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By Admin, July 28, 2010 3:01 pm

Al Mohler on the growing trend for Christians to marry outside the faith.

Statistics indicate that a growing number of Americans are marrying someone from outside their own religious commitments. Is this a trend we should encourage? Not if you are committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The statistical trend is clear enough, but the question is more complex than may first appear. The Washington Post reported on June 6, 2010 that 25 percent of American households were mixed-faith in 2006, according to the General Social Survey. That represents a significant increase from the 15 percent of such households in 1988.

But, what does mixed-faith mean? It could mean the mixing of relatively similar Christian denominations, or it might mean the mixing of two very different systems of belief. [Click HERE to read on]

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By Admin, July 23, 2010 2:45 pm

Jason Helopoulos with some good thoughts about when it is and is not appropriate to leave a church.

Good Reasons for Moving On—The Four P’s

1. Providential moving—If my job, family, or life has moved me from Dallas to Austin then I should probably find a local church in Austin, let alone if I moved from Michigan to North Carolina. It is right and good to belong to a local church and covenant with brothers and sisters in my own “backyard.”

2. Planting another church—It may be that I haven’t left my home town, but the church I belong to has decided to send me out with others to plant another church in the area. Notice though, that I am being sent out by my church, not leaving with a group of people because I am disgruntled or think it is a good idea.

3. Purity has been lost— It may take different forms, but primarily this occurs when the Word is no longer proclaimed. It could be that heresy is being taught, the Bible is never read or preached, or a much more prominent manifestation these days is that the Word is no longer seen as sufficient; it is used as a seasoning for the message of the week rather than the diet by which the congregation is fed and nourished upon. However, we must be careful here; patience should always be exercised and I must always test my own heart to see if I am “making a mountain out of a molehill.”

4. Peace of the church is in jeopardy due to my presence— This “reason” is hard to suggest for fear of it being abused, as it is by far the most subjective “reason.” However, there are cases where an individual/family can personally become a hindrance to the ministry of the local church and it is best for that person/family to move-on. If this is the reason I am contemplating leaving the church, then I must first test myself and discern whether it is because of sin on my own part. If that is the case then I must be quick to repent rather than move-on. This “reason” should always be approached with trepidation,

Possible Reasons for Moving On – The Three S’s

1. Spouse—An unbelieving or non-church attending spouse is not willing to attend this church, but will attend another with you.

2. Special Needs—Every family has special needs, so this one needs to be handled with care. A possible example may be that my family has a disabled child and another faithful church in the area has a wonderful ministry to disabled people which can help us.

3. Special Gifts—Another faithful church in the area may have asked for you to use your special gifts in their midst for the building up of the body (i.e. organist). Never decide this one on your own. If it is a possible reason, then it is too easy to think too highly of oneself and go running to the greener pastures. This is always something that should be taken to the leadership of your current church and wrestled through.

Reasons Often Used Which are Insufficient

1. Children’s Ministry—The Children’s ministry at another church is better. This cannot be a reason for changing churches. It is rather an opportunity for you to get involved in the children’s ministry of your church.

2. Buzz—Many people will flow to whatever church in town has the current “buzz.” The argument will be that the Spirit is at work there and we want to be part of it. But buzzes come and go. And so do the people that follow them.

3. Youth Group—The unhappiness of our teenage children in the current Youth Group, because of activities, other youth, etc. is not a reason for leaving the church we have covenanted with. I know this one will be controversial. Believe me, I have empathy as a parent and a former Youth Pastor. But our children are not the spiritual directors of our home. They should not be choosing the church we attend based upon their social status and network.

4. Church has changed—Churches always change. Unless the changes are unbiblical than we don’t have a reason to move on. We don’t move on when our wife or husband changes! We are we so quick to do so with the church we have covenanted with.

5. New Pastor—A new pastor is not a sufficient reason to change churches. It doesn’t matter how stiff, impersonal, unfunny, etc. he is. The list is endless. It doesn’t even matter if he is not the most interesting preacher. He is the man God called to this church for this time. And this is your church. Again, unless he is unbiblical why move on? You haven’t covenanted with a man, but with this body.

6. I’m Not Being Ministered to—I tell every one of our new member classes, “If we all walked into church each week and had a list of people we were going to try and ‘touch,’ encourage, or minister to, do you know how dynamic this church would be? Just on Sunday mornings, let alone if we did it during the week. If we each were concerned about the other person and walked in each Sunday with that in the forefront of our mind instead of, “Why didn’t he talk to me?,” “Why doesn’t anyone care about me?,” “Why isn’t anyone ministering to me?” Start ministering to others and you will find that you are being ministered to.

7. Music—Not a reason—whether it is slow, fast, traditional, contemporary, Psalms, hymns, or gospel choruses. Stop using it as an excuse!

8. There are others…we haven’t even mentioned the service is too early, the coffee is terrible, the pastor doesn’t know how to shuck corn (Yep…those are all true ones I have heard).

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By Admin, July 21, 2010 10:30 pm

John MacArthur with a warning regarding TBN and others who preach a false gospel.

I don’t watch much television, and when I do I generally avoid the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). For many years TBN has been dominated by faith-healers, full-time fund-raisers, and self-proclaimed prophets spewing heresy. I wrote about the false gospel they proclaim and the phony miracles they pretend to do almost two decades ago in Charismatic Chaos (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992. See especially chapter 12). I had my fill of charismatic televangelism while researching that book, and I can hardly bear to watch it any more.

Recently, however, while recovering from knee-replacement surgery, I decided to sample some of the current fare on TBN. From a therapeutic point of view it seemed a good choice: something more excruciating than the pain in my leg might distract me from the physical suffering of post-surgical trauma. And I suppose on that basis the strategy was effective.

But it left me outraged and frustrated—and eager to challenge the misperceptions in the minds of millions of unbelievers who see these false teachers masquerading as ministers of Christ on TBN.

I’m outraged at the brazen way so many false teachers twist the message of Scripture in Jesus’ name. And I’m frustrated because I’m certain that if these charlatans were not receiving a large proportion of their financial support from sincere believers (and silent acquiescence from Christian leaders who surely know better), they would have no platform for their shenanigans. They would soon lose their core constituency and fade from the scene.

Instead, religious quacks are actually multiplying at a frightening pace. One thing I discovered to my immense displeasure is that TBN is by no means the only religious network broadcasting poisonous false doctrine around the clock. The channel lineup I receive includes at least seven other channels whose schedules are filled with false teachers and charlatans. There’s The Church Channel, Daystar, GodTV, World Harvest Television (LeSEA), Total Christian Television, and several others. Some of them feature blocs of family television programing and a few fairly sound teachers who provide moments of escape from the prosperity preachers. But all of them give prominence to enormous amounts of heresy and religious claptrap—enough to make them positively dangerous. And TBN is singularly responsible for kicking that door open so wide…

To finish reading the article, please click HERE.

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By Admin, July 15, 2010 1:38 pm

Posted by Pastor Matt Rouse

The guys over at Of First Importance posted a great quote today from Ray Ortlund.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Now.  Not five years from now when you are a better Christian.  Right now.  At this instant.

No.  None at all.  Not even a little.  Zero.  Gone.  Poof.

For those in Christ Jesus.  And only because we are in him.  We provide everything that deserves condemnation.  He provides everything that deserves acceptance.

This is the plain message of the Bible, because God not only does not condemn us, he also doesn’t want us feeling condemned.  He wants us feeling freed.  Nothing like no-condemnation to get us riled up for his glory!”

—Ray Ortlund, “Freed”

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By Admin, July 13, 2010 6:00 am

Posted by Pastor Matt Rouse

Dr. Harry Reeder, Senior Minister of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama discusses what it means to think theologically.

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By Admin, July 11, 2010 6:59 pm

Session #1

Session #2

Session #3

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By Admin, July 11, 2010 3:00 pm

Posted by Pastor Matt Rouse

C.J. Mahaney with some helpful advice re: kids with video game addictions. This advice is probably helpful for other addictions and issues an older child may face.

It is too easy for me to view my son’s form of idolatry as childish, but in essence, at root, there is no difference between our idolatries. His expression is consistent with a 12 year old, mine is consistent with a 56 year old, but in essence it’s no different. Therefore I must make sure my heart is softened by my own sinful tendencies. I don’t want the study to be punitive, I don’t want it to be (if possible) connected or related to discipline, because I think that can make it more difficult for a child to comprehend and to be convinced I have their best interest at heart. I want to supplement it with my own stories.

At 12 years old I would want to start leaving your son with questions to consider rather than pronouncements. But from 12 years old on up, it is far more complicated than when they are younger. For a toddler, discipline is pretty simple. You are not having to work through heart issues. It is a blatantly ethical world, at that age, nothing but right/wrong, yes/no. But as they get older you want to draw your child in and give him an opportunity to think about his own heart, think about it in relation to material, think about it in relation to Scripture, think about it with time for the Spirit to possibly convict. You are not bringing every conversation to a conclusion that he must agree with.

Read whole article HERE.

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By Admin, July 3, 2010 11:45 pm

Posted by Pastor Charles R. Moore

Lord willing, we’re embarking on a study of Philippians starting this next Lord’s Day.

Join us!

The Apostle Paul writes this epistle (letter) from prison, probably in Rome in about A.D. 60.  Paul indicates his imprisonment no fewer than four times in Chapter 1 alone.  We can’t know all the details surrounding Paul’s imprisonment and eventual martyrdom under Nero, but we can know that Paul’s attitude in the face of trial and trouble is amazing!  Many have called Philippians “the epistle of joy” for that very reason.

I pray that joy will jump off every page for us.

That being said, I don’t want us to worry so much about “theme” that we miss the point.  I’ll quote from William Hendriksen (Th.D., Princeton; Professor of New Testament Exegetical Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary, 1943-1952) …

Attempts have been made repeatedly to construct a formal outline for Philippians, a central theme with its subdivisions … But such themes either lack distinctiveness … or comprehensiveness … What we have here is a genuine letter from Paul to his beloved church at Philippi.  The writer passes from one subject to another just as we do today in writing to friends … What holds these subjects together is not this or that central theme, but the Spirit of God, mirrored forth, by means of a multitude of spiritual graces and virtues, in the heart of the apostle, proclaiming throughout that between God, the apostle, and the believers at Philippi there exists a blessed bond of glorious fellowship.

I like that simple approach to Philippians.

We have the privilege of reading, digesting, and applying a letter written by a man wholly given over to the proclamation of Christ’s gospel.  Though a superstar in religious credibility, Paul debunked all of his human credentials except his knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!

I can’t wait to be changed along with you.

Yours for the life-changing gospel of grace,

Pastor Charles

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By Admin, July 1, 2010 10:16 am

posted by Pastor Charles R. Moore

I share this piece written by Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, this morning …

Moral earthquakes, like earthquakes of the geophysical variety, most often occur suddenly and without warning.

At one moment the moral argument is framed in conventional and familiar ways.  Just an instant later, all is changed.

An article that appears in the June 30, 2010, edition of The Times [London] represents a moral earthquake that resets an entire issue – and that issue is abortion.  This chilling essay by Antonia Senior is hard to read, but impossible to ignore.  To read it is to feel the moral ground shift under your feet.

Abortion, which Senior acknowledges is the killing of a human life, is defined as ‘a lesser evil’ than the curtailing of abortion rights in the name of liberating women:

‘As ever, when an issue we thought was black and white becomes more nuanced, the answer lies in choosing the lesser evil.’

‘The nearly 200,000 aborted babies in the UK each year are the lesser evil, no matter how you define life, or death, for that matter.  If you are willing to die for a cause, you must be prepared to kill for it, too.’

You must be prepared to kill for the sake of defending abortion rights?  That is exactly what abortion entails – the killing of an unborn child for the sake of asserting a woman’s so-called ‘right to choose.’

As a church, may God grant us the grace to respond to moral issues like this.  May we not be driven by politics, but by Truth.

Yours for that Truth,

Pastor Charles

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By Admin, June 30, 2010 10:45 pm

I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed preaching through the Book of Exodus. It was great to see the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ come to life in the Old Testament!

By the time we made it to the construction of the Tabernacle, we were all on board with the richness of the Christological types and shadows that dotted the landscape of those chapters. What a treat! From Christ as our lampstand to Christ as our perfect offering, we feasted on the richest of fare.

Thanks for sharing the journey with me.

It was a journey that began with a people enslaved under the tyranny of the Egyptian Pharaohs. And every time we discovered God’s promise to rescue His people, the promise was ultimately for His own honor and glory! We learned that Exodus is about God.

And as we made it to that final chapter, we beheld God’s glory filling the Tabernacle! I think that this scene is the climax of Exodus: God has won! He has prevailed over human sin – even over the idolatry of the golden calf. The cloud covered the tent of meeting.

How our God has so marvelously put together His Word! From the events of Chapter 24 onward, the cloud had hovered at the top of Mount Sinai. In Chapter 40, it moved over the Tabernacle! 50 days passed between the completion of the Tabernacle and the first time the cloud moved to initiate the movement of the Israelites (Numbers 10:11). Until then, God’s people waited! Pentecost was 50 days after the sacrifice of Christ as the Passover Lamb. Until then, God’s people waited!

I have again been blown away by the consistency of God’s Word. It really is one story.

Just like the Israelites learned to follow God, let’s follow hard after our Lord!

Your fellow follower because God has won,

Pastor Charles