Is Preaching Mandatory?

Dan Miller
Do you believe that Scripture demands that the church have regular times in which one man (the pastor) stands before the assembly and preaches the Word without interruption or discussion?

“demands” = This is not just a practical matter or a matter of wisdom; Scripture commands it.

“preach” = Say what the Word of God says.

“without int. or disc.” = This cannot be done with a group study type format. A church that tried that, even if they maintain orthodoxy through a pleurality of elders is disobedient.

Discussion

Good Works and Social Activity

Charlie
Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
I’m interested in the nature of these “good works” that make the church (assuming, then, that the sermon on the mount is directly applicable to us) the “light of the world.”

Discussion

Two Services or Build?

Jamie Hart
Cornerstone has been at the 80% capacity mark for sometime and we have seen our growth level off. We are still a small church (averaging in the 100s) and I’m a little reluctant to go to two services at this size as it may kill our momentum (this has been my experience at another church). We have the money to remodel to get us larger sanctuary, larger foyer, but that would not include any more classrooms. To get more classrooms, we would have to build (not remodel) and that means a capital campaign…and with the economy where it is in Elkhart, I’m reluctant to do that as well.

Discussion

"He Being Dead Yet Speaketh"

georgetcc
Before he went to be with the Lord in 1985, Gordon H. Clark wrote an excellent and erudite little essay on textual criticism and Bible translation (“Logical Criticisms of Textual Criticism”). He concluded his essay with this paragraph on page 49:

Discussion

Trinity Sunday

georgetcc
Yesterday (June 7, 2009) was “Trinity Sunday.” Our pastor diverged from his exposition of Matthew’s Gospel to preach a sermon on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, and the congregation had the privilege of reciting the Athanasian Creed in place of the usual Nicene Creed during the liturgy. Do any of the other folks who post here attend churches that follow the church calendar? How did you celebrate Trinity Sunday?

Athanasian Creed

––––––––––––––––––––––––––—

1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;

Discussion

Eating Christ, Part 1

Kevin T. Bauder

NickOfTime

The Initial Confrontation

Among sacerdotalists and some sacramentalists, John 6 is considered to be the dernier mot. They see it as the definitive proof text that irrefutably demonstrates the bodily presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharistic elements. They insist that in the Eucharist, people actually eat Jesus’ flesh and drink Jesus’ blood (Jn 6:53-56).

What does the passage teach? The early part of the chapter narrates the story about Jesus feeding five thousand men (the text does not say whether women or children were present). This story includes the so-called “miracle of the loaves” in which Jesus multiplies a few loaves of bread to be able to feed the crowd.

In view of the miracle, the crowd tried to take Jesus and force Him to become their king, probably because they saw an opportunity for a government welfare program. Jesus, however, slipped away quietly. The disciples took boats and began to row to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. When they were hindered by weather, Jesus performed His miracle of walking out to the boat across the water. The story ends with their boat arriving suddenly, and apparently miraculously, near Capernaum.

In the meanwhile, the crowd was trying to figure out what had happened to Jesus. They saw the disciples leave, and they knew that Jesus was not with them. They waited for a while, but when they discerned that Jesus was gone, they decided to follow the disciples. They took boats and came to Capernaum, where they found Jesus and the disciples. Perplexed, they asked Jesus, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Jesus ignored their question. Knowing that the crowd consisted mainly of day-laborers (people who would do a day’s work for a day’s food), He told them to stop working for “food that perishes,” but to work for food that “remains to eternal life.” The point of this saying is that feeding the body does not satisfy the hunger of the soul, and the feeding of the soul is the more important of the two. These people were so impressed with a free meal that they had followed Jesus across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus wanted them to exhibit as much concern for their eternal wellbeing as for their temporal satisfaction.

Discussion

Lester Roloff

Angela Stewart
What is the general feeling in non-IFBX circles regarding the history of and the current state of Roloff’s ministries? I’ve seen bits and pieces online regarding allegations of abuse in the homes for men and women over the years, but I don’t really have any resources that would confirm (or deny) the allegations. However, the number and serious nature of the allegations does give me pause. Does anyone have any firsthand knowledge that could shed some light for me?

Discussion

Psalms, Proverbs and Doctrine

Teri Ploski
I was reading this in another forum. It strikes me as wrong, but I can’t put my finger on exactly why. First, I’ll put the question that was submitted:
Psalm 91 says God will keep us safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases.

Discussion

The sins of the father.

Marty H
I seem to recall hearing someone preach this idea at one time or another, That the sin/s of the father would carry over to his children. I also seem to recall something about so many generations.

What I wish to ask is this. Is there any such a thing spoken of in the Bible and does it mean the children will see what the father does and do the same or does it mean that the burden of the fathers sin will be placed on the backs of his offspring ?

If there is such, do you think it applys now ?

Discussion