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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.”...
August 5, 2016 by Jeff Jones | Category: Life Application
God is love! Every child in Sunday School knows this. But why is God love? In fact, this is a staggering statement-and one that only the Christian, who believes in the Triune nature of God, can make....
Keep ReadingJuly 29, 2016 by Paul Toews | Category: Devotionals
Who can think of the glory of Christ but not think that he who was humbled has been glorified above all things (Phil. 2:8-10) with a heavenly glory that we cannot yet see....
Keep ReadingJuly 22, 2016 by Paul Toews | Category: The Gospel | Tags: Glory, humanity, Mediator
The fact that Jesus took on the form of a man so that he could effectively mediate between man and God is one of the greatest truths we can think about....
Keep ReadingJuly 15, 2016 by Paul Toews | Category: Devotionals | Tags: Faith, Glory, Hope, Meditation
In scripture we read that Christ is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4). He makes the invisible God visible (Col. 1:15). God is glorious and in beholding Christ we behold that glory. In Christ, God himself, his Being and the mystery of his existence in three distinct persons, was gloriously revealed to believers, and the light of the knowledge of these truths dispelled all those...
Keep ReadingJuly 8, 2016 by Paul Toews | Category: Life Application | Tags: Diligence, Duty, Glory of Christ, Pursuit of Holiness, Battling Sin
There is a diligence required of the believer that results in a rich entrance into the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:10-11). A diligence in what? A diligence in the pursuit of holiness. That is, we need to grow in grace through the means that the Lord has established for our growth....
Keep ReadingJuly 1, 2016 by Paul Toews | Category: Life Application | Tags: Glory, Owen, Spiritual
Having read through The Glory of Christ by John Owen I have some questions. Has "look to Christ", or "behold Christ" become nothing more than a platitude? If you are told to "look to Christ" are you disappointed, hoping for something more? This month I want us to look to Christ and behold his glory, together, for perhaps the reason these statements have lost their savor...
Keep ReadingJune 24, 2016 by Clint Humfrey | Category: Life Application | Tags: Like-minded, Sacrifice, Unity
There are few things that all people across the political and social spectrum can agree on. But these days, we all agree that we can't agree. We all suffer from 'outrage fatigue' and the divisions in our world seem more immovable than ever before. Civil discourse is neither civil nor discourse....
Keep ReadingJune 10, 2016 by Clint Humfrey | Category: Life Application | Tags: Building, Decision, Will
Calvary Grace Church is faced with a decision to make by the end of June. We have to decide whether we will express 'our intent to purchase' the building which we currently rent. In this newsletter, I want to share a little bit about what the remaining timeline looks like as we seek to pray, discern and decide....
Keep ReadingJune 3, 2016 by Clint Humfrey | Category: Church Governance | Tags: Building, Investment, Property
Thoughts on conflicting views about church buildings, the strategic importance of buildings, and strategic Christians in Spiritual warfare....
Keep ReadingMay 27, 2016 by Terry Stauffer | Category: Theology | Tags: Assurance, Holiness, Righteousness
I've been thinking about the apparent tension between having confidence that we are safely Christian ...
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