Wayside Gospel Chapel

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Strange Fire, Day One

1. Are you discerning, and have you exercised discernment, especially when it comes to the worship of God?

"The biggest problem in the church today is absence of discernment. . . Exercising discerment is the heart of Christian living because Christian living flows out of Christian thinking." - John MacArthur

"The most serious crimes against God occur in corrupt worship." - John MacArthur

"The charismatic movement offers nothing to true worship because it has made no contribution to biblical clarity, interpretation, or sound doctrine." - John MacArthur

"Sound doctrine is not a haven for false teachers; it's not where greedy deceivers end up." - John MacArthur

"The charismatic movement is successful because it promises what the unregenerate world already wants." - John MacArthur

2. What does the third of the ten commandments mean? “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

"Taking the Lord's name in vain is more than just swearing. It's speaking of Him in an irreverent manner, or assigning to Him things He would never do and things He would never say." - John MacArthur[1]

3. Did the Spirit of God ever work in Jesus Christ during His humiliation to do anything even remotely similar to what goes on in the modern charismatic movement?

"If you want to see the true work of the Holy Spirit, look at what He did in and through Christ" - John MacArthur

“I will start believing that the truth prevails in the charismatic movement when I see the leaders looking more like Jesus Christ and I see that they really are partakers of the divine nature.” - John MacArthur

Source for quotes: John MacArthur, General Session 1 (16 OCT 2013) at Strange Fire live streaming at http://www.tmstrangefire.org/ [accessed 16 OCT 2013].

See also:

Tim Challies, “Strange Fire Conference: John MacArthur's Opening Address” (16 OCT 2013) at http://www.challies.com/liveblogging/strange-fire-conference-john-macarthurs-opening-address [accessed 16 OCT 2013].

Mike Riccardi, “Strange Fire – Session One – John MacArthur” (16 OCT 2013), on The Cripplegate at http://thecripplegate.com/strange-fire-session-one-john-macarthur/ [accessed 16 OCT 2013].

******************************************************************************

On General Session 2 see Tim Challies, Strange Fire Conference: Joni Eareckson Tada” (16 OCT 2013), at

http://www.challies.com/liveblogging/strange-fire-conference-joni-eareckson-tada [accessed 17 OCT 2013].

******************************************************************************

“My concern for charismatic friends is that they have too low a view of Pentecost and its place in redemptive history.” - R. C. Sproul, at Strange Fire via video feed at http://www.tmstrangefire.org/ [accessed 16 OCT 2013].

See also:

Tim Challies, “Strange Fire Conference: R.C. Sproul” (16 OCT 2013) at http://www.challies.com/liveblogging/strange-fire-conference-rc-sproul [accessed 16 OCT 2013].

******************************************************************************

“Calvin's critique of these Anabaptist mystics applies to the charismatic movement today.” - Steve Lawson

“You will never have the Holy Spirit doing a work independent of the Word of God!” - Steve Lawson

“Even a dog barks if he sees someone assault his master!” - Steve Lawson quoting John Calvin

“a Calvinist charismatic is an oxymoron like freezer burns, jumbo shrimp…” - Steve Lawson

“There are not two streams of revelation, there is only one.” - Steve Lawson

“One stream of revelation mandates Biblical preaching. Two streams diminishes Biblical preaching.” - Steve Lawson

“Two streams of revelation severs and separates the Spirit from the Word. It drives a wedge between them.” - Steve Lawson

“…we must be exclusively committed to the written Word of God.” - Steve Lawson

"The gospel does not need to be revalidated." - Steve Lawson

Source: Steve Lawson, General Session 3 (16 OCT 2013) at Strange Fire live streaming at http://www.tmstrangefire.org/ [accessed 16 OCT 2013].

See also:

Tim Challies, “Strange Fire Conference: Steve Lawson” (16 OCT 2013) at http://www.challies.com/liveblogging/strange-fire-conference-steve-lawson [accessed 17 OCT 2013].

******************************************************************************

“If the Church obeyed John 17:17 we would not have this chaos.” - Conrad Mbewe

“This is not good news. It is bad news, first of all because of the absence of the exposition of God’s Word.” - Conrad Mbewe

“You cannot have spiritual life when this Book is closed.” - Conrad Mbewe

Where the charismatic movement has gone in sub-Saharan Africa:

1. The Word of God is closed.

2. The Gospel is lost.

3. There is the loss of real worship.

“It doesn’t matter how many times people may repeat glory, glory, glory in the midst of that confusion, it is not the glory of God!” - Conrad Mbewe

“The issue is what ought to be the governing principle. Let’s go back to basics. What is Christianity?” - Conrad Mbewe

Source: Conrad Mbewe, “The African Import of Charismatic Chaos”, General Session 4 (16 OCT 2013) at Strange Fire live streaming at http://www.tmstrangefire.org/ [accessed 16 OCT 2013].

See also:

Tim Challies, “Strange Fire Conference: Conrad Mbewe” (17 OCT 2013) at http://www.challies.com/liveblogging/strange-fire-conference-conrad-mbewe [accessed 17 OCT 2013].

[1] Question 112: What is required in the third commandment?

Answer: The third commandment requires, That the name of God, his titles, attributes, ordinances, the Word, sacraments, prayer, oaths, vows, lots, his works, and: Whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holily and reverently used in thought, meditation, word, and writing; by an holy profession, and answerable conversation, to the glory of God, and the good of ourselves, and others.

Question 113: What are the sins forbidden in the third commandment?

Answer: The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the not using of God's name as is required; and the abuse of it in an ignorant, vain, irreverent, profane, superstitious, or wicked mentioning, or otherwise using his titles, attributes, ordinances, or works, by blasphemy, perjury; all sinful cursings, oaths, vows, and lots; violating of our oaths and vows, if lawful; and fulfilling them, if of things unlawful; murmuring and quarreling at, curious prying into, and misapplying of God's decrees and providences; misinterpreting, misapplying, or any way perverting the Word, or any part of it, to profane jests, curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or the maintaining of false doctrines; abusing it, the creatures, or anything contained under the name of God, to charms, or sinful lusts and practices; the maligning, scorning, reviling, or anywise opposing of God's truth, grace, and ways; making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends; being ashamed of it, or a shame to it, by unconformable, unwise, unfruitful, and offensive walking, or backsliding from it.

Source: Westminster Larger Catechism, on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/anonymous/westminster2.i.v.html [accessed 17 OCT 2013].

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Strange Fire

Are you discerning, and have you exercised discernment, especially when it comes to the worship of God?

What does the third of the ten commandments mean? “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

Did the Spirit of God ever work in Jesus Christ during His humiliation to do anything even remotely similar to what goes on in the modern charismatic movement?

John MacArthur at Strange Fire live streaming at http://www.tmstrangefire.org/ [accessed 16 OCT 2013].

Happy Birthday Wayside Gospel Chapel!

Wayside Gospel Chapel began on October 16, 1973, 40 years ago today. Happy Birthday Wayside Gospel Chapel!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Pastor's Sermon Notes: The Trial of Stephen - Stephen on Center Stage (Acts 6:8-15)

The Trial of Stephen

Subtitle: Stephen on Center Stage

Acts 6:8-15

⁸ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. ⁹ Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. ¹¹ Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. ¹² And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, ¹³ And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: ¹⁴ For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. ¹⁵ And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Introduction:

Overview/Introduction of Chapter 6:

Patterns:

1. miracles → witness

2. preaching to the Jews → Gospel rejected by the Jews → preaching to the Gentiles

3. Jewish opposition to the Gospel and persecution of the Christians → the spread of the Christians and the Gospel

What takes place in this chapter is going to ratchet up the opposition to the Gospel by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. Their rejection of the Gospel will soon go beyond arrests and beatings to public murder.

Significant events - Between the first two “Pentecosts” (Jewish in Acts 2, and Samaritan in Acts 8), and following the birth of the Church in Acts 2

Significant persons - Peter is usually at the forefront in these early chapters of Acts, later Paul’s ministry will be the focus

Geographical movement - still in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8), soon to move to Judea and Samaria prior to the journeys to “the ends of the earth”

Outline:

I. Stephen the Target (6:8)

II. Stephen the Unimpeachable (6:9-10)

III. Stephen the True Witness (6:11-14)

IV. Stephen the Transfigured (6:15)

I. Stephen the Target (6:8)

⁸ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

The focus shifts clearly on the personal level and even though Peter is not “out of the picture”, he is not mentioned at all in chapters 6-7. Why Stephen becomes a target must be considered on two levels.

1. The first level is what is explicitly recorded in this verse.

2. The second is somewhat between the lines here, but includes what was mentioned previously, i.e., the success of the ministry that he and the other members of “The Seven” were charged with.

II. Stephen the Unimpeachable (6:9-10)

⁹ Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Two connections need to be made here, and perhaps another is in order as well.

1. Why members of this particular synagogue or these synagogues are explicitly mentioned as engaged in disputing with Stephen is not spelled out here, but may be understandable in the flow of the context.

2. One geographical area mentioned is of particular interest, i.e., Cilicia, since this is where Paul is from. Tarsus, his home city is in Cilicia.

3. Also, perhaps the influx of those from the geographical areas around Jerusalem due to the news spreading concerning the miraculous power of the Apostles may have begun to impact the home areas, friends, families and outlying synagogues related to these disputers.

III. Stephen the True Witness (6:11-14)

¹¹ Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. ¹² And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, ¹³ And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: ¹⁴ For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Here we have false witnesses against the true witness. To make matters worse we have false witnesses meaning violators of the ninth commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Ex. 20:16), who are breaking the Law of Moses in their attempts to indict Stephen for blaspheming the Law of Moses. Stephen is the true witness of Jesus Christ demonstrating in the Holy Spirit by wonders, miracles and wisdom the truth of the Gospel of the New Covenant. This juxtaposition of false witnesses against the true witness hearkens back to those who spoke against Christ Himself. These counterposed elements in this controntation are a dramatic irony in the history of the early Church. This event is certainly a significant legal factor in this book establishing the legitimacy of Christianity and exposing the hypocrisy of the Jewish leadership.

The two common elements in their charge are the focus for them:

1) “this holy place” (6:13), “the place” (6:14), and,

2) “the law” (6:13), “the customs which Moses delivered us” (6:14).

What must be considered here are the connections to the accusations against Christ and Jewish sensitivity about anything to do with the Law of Moses and the Temple in Jerusalem. As the disciples themselves indicated in conversation with Christ the Temple was a focal point for Jewish pride, and the Law was the source of their distinctive identity second only to descent from Abraham.

It may be that reports of Stephen’s teachings had been filtering back with misstatements leading to misunderstandings. However, when face to face with Stephen getting it “right from the horse’s mouth” as it were, they could not deal with what he was confronting them with so they fell back on what may have only begun as a misunderstanding. What they did understand rightly was bad enough, and would soon be revealed to be true in fact.

IV. Stephen the Transfigured (6:15)

¹⁵ And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Exodus 34 must be considered here especially in relation to the charge of blasphemy against Moses. To these leaders who knew their Bibles (our Old Testament) well, this must have been startling.

Conclusion:

The stage is now set for the great “sermon”, Stephen’s “defense” in chapter 7 which provokes his murderers to their bloody and illegal deed.

Let it be clearly understood that this world is composed of the children of light and the children of darkeness, the children of God and the children of the devil. There is no middle ground here. These identities are black and white distinctives between the elect and the reprobate. Sometimes appearances and impressions place these below the surface and they may not seem as clear as they are in reality. At other times the graphic nature of the differences comes boiling to the surface as here. Do not be surprised if you find it so in your own experience!

2 Cor. 6:14-7:1

[Sermon preached 13 OCT 2013 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Resources:

G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.

Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007)

F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).

I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).

John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).

William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Pastor's Sermon Notes: The First Deacons (Acts 6:1-7)

The First Deacons

Acts 6:1-7

¹ And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. ² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. ³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. ⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: ⁶ Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. ⁷ And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Introduction:

In this portion of Luke’s narrative we are confronted with an internal complication that had the potential:

1) to sidetrack the Apostles from their ministry in the Word and prayer, and also,

2) to split the early Church in Jerusalem along ethnic lines.

Overview/Introduction of Chapter 6:

Patterns:

1. miracles → witness

2. preaching to the Jews → Gospel rejected by the Jews → preaching to the Gentiles

3. Jewish opposition to the Gospel and persecution of the Christians → the spread of the Christians and the Gospel

Significant events - Between the first two “Pentecosts” (Jewish in Acts 2, and Samaritan in Acts 8), and following the birth of the Church in Acts 2

Significant persons - Peter is at the forefront here, later Paul’s ministry will be the focus

Geographical movement - still in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8), soon to move to Judea and Samaria prior to the journeys to “the ends of the earth”

Outline:

I. The Need for the First Deacons (6:1)

II. The Qualifications of the First Deacons (6:2-4)

III. The Installation of the First Deacons (6:5-6)

IV. The Blessings of the First Deacons (6:7)

Transition: Gospel success in this fallen world occurs in the midst of a spiritual battleground. In this warfare attacks come both from without, and from within the Church. This is true both on this corporate level and on a personal level so the lessons learned from the account of this incident may have broader applications than may be assumed from a cursory reading. Up to this point in the narrative Luke has recorded in this book opposition or resistance to the work of the Apostles in bearing testimony to the risen and ascended Messiah, and the consequent growth of the Church has come primarily from without. An exception in chapter five in the incident of Ananias and Sapphira actually includes one of only two mentions of Satanic opposition in the book (the other being 26:18).

I. The Need for the First Deacons (6:1)

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

1. The Multiplication of the Disciples -

The Setting: The Rapid Growth of the Early Church

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied

2. The Murmuring of the Gentiles -

The Problem: The Discrimination Complaint along Ethnic Lines

there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews

3. The Ministration to the Widows -

The Occasion: The Daily Distribution to Elect Widows

because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration

II. The Qualifications of the First Deacons (6:2-4)

² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. ³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

1. Men With a Reputation for Honesty (6:3b)

men of honest report

2. Men With a Fullness of the Holy Spirit and Wisdom (6:3c)

full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom

Intermezzo: Were these seven men the first Deacons?

Note: The term is used 29 times in the New Testament. In all but three instances where it refers to the office of a Deacon (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8, 12) it bears the normal usage in context of “servant” or “messenger”.

Objection:

“Often the present passage is seen to be the initiation of the diaconate. The word “deacon” (diakonos) never occurs in the passage. The word “ministry” (diakonia) does occur several times, but it is applied to both the ministry of the daily distribution (v. 2) and the ministry of the word, the apostolic witness (v. 4). In fact, the word “deacon” never occurs in Acts. The office generally referred to is “elder” (Acts 11:30; 14:23, et passim). If one is inclined nevertheless to see the diaconate in this passage, that person should take a cue from Stephen and Philip. In the rest of Acts, nothing is made of their administrative duties. What one finds them doing is bearing their witness, even to martyrdom.”

Source: J. B. Polhill, (1995). Vol. 26: Acts. The New American Commentary (182–183). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Views:

“Were these the first deacons? Which church office is in view here? Three answers are given to these questions.

(1) Some say these were the first deacons. Several factors are used to support this viewpoint. First, the office of deacon is assumed in Paul’s letters (cf. Phil. 1:1). If Acts 6:1–6 is not an account of their beginning, it is argued, when and where did deacons originate? Second, several words related to deacon (diakonos) are found here: “distribution” (lit., “service”) in verse 1 is diakonia, and “to wait” in verse 2 is diakonein. However, these men were never called “deacons” (diakonoi) as such. Much later they were called “the Seven” (21:8). Furthermore, the words “distribution” and “wait” do not seem to have a technical sense here. These words in the Greek New Testament are commonly used in a nonspecialized sense.

(2) Others hold that these were precursors to the office of elder. This is not a common interpretation, but it gains its support from 11:30, which refers to relief money being given to the elders. If deacons handled these funds earlier (chap. 6), it is argued, they must have later become the elders (chap. 11). However, the office of elder has its origin in the Jewish synagogue.

(3) A third view is that these seven men held a temporary position for the purpose of meeting a specific need. This seems to be the best approach for a couple of reasons. First, these men were chosen for a particular task, not an overall one. Second, they were in a temporary responsibility because of the communal nature of the church at Jerusalem. Even so, these men do illustrate the role and function of the office of deacons.”

Source: S. D. Toussaint, (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck, Ed.) (Ac 6:6). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

40th Anniversary Celebration and Fall Family Festival

Wayside Gospel Chapel's 40th anniversary is October 16th, 2013.
This coming Lord's Day, October 13th, we will celebrate this anniversary with the following events:

Sunday Morning Worship
Fellowship Dinner
Fall Family Festival (see below)
Special Song Service with the Bradleys and the Guidas

We would love to have each and every one of your with us to celebrate this milestone in the history of Wayside!

Fall Family Festival information:

Wayside Gospel Chapel is hosting its Fifth Annual "Fall Family Festival" on Sunday, October 13th, 2013 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the church. Wayside Gospel Chapel is located in Greene Township on the corner of Roemerville Road and PA Route 390 about 4 miles south of Promised Land State Park in Pike County. The activities at the Fall Family Festival will include turkey bowling, leaf jumping, pumpkin carving, hay bale throwing, a scarecrow race, and much more. There will be free food and games for all ages. Activities will take place inside and outside, so please wear warm clothes that you don't mind getting a little dirty! For more information contact Pastor Jack Jeffery at waysidegospelchapel at yahoo dot com.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Select quotes from the 2013 Ocean City Bible Conference

Select quotes from the 2013 Ocean City Bible Conference:

"Noah couldn't hide the ark under a tarp in the garage!"
"The greatest steps of faith bring the greatest blessing!"
- Randy Smith (Grace Tabernacle, Allenwood, NJ), "Faith: Walking in the Supremacy of Jesus Christ - Part 1" (Gen. 12:1-9), at the 2013 Ocean City Bible Conference, SUN AM 8 SEP 2013.

"The wrath of God is not antithetical to the love of God."
"God the Father did not send the Son to die as our Substitute reluctantly."
"God the Father has no reservations about you whatsoever."
"The most grievious sins are those against love not law."
"When do you feel more guilty: when you sin against someone you love, or someone you hate?"
- R. W. Glenn (Redeemer Bible Church, Minnetonka, MN), "Propitiation" (1 Jn. 4:10), at the 2013 Ocean City Bible Conference, MON AM 9 SEP 2013.

"The Gospel is not a plan, it is a Person. The Gospel is about a Person."
"Jesus is not to be 1st place in your life! That is woefully bad theology! The preposition is "in" not over or above."
"The focus in eternity is God incarnate."
"What do we do with the problem of God? What do you do with a God who is too far to get to and to close to outrun?"
"How do we solve the near\far God? Jesus! He is the solution to the near\far God!"
- Rick Holland (Mission Road Bible Church, Prairie Village, KS), "Focus: Applying the Mediatorial Ministry of Jesus" (Job 9), at the 2013 Ocean City Bible Conference, MON AM 9 SEP 2013.

"The single greatest threat to the doctrine of imputation is you! Those who give lip service to the doctrine of imputation, and live as if they must earn righteousness."
"We need to repent of our discouragement at our sins!" (Thomas Brooks)
"Repent of sin? Yes! Also, repent of righteousness!"
"God's grace is greater than your inner Pharisee!"
- R. W. Glenn (Redeemer Bible Church, Minnetonka, MN), "Imputation" (2 Cor. 5:21), at the 2013 Ocean City Bible Conference, MON PM 9 SEP 2013.

"Church is the closest thing to Heaven on earth!"
"If you don't like the Church you probably won't like heaven, and probably won't be going there anyway!"
- Randy Smith (Grace Tabernacle, Allenwood, NJ), "Breakout Seminar - Church: Loving it as Much as Jesus Does!", at the 2013 Ocean City Bible Conference, TUES AM 10 SEP 2013.

"What our death cries out is sin. What our grave cries out is that we are sinners."
- Al Mohler (Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, KY), "Church: The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail" (Matthew 16:13-19), at the 2013 Ocean City Bible Conference, TUES PM 10 SEP 2013.

"If there is no judgment and there is no condemnation then there is no need for the Gospel."
"Judgment and condemnation were on the Cross."
"If sin was not the problem, there would be no need for the solution of the Gospel!"
"Salvation is God saving us from Himself!"
"Salvation is from God, by God, and for God."
"Do you really think you'll never cash in on 1 Jn. 1:9?"
- Rick Holland (Mission Road Bible Church, Prairie Village, KS), "Perspective: What's so Great About the Gospel?" (Romans 5:6-11), at the 2013 Ocean City Bible Conference, TUES AM 10 SEP 2013.

"The source of all the pathologies in your Christianity experience is that we don't rest in the love of the Father for us."
"Relating to God as your Father is central and essential to your Christian life."
"Since you didn't earn your way into it you can't sin your way out of it!"
"You can't be more loved than you are right now!"
"The reality of the love of God for us is the last thing in the world to dawn on us." - Sinclair Ferguson
"My real father is my heavenly Father! The Father wants you to know that every single day!"
"If it sounds too good to be true you are starting to understand the Gospel!"
"He was orphaned so you could be adopted. He was rejected so you could be accepted."
- R. W. Glenn (Redeemer Bible Church, Minnetonka, MN), "Sonship" (Galatians 4:4-5), at the 2013 Ocean City Bible Conference, WED AM 11 SEP 2013.

The audio files for these messages are available online on the Ocean City Bible Conference website at http://ocbibleconference.org/2013downloads [accessed 27 SEP 2013]. CDs with the audio messages may be purchased by contacting the Conference from the link on this page.

Verse of the Day

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Monday, October 14, 2013

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Wednesday, October 2, 2013