The Heart of the Reformation (500 Years Later)

Lake Country Bible Church: Personal Reflections on Our First Year

In twelve years of full-time pastoral ministry my first twelve plus weeks at Lake Country Bible Church have been the most rewarding months of my life (and some of the fullest).  For this, Andrea and I praise and thank the Lord!

Lake Country Bible Church

After nine challenging years of church revitalization, God (still) owed me nothing; for pastoral ministry is always a mercy.   Having said that, the difficult places and low valleys in pastoral ministry often help one to more fully appreciate the 'good times' and mountain peaks.  This is certainly true of our recent experience at Lake Country Bible Church.

Though Lake Country Bible Church is not the largest congregation in the area it is one of most hungry, welcoming, loving, and passionate ministries we have ever served in.  Evidence to support this statement abound:  From intentional acts of congregational kindness (1 Thess. 5:12-13); to active ministry involvement (Eph. 4:12; at Lake Country Bible 80% of the church serves in a variety of ministries); to an intense hunger for the pure Word (1 Pet. 2:2; when I accidentally preached for 60 minutes a few months ago I didn’t hear a single word of complaint minus my own); to a gracious compensation package (1 Tim. 5:17-18); to responsive hearts to biblical leadership (2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Cor. 11:1; Prov. 27:17; almost every single adult male signed up for an intense men’s leadership ministry that was recently started); to stirring congregational worship (Psalm 150).  With each passing week our praise list continues to grow!

Every time I speak with my predecessor (and founding pastor) Sal Massa I thank him for the privilege of succeeding him at such a special place. LCBC is not a perfect church (there is no such thing this side of eternity) but it’s certainly a very special church! This is not to suggest that there have not been any trials (for example our home in Illinois remains unsold), but these challenges have been small in comparison with the recent blessings. Andrea and I have repeatedly pinched ourselves when reflecting upon the Lord’s kindness in bringing us to Lake Country.

New- Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Series

New Class Starting 9/17/17

This Sunday all of our children/youth and adult SS classes begin at 9am at Lake Country Bible Church.

In my adult Sunday School class we will begin our "Biblical Manhood and Womanhood" series. 

In this class we'll answer many related questions, such as:  What are the biblical roles and responsibilities of Christian men and women?

What does Biblical manhood entail?

What does Biblical womanhood involve?

How can we avoid the unbiblical extremes?

MEN, are we striving to be EXEMPLARY Christian husbands?

LADIES, are you striving to be EXCELLENT Christian WIVES?

Single girls, do you know what masculine Christian virtues to look for in a potential future husband?

Single guys, do you know the roles and goals of a potential future wife?

Fathers are we modeling what a loving leader, a sacrificial provider, and a spiritual protector looks for our children?

Mothers, are a model of the commitments and virtues that are set forth in Prov. 31 and Titus 2?

He Shall Reign Forevermore! (2 Samuel 7; pt. 3 and 4)

On October 15th we continued our series on "God's Original and Marvelous Design for Men and Women."  It is critically important that before we get into the more disputed texts, such as 1 Timothy 2:9-15 and 1 Corinthians 11, that we begin in the VERY GOOD beginning.  Paul himself points to the pre-fall plan of God as the biblical basis of his New Testament instruction.  This adult bible study series complements our men's leadership study of "the Exemplary Husband" and our ladies study of "the Excellent Wife."  These are vitally important issues.  Titus 2 says the testimony of the gospel is at sake!

During the worship service we will continue our exposition of 2 Samuel 7 which is one of the most significant passages in the entire Old Testament.   If you want to understand the New Testament, especially issues related to the end times (eschatology) then we need to know the First Testament.  The title of the morning sermon is "He Shall Reign Forevermore!"

Because I had way too much material for one sermon I preached a second exposition during a special evening service titled, "Follow the Yellow Brick Road All the Way Home."  This journey trace the major themes of 2 Samuel throughout the rest of the Bible.  The Word of God truly is one giant story (a interconnected metanarrative).  Sometimes we miss the forest for the trees.  This message is designed to help us so the grand design of heaven.

In order to help my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ drive home the implications of the inspired text I provide extended notes for further meditation and application (see below). 

He Shall Reign Forevermore sermon notes-

For Further Reflection/Application:
Are you jealous for the honor, glory, and reputation of your great God and King (like David
was)? Provide some examples to support your answer.

The great Covenants must be viewed through a biblical looking glass to see both near and far.  What was meant by this statement? (think back to last week’s “already/not yet” teaching)

A Forever King & His Everlasting Kingdom (2 Sam. 7)

The Grand Covenants of Scripture

On October 8th, I preached a message titled "The Forever King and His Everlasting Kingdom." 2 Samuel 7 is the foundation of what the final N.T. prophesy of Revelation reveals (note esp. Rev. 19-20).  In this current series I am trying to help my congregation understand how the Grand Covenants of the O. T. is the base upon which the N. T. rests.   In the Old Testament we witness many great "promised made."  In the New Testament we uncover "God fulfilling all of His promises." One cannot fully understand familiar passages, such as Luke 1-2, without understanding jugular texts such as 2 Samuel 7.  It is clear that faithful Jewish teenagers, such as Mary, was firmly grounded in the Old Testament.  Such cannot be said of the Evangelical church today.  By in large we do not know our Old Testament Scriptures which goes against the spirit of 2 Timothy 3:15-4:2.

In the Adult Bible study/SS hour we are looking at God's Original and Marvelous Design for Men and Women (lesson 4). 

In the afternoon we will host my first "new members class" since becoming the new Sr. Pastor at Lake Country Bible Church.

For Further Reflection/Application:
What are some of the main features and promises of the Davidic Covenant? How do we
Gentiles factor into God’s purpose/plan?

“The LORDS’s irrevocable promise to David is reliable and guarantees the realization of His
purposes for His covenant community.” How does this strengthen your faith in God?

God's Grand Covenant Promises, Israel, and Us (pt. 2)

Firm Assurance

For those who at times lack firm assurance in the promises of God this sermon from Genesis 15 and Hebrews 6 should strengthen our faith. 

This study of the Abrahamic Covenant is critical if we're to rightly interpret the New Testament (including the book of Revelation).

“It is recognized by all serious students of the Bible that the covenant with Abraham is one of the

most important revelations of Scripture. This grand promise furnishes the key to the entire Old

Testament and reaches for its fulfillment into the New. In the controversy between pre-mill

proponents and amillennialists, the interpretation of this covenant more or less settles the entire

argument.”

During the 9:00 Sunday School hour we will continue our study of "God's marvelous design for men and women."  A thematic study of Genesis 1-2.

For Further Reflection/Application:

When is the last time you doubted one of God’s promises?   How did you respond to these internal concerns? Did you take these burdens to God in prayer? What passages of Scripture assured you that everything God promised will come to pass exactly as He said it will?

Meditate on the practical significance of Hebrews 6:9-19a, Psalm 42, and Psalm 73.

What are some of your favorite Divine PROMISES? What about these promises makes them so important to you?

Some promises are meant to be shared not kept a .secret. God’s good promises in Christ are

intended to be shared far and wide.