As Christians, we are not surprised that the Bible declares Jesus Christ as the only way by which one can be saved (Acts 4:12). So, we are not at all alarmed when the Gospel message of Jesus Christ is offensive or divisive to others. To the rest of the world, especially other religions, the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as the sole way to heaven sounds absurd, presumptuous and downright abhorrent. Read more…
Posted on September 12th, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
This well-known Bible statement is found in Matthew 6:11. I can recall making a plaster plaque with this verse upon it in a Vacation Bible School as a child. In fact, it is part of a beautiful calligraphy and pressed-paper art piece that hangs in the dining room of my condo even now. It is a frequently quoted, alluded to, paraphrased and applied Scripture verses out of the whole of the Gospel of Matthew.
It is also one of the least understood. Read more…
Posted on September 12th, 2010 by Pastor Larry
Filed under: From the Pastor’s Pen
Our book review this month is a review of a review at Pastor Larry’s request. We now have two copies of the 900-page Meet the Puritans in Elim’s library. One endorser of this wonderful resource stated that the authors, Joel Beeke and Randall Pederson, “not only provide accurate biographical and theological introductions to every Puritan whose works have been reprinted in the last 50 years, but [they] also combine with their helpful summaries an analytical analysis.” Read more…
Posted on August 12th, 2010 by Scott
Filed under: From the Church Library
How is your conversation with God?
I ask because over the past several months this column has been used to explore how each of us might better learn how to utilize the “Lord’s Prayer” in light of the entire context of where that model prayer is given to us in Matthew 6:5-13. Read more…
Posted on August 12th, 2010 by Pastor Larry
Filed under: From the Pastor’s Pen
It goes almost unnoticed when people read through the Gospel, but in His teaching regarding prayer Jesus says, “When you pray” (Matthew 6:5, 7;compare verse 9 where He says, “Pray then like this”). The Master does not say, “If you pray”; He expects those who are truly His disciples to pray! Of course, when Jesus made this point, He was talking about real prayer. Read more…
Posted on July 1st, 2010 by Pastor Larry
Filed under: Elim Refresher Newsletter, From the Pastor’s Pen
For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:4-7; emphasis added).
Two months ago I wrote emphasizing the power and exclusivity a bold, straight-forward Gospel message has concerning salvation. As opposed to relying on various ineffective methods. Pastor Pauley, who has been expositing through the 13th chapter of Acts, recently taught that Christians ought to focus on the Lord of the work, and not the workers of the Lord. Read more…
Posted on July 1st, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: Elim Refresher Newsletter, From the Pew
Our book review this month is Ashamed of the Gospel—When the Church Becomes the World, by Dr. John MacArthur. This is an updated version of his classic work with a lengthy new introduction and a couple of new chapters. Still, however, the overall message of this new publication issues a warning against pragmatism (where the ends justifies the means). Read more…
Posted on June 1st, 2010 by Scott
Filed under: Elim Refresher Newsletter, From the Church Library
This is priceless.
A seasoned Christian who attended his church prayer meeting faithfully always spoke the same things during the time of public prayer. His prayer never varied: “O Lord, since we last gathered together, the cobwebs have come between us and Thee. Clear away the cobwebs, that we may again see Thy face. ” One day an exasperated brother called out, “O Lord God, kill the spider! ” Read more…
Posted on June 1st, 2010 by Pastor Larry
Filed under: Elim Refresher Newsletter, From the Pastor’s Pen
Recently in a sermon Pastor Pauley cited Matthew 16:16-18 and then declared Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church. I could not say “amen” fast enough! I contemplated on how powerful and indispensable the Bible is to Christians. For in the Bible, the only Word of God, we have a sure foundation of God’s revelation. I was particularly enthralled by v. 18a, where Christ declared “…on this rock I will build My church…” For centuries this verse has been interpreted in a variety of ways, even by Christians. Read more…
Posted on June 1st, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: Elim Refresher Newsletter, From the Pew
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…And all who believed were together and had all things in common…And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:42, 47b–emphasis added).
Pastor Pauley is currently expositing chapters 13 through 28 from the book of Acts. In his first sermon he provided a brief overview of the first 12 chapters. During that overview, I was significantly awe-struck as I read chapter 2, Read more…
Posted on May 19th, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew