Southern Baptist churches have been doing Vacation Bible School for ages it seems, even before the casserole dish was invented. But how are we doing it? And why? These questions are not always answered in the curriculum packages. Steve Burchett has written maybe the finest article I have seen helping us to do VBS in a more God-glorifying way. Whether you've been a pastor, director, teacher, snacks, music, crafts, or recreation helper (or anyone else I've left out!), this article is well-worth your time:
Vacation Bible School Do's and Don'ts
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
A Devotional Gem?
As a pastor, you get lots of stuff from people. Articles, letters, books, tapes, CDs, DVDs, etc. All of it well meaning, but running the gamut between very helpful and not very helpful. Last night in fact, there was a paperback addressed to "pastor" tied to the church door in a plastic bag that is called, "Ten Commandments Twice Removed." I haven't had a chance to crack it open yet- I don't know who gave it to me!
But what I got yesterday morning is something I'm treasuring and recommending from the very outset. It is called, The One-Year Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten. Each day of the year has a short 2 page devotional dealing with an important figure/event that corresponds to that calendar date.
My first reading was today. On May 7, 2000, James Montgomery Boice preached his last sermon at Tenth Presbyeterian Church in Philadelphia. Boice has been an incredible help and encouragement to me with his commentaries on Scripture- particularly, on Acts and Romans. He announced that day that he was rapidly dying of cancer, and framed all of that in regards to God's glory, not whether he would receive a miracle or not.
As I've skimmed around, I've found other notable pastors/leaders are mentioned: Spurgeon, Whitefield, Wesley, David Brainerd, Martin Luther, John Calvin, among many others. I also found an inspiring story of a woman leaving Mormonism during Brigham Young's day.
We as pastors have an obligation to teach our people about church history- I think I have found a tool to encourage that in bite-sized but deeply useful ways. Share this book with your people, and talk about it in your homes!
But what I got yesterday morning is something I'm treasuring and recommending from the very outset. It is called, The One-Year Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten. Each day of the year has a short 2 page devotional dealing with an important figure/event that corresponds to that calendar date.
My first reading was today. On May 7, 2000, James Montgomery Boice preached his last sermon at Tenth Presbyeterian Church in Philadelphia. Boice has been an incredible help and encouragement to me with his commentaries on Scripture- particularly, on Acts and Romans. He announced that day that he was rapidly dying of cancer, and framed all of that in regards to God's glory, not whether he would receive a miracle or not.
As I've skimmed around, I've found other notable pastors/leaders are mentioned: Spurgeon, Whitefield, Wesley, David Brainerd, Martin Luther, John Calvin, among many others. I also found an inspiring story of a woman leaving Mormonism during Brigham Young's day.
We as pastors have an obligation to teach our people about church history- I think I have found a tool to encourage that in bite-sized but deeply useful ways. Share this book with your people, and talk about it in your homes!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
The Bible and Alcohol
A great article explaining in full the Bible's teachings on alcohol and appplication for the church today.
Alcohol and the Bible
Alcohol and the Bible
Friday, April 20, 2007
Dr. Ken Hemphill on the SBC
More follow-up from the former President of Southwestern Seminary on the baptism statistics- a bit different perspective.
Read it here.
I appreciate his call to Baptists of repentance- he's on target with that. I think we need to see broader application than just the areas Hemphill brings up. I just wish he would touch on the big sacred cows of things such as habitual non-attendance and ways in which the congregation acts as enablers to sins such as those instead of leading toward holiness.
Read it here.
I appreciate his call to Baptists of repentance- he's on target with that. I think we need to see broader application than just the areas Hemphill brings up. I just wish he would touch on the big sacred cows of things such as habitual non-attendance and ways in which the congregation acts as enablers to sins such as those instead of leading toward holiness.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Did we baptize enough folks last year?
Some are aware of former SBC President Bobby Welch's promotion to have the convention baptize 1,000,000 people in one year. The report just came out- it didn't happen- in fact, baptisms went down.
I am concerned that we are missing the point when we reduce baptism down to a statistical goal, and forgetting the means by which it takes place (the call of God, the inward work of the Spirit, the regenerated heart, faith in Christ).
Maybe this is why the doctrine of God's call to salvation has been rejected by so many professing Christians- it gets in the way of our statistical aims!
For some encouraging analysis on this (yes, encouraging), check this out here.
I am concerned that we are missing the point when we reduce baptism down to a statistical goal, and forgetting the means by which it takes place (the call of God, the inward work of the Spirit, the regenerated heart, faith in Christ).
Maybe this is why the doctrine of God's call to salvation has been rejected by so many professing Christians- it gets in the way of our statistical aims!
For some encouraging analysis on this (yes, encouraging), check this out here.
Monday, April 16, 2007
The reality of tragedy
The news of the recent massacre at Virginia Tech hits close to home for me. I nearly went there as a student- it was the first college to accept me as a high school senior. Being from Virginia, of course I had friends and family who went there, including my soon-to-be sister-in-law. And VT has been the only reason to get excited about Virginia college sports for the last decade or so. To see even a glimpse of this beautiful campus converted into an actual warzone with mass killing is still surreal to me. My heart goes out to all Hokies, past and present.
We are reminded today of the brevity of life (we are but a mist), the futility of self-sovereignty, and the reality of evil. 33 souls went to judgment today, and I hope a number of those were redeemed by the blood of Christ- that even one grieving family is sensing in part right now the glorification of a child who belonged to Christ, and though experiencing great sorrow, not grieving as those who have no hope. If so, then I praise God that there were those ready to meet Him.
Some may look at events such as these and ask, "Where was God?" He was the same place he has been for the trillions and trillions of evil acts that have been committed throughout human history- storing up wrath until the proper time on His throne. He will serve His justice, rest assured. This will not be an unpunished evil. What should amaze us today, is that God provides the common grace that prevents the world from being so much worse than it actually is (and could be).
No, I don't understand it all- none of us will. But let us be faithful in praying for and sympathizing with the hurting, for this is what honors and glorifies Christ. One day, we will see face to face, but for now, we see through a glass darkly. Faith is often trusting God though you don't understand how or why. This earth is not heaven. Let us continue to wait with hope....
We are reminded today of the brevity of life (we are but a mist), the futility of self-sovereignty, and the reality of evil. 33 souls went to judgment today, and I hope a number of those were redeemed by the blood of Christ- that even one grieving family is sensing in part right now the glorification of a child who belonged to Christ, and though experiencing great sorrow, not grieving as those who have no hope. If so, then I praise God that there were those ready to meet Him.
Some may look at events such as these and ask, "Where was God?" He was the same place he has been for the trillions and trillions of evil acts that have been committed throughout human history- storing up wrath until the proper time on His throne. He will serve His justice, rest assured. This will not be an unpunished evil. What should amaze us today, is that God provides the common grace that prevents the world from being so much worse than it actually is (and could be).
No, I don't understand it all- none of us will. But let us be faithful in praying for and sympathizing with the hurting, for this is what honors and glorifies Christ. One day, we will see face to face, but for now, we see through a glass darkly. Faith is often trusting God though you don't understand how or why. This earth is not heaven. Let us continue to wait with hope....
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Illusions of Success in Church
My friend, do not read this title and lament. There are most certainly real successes in the church, Praise God! There are souls that are saved, relationships healed, forgiveness granted, faith evident, God's glory exalted. God is at work among His people to accomplish the great redemption of lost sheep. No one should walk away from what follows with sour discouragement. We can thank God as long as we have breath for the ways in which the Gospel is faithfully preached and souls effected by the Holy Spirit all over the world.
Yet we must also beware what often passes for "success" in local churches. The most common form of this is obvious- the number of people that were "saved." I remember going to an evangelism conference for youth where some form of invitation was given, and every single person who stood up for it was pronounced (prior to any counsel at all) "saved." Really? How would you know? How could you be so sure, when Matthew 7:21-23 gives the sternest of warnings against those that will claim to know the Lord, yet are eternally lost?
Perhaps this is most telling by common results after many revivals. People who 2 days or 2 weeks ago claimed to have been saved by God want nothing to do with the church. This is often not just a person here, a person there- in some cases, it has been reported to be an overwhelming majority of "saved" persons. How could a person truly be saved if they do not love the family of God? John wrote half a book of the Bible devoted to that one subject!
I am afraid this mentality exists in America today that every single person who ever takes one step forward in a sanctuary during an invitation or raises even one hair on the finger is, without a doubt, saved and secure for eternity.
As one person put it, we have turned the church into a birthing station (or perhaps, a pre-mature birthing station) and forgotten it is to be the lifelong mission and ministry center of all who claim to have received the new birth.
Even pastors who appear to have the most "success" in terms of #'s of baptisms and so forth are in many cases seeing steep drops in the attendance of their worship services- despite pulling out all the stops to have all the laser lights, instrumentation, and cutting edge music.
The bottom line: people we affirm as Christians are hardly being led, encouraged, or taught the disciplines of living a Christian life. And even worse, we are quick to affirm them as Christians even before we have talked to them to ensure they know and understand the Gospel themselves.
Most invitations today are void of talk of sin, hell, death, rebellion, or the cross. It is more of an invitation to try to live God's way or just feeling guilt over your life- it is a salvation of works.
The bottom line is this: you can know that you are saved, if you know how you have been saved. True salvation comes by grace alone, not religious gestures or magic prayer words. How can you know if you've been saved? Your heart has been changed and you are different! And that is a success I hope we will see more and more of as the Word is preached, and as God moves in our land. The greatest threat to the church is not secularism. It is a quite careless, selfish shadow of Biblical Christianity.
I am not God (you knew that!). I do not know, in the end, who is truly saved and who isn't. But I do know what God's grace is like in another person's heart, for I have experienced it myself. When such grace is absent, I can't help but strongly doubt (actually fear is the better word) that it was never there to begin with.
Yet we must also beware what often passes for "success" in local churches. The most common form of this is obvious- the number of people that were "saved." I remember going to an evangelism conference for youth where some form of invitation was given, and every single person who stood up for it was pronounced (prior to any counsel at all) "saved." Really? How would you know? How could you be so sure, when Matthew 7:21-23 gives the sternest of warnings against those that will claim to know the Lord, yet are eternally lost?
Perhaps this is most telling by common results after many revivals. People who 2 days or 2 weeks ago claimed to have been saved by God want nothing to do with the church. This is often not just a person here, a person there- in some cases, it has been reported to be an overwhelming majority of "saved" persons. How could a person truly be saved if they do not love the family of God? John wrote half a book of the Bible devoted to that one subject!
I am afraid this mentality exists in America today that every single person who ever takes one step forward in a sanctuary during an invitation or raises even one hair on the finger is, without a doubt, saved and secure for eternity.
As one person put it, we have turned the church into a birthing station (or perhaps, a pre-mature birthing station) and forgotten it is to be the lifelong mission and ministry center of all who claim to have received the new birth.
Even pastors who appear to have the most "success" in terms of #'s of baptisms and so forth are in many cases seeing steep drops in the attendance of their worship services- despite pulling out all the stops to have all the laser lights, instrumentation, and cutting edge music.
The bottom line: people we affirm as Christians are hardly being led, encouraged, or taught the disciplines of living a Christian life. And even worse, we are quick to affirm them as Christians even before we have talked to them to ensure they know and understand the Gospel themselves.
Most invitations today are void of talk of sin, hell, death, rebellion, or the cross. It is more of an invitation to try to live God's way or just feeling guilt over your life- it is a salvation of works.
The bottom line is this: you can know that you are saved, if you know how you have been saved. True salvation comes by grace alone, not religious gestures or magic prayer words. How can you know if you've been saved? Your heart has been changed and you are different! And that is a success I hope we will see more and more of as the Word is preached, and as God moves in our land. The greatest threat to the church is not secularism. It is a quite careless, selfish shadow of Biblical Christianity.
I am not God (you knew that!). I do not know, in the end, who is truly saved and who isn't. But I do know what God's grace is like in another person's heart, for I have experienced it myself. When such grace is absent, I can't help but strongly doubt (actually fear is the better word) that it was never there to begin with.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Can "Amazing Grace" get any better?
I may be one of the last pastors to see the movie, Amazing Grace. I am yearning to see it- don't get me wrong- free time just seems to be a bit of a dream right now between work and home responsibilities.
I happened upon the new Chris Tomlin version of the classic hymn written for the new movie. Chris wasn't thrilled about touching a song so glorious at first, but soon the Lord convinced him otherwise.
I sat here today in tears as I heard it in full for the first time. God's grace seemed so fresh to me. I love the verse Tomlin wrote himself to place in the song, however, what really pierced me was this line from the original hymn (why it was omitted from the Baptist Hymnal is a mystery to me, and regrettable):
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forebear to shine,
But God who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
Tomlin ends his version with this verse, he doesn't even use the "when we've been there" verse (which I like, but was OK with him leaving out) . You've got to hear it, if you haven't already. What an important exclamation to make about the security of our salvation because of GRACE.
We've been studying in 1 Peter 4:7- the end of all things is near. What a great comfort it is to know that when judgment comes and the earth is destroyed, by grace I WILL be forever with God. I should fear nothing but rejoice with exceeding gladness!
I happened upon the new Chris Tomlin version of the classic hymn written for the new movie. Chris wasn't thrilled about touching a song so glorious at first, but soon the Lord convinced him otherwise.
I sat here today in tears as I heard it in full for the first time. God's grace seemed so fresh to me. I love the verse Tomlin wrote himself to place in the song, however, what really pierced me was this line from the original hymn (why it was omitted from the Baptist Hymnal is a mystery to me, and regrettable):
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forebear to shine,
But God who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
Tomlin ends his version with this verse, he doesn't even use the "when we've been there" verse (which I like, but was OK with him leaving out) . You've got to hear it, if you haven't already. What an important exclamation to make about the security of our salvation because of GRACE.
We've been studying in 1 Peter 4:7- the end of all things is near. What a great comfort it is to know that when judgment comes and the earth is destroyed, by grace I WILL be forever with God. I should fear nothing but rejoice with exceeding gladness!
Monday, February 12, 2007
The Beginning of Knowledge
Proverbs 1:7 is a keystone text for the whole book. The fear of the Lord is mentioned 11 times in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 1:7 ESV
Is there any characteristic more lacking in man than the fear of the Lord?
We live in the information age. Modern technology, through the internet and wireless devices, provide an immeasurable quantity of data at our fingertips in mere nanoseconds. Still, man is unable to put all knowledge in proper perspective without the fear of God.
It is misunderstood by Christians that believers are to live with the fear of God. It is no longer fear of wrath, but fear of His will, His holiness, His discipline that comes when we are disobedient. It is for the fear of God that the Lord did what he did in Acts 5:1-16 to 2 hypocrites in the church- and through this fear of God, the church grew. We are to both fear and love God to enjoy sweet fellowship with Him and joyful worship.
The fool is the one who does not fear God, but considers himself or herself free enough to live apart from submission to God. Such persons despise true wisdom and instruction; they want to live only for the flesh. In the end, they are ignorant of spiritual things, and remain in bondage in sin.
There are 2 main kinds of people. Those who fear God and grow in spiritual knowledge; and those who, in arrogant foolishness, do not. What kind of person are you? Heed the Lord's warning against foolishness, and fear the Lord.
As it says in Job 28:28 (ESV):
Proverbs 1:7 ESV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Is there any characteristic more lacking in man than the fear of the Lord?
We live in the information age. Modern technology, through the internet and wireless devices, provide an immeasurable quantity of data at our fingertips in mere nanoseconds. Still, man is unable to put all knowledge in proper perspective without the fear of God.
It is misunderstood by Christians that believers are to live with the fear of God. It is no longer fear of wrath, but fear of His will, His holiness, His discipline that comes when we are disobedient. It is for the fear of God that the Lord did what he did in Acts 5:1-16 to 2 hypocrites in the church- and through this fear of God, the church grew. We are to both fear and love God to enjoy sweet fellowship with Him and joyful worship.
The fool is the one who does not fear God, but considers himself or herself free enough to live apart from submission to God. Such persons despise true wisdom and instruction; they want to live only for the flesh. In the end, they are ignorant of spiritual things, and remain in bondage in sin.
There are 2 main kinds of people. Those who fear God and grow in spiritual knowledge; and those who, in arrogant foolishness, do not. What kind of person are you? Heed the Lord's warning against foolishness, and fear the Lord.
As it says in Job 28:28 (ESV):
And he [God] said to man,
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Why Proverbs, Part 2
Proverbs 1:4-6 ESV
As we continue to open the first statements of this book, we have more explanation for why it is useful and why it was given. Again, we see this book as a whole is extremely practical, intersecting real life, real decisions, real thinking, and real people. At first glance, Proverbs does not appear heavy on doctrine; however, thorough study will reveal there is much we learn about God and His nature through these words.
Verse 4 tells us these following chapters give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. Isn't it interesting these two groups are singled out- the simple, and the youth? The simple refers to those who are naive and untaught. But we dare not miss the profoundness of all this. These are two groups that we naturally assume make the most mistakes due to lack of understanding. The remarkable thing being said here is this: through God's Word, even the most simple people can live wisely, even the youth with their lack of life experience and immaturity can live righteously and faithfully. A simple person, nor a youth, need not be bound to the errors of their "kind." God will give them discretion, knowledge, and prudence, if they will but heed Him.
But this book is not just for the simple and the youth. As verse 5 shows us, God's Word is also for the wise, or those with understanding. Verse 5 is a classic example of Hebrew parallelism, where a statement is basically repeated for emphasis using different terminology. God's Word is so essential to life, even the wise are commanded to learn here. What an essential facet of the Christian life! How many warm pews and never learn anything- at the fault of poor preachers, or of their own hardened, misguided hearts? Even the wise and those with understanding are to seek guidance in the Word of God. The wise must NEVER, in pride, close their ears to the Word of God. If they do, their wisdom will cease, and they will become as fools.
Verse 6 indicates there could be some challenges to learning God's Word. The emphasis here is on understanding the following proverbs, yet they are also described as riddles. This of course indicates there is something mysterious about them, or, that the meaning is not initially and obviously clear. Jesus spoke in parables repeatedly that many did not understand at first. A riddle, in the end, is something that carries an indirect message, and therefore requires interpretation.
Two things strike me about this:
1) Man is in desperate need for the Holy Spirit to renew his mind (His whole being) in order to receive the Word of God. Without the Holy Spirit, we would be blind to God's special revelation of Himself. There is a strong dose of this concept that speaks forth from the verse we'll digest in the next blog.
2) Man is in great need of devotion to study. One of the tragedies of modern man, in large measure, is that he does not read, nor does he even really think. He learns a job skill and applies it, he entertains himself with his remaining time. His mind is often too lazy to consider anything freshly to gain new understanding- often, only if it effects his health or his wealth will his mind truly engage. Jesus told us the Great Commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. This means not only having our thoughts about God be true and pure, but applying our minds to understand what the Lord has revealed. Many a church, many a Christian has suffered because the Scripture has gone left unstudied, and therefore, misunderstood or ignored.
Next time: the watermark verse for the whole book of Proverbs- what it all comes down to, and one of my favorite passages.
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
As we continue to open the first statements of this book, we have more explanation for why it is useful and why it was given. Again, we see this book as a whole is extremely practical, intersecting real life, real decisions, real thinking, and real people. At first glance, Proverbs does not appear heavy on doctrine; however, thorough study will reveal there is much we learn about God and His nature through these words.
Verse 4 tells us these following chapters give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. Isn't it interesting these two groups are singled out- the simple, and the youth? The simple refers to those who are naive and untaught. But we dare not miss the profoundness of all this. These are two groups that we naturally assume make the most mistakes due to lack of understanding. The remarkable thing being said here is this: through God's Word, even the most simple people can live wisely, even the youth with their lack of life experience and immaturity can live righteously and faithfully. A simple person, nor a youth, need not be bound to the errors of their "kind." God will give them discretion, knowledge, and prudence, if they will but heed Him.
But this book is not just for the simple and the youth. As verse 5 shows us, God's Word is also for the wise, or those with understanding. Verse 5 is a classic example of Hebrew parallelism, where a statement is basically repeated for emphasis using different terminology. God's Word is so essential to life, even the wise are commanded to learn here. What an essential facet of the Christian life! How many warm pews and never learn anything- at the fault of poor preachers, or of their own hardened, misguided hearts? Even the wise and those with understanding are to seek guidance in the Word of God. The wise must NEVER, in pride, close their ears to the Word of God. If they do, their wisdom will cease, and they will become as fools.
Verse 6 indicates there could be some challenges to learning God's Word. The emphasis here is on understanding the following proverbs, yet they are also described as riddles. This of course indicates there is something mysterious about them, or, that the meaning is not initially and obviously clear. Jesus spoke in parables repeatedly that many did not understand at first. A riddle, in the end, is something that carries an indirect message, and therefore requires interpretation.
Two things strike me about this:
1) Man is in desperate need for the Holy Spirit to renew his mind (His whole being) in order to receive the Word of God. Without the Holy Spirit, we would be blind to God's special revelation of Himself. There is a strong dose of this concept that speaks forth from the verse we'll digest in the next blog.
2) Man is in great need of devotion to study. One of the tragedies of modern man, in large measure, is that he does not read, nor does he even really think. He learns a job skill and applies it, he entertains himself with his remaining time. His mind is often too lazy to consider anything freshly to gain new understanding- often, only if it effects his health or his wealth will his mind truly engage. Jesus told us the Great Commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. This means not only having our thoughts about God be true and pure, but applying our minds to understand what the Lord has revealed. Many a church, many a Christian has suffered because the Scripture has gone left unstudied, and therefore, misunderstood or ignored.
Next time: the watermark verse for the whole book of Proverbs- what it all comes down to, and one of my favorite passages.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Why the book of Proverbs?
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
-Proverbs 1:1-3 ESV
The dictionary defines a proverb as, "a short popular saying, usually of unknown and ancient origin, that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought; adage"
So here in Scripture, we have a large collection of such things. However, their authorship is no mystery- these have come from the king himself.
Solomon had the blessing of reigning in the beginning of "boom times" in Israel. His father David had been enormously successful upon the throne. Solomon would have his successes too, but also his failures. He had all the world had to offer (see Ecclesiastes), but was quite often lacking in godliness.
Still, the book of Proverbs, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, represents Solomon in all the wisdom he did have. From the beginning, we learn the purpose of him writing this book which I will deal with in part here.
Verse 2 gives us a tri-fold emphasis:
To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight...
A few things pop out here. First of all, this book's primary purpose is to teach the mind. Walking with God is not just something we might feel or experience; it is based on right knowledge. As we read this book, we must keep the Great Commandment in mind, which requires us to love the Lord our God... with all our mind. So from the beginning, we must acknowledge any churchgoer who goes for the experience and not for learning has already ventured away from God's will.
What differences might we make between wisdom, instruction, and words of insight?
Instruction focuses on being informed. Wisdom has to do with information rightly applied, and will remain a constant theme throughout this book. Words of insight reveal that these are words of great depth, and not flippant utterances of a careless, shallow voice. They are most worthy of great attention and reflection.
Verse 3 may not change the subject much, but it certainly adds to the emphasis going on here. It does, however, remind us our responsibility to receive such wisdom, as much wisdom falls on deaf ears and hard hearts. How many have read the words of this book, never to apply them? The Proverbs must be personally unwrapped, if you will, for the benefit to be conferred. The implication, in all of this, is that mankind does not understand much of these things by nature- they must be received through divine revelation.
Wise dealing (with other persons) shows us this will largely address our horizontal relationships with our fellow man- believer or otherwise. These words will guide us to righteousness (that is, right or good standing), justice (punishment or rebuke against evil, for the good of others), and equity.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Good to go?
Yesterday, while in Cape Coral to hear Dr. Tom Nettles speak about Baptists and Reformation, I had the privilege of meeting a brother named Bob.
Bob is a guy who is passionate about the gospel. In part, this is true because of his previous background- the health and wealth "gospel," and also the watered-down megachurch (I am not implying all megachurches are watered down). When you realize the falsehoods God has saved you out of, the truth is that much sweeter.
He was sharing a story of a man I believe he has done some business with, but who several months ago he and others had visited on a FAITH evangelism team. That day, this man said he wanted to trust Jesus and prayed to receive Christ.
Fast forward to the present, and Bob called this man and asked about his spiritual life. "Are you going to church?" "No." "Are you reading your Bible?" "No." "Well, why not?" Bob asked.
"I thought I was good to go," the man replied.
Up front, let me state the obvious- I am not God. But I fear for this man's soul. There is no evidence this man has passed from death to life. There is no evidence of love for God, or for God's people. There is also apparently no desire for worship or Christian fellowship or discipleship.
How many people out there think they are saved simply by saying the "magic words" and believing they were "good to go?"
Amazingly, the Bible never tells anyone to pray a prayer to receive Jesus. The command is more pentrating than that. Repent and believe!
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
-1 John 5:1-2 ESV
Bob is a guy who is passionate about the gospel. In part, this is true because of his previous background- the health and wealth "gospel," and also the watered-down megachurch (I am not implying all megachurches are watered down). When you realize the falsehoods God has saved you out of, the truth is that much sweeter.
He was sharing a story of a man I believe he has done some business with, but who several months ago he and others had visited on a FAITH evangelism team. That day, this man said he wanted to trust Jesus and prayed to receive Christ.
Fast forward to the present, and Bob called this man and asked about his spiritual life. "Are you going to church?" "No." "Are you reading your Bible?" "No." "Well, why not?" Bob asked.
"I thought I was good to go," the man replied.
Up front, let me state the obvious- I am not God. But I fear for this man's soul. There is no evidence this man has passed from death to life. There is no evidence of love for God, or for God's people. There is also apparently no desire for worship or Christian fellowship or discipleship.
How many people out there think they are saved simply by saying the "magic words" and believing they were "good to go?"
Amazingly, the Bible never tells anyone to pray a prayer to receive Jesus. The command is more pentrating than that. Repent and believe!
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
-1 John 5:1-2 ESV
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