All Saints Reformed Presbyterian Church: Recent Episodes
Teaching based in part on book by T. David Gordon called Choose Better- Five Biblical Models for Making Ethical Decisions.
This biblical narrative shows that the nature of salvation is a gift of God and entirely of sovereign grace, not of works.
Christian Liberty is the pillar upon which our Christian life is built. What does this mean-- Listen here to find out.
Our purpose as Christ's church is to be a community of witnesses to the gospel to build the church for the glory of God -Colossians 4-5-6- . If we are to be useful in God's service as a church we must live a radically purpose-driven life because Jesus was radically guided by purpose during his earthly ministry as evidenced from this text in Mark's gospel.
The doctrine of the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven is not only a non-negotiable historical doctrine but one of monumental significance to the Christian faith. The bodily ascension of Jesus into heaven is the climatic redemptive-historical doctrine of the New Testament.
People who come to know Jesus Christ savingly know that their citizenship is in heaven and that their faith is bound up in the person and work of Jesus- therefore, they live out their life in such a way that they emulate the example of the apostle Paul by not setting their mind on earthly things.
Title- 09 - The Sun Stands Still-Series- Joshua-Speaker- John Sawtelle-Bible- Joshua 10-1-27-Date- 2 September 2007
Title- 07 - The Fall of Ai-Series- Joshua-Speaker- John Sawtelle-Bible- Joshua 8-Date- 19 August 2007
Jesus addresses His disciples about the nature of what it means to follow Him. Some made a true confession but their application was lacking. In this message, Jesus makes it clear that the true disciple is one who confesses the truth about Christ and seeks to put their faith into practice in life.
Problems gave rise to solutions- that is how the diaconate was formed. A group of widows raised complaint and the apostles led by the Spirit of Christ responded with the solution of the diaconate. The result was that the ministry of Christ's mercy was amplified through word, rule, and service and the church's missionary fruitfulness was multiplied.
In setting forth qualifications for deacons, Paul pivots toward addressing qualifications for -women.- Some have argued that he was referring to the wives of deacons and thus setting forth a qualification for married male deacons. The structure of the text indicates that Paul addressed deacon qualifications in general in verses 8-10 and that in verse 11 he pivots toward women deacons and their qualifications followed up in verse 12 with qualifications for male deacons. This message defends the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America's position on women deacons from 1 Timothy 3-11, Romans 16-1-2, and from church history.
Bitterness is anger and unhappiness about things that have happened in the past. The problem with bitterness is that it not only gnaws away at the soul, it also spills out of the heart and corrupts others -Hebrews 12-15-. This message explores the story of Naomi's bitterness conquered by God's work of new mercy.
in poetic form. A comparison is made between warriors and fathers and arrows and children. As the martial image is extended in verse 5 the theology of dominion is clarified in the portrayal of the warrior who packs his quiver full of covenant arrows prepared for launching into the city gates with an aim to conquer Christ's enemies and build the kingdom of God. This message explores the duty of godly fathers to train up a covenant family in faithfulness in order to extend his spiritual impact through the multiplication of responsible covenant servants who will themselves multiply, fill the earth, and take dominion over the earth for Christ.
In setting forth the qualification of household management, Paul makes an argument for it. Moving from the lesser to the greater, the apostle makes the claim that if a man cannot manage his own house well then he certainly is not prepared to exercise spiritual rule over many households. The particular aspect of household rule which distinguishes a man for eldership is the care of his children, leading them into submission by means of dignity.
One of the most important virtues of a leader is self-control. As Paul continues to expound the qualifications of eldership, he outlines two areas of restraint which are essential for spiritual leadership- appetite and emotions. This message explores the spiritual quality of inner control.
An essential qualification for the office of elder is ability to teach. Surprisingly when this quality is understood according to Scripture, it does not pertain to academic preparation or forensic aptitude. Instead, Paul grounds teaching ability in moral qualities and spiritual convictions. This message expounds the conditions and aims of ability to teach.
The definition of hospitality is love of strangers. An essential qualification for elders is the duty of being hospitable. But believers are also commanded to be hospitable and this message explores what hospitality is and what are its motives.
As Paul begins to expound the qualifications of the office of elders, he prioritizes the essential components of personal integrity- temperate, prudent, and respectable. This message explores the spiritual quality of integrity.
Paul commends the desire for the office of elder by describing it as a work of excellence. This message explores the excellence of the work of the eldership.
Christ's seventh and final letter to the churches forcefully and poignantly summarizes the exhortations of the previous letters. At the heart of Christ's message to Laodicea is a diagnosis of persisting in sin on account of willful self-delusion -verse 17-. The resolution to the spiritual problem is to stop hiding sin in the heart and to learn the discipline of being a repenting Christian. This message explores the message of Christ's tough love for His church.
The city of Philadelphia was positioned at the crossroads of trade and commerce which brought it great wealth. This wealth made the city a poster child for the benefits of Greek culture for which it had a missionary zeal. Christ's mission for His church in this city was to counteract the missionary zeal for Hellenism with a missionary zeal for the gospel. This message explores Christ's call to the Church to be a counter-cultural force through gospel witness.
No psalm is more dark and disturbing than Psalm 88. Heman describes his unspeakable sufferings which he regarded as tokens of divine abandonment. The tone of this psalm is summarized in the closing verse and its last word- darkness. This message explores the main point of this psalm which is that God sometimes abandons His people to great suffering to exercise them to identify with Christ.
an just learning- however, as Peter points out, the circumstance of this growth is putting away sin. The very same word which produces the new spiritual nature in believers is that word which sanctifies and sustains them in spiritual life.
The purpose of the book of Revelation is to comfort the militant church in its struggle against evil -Hendriksen-. At the heart of the believers comfort is the conquering Christ who reigns at the right hand of the Father. But that same glorious Christ also calls His church to faithfulness. John places the picture of Christ in His glory at the entry point to the seven letters to prepare the church to read Christ's message with humble and receptive hearts. This message explores basic points of introduction.
One of the great virtues of the -woke- class is tolerance. But when Jesus assesses the church at Thyatira He is critical of them because they are not intolerant. The problem with Thyatira is that they tolerate Jezebel and her teaching of the deep things of Satan. Jesus teaches the church that its calling is to be intolerant when it comes to moral and spiritual matters.
The church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive. If truth stood behind that reputation it would have been commendable. However when Jesus looked under the hood, He saw deadness rather than spiritual vitality. This message warns about the danger of putting reputation over reality.
Jesus addresses a tough message to Smyrna- you are about to suffer- Instead of holding back the truth, Jesus serves it up without flinching. However, the message to the church is not about suffering its about living- when hard times come in the Christian life, walk in faith just like you you have been doing all along and know that Christ will crown your afflictions with grace.
Ask any confessional Presbyterian what the church is supposed to look like and they will have an answer ready- sound doctrine, presbyterian government, and regulated worship. If those criteria were applied to the Ephesian church at the end of the apostolic era, it would appear that the Ephesian church would have been heartily welcomed into the club of Old School Presbyterianism. On Jesus' own assessment, it had all of this and more. Yet, Jesus was not impressed. After commending the Ephesian church for soundness in faith and doctrine, He challenged their heart and threated to remove their lampstand because they had fallen from their first love. The point of this letter to the Ephesian church is that doctrinal orthodoxy without fervent love for Christ is offensive to God and will bring judgment upon the church.
The double testimony to the presence of Satan in Pergamum highlights the perpetual position of the church- it is located in a fallen world. The situation of the church in the world presents the prospect of being overcome by evil instead of fulfilling the call to be salt and light. Jesus in addressing the problems in Pergamum teaches the church how to be in the world and not be overcome by its darkness.
In the midst of David's season of overwhelming distress as he endured being stalked and hunted by arrogant, violent, and godless men he prayed for spiritual illumination and an undivided heart that he might persevere in faith. That prayer flowed directly from his confidence in God's character which he spotlights in verse 15- but You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. The main point of Psalm 86 is to teach that God's character gives confidence to pray for perseverance in perilous circumstances.
Chapters 11 and 12 of Nehemiah document the record of the repopulation of Jerusalem, the consecration of the priests and Levites for Temple service, and the dedication of the city walls. The point of the restoration of the walls and building up community life in Zion finds its pinnacle and climax in the worship of the people of God. The chief aim of Nehemiah is to teach the church that its whole purpose for existence is worship.
To build a solid foundation for spiritual community, Nehemiah led the people of God in public confession of sin. The sins of the past were likely to spring up again in the new generation of saints if they did not dig down deep to tear up sin by the roots. As the people of God gathered for public confession of sin, they healed spiritual brokenness and prepared for God's service. The purpose of this text is to teach the church that sincere confession of sin is the only way to renew a broken relationship with the Lord.
Having established a list of eligible covenant citizens for populating Jerusalem, Nehemiah needed to prepare them for citizenship. The task before Nehemiah was to build a city life which matched the glory of God symbolized in Zion's rebuilt walls. Citizens of Jerusalem not only needed to be covenanted to the Lord, they also needed to be shaped by the word in the manners, behavior, and religious devotion. In order to accomplish that mission, Nehemiah called for a day of the public reading and exposition of the word so that Jerusalem's citizens would be prepared to live up to their calling. This text teaches how to build a church life which glorifies the Lord through shaping the people of God with the word of God.
After 52 days of backbreaking work, infighting, discouragement, and constant spiritual opposition, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt. What had been a near impossible task to complete for over 90 years was finally accomplished. The real story however is not Nehemiah's managerial skills or the people's resolve rather it is the help of the Lord. Even the enemy nations were forced to acknowledge the accomplishment was the work of God. This message explores how God is glorified through the work of believers by His help.
In Nehemiah 5 the most astonishing thing occurs- the walls vanish from sight. As the rebuilding continued, division erupted among the people of Judah which threatened the project moving forward. A moment such as this can either make or break a leader depending upon their response. Nehemiah rose up on principle and repaired the ruined unity by applying the law to the disruptors and calling them to bring forth the fruit of true repentance.
Nehemiah 3 presents an idealized yet authentic account of the rebuilding of Zion's walls. Instead of mentioning anything about external opposition or internal struggles, Nehemiah recounts the vigor of the people rebuilding the walls, gates, and houses of Jerusalem. The point of the account as a whole seems to be to present the unity of the people of God as they energetically participated in restoring Zion's glory. This message explores the ethical and theological motives of this building project and applies it to the contemporary situation.
Religious scholars explain away the bodily resurrection of Jesus by claiming that ancient believers had some sort of subjective experience which enabled them to -believe- they had seen Jesus after He died. Paul however places the bodily resurrection of Christ squarely within the frame of history and insists that it is an essential element of the gospel. The rehearsal of the -first things- of the gospel which Paul reminds the Corinthians about includes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. To believe anything else is to have a vain faith.
The doctrine of double predestination has long been under attack by those who claim that it promotes carnal security and that it is an obstacle to godliness. Paul sees things just the opposite however. In this text Paul surrounds his teaching about double predestination with exhortations to Christian living. This message explores the Biblical connection between predestination and moral duty.
The soundness of the pastor-member relationship is foundational to the health of the congregation. Since Christ has instituted the ministry in the church for great spiritual ends, it is essential that there is peace between members and leaders. This message explores the duty and roles of pastors as a warrant for peaceful relations.
If there is no peace between the congregation and the pastor, the church won't be healthy. Paul addresses this essential relationship by spelling out the work of pastors and appealing to that work as the warrant and basis for congregational respect. Two significant things are required of a congregation to maintain peaceful relations with their pastor- appreciation and esteem.
This grand psalm begins in verse 1 proclaiming divine approbation upon the one who walks in the way of the Lord and concludes in verse 176 with the psalmists confession that he is straying spiritually like a lost sheep. Throwing himself upon the mercy of God, he cries out to the Lord to seek after him and to deliver him. This message explores the hope of the believing sinner in the help of the Lord through His word.
Each generation stands before the awesome duty to retrieve the lessons of the past in order to promote them today so that they will be perpetuated into the future. The psalmist embraces this challenge as he opens with a call to listen and then unfolds a history lesson for the current generation with a message about the past which was designed to shape the values and commitments of the next generation. In calling all to listen and respond, the psalmist addresses all believers but particularly he lays a burden upon parents to teach their children so that they may in turn instruct their children. And the point that emerges is that parental teaching promotes the perseverance and preservation of the church. This message explores the point that the spiritual preservation of the church from one generation to the next is inseparably connected to the parental duty of instructing their children in the most holy faith.
A great preacher from a couple of centuries ago began his sermon on this text by saying -Jesus is here sweetly preached-but from a heart, which never loved Him, and by lips, which never more shall praise Him.- Truth was etched upon Balaam's mind but it never gripped and subdued his heart- Though this pagan was led to speak in the most exalted terms about Christ, his heart never loved Him or nor did he fix faith upon Him. This message seeks to renew faith in Christ by pointing faith to look unto Him cloaked in His kingly and saving glory as He is set forth in prophecy here in Numbers 24-17.
After a season intense political, religious, and social unrest, Samuel set up a stone to memorialize the Lord's deliverance of Israel from their Philistine overlords. The purpose of this stone was to teach the people of God to march forward in hope knowing the Lord's help in the past. This message explores the meaning and message of Ebenezer, the stone of help, in order to bring encouragement to the Church in 2021.
Hardly any other passage of Scripture provides such nitty-gritty instruction about how to live together in Christ's church than this one. Paul prescribes specific duties for specific infirmities- admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, and help the weak. The overall force of Paul's instruction indicates that sin does not resolve over time if left alone- instead, believers must be proactive in ministering to fellow members in order that congregations may grow in spiritual health and maturity.
Even though this text is rich in instruction about eschatology, the aim of it is practical. Paul was concerned about the report that some in Thessalonica were grieving as those who had no hope- but such grief was entirely inconsistent with the hope of the believer. To correct this problem Paul expounds crucial elements of the doctrine of the last things in order that the church would live in the strength of Christian comfort.
This message explores the topic of the -day of the Lord- with a particular focus upon its essential precursors, main elements, and its ethical call.
Because the timing of Christ's return is uncertain, believers are to live in a state of constant preparation. This message examines the call to sober living in view of the coming day of the Lord.
The Reformers not only taught that salvation was by grace alone, they also taught it was through a gracious means. The Heidelberg Catechism Q65 states that -the Holy Spirit works faith in the heart by the preaching of the holy gospel.- According to Scripture, the ordinary means God uses to save His people is preaching- This message expounds the Biblical basis of preaching as a means of grace.
When Jesus asks the Twelve who they say He is, Peter responds for the group as a whole with a true profession about Christ. Jesus stakes that true profession to the promise of victory for the Church. This message explores the relationship between the meaning and promise of Peter's profession.
As Christians, we have a great role to play towards the Church and the world. Paul spells out that Christian calling by setting forth a series of actions which aim at blessing the whole of the community in which we live. This message explores the transformation Christianity brings through living out the implications of the gospel.
In ancient society, children were not highly valued which seems to explain in part why the disciples are blocking off their access to Jesus. But Jesus didn't share that same attitude- instead, He boiled over with anger toward His disciples and demanded that the babies be permitted to be brought unto Him. When they did come, He embraced them and blessed them. This message explores the theme of spiritual mercies for the children of believers and for all who would enter the kingdom of God by grace.
Few passages speak more explicitly about God's will than this- This is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality -v3-. This moral imperative is subsequently reinforced in precept both positively and negatively and then by way of triple warning. In this message the duties and threats are expounded and then applied to our contemporary situation.
The Thessalonians had shown a hearty spiritual resilience and exemplary model of obedience in their young Christian experience. Yet, Paul addresses these spiritually vigorous believers with a powerful charge- excel still more. The command is not exclusive to the Thessalonians however as it goes out to every Christian and represents an ethical calling of the highest common denominator. This message explores the gospel context of this call as well as its meaning and authority.
Knowing God is different than knowing about God. Paul prays for an Ephesian congregation which was rich in knowledge. Instead of praying that they might learn more things, Paul prays that they may receive spiritual illumination in order that they may know God by knowing His gracious works. This message explores knowing God through the Spirit's illumination.
In this final installment in the series, -Praying With Paul,- we notice that Paul turns table and asks the saints to pray for him rather than reporting on how he prayed for the church. As those who have experienced gospel grace through the ministry of the church, we are called to pray. The kind of prayer Paul seeks is specific prayer- safety in ministry and acceptable ministry. This message explores how the people of God are to pray for the ministry of the church with specific requests out of a sense of deep commitment.
As Paul punctuates his case for justification by faith alone he reaches for an Old Testament story and a single Greek term. The OT story is taken from the Genesis narrative regarding Abraham's 2 primary sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Paul says these 2 sons represent two different ways of seeking justification, through works or by faith alone. For Paul, Isaac and his mother Sarah illustrate the great theological principle at stake- liberty versus slavery. While the way of Ishmael points to the Judaizer's false gospel and its bondage, the way of Isaac points justification apart from works and its attendant gospel freedom. This message expounds the Biblical meaning of Christian liberty and the solemn calling it presents to every believer to boldly make their stand in it.
Exile led to longing. As this son of Korah endured extended separation from the Lord's house, he began to be impressed with the great glory and blessing of its altars. Gripped with a sense of yearning for God's courts, he endured the valley of sufferings to meet with the Lord and when he arrived he was once again impressed with the abundance of God's grace. This message explores the central call of Psalm 84 to seek the Lord.
A grand vision of God being glorified gripped Paul in his soul and led him to pray for marvelous things. Because of this vision Paul did not pray for petty or trivial things- instead, Paul prayed that God's grace would be so operative in the lives of His people that His glory would shine. This message explores how Christ is glorified through spiritual service empowered by divine grace.
Paul loved the Philippians and he prayed great things for them. Though this congregation had been faithful in the past, Paul prayed would seek moral excellence in the form of loving treatment which glorified God. This message explores what moral excellence looks like in thought and action.
Praying with Paul can be an excellent way to learn how to pray. But, praying with Paul requires a careful understanding of how his prayers piece together in order to grasp their substance and implications. This message explores the reason and manner of Paul's prayer to gain insight into his petition for inward strength for the believer.
Calvin says that attending to the circumstances of this psalm will in no small degree contribute to a proper understanding its contents. The key to unlocking the circumstances is the word -foundations- -v1- and the focus upon -Zion.- Written to the post-exile generation, this psalm addressed those who were sick in heart due to the deferment of fulfilled promises. The Lord responded to the heavy hearted by proclaiming His steadfast love and prophesied of the great work He would yet do in gathering and preserving His Church.
-Desperate times call for desperate measures- is an ancient sayings which prescribes almost anything to treat an ailment if there is enough desperation and enough of a ray of hope that the treatment might work. The situation of -tribulation- is just the season of desperation tailor made for a spiritually desperate measure- exulting in tribulations. For Paul, such a means is not an exercise in madness as it is rooted in the promise that God will supply sanctifying grace and use exultation to confirm the disciple in hope.
While poverty does not ensure someone is next to the Kingdom, Jesus did teach that riches were an obstacle to trusting in the Lord. The point of entry to defeating the spiritual obstacle of riches is rejecting all earthly substitutes. Those who are rich in God seek to embrace the presence of God in Christ in order that they may fight greed and experience true spiritual contentment.
Knowing how to pray and knowing what to pray for are two important and interrelated matters. Thankfully, Scripture is full of prayers which teach us about both manner and content. In this text, Paul teaches that the believer must unceasingly pray for knowledge of God's will that leads to spiritual transformation.
In the broader scheme of the -tsadhe- portion of this psalm, the opening verse sets the tone with its focus upon the righteous character of the Lord and its reflection in the word. The message of verse 137 is clear- the written revelation of God reflects the character of God. When you read God's revelation, you read about the Lord. This message examines the proper response to Scripture in view of its divine qualities.
It is said that whenever Luther became troubled in soul on account of the devastation of the plague, he would say -let's go sing Psalm 46.- The heart of the solace Luther must have savored from singing this psalm is reflected in the hymn he wrote based upon this psalm, -A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.- Here Luther wrote, -We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.- The spiritual strength Psalm 46 affords the believer is located precisely in what it promises- God is for His Church. This message explores how the knowledge of God's promise of protection forms the basis of the believer's confidence before calamity.
There is an evident alternation in Psalm 48 between Zion and Zion's God which raises the question about what is the dominant focus. Although the psalm frequently speaks of both, the final verse -v14- makes it clear that the focus is not upon the glory of Zion but the glory of Zion's God. This message explores the greatness of God for the benefit of the Church.
Separated by time and distance, Paul reports his prayer wish to the Thessalonians. At the top of that list was the desire to return in person that he might minister to them. The purpose of that ministry was the spiritual increase of the Thessalonians. Three categories of increase mark out Paul's aim for the believer- faith, love, and holiness. This message explores the connection between the role of the ministry and the spiritual increase of the believer.
Out of the deepest concern for the Thessalonians and their afflictions, Paul sent Timothy to bolster them in faith. Paul knew that in seasons of distress, Satan works overtime to discourage the believer and lead them into temptation and he desperately wanted to counteract it. To keep the church abounding in Christ, Paul charged Timothy to strengthen and encourage in faith and to instruct in the nature of afflictions. This message explores the divinely appointed ministry for the afflicted.
Though separated from the Thessalonians, Paul overflowed with concern for them. Several attempts to return had been thwarted by Satanic hindrance. To reassure the church, Paul not only expressed his deep desire to see them, he reinforced it by telling them that his pastoral aim was nothing less than their spiritual preparation to stand before Christ at the last day. This message explores the relationship between pastoral affection and ministry objectives.
In giving thanks for the Thessalonians, Paul pointed to the specific example of the powerful operation of the word in their lives. What stood out in the Thessalonian experience was suffering- they endured intense tribulation on account of Christ. Instead of turning from the savior, they powered forward in service and they did so through the word working mightily in them by faith. This message explores the theme of the power of Scripture in strengthening the believer to endure intense hardship.
As Paul returns to thanksgiving, he commends the Thessalonians for how they heard the word. When he came preaching, they leaned forward and listened with faith and made application of the word to their lives because they believed what they heard was from God and not from men. This message explores the theme of true hearing of the word.
Some contemporary church growth gurus argue that the shepherding manner of ministry must be exchanged for the concept of a rancher. They say that ranchers are better for church growth because they are not caught up in the fray of servant ministry- instead, they are visionaries, leaders, motivators, and change agents. But is manner of ministry really governed by pragmatic concerns or by God's appointment- This message explores the Pauline manner of ministry and demonstrates its practical application to the spiritual health of the church.
Advocates of the contemporary model of preaching argue that the impact of secularism and social media means that the traditional preaching model won't connect to 21st century audiences. To bridge that gap between preaching and the modern audience, preachers need to be funny and likable and preach practical sermons. Paul's seems to have missed that memo when he addressed pagan audiences in the 1st century because what he focused on was faithfulness, not enticing words of human wisdom. That kind of preaching, Biblical preaching, concerns itself with pleasing God and glorifying Him by proclaiming the truth with boldness and pure motives. This message focuses on the manner and substance of Paul's preaching in Thessalonica.
Conversion testimonies are of two kinds- tedious or edifying. What makes the difference between these is authenticity. True conversion stories don't have to be dramatic or spectacular- all they need to be is genuine. The story of the Thessalonian's conversion is one which stands out as remarkable for its simplicity and truth as Paul summarizes its key elements- turning to God from idols. This message explores conviction, separation, and reorientation as the main parts of the spiritual experience of true conversion.
Though the Thessalonian church was young in Christ, it was mature in faith. Paul commends these new Christians for their unyielding commitment to Christ and Scripture. In spite of intense trials, they persevered in the word with joy. Their example was so unmistakable that the testimony of their faithfulness radiated far and wide throughout the entire region and encouraged fellow Christians to the same pattern of maturity. This message explores the example and duty of persevering in the word.
Nothing gives a believer greater joy than having assurance of salvation. The Thessalonians had been shaken by bad actors who sought to challenge whether they had been saved at all. Paul took aim at their uncertainty and sought to persuade them of being chosen by God. By appealing to both objective and subjective grounds, Paul led the Thessalonians to know their election. This message explores the grounds and purpose of personal assurance of election unto grace.
As Paul addresses the saints in Thessalonica after a lengthy season of separation, he greets them in a unique and unusual way calling them -a church in God.- In speaking of them in this way, he reinforced the point that they were a true church since they were in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. To this true church, Paul wrote a letter designed to meet its ongoing spiritual needs. Three themes dominate this great book- confirmation, encouragement, and instruction. This message kicks off a sermon series on this letter providing an introduction and overview to 1 Thessalonians as a whole.
The image of the wolf has long been a literary image which invokes not only thoughts of cunning and stealth but also of fear and and danger. When Paul warned the Ephesian elders about the rise of wolves within the church, he spoke of coming spiritual attack. In view of that warning, this message explores the duty and means of careful congregational over watch as a necessary precaution against spiritual assault by fierce wolves.
With just several weeks to go before Pentecost, Paul takes a pit stop in Miletus on his way to Jerusalem. After calling for the elders from Ephesus, he took opportunity to admonish them to duty based upon his model of ministry. Two parts of Paul's ministry stand out as exemplary- his service to the Lord and his faithful preaching. The model of Paul's ministry is set forth for imitation as it represents a call to dutiful service and reverent hearing hearing of the word.
A season of fruitful ministry in Ephesus eventually came to an end as Paul desired to visit the churches of Macedonia and Greece before returning to Antioch and then Jerusalem. However, on the way to Macedonia Paul stopped at Troas to plant a church. The season of ministry there was brief but Paul left a thriving congregation behind. -After visiting the rest of the churches he returned to Troas and Luke presents us with a picture of how mature it had become. Three qualities are highlighted- Sabbath keeping, means of grace oriented, and attentiveness to the preached word.
The idolatry business was going so badly in Ephesus after 2 1-2 years of Paul's ministry that Demetrius gathered the trade unions together to protest the gospel. Spiritual transformation rather than civic uproar is the real story in Acts 19. Paul's preaching had been so effectual that it was causing economic, social, and religious change leading to the dethroning the worship of Artemis. The catalyst for this wholesale societal upheaval was a simple message- gods made without hands are no gods at all. This message explores the change in thought and life which occurs when the gospel takes up residence in a particular place.
Handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul's body were being carried away to the sick and diseases were being healed and evil spirits cast out- truly God's hand was working mightily through Paul. When Jewish exorcists decided to become rivals to Paul's ministry and cast out demons in the name of the Jesus whom Paul preached, the worldview of manipulating nature through magic was exposed as fraudulent. The contrast between divine miraculous power and the feeble power of magicians was put on full public display and caused the fear of God to fall upon the city of Ephesus. As a result, the people of God repented of their sin of continuing to practice magic and burned their books publicly. Penitence on behalf of the people of God led to the prevailing of the word. This message explores the necessary and essential spiritual conditions for the explosive growth of the word of God.
The city of Ephesus during Paul's day was the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire with hundreds of thousands of residents. It contained one of the seven wonders of the ancient world in temple of Diana whose worship commanded the religious devotion of the city's inhabitants. Paul's mission to Ephesus would be a difficult one especially without a team of helpers. In the Lord's providence twelve disciples who knew only John's baptism crossed his path and Paul spent time ministering to their spiritual needs in order that he might confirm them in faith for mission. This message explores the introductory stages of Paul's mission in Ephesus and draws out its implications for contemporary mission to cities in our day.
One way to discern what Luke intended to teach the church in this brief narrative is by taking note of the verbs- strengthen, teach, and help. In three different churches separated by hundreds of miles Luke shows us what an ordinary day in their life looked like. Each church was being cared for by Christ ordained pastors who were shepherding the saints with the word. This narrative teaches the church what it ought to be doing and the believer what to seek.
As the second missionary journey wound its way to conclusion and Paul headed for Syria, he took a vow in order to express his thankfulness for God's mercies. And of course, Paul had much to be thankful for as he reflected upon the Lord's providence during this incredibly difficult journey. Four key provisions stand out- co-laborers, divine guidance, preservation, and fruitful labors. This passage teaches the church that moments of life-transition afford opportunity to learn the lessons of providence and to return hearty thanks to the Lord for His provision.
The weight and difficulty of pursuing God's calling can sometimes leave Christians discouraged and ready to give up. Paul seems to have been in such a spot during his early ministry in Corinth. In this moment of spiritual fatigue, the Lord came to Paul and commissioned him to persevere in mission charging him with admonitions and promises. The main point of this message is that perseverance in mission is a spiritual duty sustained by divine promises.
Building a church plant from scratch is hard work, and, it is even more difficult when only one person is committed to the mission. Paul found himself alone in the big city of Corinth with no support and no family or friends, yet, he had a call from God to plant a church. The intentional strategy Paul used to build the mission work in Corinth was simple but effective- find a place to stay, find a job, and multiply coworkers. With these things in place, Paul began preaching the gospel and the Lord took care of the rest. This message shows that building a foundation for mission in an intentional way is an essential feature of successful church planting.
Paul's preaching in the market place got him into some trouble when he proclaimed Jesus and the resurrection. The philosophers thought Paul's gospel was birdseed and the idolaters thought he was preaching strange gods. As a result, Paul was dragged before the Council of the Areopagus to give an account of his preaching. Taking his stand in their midst, Paul proclaimed the Unknown God to these Greeks and concluded his sermon by calling them to repentance. This message explores Paul's critique of idolatrous false religion and idolatrous philosophical thinking.
While waiting in Athens for his companions, Paul toured the town. Instead of marveling at its storied culture, he was provoked by its gross idolatry and immediately took to the streets to challenge the city's moral corruption. The story of Paul's encounter with Athens shows that the preaching of the gospel is more than adequate to address the intellectual roots of both false religion and secular philosophy.
There is an important difference between those who are good at telling a conversion story and those who have a good conversion story. Luke tells the story of a good conversion experience in Thessalonica as he testifies to their experience of grace through the preaching of the apostle Paul. Though Paul's ministry in Thessalonica was brief, it was blessed mightily by the Lord as both Jews and Greeks, including pagans, responded to the gospel call by grace.
With moments left in town, Paul made a B line for Lydia's house and the church gathered there. In that living room, the baby converts assembled to hear one last message from the only pastor they had ever known. Paul took this opportunity to give these new disciples a crash course on the Christian life. Both gospel encouragements and ethical admonitions formed the backbone of Paul's message in order that he might leave them impressed with the hope and comfort of the gospel as well as the ethical pattern of new life in Jesus Christ. This message teaches the point that the people of God in every age need to be kept in Christ through the ministry of the word and that grace is conferred through holy admonitions -Canons of Dordt 3-4-17-
Deep in the bowels of a Philippiian prison, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to the Lord at midnight. Suddenly a quake shook the ground and busted the prison doors open and loosed the prisoner's chains. When the jailer felt and saw these things he was overcome with the fear of the Lord and desperately asked the missionaries about salvation. The missionaries preached the gospel to him and the Lord granted him faith unto salvation. Before sunrise, the Lord had vindicated His missionaries, converted a virulent opponent of the gospel, and put His servants back into the field of Christian mission.The Philippian jailer not only represents a trophy of grace but also symbolizes the fact that the kingdom of darkness will not be able to prevail over the kingdom of Christ even when it looks like the gospel in bound in chains.
Luke tells the story here of how this band of missionaries was sovereignly guided step-by-step to a riverside outside of Philippi to bring the gospel to a seller of purple named Lydia. At every point, Luke shows the sovereign hand of the Lord guiding these missionaries. The story culminates in the sovereign salvation of Lydia as the Lord opened her heart to believe the gospel. The main point of the text is that the sovereign guidance of the Lord in the pursuit of Christian mission highlights the absolute necessity of the sovereignty of God in salvation.
In the aftermath of the Jerusalem Council, the mission of the church moved forward under the apostle Paul's leadership. Once Paul perceived that wounds had been healed in the church of Antioch, he turned his focus outward toward shepherding and mission. As he launched his second missionary journey, he took along two men as co-workers, Silas and Timothy, and headed out to minister through strengthening saints in faith and building the kingdom of God.
The Westminster Confession of Faith leads Presbyterians to confess that -for the edification of the Church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods.- -31-3-. The reason such assemblies called synods edify the Church is because they determine controversies of faith and morals. The model for this kind of church assembly is set forth in Acts 15 where the Jerusalem synod met to address the theology of the Judaizers. The result of this synod is expressed in the spiritual effect of the syondical decree which is recorded in verse 32 about the response of the church of Antioch- they rejoiced because of its encouragement. This joyful response of Antioch is what synods aim at by their decisions- settled consciences.