Love the Church Early Bird Registration Ends October 15
Don't forget to register for the NCFIC National Conference, Love the Church, December 9-11, 2010. Early bird registration prices of $85 for individuals and $400 for families ends on October 15.
With speakers like Paul Washer, Joel Beeke, Doug Phillips, and Joseph Morecraft, you won't want to miss this exciting conference on the Church of Jesus Christ.
The Folly of Projecting Consequenses
In counseling with people over the years and through wrong decisions in my own life, I have observed that we often do not do the right thing because we have presumed on the future. We project the consequences of obedience, by thinking we know the cause and effect, and we shrink back from obedience.
Ecclesiastes 11:4-6, "He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good."
John Knox on the Law and the Grace of God
There is no more controversial subject than how the Law of God applies today. Here John Knox, masterfully and precisely explains,
"We confess and acknowledge that the law of God is most just, equal, holy, and perfect, commanding those things which, when perfectly done, can give life and bring man to eternal felicity; but our nature is so corrupt, weak, and imperfect, that we are never able perfectly to fulfill the works of the law. Even after we are reborn, if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth of God is not in us. It is therefore essential for us to lay hold on Christ Jesus, in his righteousness and his atonement, since he is the end and consummation of the Law and since it is by him that we are set at liberty so that the curse of God may not fall upon us, even though we do not fulfill the Law in all points. For as God the Father beholds us in the body of his Son Christ Jesus, he accepts our imperfect obedience as if it were perfect, and covers our works, which are defiled with many stains, with the righteousness of his Son. We do not mean that we are so set at liberty that we owe no obedience to the Law--for we have already acknowledged its place--but we affirm that no man on earth, with the sole exception of Christ Jesus, has given, gives, or shall give in action that obedience to the Law which the Law requires. When we have done all things we must fall down and unfeignedly confess that we are unprofitable servants. Therefore, whoever boasts of the merits of his own works or puts his trust in works of supererogation, boasts of what does not exist, and puts his trust in damnable idolatry."
Fancy Prayers - Spurgeon Weighs in
Here is Charles Spurgeon on fancy prayers,
"I pray that you will never think well of fine prayers, for before the thrice-holy God, it is unbecoming for a sinful suppliant to play the orator... The tail feathers of pride should be pulled out of our prayers, for they need only the wing feathers of faith. The peacock feathers of poetical expression are out of place before the throne of God." - Spurgeon on the Holy Spirit, pg 11
Worship is Like Going to a Mall?
The United Methodist Church, the third largest denomination in the US is undergoing a remake as leaders try to find out what makes churches grow -in the midst of their dying denomination. They have gone to their own people to determine what works and does not. So... they are doing what many churches have done in order to fully secure their apostasy. Instead of going to scripture, they went to the people... assuming, surely they have the answers. The message is, don't bother with the Bible, statistics are enough! Here is a summary statement from one of the "successful" pastors with a church of "nearly 6200." He said,
"it has offered both traditional and contemporary worship services for years. At a contemporary service, congregants kick back with doughnuts and coffee, a live band plays music and clips from Hollywood movies are shown to illustrate Gospel messages. "Worship is like going to a mall," Millard said. "There are all kinds of stores. Some people like specialty shops. Some like department stores. When you have variety, people can go where they like.""
Albert Mohler on Why Aren’t ‘Emerging Adults’ Emerging as Adults?
This is a very helpful analysis of an essay that appeared in the New York Times.
He makes this very insightful comment.
"The church would demonstrate the power of the gospel in a whole new way by assisting young people into the successful and faithful transition to adulthood, celebrating this transition as a matter of spiritual maturity to the glory of Christ. These young adults are desperately needed for the cause of Christ, and many are indeed making their way into authentic adulthood with faithfulness, energy, conviction, and excitement. Let’s pray that their example is infectious."
One way the church continues to dumb down and delay maturity is by continuing it's unbiblical practice of age segregation.
