Title: Mom’s Tool Bag!
Download: http://gbcdillon.sermon.net/da/119914487
Playback: http://gbcdillon.sermon.net/da/119914487/play
With prayer, Pastor Mark
View it in your browser at desiringGod.
By Tony Reinke | Mar 22, 2012 04:00 am
In 1994 Pastor John began explaining a theme he noticed in the introductions and conclusions to all 13 of Paul’s epistles. Paul begins each epistle with grace, and he closes each epistle with grace. The pattern is “a bracing trumpet call to the centrality of grace in Christianity.”
It is. But there was more to be discovered in the pattern.
As he studied these bookends closer, Pastor John discovered that each grace-centered greeting included some form of the phrase “grace be to you.” Each grace-filled benediction included some form of the phrase “grace be with you.”
Here are the passages:
“grace be to you” / “grace be with you”
Romans 1:7 / Romans 16:20
1 Corinthians 1:3 / 1 Corinthians 16:23
2 Corinthians 1:2 / 2 Corinthians 13:14
Galatians 1:3 / Galatians 6:18
Ephesians 1:2 / Ephesians 6:24
Philippians 1:2 / Philippians 4:23
Colossians 1:2 / Colossians 4:18
1 Thessalonians 1:1 / 1 Thessalonians 5:28
2 Thessalonians 1:2 / 2 Thessalonians 3:18
1 Timothy 1:2 / 1 Timothy 6:21
2 Timothy 1:2 / 2 Timothy 4:22
Titus 1:4 / Titus 3:15
Philemon 1:3 / Philemon 1:25
Pastor John explained the significance of this discovery in his book Future Grace (pages 66–67):
…at the beginning of his letters Paul has in mind that the letter itself is a channel of God’s grace to the readers. Grace is about to flow “from God” through Paul’s writing to the Christians. So he says, “Grace to you.” That is, grace is now active and is about to flow from God through my inspired writing to you as you read—“grace [be] to you.”
But as the end of the letter approaches, Paul realizes that the reading is almost finished and the question rises, “What becomes of the grace that has been flowing to the readers through the reading of the inspired letter?” He answers with a blessing at the end of every letter: “Grace [be] with you.” With you as you put the letter away and leave the church. With you as you go home to deal with a sick child and an unaffectionate spouse. With you as you go to work and face the temptations of anger and dishonesty and lust. With you as you muster courage to speak up for Christ over lunch.
What then do we learn from Paul’s unbroken pattern of beginning and ending his letters in this way (“Grace be to you.” “Grace be with you.”)? We learn that grace is an unmistakable priority in the Christian life. We learn that it is from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, but that it can come through people. We learn that grace is ready to flow to us every time we take up the inspired Scriptures to read them. And we learn that grace will abide with us when we lay the Bible down and go about our daily living.
In other words, we learn that grace is not merely a past reality but a future one. Every time I reach for the Bible, God’s grace is a reality that will flow to me. Every time I put the Bible down and go about my business, God’s grace will go with me.
Posted in Doctrine (Teaching)
The next “Knowing God” Devotional is now posted on my ministry blog:
Click on the link to give it a read. I know I was blessed and hope you will be as well. Your feedback and fellowship is always appreciated! Thanks!
With prayer, Pastor Mark
Many of the messages from Pastor Don’s series on Hebrews can be listened to by going to the message page and using the podcast player to select a title or scripture passage that would interest you.
Many expressed appreciation for the practical panel discussion wrap-up of this series. Give it a listen for a blessing and challenge:
Title: Panel discussion on the Letter to the Hebrews
Download: http://gbcdillon.sermon.net/da/119771886
Today, Pastor Don, gave us a full report of his mission trip to the Ukraine, full of stories and slides. What a blessing!
I have edited down the report to 4 sections:
1. Philippians 4:6-7 – The verses that helped Pastor Don throughout the trip but especial when he felt claustrophobic,
2. His vision of missions for our congregation,
3. His opportunity to witness through the English Club, and
4. His closing prayer.
This should give you a feel of his experience and the vision it is opening up for missionary outreach here at Grace Bible Church in obedience to Acts 1:8.
For a listen click on one of the following links:
Title: Pastor Don’s Mission Trip Report
Download: http://gbcdillon.sermon.net/da/2820656
Playback:http://gbcdillon.sermon.net/da/2820656/play
With Prayer, Mark
It does take courage to do things God’s way. It takes courage to follow God’s instruction on being a parent. After viewing the new movie “Courageous”, Pastor Don and I concluded that we should encourage all to see this film about fathers assuming their God given responsibilities in parenting.
The following testimony is how God worked in my heart to become a better father:
While I was growing up, one of my favorite past-times was getting under-my-sister’s-skin. In other words I liked provoking her to anger. Even after trusting Christ at the age of 18, I still fell to this temptation but now felt convicted for my unkindness to the point that I would even ask her forgiveness. It is amazing how knowing Christ as Savior begins to change us and better our relationships within our families!
Nearly 10 years later when I became a father, it revealed that I still enjoyed irritating people, though I was unaware that I was doing anything wrong. This time it was my new baby daughter of just a few weeks old. Well, we had this new camera that had this automatic rewind and rapid picture taking capability, so I snapped a picture of our little one who was sleeping so sweetly in her car seat. Nothing wrong with that! But the flash kind of disturbed her rest, and she had a little frown upon her face. So I snapped another picture, the bright flash glaring into her little face. She became a little irritated now, and I was so amused by her reaction that I snapped another one, and another one, and another one–until my baby daughter was wailing in helpless frustration. She was crying and I was laughing. I was laughing at the frustration that I had the power to arouse in another person. I was laughing at the expense of someone for whom I was supposed to protect and tenderly care. It was so easy to do—so fun—so wrong!
I continued to provoke—I called it teasing my daughter. I did not really begin to change until about 6 years later when my wife encouraged me to find out what the Bible teaches about parenting. At that time I was floundering as a father, had been abdicating my responsibilities, and desperately needed help. The Bible had the wisdom and instruction I needed to be the father that God wanted me to be. Two of the scriptures that particularly grabbed my attention were Ephesians 6:4 “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,” and Colossians 3:21, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”
I was deeply convicted of my unkindness in provoking my daughter to anger by those clear scriptural commands! What a contrast to the nurturing father God wanted me to be! By following the parenting practices of my ancestors, I was unwittingly discouraging my daughter. I was neglecting to build a relationship based upon loving respect. With God’s help I began to overcome the pleasure of provoking my daughter and instead began to lovingly train and correct her. I turned back from a path that had been leading me to ruin and began traveling a path that has brought me tremendous joy. God’s way made all the difference.
May God grant us fathers the grace to resist the temptations to provoke our children to wrath and give us the wisdom to train them for the Lord.
With Prayer, Pastor Mark
Note: The Bible study that changed my life in the area of parenting is available on my blog by clicking here. Please let me know if it has helped you. I would love to hear specific examples of how God has helped you through the Word of God to be a better parent.
Pastor Don Julian
Mark Worden
Ben Power