"The Ministry of Kindness" by J. R. Miller, 1902

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved—clothe yourselves with compassion,kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

 Nothing is more worth while, than kindness. Nothing else in life is more beautiful in itself. Nothing else does more to brighten the world, and sweeten other lives.

Robert Louis Stevenson said in a letter: "It is our kindnesses, that alone makes the world tolerable. If it were not for that—I would be tempted to think that our life is a practical jest in the worst possible spirit."

The man whose life lacks habitual kindliness may succeed splendidly in a worldly sense. He may win his way to high honor. He may gather his millions. He may climb to a conspicuous place among men. But he has missed that which alone gives beauty to a life—the joy and blessing of being kind. There are men who are so intent on winning the race, that they have neither eye nor heart nor hand for the human needs along the wayside. Here and there is one, however, who thinks more of the humanities, than of the personal success; that woos him forward, and who turns aside in his busiest hour to give help and cheer to those who need.

There is always this difference in men. There are those who have only one purpose in life, the making of their own career. They fix their eye upon their goal, and press toward it with indomitable persistence, utterly unheeding the calls and appeals of human need which break upon their ears. They fail altogether in love's duty. They dwarf and deaden the qualities which are divinest in their nature.

"Christian Fools" by A.W. Pink

“Then He said unto them, O fools and slow of heart
to believe all that the prophets have spoken.”Luke 24:25

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Those of you who read the religious announcements in the newspapers of yesterday would see the subject for my sermon this evening is “Christian Fools.” Possibly some of you thought there was a printer’s error and that what I really meant to announce was “Professing Christian fools.” The paper gave it quite correctly. My subject tonight is “Christian Fools.” Probably some of you think that this is a most unsuitable title for a servant of God to give to his sermon, and yet I make no apology whatever for it. It fits exactly my subject for tonight: it expresses accurately what I am going to speak about: and—“what is far more to the point—it epitomizes our text: “Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.”

Those words were spoken by Christ on the day of His resurrection: spoken not to worldlings but to Christians. That which occasioned them was this. The disciples to whom He was speaking were lopsided in their theology: they believed a certain part of God’s truth and they refused to believe another part of the truth that did not suit them; they believed some Scriptures but they did not believe all that the prophets had spoken, and the reason they did not was because they were unable to harmonize the two different parts of God’s truth. They were like some people today: when it comes to their theology; they walk by reason and by logic rather than by faith. 

In the Old Testament there were many prophecies concerning the coming Messiah that spoke of His glory. If there was one thing the Old Testament prediction made plain, it was that the Messiah of Israel should be glorious. It spoke of His power, His honor, His majesty, His dominion, His triumphs. But on the other hand, there were many prophecies in the Old Testament that spoke of a suffering Messiah, that portrayed His humiliation, His degradation, His rejection, His death at the hands of wicked men. And these disciples of Christ believed the former set of prophecies, but they would not believe in the second: they could not see how it was possible to harmonize the two. If the coming Messiah was to be a glorious Messiah, possessing power and majesty and dominion: if He would be triumphant, then how could He, at the same time, be a suffering Messiah, despised, humiliated, rejected of men? And because the disciples could not fit the two together, because they were unable to harmonize them, they refused to believe both, and Christ told them to their faces that they were fools. He says, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.”

"The Lord's Day" by Archibald Alexander (1846)

Reason teaches that there is a God, and that he ought to be worshipped. Had man remained in his primeval state of integrity, social worship would have been an incumbent duty. But it is evident that continual worship, whatever may be the fact in heaven, would not have been required of him while on the earth. We know, from express revelation, that it was appointed unto him to keep the garden of Eden, and dress it; and this would have required much attention, and vigorous exertion. He was also constituted lord of the inferior animals; and the exercise of this dominion would of necessity occupy a portion of his time and attention. In order to perform the primary duty of worshipping his Creator in that manner which was becoming and proper, he must have had some portion of his time appropriated to that service.

"The Nature and Beauty of Gospel Worship by John Owwn

Eph. ii. 18.

"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."In the foregoing verses the apostle makes mention of a double reconciliation, wrought by the blood of the cross,—the one, of the Jews and Gentles unto God; the other, of the same persons one to another. There were two things in the law:—First, Worship instituted under it; Secondly, The curse annexed unto it. The first of these being appropriated to the Jews, with an exclusion of the Gentles, was the cause of unspeakable enmity and hatred between them. The latter, or the curse, falling upon both, was a cause of enmity between God and both of them. The Lord Jesus Christ, in his death removing both these, wrought and effected the twofold reconciliation mentioned. First, He brake down "the middle wall of partition between us," verse 14, and so "made both one;" that is, "between us,"—the Jews and Gentles. He hath taken away all cause of difference that should hinder us to be one in him. And how hath he done this? By taking away "the law of commandments contained in ordinances, verse 15;—that is, by abolishing that way of worship which was the Jews' privilege and burden, from which the Gentles were excluded: so breaking down that wall of partition. Secondly, By the cross at his death he slew the enmity, or took away the curse of the law; so reconciling both Jews and Gentles unto God; as verse 16. By bearing the curse of the law, he reconciled both unto God;—by taking away and abolishing the worship of the law, he took away all grounds of difference amongst them.
Upon this reconciliation ensueth a twofold advantage or privilege;—an access into the favour of God, who before was at enmity with them; and a new and more glorious way of approaching unto God in his worship than that about which they were before at difference among themselves.
The first of these is mentioned. Rom. v. 2. And that which is there called, an "access into this grace wherein we stand," may in the text be called, an "access unto the Father;" that is, the favour and acceptance with God which we do enjoy. Thus our access unto God is our sense of acceptance with him upon the reconciliation made for us by Jesus Christ. But this seems not to me to he the special intendment of the text; for that access unto God here mentioned seems to be the effect of the reconciliation of the Jews and Gentles among themselves, by the abolishing of the ceremonial worship;—a new and more glorious way of worship being now provided for them both in common, is there expressed. Before the reconciliation made, one party alone had the privilege of the carnal worship then instituted; but now both parties have in common such a way of worship, wherein they have immediate access unto God;—in which the apostle asserts the beauty and glory of the gospel worship of Jews and Gentles above that which, enjoyed by the Jews, was a matter of separation and division between them. And this appears to be the intendment of the words from verse 17. That which is here asserted, is not an immediate effect of the reconciliation made by the blood of Christ on the cross, but of his preaching peace unto, and calling both Jews and Gentles,—gathering them unto himself, and so to the worship of God. Being called by the word of peace, both the one and the other, as to our worship, we have this access.

"The Genuine Pastor" by A.W. Pink

(Arthur Pink, Studies in the Scriptures, May, 1939)

How diligently should they scrutinize their motives, who think of entering the ministry; for thousands have abused this Divine institution through love of ease, desire for authority and reputation, or love of money--and brought upon themselves "greater damnation" (James 3:1). Thousands have invaded the pastoral office in an unauthorized manner, to fleece sheep rather than feed them, robbing Christ of His honor and starving His people.

Solemn beyond words is it to observe how sternly our Lord denounced these false shepherds of His day. (Matthew 23) As J. C. Ryle rightly said, "Nothing seemed so offensive to Christ as a false teacher of religion, a false prophet, or a false shepherd. Nothing ought to be so much feared by the Church, be so plainly rebuked, opposed and exposed."

What are the marks of a true shepherd, how are God’s people to identify those called and qualified by Him to minister unto His people?

First, the genuine pastor has the doctrine of Christ on his LIPS. The ministers of the new covenant are described as those who had "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness." Christendom today is infested with men who are full of deceit and hypocrisy, trimming their sails according to whatever direction the breeze of public opinion is blowing.

"SHORT TREATISE ON THE HOLY SUPPER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST" by John Calvin

1. REASON WHY MANY WEAK CONSCIENCES REMAIN IN SUSPENSE AS TO THE TRUE DOCTRINE OF THE SUPPER.As the holy sacrament of the Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ has long been the subject of several important errors, and in these past years been anew enveloped in diverse opinions and contentious disputes, it is no wonder if many weak consciences cannot fairly resolve what view they ought to take of it, but remain in doubt and perplexity, waiting till all contention being laid aside, the servants of God come to some agreement upon it. However, as it is a very perilous thing to have no certainty on an ordinance, the understanding of which is so requisite for our salvation, I have thought it might be a very useful labor to treat briefly and, nevertheless, clearly deduce a summary of what is necessary to be known of it. I may add that I have been requested to do so by some worthy persons, whom I could not refuse without neglecting my duty. In order to rid ourselves of all difficulty, it is expedient to attend to the order which I have determined to follow.




2. THE ORDER TO BE OBSERVED IN THIS TREATISE. First, then, we will explain to what end and for what reason our Lord instituted this holy sacrament.
Secondly, What fruit and utility we receive from it, when it will likewise be shown how the body of Jesus Christ is given to us.
Thirdly, What is the legitimate use of it.
Fourthly, We will detail the errors and superstitions with which it has been contaminated, when it will be shown how the servants of God ought to differ from the Papists.
Lastly, We will mention what has been the source of the discussion which has been so keenly carried on, even among those who have, in our time, brought back the light of the gospel, and employed themselves in rightly edifying the Church in sound doctrine.




3. AT BAPTISM GOD RECEIVES US INTO HIS CHURCH AS
MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY.
In regard to the first article Since it has pleased our good God to receive us by baptism into his Church, which is his house, which he desires to maintain and govern, and since he has received us to keep us not merely as domestics, but as his own children, it remains that, in order to do the office of a good father, he nourishes and provides us with every thing necessary for our life. In regard to corporal nourishment, as it is common to all, and the bad share in it as well as the good, it is not peculiar to his family. It is very true that we have an evidence of his paternal goodness in maintaining our bodies, seeing that we partake in all the good things which he gives us with his blessing. But as the life into which he has begotten us again is spiritual, so must the food, in order to preserve and strengthen us, be spiritual also. For we should understand, that not only has he called us one day to possess his heavenly inheritance, but that by hope he has already in some measure installed us in possession; that not only has he promised us life, but already transported us into it, delivering us from death, when by adopting us as his children, he begot us again by immortal seed, namely, his word imprinted on our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

"Decisional Regeneration" by James Adams

What is Regeneration?

"Except a man be born again¹, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Our Lord Jesus Christ taught that the new birth is so important that no one can see heaven without it. Mistakes concerning this doctrine have been very destructive to the Church of Christ. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God. It is not a work of man. It is not something that man does but something that God does. The new birth is a change wrought in us, not an act performed by us. This is stated so beautifully by the Apostle John when in the first chapter of his Gospel he speaks of the children of God as those "which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (v. 13).

What is "Decisional Regeneration"?

The history of the Christian Church has seen many errors concerning the new birth. These teachings depart from Scripture by attributing to man the ability to regenerate himself. When these false concepts of man and the new birth are adopted, churches soon become corrupted with false practices. The Roman Catholic church, the Anglican church, the Lutheran church and many other churches have all been corrupted at different times and to different degrees with the teaching of Baptismal Regeneration. Because of this erroneous teaching on regeneration, these churches have embraced false practices.

In the nineteenth century few controversies were so heated as the one over Baptismal Regeneration. It is interesting to note that C. H. Spurgeon (1836-1892), the most prolific preacher of that century, had printed in 1864 more copies of his sermon denouncing Baptismal Regeneration than of any other sermon. Baptismal Regeneration teaches that the new birth is conveyed by the waters of baptism. The sacrament is performed by man and is in his control.

But the twentieth century Church has, in "Decisional Regeneration," a more subtle falsehood to combat. "Decisional Regeneration" differs from Baptismal Regeneration only in the fact that it attaches the certainty of the new birth to a different act. This doctrine, just as Baptismal Regeneration, sees the new birth as the result of a mechanical process that can be performed by man. What is here called "Decisional Regeneration" has in its deceptive way permeated much of the Christian Church.

"Feeding on Christ" The Role of The Lord's Supper in the Church By Shane C. Montgomery

“Feeding on Christ”

The Role of The Lord's Supper in the Church

The primary nature of revelation is God's speaking His Word, which culminates in the word becoming flesh. When the Bible speaks of “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14) like wise, the practice of Word and Sacrament, meaning, the preaching of God's Word followed by the faithful observance of the Lord's Supper in a worship service, leads to the believer hearing God's Word and then that same Word, which is Christ, (John 1:1) becomes flesh in the form of Communion and dwells among the believers, where they then “Eat the body of Christ and drink the blood of Christ.” (John 6:53-5) Thus, a worship service with the preaching of His Word but lacking the observance of the Lord's Supper is then only half of a worship service. Worship is “Word and Sacrament” the preaching of the Word is mandatory and the Sacrament, in this case, “the Sacraments of Sacraments” the Lord's Supper must also be observed and always after the preaching of His Word.

By neglecting to feast on Christ we rob the sheep of their complete nourishment for the week. If we observe this sacrament monthly, or even bi-weekly, we are wasting the worship in between. Each week that Communion is not faithfully observed then becomes a mere practice of worship, a dress rehearsal if you will, an incomplete offering to God, a wasted effort that is only realized as authentic and edifying on the day of the Sacrament.

This practice realizes the Scriptures meaning in hearing the Word (Christ) and then making the Word (Christ) a reality by consuming the Word (Christ) in flesh and blood, so now Christ dwells inside the believer. This gives new meaning to the phrase “You are what you eat,” by feeding on Christ, we do not become Christ, but rather we inherit His divine grace, His blessings and His righteousness, giving us the means to resist temptation and remain Christ-like in spirit, heart and mind. This feeding, is meant to get us through the week, from Lord's Day to Lord's Day unscathed by the world. To enter the week without the spiritual nourishment of the Word (preaching) and the spiritual nourishment of Christ's body (Lord's Supper), a means of grace, we will surely struggle throughout the week. This being said, “Word and Sacrament” is more than a saying in the Reformed Church, it is more than a catch phrase battered about, it is a practice that must be lived out weekly in the Church, in order that the offering up to God is complete and the believer and the entire congregation as a whole can make it through the week, armed sufficiently to endure to the next Lord's Day and the next visit to the Lord's Table to feed upon Christ once again. We would not attempt to enter the week without consuming physical food to sustain our bodies, no one ever claims of eating three square meals a day, and the idea of making it through the week without the nourishment from food would be foolish and unthinkable, so why do we think we can make it without Spiritual nourishment”

“He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” John 6:56

I ask that you do not confuse what I am saying with the Roman Catholic view known as “Transubstantiation.” The Reformed view is unique and the idea of which may of course differ between believers, most see this Sacrament as merely a “sign or symbol” and not a true means of grace. If the Lord allows, I would like to go a bit further in detail on this at a later date, picking up at John 6:60 where many of His disciples say, “this is a hard saying, who can hear it?” and of course the disciples on the road from Emmaus who do not recognize the risen Savior until they break bread with Him. This should be a hint for us on the importance of this Sacrament.

Be Holy!

Shane C. Montgomery

What Is It You Look For In The Man In The Pulpit? by Shane C. Montgomery

  

  What is it you look for when you visit a church?  Let's put aside the Worldly things, like Building, Entertainment, Gift Shop, Lounge, Gym, Day Care, Youth Group and any other factor that is designed to draw in the Worldly visitor and let's speak of honest, real things, not that these things are not entirely important, though I don't believe they are, but lets look at the man in the pulpit for a moment, what do you look for when visiting a church, and if it has been a while since you have visited a church other than yours, what would you look for if, say you recently moved to a new state and had to find a new church home?

Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats? by Charles Spurgeon

  I had it on my heart to post on the epidemic that is spreading through the evangelical church today, that being the ever growing popularity of churches in the U.S and around the world for that matter willing to sell out and throw out sound Biblical expository preaching and to replace it with entertainment.  What use to be a somber and reverent "Lord's Day Worship" every Sunday morning is more and more being replaced with the cooler, hipper, and more crowd pleasing concept of "Sunday Morning Entertainment,"