Monday, December 22, 2014

What Is The Heart of The Christmas Message?


Listen to the full message by Brad Jobert below.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

For Unto Us A Child Is Born (Trailer)


Watch, listen or download the full message by Steve Lawson here.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

The Christmas Intruder

by John MacArthur
In 2011 Christmas fell on a Sunday, and several churches canceled their church services because they didn’t want to interrupt Christmas. What a bizarre idea—not wanting to impose the worship of Jesus Christ on the day we celebrate His birth!

It is, however, an even greater paradox that another figure has been allowed to intrude on many Christmas celebrations every year. He is everywhere at this time of the year, and far more prevalent than any representation of Jesus Christ.

There is even a “hymn” dedicated to this intruder—one that explains his “theology.” And we all know the lyrics, as do our children:

You better watch out You better not cry You better not pout I’m telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town

Yes, Santa Claus is nothing more than a popular fairy tale. And yet he dominates the scene every year at Christmas.

What is remarkable about Santa is that his supposed power is eerily similar to God’s. He’s a transcendent being, not limited by the physical laws of this world. He can fly around the entire planet in a single night, stopping at every house along the way. And he’s surrounded by other heavenly beings that likewise aren’t subject to the constraints placed on the rest of creation. Santa is also omnipresent—he sees you when you’re sleeping. He’s omniscient—he knows when you’re awake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake.

The mythological Santa operates in a paradigm of benevolent promises and benign threats. If you’re good, you’ll get gifts. If you’re bad, you won’t. But, really, aren’t we left with the sense that everyone is rewarded with a gift, and any naughtiness is forgiven with a wink of Santa’s eye?

So not only does Santa fail to tell the truth, he’s not consistent within his own system of works righteousness. He makes threats but doesn’t follow through on them. Theologically, Santa Claus is a universalist. Ultimately everyone receives his favor.

Put simply, Santa is a fictional heavenly being of questionable character—he doesn’t tell the truth, makes empty threats, demands good works, rewards the disobedient, and only shows up once a year. Those traits fall far short of the true God who only speaks truth, keeps all His promises, judges those who reject Him, gives salvation by grace through faith and not by works, and is always present.

One of the saddest ironies about Christmas is that many think of Christ, not Santa Claus, as an unwelcome intruder. Not only does Santa’s long and dark shadow obscure the true message of Christmas, even the familiar nativity scene freezes time and locks in many minds the image of Christ as a helpless newborn, and nothing more.

But the babe in the manger grew up—He is no longer an “infant, tender and mild.” He is Jesus the Messiah, God incarnate, the revelation of God’s glory and His very image (Hebrews 1:3). The birth of Christ was the greatest condescension the world has ever known (Philippians 2:5–8), and His thirty-three years of human existence fulfilled all of God’s demands for sinless perfection on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus took on a body of human flesh so that He might bear in that body the punishment that sinners like us rightly deserved (1 Peter 2:24).

Unlike Santa’s, the Lord’s favor does not depend on our righteousness (Ephesians 2:1-9). Through His life and death, Christ made possible the greatest of gifts—eternal life (Romans 6:23)—given by His grace alone. And the good news of God’s gift is the sum of the Christmas message.

I’m not advocating for Santa’s complete expulsion, but let’s be sure to keep him where he belongs: with the other fictional characters of childhood whimsy. Don’t surrender to him any territory or focus that rightly belongs to Christ. And this year, as you prepare for your own Christmas celebration, let the words of another hymn reverberate in your heart:

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Friday, December 5, 2014

The Sum and Substance of the Gospel


Watch, listen or download the full message: "The Unloving Sinner" by Colin Mercer here.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Righteousness Is Always In Harmony With Truth


Watch, listen or download the full message: The Privilege of Persecution by John Innabnit here.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

The Lukewarm Christian


Excerpt from The Attributes Of God Vol. 1 by A.W. Tozer

Monday, November 3, 2014

The Only Way To Heaven Is Perfect Obedience


Watch, listen or download the full message "The Only Way to Live and Die" by Joel Beeke here.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

God Either Rules Over All, Or He Doesn't Really Rule At All


Watch, listen, or download the full message: "Ebola and the Bible" by Colin Mercer here.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Are You An Easy Target?


Elder Brad Jobert brings this message to Life Church (formerly New Testament Baptist Church) in Norton, MA on October 19, 2014. Listen or download the full message: Rebuilding God's House here.

Monday, October 13, 2014

A Deadly Disease


Watch, listen or download the full message by Richard Caldwell here.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

The Sovereignty of God in Suffering


Watch, listen or download the full message: "Experiencing Fiery Trials is Part of God's Plan" by Sean Harris here.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Identifying Marks of Repentance


Watch, listen or download the full message: Return But No Repentance by Brent Coley here.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Do You Need To Join A Church To Be Saved?


Watch, listen or download the full message: Evidences of Christ's Lordship by Frank Gagliano here.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Faith: Forsaking All I Trust Him!


Listen to the full message by Elder Brad Jobert given at Life Church (formerly New Testament Baptist Church) in Norton, MA here.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Making Sure our Calling and Election


Watch, listen or download the full message by Steven Key here.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Proof that Christ is Saviour


Watch, listen or download the full message by Peter Masters here.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Before I Formed You In The Womb I Knew You


Watch, listen or download the full message: Foreknowledge and Predestination by Todd Nibert here.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Seven Things You Need To Know

1. THERE IS LIFE AFTER DEATH
“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)
“All that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28,29)
2. WE WILL ALL STAND BEFORE GOD
“We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” (Romans 14:10)
“I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God…. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Revelation 20:12)
3. ALL SIN MUST BE JUDGED
“There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” (Luke 12:2)
“Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)
“God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
4. OUR “GOOD” IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
“We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)
“Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)
“By grace are ye saved through faith … not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)
5. GOD PROVIDES A WAY OUT
“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)
6. JESUS LIVES TO GIVE YOU LIFE
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)
“There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
7. YOU MUST TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18)
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
“There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Do you know these 7 things to be true?
It is God’s desire that you know His plan of salvation. Even more than that, it is of vital importance that you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today!
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)
“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10)
Source: http://www.mwtb.org

Monday, August 18, 2014

The Greatest Danger We Face As The Church


Watch, listen or download the full message: An Age of Persecution by Richard Caldwell here.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

The Three Great Exchanges


Watch, listen or download the full message: "Suppressing the Truth in Unrighteousness: The Gospel of Christ Confronts the Conspiracy of the Ages" by Al Mohler given at the 2014 Shepherds' Conference here.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Contextualize or Compromise?

by Pastor Ron Bridge of Rehoboth Baptist Church

My friend Jim Harrison is the pastor of Red Mills Baptist Church in Mahopac, NY. You might remember Jim as one of the speakers at the Rehoboth Bible Conference a couple of years ago. Jim is one of those pastor's who is deeply concerned over the accommodations that the church is making in order to reach people with the gospel in our post modern - and we can say with growing certainty – post Christian culture. The concern is that many of the accommodations have the unintended consequences of lessening rather than increasing spirituality.

You are familiar with some of the accommodations. In the majority of churches hymnals are rarely, if ever, used and have been replaced by choruses projected on a screen. While ostensibly making it easier for the person in the congregation to participate in singing, much that is important has been lost. The modern chorus, which can only be sung to a melody, lacks the depth and richness of the harmony that can only be achieved with a written musical score. This is especially evident when one of the great traditional hymns is attempted without a score. The long term result is that worship singing is reduced – with some exceptions – to a monotonous sameness.

An increasing number of churches no longer supply a Bible that can be held and referenced during a sermon. Some project the Scripture on the screen, often against a distracting background picture. All this is done in recognition that we live in a visual, rather than a word based culture. But the Bible is word based and studying the written word is essential to Christian growth and maturity. While projecting a verse on a screen may be convenient the long term impact is to lessen the importance of carrying and reading a personal Bible. Last week Mickie and I attended a large modern church and in my estimation about half the people did not carry a Bible. There are many other examples where the attempt to make the church and worship relevant to post-moderns – what is called contextualization - often ends up compromising something fundamental.

Now it can be argued that the two areas cited above are themselves cultural accommodations. It was not until the middle ages that musical instruments and musical scores were introduced into the church. Prior to that any singing was performed without accompaniment or score. Nor did worshipers prior to the same era have access to a Bible – most churches had a handwritten one or only portions. What the people knew of the Scriptures was through the teaching of priests, through oral tradition, or pictures, or icons. The consequence was a population heavily influenced by superstition and living in spiritual darkness. So, clearly, some cultural accommodations are helpful. Musical instruments, written music and readily available Scriptures have contributed greatly the church's worship. Any move away from these is a retreat to the dark ages.

Paul said that “he became all things to all men in order to save some” – he was willing to change methods but never to mess with fundamentals. This brings me back to some information that pastor Harrison sent to me. It is an analysis of the trends in preaching methodology titled: Preaching to Post Modern America for the Next Generation. Here are the key points:
1. The logic of the scripture is emphasized over its authority.
2. The love in the scripture is emphasized over its condemnation
3. The stories in the scripture are emphasized
4. The universal “calling” of the gospel is emphasized over its exclusive “choosing”
5. Preaching stems from a single text, without introducing other texts during the message
6. Preaching involves delivery of a single point sermon
7. Preaching provides intrinsic (internal) motivation while avoiding extrinsic (external) motivation i.e. “you must, you should, therefore you need to,”
8. Preaching involves avoiding technical language
9. Preaching involves avoiding the discussion of the Greek and Hebrew
10. Preaching involves a message that appeals to the pre-believer and believer in the body of the message not just an evangelistic conclusion and application
11. Interaction is encouraged during the preaching/teaching period
Now, I could spend a great deal of time addressing each point, one or two of which are good, for instance: a single text and single point can be very effective when speaking to unbelievers – I haven’t figured out what a pre-believer is yet, nor do I know of any message that appeals to one. But if adopted uncritically this methodology cannot but reduce the word of God to something on a par with Joel Osteen's “Your Best life Now.” In an attempt to be culturally relevant the offense of the gospel is removed. Let me take just two of the points.
 - The logic of the scripture is emphasized over its authority. What is the good of logic if the conclusions reached cannot be held as authoritative? That for me is vital. How can I preach if I cannot say: Thus saith the Lord! And having said it command the church to obey the Lord? If the authority of scripture is not established up front everything is up for grabs. That is why the very first article of this church is: “We believe in the absolute authority and accuracy of the 66 books of the Bible.”

 - Preaching involves avoiding technical language. Try preaching through Romans without getting technical. Justification, propitiation, imputation, election and predestination are deeply technical terms and must be explained in detail. To avoid such language is to avoid essential truths in an attempt to make the message palatable to post modern tastes. The gospel was never palatable to human taste or logic – it was never intended to be.
I could say a great deal more about the last point and can only imagine the scene in our church on Sunday morning if we adopted that approach! Sadly, this is not just a discussion list, it is representative of what is taking place in an increasing number of churches as they attempt to contextualize the message to modern Americans but fall prey to the law of unintended consequences - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine...

Friday, August 1, 2014

The Importance of Godliness


Watch the full message: "The Demands of Discipline" by Steve Lawson given at the 2014 Shepherds' Conference here.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Are You a Low Information Christian?


Watch the full message "Not the Spirit of the World: The Spirit of God vs. the Zeitgeist" by Phil Johnson given at the 2014 Shepherds' Conference here.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

The Juvenilization of the Church


This is a must watch for anyone not attending church! Watch the full message: "Fellowship" by John MacArthur given at the Shepherds' Conference 2014 here.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

What Will Your Children Remember About You?

Author: Steve Burchett
When my first child was just a baby, I’m sure my mindset was something like, “I might have 18 to 20 years with this gift from God. That’s plenty of time to train her up in the way she should go (Proverbs 22:6).” But the older she and her siblings get, the more I find myself saying, “Where has all the time gone? They are getting so big, so quickly!” I have yet to meet a conscientious parent who didn’t feel the same way.

Of course, the ultimate desire of believing parents is that their children become followers of Jesus Christ. This is an urgent matter that requires diligently teaching them God’s word, carefully exposing their sin, and faithfully proclaiming the gospel to them. In Paul’s words, we must “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

But is parenting only about words? I don’t think so. Most adults, when sharing memories of their parents, don’t typically remember too much of what their mom or dad said, but how they lived. For example, a son or daughter might say, “My dad was such a hard worker, he typically went to work even if he was sick,” or, “When my mom saw our ailing neighbor outside, she always stopped what she was doing to cheer her up.”

Here are two statements I hope my kids say about me when they grow up:

“My dad trusted in God to take care of our needs.”

Stress is normal for all of us. Work situations, financial difficulties, and physical troubles are just a few sources of potentially great anxiety. But God is powerful, and He is always faithful to His children. I want to live a life that demonstrates my belief in that.

The famous missionary to the cannibals, John Patton, was deeply influenced by his mother’s faith in God. He recorded one story about her “because of the lasting impression made upon my religious life.” [1] They didn’t have much when he was a boy. He remembers a season of “deep distress” because of a miniscule harvest. His father had even left the home to find work, and they were eagerly anticipating his arrival the following evening. However, they were very hungry now. Patton said his mother got all of the children to bed, “assuring us that she had told God everything, and that he would send us plenty in the morning.”

The very next day, not knowing their desperate situation, Patton’s grandfather sent them a bag of potatoes and “the earliest homemade cheese of the season.” Patton recalls, “My mother, seeing our surprise at such an answer to her prayers, took us around her knees, thanked God for His goodness, and said to us, ‘O my children, love your Heavenly Father, tell Him in faith and prayer all your needs, and He will supply your wants so far as it shall be for your good and His glory.’”

“My dad loved the local church.”

At one point during Jesus’ ministry, his mother and brothers came to take Jesus home—thinking he was “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21, 31-32). When they arrived to seize Jesus, He was teaching in a crowded house, so they sent for him. Mark recorded what happened next.

And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:31-35)

The family Jesus came to save—the group of people that did God’s will—took priority over even His biological family! Shouldn’t the same be true of us regarding our relationship to the local church? This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ever love and interact with our earthly family. But choosing to eagerly and whole-heartedly participate in the life and meetings of the church will affect how our children view the bride of Christ, and even Jesus Christ Himself. What are we really communicating to our children if we typically choose family parties or outings instead of the church meeting?

I am a pastor. So, perhaps you might then say, “Of course your kids will say that you loved the church!” Not necessarily. It is essential that they see me faithfully live out the “one anothers” of the New Testament. And if I want to leave a legacy of love for the church, it is critical that I talk about fellow church leaders and members with words full of love, respect, and appreciation.

When your children grow up, and they are asked, “Tell me about your dad,” or, “Tell me about your mom,” what do you think they will say?    


[1] This story and all quotes are from John G. Paton, John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2007 [Reprinted]), 21-22.
Copyright © 2014 Steve Burchett.
Permission granted for reproduction in exact form. All other uses require written permission.
Find more free articles at www.BulletinInserts.org, a ministry of Christian Communicators Worldwide: www.CCWtoday.org

Friday, July 4, 2014

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Is Your Church Operating In The Power of The Spirit?

Watch, listen or download the full message: What To Do With What Is Left by Joe Roof here.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Biblical Tests of True Faith (Trailer)


Watch, listen or download the full message by Paul Washer here.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Are You Sure?


Listen to the full message: Deceptions by Geoff Thomas here.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Dangerous Men, Dangerous Churches

by Pastor Ron Bridge of Rehoboth Baptist Church

When pastors get together the conversation often turns to the subject of church membership. It did so during one of the panel discussions at the New England Conference on Expository Preaching that I attended earlier this week. One question pastors frequently ask is: “Why is it that many members are not in regular attendance at the worship services of the church?” The frequency with which this question arises could be seen in the reaction of those on the panel. One shook his head while looking at his feet, another put his head in his hands and another looked wistfully at the ceiling – all before they looked at each other hoping that someone would have a fresh response. One of them did. But, before I tell you what he said we need to rehearse the usual response one hears to the question. By usual response, I mean that which is regularly heard from conservative ministers. Here they are:
- People are just not as committed today. They do not like to be constrained by the rules of membership. The proof of this is that people do not join any organization (religious or secular) in the numbers that they used to. We live in a culture that puts stress on individual freedoms and the rules of church membership are seen as restrictive. 
- People have been brought up in a culture that tells them to put self first. Anything that gets in the way of what one really wants to do takes second or third place, and that includes church. 
- People are just too busy – they have too many other things to do. 
- People are tired of the same old fashioned approach to church. Hence they flock to larger, trendy churches for a more uplifting experience. Experience is what counts more than commitment. People can “hide” in large churches and avoid the demands of membership. Indeed, many of the large churches do not have formal membership so if you miss a week or two, nobody notices.
Conservative pastors are likely to agree that no amount of encouragement, or chastisement, will make much difference if a person's heart is apathetic toward God. Apathy, otherwise known as backsliding, is a particular and systemic problem in the modern church. So, what was the fresh response? The reason for irregular attendance is that many Christians no longer fear God. Referencing Acts 5:1-13 (the account of Ananias and Sapphira), the panel member said: “It used to be that people were afraid to go to church, church was a dangerous place. If you went and lied – you died (Acts 5:11,13).”

It seems to me that many of our churches are no longer dangerous. For example: few churches practice discipline and pastors that attempt to do so are seen as unfeeling and unloving. As a result, there is no fear – no danger - of sinning because the church is unlikely to do anything about it. Steve Lawson recently said “preachers should be dangerous men.” Adrian Rogers put it this way: “The problem with many preachers today is that nobody wants to kill them.” The same could be said of churches in the USA – nobody wants to kill us.

It is different in other parts of the world where preachers and churches are under attack. They are so because they are dangerous – they are dangerous to the powers that be, they are dangerous to family members and neighbors. They are dangerous and they grow. People flock to them despite the threat of persecution because they fear God more than they fear men (Mat. 10:28). The pastors of those churches don't need to ask the question: Why is it that many do not attend the worship service? The answer being that the members are too afraid of God not to attend – walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit they were multiplied (Acts 9:31). 

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Sunday, May 4, 2014

The Prayerlessness of the Church


Watch or listen to the full message, "Relenting Wrath: The Role of Desperate Prayer in the Mystery of Divine Providence" by David Platt here.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Hell Will be Far Worse For Reached People


Watch the full message: Mass Defection by John MacArthur given at T4G 2014 here.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

John MacArthur Interview With Brannon Howse

John MacArthur joins Brannon Howse on Worldview Weekend Radio Aired April 24, 2014. Dr. MacArthur discusses many crucial issues including the myth that he declared at the Strange Fire conference that all charismatics are not saved. Topics will range from social justice to feminism in modern-day evangelicalism to his thoughts on the unbiblical film, Heaven is Real. Don't miss this exclusive interview.

Listen or download here.

Friday, April 18, 2014

What makes Good Friday good?

What makes Good Friday good?” you ask. A challenge! A rather daunting task. Some may dismiss it with a shrug and a smirk, And consider it another day off work. Others, religious, pious as such, Take a few minutes for a mournful watch; Merchants unlock their doors with glee, Anticipating the pre-Easter shopping spree. A bunny here, a chocolate egg there, Symbols of a society that doesn’t care. “Care?” you say, “Do you mean me?” “What’s there to care; how can this be?” It’s the cross, you forget, that rugged wood, That makes Good Friday eternally good.

What’s so good about the death of an ancient man, Who died long before my life began? This man, who on this earth once trod, Was not only man, but the Son of God. That wood, that tree, that old rugged cross, Was the symbol of gain and the symbol of loss. To those who believe, it is the promise of gain; The hope that, like Jesus, we’ll rise again! For the skeptic, the doubter, the meaning is loss; An eternal gulf, which no one can cross. Good Friday is good, because of the death Of Jesus the Savior, who gave His last breath So you, friend, and I, could be cleared of our guilt, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb that was spilt. Mourn not, my dear soul, for the death of the Lamb, For that cross made the bridge to the Great I AM. Christ paid the price, rose again to God’s side, And brought us next Sunday: the Resurrection-tide! ~by Alan Allegra~

Sunday, April 13, 2014

The Essence of Idolatry


Listen or download the full message: The Shock Wave of the Gospel by Akash Sant Singh here.

Friday, April 4, 2014

God is Sovereign and Man is Responsible


Watch the full series here.

Monday, March 24, 2014

A Critical Challenge to the Church (Trailer)


Watch, listen or download the full message by Colin Mercer here.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Did you know?

St. Patrick wasn’t Irish. He was born in mainland Britain.
His real name wasn’t Patrick. It was Maewyn Succat. Pope Celestine gave him the name Patrick later in his life, and we still know him by that name today.
St. Patrick was kidnapped by Irish Pirates from what is now known as Wales when he was 16 and sold as a slave in Ireland.
While enslaved, something special happened to Patrick. He said, “It was there that the Lord opened the understanding of my unbelieving heart, so that I should recall my sins, and turn with all my heart to the Lord, my God.”
After six years of slavery, during which he became a Christian, St. Patrick escaped from Ireland.
When back in Britain, St. Patrick was called to return to Ireland as a missionary with a message.

Patrick’s Message

Slave

When Patrick was in slavery, he came to know Jesus Christ as his Savior. He realized that he was not just a slave to the Irish, but also a slave to sin. We, too, are slaves to sin. The Bible says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” and “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (Romans 3:23; John 8:34). We have all lied or stolen something, had bad thoughts or meant ill to our fellow man. We have all sinned.

Separated

Patrick was separated from his homeland, but he was also separated from God because of his sin. “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:2). We are also separated from God because of our sins.

Saved

Patrick realized he could be saved from the consequences of his sin by placing his faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day so that we can be saved.
Patrick did not trust in any of his own efforts for salvation—he trusted in Jesus Christ alone. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Sent

After Patrick became a Christian and received new life in Christ, he escaped from slavery in Ireland. This led to new opportunities. Later, when he was in Britain, he was sent as a missionary. Where? Back to Ireland! Jesus was sent here to give us new life. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31) — As Patrick was!
Source: http://www.mwtb.org

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Do You Have A Burden For The Lost?

Excerpt from the message "God's Faithful Word" on Romans 9:1-5 by Pastor Ron Bridge of Rehoboth Baptist Church given on March 20, 2011


Download the mp3 or listen to the full sermon here

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Examine Yourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5)


Watch, listen or download the full message by John McKnight here.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Church Growth Strategies or The Gospel?


I have noticed a couple of local Baptist churches have adopted several church growth strategies in order to attract people into the church. It's like a blueprint that seems to be spreading. Some of these strategies include a name change, different types of community involvement, aesthetic improvements, etc.. Not that any of these things are inherently bad, but they are worldly efforts and strategies to increase numbers and hence produce false converts. John MacArthur explains how the transcendence of the Gospel to change lives through the power of the Spirit grew the early church and is the same means today by which it must grow.

Watch, listen, download or read the full message: Marks of Real Church Growth by John MacArthur here.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Is God Sovereign Over Your Salvation?


Watch, listen or download the full message: The Sovereign Savior by Richard Caldwell here.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Who is the Antichrist? The Answer May Surprise You!


Watch, listen or download the full message: "The Grim Reality of the Last Days" by John MacArthur here.

Why is Conversion a Narrow Gate?


Watch, listen or download the full message by Peter Masters here.

Monday, February 3, 2014

The Humility of Saving Faith (Trailer)


Watch, listen or download the full message by Richard Caldwell here.

Friday, January 31, 2014

God is not a fan of Duck Dynasty

Excerpts from the message: "Duck Dynasty" by Robert W. Reed

Titus 2, reading from verses 11-15 this evening. Again, as I said this morning, the title of our message tonight is “Duck Dynasty” and I’ll just say up front that God is not a fan and so we get that settled and get that out of the way. I have a three point outline on the board here I want to speak on tonight. I want to deal with the subject of music and modesty and ministry, that is, their obsession with secular music and their obsession with worldly and their obsession with false doctrine.

Notice with me now as we come to this text. I told someone yesterday, I said, “We're going to take the duck blinders off of Duck Dynasty and we're going to consider some truths here I believe will be important.” Now, let me just say this in the beginning before I read: this is not a sermon really against the show. I have to talk about the show but this is not a sermon against the show or the family that produces the show. It is a message that is a warning to Christian people and to preachers who think that the show actually sets a standard or good example for Christianity so that is what the message is really all about.

Now, I have a couple of questions that we ought to ask when we come to a subject to this right here and you know my feelings about Hollywood and watching television and things of that nature: I don't think it benefits anyone at all, I think it hurts them. But in Isaiah 5 and I’ll be reading 1 Peter in just a moment, but in Isaiah 5, when I think about discernment, do we have discernment today? Do we need discernment? If somebody comes along today and just says, “Jesus,” or “I'm against abortion,” Christians fall all over them. Are we that desperate as Christians that we need celebrities to represent us in Hollywood and on television? Are we that desperate?

The Bible says in Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” He said, “Woe.” There is a warning here, “Woe unto them.” That's what my message is tonight, it's a warning to Christians who will allow any type of Hollywood or anything like this to set some type of an example for Christianity. Ezekiel 22:26 says that the priests and the people, “they have put no difference between the holy and the profane.” In that same chapter it says in verse 30, “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” We live in times like that where there is so little discernment and there are so few to stand in the gap anymore and really declare the truth of God. I'm not talking just about preachers, I’m talking about Christians in general.

America's concept of Christianity is not what we find in the New Testament. We see the church of Cain today. Cain believed in God, he believed in worship, he believed in tithing, he believed in the giving of sacrifices and still yet God would not accept his worship. We have a cool Christianity. I saw a church sign about a month ago, I wrote it down, and it says on this church sign, “Come to church and have fun.” That's right here in Mobile County. This is what we're looking at today.

Read the full message here or listen below.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Why I am Leaving the Church Growth Movement

by Randy White
Church growth is all the rage. For pastors, the focus is on leadership. For laymen, on “reaching people.” In the church world, church-growth is the standard of success. If a church “reaches people,” and the pastor is a “visionary leader,” then the church will be considered a success. If a church makes it into somebody’s bogus “Fastest Growing Church” list, then the growth frenzy continues with the sheep flocking to check out what innovation has been initiated to reach the masses for Christ. - See more here.

Monday, January 20, 2014

What Does It Mean To Be Born of Water and Spirit?


Watch, listen or download the full message by Liam Goligher here.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

The Cappuccino Church

We are living in a critical time in which spirituality in the church is near an all-time low and immorality in society is near an all-time high. The pulpits of the land have lost their influence upon society because they have let the world into the church and cheapened the Gospel message in an attempt to grow their church campus. Many church members profess to know Christ, but their lives do not display the evidence of true conversion.

When George Whitfield, the great British evangelist, came to America in 1740 during the Great Awakening, he was asked by a Boston minister, “Mr. Whitfield, how many converts have you had since you’ve been among us?” To which the great Whitfield replied, “I don’t know, sir, but I shall return to these parts in a year or two and look for the evidence of their salvation.” Few church members today demonstrate credible evidence of their salvation.

Listen friends, when the church fails to carry out the mandate of the Great Commission and proactively storm the gates of hell, then a vacuum is created. The vacuum begins within the church until the church compromises the Gospel message, places man and his needs as the center and focus of the church and everything rotates around the happiness of man.

My message tonight is on the apostate church in America. It is entitled “The Cappuccino Church” because it’s all froth and no substance. I am not insinuating that the entire institutional church in America is apostate, please don’t misunderstand me. There are many sound Christian churches throughout our land with solid shepherds leading them, but I have seen a drastic change in a majority of churches that have cheapened the Gospel message with the express purpose of growing their church. They’ve made it a lot easier to become a Christian than what Jesus stated. Jesus said, “The way is narrow and the passage difficult.” He said, “Unless you repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” I have been around for a long time and have witnessed the tragic spiritual declension of the church in America. It breaks my heart to bring this message tonight but I must unburden my heart of what the Lord has given me regarding the church in America today.

Read the full message by E.A. Johnston here or listen below.