(By: Chad Bennett)

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” Philippians 2:3-4

In Chapter 2 of Philippians Paul follows his command of humble service by presenting us with several examples of true Christian service:

Christ though He is God did not consider equality with God something to be held on to, but “made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (2:6-9). The incarnation was costly and even more so was the passion and death of Christ, yet Christ humbly obeyed and served the Father.

Paul sees himself as a sacrifice on behalf of the church as rejoices in it; “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all” (2:17).

Timothy uniquely and unselfishly cares for the church and Paul: “For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel” (2:20-22).

Epaphroditus, whom Paul calls “my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,” appears to be a member of the church at Philippi who served Paul even though it almost cost him his life (2:25, 27, 30).  Verse 30 says “he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” What his service is to Paul is clearly called the work of Christ. It is also described as completing what was lacking in the Philippians’ service to Paul. This begs the question of what was lacking in their service? Clearly they cared for Paul and even gave to support his needs (see 1:3-5 and 4:16). The answer to this question is likely best discerned in light of the parallel passage in 1 Corinthians 16:17, “I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence.” While it was not feasible for the entire church at Philippi to pack up and move to Rome to serve Paul, they nonetheless desired to also serve him in this way. Epaphroditus did what the church as a whole could not and Paul says, “So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men” (2:29)

I bring this up for a couple of reasons. First, I constantly need to be reminded to flee my selfish desires, to humbly think of others as more important than myself, and to do the work of Christ by serving them. Secondly, having recently studied through this passage I could not help but see a parallel to this passage in my own life. As many of you may be aware ARBCA churches are working together to help those in Haiti. An email was sent out asking for people to go to Haiti and serve. In so many ways I longed to go as many in our churches have, but was prevented for various reasons. In the email was the line, “Right now there is no guarantee of safety for the volunteers” which honestly caused fear in my heart. On top of this the call was primarily for medical staff. I have been encouraged by fellow Ardent Cries contributor Nick Kennicott who in many ways is a modern day Epaphroditus for me and many in ARBCA. Nick and his wife Felicia are currently in Haiti. She is a physician’s assistant and he is a pastor which makes them uniquely qualified to serve and do the work of Christ. The scripture says honor such men.

May we humbly do the work of Christ by serving those in need and thinking of others more highly than ourselves. I encourage you to help the Kennicotts and others as they make up for what is lacking in our service.

(By: Eddie Goodwin)

“The Christian without a missionary heart is an anomaly.  The missionary heart will be seen in all kinds of ways: in prayers for the lost, in making sure our behavior offends no one, in gospel conversations with friends (at dinner parties!), and in making every effort to save some.  We are slaves without rights, even though we are free (cf. 2Cor. 4:5; Phil. 2:7).

…Disciples are called to a disctinctive, ’salty’ lifestyle characterized by good deeds and righteousness.  By living this way, we shine as lights in the world, attracting praise not to ourselves but to God our Father (Matt. 5:13-16).  We are called to pray for the bold proclamation of the gospel in the world (Col. 4:2-3).  Our conversation with outsiders should be gracious yet provocative, giving appropriate answers to the questions that are prompted by our way of life (Col. 4:5-6).  The sound doctrine of the gospel produces a radical Christian way of life that gives no ground for slander, and makes the teaching of the gospel attractive to the world (Titus 2:1-10).  Like God’s chosen people Israel, Christians both corporately and privately are to make God known to the nations by declaring His mercies in the gospel and by living a holy life (1Peter 2:9-12; 3:1-2).  Even in the midst of persecution, believers are to surrender to the lordship of Christ and gently give a defence of the hope that we have in the gospel (1Peter 3:15)”  (p.52).

(By David Giarrizzo)

The following is a letter addressed to ARBCA churches and friends regarding this year’s Building Tomorrow’s Church conference. For more information, please visit the official conference website.


Dear Brethren,

It is with much thanks to our merciful Lord that we are excited to announce the details of this year’s Building Tomorrow’s Church conference. BTC’10 will be held again in beautiful Prescott, Arizona, the weekend of August 6^th-9^th (Friday-Monday). We are privileged to have for this year’s keynote speakers Pastor Don Donell from Crosspoint Church in Fletcher, NC, and Pastor Raymond Perron from Église Baptiste Réformée de la Capitale in Quebec, Canada. The theme of BTC’10 is “The Church and Missions.”

The Building Tomorrow’s Church ministry, aimed at young adults (18 yrs+) from Reformed Baptist churches, seeks to communicate that same evangelistic sentiment that C.H. Spurgeon expressed in his 1856 sermon on Gospel Missions:

We feel persuaded that all of you are of one mind in this matter, that it is the absolute duty as well as the eminent privilege of the Church to proclaim the gospel to the world. We do not conceive that God will do his own work without instruments, but that, as he has always employed means in the work of the regeneration of this world, he will still continue to do the same, and that it becomes the Church to do its utmost to spread the truth wherever it can reach the ear of man.

Thus, the activity of missions is an important part of the ministry of the local church, and therefore deserves our attention as individual Christians and faithful church members. May we all benefit from the reminder to be faithful in proclaiming the Word of Truth to all men.

It is our great desire to see the lives of young people sanctified by the power of the Gospel through the Holy Spirit’s conviction and encouragement in hearts that love the Lord and His people. We “expect great things from God” as we “attempt great things for God” through this annual conference. We have yet to find out how many future missionaries, church planters, elders, deacons, or Sunday school teachers may be raised up through one of these conferences, but we look forward to what the Lord might do. “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:17).  May God alone receive all the glory.

We ask that you keep the BTC conference and its planning in your regular prayers. Also, take a moment to visit www.buildingtomorrowschurch.com to stay informed of upcoming BTC’10 announcements. May the Lord bless you and your Gospel ministries.

On behalf of the BTC conference planning committee and Grace Covenant Church,

David Giarrizzo
Conference Coordinator

(By David Giarrizzo)

I grew up in a home of four, and my mom was the only female. As my brother and I increased in age, so did the testosterone levels increase in the Giarrizzo household. My mom at times had her hands full trying to keep World War III from breaking out under our roof. I can recall more than a few epic battles that raged throughout the house (think: last scene from the latest Hulk movie!). What some might consider just two siblings in the same bedroom, my brother and I considered an operational fight club. I thank the Lord, though, that the good times that were had far outnumbered the bloody noses and busted collar bones.

In the midst of my teenage years, when the sibling aggression was at its peak, I remember my dear, sweet mother’s voice reminding me often: “Grace, grace.” These words were sometimes said and sometimes sung. Even today, whenever I am about to lose my cool or lash out in judgmental fury on someone or something, I can hear mom’s voice singing that tune…

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all my sin.

I am so grateful for this wonderful memory that has so many practical implications in my daily life. How important it is to remember God’s grace towards us. When we remember the grace of God, it should humble us. I should ask myself, “Who is a viler sinner than me?” And yet God’s grace saved me from my deserved punishment and cleansed me though and through. I can hardly comprehend the magnitude of such a divine act of grace.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved…” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Accordingly, in light of the riches of God grace to us, we as heirs with Him should show such grace to others. This was my mother’s point when she would remind us of the grace of God. Every time she sang that song, she was reminding me to be gracious to others as God has been gracious to me.

“…grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4:7)

This kind of graciousness that Christians should show to others is not simply politeness or courteousness. Instead, graciousness is spiritually rooted. Our graciousness should mirror the graciousness of God: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty…” (Exodus 34:6-7). God’s graciousness is great, yet specific; merciful, yet just. In the Psalms, this kind of graciousness is often coupled with patience, mercy, and love (Psalms 86:15, 103:8, 116:5, 145:8). Should we not as brothers and sisters in Christ be patient and merciful and loving towards each other as God has been to us?

Yet how often are we quick to judge our brothers? (I speak as a capital offender!) We take out our spiritual magnifying glasses to pin point the specks in our brother’s eye, all the while walking around with tree trunks lodged in our eyes. We take aim at fellow believers, shooting down the very family of God, forgetting to remove our own optical logs. Instead of being hasty in our judgment and reckless with our critical remarks, we should all be more careful when we call out other Christians. In the arena of the church, humility is the key to wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).

And please don’t mistake me: I’m not encouraging ecumenism. I am encouraging biblical love towards believers. Granted, we must be discerning Christians who love God’s law and hold ourselves and our brothers accountable to the standard of God’s decree. However, I’m simply encouraging us to be gracious in our attitudes and words and actions towards those brothers and sisters in Christ who are not in active rebellion to God, but may be off-centered in their theology or misguided in their practice (or at least we think they are). I think of my Arminian brothers or those who believe in ongoing revelatory gifts or those who…… [fill in the blank]. We can—and should—engage these brethren in biblical discussion on such matters; but when we do, may we be filled with grace. Likewise, when we seek to shepherd those in our churches who need some real “spurring on,” may we speak the truth with evident love. And when those with whom we speak do not immediately agree with us and change their ways, let us rejoice in the Lord knowing we both were bought with the blood of the Lamb and we’ll both spend eternity at His feet.

Finally, let us do away with the pride that comes from our deep study of doctrine. (But for the grace of God, we are dumb.) Let us do away with the arrogance that accompanies years of church attendance. (But for the grace of God, we are lost.) Let us do away with the judgmentalism of others that goes with rearing godly children. (But for the grace of God, they are dead.) Brothers and sisters, but for the grace of God, we are nothing. Therefore let us boast in nothing but the cross of Christ. And may we always show to others the grace that God has shown to us.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.” –John Newton

“The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.” –Fanny J. Crosby

[As always, I encourage your thoughts on this subject. Please feel free to share using the comment form below.]

(By: Christopher Powell) For those of you following the relief efforts in Haiti, here is a recent video depicting the early stages of the relief effort:

(By: Eddie Goodwin)

Chapter Three Summary:

Chapter three begins with an imaginary meditation reflecting the spirit of Psalm 80.  The authors trace out a miniature redemptive-historical snapshot of God’s purposes to bring new life to Israel.  This plan culminates with the coming of Christ and the commencement of the Spirit-empowered preaching of the gospel.

The vine metaphor of the book’s title, then, refers to “the Spirit-empowered word , spreading and growing throughout the world, drawing people out of the kingdom of darkness into the light-filled kingdom of God’s beloved Son, and then bearing fruit in their lives as they grow in the knowledge and love of God” (p. 37).  This is what God is doing in the world.

The chapter concludes with three implications derived from God’s mission which can be summarized under these statements:

1. God’s work in the world calls for a Christ-centered radicalism that abandons our own ambitions, etc. for the sake of the gospel.

 

2. The growth God is looking for is in people (as opposed to involvement, activities, newcomers, finances, church staff, buildings, etc.)

 

3. Christians must bring the Word to others.

 According to the authors, this is vine work.  Everything else is trellis…