I was privileged to join Pastor Ben Miller and Pastor Doug Wilson last night on Iron Sharpens Iron, to discuss Pastor Wilson’s film Collision, as well as promote a screening of the film we’re doing here on Long Island.
That screening is this Thursday, December 10th, 7:30 pm at the Bellmore Theater (222 Petit Avenue, Bellmore NY). Check out http://www.opcli.org/collision for more details.
Audio of last night’s program can be downloaded here.
Q. Does God love you?
A. Yes, He does.
Q. Why does God love you?
A. Because Jesus died for my sins, and gave me His righteousness.
Q. Will God ever stop loving you?
A. No, because His love endures forever.
Q. What, then, does God require of you?
A. I am to love Him, because He first loved me.
Q. And do you love God?
A. I do, with all of my heart.
Thanks to everyone who participated in our contest. The winners are:
1st Place (a copy of The Kingdom Has Drawn Near, plus a year’s subscription to Puritan Picks):
Stacy Ryan from PA
2nd Place (a copy of The Kingdom Has Drawn Near, plus a copy of Kuyper’s Lectures On Calvinism):
Mark Pedosiuk from NC
Jeff Downs from SC
Congratulations guys! Thanks again to everyone who participated. Stay tuned for more contests.
It’s taken a bit longer than expected, but SDP’s first publication, The Kingdom Has Drawn Near: Studies In The Gospel Jesus Preached, is now available on Amazon.com and other online retailers.
To celebrate, we’re giving away some awesome prizes.
First Prize – One Winner
- A copy Pastor Miller’s book
- A year’s subscription to Puritan Picks, a Christ-centered DVD lending library
Second Prize – Two Winners
- A copy of Pastor Miller’s book
- A copy of Abraham Kuyper’s “Lectures on Calvinism”
All you have to do is fill out the form below. The winner will be drawn on Friday, October 16th.
The sermons on which this book was based can be heard at SermonAudio.
During the month of September, Ben Miller preached an excellent series titled “We Are Presbyterians”, at the Franklin Square OPC, asking the question, “What does it mean to be a Presbyterian?” The entire series is now available on SermonAudio.
Ian Hall won one month’s free advertising for his blog, The Evangelists, on SD News. Congratulations Ian!
We have a great contest that will be coming up sometime next month. Stay tuned.
Given by Ben Miller, pastor at the Franklin Square OPC, to on September 13, 2009, at the ordination and installation of a new deacon. This is the outline.
“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” – 2 Timothy 2:3–7
Join in suffering hardship: until Christ returns, kingdom of God is kingdom at war (“church militant”) – follows that those who labor for this kingdom (including deacons) will be constantly confronted with hardships of warfare (suffering) – Paul says, “Join in!”
Three models show us how to succeed in this hard kingdom work: will specifically apply these to kingdom work of deaconing…
A. A Model of Dedicated Work: The Soldier
Soldier doesn’t run off base anytime he pleases to enjoy luxuries of civilian life; his life dedicated, consecrated (set apart) to objectives set by his superiors – this is not miserable, it is an honor (enlisted); but does mean frequently saying “no” to things good in themselves in order to discharge what he has been enlisted to do
Jesus Christ has enlisted you as a deacon in His church: this means you have work to do that will necessarily trump other things – will often have to choose between doing duty as a dedicated (set apart) officer in Christ’s church, and doing other things you may prefer – there will even be times when dedication to this service will begin to crowd other callings (e.g., family): great wisdom will be needed to know, do what pleases Him who called you (to both!) – I charge you never to swerve from dedication to your King and His calling, even above personal wishes and interests; keep your priorities clear and firm (pleasing your King); let nothing distract or entangle you
B. A Model of Regulated Work: The Athlete
Relativism has always had quite frosty reception in athletics: entire structure of athletic competition depends upon firm rules! – it is no different in the sphere of church office: there are ethical standards (regulations) to which you will be firmly held, for Christ’s honor
You are, for example, to keep within the lines of dignity, sincerity, honesty, self-control, and biblically informed orthodoxy
Embrace the rules that govern your office: know them well, rejoice in them, adhere scrupulously to them; give not even an appearance of laxity in obedience – as kingdom resources are entrusted to you, go an extra mile to be above reproach, providing what is honorable not only in God’s sight but also in man’s sight
I charge you never to swerve from “playing by the rules,” from the precepts of righteousness, the dictates of honor and good faith: and remember that one who runs by the rules may expect the crown
C. A Model of Motivated Work: The Farmer
Why does the farmer get up at 4:00 AM to get out on his fields in the springtime? Why does he plow and disk and plant late into the night for weeks on end? Why does he endure the beating sun, the dust in his mouth and eyes, and lonely communion with the earth? Because he who so toils will rejoice in time of harvest!
You, my brother, are called by the Lord of the church to bear with Him the burdens of His people: to answer their calls and emails, to visit them in afflictions, to struggle with them through decisions, to open to them the wisdom of the scriptures, to call them to repent of their sins. You are called to steward the resources of the kingdom, and to dispense these resources to the needy inside and outside the church in such a way that they experience the compassion of Jesus Himself. There will be days when you will strain under this yoke; but you will press forward with courage and joy, because a day is coming in which you will stand before Jesus Christ to give account of your deaconship – and this One who called you will say, “Well done, my good and faithful deacon; inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me”
I charge you never to swerve from your toil because it is hard, but to refresh and motivate yourself constantly in the sure hope that he who sows in tears will reap in joy – “Think over what I say…”
We’ve been working on rolling out some new features for SD News, and to celebrate we’re offering a free month of advertising for your blog or product on SD News. All you have to do is re-tweet this tweet (say that ten times fast!). We will randomly choose a winner by midnight (Eastern time) Friday, September 18th. Your ad will run from October 1st to October 31st, free of charge.
Your ad has to be 125×125, and it can be animated. Check out SD News for examples of the sponsors we currently have (and visit them, too!).
We reserve the right to disqualify any blog or product we deem not relevant to the interests of out readers. Thanks!
