Friday, March 30, 2012

I received this email from a good friend:
What does it exactly mean to boast in the Lord? I have a vague idea of what it means however what does it truly mean? And where in the bible does it talk about it?

Here is my answer to him:

Monday, March 26, 2012

The Bible is trustworthy. The heart of the Christian is a library that must hold, keep, & store the Word of God. It is dependable, trustworthy, powerful, effective, supernatural, and divinely given. Last night I had the privilege to preach what God has taught me this past week regarding the supernatural power and Spirit-given assurance that God's Word is truly that — God's Word.

Listen to and apply this sermon here. I feel that Spurgeon's remarks aptly conclude a discussion on the trustworthiness of Scripture:
God’s word is the soul’s manna and the soul’s water of life. How greatly we ought to prize each word of divine teaching. But, dear brethren, do you not think that many are very neglectful of God’s instructive voice? In the Bible we have precious doctrines, precious promises, precious precepts, and above all a precious Christ, and if a man would really live upon these choice things, he might rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. But how often is the Bible left unread! And so God is not heard.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Reader, trust Christ, look to Christ, cry to the Lord Jesus Christ, if you never yet believed, about your soul. If you have not the right feelings yet, ask Him to give you right feelings.  If you dare not think that you have true faith yet, ask Him to give you faith.  But in any case do not sit still.  Do not idle away your soul into hell in ignorant, unscriptural sloth.  Do not live on in senseless inactivity,—waiting for you know not what,—expecting what you cannot explain,—increasing your guilt every day,—offending God by continuing in lazy unbelief, —and hourly digging a grave for your own soul.  Arise and call upon Christ!  Awake and cry to Jesus about your soul!  Whatever difficulties there may be about believing, one thing at least is abundantly clear,—no man ever perished and went to hell from the foot of the cross.  If you can do nothing else, lie down at the foot of the cross.

— JC Ryle

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Here is a marvelous reminder from J.H. Merle D'Aubigne (Swiss pastor, 1827):

But, my brethren, if the love of God be in your hearts, and if you feel that, being bought with a price, you ought to glorify God in your bodies and spirits, which are his, where do you love to glorify him rather than in your families and in your houses? You love to unite with your brethren in worshipping him publicly in the church; you love to pour out your souls before him in your closets. Is it only in the presence of that being with whom God has connected you for life and before your children, that you can not think of God? Is it, then, only, that you have no blessings to ascribe? Is it, then, only, that you have no mercies and protection to implore? You can speak of every thing when with them; your conversation is upon a thousand different matters; but your tongue and your heart can not find room for one word about God! You will not look up as a family to him who is the true Father of your family; you will not converse with your wife and your children about that Being who will one day, perhaps, be the only husband of your wife, the only Father of your children!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

John Calvin said: "the created order is a theater of the glory of God."

Friday, March 9, 2012

Here are quotes from Steve Lawson's session on Charles Spurgeon - the Evangelistic Zeal of a Calvinist. (Forgive me for any typos — I tried to type fast while Lawson spoke.)


INTRO:
“If you’re going to be a fisherman, you must cast the line, draw the fish.”

Be committed to the sovereignty of God in salvation & have an evangelistic heart and fervor.

“The only preacher who plays with a full deck is a Calvinistic evangelist.” He is a force to be reckoned with.

CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
The “prince of preachers” - the greatest preacher the church has ever known since Paul.

He stands at the head of the list of every survey of great preachers.

If Calvin was the greatest theologian, if Edwards was greatest philosopher, and Whitefield was greatest evangelist, then SPurgeon was the greatest evangelistic pastor to occupy one pulpit over a period of time.

WHY SPURGEON???

One of the greatest preachers of the last century, if not the greatest of all time (Lloyd Jones on Spurgeon)

Spurgeon was one of the greatest evangelists England has ever seen … Spurgeon was one of the staunchest defenders of the doctrines of grace (Boice)

Spurgeon preached a full bodied gospel with … Calvinist convictions and evangelistic appeal (Al Mohler)
    --> he had the depth of Calvinism
    --> he had the breadth of evangelism
    --> WE NEED THIS

“We need depth fo reformed thinking & breadth of evangelistic zeal & fervor. When you bring them together, it’s like GAS and FIRE ---- an explosion takes place.”

He was bold, courageous, larger-then-life personality. As he stood in the pulpit, he roared like a lion.

Spurgeon was in ONE pulpit for 38 years and thousands came to faith in Christ.

HIS LIFE…

HIS AUTHORITY.
His foundation was built on the authority of God’s Word.

He was personification of sola scriptura.

One ounce of what God has to say is worth more than 40 tons of what man has to say (Steve Lawson paraphrasing Spurgeon)

“I believe nothing because Calvin taught it but because we find his teaching in the Word of God.”

“I am content to be a mere repeater of Scripture. If it’s new it’s not true.”

“Great men help us to understand the truth. But we believe what we believe because we can put a finger on chapter and verse.”

WHAT WAS SPURGEON’S CALVINISM (sovereignty of God in salvation):
The old truth that Calvin preached … must thunder through England again.

Sovereignty of God in Salvation
1, TOTAL DEPRAVITY
The totality of our humanity is tainted by sin and corrupted by sin. Every inch and every ounce as born in Adam’s fallen race. We are all under the plague of sin.

Our mind, heart, and will is under dominion of sin.

Every son and daughter of Adam’s race has moral inability. No one can come to God nor believe in Christ.

2. UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
Election is written with an iron pen. It is forever etched in God’s Word.

Spurgeon championed the doctrine of God’s sovereign choice of whom he would save before time began.

3, DEFINITE ATONEMENT/PARTICULAR REDEMPTION
Every person for whom Christ died must beyond a shadow of a doubt be cleansed from sin and be washed in the blood before the Father’s throne.

He believed in actual atonement.

4. IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
A man is not saved against his will; but he is made willing by the operation of the Holy Ghost.

A mighty grace which he does not wish to reisst enters into the man, disarms him, makes him a new creature and he is saved.

The holy Spirit triumphs in the hearts of all those whom the Father has chosen.

By the power of his effectual grace, He said “I must I will come I” and then he turned my heart, and made me love him”

5. PRESERVING GRACE
I could not keep myself, but if Christ promised to keep me then I’d be safe forever.

God would save me forever --- that is sovereign grace” (Lawson)

SERMON: text: Matt 8:11 - many shall come from the East & West…
In this sermon, Spurgeon drew focus on the word shall ---- many shall…

The gospel does not ask for your consent, it gives it.”

“It does not say: “will you have it” but it makes you willing in the day of GOd’s power.”

Christ says: “You shall be saved.”

“Oh the evangelistic power of preaching the DOCTRINES OF GRACE” (Lawson)

Pride must be crushed in order for sinners to come to faith in Christ.

For God to put something in the Bible and you NOT proclaim it is nothing but POPERY (what the Catholic church does).

“It claims elitism with Rome, the Pope & Cardinals. To withhold the preaching of the doctrines of predestination & election is nothing more than Roman Catholicism in the Evangelical Church”

“If you think something in the Book is not fit, then go complain to God, … not men.” (Spurgeon)

If we are going to have REVIVAL, then we MUST dust off the old doctrines and preach them under the power of the Holy Spirit of God (Lawson)

SPURGEON’S EVANGELISM
Not only did God appoint the end, but the means to that end. God has ordained gospel preaching and prayer for lost souls & holy living and personal witnessing & its not either or (w/ election) but BOTH and.

Spurgeon had one model in the ministry == GEORGE WHITEFIELD

Whitefield was my own model (Spurgeon).

SERMONS:
Nov 13, 1864 - John 6.37 - “All that the Father has given shall come to me.”

Luke 14:23 - “Go out into the highways & hedges & compel them to come in”   TITLE:  Compel them to come in

“It is not enough merely to present the gospel; it’s not enough merely to tell people about the gospel. We must plead with them, we must persuade them, reason with them, urge them, compel them to come in.”

Too many of us who hold to Reformed truth are too proud to beg with sinners to repent.” (Lawson)

I compel you to come (here is Spurgeon’s OUTLINE):
I invite you to come
I command you to come
I exhort you to come
I reason with you to come
I entreat you to come
I threaten you to come
I weep for you to come
I pray for you to come.


2 Cor 6.2 - “Behold now is the accepted time”    TITLE: “NOW”

SPURGEON’S BOLDNESS
Come on fire for God and people will come and see you burn (Spurgeon)

Preach the gospel; the gates of hell shake. … it is the Master’s mandate (Spurgeon)

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Here are some quotes from Montoya's seminar at the Shepherd's Conference yesterday on PREACHING WITH PASSION: (sorry for the misspellings — I was typing quickly as he spoke.)

Preaching is not an end in of itself; preaching is the declaration of God’s Word to mankind that man might repent of his sin & come to saving faith.

Preaching is the finest way that we can present every man complete in Christ.

“For us to preach or teach a boring sermon is a great sin.”

“We are entrusted with the oracles of God --- it is an exciting book.”

“Normally when people don’t like your preaching they don’t write you poems, they send white powder in little envelopes.”

“Preach God’s WOrd effectively; preach it in such a way that what you say is important but how you say it is important.”

“Preach the Word of God that it comes across with great passion, with great energy, with great fire.”

“Witohut passion, the sermon becomes a lecture or a moral speech.”

A dull minister creates a dull audience. A dull preacher is a contradiction in terms.

“Come to God as a clean preacher and not an unclean preacher.”

You may be a cracked vase, but may you be the cleanest vase in the cabinet.

Preaching with passion comes from one who has communion with God.

“Spiritual power comes when you know God has called & commissioned you.”

Preach a text that keeps you awake Saturday night. It keeps you awake & you can’t sleep.

“If you love your people you cannot ever preach a bad sermon.”

“Don’t be so deep and in a deep well that there’s nothing down there but an old shoe & a dead cat.”

What we need today is preachers in pulpits who preach with authority. Not giving suggestions, opinions, not making some remark, but every time you declare God’s Word say “Thus says the LORD.”

We’re killing our church b/c our preachers can’t preach, they don’t bother to think and improve at preaching.

Preaching is delivering truth with deep urgency.

Preachers must become gospel maniacs; and we must be captivated and recaptivated by Christ.

Always think of Judgement. Think of the judgment of sin. Sin is the enemy of God and of the soul. It is a ruthless enemy. And it needs to be assaulted by preachers.

“Preach towards a verdict. Call men to a verdict. You must do something about this message. We must persuade men.”

If you preach apathetic sermons then you’ll preach with no effect.

“If you don’t preach expecting change then people won’t change.”

“Take your life and pour the truth on you and when you preach preach with great passion and fire to the glory of God.”

Sunday, March 4, 2012

On Sunday evenings after our worship service, you are most welcome to drop by our home for a time of coffee, fellowship, & discussion about Christ Fellowship Bible Church.

If there are any questions you have about CFBC feel free to bring them. We would also love to hear your testimony, how you heard about CFBC, and what God is doing in your life.

For more info, contact us through the CFBC website.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

This upcoming week the SHEPHERD'S CONFERENCE will be live-streamed so you can watch the general sessions online. Here is the schedule (all times are PST).


March 7-9, 2012.  Click HERE for the Live-Stream link.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012




8:00 amRegistration
10:00 amGeneral Session 1 - John MacArthur
11:30 amLunch*
1:30 pmSeminar Session 1 Details
2:45 pmBreak
3:15 pmGeneral Session 2 - Tom Pennington
4:30 pmDinner Break
7:00 pmGeneral Session 3 - John MacArthur

Thursday, March 8, 2012

9:00 amGeneral Session 4 - Voddie Baucham
10:15 amBreak
10:45 amGeneral Session 5 - John MacArthur Q&A
NoonLunch*
2:00 pmSeminar Session 2 Details
3:15 pmBreak
3:45 pmSeminar Session 3 Details
5:00 pmDinner Break
7:00 pmGeneral Session 6 - Al Mohler

Friday, March 9, 2012

9:00 amGeneral Session 7 - Phil Johnson
10:15 amBreak
10:45 amSeminar Session 4 Details
NoonLunch*
2:00 pmGeneral Session 8 - Steve Lawson
4:00 pmDinner Break
7:00 pmGeneral Session 9 - John MacArthur

Subscribe to RSS Feed Follow me on Twitter!