The Equipping Church

My church, Bible Baptist (of Otsego), does a great job equipping its people with the truth of God's Word. The teaching and preaching at our church is constantly focused on this idea. I am grateful for it. Because these truths are ever before us as a congregation, I am soaking in more than I realize.

Last weekend, I had a visit at my door from a woman of the Jehovah Witness faith. She was accompanied by her young daughter (the daughter looked to be about 9 or 10). She wanted to leave a couple Watchtower magazines with me. I declined them and told her I was somewhat familiar with the teaching in the magazine, and I disagreed with it. She asked my spiritual background and what I disagreed with. I said, "I think we believe in a different Jesus."

She said, "We believe in Jesus. We believe he's God's son. We believe he died for our sins. We believe he's our savior."

I said, "I believe He is fully God and fully man."

She said, "Ohh, I don't believe that."

She then spent a few minutes trying to convince me of what she believed. She quoted a lot of Scripture in the process (not really in context or as logical evidence to support what she was saying, but she quoted a lot of Scripture nonetheless). She ended with this statement, "It doesn't really matter if we don't agree about who Jesus is."

I said, "Oh, but I think it does." I told her that the gospel of John is pretty clear about this issue and recommended that she read it with this in mind. We then parted ways.

Which brings me back to my opening paragraph about the equipping ministry of my church. Because so much time is spent on the basic Christian doctrines (such as, who is Jesus) and Scriptures to support it, I am aware of what I believe, why I believe it, and I'm able to articulate it and defend it when necessary (though I was a little surprised to hear the words come out of my mouth and to realize they were actually in my head--Praise be to God for the retention of thought!).

So, again I'll be sharing with you the link to our Thursday Night Bible study and prayer meeting service. This is the last message in the Basic Christian Doctrines series. The topic for this message is "future events". Click Here to listen to the message.

Resource Wednesday 02/24/10

Today I'd like to share with you the latest book I've been reading, Gospel-Powered Parenting by William Farley. I have three chapters to go, and I'm thoroughly enjoying this book. If you're looking for a book that gives you practical parenting tips and step-by-step advice for various parenting scenarios, this is not the book for you. In this book you will find a study of parenting and a study of the gospel. If you like to hear the gospel explained, then you will not be disappointed by this book. The author takes two chapters (4 & 5) to explain God's wrath and God's love and mercy. He also spends a chapter explaining the "fear of the Lord" (3), and I think he does a pretty good job.

In chapter 6, the author spends time focusing on the value of our marriages in the area of parenting. Three of my favorite paragraphs in the book are found at the end of chapter 6 (pages 121 & 122):

This chapter has said that our example matters, that our marriages preach the gospel. It has also indicated that the gospel produces the humility that attracts our children. The gospel has another crucial function. It is the place where needy parents go for cleansing and forgiveness. When I am impatient with my wife, I run to the cross for forgiveness. When I treat my wife selfishly or thoughtlessly, in front of my children, I run to the cross for forgiveness. When my wife fails, she goes there also. At the cross, we find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb 4:16).

We also run to the cross for motivation. When I need a model of sacrificial love, I look to the cross. There I see Christ dying for me, his enemy. When my wife needs motivation to submit to a very imperfect husband, one every bit her equal, she looks to the cross. There she sees Christ submitting to his Father, who was every bit his equal. Jesus doesn't complain. He doesn't demand a turn to lead the Trinity. He doesn't try to control his Father. He doesn't try to manipulate him. He just willingly goes to the cross in perfect obedience and dies.

The cross is our salvation from the condemnation of sin. The cross motivates us to be the parents that God wants us to be. The cross motivates us to preach a compelling example to our children. The cross exposes our pride. It humbles us. It shows us who we really are--sinners saved by grace.

As I mentioned above, I have three chapters to go in this book. But, I would recommend it on chapters 1 through 9 alone. I could stop reading it now and feel it was worth the read (but I do plan to finish it up). I would recommend it for the home bookshelf. I think it would be an excellent resource.

A visit with Mom 2/23/10

On Saturday morning, my mom surprised me with a visit. She stayed until the afternoon. It was a very nice visit. Mom lives an hour north of me, so we talk on the phone more than we visit in person. We had a lovely time doing some housework (thanks for the help, Mom) and talking about life. The Lord has granted my mom and me sweet fellowship in the last few years. I do so enjoy talking to her about life and our individual walks with the Lord.

I love you, Mom!

P.S. Thanks for the flowers.

Cookie Baking Night 2/22/10

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night with the nieces and nephew(s). In attendance this evening: Emily, Carissa, and Ethan.

We made Andes mint cookies, played a few games, and read from Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland.

Tonight's lesson was "What the Law Means". We've spent a fair amount of time learning the 10 Commandments, and now the lessons in our book are explaining what we've been learning. It's an exciting time. Emily read the Bible passage for us this evening (1 Kings 17:8-16). As the kids take turns reading the Bible passages from the story (well, just Emily and Ethan read at this point), they are also learning how to maneuver around the Bible and find the books that correlate with our story (we're putting into practice the time we've spent so far memorizing the order of the Old Testament and New Testament books).

As usual, a good time was had by all!

Now that Emily's brother and sister are teenagers (17 and 14), they have moved from Cookie Baking Night attenders to taxi service (Joe has graduated from Cookie Baking and Meghan still makes sporadic apprearances). Tonight, when they came back to pick up Emily, they stopped inside to visit and enjoyed a plate of leftover chicken nuggets from our supper earlier that evening. It was fun to spend some time with them and hear about what is going on in their lives. I think the many Monday nights they have spent in our home over the years has built a basis for the relationship with them as teenagers. They're comfortable here, and that's the way I like it (I highly recommend starting your own version of Cookie Baking Night with the children in your lives).

Evanagelism Video 2/20/10

Today I'd like to share another video with you from the Living Waters University series. This is Ray Comfort witnessing to a young man named Josh. It's an interesting video. This young man seems kind of flip when he's answering questions about sin but has moments of seriousness when talking about hell. He also holds a pretty common (American) view of why someone becomes a Christian, which he reveals at the end of the video.

Frightening Friday 02/19/10

This evening I found myself at what has become my regular Friday night evangelism spot (for the winter months, anyway), the local mall. I try to spend at least 30 minutes sitting on the bench, reading my Bible, with the cross next to me and 30 minutes walking around the mall handing out gospel tracts.

Tonight there was an unusually high amount of traffic for my little corner of the mall (okay, I admit it, the chicken in me has chosen a lower-traffic entrance at which to make my perch). But this evening many, many people saw me and read the question on the cross. A few people commented but no one directed their conversation to me this evening.

On a side note: The Lord has been gracious to me in the choosing of this particular mall. Every time I'm there the security guards walk by me at least once (sometimes twice in a period of 30 minutes), but they've never said a word to me. I'm grateful I've been allowed this unchallenged opportunity thus far.

After my time on the bench, I walked around and handed out gospel tracts. I can easily walk around for hours and never hand out a tract or try to engage anyone in conversation. Knowing this about myself, I usually set a goal of how many tracts to hand out before I go home. Tonight the goal was 5, which I exceeded before I left (as I usually do, but without the goal I just walk around the mall for an hour or more, flapping my little chicken wings, until I finally go home).

Please pray for those who received the gospel in their hands this evening and those who were challenged by the words, "Are You Ready?" written on the terrible and beautiful symbol on which Christ gave His life for our sins.

Thursday Night Bible Study 2/18/10

Today I'd like to share with you another sermon from the Basic Christian Doctrines series currently being taught at the weekly Thursday night Bible study and prayer meeting service at our church. This sermon is about the basic Christian doctrine of salvation. I was out of town last week, so I just listened to the podcast of this sermon today. I think it's a good one. Check it out. click here