The book of Romans is an absolute treasure. J.I. Packer expresses it well when he says, “All roads
in the Bible lead to Romans, and all views afforded by the Bible are seen most
clearly from Romans, and when the message of Romans gets into a person’s heart
there is no telling what may happen.” I want the message of Romans to continue
to get into my heart and life. To that end, I listened to Michael Kruger’s
recent lectures on the book and want to commend them to you. Read
more …Monday, November 23, 2015
A Great Way to Get to Know Romans from Tim Challies
The book of Romans is an absolute treasure. J.I. Packer expresses it well when he says, “All roads
in the Bible lead to Romans, and all views afforded by the Bible are seen most
clearly from Romans, and when the message of Romans gets into a person’s heart
there is no telling what may happen.” I want the message of Romans to continue
to get into my heart and life. To that end, I listened to Michael Kruger’s
recent lectures on the book and want to commend them to you. Read
more …
Friday, November 20, 2015
Items Needed to Encourage Needy Pastors in the Philippines
There are over 41,000 untrained and undertrained pastors in the
Philippines; many make less than $30 monthly to support their families. They therefore,
have no extra funds for study material, health items, personal and family
apparel, etc.Below is a list of new and used items we would like to collect throughout this year for distribution to some of these needy Filipino pastors:
Books (new and used) on evangelical pastoral ministry, commentaries, and Bible study helps
Study Bibles (new and used)
Laptops (new/ used)
Hearing aids (new/used)
Bottles of Multi-vitamins for adults and children (new)
Hygiene kits (new only) [band aids, first
aid ointment, safety pins, wash clothes, tooth brush, comb, fingernail clippers, etc.] Please place neatly in new ziplock bags.
Dress ties (new/used) Please fold neatly and place in ziplock bags.
Dress shirts (new) all sizes
small, medium and large
Please fold neatly and place in ziplock bags.
Please fold neatly and place in ziplock bags.
Dress Shoes (new/used in very
good condition), sizes 7-10
Packages of undershirts (new)
all sizes small, medium and large
Socks (new)
Watches (new/used)
Back packs (new/used) All sizes.
Small radio, battery operated
(for pastors in remote areas without electricity)
Cell phones (used)
These items can be sent to Kim Craig, (Ministry Assistant) 13011 55th Ave SE, Everett, WA 98208 (residence), ph: (425) 316-1971 to be repacked in special shipping boxes and shipped to the Philippines.
Cell phones (used)
These items can be sent to Kim Craig, (Ministry Assistant) 13011 55th Ave SE, Everett, WA 98208 (residence), ph: (425) 316-1971 to be repacked in special shipping boxes and shipped to the Philippines.
(Please feel free to print this list and enclose in your church bulletin and
newspaper.) Thank you!
(Please DO NOT send soiled, damaged, broken, torn, wrinkled, or dirty items. Send only items that will be a help and encouragement to our needy brothers in ministry. If possible please put each item in new ziplock bags.)
(Please DO NOT send soiled, damaged, broken, torn, wrinkled, or dirty items. Send only items that will be a help and encouragement to our needy brothers in ministry. If possible please put each item in new ziplock bags.)
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
10 Serious Problems with Jesus Calling
by Tim Challies
Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling is a phenomenon that shows no signs of slowing down… Publisher Thomas Nelson … is involved in an expansive new marketing campaign that involves a new web site and daily radio devotionals.
Yet it is a deeply troubling book. I am going to point out 10 serious problems with Jesus Calling in the hope that you will consider and heed these warnings. Read more …
Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling is a phenomenon that shows no signs of slowing down… Publisher Thomas Nelson … is involved in an expansive new marketing campaign that involves a new web site and daily radio devotionals.
Yet it is a deeply troubling book. I am going to point out 10 serious problems with Jesus Calling in the hope that you will consider and heed these warnings. Read more …
Monday, November 9, 2015
5 Reasons You Should Take Your Bible to Church
by Lauren HunterSeveral years ago I posted a “tongue in cheek” article about NOT bringing your Bible to church. A number of readers missed the humor in it completely.
As the conversation unfolded one interesting thought emerged: Many people lack the self-control to just read their Bible during church and not text, Facebook, Tweet, check email, etc.
This article is a response to my original article. This time taking a positive, non- “tongue in cheek” approach to ways you can “bring your Bible to church.” Read more ...
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Commission to take the Gospel to the Nations
CTEN, is short for Commission To Every Nation, a service mission with 605 missionaries. When Margaret and I joined CTEN in 2013 there were 264 missionary units totaling 457 adult missionaries. Today in November 2015 there are 340 missionary units with a total of 605 missionaries. May God be praised!
Since 1994, CTEN has been composed of missionaries serving in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, as well as Canada and the USA. Most of the staff raise their own support. This keeps the overhead low, allows more resources to reach the field, and enables better counsel and support to missionaries.
CTEN provides financial accountability, is a member of ECFA, issues tax receipts, provides pastoral care for all its missionaries, conducts three new missionary orientations yearly, and also provides excellent newsletter service. Yes, may God be praised!
Commission To Every Nation
PO Box 291307
Kerrville, TX 78029-1307
Phone: (830) 896-8326; Toll-Free: (800) 872-5404
www.cten.org
Commission To Every Nation Canada
PO Box 22017
11500 Tecumseh Rd. E.
Windsor, Ontario N8N 5G6
Toll Free: 888-863-4810
www.ctenc.ca
Friday, October 30, 2015
Is It Possible to be Humble and Still be a Big Shot?
My late father-in-law, who was a missionary in China for 13 years in the 1940s and 50s, said the Chinese had a saying, “You can smell pride and it is not a pleasant smell.”
On one occasion, I participated in three mission conferences in Dallas, Texas, with many ministry and mission leaders worldwide. It was great to fellowship with God’s people from Kuwait, Bhutan, Egypt, India, Libya, Puerto Rico, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, Canada and the Philippines.
One brother from Asia, who planted a church among his people in Texas, said one of the biggest problems he had in his church planting ministry was pride especially among some who had become leaders.
On one occasion, I participated in three mission conferences in Dallas, Texas, with many ministry and mission leaders worldwide. It was great to fellowship with God’s people from Kuwait, Bhutan, Egypt, India, Libya, Puerto Rico, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, Canada and the Philippines.
One brother from Asia, who planted a church among his people in Texas, said one of the biggest problems he had in his church planting ministry was pride especially among some who had become leaders.
During the conferences I met with two major ministry leaders, both of whom lead multi-million dollar ministries in Asia. It was so sad because the whole meeting was totally about them, their work, and the success of their ministry. The smell of pride seemed to penetrate the entire time. In our conversation, I mentioned the thoughts of a brother in Asia and was told that his opinion did not hold any weight as he was basically an insignificant nobody.
Previously I asked a leader to meet with me for lunch with his staff and with a shocked look that I would suggest such a thing said, “I’m the Director, I don’t eat with the staff.”
However, there are godly humble leaders! Between Dallas conference sessions, I was also able to visit the home of a missionary friend and leader, the godly statesman, John Richard. He is in his 90's, East Indian, and has served the Lord faithfully in servant leadership worldwide for over 70 years. God has mightily used him, and yet he is so humble, gracious and kind!
Previously I asked a leader to meet with me for lunch with his staff and with a shocked look that I would suggest such a thing said, “I’m the Director, I don’t eat with the staff.”
However, there are godly humble leaders! Between Dallas conference sessions, I was also able to visit the home of a missionary friend and leader, the godly statesman, John Richard. He is in his 90's, East Indian, and has served the Lord faithfully in servant leadership worldwide for over 70 years. God has mightily used him, and yet he is so humble, gracious and kind!
Monday, October 26, 2015
Thoughts on Note-Taking During Sermons
by Jared Wilson
Ditching the note-taking preaching ethos both elevates sermons and properly diminishes them. It treats a sermon as proclamation aided by the Spirit, which gives the sermon a supernatural weight. On the other hand, by treating all words in a sermon as expendable to memory, it puts the preacher’s words in the right place compared to the Scripture’s words. It diminishes the impact of a well-turned phrase and magnifies real revelation.
“I have often discouraged the taking of notes while I am preaching. . . . The first and primary object of preaching is not only to give information. It is, as Edwards says, to produce an impression. It is the impression at the time that matters, even more than what you can remember subsequently. . . . While you are writing your notes, you may be missing something of the impact of the Spirit.” — Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Puritans: Their Origins and Successors (Edinburgh, 1987), page 360.
Ditching the note-taking preaching ethos both elevates sermons and properly diminishes them. It treats a sermon as proclamation aided by the Spirit, which gives the sermon a supernatural weight. On the other hand, by treating all words in a sermon as expendable to memory, it puts the preacher’s words in the right place compared to the Scripture’s words. It diminishes the impact of a well-turned phrase and magnifies real revelation.
“I have often discouraged the taking of notes while I am preaching. . . . The first and primary object of preaching is not only to give information. It is, as Edwards says, to produce an impression. It is the impression at the time that matters, even more than what you can remember subsequently. . . . While you are writing your notes, you may be missing something of the impact of the Spirit.” — Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Puritans: Their Origins and Successors (Edinburgh, 1987), page 360.
Hearing a sermon is not like hearing a lecture. It is your meeting with the living Christ. It is you seeing his glory, so that you can feel it and be changed by it. Let’s pay attention to him and what he means a sermon to be, lest we miss him. Read more ...
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