Archives for 2009

To Him that Worketh Not [Romans]

Rm 4.4-5

Proposition: Justification by faith is a ‘works-free’ zone.

We are still answering the question, “What then shall we say that Abraham has found?” (Rm 4.1). In our text today, we are expanding on the clinching Scripture (Gen 15.6) by examining two contrasts: the one who is working and the one who is not working. The one who is working is an illustration from life that explains why Abraham (and no one else) can be justified by works. The one who is not working explains what it means to not work and how that justifies.

Men Making a Difference [Christian Growth]

Philemon 1-25

This lesson was prepared for a separate men’s session at Family Camp last week. Since many of our people were unable to attend, we reprised it in our Bible Study session.

In the lesson, we look at the spiritual qualities of Philemon and consider how those qualities make him one whom the apostle is willing to make an amazing counter-cultural request. These qualities made Philemon a Christian of influence in his local church and are publicly demonstrated by the occasion of Onesimus’ conversion.

The Greatest Family of All Time [Christian Home]

This message also comes from our week at camp. Our theme at camp was “Families Making a Difference”. In this message we look at what I call ‘The Greatest Family of All Time,’ that is, the family of our Lord Jesus Christ. I propose that if we want our families to make a difference in this world, we need to emulate the mindset of the men from his physical family whose influence continues to this day.

What about Abraham? [Romans]

Rm 4.1-3

The great doctrine of Roman’s is justification by faith. Today, we see Abraham’s testimony proving Paul’s proposition: the just shall live by faith alone. Abraham is the key example because of his position in the Scriptures and in the minds of the Jews. We see his testimony, and it settles the question. There is only one means by which a man may be justified, through faith, not of works.

Evangelizing Children (4) [Christian Home]

For our Bible Study session, we begin a discussion on the subject of Evangelizing Children. We are basing it on an article published by Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, CA. We have certain distinct differences with this ministry, but nevertheless find the materials they produce and the preaching ministry of their pastor, John MacArthur to be very beneficial.

The third session of our study looks at the last three foundational keys for evangelizing children.

Beloved Be Mindful [Growth]

2 Pt 3.1-2

Beloved be mindful! Be mindful of the Word! That is the first foundation of Christian growth we see in 2 Pt 3. Peter is very anxious that his readers wake up to this truth and own it for themselves. His ongoing ministry to us is the Word of God he and the other apostles left behind.

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A good day in the Lord’s house. Some young families, younger couples looking us over. They don’t want to get burned, good for them! They are looking for a faithful Bible preaching church and are interested in what we are doing. Our hope is that young people like this will embrace the vision of what we are trying to build here so that we can expand our efforts by someday sponsoring a sister church in a neighbouring town. But one step at a time! This step looks encouraging so far.

God’s Law Established [Romans]

Rm 3.31

Justification has this advantage, it establishes law. The great fear of Apostolic Age Judaizers was that Gentiles + justification by faith = chaos of people claiming to be believers but living lawless lives. Of course, by lawless, they meant ‘without the Mosaic law.’ The truth is that faith agrees with the Law’s demands, its verdict, and its penalty, but it sees the penalty met in the work of Christ on the cross. The law’s penalty thus met establishes the law as veritably true and valid. The difference is that the believer no longer need worry about failure in that the sentence for failure is met in Christ. The believer now has liberty to live up to the law, rather than fear failure of the law.

Evangelizing Children (3) [Christian Home]

For our Bible Study session, we begin a discussion on the subject of Evangelizing Children. We are basing it on an article published by Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, CA. We have certain distinct differences with this ministry, but nevertheless find the materials they produce and the preaching ministry of their pastor, John MacArthur to be very beneficial.

The third session of our study looks at two foundational keys for evangelizing children.

The Life is in the Blood [Leviticus, Communion]

Lev 17.1-16

We discover in this chapter, the Levitical laws of blood, a universal truth expressed in laws applied to several different dispensations – first under Noah, here in Leviticus under Moses, and last in the book of Acts under the Apostles. This universal truth is the notion of life being in the blood, which makes it possible for a bloody death to function as a substitute for a sinner in need of acceptance by God. We see it in the demand for bloody sacrifice and the prohibition against consuming blood in all dispensations. We see it in the pagan world, full of bloody sacrifice (though very corrupt in their practices). And we see it finally in the one bloody sacrifice of Christ for all people for all time.