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Showing posts from April, 2012

Ancient Times

By Henry Morris, Ph.D.  "I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times." ( Psalm 77:5 ) The Bible provides for us a fascinating perspective on the passage of time. Three thousand years ago, the psalmist was reflecting on God's ways in even earlier times and was seeking to understand God's ways in his time. Each new generation seems to think that it is the "new wave," leading the world out of its past darkness into a new age of enlightenment. There is need for scientific research, of course (in fact, this is implied in the "dominion mandate" of Genesis 1:26-28 ), but we need to keep in mind that true science is really "thinking God's thoughts after Him." The results of our scientific "discoveries" should always be to glorify the Creator and to draw men closer to Him, not lead them away from Him. The same is true of history. We are merely the children of ancient patriarchs, and our mor...

How to Confront the Culture

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By John MacArthur As a pastor in Southern California, I have the blessed privilege of mining the truth from God's Word every week of my life. Doing that in Los Angeles only makes it more interesting, if for no other reason than the tremendous diversity of people, culture, and language here. When we take the gospel to our city, it's amazing to watch God's Word transcend the culture--and every false religion--to change lives. The message of salvation in Christ truly knows no hindrance. If you think evangelism is a somewhat arduous task in that environment, you're right. We face a culture that has rejected absolute truth and now considers it stylish to openly embrace and encourage degrading passions. The ecumenical, syncretistic spirit of the age recoils in horror at the exclusive claims of Christ. And popular, evangelical seeker-sensitive churches only make the task more difficu...

Gospel in One Minute

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Goodness vs. The Cross

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By Matt Chandler

2012: The end of the world?

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[ read in Lamplighter ( pdf )] by Dr. David R. Reagan The 2012 hysteria has produced a doom boom that has been fueled by a series of television programs and the recent Hollywood blockbuster film. It all relates to a calendar developed by the ancient Mayan civilization that was centered in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Their society flourished from about 250 to 900 AD, when it experienced a sudden, unexplained collapse. The Mayas developed an advanced society that featured large cities built around stepped pyramids that also served as temples. They excelled in mathematics and astronomy. Combining the two, they produced a series of 20 different types of calendars. It would not be an overstatement to say that the Mayas were calendar-obsessed. Their calculations were incredibly accurate. Without the help of calculators, computers, or telescopes, they were able to determine the length of a lunar month to be 29.53020 days. The actual length is 29.53059 days. 1...

Who's Sitting in the Pews?

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By Vince and Lori Williams vinceandloriministries.blogspot.com "My fellow pastors, could it be that many of our hearers each week aren't saved, even many of our members?" This was one of the questions that Pastor Mark Dever asked to about 8000 ministers at 2012's Together For the Gospel conference, according to The Christian Post. He went on to say that the problem isn't just the "occasional hypocrite lost in unrepentant sin," but, "systems that seem to produce false converts – not just one man, but whole congregations."  Pastor Dever is dead on. So many churches today are experiencing a seismic pandemic – and yes, we mean a pandemic, and one that's only beginning. The g oats are a majority and favored, while the sheep are the minority and are being flogged. It's because of "pastors" who think that their silly antics, self-help series sets, and "funny" stories/jokes about themselves will...

God's Pharmacy

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Grapes resemble blood cells It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish... all before making a human. God made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These foods are best and more powerful when eaten raw. God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body! Check it out : http://www.chefsara.com/menu-health-facts/gods-pharmacy

Should We Focus on Evangelism or Discipleship in Youth Ministry?

 Evangelism is often looked at as the red headed step child (apologies to any reading this right now) of the youth ministry world. We deal with it because we are legally required to in the by-laws of the Bible but, down deep in our hearts, we are more passionate about discipleship than evangelism. But this is where our thinking is wrong. Evangelism and discipleship are like Nitrogen and Gylcerin, they must be blended for maximum effect. Teens who are growing in Christ will share their faith and teens who are sharing their faith in the power of the Spirit will grow in Christ. Read entire article:  http://www.christianpost.com/news/should-we-focus-on-evangelism-or-discipleship-in-youth-ministry-43024/

The Power of God’s Design

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I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the Heaven and say there is no God.   — Abraham Lincoln Many people believe there is no God because they are convinced that science has fully explained how our universe came to be. If there is a natural explanation of our origins, they think, who needs a supernatural one? Perhaps, like many, you see a contest between science and religion, and believe that science has been declared the winner hands down. But does science alone explain this incredibly beautiful and complex creation in which we live? Doesn’t its magnificence make you wonder? How does the sun provide just the right amount of energy to light and heat our planet? What makes everything in our orderly world work so well together? How is it that we can predict the precise day of a full moon or an eclipse, or determine whether to expect a violent thunderstorm or a fresh...

Illustrations of Salvation: Freedom

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Metaphor:   Freedom - Jesus has promised us to make us free from all bondage (John 8:36). Positive : Deliverance - To free us to: New Life : "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4) Freedom to serve : " It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery," "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." (Galatians 5:1, 13) Eternal life : " I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:28) Negative : Slavery - To free us from: Sin : "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Romans 6:18) The curse of the...

Failing the gospel quiz

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by Jesse Johnson I spent a few years teaching at a Christian high school down the street from Grace Church. I taught Bible to juniors and seniors, and found myself constantly reminded of the supernatural nature of the gospel. I would start every year by giving a hand out to all of my students, asking them to explain in a few paragraphs what the gospel message is. I really wish I would have kept some of those forms, because they were generally either tragic, sad, or comical, depending on my disposition. I received everything from "The gospel is a lie, the way the powerful keep down the oppressed," to one of my personal favorites: "the gospel is the 10 commandments, and breaking them."One was the opposite of liberation theology, the other the opposite of The Way of the Master, but both were the opposite of the gospel. I also had a question on the sheet asking what church they students went to. This school had open enrollment, so probably only about h...

If You Come to Church…We Will Give!

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Well it appears the latest bait and switch program in the mega church world is attendance matters, and it matters so much, we will even attach a $1.00 to your presence. That is exactly what one mega-church in Ohio did. CedarCreek, a non-denominational church, has selected certain Sundays where they will give $1.00 for each person that comes to church. In turn that money will be given to a charity and helping the community. Senior pastor Lee Powell told The Christian Post, ""We gave away about $21,000 already this week. We had 18,400 in attendance physically and then we had another two thousand online on our Internet campus." CedarCreek isn't the only one jumping on this "show up and we give" mentality. There are several others that have been on this giving spree for a while now. Is it just us, or are we missing something here? What next, a free t-shirt to show that you actually came to church to prove your attendance and stance for the ...

Salvation is More than Being Saved!

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Dr. Jack Hyle' John 16:12, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."  Romans 8:32, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"  Psalm 51:12, "Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit." Someone said to me recently, "Oh, if these young Christians could just keep their joy!" I said, "They can." The other person replied, "Then why don't they?" Of course, there is a reason for this loss of joy.  When we receive Christ, we accept salvation and rejoice that we are saved.  Yet somehow we think that we will rejoice the same way forever, and we should do so.  A Christian should rejoice in his salvation as much 30 years after he accepted it as he did the first moment he was saved.  Yet God knows the way we are made.  He knows that it is difficult for man to r...

Living with an Eternal Perspective

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[ Get the book! ] Are you in love with the world? by Dr. David R. Reagan   What is your attitude toward this world? There's a gospel song by Albert Brumley that always challenges me to examine my attitude toward the world. The first verse goes as follows: "This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through. My treasures are laid up Somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me From heaven's open door, And I can't feel at home In this world anymore." Do those words express your feeling about this world? What words would you use? Enthusiastic or uncomfortable? Enamored or alienated? Do you feel at home or do you feel like a stranger? A Personal View Let me ask your indulgence for a moment as I share my personal feeling about this world. The word I would use is "hate." Yes, I hate this world. I hate it with a passion so strong and so intense that I find it difficult to express in words. Now, let me hasten to clarify my feeling by st...