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Psalm 117

This sermon examines the selection of the first seven deacons in the early Jerusalem church and introduces Stephen as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. It addresses the internal conflict between Hebrew and Hellenist Jews, arguing that communal sharing was a temporary necessity rather than a permanent divine ordinance, while emphasizing the importance of personal labor and spiritual discipline. The speaker distinguishes between the role of these early servants and the biblical office of deacons, highlighting the need for godly men who support the pastor's ministry of prayer, study, and teaching. Furthermore, the lesson explores Stephen's intellectual prowess and his confrontation with false accusations, illustrating how a deep knowledge of Scripture enables believers to withstand spiritual attacks and defend the truth with wisdom.

In the last fifty years, megachurches have become commonplace and are an accepted model of church even in Reformed circles (in the sense that people plant churches with the intent of rapidly growing into a megachurch). But in Christianity, the details always matter, and while God has at times caused churches to grow very quickly, this does not mean it is good to plan to create a large church. In this episode, we want to examine the trade-offs that come with large churches. Even in cases where God causes the church to grow rapidly, there are difficulties that must be dealt with. God has specific things to say about his church, why he created it, and what he expects it to accomplish. Megachurches, particularly those that are intentionally created by men, are rarely well-suited to accomplishing these goals. Please join us as we discuss this important topic. Thumbnail image by CC BY-NC 2,0 by ad.hermann on FlickrProduction of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

In this episode, Assistant Pastor Ryan Ahlenius sits down with Pastor Cogbill and John Unger to discuss a question on 1 Timothy 3:11. The ESV translates 1 Timothy 3:11 as 'their wives', although a more faithful translation would be 'the women'. Is this verse referring to an office of deaconess? How does Titus 2 shed more light on women who serve the local church? How should we understand the uses of 'deacon' in reference to Phoebe in Romans 16:1? How does RCC seek to put our conclusions into practice? Tune in to hear more.

Pastor Don's Books: https://ttwpress.com 2834 - https://www.thetruthpulpit.com

Christians can stand firm in God's truth without surrendering compassion or losing hope. Dave Jenkins concludes the September series by exploring our identity in Christ, biblical courage, speaking the truth in love, and guarding against cynicism. Discover how abiding in Christ strengthens believers for daily faithfulness through Scripture, prayer, local church fellowship, and ordinary obedience. For more from Contending for the Word, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

Lieutenant Colonel Phill Cochran spent more than two decades flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon. He flew operational missions from Misawa Air Base, Japan in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses. Later he trained the next generation of fighter pilots between 1990 and 2013 at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona and Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. His career took him around the world, including Singapore, Africa, Germany, and Korea. Lt. Col. Cochran is the father of seven, and is also a grandfather. He spent 23 years as a pastor. Now retired from military service, he has authored the book, Lessons Learned at the Speed of Sound: A Fighter Pilot's Lessons on Faith, Discipline and Trust. As we read through the Scriptures, we see the Lord Jesus using many illustrations as He taught. He used agriculture by taking examples from a mustard seed, an olive tree, different types of soil and fields that were white unto harvest. He also used illustrations of shepherding, fishing and everyday life - things with which people were familiar. In similar fashion, the apostle Paul used various vocations to drive home spiritual truth in his letters. He compared a minister of the Word to a teacher who passes on Biblical truth to others, a farmer that labors and partakes in the first of his fruits, an athlete that runs the race faithfully and finishes his course with joy and a good soldier that endures hardness. Indeed, we relate to illustrations such as these. Our guest today has written from a vantage point that is unique to him. He was a fighter pilot and has written a devotional book that draws from his everyday experiences with application that presents Biblical truth.

The sermon centers on the call to self-examination and the rejection of moral corruption, using Deuteronomy 4 as a framework to analyze the spiritual state of modern society. It argues that the nation's decline is rooted in internal sin and the acceptance of malleable, imperfect religious standards, contrasting this with the unchanging perfection of the King James Bible. The speaker draws parallels between the prohibitions against graven images in Deuteronomy and the symbolism of Baphomet, suggesting that contemporary cultural shifts, including sexual immorality and occult influences, reflect a departure from divine truth. The tone is convicting and urgent, urging believers to prioritize personal salvation and doctrinal purity over cultural engagement or conspiracy theories. The message concludes with a call to return to biblical standards of marriage and morality to reverse the spiritual decay of the nation.

The God who begins the work of salvation will bring it to completion. Dave Jenkins reflects on God's faithfulness in saving, sustaining, sanctifying, and ultimately glorifying his people. Drawing on Philippians 1:6 and Lamentations 3:22–23, he encourages believers to trust God's promises and look to him through every season of life. For more episodes of Contending for the Word Q&A, visit https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/.

BJU equips students to impact the world as they live for truth, seize opportunities and embrace life experiences. Standing on the authority of the Bible, BJU shapes heads, hearts and backbones for Christ by equipping students to lead lives of integrity and influence others for God's glory. www.bju.edu