Take Your Stand

The New Testament gives three main purposes for the church: worship, discipleship, and displaying God’s wisdom. Although these are purposes of the universal body of Christ, they are manifested through local congregations. This episode explores each purpose as well as their implications.

Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014. 69, Kindle. They talk about the church being God’s temple in 1 Corinthians 3.

D. A. Carson. “Preface,” in Worship by the Book. Ed. D. A. Carson, Timothy Keller, Mark Ashton, and Kent Hughes. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010. 49, Kindle.

Colin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman. Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ is Essential. Wheaton: Crossway, 2021. 47, Kindle.

Bob Kauflin. Worship Matters. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008. 344, Kindle.

Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop. The Compelling Community: Where God’s Power Makes a Church Attractive. Wheaton: Crossway, 2015. 22-23, Kindle.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

What defines a local church? I explore five aspects that distinguish a local church from any other group of believers. These points then flow into other implications for a congregation, points that will be covered in future episodes.

Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, (Chicago, Moody Publishers, 1999), 455, Kindle. Ryrie was the one who introduced me to the deeper meaning of “ekklesia.”

Robert Bruce Jamieson III, The Path to Being a Pastor: A Guide for the Aspiring, (Wheaton: Crossway, 2021).

Colin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman, Rediscover Church: Why Why the Body of Christ is Essential, (Wheaton: Crossway, 2021), 73-74, Kindle.

Sinclair Ferguson, “John Calvin on the True Church,” Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, Inc, 2016. https://www.reformation21.org/blogs/john-calvin-on-the-true-church.php.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

What’s the difference between creeds and confessions, and are they helpful to the church today? And what about church covenants? I give an overview of the distinctives of these documents and explain their benefits for contemporary believers. They can be helpful tools that summarize our faith and convictions. Specifically with covenants, they also remind church members of their commitments to one another.

“Apostle’s Creed,” by EMU Music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVyUiqvbmBw

Holcomb, Justin. Know the Creeds and Councils. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014. 13, Kindle.

Trueman, Carl. “The Value and Roll of Creeds and Confessions.” The Gospel Coalition. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-value-and-role-of-creeds-and-confessions/.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Is it appropriate to sing new music to the Lord? When we examine Scripture, we see the emphatic affirmative answer. As we walk in a dynamic, on-going relationship with the Lord, so our music should reflect this relationship rooted in God’s deliverance.

Anthony L. Chute, Nathan A. Finn, and Michael A. G. Haykin, The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement, (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2015), 52-54, Kindle.

Douglas J. Moo, The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon, (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eardmens Publishing Co, 2008), 61, Kindle.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Although baptism may seem fairly straightforward, there are two different views about what the practice represents. As a result of those theological understandings, there’s a variety of how believers actually baptize. I give an overview of believer’s baptism and Paedobaptism, then give a Scriptural analysis for why I believe the former most closely aligns with the explicit teaching of the New Testament.

“To a Thousand Generations: Infant Baptism—Covenant Mercy for the People of God,” by Douglas Wilson:

https://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Generations-Baptism-Covenant-Children/dp/1885767242

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

How do we know that God really accepts believers even when they sin? Hebrews 10 gives us two clear reasons for such confidence. As we reflect on each aspect, we find peace and assurance as we seek to grow in our faith.

“Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ For Sinners and Sufferers,” by Dane C. Ortlund:

https://www.crossway.org/books/gentle-and-lowly-hcj/

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Many times, church membership is presented almost as a Biblical command. But is this accurate? I examine what membership is and the Biblical reasons why church membership is important for the believer, even if not a direct command.

Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible For All It’s Worth, Fourth Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014. 69, Kindle.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

As we deal with pain and sorrow, we search for a refuge—someone or something we turn to for comfort, security, and rest. The only Refuge which offers lasting peace is the Lord Jesus Christ. I share some examples of false refuges, then conclude with an encouragement to look to Jesus for our comfort and peace.

Psalm 11 ESV by the Corner Room:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7fYvt1PAV8

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture speaks of a Kingdom over which Christ will reign, but where is this Kingdom and when will it come? There are three main views on the subject, and I give a description of each. I then conclude with a defense of the Pre-Millennial view and a few notes of how the doctrine effects our lives now.

This article gives more details about the Post-Millennial view:

https://postmillennialworldview.com/2021/04/16/favorite-postmillennial-verses/

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved

The term “the world” can refer to the earth, humanity, or an ungodly mindset, depending on the context. I share some Biblical examples of each of these then move into a discussion of worldliness. God doesn’t call believers to withdraw from society, but He does charge them to guard against adopting ungodly attitudes and heart desires.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.