Question #5 QUESTION. It was queried by some, how we may make our application unto Christ; not in general, but under what notion and apprehension of the person of Christ? ANSWER. Because some seem to apprehend there might be danger in terminating our worship upon the nature of Christ as a creature, I shall give you my thoughts and directions in it. First. You must observe we are to have no conceptions, in our acting of any duty, towards Christ or about him, but with respect unto his person as he is God and man in one person.

Most of the actions of our faculties, as they are actions, might have been in the state of innocency. Eating is an act Adam would have used if he had stood firm, but not eating to excess. Worship was an act that should have been performed to God in innocence, but not hypocritically. Every action is good by a physical goodness, as it is an act of the mind or hand, which have a natural goodness by creation, but every action is not morally good. The physical goodness of the action depends on God, the moral evil on the creature.

When we look at the pace of our modern world, with its relentless noise and constant distractions, it is easy for our spiritual lives to become shallow and reactive. But if we turn to the Puritans—masters of the soul like John Owen, Richard Baxter, and William Gurnall—we discover a timeless truth: the mind is the primary battleground of the faith. They understood that whatever captures our thoughts will ultimately capture our desires, shape our character, and govern our worship. Far from being a passive space, the mind must be actively guarded against the subtle intrusions of worldliness, the sluggishness of mental ease, and the intrusive noise of unwanted distractions. Tonight, we are going to explore this rich Puritan tradition of spiritual psychology, discovering how taking control of our inner thought-life is the essential key to cultivating a heart that truly loves God and finds lasting peace.

God's people must really repent which will not be only outward and focused on themselves but inward and focused on God. Repentance is to and for the LORD.

An appropriate gesture of praise and prayer in worship as God's people includes humbly lifting our hands to Him in heaven. You May Lift Your Hands to God in Prayer and Praise.

It is so good to give God all your appreciative attention all day because He is your highest help and hope all the time. Glorify God. Because God is so greatly good! You should praise God all the day long. Because it is so good for you! It's So Good for You to Always Give Glory to God.

Mark Hogan teaches on John Owen's final rule for congregational meetings, emphasizing that elders alone have the biblical authority to call such meetings and that members are obligated to attend unless providentially hindered. Drawing from Acts 6 (the appointment of deacons) and Acts 14 (Paul appointing elders and reporting to the Antioch church), Hogan argues that congregational meetings are necessary for admitting and dismissing members, resolving church discipline cases, electing officers, approving budgets, and addressing problems. He applies this by urging members not to view these meetings as burdens but as fulfilling their duty to Christ and honoring their elders. Hogan then suggests two practical changes for Grace Baptist Church: first, removing the constitutional provision allowing 15 members to force a congregational meeting, as it undermines elder authority; second, considering whether church discipline cases should be handled on a separate day rather than on the Lord's Day, to avoid distracting from worship and meditation on the preached word.

Recorded For the Free Grace Broadcaster Summer 2026 Issue 276 The Free Grace Broadcaster is a quarterly digest of Christ-centered sermons and articles from prior centuries. Each issue focuses on a different theme. The FGB is useful for personal study, discipleship, family worship, and sermon preparation.

The sermon centers on the urgent call to faithfully preach and receive the Word of God, as commanded in 2 Timothy 4:1–5, warning of a future time when people will reject sound doctrine due to 'itching ears'—a craving for pleasurable, self-centered messages over biblical truth. It exposes the danger of entertainment-driven worship and false teachers who cater to fleshly desires, promoting prosperity and comfort instead of repentance, holiness, and the cross. The preacher emphasizes that true ministry requires watchfulness, endurance of affliction, and faithful evangelism, even amid widespread rejection, urging both pastors and believers to remain grounded in Scripture and to fulfill their God-given ministries with integrity. Drawing on historical examples like the Puritans and theological insights from Calvin and Barclay, the message calls for a return to simple, biblically faithful worship and teaching, rejecting distractions that compromise spiritual focus. Ultimately, it is a call to resist cultural trends, embrace the fullness of the gospel, and remain steadfast in truth, knowing that only the Word of God leads to salvation and prepares believers to meet Christ.