Read: James 4:13-17
People sometimes say, “I don’t need God, tomorrow will be rosy, failure is not on my agenda.” That you make your own future. That’s the very attitude that James is dealing with here.
1 Self-sufficiency. 13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Relying on self. Self-sufficiency is planning without God.
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John the Baptist (4) John 3:22-36
We have been looking at the ministry and witness of John the Baptist. And now we move now to an incident that occurred near the end of John’s ministry, just before his imprisonment. This passage could well be summed up in three simple words, ENVY, HUMILITY, and ETERNITY.
1 Envy. John 3:25-26
John’s ministry, as we have seen, had met with great success, in numerical terms. But John was in Samaria now, – the people still came, but there would now be smaller crowds at John’s baptisms.
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John the Baptist (3)
Text: John 1:29-34 Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
In this study we want to look at the passage which contains an absolute gem of a verse. Let’s spend a little time exploring its brightness, and exploring its riches. Let’s see:-
1. Christ Coming to John. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God Chronologically, this passage occurs after Jesus’ baptism, and after his temptation in the wilderness. Now, he comes to John, who openly declares his vicarious purpose… Jesus is the LAMB OF GOD.
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Christmas Trees in Worship – An Idolatry?
Christmas Trees in Church
Should we allow a Christmas Tree to be displayed in a place where the worship of God is taking place? It’s a question recently asked by a Christian friend. It’s important to remember, firstly that this question is ‘adiaphora’ – it is not a matter of saving faith, it is something over which Christians can disagree with each other without being disagreeable! Is there a specific verse that says, “You shall not have a Christmas tree…” NO! And having, or not having a Christmas Tree in church will not result in eternal loss, neither are those who take one position or the other in any way apostate or heretical.
CLICK TO LISTEN TO THIS POST AS A PODCAST
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Text: James 4:1-10
Where do wars come from? It’s not the question that we usually ask, when we are talking about conflict. The more common question is, “Who’s to blame?” “Who started it…?” But James isn’t asking who starts wars and conflicts, he’s asking WHERE do they come from. James gives us an insight into the real source of war… Let’s look at this text and see if there are any lessons for us, on this special day, when we remember those who went to fight in wars in our defence. The apostle makes two specific points, particular to the church, and he concludes with a more general observation. Notice firstly it is…
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Catechism Class. Lord’s Day 26 Q69 and 70 – Baptism
The catechist wants us to look at the two sacraments individually and we begin with baptism. In Lord’s Day 26, Q69 he asks, Q/A 69. How is it signified and sealed to you in Holy Baptism that you have part in the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross? Our answer is, “Thus: that Christ instituted this outward washing with water and joined to it this promise, that I am washed with His blood and Spirit from the pollution of my soul, that is, from all my sins, as certainly as I am washed outwardly with water, whereby commonly the filthiness of the body is taken away.”
When a Christian sins, the Holy Spirit will convict him or her, and their conscience will trouble him, until he or she repents. So, what do YOU think about when you have sinned? A modern version of the catechism rewords Q69 in a way that is easier for us to understand. “How does baptism REMIND you and assure you that Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross is for you personally?” Firstly, baptism is a constant reminder for when we sin. Then, baptism speaks to us of our personal salvation.
Listen to the PODCAST HERE.
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John the Baptist Part 2
Matthew 3:13-17
In our last study, we looked at the ministry of John the Baptist, and we noticed that his ministry was a clear and unambiguous gospel message, of Repentance from sin, turning to Christ, the only Saviour, the application of Christ’s saving work by the Holy Spirit, warning about failure to repent, and danger of the terrible judgment of God, and the safety and security of those who are Christ’s. So let’s look at an encounter with the Lord Jesus at Jordan and ask why Jesus was baptised at Jordan? Let’s examine this very interesting incident from the ministry of John and see what lessons we can learn from it. I want to break this passage up into three distinct conversations:-
1 John Speaks to Jesus. Matthew 3:13-14
Now, see:-
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John the Baptist
Text: Matthew 3:1-12
With the visible church’s celebration of the birth of Christ approaching, we are introduced to another great Biblical character, John the Baptist. In John’s gospel, chapter 1, we are told that John was sent from God to bear witness to the Lord Jesus, the One who was the True Light of the World. This passage describes John’s ministry, as he prepares the way for the coming of Christ, and at this time of the year, we would do well to examine John’s faithful ministry, and attempt to be just as faithful in our own lives and in the witness of our church as he was. John’s ministry was:-
1. Clear About Repentance. Matthew 3:2
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Lord’s Day 25 Q68 How Many Sacraments
We must talk about the number of sacraments that are in the church. Question 68, How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant? The answer in the catechism is “Two: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.” READ Matthew 28:19-20, and 1st Corinthians 11:23-26. Our catechism tells us that Christ has instituted two sacraments in the church, so we’re going to discover why Protestants only have two sacraments, why some evangelicals don’t have any sacraments at all, and why Roman Catholics think that there are seven sacraments.
1. Two Sacraments. “Two: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.”
We have just two sacraments. Why just two?
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Text. Matthew 28:18-20
A question – “What is the Great Commission” really about?
1. Christians are to Go in Power. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.
This happened after the resurrection, when Jesus was making his post-resurrection appearances around Jerusalem, and was speaking to his disciples. He came, and spoke to them – these are the very words of the resurrected Christ. Notice firstly,
- His mighty power.
- Its source. It is given unto him, – different from any spiritual power we have, which we don’t have by right and which we cannot generate within ourselves. Christ’s power is given to him from the Father, not as a gift but as of right, for he is seated at the right hand of the father, from whence all power is derived.
- Its extent. It is all power in heaven and earth – universal power over all of creation. It is the power to forgive sins, to save souls, to heal bodies, to intercede for his people, to reign over heaven and earth, to set up and to remove kingdoms, Matt. 9:6, Luke 19:12, Ps. 110:1, Acts 10:36,
The Salty Scrivener 