Restless Church

The Call Conference

2012-01-18T10:39:00.002Z

2012-01-10T15:43:00.000Z

http://thecallconference.org/

Saturday February 25th

What Time:

9:30am-4:00pm

Where:
Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh

Who is it For:
Anyone in leadership of a church, anyone aspiring to be a leader in a church, anyone exploring a call to be a leader in a church or anyone looking to understand what leadership in a local church looks like.

How Much Does it Cost?:
£10, but that pays for your full attendance at the conference (at which you get over 10 free books on leadership and church life!).

To enable the building of his church and the extension of the gospel, God has appointed leaders within the local church. But what does biblical church leadership look like? All too often, deficiencies in the church regarding the importance or style of leadership and the biblical responsibilities of leaders have sentenced churches to immaturity and aimlessness.

God’s desire, however, is for churches to experience the maturity, stability, and fruitfulness that result when leadership and care are extended by qualified leaders who understand The Call to be shepherd’s of God’s flock.

If you are in leadership of a church, aspiring to be a leader in a church, exploring a call to be a leader in a church or looking to understand what leadership in a local church looks like, then join us for a day of biblical teaching, practical insights, interactive panel discussions, and resourced with a myriad of helpful leadership tools.

The Shepherd’s Soul: Jeremy WalkerThis session focuses on the leader’s spiritual condition realizing the necessity of any leader to daily and intimately walk with God to be a qualified, effective leader in the church.

The Shepherd’s Ministry to the Church: Brian CroftThis session discusses the practicality of ministry within the church in areas such as visiting the sick, facing death, caring for widows, discipleship, prayer, accountability and others and how to be most faithful and biblical as we labor in those tasks.

The Shepherd’s Ministry beyond the Church: Matthew Spandler-DavisonThis session discusses the Christian leader’s practical ministry outside of the church in areas such as evangelism, mercy ministry, training and sending pastors and missionaries, pastoral networking, local church association, and how to be a faithful display of the gospel as we engage with other churches and the world.

The Shepherd’s Call: Dr. Ray Van NesteThis lesson looks at the call of the shepherd to faithfully love the Lord and love the Lord’s people. We will be challenged to lead with the heart of a shepherd. We will focus on the call of God for Christian leaders to faithfully feed, lead and protect the people of God.

Breakout Sessions:

Shepherding the family: Liam Garvie
Liam will lead this discussion on the trials, challenges and joys of shepherding your family.
Feeding the Sheep: Dr. Ray Van Neste and Jeremy Walker
The shepherd is primarily tasked with feeding the sheep. Join these two seasoned expositors as they discuss together the nature, joy and challenge of preaching.
Test, Train and Affirm: Brian Croft and Matthew Spandler-DavisonThe church is to be a training ground for pastors, elders and church leaders. Brian and Matthew will share their experience of developing an internship program at their churches.

Dever - the Great Commission & Church Planting

2011-12-01T14:54:00.001Z

The Great Commission and Church Planting (Matthew 28:16-20)
Mark Dever
March 25, 2011
Plant Conference (Glen Mills, PA)

Introduction: “I want to pose six questions to help us think about the Great Commission and church planting.”

Question 1: How are we to fulfill the Great Commission? “A true church is marked by the right preaching of the Word of God, and the right administration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and the preaching of the gospel. In the lives of those baptized and coming to the Lord’s Supper then a corporate witness begins to appear. A church is planted as people begin to see this group of people as followers of Jesus.”

Question 2: What is the big picture? “We find that the big picture in the Bible, from Israel to the redeemed in heaven, seem to show us a pattern of God wanting to be known as faithful and having community around him which knows him and praises him as one who is faithful and just and true.”

Question 3: What has God done? “So God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is involved in church planting far more profoundly than any person in this room will ever be involved in church planting—far more profoundly than the Apostle Paul was involved in church planting! The church is not something which in the most fundamental sense is a human idea or a human creation, but it is fundamentally God’s idea and God’s work. This is what he is about. God is a great church planter.”

Question 4: What did the apostles understand? “Friends, the sort of church-centered ministry where you go out and evangelize, but you do it specifically with the hope and trust and understanding that God intends to bring these Christians back together in local churches, is what this book of Acts is full of.…The New Testament shows the Great Commission being fulfilled by church planting.”

Question 5: What does that mean for us? “Here are eight practical exhortations and implications aimed at pastors of churches:”

Focus your mission efforts on church planting.
Consider who you are sending out.
Consider what you have trained them to do.
Consider how you are going to support them.
Build into your church culture a desire to see the kingdom of God expand in your area and beyond.
Encourage other evangelical church planters around you.
Consider reclaiming existing churches.
Pray for the spread of healthy churches.

Here are five things I want to build into the culture of our church:

Discipleship
Personal evangelism
Missions
A desire to strengthen other churches broadly
A desire to encourage gospel growth in my own area

Question 6: What is our goal in fulfilling the Great Commission? “The glory of God in the church.”

Conclusion: “The local church is where the authority of Christ is exercised. The local church is where disciples are made and baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The local church is where Christians are taught to obey everything Jesus commanded us. To this end, Christ promised us his Spirit until he returns. And so we see that church planting is the normal business of the local church. The Great Commission is normally fulfilled through church planting.”

Church Planting Conference with Richard Coekin

2011-08-08T10:37:00.000Z

The Glory of our Adoption

2011-07-12T09:48:00.000Z

As a church, we have recently started a series in Ephesians and last week I was reflecting on the significance of our adoption in Christ. As i thought about what it means to be saved by God, brought into his family and given the rights and privileges as sons, I came across this quote from For the Fame of God's Name (ed's Storms and Taylor).

Packer asks us this question in his book Knowing God: If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father.

If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all... To those who are Christ’s, the holy God is a loving Father; they belong to his family; they may approach him without fear and always be sure of his fatherly concern and care.

This is the heart of the New Testament message... Adoption is a family idea, conceived in terms of love, and viewing God as father. In adoption, God takes us into his family and fellowship—he establishes us as his children and heirs. Closeness, affection and generosity are at the heart of the relationship. To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is a greater.

What do we really need to grow the church?

2011-06-20T21:53:00.001Z

This is an excerpt from Jonathan Leeman's book on the Word of God entitled, Reverberation. Well worth a read.

Picture in your mind some church you have known. Now, for just a moment, take away the programs. Take away the children’s nursery. Take away the parking lot and the musical instruments and the bulletins. Take away the building. Take away everything but the people of the church itself. Imagine all these members of the church standing together in a field. If you like, you can imagine it’s a sunny day and that nobody’s getting wet. Make the field as nice and flowery as you like. The point is, all you have are the people.
Once you have this church in your head, ask the question: What do we need to grow this church in both numbers and spiritual depth?
Do we need the building back? Or the musical instruments or bulletins? What must we have? Surely we need some water for baptizing people. And somebody needs to bring the bread and cup for the Lord’s Supper. Both of these things are necessary for constituting the church as a church. Some people might also say that particular ministerial offices are necessary for constituting the church as a church, but let’s leave that question aside for the moment. What’s absolutely necessary for life and growth?
Answer: God’s Word working through God’s Spirit. Somebody has to pick up a Bible and read it. And someone has to explain it so that people will understand it. When this happens, the Spirit begins to work upon people’s hearts, causing them to believe the words and give a proper weight to them. The people then repeat the words in their songs and prayers. They discover, most remarkably, that they can speak to God as guided by these biblical words. They also repeat the words of God to one another throughout the week. They help each other discern His will for their lives. Then their lives begin to be shaped by the words, so that they begin to live differently at work and at home. They discover that these words are life-giving, hope-giving, and love-producing.

Men's Event @ Charlotte Chapel - Sat 28th May

2011-05-05T09:21:00.002Z

I Will Lay my Head on the Soft Pillow of God's Sovereignty

2011-04-27T09:25:00.001Z

A good friend of mine and pastor of Airdrie Baptist Church, Ross Murphy last night had a craniotomy to remove a tumour from the front of his brain. Praise God, the operation went well.

I have to say, I wondered what my (your) reaction would be to the diagnosis Ross received. What would our response be to such a pressing trial? Ross has responded with remarkable strength despite his desperate weakness. Deborah, his wife, reports of Ross lying in his hospital bed eagerly ministering to those who came to minister to him and even to serve those fellow sufferers in the beds around him. What is it that makes a man on the eve of a craniotomy and on the brink of the unknown know the kind of peace that enables him to serve others?

In answering teat question, I thought of a hymn and the man who wrote it... there was a man living in a little village in England called Olney in the 1770’s, and he suffered from a very deep depression. Often he would be overwhelmed by the seeming hopelessness of his own life that he for him, his life at times was nothing less than a living nightmare that involved daily suffering. He was a Christian and often said to his pastor ‘the Lord’s hand has gone out against me!’

But that same man was able to write one of the greatest hymns ever written. What is is that enables a man who feels the weight of darkness pressing down on him to sing this...

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs, And works his sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, The clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain; God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.

What enables a man who feels the weight of his suffering press down on him to sing this song? What is it that enables Ross Murphy to selflessly minister to others around him? It is this - God's sovereignty. In spite of pain, in spite of trial, in spite of suffering he could say,

"I will lay my head on the soft pillow of God's sovereignty."

They knew that 'in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose'. And they lived like they believed it. Praise God.

The View from the Valley...

2011-04-25T06:33:00.000Z

A good friend of mine, Ross Murphy (31), was recently diagnosed with a tumour on the brain. He's married with a toddler and is pastor of Airdrie Baptist Church. Facing surgery on Tuesday 26th April, he posted this on his blog, http://thatwhichthundered.blogspot.com and i had to share it with you.

No one wants to be diagnosed with a brain tumour. A craniotomy still sounds to me like a medieval form of torture, or at best an early Victorian form of surgery when lusty butchers hacked away with lots of gusto and little precision. This is not something I would have chosen to have faced, but I feel as well prepared as possible, and I want to share why.
I’m quite familiar with hospitals.

Normally I pop in, have a chat, read a passage from the bible, pray- then it’s back out to the car and home. It’s been an altogether different experience of late. Here I am in the valley. And I’m pleased to report, there is much to be thankful for, even here.

I watched Question Time recently and one panellist lamented ‘where is Florence Nightingale?’ speaking of the nurses she had encountered in the NHS and complaining that it was to them a profession rather than a vocation. Well our Florence Nightingale’s are all in the Monklands and Southern and General Hospitals. They are professionals- and I’m pleased to know that before I pop the pills they provide, but they lack nothing in care and compassion. I am therefore very reluctant to offer any criticism of them. One thing however I have had to correct is when they say to me –knowing I’m a minister- ‘its good you have your faith.’ Maybe it’s a phrase you’ve used before, I’ve heard it repeatedly in the last few days. But the reality is my faith is no help to me. It’s the Object of my faith who matters.

When I hear the phrase ‘its good you have your faith’ I respond ‘I have a great God’. My faith is powerless to help, to heal to comfort or console, but the One I have faith in is my Rock my Redeemer my Refuge and my Rest.

Commending me for my faith as if it’s something I’ve worked hard to earn is to totally miss the point. I have great hope, because I have a great God.

There is a peculiar peace and even joy in suffering as a Christian. Spurgeon said 'I have learned to kiss the wave that strikes me against the rock that is Christ.' These past few days have driven us deeper to God. We have known the presence of the living Lord and the power of prayer. Every day God has gifted us the grace we’ve needed and we trust in that grace for the day tomorrow!
I’m pleased to report that the passages I’ve read to others in difficult days are proving true sources of strength and peace in the valley. I’ve been dwelling in some very familiar places; Psalm 23, John 14, Romans 8, Psalm 103. What power there is in these words.

God has prepared us for this so well in many ways, recently I’ve been reading Bonar’s biography of McCheyne (buy this if you can!) a minister of the gospel who suffered much, but whose sufferings bore much fruit.

McCheyne also knew he was a sinner. When suffering came there was no anger, no ‘why me’, no questioning of God’s sovereignty or goodness. I have to say a lot of man-centred rubbish which passes for Christian literature today would have left me totally unprepared for the valley.
I am a sinner. A few non-Christian friends have been surprised that a minister- (surely a good guy) and a nice minister, and a young minister would face something like this. The reality is Jesus does not promise his followers a life of comfort and ease, infact he promises the opposite. But he does promise his presence and peace to those who turn to and trust in him. He is faithful to that promise and to his people.

Neither have I any cause for complaint. I have not just broken his commandments, I’ve broken the one Jesus called the most important.

Actually I’ve broken it every day.Truth be told, I’m not convinced I’ve perfectly fulfilled it for five minutes of my 31 years of life.
And yet for 31 years he’s let me breathe his air.

I don’t know how many times my heart has beaten, or my lungs have filled over these years but I’ve not earned a single breath or beat. I never earned my way into existence in 1980, and haven’t made up for that since. It’s all gift, all grace. We all like to think we’re good people. That the scales of our lives tip the right way, for that reason people put ministers like me on a pedestal. The truth is we’re all sinners, we’ve all treated the God who gifts us life as if he didn’t matter, we all need forgiveness. And its only found in Jesus.

Only in Jesus has a truly good man got what he didn’t deserve- he got it on the cross, to take the punishment of every believer.

I believe God is going to heal me, but I don’t fear death, not because I’m good, because I’m forgiven. I know God’s smile in the valley, he is for me, he is with me, he goes before me.

If you were to be brought into the valley, would you know this hope and peace? If not, stop praying for me and start praying for yourself. This wee website explains the gospel, but best thing to do is to find a strong Christian and a bible to talk\pray you through this.

As I was saying I have a lot to live for. And a lot to be thankful for.
As well as all the stuff we take for granted- life, food, colour, music, laughter, security etc
I have a loving, faithful, beautiful, loyal, godly wifeA beautiful wee girl who can make me weep just by calling me daddyA great mum and wee brother who have loved me so well throughout my lifeA church family who have been overwhelmingly kind, thoughtful, patient, prayerful, and loving.
Death for me as a Christian is gain.

But I’m not ashamed to say I’m praying for many more years here with these blessings and responsibilities. I want to be about to vet Katie’s boyfriends, and ~~when~~ if I reluctantly concede to one, to walk her down the aisle!

Matt Chandler sums it up better than I could. He’s a young minister like me, with a hot young wife and cute young daughter like me, suffered a sudden seizure like me, was diagnosed with a tumour in the right frontal lobe like me, requiring a craniotomy like me, and was overwhelmed by God’s love in the valley, like me.

Here he is speaking (he’s well worth a Google by the way!)

One more thing people have said to me- ‘it’s a shame you’ve taken so unwell right at your busy time!’
Actually Easter is a good time to face this, because the Easter message is the one that offers joy, not by building on the sand, or by burying your head in it, the Easter message offers joy and perfect peace even in the darkest of valleys.

Thank you for your love and prayers. We have shed many tears over these past few days, but none birthed of despair, most birthed simply in real, deep gratitude.
Ross

Do pray for Ross for Tuesday, and remember Deborah, Katie and the family in prayer too.

Look & Live

2011-04-22T07:11:00.002Z

Spurgeon says to us… “Look at him there, head slumped to his chest… who is this mighty sufferer? Why has he suffered like this? Has he been the greatest of all sinners?

But a voice came from glory and it said, “behold my beloved Son, he took the sinners sin upon himself, and he bore its penalty.”

‘O God’ I thought, ‘I never saw till that hour, when I saw it tear Christ’s glories from his head, when it seemed even that the lovingkindness of God was withdrawn from him, when I saw him covered in his own blood, and plunged into the uttermost depths of oceans of grief.’

Then I said, “Now I know what you are, O sin! As never before I knew it.” Now, child of God, lift your eye and behold the scene of suffering through which your Lord passed for your sake!

What About the Issues Scripture Doesn’t Address?

2011-03-28T20:06:00.000Z

What About the Issues Scripture Doesn’t Address?

8 Symptoms of False Doctrine

2011-03-17T10:14:00.000Z

Jc Ryle....

1. There is an undeniable zeal in some of the teachers of error: their “earnestness” makes many think they must be right.

2. There is a great appearance of learning and theological knowledge: many fancy that such clever and intellectual men must surely be safe guides.

3. There is a general tendency to free thought and free inquiry in these latter days: many like to prove their independence of judgment, by believing novelties.

4. There is a wide-spread desire to appear charitable and liberal-minded: many seem half ashamed of saying that anybody can be in the wrong.

5. There is a quantity of half-truth taught by the modern false teachers: they are incessantly using Scriptural terms and phrases in an unscriptural sense.

6. There is a morbid craving in the public mind for a more sensuous, ceremonial, sensational, showy worship: men are impatient of inward, invisible heart-work.

7. There is a silly readiness in every direction to believe everybody who talks cleverly, lovingly and earnestly, and a determination to forget that Satan often masquerades himself “as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

8. There is a wide-spread “gullibility” among professing Christians: every heretic who tells his story plausibly is sure to be believed, and everybody who doubts him is called a persecutor and a narrow-minded man.

All these things are peculiar symptoms of our times. I defy any observing person to deny them. They tend to make the assaults of false doctrine in our day peculiarly dangerous. They make it more than ever needful to cry aloud, “Do not be carried away!”

Now is Not the Time to Despair

2011-03-17T10:04:00.002Z

Machen in 1923, commenting on a very present situation here in Scotland:

The present is a time not for ease or pleasure, but for earnest and prayerful work. A terrible crisis unquestionably has arisen in the Church. In the ministry of evangelical churches are to be found hosts of those who reject the gospel of Christ. By the equivocal use of traditional phrases, by the representation of differences of opinion as though they were only differences about the interpretation of the Bible, entrance into the Church was secured for those who are hostile to the very foundations of the faith. And now there are some indications that the fiction of conformity to the past is to be thrown off, and the real meaning of what has been taking place is to be allowed to appear. The Church, it is now apparently supposed, has almost been educated up to the point where the shackles of the Bible can openly be cast away and the doctrine of the Cross of Christ can be relegated to the limbo of discarded subtleties.

Yet there is in the Christian life no room for despair. Only, our hopefulness should not be founded on the sand. It should be founded, not upon a blind ignorance of the danger, but solely upon the precious promises of God. Laymen, as well as ministers, should return, in these trying days, with new earnestness, to the study of the Word of God.
If the Word of God be heeded, the Christian battle will be fought both with love and with faithfulness. Party passions and personal animosities will be put away, but on the other hand, even angels from heaven will be rejected if they preach a gospel different from the blessed gospel of the Cross. Every man must decide upon which side he will stand. God grant that we may decide aright!

What the immediate future may bring we cannot presume to say. The final result indeed is clear. God has not deserted His Church; He has brought her through even darker hours than those which try our courage now, yet the darkest hour has always come before the dawn. We have today the entrance of paganism into the Church in the name of Christianity. But in the second century a similar battle was fought and won. From another point of view, modern liberalism is like the legalism of the middle ages, with its dependence upon the merit of man. And another Reformation in God’s good time will come.

But meanwhile our souls are tried. We can only try to do our duty in humility and in sole reliance upon the Savior who bought us with His blood. The future is in God's hand, and we do not know the means that He will use in the accomplishment of His will.

Christian Belief's Course at Charlotte Chapel

2011-02-18T10:09:00.004Z

Are you Christ-Centred of Self-Centred?

2011-02-06T21:45:00.004Z

I heard a great sermon this morning at Central Baptist Church as Jim Turrent took us through Revelation 3 and the Tepid Church of Laodicea. Amid the many challenges expounded Jim highlighted the link between our having Christ as the supreme treasure and goal of our hearts and our evangelism...

Is Christ at the centre of your life? If not, what does that tell you? That you're self satisfied? Do you realise that if you don't see the need for Christ at the centre of your life you'll never see the need for others to have Him at the centre of their lives? Oh, church family, if that is true our mission will be non-existent.

Jim Turrent

Ministry Apprenticeship @ Charlotte Chapel

2011-02-02T13:51:00.001Z

Charlotte Chapel's Week of Prayer starts Monday 10th January

2011-01-06T10:32:00.003Z

Tripp on the danger of avoiding confrontation...

2010-12-16T09:03:00.003Z

Since confrontation, confession, and forgiveness are all hard work, it is easier to give way to lower urges. It is easier to harrumph and walk away, to rehearse in your mind the other’s wrongs, to compile your list, to yell in anger, and to level a threat. So many people allow themselves to fall into comfortable but relationally destructive patterns. Meanwhile, the affection and respect between them is weakening, and the distance between them is widening.

From a larger post called 'A Bitter Harvest' - worthy of a slow and careful reading!

Want to know how to share the gospel with loved one's this Christmas?

2010-12-16T08:57:00.001Z

HT Tony Reinke @sovereign grace - this is a repost of his...

On Sunday morning, December 21, 1856, Charles Spurgeon preached a sermon to prepare his growing church for the coming Christmas season. He titled it “Going Home,” and the aim of the message was to encourage each member of his congregation to humbly, wisely, and appropriately find opportunities to share their personal testimony with family and friends.

Spurgeon had become the pastor of New Park Street Church in April 1854. At that time the church had 232 members. By Christmas of 1856 the membership had risen quickly to around 4,000. A large number of newly converted Christians needed to be prepared for their return home for Christmas.

Spurgeon’s sermon text was taken from the dramatic account of Jesus healing the Gerasene demoniac in Mark 5:1–20. Spurgeon focused his attention on Jesus’s commission to the man after he was healed: “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (v. 19).

After explaining the demoniac’s radical life-transformation by Christ and his commission to go home, Spurgeon commissioned his church to return home. In the remainder of the sermon Spurgeon develops several practical points:

Christmas is suited for sharing the gospel with family and friends.
Aim to share the story of God’s grace in your life.
By sharing we edify believers.
By sharing we reach lost friends and family.
Be alert for one-on-one opportunities to share your story.
Don’t expect this sharing to be easy.
Overcome this fear by sharing to honor your Savior.
Share your story with gratitude to God.
Share your story with humility.
Share your story truthfully—don’t embellish it.
Tell your story seriously—don’t share it flippantly.
Don’t neglect your personal devotions during Christmas.
Rest upon the Holy Spirit’s help to share.
Remember that this story you share over the holidays is the story that will be on your lips eternally.

What follows are a few excerpts taken from the message that have been slightly modified and rearranged for readability.

A pdf of this post is available here (7 pages). You are free to download, email, print, or copy this file as you wish.

May the Savior be glorified this Christmas season as we gather with friends and family.

Going Home: A Christmas Sermon
C.H. Spurgeon
December 21, 1856

The demoniac’s story

This poor wretch, being possessed with a legion of evil spirits had been driven to something worse than madness. He fixed his home among the tombs, where he dwelt by night and day, and was the terror of all those who passed by. The authorities had attempted to curb him; he had been bound with fetters and chains, but in the paroxysms of his madness he had torn the chains in sunder, and broken the fetters in pieces.

Attempts had been made to reclaim him, but no man could tame him. He was worse than the wild beasts, for they might be tamed; but his fierce nature would not yield. He was a misery to himself, for he would run upon the mountains by night and day, crying and howling fearfully, cutting himself with the sharp flints, and torturing his poor body in the most frightful manner.

Jesus Christ passed by; he said to the devils, “Come out of him.” The man was healed in a moment, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, he became a rational being—an intelligent man, and what is more, a convert to the Savior.

The demoniac’s commission

Out of gratitude to his deliverer, he said, “Lord, I will follow you wherever you go. I will be your constant companion and your servant, permit me so to be” [Mark 5:18].

“No,” said Christ, “I esteem your motive, it is one of gratitude to me, but if you would show your gratitude, go home to your friends and tell them of the great things the Lord has done for you, and how he has had compassion on you.”

Christmas is suited for sharing the gospel with family and friends.

True religion does not break the bonds of family relationship. True religion seldom encroaches upon that sacred—I had almost said divine—institution called home. It does not separate men from their families, and make them aliens to their flesh and blood.…

Christianity makes a husband a better husband, it makes a wife a better wife than she was before. It does not free me from my duties as a son; it makes me a better son, and my parents better parents. Instead of weakening my love, it gives me fresh reason for my affection; and he whom I loved before as my father, I now love as my brother and co-worker in Christ Jesus; and she whom I reverenced as my mother, I now love as my sister in the covenant of grace, to be mine for ever in the state that is to come.…

For my part, I wish there were twenty Christmas days in the year. It is seldom that young men can meet with their friends; it is rarely they can all be united as happy families….I love it as a family institution, as one of England’s brightest days, the great Sabbath of the year, when the plough rests in its furrow, when the din of business is hushed, when the mechanic and the working man go out to refresh themselves upon the green sward of the glad earth.

Aim to share the story of God’s grace in your life.

It is to be a story of personal experience: “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”

You are not to repair to your houses to preach. You are not to begin to take up doctrinal subjects and expatiate on them, and endeavor to bring persons to your peculiar views and sentiments. You are not to go home with sundry doctrines you have lately learned, and try to teach these. You are to go home and tell not what you have believed, but what you have felt—what you really know to be your own; not what great things you have read, but what great things the Lord hath done for you; not alone what you have seen done in the great congregation, and how great sinners have turned to God, but what the Lord has done for you. And mark this: there is never a more interesting story than that which a man tells about himself.…

Go home, young man, and tell the poor sinner’s story; go home, young woman, and open your diary, and give your friends stories of grace. Tell them of the mighty works of God’s hand which he hath wrought in you from his own free, sovereign, undeserved love. Make it a free grace story around your family fire.

By sharing we edify believers.

If you want to make your mother’s heart leap within her, and to make your father glad—if you would make that sister happy who sent you so many letters, which sometimes you read against a lamp-post, with your pipe in your mouth—go home and tell your mother that her wishes are all accomplished, that her prayers are heard, that you will no longer chaff her about her Sunday-school class, and no longer laugh at her because she loves the Lord, but that you will go with her to the house of God, for you love God.…

Cannot you imagine the scene, when the poor demoniac mentioned in my text went home? He had been a raving madman; and when he came and knocked at the door, don’t you think you see his friends calling to one another in affright, “Oh! there he is again,” and the mother running up stairs and locking all the doors, because her son had come back that was raving mad; and the little ones crying because they knew what he had been before—how he cut himself with stones, because he was possessed with devils. And can you picture their joy, when the man said, “Mother! Jesus Christ has healed me, let me in; I am no lunatic now!”

By sharing we reach lost friends and family.

I hear one of you say, “Ah! Sir, would to God I could go home to pious friends! But when I go home I go into the worst of places; for my home is amongst those who never knew God themselves, and consequently never prayed for me, and never taught me anything concerning heaven.”

Go home to them, and tell them, not to make them glad, for they will very likely be angry with you, but tell them for their soul’s salvation. I hope, when you are telling the story of what God did for you, that they will be led by the Spirit to desire the same mercy themselves.

Be alert for one-on-one opportunities to share your story.

Do not tell this story to your ungodly friends when they are all together, for they will laugh at you. Take them one by one, when you can get them alone, and begin to tell it to them, and they will hear you seriously.…You may be the means of bringing a man to Christ who has often heard the Word and only laughed at it, but who cannot resist a gentle admonition.

Don’t expect this sharing to be easy.

For I hear many of my congregation say, “Sir, I could relate that story to anyone sooner than I could to my own friends; I could come to your vestry, and tell you something of what I have tasted and handled of the Word of God; but I could not tell my father, nor my mother, nor my brethren, nor my sisters.”

Overcome this fear by sharing to honor your Savior.

I know you love him; I am sure you do, if you have proof that he loved you. You can never think of Gethsemane and of its bloody sweat, of Gabbatha and of the mangled back of Christ, flayed by the whip: you can never think of Calvary and his pierced hands and feet, without loving him, and it is a strong argument when I say to you, for his dear sake who loved you so much, go home and tell it. If Christ has done much for you, you cannot help it—you must tell it.

Share your story with gratitude to God.

No story is more worth hearing than a tale of gratitude. This poor man’s tale was a grateful story. I know it was grateful, because the man said, “I will tell thee how great things the Lord hath done for me.” A man who is grateful is always full of the greatness of the mercy which God has shown him; he always thinks that what God has done for him is immensely good and supremely great.

Share your story with humility.

It must be a tale told by a poor sinner who feels himself not to have deserved what he has received. Oh! when we tell the story of our own conversion, I would have it done with deep sorrow, remembering what we used to be, and with great joy and gratitude, remembering how little we deserve these things. Why, then, my eyes began to be fountains of tears, those hearers who had nodded their heads began to brighten up, and they listened, because they were hearing something which the man felt himself and which they recognized as being true to him, if it was not true to them.

Tell your story, my hearers, as lost sinners. Do not go to your home, and walk into your house with a supercilious air, as much as to say, “Here’s a saint come home to the poor sinners, to tell them a story.”…

Do not intrude yourselves upon those who are older, and know more, but tell your story humbly; not as a preacher, but as a friend and as a son.

Share your story truthfully—don’t embellish it.

Do not tell more than you know; do not tell John Bunyan’s experience, when you ought to tell your own. Do not tell your mother you have felt what only Rutherford felt. Tell her no more than the truth. Tell your experience truthfully, for one single fly in the pot of ointment will spoil it, and one statement you may make which is not true may ruin it all.

Tell your story seriously—don’t share it flippantly.

Let them see you mean it. Do not talk about religion flippantly; you will do no good if you do. Do not make puns on texts. Do not quote Scripture by way of joke. If you do, you may talk till you are dumb, you will do no good, if you in the least degree give them occasion to laugh by laughing at holy things yourself. Tell it very earnestly.…

Perhaps when you are telling the story one of your friends will say, “And what of that?” And your answer will be, “It may not be a great thing to you, but it is to me. You say it is little to repent, but I have not found it so; it is a great and precious thing to be brought to know myself to be a sinner, and to confess it, do you say it is a little thing to have found a Savior. If you had found him too, you would not think it little. You think it little I have lost the burden from my back; but if you had suffered with it, and felt its weight as I have for many a long year, you would think it no little thing to be emancipated and free, through a sight of the cross.”

Don’t neglect your personal devotions during Christmas.

When you are at home for Christmas, let no one see your face till God has seen it. Be up in the morning, wrestle with God; and if your friends are not converted, wrestle with God for them, and then you will find it easy work to wrestle with them for God.

Rest upon the Holy Spirit’s help to share.

Do not be afraid, only think of the good you may possibly do. Remember, he that saves a soul from death has covered a multitude of sins, and he shall have stars in his crown forever and ever.…Let your reliance in the Holy Spirit be entire and honest. Trust not yourself, but fear not to trust him. He can give you words. He can apply those words to their heart, and so enable you to “minister grace to the hearers” [Ephesians 4:29].

Remember that this story you share over the holidays is the story that will be on your lips eternally.

When we go home to our friends in Paradise, what shall we do?

First we will repair to that blest seat where Jesus sits, take off our crown and cast it at his feet, and crown him Lord of all. And when we have done that, what shall be our next employ? We will tell the blessed ones in heaven what the Lord hath done for us, and how he hath had compassion on us.

And shall such tale be told in heaven? Shall that be the Christmas Carol of the angels? Yes it shall be; it has been published there before—blush not to tell it yet again—for Jesus has told it before, “When he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.”

Poor sheep, when you shall be gathered in, will you not tell how your Shepherd sought you and found you? Will you not sit in the grassy meads of heaven, and tell the story of your own redemption? Will you not talk with your brothers and sisters, and tell them how God loved you and has brought you there?

Perhaps you say, “It will be a very short story.” Ah! It would be if you could write now. A little book might be the whole of your biography; but up there when your memory shall be enlarged, when your passion shall be purified, and your understanding clear, you will find that what was but a tract on earth will be a huge tome in heaven. You will tell a long story there of God’s sustaining, restraining, constraining grace. And I think that when you pause to let another tell his tale, and then another, and then another, you will at last, when you have been in heaven a thousand years, break out and exclaim, “O saints, I have something else to say.” Again they will tell their tales, and again you will interrupt them with “Oh, beloved, I have thought of another case of God’s delivering mercy.” And so you will go on, giving them themes for songs, finding them the material for the warp and woof of heavenly sonnets.

Quote from Charlotte's Book of the Month...

2010-11-25T21:35:00.003Z

I thought I'd pitch in with a helpful quote from our book of the month at Charlotte Chapel. Whilst theladies are reading Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes, the gentlemen are reading Disciplines of a Godly Man.

Now, books with the word 'Discipline' in the title tend to stimulate guilt even before the book has been opened, but listen to what Hughes says...

For many, spiritual discipline means putting oneself back under the Law with a series of Draconian rules which no one can live up to - and which spawn frustration and spiritual death.
But nothing could be farther from the truth if you understand what discipline and legalism are. The difference is one of motivation: legalism is self-centered; discipline is God-centered. The legalistic heart says, "I will do this thing to gain merit with God." The disciplined heart says, "I will do this thing because I love God and want to please Him."

What is God up to when life is hard?

2010-11-22T09:09:00.003Z

HT : JT

How do we understand the unexpected and upsetting things we face in life? Justin Taylor summarises JI Packer's response in his incredible work, Knowing God (p. 97). J. I. Packer asks, 'What do they mean?'

Simply that God in his wisdom means to make something of us which we have not attained yet, and he is dealing with us accordingly.

Then Packer ponders the possible purposes God might have in mind for you:

Perhaps he means to strengthen us in patience, good humor, compassion, humility, or meekness, by giving us some extra practice in exercising these graces under especially difficult conditions.

Perhaps he has new lessons in self-denial and self-distrust to teach us.

Perhaps he wishes to break us of complacency, or unreality, or undetected forms of pride and conceit.

Perhaps his purpose is simply to draw us closer to himself in conscious communion with him; for it is often the case, as all the saints know, that fellowship with the Father and the Son is most vivid and sweet, and Christian joy is greatest, when the cross is heaviest. . . .

Or perhaps God is preparing us for forms of service of which at present we have no inkling.

He goes on:

We may be frankly bewildered at things that happen to us, but God knows exactly what he is doing, and what he is after, in his handling of our affairs.

Always, and in everything, he is wise: we shall see that hereafter, even where we never saw it here. . . .

Meanwhile, we ought not to hesitate to trust his wisdom, even when he leaves us in the dark.

But how should we respond to baffling and trying situations when cannot now see God’s purpose in them?

First, by taking them as from God, and asking ourselves what reactions to them, and in them, the gospel of God requires of us;

second, by seeking God’s face specifically about them.

“If we do these two things,” Packer writes, “we shall never find ourselves wholly in the dark as to God’s purpose in our troubles.”

The Bible: True or False

2010-11-09T14:24:00.003Z

What could 3 experts tell you about 4 Gospels in 1 day that would make you believe the Bible?

When? Saturday 29th Jan 2011. Registration 9:45am, start 10:15am. Finish 4:30pm
Where? Charlotte Chapel, 204 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4AZ (map and directions).
How much? £15, includes lunch and refreshments

Who is it for?

All Christians who want to understand more of the reliability of the Bible.

Can you answer clearly questions about the authenticity of the Bible? Are you fully convinced of this yourself? Can the Bible stand up against science, archaeology and modern scholarly attacks? This conference will refresh you in the knowledge of the trustworthiness of the Bible.

Feel free to pass details on to friends who would be interested.

What is the conference about?

Using the best available scholarship, the Bible and Church series of conferences offer the evidence for the reliability of the New Testament gospels. Many think that science and modern scholarship have proved the Bible irrelevant or even dangerous. These internationally respected speakers will provide accessible material which addresses modern challenges to the reliability of the Bible.

Who is speaking?

Dr Peter Williams , Tyndale House.
Dr Simon Gathercole , University of Cambridge.
Dr Dirk Jongkind , Tyndale House.

How do I sign up?
Book online

See what God can do when we make Christ our Conversation

2010-10-19T10:53:00.005Z

Here at Charlotte, we're encouraging one another to REACH, BUILD, and SEND with the Gospel and to be

1) intentional in making Christ part and parcel of our conversation

2) pursuing grace-motivated godliness.

As I began reading through the works of John Bunyan last week I read this remarkable account of how he was impacted by overhearing a conversation between two women who were simply conversing about Christ and the pursuit of godliness. Take a look for yourself...

How often have the Saints of God been made a most unexpected blessing to others. The good seed of Divine truth has been many times sown by those who did not go out to sow, but who were profitably engaged in cultivating their own graces, enjoying the communion of Saints, and advancing their own personal happiness!

Think of a few poor, but pious happy women, sitting in the sun one beautiful summer's day, before one of their cottages, probably each one with her pillow on her lap, dexterously twisting the bobbins to make lace, the profits of which helped to maintain their children. While they are communing on the things of God, a traveling tinker draws near, and, over-hearing their talk, takes up a position where he might listen to their converse while he pursued his avocation. Their words distil into his soul; they speak the language of Canaan; they talk of holy enjoyments, the result of being born again, acknowledging their miserable state by nature, and how freely and undeservedly God had visited their hearts with pardoning mercy, and supported them while suffering the assaults and suggestions of Satan; how they had been borne up in every dark, cloudy, stormy day; and how they contemned, slighted, and abhorred their own righteousness as filthy and insufficient to do them any good.

The learned discourses our tinker had heard at church had casually passed over his mind like evanescent clouds, and left little or no lasting impression. But these poor women, 'methought they spake as actually did make them speak; they speak with such pleasant as of Scripture language, and with such appearance of grace in all they said, that they were to me as if they had found a new world, as if they were people that dwelt alone, and were not to be reckoned among their neighbors' (Num 23:9).

O! how little did they imagine that their pious converse was to be the means employed by the Holy Spirit in the conversion of that poor tinker, and that, by their agency, he was to be transformed into one of the brightest luminaries of heaven; who, when he had entered into rest would leave his works to follow him as spiritual thunder to pierce the hearts of the impenitent, and as heavenly consolation to bind up the broken-hearted; liberating the prisoners of Giant Despair, and directing the pilgrims to the Celestial City.

Christianity Explored

2010-10-06T15:46:00.002Z

In Understanding Be Men

2010-09-30T13:04:00.001Z

A reminder before Sunday

2010-09-03T15:29:00.001Z

The power of the gospel does not lie on the eloquence of the preacher… we might preach till our tongues rotted, till we exhaust our lungs and die, but never would a soul be converted unless the Holy Spirit adorns the gospel words we proclaim with saving power.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Seeing the Bigger Picture

2010-08-30T08:10:00.002Z

I came across a great little reading plan in my wife's ESV which is superb for new believers or for those who want to get a bigger picture of the great things God has done throughout the ages to make a way for us to know Him and be reconciled to Him. Take a look below.

Day 1 Genesis 1–2 The Creation Account

Day 2 Genesis 3 The Beginning of Sin

Day 3 Genesis 15; 17:15-27 God’s Covenant with Abraham

Day 4 Genesis 21:1-7; 22 God’s Faithfulness and Abraham’s Faith

Day 5 Exodus 3–4 God Calls Moses to Deliver His People

Day 6 Exodus 20 The Ten Commandments

Day 7 Joshua 1 Conquering the Promised Land

Day 8 1 Samuel 16–17 David and Goliath

Day 9 1 Kings 3; 8:1–9:9 King Solomon’s Wisdom and the Temple

Day 10 1 Kings 18 The Prophet Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

Day 11 2 Kings 25 The Siege of Jerusalem and Exile of Judah

Day 12 Daniel 2–3 Daniel in Babylon; The Fiery Furnace

Day 13 Ezra 3 Rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem

Day 14 Isaiah 9, 53, 61 Isaiah’s Prophecy of the Coming Messiah

Day 15 Luke 1–2 The Birth of Jesus

Day 16 John 1:1-18 Who Jesus Is

Day 17 Matthew 4:14-44 Jesus Begins His Ministry

Day 18 Matthew 5–6 The Core of Jesus’ Teaching

Day 19 John 3 God’s Love for the World

Day 20 John 5 Jesus’ Miracles and Authority

Day 21 John 11 Jesus’ Power Over Death

Day 22 John 15 The Christian Life Defi ned

Day 23 John 17 Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer

Day 24 Matthew 26–27 The Arrest and Crucifi xion of Jesus

Day 25 John 20 The Resurrection of Jesus

Day 26 Luke 24 The Ascension of Jesus

Day 27 Acts 2 The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Day 28 Acts 9 The Conversion of Saul

Day 29 Acts 16 The Gospel Spreads to Europe

Day 30 Acts 26 Paul’s Defense of the Christian Faith

Day 31 Romans 3 Justification by Faith Alone

Day 32 Romans 7–8 The Battle With Sin; Life in the Spirit

Day 33 1 Corinthians 13 The Way of Love

Day 34 1 Corinthians 15 The Power of the Resurrection

Day 35 Galatians 5 Freedom in Christ

Day 36 Ephesians 6 The Whole Armor of God

Day 37 Philippians 1:18—2:18 Christ’s Example

Day 38 Colossians 3:1-17 Putting on the New Self

Day 39 James 1 Pure Religion

Day 40 Revelation 21–22 The New Heaven and Earth

Priceless!!! - Ray Ortland on the Credit Card of Justification

2010-08-24T20:27:00.004Z

Ray Ortland provides a great post on justification, the very heart of the gospel.

The credit card of justification means we charge our sins to Christ. He paid on our behalf at the cross. We are “justified by his grace as a gift” (Romans 3:24). All our debts are covered by this card, which we receive with the empty hands of faith. We carry it every day.
If there are some who say, “That means I can go on a spending spree of sin and just keep charging it,” the reply is not that the card really isn’t free after all or that it doesn’t really cover all debts but only the not-so-bad debts. Rather, the answer is in the psychology of the faith with which we receive and use the card. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:4, 6). That is the mentality of faith.
But the card is free. No annual fee.

By Ray Ortlund - http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/

Just a whisper

2010-08-20T20:42:00.001Z

(HT:: Ray Ortlund)

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Proverbs 18:8

Let’s all admit it. We love gossip. We love negative information about other people. We love controversy. We love “Have you heard the latest?” Each word is a delicious morsel, an irresistible delicacy. We gulp these words down with relish. They make us feel more alive. What proof of our corruption within! And each new contagious word we swallow goes down deep into us with a lasting impression and leaves us even sicker than we were before.

Truly, God is not mocked.

We are always speaking, even whispering, and listening, before the face of God.

Answers for Church Members...

2010-08-20T20:27:00.003Z

I'm always on the look out for some handy resources for church members. I love having a few copies of some great books to hand or a goldmine of information i can direct people to. Well, here's one of them.

The guys at 9marks have gathered together a whole host of common questions asked by church members on various topics ranging from the gospel to membership to evangelism to theology. And there are some sterling questions and responses...

Q - What should I look for in a church?

Q - What should i do if i disagree with something my pastor said?

Q - What is the local church's mission according to the Bible?

Q - How can i disciple other Christians?

Q - What's my record for consecutive questions? (Ok that one's not in there)

Take a look!

Preparing Your Church for Suffering

2010-08-17T14:06:00.004Z

What book have i given away most in the last 5 years?

2010-08-12T19:23:00.009Z

Its really interesting what reflective questions rush on you when you're about to leave a church. I have pastored the flock at St Andrews Baptist for 5 years now but am only 4 weeks (or 5 sermons) away from moving on. Today as I sat in my study, thankful for book allowances, i wondered which of these books I had given away most in these 5 years. The answer: Ed Welch's WHEN PEOPLE ARE BIG AND GOD IS SMALL.

Now, as a qualifier, can i say that I haven't given this book out because it's a favourite of mine (though I think it's outstanding), but because i could see how useful it would be in addressing the concerns expressed by members of the church in conversations I had with them.

But what does it say about the pressures and temptations people in our churches face in these days that the subjects of the 'fear of man' and the 'fear of God' could do with some serious consideration?

Quite simply it says that we may be more concerned about losing face or losing friends (a fear of man) than we are about acting sinfully (fear of the Lord). I've seen it so often, and it's a cross-generational experience, that teenagers, students, employees, employers, retirees, seem so gripped by the need to feel accepted by others that when it comes to living distinctive lives or speaking gospel words, they are almost paralysed. It seems like for many, acceptance before God is not enough and as a result we crave the acceptance of people, putting time and effort into maintaining those relationships and ensuring nothing gets in the way. Those relationships become our security, when in fact we should be secure in Him alone. What is the answer to such a spiritual malady? Well, it seems to me we need to 'need' people less and love people more so that we can re-place our complete dependence on Christ.

This is Welch's overriding premise: for a healthy fear of God to be instilled in the heart of every believer and to enable followers of Christ to see God in His all-satisfying greatness. This, asserts Welch, will help to cultivate, by His grace, a right perspective on our relationships with others - where we do not cave in under peer pressure, or withhold Gospel words because we fear that if we do we will offend such and such (codependency). Welch says,

"We stand at the crossroads between fear of others and fear of God. The road leading to the fear of man may be expressed in terms of favoritism, wanting others to think well of you, fearing exposure by them, or being overwhelmed by their perceived physical power. When these fears are not combated with the fear of the Lord, the consequences can be devastating. But when God is given his rightful place in our lives, old bonds can be shattered."

or

'This is one of the great blessings of the fear of the Lord. We think less often about ourselves. When a heart is being filled with the greatness of God, there is less room for the question, “What are people going to think of me?”

Welch distils so many liberating truths into this book that it deserves to be placed in the category of "A Significant Read". Not one of my dear brothers or sisters have failed to report back to me after reading the first two chapters how insightful Welch is... 'it's like reading my life out loud', one said.

So i commend it to you. Read it, enjoy it, and live truly as if people are small and God is BIG.

Proverbs 14:27 says

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death

1 Thessalonians 2:4-6a says,

we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. ⁵You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. ⁶We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

Marriage: What did you expect?

2010-08-12T08:34:00.002Z

Justin Taylor recently provided a helpful little excerpt from chapter 12 of Tripp's new book, What did you expect: Redeeming the realities of marriage.

1. What is love?

Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving.

2. What does love look like in marriage?

Love is being willing to have your life complicated by the needs and struggles of your husband or wife without impatience or anger.
Love is actively fighting the temptation to be critical and judgmental toward your spouse, while looking for ways to encourage and praise.
Love is the daily commitment to resist the needless moments of conflict that come from pointing out and responding to minor offenses.
Love is being lovingly honest and humbly approachable in times of misunderstanding, and being more committed to unity and love than you are to winning, accusing, or being right.
Love is a daily commitment to admit your sin, weakness, and failure and to resist the temptation to offer an excuse or shift the blame.
Love means being willing, when confronted by your spouse, to examine your heart rather than rising to your defense or shifting the focus.
Love is a daily commitment to grow in love so that the love you offer to your husband or wife is increasingly selfless, mature, and patient.
Love is being unwilling to do what is wrong when you have been wronged but to look for concrete and specific ways to overcome evil with good.
Love is being a good student of your spouse, looking for his physical, emotional, and spiritual needs so that in some way you can remove the burden, support him as he carries it, or encourage him along the way.
Love means being willing to invest the time necessary to discuss, examine, and understand the problems that you face as a couple, staying on task until the problem is removed or you have agreed upon a strategy of response.
Love is always being willing to ask for forgiveness and always being committed to grant forgiveness when it is requested.
Love is recognizing the high value of trust in a marriage and being faithful to your promises and true to your word.
Love is speaking kindly and gently, even in moments of disagreement, refusing to attack your spouse’s character or assault his or her intelligence.
Love is being unwilling to flatter, lie, manipulate, or deceive in any way in order to co-opt your spouse into giving you what you want or doing something your way.
Love is being unwilling to ask your spouse to be the source of your identity, meaning and purpose, or inner sense of well-being, while refusing to be the source of his or hers.
Love is the willingness to have less free time, less sleep, and a busier schedule in order to be faithful to what God has called you to be and to do as a husband or a wife.
Love is a commitment to say no to selfish instincts and to do everything that is within your ability to promote real unity, functional understanding, and active love in your marriage.
Love is staying faithful to your commitment to treat your spouse with appreciation, respect, and grace, even in moments when he or she doesn’t seem to deserve it or is unwilling to reciprocate.
Love is the willingness to make regular and costly sacrifices for the sake of your marriage without asking anything in return or using your sacrifices to place your spouse in your debt.
Love is being unwilling to make any personal decision or choice that would harm your marriage, hurt your husband or wife, or weaken the bond of trust between you.
Love is refusing to be self-focused or demanding but instead looking for specific ways to serve, support, and encourage, even when you are busy or tired.
Love is daily admitting to yourself, your spouse, and God that you are not able to love this way without God’s protecting, providing, forgiving, rescuing, and delivering grace.
Love is a specific commitment of the heart to a specific person that causes you to give yourself to a specific lifestyle of care that requires you to be willing to make sacrifices that have that person’s good in view.

3. What should this description of love do to us?

This realization should give you pause and then spur you to action: it is impossible for any of us to love as has been described. The bar is simply too high. The requirements are simply too great. None of us has what it takes to reach this standard. This description of love in action has left me humbled and grieved. It has faced me once again with my tendency to name as love things that are not love. It has forced me to admit how self-focused and self-absorbed I actually am. It has reminded me that when it comes to love, I am not an expert. No, I am poor, weak, and needy.

Jesus died not only so that we would have forgiveness for not loving as we should, but also so that we would have the desire, wisdom, and power to love as we should.

Jesus suffered in love so that in your struggle to love you would never, ever be alone. As you give yourself to love, he showers you with his love, so that you would never be without what you need to love.

1 Thessalonians - How the local church turns the world upside down for Jesus

2010-08-11T15:14:00.002Z

This Sunday I bring to an end a series on the book of 1 Thessalonians called Local Church: Global Impact, how the local church turns the world upside down for Jesus. It'll be an emotional day, not just because this sermon marks the end of the last series I'll ever preach to this dear flock, but because we have been so encouraged and impacted as a church through 1 Thessalonians. It has been searchingly relevant in terms of it's application, encouraging in terms of our looking ahead, and insightful in terms of the clarity of vision it gives to our local church.

We as a church will benefit in the days ahead from reflecting on this series again, and that's one of the reasons I provide the outline below. But my hope for all who aren't members at SABC is that you might be encouraged to delve into a greater understanding of 1 Thessalonians too so that you may be encouraged in the gospel work we have been set apart to do.

v Acts 17:1-9 :: Turning the World Upside Down for Jesus

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church that that:

o Makes God’s mission their mission

o Makes Jesus Christ their message

o Makes God’s Word their means

v 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 :: Labouring Love, Functioning Faith, Persevering Hope

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church that:

o Has a faith that functions

o Has a love that labours

o Has a hope that endures

v 1 Thessalonians 1:4-8 :: Blessed Assurance part 1

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church that knows an assurance of their salvation. This assurance is found in:

o The way the Gospel comes to them

o The way the Gospel is welcomed by them

v 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 :: Blessed Assurance part 2

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church that knows an assurance of their salvation. This assurance is found in:

o The way the Gospel resounds from them

o The way the Gospel transforms them

Ø Turning from idols

Ø Serving the living God

Ø Longing for Christ’s return.

v 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6a :: God-Pleasing Gospel Proclamation

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church that maintains integrity in evangelism.

o They are approved by God (after testing)

o They are entrusted with the Gospel (not allowed to alter it)

o They are living for the glory of God alone (not their own glory/profit)

v 1 Thessalonians 2:6b-12 :: Parental Pastoral Ministry

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church that that is dearly loved and faithfully led by godly pastors who:

o Like a mother, love affectionately and live sacrificially

o Like a father, live exemplary lives and instruct faithfully

v 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 :: The Transforming Power of His Word

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church that accepts the word of God for what it is, the very word of God.

o God is Speaking into our lives by His word

o God is transforming our lives by His word

o Lives built on God’s word face rejection

v 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:2a :: Love One Another

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church whose members love one another deeply from the heart. Paul demonstrates such affection for the Thessalonians and the depth of his love:

o Is evident in the pain of separation

o Is evident in his prayers of intercession

o Is evident in his feelings of frustration

o Is evident in his joyful anticipation

o Is evident in his selfless consideration

v 1 Thessalonians 3:2b-13 :: Growing Disciples

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church whose members disciple one another intentionally.

o They strengthen one another

o They encourage one another

o They stabilise one another

o They rejoice with one another

o They pray for one another

v 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 :: Knowing God’s Will

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church whose members know that it is God’s will that they live to please Him. They do so by:

o Honouring His Authority - Seek His Kingdom

o Honouring His Standards - Seek His Righteousness

v 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 :: A Christian Ambition

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church whose members make it their ambition to:

o Know love’s great Teacher – and love all the more

o Know love’s great simplicity – and live in community

o Know love’s great impact – winning the respect of outsiders

v 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 :: Our Blessed Hope

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church that witnesses to the Christian hope even in death. They do so recognising that:

o Our hope is established on the Gospel of Christ

o Our hope is expectant of the return of Christ

o Our hope is eternity in fellowship with Christ

v 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 :: Our Living in Light of the Return of Christ

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church that lives in light of the return of Jesus (the Day of the Lord).

o The Day of the Lord is a day of judgement for the unbeliever

Ø The Day of the Lord comes without warning

Ø The Day of the Lord comes without escape

o The Day of the Lord is a day of salvation for the believer

Ø We have a different nature

Ø We live a different life

Ø We have a Saviour

v 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 :: Relating to our Leaders

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church where the relationship between members and pastors/elders is healthy.

o Look on your leaders with appreciation

Ø Respect them because of their labour

Ø Respect them because of their leadership

Ø Respect them because of their Longing

o Look on your leaders with affection

v 1 Thessalonians 5:14-16 :: Relating to Each Other

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church where the relationship between members is healthy.

o Family life within the local church involves

Ø Warning the unruly

Ø Encouraging the timid

Ø Helping the weak

Ø Practicing patience

Ø Practicing Kindness

o Taking our commitment seriously

v 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 :: Relating to God

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church whose members refuse to live independently of God and who express their utter dependence by:

o Rejoicing always

o Praying always

o Thanking always

v 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 :: Listening to God

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church whose members listen carefully for God’s instruction, recognising that:

o God has spoken in His word

o God is speaking by his Spirit

Ø Do not believe everything you hear with gullible acceptance

Ø Do not disbelieve everything you hear with contemptuous rejection

Ø Test everything you hear with careful examination

v 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 :: The Faithfulness of God

· If a local church wants to have a global impact in the Gospel, it must be a church that is not daunted by the call to blamelessness, but instead rests on the faithfulness of God.

o Rest assured: God is perfecting you

o Rest assured: God is faithful

Tripp's 6 Commitments for a Healthy Marriage...

2010-06-30T14:15:00.004Z

Paul David Tripp's new book on Marriage called 'What did you Expect? Redeeming the realities of Marriage' is out and you should get it. He Provides 6 key commitments that are to be maintained in covenant faithfulness is a marriage is to be healthy, good for the kids and most importantly glorifying to God. Here are his 6 commitments.

Commitment 1

- we will give ourselves to a regular lifestyle of confession and forgiveness.

Commitment 2

- we will make growth and change our daily agenda

Commitment 3

- we will work together to build a sturdy bond of trust

Commitment 4

- we will commit to building a relationship of love

Commitment 5

- we will deal with our differences with appreciation and grace

Commitment 6

- we will work to protect our marriage

Buy it and read it!!!

Bible Conference at Duncan Street Baptist Church, Edinburgh

2010-05-27T14:20:00.005Z

Here's a promising conference on the Word of God and here's their blurb about it...

Our inaugural Bible conference will take place at DSBC on the 25th of September 2010 from 10 till 3; (and in future years will also take place on the last Saturday in September).
We're very excited about this conference and hope and pray that you will be able to come and join with us. At DSBC we've benefited greatly from local and national Bible conferences and our prayer is that the Lord would use this conference to encourage and build up His people.
The aim of this year's conference is simple - we want to enthuse those who will come to increasingly be a people who get into the Word, who gather around the Word and who live out the Word.
There will be 3 sessions on the day led by Mark Schenk, Craig Dyer and Jim Turrent – see speakers page.
In addition to our speakers, we have also invited a number of organisations along who will provide further resources to help you in your own Bible ministry and that of your church. I can confirm that the Faith Mission Bible College, Christianity Explored and the Faith Mission bookshop will provide resource stands; and we hope to be able to confirm other resource partners prior to the conference.
Please let us thank you in advance for your prayerful support & partnership in the Gospel.

Speakers:

Rev. Mark Schenk – Pastor, Duncan Street Baptist Church - In session 1 Mark will speak to us on the subject – ‘Get into the Word.’
Rev. Craig Dyer – Training Director, Christianity Explored - In session 2 Craig will speak to us on the subject – ‘Gather around the Word.’
Rev. Jim Turrent – Senior Pastor, Dundee Central Baptist Church - In session 3 Jim will speak to us on the subject – ‘Live out the Word.’

Quizzed at Unashamed Workman...

2010-05-24T10:14:00.004Z

Colin Adam's throws his '10 Questions for Expositors' at a learner today.

Look unto me and be Saved... Isaiah 45:22

2010-04-02T13:00:00.003Z

Every Good Friday I read Wesley's famous hymn, 'In evil long I took delight'. It feels like my own story.

In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopp’d my wild career:

I saw One hanging on a Tree
In agonies and blood,
Who fix’d His languid eyes on me.
As near His Cross I stood.

Sure never till my latest breath,
Can I forget that look:
It seem’d to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke:

My conscience felt and own’d the guilt,
And plunged me in despair:
I saw my sins His Blood had spilt,
And help’d to nail Him there.

Alas! I knew not what I did!
But now my tears are vain:
Where shall my trembling soul be hid'
For I the Lord have slain!

A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou may’st live.”

Thus, while His death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief, and mournful joy,
My spirit now if fill’d,
That I should such a life destroy,
Yet live by Him I kill’d!

The Gospel Way...

2010-04-01T12:37:00.002Z

BLESSED LORD JESUS, no human mind could conceive or invent the gospel.

Acting in eternal grace, you are both its messenger and its message, lived out on earth through infinite compassion, applying your life to insult, injury, death, that I might be redeemed, ransomed, freed. Blessed be you, O Father, for contriving this way; eternal thanks to you, O Lamb of God, for opening this way, praise everlasting to you, O Holy Spirit, for applying this way to my heart.

Glorious Trinity, impress the gospel upon my soul, until its virtue diffuses every faculty; Let it be heard, acknowledged, professed, felt. Teach me to secure this mighty blessing; Help me to give up every darling lust,
to submit my heart and life to its command, to have it in my will, controlling my affections, moulding my understanding; to adhere strictly to the rules of true religion, not departing from them in any instance, nor for any advantage in order to escape evil, inconvenience or danger.Take me to the cross to seek glory from its infamy; Strip me of every pleasing pretence of righteousness by my own doings.

O gracious redeemer, I have neglected you too long, often crucified you, crucified you afresh by my impenitence, put you to open shame. I thank you for the patience that has borne with me so long, and for the grace that now makes me willing to be thine. O unite me to yourself with inseparable bonds, that nothing may ever draw me back from you, my Lord, my Saviour.

from the Valley of Vision, a collection of puritan prayers

Love Radiates from Calvary...

2010-03-31T12:17:00.003Z

Here's another prayer from 'The Valley of Vision' which magnifies the meaning of the cross for us this week.

“My Father, enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips, supply words that proclaim ‘Love radiates* at Calvary.’
There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on thy Son, made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me; There the sword of thy justice smote the man, thy fellow; There thy infinite attributes were magnified, and infinite atonement was made; There infinite punishment was due, and infinite punishment was endured.
Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy, cast off that I might be brought in, trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend, surrendered to hell’s worst that I might attain heaven’s best, stripped that I might be clothed, wounded that I might be healed, athirst that I might drink, tormented that I might be comforted, made a shame that I might inherit glory, entered darkness that I might have eternal light.
My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes, groaned that I might have endless song,
endured all pain that I might have unfading health, bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem, bowed his head that I might uplift mine, experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness, expired that I might for ever live.
O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou mightest spare me, all this transfer thy love designed and accomplished; Help me to adore thee by lips and life. O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise, my every step buoyant with delight, as I see my enemies crushed, Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed, sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood, hell’s gates closed, heaven’s portal open.
Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the cross, mighty to subdue, comfort and save.”

*original prayer uses word 'lustres' - but i didn't know what that meant! :-)

The Precious Blood...

2010-03-30T08:04:00.003Z

Here's another prayer from 'The Valley of Vision' which magnifies the meaning of the cross for us this week. This is a Puritan prayer but it has been moulded into a song by Sovereign Grace Music. Click here to listen.

Blessed Lord Jesus,

Before thy cross I kneel and see
the heinousness of my sin,
my inequity that caused thee to be
"made a curse",
the evil that excites the severity
of divine wrath.
Show me the enormity of my guilt by
the crown of thorns,
the pierced hands and feet,
the bruised body,
the dying cries.
Thy blood is the blood of incarnate God,
its worth infinite, its value beyond all thought.
Infinite must be the evil and guilt
that demands such a price.
Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper,
born in my birth,
alive in my life,
strong in my character,
dominating my faculties,
following me as a shadow,
intermingling with my every thought,
my chain that holds me captive in the
empire of my soul.
Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light,
the air supply breath,
the earth bear my tread,
its fruits nourish me,
its creatures subserve my ends?
Yet thy compassions yearn over me,
thy heart hastens to my rescue,
thy love endured my curse,
thy mercy bore my deserved stripes.
Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths
of humiliation,
bathed in thy blood,
tender of conscience,
triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.

The 'Nevers' of the Gospel...

2010-03-29T18:07:00.004Z

At a time when many of us are thinking through the last week of Jesus' life, I thought I'd post some of my favourite prayers from a collection of Puritan prayers known as 'The Valley of Vision'. I love using these prayers in my devotions to direct, not only my gaze, but my affections to the crucified Christ.

This prayer is called, "The 'Nevers' of the Gospel"

O LORD, may I...

never fail to come to the knowledge of the truth, never rest in a system of doctrine, however scriptural, that does not bring or further salvation, or teach me to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, or help me to live soberly, righteously, godly;

never rely on my own convictions and resolutions, but be strong in thee and in thy might; never cease to find thy grace sufficient in all my duties, trials, and conflicts;

never forget to repair to thee in all my spiritual distresses and outward troubles, in all the dissatisfactions experienced in creature comforts;

never fail to retreat to him who is full of grace and truth, the friend that loveth at all times, who is touched with feelings of my infirmities, and can do exceeding abundantly for me;

never confine my religion to extraordinary occasions, but acknowledge thee in all my ways;

never limit my devotions to particular seasons but be in thy fear all the day long;

never be godly on on the Sabbath or in thy house, but on every day abroad and at home;

never make piety a dress but a habit, not only a habit but a nature, not only a nature but a life.

Do good to me by all thy dispensations, by all means of grace, by worship, prayers, praises, And at last let me enter that world where is no temple, but only thy glory and the Lamb’s.

Should we Trust our Feelings?

2010-03-25T13:52:00.003Z

I regularly come into contact with people, both friends and flock, who give undue weight to their feelings in their decision-making. I can usually identify it so quickly because I make the same mistake myself.

I've often explored this with people and invited them to consider whether or not their feelings are true indicators of truth. I often share this example: "Let's say I'm driving in my car and someone cuts me up. Owing to a lack of grace in my heart, I get angry and yell out 'IDIOT!' Seconds later, when examining my behaviour I FEEL guilt and so confess that sin before God and ask for forgiveness.' Now that's an example of how my feelings serve me well. But can our feelings lie to us?

Let's say that 1 mile along the road I begin to FEEL guilty again for my anger and the expression of that anger, irrespective of the fact that I have already genuinely confessed that sin before God. Is it right to remain guilty? According to God's word, absoutely not. 1 John 1:9 says

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

That means that I should no longer be living with feelings of guilt. The regurgitation of already confessed sin often just produces the kind of feelings that cripple my walk with God. Instead, I should recognise that in light of God's truth, I don't need to live in guilt, I need to live in God-given, Gospel freedom.

So here we have two examples of how our feelings can serve us well and also do a disservice for us. One feeling is good and godly, the other bad and ungodly. So, the question remains, how do we know when to trust our feelings? Only when they are in line with God's absolute truth. That means, for example, that those who have inappropriate sexual relations with a boyfriend or girlfriend who declare, 'I FEEL a peace about it in my heart', are self-deceived.

Here's John Piper's wisdom on this matter...

"My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God's word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes--many times--my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens--and it happens every day in some measure--I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth.That's the way I live my life every day. I hope you are with me in that battle."

6 Ways to Avoid Sexual Sin from Proverbs 5...

2010-03-23T21:38:00.003Z

Preached at St Andrews CU on God's design for Sex and Marriage tonight and explored how we avoid sexual sin from Proverbs 5. I unashamedly used Rick Holland's outline for showing the following 6 points from Proverbs 5.

How much do you care for your soul? Sexual sin is not the playground Heffner has made it out to be. It’s a battlefield where people are destroyed both now and in eternity. What you do now matters now and matters for later.

6 strategies to help you avoid sexual sin - from Proverbs 5

1) Undertake the Pursuit of Biblical Instruction – v1-2

Literally Solomon is saying, bend your ear to me. Why? So you’ll have discretion. So that you will know what to say to your soul when you have to answer seduction when it comes. The Scriptures is where you find out how to quash temptation, that’s why you need the biblical instruction of a local church committed to expository preaching and faithful discipleship

2) Undress the Deception of Sexual Sin – v3-6

'The lips of the adulteress drip honey, her speech is smoother than oil.' You’ve heard these lies haven’t you? “Go ahead, log on… touch her…’ this is just a harmless bit of fun, it's only natural, no-one will get hurt, I can’t control my sex drive, I can get away with this, God will forgive me. But v4-6 rips the mask off sexual temptation, telling us to see the lies of this temptress for what they are... not swet, but bitter. Not smooth, but sharp as a two-edged sword – Lethal! She doesn’t ponder the path of life or take into account the gravity and effect of her life. Her feet only go down to death - She’s headed for destruction!

Tim Chester says, "Sin never delivers on its promises. It promises fun and excitement but delivers pain and tragedy. It promises freedom but delivers slavery and addiction. It promiseslife but delivers death.it promises us that we can get away with it, but we don’t."

3) Understand the Value of Safe Distance – v7-8

"Keep your way far from her." In other words, "run for your life!" This is the Joseph principle! Keep distance between you and temptation. The time for applying this principle is not behind closed doors in your flat when your flatmates are out. It’s when the thought is coming into your mind. Stop asking teh question, "how far can we go?" Instead ask, "how do I maintain my sexual purity?"

4) Unmask the Regret of Sin’s Aftermath - v9-14

This section is a catalogue of the consequences of falling into sexual sin. King David’s experience provides an illustration of how something that can start off so small, so seemingly innocent and personal, like a fantasy, can turn into something so painful with wide-ranging consequences. The consequences of a moral tumble are horrendous for you, your spouse, your children, your family, your church, your God. Proverbs 5:14 is a powerful appeal to weigh the transient pleasure against the consequences and asks, ‘is it worth it?’ Is it worth

tearing your family apart?
the risk of pregnancy and it's consequences (further temptation with abortion)
having your conscience seared (that’s deadly)
disgracing the name of Jesus and giving his enemies reason to jeer

Solomon is encouraging his son to go away and think about what it’d be like to fall into such sin. You should do the same. See what it’s going to be like and resolve, by God’s grace, never to go there

5) Unlock the Satisfaction of Marital Fidelity – v15-19

Solomon’s provision for sexual sin is encouraging his son to value God’s design for marriage and to esteem it with the same value ascribed to it by God! Solomon says, "Drink water from your own cistern" (singular!!!) Solomon’s saying, “son, I’ve had a thousand women, you are to have just one.” V19 – be satisfied with her love!!! The best deterrent for sexual sin is a healthy marriage where one man and one woman love each other and follow Christ.

6) Unleash the Power of God’s Omniscience – v20-23

It's a helpful deterrent to know that when you are tempted to sin God sees everything. God is there, God knows what you’re heart yearns for and God cares enough to provide a way for you to stand up under it! Hebrews 4:13 - Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The Content & Context of Pastoral Care...

2010-03-19T22:43:00.002Z

Tim Chester's book 'you can change' is an incredibly helpful book for outlining the way the Gospel transforms lives. I've used it in various pastoral counselling situations and found it invaluable. One of the chapters focuses in on the content and the context of change and covers some key aspects of pastoral care. Here's what Tim says...

THE CONTEXT OF PASTORAL CARE: A GOSPEL COMMUNITY

Churches often have a professional approach to pastoral care – it’s something done by a pastor or counsellor. But in Ephesians 4 Paul tells the whole Christian community in Ephesus to speak the truth to one another in love (15). The context of change is the gospel community (1-16) and the content is the gospel word (17-25).

God has given us the Christian community with all its differences and giftings as the context for change and growth. Paul says Christ ‘makes the whole body fit together perfectly’ (16 nlt).

You need to help others change.
You need to let others help you change.

So gospel communities need a culture in which we challenge, comfort, console, exhort and rebuke one another in the context of ordinary life. We need a culture in which it is normal to comfort and rebuke one another. We can do this so rarely that it creates a sense of crisis. We need to think of church discipline not simply as a final act of excommunication, but as a lifestyle of discipleship.

If I’m moaning, I need someone to challenge me to find joy in Christ. If I’m anxious, I need someone to exhort me to trust in my heavenly Father’s care. If I’m ashamed, I need someone to comfort me with the grace of God. It might be a leader; it might be a new Christian. It might be in a scheduled meeting; it might be as we tend someone’s garden together. We need daily exhortation: ‘See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.’ (Hebrews 3:12-13) And we need it from people who see us in the daily grind of life, not just when we are on our best behaviour.

THE CONTENT OF PASTORAL CARE: GOSPEL WORD

We help one another change and overcome pastoral problems:

by ‘speaking the truth in love’ (15)
by speaking ‘the truth that is in Jesus’ (21)
as we ‘put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour’ (25)
as we ‘do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.’ (29)

We pastor one another through speaking the truth because our underlying issue is the ‘deceitful desires’ of our hearts (22; see also Mark 7:20-23 and Romans 1:18-25). Sin promises satisfaction, meaning, identity, but it deceives. In reality it enslaves and destroys. So we need to speak the truth to one another, calling on one another to repent of our idolatrous desires and turn in faith to the truth that is in Jesus.

According to the Bible, the source of all human behaviour and emotions is the heart. The ‘heart’ in the Bible is shorthand for our thinking and desires. All our actions flow from the heart. Jesus says: ‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognised by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.’ (Luke 6:43-45)

There is a twofold problem in the heart: what we think and what we desire or worship:

we choose to worship other gods instead of God
we choose to trust other interpretations instead of God’s word

1. We choose to worship other gods instead of God = idolatry. The New Testament term for idolatry is ‘the lusts of the flesh’ or ‘the sinful desires of the hearts’. We want, desire, treasure, worship something more than God. It may be a desire for a good thing that has grown so it matters more to us than God. To desire to be married, for example, is to desire a good thing. But if that desire becomes bigger than my desire for God then my singleness may make me bitter. Anger, frustration, bitterness, sulking, jealousy and malice are all signs that are idolatrous desires are being threatened or thwarted.

The answer to worshipping other gods instead of God is to turn back to God in repentance.

2. We choose to trust other interpretations instead of God’s word. Problems for Christians do not often arise because of disbelief in a confessional or theoretical sense (though this may be case). More often they arise from functional or practical disbelief. Asked if I belief in justification by faith, I may reply that I do (confessional faith), but still feel the need to prove myself (functional disbelief). I may affirm that God is sovereign (confessional faith), but still get anxious when I cannot control my life (functional disbelief). Indeed, sanctification can be viewed as the progressive narrowing of the gap between confessional faith and functional faith.

The answer to not trusting God is to turn back to God in faith.

And so we constantly call one another to faith and repentance. We extol Christ to one another so he is the one who worship and he is the one we trust.

The key thing is to speak good news to people, not just ‘tell them off’. We don’t simply say, ‘You should not do that.’ That’s legalism. It kills. We say, ‘You need not do that because Jesus is bigger and better.’ That’s gospel. Good news. It brings life.

Identifying False Gospels...

2010-03-19T22:35:00.001Z

HT Tullian

In one of Paul David Tripp's books (co-authored with Tim Lane), How People Change, he identifies seven counterfeit gospels—-”religious” ways we try and “justify” or “save” ourselves apart from the gospel of grace. I found these unbelievably helpful. Which one (or two, or three) of these do you tend to gravitate towards?

Formalism. “I participate in the regular meetings and ministries of the church, so I feel like my life is under control. I’m always in church, but it really has little impact on my heart or on how I live. I may become judgmental and impatient with those who do not have the same commitment as I do.”

Legalism. “I live by the rules—rules I create for myself and rules I create for others. I feel good if I can keep my own rules, and I become arrogant and full of contempt when others don’t meet the standards I set for them. There is no joy in my life because there is no grace to be celebrated.”

Mysticism. “I am engaged in the incessant pursuit of an emotional experience with God. I live for the moments when I feel close to him, and I often struggle with discouragement when I don’t feel that way. I may change churches often, too, looking for one that will give me what I’m looking for.”

Activism. “I recognize the missional nature of Christianity and am passionately involved in fixing this broken world. But at the end of the day, my life is more of a defense of what’s right than a joyful pursuit of Christ.”

Biblicism. “I know my Bible inside and out, but I do not let it master me. I have reduced the gospel to a mastery of biblical content and theology, so I am intolerant and critical of those with lesser knowledge.”

Therapism. “I talk a lot about the hurting people in our congregation, and how Christ is the only answer for their hurt. Yet even without realizing it, I have made Christ more Therapist than Savior. I view hurt as a greater problem than sin—and I subtly shift my greatest need from my moral failure to my unmet needs.”

Social-ism. “The deep fellowship and friendships I find at church have become their own idol. The body of Christ has replaced Christ himself, and the gospel is reduced to a network of fulfilling Christian relationships.”

Some Key Aspects of Discipleship...

2010-03-19T22:28:00.002Z

From the 9marks blog... Aaron Menikoff

First, every Christian needs to be discipled.

We are all supposed to be followers of Christ and we need to be taught how to be followers of Christ. Thinking about a local church, every Christian should be discipled. Every believer ought to be in a relationship or have a network of relationships that are spurring him or her on toward spiritual maturity. The Great Commission of Matthew 28 and the call to encouragement of Hebrews 3:13 makes this clear. So as pastors, part of shepherding the flock means laboring to see that every individual in the congregation is being discipled.

Second, every Christian should feel the responsibility to make disciples.

How can every Christian be discipled if that job of disciple-making is left to the pastors or a select few in the congregation? That simply isn't possible. Some will be better at this than others. Some will be more interested than others. But we all have the responsibility to encourage others to follow Christ more closely. We all have the responsibility to help others grow. The Great Commission is for all which means discipling is for all.

Third, discipling can take place in small groups and in one-on-one relationships.

Sure, discipling can take place corporately as well. When I preach I am encouraging the congregation to worship God as I preach and this is disciple-making. But more should take place. As a few gather or just a couple, Christians should take deliberate steps to apply the Gospel to each other's lives. This is how burdens are often carried (Gal. 6:2).

Fourth, discipling requires commitment. O

ften the commitment comes in the form of time. I met this morning at 7am with four wonderful brothers for a time of discipling. I get paid to do this. These men were meeting before their workday began. That is commitment. Sometimes the commitment is emotional. Getting to know someone spiritually means being there to hear tough stuff. Sometimes it means listening while someone is obviously immature but they need to talk and process so they can grow. Sometimes it means being willing to challenge--which can make the relationship awkward. All of this is commitment, and that it costly.

Fifth, discipling is less about what you do and more about "life on life."

By all means study a Christian book, read the Bible aloud, discuss the sermon, etc. All of these things are helpful. But at the core of it all needs to be humans applying God's Word so that sanctification takes place. This can be done in conversation at a ball game and it can be done through Bible study in the living room. The key is that the Word is being applied to life. This means discipling relationships may look different from person to person. Where does friendship end and discipling begin? It's not always easy to tell. Regardless of the answer, in a discipling relationship lives are being uncovered, challenged, and encouraged.

Sixth, discipling may require discriminating between low-hanging and high-hanging fruit.

There is wisdom in being discriminating, especially when it comes to expectations. Deepak helpfully reminded us of that Navigators' term "F. A. T." -- find someone faithful, available, and teachable and dig in! Strategy may lead you to invest your time in someone you have reason to believe will be likely to model well the gospel for others. This is all helpful but a word of caution is in order: sometimes the people God puts in our lives--whether they be low-hanging or high-hanging fruit--are exactly the people we should be serving.

Seventh, discipling takes time.

I'm leery of people thinking they can graduate from a discipling program. There certainly comes a time when someone needs to ask, "have I learned enough to begin entrusting what I've learned to other reliable men?" 2 Tim 2:2. But how do you know when someone is ready? It is certainly not because he's finished a book or a course. It just doesn't work like that. Discipling takes time. It never ends. We never graduate.

The Trellis & the Vine

2010-03-10T14:58:00.003Z

Having read through Colin Marshall and Tony Payne's new book, the Trellis and the Vine, I grabbed a copy for all of my elders and deacons. If you are in leadership in a church, it's a must-read. If you're looking for an outline to stimulate discussion with your elders or if you're swithering over whether or not to buy this book, Tim Chester has drawn up a really helpful summary of the key points...

Ministry Mind-shifts

From running programs to building people
From running events to training people
From using people to growing people
From filling gaps to training new workers
From solving problems to helping people make progress
From clinging to ordained ministry to developing team leadership
From focusing on church polity to forging ministry partnerships
From relying on training institutions to establishing local training
From focusing on immediate pressures to aiming for long-term expansion
From engaging in management to engaging in ministry
From seeking church growth to desiring gospel growth

Summary Propositions

Our goal is to make disciples
Churches tend towards institutionalism as sparks fly upwards
The heart of disciple-making is prayerful teaching
The goal of all ministry—not just one-to-one work—is to nurture disciples
To be a disciple is to be a disciple-maker
Disciple-makers need to be trained and equipped in conviction, character, and competence
There is only one class of disciples, regardless of different roles or responsibilities
The Great Commission, and its disciple-making imperative, needs to drive fresh thinking about our Sunday meetings and the place of training in congregational life
Training almost always starts small and grows by multiplying workers
We need to challenge and recruit the next generation of pastors, teachers, and evangelists

Steps to Making a Start

Set the agenda on Sundays
Work closely with your elders or parish council
Start building a new team of co-workers
Work out with you co-workers how disciple-making is going to grow in your context
Run some training programs
Keep an eye out for “people worth watching”

Are you Gospel-Centred or Just Religious?

2010-03-10T10:25:00.003Z

Jared Wilson shows us three ways to tell.

1. Your reaction when things fall apart.

Do you catch yourself saying, "God, why is this happening? I've done x, y, and z?" Do suffering, difficulty, and obstacles provoke "why?" questions predicated on your goodness or effort? You've been working so hard, reading your Bible, going to church, serving others . . . why would God let this happen to you now? If that's your line of thinking, it reveals you believe God owes you. And that's religion.

2. Your reaction to others.

Do you compare yourself, bad or good, against others? Do you belittle, mock, condescend, even if just internally? Do you resent others' successes? Do you celebrate others' failures? Do you really wish people would get their act together, or do you really wish people knew Jesus? Are you frequently annoyed, put out, irritated, embarrassed, or inconvenienced by others?

3. Your appraisal of Jesus.

Is he your greatest treasure? That's the number one indicator of gospel-conformity. You may know right off the bat if this is true or not. For some, it's true only sentimentally or religiously. You may think it's true ultimately, but your time, talents, words, emotions, and bank account testify differently.

Are you Intentionally looking for Gospel opportunities?

2010-03-10T10:20:00.002Z

Tim Chester tells us what Gospel intentionality is...

Gospel intentionality is the mentality or habit or culture in which, as you share lives, you look for opportunities to talk about Jesus, to encourage, to challenge, to pray, to praise. Without this all you are doing is ordinary life and everyone does that!

Lent: All Year Round...

2010-03-05T16:28:00.003Z

Lent is an interesting time of year in the Christian calendar, one in which people are encouraged to prepare themselves for easter through prayer and self-denial. From my own upbringing (in nominal Catholicism) that meant giving up chocolate (whilst looking forward to the indulgence of 12 chocolate eggs at easter). It never meant anything spiritual for me and while it can be helpful for some who do take it more seriously than i did as an 8-year-old, I can't help thinking that 40 days of prayer and self-denial is not what Jesus calls us to. Surely it's 365 days of prayer and self-denial. Listen to JI Packer...

Jesus Christ demands self-denial, that is, self-negation (Matt. 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23), as a necessary condition of discipleship. Self-denial is a summons to submit to the authority of God as Father and of Jesus as Lord and to declare lifelong war on one's instinctive egoism. What is to be negated is not personal self or one's existence as a rational and responsible human being. Jesus does not plan to turn us into zombies, nor does he ask us to volunteer for a robot role. The required denial is of carnal self, the egocentric, self-deifying urge with which we were born and which dominates us so ruinously in our natural state. Jesus links self-denial with cross-bearing. Cross-bearing is far more than enduring this or that hardship. Carrying one's cross in Jesus' day, as we learn from the story of Jesus' own crucifixion, was required of those whom society had condemned, whose rights were forfeit, and who were now being led out to their execution. The cross they carried was the instrument of death. Jesus represents discipleship as a matter of following him, and following him as based on taking up one's cross in self-negation. Carnal self would never consent to cast us in such a role. "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die," wrote Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was right: Accepting death to everything that carnal self wants to possess is what Christ's summons to self-denial was all about.

So deny yourself all year round for His glory.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
Luke 9:24-25

Restless Church

The Call Conference

Dever - the Great Commission & Church Planting

Church Planting Conference with Richard Coekin

The Glory of our Adoption

What do we really need to grow the church?

Men's Event @ Charlotte Chapel - Sat 28th May

I Will Lay my Head on the Soft Pillow of God's Sovereignty

The View from the Valley...

Look & Live

What About the Issues Scripture Doesn’t Address?

8 Symptoms of False Doctrine

Now is Not the Time to Despair

Christian Belief's Course at Charlotte Chapel

Are you Christ-Centred of Self-Centred?

Ministry Apprenticeship @ Charlotte Chapel

Charlotte Chapel's Week of Prayer starts Monday 10th January

Tripp on the danger of avoiding confrontation...

From a larger post called 'A Bitter Harvest' - worthy of a slow and careful reading!

Want to know how to share the gospel with loved one's this Christmas?

Quote from Charlotte's Book of the Month...

What is God up to when life is hard?

The Bible: True or False

Who is it for?

What is the conference about?

Who is speaking?

How do I sign up?Book online

How do I sign up?

See what God can do when we make Christ our Conversation

Christianity Explored

In Understanding Be Men

A reminder before Sunday

Seeing the Bigger Picture

Priceless!!! - Ray Ortland on the Credit Card of Justification

Just a whisper

Answers for Church Members...

Preparing Your Church for Suffering

What book have i given away most in the last 5 years?

Marriage: What did you expect?

1 Thessalonians - How the local church turns the world upside down for Jesus

Tripp's 6 Commitments for a Healthy Marriage...

Bible Conference at Duncan Street Baptist Church, Edinburgh

Rev. Mark Schenk – Pastor, Duncan Street Baptist Church - In session 1 Mark will speak to us on the subject – ‘Get into the Word.’

Rev. Craig Dyer – Training Director, Christianity Explored - In session 2 Craig will speak to us on the subject – ‘Gather around the Word.’

Rev. Jim Turrent – Senior Pastor, Dundee Central Baptist Church - In session 3 Jim will speak to us on the subject – ‘Live out the Word.’

Quizzed at Unashamed Workman...

Look unto me and be Saved... Isaiah 45:22

The Gospel Way...

Love Radiates from Calvary...

The Precious Blood...

The 'Nevers' of the Gospel...

Should we Trust our Feelings?

6 Ways to Avoid Sexual Sin from Proverbs 5...

The Content & Context of Pastoral Care...

Identifying False Gospels...

Some Key Aspects of Discipleship...

The Trellis & the Vine

Are you Gospel-Centred or Just Religious?

Are you Intentionally looking for Gospel opportunities?

Lent: All Year Round...

How do I sign up?
Book online