Jun 19

Namesake

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Discipleship

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babyIt’s difficult to receive correction, isn’t it?  It’s easy when being corrected to fall into judging the person’s motives for correcting us, taking offense at the way they corrected us, and searching out inconsistencies and errors in the life of the one correcting us.

But I guess that’s why David was said to be a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).  You see, David faced the stinging rebuke by the prophet, Nathan.  In fact, Nathan set him up in such a way that David had to have been humiliated and embarrassed.  But what did King David do?  Did he criticize Nathan for the way he rebuked him?  No.  Did he make excuses for his conduct?  No.  Did he seek out a way to discredit Nathan?  No.

Do you know what King David did?  He named a son after Nathan!  Check it out (1 Chronicles 3:5).  Not only did David not take offense at what Nathan did to him, he later named one of his son’s “Nathan.”  That’s true humility and reflects a genuine desire to be right with God.  David didn’t hate Nathan for his rebuke, he loved him for it.

Friends, those who have the courage to confront us for our own good aren’t worthy of our hatred or vengeance.  In fact, in David’s case, his confronter was worthy of “namesake.”  Give it some thought.

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Jun 15

Help For Bible Class Teachers

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Miscellaneous

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KimNot long ago, my wife Kim decided to create a blog that is designed to assist Bible class teachers. The impetus for this blog was born from her searching for good Bible class material by members of the church.  While she found several people who were providing this sort of material, by and large, there weren’t many sites dedicated to helping our Bible class teachers.  Therefore, she decided to attempt to help fill this void.

Included on her website called “TeachingHelp” are articles dealing with teaching Bible classes, games, crafts, and lessons.

As I said, the site is relatively new, consequently, there is a limited amount of information available at the present.  But week by week, this site will continue to add resources that you may find helpful.

If you’re a Bible class teacher, take a minute and visit her site at TeachingHelp.org.  If you are a preacher, why don’t you pass this site along to the women who teach in the congregation where you work.

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Jun 03

Preaching on the Cutting Edge

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Miscellaneous

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We’re within a couple weeks of Father’s Day, so I thought I would say a few words about my dad and make a point at the same time.  This week, my dad will complete 61 years of preaching.  He will also begin his 50th year at the same congregation in Chester, WV beginning in December.  Quite an accomplishment!

I consider my dad a “Preacher’s Preacher.”  He’s one of the most humble men I’ve ever known.  While some preachers have a reputation of climbing over each other to “make a name for themselves,” or to “be somebody,” my dad has resisted such personal gratification.  He’s never sought the spotlight, but the spotlight has sought him.  He’s never promoted himself as a voice of reason and truth, but people have sought him out for both.  He’s been content to preach locally, but has been called upon to preach by hundreds of churches.

One of the reasons my dad has been so respected and sought after is because he has always sought to present the truth in a relevant way.  I think we all would acknowledge that the more senses involved in learning, the better we remember.  Dad has, for as long as I can remember not only taught the truth, but he has used visuals as well.

When I was a young boy, I can remember my dad getting down on the basement floor with a yardstick and markers to prepare his “sheet sermons.”  (The three pictures above are samples of some of his sheet sermons).  Then he began using the overhead projector.  For years, he carried a projector and a screen in his car as he traveled and preached in meetings.  (He used the overhead so much that people used to accuse him of using it for his daily radio program).  Then came the advent of computers and PowerPoint.  I wasn’t sure dad could ever come around to this new technology, but he did.  His overhead gave way to a laptop, and his transparencies gave way to .ppt presentations.

Dad is now 80 years-old, and is preaching in a gospel meeting in Ohio as I write this article.  I think Dad has captured the “secret” to success (though it’s really not a secret).  Through the years, he has faithfully taught the truth in love and done so in a relevant manner.

My sister and I had to share our dad with thousands of people while we were growing up and we never resented it (except that time when I was a little boy and another boy climbed up in my dad’s lap and hugged him…but that’s another story.  I’m over it now that I’m 51 years-old :-) ).  No, in fact it made us proud to be our Mom & Dad’s children.

Happy “early” Father’s Day, Dad!

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May 31

Do You Want To Go With Me?

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Discipleship

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mamPresence.  We all value it whether we realize it or not.

I can remember a frequent routine that used to take place in our house when my youngest son was about six-years-old and my youngest daughter was about two-years-old.  It would be evening, the family would be upstairs, and I might ask my youngest son to retrieve something from the first floor.

He would quickly say, “But dad, no one’s down there.”  To which I would say, “I know.”  Then he would reply, “But it’s dark and the lights are out.”  I’d say, “Then turn on the lights and it won’t be dark anymore.”  Then he’d say, “But I’m afraid.”  And I’d say, “There’s nothing to be afraid of, now go on down there and get what I asked you to get.”  Finally, he would turn to his two-year-old sister and say, “Hey Anne Marie, do you want to go downstairs with me?

Through the years, I’ve laughed about that.  I mean, what’s a two-year-old girl going to do to help you when you’re scared? (Actually, I think I figured out his logic.  I think he planned on sacrificing her to the “monster” while he made his get-away!)

Anyway, to seriously answer my question, “What’s a two-year-old girl going to do to help you when you’re scared?”  Presence.  She’ll give you her presence.  We value presence more than we may realize.  Our fears aren’t as great when we’re with someone else.  The darkness doesn’t seem quite as dark.  And our imaginations are kept in check by the presence of others.

Friends, being alone is scary!  In fact one of the frightening things about Hell is that the presence of God will not be there, and we will be all alone (2 Thessalonians 1:9).  But thank God for two-year-old little girls who will go downstairs with their older brothers, and thank God for Jesus who promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Next time you’re scared and feeling alone, why not reach out and talk to the one who is always by your side.

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May 27

Everyone Knows John 3:16…Or do they?

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Doctrinal

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john316signEveryone knows John 3:16, right? Christians and unbelievers alike have seen this verse advertised at nearly every sporting event for the past thirty years.  It speaks of God’s love for man.  “For God so loved the world…”

While it is true that this verse tells us of the depth of God’s love (after all, he gave his Son), an important point I think we have often missed is that this verse also tells us of the nature of God’s love.

Generally speaking, I think many have missed the significance of the little word “so” in John 3:16.

Typically it has been understood to signify degree.  “For God ‘sooo’ loved the world.”  In other words, “God loved the world “so much.”  But I don’t believe that is the significance of the word  “so”in this verse.  Rather I believe the word “so” is used as an adverb of manner.  In other words, “in this way” God loved the world.

Consider what Jesus just stated in the immediate context (verses14-15).  He explained how God saved Israel with the brazen serpent.  The people had sinned by complaining (Numbers 21), therefore God sent poisonous serpents among them to punish them for their sin.  Moses made intercession, and God told him to make a brazen serpent wrapped around a pole, and those who looked to it would be healed.  Notice though, God didn’t cause the serpents to go away.  People continued to be bitten as a divine retribution for their sin. But those who looked to this brazen serpent would be saved.

Now, why would Jesus tell that story just before John 3:16?  For it is in this same manner that God loves us today.  Notice that John 3:16 even begins with the word “For.”  This indicates there is a connection between what was just said and what he is about to say.

Just as when God’s love for Israel moved him to save them from punishment when they looked to the brazen serpent, “SO” he does today for those who look to Jesus!  His love for us isn’t such that he is willing to remove the punishment for sin.  It’s still there.  But those who look to Jesus can be saved from God’s retribution.

The next time you read John 3:16, instead of seeing the “so” as a term of degree (God sooo loved the world…) see it as a word describing manner, connected to the immediate context of verses 14-15 (God, in “this manner” loved the world…).

If we understand the term “so” as an adverb of manner, connected to the “brazen serpent” story in Numbers 21, we will see that the common and popular notion that says, “Since God loves us so much, surely he won’t punish us” is mistaken.  On the contrary,  John 3:14-16 teaches us as clearly as any passage I know that the nature of God’s love is such that it can and will punish those who sin if they do not meet his terms of pardon.

Give it some thought.

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May 25

Is The Pope Catholic?

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Doctrinal

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Max Rossi/Reuters

Max Rossi/Reuters

“Pope” Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church made news this past week by stating that one doesn’t have to be a Catholic to be redeemed.  In fact, not only does one not have to be Catholic, Pope Francis affirmed that even atheists are redeemed.

It appears the modern, sweeping spirit of ecumenism has even infiltrated the papacy.  Some Catholic apologists have attempted to defend Pope Francis by saying this teaching is not new.  And I suppose this is true, but only since Vatican II in 1964.  But prior to Vatican II, the Catholic Church had an entirely different view pertaining to this question.  Read what two Popes said prior to Vatican II on this matter.

“Urged by faith, we are obliged to believe and to maintain that the Church is one, holy, catholic, and also

“The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!” We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.” (Pope Francis, 2013).

apostolic. We believe in her firmly and we confess with simplicity that outside of her there is neither salvation nor the remission of sins…In her then is one Lord, one faith, one baptism [Ephesians 4:5]. There had been at the time of the deluge only one ark of Noah, prefiguring the one Church, which ark, having been finished to a single cubit, had only one pilot and guide, i.e., Noah, and we read that, outside of this ark, all that subsisted on the earth was destroyed….Furthermore, we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII 1302)

“It [the Church] firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart ‘into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels’ [Matt. 25:41], unless before the end of life the same have been added to the flock; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings, almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.” (Pope Eugene IV, 1441).

So if one is Catholic, which Pope is he to believe?  The one who says non-Catholics will go to Hell, or the one who says that non-Catholics, even atheists are redeemed?  A better question is this, should one believe the words of any man, regardless of who he is, over the word of God?  The Bible says says that those who do not obey the gospel (that would include atheists) will not be saved (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).  Jesus, himself, said that if we don’t believe that he is the Messiah, the Son of God, we will die in our sins (John 8:24).

I appeal to all men, especially my Catholic friends, to give serious consideration to the following words.  “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8-9).

Let God be true and every man a liar (Romans 3:4).

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