The Milky Way - Jeff Noblit

This is a re-post of a great sermon.

Don't Ask Jesus Into Your Heart

Lately I have been finding more and more against the traditional altar call/plan of salvation that is practiced in most evangelical churches now. This is a pamphlet/tract written by Dennis M. Rokser, pastor of Duluth Bible Church in Duluth, Minnesota. Download the booklet here. (PDF file)

The 7 reasons covered in the tract are:

1) “Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because…it is never found in the Bible.”
2) “Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because…it is not how someone is saved.”
3) “Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because…it requires no understanding of the Gospel of Grace to do it.”
4) “Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because…it confuses the means of salvation with the results of salvation.”
5) “Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because…it either results in no assurance of salvation or brings a false assurance to people.”
6) “Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because…Revelation 3:20 does not teach it.”
7) “Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because…it does not clarify the condition of salvation, it confuses it--especially with children.”

Please check this out, and compare what your church is doing to scripture.

A.W. Tozer - What Does It Mean To Accept Christ?

Part 1


Part 2


These are two parts of one sermon by A.W. Tozer, who asks the question what does it mean to accept Christ, as it is described by modern evangelicals.

Jeff Noblit - The Baptist Sacrament - Altar Calls

Bart Millard - Hymned No. 1 & Hymned Again

In case ya'll didn't know Bart Millard, the lead singer for Mercy Me, has put out two cd's of hymns performed in various styles. Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus in Dixieland jazz; I Saw the Light in rockin' bluegrass; Victory in Jesus in big band; and my personal favorite is Grace That is Greater with the ukulele.

Here is I Stand Amazed.


I Saw the Light

Mercy Me Concert

My wife and I went with some friends to a Mercy Me concert last Friday night. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was substantially better than any other Christian concert I have ever been to. The reason that I think that it was better is because Bart Millard, the lead singer of Mercy Me, is transparent in his love for Christ and has sound theology. There was none of the mindless easy believism drivel that you tend to hear at some concerts, "come to Christ he's da coolest," or the like. Bart shared about losing his father at age 19, (the reason he wrote "I Can Only Imagine") and that people constantly tell him that his dad is looking down on him and pleased with what he has become. Bart said "I hate to burst your bubble, but I don't think he is, he's too busy, oh I don't know, maybe, worshiping the living God? I miss him, but I know that I will see him and we'll have eternity together praising God." Amen.
Bart later spent about 5 minutes speaking on hardship, how no matter what happens, it is for the glory of God. Cancer is for the glory of God, losing a child is for the glory of God, it's all about Him and not about us. If you have a chance to see Mercy Me in concert, do so, it is not only a great concert, but an opportunity to listen to someone who has been through the valleys, and whose greatest treasure is my Savior.

Spurgeon Quote

“The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them...providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church...the need is for Biblical doctrine, so understood and felt that it sets men aflame.”

Ten Indictments of the Modern Church - Paul Washer

Preached Wednesday, October 22nd at the Revival Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Paul Washer delivers a urgent appeal to the Christians and Churches in North America that many have been believing a false gospel and have false assurance of their salvation. He lists 10 indictments against the modern Church system in America. This is a historical urgent message, tell others and spread the message. We need a reformation and revival of a biblical standard!

Or you can watch the video now.

Why do bad things happen? Voddie Baucham

How Much Has Christianity Cost You?

The Serious Error of Decisional Evangelism

Here is a great article that you should read.

Barrack Obama - Abortion

This is scary, and very disturbing.



Apparently, You Tube took this video down, hmmm wonder why? If you didn't see this video, you can get the gist of it from this clip from Hannity and Colmes, with Alan Keyes.

Reformed Voices: The Graham Formula

Reformed Voices: The Graham Formula

This is a great video about the origin of the alter call and decisionism.

Is The Church for Unbelievers? - John McArthur

The Prosperity Gospel - Is it Salt and Light?

Paul Washer Quote

The only thing that’s going to save the Church in America–there’s only two possibilities: One is total reformation in our preaching, in our study of the word of God. Or the other is fierce horrifying persecution. That’s the only thing that’s going to save the Church in America.

Quote

Praying will make us leave sinning, or sinning will make us leave praying.

- The 1777 New-England Primer

John Piper - You can't scare people into heaven

"If you say, 'I want out of hell and Jesus can get me out of hell, I will say whatever I need to say, and believe whatever I need to believe about Jesus to get out of hell. But the thought of spending eternity making much of Him, instead of being made much of, I'm not interested.' You're not saved. Saving faith does not embrace Jesus as a deliverer and stiff arm him as a treasure." Test Yourself!

Spurgeon - Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats

Use the Nursery at Church

This is a great sermon by Jeff Noblit about using the nursery at church. It is under Nehemiah, click to download and listen.

A Little Leaven

If you've never seen this site, it chronicles what he calls, Je$u$ Junk. Some of it is stupid, some funny, but all of it is as he puts it "Is What Happens When the Church Fails to Remain Faithful to the Correct Preaching and Teaching of God's Word"

You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)

I can't help but sing along with this song. Kinda cheesy, but always fun.

99 Balloons

Get out the kleenex.

Evolution

Paul Washer and David Wilkerson - Turn OFF your idol!

Laminin

This is a really cool video by Louie Giglio, who tours with Chris Tomlin.

Cardboard Testimony

Check this out.

Saved by Grace Through Faith

Have you ever doubted your salvation? This is the
best sermon I've ever heard on the topic, by Jeff
Noblit.

Expelled

I went and saw Expelled last night with some folks from my
Sunday School class, and I really liked it. It was very well
done, in the fact that Ben Stien was trying to prove that
the world was made by a creator, not a specific diety,
like the God of the Bible. Huh? My point on
this is that thing about taking someone who believes in
evolution and no creator or diety whatsoever is that you
should first bring them to a realization that there is
indeed a creator, then take examples from creation
to show that the creator that is revealed in His creation
is the God of the Bible. I highly recommend the movie as it
shows the bitterness and hatred towards those that believe
in ID (intelligent design) in scientific circles today.

You should do a search on youtube.com or any search engine on a
response to Expelled, you will see a very viceral and widespread
response to this movie. Why? I believe that if we show them that
there is indeed a creator the next question would be can He be
known? And if so would He require anything of me? Is He a moral
God? If so, what is wrong and what is right? An honest person
looking at these questions after the discovery of a creator would
have to look at religion and creation accounts, moral law, the
issue of sin, and how it's dealt with, and the only religion that
answers those in completion is Biblical Christianity. Knowing that
as a possibility Darwinists will do everything in their power to
insure that the creator issue is never examined to its logical end.
The reason for this is that while men claim to be atheists,
scripture teaches that the evidence of a creator is clearly shown
through the creaton so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1.20)
It is the hatred towards God that allows people to ignore this to
such a degree as to say that there is no god.

But try to have an open discussion about this with a Darwinist.
It always seems that the those who are always calling for
tolerance are the most intolerant. They want us to tolerate their
position, but they will not tolerate, or even allow a frank discussion
regarding the evidence for intelligent design (not the same as
creationism). That is the whole point of the movie.

All in all it was very well done and I hope it does bring this issue
to the forefront and helps start a dialogue, but there are those who
are and have been doing everything in their power to stop this movie
and the discussion that is it's goal.

Let me know what ya'll think.

Expelled - No Intelligence Allowed

Expelled - Ben Stein v. Sputtering Atheists

Really good review/article about the movie.

Washed In The Blood/I'll Fly Away

Here is great song by Alan Jackson, it's off a album he put out called "Precious Memories," as my mom put it "He sings old timey."

The Judgement of God and the Great White Throne

Here is a sermon by Paul Washer on the Great White Throne Judgment. I highly recommend it.

The Church of Oprah

JUST WATCH

Revival Hymn

This is a very powerful audio message that will stir your spirit for
revival! Clips of following speakers included in this message:
Ian Paisley, Leonard Ravenhill, Paris Reidhead,
Duncan Campbell, A.W. Tozer, T. Austin Sparks.

Way of the Master responds to Paula White

Did Jesus die so we could be rich?
Part 1


Part 2

Paul Washer - The Cross

Part 1


Part 2

John Piper's Response to the Prosperity Gospel

Paula White - Absolute Heresy

This is the kind of prosperity gospel trash
people are getting sucked into.
You gotta see it to believe it.

"Present Day Evangelism"

This is an article by Arthur W. Pink on the state of evangelism in the church. A. W. Pink died in 1952, how much more true is it now?

Here is just a taste of the article:

"In twentieth-century evangelism there has been a woeful ignoring of the solemn truth of the total depravity of man. There has been a complete underrating of’ the desperate case and condition of the sinner. Very few indeed have faced the unpalatable fact that every man is thoroughly corrupt by nature, that he is completely unaware of his own wretchedness, blind and helpless, dead in trespasses and sins. Because such in his case, because his heart is filled with enmity against God, it follows that no man can be saved without the special and immediate intervention of God. According to our view here, so will it be else-where: to qualify and modify the truth of man’s total depravity will inevitably lead to the diluting of collateral truths. The teaching of Holy Writ on this point is unmistakable: man’s plight is such that his salvation is impossible unless God puts forth His mighty power. No stirring of the emotions by anecdotes, no regaling of the senses by music, no oratory of the preacher, no persuasive appeals, are of the slightest avail."

Considering Election (Not Politics)

Here is an article by John MacArthur, this is the best description of election that I have come across.

The Doctrine of Election is the act of God whereby in eternity past He chose those who will be saved. Election is unconditional, because it does not depend on anything outside of God, such as good works or foreseen faith (Romans 9:16). This doctrine is repeatedly taught in the Bible, and is also demanded by our knowledge of God. To begin with, let’s look at the biblical evidence.

The Bible says prior to salvation, all people are dead in sin — spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3). In this state of death, the sinner is utterly unable to respond to any spiritual stimulus and therefore unable to love God, obey Him, or please Him in any way. Scripture says the mind of every unbeliever “is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8, emphasis added). That describes a state of total hopelessness: spiritual death.

The effect of all this is that no sinner can ever make the first move in the salvation process. This is what Jesus meant in John 6:44, when He said, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”

This is also why the Bible repeatedly stresses that salvation is wholly God’s work. In Acts 13:48 we read, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

Acts 16 tells us that Lydia was saved when, “the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”

Romans 8:29-30 states, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

Ephesians 1:4-5,11 reads, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will . . . also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.”

Ephesians 2:8 suggests that even our faith is a gift from God.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, the apostle Paul tells his readers, “God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation.”

Second Timothy 1:9 informs us that God “has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.”

Occasionally someone will suggest that God’s election is based on His foreknowledge of certain events. This argument suggests that God simply looks into the future to see who will believe, and He chooses those whom He sees choosing Him. Notice that 1 Peter 1:2 says the elect are chosen “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,” and Romans 8:29 says, “whom He foreknew, He also predestined.” And if divine foreknowledge simply means God’s knowledge of what will happen in advance, then these arguments may appear to have some weight behind them.

But that is not the biblical meaning of “foreknowledge.” When the Bible speaks of God’s foreknowledge, it refers to God’s establishment of a love relationship with that person. The word “know,” in both the Old and New Testament, refers to much more than mere cognitive knowledge of a person. Such passages as Hosea 13:4-5; Amos 3:2 (KJV); and Romans 11:2 clearly indicate this. For example, 1 Peter 1:20 says Christ was “foreknown before the foundation of the world.” Surely this means more than that God the Father looked into the future to behold Christ! It means He had an eternal, loving relationship with Him. The same is true of the elect, whom we are told God “foreknew” (Romans 8:29). That means He knew them — He loved them — before the foundation of the world.

If God’s choice of the elect is unconditional, does this rule out human responsibility? Paul asks and answers that very question in Romans 9:19-20. He says God’s choice of the elect is an act of mercy. Left to themselves, even the elect would persist in sin and be lost, because they are taken from the same fallen lump of clay as the rest of humanity. God alone is responsible for their salvation, but that does not eradicate the responsibility of those who persist in sin and are lost — because they do it willfully, and not under compulsion. They are responsible for their sin, not God.

The Bible affirms human responsibility right alongside the doctrine of divine sovereignty. Moreover, the offer of mercy in the gospel is extended to all alike. Isaiah 55:1 and Revelation 22:17 call “whosoever will” to be saved. Isaiah 45:22 and Acts 17:30 command all men to turn to God, repent and be saved. First Timothy 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9 tell us that God is not willing that any should perish, but desires that all should be saved. Finally, the Lord Jesus said that, “the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37).

In summary, we can say that God has had a special love relationship with the elect from all eternity, and on the basis of that love relationship chosen them for salvation. The ultimate question of why God chose some for salvation and left others in their sinful state is one that we, with our finite knowledge, cannot answer. We do know that God’s attributes always are in perfect harmony with each other, so that God’s sovereignty will always operate in perfect harmony with His goodness, love, wisdom, and justice.

Milky Way Part 2

The conclusion of The Milky Way sermon is on the Anchored in Truth website, you can find it here you have to scroll down to 1/22/06, it is on Hebrews 5.12 - 6.2.

The Great Privilege

Paul Washer

The Milky Way

Here is yet another sermon by Jeff Noblit, this one is called the Milky Way. This sermon deals with slow change in evangelical Christianity has undergone in the last half century. That change is to the preaching of the word, in a large number of churches the preaching and teaching does not go any further than the "milk" stage, there is not real meat for growing believers.

Church Discipline

This is another couple of sermons from Jeff Noblit, this time dealing with Church Discipline. These go under the heading of highly recommend to must listen.

Part 1


Part 2

Woe to Those Who Trample the Son of God

For those of you who are in my Sunday School class here is the link to the sermon by John Piper that I used as a basis to teach Hebrews 10. 26-31, which is

"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on {the testimony of} two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

NASB

A Stark Comparison

Before you watch this video by John Piper, watch the video of Rick Warren below.

The Bible Driven Church

Here is a sermon by Jeff Noblit, pastor of First Baptist Church of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, about how to be a Bible Driven Church. I highly recommend this sermon.

The Post-Modern Gospel

This clip for ER is a great example of the tragedy of the post-modern gospel. Post-modern thought says that there is no absolutes and that no one can know anything for sure.

Rick Warren - Religious Pluralism

Here is a video of Rick Warren at the Global Economic Forum, you need to watch this to see what he believes, and realize how much influence he has on the modern church, not only in our country, but the entire world.



Below is an article originally published here by the Discernment Research Group.

“The future of the world lies in religious pluralism.”

--Rick Warren, "Pastor Argues Faith is Missing Link," by Maria Kefala, 2/5/08


Rick Warren's idea of religious pluralism is taking the evangelical church onto the international scene as a major player in global affairs. As the church becomes a global activist in this emerging new world, it is quickly shedding its unique ability to spread the Gospel. Instead the focus is on programs, networks, and activities -- a call Rick Warren is making to the church to "do good."

Warren explains this shift in focus on a YouTube segment, and mentions once again his involvement with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). One of his roles with the CFR is connected to their Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative, where he and Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) work together on a "Religion and Foreign Policy Meeting Series" that has to do with the "impact of religious doctrine on foreign policy." The CFR has historically been active in getting the churches to assist them with their goals to set up a global government via a "social gospel," a fact documented in intricate detail in Dr. Martin Erdmann's groundbreaking book Building the Kingdom of God on Earth (Wipf & Stock, 2005) which we have reviewed previously on this blog.

Like the liberal Protestant churches of the last century, the evangelical church is now becoming effectually neutralized as it emerges as a bigtime player on the global scene. Rick Warren commented on the new neutrality in a Washington Post article this week, "Megachurch Pastor Warren Calls for a Second Reformation" by Michelle Boorstein:

Rick Warren, a megachurch pastor and philanthropist who is courted by political leaders worldwide, says he thinks Christianity needs a "second Reformation" that would steer the church away from divisive politics and be "about deeds, not creeds."

In this interview, Warren also indicated that he has now shifted his attentions away from "hot-botton issues" to "changing the culture. . . through politics, art, music and sports." This culture-changing gospel is the same "spheres" dominionism that this blog has been writing about the past few months. Rick Warren has put shoe leather on this dominionist agenda and taken it international. Missing from this whole scenario is the Gospel of Salvation.

Warren described the 3-legged partnerships he is forming between the church, governments and industry, and indicated that this new global activity isn't about the Gospel anymore. In "Pastor Argues Faith is Missing Link" by Maria Kefala, posted online, this fact becomes clear:

government and industry can't succeed in solving social problems unless they include faith groups, with their large volunteer forces and their worldwide networks.

"People are so worried churches are going to be about conversion," he said, "but everyone has a motive. Everyone has a world view. Christianity is a world view. . . . I don't care why you do good as long as you do good." [bold added]

Substituted for the missing Gospel of salvation is the "do good" gospel. This is the apparent sequel to the "feel good" gospel of the past several decades of evangelicalism. Now nobody will be feeling good unless they also "do good." And this "do good" mantra bears a striking resemblance to the social gospel of the last century. The new "do good" gospel doesn't mention man's need for a Redeemer. Rather, it is described by Rick Warren here:

Warren pinpointed the world’s problems in five main broader issues: spiritual emptiness (lack of God’s love in life), egocentric leadership and corruption, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases and illiteracy.

“Jesus did five things, the antidotes for those five problems: He promoted reconciliation, equipped servant leaders, assisted the poor, cared for the sick and educated the next generation.”

This led Warren to create his P.E.A.C.E. plan, which explains what ordinary people should do regularly to “do good.”

“I don’t care if you do good for political, economical, personal or religious reasons, as long as you do good; there is no ethical or moral aspect in that,” he said. “I serve a savior named Jesus Christ who said, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ and that’s why I do what I do.” [bold added]


"Do Good" Pluralism

The "do good" gospel is, by definition, pluralism in action. It brings in everybody and everything, and stands for nothing but to "do good." It partners with anybody--governments and corporations, and even other religions--for the overarching purpose to "do good." Its dominionism seeks to build the kingdom of God on earth with whatever tools are handy, with whomever shows up on the scene, by whatever methods, doing "whatever it takes," never minding the integrity of the Gospel.

Pastor Larry DeBruyn, in his new book Church on the Rise: Why I am not a "Purpose-Driven" Pastor, describes the new rationale of evangelical leaders for the formation of these pluralistic partnerships. We have pulled out a few relevant excerpts and posted them below:

At the heart of pluralism lies thinking typified by Pastor Rob Bell of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who reportedly stated, “One of the lies is that truth only resides in this particular community or that particular thought system. I affirm the truth anywhere in any religious system, in any worldview. If it’s true, it belongs to God.” Then comments the reporter, “While calling Christ’s way ‘the best possible way to live,’ Bell says Jesus did not claim one religion is better than another when He said He was ‘the way, the truth and the life.’ Rather, states Bell, ‘his way is the way to the depth of reality’.” What, it can be asked, is “the depth of reality”? By His claim to be “the way, and the truth, and the life,” Jesus was not pointing the way to a reality on earth, but the way to eternity in heaven, the way to come to the Father (John 14:6).

In contrast to pluralism, Jude appealed to believers during the apostolic era to, “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). In the New Testament the word for faith... can refer to either the dependence of trust (believing on the Lord Jesus Christ), or the deposit of truth (the Christian Gospel and the doctrines that surround it). The latter is the sense of Jude’s appeal. Christians are to contend for “the faith,” the Gospel message and truth deposited in the apostolic writings. As Paul referred to the astonishment of early Christians regarding his conversion, “they kept hearing, ‘He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy’” (... Galatians 1:22-23). Obviously, “the faith” Paul preached was the Gospel, which is the sense in which Jude speaks of the faith.

The parameters of the Gospel that Paul preached and Jude wrote about are definite, not indefinite; absolute, not relative; fixed, not in flux; and closed, not open. Because “the faith” was delivered to the saints “once” ...it will not change or continue to be delivered. Christians are to contend for the Gospel message (excruciating exertion is implied) because, “certain persons have crept in unnoticed [we’ll call them ‘creepers’], those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).

Thus, the Gospel confronts the pluralistic and post-modern mindset. Post-modern evangelicals speculate that the door for discovering salvation truth is still open, while the New Testament declares that it’s shut. Rob Bell speaks of the faith as if God is somehow continuing to deliver it, that it possesses no fixed boundaries, and that it can be repainted in whatever color might be pleasing to us. Are there no fixed boundaries for what Christians can believe and still be considered Christian? In the thinking of those like Bell, is there no such thing as a deposit of divine truth in Scripture (See 1 Timothy 3:9; 4:1, 6; 2 Timothy 4:7.)? For those of a post-modern bent of mind, everything, it seems, is up for grabs. Christianity is still an emerging religion. ...

[O]n Larry King Live [11/22/04] during the time given for viewers to phone and ask him questions, Rick Warren commented:

And by the way, there's truth in every religion. Christians believe that there's truth in every religion. But we just believe that there's one savior. We believe we can learn truth--I've learned a lot of truth from different religions because they all have a portion of the truth. I just believe there is one savior, Jesus Christ.

What is readily observable from Warren's comment is that though believing there is but one savior, Jesus Christ, he views that various other religions possess truths from which Christians can learn and profit. But the Bible does not agree with his statement that "there's truth in every religion."...

Every generation of Christians faces the temptation of syncretism. In our desire to be ‘with it’ or contemporary in our practices and beliefs, we yield to the temptation of being conformed to the patterns of this world. We accept pagan practices and ideas and seek to ‘baptize them.’ Even when we confront and engage alien religions and philosophies we have a tendency to be influenced by them. Every foreign element that creeps into Christian faith and practice is an element that weakens the purity of faith....

THE TRUTH:

...The Pastor-Apostle John wrote to his flock, “. . . we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:20-21). Christians understand that Jesus is God, and therefore worship Him (John 20:28). Like the ancient prophet Elijah, the Apostles’ teaching neither approved of nor incorporated a syncretic approach to religion. [emphasis added]


[Excerpted with permission, Church On the Rise, pp. 69-70, 73-74; footnotes can be found in original]

Willow Creek Discovers its Programs Don't Work

Willow Creek Church in Chicago is one of the founders of the seeker sensitive movement that has an enormous impact on churches through out America. Here is what they have found out about their programs. To check to see if your church is part of their association click here.
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Hebrews 9 & 10

Ryan Ferguson recites Hebrews 9 & 10. Awesome!

The Supremacy of Christ

A portion of a sermon by John Piper on the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ.

True gospel preaching (Paul Washer) vs. Ear tickling (Joel Osteen)

Part 1 of 3

Part 2 of 3

Part 3 of 3

Who are the Seekers to Whom Seeker Sensitive Churches are Sensitive?

This is an article posted on http://notallowed2laff.blogspot.com/ by Ralph M. Peterson.

The church growth gurus tell us that there are millions of them who are looking for God and we should adapt our worship and market our churches to be attractive to them. If they feel “comfortable” and “unthreatened” in our services; if we design church around their “felt needs,” they say, the unchurched and the unregenerated might like us. Then we can get them “plugged in” so that they might eventually make a “decision” for God.

Are there any seekers out there? The Bible indicates that there are some people who are seeking. But what is it that they seek? A look at the following passages indicates that natural men do seek something; they seek signs and wonders, human wisdom, and favor from men. Natural men who do seek for a god, are not really interested in The God but seek after false gods of their own imaginations.

* For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; I Cor. 1:22-23

* Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD. Proverbs 29:26

* And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 19:3-4

There are some incidents in Scripture where unregenerate men did seek after Jesus:

* And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. Matt. 2:3

* Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? John 7:25

But here it is plainly evident that their real purpose was not to worship Him but to kill Him.

If there are any seekers out there who are really looking for God, shouldn’t we be friendly or sensitive to them? Shouldn’t we be concerned about them? Well, of course we should. After all, God is concerned about them. In the book of the Psalms are two very similar verses that clearly indicate that God looks for those who seek after Him.

* The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. Psalm14:2

* God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Psalm 53:2

But guess what?

THERE ARE NONE!

THEY DON’T EXIST!

Now don’t get mad at me. That’s not my opinion; it’s God’s definitive declaration. Here are the verses that follow the two mentioned above in the Psalms. Here is the rest of the story:

* The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. Psalm 10:4

* They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Psalm 14:3

And in case that isn’t sufficient enough proof, here is more of God’s Word on the subject:

* Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Psalm 53:3

* An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. Proverbs 17:11

* Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. Psalm 119:155
For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 9:13

*
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! Isaiah 3

And finally, the most definitive, absolute, unarguable and all-inclusive statement of all:

*
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Romans 3:11

There IS another Seeker mentioned in Scripture and His name is Jehovah. He is the Good Shepherd and He is seeking His flock.

* For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. Ezekiel 34:11-16

Either there are seekers out there who are looking for the true, living God or there are not. Who are you going to believe – Rick Warren and Bill Hybels or God?

The Church is the body of Christ. It is assembled together for “born again” believers to worship and to be instructed in doctrine and righteousness and to be equipped for the work of the ministry. It is NOT a club and there is no legitimate place for unbelievers in it.
If we were really sincere about being “seeker sensitive,” we would not be concerned about being sensitive to non-existent seekers. We would only be concerned about the real seeker and we would model our worship services according to His commands and not our preferences?

* But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. John 4

Getting Started

In order to start the blogging, I figured I would post the one sermon that God used to get me back where I needed to be. It would be the most popular sermon of all time on sermonaudio.com from Paul Washer which everyone calls the "Shocking Youth Sermon".