Reading Biographies: Ann Judson
For my last series in reading biographies I choose Ann Judson, the wife of Adoniram; the book, Ann Judson, Missionary Wife by Arabella Stuart....
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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, 2014 by Gavin Peacock | Category: Church History | Tags: adoniram, femininity, Womanhood, Suffering, alone
For my last series in reading biographies I choose Ann Judson, the wife of Adoniram; the book, Ann Judson, Missionary Wife by Arabella Stuart....
Keep ReadingAugust 14, 2014 by Gavin Peacock | Category: Church History | Tags: mueller, Prayer, orphans
The Lord’s instructions are simple. You pray to me and ask. I will supply you with what you need to bring you through. You will praise me. The part we play is to ask for and receive help. The part God plays is to provide in response and receive our praise. The provider gets the praise the receivers get the reward of God’s help....
Keep ReadingAugust 9, 2014 by Gavin Peacock | Category: Church History | Tags: content, secret, satisfaction, hudson taylor
That is a daily default position of apprehending the new covenant reality of being a new creation “in Christ”, and then to continually rely upon his work for us and trust his word to keep and guide us. I think this is the hardest thing for Christians to grasp. Satisfaction in Christ alone means that we can have joy in suffering knowing he is working for our good and hi...
Keep ReadingAugust 5, 2014 by Gavin Peacock | Category: Church History | Tags: biography, Missions, Faith
Hebrews Chapter 11 gives the example of heroes of the faith, which is meant to encourage us to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us” (Heb.12:1). It behooves us, therefore, to remember past leaders who still speak God’s word to us as we consider the course of their whole lives. In the pages of a biography we can consider their lives and doctrine and w...
Keep ReadingJuly 26, 2014 by Clint Humfrey | Category: Devotionals | Tags: blood, revenge, pardon, Forgiveness
John Owen was a 17th century English theologian and pastor who wrote one of the most extensive commentaries on the book of Hebrews. Looking at the passage from Heb. 12.24, “[blood] that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel”, Owen wrote: "The blood of Christ never cried, as Abel’s did, for vengeance on them by whom it was shed, but pleaded their pardon as sinne...
Keep ReadingJuly 18, 2014 by Clint Humfrey | Category: Devotionals | Tags: shadow, substance, covenant, Law
It is a funny thing to watch a kid who has just discovered their shadow. They step on the pavement trying to hold the shadow down. Or they’ll run trying to get away from a shadow that runs just as fast. Shadows and the forms that they mimic are simple things that we see every day. The metaphor of shadows and substances is one of the simple ideas showing how the Bible is ...
Keep ReadingApril 18, 2014 by Terry Stauffer | Category: Devotionals | Tags: good friday, Evil, Sin, Suffering, university of calgary, Gospel
The people of Calgary and surrounding area have been shocked at the stabbings near the University of Calgary. We ought to pray for the families and friends of the victims. But what should we pray? How should we think about this tragedy? How should we talk about this horror with our friends and family? The stark reality of evil is staring us in the face once again this week...
Keep ReadingFebruary 13, 2014 by Clint Humfrey | Category: Devotionals | Tags: Worldview, Culture, Evangelism, young earth, Creation, ken ham, bill nye, albert mohler, augustine, jerome, apologetics, peer pressure
A little ‘pagan ridicule’ should not send us running away from faith in the resurrection of our savior. Of course we look at the Bible’s testimony about the resurrection and we see evidences that show the trustworthiness of the testimony (e.g. the sealed, soldier guarded tomb was empty, no cover-up concerning women as early witnesses, the eyewitness encounters of div...
Keep ReadingFebruary 6, 2014 by Clint Humfrey | Category: Church Governance | Tags: Love, Ecclesiology, church life, structure, organization, clint humfrey, ryan fullerton, conference, sunday school, church growth
It's funny how the conference theme of love was so impactful for everyone, yet Ryan Fullerton’s comments in Sunday School about organization in a growing church really resonated too. ...
Keep ReadingJanuary 18, 2014 by Jeff Jones | Category: Current Events | Tags: conference, ryan fullerton, Love, Prayer, Mission
This coming weekend, our annual January conference will take place. Ryan Fullerton, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and a former roommate of Pastor Clint’s, will be preaching on the subject of “Abiding Love: Learning to Love in a Cold World.” I’ve said before that God has blessed this man as a preacher; here’s a message I had the privil...
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