Legacy 2013 Sola Gratia Conference

Join me at Legacy 2013 in Chi-Town. Register by Sunday for discount!

Now Chris Broussard's in Gay Agenda Line of Fire—Who's Next?

It's happening again, and it’s a bad rerun. A Christian in the public eye is asked about his/her position on homosexuality. S/he responds with biblical accuracy. The media, then, recasts the Christian’s response from being an answer to an unprompted question into an aggressive in-your-face homophobic attack. Then they (and the left) intolerantly attack the Christian for having a biblical belief. Anybody remember what happened to Dan Cathy, owner of Chick-fil-a when the left took his answer to a question about homosexuality from an interview in the Baptist Press? The article begins by stating that some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. Cathy replies, "Well, guilty as charged." When asked about the company's position here's his alleged hateful homophobic attack. "We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.” Hmmm, did I miss something? It's okay to support gay marriage but hateful to support the definition of marriage embraced by most of world history.

Now it’s Chris Broussard's turn to sit in the left’s hot seat and experience the left’s intolerance of Christians.

I had a chance to briefly meet him at the Legacy Conference in Chicago. He’s a solid believer who really loves Jesus. Check out his clear truth-in-love speaking biblical response. And see whose response is judgmental. Warning - the radio host is very crass.

101 Answers to Singleness, Dating, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage 1 Cor 7:25-40 Sermon Outline

To Marry or Not to Marry or Even How to Marry Are the Real Questions

Sermon Outline

I thank God for how well this three part sermon series was received. To hear it you have to visit our church website CFBC.

Also please pray with me. There is a book publisher interested in helping me get all 101 answers in print. 

Here's the sermon outline.

The Word of God offers answers to questions about singleness, dating, marriage, divorce and remarriage a whole lot better than anything we can get from the world’s wisdom. The Corinthians had many of the same relational struggles that we face today and the good news is that the Word of God in 1 Cor 7 answers them.

1. Should singles in general receive wise counsel regarding the decision to stay single or to get married and if so, then how should they pursue marriage? 1 Cor 7:25
2. If you are thinking you’d like to get married, have you carefully considered the signs of our times, and asked yourself if this would be a good time to start a family? 7:26
3. Are you consumed by the priority principle in vv. 17-24 “Contently Serve God in the Portion Jesus gave you and the Status in which the Father called you”?
4. If you have been divorced, is it a sin in every case if you remarry? 1 Cor 7:28a
5. Do you have a biblical view of marriage or are you in love with Hollywood’s and Motown’s romanticized version of marriage? 1 Cor 7:28b
6. Have you learned to relate to the world from an eternal perspective? 1 Cor 7:29-31
7. Having an eternal perspective will guard you from overvaluing temporal blessings and strengthen you to endure the pain of temporal struggles. Grasping the reality of eternity changes everything about how you live by bringing your relationship to the world into biblical focus. Consider the following examples:

•  Relationships
• Sorrows
• Happiness
• Possessions
• Culture

1. Who are you really living to please? Jesus, a Spouse, or Yourself? 32-35
2. How to get married? 1 Cor 7:36-40
3. What kind of commitment is a marriage vow? 1Cor. 7:39
4. Can’t a Christian (re)marry whomever s/he wants? 1 Cor 7:39b-40

101 Answers to Singleness, Dating, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage 1 Cor 7:1-16 Sermon Outline

In 1 Corinthians 7, the apostle Paul answers questions that were posed to him by the Corinthian congregation about relationships and guess what we have the same problems (v. 1)

1. Is it ok to have a Christian of marriageable age choose to stay single? 1 1 Cor 7:1
2. If celibacy is “good” then is it good for everybody? 1 Cor 7:2
3. Should all non-married have the standard of 1 Tim. 5:2?
4. Is intimacy in Christian marriage supposed to be different than intimacy between married unbelievers? 1 Cor 7:3-4
5. Is it ok for married couples to live like roommates with no benefits? 1 Cor 7:5-6
6. How can you tell if you have the gift of singleness? 1 Cor 7:7-9
7. Is it ok for a Christian to seek to get out of a bad marriage? 1 Cor 7:10-11
8. I’m unequally yoked to an unbeliever, does God want me to seek a divorce? 1 Cor 7:12-13
9. Is there any benefit to staying in an unequally yoked marriage? 1 Cor 7:14, 16
10. Is there a case when God allows me to divorce a non-beleiving spouse? 1 Cor 7:15

50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail

Truth in the City: Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail: In light of Martin Luther King Day, I have posted in its entirety his letter written from a jail in Birmingham. I openly acknowledge as a bi...

What is a Masculine Male?

The Essential Fundamentals of Masculinity

“Men Must Know Who They Are and How They Must Act”

God designed the essence of masculinity in both a man’s being and acting.  It is engraved in what they are and revealed in how they (are supposed to) act.  Whereas sin marred what men are as masculine beings and how they act, the Spirit of God can renew a true masculinity in men and guide them to live in harmony with their masculine make-up.  A man’s goal, now, must be to yield to the Spirit’s work within him and to live like Christ—the perfect masculine man.

I.    Being Masculine:  God hardwired men to reflect His image and likeness in at least 5 aspects of their being (Gen 1:26-27).

1)    Rational

2)    Emotional

3)    Relational

4)    Spiritual

5)    Moral

II.  Acting Masculine: God hardwired men to live out their masculinity in 5 roles.

1)    God Made Man to be a Protector                    Gen 1:28

2)    God Made Man to be a Leader                        Gen 1:28

3)    God Made Man to be a Provider                     Gen 2:15; 3:17-19

4)    God Made Man to be a Lover              Gen 2:24

5)    God Made Man to be a Worshipper   Gen 2:16-17; 3:8

Definition:

Biblical masculinity is that divinely created make-up of man (our moral, spiritual, rational, emotional, relational nature) through which God displays His Own image and likeness (Gen 1:26).  Masculinity, in distinction from femininity, is seen when men live in accordance with their finite God-like being to fulfill their God-chosen gender roles (Gen 1:28). At its core, Biblical masculinity implies that men have the unique nature and responsibility (Gen 3:9, 11, 17) to maintain the God-centeredness of communities, churches, and families (1 Cor 11:3; 1 Tim 3:1; Eph 5:23).

Application:

In making men men, God has entrusted to men the most sacred stewardship of manifesting His glory in creation (1 Cor 11:7).  Masculinity, then, entails doing all that one can to become God’s agent and doing all that one can to fulfill that trust.  Masculine men assume that responsibility to be and act in the biblically prescribed ways necessary to influence their environments for God.

CFBC is a New Home Owner!

God is so good! Here's our announcement from our church newsletter (Sorry for the poor resolution). The announcement is also at the bottom of this post.

Here's the same announcement

God has Blessed CFBC with a Home!!!!

When CFBC took our giant step of faith to come together in 2011, we did so believing that through us God would do a greater work, John 15:8. And like Abraham, we began our new journey of faith with a call to leave our well-known surroundings not knowing where our new home would be.

But God, “who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” knew. Answering a prayer for help from Pastor Mel Moore of Trinity Bible Church, God brought our new church family over to Trinity’s home in South Gate. And they welcomed us with open arms! What a wonderful blessing it has been serving alongside them. Then God put it on the hearts of Trinity to sell their property to CFBC so that their legacy of faithful Bible-centered ministry would continue.

Our enemy, Satan, did all that he could to thwart God’s plan, but using the tireless leadership of Elder Gene Levert and brother Clyde Williams, God won. And now, today, on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, God has given us a home.

CFBC, God has entrusted the stewardship of this property to us so that His Great and Mighty and Awesome Name might continue to be proclaimed from the corners of Main St. and Industrial Ave and from South Gate, to Greater Los Angeles, to the U.S., and to the uttermost parts of the world! We thank God for the vision of the saints of Trinity Bible Church. May our God richly reward their commitment to seek first His Kingdom and righteousness.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in Community of Faith Bible Church and in Christ Jesus. Amen and praise God.

P.s., If you haven’t come by yet, we cordially invite you to visit and to worship our awesome God with us!