It is quite important that we maintain our attention on the Word of God and even more so as we appear to be experiencing the last days. Scriptures sufficiency has never been more important to focus on and knowing how others have depended upon God's Word for personal need and proclamation of the gospel and truth inspires us to do the same.
https://g3min.org/source-sufficiency-scripture/ Here is an article from G3 Ministries and Dr. Josh Buice gives us a fantastic treatment of the Source and Sufficiency of Scripture. I particularly like his illustration of Calvin's use of the Word in ministry and also the reference of Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. May it be for you a strong encouragement today. Blessings! Pastor Robert
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Finding ways to establish a system of study and seeking to refine that along the way will help boost our exegetical efficiency and result in improvement in our expository preaching. The best Bible study, note-taking system I have come across ultimately comes from Jonathan Edwards, but I was exposed to it through a Presbyterian pastor and preacher, Dr. Matthew Everhard, on his YouTube channel. There he instructs us on this updated system which he learned from his scholarly study of the Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards and it is known as the Miscellanies. I am personally personally engaged on my own Miscellanies Project as I use it to focus on key verses from Bibliology, Christology, Soteriology, etc. In addition to this, I am using it to focus on key passages in Hebrews, and all of Jude, 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Titus. It's time consuming but well worth doing it several days every week. I have also required my students to adopt their own Miscellanies so as to expose them to this method and enrich their study of God's Word. Following Dr. Everhard's example, this can be done very miscellanies-like (meaning: mixed; various with your own choice of passages). Or, one can be more methodical like focusing on a theme like all verses related to the importance of the cross & the atonement or justification by faith or sanctification. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=fqq-4-LiFVs&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR24enVujhJUBKklMcXkzMXeL73a9CEVTSrDwb-kjIGTdZ9EOzbxJ_o-Ruo Anyway this is the most awesome system I’ve come across! Have fun and make a plan! Blessings! Pastor Robert Recently I was asked something to the effect of what is the “doctrinal hill” on which I would die on. I hesitated just a bit with my answer only because I was sizing up in my mind how close the 2nd doctrinal hill I would die on was to the first.
But the hesitation was not related to moving off that first hill to the second hill, but only on how I would answer to get that 2nd hill into its proper significant role as a close second position. I hope that makes sense. Anyway my answer was the inerrancy of Scripture for the first and the “ordo salutis (order of salvation) for the second, especially regeneration and God’s sovereign control of giving new birth to dead sinners. I will provide a good article on this aspect as well soon. It has been and always will remain His work from beginning to end...otherwise one could boast that they achieved salvation on their own merit, which we know from Eph. 2:8-9 to be true. I think these are key for us and when we exercise discernment we give credence to these doctrines and Scripture’s sufficiency. https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B140421 Here in this blog article we find some great truths to enrich our understanding of all of these. It's the first of a series with a focus on Faith and Discernment. Blessings! Pastor Robert. The Sufficiency of Scripture is the hill to die on, so to speak, as it is either the truth to depend upon from God Himself through men or it is not. We need to be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15) and defend God's Word and its characteristic of sufficiency in all things of life and practice (Joshua 1:7-8; Psalm 19:7). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15EoR6O-rUA&t=1s My challenge to all of us in this inaugural post is to take 30 minutes to listen and watch this message by Dr. Voddie Baucham at the 2005 Southern Baptist Convention on "Why I Believe the Bible". His explanations for standing upon clear reasons for believing God's Word as trustworthy are excellent for our walk of faith. The sufficiency of Scripture and many of the characteristics associated with the Bible are under attack today and so we must stand firm on its sufficiency, inerrancy and clarity for faith, salvation and growth in Christ. Blessings to all and stand firm upon His revealed and inerrant Word. |
Robert Thomas Clark, M.Div. This is the ministry blog of Robert Thomas Clark, It is designed to be a repository of inspiring, impactful & influential posts on biblical truth, themes and concepts, which brings insights and initiates inquisitiveness!. Archives
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