New Look to matt-perry.com

I have given the website a new look, thanks to the numerous templates offered by WordPress.  The picture in the header is a picture of the flags of various nations which are displayed in our sanctuary during the month of December for our Lottie Moon Emphasis.

John Stott Announces Retirement

John Stott, one of the 20th century’s leading evangelical theologians announced his retirement (click here to read the article). (HT: Derick Dickens)

Stott’s commentary on Romans, his work on The Cross of Christ as well as his marvelous work on preaching (Between Two Worlds) have made me rather indebted to helping me think through the atonement as well as expositional preaching. I grew disturbed over the years hearing of him embracing the doctrine of annihilationism (there is no eternal hell), theistic evolution, and inclusivism (click here to read more).

What about you? What has John Stott’s ministry meant to you?

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I’ve Been Tagged — Thanks to Steven Newell

Steven Newell of The Silent Holocron has tagged me. I now have to list off six weird things about myself. So, here they are:

1. In my 7th grade year, I lived in three different states:  Michigan, Virginia, and Florida.  Needless to say, that year was just ducky!
2. I believe I am the only Florida Marlins fan in the state of Kentucky (I would love for someone to prove me wrong).
3. When the entire congregation interviewed me at the church where I serve as pastor, the fourth question they asked me was, “So, are you a University of Kentucky or a University of Louisville fan?”  (Keep in mind, the church where I serve is in Lexington, KY — home of the University of Kentucky!)  I just answered them, “You’ll just have to pray for me!”  I’m a huge U of L fan.
4. I can listen to Bach, then Weird Al, then Bob Marley, then Frank Sinatra, then Elvis.  Needless to say, I have rather eclectic tastes.
5. I am one of the two people on earth who simply does not like American Idol.
6. My favorite snack is a Hardee’s chocolate shake and their Chili-Cheese Fries.  And boy do I pay for that one!

OK — my turn.  Time to tag five people.  Here they are:

• Mark Combs
• Josh Martin
• Steven Adkins
• Cameron Potts
• Derick Dickens

I’ve Been Tagged — Thanks to Steven Newell

Steven Newell of The Silent Holocron has tagged me. I now have to list off six weird things about myself. So, here they are:

1. In my 7th grade year, I lived in three different states:  Michigan, Virginia, and Florida.  Needless to say, that year was just ducky!
2. I believe I am the only Florida Marlins fan in the state of Kentucky (I would love for someone to prove me wrong).
3. When the entire congregation interviewed me at the church where I serve as pastor, the fourth question they asked me was, “So, are you a University of Kentucky or a University of Louisville fan?”  (Keep in mind, the church where I serve is in Lexington, KY — home of the University of Kentucky!)  I just answered them, “You’ll just have to pray for me!”  I’m a huge U of L fan.
4. I can listen to Bach, then Weird Al, then Bob Marley, then Frank Sinatra, then Elvis.  Needless to say, I have rather eclectic tastes.
5. I am one of the two people on earth who simply does not like American Idol.
6. My favorite snack is a Hardee’s chocolate shake and their Chili-Cheese Fries.  And boy do I pay for that one!

OK — my turn.  Time to tag five people.  Here they are:

• Mark Combs
• Josh Martin
• Steven Adkins
• Cameron Potts
• Derick Dickens

A Blog Full of Great Listening Resources: Faith By Hearing

My friend Mark Combs, pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Salem, KY, often makes me aware of great blogs and other sites on the internet. He didn’t let me down on this one.

The blog is called “Faith By Hearing” operated by Todd Shaffer of Montreal. Here’s the description from the blog:

Faith by Hearing is designed to collect and categorize the ever-growing availabilty of great Reformed and conservative evangelical audio sermons, lectures and training. This is not a machine gun listing of sermons and lectures. It is a personal project to encourage others to be blessed by the preaching and teaching of godly men who are faithful to the all-powerful Word of God.

He claims that “next to the Bible, my iPod is my most treasured possession.” You can read more about Todd’s church plant in Montreal at http://www.toddshaffer.com. .

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Olford Ministries to Merge with Union University

I just received this e-mail from Olford Ministries which helps men in the work of expository preaching — they are now merging with Union University. Here’s the letter:

Dear Friend of Olford Ministries International, Inc.,

We have very important and “extremely exciting” news to share with you. The press release below will give you some of the details. This is just a personal word to let you know of our sincere appreciation for your continued interest and involvement in the ministry of OMI, Inc.

Olford Ministries International, Inc. will be partnering with Union University to further our ministry goals. This relationship with Union started in a remarkable way. The decision to move forward in a strategic and organic relationship is taking place after much prayer, counsel, and discussion. We believe that God is in this, and “to God be the Glory.”

The Olford family and the Board of Directors have unanimously approved this merger, Lord willing on May 31st, which will open up new opportunities for teaching and training. On behalf of my wife, Ellen, and my mother, Mrs. Heather Olford, thank you for being a friend of this ministry.

We value your continued involvement in the future as we move into this new day of ministry. Keep in touch to find out more about what is taking place, and how we may be able to serve you better.

In Christ,

David L. Olford

I think this is an excellent move and will give the Olford Ministries some more exposure. What think ye?

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How Old Are Most Southern Baptist Pastors?

Tony Kummer brought this to my attention. I, too, was surprised to see that over half of all SBC senior pastors are 50 years of age or older.

No wonder when I attend the Southern Baptist Convention that most people look at me with shock when I tell them I’m a pastor (I’m 35, by the way). I notice that my age bracket only represents 14% of all SBC pastors.

I’ll ask the same questions Tony did:

• Does this surprise you like it did me?
• What significance does this have on the churches?

(You can feel free to leave a comment on Tony’s blog entry as well — I know he’d appreciate hearing from you.)

Technorati Tags: SBC, pastors, age

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“Our Party Has To Get Beyond Issues Like That,” Says Guiliani

Rudy Guiliani, one of the Republican frontrunners for the presidential election in 2008 said recently that the Republican Party has “to get beyond issues like that.”

He continued:

“Our party is going to grow, and we are going to win in 2008 if we are a party characterized by what we’re for, not if we’re a party that’s known for what we’re against.”

What’s the issue?  Abortion.  Steven Ertelt of LifeNews.com noted:

the GOP has nominated pro-life presidential candidates in every race since 1980 and it has won five of the seven contests — all against pro-abortion Democrats.

Pro-abortion Republican President Gerald Ford lost to Jimmy Carter in 1976 in part because Carter was seen as more conservative on abortion and other social issues.

Polls have also shown that abortion is a winning issue for GOP presidential candidates.

Post-election polling after the 2004 presidential elections found that President Bush’s pro-life stance gave him an edge over pro-abortion Sen. John Kerry.

A 2004 Wirthlin Worldwide post-election poll found that 42 percent of voters said abortion affected the way they voted for president. Twenty-four percent of voters cast their ballots for President Bush while 15% voted for Kerry, giving Bush a 9 percent advantage on the issue of abortion. (April 16, 2007 — full article here)

Well, with all due respect to Rudy Guiliani, I do believe that we as conservatives can say what exactly we are for — life. I doubt Guiliani will get far — though he may with his stance on being strong on war and other domestic issues. As for me, my main concern is not about economics or even the war on terror. My issue is, “What value does life hold for you?” If a candidate is soft on protecting the innocent and unborn, then no thank you.

What do you think? Do we need to get beyond this issue? Should it be a deal-breaker?

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“Our Party Has To Get Beyond Issues Like That,” Says Guiliani

Rudy Guiliani, one of the Republican frontrunners for the presidential election in 2008 said recently that the Republican Party has “to get beyond issues like that.”

He continued:

“Our party is going to grow, and we are going to win in 2008 if we are a party characterized by what we’re for, not if we’re a party that’s known for what we’re against.”

What’s the issue?  Abortion.  Steven Ertelt of LifeNews.com noted:

the GOP has nominated pro-life presidential candidates in every race since 1980 and it has won five of the seven contests — all against pro-abortion Democrats.

Pro-abortion Republican President Gerald Ford lost to Jimmy Carter in 1976 in part because Carter was seen as more conservative on abortion and other social issues.

Polls have also shown that abortion is a winning issue for GOP presidential candidates.

Post-election polling after the 2004 presidential elections found that President Bush’s pro-life stance gave him an edge over pro-abortion Sen. John Kerry.

A 2004 Wirthlin Worldwide post-election poll found that 42 percent of voters said abortion affected the way they voted for president. Twenty-four percent of voters cast their ballots for President Bush while 15% voted for Kerry, giving Bush a 9 percent advantage on the issue of abortion. (April 16, 2007 — full article here)

Well, with all due respect to Rudy Guiliani, I do believe that we as conservatives can say what exactly we are for — life. I doubt Guiliani will get far — though he may with his stance on being strong on war and other domestic issues. As for me, my main concern is not about economics or even the war on terror. My issue is, “What value does life hold for you?” If a candidate is soft on protecting the innocent and unborn, then no thank you.

What do you think? Do we need to get beyond this issue? Should it be a deal-breaker?

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So What Do We Thank God For? (D.A. Carson)

“So what do we thank God for?  Elsewhere, Paul tells us to set our hearts on things above (Colossians 3:1).  If what we highly cherish belongs to the realm of heaven, our hearts and minds will incline to heaven and all its values; but if what we highly cherish belongs to the realm of earth and the merely transitory, our hearts and minds will incline to the merely transitory.  After all, the Master himself taught us that our hearts will run to where our treasure lies (Matthew 6:19-21).

“So what does this have to do with our praying?

“If in our prayers we are to develop a mental framework analogous to Paul’s , we must look for signs of grace in the lives of Christians, and give God thanks for them. It is not simply that Paul gives thanks for whatever measure of maturity some groups of Christians has achieved, before he goes on to ask for yet more maturity (though in part that is what he is doing).  Rather, the specific elements in his thanksgiving show the framework of values he brings to his intercession — and we urgently need to develop the same framework.

For what have we thank God recently?  Have we gone over a list of members at our local church, say, or over a list of Christian workers, and quietly thanked God for signs of grace in their lives?  Do we make it a matter of praise to God when we observe evidence in one another of growing conformity to Christ, exemplified in trust, reliability, love and genuine stamina?”

(D.A. Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1992, p. 45.)

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Theologically-Driven Preaching (Daniel Akin)

Dr. Daniel Akin, President of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, has written a very helpful pamphlet on the necessity of theologically-driven preaching for the church.

(HT: Thabati Anyabwile) 

CAN THEOLOGICALLY DRIVEN PREACHING HELP RESCUE THE SBC?
By: Daniel L. Akin

The Conservative Resurgence gave Southern Baptist a second chance but it did not secure our future. Has there been a Resurgence? Yes. Has there been a Restoration? Doubtful. Have we experienced genuine Revival? Clearly the answer is no.

Eight Theological Essentials for Southern Baptists in the 21st Century
1) The non-negotiable of a regenerate Church (John 3; Rom. 3; 2 Cor. 5; Gal. 3)

• First, we need to make it clear that church membership is a privilege, not a right.
• Second, we must preach against easy believism and reject any form of a compromised gospel.
• Third, we must be careful with respect to our own theological integrity concerning infant or early adolescent baptism that lacks a clear understanding and confession of the gospel.

2) The essential nature of believers baptism by immersion with a biblical appreciation for its significance. (Matt. 28; Acts, Rom. 6)

That baptism involved a particular member (a believer), mode (immersion) and meaning (public identification with Christ and the believing community) is grounded in New Testament witness and has been a hallmark of Baptists throughout their history.

We must see evidence of regeneration for those we baptize. The baptism of young children must be administered with the greatest possible care.

Baptism should be viewed and emphasized as a first and necessary step of discipleship and obedience to Christ. We will reject as inconceivable the idea of admitting anyone into our membership without believer’s baptism by immersion.

3) The recovery of the lost jewels of church discipline and genuine disciple-making as essential marks of the Church.

Church discipline is clearly and repeatedly taught in the New Testament, yet most do not preach on it or practice it. Jesus addresses it in Matt. 18:15-20 and Paul does so several times in 1 Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Cor. 2:5-11; Gal. 6:1-2; and Titus 3:9-11.

Theologically it is to disobey the plain teachings of Scripture and ignore the necessity of church discipline in maintaining the purity of the church.

• First, we must preach and teach our people what the Bible says about church discipline.
• Second, we must begin to implement church discipline lovingly, wisely, gently, carefully and slowly.
• Third, we must apply discipline to areas like absentee membership as well as the specific list provided by Paul in 1 Cor. 5.

4) The emphasis and practice of a genuinely Word-based ministry (2 Tim. 4:1-5)For those of us who profess to believe in both the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture, there must be in our churches what I call “engaging exposition.”We must advocate an expositional method with a theological mindset under an evangelical mandate. It is preaching that models for our people how they should study, interpret and teach the Bible.

5) The vision for a faithful and authentic biblical ecclesiology (Acts. 2; Eph. 4; Pastorals)

• First, there must be the 4 marks of 1) a regenerate Church membership, 2) the Word, 3) the Ordinances and 4) Church Discipline.
• Second the local church should be elder/pastor led and congregationally governed. Here, in my judgment, there is room for flexibility in terms of patterns, structure and implementation.

As we move forward in this century, Pastors will need to give particular attention to a theology of stewardship and discipleship.

The members of our churches must move from being shoppers to buyers to investors.

6) The continued nurturing of a fervent missionary and evangelistic passion that is wedded to a healthy and robust theology (1 Thess. 1; Eph. 4:11-16; Jude 3-4; Rev. 5)

No church will be evangelistic by accident.
First, there are multiple ways churches can do missions and evangelism. That we do it is the key.

Marketplace evangelism which can reach into the workplace is an area needing attention, strategizing and training.

Youth and student evangelism needs renewed emphasis.

Theologically and biblically, we must challenge our people to evangelize without bias or prejudice, loving and going after the exploding ethnic and minority groups where we live.

7) The teaching and preaching of a 1st century biblical model for church planting (Acts 17)
The 21st century is more like the 1st century than has ever been the case in our Western culture.

We are losing America and the West because we are losing the great metropolitan areas where there is a concentration of people.

• First, explore creative methods, but make sure that they are faithfully filtered through the purifying waters of Holy Scripture.
• Second, be wise fishers of men.
• Third, we must ask God to raise a new generation of godly and gifted church planters and missionaries.

The wisdom to look back and remember who we were so that as we move forward we will not forget who we are

The Southern Baptist Convention today is not the Southern Baptist Convention of your parents, and certainly not your grandparents.

We now have several generations who know almost nothing of William Carey and Adoniram Judson, Bill Wallace, Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong. They do know nothing of Boyce, Broadus, and Manly; Carroll, Robertson, Frost, Mullins and Truett.

They have never heard Criswell, Rogers or Vines preach, and they are not really sure who they are.

In creative and dynamic avenues fitting a 21st century context, we need to retell the Baptist History story in a way that will grab the attention and stir the hearts of our people. And we need to do it, at least in part, from the pulpit.

Conclusion:
The North Carolina evangelist Vance Havner said, “What we live is what we really believe.”

Brian Lara Retires from International Cricket

When I first went to Trinidad and Tobago in 1995, it was then I first heard of Brian Lara.  In downtown Port of Spain, their entire center of town was named Brian Lara Promenade.  He holds many records in international cricket play — and is the face of Trinidad in many ways.

West Indies captain Brian Lara has announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket.

“On Saturday I’ll be bidding farewell to international cricket as a player,” he told a news conference after the West Indies beat Bangladesh in Barbados

“I’ve already spoken to the board and my players,” Lara said.

The next Super 8 game against England on Saturday will be the last time Lara wears the West Indies colours.

The West Indies selectors have nominated Ramnaresh Sarwan as Lara’s replacement for the upcoming tour of England but this is still to be formally ratified by the WICB directors. (CaribbeanCricket.com)

Here are some of his records (HT: Wikipedia — take time to read all about about him):

• He has the highest individual score in both first-class cricket (501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994) and Test cricket (400 not out for the West Indies against England in 2004).
• Brian Lara amassed his world record 501 in 474 minutes off only 427 balls. He hit 308 in boundaries (10 sixes and 62 fours). His partners were Roger Twose (115 partnership – 2nd wicket), Trevor Penney (314 – 3rd), Paul Smith (51 – 4th) and Keith Piper (322 unbroken – 5th).
• He also holds the record for the highest total number of runs in a Test career, after overtaking Allan Border in November 2005. He is the only man to have reclaimed the Test record score, having scored 375 against England in 1994, a record that stood until Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003. His 400 not out also made him the second player after Don Bradman to score two Test triple-centuries, and the second after Bill Ponsford to score two first-class quadruple-centuries. He has scored nine double centuries in Test cricket, second only to Bradman’s twelve.

As someone who has been to Trinidad a number of times and who realizes in some small manner how much of a hero Brian Lara is, I cannot help but think that this is a big moment in West Indies Cricket as well as on the international scene.

My pastor friend, Roddie Taylor, gave me a Brian Lara jersey during one of my missions trips to Trinidad — I may just have to pull it out and wear during his last match against England. It’s been a great run!

Boone’s Creek Annual Missions Conference 2007 Taking Shape

Each Homecoming weekend at the end of September, our church holds our Annual Missions Conference.  This year, the conference will take place on Saturday, September 22, 2007. The theme will be “From Our Neighborhoods to the Nations” and will have one representative from our Judea, Jerusalem, Samaria, and the Ends of the Earth. Last year was a tremendous success with Jim Smith (DOM, Boone’s Creek Association), Randy Foster (Kentucky Baptist Convention), J. D Payne (Missions School Professor, Southern Seminary), and David Sills (former missionary to Ecuador, missions professor at Southern). Our people left with a tremendous burden to reach Eastern Canada for Christ.

This year, the line-up looks just as promising because I know the Lord is at work in these men:

• Matthew Perry (yes, that’s me — I’ll give an overview);
• John Ferguson, Lexington Rescue Mission, Lexington, KY (Jerusalem)
• Dr. Hershael York, Professor, Southern Seminary; Pastor, Buck Run Baptist
  Church, Frankfort, KY; former KBC President (2004-2005)(Judea);
• Bill Barker, Appalachian Regional Ministry (http://www.arministry.org), NAMB
  (Samaria);
• John Divito, Centers for Apologetics Research, Missionary-to-Be in
  Uganda, Editor of “The Reformed Baptist Thinker” (Ends of the Earth)

Please be in prayer over this — and if you can, plan on attending.  It takes place from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. 

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Boone’s Creek Annual Missions Conference 2007 Taking Shape

Each Homecoming weekend at the end of September, our church holds our Annual Missions Conference.  This year, the conference will take place on Saturday, September 22, 2007. The theme will be “From Our Neighborhoods to the Nations” and will have one representative from our Judea, Jerusalem, Samaria, and the Ends of the Earth. Last year was a tremendous success with Jim Smith (DOM, Boone’s Creek Association), Randy Foster (Kentucky Baptist Convention), J. D Payne (Missions School Professor, Southern Seminary), and David Sills (former missionary to Ecuador, missions professor at Southern). Our people left with a tremendous burden to reach Eastern Canada for Christ.

This year, the line-up looks just as promising because I know the Lord is at work in these men:

• Matthew Perry (yes, that’s me — I’ll give an overview);
• John Ferguson, Lexington Rescue Mission, Lexington, KY (Jerusalem)
• Dr. Hershael York, Professor, Southern Seminary; Pastor, Buck Run Baptist
  Church, Frankfort, KY; former KBC President (2004-2005)(Judea);
• Bill Barker, Appalachian Regional Ministry (http://www.arministry.org), NAMB
  (Samaria);
• John Divito, Centers for Apologetics Research, Missionary-to-Be in
  Uganda, Editor of “The Reformed Baptist Thinker” (Ends of the Earth)

Please be in prayer over this — and if you can, plan on attending.  It takes place from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. 

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Cincinnati Bengals’ Player Domata Peko Shows Character

From the Cincinnati Bengals‘ Website:

Meet Domata Peko, the Bengals’ fourth-round pick from last season who is emerging as a fine defensive tackle stingy against the run and athletic on the pass. But on Sunday a few minutes past noon, his biggest stop in the offseason came at the intersection of Kentucky Route 18 and Turfway Road in Florence, Ky., when he pulled an elderly man out of his Blazer that had flipped onto its roof.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

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Cincinnati Bengals’ Player Domata Peko Shows Character

From the Cincinnati Bengals‘ Website:

Meet Domata Peko, the Bengals’ fourth-round pick from last season who is emerging as a fine defensive tackle stingy against the run and athletic on the pass. But on Sunday a few minutes past noon, his biggest stop in the offseason came at the intersection of Kentucky Route 18 and Turfway Road in Florence, Ky., when he pulled an elderly man out of his Blazer that had flipped onto its roof.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

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Around the Blogosphere: Good Reflections on the Shootings at Virginia Tech

Tim Challies, Prayer for Blacksburg:

Like you, I was horrified to hear of yesterday’s violence at Virginia Tech. And like you, I had immediate flashbacks to the Columbine shootings which, though they happened eight years ago, seem fresh in my mind. It was awful to see the pictures of bleeding students being carried from the campus and to see the death count rising and rising. It was awful to hear of people jumping from windows or cowering for hours in darkened classrooms, wondering if they would ever make it out. What apparently began as an act of violence against a girlfriend soon escalated into an outright massacre. My heart went out to the people of Blacksburg as they begin their attempts to come to terms with this horrific event.

Desiring God Blog, What’s at the Heart of the Murders?:

While others are already making the Virginia Tech massacre a political issue and looking vehemently for someone to blame, let us remember that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Our hearts and the murderer’s.

No x-ray machines, revised gun laws, or fired college presidents will solve the problem. We need new hearts (Ezekiel 11:19, John 3:3). We need Jesus.

Another entry from Desiring God Blog, “What to Say About Virginia Tech“:

After the Columbine shootings, John Piper wrote up 21 ways to love and comfort the hurting
by trusting wholly in God’s sovereignty over all things. He revised
them after 9-11. I posted this a couple months ago, but I want to again
in light of the Virginia Tech incident that is still developing. As lovers of an all-powerful
God, let us be prepared to love people in their pain by empathetically
and mercifully pointing them to a God who is in control.

Al Mohler, President, Southern Seminary, “Facing the Reality of Evil“:

The unspeakable evil of the killings at Virginia Tech bring us once again face to face with the reality of human evil. Christianity faces this challenge honestly, and acknowledges the horror of moral evil and its consequences. The Bible never flinches from assigning responsibility for moral evil. Human beings are capable of committing horrible acts of violence, malevolence, cruelty, and killing.

These are just a few.  Our hearts are with the fellow students as well as the parents of those who are burying their sons and daughters at such a tender age — where they sent them off to find a better life and grander opportunities. 

James 4:13-16  

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—  [14] yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  [15] Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”  [16] As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 

All of them had plans for graduation — but we just don’t know when it will end.  May we take time to “examine ourselves and test to see whether we are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). 
   

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When Being on Facebook (and a Former Youth Pastor) Breaks Your Heart

Facebook is absolutely booming! One cannot help but be intrigued by this community of people who have their profiles updated, pictures uploaded, walls to be written on, relationship statuses to be changed, and basically a portrait of their lives right there for all their friends to see. Through Facebook, I have actually caught up with some from my former churches in Florida and Kentucky to see what they are up to. As a youth pastor in Florida from 1998-2001, most of them are in college right now getting a good education …

… in more ways than one, it seems.

I don’t envy youth ministers. When I was a youth minister, I struggled. Not because I didn’t enjoy teaching them and being with them — on the contrary, those years were some of the best years of ministry ever. We did the usual youth ‘thing’: lots of games, relevant studies, great times of fellowship (hangin’ out, in youth speak).

Yet, I am heartbroken at what I see — mainly in the photo albums. One former youth has a profile pic of him drinking some alcoholic beverage from some woman’s cleavage. Another had a picture giving the dude taking the picture a double middle-finger. Too many find themselves with alcoholic beverages in hand. Many of them who are/were faithful at church both past and present have pictures up which convey a totally opposite mindset — quite worldly, marching in lock-step with the world’s philosophy.

What is so sad is that all of us have seen those in our churches who claim to know Christ (some whom we have even baptized!) are on Facebook, MySpace, Xanga, hi5 and other community sites like this using crass language to communicate, using questionable pictures to put on display the latest ‘good time’ they had.

You know, even though I believe that God is in control and that I know I cannot make people obey (nor should I try to make them), my flesh still fights feeling like a failure. Did nothing I taught them sink in? Were they gathered there simply because it was a fun thing to do rather than to learn about the things of God and how to live for him? Did I fail to show them that the only true satisfaction found in life is to have Christ not just as Savior but also as Lord — and that all other pursuits are a waste?

I still love those ‘kids’ — though they aren’t kids anymore. And my heart also prays they will find Christ as their true north — their true joy!

I am thankful that some have surrendered to the ministry, others are in Christian work, others are using their faith in Christ to minister in their secular work.

I just pray that the pages on their Facebook profiles are just a passing phase and that Christ will come back to the Center of who they are. In the meantime, I will pray … and hope … and hurt for them as they walk through this valley. Of all the things I thought Facebook would give, I never thought a broken heart would be on the list.

And yet … .

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Mohler’s Top Ten Biographies

Al Mohler writes in today’s blog:

Reading the biographies of persons whose lives represent a significant influence on the Christian church is especially enriching. Each of the biographies listed below invites the reader into an adventure that is both literary and theological. These are ten of the biographies I consider most important from recent decades. They are listed in chronological order rather than by ranked importance.

Click here to read his list.

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Mohler’s Top Ten Biographies

Al Mohler writes in today’s blog:

Reading the biographies of persons whose lives represent a significant influence on the Christian church is especially enriching. Each of the biographies listed below invites the reader into an adventure that is both literary and theological. These are ten of the biographies I consider most important from recent decades. They are listed in chronological order rather than by ranked importance.

Click here to read his list.

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Chick Corea Plays “Spain” from the 1970s

I know, I know — jazz… many of you feel that the quality of this blog just dropped through the floor — I’ll pray for your conversion.

I love jazz and I even love Chick Corea’s music, but I wanted to give you an idea of some of the music that really lights me up musically.

Chick Corea Plays “Spain” from the 1970s

I know, I know — jazz… many of you feel that the quality of this blog just dropped through the floor — I’ll pray for your conversion.

I love jazz and I even love Chick Corea’s music, but I wanted to give you an idea of some of the music that really lights me up musically.

Did Falwell Really Use the Word “Heresy” to Describe Calvinism?

Jerry Falwell this past Friday preached a sermon to 1828 prospective new students to Liberty University entitled “Our Message, Mission, and Vision.”  In their blog, Founders’ Ministries points out one tragic statement when Falwell addresses the atonement:

We are not into partcular love or limited atonement. As a matter of fact we consider it heresy.”

“Heresy”?  What an unfortunate use of words.  Irenaeus in the 2nd century defined heresy in a work of his as such:

Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is craftily decked out in on attractive dress, so as, by its outward form, to make it appear to the inexperienced (ridiculous as the expression may seem) more true than truth itself (IrenaeusAgainst Heresies 1.2) (HT: Matt Slick, CARM)

In fact, condemnation falls upon those who are false teachers of false doctrines. Galatians 1:8-9 tells us:

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you [MRP: that is, preaches heresy], let him be accursed. [9] As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Also in Titus 3:10:

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,

Clearly, this is a serious matter. Clearly, the use of this word should never be used lightly. Clearly, we must be careful when calling something we do not hold to be true or agree with ‘heresy.’

Tom Ascol makes an excellent point here:

Does Jerry Falwell and Liberty University really judge John Piper to be a heretic? If we take his words seriously, as surely we ought if we are to honor him, then he believes that Al Mohler, R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, D. James Kennedy, Ligon Duncan, Mark Dever, Tom Nettles, Wayne Grudem, Sinclair Ferguson, James White and Fred Malone teach heresy.

That certainly is his and Liberty’s right to believe. I simply regret that they believe it. I do not regard my universal redemptionist brothers to be heretics because of their views of general atonement. I think they are wrong and they think the same of me. But that does not mean that we have to accuse each other of being heretics.

In a recent blog entry (“Why All the Angst Against Calvinism, Objection I: They Are Not Evangelistic“) that has just recently caught some attention, I understand the objections against it — in fact, I used to hold to them rather stringently as well. Yet, I never found myself telling others they were flat heretics when they believed in Christ and his atoning work on the cross. This is a hard issue to reconcile and I have my convictions which I believe speak from Scripture.

But when Jerry Falwell with his influence begins to use this language, and when Ergun Caner says that “Calvinists are worse than Muslims,” I shake my head that these men as leaders of an influential bastion of an evangelical institution of higher learning throw out comments such as this. It seems rather irresponsible.

But, as Ascol also points out, at least he’s forthright and honest about his beliefs. Disagree, but do so in a manner which does not slanderize those who disagree with you. I expected more from Falwell and Caner.

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Did Falwell Really Use the Word “Heresy” to Describe Calvinism?

Jerry Falwell this past Friday preached a sermon to 1828 prospective new students to Liberty University entitled “Our Message, Mission, and Vision.”  In their blog, Founders’ Ministries points out one tragic statement when Falwell addresses the atonement:

We are not into partcular love or limited atonement. As a matter of fact we consider it heresy.”

“Heresy”?  What an unfortunate use of words.  Irenaeus in the 2nd century defined heresy in a work of his as such:

Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is craftily decked out in on attractive dress, so as, by its outward form, to make it appear to the inexperienced (ridiculous as the expression may seem) more true than truth itself (IrenaeusAgainst Heresies 1.2) (HT: Matt Slick, CARM)

In fact, condemnation falls upon those who are false teachers of false doctrines. Galatians 1:8-9 tells us:

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you [MRP: that is, preaches heresy], let him be accursed. [9] As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Also in Titus 3:10:

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,

Clearly, this is a serious matter. Clearly, the use of this word should never be used lightly. Clearly, we must be careful when calling something we do not hold to be true or agree with ‘heresy.’

Tom Ascol makes an excellent point here:

Does Jerry Falwell and Liberty University really judge John Piper to be a heretic? If we take his words seriously, as surely we ought if we are to honor him, then he believes that Al Mohler, R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, D. James Kennedy, Ligon Duncan, Mark Dever, Tom Nettles, Wayne Grudem, Sinclair Ferguson, James White and Fred Malone teach heresy.

That certainly is his and Liberty’s right to believe. I simply regret that they believe it. I do not regard my universal redemptionist brothers to be heretics because of their views of general atonement. I think they are wrong and they think the same of me. But that does not mean that we have to accuse each other of being heretics.

In a recent blog entry (“Why All the Angst Against Calvinism, Objection I: They Are Not Evangelistic“) that has just recently caught some attention, I understand the objections against it — in fact, I used to hold to them rather stringently as well. Yet, I never found myself telling others they were flat heretics when they believed in Christ and his atoning work on the cross. This is a hard issue to reconcile and I have my convictions which I believe speak from Scripture.

But when Jerry Falwell with his influence begins to use this language, and when Ergun Caner says that “Calvinists are worse than Muslims,” I shake my head that these men as leaders of an influential bastion of an evangelical institution of higher learning throw out comments such as this. It seems rather irresponsible.

But, as Ascol also points out, at least he’s forthright and honest about his beliefs. Disagree, but do so in a manner which does not slanderize those who disagree with you. I expected more from Falwell and Caner.

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30,000 Hits! Let’s Party

Today, this blog received its 30,000th hit!  Thanks to all of you who visit and thanks to the Lord Jesus who gives this blog life!

30,000 Hits! Let’s Party

Today, this blog received its 30,000th hit!  Thanks to all of you who visit and thanks to the Lord Jesus who gives this blog life!

Have You Seen His Hands and Feet? (Resurrection Sunday Sermon on John 20:24-29)

I honestly cannot wait to preach God’s Word to all of you on a Sunday morning. Yet, we preachers have certain high points during the year in which we so highly anticipate certain Sundays that it almost becomes unbearable. For us, Easter and Christmas are those two Sundays (with Mother’s Day running a close third). We understand that more people come on these two Sundays more than any other Sunday. And what a great question for us to ask ourselves:

Why have you come this morning?

The obvious answer is, “Well, it’s Easter!” Correct … it is Easter. But what is so special about this day? Philip Conner informs us from the Center of Missional Research at the North American Mission Board that the majority of people in our area and in what is known as “the Bible Belt” understand and believe in the resurrection. Most of you who are hear do not need to be convinced that Jesus is alive, while some of you may still need some convincing — either for the historical fact of the matter, or to answer the question, “So what? What does an event that happened 2,000 years ago have to do with me now?  I have bills to pay, I have kids to raise and a marriage — I hurt so badly… what does the resurrection have to do with this?”

My answer is — everything.  The resurrection helps make life make sense.  The resurrection gives us joy and hope and peace because we have Christ’s power and presence among us.

Have you seen his hands and feet?  No, you haven’t.  But let’s not be so arrogant to think that your physical eyes are the only way you can see.  Our spiritual eyes, the eyes of our heart, oftentimes see more clearly and greatly when redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are some lessons we can learn from John 20:24-29.

To read the entire sermon, click here.

Starting a Sermon Series on Nehemiah

Starting this coming Sunday, I will begin a sermon series on the book of Nehemiah.  Admittedly, I begin this series because our church is considering moving into a building program to add on extra classrooms, a gym, and other necessities.  Yet, we must be more concerned about our spiritual edifice in that we build a great church through the Spirit’s leading — this is of more consequence than adding another addition to our current facilities.

With this, I would like to share some helpful works which I have used in preparation for this study:

• Nehemiah: An Expositional Commentary by James Montgomery Boice (Grand Rapids: BakerBooks, 1990);
• The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah from The New International Commentary on the Old Testament by F. Charles Fensham (Grand Rapids, MI:  Eerdmans, 1982);
• Ezra & Nehemiah from Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Series (D.J. Wiseman, General Editor) by Derek Kidner (Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP, 1979);
• A Passion for Faithfulness: Wisdom from the Book of Nehemiah by J.I. Packer (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1995). 
• Nehemiah: Experiencing the Good Hand of God from MacArthur Bible Studies by John MacArthur (Nashville: Word, 2001).
• Visioneering:  God’s Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Personal Vision by Andy Stanley (Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 1999).

Arturo Azurdia, III, has posted some very good sermons on Nehemiah at his Spirit Empowered Preaching website. 

Mark Driscoll is also in the midst of a series through Nehemiah.

I am thankful to these saints past and present.  God has allowed them to teach me so that I in turn may teach others about God’s beautiful Word.

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Did Good Friday Reveal Skewed Priorities? Yes, According to Merlene Davis

I went to visit one of our elderly members yesterday morning. On her desk, she clipped out an article from Merlene Davis, a columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader . Frankly, the article shocked me. I was not expecting to see such a God-glorifying article in what many call the Lexington Herald-Liberal . Thanks, Merlene.

What with the freezing temperatures and the hiring of a new University of Kentucky basketball coach, how on Earth can a Christian focus on the Easter weekend?

What Christian has the strength to brave wintry weather to attend sunrise services where the means of our salvation is preached when we could
stay home and talk about how Coach Billy Gillispie will save the team?

I am pleased the search for a new coach ended two days ago, but many of us allowed that news to overshadow our observance of Good Friday, one of Christianity’s high holy days.

That wasn’t Gillispie’s fault or UK’s fault. It is our job as believers to focus on worshiping our Lord and blocking out distractions, including weather and sports.

(To read the rest of this wonderful article, click here.)

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Slurs Have No Place in Responsible Dialoguing

Don Imus, a radio talk show personality, recently came under fire after an on-air slur (article here) in reference to the Rutgers University women’s basketball team.

Former NBA All-Star guard Tim Hardaway recently came under fire in a radio interview on February 14 for his comments concerning his hatred of homosexuals. In the transcript from the Miami Herald of his comments in a radio interview with Dan LeBatard, he said:

Well, you know I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don’t like it.

Ann Coulter, best-selling conservative author known for her rather candid style against all things perceived liberal, was a featured speaker at the 34th annual Conservative Political Action Conference. She used a homosexual slur to describe Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards (D-N.C.).

What is happening here? What happened to all the political correctness which was supposed to cure all these intolerant ills in our society? Slurs of this nature have no place in responsible dialoguing — but even if the slurs fail to leave our mouths, do we not see that these sentiments still reside in the human heart? Absolutely.

One pastor I heard years ago said that “profanity is an empty mind trying to express itself.” Condescending into the use of these types of slurs puts that emptiness on even bigger display. What is the motivation for these slurs?

(1) They are trying to get a laugh. Don Imus and Ann Coulter fall into this crowd. I call it the “All in the Family Syndrome.” The character of Archie Bunker fits this perfectly — saying something so ignorant and so shocking that people laugh at it.

(2) Conviction. Tim Hardaway falls into this category. Say what you will, at least he was honest. He did violate the PC Code of Dialogue, but he stated exactly how he felt.

(3) To elicit a reaction and to keep them in the forefront of conversation. I confess, I really didn’t know who Don Imus was until this whole broohaha came about. I didn’t really keep up with Ann Coulter much until her gaffe. But like many who find themselves purposely on the tabloids, these folks may have said these things simply to keep their names in the forefront of the public conversation.

As many of you know, I’m a big Rhett and Link fan. They have illustrated beautifully this very point.

So maybe it’s just time we quit feeding the frenzy. Give these folks as much attention (and as much prayer) as they deserve. No attention… much prayer.

Oh, one last thing: Don Imus noted that, even though he uses sexist and racist language, that’s just not who he is. He’s a good person who gives to many charitable organizations. Yet, how does Imus reconcile his mindset with Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:34: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”? In two words — he can’t. Let us pray for Christ to transform Imus’, Coulter’s, and Tim Hardaway’s heart.

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Weird Al Yankovic Knows the Pulse of our Society — Yes, Really!!

I and John Divito may be the only two guys in the Christian blogosphere who actually are admitted fans of Weird Al Yankovic (although John’s devotion far surpasses mine). In fact, John’s posts on his blog reacquainted me with Weird Al’s music. While he is an expert at parodies of popular songs, he is also someone who has a way of revealing various idiotic idiosyncracies in our culture.

Off of his latest album, Straight Out of Lynwood, he includes an original composition called “I’ll Sue Ya.” Here are the lyrics:

I sued Taco Bell
‘Cause I ate half-a-million Chalupas and I got fat
I sued Panasonic
They never said I shouldn’t use their microwave to dry off my cat, huh

I sued Earthlink
‘Cause I called ‘em up and they had the nerve to put me on hold
I sued Starbucks
‘Cause I spilled a frappucino in my lap and brr, it was cold

I sued Toys ‘R Us
Cause I swallowed a Nerf ball and nearly choked to death, huh
I sued PetCo
‘Cause I ate a bag of kitty litter and now I got bad breath

I sued Coca-Cola, yo
‘Cause I put my finger down in a bottle and it got stuck
I sued Delta Airlines
‘Cause they sold me a ticket to New Jersey – I went there, and it [stunk].

Yeah
If you stand me up on a date
If you deliver my pizza thirty seconds late

I’m gonna sue, sue, yes, I’m gonna sue
Sue, sue, yeah, that’s what I’m gonna do
I’m gonna sue, sue, yes, I’m gonna sue
Sue, sue, yeah, I might even sue you
Ughh

I sued Duracell
They never told me not to shove that double-A right up my nose
I sued Home Depot
‘Cause they sold me a hammer which they knew I might drop on my toes

I sued Dell Compueters
‘Cause I took a bath with my laptop, now it doesn’t work
I sued Fruit Of The Loom
‘Cause when I wear my tighty-whities on my head I look like a jerk

I sued Verizon
‘Cause I get all depressed every time my cell phone is roaming
I sued Colorado
‘Cause you know, I think it looks a little bit too much like Wyoming

I sued Neiman Marcus
‘Cause they put up their Christmas decorations way out of season
I sued Ben Affleck
Aww, do I even need a reason?

Uhh
If I sprain my ankle while I’m robbin’ your place
If I hurt my knuckles while I punch you in the face

I’m gonna sue, sue, yes, I’m gonna sue
Sue, sue, yeah, that’s what I’m gonna do
I’m gonna sue, sue, yes, I’m gonna sue
Sue, sue, that’s right, I’m gonna sue you

(Written by Al Yankovic.  Copyright (c) 2006 Ear Booker Music, BMI)

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What Do You Think CBS Thought of Zach Johnson Giving Credit to Christ for His Masters Win?

Zach Johnson posted a one-over-par 289 to win the 2007 Masters, a PGA Major Golf Tournament “unlike any other.” I enjoyed sitting and watching the final round with my son Daniel (all of 18 months) and was amazed not only with how well Johnson played, but how well he displayed his faith, giving credit to Christ and acknowledging the blessedness of this Easter Sunday.

I don’t even know what I shot, but I know that I had a lot of people giving me some good words of wisdom over the last week. My coaches clearly, our Tour chaplain, and being Easter Sunday, I felt like there was certainly another power that was walking with me and guiding me.

LinksPlayers.com has a profile of Zach, including a portion of his testimony. An excerpt is included below:

Closeness to God is something that has not always been there for Zach Johnson. He was raised to know Christ and actively participated in the family’s church. In fact, Johnson says, he did have a relationship with Jesus. His parents taught their children to take their faith seriously, and Johnson prayed trusting God. But many aspects of his faith were not mature enough to survive the first few years away from home.

“I loved my four years of college,” he says, looking back, “but that’s kind of when things went astray as far as my faith went. I call those my ‘blind years.’ I’d go to church with my parents, and it didn’t mean as much as it did before. There was not as much prayer in my life.”

In 2002, while living and playing his winter golf in Florida, Johnson met his wife, Kim. They lived in the same apartment complex.

“She was the one who brought me a long way back to where I was, but in a more adult mind frame. Before my faith had been more childish.

“She really guided me along,” Johnson says. “She didn’t push me or pressure me. She just got my mind thinking. She provoked it in a very good manner. That’s something I can never repay her for, but it was extremely wonderful.”

Still, while Johnson had started thinking about his faith more deeply, he hadn’t made any commitments. And even if he’d wanted to commit to Kim, she was hesitant.

“There was something in her heart that she could never marry a non-Christian man,” Johnson says.

But Johnson wasn’t sure this applied to him. “I always thought, You know, I’m a good guy, I believe in God. She can marry me. At that time I believed that all good people went to heaven, regardless.”

In a pre-marital class at Kim’s church in Orlando, however, the issue became clearer for Johnson. He needed to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

“One night in particular during that class, I remember that questions were being asked and my mind was searching and wandering. Then I was talking with my mom on the phone, and suddenly everything kind of hits you in the forehead and you just kind of open your eyes. I didn’t think I was blind so much,” Johnson recalls.

Zach and Kim were married a few weeks before his 2003 Nationwide Tour campaign began. And everything since has been—you know by now—a learning experience.

The biggest lesson, Johnson says, is not to take his life for granted.

“I haven’t had any tragedy in my life,” he says. “My whole family’s healthy. So really He’s helping me to learn to appreciate what I have.”

Johnson insists the lesson is bigger than that: “It’s realizing that what I have isn’t mine. It’s His.”

All those seasons of practice to get to where he is and now Johnson’s not staking a claim to what he’s got? That really is a lesson for a man still a year shy of 30.

But Johnson hasn’t learned these lessons alone. Kim has been there, holding him accountable. And she has been praying that men would enter Zach’s life who could hold him accountable as well. That prayer has been answered.

Johnson gives credit to his teacher Mike Bender, his agent Brad Buffoni, and other guys on Tour who have come alongside him, including Ben Crane, whose first win also came at the BellSouth, one year earlier. There have been others, leaders in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the tour Bible studies. “All these men welcomed me and encouraged me, and vice versa,” Johnson says.

It’s always refreshing to see someone in the spotlight give glory to God and His Son Jesus.

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Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Music: Lyra Davidica, 1708
Tune: EASTER HYMN, Meter: 77.77 D

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He’s My King

You’ve got to hear this to believe this — a wonderful sermon by Dr. S.M. Lockridge from a few decades ago.  May this sermon help prepare hearts for Resurrection Sunday.

He’s My King

You’ve got to hear this to believe this — a wonderful sermon by Dr. S.M. Lockridge from a few decades ago.  May this sermon help prepare hearts for Resurrection Sunday.

Tim Keller on Expository Preaching (Unashamed Workman)

Unashamed Workman is starting a series by asking various popular preachers on their thoughts on expository preaching. Click here to read Tim Keller’s thoughts on this issue.

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James Dobson Just Doesn’t Get It (Chuck Baldwin)

James Dobson Just Doesn’t Get It

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James Dobson Just Doesn’t Get It (Chuck Baldwin)

James Dobson Just Doesn’t Get It

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Do the Majority of People Coming to Church Easter Sunday Believe in the Resurrection?

Philip Conner writes an interesting article at the Center of Missional Research at the North American Mission Board website (click here to read) that may surprise you. I found this article exceedingly helpful in preparing for my Sunday sermon in Bible Belt Lexington, KY. (HT: Mark Combs)

Yet, we must continue to heed Tim Keller’s advice in addressing defeater beliefs in our sermons and address the issues many in our secular world find problematic with Christianity. We as pastors and teachers must be willing to deal with these issues — may God continue to give us the words in which to do so.

“The Resurrection of Jesus Christ” by John Calvin

One may find it strange at first glance that our Lord Jesus wishing to give proof of His resurrection, appeared rather to women than to His disciples. But in that we have to consider that He wished to prove the humility of our faith. For we must not be grounded in human wisdom, but we must receive in absolute obedience what we know to proceed from Him. On the other hand, there is no doubt that He wished to punish the disciples, when He sent them women to instruct them, because the instruction which they had received from His mouth had been of no profit to them when it came to the test. For look how they are scattered. They desert their Master; they are confused by fear. And what good has it done them to be for more than three years in the school of the Son of God? Such cowardice, then, deserved great punishment, even that they might be entirely deprived of the knowledge which they had received before, inasmuch as they had, so to speak, trampled it under foot and buried it. Now our Lord Jesus did not wish to punish them severely, but to show them their fault by gentle correction He appointed women to be their teachers. They had been chosen beforehand to publish the Gospel to the whole world (they are really the first teachers of the Church), but since they were so cowardly as to be found thus bewildered, so much so that their faith was, as it were, deadened, it is entirely proper that they should know that they are not worthy to hear any teaching from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice, then, why they are sent back to women until they have better recognized their faults, and Jesus Christ has restored them to their position and privilege, but by grace. Besides (as I have said), all of us in general are urged to receive the testimony which is sent to us by God, even if the persons who speak are of little importance or if they have no credit or reputation in the eyes of the world. As in fact, when a man is elected or appointed to be a notary public or a public officer what he does will be received as authentic. One would not say this or that to contradict him. For the office gives him respect among men. And will God have less preeminence than earthly princes, if He ordains only those whom He pleases to be His witnesses, from whom one receives whatever He should say without contradiction or reply? Certainly it must be so unless we want to be rebels even against God Himself. This, then, we have to remember in the first place.

(Click here to read the rest of Calvin’s sermon.)

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“The Resurrection of Jesus Christ” by John Calvin

One may find it strange at first glance that our Lord Jesus wishing to give proof of His resurrection, appeared rather to women than to His disciples. But in that we have to consider that He wished to prove the humility of our faith. For we must not be grounded in human wisdom, but we must receive in absolute obedience what we know to proceed from Him. On the other hand, there is no doubt that He wished to punish the disciples, when He sent them women to instruct them, because the instruction which they had received from His mouth had been of no profit to them when it came to the test. For look how they are scattered. They desert their Master; they are confused by fear. And what good has it done them to be for more than three years in the school of the Son of God? Such cowardice, then, deserved great punishment, even that they might be entirely deprived of the knowledge which they had received before, inasmuch as they had, so to speak, trampled it under foot and buried it. Now our Lord Jesus did not wish to punish them severely, but to show them their fault by gentle correction He appointed women to be their teachers. They had been chosen beforehand to publish the Gospel to the whole world (they are really the first teachers of the Church), but since they were so cowardly as to be found thus bewildered, so much so that their faith was, as it were, deadened, it is entirely proper that they should know that they are not worthy to hear any teaching from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice, then, why they are sent back to women until they have better recognized their faults, and Jesus Christ has restored them to their position and privilege, but by grace. Besides (as I have said), all of us in general are urged to receive the testimony which is sent to us by God, even if the persons who speak are of little importance or if they have no credit or reputation in the eyes of the world. As in fact, when a man is elected or appointed to be a notary public or a public officer what he does will be received as authentic. One would not say this or that to contradict him. For the office gives him respect among men. And will God have less preeminence than earthly princes, if He ordains only those whom He pleases to be His witnesses, from whom one receives whatever He should say without contradiction or reply? Certainly it must be so unless we want to be rebels even against God Himself. This, then, we have to remember in the first place.

(Click here to read the rest of Calvin’s sermon.)

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Said @ Southern Blog

I’d like to acquaint you with a blog called “Said at Southern.” It is described as:

An index of blogs and podcasts from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Join the recent conversation and all that is being said at Southern.

When you have time, take a look around.

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Preached This Morning at Pitts Baptist Church, Concord, NC

Thank you to Pastor Scott Davis for allowing me to preach the two morning services this morning at Pitts Baptist Church. Pitts Baptist is where my mom and dad are members. Scott and I managed to keep this as a surprise to my father, who found out only when he opened up his bulletin before the service.

I preached on Psalm 51 as I did the previous Sunday at Boone’s Creek. Click on to the PBC sermons page in the next few days. It should be posted soon.

Thanks to all of you who lifted us up in prayer. God moved and worked. One especially encouraging remark after the service lifted my spirits. One woman who had just received Christ was facing some especially difficult questions from her brother who continually questioned the validity of her new-found faith. I say this to the glory of God (for there is no way I could have known this), but the sermon address each objection that he raised about Christianity. It helped strengthen her faith. Glory to God!!!

Keep us in prayer while we are here in North Carolina.

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