What's Next at Lake Country Bible Church?

Over the past two years it has been my joy and privilege to feed the people of God that make up Lake Country Bible Church. I am truly blessed to minister to such a humble (Isaiah 66:2) and hungry congregation (1 Peter 2:2-3). We believe that, by God’s design, the expository pulpit is the rudder of the church and we covet your faithful prayer partnership!

Here is a summary of where we have been and what we believe is on the preaching horizon:

After 18 years of faithful ministry our founding pastor, Pastor Sal Massa, retired in May of 2017. Pastor Sal had begun a verse-by-verse study of Revelation but was unable to complete this great prophecy before he retired. In order to enhance shepherding/preaching continuity between my predecessor and I, and in effort to not leave the sheep hanging (the end of the story is the very best part), I committed to finishing this expository study.

Sunday morning (5/19/19) marks the end of a long and rewarding journey. My prayer is that we will not forget the many lessons that the Holy Spirit has taught us along the way. By Divine design, the prophesied future is intended to impact the here and now. The Christian life does not make sense without this future hope. God calls His saints to live each day in the light of Christ’s imminent return. That is the heart and soul of biblical “eschatology;” (studies related to the end times).

As we transition into our summer schedule, we are going to begin a new sermon series. I have attached a tentative schedule of what will be covered over the next few months. This new series will highlight what King Jesus expects from those who shepherd and lead His flock. It will also address the primacy of the local church, the need for meaningful membership, and what the Lord expects from “the people of his pasture” in terms of their relationship with local church pastors and elders. The current plan is to begin a new book study after the busy summer season end.

In addition to what has been taught during our worship service a number of men have been teaching the Psalms on Wednesday night. Before his retirement Pastor Ray worked through the Minor and Major Prophets.

Our Women Teaching Women ministry has enjoyed two studies through the book of James and Habakkuk. The College and Career group has worked their way through 1 Peter and the book of Acts. In addition to these offerings, during the Sunday School hour we have recently worked through Galatians, the Spiritual Disciplines, and an Old and New Testament study on biblical manhood and womanhood.

As a reminder we do not offer Sunday School during the summer months and our worship service begins at 9:30 AM. Our summer schedule begins May 26th and ends September 1st.

Together for the gospel,

Pastor Caleb Kolstad

Forthcoming Sermon Series 

Summer 2019 at Lake Country Bible Church

How Jesus Governs the Universe; Rom. 13; Eph. 6; Heb. 13:17

How Jesus Runs His Church- Selected Scriptures. 

Is It Sunday Yet?

Is it Sunday yet?  The Lord's Day should be the best day of the week.  By the grace of God, for my family it certainly is.

This coming Sunday we prayerfully anticipate another morning of vibrant Christian fellowship.  Spirit-filled praise.  Edifying, and sometimes humorous and/or tearful, conversations.  And focused expository listening.

The believers that make up Lake Country Bible Church are full of Christian joy and hope.  Our founding pastor worked hard to ensure that this fellowship was Word-centered; without losing our identity of also being a loving family of believers.  Pastor Sal believed that the Lord's Church is to be known for its commitment to Christ-like love (John 13), absolute truth/sound doctrine (1 Tim. 3:15; Jude 3; Eph. 4:11-16), and "good deeds" (Heb. 10:24-25; Eph. 2:10).  It's both/and rather than either/or.

During the 9 AM Sunday School hour our children/teens will be in stage of life focused classes.  Our wonderful teachers will highlight biblical truth using Answers in Genesis material.  One of our elders (Dave) will lead the adults in prayer and then continue his excellent series through Galatians.

At 10:15 AM the entire congregation will come together for our corporate worship service:

1) We will sing a number of praise songs and hymns (Col. 3:16; "Jesus Shall Reign;" "10,000 Reasons;" "His Mercy is More;" "Before the Throne of God Above;" and "By Faith.")

Reformation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

When I read Carl Trueman’s Reformation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow I found it to be quite insightful. This short book offers some great insights into various topics including preaching. Here are a few excerpts from Professor Trueman’s book (republished by Christian Focus Publications).

The sermon: God’s Method

For those, however, standing in the line of the Reformers, humanity, even in its highest natural spiritual exercises, is in a state of utter rebellion against God, and no elaborate string of words, no compelling argument, no passionate speech will ever bring a single individual to Christ. It is only as those words bring with them the Holy Spirit of God bearing witness to Christ that the sermon becomes adequate to its task. Thus, we preach, we speak the words of God not because this is the marketing method most likely to appeal to the unbeliever but simply because this is God’s appointed means of coming to individuals and bringing them to faith. Indeed, precisely because it is so weak and hopeless by the world’s standards, it brings that much more glory to God when souls are saved and lives turned round through this medium.

Of course we must use language with which the congregation is familiar; of course we must be aware that we are talking to people in the twenty-first century and not the sixteenth; and of course we must be culturally sensitive in what we say; but preach we must because this is God’s chosen means of spreading the news of the kingdom. Preaching is not just a communication technique, and must never be considered as such; it is bringing the very words of God to bear upon the life and needs of sinners and of the congregations of God’s people. For this reason, if for no other, the sermon must remain central in our worship…..

When preaching fails

The Best Welcome that a Congregation Gives a Preacher is ____________

The Preaching Moment and Why It is So Special

"Another week means two more sermons for me to prepare. And that means the weekly ritual of opening my Bible, clicking on the Logos program on the Mac, and grabbing my favorite fountain pen and the familiar canary legal pad.

It’s amazing that after doing this thousands of times, the first thought that comes into my mind as I start is, “Now what am I really doing and how am I actually going to do it?”  Word studies, diagrammatical analysis, Greek and Hebrew, homiletical outlines, illustrations, introductions and conclusions, applications, implications, transitions, titles—sermon prep is not for that faint of heart or the lazy of spirit. But I have to admit that I love it. Really, it is my favorite part of my 'job.'

But it is far easier to forget what the design of preaching is than I would like to admit. In the forward to The Salvation of Souls edited by Richard A. Bailey and Gregory A. Wills, George Marsden provides this insightful context and quote from the preaching of Jonathan Edwards:  In the midst of debates over the Great Awakening, Edwards, made a revealing comment about the effects of preaching. During intense periods of awakenings, evangelists often preached to the same audience daily, or even more frequently. Opponents of the awakening argued that people could not possibly remember what they heard in all these sermons. [Jonathan] Edwards, responded that “The main benefit that is obtained by preaching is by impression made upon the mind in the time of it, and not by the effect that arises afterwards by a remembrance of what was delivered.” Preaching, in other words, should be designed primarily to awaken, to shake people out of their blind slumbers in the addictive comforts of their sins. Though only God can give them new eyes to see, preaching should be designed to jolt the unconverted or the converted who doze back into their sins (as all do) into recognizing their true estate (pp. 11-12).

The Overcooked Steak: Personal Reflections On Sermons that Lasted Too Long

I've only been to really expensive steakhouses a few times in my life.  During these delicious feasts I discovered a simple principle: You really don't want to overcook an expensive cut of meat.  For most meat lovers a well-done steak represents a wonderful meal that was simply overcooked.

Most expository preachers who have received proper mentoring and exceptional seminary education know the plight of the overcooked steak.  How so?  When a large percentage of Spirit-filled believers (see 1 Peter 2:2; Psalm 119:97) go away talking more about the duration of your message rather then it's content the spiritual meal was likely (inadvertently) over baked.  Recently, I have had to own up to a few messages during a series on the Kingdom of God that fit this description.  Sometimes less truly is more.

Exactly how long should the sermon be?   Many factors need to be considered when answering this question.  Such as the communication/oratory ability of the preacher (in general, novice preachers and/or less gifted communicators should deliver shorter messages), the pulpit history of the congregation you are addressing (what was the average sermon length of your preaching predecessor?), and the specific context in which you are preaching (is it an outdoor wedding in 100 degree weather; are you a guest preacher; are you the Sr. Pastor; etc).  One of the best articles on this subject was written by a missionary to Africa; (you can read his post by clicking on the link above).

Three Factors for why Sunday's sermon may have been slightly (or greatly) overcooked: 

1) Excitement and personal passion.  This past week a group of church members attended a Milwaukee Brewer game.  As I watched the 3 hour 15 minute sporting contest unfold I could easily discern different levels of interest, excitement, and/or boredom in the crowd. Some interest waned by the second inning, others by the seventh, and some not at all.  The die-hard Brewer fans were easy to distinguish from some of the children who were simply there for the food and entertainment (two of my daughters fit this bill).  Whenever a preacher enters the pulpit he should be a man on fire.  By the time the expositor closes in prayer the goal is for the Holy Spirit to ignite that same holy fire for the truth in the hearts and minds of one's hearers.  An over-baked message can inadvertently lessen the potential for this kind of spiritual impact. 

For preachers, it is wise to "deliver every sermon as if it were your last" so long as you keep in mind the principles listed in paragraph two and three.  I am learning that a overcooked sermon may not be boring it may have simply exceeded the reasonable saturation point of your flock.  A few of my recent sermons should have been turned into a two part message series.  To goal of all Christian ministry is to "present every believer in your spiritual care MATURE in Christ" (Col. 1:28-29).  Raising the spiritual bar in your ministry contest is a good thing (Heb. 5:11-14; Eph. 4:11-16) so long as it done with proper care and proportion.

2) Personal growing pains.  When I started preaching and teaching on a regular basis 13 years ago I would bring 17-19 half sheets of paper into the pulpit with me.  For good and bad, I said very little that wasn't in my sermon manuscript.  As I have grown and developed over the years I now try and bring fewer than 6 half sheets of paper into the pulpit. 

What Does the Church Most Need Today?

Photo Credit: Ligonier Ministries 

"What does the church most need today? In answering this important but rather general question, Psalm 81 is uniquely important and helpful. This psalm obviously contains beautiful promises and clear directions to help the people of God. But careful study of this psalm will deepen our appreciation of it, increase its value for us, and show us how distinctive it is for helping the church.

As we study psalms, we soon learn that the central verse of a psalm is often significant as a key to its interpretation. The central line of Psalm 81 is the heart of that psalm, as the plaintive cry of God is heard: “O Israel, if you would but listen to me!” (v. 8b). The center of Psalm 81—indeed the whole psalm—is a reflection on the Shema.

The centrality of this line and its importance are underscored when we recognize that Psalm 81 is the central psalm of Book 3 of the Psalter. Book 3 (Psalms 73–89) principally concerns the crisis in Israel caused by the destruction of the temple (Ps. 74) and the apparent failure of God’s promises that David’s sons would forever sit on his throne (Ps. 89). Something of the cause and character of this crisis is contained in this central line of the central psalm.

Since Book 3 is the central book of the five books of the Psalter, Psalm 81:8b actually is the central line of the whole book of Psalms. It stands at the very heart of Israel’s songbook. It calls Israel to deep reflection on her relationship to her God.

This psalm also appears to be central to Israel’s liturgical calendar. The praise at new moon and full moon can refer only to the seventh month of the year, the Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24; Num. 10:10) and the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:26–32). Between these two feasts occurred the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27). As God called Israel to celebrate His great provisions as Creator and Deliverer, so He called His people to hear Him.

As the Shema was crucial to the Torah, so it is central to the Psalter and to the Christian life. God’s people must hear His Word, particularly to reject false gods (v. 9) and to walk in His ways (v. 13). They must not follow their own wisdom (v. 12). How sad to contemplate that God might give us what we think is good for us.

Future Things: What God Wants Us To Know About the Real Armageddon (pt. 1)

Discerning Fact from Fiction (Revelation 19:11-21)

              Revelation 19:19-21

Future Things: What God Wants Us To Know About Armageddon

 (pt. 1)

INTRO-  Super Bowl XX: This much-anticipated event was over before it began and is a

real-life illustration of total dominance. 

What does this have to do with Revelation 19:19-21?

Why does the Bible include so many prophecies about “future things?” (AKA- eschatology)

How do some so-called “bible teachers” exploit people’s fears in relation to apocalyptic events like Armageddon? (survival kits, etc).

What God Wants Us To Know About Armageddon  (click to listen to sermon)

1) It coincides with the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ!

(Revelation 19:11-16; Matthew 24:27-30; Zechariah 12-14; Luke 12:37-40)-

2)  It’s the Final Conflict between Good and Evil (the light and the darkness, Christ and the Antichrist, the people of God and the big bad world)!

(Zech. 14; Revelation 16:13-16; 19:19-21)

  The future/final “Axis of Evil/unholy trinity” is comprised of:

i) Satan (the Dragon)

ii) the Antichrist (the Beast)

iii) the false prophet

"Feed My Sheep!"

It is a blessing to preach God's Word to hungry believers (1 Peter 2:2) Sunday after Sunday. 

I love this photograph because many in the picture are studying their own copy of the Scriptures-like faithful Bereans!

"The pastor's goal is not to please the sheep, but to feed them- not to tickle their ears, but to nourish their souls.  He is not to offer merely light snacks of spiritual meat, but the substantial meat of biblical truth.  Those who fail to feed the flock are unfit to be shepherds (Jer. 23:1-4; Ezekiel 34:2-10)."

Like Paul in 2 Timothy 4, Charles Spurgeon warned that “A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats."'

Jesus commands pastors to "Feed My sheep!"

Do We Truly Love and Long For Christ's Appearing?

One might assume that a faithful pastor who preaches to thousands of people on Sunday mornings would never feel discouraged by "low attendance."  Yet in this clip you find the source of John MacArthur's spiritual sadness over his flock's lack of passion concerning the very best part of the gospel story (the end). 

This admonishment caused me to consider my own religious affections concerning eternity future.

The heart of a Christ-centered, heaven-focused shepherd comes through in this sermon clip.

"I was thinking to myself today, I'm sure our attendance will be low tonight for our evening service, but it's so difficult for me to understand how anybody could be indifferent to the greatest event in all of redemptive history. The very reason why God chose you before the world began in the first place was to bring this event to pass. What kind of a spiritual commentary is it on us that we're indifferent to this? It's highly unlikely that if we were living in dire circumstances, if we were living in oppression, if we were living under some kind of tyranny, if we were grasping for every morsel of food and every hope for another breath that we wouldn't be ecstatic to hear of this kind of joy in the future, really. We have become satiated, glutted and satisfied with the world's fare and those things which are far beyond that, believe it or not, have little interest to us. That's sad. Can we say with the Apostle Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I've kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day and not only to me but also to all those who have...what?...loved His appearing."

How to Listen to a Sermon

How To Listen to a Sermon

The following article by Reagan Rose on How to Listen to an Expository Sermon was so helpful I wanted to share it with you on P.T.L.

It is a wise practice for pastors to read at least one book on biblical preaching each year.  Yet very few Christians have ever been taught how beneficial it would be to do the same thing with regards to expository listening.  Even if a believer desired to do this they may have a difficult time seeing their are not a ton of books that encourage this important spiritual discipline.  The best resources I know of are Ken Ramey's Expository Listening and Christopher Ash's, Listen Up! A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons.  Rose's article will be added to my list of helpful works on this very important subject.

"The last couple of decades have seen a resurgence in expository preaching in churches—sermons which truly explain and apply the biblical text. But an expository sermon is hard work to prepare. That’s why Paul writes that faithful elders, and especially those who labor hard at preaching and teaching, are worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17). With all that effort from faithful preachers, is there more that those of us in the pew can be doing to ensure we are being faithful listeners?

I'm Just Not Getting Much Out Of Church: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

A pastor-friend recommended the following blog post.  It is a funny article that makes some helpful points along the way.  I am grateful that this is not the kind of interaction that I have with the good people that make up the core of Lake Country Bible Church.  But I certainly feel this author/pastors pain. This piece is worth your time because it is highlights a pretty common issue in the larger evangelical church. 

“I’m just not being fed,” s/he said. “This is not a very friendly church. No one really speaks to me. I am not the only one who feels this way. There are lots of people who are struggling. I’m just not sure that this is the right place for me. Why can’t we be more like 'Broadstreet Evangelical?' I really think that I would be better off there.”

“I am very sorry to hear that,” said the pastor. “Might I suggest a deal? I recommend that you go to Broadstreet Evangelical for six months, but on the following conditions:

· You must not arrive more than two minutes before any service begins. If possible, slip in just afterwards. You should leave as soon as it is over, or – ideally – just before it is properly finished.

· Please do not attend more than one service a week, certainly not more than once on any given day. When you are able, miss occasional days altogether.

· Please minimize all contact with others who attend the church. Avoid face-to-face communication at all costs, but – if possible – filter out any notes, cards, texts, emails, or any other such interaction. Cut right down on meaningful conversation.

· You should not go to anyone’s home, nor invite anyone to yours.

· Under no circumstances must you engage with the elders. Don’t call them or answer the phone if they call. If you can, wait until they are looking the other way or engaged with someone else before you leave. If necessary, find an alternative exit. Make all conversation as perfunctory as possible. Do not come to them for counsel, consult with them in difficulty, seek them out when distressed, or listen to their advice.

"I'm Just Not Getting Much Out Of My Preacher's Sermons..." (pt. 2)

BORING!

What's a Christian to do if they are just not getting much out of their preacher's sermons?  In some cases, it may be helpful to share this loving concern with one's pastor.  If you choose to do this, provide a few specific examples to help your shepherd understand more specifically where you are coming from.  Do this with humility and bathe everything in prayer (Prov. 3:5-6). Having said that, before setting up such a meeting you should acknowledge that the difficulties your experiencing may reside as much in your own heart/mind, or in your own unrealistic and/or unbiblical expectations, as it does in the human mouthpiece of the Word (note 1 Peter 4:10-11).  One must evaluate each situation on a case by case basis.  Of course in many real world situations the matter is both/and rather than either/or.

Biblical humility should temper your criticisms with the honest acknowledgement that your pastor has invested 4-8 years of his life via bible college and seminary and to countless hours preparing weekly expositions.   I remind myself of this very principle when walking into a medical clinic. Before informing my doctor that "I don't think he's doing his job right and needs to do this or that" I realize that the few hours I spent on Web M.D. does not make me a "subject matter expert" in medicine.  That's not to say we should never question a doctor.  Some medical professionals are really poor in what they do and we would be foolish to not get a second opinion (or to find another doctor all together).

In this vein, if your preacher has not received received adequate ministry training he may need to "go back to school" before assuming such a huge responsibility as is feeding the flock of Christ (see John 21).  Note Clint Archer's helpful article on "should men go to seminary before leading the church of Christ.".

Having said that, those in the pew should be humble enough to listen to their pastor's thoughts knowing that he's likely spent hundreds of hours reading books on expository preaching, has invested thousands of hours listening to classroom lectures on theology, hermeneutics, counseling, Scripture, and homiletics, and probably benefits from many of the same well known preachers that you do.  What Christian doesn't love the preaching ministries of Alistair Begg, Steve Lawson, and John MacArthur?  

On this note, one of the present dangers of the internet and the proliferation of "celebrity pastors" is that some Christians expect their local church preacher to sound just like you fill in the blank; not realizing that God does not give "five talents" to every servant (Matt. 25:14-30) and has given each individual a unique personality/style.  If your preacher does not herald the Word as well as John MacArthur (join the camp), this does not mean that this brother has not been called to the ministry.   All believers are expected to be faithful stewards of the talents that have been sovereignly dispensed on them by the Lord of the Church (see 1 Cor. 12-14; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Tim. 3:1f).  In this same vein, if you expect your praise leader(s) to sing like Matt Boswell or Chris Tomlin, or to write arrangements like Fernando Ortega or Bob Kauflin, you are setting yourself up for being a church member who is never content.  Be biblically realistic and remind yourself that the power ultimately resides in the Word of God not in the heralds of His Word!

"I'm Not Getting Much Out of My Pastor's Sermons!" (pt. 1)

photo credit: crosswalk.com

What's a Christian to do if they are just not getting much out of their preacher's sermons?  In some cases, it may be helpful to humbly share this concern with one's pastor.  If you do this, provide a few specific examples in order to demonstrate the "head to heart" disconnect.  Do this with grace and humility and commit the matter to prayer.  This kind of prayer plea is surely welcomed by the God of the Word who longs for His people to grow and mature in the faith through the public preaching ministry of the Word (Col. 1:28-29; 2 Tim. 3:15-4:5).  God also wants (we) pastors to grow and develop so that our spiritual "progress might be evident to all" (1 Tim. 4:15).  Assuming that the specific criticisms that you have are biblically valid, extend grace by giving your minister time to grow and develop accordingly.  In some cases, you may need to leave and find a new local church that regularly offers MEAT (as opposed to MILK) per the admonition found in Hebrews 5:12-14 and 2 Timothy 4:3f.

Having said that, before setting up such a meeting you should acknowledge that the problem may reside as much in your own heart as it does in the human mouthpiece of the Word (note 1 Peter 4:10-11).  James 1:19 says "Let everyone be quick to hear and slow to speak."  The context of this statement is a believer in relation to the Word of God (note also James 1:22f).  Before judging or setting up a meeting to voice our concerns we should first examine our own life and heart in the spirit of Matthew 7 and Galatians 6.  

In the past decade a few helpful resources have been written on the subject of expository listening.  These are welcome additions as thousands of books have been written for preachers; (My favorite's preaching resources are Preachers and Preaching, Rediscovering Expository Preaching; Famine in the Land; He is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World; and Between Two Worlds). 

Is Seminary Really Necessary Before Assuming Leadership in a Local Church?

D. Min lecture with Dr. MacArthur at TMS

Why Seminary? Is formal bible training really necessary before becoming a Lead Pastor at a local church?  Though there are a select few exceptionally gifted and uniquely committed, self-taught, Preacher-Pastor/theologians... such as the brilliant Spurgeon and D.M. Lloyd-Jones. In general, those called to preach (see 2 Tim 2:15; Titus 1:5f) should receive the highest level of seminary training available to them. Would you undergo surgery from a surgeon who hasn’t been to medical school? Why not?

James Montgomery Boice said if he knew Christ were returning in 4 years he’d instruct young men to spend 3 years in intense pastoral training (seminary) and only then preach!  Too much is at stake and church history has too many examples of well intentioned (unprepared) pastors, teachers, and evangelists who failed the Colossians 1:28-29 mandate because of sloppy exegesis and faulty interpretations. Good communication skill alone is not enough. Clint Archer makes some helpful points in his article posted below.

Here's a snippet of Archer's blog post, "The question of whether seminary is necessary is one that perennially resurfaces among those who sense the urgency of the need to preach and feel compelled to dive right in, but also understand the benefit of thorough training, and want guidance about the balance.

The God Who Remembers- Nov 5th, 2017 @ LCBC

During the AM worship service we will consider the wonderful account of Zacharias and Elizabeth and the birth account of John the Baptist.  The title of this introductory message is "The God Who Remembers!"  My exposition of Luke 1:5-25 can be found here

A sermon study guide is also available on Lake Country Bible Church's website.  These sermon notes are intended to help us drive home the practical significance of the message.  Scripture says we must effectual doers of the Word (not merely hearers).  It is the Holy Spirit's joy to help God's people grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is a snippet from Sunday's note sheet.

For Further Reflection/Application:
Imagine what it would have felt like to have ministered faithfully as a believer (as Zacharias
and Elizabeth did) without any signs of deliverance or the fulfillment of many O. T. promises.
Do you ever feel discouraged concerning various N. T. and 2nd Coming Promises?
(note 2 Peter 3)

Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man that He should (ever) lie. Has God said, and will He not do
it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” How you answer these rhetorical
questions will not only influence how you live your everyday life it will also determine your
eternal destiny. I say this on the basis of texts like John 3:16-36.

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)

"Sunday Morning Begins Saturday Night"

Charles Spurgeon: "We are told men ought not to preach without preparation. Granted. But we add, men ought not to hear without preparation. Which do you think needs the most preparation, the sower or the ground? I would have the sower come with clean hands, but I would have the ground well-plowed & harrowed, well-turned over, and the clods broken before the seed comes in."

Rethinking Biblical Application (part 4)

Photo Credit: eyeballplant.com

In the fourth installment of this series on rethinking biblical application I want to identify some  practical principles that will hopefully help us put feet to our faith.  As one reads the New Testament it is clear that the Spirit of truth always works in partnership with the Word of truth in order to conform believers into the likeness of Jesus (Col. 1:28; 2 Cor. 3:18).   Thus far we have addressed the biblical expectations of the preacher (2 Timothy 4:1-2; James 3) and the listener (James 1:21-25; Luke 12:48).  Here are a few more principles to keep in mind.

1) Not all sermons are going to have the exact same impact.  

Establishing realistic expectations is critical for both the expository preacher and the expository listener.  Not every message is going to have the exact same impact on our hearts; the same principle is true with regards to the worship songs/hymns that are selected during the service.  A lot of factors account for this:  A) The sermon itself (some messages are better than others.  By "better" I mean messages with great clarity, more direct exhortation, more passionate delivery, and more in-depth exposition).  B) the Text itself  (True expository preaching is always Text-driven.  A faithful expositor will try and make the main points of a passage the main headings of his exposition.   Some texts are weightier than others while other passages are more difficult to understand-see for example 2 Peter 3:15-16.  Some chapters are more doctrinal, Ephesians 1; while others are more application-orientated, Ephesians 5).  In saying this, I am in no way discounting the sufficiency of all the God-breathed Scriptures (per 2 Timothy 3:16).  C) The preacher (Members often have no clue what is really going on in their pastor's life).  D) The hearer (Preachers often know very little about what happened Sunday morning before his fellow members arrived at church, let alone, how their congregation members week really went).  

Suffice it to say, life circumstances often play a large role in the mind and heart of both the preacher and the hearer.  The way certain sermons impact us (more or less) sometimes comes back to this simple principle.  For example, if someone is going through a dark valley they may find certain exhortations and messages are especially encouraging to them.  On the other hand, if a believer is struggling with internet pornography they may find certain Texts to be particularly convicting, etc, etc.  When I was in seminary I read Spurgeon's lecture on the Minister's Fainting Fits and honestly was not really moved by it.  Eight years later I went back and reread this message and found it to be one of the most encouraging and helpful things Spurgeon ever said/wrote.  What happened?  My life experience had greatly changed.   I was now the man that Spurgeon was addressing in this famous lecture.

Rethinking Biblical Application (pt 3)

During a question and answer session at Grace Church Pastor John MacArthur offered some wisdom concerning the subject of expository preaching and biblical application.

"Through the years there is kind of a running discussion about how to preach and when you preach, what you should say and how you should say it. And I’m outside the box of kind of most contemporary discussions about preaching and I often have to sort of defend myself.

The criticism is this, MacArthur is biblical, he’s just not relevant. MacArthur is biblical, he’s just not practical. MacArthur is good on interpretation, he’s weak on application. And I think that people have said this and by virtue of the way they view what I do, they think they’re right, and I understand that. I don’t have a quarrel with that.

But I want you to understand, if you don’t already understand, what I think should happen in effective biblical preaching. You heard a testimony tonight in the waters of Baptism from Juan about how he kept coming to Grace Church. And in spite of the fact that he wanted to be a hypocrite, the power of the Scripture began to overwhelm him.