By Greg Gibson
God’s Presence From Eden, to the Temple, to the New Earth
Understand God’s redemptive-historical plan to expand His glorious presence from the Garden, to the Temple, to the New Earth. Much of this material is taken from the book “The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God by G.K. Beale. Two sermons: “Why Is the New Heaven and the New Earth Equated with the Temple?” Highest recommendation. Part 1 and Part 2 by G.K. Beale
12 Reasons Why Adam Was a Real, Historical Person
“But the twelve observations above indicate that the historicity of Adam is a thread woven all the way through the Bible’s history, theology, and ethics. Pull out that thread and sooner or later the whole garment will unravel.” Was Adam a Real Historical Individual? by James Anderson
Biblical Counseling Training
Where can you find training in Biblical counseling (as opposed to psychological counseling)? Top Choices for Counselor Training by Rick Thomas, and Biblical Counseling Training by 9 Marks
New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ by Schreiner
“Christ the Center was pleased to welcome Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner to discuss New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ. Dr. Schreiner’s book has been warmly welcomed by many respected scholars in the reformed community and listeners will understand why when they hear Dr. Schreiner detail his project.” New Testament Theology by Thomas Schreiner
Evangelizing Headhunters and Cannibals
“’There are lots of unreached tribes in Papua New Guinea. Some of them are cannibalistic and hostile headhunting tribes; they are completely unreached by the gospel. Come with me brother – Let’s go get some of them for Jesus.’…There’s an important difference between unevangelized and unreached peoples. Unevangelized people are unconverted individuals in places where there are established churches. Unreached peoples are those that live in regions where there are no churches and no access to the evangelical gospel in their culture. And to answer your question about the present trend; 96% of the missionary work force is still laboring in unevangelized, but not truly unreached regions. Here it is again – 9 out of 10 Christian missionaries that go cross-cultural are still going to reached places! Here’s still another way to say it – Something like 90% of all “ministers” worldwide are concentrating on only 2% of the world’s population! We are massively overly evangelizing places where the gospel is already well planted! I believe that we need a substantial strategic redeployment of the missionary workforce to the areas where there is still no access to the evangelical gospel.” Interview With David Sitton
“Stop Dating Churches, and Marry One”
Why join a church?
“1. Make visible your commitment to Christ and his people…
2. Makes a powerful statement in a low-commitment culture…
3. We can be overly independent…
4. Keeps us accountable…
5. Help your pastor and elders be more faithful shepherds…
6. Gives you an opportunity to make promises.”
Why Membership Matters by Kevin DeYoung
Diversity in Musical Style, Unity in Christ-Centered Lyrics
“I believe it very good for our churches to sing songs from different eras, traditions, and styles…Songs with 101-level truths should not be the staple of our musical diet, but they should be on our plate…Imagine if the church stopped singing new songs after the Reformation just because the songs were new. No “And Can it Be,” no “Amazing Grace,” no “Holy, Holy, Holy.”…Christ–sung in our songs, called up in our prayers, and heralded in the preaching–will be the glue that holds us together, and not music. That’s the kind of unity in diversity worth celebrating.” In Defense of Musical Diversity by Kevin DeYoung
History of “Grace to You” With John MacArthur
“This year marks the ministry’s 40th anniversary…And within 5 years the ministry was distributing a million tapes a year. (We get that many downloads in a typical month today.)…How many employees does GTY have? Around 50 full time plus 175 volunteers who donate time and energy every week…Our annual budget today is about $17.9 million.” Meet the Ministries: Grace to You by Tim Challies
A Self-Worshiper vs. a God-Worshiper
“There was a stark difference between the two acceptance speeches. As I listened to the two speeches, all I could think of was the old commercial catchphrase, “Like Mike… If I could be like Mike.” Unfortunately, in this instance, Mike was the last person anyone should aspire to be like. This was definitely not a Michael Jordan highlight. Jordan’s Speech was self-centered, indulgent, arrogant, and at times embarrassing. In contrast, David Robinson rose to the occasion and made a brief, inspiring, encouraging speech (see his speech here) that made his family, his team, and his friends proud.
David Elevated Others…Mike Elevated Mike
David Honored His Family…Mike Honored Himself
David Was Brief…Mike Was Indulgent
David Honored God…Mike Honored Basketball
David sees His Legacy in His Family…Mike sees His…in His Highlights”
Be Like David… Not Like Mike by Voddie Baucham
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I have tried to place my comment re Church Membership on Pastor DeYoungs comment box but i do not fully understand profile creating and gave up after several attempts. I submit my observations based on personal experience.
Local Church Membership as distinct from Membership of His Body is built on sand. The reality of Church Membership to my experience is to be in accord with a set of predetermined Doctrinal issues usually pertaining to a particular Denomination to avoid any dissent.
Hi Vic,
Are you saying that the Bible doesn’t teach “local church membership?” If so, I’ve observed that this objection often results from terminology. Although the Bible doesn’t include the term “membership”, the idea is there. Please see the evidence here: http://www.revkevindeyoung.com/2009/10/few-more-thoughts-on-church-membership.html
Hi Greg, having read the information from the link i would agree with Andrew Faris and need “clear definition of exactly what Church membership is” It is not that i do not believe in Church membership but it does mean different things to different people.What are the qualifications for membership would perhaos be a simpler way of putting it.
Re Interview with David Sitton.
The Gospel has been proclaimed in Papua New Guinea since Great Britain
assumed sovereignty in 1888 and the first missionaries were appointed in 1890 following the General Synod of the Church of England in Australia resolving that ‘ the recent annexation of portion of New Guinea imposes direct obligation upon the Church to provide for the spiritual welfare both of the natives and the settlers” The Anglican Church has established many Churches and trained locals to take the message to a native population in all areas. The Australian Baptist Mission has been in New Guinea for over 50 years preaching the Gospel and also training locals by way of making disciples. Anglicans total some 200,000 out of a population of 6.5 million according to their own figures with a mix of 832 languages, 200 different denominations and 2 mosques is a challenge. Clergy, teachers and medical missionaries made the supreme sacrifice due to the Japanese invasin in 1942, in that same year three hundred thirty three church workers of various denominations were killed as a result of the Japanes occupation. Will David follow his own belief, or still build on someone elses foundation?
Vic, just because the Anglican church has evangelized much of N.G. doesn’t mean that everyone there has heard the gospel. David witnessed to very remote, jungle tribes who have never seen a white man or heard the name of Jesus.
Hi Greg, the bushmen as we call them have been approached by white settlers and missionaries as far back as the nineteenth century. These tribesmen still approach the settlements at various times of the year due to tribal custom including the “Cargo Cult”. I must conclude that the opinion has been formed that Australian Missionaries have not done a complete job.This culture that exists that until every living person has been evangelised by some denomination then the Second Coming is put on hold!!! The whole of mankind has been and is being evangelised 24/7 by God himself. Through creation Rom 1: 18-20, through conscience Rom 2: 14-16, and tragic events Rom 1: 18. Are these Tsunamis and earthquakes in the Pacific and Indonesia of no consequence? We are close to Samoa and Tonga and have Christian friends that have been killed we have a small group in this little village where i live including some from Fiji they grieve for their loved ones and country men but they have not lost their faith, does anyone fully comprehend what has happened? we live by faith, all that we encounter in our daily life has a purpose, and the overriding truth is Gods ways are not mans ways.