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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.”...
July 13, 2012 by Jeff Jones | Category: The Gospel | Tags: Kingdom, Culture, Discipleship, Humility, oprah
The Kingdom of God is a central theme of Jesus’ preaching. In Christian circles, we can become a little deadened to the true weight of this idea. We need to ask, and really consider, this question: what is a kingdom? It’s a place or a realm that is ruled by a king. Canada is, legally, a kingdom, because we are ruled by a king or queen. The United States is not ...
Keep ReadingJuly 7, 2012 by Jeff Jones | Category: Devotionals | Tags: Gospel, Sovereignty, History, Suffering
Mark 1:14-15: This is the first record of the content of Jesus’ preaching: this, here, is the message of Jesus. What I want to look at in this devotional is Jesus’ first phrase and what it says about who and what Jesus is: 'The time is fulfilled,' and what that says about Jesus’ lordship over history....
Keep ReadingJune 29, 2012 by Jeff Jones | Category: Theology | Tags: lamb of god, Baptism, john the baptist, Repentance, Atonement
In Mark 1, verses 9-12, we find what really is a rather strange picture, if you think about it. Jesus Christ, who we confess to be sinless and perfect in all his ways, undergoes immersion, water baptism, at the hands of John. That’s a remarkable thing, because John’s baptism was for repentance. It was a sign of rededication and turning away from evil. Why, then, was Je...
Keep ReadingJune 16, 2012 by Jeff Jones | Category: The Gospel | Tags: wilderness, desert, mark, sufficiency of christ, john the baptist, Grace
The wilderness is a dangerous place, because it defies our efforts to master it. Even when you've done everything humanly possible to keep it under control, it can still kill you....
Keep ReadingJune 9, 2012 by Jeff Jones | Category: The Gospel | Tags: Kingdom, Gospel, exorcism, silence, demons, mark, humiliation
One of the most interesting parts of the Gospel of Mark is the way Jesus deals with Satan’s forces. In the very first chapter, in verses 21 to 28, we see Jesus encounter a demon. We see an exorcism, as Jesus sends the demon away. What’s remarkable about this incident is not the fact of the exorcism, but the manner in which it is done...
Keep ReadingJune 2, 2012 by Clint Humfrey | Category: Devotionals | Tags: church facility, sight-lines, charles spurgeon, st. john lutheran church, alexandra centre
Sometimes a change of facility can mean a change in the logistics of ministry. This is what we anticipate with our move from the Alexandra Centre to St John Lutheran Church. Now visitors can find seats. Classes meeting in hallways can sit comfortably in classrooms. Leaving the building after church will feel less like being a part of a herd of cattle in a crowding alley....
Keep ReadingMay 18, 2012 by Clint Humfrey | Category: Life Application | Tags: Gender, equality, Complementarianism, egalitarianism, sex, interchangeable, unity & diversity, Trinity
“Anything you can do, I can do, better”. That’s how the saying goes. Or is it a song? Whether or not you can do things better, is it true that anything anyone else can do, you can do? Are we all simply interchangeable parts in this world? The voices of our culture tell us that if we remove all the barriers to opportunity, then anyone can do anything. That is the a...
Keep ReadingMay 11, 2012 by Tom Cottrell | Category: The Gospel | Tags: Law, Gospel, Confession, assurance of pardon, lutheran, order of matins, catechism
Tom Cottrell recently posted this as a response to a discussion on legalism in our church forum. With his permission, we’re re-posting it here....
Keep ReadingApril 29, 2012 by Jeff Jones | Category: Theology | Tags: Acts, Ecclesiology, church building
Calvary Grace Church is moving! Our time at the Alexandra Centre is coming to an end. This past week, we signed an agreement that, as of June 1, 2012, will allow us to use the facilities belonging to St. John Lutheran Church in the community of Bridgeland, just north of the Bow River outside the downtown core. This will involve a slight service time change, as our main ser...
Keep ReadingApril 27, 2012 by Jeff Jones | Category: Devotionals | Tags: what we sing, now why this fear, augustus toplady, Worship, music, ben hopman, Gospel, family worship
If you've ever wondered what kind of music we sing at Calvary Grace and haven't had a chance to visit, here is your opportunity! We're going to start a series of posts here on the church blog that links to examples of songs we sing at our church. Our hope is that it not only will highlight edifying songs for Christians beyond our church, but that it will also point fami...
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