Monday, November 30, 2009

Misunderstandings of the Trinity

Monergism has a helpful entry from the ESV Study Bible.

Common Errors:

  • Tritheism: Overemphasizes the distinction between the persons of the Trinity and ends up with three gods.
  • Modalism:(also known as Sabellianism, named after its earliest proponent, Sabellius, 3rd century), which loses the distinctions between the persons and claims that God is only one person. In this view, the appearance of the three persons is merely three modes of existence of the one God. For instance, God reveals himself as Father when he is creating and giving the law, as Son in redemption, and as Spirit in the church age (found in the teaching of Oneness Pentecostalism).
  • Arianism (after a teacher named Arius, c. a.d. 256–336), and it is held today by Jehovah’s Witnesses: to deny the full deity of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and to say that they were at some time created. This is the heresy of

Practical Implications of the Trinity

1. The doctrine of the Trinity makes definitive revelation of God possible as he is known in Christ:

(John 1:18). (Ex. 33:20; 1 Tim. 6:16)

2. The Trinity makes the atonement possible.

(Heb. 9:14).

3. Because God is triune, he has eternally been personal and relational in his own being, in full independence from his creation.

(Acts 17:25).

4. The Trinity provides the ultimate model for relationships within the body of Christ and marriage (1 Cor. 11:3; 12:4–6; Eph. 4:4–7).

From the Summary:

The doctrine of the Trinity is well beyond human ability to ever fully comprehend. However, it is central to understanding the nature of God and the central events in the history of salvation, in which God is seen acting as, in effect, a tripersonal team. Biblical Christianity stands or falls with the doctrine of the Trinity.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Sermon Outline: Romans 12:1-2. “Give Worship”

1) Our Souls have been given to God:

Romans 12:1a

· Romans 5:20-21

2) Our Bodies should be given to God:

Romans 12:1b

· Romans 7:5, 22

3) Our Minds should be given to God:

Romans 12:2a

· Ephesians 4:17-24

· 2 Corinthians 3:18

· Philippians 2:12-13

4) Our Wills should be given to God:

Romans 12:2b.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

"How Should Calvinists Deal with Arminians?" (James White)



How should Calvinists deal with Arminians? Is it possible to stand firm for Reformed theology without causing offense? If you're a Calvinist now but were an Arminian before and a Calvinist caused offense against you in explaining the theology, would you have been as apt to lay hold to the doctrines of grace? Dr. James White answers a call on The Dividing Line show regarding this subject and offers some great advice.

http://www.aomin.org

12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child

Abraham Piper provides 12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child

From the Introduction:

Many parents are brokenhearted and completely baffled by their unbelieving son or daughter. They have no clue why the child they raised well is making such awful, destructive decisions. I've never been one of these parents, but I have been one of these sons. Reflecting back on that experience, I offer these suggestions to help you reach out to your wayward child.

Each point is followed up with an explanation:

1. Point them to Christ.

2. Pray.

3. Acknowledge that something is wrong.

4. Don't expect them to be Christ-like.

5. Welcome them home.

6. Plead with them more than you rebuke them.

7. Connect them to believers who have better access to them.

8. Respect their friends.

9. Email them.

10. Take them to lunch.

11. Take an interest in their pursuits.

12. Point them to Christ.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

John Piper - What is it to believe?



Behold, Believe, Be Raised
John 6: 27-40

Monday, November 23, 2009

Assorted Attacks on the Bible (Romans 1:18-32)



Gods Word. Inspired. Inherent. Infallible. You love this book because it represents the source of eternal life. It contains the truth that pointed you towards Jesus Christ.

But not everyone sadly loves the scriptures. The enemy of your soul knows its power to save as well as you do and he constantly wages war against it. Scripture has always stood in the crosshairs and Christians have always labored to defend it. The first step, recognize those attacks in every form. From the overt frontal assault to the covert inside job we must never be caught off guard.

Todays message from Jon MacArthur, Attacks on the Bible, is designed to prepare you for that battle. It will help you thwart the attacks before they thwart you.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

SERMON OUTLINE: Ephesians 4:25-32. “Give Grace”

1) Give Grace in Truth (Ephesians 4:25),

• Revelation 21:8

2) Give Grace in Anger (Ephesians 4:26–27),

• Romans 12:17-21

3) Give Grace in Possessions (Ephesians 4:28),

• Luke 14:13-14

4) Give Grace in Words (Ephesians 4:29-30)

• James 3:6-8

5) Give Grace in Virtue (Ephesians 4:31-32).

• Colossians 3:1-17

Friday, November 20, 2009

Greg Koukl - on the Charge: "The Bible's Been Changed"



Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason answers the question "The Bible has been translated many times over, so how can it be reliable?"

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Christianity: How Jesus Is Different



Pastor Mark Driscoll examines Luke 2, where an angel announces the birth of Jesus, Christ the Lord, to shepherds in a field. The angel reveals how we are to see Jesus. We are not to insert him into a false ideology (e.g., atheism, deism, pantheism/panentheism, or theism) that offers no hope, no good news, no savior. Rather, we are to praise Jesus like the angels, Mary, and the shepherds did.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Christianity: Good News For All People



Pastor Mark Driscoll examines Luke 2, where an angel announces the birth of Jesus, Christ the Lord, to shepherds in a field. The angel reveals how we are to see Jesus. We are not to insert him into a false ideology (e.g., atheism, deism, pantheism/panentheism, or theism) that offers no hope, no good news, no savior. Rather, we are to praise Jesus like the angels, Mary, and the shepherds did.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Parenting Our Kids: a parenting model



Buckle up for this fast paced seminar on parenting kids. This training video is an abbreviated version of CounselingSolutions workshop on parenting. Rick explains a good concept idea from Paul's model given in Ephesians 6:4 as well as four poor parenting models and how they adversely impact our kids.

Rick originally learned this teaching concept on parenting during his MA program at The Master's College in Santa Clarita, CA.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Sermon Outline: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. “Give Hope”

1) Giving Hope (2 Cor. 1:3-7)


· Isaiah 51:9-12

· Exodus 3:7-8

· 2 Corinthians 11:29

· Romans 8:18

· Philippians 3:10-11

· Romans 5:1-5


2) Getting Hope (2 Cor. 1:8-9)


3) Praise for Hope ( 2 Cor. 1:10-11)

· 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Ten Effects of Believing in the Five Points of Calvinism – John Piper

piper

John Piper outlines the Ten Effects of Believing in the Five Points of Calvinism

1. These truths make me stand in awe of God and lead me into the depth of true God-centered worship.

Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14

Romans 11:36

2. These truths help protect me from trifling with divine things.

3. These truths make me marvel at my own salvation.

Ephesians 1

4. These truths make me alert to man-centered substitutes that pose as good news.

1 Timothy 3:15

5. These truths make me groan over the indescribable disease of our secular, God-belittling culture.

6. These truths make me confident that the work which God planned and began, he will finish – both globally and personally.

Romans 8:28-39

7. These truths make me see everything in the light of God’s sovereign purposes – that from him and through him and to him are all things, to him be glory forever and ever.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Ephesians 1:11

8. These truths make me hopeful that God has the will, the right, and the power to answer prayer that people be changed.

Ezekiel 11:19

Deuteronomy 30:6

Ezekiel 36:27

2 Timothy 2:25-26

Acts 16:14

9. These truths reminds me that evangelism is absolutely essential for people to come to Christ and be saved, and that there is great hope for success in leading people to faith, but that conversion is not finally dependent on me or limited by the hardness of the unbeliever.

John 10:16

10. These truths make me sure that God will triumph in the end.

Isaiah 46:9-10

Monday, November 09, 2009

5 Ways Sin is Serious

John Piper reflects on the nature of sin and Psalm 51, as David laments and repents of his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. David confesses at least five ways that his sin is extremely serious.

1. He says that he can’t get the sin out of his mind.

It is blazoned on his conscience. Verse 3:

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

2. He says that his exceeding sinfulness is only against God.

Nathan had said David despised God and scorned his word. So David says in verse 4,

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.

3. He doesn't justify himself.

David vindicates God, not himself. There is no self-justification. No defense. No escape. Verse 4:

…so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

4. He intensifies his guilt by drawing attention to his inborn corruption.

Verse 5:

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

5. He admits that he sinned not just against external law but against God’s merciful light in his heart.

Verse 6:

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

From the conclusion:

God had been his teacher. God had made him wise. David had done so many wise things. And then sin got the upper hand. For David, this made it all the worse. “I have been blessed with so much knowledge and so much wisdom. O how deep must be my depravity that it could sin against so much light.”

So in those five ways at least David joins the prophet Nathan and God in condemning his sin and confessing the depths of his corruption.

Excerpted and adapted from the sermon "A Broken and Contrite Heart God Will Not Despise."

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Veterans' Week Message



Video greetings from Canadian Forces troops overseas in Kandahar were played at the launch of the Veterans' Week 2009 Vignette.

Friday, November 06, 2009

9 Ways to Know the Gospel of Christ Is True


John Piper lists 9 Ways to Know the Gospel of Christ Is True @ www.desiringgod.org.

Brief explanations follow the points:

1. Jesus Christ, as he is presented to us in the New Testament, and as he stands forth from all its writings, is too single and too great to have been invented so uniformly by all these writers.

2. Nobody has ever explained the empty tomb of Jesus in the hostile environment of Jerusalem where the enemies of Jesus would have given anything to produce the corpse, but could not.

Matthew 28:13

3. Cynical opponents of Christianity abounded where claims were made that many eyewitnesses were available to consult concerning the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:6

4. The early church was an indomitable force of faith and love and sacrifice on the basis of the reality of Jesus Christ.

5. The prophesies of the Old Testament find stunning fulfillment in the history of Jesus Christ.

6. The witnesses to Jesus Christ who wrote the New Testament gospels and letters are not gullible or deceitful or demented.

7. The worldview that emerges from the writings of the New Testament makes more sense out of more reality than any other worldview.

8. When one sees Christ as he is portrayed truly in the gospel, there shines forth a spiritual light that is a self-authenticating.

2 Corinthians 4:6

9. When we see and believe the glory of God in the gospel, the Holy Spirit is given to us so that the love of God might be "poured out in our hearts" (Romans 5:5).

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Moralizing: How to Destroy Scripture & Cultivate Pride



Pastor Mark Driscoll continues his teaching in the book of Luke. This clip is taken from part 6 of the Luke series from the sermon entitled: The Birth of John the Baptizer

Monday, November 02, 2009

Free Audiobook of the Month: "Desiring God" by John Piper

Product image
Scripture reveals that the great business of life is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. In this paradigm-shattering classic, newly revised and expanded, John Piper reveals that the debate between duty and delight doesn't truly exist: Delight is our duty.
$16.98
$19.98
$28.98
Add to My Wish List

Type "NOV2009" in the "coupon code" box for the FREE DOWNLOAD

This month's free download of Desiring God is brought in part by Desiring God Ministries and the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group. For more information on the Desiring God ministry, visit www.desiringgod.org or click here for free Desiring God ministry audio on christianaudio

You may also be interested in the other John Piper audiobooks on christianaudio. Take advantage of their special price of only $4.98 each, only until November 21st!

Product image
In this book John Piper describes his own journey in discovering this great, single passion. And He pleads that at all costs we pursue our joy in the crucified Christ, who is the glory of God.
$14.98
$4.98

$19.98
$23.98
Add to My Wish List
Product image
What do you do when you discover that you're not satisfied in God the way he wants you to be? Joy is more than an afterthought of the Christian life; it is the sustaining fruit of a relationship with God. With a radical passion for Christ's glory, John Piper helps you find the joy God wants you to have.
$14.98
$4.98

$19.98
$26.98
Add to My Wish List
Product image
The weight of glory is a happy burden. Thus God is the happiest Being in the Universe. To know Him in His pleasures is to see Him as He is- and to have a fresh encounter with His transforming presence.
$16.98
$4.98

$19.98
$28.98
Add to My Wish List
Product image

Do you have a hunger for God? There is an appetite for God. And it can be awakened. Piper invites us to turn from the dulling effects of food and the dangers of idolatry, and to say with a simple fast: "This much, O God, I want you."

$14.98
$4.98

$19.98
$23.98
Add to My Wish List

Be sure to take a look at all the John Piper titles on christianaudio!
Only $4.98 each until November 21st!

.

Greg Koukl - Biblical "Mistakes"?



Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason answers the question "Didn't people write the Bible, then how can it be reliable since men make mistakes?"

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Is God Punishing Me?



Pastor Mark Driscoll discusses the question of whether God causes bad things to happen to us as punishment for sin.