The audio files from the BTC 2010 conference are now available for free download! To listen to Pastors Don Donell and Raymond Perron preach on the subject of “The Church & Missions,” follow the links below.

Session 1: Conference Introduction by Don Donell & Raymond Perron

Session 2: “The Mission Is God’s” (Don Donell)

Session 3: “Let’s Get Out of Our Hideout” (Raymond Perron)

Session 4: “Becoming a Radicalized Disciple”  (Don Donell)

Session 5: “Proclaiming the Gospel in a Secular Culture” (Raymond Perron)

Session 6: Questions & Answers with Don Donell, John Giarrizzo, & Raymond Perron

(By: Eddie Goodwin)

In 2004, while training as a ministerial student, I had the privilege of preaching an assigned doctrinal-topical sermon on the imputed righteousness of Christ. Though the sermon and its delivery bore the obvious marks of a novice preacher struggling to grow and develop, the doctrine itself was nevertheless glorious.  What child of God can hear such words as “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21) and not be moved in the very depths of his blood-bought soul!

For me personally, the theology of that particular study led to doxology in a most unexpected way.  The fruit of that particular study led to the writing of a song.  The lyrics are set to the public domain tune used for The Church’s One Foundation.  This song is being shared with the hope that you will be renewed in your ardent love and zeal for the One whose one act of obedience resulted in justification of life to all men (Rom. 5:18).

Christ, Our Righteousness (tune: The Church’s One Foundation)

Through Adam’s one transgression death came to all the race

The hope of life then perished and judgment took its place

The cherubim were stationed to bar the holy tree

Unrighteousness and sorrow became man’s legacy.

Yet, in that darkest moment of mankind’s greatest need

God intervened in mercy by promising a seed

A suf-fer-ing Deliv’rer would crush the serpent’s head

while offering up obedience in fallen Adam’s stead.

In vain do sinners labor and trust in deeds they’ve done

To satisfy God’s justice we need the Righteous One

The Sacrifice unblemished, ordained to bleed and die

in resurrection glory now lives to justify.

O marvelous reversal, the sinless One made sin!

The curse of Law is broken for those who enter in

By grace through faith receive Him–the Son that we adore

who grants to over-comers the tree of life once more.

We’ll revel in our Savior, the precious, spotless Lamb

when dressed in white apparel before the judgment stand

We’ll boast in none but Jesus, no works will we profess

but rest forever, only, in Christ our Righteousness.

 

(By David Giarrizzo)

By Day 2 of the ARBCA General Assembly here in Taylors, South Carolina, the blessing of God was evident through the preaching of the Word and the fellowship of the saints.  Tuesday morning, ARBCA Coordinator Gordon Taylor delivered the annual Coordinator’s Challenge. For his text, Gordon used Acts 2:42–

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

From the context of Acts 2, Gordon shared two simple observations about the church in Jerusalem: First it was a converted church; and second, it was a committed church.

1. A Converted Church

The first point is clear: To be a member of the church, one must be converted. Sadly, it seems that too many modern churches in America fail to place great importance on this simple truth. Many churches are quick to fill the pews by encouraging the unsaved to pray a prayer, shed a tear, sign a card, get baptized, and then become a member of the church without sufficient time or care put into figuring out if that person was ever saved. As verses 37-41 shows, it was those who received the word of the Gospel who were saved and baptized; it was those who were genuinely converted who were added to the membership of the church.

2. A Committed Church

Secondly, as verse 42 shows, these believers “continued steadfastly,” they were “devoted.” The significance here is the commitment of the church to the following things: the Apostles’ doctrine; fellowship; breaking of bread; and prayer.

The Apostle’s Doctrine. What was it, Gordon asked, that the Apostles were teaching? The answer is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. On this point Gordon explained the importance of preaching the Gospel. Mr. Taylor used the illustration of a piano keyboard to describe the kind of doctrine that our churches should always be focused upon. Middle ‘C’ on the piano is the first thing that piano students learn and one of the only things they may remember decades later if they do not continue to learn. The middle ‘C’ of Christianity is Jesus Christ, the center of the Gospel message and the focal point of the church. Christ, then, is what every church’s doctrine should be centered around, and Christ is who every believer should continually look to as the Chief Cornerstone of the church.

Fellowship. Gordon Taylor quoted Gordon J. Keddie’s definition of fellowship: “Christ-centered mutual affections and actions…” Our attention was directed to the second part of this definition, actions. Fellowship involves “worship, conversation, meals, and work.” The believers in the early church would meet together, eat together, and speak together “with glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:46). Likewise, in Acts 6:1-8, we see the Jerusalem church working together to meet the physical needs of the people by appointing deacons to serve. Pastors need deacons to organize and serve the people in this way. This, as Gordon acknowledged, is a part of what true fellowship entails.

Breaking of bread. Gordon Taylor continued in the order of the actions as explained in Acts 2:42 by showing that a committed church celebrates the Lord’s Supper. This remembrance is both a confirmation of our faith and a source of spiritual nourishment to our souls.

Prayers. Corporate prayer is essential to church life. Sadly, though, prayer in the church has taken a back-seat to too many less important things. But as Gordon charged the churches, “No matter what the culture does, never stop praying.” May we never forsake the assembling of ourselves together to pray to God publicly.

Joy in everything. As a final note, Gordon added that through every activity of the young church in Acts–the teaching of the Apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and corporate prayer–everything was done with gladness and joy in the Lord (Acts 2:46-47). The attitude should be the same within our churches today: as we seek to be committed churches, may we be churches filled with the joy of the Lord that gives us strength.

(By: Nick Kennicott)

The 2010 ARBCA General Assembly got off to an excellent start on Tuesday morning when our brother (and fellow Ardent-Crier) Pastor Chris Powell gave a devotional message from Psalm 103.

Chris’ message was a great blessing to me and a wonderfully challenging reminder that I must be constant about approaching the God of Grace.

Chris began by asking us to consider how we deal with balancing our time when we are spread so thin, particularly as pastors. How do we deal with “blue Mondays” when we are faced with our weaknesses and failures? The wise response is to turn to meditating on God’s Word.

Christ presented Psalm 103 as the Monday Psalm, a reminder from the Scriptures as we see David preaching the gospel to himself. We must find and express our joy in God (v. 1) and give ourselves entirely to God. We must meditate on God’s Word, not as a work in which we strive to be found righteous in, but to be changed by the Word of the Holy and living God. It is vital that in our meditation we are not listening to our hearts, but rather speaking to them – informing our hearts of the truth and reminding ourselves of the great gospel we have inherited in Christ Jesus.

Verses 1-4 of Psalm 103 are a great explanation of what it feels like to be saved – it is the experience of the Christian faith. From this great Psalm, we see that we are secure and can be encouraged by 4 primary things:

1. We are justified (v. 3)
2. We are Sanctified (v. 3b)
3. We will be resurrected (and have, in the New Birth, been resurrected) (v. 4)
4. We are adopted sons and daughters of God (v. 4b).

I am always encouraged by the reminder of my adoption in Christ. Chris helped me tremendously in his devotion to remind me that I can approach God directly as one who is His son, and that Jesus is not ashamed to call me brother. I am a son of the King! Hallelujah!

Thank you, Chris, for such a wonderful encouragement and reminder – I plan to spend much time in Psalm 103 next Monday morning, remembering all along that God will work in my frailty (v. 5). Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

*****

In other news, all 5 contributors to Ardent Cries will be having our first official Ardent Cries meeting this evening – I look forward to the time with my brothers and pray that the Lord will encourage us all through one another. Perhaps through this we can become more clear in our focus on this blog, and find a renewed zeal for posting each day.

(By David Giarrizzo)

I recently had the privilege of attending an all-day conference featuring some big-name speakers from all over the country. At this seminar thousands of people heard from successful entrepreneurs, professional athletes, financial investors, former politicians, an honored military commander, and other motivational speakers. Naturally, each speaker had inspiring stories to share and motivational quotes good enough to bring home.

In many ways the conference was what I expected it to be: a conglomeration of successful speakers and influential leaders; a potpourri of motivating illustrations, tales of victory, and comical quips; a dazzling stage with spotlights and fireworks; and an arena jam-packed with an audience who would leave there high on hype and feeling better about their lives. In all honesty, I left the conference that day feeling positive and upbeat. I heard some very interesting and well-respected people share some very moving thoughts and solid advice. At the same time, I didn’t feel completely full. It was as if I just ate a bag of Skittles and was experiencing a little sugar rush. But that one bag of Skittles couldn’t really satisfy my empty stomach which really needed a regular diet of nutritional meals with substance (like a 16 oz ribeye cooked mid-rare with a large side of mashers!). As I compare that entire 9-hour conference to one of the 50-minute sermons that I’m used to every Sunday, I think of how a bag of Skittles is contrasted with a steady, well-rounded diet. One leaves a person feeling good for a moment, while the other provides continual energy and sustenance.

So what’s the biggest difference between the messages of this motivational seminar and the message preached on Sundays? I think it boils down to the difference between the words of men and the Word of God (…and that’s a BIG difference!).

The words of men by themselves are shallow, weak, and ineffective. But the Word of God is vast, powerful, and effective in its purposes. When men speak their own words, or even the words of wiser men, they are still the words of mere men. But when men engage in the faithful preaching of the Bible, then they are relying not on their own words, but on the Word of God Himself. Where men have the potential to speak that which is false, God, in His written Word, speaks only that which is true because He alone is true. Thus, when the Word of God is preached, truth is proclaimed (Psalm 119:160).  Additionally, when the words of men might prove weak in their application, the Word of God is accompanied by the Spirit of God and is powerful to convict. While at this conference, there were moments when the words of a speaker influenced me with a sense of guilt or embarrassment about something; but never was I convicted. This is because I was not confronted with my sin in comparison to the Holy God by the Word of God. Motivational meetings do not accomplish this; faithful Gospel preaching does.

“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.”
(1 Thessalonians 1:4-5)

Herein lies my concern: I fear that much of what is preached from church stages across America is nothing more than the words of mere men aiming to inspire and motivate other humans to live happy, successful lives. I remember leaning to a friend during one of the lectures and remarking that it felt as if we were listening to a Joel Osteen-written message being delivered by a different person. As I later reflected on the different but similar themes that flowed out of the various messages of the day, I couldn’t help but make the correlation between that gathering and a typical mega-church Sunday morning service. Could it be that many pastors are little more than influential leaders speaking at motivational seminars every Sunday and calling it worship? The entertaining speakers, the large screens and colored lights, the lively music, and the sea of laughing, clapping people were all eerily reminiscent of a Sunday service at one of hundreds or thousands of evangelical mega-churches across North America.

And here is my encouragement to those faithful preachers of the Word of God: Keep on preaching! Regardless of your church’s size, sound system, or music ministry, just preach the Word of God and not the words of men. Don’t seek to motivate, titillate, or enthuse; simply strive to preach the Word. May everything else in our churches remain secondary to Christ-centered, Bible-based, Gospel-focused preaching. And let us trust the Lord to use His Word to accomplish His purposes.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
(Isaiah 55:10-11)

(By: Eddie Goodwin)

I have the privilege this weekend of traveling with Dr. Sam Waldron to The Reformed Pastor conference in Durham, NC.  This is an annual event hosted by Springs of Life Church in Durham.  This year’s speakers are Andy Davies, Sam Waldron and Nathan Finn.  Here is a wonderful quote from the conference web page to whet your appetite!

 

When many a modern day pastor has become an entertainer, comedian, esteem builder and/or CEO, it is time to call on the church to go back to the Scriptures and be reminded of the qualifications and roles God has established for the high office of pastor.

 

In his book “Working the Angles”, Eugene Peterson writes: “American pastors are abandoning their posts, left and right, and at an alarming rate. They are not leaving their churches and getting other jobs. Congregations still pay their salaries. Their names remain on the church stationary and they continue to appear in pulpits on Sundays. But they are abandoning their posts, their calling. They have gone whoring after other gods. They talk of images and statistics. They drop names. They discuss influence and status. Matters of God and the soul and Scripture are not grist for their mills. The pastors of America have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops they keep are churches. They are preoccupied with shopkeeper’s concerns—how to keep the customers happy, how to lure customers away from competitors down the street, how to package the goods so that the customers will lay out more money. The strategies of the fast-food franchise occupy the waking minds of these entrepreneurs; while asleep they dream of the kind of success that will get the attention of journalists…What they do with their time under the guise of pastoral ministry hasn’t the remotest connection with what the church’s pastors have done for most of twenty centuries.”

 

When we speak of the term “Reformed” pastor we speak of a pastor whose life, teaching and ministry conforms to the Word of God alone as the only standard for faith and practice. In this conference we will plumb God’s Word and church history to discover what a “Reformed” pastor looks like and his vital importance to the local church today.