Pastor Mike's Study

On Vacation

2011-03-25T08:40:00.001-07:00

I'm on vacation until the end of the month. Come back in April for new updates.

Saturday Family Worship

2011-03-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Read Exodus 9:13-35 in preparation for worship tomorrow.
Identify the main themes and any questions you have.
Pray that God will use His word powerfully in the life of our church.
Sing: In Christ Alone

Friday Family Worship

2011-03-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

Read Psalm 15.
Discuss what God requires of those who come into His presence.
Pray that God will make us holy.
Sing: In Christ Alone

Thursday Family Worship

2011-03-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Read Isaiah 6:1-7, Habakkuk 1:13.
Discuss what God's holiness means.
Pray that God will purify you that you might be separate from sin.
Sing: In Christ Alone

Wednesday Family Worship

2011-03-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Read Genesis 3:16-17, Exodus 19:5-6.
Discuss what you learn about God.
Pray that God will make you obedient to His law.
Sing: In Christ Alone

Tuesday Family Worship

2011-03-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Read Genesis 1:28-30.
Discuss what this passage teaches about God.
Pray that God would show each member of your family how they can play apart in exercising dominion.
Sing: In Christ Alone

Monday Family Worship

2011-03-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Read Genesis 1:1, 26-27.
Discuss what you learn about God in this passage.
Thank God for the things He has created.
Sing: In Christ Alone

Weekly Bible Reading

2011-03-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

This week's memory verse is: Philippians 2:8-9.

This week's Bible Reading is: Acts 19-28.

Here are some things to consider as you read:

Acts 19. What evidences of conversion do you see in Paul's ministry in Ephesus? Is there anything you need to give up as you follow Jesus?
Acts 20. What was Paul like as a pastor? What did he do?
Acts 21. What does Paul do to prove his "jewishness"? Why did he agree to this?
Acts 22. What does Paul include in his testimony? What is your testimony?
Acts 23. How did God protect Paul?
Acts 24. What were the Jewish charges against Paul?
Acts 25. What is Paul's consistent message before every audience?
Acts 26. What job did Jesus give Paul? What promises did Jesus make?
Acts 27. What encouragements did God give Paul on the way to Rome?
Acts 28. What happened when Paul got to Rome?

Grace and peace,
Pastor Mike

Saturday Family Worship

2011-03-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read and discuss the following verses. You might want to go through the presentation at Two Ways to Live to prepare.

Revelation 4:11
Romans 3:10-12
Hebrews 9:27
1 Peter 3:18
1 Peter 1:3
John 3:36

Pray whatever seems appropriate - confession of belief, praise for God's grace, understanding of these truths, salvation for a friend or loved one, opportunity to share, etc.

Sing: Give Thanks

Friday Family Worship

2011-03-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read John 3:1-8

Dad and Mom should share their testimony of how Jesus saved them.

Discuss what it means to be born again and how it happens. Have Dad and Mom share their testimony of how Jesus gave them new birth.

Pray that God will use His Word this week to bring people to faith.

Sing: Give Thanks

Thursday Family Worship

2011-03-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read Acts 17:10-12.

Discuss how the Bereans are described. What is the result of their attitude toward the Scriptures. What should we do when we listen to Christian messages or read Christian books?

Pray that God will increase your knowledge and discernment in Christ. Pray that your family would love the Scriptures.

Sing: Give Thanks

Wedensday Family Worship

2011-03-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read Acts 14:8-18.

Discuss what you learn about God. Try to find at least three things.

Pray that God would be honored as the all powerful Creator. Thank Him for His creation and care.

Sing: Give Thanks

Tuesday Family Worship

2011-03-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read Acts 12:1-6.

Discuss what we should do when we face danger or difficulties.

Pray that God would strengthen our brothers and sisters who are persecuted for their faith.

Sing: Give Thanks

Monday Family Worship

2011-03-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read Acts 10:1-3.

Is Cornelius a Christian? Explain your answer.

Now read acts 10:24-27.

What did Cornelius need in order to be saved (get to heaven)? Discuss why knowing about God without a relationship with Jesus isn't enough for salvation.

Pray that God would spread the message of Jesus and give faith to all your family and friends.

Sing: Give Thanks

Weekly Bible Reading

2011-03-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Memory Verse for this week is: Philippians 2:5-7.

The Bible Reading for this week is: Acts 10-18.

Here are some questions for you to consider as you read:

Acts 10. Why did Cornelius - a devout man who feared God and prayed - need to hear a message from Peter?
Acts 11. What did God do to convince the Jews that the Gentiles should be accepted into the church as equals?
Acts 12. List all the details about prayer you find in this chapter.
Acts 13. What does Peter teach about Jesus to a Jewish crowd?
Acts 14. What does Paul emphasize when he teaches Gentiles (non-Jewish people who would have little understanding and exposure to the Bible) about Jesus?
Acts 15. What arguments were presented to convince the council the Gentiles should not be required to be circumcised?
Acts 16. Did the Holy Spirit lead Paul when he was active or inactive? What does this imply about how we should seek God's leading?
Acts 17. Make at least 3 observations about Paul's method of proclaiming the gospel.
Acts 18. Apollos shared from the Scriptures (the Old Testament) that Jesus was the Christ. What Old Testament Scriptures would you use to do this?

You also may want to read and meditate on the Lord's Day 10 portion of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Mike

Saturday Family Worship

2011-03-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

Today is the day to get ready to worship with God's people.

Read Exodus 8:20-9:12 in preparation for Sunday Worship. If you attend a church other than HVBC, read whatever your pastor will be preaching from.

Discuss the main themes of the passage. Dads, try to explain any unfamiliar terms or concepts so your children are ready to listen.

Pray that God would bless our Sunday Worship, give us understanding of His Word and a greater delight in His Son, Jesus.

Sing - Rejoice the Lord is King

Grace and peace,
Pastor Mike

Friday Family Worship

2011-03-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read Acts 9:1-6.

Talk about the fact that people who hate Jesus sometimes hurt His followers. Point out that they are really persecuting Jesus. Also notice that when we are persecuted, Jesus suffers with us.

Pray for our brothers and sisters who are in jail or suffering because of their faith in Jesus.

Sing - Rejoice the Lord is King

Grace and peace
Pastor Mike

Thursday Family Worship

2011-03-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read Acts 8:26-40.

Talk about baptism. What is it, what does it mean, who should be baptized?

Pray that God will give you a clear conscience - cleansed by Jesus and obedient to His Word.

Sing - Rejoice the Lord is King

Grace and peace
Pastor Mike

Wednesday Family Worship

2011-03-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read Acts 5:1-11.

Talk about why God killed Ananias and Sapphira. How did the church react to this? Why is it important to tell the truth?

Pray that God will make you a truth-teller.

Sing - Rejoice the Lord is King

Grace and peace
Pastor Mike

Them Are Fighting Words

2011-03-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

Acts 4:11-12 makes an assertion that is highly offensive to modern Americans (and many other cultures as well). The Bible says that Jesus is the only person who can save us; no one else can. This means that anyone who does not hear about, believe in and treasure Jesus is not saved. To put it more bluntly, without Jesus you will go to hell.

This raises two major issues for us to think about. First, we need to be bold. We need to be willing to stand up and proclaim this truth. It is not loving to our Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, secular, or even "christianized" friend to let them think they are going to heaven when they care nothing about Jesus. We must proclaim Him. We must do it even when the people around us accuse us of being unloving and intolerant.

Second, we must do much more to spread the name and fame of Jesus. We must make it a priority to tell the people groups who have never heard of Jesus about Him. We must make the sacrifices necessary for them to hear - otherwise, they will not be saved. Will you pray for the unreached? Will you give so that others may tell them about Jesus? Will you go yourself? These are all things we must think about and do if we believe this verse and we love our Lord and neighbor.

No matter what other people believe or think - we must proclaim Jesus. But, please don't forget to do it with love! We are not out to win an argument, take over a country, restore our dream of some perfect society. We want our friends and neighbors to find salvation in Jesus. For them to do so, we must speak of Him in love. Who are you going to talk to today?

Grace and peace,
Pastor Mike

Tuesday Family Worship

2011-03-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read Acts 4:5-13.

Discuss the fact that Jesus is the only savior. Talk about what this means for people of other religions. Talk about what your family can do to make Jesus' name known.

Pray that God will use you this week to tell someone about Jesus. Pray for the advance of the gospel to unreached people groups.

Sing - Rejoice the Lord is King

Grace and peace,
Pastor Mike

Up, Up and Away

2011-02-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

Acts 1:9-11 is easy to skim over. After all the verses before deal with Jesus' commission to His disciples and the verses after deal with selecting Judas' replacement. But, the ascension of Jesus is not something we should just fly by. The Ascension is important. Without it we would miss out on a number of benefits and blessings in the Christian life.

If Jesus did not ascend we would not have an advocate before the Father (1 John 2:1). Our lives, which are hidden with Him, would be earthly not heavenly (Colossians 3:1-4). Most importantly, because Jesus went to be with the Father, we get the Holy Spirit, indwelling and empowering us (John 16:7). We can also have the confidence that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus (Matthew 28:18) On top of that, we have the assurance from Acts 1:11 that Jesus will return bodily for us! Those are some incredible benefits and are well worth praising God for.

Here is how the Heidelberg Catechism puts it:

Question: How does Christ's ascension to Heaven benefit us?

Answer: First, He pleads our cause in heaven in the presence of His Father. Second, we have our own flesh in heaven - a guarantee that Christ our head will take us, His members, to Himself in heaven. Third, He sends His Spirit to us on earth as a further guarantee. By the Spirit's power we make the goal of our lives, not earthly things, but the things above where Christ is, sitting at God's right hand.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Mike

For Further Study: Kevin DeYoung, The Good News We Almost Forgot (Chapter 18)

Monday Family Worship

2011-02-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

Read Acts 2:42-47.

Discuss what life in the early church was like. What can you do as individuals and as a family this week to become more like the early church?

Pray that God will strengthen our love for our fellow believers.

Sing - Rejoice the Lord is King

Grace and peace,

Pastor Mike

Weekly Bible Reading

2011-02-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

This week's Memory Verse: 1 John 2:15-17

This week's Bible Reading: Acts 1-9

Some questions to consider as you read:

Acts 1. What were the requirements to be an apostle? Are there apostles today?
Acts 2. How does God expect us to respond to Jesus? Have you responded this way?
Acts 3. Did Jesus' suffering and death take God by surprise? Was God just making the best out of a bad situation?
Acts 4. What was the key to Peter and John's boldness? How can we obtain a similar boldness?
Acts 5. Under what conditions should we rebel against authority? What should we expect when we do?
Acts 6. What was the result of the apostles devoting themselves to prayer and the word?
Acts 7. What themes run through Stephen's sermon?
Acts 8. Waht do we learn about baptism in this passage? Should it be immediate or delayed?
Acts 9. What connection do you see between Jesus and the church in this passage?

You might also enjoy reading and meditating on this week's portion of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Mike

New Plans

2011-02-24T15:42:00.000-08:00

Starting next week, I plan to post some new features to this blog.

On Sunday, I will post the Scripture Memory Verse and Bible Reading Heritage Valley Bible Church is recommending for the week. I will also have some questions to consider as you read.

Monday through Saturday I plan to post a suggestion for family worship. Lord willing these will show up at 12:01 AM so you can access them at any time that day.

I hope to also offer a brief reflection from the Daily Scripture Reading.

I hope these will be helpful to you as you read the Word and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Please pray for me. I often have great plans and have trouble finding the time to follow through.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Mike

Heritage Valley Bible Church Weekly Reading and Memorization

2011-01-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

This weeks suggested Bible reading and memorization passages are:

Bible Reading: Joshua 10-17
Bible Memory: Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Colossians Memorization Project: Colossians 1:9-14

Enjoy!

Keeping Your Word -- Joshua 9

2011-01-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

There is no question that God hates liars (Proverbs 12:22). God cannot lie, and He doesn't want us to either (Titus 1:2; Psalm 51:6). But, what do you do when someone deceives you?

This was the problem the Israelites had in Joshua 9. The Gibeonites deceived them into making a covenant of peace with them. Unfortunately, the Israelites had standing orders from God to destroy all those who lived in the Land, not to make peace agreements with them (Exodus 23:31-33; Deuteronomy 7:1-2).

Eventually, the Israelites discovered they had been had. The question now is what should they do. God had told them to destroy all who lived in the land . But, they had made a covenant of peace; they had given their word.

The Israelites determined that keeping their word was critical (Joshua 9:19). As God's people they could not break their word, they could not break the covenant they had made. They knew that God's people had to be honest and faithful to the agreements they make, even if it hurts (Psalm 15:4).

Is there some promise you have made that is difficult to keep? Do you feel you were deceived when you made it? Honor God and keep your word.

The Cost of Disobedience - Joshua 6-7

2011-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

Most of the time it is not difficult to determine what God wants us to do. His commands are written in the Bible; they are generally quite clear. The problem is we want to do something different.

Israel had that problem in Joshua 7. God have given them clear instructions that they were not to keep anything for themselves after conquering Jericho (Joshua 6:18-19). But, a man named Achan disobeyed and took some things (Joshua 7:1).

Achan's sin resulted in Israel's defeat at Ai (the next battle). 3,000 men of Israel fled; 36 were killed (Joshua 7:4-5). Achan probably thought his sin was private. No one would know; no one would get hurt. Sin is never private. It always impacts others - our family, our friends, our church, even God's reputation. Achan's sin cost 36 people their lives!

Disobedience carries a high cost, but God is extremely merciful. After revealing Achan's sin, God instructed Joshua how to defeat Ai. Joshua followed the instructions carefully and easily defeated the city. The Bible seems to indicate that not a single Israelite died in the battle (Joshua 8:25).

What a difference obedience makes. So, as you consider God's commands remember Ai -- choose obedience, choose life.

Faith Means Obeying God Even When it Seems Foolish - Joshua 5-6

2011-01-05T11:50:00.000-08:00

Often God asks us to do things that seem foolish at the time. But, He is God and we are not. His wisdom is higher than ours and the essence of faith is trusting Him and obeying what He says. In Joshua 5 and 6, the Israelites get a lesson in obeying God, even His seemingly foolish commands.

First, God commands them to circumcise all the men (Joshua 5:2). This is not surprising; it was a standing command for all Israelite males (Genesis 17:10-14); a command the Israelites had not obeyed as they wandered in the wilderness (Joshua 5:5). It is not surprising that God would remind His people of His law. What is surprising is the timing. The Israelites had just crossed the Jordan into the Promised land. They were in hostile territory. Yet, here was God asking the Israelites to do something that would make them unable to fight for a number of days. The Israelites knew the danger. They remembered what Levi and Simeon had done to the city of Shechem (Genesis 34:24-29). But, God had spoken. He required circumcision and obedience is more important than military strategy!

Second, God gave Joshua a very strange battle plan as they approached Jericho (Joshua 6:2-6). Most armies don't conquer cities by marching around the walls (you might get shot) and blowing horns. Yet, that is what God asked the Israelites to do. So they did, and God gave them victory.

Both of these incidents are strange when we stop and think about them. God's instructions seem foolish. Yet, they were God's instructions. They needed to be obeyed regardless of what Joshua and the Israelites thought. That is what faith is; that is what faith does.

God rewarded their faith. During the days of healing after the circumcisions, He protected the army. He made sure that the Canaanites did not attack (Joshua 5:1). He also allowed the Israelites to conquer Jericho, not by arms but by believing God's Word.

How about you? Is there some command of God that you are avoiding because it seems foolish? Today is the day to obey. Commit yourself to God and step out in faith.

Big Shoes to Fill -- Joshua 1

2011-01-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

Joshua had one of the most difficult tasks imaginable - he had to replace Moses as Israel's leader and lead them into God's promised land. Talk about filling big shoes!

God knew this would be difficult. Joshua might have doubts. So he issues a repeated command "Be strong and courageous." Easy to say, hard to do. But God also gave Joshua some great encouragements.

God would be with Joshua (Joshua 1:5, 9).
Joshua would succeed (Joshua 1:6)
If Joshua carefully obeyed the law and meditated on it regularly, he would be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:9)
Even the people encouraged Joshua and pledged to follow his leadership (Joshua 1:16-19)

You are not Joshua, but you have similar promises (Matthew 28:18, Psalm 1). When you have big shoes to fill, a big job to do, or you just aren't sure you can do what God asks; remember, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

Friday on the Links

2009-07-17T11:26:00.001-07:00

Do you really know your pastor? Here are two posts (part 1 and part 2) that are incredibly accurate regarding the issues your pastor probably faces.

Here is a great reminder that saying NO is an act of love to your child.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy worshiping with God's family this Sunday!

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Robert Chapman -- an Apostle of Love

2009-07-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Robert Chapman lived from 1803 to 1902 in England. He was known for living a remarkable life of Christian love (a life he would say was entirely unremarkable).

Here a few choice quotes from his biography (Robert Chapman: A Biography)

"My business is to love others and not to seek that others shall love me."

"There are many who preach Christ, but not so many who live Christ. My great aim is to live Christ." (p.29)

"Men's books full oft with chaff are stored, God's naught but golden grain afford." (p.142)

"The great cause of neglecting the Scriptures is not want of time, but want of heart, some idol taking the place of Christ." (p.168)

Friday on the Links

2009-07-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a great series of posts on the 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do. It is well worth your time. Make sure you click on the individual links within the post to go to the more detailed posts. The series is still in progress at this time. You might need to use this link to get the most recent posts, but they will be ordered from newest to oldest.

Here is a great article about why we should love the church and not abandon Jesus' bride.

For any of you who wonder why church discipline is important, or if it really works, read this, part 1, part 2, and part 3 about one man being restored to the faith 15 years after the church exercised church discipline.

Children in Church Wrap-Up

2009-07-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a summary of my posts regarding children in church:

Post 1: Where are the Children?

Post 2: Should Children Stay in Church?

Post 3: Preparing Children to Stay in Church

Preparing Children to Stay in Church

2009-07-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you have decided to keep your children in church here a few suggestions regarding how to go about it. These are things I have picked up from others and ideas I am trying with my own family.

First, make a commitment. Decide to do it and then do it. Explain to your child that you expect them to sit in church with you and then train them to do it.

Second, use your family worship time to train and prepare them to sit and listen. Over the next few weeks, I plan to have my daughter sit and listen to her Word and Song Bible as she follows along with the pictures.

Third, when you stay in church sit strategically. Early on, you may need to sit in the back so you can quietly leave, administer discipline and then return. By the way, make sure you return. Don't let your child learn that they can get out of the rest of the service by disobeying. Later, you might want to move to the front so they can see and participate better.

Fourth, set them up for success. Read the sermon passage before church and explain what is going on. Ask them to listen for specific words and keep track on a piece of paper. Ask them to draw the sermon. Find ways that are appropriate to your child's age to involve them in worship.

Fifth, teach them the songs your church sings frequently. Young children usually love to sing.

Sixth, praise every success. Your children need to hear what they are doing right, not just what they are doing wrong.

Seventh, be patient. This is a process and will take time. There probably will be difficult Sundays. It may be hard for you to worship at first. Persevere and think of the joy of raising a child that loves the Lord and loves the church.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

P.S. Here are some suggestions from John and Noel Piper, who have already walked this road. "The Family: Together in God's Presence"

The Word & Song Bible

Should the Children Stay in Church?

2009-07-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I posted some reflections on children in church.

Today, I would like to consider the question why should children stay in church?

Here are just a few reasons I think that children should remain in church:

In the Old Testament, God expected them to be part of His gathered people (Deut 31:12-13; Joel 2:12-17; see yesterday's post)
God specifically included them so that they could hear the Law and learn to fear the Lord (Dt 31:12-13). Children today still need to hear God's Word and learn to fear Him.
Children need to learn to worship and sit under the authority of God's Word -- even if they don't yet fully understand or are bored. They need to learn from their parent's example. They need to learn that church is not about them, but God.
Keeping the children in church allows for intergenerational interaction. There are natural opportunities for the older to teach the younger and the younger to inspire and encourage the older.
Keeping the children in church keeps families together and gives Dad a natural opportunity to teach them about God and the gospel -- based on their questions (Dt 6:1-25)
Pragmatically, it ends some of the staffing difficulties that are always present in running a children's ministry.

I realize that there is no direct New Testament command to keep children in the gathered worship service with adults. But, for all these reasons and the ones mentioned yesterday, it seems wise.

That is why, by God's grace, I am moving towards keeping my children in church.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

P.S. This is an issue that should not divide us as Christians. There is no clear cut command. Each of us will have to come to our own conviction and live it out. Which ever conclusion we come to, we must not judge each other in this matter (Romans 14:4). But, I would encourage you to think on these matters.

Where are the Children?

2009-06-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that there children are frequently excluded from the church worship service in America?

Most children are either not present at all, or dismissed before the sermon for a special age-appropriate Bible class. This is true in my church for kids who have not yet entered 1st grade. After 1st grade, we expect them to stay in the service with the adults. Although, this is more out of pragmatics (we can't staff an extensive children's ministry) than theological conviction.

Most kids and most parents are fine with this. I am not so sure that God is.

Last Lord's Day, in a sermon on Acts 20:5-12, we noticed that a young man named Eutychus was present in the worship service -- a service that lasted all night long. In Acts 20:11, Luke describes Eutychus as a "boy". Luke uses a term that typically refers to someone who has not yet reached puberty. Most likely Eutychus was younger than 10-12 years old.

Eutychus is not the only young child present in gathered worship.

In Joel 2:12-17 God is calling His people to repentance. In Joel 2:16 He specifically includes children and nursing infants.

In 2 Chronicles 20:1-13 Jehosaphat is praying to God because Judah has been invaded. 2 Chronicles 20:13 specifically mentions that infants and children were present. The word for infants indicates someone who moves with "tripping steps" i.e. a toddler.

These same toddlers are present in Deuteronomy 29:11 when God renews the covenant with Israel at Moab. They are also commanded to be present every seven years at the Feast of Booths when the Law is read (Deut 31:12-13).

It seems that God desires young children, even infants and toddlers, to be present with His gathered community during worship.

Shouldn't we desire what God desires?

In Christ
Pastor Mike

P.S. I am still processing and applying this. My almost 4 year old daughter does not yet stay in the worship service. Although, I am planning to change that. More on that tomorrow.

Friday on the Links

2009-06-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article on Christians reaching out to the gay community.

Gossip is like chocolate.

Here is a great example of humility, repentance and pastoral example from John Piper.

Do you like the Bible?

2009-06-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a great reminder for those who say, "I believe this, but I don't like it."

DeYoung, Restless, and Reformed: I Like What the Bible Teaches

The God Who Answers

2009-06-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like your prayers aren't accomplishing much? Do you feel like God doesn't care?

Over the past few weeks there has been a theme in our memory verses that should encourage you -- God does hear and answer. He is the God who answers.

Consider the following verses:
"From my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a large place" (Psalm 11:5)

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:4)

"This poor man cried , and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles." (Psalm 34:6)

"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry." (Psalm 34:15)

"The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." (Psalm 34:17)

If you are a Christian, you are righteous. If you are righteous and seek the Lord, you can be confident based on the authority of His Word that He will hear, answer you and ultimately deliver you.

Call upon Him, He will answer.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Quotes of Note

2009-06-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

You can tell a lot about the quality of a man by how he stewards his disagreement. -- Dave Harvey (source: The Pastor and His Plurality, 2009 Sovereign Grace Pastor's Conference)

My secret prayer -- I pray that I will be very little in my own eyes, and not rob my dear Master of any part of His glory. -- George Whitefield

Love will dispose to contentment in the sphere in which God hath placed us, without coveting any things our neighbor possesses, or envying him on account of any good thing he has. -- Jonathan Edwards, Charity and its Fruits

God's Case Against America

2009-06-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

I do not desire God's judgment on America, but I can't help but think we deserve it -- especially when I read Ezekiel 22. I recognize that America is not Israel. We are not God's covenant nation. We are not even a Christian nation (biblically, there is no such thing).

However, all nations are accountable to God. If you read through the prophets you will notice that God does judge all the nations, even those that don't recognize Him as God.

Now, consider some of the crimes Israel committed that led to God's judgment.

They shed blood. The government even encouraged it (Eze 22:6). Can anyone say abortion?
They had no respect for parental authority (Eze 22:7)
They oppressed and extorted the powerless (Eze 22:7)
They were sexually immoral (Eze 22:10-11)
They collected unfair profits (Eze 22:12)
Most importantly, they forgot God (Eze 22:12)

Can you honestly look through this list and say that as a nation America is not guilty of the exact same things?

If we want to avoid God's judgment, we need to repent and pray for both reformation in the church and revival outside the church.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

P.S. I do believe that God is already judging America. Read through Romans 1:18-32 if you disagree. I pray that we will come to our senses before His judgment increases.

Friday on the Links

2009-06-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a great post on living with "gospel intentionality." This is a must read, great encouragement and challenge.

For the Sake of God's Name

2009-06-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Ezekiel leaves little doubt that the Israelites are a rebellious people.

In Ezekiel 20 he outlines a number of ways Israel rebelled against the Lord:

The Exodus generation refused to get rid of their idols in Egypt (Eze 20:7-8)
They rejected God's laws and desecrated His Sabbaths (Eze 20:13, 16)
The next generation (in the Wilderness) also rejected God's laws, desecrated His Sabbaths, committed idolatry and practiced child sacrifice (Eze 20:21, 24, 26)
Once they entered the Land, they continued to practice idolatry, child sacrifice and wanted to be like the nations around them (Eze 20:27-32)

They did this despite God's incredible generosity to them. He chose them, revealed Himself to them, redeemed them, gave them His Laws, the sign of the Sabbath and the Land. Despite all this, they continually rebelled against Him. They preferred their sin to God.

Before you read further, ask yourself, "Am I so different?" If you are a Christian God has chosen you, redeemed you, put His Law on your heart, given you His Holy Spirit and promised you a place in Heaven. Have you responded with whole-hearted devotion, or are you imitating the Israelites in their sin?

Now, what is God's response to this rebellion? Over and over again, He showed mercy.

He did bring judgment in the form of not allowing the initial generation into the Land (Eze 20:15). He judged the subsequent generations by removing them from the Land (Eze 20:23, 34). This judgment was severe, devestating and total. (Eze 20:45-21:32)

But, the dominant note is not judgment but mercy. He still brought rebellious Israel out of Egypt. He still gave them His Law. He still brought the rebellious wilderness generation into the Land. He will restore His rebellious people to the Land.

Why? Why does God act in mercy to a rebellious people? The answer occurs over and over again in Ezekiel -- so that Israel and the nations might know that He is God and for the sake of His name (Eze 20:9, 12, 14, 20, 22)

Don't forget to praise God today for His persistent mercy for the sake of His own name.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Friday on the Links

2009-06-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

C.J. Mahaney has provided an excellent post that will help you receive criticism humbly. (Here)

This article on "Approachability" is directed at church leaders, but is applicable to all Christians.

So You Want to Speak for God. . .

2009-06-04T16:39:00.000-07:00

What does it take to speak for God? Here are just a few qualifications Ezekiel had to meet.

You need to know the Lord (Ezekiel 1). Ezekiel was a man who had seen the glory of the Lord in all its power and majesty.
You need to have the Holy Spirit (Eze 2:1-2)
You need to consume God's Word (Eze 2:8-3:3)
You need to be commissoned by God (Eze 2:4)
You need to speak only the words God gives you (Eze 3:27)

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Friday on the Links

2009-05-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of links that I found interesting, spiritually stimulating or just amusing:

Some thoughts on the importance of the church. "Challenging Low Views of the Church"

C.J. Mahaney's advice on how to set Biblical priorities, goals and establish a Biblically productive lifestyle. "Biblical Productivity" The PDF file is about 36 pages, but well worth your time!

How do you balance obedience to man and obedience to God? See: God's Commands vs. Man's Commands -- Part 1 and Part 2

A car review that is just plain funny. If you are an environmentalist, read it. If you are not, enjoy it.

What is the Song of Solomon?

2009-05-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

Whenever you read something, it is important to know the type of literature you are reading. You don’t read the comics the same way you read an editorial or a classified ad.

If we are going to understand the Song of Solomon, our first task is to determine what type of writing it is. Unfortunately, different people have reached very different conclusions over the years.

We’ll start with what the Song is not.

It is not a sex-manual. God did not intend this book as the Christian’s guide to good sex.

“It is important to remember that the Song is not a dating guide or a sex manual. It is not a ‘how-to’ book, but rather poetry intent on evoking a mood more than making mandates to the reader concerning specific types of behavior.” (Tremper Longman, Song of Songs, p.60)

It is not an allegory. Both Jews and Christians hold this view. The Jews see it as representing the love between God and Israel; the Christians as the love between Jesus and the Church. The problem is that the book does not present itself as an allegory. There is no symbolic key. The places and names are historical, not representative. It is nothing like Pilgrim’s Progress or other allegories we know.

It is not a drama. Many people try to read Song of Solomon as an story of the courtship, marriage, difficulties and triumph of Solomon and the Shulamite woman. Others see it as a story of the Shulamite’s love for her shepherd boyfriend despite Solomon’s attempts to bring her into his harem.

The problem with the dramatic view is that it reads a structure into the book that is not clearly evident. The book also has many indications of sexual activity (Sol 1:2-4, 12-14; 2:4-6, 16) prior to the marriage (Sol 3:11).

The book is a collection of love poems. It is a song of exchanges between a married couple that rejoices in and celebrates their love for each other.

There is a unifying structure to the Song. It is not just a random compilation of poems.

The poems form a huge chiasm that climaxes in at 4:16-5:1[1], which celebrates the couple’s marital consummation (Sol 4:16-5:1).

The structure of the book places the emphasis on the marriage consummation being the highest and most wonderful experience of love in the couple’s relationship. God wants us to enjoy love and sex in the context of marriage. He wants us to be drunk on it. (Sol 5:1)

In Christ
Pastor Mike

[1] These verses also from the exact middle of the text with 111 lines (60 verses) from 1:1 to 4:15 and 111 lines (55 verses) from 5:2-8:4.

Words of Grace and Salt

2009-05-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

Kevin DeYoung has written an excellent article on disagreeing with others. You can read it here.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

HT: Justin Taylor

On Vacation

2009-05-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

I will be on vacation this week. So, there won't be any posts until after May17th.

The Bible reading for this week is: Ecclesiastes.

The Memory verse is: Acts 5:29

Have a great week.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Who is the Man of Lawlessness?

2009-05-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

One thing is quite clear from 2 Thessalonians 2 -- the day of the Lord (Jesus' return, judgment of the world and establishment of the Kingdom) won't come until the man of lawlessness is revealed (2 Thess 2:3).

Who is this man?

First, he is a particular man. He will be killed by Jesus, when Jesus returns (2 Thess 2:8).

Second, he is not Satan. Although, he is empowered by Satan (2 Thess 2:9).

Third, he will be revealed when he takes his seat in the Jewish Temple in Jerusaelm, claiming to be God (2 Thess 2:4; cf. Dan 9:24-27; Rev 13:1-8)

Fourth, those who refuse to love and obey the truth about Jesus will be deceived by him (2 Thess 2:10)

Ultimately, we don't know who this man is until he appears. We do know that he has not been revealed yet.

We also know that we do not need to fear. We have not missed Jesus' return, when He will gather us to Himself (which was the issue that concerned the Thessalonians).

But, if you do live to see a world leader sitting in the Temple of God and claiming to be God -- repent and ask Jesus for forgiveness because He is coming soon.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

How Far Can I Go?

2009-05-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

1 Thessalonians 4:6 is a great help when we are asked, "how far can I go sexually?"

Obviously, we can't violate God's clear commands about adultery, sex outside of marriage and homosexuality. But, what about the supposed gray areas?

God's answer is -- don't transgress and defraud your brother. The word "defraud" also means to take advantage of, exploit, cheat.

When you are considering any action related to sex, ask yourself, would I want someone doing this to my spouse, or would I feel cheated?

Let me explain how this works out in my life.

I don't want someone lusting after my wife's body -- so I don't lust after others whether they are on the TV screen, movie screen, magazine, internet or in the mall.

I don't want someone kissing my wife -- so I don't kiss other people's wives (even if neither of us are married yet).

You can take the applications from here.

Remember, God has called you to holiness. He has called you to purity. Don't rob your brother or sister in Christ by violating their spouse (or future spouse).

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Resource: Josh Harris, Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is): Sexual Purity in a Lust-Saturated World

What is a Christian?

2009-05-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Christians work hard, even to the point of exhaustion because of their faith and love. They endure because they have a deep rooted hope in Jesus.

Christians are convinced of the Word because of the power of the Holy Spirit. They know that God's Word is powerful and changes them.

Christians believe the Word of God even though it means suffering. They do not complain about this, or give up, but rejoice.

Christians are visible. You know who they are because of their life and example. You know who they are because they speak about Jesus. You don't have to guess if they are Christians or not.

Christians are changed people. They once served idols. Their lives were centered around anything but God. Now, God is at the center. Their lives are meaningless without Him.

Christians are patient and hopeful. They live their lives expecting Jesus to return.

This is what Paul saw in the Thessalonian believers. This is what he thanked God for. This is what we are because of the gospel. (1 Thess 1:1-10)

In Christ
Pastor Mike

1 and 2 Thessalonians

2009-05-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

The Bible passages for May 3-9, are 1 and 2 Thessalonians. There are 8 chapters in these two books so you will need to read more than one chapter on at least one day. I also recommend reading through both books every day if you can.

Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians while he was in Corinth during his 2nd missionary journey, most likely during the summer of AD 51. Paul had planted a church in Thessalonica a few months before, but was run out of town before he could complete his work (Acts 17:1-10).

He wrote 1 Thessalonians to instruct these young believers and encourage them to wait for Jesus' return and live holy lives as they endured persecution.

He wrote 2 Thessalonians when he heard that the church had become idle, having believed some false teaching about Jesus' return.

Here are some things to watch out for as you read these letters.

What does the gospel do when we believe it? (1 Thess 1)
What type of pastor was Paul (1 Thess 2-3)
How should we live as Christians? (1 Thess 4-5)
What will happen when Jesus returns? (1 Thess 4-5)
What will God do to those who persecute believers? (2 Thess 1)
Who is the man of lawlessness and how does he relate to the day of the Lord? (2 Thess 2)
How should we deal with lazy Christians? (1 Thess 3)

In Christ
Pastor Mike

A New Wardrobe

2009-05-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

An important thing to learn in the Christian life is how to get dressed. No one wants to walk around in filthy, ragged clothes. It would be even worse to walk around naked!

In Colossians 3, Paul reminds us that there are certain clothes we must take off and certain ones we must put on. Colossians 3:8-9 lists some of the qualities we are to "strip off". Colossians 3:12-14 tells us how to clothe ourselves.

How can we do this?

First, we must take responsibility. We are the ones who have to take off the old clothes and put the new ones on.

Second, we must use God's Word. Paul seems to connect the idea of putting negative qualities to death with putting them off (Col 3:5-8). The only way we can put things to death is to use the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Eph 6:17). If you want to change your clothes, you need to fill yourself with God's Word, meditate on it and apply it to your specific circumstances and temptations. Be on the lookout for things God says to get rid of (old clothes) and what He tells you to do instead (new clothes). A good place to start is Ephesians 4:17-32.

Third, we must be gospel motivated. Paul does not begin with the commands to change clothes. He begins with the truths of Colossians 3:1-3. We have died with Jesus, we have been raised with Jesus, our life is hidden in Jesus, we will be glorified when Jesus appears. He reminds us, that we change clothes because we are already chosen by God, holy and beloved (Col 3:12). We are not doing this to make God like us, but because we already belong to God. Why should we wear filthy rags in the King's palace?

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Resources: Tim Lane & Paul David Tripp, How People Change

Be Humble Like Jesus

2009-04-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

Humility is not optional. It is the poor in spirit who will inherit the Kingdom (Mt. 5:3). It is the humble who receive God's grace (James 4:6).

If you want to be humble, the best thing you can do is look to Jesus. In Philippians Paul encourages us to be humble (Phil 2:1-4). He then immediately points us to Jesus and the example He set (Phil 2:5-11).

Here are some key aspects of humility we can learn from Jesus:

Don't focus on who you are, what you deserve or what rightfully belongs to you. Jesus is God, but He wasn't interested in using His power or postion to serve Himself.
Make serving others your priority. This is what Jesus did by taking the form of a bond-servant. He gave up all His rights to serve others.
Sacrifice yourself. Be willing to serve no matter how much it costs. Jesus was willing to die to serve you.

This is not optional. God expects us to be humble. He opposes us when we are not (James 4:6). Paul considers this a matter of obedience and part of working out our salvation (Phil 2:12-13). Don't miss the "so then" that connects Philippians 2:12-13 to what Paul has just written about Jesus' humble example.

Take heart. You can be humble. God is the one working in you the desire to be humble. And, He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion (Phil 1:6).

Before you close this window and move on to your next task ask yourself -- what is one way I can sacrificially serve someone this week? Now, put it on your calendar and do it!

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Resource: C.J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness

Rejoice in the Lord

2009-04-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

Philippians is known as Paul's letter of joy. Despite being in prison, he is joyful. He commands the Philippians to rejoice (Phil 3:1, 4:4). If we want to obey God and be more joyful in Jesus, we need to learn from Paul. What gave him joy?

Paul's joy centered around three things: people, the gospel and Jesus.

First, Paul rejoiced in the Philippians. He loved them (Phil 1:7). He rejoiced that they were fellow participants in the gospel (Phil 1:3-4). He was confident that God was at work in their lives and would complete the work He began (Phil 1:6, 2:12-13).

Second, Paul rejoiced because the gospel was advancing. Paul did not care that he was in prison. Imprisonment gave him an opportunity to witness to Caesar's household (Phil 1:12-13, 4:22). It also gave others greater confidence to share the gospel (Phil 1:14). He knew that some people were trying to share the gospel out of wrong motives. But, he could still rejoice because the gospel was advancing (Phil 1:15-18).

Third, Paul's joy was in Jesus. Remember, our call is to rejoice in the Lord (Phil 4:4). This was the example Paul set. He was confident that whether he lived or died, he would be delivered (Phil 1:19). No matter what happened, Paul had Jesus, and Jesus would be glorified in his life or death (Phil 1:20-21).

This is the attitude we need to have if we are going to be joyful. We need to not be focused on our circumstances, but on people, the gospel and Jesus.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

P.S. I apologize if you are getting multiple updates to this post. I'm trying to get the reftagger function to work and the only way to check it is to edit, look at the post and then re-edit.

Fast Facts on Philippians and Colossians

2009-04-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

This week's Bible reading is Philippians and Colossians. Here is some basic information to acquaint you with each book.

Fast Facts on Philippians:
Author: Paul
Date: 62 A.D.
Circumstances: Paul is in prison in Rome. He is writing to a church that he loves and that has supported him on his missionary journeys.
Main themes: Paul's Circumstances, Joy, Humility and the need to Pursue Jesus.
Some key verses: Philippians 1:6, 1:21, 2:5-11, 2:14, 3:8, 4:8, 4:13

Fast Facts on Colossians:
Author: Paul
Date: 61 A.D.
Circumstances: Paul is in prison in Rome. He is writing to a group of believers he has never met. He is encouraging them to cling to Jesus and not follow vain philosophies and human requirements as alternatives to salvation in Jesus.
Some key verses: Colossians 1:13-20, 2:13-14

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Bible Reading for April 26th through May 2nd: Philippians and Colossians

Bible Memory Verse for April 26th through May 2nd: Psalm 34:19-22

Sources: Wayne House, Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament; Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts, and the MacArthur Study Bible

Are You a Slacker?

2009-04-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

You might be a slacker (or, sluggard) if:

You make excuses and avoid responsibility (Pr 26:13)
You have difficulty finishing simple tasks (Pr 19:24; 26:15)
You don't work at the appropriate time (Pr 20:4; 24:30-34)
You sleep a lot (Pr 26:14)
You are a know it all (Pr 26:16)

As you can see, you don't have to be a young man, living at home, listening to music, watching movies and playing video games all day to be a slacker. You simply have to be lazy and avoid your God given responsibilities.

Take a moment today and ask yourself, "What roles and responsibilities has God given me?" Then ask yourself, "Am I doing my best to accomplish the work God has given me or am I avoiding it?"

Don't be a slacker! It is not safe and it is not wise. (Pr 21:25; 24:30-34). Don't forget, God blesses diligent hard workers (Pr10:4; 12:24).

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Resource for further study: Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

Self-Control

2009-04-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

Self-control is not a topic we like to think about. But it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). It is also a topic that is important throughout the Proverbs.

God wants us to be self-disciplined in what, and how much, we eat; in how often we visit our neighbor and in how we deal with our temper. Personally, I find Proverbs 25:16, 27 particularly challenging. It is no so hard to stay away from honey, but if you put Ice Cream, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&M’s or pretty much any form of chocolate in the place of honey – the verse becomes very personal. The Scriptures are clear – carefully moderating our deserts (honey) is a good thing.

Proverbs 28 has more to say about greed, which seems closely related to a lack of self-control. Greed will lead to punishment (Pr 28:20), the sin of partiality (Pr 28:21), poverty (Pr 28:22), conflict (Pr 28:25) and curses (Pr 28:27).

Beloved, our American lifestyle promotes greed, discontent and lack of self-control. We need to pay attention to God’s warnings. It is not bad to find honey (desert) or other forms of wealth. We should receive them with thanksgiving. But we must also use God’s good gifts in moderation.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Bible Reading for April 19-25 2009

2009-04-23T17:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome! My goal for this site is to encourage Bible Reading and Scripture Memorization. I will also occasionally post quotes, book reviews and personal reflections.

My church is following a Bible Reading Plan developed by Tim Chester for the Edge Network. You can find it here. We are following the schedule for year three. This plan will take you through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice over three years. If you want to learn more about it you can read this article.

Our Scripture Memory program is following the Fighter Verses program developed by Bethlehem Baptist Church. I suggest following the 7 by 7 memorization and review plan. The “Fighter Verses” sight also has some excellent devotional and background material for each week’s verse.

Weekly Bible Reading: Proverbs 25-31

Weekly Memory Verse: Psalm 34:17-18

Suggestions for this week’s reading:

1. You can read a chapter of Proverbs a day. If you do this I would suggest trying to read each chapter twice. During your first reading look for the themes this chapter emphasizes. During your second reading, pick one major them and write down what the Proverbs teach about that theme.

2. You can read all of Proverbs 25-31 each day. This takes about 15-20 minutes. As you do pick a theme each day and see how it is developed. For example you might focus on what the Proverbs teach about kings, fools, slackers, or self-discipline.

3. Simply read at your own pace and write down themes and ideas that “jump out” at you. Spend some time thinking about why this proverb was important and how it applies to your life.

My goal this week will be to post some reflections on themes that span all of Proverbs 25-31.