GOOD NEWS!

 In order to show His love, 

uphold His justice,

forgive sinners, 

and display His glory, 

God sent His Son, 

Jesus, 

to pay for sin 

with His death.

posted by Pastor Dave VanAcker in a church email today

Jesus is Mighty to Save Sinners--video

God is a loving and merciful God and He has provided us a mighty Savior.

Don't let guilt and pride keep you from coming to Him.

Here is Paul Washer with a powerful story and reminder of the Gospel:

Video - Much of the "Church" Still Needs to Be Saved

Here is an inspiring video with various preachers (Piper, Ravenhill, Washer, etc) speaking on the lost condition of many people who think they are true Christians but are lost.

• Many church "members" are not members of the kingdom of the Heaven
  
• Many people who asked Jesus in their heart never experienced the New Birth and never truly believed and repented
  
• Many people who say that Jesus is their LORD, contradict their profession with their life of disobedience
• Many trust in a prayer or decision and not in Christ
• Many have no idea what true repentance and faith looks like in a life
  
• Many people who sincerely believe they are going to heaven will go to hell

May God reveal the truth to their souls and bring them true repentance and faith in Christ Jesus!

Matthew 7:13-23 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (14) For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (15) "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (16) You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (17) So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. (18) A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. (19) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (20) Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (21) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' (23) And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Over-familar with the Gospel

Please take the time to listen to this sermon jam from Rick Gamache.

Free Song - All I Have Is Christ

I love songs that testify to the Gospel's redeeming work in the hearts of sinners from the bondage of sin. I highly recommend downloading this song and taking the time to ponder the lyrics (below).

I came across this song by Bob Kauflin's son - Jordan Kauflin. It was sung at the New Attitude Conference '08.

You can download it for free here.

You can listen to it below.

All I Have Is Christ - Na Band

Here are the lyrics - they are powerful.

ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI), by Jordan Kauflin

Watch Live - The Gospel Coalition 2009 Conference

I wish I was in Chicago right now. But I am thankful for technology because I (and you) can watch the sermons live online.

You can watch it live HERE.

Here is the schedule. I look forward to hearing Driscoll tonight at 8 PM and Carson on Thursday.

Tuesday 21 April 2009

10:00 amRegistration Opens

1:30 pmIntroduction, Worship

2:00 pmSession 1: Tim Keller, “The Grand Demythologizer: The Gospel and Idolatry” (Acts 19:21-41)

3:00 pmBreak

3:30 pmSung Worship

4:00 pmSession 2: John Piper, "Feed the Flame of God’s Gift: Unashamed Courage in the Gospel" (2 Timothy 1:1-12)

5:00 pmDinner

7:00 pmSession 3: Phil Ryken, “The Pattern of Sound Words” (2 Timothy 1:13-2:13)

8:00 pmSession 4: Mark Driscoll, “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:14-26)

Wednesday 22 April 2009

7:30 amInformation Session: Tim Keller and Don Carson explain how to start an official chapter for The Gospel Coalition in your area

9:00 amWorship

9:30 amSession 5: K. Edward Copeland, “Shadowlands: Pitfalls and Parodies of Gospel-Centered Ministry” (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

10:30 amBreak

11:00 amSession 6: Bryan Chapell, “Preach the Word!” (2 Timothy 3:10-4:5)

12:00 pmLunch

Band of Bloggers 2009

A Logos Bible Software presentation will begin at 12:30 pm in the main lecture hall. All pre-registered attendees will receive a free

Logos gift pack—containing over $60 worth of digital and print resources. Register here

2:00 pmWorkshops: Session 1

3:15 pmBreak

3:45 pmWorkshops: Session 2

5:00 pmDinner

7:00 pmSession 7: Ajith Fernando, “Gospel-Faithful Mission in the New Christendom”

8:00 pmSession 8: Panel Discussion: Tim Keller, John Piper, Ligon Duncan and Crawford Loritts (chair: Stephen Um)

Thursday 23 April 2009

9:00 amWorship

9:30 amSession 9: Ligon Duncan, “Finishing Well” (2 Timothy 4:6-22)

10:30 amBreak

11:00 amSession 10: Don Carson, "'That By All Means I Might Win Some': Faithfulness and Flexibility in Gospel Proclamation" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

7:00 pmSpecial Event:

"The Pastor as Scholar, and the Scholar as Pastor". This event will feature reflections on life and ministry by John Piper and Don Carson. This event is sponsored by the Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding and will be held at Park Community Church in Chicago, IL.

Special Event: "The

Resurrection Through the Word of Christ

Paul Washer is a blessing to the church today. He is a modern day prophet who longs to see the church get the gospel (and evangelism) right. Like any good prophet, he ruffles a lot of feathers.

Here is a short clip from a sermon on Regeneration vs Decisionism that is worth your download and listening.

In this clip he tells a story of his laboring with a soul and God's work of the new birth through the hearing of the Word of Christ (the gospel). In this case it was John 3:16.

The King's Garden...Agony

Last night I tried to speak on the agony of Christ in the garden. You can read about it in Matthew 26:36-46. Here is a movie clip by C. J. Mahaney on the garden how it should remind us of our sinfulness as well as God's glorious mercy in Jesus.



Charles Spurgeon was the man. Here is one point of a sermon he preached on "The King's Gardens." Here is what he says about Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. It is worth your read:

II. The second king's garden to which I will introduce you is very different from the first, but it yields more fragrant spices and healthier herbs by far. It is THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE--the garden of the olive-press, wherein the Lord Jesus Christ was the olive, and God's anger against sin was the press.

Put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place whereon you stand is holy ground! 'Tis night. Yonder are twelve men walking, and talking sweetly as they walk. Observe one, a mysterious, majestic Person, who is evidently superior to the rest. It is the Son of Man. Hush! It is the Son of God, and as he talks you can hear words like these, "I am the vine, ye are the branches; abide in me and I in you." We will conceal ourselves behind that group of olives, and will see what is to happen here. This is the place where that mysterious Son of God was often to be found with his disciples. Just as God walked in the first garden in Eden, so the Son of God walked in the second garden; and as God in the first garden communed with man, so of the second garden it is written Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. See, he has dismissed eight of them. He has told them to wait yonder, and on he goes with only three--Peter, and James, and John--the chosen out of the eleven--and speaking to them, and bidding them watch, he leaves them, and is all alone. Let us draw as near as we may; we see the Son of God in prayer, and as he prays, his earnestness gathers strength. He is striving with an unseen enemy--struggling like a man who would overcome an adversary, wrestling so vigorously that he sweats; but it is a strange sweat! "His sweat was, as it were great drops of blood, falling to the ground." He is beginning to drink the cup of Jehovah's wrath, which was due to our sins, a cup which we could not have emptied even through eternity, though every drop of it had been a hell. Christ is quaffing the wrath-cup, and as he trembles under the fiery influence of the draught of worse than wormwood and gall, he cries, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me." But he recovers himself, and his prayer is, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Backwards and forwards you see him go like a man distracted. Three times he looks to the disciples for comfort, but they are slumbering, and then again he returns to his God and casts himself upon his face, with strong crying and tears, pouring out his soul in blood before high heaven, such is the anguish of his tortured heart.

Herein behold the beginning of our redemption. Jesus then began to suffer in our room and stead, atoning for our iniquity. The mischief of Eden fell upon Gethsemane. The mist of sin rose up in the garden of Paradise, and as it rose it gathered and collected into a black, tremendous storm cloud, and anon it burst, with flashes of lightning and with claps of thunder, upon the great Shepherd of the sheep, that we, who deserved to be overwhelmed by the tempest, might find fair weather in the rest which remaineth for the people of God.

Perhaps no sight that was ever beheld of men or angels, except the crucifixion, was more tremendous than the agony of Gethsemane. It must have been a terrible spectacle to have seen martyrs in the fire, or men and women devoured by lions and bears in the Roman amphitheatre, but then to the Christian's eye there was a pleasure mingled with these ghastly sights, for God sustained his faithful ones. They clapped their hands amidst the fire. They sang when the wild beasts were leaping upon them. Such holy joy beamed from their countenances, that their brethren were comforted rather than distressed, and saints wished to be there with them, that they might die as they died and win the martyr's crown. But, when you look at Christ in the garden, you miss the help which the martyrs had. God forsakes him. He must tread the winepress alone, and of the people there must be none with him. Ay! and yet, dark as that night was, the darkest night that ever fell upon this world, it was the mother of that gospel light of finished redemption which now enlightens the Gentiles and brings glory unto Israel.

Let us leave the king's garden, then, with feelings of deep repentance that we should have made Jesus suffer so, and yet with holy gladness to think that thus hath he redeemed us from the ruins of the fall.

Sermon -- Truly Seeing Jesus

God used Pastor Dave in a powerful way last Sunday morning (April 5). Dave was scheduled to preach that morning and no one (but God) could plan what would happen Saturday night.

Dave's neighbors had a tragedy hit their home when their 7 week old baby girl (Sophia) died in the home that night. Dave went over to comfort and help. Continue to pray for the parents. May God use the VanAckers and many in the church body to reach out with the comforting love and compassion of Jesus. The funeral is Saturday and we are hosting a meal in the afternoon at the church building.

Here is Dave's sermon. (Right click on "listen" and save to download the sermon)

4.5.09

The Easterly Effect of Encountering Jesus

Matthew 16:13-23

Read

Listen

Video - That's My King

It is a video day. That's My King!
May we see and savor the King of Kings - Jesus Christ!

Video - Life to Death

Great video to watch as we ponder the death of Jesus this season and share it with others.


THAT'S EASTER Life to Death from St Helen’s Church on Vimeo.

HT - Justin Taylor

Preaching Regeneration

Main Entry: re·gen·er·a·tion

Pronunciation: \ri-ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən, ˌrē-\

Function: noun Date: 14th century

Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology) defines regeneration as the "secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us." It is sometimes called -- "being born again" (John 3:3-8).

In heart preparation for my sermon last Saturday night I read Charles Spurgeon's sermon from 1857 called "Regeneration." In his intro he writes:

I must offer the same excuse, then, for bringing before you this morning the subject of regeneration. It is one of absolute and vital importance; it is the hinge of the gospel; it is the point upon which most Christians are agreed, yea, all who are Christians in sincerity and truth. It is a subject which lies at the very basis of salvation. It is the very groundwork of our hopes for heaven, and as we ought to be very careful of the basement of our structure, so should we be very diligent to take heed that we are really born again, and that we have made sure work of it for eternity. There are many who fancy they are born again who are not. It well becomes us, then, frequently to examine ourselves; and it is the minister’s duty to bring forward those subjects which lead to selfexamination, and have a tendency to search the heart and try the reins of the children of men. (Spurgeon, Regeneration, PSP – Vol 3)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN..." (1 Peter 1:3)

Jesus Rescued His Enemies - Spurgeon

While studying for a sermon this morning, I came across this powerful illustration by Charles Spurgeon regarding the fact that Jesus rescued His enemies who continued to hate Him and revile Him while He was in the very act of saving their souls. This section is found in a sermon on Hebrews 12:2 called "The Shameful Sufferer."

Picture yourself to-day going home from this hall. You have an enemy who all his life long has been your enemy. His father was your enemy, and he is your enemy too. There is never a day passes but you try to win his friendship; but he spits upon your kindness, and curses your name. He does injury to your friends, and there is not a stone he leaves unturned to do you plumage.

As you are going home to-day, you see a house on fire; the flames are raging, and the smoke is ascending up in one black column to heaven. Crowds gather in the street, and you are told there is a man in the upper chamber who must be burnt to death. No one can save him. You say, "Why that is my enemy's house;" and you see him at the window. It is your own enemy—the very man; he is about to be burnt. Full of lovingkindness, you say, "I will save that man if I can." He sees you approach the house; he puts his head from the window and curses you. "An everlasting blast upon you!" he says; "I would rather perish than that you should save me." Do you imagine yourself then, dashing through the smoke, and climbing the blazing staircase to save him; and can you conceive that when you get near him he struggles with you, and tries to roll you in the flames? Can you conceive your love to be so potent, that you can perish in the flames rather than leave him to be burned? You say, "I could not do it; it is above flesh and blood to do it."

But Jesus did it. We hated him, we despised him, and, when he came to save us, we rejected him. When his Holy Spirit comes into our hearts to strive with us, we resist him; but he will save us; nay, he himself braved the fire that he might snatch us as brands from eternal burning. The joy of Jesus was the joy of saving sinners. The great motive, then, with Christ, in enduring all this, was, that he might save us.

One More Savior Than I Deserve!

Justin Taylor is a friend from when I was at Bethlehem Baptist Church and he has a must-read Blog called "Between Two Worlds." You need to add this blog to your RSS feeds or igoogle.

Recently he wrote and brief article for the "New Attitude" conference on Jesus as the only way of salvation entitled "One More Way to God than I Deserve." I suggest reading it and watching the video clip of R. C. Sproul about Jesus being only and how gracious God is to do it that way. It is very power -- you can view it below.

Taylor writes:

What we need to do—by God’s grace and through prayer and through winsome communication—is to seek to show that the ultimate response to the question, “How can there be only one way to God?” is “How could the only wise and righteous God be so kind and merciful and gracious to provide a way for me to know him?” In other words, the correct answer to the question, “How many ways are there to God?” is: One more than I deserve.

R4G -1: "Religion's Slippery Slope"

Yesterday I began read Timothy Keller new book The Reason for God: Belief in the Age of Skepticism (R4G). Keller is a pastor in New York's hip Manhattan of a church of 5000 people--mostly young and single. Keller's church is not a typical seeker-sensitive megachurch but a church that focus on sound preaching that centers on Gospel-believing and living (which permeates all of life).

The book is an apologetic of the Christian faith and he begins by discussing the criticism of Christianity and religion in general--that it brings war and strife and world peace will never be possible while it remains in this world. He warns of the slippery slope of religion:

It is widely believed that one of the main barriers to world peace is religion, and especially the major traditional religions with their ex­clusive claims to superiority. It may surprise you that though I am a Christian minister I agree with this. Religion, generally speaking, tends to create a slippery slope in the heart. Each religion informs its followers that they have "the truth," and this naturally leads them to feel superior to those with differing beliefs. Also, a religion tells its followers that they are saved and connected to God by devotedly performing that truth. This moves them to separate from those who are less devoted and pure in life. Therefore, it is easy for one religious group to stereotype and caricature other ones. Once this situation exists it can easily spiral down into the marginalization of others or even to active oppression, abuse, or violence against them.

I like how he gives a practical description of "religion" -- "religion informs its followers that they have the 'truth,' and this natural leads them to feel superior...religion tells its followers that they are saved and connected to God by devotedly performing the truth."

Religion does this but not true Christianity. He spells out the difference later on at the end of chapter (which I plan to blog later on). The Gospel of Jesus does not move us toward a feeling of superiority because it is not about our performance of the truth but of the Truth's performance (namely on the cross) for our failures and sin that sets us free and gives us life.