The Form of Sound Words

Catechetical Preaching is an honored tradition stretching back to the Apostolic era.  Paul exhorts Timothy to hold fast to the “form of sounds words” (2 Tim 1:13).  Hebrews 5:12 speaks of the “first principles of the oracles of God.”

The Puritan worthy, Thomas Watson, understands the value of this ministry method and expresses himself as follows:

To preach, and not to catechise, is to build without a foundation. This way of catechising is not novel, it is apostolical. The primitive church had their forms of catechism: so much those phrases imply, a ‘form of sound words,’ 2 Tim. 1:13. and ‘the first principles of the oracles of God,’ Heb. 5:12.; and since the church had their catechumenoi, as Grotius and Erasmus observe, many of the ancient fathers have written for it, Fulgentius, Austin, Theodoret, Lactantius, and others. God hath given great success to it. By this laying down of grounds of religion catechistically, Christians have been clearly instructed and wondrously built up in the Christian faith; insomuch, that Julian the apostate, seeing the great success of catechising, did put down all schools and places of public literature, and instructing of youth.   Watson, T. (1855). The Select Works of the Rev. Thomas Watson, Comprising His Celebrated Body of Divinity, in a Series of Lectures on the Shorter Catechism, and Various Sermons and Treatises (p. 8). Robert Carter & Brothers.

Introduction – 02 – Of Fruits and Roots

Why catechize God’s sheep?  Because the Word must be “sounded down” into our souls before roots can be sent down into the ground of God’s grace.  Good preaching is like a rooting hormone, it stimulates the growth of roots of righteousness (Prov 12:12) which enable the Believer to be grounded and settled in the faith (Col 1:21-24).

A. W. Tozer expresses this need is his classic pithy style:

A tree can weather almost any storm if its root is sound, but when the fig tree which our Lord cursed “dried up from the roots” it immediately “withered away” (Mark 11:20–21). A church that is soundly rooted cannot be destroyed, but nothing can save a church whose root is dried up. No stimulation, no advertising campaigns, no gifts of money and no beautiful edifice can bring back life to the rootless tree.  Tozer, A. W. (1986). The Root of the Righteous. (p. 5). WingSpread.

Introduction – 01 – Explanation of the Concept of a Catechism

The Upper Room Christian Assembly Catechism (URCAC) project is introduced in this study. 

The essence of good catechizing is but the exercise of a minister’s God-given duty to “sound down” the Word of God – to echo the Voice of heaven via a thorough, systematic, plan of public preaching.   This time-honored tradition has served the Saints of many generations and proven itself to be an effective instrument of instruction that helps the Believer to develop Roots of Righteousness. 

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the discipline of catechizing the Church should be experienced as an engaging encounter with the Word of God that draws from the efforts of our godly predecessors while flowing in the liberty of catering the project to the Spirit’s knowledge of our present needs.

Sobriety for All #3

Every Good Thing That Is In You

The concept of a Christian or a Christian Community encountering an unsolvable problem is a contradiction in terms because in Jesus are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3) and we are complete in Him (Col 2:10). Paul’s remarkable letter to his friend Philemon sets before us the application of this truth. 

This study invites you to follow the beautiful process by which one man (Philemon) dug deep, discovered, and displayed the treasure of Jesus which forgives as we have been forgiven, which receives one who once was ones defrauder but is now profitable as ones brother.

These inspired principles presented in Philemon’s not-so-private letter will be sufficient to meet any crisis for the treasures of Jesus are found when we reach by the Spirit for every good thing that is in us in Christ Jesus.

Sobriety for All #2

Our older Christian Brothers remain the focus in this study.  Paul’s directive to Timothy regarding the use of a little wine [οἴνῳ ὀλίγῳ] implies Paul’s confidence in Timothy’s commitment to moderation. 

Christian liberty must not become a license for excess.  We count on our older Brothers to set the example of ruling over the seduction of alcoholic spirits, their own spirits, and every evil spirit.

From morning to night, the lure of liquor and license must be resisted so that the love of God and neighbor can rule in one’s heart.

Acts 1:4–5  And, [Jesus] being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.  5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

This study attempts to give a sweeping overview of the Biblical Theology embedded in Jesus’ terminology: The Promise of the Father.   From the prayer of Moses to the promise of Joel; from the New Covenant language of Ezekiel to the dawn of John Baptist’s ministry, a special Promise gains prominence.

Jesus’ incarnation and ministry further prepare the people of God for its manifestation by demonstrating the power of the Promise in Himself, while paying the price of His blood, so that all God’s children might be forgiven and receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

As the moment drew near when Jesus would say, “It is finished,” He not only spoke of His death and resurrection, He also pointed to the coming Promise of the Father – The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - as if to say, “Once I accomplish My redemptive work, do not start your witness until I send the Promise of the Father.  I have finished, but don’t you start until you receive the Power of the Holy Spirit.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

Sobriety for All #1

Older men are the first of six classes of Christians whom Paul instructs Timothy to exhort as to the critical qualities of their character.  The need for sobriety emerges as the core discipline upon which their entire Christian testimony is to be built. 

When the remaining 5 classes of Christians are subsequently addressed, it becomes apparent that older men are expected to set the example of sobriety so as to establish behaviour which can be confidently emulated by all.

If the Church’s older men fail the sobriety test, it is little wonder to find the entire Body unable to walk a straight line. 

Richard Lenski - Christianity lends balance of mind to all its members, old and young, men and women, and fortifies them against all flighty deceivers who would unsettle them. Lenski, R. C. H. (1937). The interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Colossians, to the Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Titus and to Philemon (p. 912).

Without Spot or Wrinkle

Imagine a Body of Believers (a Christian Church) so serious about their calling to be witnesses for Jesus that not a one of them defiles their garment (Zech 3:3-4 w/ Rev 3:4).  That would indeed be a glorious church without spot or wrinkle (Eph 5:25-27). 

Without question this is an exceedingly high calling (Philip 3:14), but it is in keeping with our basic commission to continue what Jesus began to do and teach (Acts 1:1,8). 

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, each member of Jesus’ Church can learn the behaviour befitting their special place in the Body.  When all our lives adorn the Gospel of Jesus Christ such that our good doctrine is accompanied by a good life, we collectively rise to the radiance of Jesus’ glorious Church (Titus 2:1-10).

Robert (Bobby) C. Freeman (1955-2013) served our Lord for over 30 years as the pastor of the Sand Hill Bible Church in Auburn, AL.  Brother Bobby is now in the presence of his Master, but his life and message continue to impact those with ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand.

As Job needed a wise counselor to help him navigate responsibly through the strenuous times of personal suffering (Job 33:23), so will all Christians need sound wisdom when their journey enters seasons of difficulty (2 Tim 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12).  Thanks be to God that His Word is our guide (Psalm 119:105) and His Spirit is our Strength (Eph 3:16; 2 Cor 4:16).

The Upper Room Christian Assembly was blessed to receive the ministry of God's servant Bobby as he declared the Word of God in the strength of the Spirit for such a times as this. We highly recommend an attentive hearing of this anointed message.