Strand Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
Pieter
Podcast of Strand Baptist Church, where we discuss the Bible and how it applies to life. We are back for a third season! Thank you for joining us on this journey.
Today’s message is all about lockdown restrictions and the gathering of the local church. We look at various passages from Scripture as we seek God’s wisdom on how to respond.
The following sermon was preached by Matthew Damonze at Strand Baptist Church on the 10th of January 2021.
Today we bid farewell to the podcast. As the other ministries of the church start up again, Pieter and Matthew reflect on 120 episodes of the SBC podcast.
Today, we look at persecution in its many forms and particularly persecution within the church.
This week, Phillipe and I discuss God's sovereign grace and why it is good news for the believer.
A brief look at the practice and belief of the early church as It relates to Sunday worship.
Today, we briefly look at the historical controversy between Luther, Zwingli and the Lords supper.
Pride is the natural disposition of fallen humanity. It is part of modern culture and it has infiltrated much of the church. Why is it such a danger?
Does God use persecution? How did God use it to advance the gospel in the Book of Acts?
We should never divorce the command to love from God’s loving character and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
God is love. The Bible declares it. The gospel proves it. We believe it. But how does this attribute of God move us to love others?
Lockdown has given us an opportunity to spend time in God’s Word and with our families. But not everything about lockdown has been positive. We talk about some of the challenges Christians face in lockdown.
In today’s discussion we reflect on how the church seeks to be faithful when we can’t have fellowship.
There is a real danger that the Christian church will fall prey to what JC Ryle called “a boneless, nerveless, jelly-fish condition of the soul”. Beware Christian complacency.
One of the dangers of not meeting with our fellow believers is confusion: false teaching. We need the truth of God preached and the encouragement of our fellow believers to remain steadfast in the faith.
Consumerism has effectively disguised itself as a form of Christianity: one that promises much and asks little. Consumerism turns the gospel into a self-help manual and robs Christ of his glory. This is not a new problem, but it has been made worse by the lockdown.
There are dangers to lockdown church, whether you attend a service or listen online. The first danger is compromise.
"There is no dignity when the human is elongated from the person. In short, the problem with pornography is not that it shows too much of the person, but that it shows far too little."
Pope John Paul II
"transgenderism is doing much damage to families, adolescents, and children and should be confronted as an opinion without biological foundation wherever it emerges"
Dr Paul Mchugh
At the heart of the problem is confusion over the nature of the transgendered. “Sex change” is biologically impossible. People who undergo sex-reassignment surgery do not change from men to women or vice versa. Rather, they become feminized men or masculinized women. Dr. Paul McHugh
"The biblical teaching is consistent and unambiguous: homosexual activity is not God’s will for his people. Silence in the face of such clarity is not prudence, and hesitation in light of such frequency is not patience. The Bible says more than enough about homosexual practice for us to say something too.. "
Kevin DeYoung
"We are half hearted creature fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mudpies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. "
CS Lewis
Today’s question is all about the shofar. What does the Bible teach us about this fascinating instrument?
Why are we so obsessed with social media? Could it be that we are actually more obsessed with self, than with Jesus?
If prayer has taught me anything it is this: God will answer, but on his schedule, not mine.
Life is hard, but God has promised that in Christ we have everything we need to run the race with endurance and joy.
Today we explore Exodus 33 and a listen in on a conversation between God and his confused servant.
Praying according to God’s will gives us joy and confidence in prayer. The Scriptures reveal what God wants us to pray for.
When the answers to our prayers don’t arrive as quickly as our online shopping, we tend to become discouraged. But that does not mean that God is ignoring us; it means we have to persevere.
What is prayer like? Prayer is talking to or communing with God. It is a discipline, because it is something that we have to learn, to grow in, and practice. But prayer is also intimacy, because it is the most intimate expression of our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Reconciliation is a hot topic today. What does the Bible say about it? What does it mean? How can we be reconciled?
How does God satisfy his righteous wrath over our sin and his steadfast love to the sinner? By offering up Jesus Christ, his own Son, for our atonement.
What happens when we are saved? We often describe salvation as moving from death to life, or from guilt to acquittal. These are appropriate, but another biblical picture of salvation is moving from bondage to liberty, from slavery to freedom. We call this redemption.
Being born again sounds impossible, until we understand that it is an inward, spiritual change that results in a new life. Regeneration is the first step in our walk with God, and it is a step we cannot take without his help.
Let's be honest, when we speak of culture building, you dismiss it for the influential figures out there. Surely, culture has nothing to do with me you might be thinking. However, This is not the case. God has called all of us to the cultural mandate.
In todays episode, we look at your part to play in the culture and provide a basic framework in order to faithfully engage this world.
What does success in the culture look like?
To answer the question, we look back in history and glean lessons from Christians who lived in nazi Germany.
A summary of this success is stated by Hans Scholl who said "should one go off and build a little house with flowers outside the windows and a garden outside the door and extol and thank God and turn one's back on the world and its filth? Isn't seclusion a form of treachery - of desertion?... I'm weak and puny, but I want to do what is right "
In todays episode, we see how culture works and how it influences us.
Today, we cover quite a lot ranging from colorful skinny jeans to bell-bottoms.
We get somewhat technical as we look as sociological terms to make sense of how dynamic culture is.
Finally, we note that ideas have consequences. Ideas shape culture. Culture shapes us. Cultural influence can be summarized by stating that culture is most effective in what it presents as normal.
In todays episode, we start a new series on Christianity and culture.
Perhaps your antennas have already gone off alerting you to the dangers of such such language. Maybe certain questions like: "Aren't Christians supposed to simply preach the gospel?" and "What does culture have to do with it all?" have come into your mind.
Well, today we look at what culture is, and whether Christians should engage the culture or not.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask them.
We close our series on church history by looking at the many paradoxes found in the 20th century.
Ep. 71- The language of the gospel (sanctification ).
Perhaps you've heard this word from the pulpit countless times and you just aren't sure what is meant by it.
What is sanctification? Is sanctification necessary to be saved? How do I pursue sanctification?
In todays episode, I attempt to answer these questions.
Ep. 70- The language of the gospel (union with Christ). Very often, when it comes to our gospel vocabulary, the phrase "union with christ" is skipped over as a mysterious, confusing and awkward phrase.
This was not always the case. Our union with christ is the very reason we have life, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Union with Christ is an essential element of Christian life since all gospel blessings flow from it.
The gospel is multifaceted, which is why we use different words to highlight different aspects of the gospel. One of the most amazing terms used to describe the effects of the gospel, is adoption.
There are a lot of words or phrases that we take for granted when we think about the gospel. Today we look at justification.
The gospel includes a lot of words or phrases that we often take for granted. But what do they mean? Today, we look at the word ‘gospel’.
Today we hear from different families and find out how they do family devotions. May these testimonies encourage you to make this important disciple a part of your family life.
Family worship isn’t rocket science, but that does not mean it will happen all by itself. We have to commit ourselves to worship, both as individual believers and as families. Today we talk about how to get it done.
Prayer is the life-breath of the Christian home. We should model dependence on God through prayer for our children.
Devotional reading of God’s Word is vital for the spiritual growth of individual Christians and for cultivating Christ-centered homes. So it doesn’t matter if you are a parent, grandparent, uncle or aunt, make God’s Word the heart of your home.
Family worship does not have to be dry or dull. God has given us music and He expects us to use it to worship Him. This not only helps us grow in our love for God, it can help our families as well.
In today's episode we look the the beginnings of modern theology and the two German philosophers who greatly influenced this theology: Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Schleiermacher. Although very different people, they came to similar conclusions. In the midst of this modernizing of theology, God's gospel was still going forth into the nations as the power of God unto salvation. Great missionaries were raised up such as William Carey, Henry Martyn, David Livingstone, Hudson Taylor and others. This century also saw the ministry of Charles Spurgeon rise to prominence along with the great Princeton scholars such as Charles Hodge.
In today's episode we look at revival and in particular the revival known as the "Great Awakening". This revival came at a time that no one could have expected. The church was in spiritual darkness as the ideals of the enlightenment were embraced and reason was accepted by many as the ultimate authority. The Great Awakening brought many to faith and the leaders of this revival are remembered to this day as an inspiration and source of encouragement for many Christians. They include Howell Harris, George Whitefield, the Wesley Brothers, the Moravians and Jonathan Edwards. What can we learn from this great movement of God?
In today's episode we look at the Reformation in England. The Reformation in England is a tale of political and religious strife. Yes, the reformation was a revival, but no revival is without its hurdles. And in England, there were plenty of hurdles. The Puritans come to the fore in the 17th century as they zealously sought for a pure reformed church. However, their desire for a reformed national church was not granted. When the Book of Common Prayer was forced upon the church, the Scottish Presbyterians and the English Puritans were determined to resist such tyranny. This resulted in a civil war. Eventually, the puritans were jailed as criminals.
In today's episode, we look at the birth of the protestant reformation and its chief figures in the 16th century. When we speak about the reformation, we have to speak about Martin Luther. We look at the circumstances which led him to nail his objections to the church door. The reformation never stood still. It spread throughout Europe. The reformation influenced John Calvin and his work of reform in France. Calvin's work was vast and some have said that "Calvin wielded greater influence over our history and culture than any other individual in the last millennium or since the close of the New Testament Canon".
In today's episode, we look at the importance of the European Renaissance under the banner "ad fontes" (back to the sources). It was this truth which spurred men to look at the Bible in its original languages (back to the source) instead of the received Latin translation. In the shadow of this Renaissance, we look at men like Jan Hus, and Savoranola. We find that once the gospel is discovered, nothing can had hold it back.
The 14th century was eventful. We see the that the church has ignored the attempts of early reform in order to pursue worldly power which eventually results in what is called "the great schism" where you have two popes reigning simultaneously in both Avignon (France) and in Rome. While the battle of the popes raged on, John Wycliffe was pursuing reformation. He has rightly been called "the morning star of the reformation."
In today's episode, we find the church preaching a theology of bloodshed to defend the "sacred" places of the Christian faith. In light of this, there were attempts at reformation which culminate and the famous and influential Francis of Assisi. Another important figure which rose to prominence in the 13th century was a man named Thomas Aquinas, who was also known as "the dumb ox" . We look at his contribution to the church.
In today's episode, we look at at one of the most controversial armies in history - the crusades. As Islam militantly made ground in the world, the church was ready and willing to respond. How? By assembling an army for battle whilst forgetting the very mission of the church. We also look at the noteworthy figures of Peter Lombard and Peter Waldo.
In today's episode, we look at at one of the most significant events in church history known as "the great schism", which divided the visible church. Although darkness was still within the church, God raised up Anselm of Canterbury who stood out as the great light of the 11th century. We briefly look at his theological contribution.
In today's episode, we look at the the dark ages and note the similarities to our own day and age. As many have said, "history repeats itself".
Today we answer a question submitted by one of our listeners: what happens when we die?
Today we have short announcement, followed by a reflection on 1 Peter 1:3-7. Is joy in trials possible? Is there a purpose to our suffering? We glean some insights from our passage.
The lockdown has given us a unique opportunity to look at our own hearts and find out what really makes us tick. How has God used this trial to show you your need for Jesus?
In the 9th century, we see the tension between the West and the East rising as the papacy claims absolute power. We find the "apostles to the Slavs" walking with "beautiful feet" and the controversial figure of Gottshalk imprisoned.
In todays episode, we look at the Eastern tradition within the church and the controversy over the use of images in worship.
In todays episode, we note the rise of what we have come to call "nominal Christianity" coupled with the rapid spread of Islam. What was the church doing during this time? Well, interestingly, we find the synod of Whitby discussing the very "significant" issues of the time.
In todays episode, we look at Justinian I and his great achievements in the Roman empire. We also spend a bit more time on the conversion of Scotland and the power of a gospel community as lights that shine in a dark world.
In this episode, we look at Augustine's contribution to the church in his great works on the city of God and his battle with Pelagius over the sufficiency of grace.
In todays episode, we have Dr Paul Hartwig joining us to discuss the salvation of those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus. Is there any hope for them?
In today's episode, we delve into the 4th century. This is one of the most pivotal centuries in Christian history. Here we find the beginning of a Christian empire, a battle over the person of Christ and we witness the birth of one of the greatest minds to ever grace the church in Augustine.
Today we look at the third century and see how they responded to the threats of their day. Two great figures, Origen and Tertullian, help us to understand the times.
Today, we take a brief look at the second century in church history. The church faced severe opposition. Faithful Christians suffered much, such as Polycarp, who famously said these words before his death: “I have served Jesus Christ these eighty and six years. He has done me no harm; Why should I deny him now?”
Today we learn why church history is important and we hone in on the first century to gain some perspective and hopefully some encouragement too.
Today we discuss conspiracy theories. How should Christians respond to the many theories that are being spread on social media?
The goal of interpretation is not simply to be informed by the Bible, but to be transformed by it. How do we take what we’ve learned in our interpretation and make it practical?
We’ve all encountered problems in our Bible reading. Who is that? What is going on? Where are we? Today we talk about how you can solve these problems and understand what you are reading.
Today we conclude our discussion on the church in lockdown with the topic of prayer. How has the lockdown affected our prayer life?
Today we focus on the Lord’s Table. Some churches have ‘virtual communion’ while others wait for the lockdown to be over. How do we approach the Lord’s Table during lockdown?
In this part of our discussion on the church in lockdown we focus on fellowship. What is fellowship and how do we maintain it during lockdown?
This is part 2 of a 5 part discussion about the church in lockdown. Today we talk about the teaching ministry of the church.
Join us for a discussion on how the lockdown has affected the church. This is part 1 of our discussion and we focus on the gathering of the church.
Not every book of the Bible is the same. We have many different genres in the Bible. Knowing what those genres are will help you in your Bible reading.
In today’s episode Matthew helps us understand the importance of history and how to bring the world of the Bible to life.
Context is king and without it we are bound to misinterpret the Bible. Today we look at the importance of literary context.
If we want to grow in our understanding of God’s Word, we must develop our powers of observation.
Why should we take the Bible seriously? Because it is God’s Word and as such carries his authority.
Why do we believe the Bible? Today we look at the inspiration, infallibility and inerrancy of God’s Word.
Why has God given is a written revelation of himself? Join us as we explore the importance of God’s written Word.
It’s Friday and time to answer another question submitted by one of our listeners. Today we focus on the timing of Christ’s death and resurrection.
We return to Ephesians 5:15-20 and explore how Christians should make the best use of the time.
We take a brief look at Ephesians 5:15-20 and what it teaches us about redeeming the time.
We need wisdom, but we often go looking in all the wrong places. Today we go to the Author of wisdom: the all-wise God.
God is completely self-sufficient, but that doesn’t mean we don’t matter to him. Join us as we explore the independence of God.
Today we answer a question about the fear of the Lord. To help us out we’ve invited Matthew Damonze, pastoral intern at SBC, to join us.
God is true, trustworthy and faithful. Join us as we explore how God’s faithfulness inspires trust and obedience.
Have you ever thought of God’s righteousness and justice as something to be celebrated? Join us as we explore this glorious attribute of God.
Taking Psalm 103:8 as our starting point, we explore the goodness of God and how it relates to us.
Today we have a special guest, Dr. Paul Hartwig, to help us answer a listener’s question. “How did God speak to the saints of the Old Testament?”