Thoughts on Advent (1): Preparation
We are now in the Advent season. Advent means “coming”, and for Christians we primarily celebrate the first coming of Christ: the incarnation of the Son of God ...
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March 29, 2019 by Jeff Jones
So churches need to try and test the character and maturity of their deacon nominees prior to their appointment by the elders, a process that requires time and familiarity. That’s the deacon’s examination....
March 22, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Biblical deacons, then, are to be examined by the assembly. That’s at the heart of the deacon’s nomination for office....
March 15, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Deacons, again, are to guard the unity of the church and the ministry of the elders from the demands of practical problems. Appreciating such problems requires the careful definition of each deacon’s role....
March 8, 2019 by Jeff Jones
There is only one qualification Paul mentions to Timothy that is not found in Acts 6, and it is that qualification we now turn to examine: the deacon’s purity....
February 28, 2019 by Jeff Jones
This combination of a practical, nuts-and-bolts focus and a separation from doctrinal and pastoral oversight ministry might tempt a church to overlook the piety and conviction of a candidate. That would be a grave mistake....
February 22, 2019 by Jeff Jones
The very fact that this responsibility requires dedicated attention should tell us that it may not come easily, and that not just anyone will be able to fulfill it. It’s no surprise, then, that the third qualification emphasized by the apostles in Acts 6 is wisdom......
February 15, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Having seen last week that the first qualification of a potential deacon is a solid reputation, we now turn to look at the second qualification found in Acts chapter 6: being “full of the Spirit.” Of all the qualifications, this one is perhaps most at risk of being misunderstood in the present day. What does “filled with the Spirit” mean?...
February 8, 2019 by Jeff Jones
Now that we’ve looked at the intent, mission, and objective of the New Testament deacon, it’s time to look at what kind of Christians fill this office. What are the qualifications of those called to be deacons?...
February 1, 2019 by Jeff Jones
We see in Acts 6 that even in the earliest church the temptation to be distracted from this ministry is strong. The apostles put it in blunt terms: “it is not right that we should give up the preaching of the Word of God to serve tables.”...
December 30, 2016 by Gavin Peacock | Category: Life Application | Tags: Advent, Repent, Trust, Hope
We are now in the Advent season. Advent means “coming”, and for Christians we primarily celebrate the first coming of Christ: the incarnation of the Son of God ...
Keep ReadingDecember 30, 2016 by Gavin Peacock | Category: Life Application | Tags: Heart, treasured, pondering
In the gospel of Luke, along with a multitude of the heavenly host, an angel announces the birth of Christ to local shepherds. The same shepherds then go to Bethlehem to see the child, recounting the angelic visitation to Mary, Joseph and anyone else who would hear. There was no doubt much excitement and activity around the manger. ...
Keep ReadingDecember 30, 2016 by Gavin Peacock | Category: Life Application | Tags: Jesus, King, anticipation
One thing she said really struck me: “In those days we had to wait for things a lot more than we do now and we put up with hardship along the way. There is something good about anticipation”. Whether it was waiting and saving to buy a house, waiting and saving oneself for marriage or waiting for the war (and rations!) to end there was a goodness about eagerly antic...
Keep ReadingDecember 30, 2016 by Gavin Peacock | Tags: Destroy, works of the devil, Sent, Love
Christmas Day celebrates the birth and appearing of Christ. We think of his incarnation, Immanuel (God with us), the Word made flesh, the Son of God made son of Mary. But why did baby Jesus appear? John tells us: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). ...
Keep ReadingDecember 30, 2016 by Gavin Peacock | Category: Life Application | Tags: King, Adoption, Kingdom
This kind of adopting love also fuels the advance of the kingdom. John says, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love” (John 15:9). Part of abiding in this love is to obey Jesus: “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). And this means bearing fruit that abides, i.e. the fruit of conversions (John 15:16)....
Keep ReadingNovember 25, 2016 by Terry Stauffer | Category: Life Application | Tags: Idolatry, Thankfulness, Goodness, confess
An idol can be a dream or desire for something to be different: “If only I had a better job”; “If only I could find the right life partner”; “If only my parents had loved me more”; “If only my church would live up to my expectations”; “If only my recommendations had been followed.” These wishes can haunt us and dominate our lives. Can we trust God with ...
Keep ReadingNovember 18, 2016 by Terry Stauffer | Category: Life Application | Tags: idol, sovereign providence, Heart
Hidden idols may not reveal themselves for what they are until they are violently wrenched from our hands. When we face a debilitating illness or injury; when our career is abruptly ended by a layoff; when a close relationship is shattered by separation; when a loved one is torn from us by sudden death ...
Keep ReadingNovember 12, 2016 by Terry Stauffer | Category: Life Application | Tags: Idolatry, rebellion, foolishness, Idols
In Romans 3:20, at the end of his shocking description of the universality and horror of sin, the Apostle Paul used the phrase from Psalm 36:1, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” When there is no fear of God before our eyes, we will turn from him to idols. ...
Keep ReadingNovember 4, 2016 by Terry Stauffer | Category: Life Application | Tags: Idolatry, Worship
One of the key New Testament texts that teaches this truth is Romans 1:18-32. When we exchange the worship of God for the worship of man-made things ...
Keep ReadingOctober 28, 2016 by Paul Toews | Category: Life Application | Tags: true, honorable, just, commendable, worthy of praise
Do you find this difficult to do in today’s word? I do. The world bombards our senses with sexual humour and innuendo, LGBT agendas and concerns, messages of greed and self-indulgence just to name a few things that are anything but what Paul is describing in Phil. 4:8. We are besieged by those things that would appeal to our sinful nature and capture our thoughts....
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