Greetings Brothers,
9Marks Journal is always an informative and doctrinally conservative read. May I kindly recommend that you read through this issue and then do yoursel a favor by registering with their site to receieve future issues.
The people you lead will be glad you did.
For the Kings Honor!
rgh
http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/hell-remembering-awful-reality
Hell: Remembering the Awful Reality
By Jonathan Leeman
There’s Something Worse than Death
By Kevin DeYoung
The doctrine of hell is ballast for our ministries, which will help us sail straight toward our most urgent task: proclaiming the gospel.
Why Hell Is Integral to the Gospel
By Greg Gilbert
Some think that by minimizing or ignoring hell, they are making God more glorious and more loving. Far from it! The horror of what we have been saved from only intensifies the glory and wonder of our salvation.
What Then Shall We Preach on Hell?
By Sinclair Ferguson
Hell is an awful and overwhelming reality. Yet where Scripture speaks, pastors must not be silent. Here’s some practical help for this demanding calling.
http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/hell-remembering-awful-reality
Monday, September 27, 2010
93 Year Old Minister
Brothers,
This story was sent to me today and ministered grace. What will we say after 50 years of ministry life in the Kingdom.
rgh
While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me...the only thing that would comfort was this verse........ .....
"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so."
The old pastor stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose
the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during
a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they
knew it the best."
Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may
He'll be there to lead the way.
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
Have no fear, for I am near."
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
This story was sent to me today and ministered grace. What will we say after 50 years of ministry life in the Kingdom.
rgh
While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me...the only thing that would comfort was this verse........ .....
"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so."
The old pastor stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose
the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during
a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they
knew it the best."
Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may
He'll be there to lead the way.
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
Have no fear, for I am near."
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Largest and Fastest Growing Churches In America
"In conjunction with LifeWay Research, Outreach Magazine has published its annual issue charting the 100 largest and fastest growing churches in America.
Looking at attendance figures from February and March this year research showed that attendance was up by over 75,000 between the 8,000 churches with supplied data.
Texas has the most churches on the list of fastest growers with fourteen.. Florida and Illinois each have with California at seven plus Georgia and Tennessee both with six
.
The youngest church on the Fastest-Growing list is second-ranked Experience Life of Lubbock, Texas, which opened in 2007.
The oldest church is 78th-ranked Mountain Christian Church of Joppa, Md., founded in 1824."
Top 5 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
1. 12Stone Church, Lawrenceville, Ga., Kevin Myers (30 percent, +2,226)
2. Experience Life Church, Lubbock, Texas, Chris Galanos (60 percent, +1,061)
3. The Rock Church and World Outreach Center, San Bernardino, Calif., Jim Cobrae (25 percent, +2,646)
4. People’s Church, Oklahoma City, Okla., Herbert Cooper (58 percent, +1,085)
5. Faith Church of St. Louis, Fenton, Mo., David Crank (36 percent, +1,200)
Top 5 Largest U.S. Churches
1. Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas, Joel Osteen, (43,500)
2. North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Ga., Andy Stanley (24,325)
3. Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, Ed Young Sr. (24,041)
4. Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Ill., Bill Hybels (24,000)
5. Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky., Dave Stone (19,230)
http://www.outreachmagazine.com/magazine/recent-issues/3762-The-2010-Outreach-100.html
http://www.everydaychristian.com/news/weblink/8351
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looking at attendance figures from February and March this year research showed that attendance was up by over 75,000 between the 8,000 churches with supplied data.
Texas has the most churches on the list of fastest growers with fourteen.. Florida and Illinois each have with California at seven plus Georgia and Tennessee both with six
.
The youngest church on the Fastest-Growing list is second-ranked Experience Life of Lubbock, Texas, which opened in 2007.
The oldest church is 78th-ranked Mountain Christian Church of Joppa, Md., founded in 1824."
Top 5 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
1. 12Stone Church, Lawrenceville, Ga., Kevin Myers (30 percent, +2,226)
2. Experience Life Church, Lubbock, Texas, Chris Galanos (60 percent, +1,061)
3. The Rock Church and World Outreach Center, San Bernardino, Calif., Jim Cobrae (25 percent, +2,646)
4. People’s Church, Oklahoma City, Okla., Herbert Cooper (58 percent, +1,085)
5. Faith Church of St. Louis, Fenton, Mo., David Crank (36 percent, +1,200)
Top 5 Largest U.S. Churches
1. Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas, Joel Osteen, (43,500)
2. North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Ga., Andy Stanley (24,325)
3. Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, Ed Young Sr. (24,041)
4. Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Ill., Bill Hybels (24,000)
5. Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky., Dave Stone (19,230)
http://www.outreachmagazine.com/magazine/recent-issues/3762-The-2010-Outreach-100.html
http://www.everydaychristian.com/news/weblink/8351
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, September 13, 2010
Ordinary Time?
"There are actually two intervals of Ordinary Time within the Christian church year. The first interval begins after Epiphany (the arrival of the wise men to the birthplace of Jesus) and continues until Lent (the forty days leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus). The second interval of Ordinary Time begins at the conclusion of Pentecost (the coming of the Holy Spirit) and continues until Advent (the coming of the Christ child). We are currently living within this second interlude of Ordinary Time, waiting for the approach of Advent. But this is hardly the Church's way of saying the day before us is ordinary.
Far from announcing days that are commonplace or mundane, Ordinary Time is a season of anticipated living. The term actually comes from the word "ordinal," which means that it is time "counted" or "numbered." Though the Church's festive banners may have come down after the celebrations of Easter and Pentecost have ended, the startling realities of life under the banners of a resurrected King and the presence of a Holy Comforter have begun. The Christian, the church reminds the world, lives expectantly between the power of the resurrection and the assurance that Christ will come again—as a babe in a manger, as Christ the King.
Though Jewish feasts and holy days were a major part of the lives of Jesus and his disciples, the same was true for them as it is for the church: the majority of their time together was the time between holy days. Yet far from being described as the lull between holidays, the disciples' "ordinary time" was spent healing and feeding crowds, proclaiming the kingdom, raising the dead, and learning at the feet of the Son of God. More often than not, they were genuinely surprised by the one in their midst, no matter how ordinary the day. In the everyday lives of Christ's followers today there is a similar expectant quality within each moment. It is time counted; time that matters."
Ravi Zacharias Ministries
A Slice of Infinity
http://www.rzim.org/resources/read/asliceofinfinity.aspx
Far from announcing days that are commonplace or mundane, Ordinary Time is a season of anticipated living. The term actually comes from the word "ordinal," which means that it is time "counted" or "numbered." Though the Church's festive banners may have come down after the celebrations of Easter and Pentecost have ended, the startling realities of life under the banners of a resurrected King and the presence of a Holy Comforter have begun. The Christian, the church reminds the world, lives expectantly between the power of the resurrection and the assurance that Christ will come again—as a babe in a manger, as Christ the King.
Though Jewish feasts and holy days were a major part of the lives of Jesus and his disciples, the same was true for them as it is for the church: the majority of their time together was the time between holy days. Yet far from being described as the lull between holidays, the disciples' "ordinary time" was spent healing and feeding crowds, proclaiming the kingdom, raising the dead, and learning at the feet of the Son of God. More often than not, they were genuinely surprised by the one in their midst, no matter how ordinary the day. In the everyday lives of Christ's followers today there is a similar expectant quality within each moment. It is time counted; time that matters."
Ravi Zacharias Ministries
A Slice of Infinity
http://www.rzim.org/resources/read/asliceofinfinity.aspx
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Excellent Quotes
“Tradition is the fruit of the Spirit’s teaching activity from the ages as God’s people have sought understanding of Scripture. It is not infallible, but neither is it negligible, and we impoverish ourselves if we disregard it.”
—J.I. Packer, “Upholding the Unity of Scripture Today,” JETS 25 (1982): 414
“The best way to guard a true interpretation of Scripture, the Reformers insisted, was neither to naively embrace the infallibility of tradition, or the infallibility of the individual, but to recognize the communal interpretation of Scripture. The best way to ensure faithfulness to the text is to read it together, not only with the churches of our own time and place, but with the wider ‘communion of saints’ down through the age.”
—Michael Horton, “What Still Keeps Us Apart?”
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/09/10/just-me-and-my-bible-is-unbiblical
—J.I. Packer, “Upholding the Unity of Scripture Today,” JETS 25 (1982): 414
“The best way to guard a true interpretation of Scripture, the Reformers insisted, was neither to naively embrace the infallibility of tradition, or the infallibility of the individual, but to recognize the communal interpretation of Scripture. The best way to ensure faithfulness to the text is to read it together, not only with the churches of our own time and place, but with the wider ‘communion of saints’ down through the age.”
—Michael Horton, “What Still Keeps Us Apart?”
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/09/10/just-me-and-my-bible-is-unbiblical
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A Template For Personal Prayer When Being Malciously Attacked
Psalm 7:1-11 is a great template for prayer when compromised men set themselves against us. The Psalmist maintains personal integrity by inviting divine scrutiny.
O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge;
Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
Or he will tear my soul like a lion,
Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.
O LORD my God, if I have done this,
If there is injustice in my hands,
If I have rewarded evil to my friend,
Or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary,
Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it;
And let him trample my life down to the ground
And lay my glory in the dust.
Selah!
Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries,
And arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment.
Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You,
And over them return on high.
The LORD judges the peoples;
Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.
O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.
O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge;
Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
Or he will tear my soul like a lion,
Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.
O LORD my God, if I have done this,
If there is injustice in my hands,
If I have rewarded evil to my friend,
Or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary,
Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it;
And let him trample my life down to the ground
And lay my glory in the dust.
Selah!
Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries,
And arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment.
Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You,
And over them return on high.
The LORD judges the peoples;
Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.
O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Jack Hayford: Making Integrity a Reality
All of us have been saddened to watch close friends and fellow ministers sell their spiritual birthright by sacrificing integrity for a morsel of momentary gain.
Jack Hayford has a great article in Charisma on the subject. Please check it out. Here is an except from Strang publication. Awesome!
rgh
"A heart of integrity is the birthright of the newborn believer. But like Esau's, it can be traded off by choices that indulge the world's or the flesh's immediate demands rather than respecting the worth of God's promise to give us lifelong, abiding blessing. It rises from in the life of a redeemed soul that chooses to learn and live in the fear of God; a life in Christ removed from condemnation and yielded to Him."
http://www.strangmail.com/sendstudio/display.php?M=506760&C=67858c8abc3d73a4945c573f8d0ee781&S=11052&L=9&N=7616
Jack Hayford has a great article in Charisma on the subject. Please check it out. Here is an except from Strang publication. Awesome!
rgh
"A heart of integrity is the birthright of the newborn believer. But like Esau's, it can be traded off by choices that indulge the world's or the flesh's immediate demands rather than respecting the worth of God's promise to give us lifelong, abiding blessing. It rises from in the life of a redeemed soul that chooses to learn and live in the fear of God; a life in Christ removed from condemnation and yielded to Him."
http://www.strangmail.com/sendstudio/display.php?M=506760&C=67858c8abc3d73a4945c573f8d0ee781&S=11052&L=9&N=7616
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