The Master's Community Church: Recent Episodes
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Imagine telling General Patton that to defeat a fortified enemy, he needed to do nothing more than grab trumpets and march into the battle, blowing them as loud as he possibly could. His vast knowledge of military strategy would lead the general to dismissing the idea as utter foolishness. So it is, that the natural man, unregenerated by the Holy Spirit, often dismisses the message of the Gospel. Utter foolishness! However, God’s supernatural message thoroughly demolishes the self-sufficiency of man, crushes his pride and necessitates a response of repentance and faith, itself a gift of God.
Isaiah 7 illustrates the difference between divine wisdom and human reasoning. Here God’s guidance contrasts with King Ahaz’s reluctance to accept counsel, concluding with the prophecy concerning Immanuel. At the time these words seemed to offer limited practical assistance to a monarch confronted by imminent invasion.
Ahaz, king of Judah was threatened by Rezin, the king of Syria, in league with Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of the northern kingdom of Israel. They were about to wage war against King Ahaz. God tells the prophet to say to the king, “Be careful, be quiet, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps…” (v. 4). The reader may anticipate the Lord saying, “Ahaz, go and fight against these two kingdoms, and you will overcome them.” Instead, God says, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be as deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” Ahaz, in his unregenerate heart, refuses to ask God for a sign, but quotes Moses (Deut. 6:16). Despite the divine invitation, he refuses to trust God and relies instead on his own shrewdness.
God speaks to Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah, not about armies and kings, but about a baby. In a context of war and the threat of conquest, God, in his unfathomable wisdom, is telling his people that their hope is in a baby that will be born to a virgin hundreds of years in the future. In the light of pending doom, such a prophecy seemed out of place; However, the wisdom of God is on full display in the name of a virgin-born baby, Immanuel.
The prophecy of Immanuel, “God with us,” must have seemed like the ultimate foolishness to King Ahaz, who was preoccupied with the immediate military crisis. Instead, God offered him a baby born of a virgin as the decisive sign of his sovereign deliverance, revealing that God will accomplish His eternal plan independent of human strength or conventional means. “God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are” (1 Cor. 1:28).
Furthermore, God was operating on a timeline of millennia, executing his sovereign plan of redemption. The Incarnation of Jesus, the fulfillment of the Immanuel prophecy, was a display of wisdom that would solve Ahaz’s immediate problem in his day while also foretelling the ultimate, eternal solution to humanity’s deepest plight, the need for a Savior. The immediate deliverance was a shadow; the coming Christ was the substance.
Moreover, the very name Immanuel is at the core of God’s wisdom: that the ultimate problem is not external enemies, but the covenant separation caused by sin. God’s plan was to re-establish his presence with his people in a radical, permanent way through the Person of his Son.
Isaiah’s prophecy is a profound confrontation to man’s flawed, earthbound wisdom rooted in the effects of the Fall. Ahaz said he wanted to avoid tempting God, but his true motive was to trust in his own ability to manipulate circumstances, seeking earthly alliances instead of divine grace. Fallen mankind consistently seeks power in strength, wealth, and sophisticated plans. The message of the Incarnation flies directly in the face of this worldview. Our ways pale against God’s wisdom. We think we need a fortress; God sends a baby. We think we need a sword; God brings peace through suffering. The Incarnation does not fit their expectations of divine power.
Our problem is sin and separation from God. God’s answer is Jesus Christ, who “…became flesh and dwelt among us…” (Jn. 1:14). The message of the incarnate Christ is the ultimate evidence that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and his ways are infinitely higher than ours (Isa. 55:8-9).
The message remains the same today. We must humble ourselves, enabling God’s grace to embrace the divine wisdom revealed in the unexpected, supernatural story of the baby born to the virgin. “God with us.”
I remember sitting in a room full of foster care professionals a few years ago and being told that a child entering our care was “transitioning.” I recall this event vividly because I was called into a private meeting with the lead social worker. The conversation went something like this: “Jared, this individual is coming into our care, and you are required to refer to them by their preferred pronouns.”
I was taken aback. In an instant, I prayed silently, “Lord, give me wisdom.” It felt as if the words of Matthew 10:19 played out in real time. While the context of that passage is literal persecution, I believe the principle applied: “Do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.”
My response was pointed but delivered in a spirit of grace. I said, “With all due respect, I cannot and will not do that. I refuse to lie. I will, however, refer to the individual by their name.”
The social worker’s response was telling: “That’s not very empathetic of you.” On its face, that may seem like an odd reply, but if you follow the logic of secular thoughts on empathy, you begin to see how easily it can become sinful. This is the framework through which Joe Rigney explores his book.
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The StructureRigney begins by defining empathy: the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings. He argues that when empathy is left without biblical boundaries, it devolves into what he calls “untethered empathy.” While empathy is a cognitive ability, Rigney notes that as believers, we cannot truly “share” another person’s sinful feelings or reality.
I mentioned the transgender issue because Rigney explicitly addresses how untethered empathy demands we join someone in their subjective perceptions, even when those feelings divorce themselves from the objective reality of God’s design. It’s not just the façade of untethered empathy that Rigney addresses; he also exposes the counterfeits of compassion. The reality is that if you conflate empathy with compassion, you will inevitably face temptations to compromise the truth. Rigney doesn’t just offer a “mic drop” critique; he gives a call to action on how to respond to this sin. The remedy is to commit to a faithful local church where you are held accountable for both words and actions. We look at a world in darkness and remember Paul’s words: “And such were some of you, but you were washed.” We don’t help the world by being “empathetic” to their rebellion. We show true biblical empathy by grieving with those who lose loved ones or jobs—suffering alongside them without compromising the truth.
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Personal Impact
I confess I initially picked up this book because of its provocative title. However, after hearing Dr. Rigney discuss it on a podcast with Dr. Al Mohler, I was deeply convicted. The book forced me to ask: “Are there areas where I am offering untethered empathy to sin?”
Untethered empathy often leads to a grave secondary sin: apathy. While reading, I realized I had become apathetic toward media I was consuming. I was watching a show where a character “comes out” as homosexual. Like much of Hollywood, the writers used an emotional storyline—an abusive household and childhood trauma—to draw the viewer in. I caught myself thinking, “Well, I guess this is the new normal,” and I continued watching.
Through untethered empathy, I was minimizing this sin because of the cultural normalization of homosexuality in Hollywood. But the Bible tells us he is a sinner in need of grace, regardless of his past. My “empathy” had turned into an excuse for apathy—I simply didn’t care that the show was promoting sin because it felt like the “new normal.” God used this book, alongside time in the Word, to convict me. We must find these blind spots, confess them, and put them to death.
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Implications for MCC and PrayerWhen I was a young believer, I learned the ACTS acrostic for prayer. We teach this same tool to our students in Master’s Kids here at MCC. I believe this framework is perfect for applying Rigney’s call to action; it provides us with a strategic way to move from conviction to a life of joyful obedience and intercession:
- Adoration: Give praise to God that you are no longer who you once were. You should have no “empathy” for the “old man” (your former sinful self). That man is dead, buried with Christ, and you have been raised to new life.
- Confession: Identify your blind spots. Ask the Lord to reveal where your empathy has been untethered from truth. Seek godly counsel and do not run from it; receive it and repent of any empathy that has led you into the sin of apathy.
- Thanksgiving: Thank God that He gives more grace. Be grateful that you are not who you once were, and praise God that He is never “empathetic” toward sin—He loves us enough to call us out of it.
- Supplication: In Acts 9, when Luke records Paul’s conversion, he uses incredible language. Paul is blinded on the road to Damascus. He has no untethered empathy towards Christians, and God blinded him. You see, Paul had no untethered empathy for Christians because he had no untethered empathy for God. So, God in His divine sovereignty reveals Himself to Saul of Tarsus: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” says Jesus. Paul is in a room, and all of a sudden Luke writes these words: “something like scales fell from his eyes.” For the first time in Paul’s life, he is no longer blind.
The ultimate call to action is this: Do you know someone caught in sin or someone who is currently opposing God? Take their name before the King of Heaven and plead with Him to remove the scales from their eyes. Don’t empathize with their sin—call it out and call them to put it to death.
A reflection on the lives of Dr. John MacArthur, Charlie Kirk, and Dr. Voddie Baucham In 2 Samuel 3, Abner was murdered by Joab, and David mourned, saying, “Do you not know that a prince and great man has fallen this day from Israel?” These words echoed in my mind when I learned of the deaths of Dr. MacArthur, Charlie Kirk, and Dr. Baucham. Dr. MacArthur died after months of illness, Charlie Kirk was assassinated, and Dr. Baucham’s death was unexpected. We mourn but also rejoice, remembering those who spoke God’s Word to us (Hebrews 13:7), whose legacies continue to shape our faith.
When I first became convinced of expository preaching, I was a first-year Bible College student. To prepare for a class, I read a small Nine Marks book on expository preaching. After reading it, I was sure this was the Biblical model for preaching and teaching. That raised a question: how do I do this? Naturally, I googled Expository Preachers, and the first name that appeared was Dr. John MacArthur. I sat in my campus apartment and listened to hours of Dr. MacArthur expounding the scriptures. He brought the Bible to life by explaining what the text said and how it applies to daily life. I wanted to do that. I didn’t know how, but I knew I wanted to try. This led me to Dr. MacArthur’s commentaries and books. I remember reading “The Gospel According to Jesus” and being struck by the doctrinal conviction and clarity in his writing. When I began graduate studies, my wife Maggie had just given birth to our eldest, Meridith. I was excited to learn that semester we would read MacArthur’s “Safe in the Arms of God.” Nothing could have prepared me for the emotional journey that book took me on. Five years before Meridith’s birth, Maggie had miscarried our first child. I was devastated, and for years I wrestled with the question, Where is my miscarried child? This book impacted me more than any sermon or commentary by MacArthur, or any other book of his. Why? Because page after page was a balm to my soul. God’s character, his love for his people, and the hope of the resurrection filled every page. So, when I heard of Dr. MacArthur’s passing, I thought back to that first-year student who wanted to learn how to handle God’s Word, and I was forever grateful to have been introduced to this faithful minister of the gospel for over fifty years.
September 10th, 2025, seemed like just another day until I received a message from a co-worker: “Charlie Kirk was just shot.” I muttered, “There’s no way that’s true. Please God, don’t let it be true.” Like most people, I checked X to see if the news was real. After ten seconds of browsing, it was confirmed. Already devastated, I forced myself to watch the video. I’ve only watched it once; one time is enough. With tears in my eyes, I turned to Maggie and said, “If he survives, it will be a miracle.” After two hours of conflicting reports, I finally read the words from Turning Point USA, “He’s Gone.” This one hurt, and it still hurts. I have followed Charlie Kirk since he launched Turning Point and was blown away by his ability to articulate his thoughts clearly. Charlie’s use of logic, facts, and reasoning without resorting to ad hominem attacks made him special. Over the last five years, Charlie became increasingly outspoken about his faith in Jesus. He showed from a biblical worldview that understanding Christian doctrine leads to genuine conservatism. Jesus was more important to Charlie than any other relationship, and it showed in how he engaged the culture. Liberal Arts Universities are not typically welcoming to conservative voices, yet Charlie went into hostile environments armed with the truth of the Bible and convinced people of conservative ideals. On one of his final podcasts before his assassination, Charlie Kirk was asked what he would want to be remembered for. Without hesitation, he said, “I would want to be remembered for courage for my faith.” So, to Charlie, my brother in the Lord, a month has passed, and that is exactly what we remember you for.
It wasn’t just Charlie’s assassination that impacted me and millions of other conservatives; it was also his memorial service. For five hours, the gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed by many voices: political leaders, pastors, and most moving of all, his now widowed bride. Erika Kirk’s eulogy will go down as one of the greatest speeches in American history. Even now, I am tearing up thinking about this. When discussing Tyler Robinson she said these words, “that man, that young man, I forgive him. Friends, that is the power of the gospel. As heinous as Charlie Kirk’s assassination was, it pales in comparison to how serious our sin is before a holy and righteous God. Christians understand what we truly deserve, and yet God, in his kindness, saves us. He forgives the unforgivable and calls us to forgive as well. Justice for Tyler Robinson still needs to be served, but the power and freedom of forgiveness is what sets Christians apart. This is what Charlie would have wanted. God used the evil of Joseph’s brothers to bring about good (Genesis 50:20), and it seems God is using this great evil against Charlie for his glory and our good. A giant has fallen, but we do not mourn as those without hope. There is a resurrection from the dead coming, and we will be swept into it. Oh, the great joy of being found in Christ.
Shortly after our wedding, I told Maggie I thought the Lord was calling me into vocational ministry. I didn’t know what that would look like or if it was a true calling; I just knew I wanted to study the Bible and teach it. I thought I would start in youth ministry and see where it led. A good friend from college had her father reach out to me. He was opposed to youth ministry and sent me a video warning of its dangers. This was my first introduction to Dr. Voddie Baucham and to family-integrated worship. I wasn’t convinced at the time and was also opposed to any Calvinistic viewpoint. In the summer of 2014, I did a deep dive into Romans, and my whole world changed. It was like being converted all over again. Through that study, I began to embrace and love the doctrines of grace. I became something I swore I would never be: an unashamed, fire-breathing, five-point Calvinist. When I came to this conviction, I listened to R.C. Sproul and Voddie Baucham every day. The first sermon I heard by Voddie was from the 2006 Desiring God conference, titled “The Supremacy of Christ in Truth.” Voddie discussed the dangers of presenting a weak view of God. We want a high view of God and a low view of man. These ideas were clear, but the gospel shone forth and was heralded in a way that made even us Reformed Baptists want to shout “Amen.” What made me love Dr. Baucham’s preaching was his boldness. Whether the issue was abortion, social justice, rejecting critical race theory, or any other topic, he was bold and stood on the truths of Scripture. A few weeks ago, when I learned of his passing, I shed tears. I had never cried after learning about someone passing whom I had never met, but that changed three times this year: when Dr. MacArthur passed, Charlie Kirk was assassinated, and Dr. Voddie Baucham passed.
As I reflect on the lives of these three men, one word comes to mind: confidence. Their confidence was not in their intellect, communication skills, or names. It was in the unchanging word of God. Their boldness in public or behind a pulpit came from their belief in a God who has spoken. God wrote a book, and in it, he detailed what he is like and what we should do. Our first parents failed to keep God’s rules, so sin entered the world, and death through sin. God gave laws to obey, but in human sinfulness, man violated and continues to violate those laws, and all mankind is under a curse. But God, in his great mercy, sent a promised seed. A seed that would be a divine head crusher. The ancient serpent, the great enemy of God, had his head crushed when the promised seed’s heel was bruised. God sent his only Son, the one he loved, and offered him up so that all those the Father had chosen before the earth’s foundations were laid would be saved. That is the message that drove Dr. John MacArthur, Dr. Voddie Baucham, and Charlie Kirk. While Charlie’s message was mainly political, he always proclaimed the gospel. Why? Because conservative politics without Christ still leads to the lake of fire. The gospel is where each of these men found their confidence. May we be as bold as they were for the glory of Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom until He comes.
A Review by Jared ShawSeptember 13, 2011, is a day I will never forget. Very early in our marriage, we learned that my wife had conceived. We were young, excited, and nervous all at once. Everything seemed fine until the night of September 12. Maggie was bleeding and couldn’t stop it. The next day, at her first OBGYN appointment, our fears were confirmed. Maggie had miscarried our first child. For two or three years, I wrestled deeply with the question, “Where is my miscarried infant?” During my first semester of graduate classes, I read Dr. John MacArthur’s book Safe in the Arms of God, a balm to my aching heart. After reading it, I was convinced that my deceased infant was truly safe in the arms of God.
Book StructureMacArthur’s book details the mystery of election and how God can never act outside of his nature. It is organized in a simple, clear way. He begins by sharing stories from people he has counseled, who have lost infants or young children. In these sessions, he often focuses on God’s character, especially important when he talks about what happens to the children of parents who do not believe. Throughout the book, he reminds readers of God’s mercy, kindness, and the comfort God gives to those who are grieving.
Personal ImpactThe main issue with which I wrestled dealt with the doctrine of election. Are all infants elected before their death? I personally believed that infants who die would be in heaven, though I couldn’t articulate my points very well. I needed confirmation.
MacArthur posed a question that shattered my pride and simultaneously healed my heart. Is God a God of mercy and compassion? That question gave me pause. Through my tears of joy came the confirmation that my child was in the loving presence of Jesus and would never experience the ugliness of sin. This baby would never have to suffer the pains of life because he is in the presence of an eternal, perfect, loving Father. Dr. MacArthur details these ideas throughout each page of his book, and every chapter is filled with biblical texts that serve as a balm to other weary hearts.
Church Fellowship in the Midst of LossDeath is something that touches everyone. Some have faced miscarriages, while others have lost older children or family members who lived to old age. What is special about Christian teaching is the promise that we can overcome death because God became a man whose finished work on the cross and his resurrection defeated the power of death, hell, and sin, giving victory to those who believe. Following are three theological points from McArthur’s book that can help us in seasons of grief.
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Death is a product of sin be it a baby that died in the womb or a grandfather who died of old age; however, Christians, are not condemned by it. The baby will never experience sin’s fullness, and those who die in Christ at an old age have overcome sin forever.
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Christians can remind one another of the goodness of God. Even in the death of a loved one, God is good. To quote Dr. MacArthur, “All death can do for a believer is deliver him to the presence of God.” All death can do for an infant is deliver him safely into the arms of a loving God.
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Finally, we can call to mind that the fellowship we have is eternal. Either we will be reunited with our loved ones in death, or we will be reunited with them when Christ returns. All death can do is remind us of our eternal home and the fact that all who are in Christ have an eternal fellowship.
Philippians 4:13-14
Perhaps the most misused passage in all of Scripture is Philippians 4:13. It has become the battle cry of many an American football player. You often see it on the black eye paint, the word ‘Phil’ on one side, and ‘4:13’ on the other. You might see it on a quirky Instagram post of a bodybuilder at a gym, maybe with the caption, “Get swole. #philippians413.” But what does this passage really mean? Does it mean we as humans can do whatever we want in the strength Christ supplies? Well, it depends.
To understand this passage, we first need to understand the difference between physical strength and spiritual strength. There are physical limits placed on me, you, and everyone in this world. No matter how strong I may become, my physical limits are, well, limited. It does not matter how hard we train our bodies, there will always be things we simply cannot do. Is Paul then exaggerating when he says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me?” Not at all! Philippians 4:13 is not talking about physical ability; rather, Paul is talking about his spiritual strength.
Spiritual strength refers to the human soul’s ability to endure all manner of attacks, whether physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. It all depends on the strength of one’s faith. It is faith that allows Christians to persevere regardless of circumstances. This type of strength becomes clear when we understand the context. We really need to understand some key themes of Philippians to get a more complete picture of the type of strength to which Paul is referring.
Throughout his letter to the Philippians, Paul has made a great many references to the immense suffering he has endured both physically and spiritually. The first mention of such suffering is made all the way back in Philippians 1:12, where Paul makes mention of “what has happened to me,” and further clarifies this as an imprisonment in the following verse. To add to this suffering, there is also the reality that many looking upon his imprisonment are using it to proclaim Christ from “selfish ambition” (1:15-18a). And to top it all off, there is the anxiety he has for the Philippians themselves that they would not abandon the faith (1:27-30). The suffering has become so great that Paul actually wishes for his own death (1:18b-26). He is in great spiritual agony. With this context, let’s look again at Philippians 4:10-13.
Paul rejoices in the support the Philippians have so willingly given him, yet he notes that such support is unneeded. Notice verses 11 and 12, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” Throughout the many seasons of Paul’s life, some have left him very poor, and some have left him very rich. Some have left him hungry; others have left him full. Some have left him in pain; others have left him at peace. And notice in these passages the emphasis on “I.” Paul has learned that in all of these circumstances, Christ alone is completely sufficient in supplying him all that he needs. If Paul had to, he could go it alone. And all that he needs goes beyond any physical experience but is found in the fulfillment that comes in knowing Christ and the hope of the resurrection. This is why Paul is so confident in the face of death, because he has all he needs.
It is here, then, that Paul goes on to say, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (4:13). In other words, “Regardless of whatever circumstances I face, Christ is able to give me all that I would ever need. He is my treasure. He is my fullness. He is my peace.”
This theme is further made clear by how Paul continues in verse 14. He begins with the contrasting conjunction, “Yet.” The word ‘yet’ carries with it both an addition to what was previously said and a type of disregard for it. Disregard not necessarily in a negative sense, as something to be pitied or unappreciated (though this could be the result), but in the sense that what followed was not necessary in light of what happened. Paul has already made clear that he was perfectly content in Christ alone to supply all his need. This makes the support that the Philippians gave all the sweeter. It wasn’t needed in light of the contentment Paul experienced in Christ, yet it came anyway and increased his love for Christ and for them all the more.
This carries with it great themes of Christian love. Each one of us has all that we need in Christ. There is nothing we lack. We who have received the Holy Spirit have received everything we could ever need and more, so that whether in seasons of abundance or in seasons of want, we can find perfect, spiritual contentment, that is, strength. Our duty as Christians, then, is to find those who have all they need, and only increase their supply all the more. We are to carry out Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 2:3 and 4, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” We whose cups have overflowed with the love Christ has lavished upon us should long to see our cups spill over onto others. We should long to show the same love to others that we ourselves have received from Christ.
We must, just like the Philippians, share the troubles of those around us. For in so doing, we are acting like Christ to them.
The First World War began on July 28, 1914, after years of rising tension. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie by Gavrilo Princip set off the conflict that soon involved much of Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. During this time, two British thinkers, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, found themselves on the battlefield. Their experiences in the war shaped their friendship and influenced their writing, especially their reflections on the problem of evil.
Lewis was not in favor of any kind of organized religion at the time. It was through a conversation on mythology that Lewis’s mind began to transform. Tolkien played a key role in that transformation. The two had witnessed the great evils of the Great War. The mass casualties on both sides of the conflict caused both men to stop and think about how to reconcile the issue of evil and the goodness of God.
Lewis does this by introducing us to a family displaced by war. The Pevensie children are sent off to the Professor’s house and find themselves in an adventurous game of hide and seek. Lucy would find herself hiding in a wardrobe, but it wasn’t any ordinary wardrobe. Past all the coats and other articles of clothing, she finds herself in a land of snow. A land that has been devastated by the power of the White Witch. Lucy is introduced to a mythological, fawn-like creature named Mr. Tumnus. It is here that we catch a glimpse of how Lewis thought. Mr. Tumnus begins to tell Lucy of the problems of Narnia. It’s always winter, but Christmas never comes. That’s a sad thought.
While Tolkien and Lewis were close friends, Tolkien felt that Lewis did not adequately address the issue of evil. Lewis wrote about it in a light-hearted way. Tolkien would write about it in a way that reveals how evil manifests itself, spreading to every aspect of life.
Tolkien’s stories begin in the Shire, home to Bilbo Baggins. Gandalf visits Bilbo and invites him on an adventure with a group of dwarves. Along the way, they meet Gollum, a creature twisted by the power of a magical ring. Bilbo eventually takes the ring home, and years later, his nephew Frodo is called by Gandalf to join the Fellowship of the Ring and destroy it, which has incited greed, anger, and conflict in Middle Earth. The only way to end its evil is to destroy the ring. During these adventures, Gandalf stands out as a Christ-like figure, sacrificing himself to save his friends. Later, he returns, changed and renewed.
Both Lewis and Tolkien incorporate Christ-like figures in their narratives—Aslan in Narnia and Gandalf in Middle Earth. Their wartime experiences influenced the understanding of evil and the possibility of divine goodness within a flawed world. Their enduring friendship facilitated ongoing intellectual exchange, despite occasional disagreements. Both authors ultimately asserted that the eradication of evil is achievable only through the redemptive work of Christ.
While exploring the themes of evil and good Joseph Loconte provides us with ideas that may help build stronger fellowship at MCC.
- Recall personal spiritual growth and inquire about the experiences of others. Reflecting on individual and collective progress underscores the importance of communal living.
- Build communal relationships with others in the congregation. These relationships possess significant value within faith communities and may foster deep connections.
- Friendships and partnerships among MCC members are essential. The friendship between Tolkien and Lewis, shaped by the adversity of war, illustrates the importance of mutual encouragement during times of hardship.
- Remind each other that life is short, and all of us will face death one day; however, for believers, death means being freed from evil and entering a place of goodness—the foundation and purpose of our fellowship.
by Alexander Volkman
Today we celebrate the birth of our King
And dwell on such an uncommon thing.
God… who came down to earth
A world full of darkness, needing new birth.
To take on humility as a man
Part of His eternal plan.
To restore creation to it’s origin
As He does all things according to His vision.
He gave us a child who would save us all
From Adam’s sin and creation’s fall.
A precious and mysterious story
That is all true and for His glory.
This child grew and became a man
Turned the world upside down by His Father’s hand.
To a broken people true peace He did bring
The humble servant who became our High King.
I remember my thirteenth birthday, July 8, 2005, like it was yesterday. A couple of years prior my dad sat me down and we had “the talk.” Then, on that memorable birthday, my parents were thrilled to give me my birthday present. I unwrapped the present and inside was a book and a ring. The book was Joshua Harris’ I Kissed Dating Goodbye, and the ring was a “True love waits” purity ring. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Harris’ book was a bestseller. Having read the book as an eighteen-year-old Christian, I was encouraged. When I read it as a thirteen-year-old unbeliever I found it dopy. I was surprised like many others when Joshua Harris came out in 2018 as an apostate. You see, Harris had deconstructed his faith.
Harris would be the first of many Christians to deconstruct their faith. In the summer of 2012, I served as a youth minister at a church in East Texas. Where I often used music videos by Hawk Nelson, a Christian pop-punk band. In that same year, the lead singer of Hawk Nelson changed his name to John Steingard, and the band became explicitly Christian. That is the lyrics were more theological. However, shortly after John Harris deconstructed, John Steingard did as well. His hang-up was over the inerrancy of Scripture.
Deconstruction begins with the question that Satan posed in the garden, “Did God really say…” This movement has spread like wildfire among evangelicals, and the youth are the primary target. How do we respond to this movement? That is the question that Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett seek to answer.
The Structure In the first pages of the book, Childers and Barnett define terms. When one thinks of construction they think of building, and rightfully so. The authors define deconstruction as a tearing down or destruction. She ties it to postmodernism. When one rejects the basic understanding of objective truth, they will naturally tear down the foundations of that truth, concluding that truth can be whatever I want it to be. It is the postmodern world view that has led to deconstructing Christians.
Why we should care about this movement. If it’s not taking place in my church, then why does it matter at all? Childers and Barnett explain: We should care about this movement because it’s an attack on Christ’s bride, the Church.
It’s the latter part of the book that stood out to this reader as most important. Some would consider the postmodern era as a post-Christian era. Even so, we need to know what we believe, why we believe it, and how to witness to those who don’t. Barnett and Childers take turns relating stories about how God used them to help friends and family that were in a stage of deconstruction. Thankfully the individuals to whom they witnessed grew stronger in their faith, but it took time, patience, and most importantly, love.
Personal Impact About a year ago, I began seeing signs of deconstruction in a friend in my home state of Texas. I was concerned, so I called him. The conversation was long, and I thought it was productive. As time progressed, I realized it wasn’t as fruitful a conversation as I had hoped. This friend would leave the pulpit he filled for eleven years, walk away from the faith, become an alcoholic and ruin his marriage all because the adversity that he faced was greater than he could overcome. Instead of “casting himself upon the rock of Christ and kissing the waves that cast him on the rock” as Spurgeon would say, he walked away from the only one that could sustain him.
I was challenged to consider, what might have been if I were more intentional in allowing him to ask me questions, instead of assuming that as a faith minister, he knew the answers. What I gained from this book, is an understanding of the time, love and grace needed to minister to one who is deconstructing His faith. I pray that The Deconstructing of Christianity, move you to love those you know who are walking away from the faith.
Praying For Deconstructing Friends Many Christians will at some point know someone who is deconstructing from the faith and will eventually walk away. The only two weapons of warfare we have as believers are prayer and the word of God. Deconstruction is a battle, and it will only be won with Scripture and prayer.
Childers and Barnett offer guidelines for prayer in the final chapter. I have separated them into four distinct prayers.
- A prayer of thanksgiving. Thank the Lord that this person is a fellow image-bearer and that there is still breath in their lungs, which means there is still time.
- A prayer for wisdom. It’s easy when speaking with one who is deconstructing to say too much at one time. Stick to their question and answer it. To do this, we need to seek wisdom (James 1:5-6).
- A prayer for ourselves. That the Lord would keep us from being persuaded by those we are trying to help.
- A prayer of repentance. If we aren’t deconstructing, why repent of a sin we aren’t committing? The answer is idolatry. Do you dwell on one who has walked away from the faith longer than you should have? Were you personally offended more than you were by the stain on Christ’s church? Even as I write this I need to repent of my idolatry.
Consider these prayers being moved to intercede those who are deconstructing.
In a world of self-identification and watered down, compromising theology how do we maintain a confidence in Scripture? One way is to return to our creedal and confessional heritage. In recent years a new creed has crept into local churches, that creed is no creed but Christ or no creed but the Bible. That statement has a “hint” of truth in it, but what it produces is a weak, compromising church. It opens one up for false teaching, shallow fellowship, and an identity crisis. This is the purpose of Carl Truman’s book Crisis of Confidence.
The Argument Carl Trueman is one of the great thinkers of our time. In this work he surveys two millennia of church history. From the early church to the recent church age, Trueman discusses the importance of confessions and creeds and how they have shaped the church. While there is much ink spilled on the issue of self-identification, the main argument of the book is that Christians should return to their creedal and confessional heritage. Those that find it hard to read historical literature, understand this is history you want to know. Trueman surveys the Nicene Creed, Apostle’s Creed, The Second New London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, and the Westminster Confessions and helps the reader understand that an adherence to these confessions will boost our confidence in Scripture.
Personal ImpactI had a conversation a few years ago with someone that rejects the idea of creeds and confessions. They rejected them because they believed that Christians elevate them over the position of Scripture. I attempted to explain from a historical precedent that this was a false statement. Ultimately, this person would affirm no creed but Christ. A few months later, this individual would walk away from the faith altogether. As I read through the pages of this work I could see his face, and I could see the faces of every liberal Christian I know. I was depressed as I thought about this. However, after depression came great joy. The joy came at the thought of the people of The Master’s Community Church. Though, we may have disagreements on minor theological issues (the end times and the supernatural gifts) we all agree on the main issues of scripture. Why is this? We have a membership process and part of that process is reading through the church covenant and the doctrinal statement. That individual then signs the covenant at the end of a service after they give their testimony before the body. What are they covenanting to? The local church and all of her beliefs and practices. How do we know what their beliefs are? By reading through the doctrinal statement, also known as a confession.
Confessionalism and Fellowship We are in the middle of fellowship season at MCC, and I would like to offer three ways that confessionalism enhances our church fellowship.
Confessionalism is rooted in the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Nearly every confession past and present begin with the doctrine of Scripture. Even though we don’t typically argue over the inclusion of apocryphal books anymore, we do debate whether certain books should really be in there. This is nothing new. Martin Luther didn’t believe the book of James should be in the canon. Liberal Christians today would like to have certain parts of Paul’s epistles removed. So how do confessions help root us in the doctrine of Scripture? They all read in similar fashion, we affirm that the Bible is contained in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. Further down in many confessions, you might read these words “the Scriptures are our only rule for faith and practice.” The confessions can be used in our churches and should be used in our churches because they affirm and teach what we believe about the Bible.
Confessions act as a safeguard. Not everyone can be a member of MCC, and since not everyone can be a member not everyone can teach. Outside of there being a clear showing that someone can teach, they must also believe the confession that we adhere to. We hold the Abstract of Principles, and we are unapologetically Calvinistic. This means that someone who does not hold to Calvinistic doctrines wouldn’t be allowed to teach at MCC. This is because they would be violating our confession and thus violating the church covenant. Since we believe that many confessions are rooted in Christian orthodoxy it weeds out heretical teachings.
Confessions help us combat the current issues in our culture. In 1644, 1646, and 1689 did they have to fight against gender identity or homosexual marriage? No. However, they were clear in the writing that marriage is between one man and one woman for life. Do we need to add specific articles to our doctrinal statement? One can argue. However, if we truly believe that Scripture is our only rule for faith and practice, we don’t have to add those statements. Our statement on marriage makes that clear.
How Can We Use the Confessions At MCC1. 1. Read through our church’s confession or a historic confession as a MCG. Each week take a particular article and discuss it as a group. Go through Scripture that teaches these articles. Sing a hymn/modern chorus that goes along with the confession. 2. Have a multi-generational read party. During the COVID lockdowns some of my favorite memories were reading through Scripture with the men of our church. Take youth, those with gray hair, and those that are in the process of raising children and read through confessions together. 3. Support the Walk Worthy ministry of MCC. This is a ministry that is rooted in confessionalism. We take a certain catechism question and have 45-minute-long lessons on these questions. Consider coming one Sunday evening and watch. You will be blessed hearing children from seven years old to high school aged answering questions and reciting scripture from memory.
I was first introduced to family worship while reading Voddie Baucham’s book, Family Shepherds. Coming from a home where family worship was not practiced this was a unique concept to me. After meeting with the President of the Bible College and Seminary I attended, I decided that family worship was a practice that we should exercise at home. Many men hesitate to lead their families in family worship because they aren’t teachers. Thankfully, God has given us men like Dr. Bruce Ware. In his book, Big Truths for Young Hearts, Ware has given fathers a resource that they can use in family discipleship. Not every man in the church is called to teach, but every man is called to shepherd his family. If you find yourself struggling to explain certain theological topics to your family, this is the perfect book for you.
The Structure Dr. Bruce Ware is a New Testament theologian, and he writes this book much like a catechism or a confession of faith. The historical confessions are divided into topics that are known as articles. There are normally articles concerning Scripture, the nature of God, the church, God’s purpose of grace (election), and other various theological emphases. It’s helpful for readers since there is a specific order, and I believe that is why Ware writes this book in a similar fashion. Like many of the historical confessions, Ware begins with the Scriptures. Our children need to know what the Bible is and how it came about. Ware then shifts his focus to creation and how God sovereignly created all that we see. He then shifts his focus to the nature of God. His chapter on the Trinity is an incredible resource for explaining one of the harder tenets of Christian doctrine. There are many other concepts that Ware touches on, but from start to finish your children will be taught basic Christian doctrine without ever stepping foot in a Seminary classroom.
Personal Impact For five years, we were blessed to be a part of the Metro MCG. We watched the group grow, get smaller, and grow again. The heart of the parents in that group, as is the heart of every parent at MCC, is that their children would come to know and love God. For a while, we would just dismiss the kids after singing, and then we would proceed with our study. However, we had a desire to involve the kids in a lesson. For a few months, we used this book as our lesson for the kids. Listening to KJ, Keith, Meridith, Dustin, Chloe, and other children answer questions about God’s work in creation and his supreme rule over the Universe was a huge blessing to me. As a volunteer in our Walk Worthy ministry, I have seen these kids grow in their knowledge of Scripture and theology. Pray alongside of me, the other parents of MCC, and our elders that the Lord would use books like this and ministries like Walk Worthy to bring our children to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Using the Book as a Guide for Family Worship In our Church Covenant, we pledge to practice personal and family worship. I do not doubt that this is practiced faithfully in all our homes. While we are not in discipleship season anymore it is important to note that discipleship never ends. In a day and age where our children are introduced to perverse material on human sexuality from a young age, taking a work like Ware’s will be helpful. I want to offer a few ways you can utilize this material in family discipleship in a way that will be interesting for your children.
- Pick a topic that corresponds with the passage you’re reading together. For instance, if you are studying Genesis 1-3, use the chapters that Ware writes on Creation and sin.
- Sing a song that matches the theme you will study. Music is something that everyone loves, especially kids.
- Use this in conjunction with the Walk Worthy material during the school year.
- Meditate on these writings before you teach through them. Though this is a work intended for children, adults will be edified as they read through it.
- In light of Titus 2, let’s train one another in this idea of family worship.
Ask any parent and they will likely remember when their child told them they were afraid of something. Many children fear the dark. Others are afraid of snakes, spiders, and anything that creeps on the ground. Humans by nature fear certain aspects of life. Fears may be good and healthy, but some fears are sinful. The sin that is often ignored in our own lives is the fear of man. This fear can be far more dangerous than a fear of snakes, spiders, or creeping animals. It can be scarier than being left alone in a dark room. It will destroy your whole life because out of that fear comes compromise. A natural question arises in our minds: How can we overcome this fear? This question is answered in this wonderful book by John Flavel.
The Big Picture John Flavel was a Puritan pastor who preached with great conviction; he also penned poetry and theological essays. Like many of the Puritans, Flavel wrote with great clarity and precision. To help his readers understand the purpose of this book he starts by introducing three types of fear that humans have: Fear of God, sinful fear, and natural fear. A healthy fear of God is understanding that God is outside of us, is greater than us, and is not like us. When we have an appropriate fear of God, we will worship him all the more. Natural fear is defined as fear over natural elements such as being afraid of the dark or being afraid of being alone. The example that Flavel uses is a fear of consequences when we are in the wrong. However, Flavel has a bigger picture in view than just a healthy fear of God and the natural life around us. His primary focus is on sinful fear. Being afraid in and of itself is not a sin, but there is a fear that is a sin —the fear of man in an unhealthy sense. Flavel spends the remainder of the book helping Christians overcome this sinful fear to which many fall prey.
The Effects of Sin While Flavel gives multiple effects that sin has on one’s life, this review will focus on two that I believe we should pay close attention to in the Western world: cowardice and compromise. One might say that they are two sides of the same coin, and that may be true, but they are both dangers to which people fall prey.
The first effect of fearful sin is cowardice. Fear of man can lead someone to stay silent on important issues. There is great wisdom in knowing when to stay silent, but there is also a danger in remaining quiet. As Christians, we are called to be both prudent and bold at the same time. John Calvin’s said, “A dog barks when he sees his master attacked, how can I sit silent while the word of God is under attack?” Cowardice is running from the mob in fear and saying nothing, while the word of God is attacked.
Second, fear of man can lead to compromising biblical integrity and fidelity. All one must do today is a quick Google search to find many churches that have compromised their biblical fidelity. Perhaps they have affirmed female pastors. Others have placated the LGBTQ crowd by affirming homosexual marriage. These beliefs are rooted in the fear of man. They would rather be culturally relevant than biblical. Compromise has a snowball effect. It starts small, gradually gets larger and ends in destruction.
Overcoming Sinful Fear Finally, Flavel explains how believers can overcome fear of man. He lists six ways, but the following I believe would serve us well at MCC. We can overcome sinful fear first by reminding ourselves and one another of God’s sovereignty, and second, by giving ourselves to the ministry of the local church.
For example, consider the current political cycle. As free citizens, we should exercise our right to vote and be concerned with who wins the presidency, house seats, and our judicial system. However, it should not consume all our thoughts. God in his sovereignty raises nations and brings them to nothing. God is over all, and we are citizens of his kingdom! He cares for us! We can be bold in the face of great opposition because we trust the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matt. 10:28). This God who elects, secures, and keeps is also a God who will vindicate his people. There is no need to fear man. God ordains everything that comes to pass including the opposition of man. Do not lose heart. Rather, persevere, repent of sinful fear and trust your brothers in sisters in the local church.
We oftentimes are afraid to confess our sins to one another. We may be ashamed to approach our brothers and sisters for fear they are going to think less of us. A healthy church is one where there is correction out of love. Correction without love is brutality and love without correction is not love. Love with correction brings about restoration and grace. We can all fall prey to the fear of man, but like-minded brothers and sisters, can give us a renewed zeal to overcome fear. The final line of The Church’s One Foundation has always brought comfort when I wrestle with sinful fear. Be encouraged with these words.
Through trial and tribulations,
And tumult of her war.
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore.
Till with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blessed,
And the great church victorious
Shall be the church at rest.
If you have never been a part of a church with an abusive leader count yourself blessed. Thankfully, our current church has no abusive leaders, but I know plenty of churches that do. Many people in our church have had abusive parents. Many have had abusive bosses. At the core of those abusive relationships is a misunderstanding of Biblical authority. In this work on Authority, Leeman writes about the abuses of authority and the proper uses of authority and how they can either tear a person down or build a person up.
The Structure Leeman organizes this book into two sections, but I believe it could be divided into three sections. The first section is what we will label as case studies. Leeman gives a few stories from different people that he interviewed for the book on both the positive and negative effects of good and bad authority. In the second section, Leeman begins to define Biblical authority. Though there is not necessarily a third section, I believe that towards the end of the book Leeman shifts his focus from authority to submission.
Personal Impact While reading this book I was convicted and encouraged at the same time. Convicted to be a man who uses his authority for the building up of my home. My wife was severely abused as a child, and she knows full well what abusive authority looks like. Unfortunately, that abuse was just as powerful from her childhood pastor as it was in the confines of her home. Living with someone whose been abused has been humbling, sanctifying, and convicting. While reading this book I was filled with gratitude that the members of Masters Community Church have not and will not see abusive leadership. An important gauge of any healthy church can be found in its leadership. Abusive leaders shows that the church is unhealthy. Likewise, if a husband and father is abusive to those under him the family is unhealthy. A place of employment with an abusive boss shows that the business is run poorly.
Leeman told a story of a lady that he interviewed, and it had the largest impact on me. The lady tells a story of her father. She defined her father as a man who was a gentle man of principle. The first two words stood out to me. Gentle man did not mean gentle parenting. It meant that everything that he did was done with a gentle spirit. She said that it was through the actions of her father that she saw the love of her Heavenly Father. Intrigued by this statement I couldn’t stop reading, how can this be? Her father was a man that showed mercy while at the same time setting out specific expectations. One night she showed up late from her curfew and her father was awake waiting on her. It was with this story that she began to see the love of God displayed in her earthly father. He told her that she was no longer allowed out at night for the foreseeable future, that’s the consequence. However, he still allowed her to drive, and she saw that as her father exercising mercy and grace.
As I finished reading this case study, all I could think of were my wife and two daughters. Will they say the same thing of me. Do I lead with gentleness and in a way that points them to Jesus. As husbands and fathers, that’s our hope, isn’t it?
Implications for MCC I’ve tried in recent reviews to gear the applications/implications toward whatever season we are in. For this review I would like to focus on two different seasons. The first is the implications this has for our outreach and the second is the implications this has for our discipleship.
First for our outreach. This book can help us in our outreach approach by considering biblical submission. Though I have my disagreements with Leeman on certain areas, I do believe his overall principle on submission is healthy and right and it can help us in our outreach. I want to focus primarily on the issue of submission in our workplaces. Many of us have had or currently have bosses that are difficult to work for. One implication of submission that Leeman lays out is how employees submit to their bosses. There is a balance between submitting to the boss in a quiet and peaceful manner and not agreeing with your boss. You never know the outreach opportunities that might be afforded to you by quietly submitting to your boss, refusing to gossip about him or her, and doing your job to the best of your ability. I know it’s hard, I’ve been there. I was there recently. There is a time and place to leave an abusive work environment but continue to be diligent as you wait on the Lord. It could open up doors for the gospel that you would have never thought possible.
Second, implications for discipleship. One way that this book can help our discipleship is by understanding Titus 2. In Titus 2, Paul instructs Titus to have older men teach the younger men and older women teach younger women. Many young men who desire a wife and desire to be in positions of authority need to be taught how to use that authority for good. We live in a culture where masculinity is ill-defined by many and seen as nothing more than toxic by others. Older men in our church can ask themselves, how can I teach the younger generations what good authority looks like? Younger men and women seek out those older than you and have them teach you what biblical authority looks like. Submit to that teaching and let’s be a church that seeks to live lives of authority that brings life as we submit to the Giver of life.
Henry Ford famously said, “History is bunk.” This philosophy has affected our country and, in many ways, has affected our churches. One subject that many churchmen are ignorant of is that of revival. We talk about it, pray for it, and even have services designated for it. What we do not do, however, is define it. That is what Iain Murray does in Revival and Revivalism. He defines revival and revivalism by giving a historical picture of revival and revivalism in the United States.
The book is laid out in a simple fashion. He focuses on revival first and then shifts his attention to revivalism. This review will follow the same outline. In the book, Murray examines one hundred and nine years of American History.
Before diving into the content of the book, it is important to note that this is after the First Great Awakening. God used Johnathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and others to bring about a spiritual awakening in the American Colonies.
Revival Murray begins by discussing Samuel Davies and Alexander McWhorter who were both impacted by the ministries of Johnathan Edwards and George Whitefield. These men believed that God sovereignly brings about revival. They simply proclaimed the gospel, called on sinners to repent, and prayed. God answered the prayers of these men by bringing about true revival. You can read about these events in the first four chapters of the book.
Murray highlights the expansion of Princeton and how God brought about a work of revival there. He does so by giving special attention to the fact that all the faculty were born-again believers. A school that is known for much liberalism now was once a powerful influence in gospel proclamation. Like many Ivy League schools, Princeton started to train Pastors for the work of the ministry. The revival that came out of Princeton was a renewed urgency to raise up true biblical preachers.
But around 1800 there was a fundamental shift. Men began to focus more on personal decisions than they did a true call to repentance. They exchanged the ordinary means that God uses for gimmicks that will get people saved fast. This brought about what is known as the Second Great Awakening and led to what Murray calls revivalism.
Revivalism From chapters five to twelve, Murray gives the history of The Second Great Awakening. The first part of the Second Great Awakening revival was understood in the same terms as the first. Over time, however, there began to be theological shifts and revivalism was born out of it. In Cane Ridge, Kentucky the Presbyterians began practicing outdoor meetings, and this led to many people believing there was another awakening happening.
These meetings spread and became inter-denominational. Methodists were invited to preach at these gatherings and large numbers of people began traveling to these meetings. Many of the responses to the preaching and singing were ecstatic.
This brought about a division. Many of the Presbyterians believed these displays were permittable, while others did not. The Methodists believed hyper-emotionalism to be a true work of God. This then led to the Methodist leadership in Kentucky to have their own outdoor meetings. These meetings brought about a radical doctrine of conversion. Biblical preaching was exchanged for emotional means for people to respond to the gospel immediately.
By 1830, the view of conversion had dramatically shifted. Prior to 1800, the predominant view of conversion was that it was a sovereign act of God. God gives them a new nature opens their blind eyes and unclogs their deaf ears. However, by 1830, the view of conversion was based on a decision. Salvation was no longer a supernatural work of God, but rather a decision that someone makes on their own to repent and believe. No sovereign will of God, but by their own free choice.
Due to this many evangelicals began using “anxious benches” to bring about an immediate decision. The altar call was created, certain individuals were specifically called out in prayers, and some would even say this was the last time they would have to repent. Thus, bringing about what we call revivalism.
On page 277, Murray cites William McLoughlin “By the mid-nineteenth century, this new system was the natural religion of the United States.” A supernatural work of God brought about by patient prayer and faithful preaching was exchanged for quick decisions for Christ, which led to many false conversions.
Why Does this Matter? Why does any of this matter? MCC doesn’t believe in manufactured gimmicks to get people to Christ, so why should you care? We are in the process of wrapping up fellowship season, and I want to set out three practical application points for why a proper understanding of revival matters.
- In our Church covenant we pray for Reformation and Revival. A covenant fosters fellowship because everyone is covenanting themselves to the same thing. We want people in our fellowship to pray for true revival. I believe one way we do this is by continuing to support our mission partners. Specifically, those doing Bible translation. Revival is impossible apart from the proclamation of God’s word. Spend some time as an MCG praying for our mission partners.
- Teach your children that true conversion is what brings about true and lasting fellowship. In recent days people have left our fellowship because they weren’t truly in fellowship with God. Kids long for relationships, and we want them to understand that one cannot have fellowship with the local church unless they first have fellowship with God.
- Read church history. Murray’s book is academic. It’s easy to get lost with dates, names, and geographic locations. What you will find is that when you study church history your heart is full of gratitude that God chose to reveal himself to you. Gratitude leads to a true desire to fellowship with those who are just like you. We are all sinners who can say were it not for the grace of God where would I be? Praise be to God that we have been given a new heart.
On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court reached a landmark decision on the issue of homosexual marriage. The decision would make homosexual marriage legal in all fifty states. The same year we watched an Olympic gold medalist transition from a biological male to a transgender female. In November of 2015, Bruce Jenner, now known as Caitlin Jenner, won “Woman of the Year.”
Many strange events have taken place since the Obergefell decision was reached. From the rise of the transgender movement to the sexualization of children, it truly does feel like we are living in a “Strange New World.”
Dr. Carl Trueman is a church historian and theologian. In 2020, he released a book “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.” In this work, Trueman details that much of what we are seeing is far from new. It didn’t just happen overnight, it’s the fruit of how thinkers and activists changed the world and brought about a sexual revolution.
For those who do not feel like embarking on the over 400-page book, Trueman released a condensed version of the book which he titled “Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution.”
The average reader will be introduced to names that they have likely never heard of. Names such as Jean Jacques Rosseau, Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, and others. The purpose of mentioning those names is to help the reader understand that through philosophy, poetry, and psychology the modern self was defined.
This is how Trueman opens up the book. He details the thinkers that helped shape what we see being played out today. The flow of the book is simple, the first half of the book looks at the men (thinkers) and how they identified the “modern self” The second half focuses on the consequences of those ideas.
Perhaps you’re familiar with the phrase, “God is dead.” Society lives as if this is true. For the first part of the book, Trueman provides historical evidence that what we are seeing in the culture at large is the fruit of “thinkers’ labors. If God is dead, if man is just a set of protoplasm, and what one believes they are that is what they are, then why would one reject their “authentic self?”
I want to focus primarily on Trueman’s final chapter. Trueman writes about the need for the church to be a community. The LGBTQIA+ movement truly believes that they are a community, so much in fact that they label themselves a community. The reality is that the greatest community in human history is the very community we are praying they come into. I want to offer four ways that the church can be a community that stays strong in the heat of an intense battle. These four ways will be coupled with Trueman’s thoughts in the final chapter.
First, we teach our children and one another that our feelings are not always reality. In many churches in the United States, you will hear a common phrase when discussing the Bible “I feel like this text is saying x,” or “What this text means to me is.” The problem with this mindset is something we might not think of, it’s rooted in individualism. While this example isn’t one that Trueman uses, it does nevertheless convey the same message. Trueman calls us to corporate repentance in our complicity. While I do not believe MCC is complicit in affirming gay marriage, transgender phenomena, or even no-fault divorce, we might be complicit in “smaller sins.” Maybe it’s something like the doctrine of the church is incredible, but I feel like they don’t do enough in the area of “x.” This is rooted in expressive individualism. They aren’t doing things that match my feelings about how this issue should be handled. Feelings do not equal reality.
Second, look at church history. The church since its founding in Acts 2 has always given itself to the idea of community. The ancient church truly believed that its primary identity was found in its strongest institutions. For example, I am a husband, a father, an insurance agent by trade, a thinker, a Texan, a Christian, and a member of the Masters Community Church. What this teaches us is that the strongest institution to which you and I belong is the church. This is what has made the rise of the LGBTQIA+ community so strong in numbers. They believe that their sexual inclinations are the very heart of their identity. Our identity as a church is rooted in our identity in Christ as new creatures. We protest the LGBTQIA+ movement primarily because we believe with Christians throughout all of history that man is made in God’s image, and we want that image to continue to work itself out in procreation in a magnanimous heterosexual marriage. When you study church history you will begin to understand that the church has always faced great opposition. We are in great opposition now, but we will come out victorious. This will be teased out more in our final point.
Third, teach the whole counsel of God’s Word. Rejoice that you belong to a church that practices this. Fathers, as you lead in family worship, practice this. Don’t shy away from difficult texts. Read them as a family, discuss them, and let the word of God work in the lives of you and your family. What we teach as a church on gender, marriage, and sex is not because the culture is corrupting it, it’s because we believe that the Bible alone dictates what it means to be truly human. We believe that the created order, the fall of man, the redeeming work of Christ, and the end of all things are the very foundations that help us to address our current issues. Why the rise in transgenderism and homosexual practices? Because man in his natural state hates God and therefore hates His image and those who bear His image. I will end this section with Trueman’s words “In short, we can stand strong at this cultural moment and address the specific challenges we face only if our foundations in God’s truth are broad and deep.”
Our final way to live as a church as a community in a hostile culture is to remind one another that our final hope is a reality. When Paul writes to the Corinthian church he says “Now these things happened unto them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come (1 Cor. 10:11). We are the only institution in all of human history that Jesus himself said the gates of hell would not prevail against. Our final hope is not just some optimistic view of the world that says everything will be fine just sit back in watch. It is, however, the reality that one day Christ will return and bring His elect home for all eternity. Free from sin, free from pain, free to be our true selves. The reason Christians have such trouble “making themselves at home” where they are is they recognize that nothing in this world is their home. When we see what is happening in our culture, we should not have hopeless despair or even a naïve optimism, but rather cry out “How long, O Lord” and let the reality of the return of Christ give us hope that is a sure and steady anchor.
While this is a longer review, I want to offer five groups of people to pray for during this MCC prayer season.
- Pray for yourself. Have you been lax in your personal life with sin? Repent. Have you found yourself angry at what’s going on and sat idle while the anger increases in your heart? Repent. Ask the Lord to give you opportunities to share the gospel with those around you.
- Husbands and Wives pray for one another and your children. Pray for wisdom in knowing how to approach some of the pressing topics of our day. Pray that the Lord would protect them from a life of debauchery and reckless, sinful practices.
- Pray for those who are in darkness. The LGBTQIA+ movement is full of darkness, pray that the light of the gospel would bring those in darkness out and into the light.
- Pray for our government leaders. For the believers in government, God would convict them to use their authority for his glory, and for the unbelievers God would convict them of sin.
- This one may seem strange, but I will qualify it: Pray for those in foster and adoption care. One of the unfortunate realities of the child welfare system in America is its positive affirmation. Abusive homes oftentimes lead to feelings of false identities. Pray God would open their eyes to see that He is a Father to the fatherless and that their identity would be found in Christ alone. Pray also that the Lord would raise many faithful Christians to adopt these children and raise them in the ways of the Lord.
Few theologians in the church’s history are as influential as Jonathan Edwards. Edwards is a particularly important figure in the history of the United States. One could argue that Edwards is the greatest theologian in the history of the United States. Many think about the sermon Sinners In the Hands Of An Angry God or his resolutions. One of the most important works that Edwards produced was The Freedom of The Will. Edwards provides a theological and philosophical framework for understanding human freedom. The review will be divided into four distinct sections: the historical context, the definition of terms, the theological implications, and how a proper understanding of human freedom fosters discipleship in the local church.
The Historical Context The spiritual conditions of America before the First Great Awakening were grim and dark. The theological zeal of the early settlers had begun to wane, and deism began to rise. Through a series of faithful Pastors, the Lord brought about an awakening. An awakening that would spread like wildfire throughout the colonies. One of the men responsible for this awakening was Jonathan Edwards. There were multiple theological problems that Edwards would spend time addressing. Deism, the idea that God set everything into motion and then removed his hands from it was a predominate view in the colonies. In the middle part of the 1700s, Arminianism began to flourish in the United States. Many of our churches today still hold this view, but what is it exactly?
The Arminian view of human freedom is that of libertarian free will. Meaning man is free to choose whatever he wants. To the Arminian says Edwards, “the human will is not constrained or determined by any power outside of itself. The argument then bleeds over into moral responsibility. If human beings are morally responsible for their actions, then they have to be free in the libertarian sense. What this idea of human freedom suggests is that if there is any coercion or control outside of themselves then they are not morally responsible for those actions, nor is it fair to hold them responsible. It is against the backdrop of this theological system that Edwards begins to address. He begins his writing by defining terms, which will help us understand the theological implications of this work.
Defining Terms Edwards spends the first section of The Freedom Of The Will defining key terms. Edwards defines the will as “that by which the mind chooses anything” To Edwards the act of the will is the same as the act of choosing, which means that the will is the process by which humans choose one thing rather than another. The will and the desire of man are so closely intertwined that it becomes what Edwards calls an inclination.
Already one can see the differences between Edwards’s view of human freedom and the Arminian view. The Arminian separates the will and desire, but Edwards suggests that one cannot do that because he is inclined to execute the will of his desire.
Edwards goes on to define the will of man by stating “human beings are guided by and shaped above all by their affections… Our loves or affections are the truest indicators of who we are.” Edwards’s definitions help the reader understand that human beings will always make a choice to follow their desires. The Arminian position is that man can make a choice to desire God, and that at the moment of faith, he is the one who has that desire. However, if one follows the definitions that Edwards has set out, man will never desire God above his human sinfulness. It is with this that we will now consider the theological implications of The Freedom Of the Will
Theological Implications Edwards spends a great deal of time arguing the philosophical side of Arminianism. In the latter part of this work, he shifts gears to focus on the Biblical Testimony of human freedom. He uses a three-fold approach to critique the Arminian view of free will. First, certain texts where certain people are given over to their sin; second, the excellence of Jesus; and third, God’s foreknowledge of future events.
Consider first those who have been given over to their sin by God. To the Arminian, if any moral agent is bound to perform any moral action, then they cannot be held responsible that said action. This is the old men are just robots’ argument. To argue against this, Edwards offers the following texts, Psalm 81:12 “So I gave them up to their own hearts’ lust, and they walked in their counsels.” Acts 7:42” Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven.” Romans 1:24 “Wherefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies between themselves.” Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind.” Man is rejecting God, and God is using secondary causes to keep their eyes darkened and keep their hearts hard. The Westminster divines would write about this in the Larger Catechism.
The excellence of Jesus is something Edwards focuses on in this work, but he also has an eleven-part sermon series on this very topic. It is with this topic that Edwards begins to set out the differences between a robust reformed theology and the Arminian position. The natural man apart from the regenerating work of the Spirit will never see Christ as excellent. They have no desire for God unless God first begins the work in them. It is only after the work of regeneration and true biblical conversion that one begins to truly see and seek the excellence of Christ. Ephesians 1, no doubt, comes to most of our minds. The electing love of the Father, Jesus securing those elected by the Father, and the seal of the promised Holy Spirit teaches us that salvation is a complete work of God. Do you see Jesus as excellent? If the answer is yes, which I hope it is, then it is because God himself changed your desires.
Lastly, God’s foreknowledge of future events. The Arminian view of foreknowledge is the same today as it was in Edwards’s day. God looks down the corridors of time and sees those who will place faith in him and man cooperates with God in his salvation. The theological implication of this view is that man should receive the glory for his salvation and not God. However, since God from all eternity elected a people for himself, and in his foreknowledge knew them before the foundation of the world, God is glorified in the salvation of sinners. There is no event past or future that God does not know and did not ordain. This view of God’s foreknowledge gives the believer confidence that nothing that comes to pass is outside of his control.
Application For MCC The reviews we have looked at thus far have been simplistic, and that is purposeful. While this review offers more details it is just a sample of what Edwards writes. It is filled with depth, and it makes God glorious. We are wrapping up our discipleship season at church, and I would like to offer five ideas that will spur us on in our discipling of the nations.
- God has elected people from every tongue, tribe, nation, and people. God sends missionaries to certain places of the world to bring his elect sheep into the fold. Pray that God would raise many more from our midst to go to the nations.
- Confidence in God. The doctrines of grace give us confidence that God will give Jesus the fullness of the reward for which he died. When we understand the sovereign election of God, it gives us great confidence that God will save us, and all we have to do is be faithful in spreading the gospel.
- Total depravity and total inability give you a framework to explain the problems in our current culture. Why is man so concerned with the modern self? Why the rejection of objective truth? Why the rise of transgenderism, Marxism, and other worldly ideologies? Because man in his natural state before God hates him and his people.
- It’s fine if you’re not cool. This one is particularly important for the youth in our church to understand. The illusion of “being cool” can be found in every generation. What is cool today will be boring later. What is never-ending is the redemptive work of God and living for his glory.
- Consider the end of all things. God created the world, God allowed Adam to fall into sin, and God brought about the redemptive work of his elect, and he will bring his elect home. That is the beauty of our theology, and that is the reason it is imperative to understand the need for free moral agents to be given a new heart.
Have you ever considered why God would reveal Himself in a book? Think about that for
a moment. God, the Eternal One, decided to reveal His essence, His Character, and His divine
attributes in a book. What we know of God in creation is incomplete without His revelation of
Himself through words. The ability to reason, write, and read are gifts that God in His kindness
has given us. Reading is also something very few people enjoy. If we pause for a moment and
consider that God used human authors to communicate His message, we will begin to enjoy
reading more. Just as God used human authors to write Scripture, so he continues to give men
wisdom to write books that benefit us today.
Maybe you’re a busy seminary student who is dreading the amount of reading
assignments you have. Maybe you’re a High School student who doesn’t enjoy reading. Maybe
you’re a busy mother trying to find time to read that stack of books by your bed. Maybe you’re a
hard-working man who is mentally exhausted after a long day at work, and picking up a book is
just another mentally exhausting task. Whatever walk of life you find yourself in think about the
joy of knowing God more.
That’s why we read. Classics like C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” helps enhance
our view of King Jesus through the character of Aslan the Great. We open up the pages of J.I.
Packer’s “Knowing God” and we see the realization that God has made Himself known, and He
has elected a people for His own possession. Maybe you are a parent, and your children really
enjoy Andrew Peterson’s “The Wingfeather Saga” telling the adventures of the Jewels of
Anneira. The saga of three children who are displaced from their royal home in Anneira.
Peterson writes in a way that captivates the attention of children and adults alike. The children
are drawn in by vivid pictures, and adults understand the eternal implications of the book. The
enemy, Gnag the Nameless, believes that material wealth and power are supreme. While, the
children of the book, are the true Jewels. Such writing helps us to see how God views His
people.
Reading is a gift from God that allows us to know Him more. The Bible is supreme to all
other books, but God has granted certain men and women to write in such a way that it reveals
His splendor. Packer explains God’s supreme love being seen in the adoption of certain
individuals into His family. Lewis explains the problem of man’s pride. John Bunyan writes
about the pilgrimage of the Christian from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. God uses
words to make Himself known.
While reading is an essential part of the Christian life and Christian formation, it is
important to note that not all books that are labeled as “Christian” are truly Christian. Some of
the best-selling books of our time include Sarah Youngs, “Jesus Calling,” Joel Osteen’s, “The
Power of I Am,” and many other heretical health, wealth, and prosperity heretical books.
Unfortunately, authors like these make Christian bookstores one of the most dangerous places a
Christian can go. Discernment is something that Christians will gain over time, but it is
important that we warn them against certain books lest they be tossed to and fro by every wind of
doctrine (Ephesians 4:14b).
With all that said, I am excited to introduce to you a new ministry of The Master’s
Community Church. I will be writing book reviews for the church. These are books that we want
you to read. We believe that they will strengthen your faith, focus your attention on Christ, and
build you up. These reviews will be broken into two distinct categories: classics and current.
Classics will consist of works that have been around for some time and have benefitted
thousands, potentially millions of Christian lives. Currents will be more recent works.
My hope is three-fold. First, that you would fall more in love with the person and work of
Jesus Christ. Second, you would stretch your limits and read material you might not normally
read. Last, by reading this material together as brothers and sisters we would grow in our love
and our fellowship with one another.
I pray that as you read these reviews, and perhaps these books you would glory all the
more in the work of Christ. We have a glorious Savior who wants to be known. Let’s read more
about Him and as a result, love Him all the more.
by Jared Shaw
In 2021, during our men’s summer Bible study, Jim Gutsch led us to consider Paul’s life. We surveyed many men in the Old and New Testaments and considered their lives. 25-40 men were in a room singing together. We were singing a well-known song to MCC, but at that moment, it was more powerful and real to me than ever. Hearing men sing out with joy, “With every breath, I long to follow Jesus for he has said that he will bring me home, and day by day, I know he will renew me until I stand with joy before the Throne. To this, I hold my hope is only Jesus, all the glory evermore to him. When the race is complete, still, my lips shall repeat, Yet Not I, but through Christ in me” will bring you to tears. That is a moment that is etched into my life forever. Hearing younger and older men alike sing about the same truths profoundly affects your soul. The thought that came over me as we were singing was this: it’s not that we’re men singing the same song; it’s that we are men singing the same song that is all about God. There are many articles and books on why we sing, but the purpose of this blog is to ask why we sing what we sing.
We know that through New Testament writings, we are commanded to sing. We know the profound effect of singing on our souls, but have we ever stopped to consider the words we sing? I’m concerned that in many evangelical churches, well-intended music ministers and pastors are singing songs that have no place in corporate gatherings. I hold that concern because many of our modern “worship” songs are centered around “me, myself, and I” and not on God. Word choices in songs matter because what we sing matters just as much as why we sing.
The following story may be one you resonate with. My wife, Maggie, and I had recently moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, after finishing Bible College. We attended a church with my mother and sister, and hundreds of people were standing singing a chorus, “This is how I fight my battles.” While there are more lyrics to the song that are okay, that was the only phrase sung. The song went on for six minutes. As each minute passed, people in the crowd became more and more emotional. The music director began to sing with greater intensity, and the public worship of God became nothing more than an individual concert. Having just finished Bible College and not having much tact, I looked at my wife after six minutes and said, “I still have no idea how they’re fighting their battles.” While the comment was offhanded, it was nevertheless true. The sad reality is that in many churches, there is never a conversation about what we sing but why we sing.
Then, some churches go to opposite extremes—no choruses, no hymns, just Psalms. I love the Psalter, and I long for singing Psalms to be a common practice among protestant believers again, but if all we sing are Psalms, we have missed Paul’s admonishment in Ephesians 5:19. We are to sing more than just Psalms. We are commanded to sing hymns and spiritual songs as well. The goal is to take a panoply of voices, instruments, and writing styles and use them for one intended purpose: God’s glory.
The reformers lived by the motto, Soli Deo Gloria, to the glory of God alone. That included music. We look at music today from a purely consumer mindset; it’s simply there for entertainment and enjoyment. While there is some truth to that on a worldly level, that couldn’t be further from the truth in church. It’s also not true that we perform for an audience of one. Yes, it is ultimately God that we are singing to and for, but we are also singing to instruct one another. That is why, in a day and age where the exaltation of self is significant, we must be clear about what we sing.
What we sing offends. I remember hearing a story of a man telling the Gettys that when they sing “In Christ Alone,” they change the words from “till on the cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied” to “till on the cross as Jesus died the love of God was magnified.” Is it not true that God’s love was magnified on the cross? Of course, it’s true, but God’s love is magnified because God’s wrath is satisfied. What we sing can sometimes offend people. To which I say, good. Let them be offended. Let them be offended when we sing, “Alas and did my Savior bleed and did my Sovereign die, would he devote that sacred head for such a WORM as I.” We are teaching one another through song that though our sins are so great and high, the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ are more remarkable. Are we mere worms that can be crushed under his feet? Apart from Christ, yes. But praise be to God that we can then sing the following words: “At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of soul rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all day.”
What we sing convicts us. I was driving home from work one day, hearing John Newton’s “I asked the Lord that I might grow” for the first time. I almost had to pull over because I was weeping. It was a day that I had been wrestling with the old man all day. I was beaten up, I was hurt, and I was in prayer. While praying, I hear these words in the background, “these inward trials I employ from self and pride to set thee free and break thy schemes of earthly joy that thou mayst find thine all in me.” Those words then made the tears already present flow even greater. It made me see God in a more excellent light.
What we sing reminds us of our final destination. The old Southern Gospel song says, “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.” While there is a hint of truth in that song, a better song would be “the bride eyes not her garments, but her dear bridegroom’s face. I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace. Not at the crown he giveth, but on his pierced hand. The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.” We will sing of the victory of Jesus, but we will do so because he is the victor, and it is only through the finished work of the Lamb that we are victorious.
Over the last few years, we have lost some dear brothers and sisters. What we sing matters because they are in the presence of the One we sing to. Consider these words, “some have crossed before us safely to that land of perfect rest. Can you hear them singing faintly in the mansions of the blest? Hallelujah, Hallelujah, hallelujah, praise the Lamb. Hallelujah, hallelujah glory to the Great I Am.” One day, faithful pilgrim, when your eyes close in death, you can sing these words “as I draw this fleeting breath when my eyes shall close in death. When I rise to worlds unknown and behold Thee on thy Throne, Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.”
What we sing matters because it reminds us that we are weak; he is strong. We are sinners; he’s our Savior. What we sing teaches us what we believe about God. It stirs up our emotions, and it helps us to consider that one day, this God we know in part here, we will know fully one day soon. “By and By, when the morning comes when the saints of God are gathered home, we will tell the story of how we’ve overcome; we will understand it better by and by.”
On Sunday mornings, stop and listen to those around you. Look around and realize that this person sitting next to me or across from me is singing about the same God I am. The people coming into our midst who don’t know Jesus are being introduced to him in what we sing as well as what we preach. Let’s be a people who care about the words we sing as we seek to glorify God together.
As Heaven stands in anticipation of God's judgment and watches the heavenly seen unfold (Rev. 8:1-3), the prayers of the saints usher in God's final judgment (Rev. 8:4-5).
Christ seals and supplies for all His people for their faithful service through the most severe trials and fulfilling all her deepest longings.
Jesus's resurrection establishes God's plan to work through the church (Matt 28:1-10)--set in a world filled with greed (Matt 28:11-15)--as we teach all peoples of the Triune God (Matt 28:16-20).
God used personal (Matt 26:47-56) and corporate opposition from the world (Matt 26:57-68; 27:15-31) as the means of fulfilling His redemptive plans (Matt 27:32-61).
Despite our weak faith, God has promised to work through us (Matt 26:31-35), and our human limitations do not thwart His redemptive plans (Matt 26:36-46).
Jesus’ royal entry into Jerusalem (Matt 21:1-11) and His restoration of worship in the Temple (Matt 21:12-14) declares that His triumph is certain. Furthermore, through His fulfillment of Scripture, Jesus displays his kingship and reminds Christians that He is worthy of worship.
Throughout history, God judges sinful humanity by allowing war and natural disasters (rev 6:1-8), consecrating us for our true, eternal dwelling with Him and His people (Rev 6:9-11).
Since Jesus has been coronated in heaven as King over the earth (Rev 5:11-12)—worthy of praise equal to the Father seated on His heavenly throne (Rev 5:13-14)—we can be confident in God despite worldly opposition.
Beloved, take comfort! For when it appears as if the book is sealed, the road is blocked and all in the world and in your life seems hopeless and hellbound, (Revelation 5:1-4) REJOICE! For there is one with complete, divine, power, knowledge and authority that redeems and reigns victorious over our enemies! (Revelation 5: 5-7) So now let’s worship and sing a new song of praise to Him!! (Revelation 5:8-10)
In light of God the Father's holy royal status (Rev. 4:1-3), and the heavenly assembly worshipping Him as the King of the universe (Rev. 4:4-8), we must fear Him and not man.
In light of Jesus as the eternal faithful Son of God (Rev. 3:14), we must continue to rely on Christ in every aspect of our lives (Rev. 3:15-20) as we strive towards our inheritance with Christ (Rev. 3:21-22).
The risen Christ knows our difficulties, and if we remain faithful to Him through those difficulties, we are promised the crown of life. (Rev. 2:8-11)
The risen Christ knows our difficulties, and if we remain faithful to Him through those difficulties, we are promised the crown of life (Rev 2:8-11).
Right Living (21-24) is the result of the Celestial Sight (25-27), Transcendent Light (28-32), and Miraculous Might (33-38). Knowing and experiencing these things allow the believer in Christ to trust in God's promises, find peace in life, and go home in great delight (39-40)!
As we are thankful for all of our benefits in Christ (Col 1:12-23), we are protected from compromising our status in Him (2:6-10)—so be thankful for Christ (3:12-17).
Recorded visions of our glorified Lord should be cause for reverent pause, for humility in the face of breathless majesty (Rev. 1:17-18), and for confidence in our future eternity because of what God has revealed (Rev. 1:19-20).
God reveals Himself to us through His word (Rev 1:9-11) so that we can know and testify of Jesus’ glory (Rev 1:12-16).
The basis for divisions in the church (1 Cor 1:10-29) is subverted by God's generous revelation of Himself (1 Cor 2:1-16)-which we know of in Scripture (1 Cor 4:1-7).
Daniel Summary: The Most High God who rules all history and powers deserves worship and will eventually triumph over every proud kingdom through his Messiah’s saving death and everlasting dominion, which God proves by raising his humble saints from death to life.
Sermon Outline:
The God who rules all history and powers deserves worship. God opposes proud kingdoms but gives grace to humble saints. God’s kingdom will triumph through the Messiah’s saving death and everlasting dominion. God proves his triumph by raising his saints from death to life.
God shows His faithfulness to His people through his rule over all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible (Dan. 12:1-4); and over the times and events in His plan (Dan. 12:5-13).
Though a human tyrant would fortify himself against God (Dan 11:36-39) and attack God’s people (Dan 11:40-43), God will have the last word (Dan 11:44-45).
God rules over the successive movements of history (Dan 11:3-20) to position His people for testing and testifying to His kingdom (Dan 11:21-35).
Since God has called us to be in the body of Christ (Col 3:12-17), our eternal state with Him and one another propels us to faithfulness in our employment (Col 3:22-4:1).
During tough and trying times, (Daniel 10:1-3) God’s appointed messengers (Daniel 10:4-9) and Holy Words (Daniel 10:10-14 ) encourage those in the Faith towards victory in Christ! (Daniel 10:15 - 11:1)
Join Pastor Todd as he interviews Aiden Trimble and Isaiah Callerman about their summer experiences at The World Journalism Institute and Acton University.
Because deacon ministry coordinates the structures of church life (Acts 6:1-7; 2 Cor 8-9), as deacons reflect Christ in administrating their tasks (1 Tim 3:8-13), believers are prepared to participate in God’s dynamic work among us (1 Tim 3:14-16).
Join the Todd's as they discuss the way that seeing and experiencing Bible lands helps translate the Bible. Listen, too, for updates on the Scacewater family, tales from the Tel Aviv airport, and a solid prediction on when the Cowboys will win the Superbowl.
What Distinguishes Christianity from Triumphalism? Though believers will receive an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7), God has ordained nations that will cause great harm to His people and require us to endure in hope of His sovereign rule (Daniel 8).
Join Pastor Todd as he interviews J.C. Morrison and Pastor Jared Webb to discuss God's providence in seasons of employment transition.
Though the world might oppose our allegiance to the Lord (Dan 6:10-18), He can deliver us from evil plots (Dan 6:19-24) and even expand our witness of Him (Dan 6:25-28).
Paul urges dads to train their children in a gracious manner (Eph 6:4), aware of God’s commitment to His glory in them (Deut 4:1-8; 6:1-9) as a witness to all peoples (Psalm 67; Matt 28:18-20).
Because of God’s power, we can be confident and faithful in our obedience to the one who has saved us (Dan. 6:1-3) even in the face of trials (Dan. 6:4-5), even knowing that evil may test our resolve (Dan. 6:6-9).
Join Pastor Todd and Luke as they reflect on the dedication of the NT for the Tennger people of Central Java.
Daniel discerned the futility of Belshazzar's ways, and explained the dire predicament of his life before the Lord (Daniel 5:13-31).
As exiles under the depraved powers of the world (Dan. 5:1-4) with God’s “Writing on the Wall” of the coming judgement striking the worldly to fear (Dan. 5:5-9), believer’s reactions must be wise and Spirit-filled through all circumstances (Dan. 5:10-12).
Join Pastor Todd and 'Liz Viens as they chat about life for 'Liz this last year and get MCC ready for her visit this summer. (NOTE: please make a plan to take 'Liz for Mexican food in KC!)
When God’s word and judgment come upon the proud (Dan 4:28-33), the surety of their repentance is seen in their thoughtful confession of God’s authority over the universe and themselves (Dan 4:34-37).
Our kind Christian witness (Dan 4:19) is God’s means to confront non-believers in their arrogant state (Dan 4:20-27).
Join Pastor Todd and Nate Clason as they chat about a Christian worldview and the current geopolitical situation in both Europe and Asia.
As God gifts mother’s with purpose by His Mercy & Grace; Mother’s gift your children with the knowledge of God’s unending faith, amazing power and eternal life giving grace. And along the way teach your children how to have FHUN! F – Faith in God H – Humility in spirit U – Unashamed in service N – Newness in Life
Since God often deals with people patiently, within the structures of their lives (Dan 4:4-12), our consistent Christian witness serves as God’s means to help the lost understand the gospel (Dan 4:13-18).
God is an ever-present help for His people for the sake of His glory among the nations.
Join Pastor Todd as he visits with the Dunford's, MCC Alumni, on their work in West Bend, WI. Stay 'til the end as Kevin & Marie share wisdom on transitioning to a new ministry position.
God’s people can demonstrate benevolence in crisis (Dan 2:24-30) because we are confident of our place in His Kingdom (Dan 2:31-45) even over the kingdoms of men (Dan 2:46-49).
When threatened and in need of wisdom, the people of God can respond with tact (Dan 2:1-16) because, God, the glorious ruler of the universe, will make us wise (Dan 2:17-23).
When we determine beforehand that we will remain faithful to God’s commands and remember His sovereignty over all circumstances, we are strengthened to remain faithful in what He has called us to and can be confident that the Lord will be glorified in our obedience. Daniel 1:8-21
In times of spiritual crisis (Dan 1:1-2), we should remember our special place in God’s plan and beware of compromising our relationship with Him (Dan 1:3-7).
Local church leaders must maintain the faith despite defections (1 Tim 6:20-21a), and the congregation must rely upon God’s grace (1 Tim 6:21b).
Join Pastor Todd as he visits with Kara Volkman, Julia Anderson, and Julie Chipman to catch up on ladies' Scripture memory and prayer ministries, and look ahead to the ladies' conference.
Because of the supreme importance of love (1 Cor. 13:1-3), married couples should strive to personify the attributes of love (1 Cor. 13:4-7) while reflecting God’s love and clinging to that which is permanent (1 Cor. 13:8,13).
The Christian life, founded on the character and nature of God (1 Tim 6:13-16), seeks to fight the good fight of the faith (1 Tim 6:12) that they have been called to and professed by pursuing all forms of godliness. (1 Tim 6:11,18-19)
A church demonstrates spiritual maturity as we esteem the faith in the org chart of our employment (1 Tim 6:1-2) and live contented, fruitful lives on this side of eternity (1 Tim 6:3-10).
The church functions well as a Christian household (1 Tim 3:14-16) by supporting those who teach the faith (1 Tim 5:17-18) and treating them justly in light of their work (1 Tim 5:19-25).
The growth of God's people invites discriminatory opposition by those who feel threatened (Exodus 1:8-11, 13-16, 22), yet to those who uphold the sanctity of human life, God provides expansion and protection (Exodus 1:12, 17-21).
The church functions well as a Christian household (1 Tim 3:14-16) by respecting the male/female and generational distinctions among us (1 Tim 5:1-2), and judiciously using our resources in light the gospel (1 Tim 5:3-16).
Join Pastor Todd as he sits down with Ben and Emma Burris to reflect upon courtship and the first months of marriage.
As God’s people and spiritual leaders, we are commanded to share, teach and preach biblical truth (true spirituality) (1 Timothy 4: 11-13), to actively practice biblical truth and Godly living by using the gifts divinely bestowed to us (1 Timothy 4:14-15) and coach all of God’s people to do the same. (16)
Since God’s revelation in Christ is the basis of spirituality (1 Tim 4:1-5), spiritual leaders must discipline themselves in it to proclaim God’s saving message to all who would believe (1 Tim 4:6-10).
Though natural humanity (John 1:10) and even many who have descended from Abraham reject Jesus (John 1:11), God has given spiritual life to us that we would live the reality of Christmas (John 1:12-13).
Join Pastor Todd as he interviews Tasha Parker and Pastor Jim Viens about their work (and ministry) in real estate in the Kansas City metro.
Through the incarnation of His eternal Son (John 1:1-2), by Whom He created the universe (John 1:3), God has revealed Himself and humanity (John 1:4-5).