fbpx

Posts Tagged with Bible

Just Because a Politician Says Something Doesn’t Make It True

Posted on Leave a comment on Just Because a Politician Says Something Doesn’t Make It True

I don’t doubt the sincerity of someone like former president Jimmy Carter. His sincerity is no reliable gauge to know the difference between right and wrong.

This clip from a larger interview at Huffington Post is an example of the kind of damage that can be done by someone who has influence, claiming to be a born again Christian, and makes an opinion about serious things about God that are not based on the Bible. If we are going to make claim on what God is like or what he approves or disapproves of we have only one source of authority to make such claims, and it is not based on opinion.

Church, read your bible when you hear claims like this and conclude your position based on what is reliable and unchanging not a sentiment of emotion that can’t be trusted.

Expository Preaching Requires the Preacher to Preach Isaiah 20

Posted on Leave a comment on Expository Preaching Requires the Preacher to Preach Isaiah 20

As a pastor, it is a lot of pressure when you gather with family and friends and someone suggest we play “Bible Trivia”. It’s the only time I get picked first to be on a team. Not because I know anything, but apparently I’m looked at as the “expert”. That is a lot of pressure. I usually go blank under that kind of pressure.

(fair warning, never pick me to be on your bible trivia team.)

Let’s say it is Bible trivia night and the whole family has gathered together and the question is raised; “Of all the Old Testament prophets, who was instructed by God to go naked for three years?”

After a bit of uncomfortable comments, everyone looks to you… you start going through the likely suspects…

Ezekiel?, Elijah? Micah?, Nahum?, Jonah?, some other prophet? Isaiah never crosses your mind. But, no, it was Isaiah.

Now, next time you’re playing Bible trivia and the question comes up you won’t need to “call a friend”, you now know yourself.

But Why?

These six verses of Isaiah 20 may throw the reader back on their heals with shock, but they are actually quite helpful.

The nation of Judah had turned to other nations, Egypt and Ethiopia, instead of Almighty God for strength against the threat of Assyria. This was among the most shameful things this nation could ever have done. God Almighty had shown His people that they could always depend on Him so long as they obey His commands.

Gather with Eastside Baptist Church this coming Lord’s Day as we examine Isaiah 20.

(On Bible trivia night, you might not want to pick me just because I’m a pastor.)

Dear Southern Baptists,

Posted on Leave a comment on Dear Southern Baptists,

To my spiritual kinsmen, Southern Baptists,

I’m far removed in distance and unfamiliarity of the people and issues that are facing us as a denomination of Gospel advancers. May I attempt to articulate a few thoughts of caution to us from my vantage point in Twin Falls, Idaho?

First, today is a reminder to this gospel preacher to give as much attention to walk humbly before my God as I begin to look toward the finishing line of my own ministry days. (I’m not numbering my days, I’m just saying that that finish line is closer than it was 33 years ago when I first began the path down this ministry road.) From time to time there needs to be some attention given to re-calibrating that which has drifted off course, but our primary duty is to keep our gospel shoes on and enter the battle field with the aim of advancing the gospel banner.

Second, let’s be careful to not let the issues facing the Southern Baptist Convention today confuse us lest we get lost on the wide, fast lane toward liberal, unbiblical temptations.

As Bible students, it is easy to see God holds men and women equal in value, importance, and blessed and neither superior to the other and neither taking advantage of the day to belittle the other. If we are not careful, this re-calibrating to the plumb-line of Scripture could unknowingly over calibrate (ride the pendulum to the other side) and find ourselves on the path of many before us toward an unbiblical opinion rather than proclaimers of Biblical Truth. To be a proclaimer of Biblical Truth is not permission to be rude, arrogant, or a bully in behavior. It means we walk carefully and circumspectly. When we find ourselves in a dangerous day it is even more important to watch our steps and guard our tongues. (I have many scars to prove my own past foolishness.)

Finally… It’s a good day to be the church. Let’s take advantage of the day to turn the conversation to the Gospel. God has shown us what is good, now do that! “Act justly, Love mercy, and walk humbly before your God.” (Micha 6:8)

The greatest danger that is before us right now is that we don’t let the secular culture throw us off our “game.”

The abuse in the secular world of men over women is tragic. Men in our culture don’t have a right to behave as they want and say what ever they want just because they are men. Men who have abused their authority in Christianity, organizations, institutions, and churches ought to know better. Shame on any who have not behaved godly.

Church, let’s walk carefully in this day. Call out those who are clearly in the wrong for their own benefit because we love them and don’t want them to face the more strict judgment they deserve from God by taking advantage of their duty, but let’s not do it like the secularist who have no interest in a Gospel witness.

It is clear that those who have responsibilities to deal with those who have acted unbecomingly are doing their duty. Today, it appears some re-calibrating needs to take place, so we have to give attention to the issues. Let’s not labor long here in the winter barracks lest we grow unfit for the battle. Let’s get our gospel tools sharpened and prepped and get that gospel banner back on our shoulders and send it on the field with the vanguard.

Preacher, get to your post and preach. Church, guard these posts and don’t let foolishness rule the day. All of us have a responsibility to finish, and finishing well is done when we are found doing our God ordained duty faithfully.

The Nature of God

Posted on 2 Comments on The Nature of God

NOTE: This is the print version of my defense on the Biblical nature of God at an inter-religious dialog group I belong to. This is a monthly gathering of different religious leaders of different religions intended to have honest dialog about what we believe. Not an exercise of universally ecumenical platitudes of different ways of looking at the same god. This is an honest discussion of what we believe based on our religious texts. For me, this is a place where I have engaged in fair debate of what I believe.

Tonight (March 19, 2018) I have the responsibility to give a discourse on the nature of God contrasted by the Muslim and Mormon gods. It promises to be an exciting exchange. I wish you could be there with me. For now, most of the conversations are closed to the dialog group.

Here is the print version of what I will say:
__________________________________________________

I hold to the historic Baptist confession statements on the nature of God.

To speak of the nature of God, I hold to the sufficiency of the Holy Bible. To say “Holy Bible”, I mean the Old and New Testament only. I receive it as a certain and infallible standard of knowledge of God, faith, salvation, and holiness.

“The light of nature and the works of creation and providence so clearly demonstrate the goodness, wisdom, and power of God that people are left without excuse; however, these demonstrations are not sufficient to give the knowledge of God and his will that is necessary for salvation. Therefore, the Lord was pleased at different times and in various ways to reveal himself and to declare his will to his church [His people]. To preserve and propagate the truth better and to establish and comfort the church with greater certainty against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Satan and the world, the Lord put this revelation completely in writing. Therefore, the Holy Scriptures are absolutely necessary, because God’s former ways of revealing his will to his people have now ceased.”

2 Timothy 3:15–17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20. Romans 1:19–21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalm 19:1–3. Hebrews 1:1. Proverbs 22:19–21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19, 20. (1925 New Hampshire Confession)

I hold agreement with confessional statements throughout history that place the Holy Bible as the only reliable authority to know God. All of the Holy Bible was given by inspiration of God to be this authoritative word of God. This is not a position of opinion, this is an exercise of intentional investigation using the rules of logic to defend all opinions of God against this reliable standard.

From the 1689 Second London Confession: (similar to the Westminster Confession)

The Lord our God is one, the only living and true God. He is self-existent and infinite in being and perfection. His essence cannot be understood by anyone but him. He is a perfectly pure spirit. He is invisible and has no body, parts, or changeable emotions. He alone has immortality, dwelling in light that no one can approach. He is unchangeable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, in every way infinite, absolutely holy, perfectly wise, wholly free, completely absolute. He works all things according to the counsel of his own unchangeable and completely righteous will for his own glory. He is most loving, gracious, merciful, and patient. He overflows with goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. He rewards those who seek him diligently. At the same time, he is perfectly just and terrifying in his judgments. He hates all sin and will certainly not clear the guilty.

1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Deuteronomy 6:4. Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12. Exodus 3:14. John 4:24. 1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15, 16. Malachi 3:6. 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23. Psalm 90:2. Genesis 17:1. Isaiah 6:3. Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:10. Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36. 13Exodus 34:6, 7; Hebrews 11:6. 14Nehemiah 9:32, 33. 15Psalm 5:5, 6. 16Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2, 3.

To start with the authority of the Bible is of importance to me because this is the place that identifies what standard I would use here to define the nature of God as defined by the Bible. If the Bible is true then I must consider what it says, not only about the nature of God but also the nature of other gods. If the Bible is not true then logic would require that I declare the God of the Bible to not be a true god at all. Logic requires that the reader of the Bible accept its claims as true or false. I receive it as true and satisfied to use is to address the nature of God.

My use of the English word “God” is to mean Yahweh. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (arguably not at all the same deity of Islam or Mormonism.)

  • The God of the Bible is defined as one, only one. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Jude 4, etc…)
  • The God of the Bible is defined as a jealous God. (Exodus 34:14, An almighty God is not arrogant to be jealous of worship being given to another. Logic would say that the most high is not irrational to make exclusive claims about a loving God. A loving God would want all to worship the true God. A loving God would not love if he shared His glory with any lesser.)
  • The God of the Bible is described as a God with no equal. There is no other. (Isaiah 45:5)
  • The God of the Bible is described as a spirit. (John 4:24)
  • The God of the Bible is described as an eternal God, not having a beginning or an end. (Job 36:26, Isaiah 57:15)
  • The God of the Bible is described as an immutable God. (Malachi 3:6, Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 13:8)
  • The God of the Bible is described as an all knowing God. (Psalm 147:5, 1 John 3:20)
  • The God of the Bible is described as an all present God. (1 Kings 8:27, 1 JOhn 3:24)
  • The God of the Bible is described as a triune being. (see references on Baptist Faith and Message)

James White, of Alpha and Omega Ministries, argues that to speak of the trinity it is necessary to define and distinguish the terms “being” and “person.”

“It would be a contradiction, obviously, to say that there are three beings within one being, or three persons within one person. So what is the difference? We clearly recognize the difference between being and person every day. We recognize what something is, yet we also recognize individuals within a classification. For example, we speak of the “being” of man—human being. A rock has “being”—the being of a rock, as does a cat, a dog, etc. Yet, we also know that there are personal attributes as well. That is, we recognize both “what” and “who” when we talk about a person.”

“The Bible tells us there are three classifications of personal beings—God, man, and angels. What is personality? The ability to have emotion, will, to express oneself. Rocks cannot speak. Cats cannot think of themselves over against others, and, say, work for the common good of “cat kind.” Hence, we are saying that there is one eternal, infinite being of God, shared fully and completely by three persons, Father, Son and Spirit. One what, three who’s.”

NOTE: We are not saying that the Father is the Son, or the Son the Spirit, or the Spirit the Father. It is very common for people to misunderstand the doctrine as to mean that we are saying Jesus is the Father. The doctrine of the Trinity does not in any way say this!

The three Biblical doctrines that flow directly into the river that is the Trinity are as follows:

1) There is one and only one God, eternal, immutable.

2) There are three eternal Persons described in Scripture – the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. These Persons are never identified with one another – that is, they are carefully differentiated as Persons.

3) The Father, the Son, and the Spirit, are identified as being fully deity—that is, the Bible teaches the Deity of Christ and the Deity of the Holy Spirit.

The most critical claims of Jesus are of interest in the Biblical claims of who God is. If We get Jesus wrong we get everything wrong.

For Jesus to say, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) one has to search who this Jesus is.

His nature, according to the Bible, is eternal. Meaning; not created, not an offspring, not a representation of, not another god, not simply a view of God.

His nature, and Biblical claims, demand that we view him as eternal God.

God is not an unknown, unsearchable essence. God is not a higher reality of humanity. God is not many. God is not human. God was never less than He currently is and He will never be greater than he is (if this were possible he would not be God to begin with).

What does it mean to say “Jesus is God incarnate” or “Jesus is God in the flesh”?
This is a most important question. It is not to say that God ever stopped being God. It is not to say that this is when Jesus became a god. God the son, Jesus, never gave up being God and he never “became” God. This simply means that in order for God to be in the flesh, he would need to be born with flesh, incarnate. Not by natural means. If by sexual intercourse, then he would not be of divine nature but a fleshly nature. This would have to be done by supernatural means. A supernatural work of God, ruling over His creation and entering His creation to redeem humanity.

This is intended to be a starting place for a longer and larger conversation on the nature of God.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me for more discussion. Paul Thompson (208) 410-2529 or idahopaul@gmail.com

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8) Meaning, we need God to tell us who He is if we are to accurately know who He is. Otherwise we will create a god in our own image and not know Him at all.

Primary Sources:
Psalm 50
1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord, has spoken,
And summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God has shone forth.
3 May our God come and not keep silence;
Fire devours before Him,
And it is very tempestuous around Him.
4 He summons the heavens above,
And the earth, to judge His people:
5 “Gather My godly ones to Me,
Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens declare His righteousness,
For God Himself is judge. Selah.

7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak;
O Israel, I will testify against you;
I am God, your God.
8 “I do not reprove you for your sacrifices,
And your burnt offerings are continually before Me.
9 “I shall take no young bull out of your house
Nor male goats out of your folds.
10 “For every beast of the forest is Mine,
The cattle on a thousand hills.
11 “I know every bird of the mountains,
And everything that moves in the field is Mine.
12 “If I were hungry I would not tell you,
For the world is Mine, and all it contains.
13 “Shall I eat the flesh of bulls
Or drink the blood of male goats?
14 “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving
And pay your vows to the Most High;
15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”

16 But to the wicked God says,
“What right have you to tell of My statutes
And to take My covenant in your mouth?
17 “For you hate discipline,
And you cast My words behind you.
18 “When you see a thief, you are pleased with him,
And you associate with adulterers.
19 “You let your mouth loose in evil
And your tongue frames deceit.
20 “You sit and speak against your brother;
You slander your own mother’s son.
21 “These things you have done and I kept silence;
You thought that I was just like you;
I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.

22 “Now consider this, you who forget God,
Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.
23 “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way aright
I shall show the salvation of God.”

Baptist Faith and Message
_________________________
God the Father
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in his attitude toward all men.

Gen. 1:1; 2:7; Ex. 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Levit. 22:2; Deut. 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chron. 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isa. 43:3,15; 64:8; Jer. 10:10; 17:13; Matt. 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Rom. 8:14-15; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gal. 4:6; Ephes. 4:6; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.

God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, partaking of the nature of God and of man, and in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.

Gen. 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isa. 7:14; 53; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Rom. 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; 8:9; Gal. 4:4-5; Ephes. 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Rev. 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.

God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

Gen. 1:2; Judg. 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matt. 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Rom. 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11; Gal. 4:6; Ephes. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:19; 1 Tim. 3:16; 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:14; 3:16; Heb. 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev. 1:10; 22:17.

The Apostles’ Creed: 140 A.D.
“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy catholic [meaning, church throughout time and in all places] Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.

The Nicene Creed: 325 A.D.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe one holy catholic [meaning, church throughout time and in all places] and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Seduction from Virtue

Posted on Leave a comment on The Seduction from Virtue

Slowly, ever so slowly, society has been seducing professing Christians away from Biblical virtue.

What was seen among professing Christians 50 years ago as lewd behavior is now being seen with increasing acceptance into what’s been being called a new shifting normal.

This shift away from Biblical virtue, once seen as a desire of the professing follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, has been largely replaced, across the generational lines, with a wide sweeping acceptance and promotion of debauchery.

The follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, as defined by the Bible, must keep themselves on the alert.

Here are some things you could do to keep yourself from “falling asleep” while called to be alert.

  • Read the Bible: This discipline cannot be over looked. The reason many professing Christians have a problem with being seduced from Biblical virtue is because so many professing Christians aren’t reading their Bibles.
  • Believe the Bible: Another reason there can be such success over the professing Christians to abandon the commandments of the Bible is because they don’t believe the Bible to be the only accurate source to know who God is. This is a contributor to why more Christians don’t read their Bibles today; If you don’t believe the Bible to be the authority of God then there is really no desire to even want to read it .
  • Fear of the Lord: When there is no fear of God, foolishness becomes normal behavior. The Bible claims that the beginning of wisdom and knowledge is the fear of the Lord. When there is no fear of God, people will no longer believe the Bible to be true and when people no longer believe the Bible to be true they will quit reading it and when people stop reading the Bible (and churches stop preaching/teaching the Bible) we are now ready to be seduced from Biblical virtue and live with and at peace in that seduction.

What are a few things you should take a close look at?

  • Your Entertainment: Entertainment is enjoyed because it is something we desire. If your entertainment is driven by things the Bible warns for the believer to stay away from then the professing believer has to do one of two things; Change the things you are entertained with or stop reading your Bible. Sadly, most choose to stop reading their Bibles.
  • Your Friends: Friends are a kindness of God. If your friends are not influenced by a healthy hunger and thirst for righteousness then they will be feasting on the dung pile of filthiness. If you find your friends are hungry and thirsty for debauchery then the professing believer must do one of two things; Change your primary influencer (friends) or stop reading your Bible so you can start telling yourself how good it is that you have close friends who don’t follow God. Sadly, most choose to stop reading their Bibles.
  • Your Desires: The desires of our hearts are likely the best place to look closely at. We will do what our heart desires. This is why so often you hear people say to just “follow your heart”. According to the Bible, your heart can’t be trusted. You have to direct your heart or your heart will direct you. The professing follower of the Lord Jesus Christ must learn to discipline their heart to want what is holy and righteous or stop reading your Bible. Sadly, most choose to stop reading their Bibles.

The Bible instructs the follower of Christ to test themselves to see if they are in the faith. Let’s try this out.

On Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Twin Falls, Idaho, a live talent show to seduce people away from virtue will take place. Debauchery is the seduction from Biblical virtue.

Magic Valley Repertory Theatre presents Ursula’s BATTLE ROYALE 2! Starring and hosted by the marvelously beautiful Magic Valley Drag Sensation Ursula. Ursula’s Battle Royale 2 is calling all queens and kings! Join us for a talent battle of epic proportions! Presented by Magic Valley Repertory Theatre at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Downtown Twin Falls! The one and only “Ursula” hosts her very competitive Battle Royale on the stage! A group of competing Kings and Queens will compete for the top spot as the areas top drag performer!

Test yourself here Christian.

  • Will you attend for “entertainment” purposes? What does this say about your entertainment? Have you read your Bible on this matter?
  • Will your friends be attending or promote this as just silly fun? Will you say “the performers are really talented and you just enjoy good talent” to justify your hunger and thirst for unrighteousness? Have you read your Bible on this matter?
  • Will you spend your time and money to laugh at what God declares unholy activity and somehow not have the energy (really desire) to study your Bible this week, pray with other Christians, gather for worship of God as a set-apart people?

Apparently fewer professing Christians live in the fear of God

 

Read the Bible in 2018

Posted on Leave a comment on Read the Bible in 2018

Download the 2018 ESBC Bible Reading Plan HERE:

It’s like this every December isn’t it? Right after this blessed season of Christmas, the birth of a new year is upon us, Lord willing. We’ll say things like, “Can you believe the new year is upon us?”, and “What happened to last year?”

As the years click by on me, I have an increasing desire to see the redeemed of God grow in grace. It is my hope that the many children God has blessed your homes with these past years would all taste this great salvation of Christ. Like the apostle Paul, “With God as my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” This increases on me every year.

I don’t know what the year 2018 holds for us. It is likely, as we do every year, we will experience many things of this temporal world: birth, death, sorrow, joy, sickness, health, pain, and comfort. We will be allowed many times to display who our Lord is in how we respond to good and difficult times. We will likely fail because of lack of discipline; and we will yet again bless the Lord for His mercy and grace as we grow and overcome the simple sins that once owned us as a slave master.

May we learn sooner that we stand strongest in Christ when we depend upon Him and not upon ourselves or others. To do so, we must be driven more to our Bibles. If we are to stand at all in the many things that are before us, if the Lord delays His coming, we will best face those things with a path illuminated by the lamp of Scripture.

There are many Bible reading plans to help us persist in this beneficial task. It is my desire that you receive my invitation to read the Bible with me in 2018 with an understanding of the benefit it will be to our souls together. It will bless the aged and it will help our children.

I have selected the reading plan originally developed by Robert Murray M’Cheyne in 1842 for his congregation in Scotland. As you consider this, know that this must not be viewed as a work of Salvation. You are not selected for God’s grace of salvation to rest upon you because of your keeping this reading schedule. You do not lose favor of His mercy throughout the year if you fail and stumble your way through the reading plan.

I have been working on making a few adjustments to Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s original Bible reading plan. His longer explanations for why he wanted his church to read the bible contain the best reasons I’ve ever read. Not that his explanations are better than what others could say, it’s that he articulated them with reason for serious consideration. I’ve adapted and reworded M’Cheyne’s cautions and advantages on the following page.

First: Here are some cautions and pitfalls that may accompany anyone attempting to read the Bible with such a strategic plan.

  • Stagnation – Because we are typically weak, we will quickly turn rich benefit to stagnant duty that becomes lifeless and meaningless within a short amount of time. This is likely similar to what the apostle Paul meant when he told Timothy to caution the church of those who have a “form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.” Set a guard up against this. If you notice the reading schedule is nothing more than checking off a list – then set the reading schedule down and read with joy.
  • Self-righteousness – You will notice the reading schedule has become a means of self-righteousness if you are tempted to justify your ignoring of spiritual things while performing mechanical tasks. As M’Cheyne put it, “Many are living without any Divine work on their soul – unpardoned and unsanctified, and ready to perish – who spend their appointed times in secret and family devotion. This is going to hell with a lie in their right hand.”
  • Mindless Reading – Few in our day tremble at the Word of God. When the reader reads mindlessly he is at risk of not hearing the voice of Jehovah. Push yourself to read, while refusing to read to check off a list.
  • Bearing False Witness – Notice this quickly about yourself. If you find you are tempted to lie about reading, when you have not; the completion of reading the Bible is a means to brag of your piety. (see warning of Self-righteousness.)
  • Becoming too Busy – Life is busy. Know that up front. Plan for it before it overtakes you. Guard against letting the reading of the Bible to become a burden. Parents, use caution in how you talk about reading the day’s assignment.

Next: With so many warnings, why would anyone attempt to take on such a daunting task as reading the entire Bible with a systematic schedule? We know this is true about things that are of great value. All things of value have potential thieves and imitations. When we better understand the advantages of reading the Bible we will be better prepared to stay the course. Here are some of the many advantages…

  • The Word of God – The apostle Paul informed Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.” It is likely many never read the entire Bible and miss this truth all together. In the reading plan I’m suggesting we will read the Old Testament once, and the New Testament and Psalms twice.
  • Value – When we understand the value of the Bible we will be better able to not see the reading as a waste of time.
  • Common Conversation – Parents, with a reading schedule you will now have a common ground and communicated place in which to instruct and examine your children. You will discover soon that even the smallest section of Scripture will generate a life of conversation. You will find quickly, if you treat the reading of Scripture as a sacred family event that it will be like opening a package with styrofoam peanuts. You’ll soon discover it’s difficult to contain where the conversation goes next or how long it stays on a subject.
  • Feeding Together – The entire church will be reading from the same pasture and will be able to encourage each other in the light of Scripture and give comfort and counsel from the same nourishment. We will soon be praying over the same promises in our homes. We will mourn over the same confessions. We will praise God as if in the same location as we are on the Lord’s Day.

Download the 2018 ESBC Bible Reading Plan HERE:
_____________________________________________________
Directions for using the ESBC Bible Reading Plan for 2018:

  • The dark center column is the day of the month. Put this reading schedule in a common place in the home so all can refer to it as needed.
  • The left and right columns are the books and chapters that correspond with the day of the month.
    • With this plan, you will read through the Old Testament once and the book of Psalms and the New Testament twice.
      The head of the family should consider reading all assigned chapters before gathering the family to read the chapters together; to be prepared to focus on prominent verses and to ask a few simple questions for reflection.
  • Of all the habits in this temporal world, let’s be careful to discipline ourselves and create an appetite for righteousness.
  • Speak of Scripture favorably, especially to your children. Let them both hear and see that you treasure the Bible as a gift from God.
  • This plan is set up to read in the morning and evening.
    • The head of family may instruct the family to read together or individually.
    • If individually, plan to discuss what was read in private as a family.
    • If suitable, plan for both family reading and individual reading (according to a child’s reading skill.)
  • Take advantage of family meals and intend to direct conversations around the recent chapter(s). Let every meal time be a sacred event where physical and spiritual nourishment are both consumed.
  • Let the word of God be like bookends on your day. Let those within our homes be more influenced by the word of God than the philosophy of the day.
  • When we greet one another between Lord’s Day gatherings, speak of your reading with affection and as a benefit. This is a better discussion than the normal idle words that run fast to sin and grieve the Holy Spirit.
  • May the lamp of Scripture illuminate our path and may we more readily hear the voice of God.
  • Expect for your busy schedule to compete with your desire to do this. Work in this discipline with flexibility, without making excuses.
  • Remember our cravings for this temporal world are strong. We are not able to do this discipline in our strength. Do this duty with the work of grace and mercy upon us. If a day or series of days are missed, make plans quickly to catch up or agree to pick up on the current calendar day and simply press on.
  • A final word: there are many reading plans. Spend some time considering if this is the best plan for you and your family. If you find there is a better plan, adopt it as yours and devote yourself to reading the word of God.

If you have an email address, consider registering at this website with me. www.read2018.com 

Download .pdf file for the entire 2018 ESBC Bible Reading Plan HERE:

Cautions and Advantages of Reading the Bible with a Schedule

Posted on Leave a comment on Cautions and Advantages of Reading the Bible with a Schedule

I have been working on making a few adjustments to Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s original Bible reading plan. His longer explanations for why he wanted his church to read the bible is among the best reasons I’ve ever read. Not that his explanations are better than anyone could say, it’s that he articulated them with reason for serious consideration.  I’ve adapted and reworded M’Cheyne’s cautions and advantages here.

First: Here are some cautions and pitfalls that may accompany anyone attempting to read the Bible with such strategic plan.

  • Stagnant – Because we are typically weak we will quickly turn rich benefit to stagnant duty that becomes lifeless and meaningless within a short amount of time. This is likely similar to what the apostle Paul meant when he told Timothy to caution the church of those who have a “form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.” Set a guard up against this. If you notice the reading schedule is nothing more than checking off a list – then set the reading schedule down and read with joy.
  • Self-righteousness – You will notice when the reading schedule has become a means of self-righteousness if you are tempted to justify your ignoring spiritual things while performing mechanical tasks. As M’Cheyne put it, “Many are living without any Divine work on their soul – unpardoned and unsanctified, and ready to perish – who spend their appointed times in secret and family devotion. This is going to hell with a lie in their right hand.”
  • Mindless Reading – Few in our day tremble at the Word of God. When the reader reads mindlessly he is at risk of not hearing the voice of Jehovah. Push yourself to read while refusing to read to check off a list.
  • Bearing False Witness – Notice this quickly about yourself. If you find you are tempted to lie about reading, when you have not, that the completion of reading the Bible is a means to brag of your piety. (see warning of Self-righteousness.)
  • Becoming too Busy – Life is busy. Know that up front. Plan for it before it overtakes you. Guard against letting the reading of the Bible to become a burden. Parents, use caution in how you talk about reading the day’s assignment.

Next: With so many warnings, why would anyone attempt to take on such a daunting task as reading the entire Bible with a systematic schedule? We know this is true about things that are of great value; All things of value have potential thieves and imitations. When we better understand the advantages of reading the Bible we will be better prepared stay the course. Here are some of the many advantages…

  • The Word of God – The apostle Paul informed Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.” It is likely many never read the entire Bible and miss this truth all together. In the reading plan I’m suggesting we will read the Old Testament once, the New Testament and psalms twice.
  • Value – When we understand the value of the Bible we will be better able to not see the reading as a waste of time.
  • Common Conversation – Parents, with a reading schedule you will now have a common ground and communicated place in which to instruct and examine your children. You will discover soon that even the smallest section of Scripture will generate a life of conversation. You will find quickly, if you treat the reading of Scripture as a sacred family event that it will be like opening a package with Styrofoam peanuts. You’ll soon discover it’s difficult to contain where the conversation goes next or how long it stays on the subject.
  • Feeding Together – The entire church will be reading from the same pasture and will be able to encourage each other in the light of Scripture and give comfort and counsel from the same nourishment. We will soon be praying over the same promises in our homes. We will mourn over the same confessions. We will praise God as if in the same location as we are on the Lord’s Day.

After weighing the cautions and advantages, I’m convinced, like I’m sure you are, that the attempt to do so is worth the effort. I’ll have the reading plan ready within a day or two.

Sunday Nights at Eastside

Posted on Leave a comment on Sunday Nights at Eastside

Through the remainder of 2017 I will be address biblical marriage on Sunday nights. It is my hope that you would consider attending the Sunday night gatherings of Eastside Baptist Church. This is not just a “how to improve your marriage” series, this is as much a series of messages for the youth and young adults who are not married yet to consider biblical teachings about what marriage is and why it is an important subject for all of us to give attention to it.

Join me on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m at Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls, Idaho.

A Gospel Tract Video Project

Posted on Leave a comment on A Gospel Tract Video Project

There is Joy in the Lord

Here is a Gospel sharing opportunity for you. These video Gospel tracts are intended for your use in sharing publicly or privately with friends, co-workers, acquaintances, anyone in general.

The idea is that you might consider sharing one of these video excerpts from a recent sermon with your friends. I’ve included them here for you to view as you decide who you might share.

  • I have included links to one print version and three video versions:
  • Long Version: This is the entire sermon from February 5, 2017 from Philippians 2:5-11
  • Medium Version: This has several excerpts from various places in the sermon (about 15 minutes long)
  • Short Version: This has just a few portions of the sermon (about 4 minutes)

Instructions and Suggestions:

First:

  • Pray – The kind of praying I’m talking about is for boldness. We already know that God wants us to share the gospel. For most of us, it is a lack of boldness that keeps us from sharing the gospel. It’s not for lack of want, it’s for lack of boldness. I’m praying for you as you consider this with me.
  • Read Philippians 2:5-11 and Romans 8. There are other things you may want to read as well, but at least those two because they are the primary text I used in this past Lord’s Day sermon.
  • Don’t let any public conversion online divert you from you gospel work. If you share one of the following links on a public social network page don’t let someone (sometimes even professing Christians will do this) lure you in to a distracting conversation.
  • Put it out there and pray for those who the Holy Spirit will draw to the posts.
  • Do not feel obligated to a discussion where you feel obligated to defend me. That is a distraction from the conversation. Let potshots at the preacher roll off of you.

 

Printed tract:

  • Consider printing this post that was published in the Twin Falls Times News this past weekend and give it or mail it to a friend.
  • After you give it, mail it, email it to them, tell them you would like to talk to them about it some time (face to face is best in my opinion)
  • Set a time that you may be able to talk about it.
  • Share that column published in the Twin Falls Times News on your social network sites.
  • Become as familiar as you can with Philippians 2:5-11 and Romans 8.

 

Video Tracts:

  • First, get these videos from my YouTube channel (HERE) and share them directly from there. You could share this blog post, but the intent of this blog post is really to give you opportunity to consider sharing the gospel.
  • Consider sharing the full sermon (HERE) with those you know really well. Maybe even Christians to encourage each other in the work of Christ on the Cross in your own lives.
  • Consider sharing the medium length tract (HERE) with friends via email or messaging. Even for some a 15 minute excerpt will not appeal to them or they may consider that too long of an investment in something you’ve shared with them. But you have some who may be ready for a good discussion after a bit more of an investment of their time.
  • Consider sharing this short tract (HERE) on your social media pages, blog pages, emails, and such. This is a concise collection of a few excerpts from the full sermon. Use this primarily for an opportunity to have more dialog with.


Full Length: 59 minutes


Medium Length: just over 15 minutes

Short Length: 4 minutes

New York vs. North Carolina

Posted on Leave a comment on New York vs. North Carolina

If you haven’t read the Governor’s Executive Order from the State of New York regarding the prohibition of state funded or state sponsored travel to North Carolina yet, you should do yourself a favor and read it. You might even gather the family together to read it as an exercise in careful judgment on the importance of words and looking for the agenda pushing this.

This is about a lot of things; but one thing is sure, it is not a civil rights issue.

Just this week the governor of Georgia caved to the financial pressure and vetoed a similar law that North Carolina has. Corporate America put the financial threat of pulling out if Georgia passed a law to protect pastors from being forced to do the will of the growing opinion of the nation.

HERE is the entire executive order Governor Cuomo of New York issued March 28th, 2016.

Preface: I’m in favor of protecting the civil rights and liberties of all citizens of the land, all of us. The state of New York, the city of New York City specifically, has been influencing the nation (and the world for that matter) for a long time. This executive order was not a statement protecting the civil rights of anyone. It was a statement from one governor to all governors to not do what North Carolina is doing.

What has been happening slowly and methodically around the nation has suddenly shifted, abruptly.

The use of public bathrooms will cost private citizens millions (it be more like billions in bathroom renovations and legal cost) of dollars in the coming years. I get that people want to be viewed as normal, but that desire to be viewed as normal is a perversion of the natural order of God’s creation.

This executive order is not the voice of reason. It is more the voice of hate than the tone of North Carolina’s law to give protection of religious freedom. It positions itself as “the voice of reason” for the world to follow suit.

This is not a civil rights issue.

This executive order is a ban on publicly funded travel to North Carolina is in effect immediately and will continue until North Carolina changes or repeals it’s current law. It’s the kind of behavior that forced the hand of Georgia’s governor to veto their law to give clergy a way to not violate their conscience.

Idaho, watch this closely. Bills are introduced every year to change our laws to look more like New York’s and less like ours. Keep your eye on this and begin formulating your words to compassionately respond while you stand your ground.

Church, your duty is to be a pillar and buttress of truth. That doesn’t give us permission to be ugly and foolish in our defense. Our way, our path, our duty is to God. It’s not about forbidding someone from sinning, it’s about obeying God.

I don’t know of anyone who wants to keep other people from using the bathroom while they are away from the privacy of their own home. There is a fair and just concern about who’s using that public bathroom.

Public safety is the duty of the civil government. It is not the duty of civil government to validate your feelings. Governor Cuomo, your executive order was a breach of duty.

As a pastor, I’m bound to Scripture, period. I can’t and won’t stand in the way of anyone who wants to sin; I’ll warn them along the way to not do what they so desperately want to do that is in violation of and against the law of God, but at the end of the discussion I’m bound by duty to perform religious services that are defined by the Holy Bible.

The bible is clear on these matters. This church and this pastor will carefully navigate through the shifting. It will require a firm foundation to survive all before us. Does the bible address gender issues? Yes. Does the bible address marriage issues? Yes.

When the Bible speaks as clearly as it does, we obey regardless of public opinion.

Follow

Get every new post on this blog delivered to your Inbox.

Join other followers: