Reflecting on the Sermon: 4/10/11

Rod finished up his series on church leadership by talking about deacons from 1 Timothy 3.  While some individuals are called to fill the role of deacon, and to be examples of service to the congregation, we are all called to be servants (which is what the word deacon means).  This is a good reminder for us all to be serving one another within the church.  It is also good for us to pray for God to raise up some to fulfill the role of deacon in our church as we make the transition to a distinct group of elders and deacons.

Reflecting on the Sermon: 4/3/11

Continuing the topic of church leadership, Rod spoke from 1 Timothy 3.  He laid out the qualifications for elder/pastor/overseer.  This matters for everyone in our church, because we are all called to follow the example our leaders are setting (all Christians are called to godly character, leaders are required to be an example in it if they are to remain elders). 

My application from this sermon is to take these qualifications and the Fruit of the Spirit (something I was reading about in RC Sproul's book The Holiness of God) and put them on a sheet.  Each day I will review one and seek to actively "put on" the godly characteristics and "put off" the wrong ones.  By God's grace I hope to intentionally grow in godliness. 

If you are interested in reflecting more on the elder qualifications see this post (Elder Qualifications and Your Life) from last year where I outline the character qualities found in the Titus (parallel) passage.

Biblical Principles of Singleness

At our last Bible study, I began a short series on  Biblical relationships.  We started by looking at singleness and what the Bible teaches us about it.  Below are the Biblical principles we discussed.  If you missed it and want the audio, just email me (ben@gcot.org).

1. God has supplied you with an identity that transcends singleness and enables you to benefit richly from it (Gal. 3:27-29).
2. The sovereign hand of God has placed you in your present status (1 Cor 7:17).
3. God’s providential positioning is a gift which He enables us to joyfully receive and use (1 Cor 7:7).
4. Our view of our present situation should be shaped by an eternal perspective (1 Cor 7:27-31).
5. Singleness gives extraordinary opportunity for single-minded investment in ministry for Christ (1 Cor 7:7, 32-35).
6. If you are single and desire marriage, coping and fantasy are not Biblically appropriate- contentment in the Lord is (Phil. 4:10-13). 
7. “Married” is not the final destiny of any Christian, and, in another way, “married” is the final destiny of every Christian.  Therefore, singleness is not a disadvantage in light of eternity (Matt 22:30, Eph. 5:31-32, Rev. 19:6-8).

Reflecting on the Sermon: 3/27/11

Rod continued his series on church leadership in Acts 20:28-ff.  He pointed out how the elders are called to pay attention to their own soul and the flock (church).  The order is key.  Any person in spiritual leadership must pay careful attention to his own spiritual life.  This is true for all of us.  All Christians should minister on behalf of God, therefore we all must take care to be growing in the Lord.  We must first teach and apply the message to ourselves and then reach out to others.  If we aren't right with God this will greatly hinder our ministry.  This is a good reminder to spend time cultivating my own walk with God before thinking of how to minister to others.  Otherwise I have nothing to offer anyone else.

Reflecting on the Sermon: 3/20/11

Rod began his series on church leadership in Acts 20:17-27.  He pointed to Paul's example of what and elder is to be.  He reminded us that all Christians are called to follow this example of godly living even if we are not official leaders in the church.  From this passage, we learn that a leader is to be a humble slave of the Lord (19), feel the pains of ministry (19, 31), teach and steward the Word of God (20), preach the gospel (21), and trust God (22-24).  One thing that stuck out to me was when he spoke about the call to teach the Word and said that a leader must remember, "soft words don't break up hard hearts."  May we have the courage to speak the truth in love.

Perseverance: Fitting the Comfort and Warning Together

As you read about the warning and comfort of this doctrine, you may be thinking I am engaging in some crafty form of doublespeak.  It may sound like these two points (warning and comfort) contradict one another.  But remember that the doctrine teaches us that we persevere in the faith because God preserves us.  So, a person who is truly saved will persevere till the end (the warning reminds us of this responsibility), and a true Christian is secure because God keeps those who belong to him so that none are lost (the comfort reminds us of this truth). 

God has ordained the ends (our salvation) and the means (how he causes us to persevere).  He uses means such as the fellowship and accountability we have with other believers in the church (Hebrews 3:12-13), the knowledge we get from his word (2 Tim. 3:16-17), and the strength we gain from prayer (Matt. 26:41).  He even uses the warning passages of Scripture to call us to preserve (Hebrews 10:26-30).

Let me draw your attention to one passage in particular to illustrate these truths.  Hebrews 12:3-11 makes it clear that the true child of God will not wander from God indefinitely.  The reason is that God, as a good Father, disciplines his children. 

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons (vv. 7-8).

Sometimes we joke about God striking us with lightning for disobeying him.  What is scarier, however, is if the lightning never comes.  If God allows a person to go on in sin without bringing discipline then that person is an illegitimate child and not a son, which is to say that God is not his Father.  God disciplines those who belong to him.  A true child of God will persevere till the end because his loving, heavenly Father keeps him securely.

So, it is not a contradiction to say that this doctrine provides both a warning and a comfort.  Both are true and biblical.  A genuine Christian can sin severely, but the difference is that he or she cannot live a habitual life of sin without God bringing discipline on him or her.  The true Christian perseveres because his Father preserves him.

Perseverance: A Comfort

The doctrine of perseverance not only provides a warning to us, it also provides a comfort.  The comfort is for those who are truly saved and is found in the promise "that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).  God began this work of my salvation, and he will complete it.  That is a promise.  The person who has been truly converted and made into a child of God will not be cast out of the Father's house.

In other words, my salvation is not dependent upon me, my goodness, or the strength of my faith.  It isn't more or less secure based on how good I did today or how faithful I was at reading my Bible yesterday.  It is based on God, the righteousness of Christ, and his powerful hold on me (see Romans 8:31-39 and John 10:27-29).  It is based on God, his nature, and his unchanging faithfulness to his promises.  He promises to save those who truly repent and believe in Jesus as the only means of salvation.  Since he does not lie and does not change in relation to his promises, this hope is secure for believers (Numbers 23:19). 

 
So, when you fail and sin, remember that your salvation is secure because of the righteousness of Christ and the promise of God.  Speaking of genuine Christians, the First London Confession of the Baptists written in 1646 says, "Though many storms and floods arise, and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock, which by faith they are fastened upon.”