Hyper Calvinism

Contemporary critics of Calvinism often attack the doctrines of grace by erroneously identifying them with “hyper-Calvinism.” Phil Johnson gets it right and by doing so, demonstartes that hyper-calvinisn should never be confused with Calvinism and to do so is  intellectually dis-honest.

rgh


Phil Johnson has a helpful primer on the subject, offering a fivefold definition:

... varieties of hyper-Calvinism, listed here in a declining order, from the worst kind to a less extreme variety (which some might prefer to class as “ultra-high Calvinism”):
A hyper-Calvinist is someone who either:

1. Denies that the gospel call applies to all who hear,
2. OR Denies that faith is the duty of every sinner,
3. OR Denies that the gospel makes any “offer” of Christ, salvation, or mercy to the non-elect (or denies that the offer of divine mercy is free and universal),
4. OR Denies that there is such a thing as “common grace,”
5. OR Denies that God has any sort of love for the non-elect.

All five varieties of hyper-Calvinism undermine evangelism or twist the gospel message.

You can read the whole thing

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/02/08/hyper-calvinists-are-not-the-same-as-hyper-calvinists/

2013 Gathering In Dallas,Texas

Greetings Brothers

Planning is underway for our "Reformata Family of Ministers and Churches" 
Gathering this year so I need your prompt action please. Jacob and Jon Paul
have requested that their new church plant,"Covenant Community" to host the
event in Dallas, Texas. Therefore, we have tentatively scheduled May 2nd-5th.

Covenant community is willing to graciously assist with housing, meals and
Airport transfers. This makes Dallas a very conducive location and the following
even more so:

>Frank, Jacob and Jon Paul are already in the region.

>Dr. Seif has shared willingness to join us and he lives in DeSoto..

>We plan to invite continuing Friends from Redeemed and make it a reunion of sorts.

>The event will be announced to invite other guests and interested ministers from DFW.

>Covenant Community congregants will attend the gathering.

These points make for a well attended-celebratory-and relational  RFM Gathering 
with added potential for future growth.

This means the rest of us need only purchase airfare for the event and advertised prices are currently excellent. Spirit Airlines is offering  $167.80 round trip from Atlanta and American Airlines in a modest $216.00 round trip as well.

Please check your locational listings and promptly procure your airline ticket. 

Kind reminder that you are encouraged to bring your wife and invite other ministers who may be interested in RFMC.

For The Kings Honor!

Richard G. Hanner

RFMC

Sr Presbyter

John Piper Shares "Things I Have Learned"


1. The right road always leads to the right place; therefore, get on the right road and go as far as you can on it.

2. There is only one thing to do about anything; that is the right thing. Do right.

3. Happiness is not found by looking for it. You stumble over happiness on the road to duty.

4. The door to success swings on the hinges of opposition.

5. God in the right place in my life fixes every other relationship of life (Matthew 6:33).

6. It is never right to get the right thing in the wrong way — like good grades, wealth, power, position. Don't sacrifice your principles.

7. It is a sin to do less than your best. It is wrong to do [merely] well.

8. It is wrong to be yoked to one who refuses the yoke of Christ. 
  
9. The part of your character that is deficient is the part that needs attention.

10. Don't quit. Finish the job. God can't use a quitter.

11. Anything you do that hinders your progress for God is wrong.

12. Beware of any society in which you feel compelled to put a bushel over your testimony.

13. It isn't enough to be good. Be good for something. The essence of Christianity is not a passionless purity.

14. Positive living produces negative effect[s].

15. Learn to be sweetly firm.

  

 With abiding and deep thankfulness for my father's wisdom,
Pastor John

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: www.desiringGod.org. Email: mail@desiringGod.org. Toll Free: 1.888.346.4700.

Please Don't Get Stupid!

From Charisma Magazine-"10 more stupid things ministers should never do".

1. Abuse the sheep.

2. Water down the gospel.

3. Refuse to release people into ministry.

4. Focus on gimmicks and programs rather than people.

5. Ignore evangelism.

6. Refuse to network with other leaders.

7. Failure to make prayer a priority.

8. Overemphasizing spiritual warfare teaching.

9. Quenching the Holy Spirit.

10. Burning out.

http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/the-plumb-line/16052-10-more-stupid-things-ministers-should-never-do

Leading A Ministry Team Of Friends

Here is a great article posted by Confluence,a Newfrontiers blog particularly for those of a reformed and charismatic perspective with a commitment to global mission.

rgh



"God is the God of unity in three persons. Within the Godhead is a flow of love and unity with and an absence of competition and jealousy. From among the Father, Son and Holy Spirit comes action to extend this fellowship of love to all creation.

Reflecting the Trinity, team-led churches are participatory and relational. Teams are comprised of people who are respected and gifted for service. Working together, they collectively pool their gifts for a single purpose. They are not a collection of individuals but a group working together collectively.

The Team Leader

The team leader has a key role in bringing the team together relationally as participators in the vision and mission. The team leader is not the “big banana” over all the “lesser bananas.” Indeed, the team leader’s task is not to shape the other team members into his own image but to help facilitate relationship, love and commitment among the team. He takes responsibility to ensure the team members build relationships with one another and not just with him. Some ways to facilitate this include retreats, lunches, team-building exercises, vision “jam sessions”, as well as praying and playing together. Relationships within the team are built on trust, which requires time together.

A principal goal to create a participatory team means the team leader takes responsibility to initiate a team process that results in giving away responsibility. The successful team leader has an attitude that they do not need to make all the key decisions nor assign all the key jobs. The team member knows that they don’t know all the answers and that each one needs the other members of the team. The team leader will draw out team member's feelings and frustration. There needs be a vulnerability and honesty. Building this kind of team requires energy, nurturing, maintaining relationships and a significant investment of time. As with any valuable endeavor, true friendship is worth the effort as it reflects the loving God we serve."

http://www.confluenceblog.com/building-team-on-friendship?utm

Four Rules For Minister's

Phillip Brooks—one of the great American preachers of the 19th century—offered this counsel in his Bohlen Lectures on Preaching delivered before the Divinity School of Yale College in January/February 1877:

First, count and rejoice to count yourself the servant of the people to whom you minister. Not in any worn-out figure but in very truth, call yourself and be their servant.

Second, never allow yourself to feel equal to your work. If you ever find that spirit growing on you, be afraid, and instantly attack your hardest piece of work, try to convert your toughest infidel, try to preach on your most exacting theme, to show your self how unequal to it all you are.

Third, be profoundly honest. Never dare to say in the pulpit or in private, through ardent excitement or conformity to what you know you are expected to say, one word which at the moment when you say it, you do not believe. It would cut down the range of what you say, perhaps, but it would endow every word that was left with the force of ten.

And last of all, be vital, be alive, not dead. Do everything that can keep your vitality at its fullest. Even the physical vitality do not dare to disregard. One of the most striking preachers of our country seems to me to have a large part of his power simply in his physique, in the impression of vitality, in the magnetism almost like a material thing, that passes between him and the people who sit before him.

Pray for and work for fulness of life above everything; full red blood in the body; full honesty and truth in the mind; and the fulness of a grateful love for the Saviour in your heart. Then, however men set their mark of failure or success upon your ministry, you cannot fail, you must succeed.

Annual Gathering of Reformata Ministers

                   The Majesty and Mystery of the Trinity
                       
                            Keynote Speaker -   Theologian-Pastor Jack Carter
                                                 
                                               Rehrersburg, Pennsylvania
                                                    
                                                       August 9th-12th
                    
                                                            Thursday
                                             3:00pm Afternoon arrivals
                                             6:30pm Dinner and Fellowship


                                                              Friday
                                9:00-9:50am.......................... ...Pastor Jim Crabb
                               10:00-10:50............................ .....Richard Hanner
                               11:00-12:00............................*Pastor Jack Carter


                               2:00-3:00pm...............................Ladies Gathering


                              7:00-8:30pm...........................*Pastor Jack Carter


                                                            Saturday
                               9:00-9:50am...........................................Joe Sacco
                               10:00-10:50...................................Richard Hanner
                               11:00-12:00..............................*Pastor Jack Carter


                               6:30-8:30pm............................*Pastor Jack Carter


                                          [By confirmed Invitation Only]