Friday, December 31, 2010

"Trading One Dramatic Resolution for 10,000 Little Ones"

Here is a helpful article, "Trading One Dramatic Resolution for 10,000 Little Ones," to read as you take some time to reflect on 2010 and think of changes you want to make in your life for 2011.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Reflecting on the Sermon: 12/26/10

Rod preached on Romans 8:28.  I really enjoyed the message, and I hope you take the time to listen to it if you missed it.  As he spoke about God causing all things to work together for the good of those that love God, he used a great illustration from Spurgeon.

Spurgeon said, that if you take a watch and open it you will see one gear turning counter-clockwise and another one turning clockwise (back in the day...now a days they are made differently I think).  At first glance the insides seem confusing.  But, the watch designer made it this way and it causes the hands on the face of the clock to turn clockwise.  This analogy reminds us that at times our life circumstances seem confusing, yet it is all designed by our God for our ultimate good.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Reflecting on the Sermon: 12/19/10

For our "out-of-towners," check out the sermon online if you get a chance during some of your down time...maybe when you wake up from your turkey induced coma on Christmas afternoon.  The sermon was from Romans 8:26-27 and dealt with prayer.  Rod focused on two points from these verses: 1. God only hears the prayers of his saints, 2. The Holy Spirit prays for Christians according to the will of God.  One good practical point he dealt with is the question, "If God is sovereign, why pray?".  The short version of the answer is 1. God commands it, and 2. God is sovereign over the ends and the means.  Listen to the sermon if you missed it to hear a more detailed answer.

Monday, December 20, 2010

The Infinte Ocean of Christ's Love

Here is an excerpt from Octavius Winslow that is sure to stir your heart with the love of Christ.  The whole thing is worth reading. I pray you will make time to meditate on Christ's great love as we celebrate his incarnation.

Beloved, nothing shall take the love of Christ from you,
or separate you from it. It does not ebb with the ebbing
of your feelings; it does not chill with the chill of your
affections; it does not change with the changing scenes
and circumstances of your life.

The love of Christ has depths we cannot sound,
heights we cannot explore, an infinite fulness and
freeness tiding over all the sins, infirmities, and
sorrows of its blessed and favored objects.

Seek to know this love of Christ, though it is so vast
that it 'passes knowledge.' Infinite though it is, you
may experience its reality, taste its sweetness, and be
influenced by its all commanding, all constraining power.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Reflecting on the Sermon: 12/12/10

Still in Romans 8...and I'm glad...there is so much good stuff here.  This week Rod covered verses 26-27.  He began by discussing the Holy Spirit and how God preserves those who belong to him.  Then he moved to discuss how the Holy Spirit groans for us when we do not know how to pray.  There are times in life when we are so confused we don't even know how to pray.  But, we can take heart knowing that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to God's will!  What a relief.  When I am perplexed and groaning in under a heavy load or trial, I can have peace knowing that the Spirit of God groans for me.  The third person of the Godhead interceding for me- amazing.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Reflecting on the Sermon: 12/5/10

Rod preached on Romans 8:19-25, focusing on how every true believer has the hope of glorification.  He focused a lot on how a true believer has tasted of the hope of glory and groans for more- yearns for glorification.  I thought he gave a real practical way for us to examine our own hearts to determine if we exhibit this evidence of groaning for heaven.  My life is anchored here (instead of in heaven), if I am often focusing my time, energy, and money to try and make life better for me here and now instead of seeking God's kingdom.  This is a tangible way for me to examine my unseen heart.  I can look at my check book, how I spend my time, and what I think about most often and get a feel for where I am anchoring my life.  Man, that is a challenging test and reminds me that I often yearn too much for temporal happiness instead of eternal things.  God, loosen our grip on this world and cause us to cling to the hope we have in you.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Perseverance: Objections to The Doctrine Part 2

Last time, I began discussing objections to the doctrine.  Today we will begin looking at a second objection.

Objection 2: It Seems to Contradict Scripture

Another set of questions/objections comes from various passages of Scripture which seem to, on the face of it, contradict this doctrine.  These can be divided into two types of passages: 1. Calls to continue in the faith, 2. Cases of apostasy.  Today we will just look at one. 

1. Calls to Continue in the Faith

First, are passages which exhort believers to continue in the faith.  This includes passages such as Matthew 10:22b, which says, "But the one who endures to the end will be saved" and John 8:31b, which says, "'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.'"  In Colossians 1:22-23 Paul says,
he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.
Do these passages mean that God might not keep those who belong to Him until the end?  Does it mean that a true Christian might fail to endure and thus lose his or her salvation?  The answer is a resounding "No!"  For starters, "[i]t is only natural that Paul and the other New Testament writers would speak this way, for they are addressing groups of people who profess to be Christians, without being able to know the actual state of every person's heart" (Grudem, 793).

Second, these passages simply look at the doctrine from the human side of the equation; the side where we see that all true Christians must persevere in the faith.  They place the emphasis on our calling to persevere (just as other passages place the focus on God preserving us).

Finally, we are reminded that God uses means in accomplishing his stated ends.  In this case, the end is that all true Christians will be kept to the end.  The means by which God preserves a believer includes "the exhortations, threatenings, and promises of his word" (Hoekema, 246). This should not seem to unusual for the Christian since we know God uses means in other areas.  For example, when God was going to bring judgment on Israel, he decided to use the Assyrians. He could have just supernaturally wiped them out or punished them.  Instead, he used the Assyrian army and king calling them the rod of his anger (Isaiah 10:5-7). In other words, they would be the instrument or means by which God would bring his ends (i.e. judgment).



Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Perseverance: Objections to the Doctrine

Perhaps you have some questions about this doctrine.  Or maybe you have heard some objections that you just don't know how to respond to.  Rather than ignoring or dismissing these questions or objections we can go to Scripture and wrestle with them.  In the next few posts, I will lay out a few common objections and seek to analyze them biblically.

Objection 1: It Leads to Moral Laxity
The objection goes something like this: If we tell people that God will not lose any that belong to Him, won't that lead some to not pursue holy living?  While it is true that this doctrine can be misconstrued by some (especially those who say, "Once saved, always saved" and leave it at that), the doctrine does not promote unholy living.  That would be a straw man version of the doctrine (i.e. a description that does not accurately present it so that it is made weaker and easier to argue against).

In fact, the doctrine teaches not only that God preserves those who belong to Him, but it also states that those who truly belong to Him will persevere in the faith.  This doctrine takes seriously the commands of Scripture to pursue holiness, for without holiness no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).  "As we have noted, the Bible teaches that God does not preserve us apart from our watchfulness, prayer, and persevering faith" (Hoekema, 245).

The allegation that this doctrine may promote sin (or at least cause Christians to shirk the duty of pursuing holy obedience to the Lord) is similar to what Paul faced when he taught justification by faith alone.  Some people would object with, "Are you saying we should go on sinning so grace may abound?" (paraphrase of Rom. 6:1).  He responds by saying, "NO WAY!" (paraphrase of Rom. 6:2).  Christians are ones who died to sin when they were united to Christ (Rom. 6:2-3). 

This same truth applies here, for the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is saying that true Christians will endure to the end.  A true Christian is one who has died to sin.  Therefore, for the Christian, this doctrine will not promote ungodly living.  Rather, if rightly understood, it will encourage godly living so that the believer will persevere in the faith and have the blessed assurance of salvation that comes with this growth in holiness.

(Note: I have relied heavily on Anthony Hoekema's book "Saved by Grace," pages 245-ff in dealing with objections to the doctrine).

Friday, December 3, 2010

Perseverance: The Doctrine Outlined Part 5

This week I have been outlining the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.  Before moving on, I thought I'd offer a brief summary of what the doctrine entails.

To sum it up, "[t]he security of believers is inseparable from their perseverance; did not Jesus say, 'He who stands firm to the end will be saved' (Matt. 10:22)?" (Hoekema, 236).  In other words, God's preserving power does not nullify the call for believers to persevere in the faith.  Instead, it empowers true believers to endure to the end.  God preserves His children and His children persevere in the faith.  This is the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.

Next time, I will begin to discuss some of the objections made to this doctrine.  

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Perseverance: The Doctrine Outlined Part 4

Today we will continue to think about the definition, and support for, the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.  Last time, we looked at the doctrine from the human perspective- the calling we have to persevere in the faith and the reality that all true believers will endure in the faith until the end.  Today, I would like to illustrate how although some might claim to be Christian, they may prove that they were never truly a part of God's kingdom by failing to persevere.  


The reality is that there are some who claim to be Christians, and have even had some sort of association with the gospel message, but who are not truly saved.  Jesus discussed this several times in his parables.  One such example is found in the parable of the sower, in Luke 8:4-15, where Jesus describes seed (ie. the gospel) being tossed onto various types of soil (ie. hearts).  The seed only remains and blossoms in the good soil.  In describing this, Jesus says, "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience."  The word patience can also be translated perseverance.  So, those who are truly saved, in contrast to those who hear the word and maybe even have some superficial change, will truly hold fast, bear fruit, and persevere.

This can be illustrated in the life of Judas Iscariot.  He was with the other disciples and even seemed to truly believe in Jesus.  Even on the night before Jesus' death, when Jesus told his disciples one of them would betray Him, the disciples did not presume to know whom it was.  Outwardly, Judas seemed to be with Jesus.  However, he proved that he did not truly belong when he betrayed Christ (Matt. 26:24).  Individuals like Judas do not lose their salvation.  They merely prove that they do not truly posses saving faith by the fact that they fail to endure.

Reflecting on the Sermon 11/28/10

Rod continued preaching on the topic of suffering from Romans 8:17-ff.  This time, he sought to provide some perspective on the problem of evil.  He noted a few points that we should keep in mind: 1. Evil is real and exists in the world, 2. God is sovereign over all things (including evil) and he is good (not the author of evil), 3. Our sin and unrighteousness is the backdrop that puts God's righteousness on display.

This was a helpful sermon to remind us that it is not true (or truly comforting) to tell someone that God did not ordain the evil that they faced.  If God wasn't able to know or powerful enough to stop the evil then it is not comforting for when we say, "but God will give you the strength to get through this suffering."  How can he if he is unable to control all things?  Only a sovereign and good God gives a person hope in the midst of evil.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Perseverance: The Doctrine Outlined Part 3

Now it is time to examine the second key part of our definition of the perseverance of the saints: the reality that all true saints persevere in the Christian life until the end.

Perseverance of the Saints- Enduring by God's Power
According to our definition (you can find it here), "only those who persevere until the end have been truly born again."  This is to view the doctrine from the human side of the equation.  It is important to remember, however, that we have not left the first truth we've examined.  It is ultimately God's grip on us that keeps us secure.  But, we are also reminded that true believers do persevere in and by faith.  "God does not guard us apart from our faith, but only by working through our faith so that he enables us to continue to believe in him" (Grudem, 792).  We endure to the end, by God's power, through faith.  There are several passages that support this.

In John 8:31-32, Jesus says, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  A true disciple is one who abides in (ie. continues in) Jesus' word.  If a person does not remain in Jesus' word then he is not truly a disciple.  

Paul makes a similar statement in Colossians 1:22-23 when he says, 
he has now reconciled [you] in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard...
In other words, you are reconciled to God if you are one who continues in the faith.  Those who shift from the hope of the gospel show that they are those who are not truly reconciled to God.

This same idea is elucidated further by 1 John 2:19.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
Next time we will look at the reality that some people may claim to be Christian but prove that they are not when they fail to persevere until the end.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Perseverance: The Doctrine Outlined Part 2

In the last post, I provided a definition of the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.  Today, I will highlight the first key component of the definition and provide some biblical support for it.  This component is God's promise to preserve (ie. keep) those who belong to Him.

Preservation of the Saints- Kept by God's Power  
Those who are really born again (ie. given new life by the Spirit of God) will be kept securely by God.  This means that God preserves His children.  It is God who keeps us.  Jesus made this quite clear in John 6:38-40 when He said,
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Note three points from these verses.  First, Jesus will not lose any person the Father gave to Him.   Second, The person who believes in Jesus is given eternal life.  This is not a temporary thing that can be lost or taken away.  By definition, eternal life goes on into eternity.  Third, just to be sure there is no misunderstanding, Jesus says that He will raise those the Father gave to Him on the last day.  He says that this keeping and raising up is the will of His Father (it is mentioned twice- once in relation to Him not losing those who belong to Him and again in relation to eternal life).  Here we see the believer is firmly held by God.

Another helpful passage is John 10:27-29:
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
No one can snatch one of Jesus' sheep out of His (or the Father's) hand.  "The hand of the Son and the hand of the Father clasp the weak and feeble hand of the believer, clasp him or her so tightly that no one will ever be able to snatch that believer away from the double handclasp of God" (Hoekema, Saved by Grace, pg. 239).  No person (including the believer himself), thing, or power can separate the believer from the love of Christ (cf. Rom. 8:31-39).

This is the picture of the doctrine of perseverance from God's side of the equation.  He preserves or keeps those He saves (for more support see John 5:24, Rom. 8:29-39, 1 Cor. 1:8-9, Eph. 1:13-14, Phil 1:4-6, Heb. 7:23-25, 1Pet. 1:3-5).  Next time we will look at the second part of our definition that needs highlighting.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Perseverance: The Doctrine Outlined

It is important to spend some time explaining just what the doctrine of perseverance of the saints is really all about.  So, let's begin with a definition of the doctrine and then (in the next few posts) examine some supporting Scripture.

The perseverance of the saints means that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God's power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and that only those who persevere until the end have been truly born again (Grudem, Systematic Theology, pg. 788).

Over the next several days, I want to highlight and provide biblical support for two key components of this definition.  We will begin with a look at God's promise to preserve (ie. keep) those who belong to Him.  Then we will look at the reality that all saints persevere until the end. 

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Reflecting on the Sermon 11/21/10

Rod preached from Romans 8:18-23.  Rod discussed how the Christian is to view and deal with suffering.  He provided two "doctrines" which under-gird the Christian in suffering.  The first is that the Christian looks at suffering in light of the second coming (v. 18).  The second is that the Christian must realize why things are the way they are in the world (the big picture- think Biblical theology for those of you that came to Bible study last year).  We must realize we live in a fallen world and that we, and all of creation, need redemption.

I though he made a great point when he said, "Unless you have a deep understanding of sin and of God's holiness, you will think all the suffering and futility in the creation is an overreaction by God."  May God use suffering to cause us to take his holiness and sin more seriously.

The second thing I found encouraging is thinking about the second coming of Christ.  What hope in the midst of suffering.  I don't just grin and bear it.  I have hope in the midst of it.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

All I want for Christmas is a Study Bible

Ok, so maybe you hadn't thought about asking for a study Bible for Christmas, but it is a good investment if you don't own one.  Plus, if you ask for it for Christmas, it is a free (to you) investment!  There are a few good ones out there to choose from.  If I could just recommend one to you it would be the ESV Study Bible from Crossway.  A hardback version can be purchased from Amazon.com for under $30.  Here is why I recommend it:
  1. It contains a great translation of the Scripture.  The English Standard Version is a solid, reliable translation of the Bible that is also fairly easy to read (not as tough as the NAS and not as easy as the NIV).  
  2. The study notes are written by many different, conservative Bible scholars.  The notes are quite helpful when you are doing your devotionals and have a question about a verse.  Plus the introduction for each book of the Bible contains helpful information.
  3. It contains a TON of helpful charts, articles, maps, and illustrations.  It has articles on theology, other world religions, apologetic issues, and much more.
  4. You get access to an online version of the Study Bible for free (notes, articles, illustrations, everything.)  So you can use it even when you are away from home.

One downside is that with all this great information, the Bible itself is massive.  So, you probably wouldn't make this your Bible for taking places (unless you are trying to tone your arm muscles).  But, for a study Bible to keep at home and use to enrich your personal study time it is great.  If you want to get some more info about it (including sample pages) click here.

Now you have one more thing for your Christmas list.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Perseverance: Once Saved, Always Saved, Right?



I recently received a good question from someone about a passage of Scripture that is difficult to interpret.  The passage, Hebrews 6:1-8, is one of several warning passages in the book of Hebrews which deal with the dangers of falling away from the faith.  The individual asked me how we should interpret this passage since we believe that a person cannot lose his or her salvation.  As I began to think on this passage, I decided that instead of just providing an interpretation of the passage, it would be better to address the broader topic that these warning passages bring up first.  Namely, “Can a Christian lose his or her salvation?”  After dealing with this more expansive question, I will deal specifically with Hebrews 6.

Once Saved Always Saved, Right?
It is common to hear Christians make the statement, “Once saved, always saved.”  This statement, while true, doesn’t say enough.  It could mislead a person into thinking that an individual, who claims to be a believer but lives in a state of persistent rebellion and disobedience to Christ, is genuinely a Christian.  The Bible, however, knows nothing of a Christian who lives a life characterized by habitual disobedience.  So, while it is true that a person who has genuine, saving faith in Jesus is always saved, the biblical doctrine is better described by saying that a true Christian is one who will, by God’s grace, persevere in and by faith until the end. 

This perseverance is guaranteed for a true child of God because God will preserve all who truly belong to Him.  It is not a matter of how strong our faith or grip on Him is.  It is, instead, a matter of His faithfulness to those who belong to Him.  Several passages make this clear:

This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day (John 6:39-40).

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand (John 10:27-29).

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified (Romans 8:29-30)

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6). 
Other passages could be cited, but the point is clear: God holds on to those whom he has saved.  He completes the work he began from regeneration to glorification.  He doesn’t leave things partially finished (like we often do).  This is a glorious and comforting truth that all Christians should spend time getting better acquainted with.   

Over the next few weeks, I hope to sit down with this doctrine and you so that we can get to know it more in-depth.  We will look at what the doctrine is and what it means.  We will examine some objections to the doctrine and see if they are legitimate or not.  Then we will take an up-close look at Hebrews 6.  Finally we will see the implications of this doctrine for our lives.  I pray that this will be a fruitful journey for each of us.

Reflecting on the Sermon: 11/14/10

The sermon came from Romans 8:17-25 (if you missed it check it out here).  Rod continued discussing the Christian and suffering.  He spent some time in 2 Corinthians 12 talking about how God uses suffering to humble us and remind us that we are totally dependent on Him.  Suffering can often be a means by which God helps us learn to kill our pride and submit to God.

One point that stuck out to me, that was really more part of the introduction of the sermon when he spoke about the believer's assurance of salvation, was when he said, "You will be glorified one day, not because you are holding on to God, but because he is holding on to you."  I'm glad God is holding on to me, because my grip is weak.

Monday, November 15, 2010

An Evangelical View on Exorcisms

Here is a good post by Dr. Mohler (president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) on exorcisms and the evangelical view on issues related demons.  I thought he made a good point when he said,
We must resist any effort to “demythologize” the New Testament in order to deny the existence of these evil forces and beings. At the same time, we must recognize quickly that the Devil and demons are not accorded the powers often ascribed to them in popular piety.
The whole thing is worth reading, so check it out.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Modern Hymns

In case you didn't know, several of the songs we sing during Sunday morning worship services are modern hymns composed by Keith and Kristyn Getty (Across the Lands, The Communion Hymn, Beneath the Cross, Every Promise, O Church Arise, Speak O Lord, Higher Throne, and a few more).  I appreciate their songs because they are full of rich theology and are well done (their versions have an Irish flare since they are from Ireland).

Listening to good, solid Christian music is a smart way to help instill the truths of the gospel in your heart and mind throughout the day.  I encourage you to check out their website, listen to some of their songs, and buy some of their music.  This will help you know some of the songs we sing on Sunday's even better, and it will help you meditate on gospel truths throughout your day.

Just as a sample, check out the video below.  This is a song we sang last Sunday and it fits well with Rod's sermon from this week (When Trials Come).  Also, it has a pretty sweet violin solo.

Reflecting on the Sermon 11/7/10

More from Romans 8:17?  Oh yes.  Rod spoke from Romans 8:17b-18 and expanded on the themes of suffering and glory found in Romans 8.  As he discussed suffering, specifically persecution, I found this series of quotes (my paraphrases) thought provoking and a good exhortation

In the US we don't face too much physical persecution right now, but ask yourself- "Does the world like me?"  If you speak like Jesus and proclaim the gospel message, the world will react. The gospel message is offensive (it includes issues of sin, the exclusivity of Christ, the reality of Hell).  If you speak this message people will be offended and some won't like you.  Now, if your personality is offending people, change it.  But if the message is offending, be willing to face persecution for it.

I like to be liked.  So, this is a good area for me to be challenged in.

If you had any thoughts from the sermon I'd love to hear them.  Remember, if you post a meditation from this week's sermon or last week's I will enter you in the drawing (see the previous post for more details).

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Enter the "Don't Neglect to Reflect" Drawing

If you put something that you reflected on from the sermon in the comments section of the "Reflecting on the Sermon" post from this week or next week, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of the booklet "Listen Up: a practical guide to listening to sermons" by Christopher Ash.  Comments must be received no later than Sunday, November 14th to be entered into the drawing.

Reflecting on the Sermon 10/31/10

Rod preached from Romans 8:17.  He was focusing on the fourth confirmation a person can have that he or she is a Christian: He suffers with Christ.  The part I reflected on was when he discussed the first part of the verse in which we are told that we are "heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ."  As a Christian, I have an intimate relationship with God, calling him Abba Father (v. 16), and I have an inheritance in Christ.  Here is the statement that really struck me from the sermon:
A human father can disinherit you or lose the inheritance, but God doesn't.  He is faithful and powerful.
That brings me much hope for every day life and especially in suffering.  Even when I mess up, God will not disinherit me because I am in Christ and share in His inheritance.   


Friday, October 29, 2010

Don't Neglect to Reflect- How?

Have you ever squeezed a lemon?  If you just give it the once over (squeeze it in your hand once or twice), you will leave a lot of juice still locked up in the lemon.  If you want to get as much out of it as you can, you need to get a lemon juicer and push and squeeze on the lemon more than just once.  In a similar way, if we want to glean as much as possible from the sermons we are privileged to hear each Sunday, we need to do more than give them the once over (ie. just listen to them once and forget about them).  We need to go back and reflect on the sermon (see the first entry in this two part series on why we shouldn't neglect to reflect).  We need to squeeze out as much as we can from it.  And, we will benefit from having a juicer (a "tool" or in this case "plan" to help us get the most out of it).  Having a plan as to how to reflect, and thus get more out of the sermon, is the purpose of this post.

What follows is an example of how Beth and I reflect on the sermon and some suggestions as to how you can too.  There is nothing magical about this.  You may have other, better ideas (if so, please share them in the comments section).  This is simply a suggested method that will hopefully spur your thinking in this area.

First, take notes during the sermon.  You may be thinking I am crazy.  "I take notes in school, I don't want to have to think that hard at church."  If you are like me, failing to take notes means you will fail to remember much of what you heard.  If you don't take notes, and you don't remember the details of the sermon, you won't have much to review later.  I use miniature three-hole-punched loose-leaf sheets of paper.  I don't like carrying a separate notebook, and these fit nicely into my Bible.  Then, I can store them in a miniature binder later (you can buy these at office depot).  Beth uses a mini spiral notebook.  You may choose to use the "notes" section in bulletin.  Whatever you use, find something (besides your hand or the pew) to write on.

Second, have a designated day and time to review the sermon.  If you don't schedule it, you will probably not do it.  Maybe you could review it Sunday afternoon or on Monday as part of your "devotional" time.  If you don't have time to do devotional reading and review the sermon on Monday, maybe you could just review and meditate on the sermon in place of a regular devotional.  Yes, I said in place of.  Sometimes we read so much and fail to apply any of it.  It isn't bad to have one less day of devotional reading if you can use that time to actually meditate on and apply something you learned from your time in the word on Sunday in the sermon.  Either way, plan a time.  It is probably good to try for early in the week so you can benefit from what you glean for the rest of the week.  Beth and I review the sermon together on Monday or Tuesday evening (depending on our schedule that week).  We typically spend 10-15 minutes discussing it as we look at the notes we each took.

Third, don't just review the facts.  Find ways to apply it to your life.  The application may involve a change in actions, thoughts, desires.  It may be as simple as a resolve to think more frequently about a particular truth (ex. the reality of being adopted into God's family).  Or, it could involve heartfelt repentance over a sin you were convicted of.  Whatever application you make, it may be good to write it out on a notecard so you can review it each morning that week.  You may want to try and make it a one sentence application.  Anything longer than that and you may have trouble remembering it throughout the day.

One more thing.  It is good to review the sermon with others.  If you are in a relationship, review it with your girlfriend or wife (men you should lead in initiating this).  If you aren't in a dating or marriage relationship, review it with a friend, accountability partner, or person you are discipling/being discipled by.  The point is, share it with those around you, and let them share with you. 

There you have it: a suggested method for extracting more of the good stuff from the fruit of our pastor's labor in the fields of God's word.  It's really not too difficult, but it won't happen by itself.  Make a plan and, by God's grace, follow through with it.

Note: the lemon metaphor is not intended to imply that our pastor's sermons leave a sour taste in the mouth...I know some of you were probably going to rush to tell him that I thought his sermons were sour. 

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Reflecting on the Sermon 10/24/10

Rod preached from Romans 8:16-17 this week (it's not online yet, but check here later).  It was a continuation of last week's sermon on the assurance believers can have that they belong to God.  This week he focused on the last two evidences: 1. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we belong to God, 2. We suffer with Christ. 

The part that I reflected on as I reviewed the sermon earlier this week was the fact that the Holy Spirit guarantees that we will, after suffering, share in God's glory.  We are heirs, we suffer with Christ, and we will be glorified with him.  This provides me, as a Christian, hope in the midst of suffering.  In my suffering, the Holy Spirit puts a hope and a longing in me for glory and this enables me to endure suffering with Christ.  This is amazing, especially when contrasted with non-believers.  In their suffering, the best they can do is bear up under it (a sort of resignation to fate) or get bitter.  But as a Christian, I know the hope of glory and that suffering with Christ reminds me that I am an heir and will share in his glory.  Praise God for this hope!

Let me know if you had any thoughts or applications from the sermon.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Don't Neglect to Reflect: Why?

As you might have guessed, I think taking time to reflect on the sermon is a worthwhile and important endeavor.  I think most Christians would agree, but we often don't do anything about it.  So, today, I want to write about why it is important, and good for our spiritual health, to take time to reflect on the sermon.

First, we are blessed to have pastor who teaches us the Bible.  He doesn't just tell us his opinion or a few things we should all strive to be better at.  Instead, he takes us to the very words of God in Scripture.  He doesn't just use the Bible as a diving board to get to what he wants to talk about.  Instead he allows his voice to be used as the spring board from which the word of God plunges into our lives.  So, the first reason is that our pastor preaches the word of God and it is this word that every Christian longs for and, in fact, needs to grow in the faith.

Second, our pastor spends much time in prayer and study as he prepares to preach.  This investment of time and energy involves him studying Scripture diligently and depending on the Holy Spirit fully.  He spends time meditating on the word as he seeks to properly interpret it, understand it, and make application based on it.  We would be fools not to benefit from this hard spiritual work that he has undertaken to shepherd our souls.  If he spends so much time preparing, we should do more than listen to the message and let it go "in one ear and out the other."  We should listen carefully and then think about what we have heard and meditate on the truths God gave us in the message.

Third, God has sovereignly placed us under our pastor.  We are not a part of this church by accident.  The message you hear each Sunday may not always seem like it directly applies to you, but it does.  God places us under our pastor, gives him insight into the word (as he diligently studies it in dependence on the Spirit), and then brings us to hear that message.  God wants us to benefit from the word preached on Sunday.

Finally, we have a responsibility to be "doers" of the word and not merely "hearers" (James 1:22-25).  Just as our pastor is responsible, before God, to faithfully preach the unadulterated truth of the gospel, we are responsible, before God, for what we do with the word.  If you are like me, hearing it on Sunday and failing to think about it again during the week hinders my ability to apply it.  I must consciously think about the message again and actively seek to apply what I heard. 

I am sure there are other reasons that could be listed (perhaps you can share some in the comments section).  It is important to reflect on the sermons that God graciously allows us to hear.  So, this addresses the "why" question.  Maybe you see that it is important, but wonder, "How can I begin to reflect on the sermon?".  Soon I will post on the "how" question and tell some things that I find helpful in this area.

May we listen well this Sunday and then allow God to work the message deep into our hearts.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Reflecting on the Sermon 10/17/10

The sermon was from Romans 8:14-17 this week. Rod mentioned four things that assure a person that he/she is a child of God in this passage:

Being led by the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh (14, see v. 13 also)
    • Have you had the inclination to love God and go down the path of righteousness?  Have you been led to put to death the deeds of the flesh (not that you are perfect, but you desire this and battle towards it)?
    Having the Spirit of adoption by which he/she cries "Abba Father" (15)
      •  Do you cry out to God as your Father or do you still live in fear and dread of him?  Do you recognize you never need to be lonely because God has adopted you as his child
      The Holy Spirit testifies with his/her spirit the he/she is a child of God (16)
      •  Have you ever had an overwhelming sense of belonging to God and a desire to love God?  Does the Spirit of God give you this internal, overwhelming sense that your adoption was legitimate and that you belong to God?
      He/she suffers with Christ (17- he didn't cover this point...to be continued I guess)
        If you are struggling with assurance of salvation and weren't able to be here Sunday, listen to the whole thing online (it isn't up yet, but check here in a few days).

        It was good to examine these things in my own life.  I found encouragement as I worked through the questions under each point and saw affirmations that God is at work in me. I hope you will reflect on these things in your life too.  If you find evidence that you belong to Him, give Him praise since it is His grace in which you stand.  If evidence is lacking, take time to make your calling and election sure.  Ask a trusted Christian friend to help you in this process.

        If you have any thoughts about the sermon I'd love to hear them in the comments section.

        Friday, October 15, 2010

        "How do you see the culture affecting us negatively?"

        Figuring out how we as Christians relate to the culture around us can often be a challenge.  In this short video (2:13),  Phillip Jensen interviews Mark Dever (Pastor of Capital Hill Baptist Church in DC) about ways culture can affect us negatively.  The answer points out what is good about culture and what problems we face with it.  This short video is helpful as we seek to think biblically about culture. 

        Phillip Jensen asks Mark Dever "How do you see the culture affecting us negatively?" from Audio Advice on Vimeo.

        Wednesday, October 13, 2010

        Reflecting on the Sermon 10/10/10

        This weeks sermon was from Doug and covered Eph. 6:10-20, "The family as  battleground."  One of the most helpful things to me in this message was how he spoke about the "normalcy of warfare for the Christian."  There are often two extremes in the Christian life: 1. to think a demon is behind everything (a demon for everything from indigestion to laziness) or, 2. to never think twice about the fact that there is a Devil and he does roam like a lion seeking whom he may devour.  I often fall into the second category.  This, however, is equally as dangerous as the first mistake because it makes me less alert and less dependent on God. 

        When we forget we are in spiritual warfare, "Satan tricks us into wrongly identifying the enemy- we think it is people around us [wife, child, roommate] instead of Satan himself."  When we forget that, we will fail to see that our call in family conflict is to "love the captive soul and rage against the captor."  We will see our spouse or friend as our enemy instead of as a fellow sinner who needs our love and help as we wage war against the powers of this world.

        Satan would love to destroy families (and the church) since these are the two primary institutions God has ordained to display his goodness.  My goal is to battle that by:
        1. Knowing I'm in a battle- Remembering the normalcy of warfare in the Christian life
        2. Knowing my enemy- Remembering that my enemy is not ultimately the person I'm in conflict with
        Let me know if you had any thoughts...

        Thursday, October 7, 2010

        "Boasting" by Lecrae

        One of my secrets is about to be exposed... I like Christian hip hop.  Not just anything labeled Christian hip hop.  Specifically, I like Flame, Lecrae, and a few others.  Why?  Their lyrics are some of the most solid, truth exalting words in Christian music today.  Perhaps some other time I can blog more about Christian Hip Hop and the glory of Christ, but for now I just want to link to a blog that has posted one of Lecrae's newest songs (this song is a little different than most hip hop songs).  Below are the lyrics to the verses.


        With every breath I take, with every heart beat, sun rise or moon lights the dark street/ every glance, every dance, every note of the song/ it’s all gift undeserved that shouldn’t known/ Every day that I lie/ every moment I covet/  I’m deserving to die, I’m just earning His judgment/ Without the cross there’s only condemnation/ If Jesus wasn’t executed there’s no celebration/ so in times that are good, in times that are bad/ for any times I’ve had at all I will be glad/ and I’ll boast in the cross/ I’ll boast in my pains, I’ll boast in the son’s shine, I’ll boast in his reign/ What is my worth if it’s not praising you/ Another dollar in my bank account/ or vain pursuit/ I do not count my life as any value or precious at all/ let me finish my race/ let me answer my call/
        Tomorrow’s never promised/ but it is we swear/ think we’re holding our own/ just a fist fulla air/ God has never been obligated to give us life/ if we fought for our rights we’d be in Hell tonight/ Mere sinners owed nothing but fierce hand/ we never loved him/ we pushed away his pierced hands/ I rejected his love, grace, kindness, and mercy/ dying of thirst and yet willing to die thirsty/ Eternally worthy/ how could I live for less/ Patiently you turn my heart away from selfishness/ I volunteer for your sanctifying surgery/ I know the Spirit's purging me of everything that’s hurting me/ removed the veil from my darkened eyes/ so now every morning I open your word to see sun rise/ I hope in nothing boast in nothing/ only in your suffering/ I live to show your glory/ dying to tell your story

        If you are interested in something a little more upbeat check out "Don't Waste Your Life" at reach records website.

        Wednesday, October 6, 2010

        Reflecting on the Sermon 10/3/10

        This week's sermon was from Romans 8:13-14 (if you missed it you can eventually download it from www.gcot.org). 

        13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

        Rod pointed out that true believers (those who live according to the Spirit) will "kill sin."  The part that stuck out to me is when he spoke of indwelling sin and our need to take it seriously. 
        "Don't forget about indwelling sin.  You never get to a point that it doesn't affect you...Don't get to big or busy to battle indwelling sin."
        That was a good reminder for me.  Sometimes it is easy to forget that I am in a war with my sinful flesh and that I must be killing sin, no matter how busy I am with other (even spiritual) things.  As John Owen said, "Be killing sin or it will be killing you.

        I'd love to hear about anything the Lord taught you through the sermon.

        Friday, October 1, 2010

        Question Box

        Another new (I know the whole blog is new) addition to the blog is the question box. This is a virtual question box for our group to submit questions related to theological, apologetic, cultural, and ethical issues.  My goal is to provide relevant answers from a biblical worldview.

        This is not a "stump the teacher" game.  So, please only ask a question if you or someone you know will benefit from the answer.  I will do my best to respond to these questions on this blog throughout the year (responses won't be immediate, but I will do my best to answer them by the end of each academic year).

        The Fine Print: I reserve the right to modify a question or combine multiple questions into one.  I even reserve the right not to answer a question.  If you have somewhat of a personal question, I will protect your anonymity by changing details that might give away your identity.  
         

        Thursday, September 30, 2010

        Reflecting on the Sermon 9/26/10

        It is good to reflect on the sermon delivered by our pastor each week.  I hope to blog (in the near future) about why this is a good habit to develop and some practical ways to do it. 

        In order to encourage us to reflect on what God has taught us through the sermon, I would like to start posting something that stuck out to me or that I am reflecting on from the sermon.  I hope to do this each week (I'll do my best to do it every week...don't hate me if I miss a week occasionally). 

        The sermon for this week was from Romans 8:12-13.  Here is one point that I found tremendously encouraging this week:

        As a Christian, I never have to be hopeless [even when I fail and sin in the same old ways] because the Spirit lives in me.  I may not grow as fast as I'd like, but the Holy Spirit gives me the power to grow and change.

        I hope you are as encouraged by that as I was.  If you had anything that stuck out to you, feel free to share about it in the comments.

        Friday, September 24, 2010

        College Football Mascot Wanted

        Ole Miss is still looking for a new mascot...it appears Admiral Ackbar won't work out...check out this commercial by ESPN.

        Elder Qualifications and Your Life


        If you've been coming to Bible study, you know we've been talking about elder qualifications in Titus.  I wanted to briefly type out a review of the qualifications we looked at during last night's study along with the practical applications for "the rest of us."  Remember elders are held to these standards, but ALL Christians are called to pursue these qualities (or to avoid the vices).  There are not two separate classes of Chrsitian- some who should seek to live God-honoring lives and others who don't have to worry about that.  All Christians are being conformed to the image of Christ.  So, these should matter to you.  We should say, "I want to have a life characterized by those virtues and not full of those vices.”  

        Take some time to prayerfully think about your life in relation to these character traits.  Praise God for areas you are doing well in (knowing it is his grace at work in you) and ask him for help to grow in areas you are falling short in (knowing you need the Holy Spirit to be at work in you).

        5 Vices that must NOT characterize an elder
         
        Vice
        Opposite
        Application
        Arrogance/Self-will- This is being pushy and seeking one's own will instead of God's and instead of looking out for the interests of others.  It is also a pride that won’t receive criticism well.
        A humble servant who looks out for the interest of others instead of using his power for personal gain (Matt. 20:25-28).

        Do you often push for your own way?  Or do you joyfully look out for the interest of others? How do you handle criticism?  Do you examine it humbly to see if it is true?  Or does it always roll right off your back?

        Quick-Tempered- Having a “short fuse,” or being easily angered
        Humility, gentleness, patience, love (Eph. 4:1-2)
        Do you have a short fuse? Are you easily provoked to anger?
        If you ask someone to do something and they don’t do it the way you want or fail, how do you respond? With patience and love or in anger?

        Drunkard- This is a person whose companion is wine (or any other substance that causes a person to not be clear-headed/sober-minded).
        Being self-controlled and filled with the Spirit (Eph. 4:18)
        Do not allow alcohol or drugs to control you or master you.
        If you choose to drink, do not do it to the point of losing mental capacity and sound judgment.  Exercise self-control and temperance. Be filled with the Spirit (ie. under His control).

        Violent- Abusiveness, meanness, or fighting to get one’s own way or suppress opposition.  Riding rough-shod over others or bullying them with physical violence or striking them with your words.

        Gentleness (1 Tim 3:3) and being a peacemaker (Rom. 12:18).
        Do you like brawling to get your way (physically or striking with your words)?  Or, do you seek peace in situations?

        Greedy for Gain- Seeking financial or material gain without integrity.  Loving money and material things- always wanting more.
        Contentment (1 Tim. 6:6), seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness above all (Matt. 6).
        Are you content financially and materially?  Or do you seek happiness in having a new car, dreaming of getting rich and retiring (it’s not wrong to have things, but to be mastered by a desire for them is to be ruled by them…and they make terrible gods)?  Store up treasure in heaven where it won’t be destroyed or stolen or lost.


        6 Virtues that must characterize an elder 
        Virtue
        Application
        Hospitable- One who gives practical help to anyone in need- friend or stranger.

        You may not have a “home” to open up or a kitchen to prepare meals in, but hospitality is more than that.  You can do this even if you live in a dorm.  You can be hospitable by caring for lonely friends/dorm-mates (be wise- guys help guys and women help women).  Be welcoming to newcomers who are at church or C/C group instead of just focusing on your comfort or talking to those you know.


        Loving what is good- Loves what is good as opposed to sinful, worthless, not God-glorifying.

        Our close Friendships should be with those that are virtuous and good- with those who love good things.

        Do the TV shows you watch exalt that which is evil?  Do you get some secret delight from the immorality, gossip, slander, or glorification of sin portrayed?  Be honest. The problem is not that you would go do the things you see, but that you are mentally delighting in what is not good.


        Sensible- Being wise and thoughtful.  Not being driven by emotion, but cool-headed.
        Are you controlled in your thinking, not given to a lack of control and being feeling driven?

        Upright- Living righteously and justly before others. 
        Do you seek to practice righteousness in your everyday life?  Do you want to be just in your dealings with others?

        Holy/Devout- Living a life that is pleasing to God.
        Do you regularly confess and repent of your sin before the Lord?  Do you seek to find out what pleases the Lord (you find this in his revealed will (ie. his Word). 

        Disciplined/ Self-controlled- Having one’s desires in check and under control. 
        Are you ruled by your desires for money, sleep (laziness), food (overeating), material things?  Do you lack control with your use of time (wasting much time on TV or the Internet)? Or do you rule over your desires so that you might be focused on pursuing the one prize- Jesus (1 Cor. 9:24-27).