is quite dreadful. As a result of our sin in Adam, and since God is holy, He must punish imperfect sinful people. Our rebellious nature, and our violation of God’s revealed will, deserve His justice against our sin. He must punish sin justly. Sinning against an infinite God deserves a punishment of infinite duration. It is eternal punishment. Ezekiel 18:20 says, "The soul that sins, shall die." This death is not merely the death of the body, but eternal death in hell. Hell is where God’s wrath is carried out against sinners forever. Matthew 10:28 says, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell." This is a most severe and dreadful punishment. It is utterly horrifying to be cast into hell among the damned of God. Those who are in hell now, would give anything to have one moments peace and rest away from His wrath. They are wishing that their torment was just one sin less than it is right now because it is so horrible.
Yet, though the truth of eternal damnation be horrifying for all sinners, there is a marker on our map to eternal life which is able to give us hope. This is the most glorious and shining marker on our map—it is the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became a man to save sinners from God’s wrath. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." As a sinless man, Jesus is able to represent sinners as One who has perfectly obeyed God’s holy law and has imitated His righteous character in every way. As the only God-man, He was able to die on the cross for sinners in their place and fully satisfy the deserved punishment those sinners would have received. John 10:11, 17 says, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. Therefore My Father loves me because I lay my life down that I may take it up again." Sinners must believe this to be saved from God‘s wrath.

Jesus Christ did not remain dead in the grave. He is not dead even now. He has risen from the grave and ascended up into heaven in a glorious state. 1 Corinthians 15:20 says, "But now Christ is risen from the dead." And all those believing on this risen savior shall be saved forever. John 11:25 says, "I am the resurrection and the life!! He who believes in me though he die, yet shall he live." Jesus is the "X" that marks the spot!

We see that our treasure map to eternal life has lead us to the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again from the dead for sinners. But there is another marker on our map which can help us understand how to obtain the salvation which has been spoken of above. In order to be saved from the wrath to come, one must plead for mercy and seek repentance through Jesus Christ. Repentance is a sight of sin, sorrow of sin, confession of sin, shame for sin, hatred for sin and turning from sin. We must see we are guilty. We must have sorrow over our guiltiness because we have sinned against God Himself. We must confess this sin and ask for the cleansing blood of Christ to wash our sins away. Our shame for this sin should cause us to hate it because it offends a holy God. And we must turn from it towards holiness of life. Luke 13:3 says, "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Unless this repentance is exemplified by you, you can never have the treasure of eternal life.

Repentance leads to yet another marker on our map of eternal life—faith in Christ. The faith that saves is not merely a head knowledge of certain facts about God and Jesus Christ; instead it is the trust of one’s life to these truths forever. This faith is a gift which God gives people. Ephesians 2:8-9 say, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works lest anyone should boast." This is saving faith. God grants sinners faith as they repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here we have our buried treasure. Here we have Jesus Christ; He who is far more precious than a few nuggets of gold. "To you who believe, He is precious." (1 Peter 2:7)

How wonderful it is that our treasure map of eternal life has lead to the treasure of Jesus Christ!—but there is still more. The map of the Gospel does not end. We do not just dig up the treasure of Christ and then think we have accomplished our goal in finding the treasure. This Gospel map also shows us what God requires of those who say they have believed in Christ and have faith in Him. When the treasure chest of Christ is opened up, we find other parts of the Gospel map which we did not previously have. It would be like an old treasure map which may have been torn up into pieces, and when one treasure is found then the next part of the map is found as well to reveal something more.

So how does this apply? It is true that the Bible was given to show us eternal life through faith in Christ. 1 John 5:13 says, "these things were written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life, and may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." But true faith breeds a holiness of life as well. Christ does not only save us, but He then requires our obedience. This helps us to know we are truly saved. Our assurance that we have been saved by Christ is seen in three ways: first, through the testimony of the Scriptures; secondly, through the Holy Spirit’s testimony to our own spirits that the Words of God are true concerning His Son (Romans 8:16); and lastly, it also comes through the testimony of a changed life. Our repentance (Acts 26:20), Baptism (Matthew 28:19-20), godly works (Ephesians 2:10), daily prayer (Matthew 6:5), Bible study (1 Peter 2:2), faithful attendance and membership in a bible-believing church (Hebrews 10:25) and our striving towards obedience of His commandments must all be present in us. These must be a part of every true believer. Salvation from sin demands this change. It is a radical salvation that God brings to us through Christ. How could we not be radically changed?!

So we see our treasure map, then, continues to lead us closer to Jesus Christ. The Bible can tell you much more than what was presented in this simple tract. Read it thoroughly. It will lead you to the "X" which marks the spot—the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There the chest is filled with salvation’s mysteries; the crown of thorns, the iron nails, the blood drenched beams of wood, the empty tomb, the Risen Savior. There you will find the glory of God, a treasure beyond your wildest aspirations. May the treasure map of the Gospel help you see the infinite worth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Redeemer of men, and help you to glorify Him forever. For it is this end which you were created—to glorify the Living God. In Christ we are able to do just that for all eternity. AMEN.

Doctrine - What Christians Should Believe

2009-04-01T14:29:00.003-05:00

Let me be honest with you. I'm a Calvinist. I don't believe in free will... at least in the matter of our salvation. I believe we're all predestined. I love the Book of Romans. I love the John MacArthur Study Bible. I love sermons by Phil Johnson, John Piper, John MacArthur, and Paul Washer.

....and I love Mark Driscoll.

I understand that Phil Johnson and John MacArthur would probably say he's pornophying the Church... I honestly just think he talks about sex a lot.

I love Mark Driscoll's theology, and I know John Piper would agree with me, and theology is what I care about...even if he's a part of the emerging church. At least it's reformed.

With that being said, I'm going to listen to his 13 week series on Doctrine - What EVERY Christian should believe. I challenge you to do it with me. So once a week, I'll post 1 of his sermons from the series. I'll also attach his Q&A session from each sermon.

The first sermon will be about the Trinity. I hope you enjoy it. You pretty much have to if you're a Christian.

-josh

Part 1: Trinity - God Is

Live Q&A

Biblical Authority

2009-03-19T18:33:00.001-05:00

The Holy Spirit is not Schizophrenic

2009-03-19T18:25:00.000-05:00

2009-02-24T00:37:00.003-06:00

John Piper - Why are Calvinists so Negative?

2009-02-11T16:03:00.001-06:00

Lecrae - Indwelling Sin

2009-02-11T15:22:00.000-06:00

Invisible Children

2009-02-11T14:36:00.004-06:00

Many times, we as Christians complain.

My hope is that this video encourages you not to complain, and to be forever grateful for the vast blessings God has given us as Americans.

I hope this also helps all of understand different world views and encourages us to share the life-giving message of Jesus Christ. Hope this movie blesses you!

The Gospel 101 - Paul Washer

2009-01-11T22:42:00.001-06:00

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (I Corinthians 15:1-4)

A writer or preacher would be hard pressed to produce a better introduction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ than that which is given here by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. In these few lines, he gives us enough truth to live on for a lifetime and to bring us home to glory. Only the Holy Spirit could enable a man to write so much, so clearly, and in so little space.

A Gospel for All

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel…(I Corinthians 15:1)

In this simple phrase, we find a truth that must be rediscovered by all of us. The Gospel is not merely an introductory message to Christianity. It is “the” message of Christianity, and it is not only the means of salvation, but also the means of continued sanctification in the life of the most mature believer.

The Apostle had already preached the Gospel to these people! He was their father in the faith! Yet he sees the greatest need to continue teaching the Gospel to them, not only to remind them of its essential ingredients, but also to expand their knowledge of it. At their conversion, they merely began a journey of discovery that would encompass their entire life and carry on through the endless ages of eternity – the discovery of the glories of God revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we look through the annals of Christian history, we see men and women of unusual passion for God and His kingdom. We long to be like them, and we wonder how they came to have such enduring fire. I have studied the lives of quite a few of them, and I find one common denominator among them. They all seem to have caught a glimpse of the glory of the Gospel, and its beauty kindled their passion and drove them on. Genuine and enduring passion comes from an ever-increasing, ever-deepening understanding of what God has done for His people in the person and work of Jesus Christ!

Today, there are so many conferences and such, especially for our youth, which are designed to excite the believer’s passion through fellowship, music, eloquent speakers, emotional stories, and impassioned pleas. Yet, often whatever excitement they create quickly vanishes. In the end, little fires have been built in little hearts that burn out in a few days. We have forgotten that genuine, enduring passion is born out of one’s knowledge of the truth, and specifically the truth of the Gospel. The more one comprehends its beauty, the more one will be apprehended by its power. One glance of the Gospel will move the truly regenerate heart to follow. Every greater glimpse will quicken its pace until it is running recklessly toward the prize. Such beauty, the truly Christian heart cannot resist. This is the great need of the day! It is what we have lost—the preaching of the Gospel.

A Gospel to Be Preached

… which I preached to you, (I Corinthians 15:1)

It seems that for the most part, impassioned preaching has gone out of style. It has been deemed by many to be lacking the refinement and sophistication that are necessary to be effective in this modern era. The passionate preacher proclaiming truth boldly and unapologetically is now considered an obstacle to the post-modern man who prefers a bit more humility and openness to other points of view. The majority argument is that we simply must change the way we preach because it just looks foolish to the world.

Such an attitude toward preaching is proof that we have lost our bearings in the Evangelical community. It is God who has ordained the “foolishness of preaching” to be the instrument of bringing the saving message of the Gospel to the world. That is not to say that preaching should be foolish, illogical, or outlandish, but the standard by which all preaching should be compared is the Scripture and not the contemporary opinions of a fallen and corrupt culture that is wise in its own eyes.

The theory is often put forth that our present culture cannot tolerate the type of preaching that was so effective during the great awakenings and revivals of the past. The preaching of George Whitefield, John Wesley, and other like-minded preachers would be ridiculed, lampooned and laughed to scorn by modern man. Yet, this theory fails to take into account that these same preachers were ridiculed and lampooned by the men of their own day! True Gospel preaching will always be “foolishness” to every culture. Any attempt to remove the offense and make preaching “appropriate” diminishes the power of the Gospel. It also defeats the purpose for which God chose preaching as the means of saving men – so that men’s hope might not rest in refinement, eloquence, or worldly wisdom, but in the power of God.

We live in a culture that is bound in sin like bands of iron. Moral stories, quaint maxims, and life lessons shared from the heart of a beloved pulpiteer have no real power against such darkness.We need preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who know the Scriptures and are enabled by the grace of God to face any culture and cry out, “Thus saith the Lord!”

A Gospel to Be Received

… which also you received, (I Corinthians 15:1)

For men to be saved, the Gospel must be received. Yet, what does it mean to “receive” the Gospel? There is nothing extraordinary about the word “received” in English or biblical Greek, but in the context of the Gospel, it becomes quite extraordinary, and one of the most radical words in Scripture.

First, when two things are contrary or diametrically opposed to one another, to receive the one is to reject the other. Since there is no affinity or friendship between the Gospel and the world, to “receive” the Gospel is to “reject” the world. In this is demonstrated just how radical the act of receiving the Gospel can be. To receive and follow the Gospel call is to reject all that can be seen with the eye and held in the hand, in exchange for what cannot be seen. It is to reject personal autonomy, the right to self-government, in order to enslave oneself to a “messiah” who died two thousand years ago as an enemy of the state and a blasphemer. It is to reject the majority and its views, in order to join oneself to a berated and seemingly insignificant minority called the Church. It is to risk everything in this one and only life in the belief that this impaled prophet is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

Secondly, for a man to “receive the Gospel” is for Him to trust exclusively in the person and work of Jesus Christ as the only way of right standing before God. It is a common maxim that to trust in anything exclusively is dangerous, or at best, a very unwise thing to do. A man is considered careless to not have a backup plan, to not have an alternative escape route, to not diversify his investments, or to put all his eggs in the same basket and burn bridges behind him. Yet, this is the very thing that is done by the man who receives Jesus Christ. The Christian faith is exclusive. To truly receive Christ is to throw off every other hope in every other thing, but Christ
alone. It is for this reason that the Apostle Paul declares that the Christian is of all men most to be pitied, if Christ is a hoax. To receive the Gospel is not merely to pray a prayer asking Jesus to come into one’s heart, but it is to put away the world and embrace the fullness of the claims of Christ.

To “receive the Gospel” is to open one’s life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is quite different from the plea of contemporary evangelism that directs men to “make Jesus Lord” of their lives. What we must understand is that Jesus IS the Lord of every man. The Scriptures declare that God has made Him both Lord and Christ. He has installed His King upon His holy mountain and scoffs at those who would rebel against Him. God does not call men to make Jesus Lord, but to live in absolute submission to the Lord He has made.

The man who receives the Gospel, and with it, Jesus as Lord, does a very dangerous and sensible thing. It is dangerous in a Narnian sort of way. After all, He is not a tame Lion, and He is certainly not safe. He has the right to ask anything of those who call Him Lord, but He is good, and worthy of joyful trust. Those who do not understand the danger of the Gospel call have heard it only faintly. The same Jesus, who calls the weary to Himself, may also ask of them everything, and send them forth to lose their lives for His sake in this dark and fallen world.

To receive the Gospel and Jesus as Lord is also a sensible thing to do. What could be more reasonable than to follow the omnipotent
Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who has loved His people with an eternal love, redeemed them with His own blood, and demonstrated uncompromising commitment to every promise He has made? Even if He were not this way, and all this goodness was not in Him, it would still be most sensible to follow Him for who can resist His will? It is for these reasons and countless more, the Apostle urges us “to present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God”, and calls it our spiritual or “reasonable service of worship”.

To “receive the Gospel” is for the world and self to be dethroned and for Christ to become our new epicenter! He becomes the source, the purpose, the goal, and the motivation of all that we are and do. When a man receives the Gospel, his entire life begins to be lived out in a different context, and that context is Christ. Although the outward signs at the moment of true conversion may be less than dramatic, the gradual effects will be monumental. Like a pebble cast in the center of a lake, the ripple effect of the Gospel will eventually reach the full circumference of the believer’s life and touch every shore.

Finally, to “receive the Gospel” is to take it as the very source and sustenance of one’s life. Christ cannot be received as “a part” of one’s life or as an addition to all the other good things that one already possesses without Him. He is not some minor accessory that dresses up our life and makes it better. In receiving the Gospel, He becomes our life. In John 6:53, Jesus taught, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.” In Psalm 34:8, David cries out, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” What could make it clearer? To receive Christ into our lives is for Him to become for us not only a necessary meal that sustains us, but also an exquisite meal in which we delight.

A Gospel in Which We Stand

… in which also you stand, (I Corinthians 15:1)

In our text, the Apostle Paul tells us that the Gospel is not only to be received, but it is also the truth upon which the true believer stands. In fact, standing firm on the truth of the Gospel is the evidence that one has truly received the Gospel. James teaches us that true saving faith produces works. Here, the Apostle Paul teaches us that true saving faith produces conviction that governs the will and determines behavior. The one who truly receives the Gospel, stands upon it, and lives his life in accordance with its truths. In the words of Jesus Christ, the one who hears and receives the Gospel “may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock, and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock”.

The Apostle Paul had great reason to hope that at least some of the individuals in the Church at Corinth were true believers because
they were in fact standing firm upon the truths of the Gospel. Others who identified themselves with the same Church brought great concern to Paul and thus he admonished them to test or examine themselves to see whether or not they were in the faith. It is one
thing to make a profession of Christianity; it is quite another to validate that profession with one’s life. A man may say that he has
“received the Gospel”, but the question remains, “Does he stand upon the Gospel?” The latter is the evidence of the former.

To argue that the reception of the Gospel produces real Gospel conviction is not saying that new Christians will not be immature or that mature Christians will never struggle. Even the most godly among us fight against sin and are fraught with many failures. However, in the midst of the struggle, it is evident that they possess a deep conviction that the Gospel is true, and they demonstrate a determination to stand upon it. Though at times off balanced and even falling, over the general course of their life we see them standing! They stand because God makes them stand. They have been regenerated by the Spirit of God and that same Spirit dwells within them. Though they battle with sin and their fallen flesh, a true conviction leading to righteousness is evident.

A Gospel by Which We Are Saved

…by which also you are saved, (I Corinthians 15:2)

The greatest promise of the Gospel is salvation. Every other promise and every other benefit derived from them pales in comparison
to this one thing – that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation, and whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. According to I Peter 1:9, salvation is the very outcome or goal of the believer’s faith. It is the end or purpose behind all that Christ has done. It is the true believer’s great longing, and the end toward which he strives. God can give no greater gift and the believer can have no greater hope or motivation than that of final salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The gift of salvation is even more greatly magnified when we realize what we were before Christ and what we deserved in that state. We were sinners by nature and deed and were corrupt to the point of depravity. We were lawbreakers and criminals without excuse or plea before the bar of God’s justice. We deserved nothing less than eternal condemnation, but now we are saved through the blood of God’s own Son. While we were helpless sinners and enemies of God, Christ died for the ungodly. Through Him, we who were far off have now been brought near. In Him, we have redemption through His blood, and the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

We have been saved from our sin, reconciled to God, and brought into fellowship with Him as sons! What more could we desire, or what more do we need? Is not the gift of salvation through the blood of God’s own Son enough to fill our hearts to overflowing for an eternity of eternities? Is it not enough to motivate us to live for Him who died? What need do we have of other promises? Will we live for Him more because He promises us not only salvation, but also healing, ease of life, wealth, and honor? What are any of these things compared to the gift of salvation and of knowing Him? Away with those who would seek to coax us to devotion by promising us things other than Jesus Christ. If everyone we have every loved was taken from us, and our body lay rotting on a dung heap, and our name was slandered by friend and enemy alike, we should still find all the devotion we need to love, praise, and serve Him in this one thing – He shed His own blood for our souls. Pure and undefiled religion is fueled by this one holy passion.

Why is it that the promise of eternal salvation alone no longer seems to have as much power to attract men to Christ? Why is modern man more interested in how the Gospel can help him in this present life? First, it is because preachers are no longer preaching about the certainty of judgment and the dangers of hell. When these things are preached biblically and clearly, men begin to see that their greatest need is to be saved from eternal condemnation, and the “more practical” needs of this present age become trivial in comparison. Secondly, we must understand that the great majority of men, on the street and in the pew, are carnal, and carnally minded men cherish this world above the next. They have little interest in the things of God and eternity. Most would sooner attend a conference on self-esteem and self-improvement than listen to one sermon on sanctification, without which no one will see the Lord.

Although it is true that the Gospel can and often does improve one’s station and condition in life, as stewards of the Gospel, we must shun the temptation to attract hearers and congregants with any promise or prop other than Jesus Christ and eternal life. Although it would be beyond radical in this modern age of evangelism, we would do well to cry out to the masses, “Jesus Christ, promises you two things: an eternal salvation in which to hope and a cross on which to die. The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come’.”

A Gospel to Be Held Fast

… if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. (I Corinthians 15:2)

The doctrine of the “Perseverance of the Saints” is one of the most precious truths to the believer who understands it. It is the greatest comfort and encouragement to know that He who began a good work in us will finish it. However, this doctrine has been grossly perverted and has become the chief instrument of giving false assurance to countless individuals who are yet unconverted and still in their sin.

In the above text, the Apostle Paul writes, “…you are saved, IF you hold fast the word…” The word “if” introduces a conditional clause that we must not ignore and we cannot remove. A person is saved “if” he holds fast to the Gospel, but “if” he does not hold fast, he is not saved. This is not a denial of the doctrine of perseverance, but rather an explanation of it. No one who truly believes unto salvation will ever be lost to eternal destruction. The grace and power of God that saved them will also keep them until that final day, but the evidence that they have truly believed is that they continue in the things of God and do not turn away from Him. Though they will still struggle against the flesh and be subject to many failing, the full course of their life will reveal a definite and notable progress in both faith and godliness. Their perseverance does not save them or make them objects of grace, but reveals that they are objects of grace and truly saved by faith. To put it plainly, the proof or validation of genuine conversion is that the one who professes faith in Christ perseveres in that faith and grows in sanctification throughout the full course of his or her life. If a man professes faith in Christ and yet falls away, or makes no progress in godliness, it does not mean that he has lost his salvation; it simply reveals that he was never converted at all.

This truth has tremendous and far-reaching implications for many who profess faith in Christ. How many on the street and in the pew believe that they are “saved” and thoroughly “Christian” because one time they prayed a prayer and asked Jesus to come into their hearts? Their lives have never changed, they show no evidence of the grace of God, and yet they stand assured of their salvation because of one decision in their past and their belief that their prayer was truly sincere. No matter how popular such a belief, there are no biblical grounds for it.

It is true that conversion happens at a specific moment in time when men pass from death to life through faith in Jesus Christ. However, biblical assurance that a person has passed from death to life is not based merely upon an examination of the moment of conversion, but rather upon an examination of one’s life from that moment on. In the midst of much carnality, the Apostle Paul did not ask the Corinthians to reevaluate their conversion experience in the past, but to examine their lives in the present. We would do well to follow Paul’s lead in the counseling of supposed converts. They must know and we must teach them that the evidence of a genuine saving work of God in the past is the continuation of that same work until that final day.

A Gospel of First Importance

…as of first importance…(I Corinthians 15:3)

There is no word or truth of greater importance than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are full of many messages. The least among them is more valuable than the combined wealth of the world and more important than the greatest thoughts ever formed in the
mind of man. If then, the very dust of Scripture is more precious than gold, how can we calculate the worth or importance of the Gospel?

Even within the Scripture itself, the Gospel message has no equal. The story of creation, though lined with splendor, bows before the message of the cross. The Law of Moses and the words of the prophets point away from themselves to this singular message of redemption. Even the Second Coming, though full of wonder, stands in the shadows of this one word. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the one great and essential message, the acropolis of the Christian faith, and the foundation of the believer’s hope. There is nothing more important, nothing more useful, and nothing more necessary for the promotion of the glory and kingdom of God!

This being true, it should be our magnificent obsession to comprehend the Gospel. It is an impossible task, but worth every ounce of effort spent, for all the riches of God and every true joy for the believer are found there. It is worth shutting ourselves away from every lesser endeavor and inferior pleasure so that we might sound the depths of God’s grace revealed in this one message. A beautiful illustration of such a passion is found in Job 28:1-9:

Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where they refine gold. Iron is taken from the dust, and copper is smelted from rock. Man puts an end to darkness, and to the farthest limit, he searches out the rock in gloom and deep shadow. He sinks a shaft far from habitation, forgotten by the foot; they hang and swing to and fro far from men. The earth, from it comes food, and underneath it is turned up as fire. Its rocks are the source of sapphires, and its dust contains gold. The path no bird of prey knows, nor
has the falcon’s eye caught sight of it. The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed over it. He puts his hand on the flint; he overturns the mountains at the base.

Even in the ancient world of Job, there were men who were willing to push themselves to the farthest limit, to deprive themselves of surface life, to burrow through solid rock in gloom and deep shadow, to risk life and limb, and to leave no stone unturned in their search for the treasures of this earth. How much more should we who have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come, be willing to leave off the things of lesser glory to pursue the glories of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why then, is a true passion for the Gospel so scarce among God’s people? First, it is because the Gospel most often preached today is a terribly reduced or truncated version of the original. The Gospel of God cannot be contained in a tract, or summed up in a few spiritual laws. It is good to understand that God has a plan, that we are sinners, and that Christ died and rose again that we might be saved by faith, but it is only the beginning. It is when we search the Scriptures, and discover the meaning of these things that we realize that we are on a journey that will last beyond our lifetime and into a thousand eternities. With each new truth discovered we are more and more captured by the Glory of the Gospel until it consumes our thoughts and governs our will. This exploration into the Gospel is necessary if we are ever to be passionate about it.

A second reason for a lack of passion is that the Gospel is seen by many to be Christianity 101, or the baby step into the faith that is quickly mastered and left behind for deeper things. Nothing could be further from the truth! The Gospel is the “deep thing” of Christianity! Eschatology and the book of Revelation will be mastered at the second coming, but our pursuit of the knowledge of the Gospel will continue on throughout eternity. The greatest of Christians will never master the Gospel, but every true Christian
will be mastered by it!

A Gospel Handed Down and Delivered

For I delivered to you…what I also received. (I Corinthians 15:3)

In the above text, we learn two important truths about the Gospel - it is handed down, and it is to be delivered. When the Apostle Paul writes that he “received” the Gospel, he is making a claim to special revelation. He did not fabricate this message, nor was it borrowed from others. Rather it came to him through an extraordinary revelation of Jesus Christ. In Galatians 1:11-12, Paul describes this experience in greater detail:

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel
which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

There is only one true Gospel. It was born in the heart of God and handed down to the church through the Apostles. These men, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were quite clear regarding the content of their Gospel and its immutability. It was not to be changed or adapted to please the palate of differing cultures or epochs, but was to be held in the highest regard as absolute truth. We who have become recipients and stewards of this Gospel would do well to listen to their admonitions and handle the Gospel with the greatest caution, even fear. Jude exhorts us to contend earnestly for this faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. Paul admonishes us to guard it as an entrusted treasure, and even goes so far as to pronounce a curse upon any man or angel who would adapt the Gospel message to any preconceived notion of culture or religion:

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

Each generation of Christians must realize that an “eternal” Gospel has been handed down to them. As stewards, it is our charge to preserve that Gospel without additions, subtractions, or any sort of modification. To alter the Gospel in any way is to damn our own souls, and to hand down a corrupt Gospel to the following generation. For this reason, the Apostle Paul warned young Timothy to take pains with the truths entrusted to him, and promised him that in doing so he would ensure salvation both for himself and for those who heard him.

We, who have received the Gospel, have a fearful obligation to deliver it. This obligation is not only to God, but also to our own generation and the generations to come. Although the Gospel can be corrupted in an instant, it may take the Church years, even centuries to recover it. If Church history teaches us anything, it teaches us that though heretical movements abound, there are few genuine reformations. There is something worse than holding our silence while the lost world runs headlong into hell. It is the crime of preaching to them a watered down, culturally carved, truncated Gospel that allows them to hold to a form of godliness, while denying its power, to profess to know God, while denying Him with their deeds, and to call Jesus “Lord, Lord”, while not doing the Father’s will. Woe to us if we preach not the Gospel, but even greater woe if we do so incorrectly!

A Gospel to Be Explained

…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…(I Corinthians 15:2)

The Gospel is everything in Christianity and the Scriptures, but not everything in Christianity or the Scriptures is the Gospel. Physical healing, a sound marriage, and God’s providential care, although founded upon and flowing from the Gospel, are not the Gospel. The Gospel is a very specific message in the Scriptures, and the above text sets it out for us most clearly and concisely. In these simple phrases is found the salvation of the world. From our text, we learn that the Gospel of Jesus Christ rests upon two great pillars – His death and resurrection. The reference to his burial is important for two reasons. The first is that it was prophesied and fulfilled. The second is that it validates His death and lays the ground work for His resurrection and ascension. A thorough consideration of these two great truths are beyond the scope of this article. For now, we have only one goal, and that is to demonstrate the great need to not only proclaim these truths, but to explain them.

It is the great task of the Christian evangelist to both proclaim as a herald and expound as a scribe. The Scriptures abound with such examples. Philip pointed the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ through his explanation of Isaiah’s prophecies. Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Paul the Apostle met with the Jews of Thessalonica for three consecutive Sabbaths and reasoned with them from the Scriptures, “explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead.” Finally, there is the greatest Expositor of them all, our Lord Jesus Christ, who explained God to man in His incarnation, and explained the Gospel to His bewildered disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets,
He explained to them the things concerning Himself in
all the Scriptures.

We are not only called to proclaim truth, but to explain it to our hearers. We must tell them they have sinned, but we must also explain to them the evil of it and the dire consequences that follow. We must proclaim Christ’s death, but we must also explain why it was necessary and what it accomplished. We must declare His resurrection and ascension, but we must also explain what they mean for our salvation and the government of the universe. We must tell them what He has done, but we must also explain to them what they must do. Proclamations and the words that form them are important, but only to the degree that they are properlydefined and applied. Such is the case of the Gospel.

Source: Paul Washer, HeartCry Missionary Society, September 2007-November 2007

10 Indictments Against the Modern American Church

2008-12-22T03:34:00.003-06:00

If you're wondering why I'm up at 4:45 in the morning...it's because this sermon by Paul Washer has rocked my world tonight.

Pendleton, Indiana

2008-12-22T02:50:00.002-06:00

It's true. I'm home for Christmas! Pendleton Indiana. Very different from Texas life, or should I say, Teen Mania life. Going from Teen Mania life to home life has always been an awkward transition...but in a good way...kinda. Leaving a completely God saturated culture for a worldly culture is a pretty intense experience. But I'm extremely grateful for it, because it gives me time to reflect on what God's been teaching me since my last time home 6 months ago.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon said something like: "If you're not concerned about the salvation of others, you're not saved yourself." Well, my concern for the lost while I've been home has never been deeper! God's grace is such an amazing gift...and to think...people actually want to live without it?! Bizarre.

What Jesus said in Luke 13:22-33 has been on my mind a lot since being home.

22And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

29And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

30And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

God has pressed Eternity on my heart. So many are deceived in to thinking they're going to Heaven...but they don't know Jesus Christ. They don't know that Christ is the only way to the Father.

Through this truth, I believe God has revealed to me the sin of Idol time. How much more could I have done for God's kingdom if I didn't play that video game? Watch that movie? Take that half hour nap?

God forgive me for desiring things of the flesh and not your Kingdom!

The Prosperity Gospel

2008-12-07T18:23:00.004-06:00

Why do I preach against the Prosperity Gospel so much? Why am I convinced that Jesus DID NOT die on the cross so we can live a more fullfilled life? I think John Piper puts it in a pretty clear perspective.

But Josh, doesn't Jesus say in John 10:10 that he's giving us life abundantly? Yes, but we must look at the big picture. Jesus isn't talking about promising great finances or giving you that car you always wanted. Jesus never promises that.

John 10
I Am the Good Shepherd
1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5(A) A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 6This figure of speech Jesus(B) used with them, but they(C) did not understand what he was saying to them.
7So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you,(D) I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by me,(E) he will be saved and will go in and out and(F) find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and(G) kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11(H) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd(I) lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is(J) a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and(K) leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and(L) scatters them. 13He flees because(M) he is a hired hand and(N) cares nothing for the sheep. 14(O) I am the good shepherd.(P) I know my own and(Q) my own know me, 15(R) just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and(S) I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And(T) I have other sheep that are not of this fold.(U) I must bring them also, and(V) they will listen to my voice. So there will be(W) one flock,(X) one shepherd. 17(Y) For this reason the Father loves me,(Z) because(AA) I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18(AB) No one takes it from me, but(AC) I lay it down(AD) of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and(AE) I have authority to take it up again.(AF) This charge I have received from my Father."

19(AG) There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20Many of them said,(AH) "He has a demon, and(AI) is insane; why listen to him?" 21Others said, "These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon.(AJ) Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

We must realize that God is in control. God knows what's best for us. For the Christian, Jesus is our Shepherd, and His ways are ALWAYS better than our ways. We find our satisfaction in knowing and trusting our Father. This is why I don't believe in the prosperity Gospel.

-josh

Modern Preachers and the Cross

2008-12-03T06:04:00.006-06:00

Why are modern preachers afraid to preach about the Cross? Why are modern preachers ashamed to preach about the wrath of God? Our new Gospel (Good News) Consist of "how to live our best life" or "how to life a purpose driven life." This is not Christianity! We ARE NOT "all that," we are NOTHING! We're sinners given grace by the blood of Jesus Christ.

The grace given to us by Jesus Christ is the most encouraging message in the entire world! We don't need preachers explaining to us how to have the most abundant life, we need a Savior who takes God's wrath on our behalf. We need Jesus.

The death of Christ was the ONLY way to satisfy God's wrath on us...why don't we preach this? Jesus is not an accesory to make our life better. Jesus shed his blood for my soul. I don't need a motivational speaker disquised as a preacher telling me how to live my best life now, I need a Savior. I need someone to bear my sins. I need Jesus.

Please, do not turn my Jesus in to someone who died to simply make my life more satisfying. That's not my Jesus. My Jesus is so much more than that. My Jesus bore the sins of the World. And God's wrath is now satisfied. THAT is the Jesus that I love with all my heart.

-josh

Reformed Thinking

2008-11-30T02:55:00.007-06:00

Never have I been so eager to study before...until now. The past 2 months of my life have been filled with late nights and early mornings of studying. My desire for studying mainly comes from the realization of how little I know about God. I know very little about Biblical Doctrine, God's character, biblical evangelism, etc.

I've gone through countless seminars, bible studies, and books in the past year, but I feel as if I'm just now starting to get a glimpse of who God really is, and it's very humbling.

My first year with the Honor Academy was mainly devoted to learning Christian Character, and understanding the Worldview of a Christian. All of my influence came from my Honor Academy instructors. Mainly Ron Luce, Dave Hasz, and Randy Olson. I'm very grateful for these men and what they've taught me, as well as what they continue to teach to new undergrad interns.

But I've entered in to a new season of learning. The season that I'm in now doesn't really consist of what the Honor Academy teaches. (Graduate Interns don't have many classes)

As much as I love Teen Mania and The Honor Academy, I'm very grateful that I've stepped out of the "Honor Academy Box" I put myself in, and for the past several months, I've been reforming my thinking.

Lately, I've been listening/watching a lot of sermons by Paul Washer, Phil Johnson, and Jeff Noblit. I also watch a TON of Way of the Master shows on evangelism.

I'm realizing more and more each day how the Christian churches in America today don't focus on what's most important. Churches are becoming more like self-help organizations. The main message of today's American Church seems to be, "How to get the best out of life." How to have the best family, job, marriage, friends...you name it.

But what about the Gospel of Jesus Christ!?! What about God recieving the Glory he deserves?!? What about pastors teaching Biblical Doctrine!?! This is what the Church really needs. If we could simply focus on learning true doctrine and what the bible says and apply the word of God in to our lives, we wouldn't need a "Self-Help Church." God's word is the standard for right living.

The Gospel, Evangelism, God Glorified, and the state of the American Church; this is what's on my mind lately.

Well, it's now 3:49 in the morning, but I'm wide awake. So...time to listen to another Jeff Noblit sermon...WHOO HOO!

-josh

That's My King!

2008-11-30T01:56:00.001-06:00

Can Satan Hear our thoughts?

2008-11-22T16:53:00.002-06:00

By John MacArthur

Can Satan hear what we say and know our thoughts? Should we avoid praying out loud because Satan might hear us?

There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that Satan is omniscient. There are no verses that say he knows everything or that he can read our thoughts. But he is very adept at predicting human behavior because he’s seen it operate for so long. He can anticipate what you might do in a given situation without knowing your thoughts because of his knowledge of humankind and because he has a supernatural mind.

But in terms of being omniscient and being able to read your thoughts (as God can), the Bible does not support that idea at all. It never tells us that angels are omniscient. And if a holy angel isn’t omniscient, neither is a fallen one. So, Satan can’t read our thoughts, even if he’s great at predicting human behavior because he’s seen so much of it.

I was speaking at a conference in Iowa about this problem. People were asking questions like “How do you deal with demons?” and “Do we need exorcism to get rid of demons?” Well, there are a lot of people today who say you do. I once read a book about deliverance in which the author described a doctor who was supposedly delivered from the demon of post-nasal drip. And in this approach, whenever you think you have a demon, there’s a certain magical formula you say or you run around or “plead the blood”—whatever that phrase means, since it’s not from the Scripture. The blood has already been pled in your behalf at the time of your salvation and that takes care of it.

There are people who advocate little formulas and séance-type practices with a Christian connotation, claiming that they can cast out demons and so forth. But when you get into the Bible, you find that dealing with the devil is really as simple as going to Ephesians 6 and putting on the armor of God. You see, in Ephesians 6, it says, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers,” right? We’re wrestling against demons and against Satan.

But what do we do about it? The best place to find out is to read right in that same chapter, isn’t it? Notice that it does not say, “Go get your demons exorcised with a Christian exorcism.” Nor does it say, “Go get somebody to cast your demon out.” It says, “Put on the whole armor of God,” and what that whole armor really consists of is righteousness. The heart of it is “the breastplate of righteousness.” The key then is to live a righteous, Spirit-filled life and to trust in the sovereign power of God.

So, there is nothing in the Bible that says Satan can read our thoughts. Certainly demons can hear what we say. They can understand what we say. And as I said before, they are very good at predicting the common responses of man because they’ve been at it for such a long time.

But don’t worry about that! A lady once said to me, “We whisper,” because she was afraid of demons hearing her prayers. My response was, “Well, that’s foolish!” You can go boldly before the throne of grace. In the Old Testament, it doesn’t say, “And David whispered to the Lord;” it says, “And David said unto the Lord”—and out it came. You never hear any time in the apostle Paul’s instruction to us about prayer when he says, “Don’t talk out loud.” When he wanted to pray, he just flat out prayed and it didn’t bother him whether Satan heard it because he was living in such a way that Satan couldn’t do anything about it anyway. That’s the issue.

Joel Osteen's false teachings

2008-11-22T15:36:00.002-06:00

As a defender of the true Gospel, I must warn you of the false teachings of Joel Osteen.

2 Peter 2:1-3
False Prophets and Teachers
1But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Joel never addresses the issue of sin in his teachings. Joel usually changes the meaning of sin to "problems" or "bad habits." This is extremly dangerous and misleading considering that because of sin, we've been completly seperated from God.

Romans 3:23
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 5:1-11
Peace with God Through Faith
1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Because Jesus died on the cross, God's wrath was satisfied, so that those who live by faith in Jesus would no longer be seperated from God.

Joel Osteen DOES NOT teach that and preaches a false Gospel.

Check out these videos to see what I mean:

Pray for Ray Boltz

2008-11-22T00:37:00.004-06:00

It deeply saddens me to discover that Ray Boltz, a famous Contemperary Christian singer, recently announced that he's gay. My favorite music video of all time comes from his song "I Pledge Allegiance To the Lamb, a wonderful song about being faithful to Jesus in the mist of persecution.

For the record, struggling with homosexual thoughts is forgivable. A Christian struggling with homosexuality has a choice; repent or refuse to repent. A Christian who repents (turns away from his sin) is forgiven, but a person who lives in the sin is NOT a Christian, and therefore isn't saved.

Pray for the salvation of Ray Boltz, and that he realizes that believing God made him gay is unbiblical.

-josh

Check out this teaching in referance to people who call themselves Christians

How To Botch An Altar Call

2008-11-20T11:30:00.001-06:00

A few keys for those who don't want people saved in their altar calls)

1. Present an unbalanced message. Only let them see the heart-warming part of God’s character. Preach God’s love but leave out His holiness and justice. That way they’ll think He’ll let them into heaven no matter what.

2. Don’t mention repentance until they’re repeating a “sinner’s prayer.” Just get them to say, “I repent of all my sins” while they’re echoing you. They won’t know what they’re saying and they won’t count the cost.

3. Above all else, be dignified. Don’t get heart to heart with the people. They would get something out of what you said.

4. Skim over the gospel and push the prayer. Pretend the lost naturally understand what Christ has done for them.

5. Preach Jesus as a life enhancer not a life rescuer. Tell them how Jesus can improve their life but don’t show them Jesus as the only One who can save them from Hell. People will think if they reject Him they’re only losing out on a spiritual high.

6. Try to please the people instead of convert them. Tell them what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.

7. Compromise the message to speed up the process. The Christians who have heard it a hundred times before will be pleased with that. The quicker they get out the quicker they can get to the restaurant.

8. Give them the impression that God is so good He won’t send anyone to hell. Don’t present the whole counsel of God or they might realize He is so good that He’ll see to it that justice is served and that all unrepentant sinners will be punished in the fire that is not quenched.

9. Speak to sinners as though they were saints. They’ll think they’re God’s children instead of the enemies of God they’ve made themselves into because of their sin. You’ll give them false assurance and mislead them.

10. Don’t mention sin or man’s guilt. Resist the urge to explain what Christ came to deliver us from. Don’t show them their need for the Savior. Otherwise it may all make sense.

11. Don’t look to the Bible for the substance of your altar call. Only mimic other preachers with large congregations.

12. Tell the lost not to feel bad about their sins. That way you will work against the Holy Spirit who’s convicting them

13. Whatever you do, never mention Judgment Day. Your audience might take spiritual matters seriously.

14. Tell them Jesus is the only way to heaven but don’t explain why. They may think it’s nothing more than fear tactics and leave offended instead of enlightened.

15. Confuse the call. This is a great way to botch up an altar call. Don’t let people know you’re asking them to commit their life to Christ. Be vague and general in what you’re saying. Neglect to mention following Christ in your evangelistic altar calls and say things like, “If you don’t feel you’re as close to God as possible raise your hand,” “If you feel lonely come to the front for prayer,” “If you want more of God this is your time,” and, “If you have struggles and need the answer come down.” Just get them to raise a hand. That way no one will be able to count the cost and you’ll even get saints to respond to salvation altar calls, making the results look more successful.

16. Only give them half the story. Tell them Jesus died to forgive everyone but overlook the fact that they must personally receive Him to partake of that forgiveness.

17. Present the truth as though it isn’t. Be so funny when you share Christ that you belittle the seriousness of the matter.

18. Preach forgiveness without repentance. That way no one will know how to be forgiven.

19. Be unbiblical. Present repentance and faith as an offer instead of how God does as a command (Acts 17:30).

20. Let them think next Sunday is the day of salvation. Don’t make them feel it’s urgent to respond today.

21. Never warn of hell. Dangle heaven in front of their nose but rarely mention hell, certainly not as much as Jesus did.

22. Only do altar calls inside the church. Never take the gospel where sinners congregate. The lost might get saved.

23. Use churchy terms. Use words like, “saved,” “repent,” and “born again,” without any explanation. That way your hearers won’t comprehend what you’re saying. If they can’t understand it, it’s probable they won’t be changed by it.

24. Give false assurance of salvation to unsaved Christians. Assure church folk that they are saved even if they bear no fruit. So that you don’t offend the unsaved pew warmers never quote 2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” You could lose some financial supporters and have to depend on God.

25. Never mention the wrath of God. If you mention it, people might be awakened to flee to Jesus who “saves us from the wrath to come.” ( 1 Thess. 1:10)

26. Study how the apostles preached and witnessed and do the opposite. Don’t explain Jesus’ suffering death on the cross. Otherwise they may think of running to Him for forgiveness. Don’t speak of His burial or resurrection or they might realize He is God. Refrain from commenting about the hundreds of eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead. That way they can go on thinking He’s a fairy tale. Overlook talk of the messianic prophecies Jesus fulfilled or they might realize that the Bible is true. If they see it’s the truth they may see that following Christ is the logical decision. And whatever you do, avoid what the apostles did when it came time to call people to obey the gospel. Don’t tell them to trust Christ and live for Him. That is too accurate. If they know how to get saved your altar call will be a success.

27. Put more emphasis on the “sinner’s prayer” then on repentance and faith. Satan will smile over your departure from Biblical instruction. We are never taught to use a ‘sinner’s prayer’ throughout the entire Bible. If you decide to use it and put more emphasis on the technique than on what we’re commanded to preach: faith and repentance you’ll certainly botch things up. A ‘sinner’s prayer’ doesn’t equal salvation, only faith in Christ and repentance toward God do.

28. Let Christians think you’re the only one who can do it right. Always leave the impression that they should only invite friends to church and never actually witness themselves. It will keep you in business and the lost unsaved.

29. Don’t let the lost know they are. Disregard subjects like Judgment Day, God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness and justice. That way the lost can continue to think they’re “good enough” to get into heaven.

30. Rely upon psychological techniques to manipulate people into responding to the altar call. Don’t rely upon the Holy Spirit or they may actually get saved.

31. Make sure you’re the main attraction. Remember the goal in botching up an altar call is for people to leave and say, “What a wonderful preacher,” instead of, “What a wonderful Savior.” Draw all possible attention to how great a speaker and person you are. Otherwise people might see Christ in your preaching and get saved.

32. Don’t focus upon Jesus. Finally, the best way to botch up an altar call is not to preach the gospel. Just get people to lift up a hand and pray a prayer with you. Resist the urge to speak of the only One who could save them.
Sometimes the best way to get a point across is to put it in a different light. You now know a few ways to botch up an altar call. Please do not employ them. Do the opposite. You may already do some of them. Don’t let pride keep you from changing and doing things in a Biblical fashion. The bottom line is how true we are to Christ and His word. Effectively reaching the lost is our purpose. Let nothing hold you back from that agenda. May God bless you as you seek to win people to Christ in Bible clubs, churches, conferences, on the street witnessing encounters, at your school, and at your workplace.

Adapted from Becoming an Emissary for God by Allen Atzbi

Ex Porn Star Tells the Truth about Porn

2008-11-20T00:36:00.002-06:00

I don't agree with a lot of her Christian Theology, but this is an amazing testimony about a porn star who became radically saved by God's grace. Praise God!

There is so much pain in her testimony, and what really sticks out to me is how her walk into sexual sin all started from the neglection of her family.

Men, watch this series. If you're going to be a man.....DO NOT WATCH PORN!!!

Fathers, if you're going to be Fathers, realize how important your role is in the family.

I hope this helps.

Paul Washer - Be a Man

2008-11-16T16:21:00.001-06:00

This is an awesome sermon by one of my favorite Preachers, Paul Washer. Enjoy!

The first 15 Months...

2008-11-16T15:19:00.005-06:00

Friends and Family,

Tommorow will mark my 15th month with Teen Mania Ministries in Garden Valley, Texas. My only regret in the last 15 months is the failure to keep an updated account of what God's been doing in my life since coming here. He's done so much!

I can still vividly remember the thoughts and feelings I had before departing Pendleton, Indiana back in August 2007. My biggest desire was to know God, and to know his purpose for my life. I figured that coming to the Honor Academy would put me on track for working in Christian Media, something I really desired at the time.

Before coming to the Honor Academy, I thought of myself as...well...holy. I compared myself to the people around me, whether it was at school, church, or anywhere really. My relationship and understanding of God was oviously better...or so I thought. Whether that's true or not, it doesn't matter. I can confidently say that I've learned more in the last 15 months then all of my life combined.

It's impossible to sum up the entire experience thus far, so I'll skip to what my life looks like now. And trust me, the entire experience has been humbling.

I'm now a Graduate Intern at Teen Mania's Honor Academy. This means that I graduated from the Undergrad program which lasted 12 months, and I'm now in a place of leadership in this ministry as a Management Associate, which is one of several Graduate Intern tracks.

I'm currently working as the Regional Manager of a BattleCry youth conferance that will take place in Greensboro, North Carolina on March 13-14. I'm also the Assistant Regional Manager for the BattleCry event coming to Indianapolis on April 4th. I'm the direct manager for 16 Undergrad Interns. My job is to network with churches in/around North Carolina and get them and their church to the Greensboro BattleCry. We do this mainly by phone and e-mail. A lot of my time is spent developing my Undergrads so they can make better calls, connect with youth pastors better, etc. You can check out my my work blog and what I'm doing with my Greensboro event at http://greensboro.acquirethefire.com

I'm also apart of a "Family Core." Family Cores are basically the people you hang out with most. At the beginning of the year, you're assigned into a Family Core at random, and you get the oppurtunity of taking the next 12 months to get to know them and grow together. Every core get's a Core Advisor (which is another Graduate Intern track) to advise the core. Core Advisor's are the leaders of the Core. If a Core Advisor chooses, they can adopt other Graduate Interns in to the core for more leadership. I've been adopted in to Nick Glaro's core. (Because he's a Core Advisor now) Nick and I were roomates as undergrads.

Last but not least, I'm the President of Terra Nova, which is a Creative Ministry on campus that serves through Prayer and Outreach events. This is probably my most difficult part of leadership at Teen Mania, because as President, I'm the main decision maker of this Creative Ministry. I have about 23 Undergrad Interns that are apart of the Terra Nova team with me, as well as 3 Lead Team members. Terra Nova is a College Credited ministry, so basically, me and my Lead Team are the Professors for a College class!! We're currently teaching evangelism to the Terra Nova team, and we're in the process of putting together our first outreach event for December.

Well, that's all for now. I plan to be more diligent with updates of what's going on in my life. Thank you for all of your support, and for my Indiana friends, I'll see you this Christmas!

in Christ alone,

-josh

Flame & Lecrae - Joyful Noise

2008-11-16T00:12:00.000-06:00