Godliness: Love for the Word, Spirit Inhabited, Humble, and Prayerful
Continuing with Thomas Watson on characteristics of the godly person from “The Godly Man’s Picture”:...
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March 29, 2019 by Jeff Jones
So churches need to try and test the character and maturity of their deacon nominees prior to their appointment by the elders, a process that requires time and familiarity. That’s the deacon’s examination....
March 22, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Biblical deacons, then, are to be examined by the assembly. That’s at the heart of the deacon’s nomination for office....
March 15, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Deacons, again, are to guard the unity of the church and the ministry of the elders from the demands of practical problems. Appreciating such problems requires the careful definition of each deacon’s role....
March 8, 2019 by Jeff Jones
There is only one qualification Paul mentions to Timothy that is not found in Acts 6, and it is that qualification we now turn to examine: the deacon’s purity....
February 28, 2019 by Jeff Jones
This combination of a practical, nuts-and-bolts focus and a separation from doctrinal and pastoral oversight ministry might tempt a church to overlook the piety and conviction of a candidate. That would be a grave mistake....
February 22, 2019 by Jeff Jones
The very fact that this responsibility requires dedicated attention should tell us that it may not come easily, and that not just anyone will be able to fulfill it. It’s no surprise, then, that the third qualification emphasized by the apostles in Acts 6 is wisdom......
February 15, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Having seen last week that the first qualification of a potential deacon is a solid reputation, we now turn to look at the second qualification found in Acts chapter 6: being “full of the Spirit.” Of all the qualifications, this one is perhaps most at risk of being misunderstood in the present day. What does “filled with the Spirit” mean?...
February 8, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Now that we’ve looked at the intent, mission, and objective of the New Testament deacon, it’s time to look at what kind of Christians fill this office. What are the qualifications of those called to be deacons?...
February 1, 2019 by Jeff Jones
We see in Acts 6 that even in the earliest church the temptation to be distracted from this ministry is strong. The apostles put it in blunt terms: “it is not right that we should give up the preaching of the Word of God to serve tables.”...
August 21, 2015 by Paul Toews | Category: Life Application | Tags: character, Godliness, Humility, Prayer
Continuing with Thomas Watson on characteristics of the godly person from “The Godly Man’s Picture”:...
Keep ReadingAugust 14, 2015 by Paul Toews | Category: Life Application | Tags: character, Godliness, weeping, Worship
A godly person cares about the worship of God. This isn’t to say that he enjoys worship, but that he is careful about it. A godly man reverences divine institutions, and is more for the purity of worship than the pomp....
Keep ReadingAugust 7, 2015 by Paul Toews | Category: Life Application | Tags: character, Godliness, Holiness
Thomas Watson, in “The Godly Man’s Picture”, puts forth 24 characteristics of a godly person. The first is that they are spiritually knowledgeable. This knowledge is grounded in the faith (Col. 1:23). It is one that esteems God and energizes (enlivens) the spirit. It is applicable to our sinful nature and transforms that nature (2 Cor. 3:18). It is a knowledge t...
Keep ReadingJuly 17, 2015 by Terry Stauffer | Category: Church Governance | Tags: Elders, Leadership, pastors
On July 1st, Calvary Grace church brought me on full-time as a pastor. For almost four years I have been working at a shop that rebuilds gas turbine engines. I am very thankful that God provided this work so that we could be a part of Calvary Grace (we came to Calvary Grace in September, 2011). I realize that working as a pastor full-time is a privilege. I wanted to share...
Keep ReadingJuly 10, 2015 by Terry Stauffer | Category: Theology | Tags: Jesus, return, Second Coming, unbelief
Right at the end of the Bible, in Revelation 22:20, we read, “He who testifies to these things (the Lord Jesus Christ Himself) says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ (To which John adds) Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!...
Keep ReadingJuly 3, 2015 by Clint Humfrey | Category: The Gospel | Tags: consistency, Gospel, Truth
When some people compare religions with each other, they can come away thinking that they are all arbitrary. Not so with biblical Christianity. The Christian gospel is not merely another clever scheme to provide what Karl Marx called, “the opiate of the people”. The Christian message of salvation has an internal consistency. It fits....
Keep ReadingJune 26, 2015 by Jeff Jones | Category: Current Events | Tags: Gospel, here we stand, Marriage, Sexuality
Today, the United States Supreme Court redefined marriage to include same-sex couples. This ruling forces every individual state government to comply with the new definition. ...
Keep ReadingJune 24, 2015 by Clint Humfrey | Category: Bible Study | Tags: bible, Prayer, study, cross reference
Since we believe Paul when he said, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3.16), then we all want to know our bibles better. Obviously, the starting point for this is to read the bible. But there are some things that can help us to do that. Here are four ways to know you...
Keep ReadingJune 1, 2015 by Gavin Peacock | Category: Life Application | Tags: communion, devotions, Discipline, Prayer
There is no doubt that the key to Christian life and growth is communion with God…on your own! You’ll hear many people say that they pray throughout the day with arrow prayers or they pray with other people. This is good, but this is not the foundation. Jesus constantly went to be with his Father in prayer (Matt. 26:36; Mark1:35; Luke 4:42, 5:16, 6:12). If he did this,...
Keep ReadingMay 25, 2015 by Gavin Peacock | Category: Life Application | Tags: expectations, Missions, Sovereignty, vacation
Our need for rest is humbling. It demonstrates that we are not God. God never sleeps (Ps. 121:4) and Christ upholds the universe with the Word of his power (Heb. 1:3). God is not taxed and tired out by life. He is the source of life (Gen. 1; John 1:4). Knowing that we are dust (Ps. 103:14), created, not the Creator, is a biblical mandate for the need of rest, whether that...
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