Gospel Living

I've finally finished watching the recent debate between Dr. James White and Joe Ventilacion of Iglesia Ni Cristo.  If you haven't seen the debate, South Dakota Apologetics has the entire debate (including intermissions) in the video below: Description: Dr. James White of Alpha & Omega Ministries debates Bro. Joe Ventilacion of Iglesia ni Cristo, moderated by Dale Bartcher of Family Heritage Alliance. Dr. White defends the affirmative: “The Bible teaches that within the one Being that is God there exists eternally three coequal and coeternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Bro. Joe Ventilacion argues the negative. This event is held in Rapid City, SD, in the Best Western Ramkota Convention Center at 6PM MST, on April 21st, 2017. This event was arranged and coordinated by the ministry of South Dakota Apologetics. Some of my own, brief observations: Different name, same story.   I, like many of you, haven't encountered any INC befo...

Appointed to Suffer, Resolved to Obey: Christ's Submission to His Father General Session 5 by Mark Jones 2017 Shepherds' Conference Posted at:  https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/12940 General Session 5 - Mark Jones - Shepherds’ Conference 2017 from Grace Community Church on Vimeo . MEDIA LINKS:   MP3  /  VIMEO  /  ARABIC MP3  /  KOREAN MP3  /  RUSSIAN MP3  /  SPANISH MP3

The Importance of the Resurrection | Various Texts Shaun Marksbury | Morning Service | 16 April, 2017 Only the resurrection gives us gospel hope, so much so that denying the resurrection means apostasy from the Christian faith.  With that in mind, we’re going to look at the implications the resurrection has for our lives in an attempt to see why it is so important.  I’m not presenting an exhaustive list, but hopefully it proves helpful. Video: https://youtu.be/ObyGQbr-0yY Audio: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=418171340341 Notes  PDF:  http://playpdf.sa-media.com/media/418171340341/418171340341.pdf SERMON NOTES The Importance of the Resurrection | Various Texts Shaun Marksbury | Morning Service | 16 April, 2017 I.                Introduction Let’s open to and read 1 Cor 15:14–19, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain...

The Eternal Word: God the Son in Eternity Past General Session 3 by Michael Reeves Video: https://vimeo.com/207724664 General Session 3 - Michael Reeves - Shepherds’ Conference 2017 from Grace Community Church on Vimeo . Audio (MP3): https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.shepherdsconference.org/2017/SC17-GS-2017-02-28-1530-REEVESM.mp3

48  And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49  but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50  for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51  And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52  for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. Mark writes to the Romans, who divide the night into four watches.  The fourth watch is the last before dawn, approximately 3:00–6:00pm.  This means that they had spent hours trying to travel the sea to no avail.  After rowing for so long, and their arms had grown tired, they were unable to move forward on their own.  But they were still in clear view of Christ. ...

NOTE: In light of my previous post , here's the audio from last week's study.  I'll post last night's audio here next Wednesday, and then we'll be rolling on a schedule! The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit | Part 2 Series:  The Fundamentals of our Faith 1/18/2017 (WED) In this session, we study the divinity and work of the Holy Spirit. (Based on _Fundamentals of the Faith_ by John MacArthur)

The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit | Part 1 The Fundamentals of our Faith 1/11/2017 (WED) We switched from Thursday groups to Wednesdays, and this is our first meeting on the new night. Previous sessions were not recorded. In this session, we study the Personhood of the Holy Spirit. (Based on _Fundamentals of the Faith_ by John MacArthur)

Video: Audio: Notes ( PDF ): Why Jesus Had to Be Baptized | Mark 1:9–11 Shaun Marksbury | Morning Service | 15 January, 2017 Heavenly Father, ·         We thank You for sending Your Son and revealing Him to us.  ·         As we study this passage, may we grow in understanding how Jesus’s baptism is part of the good news of Your kingdom. I.                Introduction As we noted last week, John the Baptist could have followed his father into temple service.  That wasn’t what the Lord had for him, however.  According to Luke 1:80, John the Baptist had grown up in the desert, living the life of a Nazarite, until it was time for his ministry to begin. Jesus, on the other hand, had lived a few different places.  Remember that He was born in Bethlehem Ephratah (Mt 2:1; Lk 2:4), fulfilling scriptural...

" 10  And when he came up out of the water,  immediately he saw the heavens being torn open  and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.  11  And a voice came from heaven,  ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’” John was certainly a Baptist, for He immerses Jesus—no sprinkling would do!  Yesterday, we noted that Christ identifies with sinners in His baptism.  He himself knew no sin, so He takes the place of those as a perfect sacrifice for those who have known sin.  He is the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! In the text this morning, we see Heaven’s affirmation of His work.  First, Christ witnesses the heavens split open.  The next time we read of a splitting is toward the end of Mark in chapter fifteen, where the temple curtain is torn top to bottom (15:38).  At the end of His work on the cross, God needs no more sacrifice upon the altar. Here, a startling realit...

The black-and-white elements of 1 John will help us in spiritually confusing times.  According to John, we must test to know the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.  As such, I have two simple main points from the text: 1) we must test the spirits, and 2) we can know the difference.  Pastor Shaun Marksbury | Cornerstone Church of Savannah |  http://cornerstonesavannah.org/

Can you prove the Trinity in 200 words or less?  Nathan Busenitz gave it a go at Cripplegate , and it's worth the read for those needing fast facts. On a related note, some folks were asking if the God of the Bible and Allah are the same.  The question of the Trinity is proof enough that they are different deities.  The Qur'an explicitly denies the Trinity: “ O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs ” (4:171). “ Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He nei...

Perhaps the best thing about an illustration of the Trinity is to notice how it fails.  All of us attempt to explain this key theology using something within the realm of finite human experience, but God transcends our exposition.  Therefore, once we see how demonstrations of three-leaf clovers and the three states of water can wash away a budding understanding of our Lord, we will see and present the doctrine with new clarity. Arguing that the Godhead is not like a 3-in-1 shampoo, C. Michael Patton at Parchment and Pen sheds light on the fact that our illustrations trivialize God and lead us to heresy .

I encourage you to take advantage of the following lecture series: One of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith involves the biblical truth of one God in three persons, i.e., the triunity of God. Our faculty lecture series in chapel during February focused on this essential belief. The lectures are listed/hyperlinked below so that you too can benefit from the fruitful labors of our TMS faculty. Enjoy! Trinitarianism & Creationism Dr. Bryan Murphy   Trinitarianism & Inspiration Dr. William Barrick   Trinitarianism & Salvation/Sanctification Dr. Andrew Snider   Trinitarianism & Eschatology Dr. Michael Vlach   Trinitarianism & Church History Professor Nathan Busenitz

The Trinity is not an abstract theological concept, one that can be debated among academia but has no direct impact upon the believer.  It provides us with the blueprint for how godly relationships are to operate. He that made mankind in the beginning male and female is three Persons in perfect unity.  He that instituted marriage knows what it is to be "one."  The Trinity might be confusing to some when they are trying to comprehend it, it provides us a snapshot of what we were created for in our relationships. Stuart Scott points this out in his book, The Exemplary Husband (Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, 2002, pp. 51-52).  Here is what he gleans from his studies: Within the relationships of the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) there is: A willingness to deny self (Mark 14:32-36; Phil 2:5-9). Honor and respect - though equality exists (John 8:49; 2 Pet 1:17). Submission to an order of authority - though equality exists (John 8:28-29; 14:31; 16:13; 1 C...

Rick Holland, Speaker Rick opens by recounting the life of John Knox, the Reformer who brought the message of the Gospel to Catholic Scotland. Mary, knowing Knox’s prayers against her and the Catholic crown, said she feared his prayers more than all the armies of Europe. Knox feared no man, but labored because of his love for Christ. Today, Knox’s grave is a parking spot, a symbol of what Scotland has done with the Gospel. We should look at 2 Cor 11. In verse 23–27, we read of Paul’s bravery in the face of awesome trials. However, this bold man said he was afraid in verse 3 of the same chapter. He was afraid that the Corinthians would be led astray. There are false teachers, prophets, apostles, and brethren in the church: enough for anyone to fear. Rick calls us to note three applications of pastoral theology: 1. A Fearful Ecclesiology In verse 2, Paul says he “ betrothed ” the Corinthians to Christ. Paul doesn’t call them to allegiance to himself, he wanted to present a trea...