Christian Book Notes

Oppenheim, Matt.  Why Worship God? (When He hasn’t been so nice to me).  Germantown: Cosmic Publishing, 2011.  192 pp.  $15.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction

Matt Oppenheim is an insurance salesman, family man, and all around regular guy.  He and his family attends Hope Presbyterian Church in Cordova, TN.  This book attempts to explain to the unchurched why they should even consider worshiping God given all the junk in the world today.

Summary

Divided into 14 chapters over 190 some pages,  Oppenheim offers short, succinct nuggets to be digested.  The first chapter asks why does the world suck so bad? After offering his understanding, he moves to the change necessary in one’s life and the power of the Holy Spirit that comes with that change.  He takes a quick look at a world without God and then shows the exchange that was made in God’s gift to mankind.  After looking at some of these various gifts given to us, he offers a brief chapter on death with a final chapter that aptly sums up the work: God’s Plan was Bigger than Mine though the actual final chapter is called “The Finale.”

Review

When reviewing a work, one must always consider the audience for which the work is written.  In this case, Matt has written to the unbelievers.  With that as the basis for this review, I want to commend him for writing in an appealing manner that will engage the audience he is seeking.  Many of his life stories and examples help to bring the points he is making to rest in the hearts and minds of the readers.  His style is open and honest and invites a conversation.  For that, Matt has succeeded extremely well.

There are, however, a few areas of theology I would like to address somewhat critically since this work is meant to be an introduction to the faith so to speak.  While I could address the age-old discussion of free will, I will choose not to do so in here other than to say that Oppenheim leans heavily on man’s ability to choose God.  What I would rather like to address is a few contradictions that I perceived throughout the book.  Again, this may be splitting hairs, to some, but to the one who is wanting to investigate the Christian faith, these may be issues that will need to be dealt with.

First, Oppenheim leads the reader to believe that those in the OT were saved differently than those after Christ lived, died, resurrected, and ascended to heaven.  On page 105, he writes that “Jesus changed the rules” as regards salvation.  No, truth be told, the key was always faith in the Messiah.  Jesus Christ gave us the name and the person to whom the Messiah was but did not change the manner of salvation from Old to New Testament.

This is a problem because it takes a step onto that slippery slope of salvation by any other means than the proclamation of the Gospel.  It can also lead to a belief of salvation for Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc., “as long as they believe the god that has been revealed to them.”  This negates the necessity of the gospel and, consequently, negates the need for Jesus Christ.

On page 28, Matt states that the Bible, after the Fall, “is about God trying to reconcile with man.”  Unfortunately, the phrasing may be the culprit here, but the reality is the Bible is how God has offered His reconciliation to man and how man, specifically in the Old Testament, has rejected His reconciliation.  The problem with the phrasing is that now the Bible has become a very man-centered work when it is all about God and His glory in redeeming whomever He pleases.

While there are a few more criticisms, I do not want to “go off” on this work.  Matt has definitely written a resource that can be used of God to enable many gospel conversations to take place.

Recommendation

I can recommend this resource to be used by a discerning Christian who has read it and wants to use it as a means of initiating deeper discussion on why we should worship God.  Ultimately, we must never “hope to share the gospel someday” with a friend.  Rather, we must proclaim the gospel at all times.  For those who do use this resource, especially in church planting endeavors, must be prepared to answer questions that may come up about the Bible or about what the author states.

Barnes, Tom.  Atonement Matters – A Call to Declare the Biblical View of the Atonement.  England: Evangelical Press, 2008.  342 pp.  $17.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction

I have reviewed Every Word Counts by Tom Barnes in the past and found his work to be well written and enjoyable to read.  Tom is the senior pastor at the Evangelical Free Church of Minden, Nebraska.

Summary

Divided into four parts, Dr. Barnes first offers a biblical view of the atonement (that is, he believes in a particular atonement).  In defending this view, he spends some 90 pages exploring various theories and beliefs of the extent of the atonement while showing from Scripture why his view is, in fact, most accurate.

The second section looks at what he calls a theologically sound view, i.e., the view theologians call penal substitutionary atonement.  Once again, he delves into the Scriptures to make his case for this historical view.  The third section looks at the objections offered for a more general atonement and how the church has predominantly held to a definite view of atonement throughout her history.

The final section is an apologetic on how holding to this view will inevitably strengthen and grow the church.  Here he offers six ways the church will be strengthened.  Some of which are in her understanding of salvation, God’s love, evangelism, and missions.

Review

Obviously, this work will be controversial with many.  The charge of Calvinism will be screamed by those who disagree.  Sadly, those who cannot get beyond the rhetoric will be missing out on a well written and well reasoned treatise on a most important doctrine of the church.  Ultimately, Pastor Barnes allows the Bible to interpret itself which is the first rule of understanding Scripture.  He allows the plain passages on the subject help the reader to understand the more difficult passages.  He also approaches the texts as part of the inerrant Word of God in which there are no contradictions.

For those who will read this book, they will find that there argument is not with the author, but with the Bible itself.  In the end, they will also realize how holding to the view expressed by the author will, in fact, strengthen both the Christian and the church.  This is of extreme importance as there are too many who think (erroneously) that a limited view of the atonement hinders evangelism and missions (I was this guy once!).

Recommendation

For those who are serious about studying the matter and extent of the atonement, I can think of few other books that offer as clear and concise a defense of the limited view that also does not bring to the table the heated rhetoric known and used by so many.  This work should be read by all Christians.  The views ought to be wrestled with as they do find their source in the infallible and inerrant Word of God.

Kohein, Dr. Simon Hezekiah.  The Battle for One Elect.  Mustang: Tate Publishing, 2010.  212 pp.  $13.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction/Summary

Dr. Kohein has published what amounts to a journal of sorts that he wrote after his wife died at an early age.  He was left to raise a very young family by himself.  This journal is more than just a memoir.  It is rather a compilation of letters that he wrote to his wife after she passed away.  He pours his heart and soul into each letter as will be noted in the book.

Divided into twelve chapters, each chapter is one letter.  There is no chronological flow necessarily to the letters.  Instead, we read the reflections on what amounts to a difficult life lived by one Dr. Kohein to the glory of God.  In these letters, the reader will see how the past has influenced the present and will eventually influence the future in the life of one family.  Moreover, we see how the Lord uses it all for the good of His saints.

Review

This is a difficult work to review simply because it is very much autobiographical in nature.  It is not as if one can say I disagree with X when in reality X is something that happened in the life of the author or was the way he responded to a situation right or wrong.  I will say that Dr. Kohein pulls no punches with his letters.  We are treated to raw emotion and reaction to various circumstances.  For that, this work rings of genuine truth telling.

You will find yourself crying with him on one page and laughing the next.  There will be times where you will disagree with his approach to parenting and applauding him in another instance.  Ultimately, what you will learn is that life is a roller coaster…for all people.

There is, however, one are I do take issue with theologically and feel I should address it here.  Dr. Kohein talks quite often of “having faith in God’s Word.”  While not inherently a bad thing, this can also lead to idolatry.  Our faith is not to be in the Bible as if it has salvific qualities.  Rather, our faith is in Christ alone though we are to turn to the Bible to learn about Him.  It is also in the Word of God where we find how one is saved as well as how one who has believed in Christ is to live.  Sadly, many have placed their faith in the Bible and not the Christ of the Bible to their eternal detriment.

Recommendation

For those who are struggling with the difficult hand dealt to you in this life, I would recommend reading The Battle for One Elect.  You will find reassurance that you are not in this battle alone.  Furthermore, you may find that your situation is not so bad.

Padelford, Walton.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Business Ethics.  Mountain Home: BorderStone Press, LLC., 2011.  244 pp.  $14.95.  Purchase at Amazon.

Introduction

Dr. Padelford earned his Ph.D. in economics from Louisiana State University in 1975.  He has taught economics and business ethics at Union University in Jackson, TN since 1980.

Summary

With 10 chapters over 240+ pages, Dr. Padelford offers insight into one of the great Christian minds of the World War II era specifically from the business perspective.  Chapter one offers a brief biography of the man while chapter two looks at Bonhoeffer’s understanding of Christian ethics – the framework for the current book.  Chapter three begins the discussion on business ethics in particular with chapter four delving into a bit of philosophy.

The fifth chapter looks at business as a mandate from God while chapter six offers an apologetic on the concept of commerce and God’s glory found therein.  The seventh chapter strives to rescue the Christian from the success syndrome so epidemic in the business world while chapters 8-10 look at business as both a practice and discipleship maker.

Review

Dr. Padelford set out to write this work for three reasons: first, to present a distinctively Christian perspective on the subject of business ethics.  Second, to introduce Christians today to the man Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and finally, to offer an apologetic for being a disciple-maker while in the business world.  In short, his mission was greatly accomplished.

To the first reason, this book is thoroughly Christian in perspective and offers many valid biblical points for how to run a business with a genuine Christian ethic…and trust that the Lord will bless such efforts.  The second reason was to introduce the reader to the works of Bonhoeffer and with as many footnotes and quotes as he sprinkled throughout the work, the reader can’t help but want to read more of and about Bonhoeffer.

Finally, the apologetic for making disciples in the business world is worth the price of the book as a whole.  The principles laid down in this work are practical and theologically sound.  The principles will be of use in the workplace and done in a manner that will not cause the “PC-police” to arrest you or have you fired.  Let’s be honest, if we want to be heard in the work place (most often) as a Christian, we must abide by the rules of the world otherwise we lose not only a hearing, but our jobs as well.  We must be stewards of both and Padelford offers insight for that to be possible.

Recommendation

If you are going into the “business world” this book will prove to be indispensable to you.  Most Christians must work “in the world” by default since we all live in the world and most are not called to vocational ministry.  If your workplace provides us with the ability to share the gospel and to be a disciple maker, and most do if approached properly, then Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Business Ethics will be a much used and studied book in your life.  I recommend this work to all Christians who are working in a “business” and to all pastors to have to be able to offer to your congregation.

Blackburn, Earl M.  Jesus Loves the Church and So Should You: Studies in Biblical Churchmanship.  Birmingham:  Solid Ground Christian Books, 2010.  150 pp.  $16.00.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction

Pastor Blackburn has served as the Senior Pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA. since 2006.  From the church’s website:

Upon completion of his theological education, he was sent to Utah where he labored as a church planting missionary for eleven years carrying the gospel to the Mormons. He was then called to Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in La Mirada, CA where he pastored for 22 years. He also served as Chairman of the Administrative Council of the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America (ARBCA) for eight years. He has traveled extensively preaching in Pastors Conferences in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

He has also written John Chrysostom, contributed to the book Denominations or Associations (Calvary Press – 2001), and numerous periodicals including Founder’s Journal, Reformation Today, and Banner of Truth.

Summary

With 18 chapters over 150 pages, each chapter is very much a “bite-size” portion of theology to consider regarding ecclesiology (doctrine of the church).  The first two chapters lay the foundation for the importance of this conversation.  First, Christ loved the church (He died for it!).  Second, the New Testament is, in essence, a work on how the church should function until Christ returns.  A few of the topics considered in this work are the importance of church membership and finding a church that display marks of a true church.  He also looks at the importance of being an active church member and when it is right to leave a particular church and how that is done.  The final chapter looks at the thoughts of others throughout the history of the church from various denominations.

Each chapter concludes with a list of discussion questions that can be answered alone or in a group study.

Review

Written with the precision of a surgeon and the knowledge of a well-trained theologian, Pastor Blackburn offers an in-depth study on the importance of church membership.  While he does write from a Reformed and Baptistic perspective, his thoughts are rooted deeply in Scripture.  If one is to argue with him on some points, they will find that their argument is not with the author but with the Bible.

The chapters are succinct enough to be read, studied, and applied on a week by week basis, yet also take a lifetime to master.  Blackburn covers every facet of church membership to the point that the chapters on ecclesiology in most every systematic theology written could serve as an introduction to this resource.

Recommendation

The most profound reason I can offer to you to read this work is the author’s obvious love for Christ, for Christ’s bride, and his pastoral care in which he writes with.  He does not write as though he is shooting from the hip as so many do.  Rather, he is writing with a passion to introduce today’s Christian to the joys and benefits of church membership as a God-ordained means of mercy for the soul.

A second reason I would highly recommend this work is the astute and deep knowledge of the Scriptures Pastor Blackburn shows not to mention the care in which he handles the various texts, in their proper context, to drive home the point that the church is just as needed today as it was when it was founded by Christ some 2,000 years ago.

I recommend this resource to all believers and would highly recommend it as a group or individual study.  I believe this resource to be an excellent apologetic for the necessity of active church membership for today.

Spader, Dann.  Walking as Jesus Walked – making Disciples the Way Jesus Did.  Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2011.  192 pp.  $16.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less or for Kindle for only $1.99.

Introduction

Dann Spader is founder and director of Sonlife Ministries, an inter-denominational ministry dedicated to raising up leaders to be disciple makers in order to equip the next generation of leaders to do the same.  He has more than twelve years of pastoral care experience as well.  You can read more about this work at WalkingAsJesus.com.

Summary

This is not a book to read as much as it is a book to study.  To that end, it is divided into a 5-day a week, 10-week study.  Each week has a “getting started” section that introduces the primary topic for the week’s study.  Each day is introduced with a story that builds into the lesson what has already been learned and what will be discovered that day.  There are verses of Scripture to look up and questions to answer specifically about disciple making.  Each day ends with a section “for deeper reflection” which helps to further drive home the lesson.

Review

As studies go, this work is well-written.  It is driven by Scripture and not by man.  Sure there are stories and such, but, the points that are made come straight from Scripture.  There are many blank lines in the book which shows that that reader must wrestle and interact with the Scripture passages being discussed.  Each lesson takes as much time as you want to put into it.  The lessons are written with a purpose and by the end of the 10-week study, you will have learned what it means to be a disciple-maker from a biblical perspective (is there any other perspective?)

Recommendation

If you are wanting to study this subject, the Kindle edition for $1.99 is a great place to begin.  There is a movement afoot in the church to focus on disciple-making, this resource should certainly be added to the list of acceptable works to that end.

Sands, Tracy.  The Christian Alphabet Book: Teaching Children About Jesus, Prayer, and the Bible.  Suwanee:  Love the Dove Publishing, 2012.  80 pp.  $19.95.  Purchase at Amazon for less.

Introduction/Summary

It is difficult to summarize an alphabet book, so I will allow the author to do so for herself.

The Lord inspired me in 1999 one evening at a church choir event. As I sat in the back row, listening to the awesome Christian music, in the dark, an incredible urge to draw came over me. Being an art teacher for 10 years, I had experienced this feeling before, but NEVER had it been so intense. I ‘happened’ to have a pen in my pocket, but the only paper around was the program that I got as I walked in the door. In the empty space of the margins I sketched like crazy. I felt like I would pop if I didn’t get the ideas out of my brain right then! I will never forget that feeling. I had never felt so peaceful yet energized at the same time. God was just getting started with me! Over the course of 9 months we created this alphabet.

Each letter is educational and deep in meaning to me. In them you will find close to 100 ancient and modern images used in the past 2000 years to express the Christian Faith. I have hopes of sharing all of the basic aspects of Christianity with those who really look into The Christian Alphabet.

You can read more about the book as well as various other items for sale at TheChristianAlphabet.com.

Review

The book is very well done.  It is a hardback with high glossy pages that will lend to the durability of this resource from one child to the next.  Each letter brings together various pictures used throughout the history of the Church.  What is more, on each facing page of the letter, there is quite a bit of information dealing with the word used to for the letter.

For example, “G” is for God – God is the eternal creator and ruler of the universe.  There is then a quote from Isaiah 40:28-29 as well as further information on God’s creation.  The fundamental lesson to be taught/learned is highlighted in red while there is a prayer at the bottom of each page in blue.  By going to the website above, you can also listen to the four songs included in this book.

Each letter is treated with such care and detail.  Tracy uses the letter pictures throughout the entire book to make up words like “EASTER” and “HEAVEN.”  Each letter and the lesson provided on the facing page of the picture, provide an adaptable lesson plan for Sunday School, homeschool, or just wanting to teach your children the basics of the Christian faith while they learn their ABC’s.

Recommendation

I have enjoyed many of the Christian ABC books throughout my time as a children’s pastor and now as a parent.  I have never found one to be as well done as The Christian Alphabet Book.  Neither have I found one to be so adaptable to so many needs from parenting to teaching to truly being a legitimate coffee table book.  I highly recommend this resource to all parents, children’s pastors, and any one looking for another way in which to teach the tenants of the Christian faith to children and adults.

Alright, I rarely use this site to update everyone regarding my personal life, but I feel I at least owe an explanation as to why I have not been regularly posting since last April.

Quite frankly, the Lord has moved me through a trial of sorts that I have never experienced.  He stripped away titles and visions of grandeur I did not know I had.  He enabled me to see my own life for what it was and what it needed to be.  To put it bluntly, I needed to be taken to the proverbial shed and He took me there.

Over the past two years, I was removed from vocational ministry and had to take a job at a local retail chain in the inner city to provide for my family.  Ultimately, the Lord did bless that and I became a store manager in very short order.  Again, this was a ministry to my family, but certainly not what I wanted to do.  I was, however, able to reach into the community and proclaim the gospel to as many customers as would listen and even to some who would not.

Due to the demands on my time from my job and my neediness to spend my off time with my family (when I wasn’t sleeping), I had to pretty much quit writing reviews.  I did try a few time to start it back up again, but was quite unsuccessful in those attempts.

In the past month, the Lord has once again changed my direction.  I have been called to pastor a church in Mexico, Mo.  For the first time in a very long time, I will “only” be a pastor.  My family and I are moving from the St. Louis area to Mexico, Mo.

What this means for Christian Book Notes is that I will once again have the time necessary to be able to write reviews that will introduce you to a Christian book and tell you why you should read it…if you should read it.  Most often, I qualify my recommendation to a particular audience knowing full well that not every Christian needs (or should!) read every book.

I plan on getting some reviews written this week and will begin posting at least three a week beginning Monday 8 April.  I look forward to getting back in the game so to speak.  God bless.

By His grace and for His glory,

Terry Delaney

Jeremy Jessen, pastor at Heartland Baptist Church in St. Louis, Mo will be speaking on The Doctrines of Grace and the Christian Minister in the Search for New Lambs.

Jeremy’s dad, Jerry, leads us in worship every year at the Founder’s Conference Midwest and is the worship leader at First Baptist St. Peters.  The joy of seeing your son preach the word must be beyond description.

Why do Reformed Baptists have a poor reputation for evangelism?  Is Calvinism anti-missionary? The problem I think Calvinists have with evangelism is the same as everyone else – we are selfish and lazy.  I think it is mostly because we are not committed enough to the Doctrines we claim.

God didn’t send Jesus to make people saveable.  He sent Him to redeem the lost.  Jesus was the Good Shepherd we are the sheep.

If the Holy Spirit is calling, we know that calling is effectual.  We also know that they will come.  The Holy Spirit has never failed.  Just because someone has walked an aisle does not mean they will walk on golden streets.

A robust commitment to these doctrines, limited atonement in particular, will ignite a passion for evangelism to the nations. We will approach this through the head, the heart and the hands. I pray we will see real change.

1) Head

When we say limited atonement, we are not saying anything about the sufficiency of Christ’s penal substitutionary atonement.  The issue is not extent.  It is intent.  We also are not saying that the benefits go only to the elect.

What we are saying is that Christ died for the purpose of actually and intentionally saving the elect.  This is extremely important.  We see this testified in the scriptures everywhere.  The atonement has a specific purpose.  We see this in the OT.  The priests in the OT served only Israel.  The Day of Atonement were only for those in the covenant community.  There is nothing general about the sacrifices in the OT.  Those were a type and a foreshadowing of Christ.

Because of the time constraint we will focus on the NT.  First, let’s look at John 10:11ff.  Verse 26, Jesus says they do not believe because they are not part of His flock.  He does not say the reverse that so many claim.  Now, John 17:9.  The “them” is the elect.  Jesus was not praying for the world, but for those who God gave Him.

When Jesus is named by the angel, it is because He will save His people.  Notice the language.  Romans 8:32 talks of God’s elect for whom Jesus is interceding.  Al l f these passages point to God’s elect. Ephesians 5:25 we see that Jesus died for his bride, the church.  He died to secure and actually save His church.

The intention of the atonement was to save the elect.  It actually was accomplished when Christ died not when you accept Jesus into your heart.

The cross procures all that is necessary for salvation.  The language of scripture demands this.  Jesus died for and was ransomed for the elect.  Genesis 22 is a beautiful picture of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus didn’t die so that you could potentially come to salvation but that you, as one of the elect, could be saved.

2) Heart

How should these truths ignite a passion for evangelism?

1) A passion for evangelism in general should be ignited.  If God died for the elect, then our evangelism will succeed.  Jesus has already done the work of atonement.  All we are doing is announcing that the work is finished.

2) There should be an ignition of passion over the sufficiency of the evangel.  We do not have to add to the gospel.  We don’t need to make Jesus cool.  He doesn’t need any help from us!

3) The ignition of evangelism should ignite the evangelist.  To realize that Christ died for “me” is life altering.  As a believer, you can say that Christ died for me with absolute certainty.  It is not in how you signed a card or walked an aisle.  We don’t share the gospel with passion because we don’t love the gospel with passion.

3) Hands

How does this become action on your part?  First, you will be preaching life to those who are converted.  Secondly, it means you will be preaching condemnation to those who are not converted.  It still means that you have to preach to them both.  We believe in Limited Atonement and universal proclamation.  The plan has always been that we go to all the nations.  No, we do not know who will be saved, but we do know that people will be saved.

Good news is better than motivational speech.  Victory in Christ is good news.  Every man for himself is motivational speech.  Preach the good news.  Jesus actually won victory on the cross.

Finally, how does this change what we do as Christ followers?  It doesn’t change what you do at all.  You preach the gospel over and over again.  You scream victory over and over again.  It changes the fire for what we do.  If this message is true then you know you cannot fail in the proclamation of the gospel.

Scott Lee is pastor at Rockport Baptist Church in Arnold, Mo.  He has also taught at Missouri Baptist University for some years.  He is speaking on The Doctrines of Grace and the Christian Minister in the Pulpit.

1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

                For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

                “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

                                and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

                Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

                For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

                And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

What is the goal of preaching? It should be for the glory and honor of God.  We live in an age where we are looking for many different methods of presenting the gospel message.  Or is still true that God is still pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the preached Word.

Salvation is only effected by the means of the proclamation of the gospel.

The first thing we should see is that far too much preaching is little more than a display of the power man.  The Corinthians would have expected Paul to come with high language and rhetoric.  Paul, though capable, did not succumb to their wishes.  Paul came, rather, with the power of God.

The doctrines of grace show us that preaching is not about us and that the means by which the Lord will save is up to Him.  In other words, it does not depend upon you.  If salvation is brought about by God through His appointed means, then it frees me (the pastor) from having to come up with the means to see men and women saved.

This is one reason why the Puritans had no use for fine sounding rhetoric.  Rather, they allowed the Scriptures to speak for themselves.  Paul’s motivation was the glory of God in Christ.

Know that I am not talking about a boring lecture.  Are we like Nadab and Abihu bringing man-made fire to the pulpit or are we bringing the God of the Bible?  Not all fires are the same. We must understand that true biblical preaching is always a display of Christ.

We preach a God who has revealed Himself in the flesh and blood.  Who chose for Himself a people and gave Himself so that He would save His elect.  This is why Paul determined to know nothing except Christ and Him crucified.  Paul could not imagine preaching anything that didn’t center on Christ.

A Christless sermon is an abomination in the pulpit.  Paul is determined to focus on Christ.  So should we.  By not doing so, we rob the gospel of its power.

The Doctrines of Grace safeguard us from inserting ourselves between the gospel and the person needing it.  These Doctrines point us directly to God. Unconditional Election is the warm and loving choice the Father made in the Son and we see it play out through the preaching of His Word.  What grace!

Limited Atonement speaks of the heavenly love Christ has for His bride, the church.  Irresistible Grace is the almighty power of God unleashed to take hold of His people so that none will be lost.

Perseverance of the Saints is not necessarily “once saved always saved.”  It is so much more than that!  It is the personal commitment made by the Father to the Son in that He will keep us persevering in the faith.  These doctrines point us to Christ.

Biblical preaching that is radically focused on Christ (the Trinity) will instruct all believers regardless of time and location.  If you preaching does not focus on Christ, then it is not biblical preaching.

True preaching depends on the power of the Holy Spirit and not man’s persuasiveness.  Paul lets the truth speak for itself in the power of the Spirit.  If you give the task of preaching much thought at all, you should feel a sense of desperation.  Is there a desperate man in your pulpit? Does he labor so that the congregation will hear from God and not him? Does he tremble at the thought that he may misrepresent Christ?

Our whole task is to say, “It ain’t me, it’s Him.”  The preacher must be one who upholds the Word.  The Doctrines of Grace both humble and encourage us.  As Spurgeon said, “Preach down man and preach up Christ?”  The preacher needs the message of the sovereignty of God more than the hearers need it!

Do we preach like men who think all we have to do is persuade the wills of men or do we preach knowing that grace comes from God alone?  We want power!  We want the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit does not empower cleverness or light joking.  He empowers biblical preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am not saying that we should not prepare a sermon.  I am saying that when preparing, our goal ought to be to reveal more of God.

If you want to really minister to your people, point them to a sovereign God.  Take them from focusing on self to focusing on God. Your first line of attack for ministering to your people is the preaching of the Word of God.  They need God.  They need to see Christ.

The real power and effect of preaching does not come from us.  It comes from God mediated by the Spirit through the faithful declaration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul knows that only God can do in the human heart what needs to be done.  To this extent, he says that our “faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”  This is why all man-centered persuasion is useless. Sure, you can get them down the aisle, but you can’t make them a Christian.