CATECHISM CHALLENGE - L.D. 5

Lord’s Day 5 – Study Questions

Q. 12 According to God's righteous judgment we deserve punishment both in this world and forever after: how then can we escape this punishment and return to God's favor?

A. God requires that his justice be satisfied. Therefore the claims of his justice must be paid in full, either by ourselves or another.

Q. 13 Can we pay this debt ourselves?

A. Certainly not. Actually, we increase our guilt every day.

Q. 14 Can another creature—any at all—pay this debt for us?

A. No. To begin with, God will not punish another creature for what a human is guilty of. Besides, no mere creature can bear the weight of God's eternal anger against sin and release others from it.

Q. 15 What kind of mediator and deliverer should we look for then?

A. One who is truly human and truly righteous, yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, one who is also true God.

1. What do I deserve? (Rom 6:23) How can I be saved? (Acts 16:30-31)

2. Can you pay your own debt? (Read Matt. 18:21-35 – how big is the guys debt?) Do we accrue more or less debt? (Rom. 2:1-5)

3. Who is responsible for sin? (Ezekiel 18:4, 20)

4. Could the sacrifice of a goat, sheep, bull or your next door neighbor pay for my debt? (Heb. 10:1-4)

5. What kind of Deliver should we be on the lookout for? (Heb. 2:17; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; Isa. 53:9-11; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 7:26; Isa. 9:6-7; John 1:1-4)

Audio: Heidelberg Catechism - Lord's Day 5

Weeping Over My Father

Weeping...I am weeping over my father. It has been 12 years since my father's death. 12 years without his voice. 12 years without his sweet embrace. I miss him. I hurt for him. I do not know where my Jesus has set his soul in eternity. Where is his home? Where has God in all his justice and mercy eternally placed his soul. I do not know. I can not say.

I can only wonder and weep as I remember the tragedy of his life. A life I loved and still love. A life that fills my memory, my thinking, my speech and even my face. Where has he gone? Will I see his sweet face, and peer into those piercing blue eyes once again at the resurrection? I do not know. I can not say.

My heart yearns for the eternal happiness of his soul. My desire is to plead with God to have mercy, even though judgment day for my father was 12 years ago. The last chapter of my father's life did not end happily ever after, but in a horrible moral tragedy that still wanders down the hall of my haunted memory. Always replaying in my mind like a broken record skipping back, again and again. If only that moment could be played back once again, and my father could have turned back to God when the door of this life slammed shut. What hall did my father walk into eternity down? Was it the hall to heaven and everlasting happiness or the hall of hell and everlasting hurt. I do not know. I can not say.

How many lives are like that of my father? If only they could clearly reflect upon their lives before death rips us from life, how different the end of many would be. Johnny Cash was a man who was tormented by his own rebellion and who seemed at the same time to have it all. He was able at the end of his life to clearly reflect upon his life through the redemption he has in Jesus Christ, and call his empire of success and fame...DIRT. May you view all of your earthly goods and accomplishments as dirt, so that you may embrace what is of greatest importance...to love GOD and love OTHERS. Amen.

When Lancelot Comes Riding

Brett Harris of The Rebelution writes his second helpful post in a series called Modern Day Chivalry. I hope this post called When Lancelot Comes Riding will a blessing to young ladies. This is the second post of a fives part series that I hope will lead you in living for a greater glory than your own...God's Glory.

Link: When Lancelot Comes Riding

Great Sportsmanship

Here is a great video by ESPN on the essence of sportsmanship, and how the game of life should be played. Enjoy! (Logan)

Fasting: A Humbling of Ourselves

In my reading on fasting, Wilhelmus a Brakel in his magnum opus "The Christian's Reasonable Service" instructs his readers about fastings main purpose. He says:

"Fasting serves but one purpose: to facilitate the humbling of the soul; it has no significance beyond that."

He goes to explain what the humbling of ourselves consist of.

1. The confessioin of sin, accompanied with grief and shame...
2. Declaring ourselves to be worthy of judgment...
3. A supplicating for grace, frequently accompanied with weeping...
4. A renewal of the covenant with the wholehearted intent to forsake former sins and live a godly life...
5. The giving of alms
   

Father Brakel, as he was known in his day (1635-1711) also instructs the members of his congregation and the church about how long should a fast be and in what manner should it be preformed.

The duration of the fast is limited to a twenty four hour period - from evening to evening...Everyone has personal freedom in doing this...In so doing we will acquaint ourselves with the Lord; we will become more modest and holy, and the Lord generally grants more spiritual grace to such. In setting such a day apart, every one is free as the the extent to which he wishes to do so...It can be that he will desist from his labors if he is self-employed and if it is not to the disadvantage of his family; he can do this without anyone noticing this. Or it can be that he sets this day apart while nevertheless intending to do this work...and to eat a limited amount of food, so as to conceal form others the fact that he is fasting that day. The latter must very much be his objective according to the instruction of Christ in Matthew 6:16-18.

(The Christian's Reasonable Service - Fasting - Vol. 4, p. 3-10)

Operation World Country of the Week

The Church has been called to make disciples of all nations or peoples (Matt. 28:19-20). Because we have been called to such a glorious task for the fame of King Jesus, I hope to highlight one country each week from Operation World for your prayer support. Not only will we be praying that the mission of God will be accomplished throughout the globe (Matt 24:14), but in the process we grow in our understanding of the people of the world and God's work among the nations (Ps. 46:10; Ps. 47:8-9). Please pray for the peace of the nations, which can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ (Isa. 66:12; Jer. 33:9).

What Does It Mean to Fast?

The Gospel Coalition is a group of pastors from around the country and even the world from various denominations, who are committed to the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Church and the world. May the Gospel of Jesus Christ saturate your knowing, being and doing for your good and God's Glory.

The video posted below answers the question: What Does It Mean to Fast? I posted as another voice on fasting, which I believe is helpful of thinking about fasting in broader context. I hope to post two videos/week from Gospel Coalition pastors which address import theological truths for your growth in the Gospel and godliness. Amen.

CATECHISM CHALLENGE - L.D. 4

Lord’s Day 4 – Study Questions

Q. 9 But doesn't God do us an injustice by requiring in his law what we are unable to do?

A. No, God created humans with the ability to keep the law. They, however, tempted by the devil, in reckless disobedience, robbed themselves and all their descendants of these gifts.

Q. 10 Will God permit such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?

A. Certainly not. He is terribly angry about the sin we are born with as well as the sins we personally commit. As a just judge he punishes them now and in eternity. He has declared: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.

Q. 11 But isn't God also merciful?

A. God is certainly merciful, but he is also just. His justice demands that sin, committed against his supreme majesty, be punished with the supreme penalty—eternal punishment of body and soul.

1. God asked Job if he was just. (Job 40:2) If Job in all his suffering and seeming injustices against him could not accuse God of being unjust, can you? (Read: Job 40:1-42:6)

2. In what state did the LORD God create mankind? (Gen. 1:26-27, 31) Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were able to obey the law because God had created them in his image and very good. Was God then just in condemning our first parents unto death? (Q&A 9; Gen 2:17)

3. If God is just and must punish sin, how well have you done in obeying everything in the law? (Galatians 3:10) If you haven’t, what are you without trusting in Jesus finished work on the cross?

4. We know God is just, but isn’t God also merciful? (Ex 34:6-7; Heb 10:30-31) Can God be merciful without being just?

5. How then does God punish sin? (Matt. 25:31-46) Jesus’ parable of the Final Judgment chillingly portrays the eternity of those who lived for their own kingdom and did not want God’s rule. Are you a sheep or a goat?

Audio: Heidelberg Catechism - Lord's Day 4

YOUNG PEOPLE: Do Great Things for GOD

World Magazine writer Micky McLean reported the tenacity of Lia, a 12 year old girl who against all opposition was not deterred to speak out against abortion. Lia was told that her Persuasive Speech would not be allowed in the school wide competition, but she was determined to speak out against the horror of abortion. When I see stories like Lia's, I am hopeful about the untapped potential of young people to do great things for God. Not because they in themselves are so great, but rather because the truth they proclaim is so right. Righteous is Lia's cause to defend the unborn against the disapproval of adults because it is God's cause for all of us to walk justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Psalm 8:2 shouts, "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger". Young people how are you praising God? First, I hope you are honoring your parents because all greatness in God's eyes begins with honoring our parents for God's glory. Second, I desire that all of you will dream big dreams of what God can do through you and others like you to impact the world for Jesus Christ. What is God calling you to do? Do Great Things for GOD. Amen.

Post: Persuasive Argument (Link)

ANGER: The Image of Satan

Niki and I read a really helpful article on the biblical diagnosis and solutions for anger written by Jonathan Dobson at Boundless.org called Anger: The Image of Satan (Link).

4 Practical Way for Building Up the Church

The 4 practical ways Christians should build up the church come not from my own observation, but from the notes of the Introduction to 1 Corinthians in the ESV Study Bible.

1. Be sensitive to those of fragile faith (1 Cor. 8:1-9:18; 10:28, 33)
2. Win unbelievers through culturally sensitive evangelism. (1 Cor. 9:19-23; 10:27, 32-33)
3. Conduct worship services in such a way that unbelievers present might come to faith. (1 Cor. 14:16, 23-25)
4. Corporate worship should use the gifts not for personal display, or evaluating who has a better gift, but to build up the church. (1 Cor. 11:2-16; 12:12-30; 14:1-25)

As a pastor, I am found needy when I reflect honestly about myself and the ministry God has given me. I see myself needing to be in a constant state of conforming to the Word of God both in me and ministry. May God grant me and you the strength to be a people who desire to be constantly conforming to the Word and God, and through our submission to God's Word be vessels who build up the Body of Christ. Amen.

I Think My Wife's a Calvinist

This post is meant for humor ALONE. I post this in honor of my wife Niki, and her love for reading Charles Spurgeon and John Piper. Enjoy.

The Modern Day Gentleman

Brett Harris of The Rebelution writes a helpful post on what it means to be a Modern Day Gentleman. I hope it will be help in redefining what it means to be a young man in a confused culture, and that even the ladies will redefine for themselves what a true man ought to be. This is the first post of a fives part series that hope will lead you in living for a greater glory than your own...God's Glory.

Link: The Modern Day Gentleman

WORLD MISSSION - Steve Timmis

Is your church doing mission for its own glory or God’s? Want a cunning test to help you answer? Check out how much energy and passion (evidenced by money, prayer, interest) is invested in situations in other parts of the world for which you will get no credit. If it is not proportional to what is invested at home, then serious questions should be asked. If our passion is God’s honor and the fame of the Lord Jesus then we won’t be satisfied until the earth is filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Hab.2:14; Is. 11:9).

This will mean we get involved in planting churches all over the place and supporting other churches to plant churches, even when we don’t get a mention. It will mean sacrificially giving away our best people so that unreached areas of the world will be reached for Christ. World mission isn’t the preserve of the mission agencies; it’s the privilege and responsibility of every local congregation of believers (a.k.a. church).

from: Resurgence

ESV STUDY BIBLE

The ESV Study Bible is simply the best study bible I have ever used. If you are seeking to dig deeper into God's Word and desire the tools to do it well, get the ESV Study Bible. I hope to do a series on the features of the ESV Study Bible with downloads, so that you may see for yourself this excellent resource for studying God's Word. Here are what others are saying:

“The ESV is a dream come true for me. The rightful heir to a great line of historic translations, it provides the continuity and modern accuracy I longed for. Now the scope and theological faithfulness of the ESV Study Bible study notes is breathtaking. Oh how precious is the written Word of God.”
John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN

“The definitive clarity and beauty of the ESV Study Bible is extraordinary. In a world where words are distorted to mean anything, it is wonderful to have complete confidence in the reliability and truth of the Bible—so clearly and persuasively demonstrated by this world-class team of Bible scholars and teachers. For everyone who wants to understand God’s Word in a deeper way, the ESV Study Bible is an outstanding resource. I will be an avid user!”
Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder, JAF International Disability Center, Agoura Hills, CA

“I was privileged to act as General Editor of the English Standard Version, and now that I look back on what we did in producing that version, I find myself suspecting very strongly that this was the most important thing that I have ever done for the Kingdom, and that the product of our labors is perhaps the biggest milestone in Bible translation in certainly the last half century at least, and perhaps more. And now, as Theological Editor of the ESV Study Bible, I believe that the work we have done together on this project has set an altogether new standard in study Bibles.”
J. I. Packer, Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada

“The ESV Study Bible is the most important resource that has been given to the emerging generation of Bible students and teachers. The ESV Study Bible is the best. Period.”
Mark Driscoll, Preaching Pastor, Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA; President, Acts 29 Church Planting Network

What Are the Non-Negotiable For the Gospel?

The Gospel Coalition is a group of pastors from around the country and even the world from various denominations, who are committed to the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Church and the world. May the Gospel of Jesus Christ saturate your knowing, being and doing for your good and God's Glory.

The video posted below answers the question: What Are the Non-Negotiables For the Gospel? I hope to post two videos/week from Gospel Coalition pastors which address import theological truths for your growth in the Gospel and godliness. Amen.

Operation World Country of the Week

The Church has been called to make disciples of all nations or peoples (Matt. 28:19-20). Because we have been called to such a glorious task for the fame of King Jesus, I hope to highlight one country each week from Operation World for your prayer support. Not only will we be praying that the mission of God will be accomplished throughout the globe (Matt 24:14), but in the process we grow in our understanding of the people of the world and God's work among the nations (Ps. 46:10; Ps. 47:8-9). Please pray for the peace of the nations, which can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ (Isa. 66:12; Jer. 33:9).

Prayer for Armenia (click on link)

What is the Gospel?

The Gospel Coalition is a group of pastors from around the country and even the world from various denominations, who are committed to the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Church and the world.

The video posted below answers the question: What is the Gospel? by John Piper. I hope to post 2 videos/week from Gospel Coalition pastors which address import theological truths for your growth in the Gospel and godliness. Amen.

Thank You Lord for the Church

The day is setting, and I am thankful. Thankful to God for His Church. Thankful for parents who train up their children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4). Thankful for young people who study the Scriptures soaking (Psalm 1:2-3) up Jesus' soul satisfying truth (John 14:6; Matt 13:44-46). Thankful for Sunday school teachers who come alongside parents to train up the next generation (Psalm 78:4-7). Thankful for GEMS and Cadet leaders who give of their time, talent and more importantly the Gospel lived into the lives of boys and girls. Thankful for members of the body of Christ who visit the sick and the shut-in and by doing that demonstrate the power of Gospel community (James 1:26-27; 5:14-15). Thankful that member of Christ's church are growing in the Gospel and Godliness on step at a time. Thankful for leaders who shepherd the flock of Christ faithfully (1 Pet. 5:1-4). Thankful that great sinners are caused to flee to Christ's atoning love through the regenerating power of God the Holy Spirit and find rest and comfort eternally. Thankful that the sovereignty God upholds history, the world and my fragile life in the palm of his hands. That nothing can happen to me apart from the will of my Father in heaven, in fact all things must work together for my salvation(Matt. 10:29; Rom. 8:28). Thankful that I belong both body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful Savior and Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 14:7; 1 Cor. 3:23; 6:19-20; Gal. 2:20). Amen...Amen. Good Night.

Algerians Convert to Christianity

As I praying for the peoples of Algeria this week, I came across this video from CBN about Algerians coming to Christ. Please pray that people of Algeria will respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

CATECHISM CHALLENGE - L.D. 3

What Went Wrong? – L.D. 3

Q. 6 Did God create people so wicked and perverse?

A. No. God created them good and in his own image, that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that they might truly know God their creator, love him with all their heart, and live with him in eternal happiness for his praise and glory.

Q. 7 Then where does this corrupt human nature come from?

A. From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise. This fall has so poisoned our nature that we are born sinners—corrupt from conception on.

Q. 8 But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil?

A. Yes, unless we are born again, by the Spirit of God.

1. What state did God originally created people? (Gen. 1:26-27, 31) Was sin part of our first parent’s original state? (Gen. 2)

2. For what end to did God create people? (Gen. 1:26-28; 1 Cor. 10:31)

3. What was the sin of our first parents? (Gen 2:17; 3:1-6) What were the causes or reasons of Adam and Eve’s First sin. (Gen3:1-4, 9-13) What were the consequences of sin? (Gen. 3:14-24; 4:1-12)

4. How did I get my sin conditions? (Rom 5:12, 18-19) What is the extent of my sin? (Gen. 6:5; Psalm 51:5)

5. What must God do to change my bent towards evil? (John 3:3-5)

Audio: Heidelberg Catechism-Lord's Day 3

John Piper - What is the Recession For?

Today, I came across a sermon by John Piper entitled "What is the Recession For?". Piper list 5 reasons for God's purposes specifically that I hope you will find helpful as you struggle with economic difficulties. Here is the exert:

Now what are some of God’s purposes in this recession? I will mention five:

1. He intends for this recession to expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing.
2. He intends to wake us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world where there is always and only recession of the worst kind.
3. He intends to relocate the roots of our joy in his grace rather than in our goods, in his mercy rather than our money, in his worth rather than our wealth.
4. He intends to advance his saving mission in the world—the spread of the gospel and the growth of his church—precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it. This is how he guards his glory.
5. He intends for the church to care for its hurting members and to grow in the gift of love.

...God sends recessions to his people to pull up the roots of our joy from the pleasures of the world and sink those roots into the pleasures of the glory of his grace. Here’s he clearest recessionary text about this in the Bible—2 Corinthians 8:1-2. It describes the roots of the joy of the Macedonian believers in their “recession.”
...But vastly more important than that is where your treasure is—where your heart is. Are you like the Macedonians whose joy—in times of “recession”—was invincible because it was rooted in the grace of God? May God open our eyes to glory of his grace. When he does, the last purpose for the recession that I will mention will come true.

"What is the Recession For?" (Audio)

"What is the Recession For?" (Video)

Sovereign Grace - Music & Book Sale

Sovereign Grace Ministries is a an association of churches across America and the world who are committed to the Centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in everything they do. I have been encourage in my walk with Jesus both through their music and books. My hope is that you will take advantage of the February Sale and more importantly be changed in heart and mind to live God honoring lives.

What is the GOSPEL COALITION?

The Gospel Coalition is a group of pastors from around the country and even the world from various denominations, who are committed to the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Church and the world. I will be attending The Gospel Coalition 2009 National Conference: Entrusted with the Gospel in April, and hope to encouraged and equipped to preach and live the Gospel in all of life. May the Gospel of Jesus Christ saturate your knowing, being and doing for your good and God's Glory.

The video posted below answers the question: What is The Gospel Coalition? I hope to post one video from Gospel Coalition pastors which address import theological truths for your growth in the Gospel and godliness. Amen.

Tactics: A Game Plan for Sharing Your Christian Conviction

Here is a book that sounds like a winner, if you are stuck in how to discuss your Christian faith with others. I am planning to put Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions on my 2009 Reading List. I hope you will put it on yours.

Here are some blurbs on the book:

In this wise and compelling book, Greg Koukl—who has thought long and hard about not only what to say but how to say it—provides a game plan for equipping believers through an artful method of careful thinking and winsome conversation. If you struggle with how to talk about your faith and respond to questions and objections in a meaningful and effective way—and most of us do—there is no better book to buy, read, and put into practice. I could not recommend it more highly!
- Justin Taylor from Between Two Worlds

"Just as a course on tactics is a requirement at all military academies, so too Greg Koukl’s Tactics—A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions should be required training for all Christians and churches. Koukl has made a worthwhile contribution to the literature on apologetics by teaching us how to say what we say. Witty and winsome, this resource is as fun to read as it is to put into practice."
— Hank Hanegraaff, host of the Bible Answer Man, author of Christianity in Crisis

You can also sign up for a free weekly email called Tactics from Stand to Reason (STR).

Operation World Country of the Week

The Church has been called to make disciples of all nations or peoples (Matt. 28:19-20). Because we have been called to such a glorious task for the fame of King Jesus, I hope to highlight one country each week from Operation World for your prayer support. Not only will we be praying that the mission of God will be accomplished throughout the globe (Matt 24:14), but in the process we grow in our understanding of the people of the world and God's work among the nations (Ps. 46:10; Ps. 47:8-9). Please pray for the peace of the nations that can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ (Isa. 66:12; Jer. 33:9).

Prayer for Algeria (link)

Persecution of Christians Across the World

Where Christians Are Persecuted? The new Open Doors’ World Watch List has been updated and some countries who violate the rights of Christians. At the top of the list we still see North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen. Please pray for our brothers and sister who are threatened by unbelieving world because of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Hebrews 13:3

Personally Conducted Tours to Heaven

The pastor's week is done, so I reflect upon His week given to me. Apart from the preaching of God's Word and listening to young people recite the heart exalting rythem of Scripture, I was blessed to worship with 1,500 pastor praising our Faithful Savior Jesus Christ at the Desiring God Pastor's Conference. The last message given by Mark Dever reverberated in my soul that I am always to be about the business of proclaim the true Gospel promisciously with as many as the Lord would put along my path. To see every soul apart from Christ as forever dying in torments of hell. To live my life with an eternal of urgency while I still breath. God refreshed my soul and my cup runs over. The last words Dever spoke to us were from well know 19th century preacher C.H. Spurgeon. What hit me was that I should be engaged in personally conducting tours to Heaven, which is a far more eloquent way of saying telling the sinner the Gospel. Here is the quote:

I am occupied in my small way, as Mr. Great-heart was employed in Bunyan’s day. I do not compare myself with that champion, but I am in the same line of business. I am engaged in personally-conducted tours to Heaven; and I have with me, at the present time, dear Old Father Honest: I am glad he is still alive and active. And there is Christiana, and there are her children. It is my business, as best I can, to kill dragons, and cut off giants’ heads, and lead on the timid and trembling. I am often afraid of losing some of the weaklings. I have the heart-ache for them; but, by God’s grace, and your kind and generous help in looking after one another, I hope we shall all travel safely to the river’s edge. Oh, how many have I had to part with there! I have stood on the brink, and I have heard them singing in the midst of the stream, and I have almost seen the shining ones lead them up the hill, and through the gates, into the Celestial City.

Oh, that I would lead many to behold of the glories of Heaven and so fulfill my calling to preach the Gospel to as many as the Lord would put along my path.

I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:22-23

How Do You KNOW You Believe?

Paul Washer asks the questions every believer, "how do you know that you believe?"

CATECHISM CHALLENGE - L.D. 2

What is My Sorry State? – L.D. 2
Q. 3 How do you come to know your misery?
A. The law of God tells me.

Q. 4 What does God's law require of us?
A. Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22—
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is
the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it:
Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two commandments.

Q. 5 Can you live up to all this perfectly?
A. No. I have a natural tendency to hate God and my neighbor.

1. How do you come to know your misery? (Rom. 3:20)

2. What does God’s law require of you towards God? Heart? Will (Soul)? Mind? (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37) What does God’s law require towards people? (Matt. 22:38-39)

3. What does the Bible say about your goodness? (Rom. 3:9-20, 23)

4. If you are trying to be good enough for God by obeying the law, what are you under? (Gal 3:10; Deut 27:26)

5. What does the Bible say about your heart condition? (Eph. 2:1-3)

Audio: Heidelberg Catechism-Lord's Day 2

OUR DAILY CONFESSION

The Canons of Dort
5th Point - Perseverance of the Saints
Article 8: The Certainty of This Preservation
So it is not by their own merits or strength but by God's undeserved mercy that they neither forfeit faith and grace totally nor remain in their downfalls to the end and are lost. With respect to themselves this not only easily could happen, but also undoubtedly would happen; but with respect to God it cannot possibly happen, since his plan cannot be changed, his promise cannot fail, the calling according to his purpose cannot be revoked, the merit of Christ as well as his interceding and preserving cannot be nullified, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit can neither be invalidated nor wiped out.

Article 9: The Assurance of This Preservation
Concerning this preservation of those chosen to salvation and concerning the perseverance of true believers in faith, believers themselves can and do become assured in accordance with the measure of their faith, by which they firmly believe that they are and always will remain true and living members of the church, and that they have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

MISSIONS as FASTING

I'm Back. I have return from the Desiring God 2009 Conference for Pastors. What a blessing it was to hear godly men proclaim the Gospel and to share the burden for lost people with other pastors from around the world. One particular blessing was hearing Micheal Oh, a missionary to Japan, speak on Missions as Fasting - the forsaking things present for the Global Exultation of Christ. Although the talk is primarily focused on pastor's role in missions, I believe it will be a blessing to you and spur you on to sacrifice for the spreading of the Gospel to the 6,600 people groups or 2.6 billion people who have little to no opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Missions as Fasting (Audio)

Missions as Fasting (Video)