Westminster Evangelistic Ministries: Recent Episodes
God is your savior thru Jesus Christ -Jude 25a-. And you need God as your Savior -Context-. This God keeps you from stumbling -Jude 24a-. He will present you blameless before His glory -Jude 24b-. Then, you will marvel at His majesty -Jude 25b-. And you will do so forever and ever -Jude 25c-.
From the first four verses of Jude, here is Jude's purpose for writing. Prove your calling and maintain your confession by studying our common salvation and contending for the faith once for all time delivered the saints. More simply- Constantly review the content of your faith and always be ready to fight for it.
Ezekiel is in the -Vally of Dry Bones.- Jonathan Edwards- -God in His eternal decree has connected salvation with the means of salvation.- William Greenhill- -We must use means, and look to God to be all in all in them.- WSC- -The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer- all of which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.-
The Jewish opposition to Jesus and Pilate's interaction with the the Savior give us an opportunity to behold our King as He condescends to save us from the degradation of our sin.
This message reviews Titus and applies Paul's main message to Titus, to you, and to me.
As a Christian, because God Himself is at work in you, you ought to work out the implications of your salvation.
While God called Moses up to Mount Sinai, God calls you and me to come to Mount Zion, a metaphor for the church, where He meets with us, reveals Himself to us, and renews His covenant with us. So, the invitation is, -Come to Zion.-
Christianity demands change. Christ affects change. He does so by revealing Himself to us. Since this is the case, we can rightly pray, Lord Jesus, show us your life-changing glory.- Moses' plea undergirds our plea.
The true Christian distinctives are not primarily your doctrinal stance, your position on the Bible, your gospel proclamation, your regularly Bible reading, or your prayer life. True Christian distinctives do not center on what you do. What separates you from all other individuals and churches is the presence of Christ.
Since messages are prepared for specific times and places, the practice sessions are never quite the same as the real thing. Nevertheless, because several folks have asked, here is a recording of a rerun giving the content actually presented at my 55th class memorial service including the personal testimony of my conversion.
Isaiah's call was not easy. It was to preach and bring about the hardening leading to judgment. Even so, Isaiah is told that His work will be3 fulfilled in Christ. His task was to always follow Christ's calling
-Whenever anybody starts talking about the principles of Christianity, you ought to be nervous. Christianity is, in the first place, not about principles- it-s about a person. And when you move away from the person to principles, you are probably betraying the faith- -Robert Godfrey, Chairman of Ligonier Ministries-.
We are not unlike the great Apostle Paul in several respects. If we are Christians, we have been surprised by glory, we have been pressed into the service of Jesus Christ, and part of our purpose is to testify to both small and great.
Like the Apostle Paul, you too, having been converted to faith in Christ, are pressed into His service. you and I must grasp this reality and rejoice in it.
Note how Paul's change of life, and yours, involves an encounter with the glory of Christ, resulting in conviction, wrestling with God in prayer, actual conversion, baptism, and membership in a local body of Christ. In all of this, Paul was, and all Christians are, surprised by Glory.
While pity parties promote self-centeredness, they also undermine endurance and perseverance. A change of focus is needed, off of self and upon the great things God is doing through Jesus Christ.
How can you sing the Lord's song in this fallen, sinful world- Psalm 137 gives you your answer- Remember heaven- contemplate hell- center on Christ.
You sing about Jesus when you sing the Psalms. Psalm 100 exhorts you to worship Jesus Christ your creator and redeemer.
As Christians, we have two great reasons to persevere in the faith- -1- Those who draw back from Christ face certain judgment, and -2- Those who do persevere will receive final blessing.
God calls His people to assemble together to draw near to Him in faith, to hold fast the confession of their hope, and to encourage one another to love.
In this second Q-A session week take a look at the fact that each of us should live before God with a good conscience informed by Scripture. The attached pdf gives white board information.
Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath giving him a taste of the healing rest of heaven. You and I must trust Christ to give us the healing rest of heaven.
After a short review of the ten lessons on this series, we took questions, wrote them on the white board, and began to attempt to answer. See the attached pdf for the review outline and the questions asked by the class.
Acts 11-19-26 shows how converts become disciples and are doers of the Word recognized as Christians.
Does Psalm 150 exhort us to accompany our singing with musical instruments- Perhaps the Psalm encourages the Old Testament saints to sing and give praise with the sounding of the sounding of the instruments in the temple worship- Listen and learn.
The hope of the Gospel is signified and portrayed in baptism with the washing of water and baptism is not fulfilled until we reach heaven and we are fully cleaned forever from all of our sin.
The pattern for our worship comes from the Temple -2 Cor. 6-16- rather than from Old Testament celebrations like the one led by Miriam -Exodus 15-20-. The former is guided and directed from heaven. The latter is conditioned by the culture. Our worship should connect us more closely to heaven rather than the culture around us.
Moses' trumpets, which were blown over the sacrifices, and David's, accompanying the Levitical choirs, harps point forward to Gospel preaching and Spirit filled singing, respectively. See Isaiah 58-1, Revelation 1-10, 4-1- along with Revelation 5-8-10, 14-1-3.
Hebrews shows you the inadequacy of the old system -1-4-. And so, Christ comes and lives out Psalm 40 -5-7-. He shows you His sufficiency by replacing the inadequate old system and sanctifying you -8-10-. Completing His work, Christ sits down as your King -11-14-. As your King, He writes His Law in your heart -15-16-. He also forgives you and reminds you that there is no need for any other sacrifice for sin -17-18-. Know the sufficient Christ.
This lesson seeks to show in part, the long OT history of Psalmody in Israel leading up to Paul-s statement in Colossians 3-16 along with why -psalms and hymns and songs- refer to the Old Testament Psalter.
Christ's blood settles God's dispute with you and makes you God's heir -verses 15-17-. Even the first covenant required blood for cleansing and forgiveness -verses 18-22-. Christ entered heaven on your behalf based on His blood -verses 23-24-. And so, Christ put away sin once for all at the end of the ages -verses 25-26-. Now He prepares to come a second time for ultimate salvation -verses 27-28-. Eagerly await Him -verse 28-.
Does Colossians 3-16 command Psalmody- No way, you say. But perhaps the text really does. Listen and see.
Where do we get the various elements of worship- This lesson shows how dome of them come from the synagogue and some of them come from the temple. Remember, -We are the temple of the living God- -1 Cor. 6-16-.
As the Apostle Paul teaches us, -We are the temple of the living God- Since this is the case, public worship is an entrance into the special gracious presence of God. We enter His presence in an orderly way. For this reason, we follow an orderly process for entering God's presence. We have an order of worship.
There are God mandated changes in worship over the course of the biblical history. Men and women are responsible to maintain the standards of worship ordained by God in the era in which they live. The attached pdf outlines the Biblical Transitions in worship.
Change is hard. Early Hebrew converts experienced this difficulty and many turned back to their old traditions and away from Christ. They failed to embrace the changes that lead to Christ. The text outlines these changes and exhorts us to embrace them.
The church gathered for worship is the special dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Therefore, worship is a special meeting with and encounter with God.
Which principle do we follow- This one- In worship, whatever is not commanded is forbidden- Ot this one- In worship whatever is not forbidden is permitted-
The Old Testament tabernacle, temple, and sacrifices were meant to lead men and women to Christ. But the ancient people looked at the temple and the sacrifices as ends in themselves. They missed Christ. A similarly, we can cling to the outward means of daily devotions, church attendance, etc. and fail to cling to Christ.
This text, like many others, gives you the opportunity to glimpse the life changing greatness of Jesus Christ
This exposition of Psalm 100 shows how an understanding of Hebrew poetic structure leads to proper meaning and appropriate application.
This final conference lesson reviews the benefits believers receive as a result of the redemption accomplished by Christ and personally applied by the Holy Spirit. We cover WSC 34-38. The attached pdf is the handout for this lesson.
The Catechism Sermon for Wednesday Evening Conference Worship- Question 28- Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation---Answer- Christ's exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.
WSC 29-33 outlines the Grace of God in applying the salvation accomplished by Christ to us individually by the power of the Holy Spirit. The handout for this lesson is the attached pdf.
WSC 20-24 shows forth God's glory in how He sovereignly accomplishes the redemption of His elect people. See the attached pdf for the hand for this lesson.
Shorter Catechism questions and answers 14-19 display -The Glory of God in Sin and the Fall,- under the category of -God's Good Providence.- The handout for this lesson is the attached pdf.
Shorter Catechism Questions and Answers relate -God's Glory in the Good News of His Providential Care of Us.- The handout for this lesson is the attached pdf.
In Shorter Catechism answers 7-10 see the glory of God in the Good News that God is our creator. The handout for this lesson is the attached pdf.
We undertake a review of WSC 1-38 beginning with the glory of God in the Good News of Who He Is -WSC 1-6-. The handout for this lesson is the pdf to this page.
This lesson is the Sunday Morning Conference Sermon. Question 27- Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist---Answer- Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross- in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.
Body language will either support your sermon or detract from your sermon. How people receive the information impaired in your sermon is determined in large measure by how this information is imparted. Body language matters.
My sermon preparation procedure can lead you to preaching with fewer notes or extemporaneous preaching. This type of preaching is not impromptu speaking but means doing your study, having a good plan and outline, knowing your outline, not getting bogged down in the details, and practice, practice, practice.
This lesson ties together previous lessons to show how the progressive outline puts sermon details into perspective with a proper introduction and conclusion to lead congregation members into an active response to the main sermon point.
Introductions should be prepared last, command attention, uncover need, bond with the text, introduce the body of the sermon and not just the first point, and state the sermon point.
Now we take a brief look at four types of conclusion- Summary, Exhortation, Direct Application, and Appeal. We look at what they are and how to use them.
Sermon conclusions should clinch the sermon point with proper emotion, accentuate the positive, use the personal -you,- be clear, end the sermon with strength, and restate the sermon point all in ten percent of sermon time.
Setting context for the sermon text within your sermon is part of the process of explanation. However, we do not need to spend as much time setting context as we often suppose. The time you spend on context also depends upon the text itself, some require more some require less. I give three examples of how I handle the context for Hebrews 7-1-3, Mark 8-22-26, and Mark 5-2-20.
In explaining pieces of a text in a sermon, you must limit your explanation to what is necessary for the congregation to understand the text and to carry you forward to make the central point of your sermon. It is impossible to go into everything you have learned about a text in your study of the text. You must be disciplined-
Two sermon details are application and transition. This lesson gives examples of both using Psalm 110. Although exposition involves explanation, preaching requires application.
Oral presentations differ from written presentations. Oral presentations are episodic. Listeners hear oral presentations as a series of episodes. Sequential outlines are best suited to how listeners actually hear a sermon.
This lesson discusses how to frame, relate, and connect illustrative material to explanations and the point being made within a sermon. An example of Calvin from Acts 2-40 highlights the presentation. See chapter 12 of my book, -So Pastor, What's Your Point--
This lesson illustrates the use of explanation, illustration, application, and transition, sermon details, within the first point of my sermon on Psalm 110. Listen to the complete sermon under the title -Freely Serve Jesus Christ Your Priest and King.-
Sermon details for each point, part, or move of your sermon outline are explanation, illustration, application, and transition. These details are tailored to the sermon outline and must not govern the sermon.
A traditional outline is a series of topics derived from the text, each topic pointing back to a central topic, idea, or question. Such outlines usually fail to achieve either unity of purpose or sense of progress and movement within a sermon.
The best way to work toward and preserve unity and progress within your sermon is to develop a sequential outline leading the congregation into an active understanding of your sermon point.
So that our sermons have unity of purpose and progress toward a single end, we must determine the main point of our text and then formulate a sermon point applying the text. This lesson uses Psalm 110 as an example finding the point of a text and deriving the sermon point.
Determine your sermon point by applying the main point of the text to the congregation. Expository preaching involves both explaining and applying texts of Scripture. -Without explanation, it is not expository- without application is is not preaching- -T. H. L. Parker-.
Every text has one main point. Sermons apply the main point of their sermon texts. And so, every sermon should have one main point. Homileticians and good preachers agree, as I seek to show in my preaching book, So Pastor, What's Your Point-
Every text of Scripture has one main point. Yes, there are sub-points and ancillary point. However, a good preaching text has one main point. Determining this point gives you a lens through which you can properly view all the details of the text.
In studying your text, determine the overall structure of your text whether a poem, a narrative , or piece of an epistle. Structure helps understand meaning.
When selecting your text for an expository sermon, find the complete thought or argument expressed by a text. I use Romans 4-1-8 as an example.
In selecting your text, know the type of sermon you are going to preach, topical, textual, or expository.
This lesson gives a summary of my basic approach to Sermon Preparation. The details of this approach are given in my book, -So Pastor, What's Your Point--
Genesis 14-17-20 introduces Melchizedek. Hebrews 7-1-10 unfolds this passage and show us that this Melchizedek is greater than Abraham, points to Jesus Christ as the greatest of all, and calls us all to see Jesus for who He is, the divine Son of God.
David predicts a Priest coming from the family of Kings -Psalm 110-4-. This Kingly-Priest is your Lord- He affects a change in the law -Verses 11-14-. Since His life is indestructible, your Kingly-Priest also abrogates the law -Verses 15-18-. And so, your Kingly-Priest ushers in a better hope -Verse 19-. With God's oath, your Kingly-Priest also ushers in a better covenant -Verses 20-22-. As a result, your Kingly-Priest forever saves and prays for you -Verses 23-25-. Behold your Kingly-Priest who saves you and prays for you.
The Father appointed Jesus Christ as your King -Verse 1-. Your King accomplishes all the Father's purposes -Verses 5-7-. Your King does so by ruling over all the nations -Verse 2-. The Father also appoints your King as your Great High Priest -Verse 4-. The result is that Jesus Christ made you His own -Verse 3-. Serve Jesus Christ, your Great Priest and King.
Paul concludes his argument for the priority of love as the preeminent evidence for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our loves, This final lesson in the series explores very 13, -So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three- but the greatest of these is love.-
The contrast between the two different words for -now- used by Paul confirms our thesis that the -perfect- to which he refers in verse 10 is the complete and perfect Word of God. -Now- -verse 13- tongues have ceased to be a standard evidence of the Holy Spirit and love abides as this standard.
God's promise to Abraham is the Gospel -Verse 13, Gal. 3-8-. Trusting God and sacrificing Isaac, God confirmed the Gospel Promise with an oath -verse 14-15, Heb. 11-17-19-. Imagine, the unchangeable God, makes you and unchangeable promise, and then swears an oath as to its validity -verses 16-18a-. As a result, you and I have strong encouragement to cling to the hope of the Gospel -verse 18b-. This hope is an anchor in heaven for your soul -verse 19-. And it is Jesus, your High Priest, who anchors you in heaven -verse 20-. Trust Jesus Christ, who anchors your soul in heaven.
First Corinthians 13-12 seems to contradict the ideal that the -perfect- of verse 8 refers to the complete and perfect word of God. However, because we always remain creatures, even in heaven, we will never -know fully- or have the full and complete knowledge, which only God can have. To know fully means to know more exactly. See the pdf handout.
When the Word of God is perfect and complete and the canon is closed, tongues cease as the normative sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Love is now the normative sign. We now see the face of Christ in Scripture. Thus Paul validates his thesis regarding the priority of love.
After recognizing the priority of Christ's priesthood -5-11-, Hebrews issues a warning not to remain infants -5-12-14-, gives an exhortation to press on to maturity -6-1-4-, issued a second warning about the consequences of falling back -6-4-8-, and then offers words consolation -6-9-12- with the encouragement to pursue Jesus Christ our great high priest.
Question 58- What is required in the fourth commandment---Answer- The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his word- expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy sabbath to himself.----Question 59- Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath---Answer- From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath- and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath.
Question 57- Which is the fourth commandment---Answer- The fourth commandment is, -Remember the sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work- but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God- in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates- For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day- wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.-
God's eternal Son, Jesus Christ, is your great High Priest -4-14-15, 5-5-. The priesthood of Aaron foreshadowed Him -5-1-4-. God appointed Him to the order of Melchizedek -5-5-6, 10-. As God's Priest, He learned obedience by suffering -5-7-8-. Thus He became the source of your salvation -5-9-. Therefore, He is the ground for your confidence and confession -4-14 and 16-. Stand in awe of the High Priest of your confession and your confidence.
The special gifts of tongues, knowledge, and prophecy cease as normative signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit when we have the complex and perfect Word of God. Love and defined and described in Scripture is now the normative sign of the presence the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.
The power of God's love -Ezekiel 36-26-27- undergirds the conduct of God's love -1 John 3-5-, which has a particular character -1 Corinthians 13-4-8-.
When we align the definition of love -1 John 5-3- with the description of love -1 Corinthians 3-4-7- we learn that love not only involves following commandments but also how we carry out these commandments. For example, we must tell the truth with kindness and patience. See the attached PDF outline.
Paul gives us a description of the love, which is the best evidence the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Check the attached pdf outline.
Love is the best evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Christian's life, better than tongues, knowledge, prophecy, or any other special gift. In fact, individuals may have special gifts like Saul, Balaam, and Judas and not be born again. Check out the attached PDF outline.
What is the best evidence for the presence the Holy Spirit in the midst of God's people and in the lives of Christians- Is it tongues, prophecy, or special knowledge- Paul argues that the best evidence is love. First Corinthians 13 is the center of and -crucial interlude- -Fee, 2014, 693- in Paul's argument in chapters 12-14, which give us the context for our study.
One of God's great objectives in public corporate worship is to assure us that we belong to Him, to welcome us into His gracious presence, and to remind us that we are His son's ad daughters. Worship becomes God's weekly assurance.
Because Jesus Christ is the promised Child of Isaiah 9-6-7, He withdrew to Galilee and settled in Capernaum -Matthew 4-12-13- to began His Galilean preaching ministry -Matthew 4-17-, and to bring light into the darkness of this world -Isaiah 9-1-2- Matthew 4-14-16-.
Being anointed by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel as God's great Prophet- Jesus is led into the wilderness as the Second Adam, to begin a time of temptation and testing in which He lovingly keeps covenant with His Father for people like you and me and is obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
How does Jesus Christ fulfill Jeremiah 31-15 as indicated by Matthew 2-16-18- It is not a prediction. Listen and learn.
Evangelism involves getting out into the community and having the discernment to find people who are distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd.
The apostle Paul gives us a pattern for the defense of your hope. It should include a short introduction, a few words about your former life, a rehearsal of what Christ did for you, and a statement concerning your hope.