Best Blogs Digest

August 21st, 2008

Here’s a digest of some favorite resources I’ve discovered recently around the Web…

Does Your Calvinism Build Relationships With Arminians?

“…Theologically, I am Reformed. Sociologically, I am simply a Christian…when our theological distinctives make us aloof from other Christians…Even if a biblical argument can be made for a certain position…the proof of what’s really happening is not in the theological argumentation but in the sociological integration…(Paul) was a free man setting others free…What unifies the church is the gospel…My reformed friend, can you move among other Christian groups and really enjoy them?…Relationships reveal what we really believe, as opposed to what we think we believe.” Truly Reformed by Ray Ortlund at Christ Is Deeper Still

Several, Helpful Articles on God’s Law

God’s Law by Doug Moo

Starved for Mature Meat

“A prominent radio preacher frequently makes the statement that 85% of the people never darken a church door. Just could be that they’ve been starved out.

Tell me now, how long is it since you preached a sermon on the Sovereignty of God, the Majesty of God, the Holiness of God, the Justice of God, the Immutability of God, and the eternal, electing Love of God? Most of the preaching of our day in evangelical, as well as in liberal churches, is man-centered, not God-centered. Christian people have been entertained and whipped and broken and crucified and psychoanalyzed and sensitivity-trainingized, etc., etc., until they hardly know who God is or who they are…” Hey Preacher by G.E. MacLean at Banner of Truth

Joel Osteen’s Negative Message

“…The ‘positive’ message he proclaims is this: Do better. Try harder. Believe you can succeed. In other words, you can change! Just do it! God will help you, of course, but you have to make it happen.

Though Osteen claims he has positive sermons, I believe he is proclaiming the most negative, unmerciful message possible! Like telling a clinically depressed person to “just snap out of it!,” Osteen is giving people burdened by sin, guilt and despair more reason to despair.

Do we really think that more willpower will solve our problems? What is this message but the Law on steroids? There is no gospel in Osteen’s message, regardless of his rare references to Jesus Christ. Osteen’s idea of “good news” is telling self-centered people to look for salvation in more narcissism!…” Joel Osteen’s Negative Message by Trevin Wax at Kingdom People

Follow Me

“…Yet, Jesus didn’t say, “Follow them”; he said quite clearly, “Follow me.” The true disciple puts his loyalty, not with a group or another human or a new idea, however good those things may be, but only with his master who has called him by name…” Following Christ by Trevin Wax at Kingdom People

Inventing Mental Illness

Interviews with several psychiatrists where they concede too much. Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM): Inventing Mental Illness by the Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights (A Scientology group, beware!)

One Man Committed to Christ

“…(William) Borden’s small morning prayer group gave birth to a movement that spread across the campus. By the end of his first year, 150 freshman were meeting for weekly Bible study and prayer. By the time Bill Borden was a senior, one thousand of Yale’s 1,300 students were meeting in such groups. Borden made it his habit to seek out the most “incorrigible” students and try to bring them to salvation…” No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets by Brian Hedges at Light and Heat

8 Dangers of Exclusive, Redemptive-Historical Preaching

I lo-o-ove redemptive-historical preaching. But, like all styles of preaching, it has its strengths and weaknesses. Ethics, Preaching, and Biblical Theology by John Frame

Minimizing the Bible?

Have seeker-sensitive preachers and over-contextualizing missionaries lost faith in the power of God’s Word to change people? Preach the whole counsel of God!

“…It seems to me that a growing number of pastors and missionaries have lost confidence in this truth. They have concluded that the gap between the glory of Christ and the felt needs of their neighbors, or between the glory of Christ and the religion of the nationals, is simply too great for the fullness of God’s word to overcome. The upshot seems to be the minimization of the Word of God in its robust and glorious fullness.

This is on my front burner just now because in recent weeks I have received a steady stream of testimonies from aching saints who say in so many words, “Our pastor doesn’t proclaim to us what the Bible says and means. The messages are not revelations of the glory of Christ. They are advice-talks with a religious twist…” Minimizing the Bible by John Piper

The Guilt of Giving Part of God’s Counsel

Preach the whole Bible, nothing less! The Guilt of Giving Part of God’s Counsel by John Piper

Seminary Training vs. Church Training?

Who can better train future church pastors than current church pastors? Where better to learn to pastor a church than in a church? Long before pastors’ training became academicized and institutionalized, local churches trained pastors. Proposal for a New Seminary by John Frame

“Books for Discipleship Training and Pastors Training”

April 27th, 2008

Here are some of my favorite training books for pastors and church leaders. Most of these books, I’ve at least skimmed. Many of them, I’ve read. And, the rest I plan to read soon.

Each book was chosen because of its doctrinal faithfulness, the author’s reputation, endorsements, reviews, and clear and simple communication style. Most of the books are by pastors or seminary professors from several denominations. Many of the books are the same ones used in top seminaries in the U.S.

At the end of this list, you’ll also see links to 6 other lists…

1. Bible Study Tools

    The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance by Edward Goodrick, and John Kohlenberger

    Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words by William Mounce

    New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition by Don Carson, R.T. France, J.A. Motyer, and Gordan Wenham

2. Apologetics Books: Defending the faith. How to discern truth from error.

    The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Stobel

    The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller

    Far from Rome, Near to God: Testimonies of Fifty Converted Roman Catholic Priests by Richard Bennett and Martin Buckingham

    The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin and Ravi Zacharias

    Health and Wealth: Material Blessings and Suffering in the Christian Life by Christopher Pope (Prosperity theology; free)

3. Hermeneutics Books: Principles for how to interpret the Bible.

    The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation by Grant Osborne

4. Preaching Books: How to preach. Man-centered vs. Christ-centered. Topical vs. expository. Motivating disciples to holiness.

    Biblical Preaching,: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages by Haddon Robinson

    Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon by Bryan Chappel

    Preaching the Whole Bible As Christian Scripture: The Application of Biblical Theology to Expository Preaching by Graeme Goldsworthy

    Lectures to My Students by Charles Spurgeon

5. Biblical Theology Books: Understanding the story plot and outline of the whole Bible from Genesis – Revelation.

    God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Story-Line of the Bible by Vaughn Roberts

    The Symphony of Scripture: Making Sense of the Bible’s Many Themes by Mark Strom

    According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible by Graeme Goldsworthy

    New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Exploring the Unity & Diversity of Scripture by Brian S. Rosner, T. Desmond Alexander, Graeme Goldsworthy, and D. A. Carson

6. Old Testament Survey Books: History, outlines, and themes of each book in the O.T.

    Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey by Bill Arnold and Bryan Beyer

7. New Testament Survey Books: History, outlines, and themes of each book in the N.T.

    Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey by Walter Elwell and Robert Yarbrough

8. Systematic Theology Books: Topical doctrine

    The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction by Sinclair Ferguson

    Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem (18 chapters below)

         1. Bible: Inspiration, Inerrancy, Canon, Authority

         2. God: Trinity, Attributes, Predestination, Election

    The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life by A.W. Tozer

    The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, Documented by David Steele, Curtis Thomas, and Lance Quinn

         3. Jesus: Deity, Christ, Atonement, Resurrection, Priest,
          King

    The Cross of Christ by John Stott

         4. Holy Spirit: Deity, Baptism, Filling, Gifts

    Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? by Wayne Grudem (4 Views)

         5. Creation: Providential rule

    The Sovereignty of God in Providence by John Reisinger (Free)

         6. Angels: Satan, Demons

         7. Man: Image of God, Fall

         8. Gospel: Messiah, Son of God, miracles, died, rose,
         reigns, prophecy, and return

    Appendix: Catalogue of Gospel Declarations in Acts by Andrew Fountain (Content of the gospel defined; free)

         9. Calling

         10. Regeneration: Human decisions vs. regeneration by
         God, signs of regeneration

         11. Repentance

         12. Faith

         13. Justification: By faith, without works

         14. Sanctification: Assurance, adoption, and union
         with Christ

    ALL Old Testament Laws Canceled: 23 Reasons Why All Old Testament Laws Are Cancelled and All New Testament Laws Are for Our Obedience by Greg Gibson (Coming soon)

         15. Perseverance: Preservation, Apostasy

         16. Death: Hades, Heaven, Hell

         17. Church: Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Government,
         Dictatorship vs. plural elders

    Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership by Alexander Strauch

         18. End Times: Return, rapture, resurrection, glorification,
         new earth

    Heaven by Randy Alcorn

    The End Times Made Simple: How Could Everybody Be So Wrong about Biblical Prophecy by Sam Waldron

    A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times by Kim Riddlebarger

9. Prayer Books: How to pray effectually

    Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire: What Happens When God’s Spirit Invades the Hearts of His People by Jim Cymbala

    The Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer: Experience the Wonders of God through Prayer by E.M. Bounds

    Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life by Beginning in Jesus Name by Bryan Chapell

10. Evangelism Books: How to evangelize. Man-centered vs. God-centered. Why most churches have 80+% apostasy rates, but some have 95% perseverance rates.

    Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person by Whole People by Will Metzger

11. Pastoral Theology Books: Popular issues

    Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change by Paul Tripp (How to counsel)

    Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn

    The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande

    Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas

    Strengthening Your Marriage by Wayne Mack

12. Church History Books: What can we learn from movements’ strengths and weaknesses?

    Church History In Plain Language Updated 2nd Edition by Bruce Shelley

Other, Pastors’ Book Lists:

Recommended Reading by Chad Knudson

Top Ten Books on Biblical Theology by Chad Knudson

C.J.’s Book List by C.J. Mahaney

Reading List: Pastors by Mark Dever

List of Recommended Commentaries and Reference Works by Moore Theological College

Recommended Biblical Studies Resources and Commentaries by Two-Age.org

P.S. See more Bible studies, blogs, and books at JesusSaidFollowMe.org


“Our Identity Comes From the Gospel”

April 19th, 2008

Brian Hedges at Light and Heat blog posted about Gospel-centered ministry and fellowship. I especially appreciated his 4th point…

(4) We (especially church leaders, but this applies to followers as well) must learn to build our identity around Christ and the gospel, not around secondary doctrines or issues.

What kind of Christian are you? A reformed-baptist-amil-cessationist-complementarian? Or, a saint, elect, servant, disciple, and child of God?

To the best of my knowledge, every Biblical name for God’s people includes ALL Christians, not just SOME Christians. Doctrinal distinctives define what we believe. But, the gospel defines who we are.

Our identity comes from the gospel: Jesus Christ Himself, crucified and raised. And, our bond of fellowship comes from the Spirit’s regeneration, not doctrinal distinctives. Once you understand this, you’ll find it much easier to fellowship with brothers who differ with you on doctrinal issues secondary to the gospel.

You can read the rest of Brian’s blog here: Thoughts on Keeping the Gospel Central

P.S. See more Bible studies, blogs, and books at JesusSaidFollowMe.org


Big Picture Preaching: 3 Advantages to Expository Preaching From Long Passages Instead of Short Passages

October 8th, 2007

Imagine you’re sitting in the church at Rome in the 1st century. You hear a knock on the door. In walks a messenger with a scroll from the Apostle Paul. An elder opens the scroll and reads Rom. 1:1-4, then stops, and preaches for 45 minutes. Finally, he concludes by saying, “We’ll read and study the next few verses next week.”

What’s wrong with this picture? Can you really picture the early church preaching from short passages like that? I think the elders probably read and commented on the whole letter in one message. (In following weeks, they probably also reminded the church of specific passages.)

Here’s something to think about…How many sermons did Jesus take to preach the Sermon on the Mount? (Matt. 5-7) The Upper Room Discourse? (John 13-17) The Olivet Discourse? (Matt. 24-25) He preached those messages in only one sermon each. Then, why do most expository preachers today divide those single sermons into dozens of sermons?

This quote sums-up well the need for Big Picture Preaching…

    “Show How the Text Connects to the Rest of Scripture. One of the biggest problems with preaching today is that the individual texts are often divorced from the whole of Scripture. While we do not neglect the details (e.g., word studies, grammar, syntax, historical setting, individual texts), we must be sure to show how the Bible fits together. The Bible is a story with many books; thus, we must be careful to show how these books and stories all fit together. Richard Lints has listed some helpful steps for examining particular texts within the larger context of Scripture. I would also suggest preparing sermons on larger portions of Scripture, rather than one or two verses. How can we possibly see the big picture if we miss the forest for the trees? The Bible did not come to us in chapters or individual verses, but as whole books. For some reason many pastors think they are treating the text “in-depth” when they spend five years preaching through the book of Matthew or spending five weeks on two verses. I think we should get people to see the big picture by preaching larger portions of Scripture, which will also allow us to get to other books of the Bible during our ministry. I am not suggesting to ignore the details of the text, but simply understand that the Bible is a book of literature and should be read and taught as such (as a book or a whole).” (Chad Knudson, Developing a Biblical-Theological Sermon, The Road to Emmaus blog, 2007.)

Also, The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology warns of overly-detailed, word-by-word expository preaching…

    “Dangers to be avoided…Slow motion biblical theology. Sometimes a preacher preaches a complete sermon on every word of a text, including a complete biblical theology of each word drawn from all its occurrences in Scripture. To do this is to lose the movement and particularity of the text, so that it becomes a peg on which to hang a series of theological sermons. Each word is used as an exercise in biblical theology. William Gurnall’s The Christian in Complete Armour exemplifies this approach.” (P.J.H. Adam, ‘Preaching and Biblical Theology,’ in T. Desmond Alexander, Brian S. Rosner, D.A. Carson, Graeme Goldsworthy: editors, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Inter-Varsity Press, 2000.)

Expository preachers have different views of how much detail to include in their sermons…

4 Different Views of How Much Detail
To Include in Expository Preaching

1. Word-by-word
2. Verse-by-verse
3. Passage-by-passage
4. Theme-by-theme

The goal of this blog is to explain why the 4th style, theme-by-theme, expository preaching, should help disciples grow faster, and to encourage you to try it. This style may be described by any of the following 3 names…

    1. Big Picture Preaching
    2. Theme-by-Theme Expository Preaching
    3. Expository Preaching From Long Passages

Theme-by-theme, expository preaching should not be confused with most seeker-sensitive style, topical preaching today. Most topical preachers compromise and edit the so-called “negative” parts of God’s Word, because they fear men, since they aren’t filled with the Holy Spirit’s boldness. And, they often misinterpret verses by extracting them from their contexts. However, theme-by-theme, expository preaching teaches whole Bible books from beginning to end, with these 5 goals…

5 Goals of Theme-by-Theme, Expository Preaching

1. Explain: What is the text’s context in relation to the whole Bible (redemptive-historical,) the whole book, and the whole passage?

2. Interpret: What is the meaning of the text?

3. Identify: What are the main theme(s) and sub-theme(s)?

4. Emphasize: Focus on the main theme(s) more than the minor details.

5. Apply: How should we then live?

God has not explicitly spoken about what length of passages we should preach from. There’s no right and wrong here, but there is better and best. Although I lack any “Thus saith the Lord,” I’m going to try using some common sense to persuade you to try “Big Picture Preaching.”

Before we see the advantages of this style of preaching, let’s answer 3 popular objections against preaching from long passages, instead of short passages…

3 Objections Against Preaching From Long Passages,
Instead of Short Passages

1. “But, verse-by-verse preaching is more in-depth and less shallow, and it contains more meat and less milk.”

Frankly, I find it far more in-depth to grasp God’s unifying, redemptive-historical themes from Genesis - Revelation, like creation - new creation, sin, covenants, salvation, kingdom, temple, rest, etc. And, the milk-meat distinction in Hebrews 5:12ff has nothing to do with explaining every verse. It refers to advancing from basic doctrinal truths like repentance, faith, baptism, etc. to mature truths like apostasy-perseverance.

2. “But, we need extra time to explain the historical-cultural context of the Bible.”

Granted, sometimes we need to reconstruct the historical-cultural context for our listeners. However, do we really need 34 sermons to reconstruct the 1st century, historical-cultural context of the Sermon on the Mount?

3. “But, some literary genres (like teaching passages in Romans) require more time to explain than others (like historical narratives in Joshua.)

True, but do we really need 3 years to explain Romans?

I’ve yet to see any good reason why most expository preachers prefer short passages, instead of long passages. OK, now here are 3 advantages to preaching from long passages, instead of short passages…

3 Advantages to Preaching From Long Passages,
Instead of Short Passages

1. Preaching Longer Passages Helps Disciples Understand More Truths Sooner

Has your church ever lost members who moved out of your area? If so, how many preaching series did they hear before leaving? Only one, a few?

Which disciples do you think will mature sooner? Those who hear…

A. One series for 3-years in Romans?
or
B. Twelve series in 3 years in John, Matthew, Acts, 1 John, Genesis, Hebrews, Romans, and 1 Thes.-2 Thes., and 1 Tim.-Titus?

Remember, Jesus invested 3+ years discipling His apostles. If He were on earth today, can you imagine Him discipling them with 3 years in Romans only? Of course not. He taught them numerous topics during that 3 years: What to believe, how to love God foremost, how to trust God, how to pray, how to evangelize, how to love people, how to talk with people, etc.

2. Preaching Longer Passages Motivates Hearers to Obey by Preserving the Doctrinal Context of the Commands

Most of the commands (imperatives) in the New Testament are given in the context of indicative, doctrinal truths. (Incidentally, that’s why “those who learn little doctrine, grow little.”)

It’s OK to discuss the commands alone for the purpose of defining a theological question in occasional topical preaching or a topical book. (For instance, the topic, “Which commands must we obey?” is a valid question.) But, for long-term, weekly preaching, preach the commands in their doctrinal contexts.

For example, it’s easier to present our bodies as living sacrifices of worship (Rom. 12-16) when we first understand the gospel of salvation (Rom. 1-11.) And, it’s not burdensome to walk worthy of our calling when “every spiritual blessing in Christ” is fresh in our minds (Eph. 1-3.) Also, when we see how we’re raised with Christ (Col. 2:10 - 3:1) we’re motivated to put off anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language (Col. 3:8. Burdensome preachers might divide Col. 3:8 into 5 separate sermons, one on each sin.)

3. Preaching Longer Passages Helps Hearers See the Big Picture by Emphasizing the Major Theme(s) Above the Minor Parts

A Reformed pastor once told me that he spent 3 months preaching through Romans 1:1-13 because that’s how they taught him to preach in seminary. I thought to myself, “Talk about missing the forest for the trees!” Is that how Christ taught his apostles to preach?

Don Carson warns of preachers missing the forest for the trees (at least in the narratives of the 4 gospels,)

    “The best of Western seminaries and theological colleges reinforce the cultural bent toward the abstract, and fill students’ heads with the importance of grammatical, lexicographical exegesis. Such exegesis is, of course, of enormous importance. But in students who do not have a feel for literature, it can have the unwitting effect of so focusing on the tree, indeed on the third knot of the fourth branch from the bottom of the sixth tree from the left, that the entire forest remains unseen, except perhaps as a vague and ominous challenge. The antidote is to direct attention to the narrative…” (D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, Pillar New Testament Commentary, Eerdmans, 1991, pp. 100-101.)

Carson also advises preaching from longer texts (at least in the gospel of John,)

    “The second suggestion is to select a fairly large unit of text as the basis for each sermon. If a preacher takes six weeks to expound the Prologue (1:1-18), and is actually saying anything that has much content, almost inevitably a great deal of later material in John has been dragged in. Far better to deliver one’s soul on the Prologue in one sermon, complete ch. 1 the next week, and proceed at a good pace through the text so that while the slower preacher is polishing closing remarks on 1:51 you are already well into the farewell discourse.” (Carson, op. cit., p. 102)

Instead of spending 13 weeks in Rom. 1:1-13, why can’t we learn the whole book in ~8 messages, something like this?…

    Week 1: Intro., Main Theme: The Gospel of Salvation,
    Sub-Theme: Righteousness by Faith (1:1-17)

    Week 2: Condemned: God’s Righteousness Needed by All Humans (1:18 - 3:20)

    Week 3: Justified: God Righteousness Credited by Faith in Christ (3:21 - 5:21)

    Week 4: Sanctified: God’s Righteousness Progressing in Us
    (6:1 - 8:15)

    Week 5: Glorified: God’s Righteousness Completed -
    Our Assurance (8:16-39)

    Week 6: Glorified: God’s Righteousness Completed -
    Israel’s Future and Christ’s Return (9:1 - 11:36)

    Week 7: God’s Righteousness Applied in the Church and World
    (12:1 - 15:13)

    Week 8: Conclusion (15:14 - 16:27)

I really enjoy seeing the “big picture.” There’s something awe-inspiring about understanding how each passage relates to the overview of the whole book and the whole Bible. I’d like to hear a preacher develop the theme of Romans as “the gospel of God’s saving righteousness” (Rom. 1:16-17) then relate it back to every passage in future weeks. It’s helpful to hear reviews every week to remind us of the book’s theme.

Divide the Sermon on the Mount Into 34 Sermons?

Here’s a typical, verse-by-verse, expository preaching outline for the Sermon on the Mount divided into 34 sermons…

Week  1: Intro., Main Theme: God’s Righteous Kingdom
Week  2: Spiritual Poverty (5:3)
Week  3: Mourning (5:4)
Week  4: Meekness (5:5)
Week  5: Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness (5:6)
Week  6: Merciful (5:7)
Week  7: Purity in Heart (5:8)
Week  8: Peacemaking (5:9)
Week  9: Persecution (5:10-12)
Week 10: The Salt of the Earth, and Light of the World (5:13-16)
Week 11: The Law and Prophets Fulfilled, Not Destroyed (5:17-20)
Week 12: Murder and Anger (5:21-26)
Week 13: Adultery (5:27-30)
Week 14: Divorce (5:31-32)
Week 15: Oaths (5:33-37)
Week 16: Vengeance (5:38-42)
Week 17: Love your Enemies (5:43-48)
Week 18: Giving (6:1-4)
Week 19: Intro. to Prayer (6:5-8)
Week 20: Prayer: Our Father in Heaven (6:9)
Week 21: Prayer: Your Kingdom Come (6:10)
Week 22: Prayer: Give Us Our Daily Bread (6:11)
Week 23: Prayer: Forgive Us Our Debts (6:12, 14-15)
Week 24: Prayer: Do Not Lead Us Into Temptation (6:13)
Week 25: Fasting (6:16-18)
Week 26: Materialism: Your Treasure Follows Your Heart (6:19-21)
Week 27: Materialism: The Eye Is the Lamp of the Body (6:22-23)
Week 28: Materialism: You Cannot Serve God and Money (6:24)
Week 29: Materialism: Do Not Worry (6:25-34)
Week 30: Judging (7:1-6)
Week 31: Perseverance in Prayer (7:7-11)
Week 32: The Golden Rule (7:12)
Week 33: False Prophets (7:13-20)
Week 34: Obedience and Lordship (7:21-29)

Personally, I find that style of preaching rather burdensome and fragmented with it’s micro-focus on the details, instead of the major themes and sub-themes. Notice that by week 34, the main theme (God’s righteous kingdom) was long forgotten 33 weeks ago. Why must we change Christ’s 15-minute sermon into 26 hours of sermons?

Why can’t we communicate the whole message of the Sermon on the Mount in ~6 sermons, something like this?…

    Week 1: Intro., Main Theme: God’s Righteous Kingdom, and Character (5:1-16)

    Week 2: Scripture in God’s Righteous Kingdom:
    The Law and Prophets Fulfilled, Not Destroyed (5:17-48)

    Week 3: Sincere Religion in God’s Righteous Kingdom:
    Giving, Praying, and Fasting (6:1-18)

    Week 4: Material Things in God’s Righteous Kingdom:
    God Will Provide, So Don’t Worry (6:19-34)

    Week 5: Judging in God’s Righteous Kingdom:
    Judging, Praying, and the Golden Rule (7:1-12)

    Week 6: Entering God’s Righteous Kingdom:
    Beware of False Prophets (7:13-29)

(Or, if a preacher wanted to preach the whole Sermon on the Mount in only one message like Jesus did, I couldn’t fault him.)

One famous preacher who preached from longer passages was the radio preacher J. Vernon McGee. By the way, he had some of the best conversion testimonies I’ve ever heard. It sounded like the Lord was really using him to lead sinners to Christ.

Emphasize the Major Themes More Than the Minor Details

McGee preached through the whole Bible in 5 years, which may be too fast or slow for you. But in general, I think he had the right idea to major on the majors, and minor on the minors. Good preachers identify the text’s main theme, and focus on it more than the peripheral details.

I wonder, where did we get this idea to preach mostly from short passages? Could it be some extra baggage leftover from the Reformers or Puritans? (Perhaps a church historian can answer that question?)

Well, those are just some of my uninspired, personal preferences about preaching.

Why Not Try “Big Picture Preaching?”

Can I challenge you? Why not pray and ask the Lord if you should try “Big Picture Preaching,” theme-by-theme through one whole book? Then, if you do decide to try it, ask your audience afterward which style they prefer, preaching from short passages or long passages? What have you got to lose? (Also, please share your experience with me.)

P.S. Future blogs coming soon…

“Book Review of ‘God’s Big Picture’ by Vaughn Roberts”

“How Much of the Bible Should We Preach, Part or All of it?”

“Book Review of ‘The Reformers and Their Stepchildren’ by Leonard Verduin”

P.P.S. See more Bible studies, blogs, and books at JesusSaidFollowMe.org


“An Evangelistic, Funeral Sermon”

October 1st, 2007

This is an evangelistic, funeral sermon, born out of the prayers of ~15 brothers, that I preached to this audience…

-Education: Most had a high-school education.
-Religious background: Mostly unbelievers incl. ~80% Roman Catholics (mostly non-devout,) various Protestants, Evangelicals, and cults.
-Spiritual condition: A large number of liars, thieves, idolaters, adulterers, alcoholics, swindlers, etc.

For many/most, this was the first time they ever heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.

—————————————————————-

Intro. How I knew the deceased. I’d like to tell you a story about…

“Death From Sin, But Eternal Life From Christ”

My friends and neighbors, why does there have to be death? Why funerals? Why can’t we live forever, instead of only 75 years avg.? Way back ~3400 years ago, Moses wrote in the Psalms: “The length of our life is 70 years or 80, if we have the strength…” (Ps. 90:10) Why can’t we live forever? Do you know the reason why?

In the beginning, God didn’t create Adam and Eve to die, but to live forever with Him in the Garden of Eden. They enjoyed perfect peace and happiness living with God. God spoke to them, they heard His voice, and they spoke to God.

Life with God was perfect. There was no death, no sickness, no pain, no tears. And, Adam and Eve had the perfect marriage, perfect love and peace, no fighting. Everyone was happy. God was happy, and Adam and Eve were happy.

But then, they lost their perfect life of peace and happiness. Do you know how they lost it? Sin!

God gave them only one command, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Gen. 2:17) But, they disobeyed God and sin ruined their perfect lives.

How did sin ruin their lives? They died spiritually, they were separated from God when He sent them out of His presence in the garden. And, they started the process of dying physically. Their bodies grew old, their faces got wrinkles, their hair turned gray, they got tired, and then finally they died. And, God was unhappy, and people were unhappy.

The Apostle Paul tells us,

    “…Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Rom. 5:12)

And so, that’s why we have to die and have funerals today because Adam and Eve’s sin brought death to us all.

After their sin, people started getting sick: Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. And, people started to murder: “Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Gen. 4:8) And, husbands and wives started fighting and cheating.

But, God saw how sin separated us from Him. He saw our lying, stealing, unforgiveness, idolatry, sexual immorality, adultery, and drunkenness. So, He did something to remove sin and bring people back to Him.

He came down from heaven to earth to change sinners. Jesus was born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life, the only person who never sinned. And, He did many powerful miracles. He calmed the storm winds, walked on the water, cast out demons, made the deaf to hear, made the blind to see, and even raised the dead.

But, evil men murdered Jesus on the cross. Then, 3 days later, God raised Him from the dead, proving that He is the Son of God. After that, Jesus went up to heaven, and sat down on the throne of God, where He reigns as king over all things.

He is the one who has planned how many years you will live: 25, 50, or 75 years? He is the one who gives you food to eat, or holds it back. And, He is the one who forgives sins, or punishes.

My friends and neighbors, God did not send His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ here to suffer and die so that we could continue living in sin like hypocrites. No! He tells us in 1 Cor. 6…

    “Do you not know that evil people will not receive the kingdom of heaven? Do not be deceived…

Please don’t be deceived by liars who tell you that you can continue doing evil, and still go to heaven because you were baptized. The Lord says,

    “Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor alcoholics, nor liars, nor swindlers will receive the kingdom of heaven. And, that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were set apart, you were judged not guilty in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Did you hear that? In the early church, there were ex-sexually immoral, ex-idolaters, ex-adulterers, ex-prostitutes, ex-gays, ex-thieves, ex-alcoholics, ex-liars, and ex-swindlers. God changed them by His power. It’s impossible to know the great and holy God without being changed by Him.

The good news is that no matter how many sins you’ve done, dozens of sins, hundreds of sins, Jesus Christ is ready to forgive you today. Jesus the True Priest, the only priest who never sinned, can wash away all those years of guilt and sin.

The apostle Paul says,

    “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)

    “..since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:21)

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

All who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, God will give to them eternal life.

Remember when Adam and Eve enjoyed life with God in the Garden where there was no death, no sickness, no pain, and no crying? Well, God is going to recreate the Garden of Eden, and it’s going to come down from heaven to a new earth on the last day.

He tells us in the book of Revelation,

    “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

    And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the place God lives is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or sadness, or crying, or pain, for the old things have passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’…

    He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will receive all this, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving the evil, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic, the idolaters, and all liars – their place will be in the lake of fire. This is the 2nd death.” (Rev. 21:1-8)

Also in Revelation, our Lord Jesus promises,

    “I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done…Blessed are those who have the right to enter into the city of heaven. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lies.” (Rev. 22:12-15)

May I please ask you a personal question? If you died tonight, do you know for sure that you will enter heaven? When you stand before God’s judgment throne, if He asks you, “Why should I let you into heaven,” what will you say?

If the first words that come out of your mouth are, “I did this, I did that, or I’m a good person” you’re lost. But, if the first words that come out of your mouth are, “Jesus Christ died to pay for my sins,” and your life proved your faith, then God will welcome you into the kingdom of heaven.

When the jailer asked the apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul didn’t say, “Get baptized, go to church, go to confession, try to be good, do this, and do that, etc.” No, no, no! He said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

Sin brought death into the world. But, Jesus Christ brought eternal life. Trust Him now to change you.

P.S. See more Bible studies, blogs, and books at JesusSaidFollowMe.org


“12 Questions to Ask to Find a Church”

September 19th, 2007

Perhaps the most important decision you’ll make affecting your sanctification is which church to join. How much you mature in Christ will probably be influenced more by your choice of a church than even a spouse.

I’ll never forget ~20 years ago, a pastor asked me, “Where do you attend church?” After I answered, he asked me, “Is it reformed?”

Later, another pastor asked me, “Where do you attend church?” After I answered, he asked me, “Is God saving sinners there?”

Notice the contrast between the 2 pastors’ marks of a good church.

I wish God gave us a simple list of questions, marks, or a confession of faith to distinguish mature churches from immature ones. But, both personal and corporate (church) sanctification are too complex for reductionistic, simplistic signs. A church may have all the right doctrine and signs, yet the leaders’ hearts are hardened by sin. How do you measure things like heart, and brotherly love?

With those limitations in mind, here are 12 questions designed to help you find a church body where you will grow in Christ…

1. In the past 3 years, how many conversions have you seen here, and are they temporary or permanent?

True and lasting conversions are a strong sign of God’s approval. He often leads His elect to churches where He is pleased to draw them to Himself through the clear gospel preaching, and lives of the members. This question will screen-out those who assume decisions = conversions. And, it will reveal their views of evangelism, regeneration, and salvation.

2. What is your rate of baptisms to perseverance/apostasy?

This is a follow-up to question #1. Do they have a 90% apostasy rate like many churches today, or a 90+% perseverance rate like the apostles in the New Testament? A high apostasy rate is usually a sign that their evangelistic message and methods are different from the apostles.

3. How many members do you have, and how many of them attend weekly meetings?

Do they tolerate sin or keep the body pure by practicing church discipline?

4. What % of your members show signs of regeneration?

Are they more interested in numbers or regeneration?

5. How much of the Bible do you teach: All of it, or part of it?

Is the teaching selective, or do they teach the whole Bible like Christ and the apostles?

6. In your preaching, do you merely quote Bible verses, or explain their context, interpretation, and application?

Do they preach expositionally, topically, or do they merely quote verses out of context?

7. What is the Bible’s main message?

The gospel about Jesus Christ. How balanced is the teaching? Do they have a hobbyhorse topic they repeat every week? Is the pastor unable to preach for 45 minutes without returning to his favorite words every week: Election, rapture, prosperity, etc.?

8. What is your summary of the Gospel?

Jesus Christ the Son of God came to earth, did many miracles, died, rose, reigns, and will return. Repent of your sin and believe in Him.

9. Who are your favorite authors and preachers?

Bad company corrupts good character, and good company influences good character.

10. What is your favorite denomination, group, or movement?

Independent, non-denominational churches are often less-restrained to change their doctrine and grow. But, there are many good men in some denominations or movements. It all depends on the leaders’ hearts.

11. How much of your favorite authors, preachers, and groups do you agree with: Part or all of them?

Are they following men or Christ?

12. Do you ever pray and ask the Lord to correct you if you’re wrong about any doctrinal views?

How humble and teachable are they?

Below are some church lists that may help you find a church. If you can’t find a church in your area, start praying that God will build a church there. Perhaps He will transform an existing church, or maybe even use you to plant a new church.

9 Marks
Bible Bulletin Board
Fire Fellowship
Sound of Grace
Sovereign Grace Ministries

P.S. See more Bible studies, blogs, and books at JesusSaidFollowMe.org


JesusSaidFollowMe Advertising Donations

September 19th, 2007

Most visitors find this website by searching Google and clicking on an ad on the 1st page. What you may not know, is that those ads cost money, usually ~.05/click.

JesusSaidFollowMe advertises on search keywords related to Calvinism and New Covenant Theology. Most new visitors are introduced to the site by one of these 2 Bible studies:

    “Calvinism, Arminianism, So What?”

    “22 Reasons Why All Old Testament Commands Are Cancelled And We Must Obey All New Testament Commands”

Dozens of readers have emailed to say “Thank you for helping me to understand God’s sovereignty in my salvation.”

If you’d like to help spread the message to more people, you may donate by credit card at Paypal. Then, I’ll post the record of your donation below…

Thank you for your partnership,

Greg Gibson


Google Adwords Bill          JSFM Donations Received

Aug. 2007: $401.65
Sep. 2007: $422.20          $1000. from C.C. on 9/19/07
Oct.  2007: $577.12
Nov. 2007: $493.56          $1200 from P.B. on 11/08/07
Dec. 2007: $458.19
Jan. 2008: $337.90

P.S. See more Bible studies, blogs, and books at JesusSaidFollowMe.org


“The Free Gift”

September 19th, 2007

How Canada’s Most Famous, Former-Roman Catholic Priest
Finally Found Peace and Joy

By Charles Chiniquy

I was born and baptized a Roman Catholic in 1809, and I was ordained priest in the year 1833, in Canada.

For 25 years I was a priest of that Church. And, I tell you frankly that I loved the Church of Rome, and she loved me. I would have shed every drop of my blood for my Church and would have given a thousand times my life to extend her power and dignity over the continent of America, and over the whole world.

My great ambition was to convert the Protestants, and bring them into my Church, because I was told, and I preached, that outside the Church of Rome there was no salvation, and I was sorry to think that those multitudes of Protestants were to be lost.

A few years after I was born we lived in a place where there were no schools. My mother became my first teacher, and the first book in which she taught me to read was the Bible. When I was 8 or 9 years old, I read the Divine Book with an incredible pleasure, and my heart was much taken up with the beauty of the Word of God.

My mother selected the chapters she wished me to read. And the attention I gave to it was such that, many times, I refused to go and play with the little boys outside in order to enjoy the reading of the Holy Book. Some of the chapters I loved more than others, and these I learned by heart.

The Priest Tried to Take Away Our Bible

But, after my mother died, the Bible disappeared from the house, probably through the priest who had tried to obtain possession of it before. Now this Bible is the root of everything in this story.

That is the light which was put into my soul when young, and thanks be to God, that light has never been extinguished. It has remained there. It is to that dear Bible, by the mercy of God, that I owe today the unspeakable joy which I feel at being the redeemed, among those who have received the light, and are drinking at the pure fountain of truth.

But perhaps you are inclined to say: “Do not the Roman Catholic priests allow their people to read the Bible? Yes, I thank God that it is so. It is a fact that today, almost all over the world, the Church of Rome grants permission to read the Bible. And you will find the Bible in the homes of some Roman Catholics.

But, when we have confessed this we must tell the whole truth. When the priest puts the Bible in the hands of his people, or when a priest receives the Bible from his church, there is a condition.

Allowed to Read the Bible, But Not Think for Yourself About it

The condition is that though the priest or people may read the Bible, they must never, under any circumstances, interpret a single word according to their conscience, their intelligence, or in their own mind. When I was ordained a priest I swore that I would interpret the Scriptures only according to the unanimous consent of the Holy Fathers.

Friends, go to Roman Catholics today, and ask them if they have permission to read the Bible. They will tell you, “Yes, I can read it.” But ask, “Have you permission to interpret it?” They will tell you, “No.”

The priest says positively to the people, and the Church says positively to the priest, that they cannot interpret a single word of the Bible according to their own intelligence and their own conscience, and that it is a grievous sin to take upon themselves the interpretation of a single word.

The priest says in effect to the people: “If you try to interpret the Bible with your own intelligence you are lost. It is a most dangerous book. You may read it, but it is better not to read it, because you cannot understand it.”

Only 2 of 10,000 Priests Have Read the Whole Bible

What is the result of such teaching? The result is that though both the priests and the people have the Bible in their hands, they do not read it. Would you read a book if you were persuaded that you cannot understand a single word by yourself? Would you be such fools as to waste your time reading a book which you were persuaded you could not understand a single line of?

Then, my friends, this is the truth about the Church of Rome. They have a great number of Bibles. You will find Bibles on the tables of the priests and of Catholic laymen. But, among 10,000 priests, there are not 2 who read the Bible from the beginning to the end and pay attention to it. They read a few pages here and there; that is all.

In the Church of Rome the Bible is a sealed book, but it was not so with me. I found it precious to my heart when I was a little boy, and when I became a priest of Rome I read it to make me a strong man, and to make me able to argue for the Church.

My great object was to confound the Protestant ministers of America. I got a copy of the Holy Fathers, and I studied it day and night with the Holy Scriptures, in order to prepare myself for the great battle I wanted to fight against the Protestants. I made this study in order to strengthen my faith in the Roman Catholic Church.

But, blessed be God! Every time I read the Bible there was a mysterious voice saying to me, “Do you not see that in the Church of Rome you do not follow the teachings of the Word of God, but only the traditions of men?”

In the silent hours of the night, when I heard that voice, I wept and cried, but it was repeated with the strength of thunder. I wanted to live and die in the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and I prayed to God to silence the voice, but I heard it yet still louder. When I was reading His Word He was trying to break my chains, but I would not have any chains broken. He came to me with His saving light, but I would not have it.

I Was Miserable While a Priest

I have no bad feeling against Roman Catholic priests. Some of you may think I have. You are mistaken. Sometimes I weep for them because I know that the poor men - just as I did - are fighting against the Lord, and that they are miserable as I was miserable then. If I relate to you one of the struggles of which I speak, you will understand what it is to be a Roman Catholic priest and you will pray for them.

In Montreal there is a splendid cathedral capable of holding 15,000 people. I used to preach there very often. One day the Bishop asked me to speak on the Virgin Mary, and I was glad to do so. I said to those people what I thought to be true then, and what the priests believe and preach everywhere. Here is the sermon I preached…

My dear friends, when a man has rebelled against his king, when he has committed a great crime against his emperor, does he come himself to speak to him? If he has a favor to ask from his king, dare he, under the circumstances, appear himself in his presence? No; the king would rebuke him.

Then, what does he do? Instead of going himself he selects one of the friends of the king, sometimes one of his officers, sometimes the sister or the mother of the king, and he puts his petition into their hands. They go and speak in favor of the guilty man. They ask his pardon, they appease his wrath, and very often the king will grant to these people the favor which he would refuse to the guilty man.”

“Then,” I said, “we are all sinners, we have all offended the great and mighty King, the King of Kings. We have raised rebellious colors against Him. We have trampled His laws under our feet, and surely He is angry against us. What can we do today? Shall we go ourselves with our hands filled with our iniquities? No!

But, thanks to God, we have Mary the mother of Jesus our King, at His right hand. And as a dutiful son never refuses any favor to a beloved mother, so Jesus will never refuse any favor to Mary. He has never refused any petition which she presented to Him when He was on earth. He has never rebuked His mother in any way. Where is the son who would break the heart of a mother, when he could rejoice her by granting her what she wants.

Then I say, Jesus the King of Kings, is not only the Son of God, but He is the Son of Mary, and loves His mother. And as He has never refused any favor of Mary when He was on earth, He will never refuse her any favor today. Then, what must we do?

Oh! We cannot present ourselves before the great King, covered as we are with iniquity. Let us present our petitions to His holy mother. She will go to the feet of Jesus, herself, Jesus, her God and her son. And she will surely receive the favors which she will ask. She will ask our pardon and will obtain it. She will ask a place in the Kingdom of Christ, and you will have it. She will ask from Jesus to forget your iniquities, to grant you the true repentance, and He will give you anything His mother may ask of Him.”

My hearers were so happy at the idea of having such an advocate at the feet of Jesus interceding for them day and night, that they burst into tears, and were beside themselves with joy that Mary was to ask and obtain their pardon.

I thought at the time that this was not only the religion of Christ, but that it was the religion of common sense, and that nothing could be said against it. After the sermon the Bishop came to me and blessed me, and thanked me, saying that the sermon would do great good in Montreal.

That night I went on my knees, and took my Bible. And my heart was full of joy because of the good sermon I had given in the morning. I opened and read from Matthew 12:46 the following words…

Jesus Refused His Mother Mary’s Request

“While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him. Then said one unto Him…

‘Behold your mother and your brothers stand without desiring to speak with You.’ But He answered and said to him that told Him, ‘Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?’ And he stretched forth His hand toward His disciples and said: ‘Behold! My mother and My brothers, for whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in Heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.’”

When I had read these words there was a voice speaking to me more terrible than the voice of loud thunder, saying…

“Chiniquy, you preached a lie this morning when you said that Mary had always received the favors which she had asked from Jesus. Do you not see that Mary comes to ask a favor, that is, to see her son, during whose absence she has been lonesome, and who has left her during many months to preach the Gospel?”

When Mary got to the place where Jesus was preaching the place was so crammed that she could not enter. What will she do? She will do what every mother would do in her place. She raises her voice and requests Him to come and see her. But while Jesus hears the voice of His mother, and with His divine eyes sees her, does He grant her petitions?

No. He shuts His ears to her voice and hardens His heart against her prayer. It is a public rebuke, and she feels it keenly.

The people are astonished. They are puzzled, almost scandalized. They turn to Christ, and they say to Him, “Why don’t you come and speak to your mother?” What does Jesus say? He gives no answer except this extraordinary one…

“Who is My mother, and who are My, brothers?” And, looking upon His disciples, He says, “Behold, My mother, My brothers, and My sisters.” As for Mary, she is left alone, and publicly rebuked.

And then the voice spoke to me again with the power of thunder, telling me to read again in St. Mark 3:31-35. You will find the same incident both in Mark and in Luke 8:19-21. Instead of granting her petition Jesus replied in such a way as to publicly rebuke His mother.

And then the voice spoke to me with terrific power, telling me that Jesus, so long as He was a little boy, obeyed Joseph and His mother. But as soon as Jesus presented Himself before the world as the Son of God, as the Savior of the world, as the great Light of humanity, then Mary had to disappear. It is to Jesus alone that the eyes of the world must be turned to receive Light and Life.

I Preached a Lie Against the Scriptures

Then, my friends, the voice spoke to me all the night, “Chiniquy, Chiniquy, you have told a lie this morning. And you were preaching a lot of fables and nonsense. And you preach against the Scriptures when you say that Mary has the power to grant any favor from Jesus.” I prayed and I wept, and it was a sleepless night with me.

The next morning I went to table with the Bishop Prince, the coadjutor, who had invited me to breakfast.

He said to me: “M. Chiniquy, you look like a man who has spent the night in tears. What is the matter with you?”

I said, “My lord, you are correct. I am desolate above measure?”

“What is the matter?” he asked.

“Oh! I cannot tell you here,” I said. “Will you please give me one hour in your room alone? I will tell you a mystery which will puzzle you.”

After breakfast I went out with him and said…

“Yesterday you paid me a great compliment because of the sermon in which I proved that Jesus had always granted the petitions of His mother. But, my lord, last night I heard another voice, stronger than yours, and my trouble is that I believe that voice is the voice of God.

That voice has told me that we Roman Catholic priests and bishops preach a falsehood every time we say to the people that Mary has always the power to receive from the hands of Jesus Christ the favors which she asks. This is a lie, my lord — this, I fear, is a diabolical and damning error.”

The Bishop then said: “M. Chiniquy, what do you mean? Are you a Protestant?” “No,” I said, “I’m not a Protestant.” (Many times I’d been called a Protestant because I was so fond of the Bible).

“But I tell you face to face, that I sincerely fear that yesterday I preached a lie, and that you, my lord, will preach one also the next time you say that we must invoke Mary, under the pretext that Jesus has never refused any favor to His mother. This is false.”

The Bishop said: “M. Chiniquy, you go too far!”

“No, my lord,” I said, “it is of no use to talk. Here is the Gospel. Read it.”

I put the Gospel into the hands of the Bishop, and he read with his own eyes what I have already quoted. My impression was that he read those words for the first time. The poor man was so much surprised that he remained mute and trembling. Finally he asked: “What does this mean?”

“Well,” I said, “this is the Gospel. And here you see that Mary has come to ask from Jesus Christ a favor. And He has not only rebuked her, but has refused to consider her as His mother. He did this publicly, that we might know that Mary is the mother of Jesus as man, and not as God,”

The Bishop Was Speechless

The Bishop was beside himself. He could not answer me.

I then asked to be allowed to put to him a few questions. I said: “My lord, who has saved you and saved me upon the Cross?”

He answered: “Jesus Christ.”

“Now, who paid your debts and mine by shedding his blood, Mary or Jesus?”

He said: “Jesus Christ.”

“Now, my lord, when Jesus and Mary were on earth, who loved the sinner more, Mary or Jesus?”

Again he answered that it was Jesus.

“Did any sinner come to Mary on earth to be saved?”

“No.”

“Do you remember that any sinner has gone to Jesus to be saved?”

“Yes, many.”

“Have they been rebuked?”

“Never.”

“Do you remember that Jesus ever said to sinners, ‘Come to Mary and she will save you?’”

“No,” he said.

“Do you remember that Jesus has said to poor sinners, ‘Come unto Me?’”

“Yes, He has said it.”

“Has he ever retracted those words?”

“No!”

“And who was, then, the more powerful to save sinners?” I asked.

“Oh! It was Jesus.”

“Now my lord, since Jesus and Mary are now in Heaven, can you show me in the Scriptures that Jesus has lost anything of his desire and power to save sinners, or that He has delegated this power to Mary?”

And the Bishop answered, “No.”

Why Not Come to Jesus Alone Since He Is Better than Mary?

“Then, my lord,” I asked, “why do we not go to Him, and Him alone? Why do we invite poor sinners to come to Mary, when by your own confession she is nothing compared with Jesus, in power, in mercy, in love, and in compassion for the sinner?”

Then the poor Bishop was as a man who is condemned to death. He trembled before me, and as he could not answer me, he pleaded business and left me. His “business” was that he could not answer me.

But I was still not converted. There were many links by which I was still tied to the feet of the Pope. There were other battles to be fought before I could break the chains which bound me.

But in those days, though I was troubled I had not lost my zeal for my Church. The Bishops had given me great power and authority, and the Pope had raised me above many others, and I had the hope, with many others, that little by little, we might reform the Church in many things.

In 1851 I went to Illinois to found a French colony. I took with me about 75,000 French Canadians, and settled on the magnificent prairies of Illinois, to take possession in the name of the Church of Rome.

The Bishop Was Angry That I Gave Bibles

After I had begun my great work of colonization I became a rich man. I bought many Bibles and gave one to almost every family. The Bishop was very angry at me for this, but I did not care. I had no idea of giving up the Church of Rome, but I wanted to guide my people as well as I could in the way in which Christ wanted me to lead them.

Now the Bishop of Chicago did a thing at that time which we Frenchmen could not tolerate. It was a great crime, and I wrote to the Pope and got him dismissed. Another Bishop was sent in his place, who sent his Grand Vicar to visit me.

The Grand Vicar said to me: “M. Chiniquy, we are very glad that you have got the former Bishop dismissed, for he was a bad man. But, it is suspected in many places that you are no more in the Church of Rome. It is suspected that you are a heretic and a Protestant. Will you not give us a document by which we can prove to all the world that you and your people are still good Roman Catholics?”

I said, “I have no objection.”

He replied, “It is the desire of the new Bishop whom the Pope has sent, to have such a document from you.”

Following the Traditions of Men, or the Word of God?

I then took a piece of paper — and it seemed to me that this was a golden opportunity to silence the voice which was speaking to me day and night and troubling my faith. I wanted to persuade myself by this means that in the Roman Catholic Church we were really following the Word of God, and not merely “traditions of men.” I wrote down these very words:

“My lord, we French Canadians of the colony of Illinois want to live in the Holy Catholic Apostolic and Roman Church, out of which there is no salvation, and to prove this to your lordship we promise to obey your authority according to the Word of God, as we find it in the Gospel of Christ.”

I signed that and offered it to my people to sign, and they did. I then gave it to the Grand Vicar, and asked him what he thought of it. He said, “It is just what we want.” He assured me that the Bishop would accept it, and all would be right.

When the Bishop had read the submission, he too found it right, and with tears of joy said, “I am so glad that you have made your submission, because we were in fear that you and your people would turn Protestants.”

Peace With Man, or God?

My friends, to show you my blindness, I must confess to my shame, that I was glad to have made my peace with the Bishop, a man, when I was not yet at peace with God. The Bishop gave me a letter of peace, by which he declared that I was one of his best priests.

And, I went back to my countrymen with the determination to remain there. But God looked down upon me in His mercy, and He was to break that peace which was peace with man and not with God.

Submit to the Bishop, or the Bible?

The Bishop, after my departure, went to the telegraph office and telegraphed my submission to the other bishops, and asked them what they thought of it. They unanimously answered him the very same day…

“Do you not see that Chiniquy is a disguised Protestant? And he has made a Protestant of you? It is not to you that he makes submission, he makes his submission to the Word of God. If you do not destroy that submission you are a Protestant yourself.”

The Bishop Burned My Letter of Peace

Ten days later I received a letter from the Bishop, and when I went to him he asked me if I had the “letter of peace” he had given me the other day. I produced it, and when he saw it was the letter, he ran to his stove and threw it into the fire. I was astonished. I rushed to the fire to save my letter, but it was too late. It was destroyed.

Then I turned to the Bishop and I said, “How dare you, my lord, take from my hand a document which is my property, and destroy it without my consent?”

He replied, “M. Chiniquy, I am your superior, and I have no account to give you.”

“You are indeed, my lord, my superior, and I am nothing but a poor priest. But there is a great God who is as much above you as above me. And that God has granted me rights which I will never give up to please any man. In the presence of that God I protest against your iniquity.”

“Well, he said, “do you come here to give me a lecture?”

I replied, “No, my lord. But I want to know if you brought me here to insult me?”

“M. Chiniquy,” he said, “I brought you here because you gave me a document which you know very well was not an act of submission.”

Then I answered: “Tell me, what act of submission do you require of me?

The Bishop Demanded Total Submission

He said, “You must begin by taking away these few words ‘according to the Word of God, as we find it in the Gospel of Christ,’ and say simply that you promise to obey my authority without any condition; that you will promise to do whatever I tell you.”

Then I got to my feet, and I said, “My lord, what you require of me is not an act of submission, but an act of adoration. And I refuse it to you.”

“Then,” he said, “if you cannot give me that act of submission, you cannot any longer be a Roman Catholic priest.”

I raised my hands to God, and said, “May Almighty God be forever blessed,” and I took my hat and left the Bishop.

I went to the hotel where I had reserved a room, and locked the door behind me. I fell on my knees to examine what I‘d done in the presence of God.

Then I saw, for the first time clearly, that the Church of Rome could not be the Church of Christ. I had learned the terrible truth, not from the lips of the Protestants, not from her enemies, but from the lips of the Church of Rome herself.

I saw that I could not remain in it except by giving up the Word of God in a formal document. Then, I saw that I had done well to give up the Church of Rome. But oh, my friends, what a dark cloud came upon me! In my darkness I cried out: “My God, my God, why is it that my soul is surrounded with such a dark cloud?”

With tears I cried to God to show me the way, but for a time, no answer was granted. I had given up the Church of Rome. I had given up position, honor, my brothers and sisters, everything that was dear to me!

The Cost of Following Christ: Losing Friends

I saw that the Pope, the Bishops and the priests would attack me in the press, and the pulpit. I saw that they would take away my honor and my name - and perhaps my life. I saw that war to the death was begun between the Church of Rome and me.

And, I looked to see if any friends had been left to me to help me fight the battle. But, not a single friend remained. I saw that even my dearest friends were bound to curse me, and look upon me as an infamous traitor. I saw that my people would reject me, that my beloved country, where I had so many friends, would curse me, and that I had become an object of horror to the world.

Then I tried to remember if I had some friends among the Protestants. But, as I had spoken and written against them all my life, I had not a single friend there.

I saw that I was left alone to fight the battle. It was too much, and in that terrible hour if God had not worked a miracle, I should not have been able to bear it. It seemed impossible for me to go out from that room into the cold world, where I should not find a single hand to shake my hand, or a single smiling face to look upon me, but where I should see only those looking upon me as a traitor.

It seemed that God was far away, but He was very near. Suddenly the thought entered my mind, “You have your Gospel; read it, and you will find the light.” On my knees, and with trembling hand, I opened the book. Not I, but God opened it, for my eyes fell on I Cor. 7:23…

“Ye are bought with a price, be not ye the servants of men.”

With these words the light came to me, and for the first time I saw the great mystery of salvation, as much as man can see it. I said to myself…

“Jesus has bought me. I am saved! Jesus is my God! All the works of God are perfect! I am, then, perfectly saved - Jesus could not save me by half. I am saved in the blood of the Lamb. I am saved by the death of Jesus.”

And, these words were so sweet to me that I felt unspeakable joy, as if the fountains of life were open and floods of new light were flowing in upon my soul. I said to myself:

“I am not saved, as I thought, by going to Mary. I am not saved by purgatory, or by indulgences, confessions, or penances. I am saved by Jesus alone!” And all the false doctrines of Rome went away from my mind as falls a tower which is struck at the base.

I Felt More Joy and Peace Than the Angels

I then felt such a joy, such a peace, that the angels of God could not be more happy than I was. The blood of the Lamb was flowing on my poor guilty soul. With a loud cry of joy I said:

“Oh! Gift of God, I accept You!

Take my heart and keep it forever Yours. Gift of God, abide in me to make me pure and strong. Abide in me to be my way, my light, and my life. Grant that I may abide in You now and forever! But, dear Jesus, do not save me alone. Save my people. Grant me to show them the Gift also! Oh, that they may accept You and feel rich and happy as I am now.”

It was thus I found the Light and the great mystery of our salvation, which is so simple and so beautiful, so sublime and so grand. I had opened the hands of my soul and accepted the gift. I was rich in the gift. Salvation, my friends, is a gift. You have nothing to do but to accept it, love it, and love the Giver. I pressed the Gospel to my lips, and swore I would never preach anything but Jesus.

I arrived in the midst of my colony on a Sabbath morning. The whole people were exceedingly excited and ran towards me, and asked what news. When they were gathered in the church, I presented to them The Gift. I showed to them what God had presented to me. His Son Jesus as a gift - and, through Jesus, the pardon of my sins, and life eternal as a gift.

Then, not knowing whether they would receive the gift or not, I said to them…

“It is time for me to go away from you, my friends. I have left the Roman Catholic Church forever. I have taken the gift of Christ, but I respect you too much to impose myself on you. If you think it is better for you to follow the Pope than to follow Christ, and to invoke the name of Mary than the name of Jesus, in order to be saved, tell it to me by rising up.”

To my exceeding great surprise the whole multitude remained in their seats, filling the church with their sobs and tears. I thought some of them would tell me to go, but not one did so. And as I watched I saw a change come over them — a marvelous change which cannot be explained in natural ways — and I said to them, with a cry of joy…

“The mighty God who saved me yesterday can save you today. With me you will cross the Red Sea and go into the Promised Land. With me you will accept the great gift - you will be happy and rich in the gift.

Will You Follow the Pope or Christ,
And Pray Through Mary or Jesus?

I will put the question to you in another way. If you think it is better for you to follow Christ than the Pope, to invoke the name of Jesus alone than the name of Mary, that it is better to put your trust only in the blood of the Lamb shed on the Cross for your sins, than in the fabulous purgatory of Rome after your death to be saved; and if you think it is better for you to have me preach to you the pure Gospel of Christ, than to have a priest preach to you the doctrines of Rome, tell it to me by rising up - I am your man.”

25,000 Received the Precious Gift

And all, without a single exception, rose to their feet, and with tears, asked me to remain with them. The Gift, the great unspeakable Gift had, for the first time, come before their eyes in its beauty; they had found it precious; they had accepted it; and no words can tell you the joy of that multitude. Like myself, they felt rich and happy in the Gift.

The names of 1000 souls I believe, were written in the Book of Life that day. Some months later, we were 2000 converts. A year later we were about 4000! And now, we are nearly 25,000 who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The news spread quickly all over America, and even in France and England - that Chiniquy, the best-known priest in Canada, had left the Church of Rome, at the head of a noble band of men. And wherever it was said, the name of Jesus was blessed, and I hope you will bless the merciful and adorable Savior today with me, when it is my privilege to have told you what He has done for my soul.

——

After Chiniquy left Rome for Christ, the Jesuits plotted to discredit his character. But his flock, who as eyewitnesses knew him best, followed him from Rome.

Minor edits were made for clarity (without changing the meaning) including the subheads, paragraph divisions, punctuation, and spelling by Greg Gibson, Editor, JesusSaidFollowMe.org

P.S. See more Bible studies, blogs, and books at JesusSaidFollowMe.org


“The ‘Who Are You Following?’ Quiz”

September 19th, 2007

This simple quiz is designed to help you know how well you are following Jesus Christ as your Teacher. (He is also our Priest and King.)

I have a personal confession to reveal…For the first 10 years of my Christian life, I followed Christ + men/a movement/a system. I over- esteemed them as “godly men,” until they became idols in my heart, rivaling my devotion to Christ. (Although, I thank God that He taught me many truths from them.)

Even now, I don’t claim infallibility, only teachability. So, if some of our answers differ below, then maybe together we can “search the Scriptures to see what is true.”

Now, examine yourself to see who you are following…

1. What is the Bible’s main message?

    A. God loves you, make a decision for Christ & ask Him into your heart.

    B. The Holy Spirit.

    C. Holiness.

    D. The doctrines of grace (Calvinism.)

    E. The gospel of (sovereign) grace (which must include the doctrines of grace.)

    F. The doctrine of the atonement, and the doctrine of the resurrection (systematic theology.)

    G. The gospel about Jesus Christ Himself, especially that: He lived, died, rose, ascended, and will return. Repent from your sins and believe on Him.

2. Who is my brother, and what is the ground of Christian fellowship?

    A. A sinner’s prayer.

    B. The _______ Confession of Faith.

    C. Regeneration.

3. Who is the greatest, and what is the measure of Christian maturity?

    A. The most zealous.

    B. Correct theology alone.

    C. Heart + doctrine + obedience.

4. Who gets the credit for your decision for Christ?

    A. The evangelist.

    B. You.

    C. God.

5. Who glorifies God more?

    A. A Calvinist full of hypocrisy, pride, and lying.

    B. An Arminian who is humble, godly, and obedient.

6. Why does the Lord entrust the conversion of His elect to a higher % of non-Calvinist evangelists than Calvinist evangelists? (This sad concession comes from a Calvinist. Most Calvinists testify they were saved through Arminian ministries, before understanding Calvinism later. So, why is God saving millions of sinners right now through non-Calvinist evangelists in persecuted countries like China and Vietnam?)

    A. They’re probably not real converts.

    B. The evangelists’ hearts.

7. Which theological system is true?

    A. All of Covenant theology.

    B. All of Traditional or Progressive Dispensationalism.

    C. Part of both A. and B., plus more (New Covenant Theology.)

8. Which movement is true?

    A. Anabaptist

    B. Reformed

    C. Puritanism

    D. Reformed Baptist

    E. Sovereign Grace Baptist

    F. Pentecostalism/Charismatic

    G. Fundamentalism

    H. Evangelicalism

    I. Church Growth/Seeker-Sensitive/Purpose Driven

    J. There is no perfect movement - only a perfect Savior. A better question to ask is, “How much of each movement is true?” All movements consist of imperfect individuals. If we don’t believe in individual perfectionism, then we shouldn’t believe in corporate perfectionism, right?

    All movements are passing fads, and mixtures of truth and error. Let’s learn from their strengths, while being aware of their weaknesses. Christ and the apostles started only one movement in the first century, for all believers, for all time: The Church. Do you love His Church (all who are regenerate) like He does?

P.S. See more Bible studies, blogs, and books at JesusSaidFollowMe.org


“8 Signs of Immature, Carnal Christians”

September 19th, 2007

How to Mature from Following Men to Following Christ

I have an embarrassing personal confession to make. For the first 10 years of my Christian life, I was an immature, carnal Christian…

“How,” you wonder? The truth is, I followed men. What I mean is that I couldn’t think for myself. You see, I gave my devotion and mind to men, a movement, and a system. Then, I unconsciously let them do my thinking for me.

Was it the Church of Rome, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, or the Mormons? No, believe it or not, it was a group of evangelicals who preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But, they didn’t welcome questions to their confession of faith and systematic theology. And unfortunately, I submitted my thinking to them because I over-esteemed them as godly men.

In the Bible, God has given us many descriptions of spiritual infancy vs. spiritual maturity. One of the descriptions of spiritual babes, in 1 Cor. 1:10-3:23, is dividing the Body by using labels, following men, and forming sub-groups.

Good Bible teachers not only proclaim Biblical truth, they also aren’t afraid to teach others how to study the Bible for themselves. To keep individual disciples from straying into error, God has given His Spirit, His Bible, and His Church.

Remember, we never need to be afraid of truth. (If you’re feeling fear right now, why not listen to your conscience? God gave it to you as a warning signal.)


The 8 signs of immature, carnal Christians are:

1. Reliance on an extra-biblical standard of authority such as:

    * A leader (author, guru, pastor, or infallible pope.)

    * An experience (feeling or alleged revelation.)

    * A sectarian group, movement, or organization (denom.)

    * A tradition (selective, truncated view of church history.)

    * A document (book, confession of faith, or study-Bible footnotes.)

2. Fear and avoidance of:

    * Talking to certain Christians who may challenge you.

    * Preaching on certain Bible texts or topics.

    * Allowing certain questions to be asked.

    * Discussing certain biblical topics.

    * Reading certain theological articles or books.

3. Unquestioned, uncritical agreement and allegiance to a human leader.

4. Unteachable and unwilling to listen to others from an open Bible.

5. Inability to think for oneself and form conclusions independent from outside influences and patterns of thinking received from others.

6. Reading an disproportionate percentage of books by one author or publisher.

7. Leaders micromanaging the details of their disciples’ lives which are normally areas of Christian liberty.

8. Cloning personality traits that are normally areas of Christian liberty.

Those characteristics are quite different from the Bereans whom Paul commended as “fair minded…in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Please understand, there is no perfect organization, movement, or group. All groups are made of imperfect individuals. And, since there is no individual perfection, then there is no corporate perfection. There is only one perfect God-Man. Point your faith to Him.

Ask yourself, “How much do I agree with my favorite group?” If you agree 100%, beware! This could be a sign you’re following men, instead of Christ. If you suspect that you may be blindly following human leaders, what should you do?

First of all, realize that the Holy Spirit is the only teacher you need to understand God…

    “But the anointing (Holy Spirit’s teaching: cf. Jn. 14:26; 1 Jn. 2:20) which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

Second, realize that truth can set you free. Remember, never be afraid to pursue truth. The truth will liberate you. Jesus said,

    “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 8:32).
    “I AM…the truth…No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn. 14:6)

The Truth is a Person: Jesus Christ. Trust in Him to take you to God the Father. Then, follow Him wherever He leads, whatever the cost.

And finally, simply pray to God, through Jesus Christ, asking Him to show you if you have been following men or Christ. And, ask Him to correct any false doctrines you may believe. He is faithful, and He will do it.

Jesus didn’t say, “Follow Me(n)” or “Follow (men’s interpretation of) Me.” Jesus said, “Follow Me.”

P.S. See more Bible studies, blogs, and books at JesusSaidFollowMe.org