Grace Baptist Church

Signs You’re Growing in Grace

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace, Grace Baptist Church, Scotty Smith, Twitter | posted by TimBrister at 1:39 pm | Categories: Encouragement, Gospel |

The Message of the Bible in 240 Words

Ever wanted to read a succinct summary of the message of the entire Bible?  Check out this 240 word response by D.A. Carson found in his article “The Biblical Gospel“.

God is the sovereign, transcendent and personal God who has made the universe, including us, his image-bearers. Our misery lies in our rebellion, our alienation from God, which, despite his forbearance, attracts his implacable wrath.

But God, precisely because love is of the very essence of his character, takes the initiative and prepared for the coming of his own Son by raising up a people who, by covenantal stipulations, temple worship, systems of sacrifice and of priesthood, by kings and by prophets, are taught something of what God is planning and what he expects.

In the fullness of time his Son comes and takes on human nature. He comes not, in the first instance, to judge but to save: he dies the death of his people, rises from the grave and, in returning to his heavenly Father, bequeaths the Holy Spirit as the down payment and guarantee of the ultimate gift he has secured for them—an eternity of bliss in the presence of God himself, in a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

The only alternative is to be shut out from the presence of this God forever, in the torments of hell. What men and women must do, before it is too late, is repent and trust Christ; the alternative is to disobey the gospel (Romans 10:16;2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17).

Labels: Bible, Biblical Theology, Cape Coral, D.A. Carson, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church | posted by TimBrister at 2:25 pm | Categories: Biblical Theology, Jesus |

Marriage Transformed by the Gospel

As we frequently mention, the gospel touches and transforms all aspects of our lives.  In their book, Love That Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace (Crossway, 2006), Gary and Betsy Ricuchi address how transforming the gospel is for marriage.  Consider these words and let them encourage you in pursuing gospel-driven marriage!

Because of the gospel, Christians have become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Therefore, in our marriage, our past does not define us, confine us, or determine our future.

Because of the gospel, we are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7). Therefore we can live free of all guilt and condemnation for every sin, and we can trust that God, in his mercy, will be gracious to us.

Because of the gospel, we can forgive, just as Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). Nothing done against us compares to our sin against God. Therefore all offenses, hostility, and bitterness between Christians can be completely forgiven and removed.

Because of the gospel, we are accepted by God (Romans 15:7). Therefore we are not dependent on a spouse for who we are or what we need.

Because of the gospel, sin’s ruling power over us is broken (Romans 6:6, 14). Therefore we can truly obey all that God calls us to do in our marriage, regardless of any circumstance or situation.

Because of the gospel, we have access to God through Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16). Therefore we can at any time take any need in our marriage to the One who can do all things.

Because of the gospel, we have hope (Romans 5:1-4). Therefore we can endure any marital difficulty, hardship, or suffering, with the assurance that God is working all to our greatest good (Romans 8:28).

Because of the gospel, Christ dwells in us by his Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:13-14). Therefore we are confident that God is always with us and is always at work in our marriage, even when progress is imperceptible (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Because of the gospel, we have power to fight and overcome remaining sin, which continues to dwell and war within us (Romans 7:19-21, 24-25; Galatians 5:16-17). This indwelling enemy represents the essence of what is called the doctrine of sin.

These are just a few of the ways the gospel can transform a marriage. Sometimes it’s not easy to live in the reality of these truths. But it is always possible—and not because of our strength or determination, but because of God’s empowering and enabling grace.

HT :: Justin Taylor

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Gospel-Centered, Grace Baptist Church, Marriage | posted by TimBrister at 10:45 am | Categories: Gospel, Parenting/Family |

Sinclair Ferguson on Union with Christ

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Sinclair Ferguson, Union with Christ | posted by TimBrister at 3:06 pm | Categories: Encouragement, Gospel, Videos |

Resources for Gospel-Driven Sex

This past Sunday, Pastor Tom preached a powerful message on gospel-driven sex.  In his message, he mentioned a couple of resources that I want to highlight here and make more accessible to you.  The books are:

Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God: What Every Christian Needs to Know by C.J. Mahaney

Beginning from this basis, C. J. Mahaney explores the Bible’s teaching on sex, first setting the topic within its appropriate context: seeking God’s glory in all of life, and particularly in the marriage relationship.  Mahaney’s little volume overflows with insightful advice and encouragement to Christian husbands, providing concrete examples of how to love one’s wife as Christ loved the church. The call to husbands is one of joyful and sacrificial love in all aspects of marriage.

Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Life and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney

Carolyn Mahaney identifies with the challenges facing women in today’s world and meets them with the guidance of God’s Word. The feminine virtues described in Titus 2 have transformed her life and the lives of countless other women. This book will show you the appeal of being a woman who lives for God and helps others do the same.

Another resource that I encourage you to check out is a collection of messages from a Desiring God Conference, called Sex and the Supremacy of Christ. Contributors in this book include John Piper, C.J. and Carolyn Mahaney, Mark Dever, and David Powlison.

On a shorter scale, here are some additional articles and sermons on the subject you can check out as well.

* Sexual Relations in Marriage by John Piper
* Satan Uses Sexual Desire by John Piper
* The Goodness of Sex and the Glory of God by Ben Patterson
* How Should a Husband and Wife Manage Having Opposite Sex Drives by John Piper
* It Is Better to Marry Than to Burn With Passion - What Does This Mean? by John Piper
* Sexual Intimacy and the Rights Over a Spouse’s Body in Marriage by John Piper
* A Song of Joy: Sexual Intimacy in Marriage by C.J. Mahaney (MP3)
* Sexuality and the Christian Hope by Tim Keller
* Good Sex, Bad Sex by Mark Driscoll
* 3-part Series on Sex by Matt Chandler

Labels: Coral, Gospel, Gospel-Driven Sex, Grace Baptist Church, Sex | posted by TimBrister at 7:29 am | Categories: Parenting/Family, Resources |

The Gospel in Every Sermon

One of the things we are very big on here at Grace is gospel-driven preaching and gospel-centered living.  Mark Dever, Mark Driscoll, and James McDonald take some time to discuss the importance of faithful gospel preaching and evangelizing in this short, eight-minute video.

Labels: Cape Coral, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, James McDonald, Mark Dever, Mark Driscoll, Preaching, The Gospel Coalition | posted by TimBrister at 11:55 am | Categories: Evangelism, Gospel, Preaching |

The Hymn of a Legalist

Always funny and yet convicting at the same time, Stephen Altrogge recently penned the hymn of a legalist. Though we might scoff at the lyrics below, without the functional centrality of the gospel in our lives and church, we are left to being legalists at heart, attempting to earn God’s acceptance by what we can do rather than resting in what God has done in the finished work of Christ!

Jesus Paid It Some

I hear the Savior say,
“You’re not doing enough;
Work your fingers to the bone,
I will save those who are tough.”

Jesus paid it some
I will do the rest
Sin had left a crimson stain
Now I will give my best

For now indeed I’ll try
To earn your love and grace
I’ll add the works I have
To complete the price you paid.

REFRAIN

And when before the throne
I’ll give my deeds to you,
I’ll hope I’ve done enough
To make you let me through.

REFRAIN (3x just to be sure)

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Hymn of a Legalist, Stephen Altrogge, Worship | posted by TimBrister at 9:15 am | Categories: Gospel, Worship |

The Bible Is Not About You

For the past seven weeks, I have been leading a group of men through Tim Keller and Ed Clowney’s class on Preaching Christ in a Postmodern World. The 35 MP3’s are available for free on RTS iTunesU, and a PDF of the class notes are available as well.  It has really be a lot of fun to learn together how to expound Christ, apply Christ, and adore Christ in our preaching.  Below is a video which is a good summary of what Tim Keller means by Christ-centered preaching, followed by a summary transcript of the audio excerpt.  Check it out.

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you—it’s about him.

HT :: Collin Hansen

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Jesus, Praeching, Tim Keller | posted by TimBrister at 9:31 am | Categories: Gospel, Preaching |

The Beauty of Sacrifice and Service

Below is a post written by Stephen Altrogge at The Blazing Center.  Grace has experienced significant growth over the past year, providing opportunities for us to stretch in our sacrifice and be strengthened in our service.  I repost this article from Altrogge because he speaks well of the kind of perspective, attitude, and heart we need as a gospel-driven church. Check it out.

___________________

Wanted: Perfect church. A small, tight-knit community of believers. Close friendships a must.

Sometimes we talk about the early New Testament church as if it were a small, quaint country church with about one hundred intimate relationships, and killer pot providence (not luck) dinners. And that’s exactly what it was. For about a month.

Then Pentecost happened (Acts 2) and everything went crazy. The Spirit fell. People talked in foreign languages. Tongues of fire danced over people’s heads. And 3,000 people were added to the church in one day. In one day the church went from intimate small group to giant mega church.

Suddenly things weren’t so intimate. Everybody couldn’t be friends with everybody. The leaders were less accessible. The worship service didn’t have the close, sing around the campfire, feel. Everyone was required to sacrifice and serve in new ways.

But that’s what happens when the gospel is being preached. Sinners are saved. The church grows. New friendships are formed, new small groups are formed, new services are added to accommodate all the people that God is saving. If the gospel is preached, people will be added to the church. For people to be added to the church, sacrifice is required.

It takes sacrifice to welcome people with messy lives into the church. It takes sacrifice to reach out to people you don’t know. It takes sacrifice to figure out who is going to be in what small group. It takes sacrifice to see a church grow from small to big. But it’s glorious sacrifice. Sinners are being saved. God’s kingdom is going forth. People are being pulled from darkness into the kingdom of God. Lives are being rearranged and transformed.

To be a part of this sacrifice is to be a part of something beautiful.

If the gospel is going to spread, and the church is going to grow, sacrifice and serving must happen. Sacrifice and serving are hard, but the result is beautiful.

Labels: Cape Coral, Church Growth, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Stephen Altrogge | posted by TimBrister at 2:13 pm | Categories: Church Growth, Community |

The Gospel, Posessions, and Prosperity

David Platt, lead pastor of The Church at Brook Hills and author of Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, encourages us to think biblically about our possessions and prosperity.  Platt leads an event called “Secret Church” which is their “house church” where they meet periodically for an intense time of Bible study–lasting 4-6 hours–and prayer for persecuted brothers and sisters across the globe.  Each Secret Church meeting has a theme, the most recent being on “The Gospel, Possessions, and Prosperity.”

The Greater Things Initiative is an opportunity, as Pastor Tom explained, to leverage our resources to impact eternity.  Focusing on facilitating growth, fueling plant, and fostering mission, we are seeking to make greater impact both here and abroad.  In for this to happen, such greater things will require greater sacrifice–the kind of sacrifice that is joyfully and freely offered up because the King made the greatest offering to bring us into His kingdom.

I am providing the video and notes below in hopes that these would challenge our thinking and more importantly or living in light of God’s Word.  Check them out!  To download the notes of “The Gospel, Possessions, and Prosperity,” click here.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Labels: Cape Coral, David Platt, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Greater Things, Possessions, Prosperity, Radical, Secret Church | posted by TimBrister at 1:59 pm | Categories: Gospel, Greater Things |

SBC Resolution on the Centrality of the Gospel

A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Tom got the call to help draft a resolution on the centrality of the gospel for the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando.  The resolution was edited with other insertions, but the language provided by Tom was largely kept in tact.  In particular, you will see from the outset of the resolution that the gospel is about “who Jesus is, what He has done, and what that matters” - language peculiar to Grace. In the years past where resolutions were much about the cultural ills that Southern Baptists were against, it is great to see resolutions being passed on what we are for.  This new direction, under the leadership of resolutions committee chair Dr. Russell Moore, is something to be praised.  Here is the resolution on the centrality of the gospel:

(more…)

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Gospel-Centered, Grace Baptist Church, SBC, Tom Ascol | posted by TimBrister at 10:30 am | Categories: Gospel, News and Announcements |

Steve Timmis on the the Nature of Gospel Community

Below is a short but clear explanation of what gospel community looks like by Steve Timmis, author of Total Church. The Towers, the news service of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, interviewed Timmis which can be viewed here. Check it out.

Labels: Cape Coral, Community, Gospel, Gospel Community, Grace Baptist Church, Steve Timmis | posted by TimBrister at 10:28 pm | Categories: Community, Gospel, Small Groups |

The Relationship Between Evangelism and Social Action

Tony Payne, publishing director for Matthias Media (an excellent organization for gospel growth and leadership development), has laid out six propositions on the relationship between evangelism and social action.  I thought these were well stated and would assist us in forwarding the study on the gospel and the poor.   They are listed below along with a few excerpts.

1. Evangelism and social action are distinct activities

This is an obvious thing to say, but it needs to be said. Evangelism = telling weak, sinful people that they are lost and powerless, but for the amazing message of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Social action = empowering the weak, and working together with them to effect change in their temporary circumstances here and now. Evangelism and social action are both good and worthwhile things, but they are not the same thing. We should not try to justify social action by disguising it as evangelism, nor make our evangelism more acceptable to the world (and more amenable to our weak selves) by redefining it as social action.

2. Prayerful proclamation is central to the work of the Lord

Because of the human predicament (sinners facing God’s wrath), and because of the days we live in (open season on salvation as we wait for judgement day), God has given us a work to do. He has commissioned his people to an urgent task that addresses the need of the hour—that people hear the call to repent while there is time. Thus evangelism and social action are both good activities, but they are not equal in importance. There is an urgency and centrality to the gospel task.

3. Evangelism and social action are inseparable

All the same, the language of ‘priority’ is probably not so useful (as in ‘evangelism has priority’), because it might imply that we sit down and devise our evangelistic ‘To Do’ list, and then see if there is any time left to help people (agenda items 16 through 20). In reality, the two happen side by side as we love people, live among them and seek to bring them the gospel. Proclamation may be central, but its context will be a life of love that seeks to do good to those around us. The nature of this loving social action will be largely determined by our circumstances (i.e. preaching the gospel in the slums of Calcutta will require a different form of action than if we were preaching in a leafy, materialist suburb, where the pressing need may not be material deprivation but a breakdown in relationships, marriages and family life).

4. Social action is unconditional love, not a tactic

Godly living adorns the gospel, says Paul to Titus (2:10). But godly living is not an evangelistic tactic, and neither is social action. Good works are glorifying to God in and of themselves. They are the reason Christ gave himself for us, that he might “purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). Social action (like any form of godly action in Christ) may have the effect of impressing people deeply, and causing them to enquire after Christ. But then again, it might not. Those who campaign, for example, against the social evils of abortion or alcohol abuse are routinely despised and ridiculed in our society. In such cases, it will only be on the day of God’s visitation that their revilers will glorify God (1 Pet 2:12).

5. Social action is not a magic evangelistic bullet

Social action is not a key to unlock people’s hearts—as if all we need to do is engage in more effective and visible forms of social improvement in order for people to suddenly understand the gospel and come flooding into the kingdom. It’s not a means to an end, nor is it our gospel. We do not preach ourselves and our wonderful good deeds; we hold up a despised and pathetic-looking banner that says “Christ crucified”, and then pray for the Spirit to unstop the ears and open the eyes of the people we speak to (1 Cor 1:23).

6. The Great Commission is to make and to teach

We might summarize all this by saying that the Great Commission has two interrelated facets: to make disciples and to baptize them into the teaching of Jesus. We make disciples by proclaiming the gospel prayerfully, and then we teach disciples to love others as Jesus commanded (which means serving others and doing good to them as we have opportunity—Gal 6:10).

Labels: Cape Coral, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Poor, Social Action | posted by TimBrister at 8:25 am | Categories: Evangelism, Social Renewal |

Gospel-Empowered Parenting

Juan Sanchez has written some helpful thoughts on the difference between gospel-empowered parenting versus fear-based parenting.  Consider these points of application based on gospel realities in the home:

We must confess that we are not perfect parents - we have failed often and miserably!  First, as Farley reminds us, know that if we were perfect parents, then our children would not need Christ.  Second, know that if we were perfect parents, then we would not need Christ.  Embracing the good news of the gospel begins with uncovering my sin, my failures and looks to the perfect Father who sent the perfect Son to live the life that pleases the Father and who received the punishment that we deserved.

Therefore, confess your sins: to the Father, to your family, your children as/when appropriate.  Let them see your need for Christ and point them to Christ in their sin and failures.  Build relationships with your children on the unconditional love of the gospel of the Father so that our children will not think that our love for them is conditioned on their performance.  Spend much time on positive instruction: catechizing, reading together, doing life together in light of the gospel.

Be your child’s/children’s encourager.  At our house, we (mom and dad) continually tell our children that we are their number one fans.  It’s corny; we laugh; they get embarrassed.  But we want them to know that we are for them, not against them.  Finally, regardless of what kind of father you may or may not have had, remember that God is the perfect Father, and that His love is unconditional.  He loves us because He chooses to love us, not because of anything in us or because of our performance.  He loves us in Christ, and nothing will ever sever that love He has for us in Christ (Romans 8:29ff).

Be sure to read the whole thing.

Labels: Cape Coral, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Parenting | posted by TimBrister at 12:01 pm | Categories: Gospel, Parenting/Family |

Explaining Community Life

Here is an excellent clip from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA (Francis Chan is lead pastor) about community life shaped by the gospel.

Community from Cornerstone Church on Vimeo.

Labels: Cape Coral, Community, Gospel, Grace Baptist Church | posted by TimBrister at 11:23 am | Categories: Community, Gospel, Small Groups |