Class #3 Notes – Humanity and Sin

PSBC family,

I want to tell everyone how much I enjoyed our discipleship class on Sunday night. I’m posting my full notes here for those who would like to review what we went over, or in case you weren’t able to be there and want to read over what we studied.

3 – Humanity and Sin

This upcoming Sunday night we’ll be looking what we believe about Jesus Christ. Be there if you can!

God’s Attributes / The Trinity Notes

I’m so thankful for those who came out to the second session of our series on Christian Theology. I know that I covered a ton of information, so I’m posting my notes here if you would like to look over them.

Doctrine of God

Hope to see you this coming Sunday night!

Theology Class Session 1 (Doctrine of Revelation) Notes & Homework

Last night we had a great first session of our class on “Christian Theology.”  For those who were there, thanks for making it a great first session. For those who weren’t there, you’ll have no problem jumping right in to the class next week! If you have any comments or questions about last night’s class, or about the class in general, put them in the comments here or send me an e-mail.

As promised, in this blogpost I’m attaching my full notes from last night, and then I’ve linked to some resources for further study of the topics that we looked at. 

Here are the notes –  1-introduction-revelation1

Jesus’ View of the Bible

In our discussion of the authority and inspiration of the Bible, we looked briefly at Jesus’ understanding of the Bible. Due to time constraints, though, we were only able to briefly discuss Jesus’ view of the scripture of his day (the Old Testament).

Therefore, I’m linking to a helpful blog post by J.P. Moreland in which he discusses this topic. 

What Did Jesus Believe About the Scriptures?   by J P Moreland

The Canonization of Scripture

Also at the end of our time together, the question was asked about how the 66 books that we have in our Bible were decided on to be included in the Bible. This was a great question; the issue that it addresses is the canonization of Scripture.  We discussed the issue briefly, but I wish we would have had time to address it in more detail.  Since we ran out of time, I’m attaching an article on the canonization of Scripture. It’s pretty long and detailed, but it is the best resource I have found on the internet that addresses this issue from an Evangelical perspective.

“The Holy Canon of Scripture“ by J. Hampton Keathley, III

Finally, on the issue of canonization, I have an audio file of Dr. Bruce Ware teaching on the doctrine of the canonization of Scripture. It’s about 30 minutes long, and if you would like to get a copy of it let me know and I’ll make you a CD. Don’t worry – it’s from Biblical Training.org and they give permission for churches to use their resources in this way.

Happy New Year!

I know that it’s a few days late, but I wanted to say “Happy New Year” to the Poplar Spring family. I hope that in 2009 we’ll see more posting here at the blog, since I believe that this tool can be used by God to help us grow in 2009. 

To that end, I’ll link to an online article by Don Whitney, who is professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. I’d encourge you to read it and think about these questions as we begin 2009. 

Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year

World Magazine Article – Children of the State

World Magazine, which has often been mentioned by Pastor Steven as he shares a current event with our church, is a magazine that covers national and international news from a Christian perspective.

Pastor Steven found this article in the November 1/8 issue interesting, and thought that it might be of interest to our church family as well.

Children of the State

by Joel Belz

Pastor Steven on the Presidential Election

Church Family,

 

Some have already asked me my opinion about the election of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States. We must first acknowledge the incredible significance of America overwhelmingly electing an African-American as the President. He easily carried the popular vote and won the Electoral College vote almost by a landslide. We as Christians should celebrate the fact that, as the New York Times story reported, the “. . . Racial Barrier Falls.” All Americans will for the first time in our history look to an African-American as our President.

 

However, the momentous significance of Obama’s election is overshadowed for many of us by his political stance on issues that are even more significant. The fight for the sanctity of the life of unborn babies and the struggle to protect marriage against redefinition in unbiblical terms just got harder for us. President-Elect Obama has publically announced his intention to sign the Freedom of Choice Act into law and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. The fight for what is right on moral issues will be harder than ever and we must persevere in the battle to defend the lived of the unborn.

 

In light of these and other issues that we might disagree on we must remember two things. First, God is sovereign.  His sovereignty and grace call for our diligence to both submit ourselves to the governing authorities and work toward justice in every way possible. Second we must pray. It is our duty to pray for our President-Elect and ask for God to work in his life to make him a godly man and leader. In the words of Albert Mohler:

 

. . . we must commit ourselves to pray for this new President, for his wife and family, for his administration, and for the nation. We are commanded to pray for rulers, and this new President faces challenges that are not only daunting but potentially disastrous. May God grant him wisdom. He and his family will face new challenges and the pressures of this office. May God protect them, give them joy in their family life, and hold them close together.

We must pray that God will protect this nation even as the new President settles into his role as Commander in Chief, and that God will grant peace as he leads the nation through times of trial and international conflict and tension.

We must pray that God would change President-Elect Obama’s mind and heart on issues of our crucial concern. May God change his heart and open his eyes to see abortion as the murder of the innocent unborn, to see marriage as an institution to be defended, and to see a host of issues in a new light. We must pray this from this day until the day he leaves office. God is sovereign, after all.

 

America has chosen her new President, and we as Christians must commit ourselves to pray for him even now.

 

As I have often said from the pulpit, a new President will not bring about the changes needed in the hearts and lives of Americans (no matter which candidate may have won). What America needs is a revival in her churches and a great turning back to the Lord in our homes. This will begin as God’s people repent of sin, commit to holiness, and live for the glory of our King, Jesus. May God show us mercy and grace as we continue to serve Him.

My brothers, these things ought not to be so…

This is a short film done by Desiring God, and I think that it vividly illustrates the admonition given in James 3…

2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

ESV Study Bible

For some time Pastor Steven has been using the English Standard Version (ESV) as the version of Scripture from which he preaches. This month the publishers of the ESV have released the ESV Study Bible. From what I have seen of this study Bible, it is the most thorough and accurate study Bible out there on the market.

Here is a short video giving an overview of some of the features of this new study Bible.

If you’re looking for a good study Bible consider the new ESV Study Bible. The best prices I have found are at the Westminster Bookstore online.

P.S. – I do want to say that we should never rely on the notes in a study Bible to the exclusion of reading the Word for ourselves. The notes in your study Bible are not inspired and inerrant – only the scripture is!

“Mighty to Save”

Last Wednesday night (Oct. 1) Jaime introduced us to a new praise song entitled “Mighty to Save.” It’s one that Pastor Steven and I have been singing around the office for several weeks, and so I’m glad that Jaime had us sing it, and I hope we get to sing it again together soon.

Laura Story has a recording of the song that has been playing on local Christian radio, and she is kind enough to have the song available to listen to on her website – www.laurastorymusic.com When you pull the page up, look down at the bottom and there is a music player (It’s under the “Join Our E-mail list). Simply “press play to listen” and go to the third song, and you can listen to “Mighty to Save” as much as you want! (Her other songs are good as well)

I thought this would be a helpful way for us to learn this song together. Here are the words to the song.

Everyone needs compassion – Love that’s never failing 

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness – The kindness of a Saviour 

The hope of nations

Chorus: Saviour – He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save – He is mighty to save

Forever – Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave – Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me – All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow – Everything I believe in

Now I surrender

(BRIDGE) Shine your light – And let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory – Of the risen King Jesus

Shine your light – And let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory – Of the risen King

CCLI Song #4591782 © 2006 Hillsong Publishing Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License #1719545      

Notes from last Wednesday night’s teaching

God Sent His One and Only Son to Die for Us

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . .  John 3:16

 

Review:

1.      God is Our Creator

·         This means I am responsible to Him

2.      I am a Sinner

·         This means I stand condemned

3.      God Sent His Son to die in my place

 

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.   Ephesians 1:7

 

REDEMPTION THROUGH THE SON PROPHESIZED

·         In the Garden of Eden  – Genesis 3:15-21

·         In the OT Sacrificial System – Hebrews 9:11-15

 

REDEMPTION THROUGH THE SON PROVIDED

·         Romans 3:21-26  

·         In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  1 John 4:10  

·         You were ransomed not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.   1 Peter 1:18-19  

 

REDEMPTION THROUGH THE SON PROCLAIMED

·         Isaiah 61:1-3  

·          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, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.   1 Cor 2:1-5  

 

O What A Savior!

Isaiah 53:3-12

3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.