Author Archives: Stephen Rodgers

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

by Pastor Patrick Cho

As the song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” It seems like each year Christmas comes a little sooner, and for Christians, the secularization of the holiday can become a bit tedious. Everywhere you turn, there is red and green as far as the eye can see. Suddenly, anything you drink has a tinge of peppermint. Though the Christmas trees, lawn ornaments, and house lights can be fun and festive, they do seem to detract from the central theme: that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).

It is worth noting that believers are never commanded to celebrate Jesus’ birth. The Bible doesn’t require that Christians observe any religious holidays. In fact, the Bible explicitly makes clear that Christians are not bound by holidays and festivals at all! So why do we put up the decorations? Why do we sing the carols? Why do we gather together as family and exchange gifts? The holiday certainly provides families and friends a wonderful occasion to come together in love. While children may or may not understand the intention, Christmas promotes hospitality and sharing. (There’s also the opportunity to stuff yourself with a lot of good food!)

But the chief reason remains that the holiday reminds us to be thankful for the advent of our Lord. Christmas is the season for joy – a holiday where we can celebrate not only that Jesus came, but especially what He came to accomplish. In this sense, Christmas and Easter really go hand in hand. We celebrate that God in His amazing grace provided a way of salvation through His Son. Jesus was born in flesh, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose again that we might be forgiven and redeemed!

I would be remiss not to mention that these holidays also afford us wonderful opportunities to share Christ with others. There are some who would never think about coming to church, but who would consider attending during Christmas and Easter. Many unbelievers who know the general reason Christians celebrate this holiday may honestly not know everything there is to know about it. It gives us a chance to ask people, “Can I share with you why it’s so meaningful to me?” So whether or not you love pulling out holiday decorations and singing songs of Christmas, there is still a world full of people who need to hear the message. Let’s all consider how we can faithfully proclaim the gospel of our Lord this season.

Sanctified

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Jude 1, 1 Corinthians 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:2

Mark the union of the Three Divine Persons in all their gracious acts. How unwisely do those believers talk who make preferences in the Persons of the Trinity; who think of Jesus as if He were the embodiment of everything lovely and gracious, while the Father they regard as severely just, but destitute of kindness. Equally wrong are those who magnify the decree of the Father, and the atonement of the Son, so as to depreciate the work of the Spirit. In deeds of grace none of the Persons of the Trinity act apart from the rest. They are as united in their deeds as in their essence. In their love towards the chosen they are one, and in the actions which flow from that great central source they are still undivided.

Specially notice this in the matter of sanctification. While we may without mistake speak of sanctification as the work of the Spirit, yet we must take heed that we do not view it as if the Father and the Son had no part therein. It is correct to speak of sanctification as the work of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit. Still doth Jehovah say, ‘Let us make man in our own image after our likeness,’ and thus we are ‘his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’ See the value which God sets upon real holiness, since the Three Persons in the Trinity are represented as co-working to produce a Church without ‘spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.’ And you, believer, as the follower of Christ, must also set a high value on holiness-upon purity of life and godliness of conversation. Value the blood of Christ as the foundation of your hope, but never speak disparagingly of the work of the Spirit which is your meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light.

This day let us so live as to manifest the work of the Triune God in us.

7.12a

Weekly Links (12/7/2018)

by Stephen Rodgers

Another month, another Friday, another bunch of links for free resources.

  • The Confessions of Saint Augustine (free audiobook) – Augustine of Hippo’s importance to the protestant faith really can’t be overestimated. Any serious study of church history has to deal with his magnificent contributions. I don’t know if this is a decent reading of his material, but even if it’s halfway-good, I’d recommend grabbing it!
  • No One Like Him: The Doctrine of God by John Feinberg (free Logos resource) – This is Feinberg’s expanded treatment of the doctrine of Theology Proper. If you’re interested in such things, I’m betting that it’s pretty good.
  • The Promises of God by RC Sproul (free Faithlife resource) – This Sproul’s treatment of the biblical covenants. I’m guessing he differs from LBC in a few places, but he was a great popularizer of Reformed theology. I’d pick it up.
  • The Promised Messiah (December Tabletalk) – There’s a new edition of Tabletalk magazine. You know my feelings on Tabletalk by now: it’s always worth the time it takes to read.
  • The Immutability of God (CredoMag) – There’s also a new edition of CredoMag out, which is generally time well-spent as well.
  • Themelios 43.3 – There’s also a new issue of Themelios, which means a handful of articles and more book reviews than you can shake a stick at. At a glance, Pak’s article looks promising, and I’ll happily take the time to read anything that DA Carson takes the time to write, even if it’s just an introduction.

That’ll do for now. Enjoy!

Pro Rege

Tell Ye Your Children Of It

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Joel 1:3

In this simple way, by God’s grace, a living testimony for truth is always to be kept alive in the land-the beloved of the Lord are to hand down their witness for the gospel, and the covenant to their heirs, and these again to their next descendants.

  • This is our first duty, we are to begin at the family hearth: he is a bad preacher who does not commence his ministry at home. The heathen are to be sought by all means, and the highways and hedges are to be searched, but home has a prior claim, and woe unto those who reverse the order of the Lord’s arrangements.
  • To teach our children is a personal duty; we cannot delegate it to Sunday School Teachers, or other friendly aids, these can assist us, but cannot deliver us from the sacred obligation; proxies and sponsors are wicked devices in this case: mothers and fathers must, like Abraham, command their households in the fear of God, and talk with their offspring concerning the wondrous works of the Most High.
  • Parental teaching is a natural duty-who so fit to look to the child’s well-being as those who are the authors of his actual being? To neglect the instruction of our offspring is worse than brutish.
  • Family religion is necessary for the nation, for the family itself, and for the church of God. By a thousand plots Popery is covertly advancing in our land, and one of the most effectual means for resisting its inroads is left almost neglected, namely, the instruction of children in the faith. Would that parents would awaken to a sense of the importance of this matter.
  • It is a pleasant duty to talk of Jesus to our sons and daughters, and the more so because it has often proved to be an accepted work, for God has saved the children through the parents’ prayers and admonitions.

May every house into which this volume shall come honour the Lord and receive His smile.

7.11p

Why I Serve in Fireflies

by Stephanie Chung

Fireflies, the nursery ministry of LBCSD, has one of the largest staffs of any of the children’s ministries, or ministries in general at the church. While this is in no small part due to the sheer number of children the Lord blesses our church with, it is also because of the hearts of the members to love, teach, and disciple our littlest ones. And every week I serve, I get to witness exactly that.

I joined the Fireflies staff about 6-7 years ago while I was in college. I was interested in the ministry because I wanted to serve in an official ministry and I enjoyed working with kids – teaching them God’s Word, shepherding their hearts. I was trying to choose between joining Fireflies or Sparklers, and Carol, our ministry coordinator, got to me first. So here I am.

A few years later, I joined the teaching staff. As an aspiring teacher, I believed I would be a good fit for the ministry. I thought the transition from classroom instruction to teaching nursery lessons would be an easy one; I thought I had the merits needed to be an engaging and effective teacher; I believed myself to possess the necessary qualities to be able to do this well. While these things weren’t untrue, I quickly realized my mistake of depending too much on my own strength to accomplish something only the Lord can do.

Since then, I’ve learned and experienced that teaching the Fireflies is so much more than trying to calm a screaming baby or changing a few smelly diapers, and more than managing a roomful of children with the many different ways they disobey or get into conflicts, and even more than telling a Bible Story in a way that just keeps the children’s interest and then producing a craft to have something to show for the day. Rather, the call of being on staff is an act of worship and glorifying God, through the teaching of His Word in order to make disciples.

One of the main priorities of the ministry is to teach God’s truth, and that comes with the weighty responsibility to handle it accurately (2 Timothy 2:15). Every lesson teaches the children about the God of the Bible – his sovereignty, his goodness, his love. This requires studying and meditating on the passage of scripture from which the lesson is found. The children learn to love God’s word as they learn and memorize scripture through songs and hand-motions, as well as to contemplate the characters and events of the Old and New Testaments. Often, the lessons that we teach about God and his attributes are good and timely reminders for the staff and me as well, and my own love for God and his Word is deepened.

Through the teaching of God’s Word, the staff and I are intentionally carrying out the MVP, particularly the M – to make disciples of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). We teach a Bible lesson on an attribute of God and appeal to the children to make choices and live lives according to the Lord’s will. Sometimes, the lessons learned aren’t even during the formal lesson time. By interacting with the staff and other children, they are learning to listen and obey the first time, to be kind to others, make wise choices, to share, to be peacemakers.

Serving in nursery is an extension of our worship to the Lord. It is one of the ways we get to glorify God on Sunday morning. We are speaking truth each week, and yes, even starting at this early age because we do not presume on what the Lord can or cannot use to fulfill his kingdom’s work. We are simply called to be the faithful servants to carry out this mission. We plant the seeds of the gospel so that one day, when they can understand the weight of the Lord’s message, the soil will be ready to receive it. This is our prayer and this is our hope. We do this, not because we have the power to save or only because we are called to, but out of love for the Lord and His precious little ones. And we trust that the Lord will work mightily through us in the hearts of the children and accomplish his will.

After That Ye Have Suffered Awhile…

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

1 Peter 5:10

You have seen the arch of heaven as it spans the plain: glorious are its colours, and rare its hues. It is beautiful, but, alas, it passes away, and lo, it is not. The fair colours give way to the fleecy clouds, and the sky is no longer brilliant with the tints of heaven. It is not established. How can it be? A glorious show made up of transitory sun-beams and passing rain-drops, how can it abide? The graces of the Christian character must not resemble the rainbow in its transitory beauty, but, on the contrary, must be stablished, settled, abiding. Seek, O believer, that every good thing you have may be an abiding thing. May your character not be a writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the rock! May your faith be no ‘baseless fabric of a vision,’ but may it be builded of material able to endure that awful fire which shall consume the wood, hay, and stubble of the hypocrite. May you be rooted and grounded in love. May your convictions be deep, your love real, your desires earnest. May your whole life be so settled and established, that all the blasts of hell, and all the storms of earth shall never be able to remove you.

But notice how this blessing of being ‘stablished in the faith’ is gained. The apostle’s words point us to suffering as the means employed-‘After that ye have suffered awhile.’ It is of no use to hope that we shall be well rooted if no rough winds pass over us. Those old gnarlings on the root of the oak tree, and those strange twistings of the branches, all tell of the many storms that have swept over it, and they are also indicators of the depth into which the roots have forced their way. So the Christian is made strong, and firmly rooted by all the trials and storms of life. Shrink not then from the tempestuous winds of trial, but take comfort, believing that by their rough discipline God is fulfilling this benediction to you.

7.11a

God’s Wisdom for Parenting (Part 8)

by Pastor Patrick Cho

One of the places in Scripture to find a wealth of helpful principles for parenting is the Proverbs. Almost every book on parenting will reference these Scriptures repeatedly because of the wisdom they contain. Besides the plethora of verses that apply to parenting indirectly, several passages address parenting specifically.

He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently. (Proverbs 13:24)

In this series, I have been walking through proverbs that specifically deal with the theme of parenting. The passage for today comes just two verses after the previous verse we looked at. As with some earlier proverbs, this verse walks through the importance of discipline, but here it is specifically dealing with applying the rod in parenting. It is not surprising that this is a controversial issue amongst parents outside the church. Many secular articles have been written warning against the dangers of spanking. But from a Christian perspective, God’s Word is clear that a parent’s responsibility is to guide their children away from sinful behavior by loving discipline and the implementation of the “rod.”

Some Christians have attempted to argue that the Bible does not promote spanking young children. They claim that, though well-intended, we have misunderstood Scripture’s intent. One argument they posit is that the Hebrew word for “child” (Heb. naar) in the Proverbs does not refer to young children but older youths. A quick look at several passages would demonstrate that this is false. While it is true that the word can refer to young men (Gen. 14:24), it is also used to label very young children (Gen. 21:12) and even infants (Exod. 2:6; 1 Sam. 1:22). This word can be applied to any child that is not a full-grown adult. The notion that the Bible does not promote spanking children is driven by a predetermined agenda without allowing Scripture to speak for itself.

This proverb states that the one who refrains from implementing the rod of discipline hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently. This is contrary to the unfortunate thinking of many parents that spanking is unloving or harsh. Of course, a parent can punish their child in a very unloving and even abusive way, but biblical discipline never allows for this. Biblically, discipline is either applied in love or it is sin. Parents who spank their children in anger need to repent and seek forgiveness from God and their children. The motive for biblical correction is always love.

Many parents today reject spanking because of a faulty understanding of human nature, that children are basically innocent. As such, too many unfortunately allow their children to learn merely from their experiences and their own life choices. Too many parents allow their children to have their own way. But the Bible commands parents to teach a child the way to go. In fact, the Bible teaches that leaving a child to choose their own way will lead to their spiritual destruction. This is why the author states that withholding discipline is tantamount to hating your child.

It follows then that if a parent loves their child with true, godly love, they will seek to save their child from a course in life that leads to destruction by not allowing them to go their own way (Prov. 29:15; cf. Prov. 22:6 CSB). Parents are to do this “diligently” (Heb. mūsar). This is an interesting adverb in Hebrew that comes from the root word for “dawn.” It should be understood as “early.” In other words, diligently disciplining your child is to correct their behavior early without allowing it to persist.

Evening And The Morning Were The First Day

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Genesis 1:5

The evening was ‘darkness’ and the morning was ‘light,’ and yet the two together are called by the name that is given to the light alone! This is somewhat remarkable, but it has an exact analogy in spiritual experience. In every believer there is darkness and light, and yet he is not to be named a sinner because there is sin in him, but he is to be named a saint because he possesses some degree of holiness. This will be a most comforting thought to those who are mourning their infirmities, and who ask, ‘Can I be a child of God while there is so much darkness in me?’ Yes; for you, like the day, take not your name from the evening, but from the morning; and you are spoken of in the word of God as if you were even now perfectly holy as you will be soon. You are called the child of light, though there is darkness in you still. You are named after what is the predominating quality in the sight of God, which will one day be the only principle remaining.

Observe that the evening comes first. Naturally we are darkness first in order of time, and the gloom is often first in our mournful apprehension, driving us to cry out in deep humiliation, ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner.’ The place of the morning is second, it dawns when grace overcomes nature. It is a blessed aphorism of John Bunyan, ‘That which is last, lasts for ever.’ That which is first, yields in due season to the last; but nothing comes after the last. So that though you are naturally darkness, when once you become light in the Lord, there is no evening to follow; ‘thy sun shall no more go down.’ The first day in this life is an evening and a morning; but the second day, when we shall be with God, for ever, shall be a day with no evening, but one, sacred, high, eternal noon.

7.10p

Fellow Citizens With The Saints

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Ephesians 2:19

What is meant by our being citizens in heaven?

  • It means that we are under heaven’s government. Christ the king of heaven reigns in our hearts; our daily prayer is, ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ The proclamations issued from the throne of glory are freely received by us: the decrees of the Great King we cheerfully obey.
  • Then as citizens of the New Jerusalem, we share heaven’s honours. The glory which belongs to beatified saints belongs to us, for we are already sons of God, already princes of the blood imperial; already we wear the spotless robe of Jesu’s righteousness; already we have angels for our servitors, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward. We share the honours of citizenship, for we have come to the general assembly and Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven.
  • As citizens, we have common rights to all the property of heaven. Ours are its gates of pearl and walls of chrysolite; ours the azure light of the city that needs no candle nor light of the sun; ours the river of the water of life, and the twelve manner of fruits which grow on the trees planted on the banks thereof; there is nought in heaven that belongeth not to us. ‘Things present, or things to come,’ all are ours.
  • Also as citizens of heaven we enjoy its delights. Do they there rejoice over sinners that repent-prodigals that have returned? So do we. Do they chant the glories of triumphant grace? We do the same. Do they cast their crowns at Jesu’s feet? Such honours as we have we cast there too. Are they charmed with His smile? It is not less sweet to us who dwell below. Do they look forward, waiting for His second advent? We also look and long for His appearing.

If, then, we are thus citizens of heaven, let our walk and actions be consistent with our high dignity.

7.10a

The Grace of Accountability

by Pastor Patrick Cho

People by nature are blame shifters. When Adam and Eve were first confronted about their sin in the Garden, they did not immediately own up to their sin. Adam was quick to blame his wife (and even God) for causing him to disobey the Lord’s command, Eve passed the blame onto the serpent, and people have since tended to follow in their footsteps. Our proclivity to minimize our guilt and excuse our sin is inherent, inherited from our original parents.

No one likes the feeling that comes with being held accountable for their wrongdoing. It isn’t pleasant to be called out for your sin. But as pride-swallowing as it is, this is a ministry of love that we desperately need. When you take time to consider the importance of accountability, you also start to understand how much it is a ministry of grace. Let us walk through at least three reasons:

  1. It is loving for brothers and sisters in Christ to point out sin in your life. The Bible warns against surrounding yourself with people who are only going to coddle you and tell you what you want to hear. Consider Proverbs 27:6, which states, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful [lit. profuse or abundant] are the kisses of an enemy.” If I did not love you, I would allow you to continue living in a manner that is displeasing to God. But because I love you, I should call out your sinful decisions. This should be done in love (1 Cor. 13:1) and with a spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1).
  2. When someone confronts you because of your sin, they are potentially saving your life from destruction. James 5:19-20 talks about restoring a sinning brother who has strayed from the truth. V. 20 states that in doing so, you “save his soul from death.” If I did not love you, I would let you develop habits and indulge in sin that would eventually lead to your destruction. But because I love you, I am called to point out destructive behavior in your life especially if I sense that you are blind to it or calloused and hardened.
  3. This needs to be a regular part of life because sin is a regular part of your life. It is not that we are keeping a close eye on one another in order to catch those moments that we sin. The church is so much more than a sort of spiritual police force looking to catch perpetrators. In fact, we should be known more for the ways that we build up, encourage, and bless (Prov. 16:24; Eph. 4:29; Rom. 12:14). But the fact remains that we sin, often repeatedly and in visible ways. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of the sin “which so easily entangles us.” Because sin is easy, friends serve as an invaluable ministry as a second set of eyes to keep watch over our lives. When we are tempted to stray, they can lead us back to what is right. When we fall, they can help pick us up. Read Hebrews 3:12-13. The verbs and pronouns in that verse are all plural. It is the church’s responsibility, when a person falls into sin, to call that person to repentance and encourage them to do what is right.

The church needs a constant reminder of the offensiveness of sin. God loves righteousness, but He hates sin. By the grace of salvation through faith, He has removed the penalty of sin from the believer. Those who are in Christ no longer need to fear any condemnation because this salvation is secure (Rom. 8:1). But sometimes there is a tendency with those who enthusiastically affirm and embrace sola gratia (the doctrine of salvation by grace alone!) to diminish the ongoing work of God in the believer to crucify the flesh (Gal. 5:24) and promote righteous living in sanctification. One helpful and needed defense that God has provided against personal sin is the grace of Christian accountability.