Weekly Links (11/28/2014)

Thanksgiving is a moment to express profound, deep, sincere and genuine gratitude to the providence of God for a year’s worth of tender mercies that we have received from the hand of His benevolence. From His care, from His comfort, from His guidance, from His government of our lives, we are to take time to be grateful.
(R.C. Sproul)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Praise God for a holiday on a theme that He commends to all believers, that the world see the shallowness in their giving thanks (to whom do they give thanks?), and that the gospel opens up true thankfulness in our hearts. With that said, let’s get to this week’s links!

  • Dan Wallace recently commented on the New Testament manuscripts, and their portrayal of Christ, which contradicts the Muslim view of Jesus. Muslims claim the NT presents Jesus differently than what Christians believe, and Wallace is the expert to give a great response. Fascinating stuff, in case you get the opportunity to speak with a Muslim concerning this claim.
  • Tim Challies wrote a timely piece on lateness and the strengths and weaknesses that can come from being late, as well as on time. I’m sure we’ve all had to deal with this sometime in the past, and will probably deal with it in the future. Hopefully, this article will bring needed balance, and thoughtful discussion.
  • Fred Butler refutes the objection that the Bible forced women in Old Testament times to marry those who raped them. This is one to bookmark.
  • Time magazine came out with an article a couple years ago called, “Are You Mom Enough?” that erupted anew the mommy war in American culture. In response. Desiring God Ministries published articles to their blog from moms who believe in a sovereign God and expressed a biblical worldview in terms of motherhood, parenting and trials in the trenches. This past week, they put out a new book collecting the best articles from that series, entitled, Mom Enough: The Fearless Mother’s Heart and Hope. Click the link to get the book for free on PDF, EPUB or MOBI.
  • Jay Adams is the pioneer who started the biblical counseling movement with his rejection of modern psychology and call for pastors to return to counseling their flock with the Word of God. He has maintained a program for pastors and laypeople to be trained online in the area of biblical counseling. For a limited time, he is giving access to his first lecture to the first course, “Introduction to Biblical Counseling.” Don’t miss out on this!
  • News concerning the grand jury’s decision to not indict officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown has led to a lot of protests, riots, and spilled ink. Here are some of the most helpful words I’ve come across thus far: Dan Phillips,  Voddie Baucham, Al Mohler, and Jesse Johnson.
  • In light of the Thanksgiving holiday, R.C. Sproul, Jr. reminds us that as believers, thanksgiving is a lifestyle, not a holiday.  Doug Wilson focuses on thanking God even when trouble has come our way. Also, be sure to pick up R.C. Sproul’s two free messages on Thanksgiving.

That’s all for this week! We hope you have been able to enjoy Thanksgiving by giving ultimate thanks to the Father for His provision, to the Son for His life, death, and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit for illuminating the Word of God and empowering us to battle sin! See you in the Lord’s house this Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

Marriage Check Up: Session 2

by Pastor Patrick Cho, Brian Chan, & Beverly Chan

Our study in Grace Life through Wayne Mack’s book, Preparing for Marriage God’s Way, continued with a look at chapter 2 entitled “Going Deeper.” For each session, both husband and wife are asked to do the homework independent of their spouse. They are then to get together to talk through their answers as a couple. (Since the book is intended to be a premarital counseling help, obviously, some of the questions need to be reinterpreted to fit a post-wedding relationship.) All the couples get together, then, at Grace Life to walk through the lesson together. This week’s response to the discussion is provided by Brian and Beverly Chan.

Grace Life recently finished discussing chapter two of Preparing for Marriage God’s Way, by Wayne Mack. When you combine food, childcare, and an open discussion about marriage, it almost always makes for a good time. It’s definitely different going through the book from this side of the fence i.e. married, not dating, and this week’s discussion took us back to our old days of dating and engagement.

The session started off with the simple challenge of openly praising something your spouse did the previous week. It’s designed to foster encouragement before engaging in some deeper and possibly tumultuous discussion regarding marriage. Not only was it helpful to think about something positive your spouse did but it was also encouraging to hear what other people were doing for their partners.

One of the best things about our time on Thursday nights is the open discussion format. While Pastor Patrick goes over the chapter, he asks various questions that anyone in the room can publicly respond to. This keeps the discussion constructive and engaging. Oftentimes young parents do not get many opportunities to discuss deeper issues with other parents simply because there isn’t much time during the week due to the demands of raising a family. The Thursday night discussions provide a time for couples to have a conversation they would not normally have during the week. As a result, you get to hear various points of view on a topic that could potentially differ from your own. The best part of it is thinking through these responses biblically and sometimes, that can lead to some uncomfortable or even unpopular conclusions.

We spent a great deal of time discussing what attracted us to our spouses back when we were dating and eventually evolved into what exactly was “biblical attraction”. This is obviously a very sensitive topic and a point of struggle for many well-meaning single adults. The popular definition of attraction in our culture consists largely in part of the physical aspect while often ignoring the spiritual component. If our allegiance is to Christ and our heart’s desire is to be more like Him, then what we look for in a spouse should mirror what Christ would (and did) seek after: a person’s heart. What was edifying was determining what was biblical, then hearing from different men and women regarding the struggles a single man or woman might go through should they take this point of view. We all know that it’s one thing to subscribe to a particular theological conviction but quite another to follow through with its implications in real life. How does one handle physical attraction when dating/what about the Song of Solomon? What should a young lady do if she feels no “chemistry” to somebody courting her? Should a man continue to pursue a girl if he feels no physical attraction to her? What would we teach our own children regarding these things?

We both appreciated the time with Grace Life (especially the childcare) and continued the discussion in the car ride home. We look forward to our next meeting and strengthening our marriages with other fellow believers!

Giving Thanks

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Since this week we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to share a few thoughts from Scripture about the giving of thanks. I know that there will have been thousands of sermons given this week on the theme of thankfulness (and many articles and blogs as well), so I will try to keep this brief. Having surveyed some of the passages of Scripture about giving thanks, I was drawn to some unifying themes that I found helpful to meditate on especially for the holiday. Hopefully, you too will find them beneficial for your soul.

First, we should give thanks because of the great and wondrous things that the Lord has done (1 Chron. 16:8-9). Our thanksgiving to God does not only have to revolve around the things He has done for us. If we consider the mighty acts of God in creation, the forming of the nation of Israel, the miraculous sustenance, provision, and preservation of His people, and countless other things He has done, we can marvel at what an amazing God He is. He has put His name and glory on display, demonstrating His almighty power, perfect wisdom, and abiding presence.

Second, (and this is related) we give thanks because of who God is and what that means for us. In 1 Chronicles 16:34-35, David prays that God would save His people from the nations that they might praise Him. He appeals to the truth that God is good and His steadfast love endures forever. In other words, because of who God is and what David knows to be true about Him, David can confidently pray in accordance with his understanding of God’s character. As Christians, we know that God has saved us from our sins, and it is good to remember that this is because of His love, grace, and kindness towards us and not merely because of our inherent beauty and worth.

Third, it is worth considering that in Old Testament times, the offering of thanks was through an animal sacrifice (Lev. 7:11-15; 22:27-30). It was more than sentiment or a kind gesture. It was worship, because worship involves sacrifice. The same theme continues in the New Testament, though in a different application. Paul writes to the Romans that they ought to sacrifice themselves to the Lord as a living sacrifice, which is their spiritual service of worship (cf. Rom. 12:1). So even in New Testament application, worship involves sacrifice.

Fourth, though we are called to be thankful at all times, it is appropriate to have special times of thanksgiving in recognition of God’s provision or sustenance. Whether they had just enjoyed God’s deliverance from their enemies or had completed building the Temple, the people would offer thanks to God for His goodness. When Nehemiah completed his work to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem, he brought leaders up to the wall and appointed two great choirs to give thanks (Neh. 12:31). In the same way, though as Christians we are called to be thankful generally and at all times, it is appropriate and good to take time this week to consider the specific ways God has blessed you this year and to offer thanks to Him “because He is good and His love endures forever.”

She Bound The Scarlet Line In The Window

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Joshua 2:21

Rahab depended for her preservation upon the promise of the spies, whom she looked upon as the representatives of the God of Israel. Her faith was simple and firm, but it was very obedient. To tie the scarlet line in the window was a very trivial act in itself, but she dared not run the risk of omitting it. Come, my soul, is there not here a lesson for thee? Hast thou been attentive to all thy Lord’s will, even though some of His commands should seem non-essential? Hast thou observed in his own way the two ordinances of believers’ baptism and the Lord’s Supper? These neglected, argue much unloving disobedience in thy heart. Be henceforth in all things blameless, even to the tying of a thread, if that be matter of command.

This act of Rahab sets forth a yet more solemn lesson. Have I implicitly trusted in the precious blood of Jesus? Have I tied the scarlet cord, as with a Gordian knot in my window, so that my trust can never be removed? Or can I look out towards the Dead Sea of my sins, or the Jerusalem of my hopes, without seeing the blood, and seeing all things in connection with its blessed power? The passer-by can see a cord of so conspicuous a colour, if it hangs from the window: it will be well for me if my life makes the efficacy of the atonement conspicuous to all onlookers. What is there to be ashamed of? Let men or devils gaze if they will, the blood is my boast and my song. My soul, there is One who will see that scarlet line, even when from weakness of faith thou canst not see it thyself; Jehovah, the Avenger, will see it and pass over thee. Jericho’s walls fell flat: Rahab’s house was on the wall, and yet it stood unmoved; my nature is built into the wall of humanity, and yet when destruction smites the race, I shall be secure. My soul, tie the scarlet thread in the window afresh, and rest in peace.

4.18a

Weekly Links (11/21/2014)

Conversion is the radical turn from an enslaved life of pursuing sin to a free life of pursuing and worshiping God. Conversion is a change of life, not merely a decision. This change is not a matter of moral rectitude, self help, or mere behavior modification. It is not accomplished by outward displays or religious practices like “walking the aisle.” It cannot be accomplished by human effort but only by the power of God. (Thabiti Anyabwile, “What Is a Healthy Church Member?”)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Many topics to highlight, so let’s get to it!

  • If you consider yourself to be complementarian with respect to gender roles, here are four dangers you need to avoid in order to represent Scripture faithfully.
  • Continuing the theme of advice for singles from last week, Pastor David Murray chimes in with 12 struggles all singles face in varying degrees and at various stages within singleness.
  • Tim Challies writes about some of the financial lessons he learned over the years since he and his wife got married. Look and learn from the financial mistakes made as well as mistakes they avoided.
  • How would you counsel a hurting member of the body of Christ through depression? This post gives some thoughts, along with homework, that aims at the root of this debilitating problem. I’ll be sure to link to part two when they post.
  • One of the big events that takes place every year is the meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. This year, they are in San Diego, and have many biblical scholars present speaking on various subjects of interest for the believer. One of the speakers, Bob Kellemen, will be presenting on biblical counseling that I wanted to make you all aware of. The title is, “Theo-Drama and Gospel-Centered Counseling: God’s Redemptive Drama and Our Ultimate Life Questions.” I would invite you to read and learn from a knowledgeable and gracious biblical counselor on this subject.
  • For all of you philosophy types out there (I’m not the only one, right?), Westminster Theological Seminary professor Vern Poythress came out with a new book in his series on incorporating a biblical worldview with respect to various subjects. Titled Redeeming Philosophy: A God-Centered Approach to the Big Questions, he gets at the heart of the pursuit of what is real, how we are to live, and how we know anything at all. Best of all, you can download the book for free! This would be a great resource to inform your mind in conversing with those deeply in search for meaning in their lives.
  • Struggling with anxiety? In this week’s PeaceMeal, attention is drawn to applying thankfulness to God for removing the sin of anxiety, which is rooted in pride and selfishness. Very fitting, given the celebration of Thanksgiving next week.
  • Speaking of Thanksgiving, as Christians, we can be thankful for the grace of God in the sending of His Son to redeem us from the consequences, power, and presence of sin. RTS President Michael Kruger argues Romans 3:21-22 is the most import ant passage in Scripture, and after reading it, you might agree. Whether you do or not, having that passage in our Bibles gives us the ultimate reason to be thankful!

That’s all for this week! Make sure to welcome Pastor Jim Kang from LBC East Bay this Sunday, as he will be in the pulpit, and don’t forget our All-Church Annual Thanksgiving Potluck later that night!

Soli Deo Gloria

Seeing Conflicts as Opportunities to Glorify God

by Joseph Ho

Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from Joseph Ho’s recent sermon of the same name.

This year, we are starting off the Single Life Bible study in Ken Sande’s book: The Peacemaker. We will be looking at the four G’s of peacemaking: glorify God, get the log out of your eye, gently confront, and go and be reconciled. I’d like to share an excerpt from the Bible study on the topic of “Seeing conflicts as opportunities to glorify God.”

Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Peacemaking is characterized by the life of those who profess to know Christ. But peacemaking is hard because it goes against the natural desire of the flesh. In Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus addresses the most difficult aspect of all human relationships, namely, the relationship between a person and his offender. Let’s take a look at verses 38 and 39.

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:38-39)

In verse 38, Jesus begins with “You have heard that it was said.” In the Sermon on the Mount, each time when Jesus addresses an Old Testament law by saying, “You have heard that it was said,” Jesus is bringing to light the erroneous understanding of that law as it was understood by the rabbinic traditions. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’” The rabbinic traditions misapplied this law in two ways. First, this law was not given to encourage retaliation; instead, it was given to limit retaliation. Second, the law was not given in the context of meting out personal revenge in conflict, but the law was given to the magistrates of those days so that the judges may know how to properly administer justice and to keep order in society. We see this law three times in the Old Testament: Exodus 21:23-25, Leviticus 24:19-20, Deuteronomy 19:16-21.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 19:16-21:

If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

First, we see here that the law was given to show the Israelites that there are negative consequences for breaking the law of God, and that every offender will receive the just punishment for the crime. Second, we see here that the law was not given in the context of personal vengeance, but it was given to the judges of those days so that they would know how to properly administer justice.

This law is a good law because innate in our human nature is the desire to over-retaliate. We see this in Lamech in Genesis 4:23-24, “Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.” Here, Lamech killed a man merely because that man struck him. He traded a wound for a body! We also see this in David’s life in 1 Samuel 25. When Nabal humiliated David’s servants and did not appreciate David’s kindness, David was furious and was ready to kill him. It was because of Nabal’s wife Abigail stopped David’s personal vendetta; otherwise, David would have done great harm to his witness and character as a future king of Israel.

Human vengeance always wants a pound of flesh for an ounce of offense. Jesus brings this law back to show it is wrong to use this law to carry out personal retribution.
Matthew 5:39, “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Here, Jesus is addressing the conflict on the personal level. He is not throwing out a blanket statement that we should not have a justice system that punishes evildoers. We learn in Romans 13:1-4 that God establishes the government to punish evildoers. And in James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:5, we are instructed to resist the devil. What Jesus is teaching here is that, in times of personal conflict, immediate retaliation should be the last thing on our mind. This idea is repeated again in Proverbs as well. Proverbs 20:22 says, “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.” Proverbs 24:29 says, “Do not say, ‘I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.’” In Jesus’ days, being slapped on the face is the most humiliating treatment of another person, and even in that kind of insult, we are not to retaliate or be quick to defend our pride.

Perhaps, Romans 12:19-21 sums up the best attitude in times of conflict:

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

During the time of the protestant reformation, there was a man by the name of George Wishart in Scotland. He was a contemporary and a friend of John Knox. He was known for his genuine love for the poor and the sick, and his passionate preaching of the true Gospel. Because of his bold opposition against the Catholic Church of that day, Cardinal David Beaton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, plotted to kill him. Beaton was an evil man. He was a Cardinal, and yet he was living in open immorality with a mistress. Seeing Wishart as an opposition to his authority, on March 1, 1545, Cardinal Beaton captured Wishart and sentenced him to be hanged and burned. During his execution, the hangman, knowing the good deeds of Wishart, was remorseful, sat down upon his knees, and said, “Sir, I pray you to forgive me, for I am not guilty of your death.” To whom Wishart kissed his cheek, and said, “Here is a token that I forgive you from my heart.” (Story from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs). Such forgiveness is impossible, unless one has tasted the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ.

Someone said it well:

To return evil for good. That is devilish.
To return evil for evil. That is human.
To return good for evil. That is divine.

We Would See Jesus

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

John 12:21

Evermore the worldling’s cry is, Who will show us any good?’ He seeks satisfaction in earthly comforts, enjoyments, and riches. But the quickened sinner knows of only one good. ‘O that I knew where I might find HIM!’ When he is truly awakened to feel his guilt, if you could pour the gold of India at his feet, he would say, ‘Take it away: I want to find HIM.’ It is a blessed thing for a man, when he has brought his desires into a focus, so that they all centre in one object. When he has fifty different desires, his heart resembles a mere of stagnant water, spread out into a marsh, breeding miasma and pestilence; but when all his desires are brought into one channel, his heart becomes like a river of pure water, running swiftly to fertilize the fields. Happy is he who hath one desire, if that one desire be set on Christ, though it may not yet have been realized. If Jesus be a soul’s desire, it is a blessed sign of divine work within. Such a man will never be content with mere ordinances. He will say, ‘I want Christ; I must have Him-mere ordinances are of no use to me; I want Himself; do not offer me these; you offer me the empty pitcher, while I am dying of thirst; give me water, or I die. Jesus is my soul’s desire. I would see Jesus!’

Is this thy condition, my reader, at this moment? Hast thou but one desire, and is that after Christ? Then thou art not far from the kingdom of heaven. Hast thou but one wish in thy heart, and that one wish that thou mayst be washed from all thy sins in Jesus’ blood? Canst thou really say, ‘I would give all I have to be a Christian; I would give up everything I have and hope for, if I might but feel that I have an interest in Christ’? Then, despite all thy fears, be of good cheer, the Lord loveth thee, and thou shalt come out into daylight soon, and rejoice in the liberty wherewith Christ makes men free.

4.17p

Weekly Links (11/14/2014)

Please pass me the Cup, Lord. It’s as necessary for me as it was for You. Give me strength and courage because what I ask is a fearful thing to me. Change me into a vessel fit for receiving not only what You would have for me, but also whom You would have me become. I have no strength to do this but by You. Strip me of me, and replace it with You. Have your own way with me. Thy will be done on earth—my earth, my life—as it is in heaven. Amen. (Greg Harris, The Cup and the Glory)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! This week has been a very productive week in the Christian blogosphere, so let’s jump in!

  • Stephen Altrogge has three crucial bits of wisdom for the single man and woman. There is no doubt in my mind that it will definitely benefit all in SingleLife (and CollegeLife, too). Pastor Aaron Menikoff also gives some timely encouragement that I hope is heeded.
  • How can our evangelism be more believable? Jonathan Dodson highlights Jesus’ approach in evangelism with His encounter with the rich, young ruler. Read, and evangelize.
  • CBMW has a stern article on men and marriage that challenges every husband and father to grow up. Consider yourself warned.
  • Recently, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (federal appeals court) affirmed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as the union between a man and a woman. Al Mohler has some helpful analysis regarding this timely decision.
  • In the news again is Simcha Jacobovici (remember the Jesus family tomb a few years ago?) who, along with Barrie Wilson, have just come out with a book about their claim that a lost gospel has been translated to ‘reveal’ Jesus having been married to Mary Magdalene. They’re also planning to come out with a documentary about this as well. RTS President Michael Kruger has some preliminary thoughts worth checking out. Expect to see this in the news.
  • Is evangelism a spiritual gift? You may be surprised at the answer.
  • Tim Challies has been working on a series of articles concerning productivity, or how to get things done efficiently, which I hadn’t really paid attention to, until his article on taming the email beast, which really caught my attention. Needless to say, this series is worth giving some time to spend, so spend it!
  • Do you engage in family worship? Would you know how to start? If neither, and you would want to know how to begin, here are five tips for grace-filled family worship.
  • If you have studied Mormonism to any extent, you may have come across the claim that Joseph Smith had more than one wife in his life. Christian apologists have been pointing this out for years, and now the LDS Church has come to admit this. Mormonism Research Ministry (a ministry you should become familiar with) has devoted time to review the articles that have been published on the LDS website admitting to Smith’s polygamy, and would highly recommend further look into this, to be prepared when speaking with Mormon missionaries (MRM’s website is a gold-mine of information related to witnessing to Mormons).
  • How do dispensationalists, covenant theologians, new covenant theologians, and progressive dispensationalists differ in their hermeneutics? Mark Snoeberger gives a quick summary that looks helpful.
  • If you’ve talked to me long enough, you’ll know that Psalm 119 is my favorite chapter in all of the Bible. Not because of its length, mind you, but the focus and devotion to the Word of God unbroken in this chapter is one worth emulating. So, I was very excited to see The Cripplegate put this chapter on display at their blog with the A-Z’s of Christian living from that psalm, along with recommended resources for further study. Get into this!
  • How would you encourage young pastors to develop long-term convictions? John MacArthur has some wise advice.

That’s all for this week! See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

3 Passages That Shape My Ministry

by Roger Alcaraz

Every Christian needs a few key verses in their life to remind them to have the right perspective towards ministry. Whether we’re in full time ministry or not, if we’re not reminding ourselves of God’s truth, then we will often minister according to our own wisdom and strength and it will inevitably be worthless before God. That’s why I personally made a list of 10 verses (three are included in the article) to meditate on occasionally to remind me of the type of ministry I want and the type of minister I want to be. Hopefully you can make a list of your own to help you in your ministry to never stray away from God’s word.

Psalm 119:9,11

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word…I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

I remember memorizing this verse early in my Christian walk because it reminded me of means by which we pursue purity; it’s through God’s word. God’s word is the instrument by which the agent, the Holy Spirit, sanctifies his people. I’m not the one who can produce repentance or purity in others’ lives. But that’s not what I’m called to do. What I am called to do is present the word as faithfully as possible so that the Holy Spirit can bring about holiness in a person’s life.

It really is the reason I’m in seminary. It’s so I can get a better handle of the meaning of God’s word so I can deliver it as undamaged as possible. If the gospel is the precious medicine that can save people and deliver them from the bondage of sin, then I’m just the delivery boy. This verse reminds me of the simplicity of pastoral ministry. And while “simple” doesn’t mean “easy”, it does relieve a lot of pressure and causes me to trust God who is the only one able to cause a real change in someone.

Matthew 22:37-40

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

This has shaped every aspect of my ministry because this verse is really the fuel for it all. Everything the church does needs to be done with the love for God and people as the motivation. This is important because Jesus says that the whole law can be paraphrased by those two commands, meaning that every command of God was meant as a means of loving God and people. A simple example would be the 10 commandments in which the first four deal with loving God and the remaining six deal with loving people. There are, of course, hundreds of more laws than those 10, but if hundreds of laws could be summarized in a few short words, then those words must be important.

From a ministerial point of view, it means that I can’t lose sight of why I do the things I do. I imagine the workload of a pastor and how busy it can make someone. It can be easy for the pastorate to become the list of tasks to complete each week and for it to become routine. I imagine there are many people who enter the ministry with the right motivation and with a vision to see the name of Christ exalted. Then as the pressure bears upon them, the love for God and people become less on their minds until one day the pastor and even the church itself becomes lifeless. Sure, maybe there are activities and even sound teaching, but the members are simply going through the motions, participating or serving because that’s what they’ve always done or because no one else is doing it.

One of the sharpest examples of this is Christ’s address to the Ephesian church in Revelation 2 where he commends them for certain things but holds something weighty against them, that they forgot the love they had at first. It’s a danger all churches face and it reminds us to always be cultivating that deep love for God first and foremost, and then out of that, a love for one another. Apart from doing these, we cannot please God in anything we do.

2 Timothy 2:2

what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

I may be only 27, but I am a grandfather. Not biologically of course, but spiritually. I have discipled and led people to Christ who have turned around and discipled and led others to Christ. So far, there’s only two generations after me but I’m always telling the people I disciple this verse and that I want great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. For me, Wayne Hu is my grandpa. He invested in a friend of his named Kevin Au who later invested in me. And when I say invest, I don’t just mean he shared the gospel so that I’m saved and he could leave. I mean he taught the gospel to me and then for the next three years trained me in how to study the Bible, how to share the gospel with others, what God’s word says, and how to be a godly man. And to this day I still remember one of his final lessons for me. He told me that I need to take the things I’ve learned and pass them along to someone else to keep the cycle going. And that’s what I have been doing for different people. What’s amazing is that I follow the same pattern that I saw before me. After seeing a person saved, I entrust to them the things that I have heard and tell them they need to do the same for others.

This pattern will follow me in ministry because I will always be investing in people and if it doesn’t yield fruit beyond the person, it wasn’t a very good investment. I remember I was given a group of mature believers for small group last year, so what we did was go through a series on sharing the gospel and biblical counseling and I gave them the homework of finding a younger guy and invest in him. The amazing thing is that they all were able to do this within 2 weeks and I’ve seen the fruits of their labor in these people’s lives, either by maturing in their faith or by being saved. If I become a pastor, I know not all of the work of ministry will be on me, but I want everyone to be investing in people for the sake of building up the church and reaching the lost.

Welcome to the Beacon (Again!)

by Stephen Rodgers

Based on some preliminary traffic numbers, it looks like we might see some new faces today. If so, welcome! Let me give you a quick tour and then get out of your way so you can explore.

  • Typically the Beacon updates anywhere from 3-4 times per week. Our “regular” articles are updates from our pastor and elders, updates from the various ministries, the “weekly links” where we highlight other articles around the web, and a devotional from Spurgeon on Saturday. We may add some new series in the near future, so keep an eye out!
  • As I’ve said before, you can read the Beacon on the web (this page), get updates on Facebook, via the iOS app, via the Android app, or via RSS.
  • We’ve collected most of our articles and series in the “Hub Post Directory.” If you’re looking for a series, it’s probably here. Some of the most popular series are on the topics of baptism, the books of the Old Testament, dating, an overview of theology, being a peacemaker, communion, and the charismatic gifts. There are plenty of others as well.
  • If you want to do some research on your own, you should check out our page of recommended resources, as well as Stoogle (a custom search engine that is quite helpful).

Feel free to poke around and take a look. If you notice anything that needs fixing or updating, or even if you just have a good idea for an article or series, just let a staff member now. As of the time of this writing, the staff members are Stephen, Richard, and Cesar (although you could probably figure that out since their names are on a lot of the recent articles!).

Thanks for reading!

Pro Rege