Dever on the Story of the Bible

Here is a great overview of the Bible from Dr. Mark Dever.  Understanding not just the contents but also the flow of Scripture is important and overviews like this are always helpful.


9Marks at Southeastern - Biblical Theology: Session 1 from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.


HT:  Reformation Theology 

This is Who We Are: What a Baptist Is and Believes - God the Spirit

Perhaps the Person most neglected in the Trinity is God the Holy Spirit.  There are many reasons for this, and time prohibits much depth here.  One should note, however, the hesitancy of many Christians, including Southern Baptist, on saying much about the Spirit is partially due to the continued rise of the Charismatic movement.  Pentecostals like Benny Hinn, Kenneth Hagin, and Todd Bentley have given Christianity a bad name and unbiblical practices like uninterpretted and ecstatic tongues, being slain in the Spirit, and holy laughter are so prevalent by those who abuse the doctrine of the Holy Spirit have led many Christians to the other extreme of ignoring Him.

Let us then offer a brief, yet biblical understanding of the third member of the Divine Trinity.  The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 says:

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. [1]

The BF&M 2000 is right to begin by pointing out the full deity of the Spirit.  Just as God the Father and God the Son are fully Divine, separate yet unified, so too the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and Son yet separate from the Father and the Son.  Those who deny this doctrine are walking on dangerous heresy.

Perhaps what the Spirit is most known for is His work in inspiring Scripture.  The Spirit, via the will of God, has granted us a text that points us to Christ which utilizes the personalities of various writers throughout a vast time of human history (from the days of Moses to the Apostle John) to reveal the will and words of God.  But that is not all that the Spirit has done or continues to do. 

Perhaps most central to the Spirit’s work is His work in salvation.  Only the Spirit can soften the hard hearts of men leading them to the cross and repentance.  Only the Spirit can regenerate the believer to be more like Christ.  And only the Spirit is present within the believer offering guidance and assurance.  The Son saves, the Spirit sanctifies.  In the realm of salvation, perhaps we can sum up the work of the Trinity as follows: The Father initiates.  The Son propitiates.  The Spirit regenerates.

The Holy Spirit is central to all that we are.  Each member of the Trinity was involved in Creation (including our creation) and each member of the Trinity has worked to bring about our salvation.  But it is the Spirit, under the authority of the Father and the work of Christ, that guides us towards holiness.  Therefore, we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), to produce the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), pray in the Spirit (Jude 20), be poor in the Spirit (Matthew 5:3), be in the Spirit (Romans 8:9), serve in the Spirit (Romans 12:11), be joyful in the Spirit (Romans 14:17), love by the Spirit (Romans 15:30), and be unified in the Spirit.

In all of this the Spirit is pointing us to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.  In an act of humility and submission, the Spirit submits to the will of the Father pointing us to the Son.  The Spirit seeks the glory of the Father through the praise of His creation.  The Spirit is always pointing us to Christ and the Father.  Let us, then, look to Christ, guided by the Spirit, being conformed to the image of Christ in our daily lives.  The Spirit is not someone that leads us into utter nonsense so commonly portrayed on TV, but is a working Person of the Trinity actively involved in our lives pointing us to our Savior.  God is Spirit (John 4:24) and let us worship Him, as Jesus said, in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).


[1]  The BF&M 2000 offers the following references:  Gen 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Ps 51:11; 139:7ff.; Is 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matt 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Rom 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Cor 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thess 5:19; 1 Tim 3:16; 4:1; 2 Tim 1:14; 3:16; Heb 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev 1:10; 22:17.


For more:
This is Who We Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - Introduction
This is Who We Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - Scripture
This is Who We Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - God
This is Who We Are  What a Baptist Is and Believes - God the Father
This is Who We Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - God the Son 


*  Regarding the above picture.  The Holy Spirit is often portrayed in the image of a dove.  This is common even in Scripture.  When Jesus was baptized, the Spirit descended like a dove (see Matthew 4).

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star: That's My Astronomy - An Important Illustration About Religion

As I was studying the book of Malachi for tonight's Bible study I came across the following humorous illustration.  I originally heard it from Dr. Mark Dever in his sermon on the book of Malachi.  What I like about it is the point it makes and its connection with Malachi.  Malachi is a book about true worship of God apart from fake religion.  Today there are many who simply go through the motions of religion and evangelicalism and think that God accepts such empty faith.  Others have the opposite reaction and simply suggest that knowing God in any deep reality isn't important.

The following illustration responds to the latter:

George Buttrick was for many years the popular Senior Minister of Madison Avenue Presbyterian
Church in New York and a highly south-after preacher.

One Saturday morning he was flying back to Manhattan after spending the week as the main speaker at
a preachers’ conference. During the flight he pulled out a pad of paper and a pencil, and began
sketching some notes for Sunday’s sermon.

After noticing what he was doing, the man sitting next to him said, “I hope I’m not being too forward here – you’re obviously preparing something important. Could you tell me what in the world you’re working on?”
 
“Oh, I’m a Presbyterian minister,” Dr. Buttrick replied. “I’m working on my sermon for Sunday.”
 
“Oh, religion,” said the man. “I don’t like to get all caught up in the in’s and out’s and complexities of religion. I like to keep it simple. ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ The Golden Rule – that’s all the religion you need!”
 
“Well that is important, but for me it’s much deeper than that,” Dr. Buttrick replied.
 
“May I ask what it is that you do?”
 
“I’m an astronomer. I teach at the university,” the man replied.
 
“Oh yes,” said Dr. Buttrick. “Astronomy – I don’t like to get all caught up in the in’s and out’s and
complexities of astronomy. ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star,’ – that’s my astronomy.”

(Quoted by Tom Long in “Ten Great Preachers” p. 87)

HT:  Rev. Don Parsons 

Bibledex on Malachi

Tonight we began looking at the Old Testament.  And since we're going backwards, we begin with the end of our Old Testament:  the book of the Prophet Malachi.  The twelve minor prophets are among the most neglected books of the Bible and so the next 12 weeks will be important.  Here is the video published by the folks at Bibledex discussing the book.  As always, I don't agree with everything said, but the videos are helpful nonetheless.




For more:
Bibledex on Matthew 
Bibledex on Mark  
Bibledex on Luke 
Bibledex on John 
Bibledex on Romans
Bibledex on 2 Corinthians
Bibledex on Ephesians 
Bibledex on Philippians
Bibledex on Colossians 
Bibledex on 2 Thessalonians

A Word From the Pastor - September 2010

Sorry I'm a month late, but here is last month's A Word From the Pastor as found in our newsletter:

Amanda has a bachelor’s degree in Art.  As a result, I have been exposed to various styles of art throughout history.  One of the most fascinating styles of art is pointillism – perhaps the most tedious form of art.  A pointillistic artist would paint their masterpiece not with brush strokes but with small dots.  Each dot, though small, contributes to the whole  painting.  Thus the viewer can see the entire piece from a distance, but when you get up close, every little dot comes into view.  Christianity is very much like pointillism.  We’re caught up into the points of the painting, but miss the portrait of the masterpiece.  What we see is abortion, marriage, good works, and false teachers, but when we do, we oftentimes miss the whole picture.  What we are missing is God.  I believe it is time for us to step back and look at the whole painting and when we do, we’ll be able to more clearly appreciate each individual dot.  The gospel consists of dots that contribute to the painting. The painting is of God.  So for the next several weeks, we will begin our look at the grand masterpiece: God Himself.  When we understand God, we will then understand every dot and how it contributes to the masterpiece.  The doctrine of God is practical.  All of theology is practical.  Who God is shapes what we believe and how we live.  A right view of God leads to a right view of everything else.  Join us for the next several weeks as we discuss God.  Who He is in His nature and why that matters to us.  Prepare to meet thy God (Amos 4:12).

September 19, 2010 - God is Provident

Here is the second installment of our ongoing series on the Doctrine of God.  This time we discussed the issue of Divine Providence.  This is a difficult issue and there is much more here than we could discuss in 30-40 minutes.  I encourage you guys to dig deeper on this issue.  Remember that Divine Creation gives us meaning and purpose while Divine Providence gives us hope.  Every late phone call I get I find myself leaning on His Divine Providence.





Audio
Notes


September 12, 2010 - God is Creator 


For more:
Calvin on Providence 
August 1, 2010 - Matthew 6:25-34 - Worry and the Providence of God:  What Our Anxiety Says About What We Believe About God
April 18, 2010 - Haggai 2:1-9 - And the Lord Said, "Get-r-Done"
August 30, 2009 - Psalm 23:6 - The Peace of the Shepherd's Providence 
Esther 4 - God's Providence 
Providence and Prayer:  Carson Responds 
This is Who WE Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - God   
This is Who We Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - God the Father

Calvin on Providence

I found John Calvin's treatment on the issue of Divine Providence insightful and practical.  Found in his infamous Institutes of the Christian Religion, consider the following long sections from the Great Reformer:

Therefore, as we a little ago justly exploded the opinion of those who feign a universal providence, which does not condescend to take special care of every creature, so it is of the highest moment that we should specially recognise this care towards ourselves. Hence, our Saviour, after declaring that even a sparrow falls not to the ground without the will of his Father (Matt 10:29), immediately makes the application, that being more valuable than many sparrows, we ought to consider that God provides more carefully for us (Matt 10:31). He even extends this so far, as to assure us that the hairs of our head are all numbered (Matt 10:30). What more can we wish, if not even a hair of our head can fall, save in accordance with his will? I speak not merely of the human race in general. God having chosen the Church for his abode, there cannot be a doubt, that in governing it, he gives singular manifestations of his paternal care. -128

Only if God is completely provident do we have the hope that as our Father He loves us, protects us, and hears our prayers.  God can only care for us if he is transcendent, immanent, and providential.

Later, Calvin added:

If any thing adverse befalls him, he will forthwith raise his mind to God, whose hand is most effectual in impressing us with patience and placid moderation of mind. Had Joseph kept his thoughts fixed on the treachery of his brethren, he never could have resumed fraternal affection for them. But turning toward the Lord, he forgot the injury, and was so inclined to mildness and mercy, that he even voluntarily comforts his brethren, telling them, "Be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life." "As for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good," (Gen. 45:5; 50:20.) Had Job turned to the Chaldees, by whom he was plundered, he should instantly have been fired with revenge, but recognising the work of the Lord, he solaces himself with this most beautiful sentiment: "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord," (Job 1:21.) So when David was assailed by Shimei with stones and curses, had he immediately fixed his eyes on the man, he would have urged his people to retaliate the injury; but perceiving that he acts not without an impulse from the Lord, he rather calms them. "So let him curse," says he, "because the Lord has said unto him, Curse David." (II Sam. 16:11.) With the same bridle he elsewhere curbs the excess of his grief, "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it," (Ps. 39:9.) If there is no more effectual remedy for anger and impatience, he assuredly has not made little progress who has learned so to meditate on Divine Providence, as to be able always to bring his mind to this, The Lord willed it, it must therefore be borne; not only because it is unlawful to strive with him, but because he wills nothing that is not just and befitting. The whole comes to this. When unjustly assailed by men, overlooking their malice, (which could only aggravate our grief, and whet our minds for vengeance,) let us remember to ascend to God, and learn to hold it for certain, that whatever an enemy wickedly committed against us was permitted, and sent by his righteous dispensation. -129

And then finally, Calvin applies Providence to the lost of anxiety in our lives.  If we believe in a providential God, then we need not worry about everything.

But when once the light of Divine Providence has illumined the believer's soul, he is relieved and set free, not only from the extreme fear and anxiety which formerly oppressed him, but from all care. For as he justly shudders at the idea of chance, so he can confidently commit himself to God. This, I say, is his comfort, that his heavenly Father so embraces all things under his power - so governs them at will by his nod - so regulates them by his wisdom, that nothing takes place save according to his appointment; that received into his favour, and entrusted to the care of his angels neither fire, nor water, nor sword, can do him harm, except in so far as God their master is pleased to permit. For thus sings the Psalm, "Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday" &c. (Ps. 91: 2-6.) Hence the exulting confidence of the saints, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The Lord taketh my part with them that help me." "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear." "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." (Ps. 118: 6; 27: 3; 23: 4.) -131

Some great insights from Calvin.

The Sermon on The Mount Series

Here are all of the links to articles, sermons, sermon notes, and everything else related to our long discussion and look at the Sermon on the Mount.  This is has been a fascinating and enlightening look at the teachings of Jesus.  The connecting strand through it all is the gospel.  The gospel is what Jesus lays out and applies in these many passages.  For over three chapters, Jesus discusses the gospel.  Let us not forget that at the root of our faith is not moralism, religion, or cheap grace, but the gospel.


SERMONS

January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:43-48 - Love God as He Loved You
May 23, 2010 - Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 6:1-4 - Camouflaged Gold:  Why Christians Should Give In Secret
May 30, 2010 - Matthew 6:5-8 - Jesus on Prayer:  Our Inward Motivations
June 6, 2010 - Matthew 9-13 - The Model Prayer 
June 13, 2010 - Matthew 6:14-15 - The Forgiven Forgive:  The Inseparable Reality of the Gospel of Forgiveness
June 27, 2010- Matthew 6:16-18 - The Gospel of Self-Denial:  Why Fasting is Biblical and What it Says About Our Faith
July 11, 2010 - Matthew 6:19-24 - Investing in the Kingdom of God  
August 1, 2010 - Matthew 6:25-34 - Worry and the Providence of God:  What Our Anxiety Says About What We Believe About God 
August 8, 2010 - Matthew 7:1-6 - Judge Not But Please Remove This Speck.  Its Killing My Eye:  Learning to Judge Righteously, Not Hypocritically   
August 15, 2010 - Matthew 7:7-12 - The Golden Rule and a Community of Love
August 22, 2010 - Matthew 7:13-14 - The Gospel is for Fools:  How to Empty a Church and Grow a Kingdom 
August 29, 2010 - Matthew 7:15-23:  Watch for False Gospels 
September 5, 2010 - Matthew 7:24-29 - Not By the Hairs of My Chinny Chin Chin:  Standing on the Rock of the Gospel  

LINKS

How Much Do You Hate Others?:  The Necessity of Being Fishers of Men 
In More Detail:  Repost of Beautitudes 
Light of the World:  Pentecost Weighs In 
Augustine's Pears:  Lust's Lust 
Bonhoeffer:  Truth and the Cross 
Bonhoeffer - "By Willing Endurance We Cause Suffering to Pass 
Just War Theory - What Christians Have Had to Say 
Love Your Enemies:  Even If He is a Murderer 
Some Light Reading: On Lust
Augustine's Pears: Lust's Lust
Pornography is Not Just a Male Problem  
Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5  
Calvin on Prayer:  Why Bother?
Grudem on Prayer:  Why Bother?
Is This How We Pray?  
Some Light Reading:  On Prayer and Forgiveness  
Wax on Forgiveness  
Colson on Forgiveness  
Calvin on Fasting  
Bonhoeffer on Treasures in Heaven     
Treasures in Heaven and the Great Commission:  An Important and Timely Sermon  
Calvin on Treasures in Heaven 
DC Talk - Things of This World  

MacArthur on Anxiety 
A Parable from Home Improvement 
Bonhoeffer on the Golden Rule 
Bonhoeffer on Anxiety 
MacArthur on Anxiety  
Whose Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?:  A Children's Tale With a Biblical Message    

BOOKS

Reviews in Brief - Sermon on the Mount 
Weekly Recommendation "Hard to Believe" by John MacArthur 

OTHER

Commentary - Pornography for the Blind:  Our Continuing Fantasy With What is Not Real
Commentary - The Great Recession or the Recession that Made Us Great?:  Pornography and the Frugality of Lust

 PREVIOUS SERIES

Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
The Last Week of Jesus: From Triumphal Entry to Triumphal Grave Series
Fruitie-Tales: Living By the Fruit of the Spirit
Basic Christianity Series
Revelation Study

September 12, 2010 - God is Creator

We began a new series of messages this past Sunday.  We are looking at the Doctrine of God (known as Theology Proper).  By studying various attributes of God we will gain insight into who it is we are worshiping.  Perhaps there isn't a more important question than who is God?  I believe that a right view of God will lead to a right view of life, man, and everything else.  All that we do reflects our view of God as this series will reveal.

We begin, then, with God as the Divine Creator.




Audio
Notes


For more:
What Creation Reveals About God 
Expelled 
Driscoll Sermon:  God is Creator 
Commentary - Causation and the Existence of God:  How Scientists Continue to Prove Aquinas's Point - Part 1
Commentary - Causation and the Existece of God:  How Scientists Continue to Prove Aquinas's Point - Part 2
Commentary - Creation or Manipulation:  The Limits of Man and the Evidence for God 
Commentary - Just Add Universes:  The Foolishness and Motivation Behind Atheism's Leap of Faith 
GBC - Has Science Buried God?  A Helpful Video 
GBC - Lewis on the Accident of Evolution 
Commentary - Natural Morality:  The Disconnect Between Darwinism and Morality  
Commentary -John Lennox: The New Atheism and the Gospel
Commentary -D'Souza: Are Atheists Cultural Christians
Commentary -Survival of the Moral: Can Man Be Moral Without God?
Commentary - Re: Survival of the Moral: Can Man Be Moral Without God?
Commentary -Freud's Wish Fulfillment: Why Atheism Can't Explain Atheism
Commentary -The Atheist Debates
Commentary -Atheism Is Not Great - The D'Souza and Hitchens Debate
Review -"Atheism Remix" by Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Review -"The Delusion of Disbelief" by David Aikman
Review -"The End of Reason" by Ravi Zacharias
Review -"Friedrich Nietzsche" by George Burma
Review -What's So Great About Christianity? by Dinesh D'Souza
Shortblog -The Conversion of Francis Collins

September 5, 2010 - Not By the Hairs of My Chinny Chin Chin: Standing on the Rock of the Gospel

I know I'm really behind but there were problems with the recording and audio and I just got around to fixing it.  This is the message from two Sunday's ago and is the conclusion to our series on the Sermon on the Mount.  In the near future I will post all links and messages from our long series on this wonderful and greatest sermon every delivered by our Lord.

In the meantime, here is the message from Matthew 7:24-29.




Audio
Notes


For more:
Whose Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?:  A Children's Tale With a Biblical Message    
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:43-48 - Love God as He Loved You
May 23, 2010 - Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 6:1-4 - Camouflaged Gold:  Why Christians Should Give In Secret
May 30, 2010 - Matthew 6:5-8 - Jesus on Prayer:  Our Inward Motivations
June 6, 2010 - Matthew 9-13 - The Model Prayer 
June 13, 2010 - Matthew 6:14-15 - The Forgiven Forgive:  The Inseparable Reality of the Gospel of Forgiveness
June 27, 2010- Matthew 6:16-18 - The Gospel of Self-Denial:  Why Fasting is Biblical and What it Says About Our Faith
July 11, 2010 - Matthew 6:19-24 - Investing in the Kingdom of God  
August 1, 2010 - Matthew 6:25-34 - Worry and the Providence of God:  What Our Anxiety Says About What We Believe About God 
August 8, 2010 - Matthew 7:1-6 - Judge Not But Please Remove This Speck.  Its Killing My Eye:  Learning to Judge Righteously, Not Hypocritically   
August 15, 2010 - Matthew 7:7-12 - The Golden Rule and a Community of Love
August 22, 2010 - Matthew 7:13-14 - The Gospel is for Fools:  How to Empty a Church and Grow a Kingdom  
August 29, 2010 - Matthew 7:15-23:  Watch for False Gospels 

What Creation Reveals About God

All week I have been studying the doctrine of Creation and specifically God as Creator and why that matters.  Though we won't have time to discuss everything, I do want to pass along somethings that are important.  In his wonderful book Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe (RE: Lit) Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears identify a list of things that creation reveals about God.  I found this helpful:

    1.    God is the only God
    2.    God is Trinitarian
    3.    God is eternally uncaused
    4.    God is living
    5.    God is independent
    6.    God is transcendent
    7.    God is immanent
    8.    God is personal
    9.    God is powerful
    10.    God is beautiful
    11.    God is holy
    12.    God is a prophet
    13.    God is gracious
    14.    God is a sovereign king

We don't have time to explore each of these right now, but reflect on these and more could be added to this list.  It is important to note that behind each of these revelations is practical application.  All theology is practical.

Bibledex on Matthew

Here is the Bibledex videon on the Gospel of Matthew as we will be discussing this book tonight.  I don't care with how the video begins as they deny the authorship of Matthew and argue for a later writing of Matthew.  They suggest that it was written probably in the 80's AD whereas I believe that it came before 70 AD.  But we'll save that for another time.  For now, here is the video.  I liked the section on the Magi and how they point out that the 3 gifts are significance and tells us who Jesus is and what He will do.




For more:
Bibledex on Mark  
Bibledex on Luke 
Bibledex on John 
Bibledex on Romans
Bibledex on 2 Corinthians
Bibledex on Ephesians 
Bibledex on Philippians
Bibledex on Colossians 
Bibledex on 2 Thessalonians

Expelled

This Sunday we will begin a new series looking at the Doctrine of God and His attributes.  Sunday morning we will begin by looking at God as Creator.  Sunday night, then, we will watch a movie:  Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.  I consider this a must read for everyone wanting to understand the debate between evolutionists and their worldview and intelligent design.  If you understand evolution and the worldview it promotes, you will understand most of the debates we have today.

Below is the movie.  But I encourage everyone to come to Sunday night and watch it together.  I think it will be well worth you time.



For more:
Commentary - Expelled:  A Movie We Must Take Seriously 
Commentary - D'Souza:  Ben Stein Exposes Richard Dawkins 

September 2010 Newsletter Available Online

This month's newsletter has been uploaded and available online.  As always, the newsletter will be available in the left-hand column near the top.  I will continue to try to update it monthly.  To read the newsletter for September 2010, click here. 

Driscoll Sermon: God is Creator

I have found pastor and author, Mark Driscoll of Seattle, WA an insightful voice in modern Evangelicalism.  Though he is controversial (and at times wrongly so), I find many of his writings and sermons very helpful and needed to be heard.  His series on Doctrine is an important series.  The third installment of that series regards creation.  This upcoming Sunday we will discuss and look at God as Creator and why it matters.  So in preparation consider some of the things presented in this sermon by Driscoll.



Here is the audio:



I will add to all of this that I am personally a young earth creationists ("I knew it, he was one of those!").  Driscoll and I disagree on this issue, but I will agree with Driscoll that one does not have to affirm young earth creationism (that the earth and universe is no more than 10,000 years old) to be a believer and affirm the gospel, but I would say that many of the other options (and Driscoll mentions many of them) are antithetical to the gospel.


For more:
Commentary - Causation and the Existence of God:  How Scientists Continues to Prove Aquinas's Point 
Commentary - Creation or Manipulation:  The Limits of Man and the Evidence for God
GBC - Has Science Buried God?  A Helpful Video 
GBC - Lewis on the Accident of Evolution 
Commentary - Natural Morality:  The Disconnect Between Darwinism and Morality  
Commentary -John Lennox: The New Atheism and the Gospel
Commentary -D'Souza: Are Atheists Cultural Christians
Commentary -Survival of the Moral: Can Man Be Moral Without God?
Commentary - Re: Survival of the Moral: Can Man Be Moral Without God?
Commentary -Freud's Wish Fulfillment: Why Atheism Can't Explain Atheism
Commentary -The Atheist Debates
Commentary -Atheism Is Not Great - The D'Souza and Hitchens Debate
Review -"Atheism Remix" by Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Review -"The Delusion of Disbelief" by David Aikman
Review -"The End of Reason" by Ravi Zacharias
Review -"Friedrich Nietzsche" by George Burma
Review -What's So Great About Christianity? by Dinesh D'Souza
Shortblog -The Conversion of Francis Collins

Whose Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?: A Children's Tale With a Biblical Message

This may be our conclusion tomorrow.  A great story that remains practical today.

You Know Its Hot and Dry When . . .

Your corn pops.  According to WKYT, one farmer in Hardin County has had rows of his corn popped as a result of the intensely hot and dry summer we have experienced.  The article reads:

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) - A Hardin County farmer says that some ears among his feed corn rows popped on the stalk in a phenomenon that agricultural experts say is associated with irregular rainfall and high heat.

Star Mills farmer Patrick Preston sent a photo of the burst kernels that look like partially popped popcorn to the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

Hardin County Extension agent Doug Shepherd told The News Enterprise he's never seen popped kernels before.


Shepherd said the outer coat of a kernel can explode from heat after the ears are pollinated. Temperatures in corn fields can be 10 degrees higher than in the surrounding area as the plants are
producing energy.

Shepherd predicts corn yields will fall below normal this year because of hot weather and spotty rain.

Do We Want a Museum or a Movement?

I came across this video and thought it was interesting.  The question at the end is important.  Do we want to be a part of a church that will one day become a museum, or do we want to be a part of a movement where God is glorified, the gospel is proclaimed, and the world is changed?  Every years thousands of churches close their doors.  Lets not let Goshen be part of that statistic.




HT:  The Resurgence