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Articles from Pastor Jon's Blog

One Solitary Life 2007-04-08 04:00:00 One Solitary Life Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself... While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth - His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen lon ...

The Empty Bird Cage 2007-04-08 00:00:00 The Empty Bird Cage There once was a man named George Thomas, a pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning, he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Several eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak. "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, " What you got there son?" "Just some old birds," came the reply. "What are you gonna do with them?" I asked. "Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time." "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?" "Oh, I got some cats," said the li ...

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 2007-04-07 00:00:00 Thessalonians 1 - Receivers and Responders 2. (6) The Thessalonians responded to the gospel by becoming followers. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, a. And you became followers of us and of the Lord: They stopped following other things, but followed after Paul and the Lord. Paul says that it was a good thing for the Thessalonians to follow him, and he wasn?t shy about saying ?follow me? because he knew where he was going. i. This shows that Paul?s message included an element of personal discipleship. There was a sense in which Paul personally led these Thessalonian Christians in their spiritual life. They could see his life and were invited to learn from his example. b. Having received the word in much affliction: The Thessalonian Christians distinguished themselves because they received the word, even in much affliction. The message they heard came with adversity, yet they received it and P ...

Church Planting Advice 2007-04-06 09:47:30 Buzzard Blog posted a great quote on church planting:"To ask for a pattern for church planting is like asking for a pattern for wrestling an alligator. The critter is so slippery and dangerous that the best advice is, 'Don't get killed!'" --Elmer TownsI think this is some pretty good advice.......:-)<:))))><< ...

The Resolutions Of Jonathan Edwards 21-30 2007-04-06 05:00:00 The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) BEING SENSIBLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT GOD' S HELP, I DO HUMBLY ENTREAT HIM BY HIS GRACE TO ENABLE ME TO KEEP THESE RESOLUTIONS, SO FAR AS THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO HIS WILL, FOR CHRIST' S SAKE. Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.21. Resolved, never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him. (Resolutions 1 through 21 written in one setting in New Haven in 1722)22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find ...

1 Thessalonians 1:5 2007-04-06 00:00:00 Thessalonians 1 - Receivers and Responders B. The cause and effect of the changes in the lives of the Thessalonians. 1. (5) The gospel caused the changes in the Thessalonian Christians. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. a. For our gospel did not come to you in word only: The gospel is not a matter of mere words. In modern culture there is an overflow of information or entertainment that often only amounts to mere words. Yet the gospel is more that words, it also has power. i. For our gospel did not come to you: Literally, Paul wrote ?became to you ? proved to be, in its approach to you.? (Alford)  b. Also in power: The message of Jesus Christ has power. It has power for miracles; power for wonderful signs from God; and best of all, it has the power to change minds, hearts, and lives. i. Thomas on power: ?Not to be confused with dynam ...

1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 2007-04-05 00:00:00 Thessalonians 1 - Receivers and Responders 2. (2) Paul?s gratitude to God. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, a. We give thanks to God always for you all: When Paul thought of the Christians in Thessalonica, his heart filled with gratitude. Paul started the church there in less than ideal circumstances, being run out of town after only three weekends with them (Acts 17:1-10). Yet the church was strong and full of life. Paul knew that this work was beyond him and his abilities and that it was the work of God. i. ?The regularly recurring nature of the thanksgiving is also implied in the use of the present tense of the verb. It is their practice to give thanks to God ?continually, never skipping a single day.?? (Hiebert)  b. Making mention of you in our prayers: When Paul prayed for people and churches, it wasn?t necessarily a long time of intercession. He often simply made mention of a church or a person in prayer (Romans 1:9, Ephe ...

1 Thessalonians 1:1 2007-04-04 00:00:00 Thessalonians 1 - Receivers and Responders ?This letter is full of interest because it is certainly among the first of those which have been preserved for us from the pen of Paul. It was the first he wrote to European Christians, and in it the fundamental things of the Christian life are very clearly set forth.? (G. Campbell Morgan) A. Greeting and thanksgiving. 1. (1) Paul greets the Thessalonian Christians. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. a. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: Paul was an amazing man and apostle of God, but he usually did not work all by himself. Whenever he could, Paul worked with a team. Here Paul mentioned the men he worked with.  i. Silvanus (also known as Silas) was a long and experienced companion of Paul. He traveled with Paul on his second missionary journey and was imprisoned and set free with Paul in the ...

Romans 5:19 2007-04-03 00:00:00 Romans 5 - Benefits of Being Justified through Faith ?In the whole Bible there is hardly another chapter which can equal this triumphant text.? (Martin Luther) 5. (19) Summary of the contrasts. For as by one man?s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man?s obedience many will be made righteous. a. Adam?s disobedience makes mankind sinners. Jesus? obedience makes many righteous. Each representative communicates the effect of their work to their ?followers.? b. Many were made sinners: Paul emphasizes the point again. At the root, we were made sinners by the work of Adam. Of course, we chose Adam when we personally sinned. But the principle remains that since another man made us sinners, we can be made righteous by the work of another man. i. This is the only way for the work of Jesus to benefit us in any way. If every man must stand for himself, without the representation of either Adam or Jesus, then we will all perish. None would be saved, because each of us ...

Jon Lewis 2007-04-02 19:01:39 This past Sunday we had Jon Lewis from Calvary Fellowship Greenwich speak at our worship service. He gave his testimony as well as the vision God has laid on his heart for a church in Greenwich, Connecticut. It is a blessing to hear from someone who is on fire for the Lord. I believe he woke some folks up. This Sunday, April 8th he will be back with us again. This time we will ordain him as a pastor and minister of the gospel. That is exciting! One of the visions God gave me is for planting churches in New England. So, in a sense, this is my first opportunity to begin this part of God's call. I do not believe God would have me merely ordain someone and then wish them well. I believe you have to be involved in empowering them to fulfill God's call to them. Jon will join us as a elder at Springfield Calvary and I will join him as an elder at Calvary Fellowship Greenwich. This allows us to assist each other and grow together in God's work. As the Lord enables us, we will also finan ...

Romans 5:18 2007-04-02 00:00:00 Romans 5 - Benefits of Being Justified through Faith ?In the whole Bible there is hardly another chapter which can equal this triumphant text.? (Martin Luther) 4. (18) Summary: the two men. Therefore, as through one man?s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man?s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. a. One man?s offense . . . one Man?s righteous act: From this passage, Adam and Jesus are sometimes known as the two men. Between them they represent of all humanity, and everyone is identified in either Adam or Jesus. We are born identified with Adam; we may be born again into identification with Jesus. i. The idea of Adam and Jesus as two representatives of the human race is sometimes called Federal Theology or Adam and Jesus are sometimes referred to as Federal Heads. This is because under the federal system of government, representatives are chosen and the representative speaks for the people ...

Sunday Quotes 04.01.07 2007-04-01 05:00:00 "God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer." -- Mother Teresa Those who walk the closest and work the hardest are the best prepared for Christ's return. - Unknown If Christ is kept on the outside, there must be something wrong inside. - Unknown God will not judge you for what you have done but for what you have refused to do. - Unknown<:))))><< ...

A Church Plant In Rutland, Vermont 2007-03-31 09:30:32 Yesterday, my friend Michael Demers (Calvary Chapel Cortez, Colorado) called.  He was excited.  A man had called about getting his father to attend the church there in Cortez.  As they talked Michael found out this man, Scott Schwartz, is in the process of planting a Calvary Fellowship in Rutland, Vermont.  Meeting church planters is a highlight for those who plant churches.  This is why Michael was so excited. I called and left a message for Scott yesterday afternoon.  Friday evening we has a chance to speak about church planting and pray together.  Calvary Fellowship of Rutland meets as a home Bible study on Sunday evenings.  You can find more information by going to their web site. It is my prayer that the Lord would bless this church.  We need solid Bible teaching churches in New England.  I would also ask that the readers of this blog would pray for Scott and Kori Schwartz as well as  Calvary Fellowship of Rutland, VT.<: ...

Romans 5:15-17 2007-03-29 00:00:00 Romans 5 - Benefits of Being Justified through Faith ?In the whole Bible there is hardly another chapter which can equal this triumphant text.? (Martin Luther) 3. (15-17) Contrasts between Adam?s work and Jesus? work. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man?s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man?s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) a. But the free gift is not like the offense: Adam gave an offense that had consequences for the entire human race - as a result of Adam?s offense, many died. Jesus gives a free gif ...

CC Southwestern Conference Links 2007-03-28 13:48:41 This is a link to the main sessions of the recently completed Calvary Chapel Southwestern Pastor's Conference.  The sessions are available in mp3 as well as video. There is some good stuff here. The theme of the conference was "When Ministry Hurts."<:))))><< ...