Blog https://www.riverbendchurch.com Mon, 18 Mar 2024 23:57:01 -0400 http://churchplantmedia.com/ Human Life Is Sacred https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/human-life-is-sacred https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/human-life-is-sacred#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2019 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/human-life-is-sacred
Do you believe human life is sacred? Do you believe that murder is wrong? The next question is, "Why?" 

Human life is sacred because: 
 
1) God created human life in His image.   (See Genesis 1:26-27)
 
2) God forbids the murder of human life.    (See Exodus 20:13)
The sanctity of human life most certainly applies to babies in the womb (Genesis 4:1; Exodus 21:22-25; Job 3:3; Psalm 51:5; 139:13-16; Luke 1:44) and to the handicapped, elderly and sick. 
 
May the sadness and horror of seeing the New York Assembly recently cheering gleefully--after passing a law legalizing the murder of babies in the womb up to the due date--move us to pray for them, for mothers, and for the unborn.
 
Life's sanctity also has every-day application in our lives for the importance of having a heart attitude toward others of respect and love (Matthew 5:21-22) and speaking to and about others with respect, love and kindness (James 3:8-10). Furthermore, we must speak truth to others even when it contradicts what they believe and may confront their sin, and we must do so with love (Ephesians 4:15). So, let us, by God's grace, speak the truth of life's sanctity with love.
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Do you believe human life is sacred? Do you believe that murder is wrong? The next question is, "Why?" 

Human life is sacred because: 
 
1) God created human life in His image.   (See Genesis 1:26-27)
 
2) God forbids the murder of human life.    (See Exodus 20:13)
The sanctity of human life most certainly applies to babies in the womb (Genesis 4:1; Exodus 21:22-25; Job 3:3; Psalm 51:5; 139:13-16; Luke 1:44) and to the handicapped, elderly and sick. 
 
May the sadness and horror of seeing the New York Assembly recently cheering gleefully--after passing a law legalizing the murder of babies in the womb up to the due date--move us to pray for them, for mothers, and for the unborn.
 
Life's sanctity also has every-day application in our lives for the importance of having a heart attitude toward others of respect and love (Matthew 5:21-22) and speaking to and about others with respect, love and kindness (James 3:8-10). Furthermore, we must speak truth to others even when it contradicts what they believe and may confront their sin, and we must do so with love (Ephesians 4:15). So, let us, by God's grace, speak the truth of life's sanctity with love.
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Jesus IS God https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/jesus-is-god https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/jesus-is-god#comments Sat, 14 Apr 2018 18:00:00 -0400 https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/jesus-is-god God the Son

Perhaps the greatest divider in spiritual circles is the concept: “Jesus is God.” Many people claiming to be Christians have difficulty with such a notion. They seem okay with the doctrine of Jesus as the Son of God, but they seem to have red flags with Jesus being equated with God the Father.

However, to disavow the Godhood of Christ is tantamount to classifying the Bible—God’s perfect Word—as absolute untruth. To say that Jesus “is not actually God” is to join the ranks of the most heretical philosophers of all time. To believe that Christ is not all the Scripture says is to say that God cannot be trusted.

The Scriptures could not be more clear: Jesus IS God. He is not merely one in spirit and attitude with God, as some of the cults proclaim. He IS fully God.

John 1 of the New Testament contains two linked verses that establish the full deity of Christ as God. Verse 1 states “the Word was with God and the Word was God." Verse 14 explains that “the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us.” Also, Colossians 2:9 declares that “in Christ there is all of God in a human body.”

Jesus, who declared that He and the Father "are one" (John 10:30), made several other claims, including that to see Him was to see God (John 14:9), to worship Him was to worship God (John 5:23), to know Him was to know God (John 8:19), to receive Him was to receive God (John 13:20), to believe in Him was to believe in God (John 12:44, 14:1), to hate Him was to hate God (John 15:23).

Old Testament prophecy called the coming Messiah “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father” (both in Isaiah 9:6). His name would be Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), which literally means “God with us.”

Consider these additional proofs, which are clearly revealed in the inspired, infallible, inerrant, invincible, indispensable, irrefutable, indestructible, impeccable Word of God.

Jesus functions as deity: He created the world (John 1:3); He sustains the world (Colossians 1:15-17); He forgives sin (Matthew 9:1-2); He performs the final judgment (John 5:22, Revelation 19:16); He provides eternal life (John 17:2, 6:27, 6:33, 6:40, 6:40, 6:47, 6:54); He receives the worship of angels (Hebrews 1:6, Revelation 5:12-13) and of men (John 9:38, Matthew 28:9).

Jesus the God-Man, incarnate and completely sinless, claimed to be God (John 5:18, 8:24, 8:28, 10:31-33), even using the Father's name “I Am” as His name (John 8:58).

Other proof-texts which show Jesus as God: “Christ who is God over all” (Romans 9:5); “Jesus Christ is the true God (1 John 5:20); “our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1): “our God and Lord, Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:12); “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Thomas the doubter, when recognizing Jesus after the resurrection, called Him “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

Acts 20:28 explains that it was the blood of God that stained the salvation cross. Don’t forget, too, that the Father Himself called Jesus God (Hebrews 1:8): “But to the Son He (the Father) says, ‘Your throne, O God is forever and ever’.”

Is Jesus God? According to more than 100 irrefutable references in Scripture (some listed above), He definitely IS God: God the Son.  Always has been ... always will be.

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God the Son

Perhaps the greatest divider in spiritual circles is the concept: “Jesus is God.” Many people claiming to be Christians have difficulty with such a notion. They seem okay with the doctrine of Jesus as the Son of God, but they seem to have red flags with Jesus being equated with God the Father.

However, to disavow the Godhood of Christ is tantamount to classifying the Bible—God’s perfect Word—as absolute untruth. To say that Jesus “is not actually God” is to join the ranks of the most heretical philosophers of all time. To believe that Christ is not all the Scripture says is to say that God cannot be trusted.

The Scriptures could not be more clear: Jesus IS God. He is not merely one in spirit and attitude with God, as some of the cults proclaim. He IS fully God.

John 1 of the New Testament contains two linked verses that establish the full deity of Christ as God. Verse 1 states “the Word was with God and the Word was God." Verse 14 explains that “the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us.” Also, Colossians 2:9 declares that “in Christ there is all of God in a human body.”

Jesus, who declared that He and the Father "are one" (John 10:30), made several other claims, including that to see Him was to see God (John 14:9), to worship Him was to worship God (John 5:23), to know Him was to know God (John 8:19), to receive Him was to receive God (John 13:20), to believe in Him was to believe in God (John 12:44, 14:1), to hate Him was to hate God (John 15:23).

Old Testament prophecy called the coming Messiah “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father” (both in Isaiah 9:6). His name would be Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), which literally means “God with us.”

Consider these additional proofs, which are clearly revealed in the inspired, infallible, inerrant, invincible, indispensable, irrefutable, indestructible, impeccable Word of God.

Jesus functions as deity: He created the world (John 1:3); He sustains the world (Colossians 1:15-17); He forgives sin (Matthew 9:1-2); He performs the final judgment (John 5:22, Revelation 19:16); He provides eternal life (John 17:2, 6:27, 6:33, 6:40, 6:40, 6:47, 6:54); He receives the worship of angels (Hebrews 1:6, Revelation 5:12-13) and of men (John 9:38, Matthew 28:9).

Jesus the God-Man, incarnate and completely sinless, claimed to be God (John 5:18, 8:24, 8:28, 10:31-33), even using the Father's name “I Am” as His name (John 8:58).

Other proof-texts which show Jesus as God: “Christ who is God over all” (Romans 9:5); “Jesus Christ is the true God (1 John 5:20); “our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1): “our God and Lord, Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:12); “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Thomas the doubter, when recognizing Jesus after the resurrection, called Him “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

Acts 20:28 explains that it was the blood of God that stained the salvation cross. Don’t forget, too, that the Father Himself called Jesus God (Hebrews 1:8): “But to the Son He (the Father) says, ‘Your throne, O God is forever and ever’.”

Is Jesus God? According to more than 100 irrefutable references in Scripture (some listed above), He definitely IS God: God the Son.  Always has been ... always will be.

]]>
Battle Cries https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/christ https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/christ#comments Mon, 01 Jan 2018 22:00:00 -0500 https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/christ Back in the First Century, Jesus and His apostles established certain timeless doctrines that through the years became infiltrated with blatant heresy and gross hypocrisy.

In the guise of godliness, the resulting selfish practices turned the church into everything but the God-glorifying bride that Christ intended. The Bible had been relegated to a secondary work whose proper place was unopened and on a dust-collecting shelf. The dominant Catholic church had become corrupt and utterly pharisaical.

It wasn’t until the great European reformers of the Sixteenth Century began to protest the beliefs and practices of the Catholic church that a return to the Truth occurred—outside the church. It became known in history as the Protestant Reformation. Hence, the rapid growth of protesters later called “Protestants.”

Abandoned principles that God had prescribed were re-born. The call back to Truth was centered on five non-bending doctrines later called “the five battle cries of the Reformation.”

These five doctrines:

Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)
The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin. It is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured.

Solus Christus (because of Christ alone)
Our salvation is accomplished by the mediation work of Jesus Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary death alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father.

Sola Gratia (by grace alone)
In salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by His grace alone. God’s spontaneous and unmerited favor is granted through the calling and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, who releases us from our willful bondage to sin and enables us to repent and believe in Christ.

Sola Fide (through faith alone)
Justification is by grace alone through faith alone. It can never be the reward or result of human works or merit, nor does it grow out of an infusion of Christ’s righteousness.

Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone)
God glorifies Himself in all that He does. Therefore we should acknowledge His highest purpose and live for His glory alone.

—Pastor Jerry Schaeffer

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Back in the First Century, Jesus and His apostles established certain timeless doctrines that through the years became infiltrated with blatant heresy and gross hypocrisy.

In the guise of godliness, the resulting selfish practices turned the church into everything but the God-glorifying bride that Christ intended. The Bible had been relegated to a secondary work whose proper place was unopened and on a dust-collecting shelf. The dominant Catholic church had become corrupt and utterly pharisaical.

It wasn’t until the great European reformers of the Sixteenth Century began to protest the beliefs and practices of the Catholic church that a return to the Truth occurred—outside the church. It became known in history as the Protestant Reformation. Hence, the rapid growth of protesters later called “Protestants.”

Abandoned principles that God had prescribed were re-born. The call back to Truth was centered on five non-bending doctrines later called “the five battle cries of the Reformation.”

These five doctrines:

Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)
The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin. It is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured.

Solus Christus (because of Christ alone)
Our salvation is accomplished by the mediation work of Jesus Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary death alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father.

Sola Gratia (by grace alone)
In salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by His grace alone. God’s spontaneous and unmerited favor is granted through the calling and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, who releases us from our willful bondage to sin and enables us to repent and believe in Christ.

Sola Fide (through faith alone)
Justification is by grace alone through faith alone. It can never be the reward or result of human works or merit, nor does it grow out of an infusion of Christ’s righteousness.

Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone)
God glorifies Himself in all that He does. Therefore we should acknowledge His highest purpose and live for His glory alone.

—Pastor Jerry Schaeffer

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No Place Like Home https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/no-place-like-home https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/no-place-like-home#comments Thu, 15 Jun 2017 20:00:00 -0400 https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/no-place-like-home Because we live in an era of rampant family disintegration, multitudes of pro-family groups and organizations-—American Family Association, Focus on the Family, Family Council, etc.—have sprung up in recent decades. While each organization has a specific purpose, the majority of these groups seem to have an underlying theme: restore the American family to its traditional biblical moorings.

Someone once said: “As the family goes, so goes society.” How true! As the family has gradually disintegrated throughout the Twentieth Century and in the early part of this new millennium, so has society. The divorce rate in the last 110 years has gone from under ten percent to over fifty percent. Illegitimate births since the 1960s have climbed more than 400 percent, domestic violence has increased more than 320 percent, the percentage of children abandoned has quintupled and teen suicides have ballooned more than 200 percent.1

Contrary to media bias and government propaganda, these family problems are not economic and not due to a lack of government intervention. These problems are ethical and spiritual in nature. They are the product of decades of unbelief and apostasy caused primarily by weak pastors, who have helped secular humanism and post-modernism replace Christianity as the predominant world view. The result: man’s de-valuation of God’s first institution—the family.

The late Ronald Reagan understood the gradual de-sensitizing of sin, which has fostered the current unraveling of the family. He strongly advocated returning to our roots:  

Strong families are the foundation of society. Through them we pass on our traditions, rituals, and values. From them we receive the love, encouragement, and education needed to meet human challenges. Family life provides opportunities and time for the spiritual growth that fosters generosity of spirit and responsible citizenship ... Let us summon our individual and community resources to promote healthy families capable of carrying on these traditions and providing strength to our society.2

Sound advice ... perhaps we should heed it.

—Jerry Schaeffer

_________________

1Grant, George, The Family Under Siege. Grand Rapids: Bethany House (1994), p. 35. 

2Reagan, Ronald (U.S. President), Proclamation 5281: National Family Week, November 15,1984.

 

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Because we live in an era of rampant family disintegration, multitudes of pro-family groups and organizations-—American Family Association, Focus on the Family, Family Council, etc.—have sprung up in recent decades. While each organization has a specific purpose, the majority of these groups seem to have an underlying theme: restore the American family to its traditional biblical moorings.

Someone once said: “As the family goes, so goes society.” How true! As the family has gradually disintegrated throughout the Twentieth Century and in the early part of this new millennium, so has society. The divorce rate in the last 110 years has gone from under ten percent to over fifty percent. Illegitimate births since the 1960s have climbed more than 400 percent, domestic violence has increased more than 320 percent, the percentage of children abandoned has quintupled and teen suicides have ballooned more than 200 percent.1

Contrary to media bias and government propaganda, these family problems are not economic and not due to a lack of government intervention. These problems are ethical and spiritual in nature. They are the product of decades of unbelief and apostasy caused primarily by weak pastors, who have helped secular humanism and post-modernism replace Christianity as the predominant world view. The result: man’s de-valuation of God’s first institution—the family.

The late Ronald Reagan understood the gradual de-sensitizing of sin, which has fostered the current unraveling of the family. He strongly advocated returning to our roots:  

Strong families are the foundation of society. Through them we pass on our traditions, rituals, and values. From them we receive the love, encouragement, and education needed to meet human challenges. Family life provides opportunities and time for the spiritual growth that fosters generosity of spirit and responsible citizenship ... Let us summon our individual and community resources to promote healthy families capable of carrying on these traditions and providing strength to our society.2

Sound advice ... perhaps we should heed it.

—Jerry Schaeffer

_________________

1Grant, George, The Family Under Siege. Grand Rapids: Bethany House (1994), p. 35. 

2Reagan, Ronald (U.S. President), Proclamation 5281: National Family Week, November 15,1984.

 

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An Identity Attack https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/an-identity-complex https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/an-identity-complex#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2016 21:00:00 -0400 https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/an-identity-complex Family is fighting an identity complex.

In a group of people, if you ask for a definition of family, you will get an assortment of answers.  Varied responses will continue to be the norm as long as the courts, the media, lobbyists and "rights" groups continue attempts to obliterate God's design of His most basic unity of life.

The family was the first of four institutions God created.  It came before the church, the government and business (the employer-employee relationship).

When God created the family, He gave it a specific design.  In total clarity, He described in His Word what the family is, what it is all about, how it is to function, etc.

Has He changed His mind?  Has he altered the family in any way?  Obviously, "No!"  Since His direct revelation to us—the Bible—never changed God's design, and since one of God's attributes is His immutability (He never changes), then man has sinned greatly in "playing God" and attempting to re-structure something the Lord has deemed sacred.

God will never accept any of man's substitutions or revisions to His design, which was already perfect when instituted.

Yet, man insists that he knows better.  Man has enacted laws that make it "legal" for a homosexual to marry another hnomosexual and for the two of them to raise children.  This is all under the guise of "relevancy in today's society" or "no longer being ruled by something as antiquated and obsolete as the Bible" or "it's all God's doings or He wouldn't have made me this way."

Sin, simply put, is anything that violates the character of God.  Certainly, these man-altered definitions of family violate Scripture.  Regardless of what man says, such a lifestyle is pure heresy.

Statistical archives are jammed with countless accounts of major problems created—not only in the family but also in society—by such a God-less lifestyle.

Our Creator established clearly the role of man and the role of woman in the family.  As God-fearing believers, we must not sit back and think someone else will stand up for God's truth about family.  To do so is to play into the agenda of those re-defining our culture toward the selfish cries of sinful men.

God hates sin, and we, as His chosen ones, are to hate what He hates.  Let's not become desensitized to this universal attack on family.  Let's fight to keep it God's way.

Pastor Jerry Schaeffer

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Family is fighting an identity complex.

In a group of people, if you ask for a definition of family, you will get an assortment of answers.  Varied responses will continue to be the norm as long as the courts, the media, lobbyists and "rights" groups continue attempts to obliterate God's design of His most basic unity of life.

The family was the first of four institutions God created.  It came before the church, the government and business (the employer-employee relationship).

When God created the family, He gave it a specific design.  In total clarity, He described in His Word what the family is, what it is all about, how it is to function, etc.

Has He changed His mind?  Has he altered the family in any way?  Obviously, "No!"  Since His direct revelation to us—the Bible—never changed God's design, and since one of God's attributes is His immutability (He never changes), then man has sinned greatly in "playing God" and attempting to re-structure something the Lord has deemed sacred.

God will never accept any of man's substitutions or revisions to His design, which was already perfect when instituted.

Yet, man insists that he knows better.  Man has enacted laws that make it "legal" for a homosexual to marry another hnomosexual and for the two of them to raise children.  This is all under the guise of "relevancy in today's society" or "no longer being ruled by something as antiquated and obsolete as the Bible" or "it's all God's doings or He wouldn't have made me this way."

Sin, simply put, is anything that violates the character of God.  Certainly, these man-altered definitions of family violate Scripture.  Regardless of what man says, such a lifestyle is pure heresy.

Statistical archives are jammed with countless accounts of major problems created—not only in the family but also in society—by such a God-less lifestyle.

Our Creator established clearly the role of man and the role of woman in the family.  As God-fearing believers, we must not sit back and think someone else will stand up for God's truth about family.  To do so is to play into the agenda of those re-defining our culture toward the selfish cries of sinful men.

God hates sin, and we, as His chosen ones, are to hate what He hates.  Let's not become desensitized to this universal attack on family.  Let's fight to keep it God's way.

Pastor Jerry Schaeffer

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Ten Things Pastors Would Love To Hear From Their Church Members https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/ten-things-church-members- https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/ten-things-church-members-#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2016 21:00:00 -0400 https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/ten-things-church-members- It is a simple question.

What do you hear from your church members that gives you the greatest encouragement?

The responses from the pastors were amazingly similar. In fact, I was able to focus on ten specific areas. Here are summary statements of those areas.

1. “I pray for you every day.” This statement was the most frequent. Read it carefully. It’s not just prayer; it’s daily prayer. The pastor understands ministry is spiritual warfare. The pastor understands prayer is one of the greatest weapons in the warfare.
2. “I want to help your family any way I can.” Most pastors are stressed and stretched. So are their families. When a church member offers to support and help the family, the pastor feels like shouting for joy.
3. “I want you to know specifically how God spoke to me through your sermon.” The key word here is “specifically.” It’s not a lot of encouragement if a church member says perfunctorily “good sermon.” Let the pastor know the specific meaning and application to you from the sermon.
4. “I am ready and willing to take on that ministry task.” Pastors take great joy when a church member understands that ministry is to be done by the members, that the pastor is not the hired hand to do it all.
5. “I see my role as an encourager.” Pastors need numbers of people who will take on the Barnabas role. The critics will always be there.
6. “I see my role as one who will confront the bullies and the perpetual critics in the church.” I have heard from countless pastors that it’s not the critics who bother them as much as the “friends” who will not speak up and to the critics and church bullies.
7. “I will make certain your family has an adequate income.” One of the great stressors on pastors is financial worry. It is such a relief and joy when a church member takes the role of financial advocate for the pastor.
8. “I am available to babysit your kids.” Pastors with young kids relish a husband-wife date night. Many of them are unable to go out because they can’t find or afford babysitters.
9. “I will be in church with no excuses unless providentially hindered.” Pastors hear plenty of excuses. It is a refreshing change for them to hear from a no-excuse church member.
10. “I will never compare you to a previous pastor.” Yep, pastors cringe when they hear, “Pastor Bill used to do it this way.” Let your pastors know they have their own identity, and that previous pastors are not a scorecard against which they are measured.

This article was originally published at ThomRainer.com on August 8, 2016. Thom S. Rainer serves as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Among his greatest joys are his family: his wife Nellie Jo; three sons, Sam, Art, and Jess; and ten grandchildren. Dr. Rainer can be found on Twitter @ThomRainer and at facebook.com/Thom.S.Rainer.

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It is a simple question.

What do you hear from your church members that gives you the greatest encouragement?

The responses from the pastors were amazingly similar. In fact, I was able to focus on ten specific areas. Here are summary statements of those areas.

1. “I pray for you every day.” This statement was the most frequent. Read it carefully. It’s not just prayer; it’s daily prayer. The pastor understands ministry is spiritual warfare. The pastor understands prayer is one of the greatest weapons in the warfare.
2. “I want to help your family any way I can.” Most pastors are stressed and stretched. So are their families. When a church member offers to support and help the family, the pastor feels like shouting for joy.
3. “I want you to know specifically how God spoke to me through your sermon.” The key word here is “specifically.” It’s not a lot of encouragement if a church member says perfunctorily “good sermon.” Let the pastor know the specific meaning and application to you from the sermon.
4. “I am ready and willing to take on that ministry task.” Pastors take great joy when a church member understands that ministry is to be done by the members, that the pastor is not the hired hand to do it all.
5. “I see my role as an encourager.” Pastors need numbers of people who will take on the Barnabas role. The critics will always be there.
6. “I see my role as one who will confront the bullies and the perpetual critics in the church.” I have heard from countless pastors that it’s not the critics who bother them as much as the “friends” who will not speak up and to the critics and church bullies.
7. “I will make certain your family has an adequate income.” One of the great stressors on pastors is financial worry. It is such a relief and joy when a church member takes the role of financial advocate for the pastor.
8. “I am available to babysit your kids.” Pastors with young kids relish a husband-wife date night. Many of them are unable to go out because they can’t find or afford babysitters.
9. “I will be in church with no excuses unless providentially hindered.” Pastors hear plenty of excuses. It is a refreshing change for them to hear from a no-excuse church member.
10. “I will never compare you to a previous pastor.” Yep, pastors cringe when they hear, “Pastor Bill used to do it this way.” Let your pastors know they have their own identity, and that previous pastors are not a scorecard against which they are measured.

This article was originally published at ThomRainer.com on August 8, 2016. Thom S. Rainer serves as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Among his greatest joys are his family: his wife Nellie Jo; three sons, Sam, Art, and Jess; and ten grandchildren. Dr. Rainer can be found on Twitter @ThomRainer and at facebook.com/Thom.S.Rainer.

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The Gospel in Brief https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/the-gospel-in-brief https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/the-gospel-in-brief#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2016 21:00:00 -0400 https://www.riverbendchurch.com/blog/post/the-gospel-in-brief The entire New Testament makes it clear that the gospel message demands a response of faith and offers salvation and eternal life to all who do believe (Romans 1:16; Ephesians 1:13). In very simple terms, the gospel is the good news of how full redemption from sin has been accomplished solely through the atoning work of Christ, and how it can be applied to sinners (2 Timothy 1:10).

But what are the essential facts and doctrines that make up the gospel message?

The apostle Paul summarized the gospel succinctly in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. That passage is an outline only and not an exhaustive treatise on the gospel, but it is perhaps the best starting place in all the New Testament to get a concise overview of what the gospel message consists of.

Notice that Paul makes it clear both here and elsewhere that a correct understanding (and proclamation) of the gospel includes not only the historical facts of Christ's death, burial and resurrection but also the true meaning of those events "according to the Scriptures."

So even though some might suggest that Paul's shorthand gospel outline omits certain other doctrines Christians generally regard as fundamental precepts of gospel truth (such as Christ's deity and incarnation—or the authority and inspiration of the Scriptures), those things are necessary presuppositions of the facts Paul does list. Those and many other truths are included implicitly in the words "according to the Scriptures."

Jesus' death, for example, is essential to a right understanding of what Paul means by "Christ." The priniciples of substitutionary atonement and justification by faith permeated all of Paul's teaching and consumed his energies when he wrote in defense of the gospel, so that there's no doubt he regarded those truths as utterly non-negotiable, too.

It would be a serious mistake to conclude that because he omitted explicit mention of those points in this summary, he must have regarded them as extraneous to the gospel message. They are clearly assumed and subsumed in the statement "Christ died for our sins."

Remember, Paul condemned the Galatian false teachers for proclaiming a different gospel (Galatians 1:8-9), even though nothing suggests they ever disputed any of the historical facts Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 15. 

Instead, their error related to the question of whether obedience to the law was instrumental in justification (Galatians 2:16). That, Paul said, is a fatal corruption of the gospel.

--Phil Johnson, Executive Diretor of 'Grace to You'

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The entire New Testament makes it clear that the gospel message demands a response of faith and offers salvation and eternal life to all who do believe (Romans 1:16; Ephesians 1:13). In very simple terms, the gospel is the good news of how full redemption from sin has been accomplished solely through the atoning work of Christ, and how it can be applied to sinners (2 Timothy 1:10).

But what are the essential facts and doctrines that make up the gospel message?

The apostle Paul summarized the gospel succinctly in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. That passage is an outline only and not an exhaustive treatise on the gospel, but it is perhaps the best starting place in all the New Testament to get a concise overview of what the gospel message consists of.

Notice that Paul makes it clear both here and elsewhere that a correct understanding (and proclamation) of the gospel includes not only the historical facts of Christ's death, burial and resurrection but also the true meaning of those events "according to the Scriptures."

So even though some might suggest that Paul's shorthand gospel outline omits certain other doctrines Christians generally regard as fundamental precepts of gospel truth (such as Christ's deity and incarnation—or the authority and inspiration of the Scriptures), those things are necessary presuppositions of the facts Paul does list. Those and many other truths are included implicitly in the words "according to the Scriptures."

Jesus' death, for example, is essential to a right understanding of what Paul means by "Christ." The priniciples of substitutionary atonement and justification by faith permeated all of Paul's teaching and consumed his energies when he wrote in defense of the gospel, so that there's no doubt he regarded those truths as utterly non-negotiable, too.

It would be a serious mistake to conclude that because he omitted explicit mention of those points in this summary, he must have regarded them as extraneous to the gospel message. They are clearly assumed and subsumed in the statement "Christ died for our sins."

Remember, Paul condemned the Galatian false teachers for proclaiming a different gospel (Galatians 1:8-9), even though nothing suggests they ever disputed any of the historical facts Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 15. 

Instead, their error related to the question of whether obedience to the law was instrumental in justification (Galatians 2:16). That, Paul said, is a fatal corruption of the gospel.

--Phil Johnson, Executive Diretor of 'Grace to You'

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