A lecture on church discipline.
Upon instructing Timothy on how pastors and deacons are to conduct themselves as servants of Christ, the apostle Paul adds, “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:14,15) Every disciple of Christ should know how to behave himself in the house of God. Maintaining good order in the church of the living God is called discipline.
This is the first study on the subject of church discipline. Herein we attempt to answer six basic questions: (1) What is church discipline; (2) Does the church have the right to judge; (3) What is the general process of exercising corrective discipline; (4) Who is subject to church discipline? (5) What are the requirements in order for reconciliation; (6) What is the fault in order for separation?
An exposition of Psalm 5:1-12.
David directs his thoughts entirely to God in this Psalm, making it an excellent model of a powerful prayer. Upon a careful reading of the Psalm, four aspects of prayer are highlighted: Its character, object, certainty and benefit. This study seeks to unfold the general qualities which should form every powerful prayer against a provoking predator.
The following structure is an overview of the exposition:
An exposition of Acts 8:23.
There are a number of interesting truths that intersect each other in Acts 8:4-40. For instance, there is a record of water baptism and Spirit baptism tied together by the ministries of an evangelist and two apostles; there is the story of a false believer whose attraction was based upon miraculous powers, as opposed to the story of a true believe whose attraction was based upon the Holy Scriptures.
However, verse 23 highlights the link between two problems often overlooked by persons dealing with either one or the other difficulty: the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity. This study aspires to unfold the relationship between bitterness and iniquity, thereby revealing the true way of deliverance from both.
An exposition of Proverbs 31:10-31.
A Mother’s Day Sermon: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” So says the mother to King Lemuel. This study seeks to unfold the relationship a virtuous woman sustains to five areas of life: Her husband, her job, her community, her household and herself. Within each of these five headings is a challenge for every mother having to live through the hardships of 21st century motherhood.
An exposition of 2 Kings 6:24-29.
A Mother’s Day Sermon: Two mothers agree to boil their children and serve them up as a meal. Their diabolical example provides a relevant warning to mothers living in the 21st Century. This study seeks to unfold three important lessons that serve to help mothers fulfill their God given duty to be faithful stewards over the Lord’s heritage.
The following structure is an overview of the exposition:
2 Kings 6:24-29
2 Kings 6:25c-29
A challenge from the New Testament on how to identify a child of God.
There are many names ascribed to a child of God throughout the Old and New Testaments. Eight of these appellations have been carefully selected for examination. An attempt is made to not only lead the Christian to a new and wonderful appreciation of his faith in Christ, but also to bring the non-christian under a true sense of his sin and condemnation before God. It is hoped all will receive benefit from this study of God’s Word.
A lecture on Elder Plurality: Part 1
The Reformed Baptist Movement has given rise to a new form of church leadership not practiced by Baptist churches prior to the 1950′s. The majority of modern books and articles almost invariably assert that each church should be overseen by a plurality of elders. While many churches have conformed to the new trend, others staunchly cling to their traditional practice of having a single pastor assisted by a group of deacons. It is unwise to follow a trend, or support a tradition, without knowing the Scriptural, historic and practical reasons undergirding the practice.
This first study seeks to provide an overview of the subject by answering three questions: (1) What exactly is this “plurality of elders” issue all about? (2) As long as each church remains Baptist, why should Christians be concerned about this issue? (3) What does the New Testament actually teach about the subject of eldership?
An exposition of 1 Peter 4:8,9,11.
1 Peter 4:7-11 offers three helpful guidelines that may enable a Christian to overcome a bitter spirit: Observing a specific principle, applying a special prescription and following a particular procedure. This study examines the procedure by which a Christian is able to implement the right prescription for overcoming a resentful heart.
The following structure is an overview of the exposition:
1 Peter 4:8,9
1 Peter 4:11a
An exposition of Psalm 4:3,4.
The saint’s security in Christ is characterized by David under the headings of contentment and communion. Special attention is given to the last words of verse four, “be still”. This study seeks to unfold the implications of “stillness” in the Christian life.
A lecture on the Order of the Church: Its Success, Part 4.
The New Testament describes the church as an organism and an organization. As an organism, she is a living entity for which God is largely responsible for her existence and growth; as an organization, she is a well ordered mechanism for which man is largely responsible for her discipline and oversight. A healthy church is one which maintains discipline as an organization, as well as one which grows in the Lord as a living body. These lectures on the Order of the Church are looking at the assembly of Christ from the standpoint of her organizational components.
The question answered in this study: Should a church measure her success based on duty or results? It is our conviction that results based measurements lead to a humanistic motive in carrying out the Great Commission.