July 27, 2014 | Revelation 5: Worthy is the Lamb Who Was Slain or, Who Said Worship Had to Be Boring?

Here is the sermon and notes from Glen Dean Day 2014 taken from Revelation 5.

I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. ² And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” ³ And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. ⁴ Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; ⁵ and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”
 
⁶ And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. ⁷ And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. ⁸ When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they *sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

¹⁰ “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

¹¹ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

¹³ And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,

“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

¹⁴ And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Audio
Notes


For more:
July 28, 2013 | Acts 2:1-12 - You Won’t Hear This on TBN: Pentecost, Babel, & the Glorious Gospel of a Kingdom Coming Down - Glen Dean Day 2013
July 29, 2012 | Ezekiel 37:1-14 - Can These Bones Live? - Glen Dean Day 2012
July 31, 2011 | Ephesians 2:11-22 - Brown & Black Don't Make Gray: Art, The Gospel, and Church Unity - Glen Dean Day 2011
July 25, 2010 - Revelation 2:1-7 - All You Lack is Love: The Danger of a Cold Faith - Glen Dean Day 2010
Psalm 23:1:  The Peace of Contentment - Glen Dean Day 2009  

"Luther"

Being that tomorrow is Reformation Day marking the anniversary of when German monk Martin Luther nailed his infamous 95 Theses on the Wittenburg Castle Church door, we will be watching the 2003 movie Luther at the parsonage. I hope you will make it. If not, below is the movie.

July 28, 2013 | Acts 2:1-12 - You Won’t Hear This on TBN: Pentecost, Babel, & the Glorious Gospel of a Kingdom Coming Down - Glen Dean Day 2013

Sunday was our annual Glen Dean Day celebration and as always, the service went well, it was good to see everyone, and of course the food was good. Here is the sermon audio and notes from that morning.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

⁵ Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” ¹² And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”





Audio
Notes


For more:
July 29, 2012 | Ezekiel 37:1-14 - Can These Bones Live? - Glen Dean Day 2012
July 31, 2011 | Ephesians 2:11-22 - Brown & Black Don't Make Gray: Art, The Gospel, and Church Unity
July 25, 2010 - Revelation 2:1-7 - All You Lack is Love: The Danger of a Cold Faith - Glen Dean Day 2010
Psalm 23:1:  The Peace of Contentment - Glen Dean Day 2009

Husbands, Love Your Wives: 8 Ways To Do So

We find ourselves between two important national holidays: Mother's Day and Father's Day. As such it is right that we regularly take time to focus on marriage, family, and parenting. In a recent article at the Ligonier Ministries website, William Boekestein offers 8 admonitions for how husbands ought to love their wife. I think the following is helpful. Here is the basic outline:

1. Love Her Heart - Emotional Love
2. Love Her Mind - Intellectual Love
3. Love Her Body - Physical Love
4. Love Her Soul - Spiritual Love
5. Love Her Relationships - Relational Love
6. Love Her Humanity - Realistic Love
7. Love Her Calling - Supportive Love
8. Love Her Maker - Theological Love

For more, read the article here.


For more:
June 17, 2012 | A Help-Mate For Him: Eve and Biblical Femininity - Father's Day 2012
May 13, 2012 | Men Are Priests: Why Christ is a Better Man Than Adam - Mother's Day 2012
May 8, 2011 - Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Womans - Mother's Day 2011 
May 9, 2010 - Manly God for Godly Men:  A Word to Men on Mother's Day
The Maternal Nature of God: Jim Wallis and the Emergent Worldview
God is Not a Dude:  Rob Bell and the "She" Video

May 12, 2013 | Ephesians 5:15-24 - Mother's Day 2013

Yesterday we celebrated another Mother's Day. This year in worship we discussed what a godly wife looks like taken from Ephesians 5:15-24.

¹⁵ Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of your time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; ²⁰ always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; ²¹ and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

²² Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.




Audio
Notes


For more:
June 17, 2012 | A Help-Mate For Him: Eve and Biblical Femininity - Father's Day 2012

May 13, 2012 | Men Are Priests: Why Christ is a Better Man Than Adam - Mother's Day 2012
May 8, 2011 - Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Womans - Mother's Day 2011 
May 9, 2010 - Manly God for Godly Men:  A Word to Men on Mother's Day
The Maternal Nature of God: Jim Wallis and the Emergent Worldview
God is Not a Dude:  Rob Bell and the "She" Video

March 31, 2013 | Zechariah 3:1-10 - Say Yes to the Dress: The Gospel, the Empty Tomb, And What Not to Wear | Easter 2013

For Resurrection Sunday this year we turned to a unique passage in an often ignored book of the Bible Zechariah. I believe this is a wonderful picture of the gospel that we ought to turn to often.

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. ² The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” ³ Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. ⁴ He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.” ⁵ Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the Lord was standing by.
 
⁶ And the angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, ⁷ “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.

⁸ Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch. ⁹ For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. ¹⁰ ‘In that day,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.’”




Audio
Notes


Previous Easter Sermons:
April 24, 2011 | Romasn 6:1-14 - Three Wooden Powerlines: Why the Cross & Resurrection Transacts and Transforms (Easter 2011)
April 4, 2010 - Mark 15:1-15: I Am Barabbas and So Are You (Easter 2010) 
Easter 2009 Message - John 20:19-31 - From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life - audio
Easter 2009 Message - John 20:19-31 - From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life - notes


For more:
Its Friday, But Sunday's Coming
God's Wonderful Surprise: The Glorious Resurrection
 "In Christ Alone" by Keith & Kristyn Getty
The Miracle of the New Creation: CS Lewis on the Resurrection

July 29, 2012 | Ezekiel 37:1-14 - Can These Bones Live? - Glen Dean Day 2012

Last Sunday was the annual Glen Dean Day where people from around the country gathered in our community for fellowship, worship, and of course, food! As always, we had a great time and I enjoyed seeing everyone again. Our text was Ezekiel 37:1-14, the infamous Valley of the Dry Bones.

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. ² He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. ³ He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” ⁴ Again He said to me, “ Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’ ⁵ Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. ⁶ I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’”
 
⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. ⁸ And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. ⁹ Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

¹¹ Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. ¹⁴ I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’”





Audio
Notes


For more:
Sermon - July 31, 2011 | Ephesians 2:11-22 - Brown & Black Don't Make Gray: Art, The Gospel, and Church Unity
Sermon - Glen Dean Day 2010 | July 25, 2010 - Revelation 2:1-7 - All You Lack is Love: The Danger of a Cold Faith
Sermon - Glen Dean Day 2009 | Psalm 23:1:  The Peace of Contentment    

June 17, 2012 | A Help-Mate For Him: Eve and Biblical Femininity - Father's Day 2012

On Mother's Day, we looked at the story and legacy of Adam - the first man. Thus for Father's Day, we looked at his wife - Eve - in order to understand the creation of woman and what true, biblical femininity is. There are hard truths here, but necessary truths.

My concern here is that such a message will be labeled as patriarchal and sexist without even really considering the argument. Unfortunately, we live in a feminized culture where it is ok to criticize men and masculinity, but not women and femininity. The Bible is an equal opportunity employer and calls sin what it is. Sin transcends gender and so does the gospel. Our only question is, will we submit?



Audio 
Notes


For more:
Sermon - May 13, 2012 | Men Are Priests: Why Christ is a Better Man Than Adam - Mother's Day 2012
GBC - May 8, 2011 - Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Womans - Mother's Day 2011
GBC - November 20, 2010 - God is Triune: God the Father  
GBC - June 21, 2009 - The Faithful Father 
GBC - May 9, 2010 - Manly God for Godly Men:  A Word to Men on Mother's Day
GBC - The Maternal Nature of God: Jim Wallis and the Emergent Worldview
GBC - God is Not a Dude:  Rob Bell and the "She" Video
GBC - Myths of Fatherhood     

November 22, 2011 | Mark 15:16-39 - Thanksgiving Service

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I had the high honor of speaking at the community-wide Thanksgiving service at Hardinsburg Baptist Church.  My wife and I agree that it was one of the best services we have attended in recent memory (and not just because I was the speaker).  The music was amazing.  The choice of songs was dead on.  Christ was exalted.  People worshiped.  Unity was clear.  And the gospel drove the service.

Thanks to the Breckinridge County Ministerial Association for inviting me to speak.  I hope the gospel was proclaimed and God was glorified.





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July 31, 2011 | Ephesians 2:11-22 - Brown & Black Don't Make Gray: Art, The Gospel, and Church Unity

Another Glen Dean Day is in the bag and it was a good one. I enjoyed seeing everybody, the food was great, and the fellowship even better.


¹¹ Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, ¹⁵ by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. ¹⁷ AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.


Audio
Notes 





For more:
Sermon - Glen Dean Day 2010 | July 25, 2010 - Revelation 2:1-7 - All You Lack is Love: The Danger of a Cold Faith
Sermon - Glen Dean Day 2009 | Psalm 23:1:  The Peace of Contentment   

June 19, 2011 | Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Man - Father's Day 2011

I hope everyone had a great Father's Day and it is always great to celebrate our earthly fathers on the day we worship our Heavenly Father.  Here is the audio and notes from Sunday's message.

Audio
Notes





For more:
May 8, 2011 - Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Womans - Mother's Day 2011 
November 20, 2010 - God is Triune: God the Father  
June 21, 2009 - The Faithful Father 
Myths of Fatherhood  
May 9, 2010 - Manly God for Godly Men:  A Word to Men on Mother's Day 
God is Not a Dude:  Rob Bell and the "She" Video
The Maternal Nature of God: Jim Wallis and the Emergent Worldview 

May 8, 2011 | Proverbs 31 - The Virtuous Woman

Here is Sunday's Mother's Day message taken from Proverbs 31 - a pretty standard Mother's Day text and rightfully so.  I strongly encourage the women of our church to return constantly to this text regularly and seek to model this model woman.  The responsibilities and roles of women cannot be overlooked or ignored.  We need more women like this.

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!


Audio
Notes





For more:
May 9, 2010 - Manly God for Godly Men:  A Word to Men on Mother's Day 
God is Not a Dude:  Rob Bell and the "She" Video
The Maternal Nature of God: Jim Wallis and the Emergent Worldview 

April 24, 2011 | Romasn 6:1-14 - Three Wooden Powerlines: Why the Cross & Resurrection Transacts and Transforms (Easter 2011)

I really enjoyed our time together this past Resurrection Sunday.  The breakfast was great (thanks men!), the sunrise service went well in spite the raining/stormy weather, and the rising creek didn't keep us from gather together for Sunday School and morning worship.  I pray that God was glorified and we were reminded of why we worship on the day of the week in which Jesus was raised.  Let us live the cross and resurrection, not just believe in it.  Let the cross and the resurrection transform us.  If we let the cross and the resurrection truly transform us, God will do great things through us.





Audio 
Notes


For more:
April 4, 2010 - Mark 15:1-15: I Am Barabbas and So Are You (Easter 2010) 
Easter 2009 Message - John 20:19-31 - From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life - audio
Easter 2009 Message - John 20:19-31 - From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life - notes
April 5, 2009 | Mark 15:21 - Simon of Cyrene & the Meaning of Christianity
God's Wonderful Surprise: The Glorious Resurrection
 "In Christ Alone" by Keith & Kristyn Getty
The Miracle of the New Creation: CS Lewis on the Resurrection 
Blogizomai - Theology, Atonement, & Technology:  Some Easter Videos 

 Reviews - "Raised With Christ" by Adrian Warnock   
Theology - Did the Resurrection Happen?: A Debate Between Craig and Erhman 
Theology - Rob Bell and the Resurrection 
Theology - Calvin and the Redemptive Necessity of the Resurrection 
Theology - Where Theology and Life Intersect: A Theological Case for Christus Exemplar and Why It is Necessary - Part 4
Theology - The End:  John 20:31 or John 21:25  
Theology - A Consensus That We Can Believe: The Lost Tomb of Jesus Is A Hoax, Scholars Say 
Blogizomai - Even Environmentalists Need an Easter:  What Christians Can Learn on Earth Day 
Blogizomai - What Did the Cross Accomplish?:  Eternal Hope or Internal Reformation 
Blogizomai - D'Souza:  Did the Resurrection Happen? 
Blogizomai - The Illegitimate Birth of Christ:  Another Wild Claim Falling on Deaf Ears 
Reviews - "The Jesus Inquest" by Charles Foster   
Reviews - "The Case for Easter"

July 25, 2010 - Revelation 2:1-7 - All You Lack is Love: The Danger of a Cold Faith

I went back and re-recorded the sermon in order to post it online.  I had a lot of fun (as I always do) at Glen Dean Day.  The food was good.  The fellowship was great.  We have been blessed.

Audio 
Notes 


For more:
The Creation of the Statue of David  
2009 Glen Dean Day message
   Audio - Psalm 23:1:  The Peace of Contentment
   Notes - Psalm 23:1:  The Peace of Contentment

June 20, 2010: Revelation 19:1-10 - On Being the Bride: What Can Brides Learn from the Bride of Christ?

I enjoyed our discussion of Revelation 19 on Father's Day as we discussed the Bride of Christ.  One word of warning though, the audio stops just prior to the 23 minute mark.  My battery pretty much died and stopped recording.  Oops.  I thought I had plenty of battery.  But I went ahead and posted the audio anyways.  Hope everyone had a good Father's Day!




Audio
Notes


For more:
Father's Day 2009 - The Faithful Father 
Myths of Fatherhood 
Mother's Day 2010 - Manly God for Godly Men:  A Word to Men on Mother's Day 
Mother's day 2009 - 1 Samuel 1:  A Portrait of a Godly Woman - Audio

May 9, 2010 - Manly God for Godly Men: A Word to Men on Mother's Day

Here is the sermon notes and audio from yesterday.  Mother's Day is always a delight.  Happy Mother's Day to all of the women, wives, and mother's God has given us.

Audio
Notes




For more:
Mother's day 2009 - 1 Samuel 1:  A Portrait of a Godly Woman - Audio 

God Is Not a Dude: Rob Bell and the "She" Video

This Sunday is Mother's Day and instead of speaking to women, we will be discussing manhood, fatherhood, etc.  Needless to say there is an absense of what it means to be a man in our culture today. One of the recent trends in postmodern theology is to reject or at least downplay the masculine language of God in the Bible.  The Bible frequently refers to God as King, Father, Son, Judge, and Bridegroom.  Many argue that to speak in such language only encourages chauvinism and sexism in our culture.

I think it is all garbage.  Not that the Bible never uses feminine language, but that the motive behind this movement foolishness.

I fear that by making such an argument, what we are doing in essence is not defending women and uplifting their status, but refusing to hold men accountable.  If God is described as a Father, then I need to get my act straight.  Do I love my wife the way God loves His Bride, the Church?  Do I lead in a godly manner like God?  Do I sacrifice as a husband like Christ?  By undermining the masculine language of God we are letting men off the hook.

Well if you want an example (and I'll probably reference this Sunday morning) of this trend, I point you to Rob Bell.  Bell is perhaps the most recognizable face in postmodern Christianity.  He is the face behind the Nooma videos which are short (about 12-15 minutes long each) films dedicated to a spiritual topic.  In the following video, called "She," Bell argues that God isn't a dude, he's also feminine.  For a critique, see the links below the video.




For more:
Christopher W. Cowan - Rob Bell, NOOMA, and “Feminine Images” for God, Part 1
Christopher W. Cowan - Rob Bell, NOOMA, and “Feminine Images” for God, Part 2

April 4, 2010 - Mark 15:1-15: I Am Barabbas and So Are You (Easter 2010)

Here is the audio and sermon notes from the Easter message.  I hope everyone had a excellent Resurrection Sunday.  Amanda and I are exhausted but we enjoyed the day nonetheless.  Here is the description:

Was the cross necessary?  Perhaps no other question is more important than that one.  Why did Jesus have to bear the cross?  Couldn't have God redeemed man, showed His love, and forgiven our sins another way?  When we understand the exchange of Barabbas for Jesus, we then understand the necessity of the cross and penal substitution.

Audio
Notes




For more:
Easter 2009 Message - John 20:19-31 - From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life - audio
Easter 2009 Message - John 20:19-31 - From Doubting Thomas to Eternal Life - notes  

God's Wonderful Surprise: The Glorious Resurrection

As everyone knows, this Sunday we will celerbate the resurrection of our Lord.  In the spirit of that wonderful event, I encourage everyone to watch the following video.  The video comes from a book that Amanda and I read to Elijah called the Jesus Bible Storybook.  We highly recommend it.




HT: Justin Taylor

December 6, 2009 - Matthew 1:18-25 - We Are the Reason For the Season: The Necessity of the Virgin Birth

Here is the audio and notes from yesterdays sermon as we begin a new series: Merry Holidays.

Audio
Notes

For previous sermons and sermon notes, check out the podcast by clicking here.