Grace Blog
Our Greatest Need: A Fresh View of Our All-Sufficient Savior
This past Sunday, Pastor Tom Ascol preached a year-end message entitled “A Fresh Vision of Our All-Sufficient Savior” from Revelation 1:9-20. In his message, Pastor Tom articulated from Scripture that our greatest need and deepest desire should be to have a fresh view of Jesus Christ for the new year. God has blessed us (already) with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, and we know that He will meet our needs according to His riches in glory. Yet, many are ignorant of what God has done for them in Christ. Finding Jesus as the Treasure God has made Him to be shows us biblically what God has given us in His Son.
To listen to Pastor Tom’s sermon, click here.
To download the sermon, click here (right click, “save as”).
To subscribe to GBC Podcast, click here.
Labels: Christ, Grace Baptist Church, Jesus, Tom Ascol | posted by TimBrister at 9:13 am | Categories: Reflection and Review, Sermons |
Stewardship of Speech: Every Word Counts
Last night, I briefly mentioned on my Twitter that the average person speaks approximately 16,000 words a day. Over a year’s time, that comes to 5,840,000 words a year. Now, that is an interesting perspective to take on the year-in-review, should all those words be put on a scale. Consider this short clip of Paul Tripp speaking about our every word in relation to what Christ has spoken over us. Here is the passage he is speaking about:
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:33-37
[Source: Desiring God "The Power of Words and the Wonder of God" Conference]
Labels: Christ, Speech, Stewardship, Tongue | posted by TimBrister at 8:18 am | Categories: Sunday School Stuff |
The Homosexual Issue - and the Gospel
Those of you who were in the adult Bible study this past Sunday morning will remember the great discussion that was had on the topic of homosexuality. Apparently, this issue could not have been more timely given the latest Newsweek cover article (issue dated December 15, 2008) by Lisa Miller entitled “Our Mutual Joy” which is a religious attempt to validate gay marriage. Jon Meacham has also chimed in as an advocate along with Miller in the same edition of Newsweek.
On Monday evening, Dr. Albert Mohler began the evangelical responses with an article entitled “Turning the Bible on its Head — Newsweek Goes for Gay Marriage.” Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon, a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has also written a lengthy (23 page) response worth reading entitled “More than “Mutual Joy”: Lisa Miller of Newsweek against Scripture and Jesus.” Finally, Christianity Today has also responded with an editorial entitled, “Looking for a ‘Serious’ Conversation“.
One of the careful arguments Pastor Tom made during our conversation was to separate the politics of homosexual activism and our responsibility to love sinners–homosexuals and non-homosexuals alike–and call them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. What we have seen in this Newsweek cover article is the political agenda of biblical revisionism, and Christians ought to not only know what the Bible says but give an account as well. I encourage you to read the articles above for your benefit.
Also, it is likely that this topic will be a centerpiece of conversation with those who do not know Christ. This could serve as a great opportunity to communicate not only what the Bible says about homosexuality but also about sinners in general (of which we all are) and their need for Christ. This is why staying informed on current issues can be so helpful to connecting with unbelievers. Know the arguments and issues in culture, but redeem them by knowing and sharing how the gospel of Jesus Christ speaks to all of them.
Labels: Christ, Culture, Homosexuality, Newsweek | posted by TimBrister at 1:49 pm | Categories: Current Events, Gospel |
