The weekly update on our preaching ministry at Grace Baptist Church of Victoria. We were a little down in attendance this week … last week’s visitors did not return, but usually new visitors take time to ‘take hold’. We are praying for their return and embracing of a biblical church ministry. One young lady, newly moved in to the area dropped in for our first service. She did not stay long afterwards… not always a good sign.

In any case, we continue to press on in the work of the gospel. Here are the summaries.

How Sin Begins (Rm 1.21)

On further reflection concerning our passage last week, I decided to return to it and emphasize the beginning point of sin: resentment of God and ingratitude to God. No matter our circumstances, God’s plan and way for our lives is best. We fall into sin, even as believers, by doubting God’s sovereign disposal in our lives and failing to be grateful for his dealing with us, both by favourable and unfavourable circumstances. The end result of our murmurings can be a darkening of our hearts and a futility of our reasoning (to some extent), distancing us from God. May God find us submissive, grateful, and glorifying him!

The Reality of Satan

In which we begin a look at the teaching of the Bible concerning Satan. This is not a topic we enter because we are so much relishing it, but one we enter because it is under attack from Bible deniers and it is part of teaching the whole counsel of God. The first point: Satan is real, personal, and powerful.

A Prayer of Witness (Jn 11.41-42)

In our series following the chronological teachings and examples of our Lord on prayer, we come to the prayer uttered just before the resurrection of Lazarus. The prayer is intended to communicate God’s truth concerning our Lord to ‘the crowd’ – our public prayers should emulate our Lord’s public prayers as  much as possible.

Our latest messages. We had a good group out today, including a young family just moved into town. They are apparently believers, have two young daughters, show signs of some spiritual maturity… just the sort of family every pastor covets, in a godly sort of way, of course. We would greatly desire the Lord to lead this young couple to join with us in the work of the Lord in our ministry. May the Lord’s will be done! (I know what my will is in the matter!)

Here are our sermon summaries from today:

The Expression of Human Religion (Rm 1.21-23)

In Rm 1.18, God’s wrath is seen being revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold back or suppress the truth in unrighteousness. There are two means of suppression of the truth: the first, by the Suppression of Natural Religion [man’s natural response to the clear revelation of God’s power and nature in creation] (last week’s message) and the second, by the Expression of Human Religion [man’s proud, ungrateful, profane exchange of the glory of the uncorruptible God from the fertile ground of his futile reasonings, darkened heart and moronic mind]. No matter how much revelation a man has, whether only by nature or also by special revelation though God’s word, the tendency of his heart is to push God out of his thoughts by both these means.

May God keep us from any hint of reducing his importance in our lives by following the natural tendencies of our hearts.

The Organization and Ministry of Angels

In which we continue our discussion of the organization of angels [from last week’s lesson] by noting the distinctions of certain angels in the bible. We also concluded our discussion of angels entirely by covering the various ways in which angels serve in relation to God, to history, to Christ, to sinners, and to saints.

Prayers of Discipline (Mt 18.19-20)

Our passage is one often taken out of context, but in context give us a powerful lesson concerning the authority given to the local church and its officers. The prayer passage is in the midst of the famous discipline passage and assure God’s people of God’s eternal approval and authorization for taking action against sin by leading members of the church to repentance or by expelling the unrepentant from the assembly. These actions are sealed by the prayers of the church, authorized and solemnized by the presence of our Lord.

Read the notes while you listen.

Here is another round of messages from our pulpit. It is a great joy to be able to teach and preach God’s word. We had a young lady visit today for the first time, we are hopeful she will return. She actually stayed for the whole day. Several of our younger folks were able to spend a little time visiting with her which is a help, I am sure.

Here are the summaries:

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The Suppression of Natural Religion (Rm 1.19-20)

As we continue in Romans, we discuss the almost pathological effort of men to suppress the truth about God plainly seen everywhere around us. In our city, we have a beautiful and world-famous garden, the Butchart Gardens. When you look at the gardens there, you see on display evidence of a master gardener. But what do you see when you look at a rose, for instance? Evidence of someone far greater than any master gardener – you see the wisdom, intelligence, power, creativity, and transcendance of God. And you are without any excuse before Him.

The Organization of Angels (1)

In which we begin a consideration of the number and rank of angels. We caution against reading too much into the references about angel hierarchy, but are pulling out a few threads of the Biblical tapestry to see what we can know from the Bible about God’s order among the angels.

The Priest’s Part (2) (Lev 7.11-36)

We continue in Leviticus for our monthly communion service. Our passage today is a continuation of the repetition of the five main sacrifices (Lev 6-7) where Moses emphasizes particular matters of concern to the priests. In this message, we make several applications to our own lives and worship, but close with a comparison of the fellowship between priest and people in the ‘peace’ or ‘fellowship’ offering and the fellowship between saint and Saviour in our communion service. What a precious blessing our fellowship with Christ is!