HEADSTART: Sunday, April 3

Here we go…

Morning Sermon – Membership Has Its Privileges  Acts 2:36-47

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Evening Sermon – WHERE FAITH & LIFE CONNECT: Connect with Trust  John 3:1-18

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Study well!

Convicting Continuing Commentary Considering the Issue of Universalism

The issue concerning assertions by people like Rob Bell & William P. Young concerning the viability of universalism as a truly Christian belief continues to make headlines.  In this video posted here, Pastor David Platt warns us all of the dangers of ‘functional universalism’ in how we live our lives as Christians.  We do well in recognizing and sounding the warning regarding convictional universalism (stating it as your belief…your theology).  We must guard our hearts & minds–our lives–against saying we do not believe in universalism while living like we actually do believe universalism is true.  Please consider this heart-felt warning and challenge as we examine our lives and strive for faithfulness and righteousness in all we say & do.

Link to the missions blog of the Church at Brook Hills and watch the video:

Do We Really Believe What We are Saying?

AND, a link to someone whose Open Letters I enjoy reading.  Frank Turk is a member of a team blog called Pyromaniacs.  They are a great group of brothers whose comments are insightful, especially the regular features of one of my favorite preachers, CH Spurgeon.  Frank has written an insightful Open Letter critique of Bell’s book and ongoing emergent theology problems.  It is a lengthy post (but comparatively short next to the reviews of Denny Burk and Kevin DeYoung).  It, too, is well worth your time.

Open Letter to Rob Bell

COMMUNIQUÉ: To Senegal

I appreciate all of you praying for me.  The blessing of your prayer support has been huge for me over the recent days…Don’t ever stop!  I would also very much appreciate you praying for me as my trip to Senegal approaches.  The dates for this mission trip are April 26 – May 6.  Pastor Roger Brumley, from Calvary Baptist Church in Neosho, and I will be headed to Sedhiou, Senegal.  Here are a few maps to put a perspective on our ministry location:

 

Roger and I will be discipling the local church leaders as well as sharing the Gospel with people, appointments which have been arranged as well as those which will arise during our time there.  We also will be looking at two villages which could likely serve as locations for a new church plant.  Here is what I have previously shared from Pastor Sam Turner (also from Calvary Neosho) through our church missions blog (gocbcmissions.wordpress.com):

Pastor Paul Mendy shared that they were visiting every Monday one of two locations. (alternating between them each Monday). Bona where there are 5 believers and Touba where there at two believers. So I volunteered Pastor Roger and Pastor Scott Gordon to go with them on Monday, May 2, to visit which ever preaching village they are doing that Monday… I [also] hope to set up a meeting for Pastor Roger with the chairman of the Mandjak fellowship who also heads up the Bible Society here.

This is what it means for us to be a fully-engaged Acts 1:8 church…ministering here at home, in our state, across our nation, and around the world.  Be praying about your connection to our developing Great Commission ministries through our church.  Should you be the next to go?  To Senegal?  To Brazil?  To Disaster Relief Ministry?  To City Union Mission?  To your neighbors’ homes?  To your classmates?

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:18-20

HEADSTART: For Sunday, March 27

Yes, I’m quite late posting my text for Sunday morning (morning preaching only for this week), but here it is…

THE12: Committed – Matthew 10:34-42

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose

it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he i

s a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteou

s person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Study well!  See y’all Sunday!!

DEBATE AUDIO – Which Way America: The Bible or the Qur’an?

Here is a link to the debate held at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on Thursday, March 17, 2011.  The topic centered on the trustworthiness and implications of world views based upon the Christian Scriptures, the Bible, or the Muslim Scriptures, the Qur’an.  Speaking on behalf of the Christian Bible is Jay Smith, an American Christian apologist who currently lives, works, and speaks in London, England.  Speaking on behalf of the Qur’an of Islam is Khalil Meek, an American convert to Islam currently living in Dallas, Texas.

Which Way America: The Bible or the Qur’an?

The entire debate is two hours long…an investment worthy of your time.  Jay does an excellent job of presenting strong biblical conviction while also calling his compatriot to accept the Gospel truth.  For his part, Khalil is a very personable individual who is genuinely convinced of the veracity of Islam and its benefit for our nation and the world.  That being said, his assertions and responses do not hold up in the light of absolute truth.

Please listen and learn…and pray for Khalil and numerous others like him around the world who have accepted the lies of Islam.

HEADSTART: For Sunday, Mar. 20

Here are the biblical texts from which I will be preaching this Sunday.  I’m thinking I’ll start posting them each Monday morning (yes, this one is on Tuesday…just came up with this idea ).  This will give many of you a ‘head start’ in being ready for God to speak to you through His word when we gather for worship on Sundays. So, here they are…

WARNING: Rob Bell is Dangerous

[UPDATE: Two very thoughtful & thorough reviews of Bell's new book...from Denny Burk, Associate Professor of New Testament and Dean of Boyce College, the undergraduate arm of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky...and from Kevin DeYoung, Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church (RCA) in East Lansing, Michigan, right across the street from Michigan State University.]

The internet has been ablaze with debate centering on the soon to be released book by Rob Bell, “Love Wins.”  First, the video promoting the book has caused quite a reaction…

Rob Bell: Universalist? (by Justin Taylor)

Two Thoughts on the Rob Bell Brouhaha (by Kevin DeYoung)

Universalism as a Lure? The Emerging Case of Rob Bell (by Dr. Albert Mohler)

And now we have our first review from someone who has read the book (to satisfy all the ‘wait-and-seers,’ who warned Bell might be orthodox on this one…

Love Wins – A Review of Rob Bell’s New Book (by Tim Challies)

Anyone wishing to give Rob Bell a pass on universalism owes William P. Young an apology.

As pastor, I am compelled by a love for you all as my church family to warn you of the dangers of false teachers who, while appearing like sheep…are actually ravenous wolves; for that is how Scripture describes false teachers like Bell, Young, Osteen, and others.

There are too many good preachers writing biblically solid books and preaching God-honoring sermons for us to wring our hands over dismissing what, though looking ‘cool’ or sounding ‘nice,’ is dangerously destructive heresy.