Of Men, Books, and Faith

Great men's study again yesterday morning - thanks to the men who came out.

Last week we talked to the pastor in Florida who made national news because his church was faithful to a member, and to Christ, to call her to repent for blatant sexual immorality. She called in the media to defend her sin. Even the Drudge Report got a hold of it. The media loved her and hated the church. Thanks, Scott Christmas and Grace Community Church of Jacksonville, FL.

This week we studied the church problem of self-willed elders. I gave each of the men a copy of the introduction of my upcoming book (D.V.). They correctly analyzed the problems and demonstrated some good wisdom.

Then we talked about an approach to defending Christianity based on Proverbs 26:4-5:
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.

You could see the eyes light up! Not only does the unbeliever has no answer for what he believes, he has no answer for what he does not believe. This allows us to show him the God of Scripture compared to his futility. Wrapping your mind around that one takes some time but it's well worth it.

Baptisms tomorrow at Rockville Baptist. Be praying for the four people testifying to Christ.

Sermon Update

We didn't make it through Mark 15:6-15 so we'll finish next Sunday, D.V.

I've been unable to put into words why this text is helping me so much to walk with Christ these past few weeks. Something about His shame on my behalf that affects me.

I need to understand this. Why does the shame and suffering of my Lord Jesus take away my desire to sin? I don't want to lose this. Ideas?

James 1:13-18 was challenging last night, eh?
Quick Outline:
4 Ultimate Realities Connected to Trials:
The Ultimate Blame Shift – v. 13 (our tendency in trials)
The Ultimate Fault – v. 14 (the source of sin in trials)
The Ultimate Spiritual Law – v. 15 (the "end," or result of our sin in trials)
The Ultimate Good – v. 16-18 (How to overcome those tendencies in trials)

If you're in the church, don't forget next week's baptisms - Rockville Baptist, 4pm.

Thanks, Rockville Baptist.

Shame and Sanctification

Wow. The text of Mark 15:6-15 has really impressed me with Jesus Christ, but not in any expected way. I find myself so motivated to walk in holiness because He underwent such shame and degradation - here's my preaching outline:

Mark 15:6-15 contains 6 degrading exchanges that remove all public honor from Jesus of Nazareth and Accomplish The Public Degradation of Jesus Christ

Background: The Crowd of Shame (they want Barabbas – 6-8)

1) His Title was Exchanged for Envy – 9-10
2) His Honor was Exchanged for a Murderer – 11
3) His Shame was Exchanged for Blame – 12-13
4) His Innocence was Exchanged for Guilt – 14
5) His Status was Exchanged for Satisfaction – 15a
6) His Glory was Exchanged for a Cross – 15b

Like Mark 11:27-12:12, the underlying factor here is the honor/shame culture of the Middle East. The textual keys to see this: "The crowd (v.8)," "envy" in v. 10, Pilate talking over the cheif priests and calling on the crowd (9, 12, 14), and Pilate "wishing to satisfy the crowd" (15).

Man of sorrows, what a name
For the son of God Who came;
Ruined sinners to reclaim,
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Each exchange gets progressively more shameful for Jesus Christ while the others gain honor at His expense. Very sad, Very heavy.

Part 1 was 2-8-09. Part 2 is 2-15-09. Pray for me, that I may accurately and powerfully portray the glory of Christ to all who hear, that they may be greatly influneced to worship and honor Jesus Christ.

Election and Child Raising

In Mark, Jesus welcomes children into His arms (10:14). How appropriate. Children are just so wonderful, and utterly huggable.

Parents that embrace the doctrine of election have struggled with how to raise their children for the Lord in that light . After all, what if my child is not elect?

I've seen three strange ways to deal with that tension.

First Strange Method: Infant baptism. Not to offend, but how many people have been sprinkled as infants and gone to perdition? The Bible teaches baptism only for those who profess faith and are able to be taught all that Jesus commanded (Mat. 28:19). Don't try to resolve the tension by “sprinkling” your precious baby and thinking that gets them into a covenent. It doesn't. They will enter the covenent by the narrow gate just like you. Problem is, a lot of kids thus sprinkled fight the Lord and grow up nastily reprobate. Infant baptism doesn’t resolve the tension, and it falsely trains parents to think the kid is better off than before.

Second Strange Method: Fear. Ever heard of people telling their little kids not to pray because their little reprobates who have yet to ask Jesus into their heart? Sad but true. So the parent, not wanting to offend God tries to get the child to do something to get saved, as if the kid can do anything anyway. Salvation by prayer ruins the cross. Teach your child to pray about all things, and don't be looking for "transaction with God," instead, look for transformed heart.

Third Strange Method: Don’t teach the child repentance, for they can do nothing to effect God’s election, and teaching them holiness might only frustrate God’s work in their life since He is the only One who can make holy. So you hear of reformed parents who let their 13 years olds play spin-the-bottle upstairs while the parents have Bible study downstairs. By age 16, the kids are gone.

So what is the right way?

Jesus meant is when He said, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14).

From day one, teach the child that Your Father is their Father (is He not?) Teach them that Jesus is their Savior (have they any other?). Teach them repentance, hold them accountable for their sins in the wisdom of confrontation, chastisement, and reconciliation. For you are raising people to live out Christian lives. Why else did God give them to you, but for the expectation that He intends to make good His election of them.

“What is the One God seeking? Godly offspring" (Mal 2:15, ESV).