Fruit of the Spirit Lesson 1

We begin the third quarter with a new series on the Fruit of the Spirit. This lesson is an excellent introduction to the book of Galatians.

Spurgeon on Isaiah 26:4

Spurgeon never ceases to offer comfort in his writings. Consider the following excerpt from Morning and Evening:

“Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” - Isaiah 26:4

Seeing that we have such a God to trust to, let us rest upon him with all our weight; let us resolutely drive out all unbelief, and endeavour to get rid of doubts and fears, which so much mar our comfort; since there is no excuse for fear where God is the foundation of our trust. A loving parent would be sorely grieved if his child could not trust him; and how ungenerous, how unkind is our conduct when we put so little confidence in our heavenly Father who has never failed us, and who never will. ...So far from suffering doubts to live in our hearts, we will take the whole detestable crew, as Elijah did the prophets of Baal, and slay them over the brook; and for a stream to kill them at, we will select the sacred torrent which wells forth from our Saviour’s wounded side. We have been in many trials, but we have never yet been cast where we could not find in our God all that we needed. Let us then be encouraged to trust in the Lord for ever, assured that his ever lasting strength will be, as it has been, our succour and stay. (From Morning and Evening: Daily Readings, by C.H. Spurgeon.)

A Review of "THE HUMANNESS OF JOHN CALVIN: The Reformer as Husband, Father, Pastor and Friend"

John Calvin has been often been misrepresented as a cold, hard, unfeeling, detached man and responsible for the death of Michael Servetus. Nothing could be further from the truth and Richard Stauffer’s, The Humanness of John Calvin, The Reformer as Husband, Father, Pastor and Friend, dispels any ideas of these distortions be true. Not a new work, published in 1971, it is worth another look however as Calvin’s life is back in the limelight with the anniversary of his birthday last year. The author, Richard Stauffer, (1921-1984), was an outstanding Reformation historian in his own right and his exquisite knowledge of the time period is revealed within this 96 page tome.

Stauffer threads his way through the highlights of Reformer’s life and reveals intimate details, most through detailed knowledge of his letters, about Calvin the man; about his humanness. Dispelling many if not all of the unfair and inaccurate characterizations of the Reformer, we read of the kind, loving, deep feeling man that he was. For those who have been indoctrinated with the lies about Calvin, this book is for you. For those who want to know more about the man behind the theology, this book is also for you. I highly recommend it. It could be a first step to a greater understanding of Calvinism.

The Sufficiency of God

From E.M. Bounds we read,

The sweetest graces by a slight perversion may bear the bitterest fruit. The sun gives life, but sunstrokes are death. Preaching is to give life; it may kill. The preacher holds the keys; he may lock as well as unlock. Preaching is God’s great institution for the planting and maturing of spiritual life. When properly executed, its benefits are untold; when wrongly executed, no evil can exceed its damaging results. It is an easy matter to destroy the flock if the shepherd be unwary or the pasture be destroyed, easy to capture the citadel if the watchmen be asleep or the food and water be poisoned. Invested with such gracious prerogatives, exposed to so great evils, involving so many grave responsibilities, it would be a parody on the shrewdness of the devil and a libel on his character and reputation if he did not bring his master influences to adulterate the preacher and the preaching. In face of all this, the exclamatory interrogatory of Paul, “Who is sufficient for these things?” is never out of order.

Paul says: “Our sufficiency is of God, who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” The true ministry is God–touched, God–enabled, and God–made. The Spirit of God is on the preacher in anointing power, the fruit of the Spirit is in his heart, the Spirit of God has vitalized the man and the word; his preaching gives life, gives life as the spring gives life; gives life as the resurrection gives life; gives ardent life as the summer gives ardent life; gives fruitful life as the autumn gives fruitful life. The life–giving preacher is a man of God, whose heart is ever athirst for God, whose soul is ever following hard after God, whose eye is single to God, and in whom by the power of God’s Spirit the flesh and the world have been crucified and his ministry is like the generous flood of a life–giving river. (Taken from the Power of Prayer by E.M. Bounds)

Mohler at the Resolved Conference

A great video of Al Mohler from the Resolved Conference.


Al Mohler on Reading from Resolved on Vimeo.

Love is Kind, 1 Corinthians 13:1-4

Our sermon this week was from Dr. T. David Gordon.

A Short Review of "John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God"

John Piper’s little tome, John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God, is a superb piece that reviews the high points of the Reformer’s life and clearly demonstrates in his thoughts and deeds his desire to display the Majesty of God. Indeed, it is a short work, only 59 pages including the appendix, but it’s a must read for anyone wanting an introductory lesson on Calvin. Moreover, it presents the Reformer's life long passion for sharing God’s majesty, primarily through the preaching of Scripture. If the reader is looking for more depth and information there are other works available (see sidebar).

If there is a down side to this little work it is found in the unnecessary appendix in which we find a defense of Calvin’s involvement in the trial of Servetus. Piper deserves credit for defending him but it is yet another wearisome defense of the Genevan Reformer against those who cannot properly interpret history. This appendix would have been better left out as it distracts from the main thrust of the work.

God With Us

God shall be with ye. (Genesis 48:21)

Good old Jacob could no more be with Joseph, for his hour had come to die: but he left his son without anxiety, for he said with confidence, "God shall be with you." When our dearest relations or our most helpful friends are called home by death, we must console ourselves with the reflection that the Lord is not departed from us but lives for us and abides with us forever.

If God be with us, we are in ennobling company, even though we are poor and despised. If God be with us, we have all-sufficient strength, for nothing can be too hard for the Lord. If God be with us, we are always safe, for none can harm those who walk under His shadow. Oh, what a joy we have here! Not only is God with us, but He will be with us. With us as individuals; with us as families; with us as churches. Is not the very name of Jesus, Immanuel--God with us? Is not this the best of all, that God is with us? Let us be bravely diligent and joyously hopeful. Our cause must prosper, the truth must win, for the Lord is with those who are with Him. All this day may this sweet word be enjoyed by every believer who turns to "faith's checkbook." No greater happiness is possible. - C.H. Spurgeon

This encouraging word was on my mind today as I struggled through an issue. May it be of help to you.

Paul's Prayer

God's Grace

Our 13 part study of the Doctrine of God concludes this week with God's Grace.

Dad Life -So True

Aint it all true....

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

HT:Pure Church

On Stewardship

While thinking about the principles of stewardship, the giving to the needy (especially today as we have so many friends, family and church members out of work), I came across the following from John Calvin,

[L]et this be the rule we observe when we seek to do good and to act compassionately: we are stewards of all that the Lord has given us, and which make it possible for us to help our neighbour. ...Now there is no better or more appropriate way of exercising stewardship than that prescribed by the rule of love. Accordingly, not only will we combine concern for our neighbour's interests with concern for our own, we will also subordinate our interests to those of others (A Guide to Christian Living by John Calvin, translated by Robert White, Banner of Truth Trust, pgs. 36-37).

So there is the rule, but to who does this apply?

The Lord requires us to do good to all. He makes no exception, even though most people are unworthy if we judge them on their merits. Scripture, however, forstalls us, warning us to pay no attention to human worth in itself, but rather to consider the image of god which is in all of us, which deserves all our respect and affection. Especially should we acknowledge it among God's servants in the faith (gal. 6:10), because it is being renewed and restored in them by the Spirit of Christ (pg.38).

What's behind all of this? Calvin explains,

Christians must first have empathy for the person who needs help: they should pity his misfortune as if they themselves were feeling and experiencing it; they should be moved to aid him by the same compassion which they would have for themselves. ...We should recognize that whatever we have and are capable of doing is owed to a neighbour. There is no limit to our obligation to do good, except our lack of capacity; however far our capacity may extend, it should always answer to the rule of love (pgs. 41 & 43).

The rule of love always comes first but how often does the rule of self actually comes first? Calvin perfectly lays out the basic principle in all of our dealings and especially with the Brethren. Let's not forsake our calling to do good to all.

Is there a flip side to this? Is there a time when we should not give? Here we can turn to Tim Keller,

We must let mercy limit mercy. ...We may cut off our aid only if it is unmerciful to continue it. It is unmerciful to bail out a person who needs to feel the full consequences of his own irresponsible behavior. Sometimes we may have to say: "Friend we are not withdrawing our mercy, just changing its form. We will continue to pray for you and visit you, and the minute you are willing to cooperate with us and make the changes that we believe are needed, we will resume our aid. Please realize that it is only out of love that we are doing this!" (Ministries of Mercy by Timothy Keller, P&R Publishing, pg. 98)

To that, when the situation calls for it, we add a hearty, Amen! But better to err on the side of pity and mercy until the facts can be fully obtained. Investigate thoroughly and let Scriptures be the guide. It may take more than one instance of help to see a family through a crisis. It may take several and it may take other forms of assistance, but always let us remember Calvin's admonition, ...There is no better or more appropriate way of exercising stewardship than that prescribed by the rule of love.

Image credit

Stetzer on Social Media

Insighful as ever, Ed Stetzer opened the Ligonier Conference last Thursday with his thoughts on social media. You can find his address here and the videos from all the speakers here.

Stetzer points out some of the reasons for engaging in social media:

1. Social media assists in community
2. Social media assists in communication
3. Social media assists in inspiration
4. Social media assists in introduction

Don't miss this video if you're questioning what's happening with social media at your church and in your home.

On Using Technology

Some thought provoking comments from Vintage73 on the PCA's use of technology:

We need to ask ourselves how can we be stewards of the technology God has made available to us? Technological stewardship doesn’t mean putting tech budgets over the needs of the peoples. It’s not about constantly buying news gadgets, and getting rid of existing system just for the sake of being new. It means using what technology is at your disposal, to better accomplish your goals.

This article is well worth reading, giving it some thought and then, perhaps, acting on some of those suggestions?

Christ's Return

(Please ignore the pop-up adds)

Doctrine of God Week 12

We are quickly coming to the close of our Doctrine of God series. Here is part 12, The Sovereignty of God.



(Please ignore the pop-up adds)

The Importance of Church Family

Another gem from Driscoll...

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Official Trailer [HD]

I've been looking forward to this...

The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards

A great review of Steve Lawson's, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards by the Defrosted Calvinist can be found here. Looks like another tome to go on my want list.

Thanksgiving

We begin our study of Second Thessalonians having finished First Thessalonians a few weeks ago. Be blessed.

The Justice of God

Our study of the Doctrine of God continues this week with the Justice of God.

Christianity biased to book lovers?

Piper's response is great...

People Get Ready

The best version I've heard...

One Anothers: Show Hospitality

(Please ignore the pop-up adds)

A Whiff of Kansas - Tim Hawkins

Way too funny...

Our Days are a Mere Handbreadth

Psalm 39:4-5

4 "Show me, O LORD, my life's end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting is my life.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Each man's life is but a breath. (NIV)

We should be blessed by this passage. I certainly was as I read it this morning. Hence, we must ask ourselves, what are we doing today? Are we building up treasure here or in heaven? If we're trying to build treasure in heaven, how are we doing that? What are our plans for the future? How can we use our time effectively with what time we have left here? I just heard the great analogy of life being like an overnight stay in a motel. Would you or I dump money and time into the room if we were just staying for the night? Of course not but we often do that with our lives here. Let's take time to think through our motives and refocus our hearts on what truly is important as our time here is so short.

Hard Times and Lonely Days

I know it sounds like a blues song but it's actually an outstanding sermon. It's worth a listen.

Doctrine of God Week 10

Our study of the doctrine of God continues thiw week with the theme of God's goodness.

DG's New Website - Take a Look

Book Review: The Search for God and Guinness

If you like beer, especially stout, and history, you’re going to like Stephen Mansfield’s latest work, The Search for God and Guinness. Mansfield tells the story of the Guinness family and how many of its foremost leaders took their Christian faith seriously. So serious that they not only made Guinness the number one selling stout but also used their wealth to help the poor and needy. Moreover, they made the Guinness brewery an outstanding place to work even by today’s standards.

Mansfield, who researched the Guinness family well, does a wonderful job drawing us in to the Guinness family and detailing many of their contributions to society and indeed the world. This is not a book, however, if you’re looking for brewing techniques or beer marketing strategies. Rather, it’s a trip through history beginning before the days of Arthur Guinness and his successful brewery all the way to the present. Most of all, we see the faith, generosity, and social conscience that was so much a part of many of their lives. The family legacy was handed down father to son for two centuries, sometimes to the unwilling. Yet, the Guinness name prevailed and the company prospered and often did so in difficult circumstances. Not all of the family history was rosy either for we also learn a bit about the black sheep in the line that squandered their family money and were a disappointment. And the reader will see how two world wars caused sales to plummet but with the appropriate postwar changes, the company rebounded and came to be what it is today.

This is certainly an entertaining read. It’s not technical but rather informative. As a beer lover and Christian myself, I wish there had been more detail about their Christian beliefs. With the exception of Henry Guinness who became a notable preacher, this detail is lacking. Perhaps there was not enough to document.

Overall, this is a fine read and I eagerly recommend it, especially as you sit and devour it with a tall Guinness at your side.