Important Truths Pertaining to Preaching

I had a great time with the elders of Bethel Grace at the 9Marks workshop this past weekend!  All the speakers blessed us tremendously.  Pastor Rick Holland of Grace Community Church brought a message stressing the primacy and vital importance of God’s Word in the life of a local church.  Here’s my attempt to recapitulate a few of his points that really blessed me…

1.  Don’t judge the success of a message by the retention of all its content so much as by its impact on the heart and life the hearer.  Not everyone will remember every truth received in a message.  Most families don’t go home and recite the cleverly alliterated outline!  But the encounter of receiving God’s Word faithfully preached is vitally important to the soul.

  2.  Yesterday, many preachers wanted to be accepted by the academic world.  Today, many preachers want to be accepted by pop-culture.  Above all, Spirit-filled preachers want to be approved by God.

3.  The Gospel is not necessarily in every text, but it should be in every sermon.  Point people to the cross.

Here, There and Back Again

Here are some interesting items online!…

Desiring God Holiday Sale. ‘Tis the season! Start your holiday shopping with some edifying resources from John Piper at great bargains.

Increase in depression and suicide among pastors. Totally sobering. This is why the Holy Spirit inspired verses like Hebrews 13:17. This is why Christians should love their pastors and pray for them rather than criticize and gossip about them.

“The Day I Went to Church.” An Aussie describes his first visit to a local church. Oh, let’s reach out to visitors in love Bethel Grace! Thanks for the link, Donovan!

Free Tim Keller Sermons. Pastor Tim Keller, of Redeemer Prespyterian Church in New York, has recently made his sermons available free of charge. Awesome resource!

Amazed by a Pure and Elevated View of Christ

As you read throughthe Gospel of Mark, you noticed these words showing up again and again describing the way people responded to Jesus:
“amazed,”
“astounded,” 
“afraid,”
“terrified,”
“marveled.”

Think closely on these phrases:
“utterly astounded”
“astonished beyound measure.”

This Sunday morning at Bethel Grace we enter into the life of Christ . Mark will introduce us to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the prologue, he will line up five testimonies revealing to us the glory of who Jesus is and what he came to do.  I am praying that you will be amazed, astounded, and astonished at his glory and grace.

Jesus is our banner.  Pray He will be lifted high and draw all men to himself.

~Jeff

Deacon’s Fund this Sunday

Perhaps you recall the massage in James 5:1-6 from last Sunday.  James spoke words of stern judgment for those who hoard resources with no sympathy for the people around them in need.  A heavy and challenging passage of Scripture!  And the Spirit used it to stir many of our hearts toward generosity. 

Here is one way you can help people in the Bethel Grace family who are in need.  Give to the Deacon’s Fund.  This fund is separate from the operating budget of Bethel Grace.  It goes directly to assist members of the congregation who find themselves in need.  It provides financial assistance for rent, food, medical care, utilities, and other expenses.  

It was reported at the August 16th Quarterly Business Meeting that our Deacon’s Fund is currently running a deficit in the range $1,700.  That’s indicative of how many people are turning to Bethel Grace for support during tough economic times.

This Sunday, as with every communion Sunday, a collection will be received at the close of the service for the Deacon’s Fund.  Please consider giving to this worthy cause!

~Jeff

Jonathan’s Quip & Help for Parents

After church services yesterday, I called Jonathan to come to the car so we could drive home.  He approached with a pensive look on his face.  He went on to clarify the “new terms” of our relationship. 

“Daddy, when you don’t tell me what to do, I’ll do it.  And, when you tell me what to do, I won’t do it.”

…Sigh…  Part of me wanted to crack up laughing.  Part of me wanted to weep. 

I love my little boy so much it hurts.  Jonathan, like all of us in our fallen nature, does not want to have an authority over his life.  He wants to be the captain of his own ship. 

I went on the explain to him that God made him.  God is his authority.  God has entrusted him to Kristy and I as authorities over his life as well.   And God has called  him to live in the circle of obedience to his parents. 

In Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp has identified objectives for parenting during three stages of a child’s life.  This book and these principles have been very helpful to Kristy and me as we lead them in God’s ways.  We recommend the book to you for further equipping and support.  

~Jeff

Here is a glimpse of these three stages and objectives for each stage: 

Ryle

 

JC Ryle

Danny Ryle

 

The writings of JC Ryle have been a great encouragement to my walk with Christ.  Of all the books I own, Ryle’s four volume work, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, is among my favorites. 

Because we’ve been so blessed by JC Ryle, and because we think his name has something of a ring to it, Kristy and I even named our second little one Daniel Ryle Saltzmann!

I’m glad to see that a new blog has been launched providing daily quotes from the writings and sermons of JC Ryle.  I encourage you to receive daily encouragement from this brother in Christ here: J.C. Ryle Quotes

 
Enjoy!,
Pastor Jeff

Church Membership

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

In Acts 2:44-47, we see a picture of corporate spiritual vitality in the Church.  Over and over again it is described how the church was together: together in the temple courts, together in one another’s homes, and together with glad and sincere hearts.  From the start, there has been a strong emphasis of togetherness in our life in Christ.

 

Four reasons why membership is encouraged at BGBC:

Witness to me!

I’m reading a helpful book called The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever.  Here is a little quote that has had an enouraging effect on me to share the Gospel even when something in me resists:

“A friend once asked me, ‘So you’re a Christian?  Then tell me the Gospel!  Witness to me, or somethin’!'”

Is there anyone in your sphere of friendships that you’ve not shared the Gospel with?  Might they think it strange that, being a Chrisitian, you haven’t? 

“Let your conversation always be full of grace…”
Colossians 4:6

 

 

Tips for watching the Super Bowl

Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll be spending my time meditating on Genesis 13-14 for the evening service, where I hope to see you!  But I am planning to tape the game and watch it Monday.  I’m looking forward to watching Tom Brady and the Patriots complete their perfect season.  Yes, that is my prediction!  Please don’t tell me the score when you see me tomorrow night! 

For the rest of you football fans, CJ Mahaney has offered some helpful tips for watching the Super Bowl.  Here is a summery:

Let’s Read!

Books I read in 2007
A Display of God’s Glory – Mark Dever
What Is a Healthy Church? – Mark Dever
The Deliberate Church – Mark Dever
The Radical Reformission – Mark Driscoll
Confessions of a Reformission Rev – Mark Driscoll
The Millennial Maze – Stanley Grenz
Stop Dating the Church – Joshua Harris
The Mortification of Sin, abridged version – John Owen
Why the Government Can’t Save You – John MacArthur
The Morning Comes and Also the Night – Byron McDonald
Brothers, We Are Not Professionals – John Piper
The Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey
The Thought of God – Maurice Roberts
Shepherding a Child’s Heart – Tedd Tripp 

Books I read heavily from in 2007
Lots of Bible Commentaries on Genesis, Psalms, I & II Thessalonians, & Titus
Heaven – Randy Alcorn
Elders and Leaders – Gene Getz
Disciplines of a Godly Man – Kent Hughes
Bowling Alone – Robert Putnam
Christian Leaders of the 18^th Century – JC Ryle
Lectures to My Students – CH Spurgeon
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands – Paul David Tripp 

English Standard Version of the Bible – For the record, I did not complete the reading of the entire Bible this year.  I finished the NT goal, but did not make it through the OT Prophets.  I will keep going until finished!  I’m enjoying the reading greatly! 

What did you read in 2007?  What are you going to be reading in 2008?  Do you have any suggestions?  Post a comment and let us know!~Jeff