Grace Baptist Church

I Asked the Lord

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace,
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.

I hoped that in some favoured hour
At once He’d answer my request,
And by His love’s constraining power
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my guards, and laid me low.

“Lord, why is this?” I trembling cried,
“Wilt thou pursue Thy worm to death?”
“‘Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

“These inwards trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st seek thy all in me.”

- John Newton

Labels: Growing Disciple, John Newton, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 8:26 am | Categories: Spiritual Growth, Sunday School Stuff |

Why Membership Matters

In the book, Life in the Father’s House: A Member’s Guide to the Local Church, Wayne Mack and Dave Swavely give five specific reasons why membership matters.  They are:

1.  Membership is essential to an orderly administration of the church.

“God has invested in the church His manifold grace, the truth of His Word, and the souls of His redeemed people.  The church must be a faithful steward of those treasures, and to do so it must put careful thought into developing and maintaining its structure and organization” (43).

2.  Membership clarifies the difference between the church and the world.

“The membership roll of the invisible church will always be different than the membership roll of the visible church, to some degree.  But at times it becomes necessary to have some criteria by which to decide whether or not someone should be treated as a Christian” (44).

3.  Membership causes the visible church to better reflect the invisible church.

“In some instances the visible church is no more than a caricature of the invisible.  Then it is inglorious.  In a great many instances the visible church seeks feebly to reflect the invisible.  Then its glory is dim.  By the grace of God there are also instances in which the visible church concertedly emulates the invisible.  Such a church is glorious” (46).

4.  Membership promotes involvement from those on the ‘fringes’ of the church.

“An emphasis on membership provides a way for people to take a big step in their sanctification by moving from ‘the crowd’ into the ‘congregation.’  They are also more likely to serve in the church when they have made the investment of a membership commitment” (47).

5.  Membership provides an opportunity to educate people about the nature and distinctives of the church.

“We view the membership process as a vital ingredient in our attempts to be ‘admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ’ (Col. 1:28).”

- Wayne A. Mack and Dave Swavely, Life in the Father’s House: A Church Member’s Guide to the Local Church (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 2006), 43-47.

Labels: Church Membership, Committed Member, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 7:34 am | Categories: Church Membership, Sunday School Stuff |

The Privileges of Church Membership: Community

Yesterday, I provided an excerpt from John Angell James’ book The Church Member’s Guide regarding the benefits of pastoral oversight.  Today, I want to follow up with the benefits of Christian community.

The Privileges of Church Membership: Community Watchfulness

“We are commanded to exhort one another daily; and amidst such temptations, such weakness, such corruptions as ours, is it not an unspeakable mercy to be surrounded by those who watch over and assist us?  With every help, how hard a thing is it to be a consistent Christian!  How difficult to maintain the purity and vigour of true godliness!  How often do our steps sliip, and our exertions relax!  And sometimes, through the deceitfulness of the human heart, others may perceive our danger before we ourselves are aware of its existence.

[ . . .] None can estimate the value of those Christian friends, who with faithful love will remind us of our danger, and affectionately admonish us.  How inestimable the privilege of having those who will tenderly reprove us, and draw us back with the cords of a man and the bands of love.  In the case of our soul’s salvation, more than worlds are at stake; and he who will give himself the trouble to admonish us and exhort us to diligence, performs a service of infinite value, for which, if we improve by it, we shall offer him our gratitude in eternity.”

- John Angell James, The Church Member’s Guide (Vestavia Hills, AL: Solid Ground Books, 2004; originally published 1839), 34-35.

Labels: Committed Member, Community, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 7:14 am | Categories: Church Membership, Community, Sunday School Stuff |

The Privileges of Membership: Pastoral Oversight

170 years ago, John Angell James wrote the book, The Church Member’s Guide, and in it he talks about the privileges of being a committed church member in a local church.  I want to post a few excerpts where he speaks about the role your pastor and fellow members.

The Privileges of a Committed Church Member: Pastoral Oversight

“‘They watch for your souls,’ said the apostle to the ancient Christians, when speaking of their pastors; evidently implying that it was a great privilege to be the subjects of such inspection.  A faithful friend, that will instruct, warn, comfort, or reprove, as circumstances may require, is a great treasure; and such an one a Christian will find, or ought to find, in his minister.

In him he has a right to expect a steady, active, and vigilant guardian of his eternal interests; one who will follow the individuals of his charge, as far as can be, through all their spiritual career comforting them when in distress, rousing them when lukewarm, reproving them when their conduct needs rebuke, lending his ear to their every complaint, and opening his heart to receive their every grief.  A faithful pastor will consider himself as the guide and shield of the souls committed to his care; a shepherd to provide for their wants, a watchman to observe the approach of their dangers.  He will visit them in the afflictions which attend their pilgrimage; will hasten to their bedside when the sorrows of death encompass them; will disclose to the eye of faith the visions of immortality, which irradiate the dark valley itself; and will never cease his solicitude until the portals of heaven have closed upon their disembodied spirits.”

- John Angell James, The Church Member’s Guide (Vestavia Hills, AL: Solid Ground Books, 2004; originally published 1839), 32-33.

Labels: Committed Member, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 7:11 am | Categories: Church Membership, Sunday School Stuff |

Wayne Grudem on Conversion

Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology has quickly become the dominating theological textbook for theologians training over the past decade.  In his chapter on conversion, he gives some concise and helpful definitions on conversion, saving faith, and repentance.  Here they are:

Conversion is our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.  The word conversion itself means “turning”–here it represents a spiritual turn, a turning from sin to Christ.  The turning from sin is called repentance, and the turning to Christ is called faith.

Saving faith is trust in Jesus Christ as a living person for forgiveness of sins and for eternal life with God.

Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ.

Here are a few additional quotes:

“Scripture puts repentance and faith together as different aspects of the one act of coming to Christ for salvation.  It is not that a person first turns from sin and next trusts in Christ, or first trusts in Christ and then turns from sin, but rather that both occur at the same time.  When we turn to Christ for salvation from our sins, we are simultaneously turning away from the sins that we are asking Christ to save us from.  If that were not true our turning to Christ for salvation from sin could hardly be a genuine turning to him or trusting in him” (713).

“Although it is true that initial saving faith and initial repentance occur only once in our lives, and when they occur they constitute true conversion, nonetheless, the heart attitudes of repentance and faith only begin at conversion.  These same attitudes should continue throughout the course of our Christian lives.  Each day there should be heartfelt repentance for sins that we have committed, and faith in Christ to provide for our needs and to empower us to live the Christian life” (717).

Labels: Conversion, Wayne Grudem, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 5:49 am | Categories: Conversion, Sunday School Stuff |

1689 LBC and 1833 NHC on Repentance and Faith

1689 London Baptist Confession

On Faith

The grace of faith by which the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls is the work of the Spirit in their hearts. Normally it is brought into being through the preaching of the Word. By the Word and its ministry, by the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper, by prayer, and also by other means appointed by God, faith is increased and strengthened. (Luke 17:5; Acts 20:32; Rom. 10:14, 17; 2 Cor. 4:13; Eph. 2:8; 1 Pet. 2:2)

On Repentance

The repentance that leads on to salvation is a gospel grace by means of which a person who is caused by the Holy Spirit to feel the manifold evils of sin is also caused by faith in Christ to humble himself on account of sin. This humiliation is characterized by godly sorrow, a detestation of the sin, and self-loathing. It is accompanied by prayer for pardon and strength of grace, and also by a purpose and endeavor, in the power supplied by the Spirit, to conduct himself in the sight of God with the consistency of life that pleases Him.  (Ps. 119:6, 128; Ezek. 36:31; Zech. 12:10; Acts 11:18; 2 Cor. 7:11)

1833 New Hampshire Confession

On Grace in Regeneration

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected, in a manner above our comprehension, by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

On Repentance and Faith

We believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby, being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour.

Labels: Conversion, Faith, Repentance, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 9:05 am | Categories: Conversion, Sunday School Stuff |

Repentance Commanded, Repentance Granted

A brief study on repentance in the book of Acts reveals that repentance is possible only because it has been granted by God (as a gift), and repentance is also a command for which sinners are responsible for obeying.  The very thing God requires in our response as willing agents (repentance and faith), God provides in the covenant of grace.  Consider the following verses . . .

Peter and Paul commanding sinners to repent:

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
Acts 3:19

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
Acts 17:30

Repentance granted to both Israel and Gentiles:

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Acts 5:27-32

18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Acts 11:18

In addition, we find Paul utilizing a phrase synonymous with conversion in the Pastoral Epistles (”knowledge of the truth”) where repentance is spoken as granted by God.  In 1 Tim. 2:3-4, we read that “this is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  The other place where Paul mentions this phrase is in the character description of “the Lord’s servant” whose conducts himself with the hope that “God may perhaps grant [their enemies] repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:24-26).  Contrariwise, it is the godless who are “always learning but never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7).

What we can conclude from Scripture is that the means by which sinners are converted is repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21) both of which are grace gifts supplied through the regenerating and effectual calling of the Holy Spirit by which sinners are enabled to willingly and biblically respond to the message of the gospel.

Labels: Conversion, Repentance, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 9:36 am | Categories: Conversion, Sunday School Stuff |

Three Strands of Christian Conversion

Paul Helm, in his book The Beginnings: Word and Spirit in Conversion summarizes the three strands of Christian conversion, namely conviction of sin, saving faith, and repentance.  He writes:

There are three strands to true Christian conversion.  There is the conviction of sin.  A person in being converted is convicted that before God he is guilty.  He has broken God’s law, and has no hope of keeping it.  He recognizes his own bondage to sin.  A second strand is saving faith in Christ, the faith which justifies the sinner before God.  Being convicted of his sin the sinner casts himself upon God’s mercy.  Such saving faith is accompanied by true repentance, the third strand in conversion.  This repentance is a profound moral change.  It is not simply the regret or remorse of despair or the sorrow at being found out or deterred from sin.  It is the godly sorrow which produces a profound revulsion against sin and a resolve to serve God and to delight in Him.  All these changes in a person, the bringing about conviction of sin, saving faith and repentance, are the results of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.  They are not produced by self-effort or by moral reform.  The moral and spiritual energy required is imparted by God the Holy Spirit in granting spiritual awareness and strength of purpose as He renews the dead soul and sets about restoring the image of God in man.”

- Paul Helm, The Beginnings: Word & Spirit in Conversion (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1986), 80-81.

Labels: Conversion, Paul Helm, What Is a Healthy Church Member?, Word and Spirit | posted by TimBrister at 8:19 pm | Categories: Conversion, Sunday School Stuff |

Never Empty Your Brain of the Gospel!

Labels: Gospel-Saturated, John Piper, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 6:39 am | Categories: Gospel, Sunday School Stuff |

“Don’t I need more than the cross?”

In the concluding chapter of his book, Living the Cross-Centered Life, C.J. Mahaney talks about the centrality of the gospel and how you never move beyond your need for the gospel.  When asked, “But don’t I need more than the cross?”, Mahaney responds thus (emphasis mine):

“In one sense, the answer is no.  Nothing else is of equal importance.  The message of Christ and Him crucified is the Christian hope, confidence, and assurance.  Heaven will be spent marveling at the work of Christ, the God-Man who suffered in the place of us sinners.

In another sense, the answer’s yes.  You do need more.  You’ve been saved to grow, to serve in a local church, to do good works, and to glorify God.  But the ‘more’ you need as a follower of Christ won’t be found apart from the cross.  The gospel isn’t one class among many that you’ll attend during your life as a Christian–the gospel is the whole building where all the classes take place! Rightly approached, all the topics you’ll study and focus on as a believer will be offered to you ‘within the walls’ of the glorious gospel.

Name any area of the Christian life that you want to learn about or that you want to grow in.  The Old Testament? The end times?  Do you want to grow in holiness or the practice of prayer? To become a better husband, wife, or parent?  None of these can be rightly understood apart from God’s grace through Jesus’ death.  They, and indeed all topics, should be studied through the lens of the gospel.”

- C.J. Mahaney, Living the Cross-Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing (Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 2006), 149-150.

Labels: Gospel-Saturated, Living the Cross-Centered Life, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 8:59 am | Categories: Gospel, Sunday School Stuff |

You Never, Never, Never Outgrow Your Need for the Gospel

Labels: Gospel in 6 Minutes, Gospel-Saturated, John Piper, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 6:33 am | Categories: Gospel, Sunday School Stuff |

15 Gospel-Saturated Book Recommendations

Continuing in our mini-series on gospel-saturated healthy church members, I want to direct you to some books that I’ve found very helpful to seeing, centering, and driving all of life around the gospel of Jesus Chirst.  Check them out!

1.  The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges
2.  Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
3.  A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent
4.  God Is the Gospel by John Piper
5.  The Cross-Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing by C.J. Mahaney
6.  The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
7.  The Glory of God’s Grace–and How It Can Change Your Life by James Montgomery Boice
8.  The Great Work of the Gospel by John Ensor
9.  Gospel Conversation by Jeremiah Burroughs
10. The Bookends of the Christian Life by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington
11. Saved by Grace by Anthony Hoekema
12. Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community by Tim Chester & Steve Timmis
13. The Valley of Vision edited by Arthur Bennett
14. The Cross of Christ by John Stott
15. The Goldsworthy Trilogy (Gospel & Kingdom; Gospel & Witness; Gospel & Revelation)

If there the gospel is the main thing in the Christian life (and it is), then it ought to occupy our greatest amount of time and energy in study.  The gospel is at the center of God’s heart and ought to be the center of our lives, and to make that happen, it must be read, believed, sung, rehearsed, applied, and shared with others in such a way it becomes as normal as breathing.  My hope is that directing you to these books will assist you in becoming gospel-saturated followers of Christ!

Labels: Books, Gospel, Gospel-Saturated, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 8:15 am | Categories: Books, Gospel, Resources, Sunday School Stuff |

Gospel-Saturated Love for Fellow Christians

Milton Vincent did a great service to gospel-saturated Christians when he wrote the book A Gospel Primer for Christians:Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love. In the first section, he explains what a gospel-saturated life looks like by rehearsing the gospel on a daily basis.  In relation to gospel-centered community (a la community groups) and our focus this Sunday in What Is a Healthy Church Member?, I want to pass along this wonderfully helpful excerpt on loving fellow Christians through the gospel.

“The more I experience the gospel, the more there develops within me a yearning affection for my fellow-Christians who are also participating in the glories of the gospel.  This affection for them comes loaded with confidence in their continued spiritual growth and ultimate glorification, and it becomes my pleasure to express to them this loving confidence regarding the ongoing work of God in their lives.

Additionally, with the gospel proving itself to be such a boon in my own life, I realize that the greatest gift I can give to my fellow-Christians is the gospel itself.  Indeed, I love my fellow-Christians not simply because of the gospel, but I love them best when I am loving them with the gospel!  And I do this not merely by speaking gospel words to them, but also by living before them and generously relating to them in a gospel manner.  Imparting my life to them in this way, I thereby contribute to their experience of the power, the Spirit, and the full assurance of the gospel.

By preaching the gospel to myself each day, I nurture the bond that unites me with my brothers and sisters for whom Christ died, and I also keep myself well-versed in the raw materials with which I may actively love them in Christ.”

Amen and amen!

Labels: Gospel, Gospel-Driven Community, Grace Baptist Church, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 7:35 am | Categories: Community, Gospel, Sunday School Stuff |

Fueling a Gospel-Saturated Lifestyle

The third mark of a healthy church member is that he/she is gospel-saturated.  Thabiti Anyabwile begins with the following argument:

“The greatest need in the world today is the gospel.  It is the greatest need of the world because men, women, and children are perishing without a vital knowledge of God through the good news of our Savior and his Son, Jesus. The greatest need in the church today is the gospel.  The gospel is not only news for a perishing world, it is the message that forms, sustains, and animates the church.  Apart from the gospel, the church has nothing to say–that is, nothing to say that cannot be said by some other human agency.  The gospel distinguishes the church from the world, defines her message and mission in the world, and steels her people against the fiery darts of the evil one and the false allurements of sin.  The gospel is absolutely vital to a vibrant, joyous, persevering, hopeful, and healthy Christian and Christian church. So essential is the gospel to the Christian life that we need to be saturated in it in order to be healthy church members.”

Because the gospel is our greatest need, it should occupy all of our lives.  In order to fuel a gospel-saturated lifestyle, I want to point you to some links that are directories of links, sermons, articles, and other resources on the gospel.

Gospel Blogs:

* Of First Importance
* Recover the Gospel
* Gospel-Driven Blog

Gospel Directories:

* Tim Keller
* Monergism
* Desiring God
* Church Matters
* The Resurgence
* Acts 29 Network
* The Gospel Coalition
* Together for the Gospel

Gospel Confessions:

* The Gospel Coalition Foundational Documents
* Together for the Gospel Affirmation and Denials (PDF)
* The Gospel of Jesus Christ: An Evangelical Celebration

Labels: Gospel, Grace Baptist Church, Jesus, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 6:01 pm | Categories: Gospel, Resources, Sunday School Stuff |

Getting Introduced to Biblical Theology

This Sunday, we will be taking up the second mark of a healthy church member–being a biblical theologian (the chapter is available online). On the surface, you might be thinking, “Duh. What’s the alternative?!”  Good point.  But actually biblical theology is a discipline or science to the study of the Bible that you may or may not be familiar with.  Thabiti Anyabwile gives some basic helps to defining biblical theology, but I thought it would be helpful to give you some links to resources available on the internet that go deeper in explaining the practice of biblical theology.

1.  John Yarbrough, “Biblical Theology” in Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
2.  IX Marks on Biblical Theology (see lessons on right)
3.  Graeme Goldsworthy, “What Is the Discipline of Biblical Theology?”
4.  Wikipedia entry on Biblical Theology
5.  Theopedia entry on Biblical Theology

To got a bit deeper, check out these links:

1. Graeme Goldsworthy, “The Ontological and Systematic Roots to Biblical Theology”
2. Geerhardus Vos, “The Idea of Biblical Theology as a Science and as a Theological Discipline”
3.  James T. Dennison, Jr., “What is Biblical Theology?”
4.  Thomas Schreiner, “Preaching and Biblical Theology”
5.  D.A. Carson, “Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology”
6.  Geerhardus Vos, “The Nature and Aims of Biblical Theology”
7.  Charles Scobie, “The Structure of Biblical Theology”
8.  S.M. Baugh, “Hermeneutics and Biblical Theology”
9.  Charles Scobie, “The Challenge of Biblical Theology”
10. Richard Gaffin, Jr., “Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology”

Finally, for some additional resources, be sure to check out.

1.  Monerigm’s biblical theology page
2.  The Gospel Coalition page for Biblical Theology as well as Redemptive History

Labels: Biblical Theology, What Is a Healthy Church Member? | posted by TimBrister at 12:08 pm | Categories: Biblical Theology, Church Membership, Sunday School Stuff |