Registered: Monday, September 8, 2003
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880 Members
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Max Online: 72 @ Thursday, September 8, 2016 10:03 PM
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America Burned CH Spurgeon's Articles
by Tom
Friday, September 23, 2016 3:05 PM
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A Father's Hand
by chestnutmare
Friday, September 23, 2016 5:52 AM
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A Pastor's Dilemna
by Tom
Thursday, September 22, 2016 11:17 AM
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Dying words of John Willison
by chestnutmare
Monday, September 19, 2016 8:56 PM
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ESS
by Pilgrim
Thursday, September 15, 2016 5:24 PM
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M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
by chestnutmare
Saturday, September 10, 2016 5:59 AM
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By the grace of God I am what I am!
("Every Day!" Author unknown, 1872)
"By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10
All that I am . . .
as a child of God,
as a servant of Christ,
as an heir of Heavenly glory
—I am by the grace of God!
Am I cleansed from the guilt of my sins? It was Your grace, O God of love, which opened the fountain that washed it all away!
Am I justified? It was Your grace that provided the spotless robe of righteousness, in which I stand accepted before You.
Am I sanctified? It is not by works of righteousness which I have done, but by Your grace I am saved from the love and power of my sins.
Am I bearing any fruit to Your glory? It is by Your grace in Christ Jesus--for apart from Him, I could do nothing.
Am I different from what I once was, or from the ungodly who have their portion in this world? It is Your grace alone which has made me to differ. I have nothing which I have not received from You.
"By the grace of God I am what I am!"
A pardoned sinner,
a justified believer,
an adopted child,
an heir of glory!
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During a men’s Bible study my pastor revealed to us that he has found that during a sermon he can say almost anything as long as it is biblical. Yet, as we are learning when the same thing is said to someone in the Church out of concern for that individual about a sin pattern in their lives, it is a different matter.
That sums up basically what has been happening in our Church in the last year. We went from a growing healthy (or so it seemed) to in just over a year to about half the population we had before. Not only when my pastor has gone to a person privately about a sin in their life; did they leave because they were offended and left the Church, but others left also because they took the other persons side.
My pastor is starting to become quite discouraged and guarded in what he says and when my pastor left the study, we prayed for him. It isn’t that he could not have chosen his words a little more carefully in a few cases. However, I know him and how much he cares about the Church, so I know that he was motivated by his high view of Scripture and love for the sheep.
In one case I was a friend of a person that left the Church and he told me in very clear terms, that our pastor has proven himself to be unfit to be a pastor and if he really was repentant he would resign from the pastorate. He and other people who have left believe this is obvious and people who stay are no more than yes men/women.
As I examine all the facts as I have been able to get, I am finding myself no longer able to fellowship with the people who left. As far as I am concerned although the matter is not black and white in all cases. Never the less, I find the people who left to have a very small view of what a local Church is.
Like any family, disputes are going to happen, yet they can be settled without leaving. Especially when in the city we live in, Reformed Churches are few and far between. As far as I know, most of the people that have left are not going to another Church.
Is this a common occurrence in the Church today?
Tom
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"Thy Word is very pure; therefore Thy servant loveth it."
MY DEAR FLOCK,
The approach of another year stirs up within me new desires for your salvation, and for the growth of those of you who are saved. "God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." What the coming year is to bring forth who can tell? There is plainly a weight lying on the spirits of all good men, and a looking for some strange work of judgment upon this land. There is a need now to ask that solemn question — "If in the land of peace wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?"
Those believers will stand firmest who have no dependence upon self or upon creatures, but upon Jehovah our Righteousness. We must be driven more to our Bibles, and to the mercy-seat, if we are to stand in the evil day. Then we shall be able to say, like David — “The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined from Thy law.” “Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart standeth in awe of Thy word.”
It has long been in my mind to prepare a scheme of Scripture reading, in which as many as were made willing by God might agree, so that the whole Bible might be read once by you in the year, and all might be feeding in the same portion of the green pasture at the same time.
I am quite aware that such a plan is accompanied with many DANGERS.
1. Formality. We are such weak creatures that any regularly returning duty is apt to degenerate into a lifeless form. The tendency of reading the Word by a fixed rule may, in some minds, be to create this skeleton religion. This is to be the peculiar sin of the last days – “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Guard against this. Let the calendar perish rather than this rust eat up your souls.
2. Self-righteousness. –Some, when they have devoted their set time to reading of the Word, and accomplished their prescribed portion, may be tempted to look at themselves with self-complacency. Many, I am persuaded, are living without any Divine work on their soul — unpardoned and unsanctified, and ready to perish — who spend their appointed times in secret and family devotion. This is going to hell with a lie in their right hand.
3. Careless reading. Few tremble at the Word of God. Few, in reading it, hear the voice of Jehovah, which is full of majesty. Some, by having so large a portion, may be tempted to weary of it, as Israel did of the daily manna, saying – “Our soul loatheth this light bread;” and to read it in a slight and careless manner. This would be fearfully provoking to God. Take heed lest that word be true of you — “Ye said, also, Behold what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of Hosts.”
4. A yoke to heavy to bear. Some may engage in reading with alacrity for a time, and afterwards feel it a burden, grievous to be borne. They may find conscience dragging them through the appointed task without any relish of the heavenly food. If this be the case with any, throw aside the fetter, and feed at liberty in the sweet garden of God. My desire is not to cast a snare upon you, but to be a helper of your joy.
If there be so many dangers, why propose such a scheme at all? To this I answer, that the best things are accompanied with danger, as the fairest flowers are often gathered in the clefts of some dangerous precipice.
Let us weigh THE ADVANTAGES.
1. The whole Bible will be read through in an orderly manner in the course of a year. The Old Testament once, the New Testament and Psalms twice. I fear many of you never read the whole Bible; and yet it is all equally Divine, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.” If we pass over some parts of Scripture, we shall be incomplete Christians.
2. Time will not be wasted in choosing what portions to read. Often believers are at a loss to determine towards which part of the mountains of spices they should bend their steps. Here the question will be solved at once in a very simple manner.
3. Parents will have a regular subject upon which to examine their children and servants. It is much to be desired that family worship were made more instructive than it generally is. The mere reading of the chapter is often too like water spilt on the ground. Let it be read by every member of the family before-hand, and then the meaning and application drawn out by simple question and answer. The calendar will be helpful in this. Friends, also, when they meet, will have a subject for profitable conversation in the portions read that day. The meaning of difficult passages may be inquired from the more judicious and ripe Christians, and the fragrance of simpler Scriptures spread abroad.
4. The pastor will know in what part of the pasture the flock are feeding. He will thus be enabled to speak more suitably to them on the Sabbath; and both pastor and elders will be able to drop a word of light and comfort in visiting from house to house, which will be more readily responded to.
5. The sweet bond of Christian love and unity will be strengthened. We shall be often led to think of those dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, here and elsewhere, who agree to join with us in reading those portions. We shall oftener be led to agree on earth, touching something we shall ask of God. We shall pray over the same promises, mourn over the same confessions, praise God in the same songs, and be nourished by the same words of eternal life.
* * * * * * * * *
Here is a useful tool that has been on The Highway for a long time. Perhaps you will consider making use of it and maybe encourage your Church to use it as well. M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
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I do not think that this forum has had any discussions on the ESS dabates that seem to be getting a big play in theological circles. There really is not much of a debate as attempting to prove subjection within the Trinity in order to strengthen complementarian arguments. Those who make the ESS argument are just wrong, and should admit it in order to restore their credibility.
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