The Round Table Mix

3 Places to Spend some Time

2008-05-01T08:27:00.001-05:00

Three places every believer should spend some time:
1. watching a sunrise,
2. a playground watching children play together &
3. a graveyard reading gravestones.

I suggest reading the Psalms at the sunrise, reading the epistles of Paul at the playground & reading the prophets at the graveyard.

The sunrise reminds one of his ultimate end, the glory of God.

The playground reminds one of the interdependence in the church.

The graveyard reminds one his task to preach the gospel to those who are dead in trespasses and sins.

Ways to destroy the Church

2008-04-21T21:02:00.000-05:00

From D. A. Carson's Book The Cross & Christian Ministry.

"The ways of destroying the church are many and colorful. Raw factionalism will do it. Rank heresy will do it. Taking your eyes off the cross and letting other, more peripheral matters dominate the agenda will do it--admittedly more slowly than frank heresy, but just as effectively on the long haul. Building the church with superficial 'conversions' and wonderful programs that rarely bring people into a deepening knowledge of the living God will do it. Entertaining people to death but never fostering the beuty of holiness or the centrality of self-crucifying love will build an assembly of religious people, but it will destroy the church of the living God. Gossip, prayerlessness, bitterness, sustained biblical illiteracy, self-promotion, materialism--all of these things, and many more, can destroy a church. And to do so is dangerous: 'If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destory him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple' (1 Cor 3:17). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

~ D.A. Carson

engaging culture

2008-04-20T19:15:00.001-05:00

Jonothan Dodson gives thoughtful advice as to how to engage our culture.

Who is this guy & is that a paint brush?

2008-04-12T19:01:00.001-05:00

Can we display the gospel?

2008-04-08T22:05:00.002-05:00

Shane, I am not trying to steal your thunder. I see you just posted. So I encourage everyone to read Shane's post below. You would almost think there was some higher Sovereign power over this stuff, seeing as how Shane's post is right in line with this one I just posted elsewhere.

Love One Another ~ by bearing

2008-04-07T10:11:00.001-05:00

Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

How do we love one another in our congregation? We bear one another's burdens. This word for burden is speaking of the weight and struggle that sin brings into one's life. So as a congregation we are "bear" or "carry" the weight of one another's sins. This bearing, however, is not just allowing your brother in Christ to continue in sin. You correct, carefully, the erring brother and be willing to love him enough to not only correct but carry with your brother the consequences of past sin.

How do I bear one another's burdens? First, know your congregation. Do you know of some burdens that another member of your congregation is bearing? You will not know all those in your congregation in the same way but you should know more than 2 or 3 of your closest friends or those who are most like yourself. Reach out beyond your affinities and talk to an older person in your congregation. Have lunch with a family and their kids one evening. Invite a few of the single adults to coffee and chat. Second, pray for individuals in your congregation. Do you pray generally for your congregation or are you able to pray for specific needs for many members of your congregation? Make a point to pray specifically for members of your congregation. Third, contact the members of your congregation. Do you have a directory or a list of all the members of your congregation? This list should include name (spelled right), home address, phone number, and email address. Take the time each week as you pray for different members of your congregation to call, send a note or email that person and let them know that you are praying for them in specific ways and find out how he/she is doing with that particular burden. Share some Scripture that you may prayed for that member or a passage that made you think of him or her.

Toe stepping encouragement

2008-03-24T19:09:00.001-05:00

Today I found much encouragement from my pastor’s message. He did a good job of stepping on toes (mine included) as well as encouraging us for faithful service. Today was not a “let’s come to church because it’s Easter and hear a feel good sermon”. It was much better than that. You would almost think this guy believes what he preaches. (and for the record, I would bet my life on it)

Read the rest here.

Pray for your Pastors

2008-03-13T10:07:00.001-05:00

* I found this a couple years ago and have found it to be very helpful as I have prayed for our Elders here at SGBC. I would encourage you to pray for your pastors in the same way.

Ask God to give us an inclination to his Word and not to money or fame or power (Psalm 119:36), and to open our eyes to see wonderful things when we read his Word (Psalm 119:18), and to have hearts united in the fear of God rather than fragmented over a dozen concerns (Psalm 86:11), and to be satisfied in his steadfast love (Psalm 90:14).

Love of the World

2008-03-05T11:01:00.001-05:00

This has been a tough week for me in several ways. I have been confronted with the vanity of the hope and happiness that only this life can bring and have been turned again, by God's grace, to hope in the eternal glory of my God through Jesus Christ my Redeemer.

"Indeed, there is no middle ground between these two: either the world must become worthless to us or hold us bound by intemperate love of it. Accordingly, if we have any concern for eternity, we must strive diligently to strike off these evil fetters." Calvin (3.9.2)

Church Membership & Discipline

2008-02-29T11:18:00.001-05:00

from Mark Dever at Trinity Evan. (click here)

Love One Another ~ after being hurt

2008-02-19T08:48:00.006-05:00

Sometimes we think that the hurt and struggle in one's congregation is just because we are not living like the New Testament churches. Well, we see that in Corinth Paul is dealing with a congregation who had pretty much hurt each other in every possible way. This congregation was a mess! There is no way this church could ever turn around. Especially after all that has happened.

How do we live with one another in our congregation especially when so much hurt is in our past? (read post)

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

The Object of our Prayers

2008-02-14T07:10:00.001-05:00

2 Thessalonians 2:16
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father..."

A recent post over on my blog. (click here)

Idols of the Minister's Heart

2008-02-05T20:03:00.001-05:00

Buildings, Bodies & Budgets

Love One Another ~ in harmony

2008-01-29T09:17:00.000-05:00

Thoughts on Romans 12:16

How does God work in the one who will perish?

2008-01-28T16:37:00.000-05:00

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Download Sermon

Small Churches are Better

2008-01-24T17:17:00.001-05:00

Too often, however, churches are not a context for making disciples so much as occasions for acknowledging relative strangers. Experience teaches that there is also an inverse ratio at work: the larger the group, the more inevitable the superficiality of our relationships. Instead of churches growing beyond the point of being able to sustain meaningful life-on-life family relationships, an alternative (and maybe essential) strategy would be to begin new congregations through church planting. (page 111)

from "Church Matters" blog

Thank you Jason & Brandon

2008-01-07T14:23:00.000-05:00

Thank you for the time you sacrificed to fellowship with me each early morning. The time was, as always, so precious and just...well....good. Thank you.

"It is the fellowship of the Cross to experience the burden of the other. If one does not experience it, the fellowship he belongs to is not Christian. If any member refuses to bear that burden, he denies the law of Christ."
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)

The Golden Compass & A Pastor's Concern

2007-12-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

A worthy article to think through the Golden Compass

My concern is not whether one should watch the movie or not. However, I am concerned that we will be deceived into thinking that this movie is neutral concerning the truth of God's Word, the Church and His kingdom to come. What is the primary characteristic of "deception"? I am concerned we are not thinking critically or biblically enough nor are we aware of the dangers & influences that movies & music have on those who profess Jesus Christ as LORD. We are foolish to assume that these things are neutral and that our world is simply trying to "give us a good time". As I have been reading through the OT and now teaching through some concerns Paul had of the NT churches I am more convinced that our responsibility is not to relate to our culture but to shape it. The pattern for Israel in the OT and the church in the NT is that every time they tried to become culturally "relevant", "understanding" or "friendly" they fell from the standard God set for them and became worshipers of creation. What has also been shocking to me is that almost every case when the prophets or the apostles corrected the people of God they seem astounded, and even sometimes angered, that they are doing anything wrong at all. Much of everything else I would like to say has been said better by Mohler on this point so I would encourage you to read the article above.

** As many of you know, I seldom send out emails like this. Howeve, I thought this would be a good way for us to think, talk & write concerning an issue that is not going to go away. I would love to interact with those in our fellowship who would like to comment or ask questions about how we are to think and respond to this movie or other culture shaping icons. I think this kind of interaction would be healthy, hope affirming, faith building and love nurturing. I plan to post this email & any other responses on my blog so others may see the interaction as well.

Monastism or Fatherhood?

2007-11-20T15:36:00.001-05:00

After a long discourse of the values & harms of quiet monastic living, Calvin speaks to the one who lives his life in the busy home with all the dangers, peril and temptations of this world before him everyday and yet gives himself to the difficult and more holy calling of husband & father.

"But God prefers devoted care in ruling a household, where the devout householder, clear and free of all greed, ambition, and other lusts of the flesh, keeps before him the purpose of serving God in a definite calling." (4.13.16)

Behold the Lamb ~ Goin'

2007-11-20T14:10:00.000-05:00

http://www.myspace.com/andrewpetersonmusic

Of First Importance

2007-10-13T06:41:00.000-05:00

Of First Importance is a great blog on the gospel. I have made it my homepage, as each day it post a new quote on the gospel. Usually short enough to read as soon as I log on.

Reformation Day? (Oct 31st)

2007-10-09T06:28:00.000-05:00

Grace Alone & John Calvin

We reaffirm that in salvation we are rescued from God's wrath by his grace alone. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life.

We deny that salvation is in any sense a human work. Human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves cannot accomplish this transformation. Faith is not produced by our unregenerated human nature.

Why Reformation Day?

2007-10-01T10:29:00.000-05:00

I will be doing a post every week in October to help the Protestants out there better understand the heart issues of the reformation (of course as I understand them). I will be posting some each week leading us up to "Reformation Day" (Oct 31st). I have found two groups of people out there. First, are those who know a little about what is termed "Calvinism" and feel the reformation was primarily around Calvin's understanding of salvation. This is really too narrow of a view. The second group I have found has little to no idea of the reformation and are unaware why we are called "Protestants". The reformation was a "tragic necessity", as Timothy George puts it. In the following weeks I hope to explain the truths that were absent or ignored prior to reformation, the tragedy, and also to explain the truths that were re-established and affirmed through the reformation, the necessity.

This Week:

Scripture Alone & William Tyndale

Stand ~ God is Faithful

2007-09-26T13:03:00.000-05:00

Fresh Hope for the Battle Weary - 2007 Desiring God National Conference Trailer

Do your Children ask Questions?

2007-09-25T06:21:00.001-05:00

I know it seems like all I talk about are children. I do understand that some reading this blog do not have children. However, as I am reading through the Old Testament I am becoming more and more aware of the importance Scripture places upon teaching our children. And if one reads carefully enough I think he/she can get some idea on how to do this great task as well.

Joshua 4:21-24
And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.' For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

Let your Children Hear the Word of God

2007-09-21T08:18:00.000-05:00

Deuteronomy 31:12-13
“Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

The First to Hear about it....

2007-09-18T08:10:00.000-05:00

We have just launched our new www.SGBCjax.org website. It is simple & maybe even helpful. Take a look & let me know what you think.

Happy B-day Brandon

2007-09-13T08:05:00.001-05:00

I thank God for you, brother.

God, the News & our Kids

2007-09-11T10:05:00.000-05:00

A parent/children Website I have often found very helpful & interesting, God's World News, (from the writers of World Mag) is the only thing out there that I know about which helps parents talk/disciple their children & teens concerning current events from a Christian worldview.

Now, the same guys who bring us "God's World News" has developed a "Website ~Think Tank" of sorts that will ask the question, "How do parents & teachers develop a Christian worldview in their children/teens?" This is promising to be an interesting site to keep your eye on if you are seeking faithful ways to disciple your children to think biblically in our world today.

The Church being the Church by David Wells

2007-09-03T09:21:00.000-05:00

David Well's Vision for the Church

In his book God in the Wasteland (pp. 214-215) David Wells writes:

I want the evangelical church to be the church. I want it to embody a vibrant spirituality. I want the church to be an alternative to post-modern culture, not a mere echo of it. I want a church that is bold to be different and unafraid to be faithful . . . a church that reflects an integral and undiminished confidence in the power of God’s Word, a church that can find in the midst of our present cultural breakdown the opportunity to be God’s people in a world that has abandoned God.

To be the church in this way, it is also going to have to find in the coming generation, leaders who exemplify this hope for its future and who will devote themselves to seeing it realized. To lead the church in the way that it needs to be led, they will have to rise above the internal politics of the evangelical world and refuse to accept the status quo where that no longer serves the vital interest of the kingdom of God. They will have to decline to spend themselves in the building of their own private kingdoms and refuse to be intimidated into giving the church less and other than what it needs. Instead, they will have to begin to build afresh, in cogently biblical ways, among the decaying structures that now clutter the evangelical landscape. To succeed, they will have to be people of large vision, people of courage, people who have learned again what it means to live by the Word of God, and, most importantly, what it means to live before the Holy God of that Word.

covlife audio downloads

2007-08-30T21:38:00.000-05:00

Covlife has recently made their mp3 messages available for download at the the low, low price of ...free. Simply click here.

"T" is for....

2007-08-27T14:54:00.000-05:00

The new Monergism Regeneration "T"-shirt

Calvin & Hobbs and Gospel Integrity

2007-08-21T10:57:00.000-05:00

Many of you know that I am a long time fan of the comic "Calvin & Hobbs"; however, today I read a post that has caused me to respect the creator of this comic, Watterson, as well.

This post has caused me to re-think how we, as Christians, handle the gospel and think about our God. For those who have time and would like to be encouraged to carry the gospel with integrity I would encourage you to read this post (here).

A Classic on Biblical Manhood

2007-08-15T08:45:00.000-05:00

Many may not know, but I do have a hobby. I enjoy reading classic children books. I am currently reading "The Swiss Family Robinson" by Johann David Wyss. I have found this book to do something I did not expect when I began to read it. It is teaching me about being a biblical husband and father. If you want to know what I mean then just read the first page of the book (below) and notice how the father was leading his family as they feared their ship would soon sick. May God raise up more husbands and fathers who are like the husband and father of Swiss Famly Robinson book. You can read an online version of this book here.

"My heart sank as I looked round upon my family in the midst of these horrors. Our four young sons were overpowered by terror. ‘Dear children,’ said I, ‘if the Lord will, He can save us even from this fearful peril; if not, let us calmly yield our lives into His hand, and think of the joy and blessedness of finding ourselves for ever and ever united in that happy home above.’

At these words my weeping wife looked bravely up, and, as the boys clustered round her, she began to cheer and encourage them with calm and loving words. I rejoiced to see her fortitude, though my heart was ready to break as I gazed on my dear ones.

We knelt down together, one after another praying with deep earnestness and emotion. Fritz, in particular, besought help and deliverance for his dear parents and brothers, as though quite forgetting himself.

Our hearts were soothed by the never-failing comfort of child-like confiding prayer, and the horrors of our situation seemed less overwhelming. ‘Ah,’ thought I, ‘the Lord will hear our prayer! He will help us.’"

Why did God Harden Pharaoh's Heart?

2007-08-13T09:36:00.000-05:00

You may be surprised by the answer. (click here)

2 Websites Worth the Look

2007-08-10T12:15:00.000-05:00

The Shepherd's Scrapbook ~ Our goal is provide thoughts on Cross-centered living, theology, preaching and pastoral ministry. We review books considered excellent, announce new books that look interesting, and encourage biblical discernment with both. All of this should fuel our pursuit of the Cross. [Meet our 2006 Book-of-the-Year and front runners for the 2007 Book-of-the-Year award.]

The Gospel Coalition ~ We are a fellowship of evangelical churches deeply committed to renewing our faith in the gospel of Christ and to reforming our ministry practices to conform fully to the Scriptures. We have become deeply concerned about some movements within traditional evangelicalism that seem to be diminishing the church’s life and leading us away from our historic beliefs and practices. On the one hand, we are troubled by the idolatry of personal consumerism and the politicization of faith; on the other hand, we are distressed by the unchallenged acceptance of theological and moral relativism. These movements have led to the easy abandonment of both biblical truth and the transformed living mandated by our historic faith. We not only hear of these influences, we see their effects. We have committed ourselves to invigorating churches with new hope and compelling joy based on the promises received by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Grudem Changes ~ Baptism & Local Church

2007-08-09T13:03:00.000-05:00

Grudem's change has been the buzz around the blog world today. You can look at the post by Piper in response to Grudem's change as well.

Interview with Conrad Mbewe

2007-08-08T10:41:00.000-05:00

Conrad Mbewe is pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Zambia and he is asked, "What are the most common theological errors that you have to deal with as a pastor?" Take a look (click here) at his answer to this question and others about the role of a pastor/elder.

Piper Video of Bridge

2007-08-02T16:26:00.001-05:00

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/747_video_from_the_collapsed_bridge/

Hello?

2007-07-30T14:39:00.000-05:00

Anybody out there?

The Canon of Scripture

2007-07-17T16:05:00.000-05:00

I have outlined the teaching (here) and have provided the mp3 for this teaching (here). Enjoy

Pastor's Prayer Last Lord's Day for SGBC

2007-07-16T15:35:00.000-05:00

1 Thessalonians 1:4-7

Almighty God we thank you for being a God who has a mighty right hand. We thank you for being a powerful God who created all that is out of nothing. You spoke it into existence and even today you work intimately in your creation. We confess, Lord, our lives seldom reflect our need for you to work. We are so quick to depend on our own efforts, abilities, wit and charm, techniques and skills. We use our own strength and seek to do things that only we can do. We seldom call upon your name and ask for you to accomplish things in us greater than we can imagine. So this morning, Father, my prayer, for us as a congregation, is that we will find great confidence, great hope, in the power of the gospel even this morning as we hear your Word. I pray, Father, that the words of this message will not fall upon deaf ears. That we will hear you and that these words will not merely be words but that they will come into our hearts through the power of your Holy Spirit and bring full conviction to us. Father, we affirm that this is a supernatural work and we also affirm that this is an extraordinary work that we so seldom find necessary. O God, I pray, that you will help us see who we are in light of who you are. Help us see our great need. Father, I pray and plead you will bring us to the cross of Christ this morning and to the gospel of Jesus Christ and find there our only hope and confidence for all of life. I pray, Father, that as we come to you through your Word, that our marriages will be different, that our families will be different, that our parenting will be different, that the way we go to work everyday will be different. I pray, allow the gospel to saturate & be central in our hearts and lives. So when we look at this congregation and see that we are people who are shaped by the truths of the gospel. Father we know these are big and incredible things. Our hearts rarely even want these things on their own. There are some who here this morning who will struggle just to focus this morning. God, I pray, for you to powerfully work to allow us, Father, to remove all these small and insignificant desires and comforts and pleasure that we go after so often each week. Allow us to see them as small, pity and unworthy compared to the resplendent glory of our God through the person of Jesus Christ on the cross. We thank you for salvation. We thank you for the gospel. And we ask now for you to accomplish your gospel work in us today. It is in the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen & Amen.

Listen to Sermon ~ 1 Thess 1:4-7

A Quote from John Calvin on his B-day

2007-07-10T10:36:00.000-05:00

"There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice." ~ John Calvin

An Open Letter of Rebuttal to Dr. Jerry Vines’ Sermon Against Calvinism

2007-07-10T10:18:00.000-05:00

This was written by a FL Baptist Pastor just South of Jacksonville.

http://www.graceworx.com/anticalvinismFBC.html

"Remember the Sabbath..."

2007-07-09T10:26:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting to remind, encourage and train the SGBC congregation how we can best approach the Lord's Day and then to "rest" on that day in ways that will be most faithful to Scripture. I have added another catagory to the ESV Children's Bible Blog entitled "Remember the Sabbath..." to give tips on how persons & families can prepare themselves each week for the Lord's Day (Sunday). Check it out and let me know what you think.

ESV Children's Bible Blog ~ Sin

2007-07-06T09:37:00.000-05:00

Here is the newest entry on the ESV Children's Bible Blog. How do you teach children about sin? The picture entitled "Adam & Eve Sin Against God" provides a wonderful oppurtunity to begin this discussion with your child. Let me know what you think.

For most of the fathers out there, including myself, who can quickly become discouraged. Keep it simple. The discipleship of your children is suppose to be over the long haul. For example, don't think you will settle all the questions on sin for your child in the one night you disscuss this picture. You didn't learn about sin this way and your child will not. Take your time. Keep it simple. Look at the picture. Ask questions. Answer the questions your child asks. Pray with your child. Pray for your child. And allow God to work. Plan to do this one night this week.

Florida Baptist Truth Project

2007-06-24T15:56:00.000-05:00

From the Founders website...

Two week ago, the Florida Baptist Convention mailed out a set of CDs containing sermons by Dr. Jerry Vines entitled, "Baptist Battles." Included in those sermons was one entitled, "A Baptist and His Election: Calvinism." Unfortunately, Dr. Vines perpetuates many of the caricatures of the doctrines of grace that have been regularly trotted out and repeatedly debunked through the years. When this sermon first appeared on the internet last year, I reviewed it and pointed out several of the errors it contains. You can read my comments here.

In response to this recent mailing, we are preparing to send out a copy of the DVD entitled "Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism." This two-disk DVD presentation contains more than 4 hours of professionally produced interviews, quotes and explanations of the issues surrounding the doctrines of grace. Among those interviewed are Dr. Tom Nettles, the most prominent historical theologian among Southern Baptists today and Dr. Tom Ascol, Executive Director of Founders Ministries. Other who contributed include Pastor Walt Chantry and Pastor Walter Bowie.

Brandon told me that Shane had received the cd mentioned in this article. I think this is a great response from the Founders Ministry to that cd being mailed out. You can read the entire article here.

All Piper books $5

2007-06-22T22:53:00.000-05:00

All Books for $5

Every book in the store will be $5 on June 27-28, Wednesday and Thursday next week.

No limits, so spread the word.

(This sale is online only.)

Outline for 1 Thessalonians

2007-06-20T14:54:00.000-05:00

Preaching Outline for 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians: Finding our Hope in the Gospel

Caedmon's as they should be

2007-06-06T21:17:00.001-05:00

I am happy to hear that Derek Webb will be joining Caedmon's again for their upcoming album and tour (as well as being a major songwriter for the new album).

You can check out a song called "Share in the Blame" here.

The video above is a song he has been playing for a few months now at his solo shows that will be on the Caedmon's album.

If you haven't got your copy of Derek's new album you should...in this order...repent and then go to freeccm.com to download his song "A love stronger than our fear"

Hope you check them both out and keep your ears peeled for the album's arrival August 28th.

A Gift for Every Father

2007-06-05T06:10:00.000-05:00

Don Witney's Book ~ Family Worship

Romans 3:23

2007-05-21T15:19:00.000-05:00

Hey Guys I thought this was cool and wanted to pass it along. Romans 3:23 reads “for all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.” We have heard it, read it, and memorized it. But what is it really saying? Is it saying everybody on earth has sinned? That is a true statement, but I don’t think that is what that verse is saying anymore. Mike Feather pointed out yesterday that this verse is really saying that those who have believed “have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”. Verses 22 and verses 24 clarify this:

22: “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,”

So the people who are being talked about in this verse are “all who believe”. Then Paul goes on to say that “there is no difference” between believers, in other words all believers share a common thread. The idea continues in verse 23.

23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

So now we have half of the common thread explained, the believers have all sinned.

24: and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

There, the other half of the thread, we have been justified by his grace.

The Roman road has officially been destroyed, err....revamped. I think Romans 3:9-12 says what people are trying to get at by using 3:23:

9What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

I think it goes back to taking scripture in context, and not using verses by themselves. We should strive to handle God’s word delicately. Note to self: the chapters, verses and headings are not inspired.

Guy who shot my brother

2007-05-18T22:09:00.000-05:00

Thought some of you would like to know this. The guy that shot my brother was sentenced this week. Here is the link to the article in the Rocky Mount paper.

A God-ward Hope ~ Meditating on the Psalms

2007-05-18T10:59:00.002-05:00

I did this devotion for a men's breakfast here in Jax. I wanted to answer a few of the questions that might come up as one began thinking through the discipline of meditation. The questions considered were:

Why do we need meditation?
What are some replacements for meditation?
What are some obstacles in meditation?
How do you begin?

The devotional is entitled "A God-ward Hope: Meditating on the Psalms" & it can be found at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcwh6m9f_75g4tbq7

A Prayer for our Elders ~ John 10:11-18

2007-05-17T16:13:00.000-05:00

SGBCjax-blog

10 Ways to Improve Your Worship Service

2007-05-14T09:42:00.000-05:00

Don Whitney on his website www.spiritualdisciplines.org writes...

Because of the traveling part of my preaching and teaching ministry, I worship the Lord in a different church most Sundays of the year. My experiences in churches nationwide, together with my years of teaching a seminary course on worship, cause me to think a great deal about the worship of God in the local church.

One observation I have made is that most churches could make dramatic improvements in the quality of their worship event by making some changes that are relatively simple. After a quarter-century of pastoral ministry and leading worship services, I do realize why "simple" changes are sometimes difficult to make. However, if you are a leader who senses the need for freshness in worship, you should consider these recommendations because (a) they each have a direct or indirect biblical basis, (b) they are specific enough to be practical, and (c) they can be accommodated to any church, regardless of size, location, culture, or worship style.

Read the 10 ways...

Questions of Identity ~ Lord's Supper

2007-05-09T09:25:00.000-05:00

Today the church has everything from bracelets to t-shirts, tattoos and bumper stickers to, in some way, identify with Christ. The business of identifying with Christ is big and the local “Christian bookstore” is the outer court where we can go to find and buy our preferred method of identification. Once the purchase is made, we can then demonstrate to the world that we are “Christian”. In fact one may even get the sinking feeling that without the local bookstore and all its helpful trinkets we are at a loss to do the noble task of evangelism in this world. Please don’t get me wrong. I am not opposed to symbols and I am surely not opposed to identifying with Christ. I simply wonder if all of these other methods and trinkets have replaced the symbols that God has given to us in Scripture. The symbols given are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the symbol of the beginning of the Christian life whereas the Lord’s Supper is a symbol of the continuation of the Christian life. Today, I hope to give some thought to the truth of the Lord’s Supper and answer some of the questions that arise from this truth.

Read Article or Listen to Mp3

When you lay me down...

2007-05-07T15:14:00.000-05:00

"Far Country" by Andrew Peterson
O Lord, allow me to live so that when my companions lay me down to die that they will lay me down to live. Amen & Amen.

So when you lay me down to die
I’ll miss my boys, I’ll miss my girls
Lay me down and let me say goodbye to this world
You can lay me anywhere
But just remember this
When you lay me down to die
You lay me down to live
Well I asked a girl to marry me on a dock out on the lake
Our babies came to life in Tennessee
And the music of the mountains is still keeping me awake
Yeah, but everything that rises falls asleep

We are not alone
We are more than flesh and bone
What is seen will pass away
What is not is going home

My Children will not Remember...

2007-05-03T09:15:00.000-05:00

"My children will not remember the words of wisdom I've passed along over the years, nor will yours remember the good advice you've given. However, etched in their minds and planted in their hearts is a permanent picture of who you are and how you've lived before them." - Dorothy Kelley Patterson, Parents in Ministry (co-written by Armour Patterson)

The Reformed Pastor

2007-05-01T20:10:00.000-05:00

By clicking here you will be taken to Christian Audio's free download of the month. This month they are offering Richard Baxter's "The Reformed Pastor".

Puritian Meditation Website

2007-04-28T08:50:00.000-05:00

Not the quick fix most of us desire from our daily devotions. But this may be why we have such shallow root systems to our faith today. Take a look at this website. I plan to work through some of articles in the next month or so.

The Genius of Training

2007-04-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Training muliplies ministry, but take time.

Love ~ Effectively Interdependent within the Church

2007-04-23T10:25:00.000-05:00

Love ~ Effectively Interdependent within the Church

How do I love the congregation that God has placed me in? Another way of saying this is, "How do I grow to become effectively interdependent within my church?" Most don't see the absolute necessity of their local congregation in what God is seeking to accomplish in their particular family and personal life. I developed this blog to begin giving insights, resources and helpful hints on how to become effectively interdependent within their congregation.

Encouraging links

2007-04-20T20:28:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple of links that I have found encouraging ...

Andy Mckee - Guitar - Drifting - www.candyrat.com

2007-04-18T22:07:00.001-05:00

This is amazing.

Weekend in Asheville

2007-04-13T21:10:00.000-05:00

We (Shane, Brandon, Steve, Buie, Jason) are in Asheville reading through Colossians. Not enough time now to post about all we are learning. But here is a picture of 3 of us at the summit at the end of what I like to call the "death hike". Click here to view more pics from the weekend.

The Lament of a Tarheel

2007-04-03T07:51:00.000-05:00

O how hard it is to be a Tarheel in Gator country today (April 3rd, 2007). Living in Florida does have its advantages but today I am being persecuted intensely by all these Gators. Know that I long to be in Rocky Mount N.C. with you guys today. :)

For Mike

2007-03-31T00:04:00.000-05:00

Hey man. Here is a site I came across that may or may not be of interest to you. It is Ligon Duncan giving messages on Ephesians. There are transcripts as well as downloadable mp3's. Thought that you might want to check out what he had to say on Ephesians 6. Now, keep in mind that I have not listened to or read that yet, but I intend to soon, as Brandon and I are reading Ephesians together and will probably listen to Duncan's message that particular week.

recent convos

2007-03-29T17:08:00.000-05:00

I will link to the old blog so you can look back over what Mike and Shane had going here recently. You two feel free to carry on the conversation on either this or the old site.

Welcome

2007-03-29T10:26:00.000-05:00

Hello. Sorry I messed up the old blog. Some may not know that I did. What I basically did was made it so that it could not be edited. You could still post, but the ability was disabled to edit the blog itself. This mistake was made during my attempt to update to the new blogger.

Please feel free to offer suggestions to how to make this blog a place you would like to be a part of. Most of you, if not all of you, have worked with the old blog enough to know how you found it helpful or not so helpful. Give me some time to build this blog's design up some.