How is our Theology? The Results are in

Ligonier Ministries is “committed to faithfully presenting the unvarnished truth of Scripture to help people grow in their knowledge of God and His holiness.” Anecdotal evidence has shown an increasing lack of theological understanding in America, both outside and inside the church. Ligonier Ministries wanted to understand with accuracy the extent of the need to improve that understanding.

Ligonier Ministries commissioned a research study by LifeWay Research to measure the theological awareness of adult Americans. Ligonier Ministries identified specific doctrines and heresies that they wanted to test. LifeWay Research helped refine these questions and to conduct a survey of 3,000 Americans.

Questions focused on seven key doctrinal areas and included a number of specific areas where Americans differ from historic and orthodox views.

View the infographic, listen to Dr. R.C. Sproul discuss these findings on Renewing Your Mind, or download the official white paper and survey with key findings.

On Prayer

My blog leans in the direction of the subject prayer and one of the questions deals with prayer, so …

“God continues to answer specific prayers”

Agree Strongly:  38%

Agree Somewhat: 29%

Disagree Somewhat: 11%

Disagree Strongly: 10%

Not Sure: 13%

I think that this is a legitimate question. What answer do you fall under?  Check out my teaching novels on the subject of prayer. You can read sample chapters, just click on the links on the side menu.  In my book, A Reasons to Pray at Mountainview, this subject is handled along with 4 other reasons to pray. The second novel–The Place of Prayer, is much larger and covers the subject of prayer from a practical or “How To” perspective. The book uses Jesus’ teaching on prayer from The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter six.  If you’d like to learn more about prayer, my bias opinion recommends picking these two books.

Here is a review of my novel,  A Reason to Pray at Mountainview, by Calvin Yarbrough that is posted on Amazon.

I am a Youth Minister, Mentor, and Motivational Speaker. Having worked with youth in these capacities for over 20 years, I wanted to see if this book would be another tool to aid me in reaching our young people. After having read it, I give it a resounding “YES!!”. The writing style flows easily and the story line is compelling. The Scriptures used are strategically sown throughout the story and all are rock solid. Jeff did an excellent job of utilizing “storytelling” to share God’s word in teaching us how to, and why, we should pray.

 

The Faithlife Study Bible FREE – grab it now

I’m a long time, BIG fan and user of Logos bible software. I can’t praise this software or the company enough, really. I’ll go into Logos bible software another day. Today, it’s about a product that Logos has created: an electronic study bible.  But it ain’t no oth’r study bible. This study bible gives a truck load of commentary and other resources to help you learn, understand, and experience the truths of Scripture. Rather than writing my own ABOUT IT page, here are some videos that show and tell.

If you’re still not sure, this 52 second video is pretty convincing.

There are many testimonials about this resource, but I’ve plugged in this new one from Logos, Inc., which was just posted today. It features John Micah Sumrall, the lead singer from Kutlass.

After years of working with youth, John noticed something. Young people aren’t getting into the Word. For people who struggle to get into the Word, John has a suggestion.

Right now Logos is giving away 2,500,000 copies of this study bible. Right now! Interested? CLICK HERE

Obviously I strongly recommend this resource. Don’t wait, get it.

I’m done here.

Supporting Our Persecuted Brethren – Part 3

“Sympathy is no substitute for action.” – David Livingstone, Missionary/Explorer

The last two posts introduced you to two ministries that support our brethren who are persecuted for the sake of the Gospel. I am familiar with both of them and encourage you to get to know them as well. I’ve included links below to their websites.

Here is one more:  http://www.frontlinemissions.info/

These ministries are not involved in politics or advancing denominationalism. The Gospel is their underlying drive and to help those who are persecuted for trusting in it, living it, and proclaiming it.

www.persecution.com;

www.opendoorsusa.org

Here are a couple of things that we can do:

  • Pray for these ministries. Pray what? For wisdom, discernment, access to the persecuted ones, courage, boldness, and support from the rest of the Body of Christ.
  • If you’re looking for a way to help remember to pray for your brethren, I keep something in my Bible. I have a couple different prayer items that I use like abookmarker.
    • Download this global map from Frontline Missions. Keep it in your Bible and follow the monthly prayer list. Each day is for a different country that is high risk for Christians.
    • I also have a monthly brochure from Opendoorsusa.org that gives specific situations and people to pray for each day of the month.
    • You can also get a daily prayer request sent to your email or mobile device from Voice of the Martyr. There are all kinds of ways to stay connected and support those who are on the front lines and who live in danger every day for their faith.
  • Consider supporting at least one of them, or a similar ministry, financially. I like that these ministries have different ways to financially support the work. Something new with Voice of the Martyr is “Adopt a Front-Line Worker.” Check it out.
  • Find out if they are holding an event in your area and go.
  • Subscribe to the ministries’ newsletters and publications.

A couple of recommended books—fiction and non-fiction:

There are other ministries that support our persecuted brethren. Check them out and give your support in whatever way you can.  Just don’t forget about your brethren.

What Your Local Church Needs

New local churches seem to be popping up everywhere. It is almost the “In Thing” to do. Whoa, don’t miss understand me, I am all behind new church plants … IF they are needed where they are being planted.

There is an important part of a body that every local church should have, and new church plants are more apt not to have this–hence my opening statement about new startups. If this part is not present in the local church body it is most likely not missed, which is sad. You don’t miss what you never had, kinda thing. But when this part is present, it is evident and appreciated.

Clarification needed:  The church body doesn’t need this part to exist; we know that Jesus Christ builds His church. My point is that this part, or piece—as you may call it, is a valuable asset that makes a profound difference in the maturing of the body. It brings stability, longevity, and balance to the body.

So what is it?

I’m not talking about electric praise bands, yard sales, or screaming evangelists. Nor am I talking about coffee shops or the latest church marketing gimmick. Nope, none of that.

Every local church needs what I’ll call in this blog; elder statesmen / stateswomen of the faith. This is not a reference to the church office of an Elder.  We are NOT talking about the pastors, deacons, or any other church office. So I’m clear what it is not, right?

Who am I referring to?

I am referring to men and women within the local body of believers who know God. Who know God. As the Apostle John would put it, ‘They know that they know Him.’ These are men and women who are seasoned by the fire of life and their faith has been tried and found proven. Hence they have true godly character. They are not loud attention seekers. They never follow the latest religious/spiritual fads that American Christianity invents. And like the Apostle Paul, they know in Whom they believe and are fully persuaded that He is able to keep them.

Five traits:

  • When one of them reads the Scriptures you can hear it in his/her voice. The Word of God comes from a soul that has been pierced by the love of Christ. You hear this person and you can feel the depth of his/her relationship with the One who authored the Word. You realize that they aren’t merely reading words on a fancy published Bible, they are communicating on God’s behalf. The scripture that is being read is alive to that person’s soul. It is real to them!
  • When one of these statesmen of the faith (man or woman) prays with you, it is obvious that he/she prays as a proverbial prayer closet. His/her prayer is from an intimate relationship with the living God. It is a prayer that comes from a sincere soul and doesn’t mix words or draw attention to themselves in the prayer, but the prayer draws attention to the High Priest and Mediator between God and man. This prayer exalts in utter dependence in his/her God.
  • This person has fed on the Wisdom of Solomon and others like him. He/she can recognize the shallow so-called wisdom that comes from the unbelieving world and abhors such arrogance and vanity.
  • This person is more interested in doing what’s right rather than what works.

And I have to ask:

Where are these men and women? Or maybe the question should be: Does your pastor know who these statesmen/women are within the church? I ask because these men and women are humble,  going unnoticed, working behind the scenes in the church, and most likely filling a role and need.

Do you have spiritual statesmen/women in your local body?  This isn’t a spiritual gift that few have, like the office of a pastor. Every member of the body should attain to this role, so that we may edify one another to obtain maturity in Christ. How about you?

How Do You Know That You Know?

I John 2:4 says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if …”

I’ll leave the rest of the scripture for you to look up. Remember to read it in its context.

In the meantime, try this video on for size. This short video has a kick and it’s worth the beating. Whether you’re familiar with Paul Washer or not, check out on Youtube what is referred to has his shocking youth message. But it’s not just for youth.