Introducing New Community Blogger Matthew Masiewicz!!!

Matthew Masiewicz
Matt Masiewicz is a member at Sovereign Grace Fellowship of Nampa. Married to his wife of ten years with whom he has six children. He was ordained in 2005 at Life Christian Fellowship as the Pastor of Student Ministries and a regular chapel teacher at Teen Challenge of Orange County, a Christ centered drug [...]

John Piper Preached that Holy Spirit Baptism is a Distinct Work from Regeneration

Here is an excerpt from Piper’s sermon:
How to Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit
April 29, 1984
Acts 2:32–42
Piper, J. (2007; 2007). Sermons from John Piper (1980-1989). Desiring God; Minneapolis, MN.
The fourth reason we should stress the experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit is that in Acts the apostles teach that it is a consequence [...]

Vern Poythress, the Great Bridge-Builder to Baptists and Charismatics

I have long admired Dr. Vern Poythress and pretty much everything he has written. In particular, my views on Children and Baptism have been greatly affected by his two articles on the topic (Indifferentism and Rigorism in the Church: With Implications for Baptizing Small Children and Linking Small Children with Infants in the Theology of [...]

The Surprising Fingerprints of John Calvin on Pentecostal Theology of the Lord’s Supper, Sanctification, and Polity

Growing up Pentecostal and still considering myself a “neo-Pentecostal” of sorts, I wish to honor Calvin’s influence upon Pentecostal theology in this the year of his 500th birthday. I see his influences mostly in regards to the  Lord’s Supper, Sanctification, and Ecclesiology.
First, in regards to the Lord’s Supper, note the following from “Foundations of Pentecostal [...]

Pray for Persecution???

Here is an excerpt from John Piper’s book, “Finally Alive” -
What Will It Take Today?
What will it take so that thousands of Christians in our churches become passionate about telling the gospel to unbelievers? One of the reasons we don’t do it as much as we should is that life in America is so entertaining [...]

John Piper Echoing Wayne Grudem’s Contention that NT Prophecy Differs from OT Prophecy

Piper contends along the same lines as Wayne Grudem that NT prophecy was of a different character than OT prophecy. I appreciate how Piper acknowledges and concedes why people would have a hang-up over such a declaration. He also argues that the NT gift of teaching is fallible and a good analogy of how NT [...]

Props to Caution

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I had Caution come out to perform for the “Refuge” youth group at Second Reformed Church in Marion, NY when I was an assistant pastor over there. Anyhow, Caution repped Christ, was ministry-minded, and is a God-saturated lyricist. Check him out.

The Walk 2 Calvary

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Deadmanwalking’s New Album!!! Repping from Upstate NY

I lived in upstate NY for a few years and had the privilege of meeting a bunch of brothers who rep Christ in their rhymes. This is one such brother that I enjoy listening to. Check him out!!!

 
Random Thoughts

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Great Summary on Scripture’s Teaching on Alcohol

I have pasted this and the citation is at the end of the article. I found this pretty exhaustive and objective on this galvanizing topic.
SPECIAL TOPIC: BIBLICAL ATTITUDES TOWARD ALCOHOL (FERMENTATION) AND ALCOHOLISM (ADDICTION)
I. Biblical Terms
A. Old Testament
1. Yayin – This is the general term for wine, which is used 141 times. The etymology is [...]

Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Pentecost

The second thing we notice is that in chapter 2 of the prophecy of Joel, which was quoted by Peter in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost, the emphasis is placed upon the word pour out: ‘It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon [...]

Is There a Role for a “Minister” in the Church who doesn’t hold the office of deacon or elder?

Just wanting some feedback. Here is a brief excerpt from a Pentecostal Systematic Theology:
I. Ministers.
The word “MINISTER” comes from the same Greek word that is translated “deacon.” But there are a number of passages where the word diakonos cannot refer to the office of the deacon. For instance, Paul, writing to the Corinthians, said: “Who [...]

Blast from the Past: An Old Bibliotheca Sacra Journal Article from 1951 Chiding Pentecostals for Being a “Small” Denomination

In my research for my thesis, I came across the following from BSac—V108 #429—Jan 51—pps. 46-47
Is the Pentecostal Movement Pentecostal?
Part 1 – Roy L. Aldrich
The first statement to be examined is the assertion that the modern Pentecostal movement is “a second, or fuller, realization and fulfillment of Joel 2:28–29” than was known previously. If the [...]

Catholics Withdrawing Charitable Minsitries Becasue of Equal Protection Laws for Homosexuals

As reported in the NY Times:
Catholic Charities To Withdraw Services Over Same-Sex Marriage
The fight over a proposed same-sex marriage law here heated up this week as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said that if the law passed, the church would cut its social service programs that help residents with adoption, homelessness and health care. [...]

Gandalf Defacing the Bible? Say it ain’t So

In an interview with”Details” magazine, actor Ian McKellen admitted to ripping pages out of the Bible whenever he gets a chance (link).
Details: Is it true that when you stay at hotels you tear out the Bible page that condemns homosexuality?
Ian McKellen: I do, absolutely. I’m not proudly defacing the book, but it’s a choice between [...]

United Methodists Trying to Reach Younger Folks, Lower Average Age

The United Methodist Church, having already lost a couple million members over the years and continuing along that trend, have decided that they will make a proactive attempt to lower their average member age from its current median of 57 (link).
They have unleashed several PR initiatives, including their “Open Minds, Open Hearts, Open Doors” campaign [...]

James 5:12 Belongs to James 5:7-11

In my sermon preparation for this coming Lord’s Day, I am working on James 5:12 and was seeking where this verse belongs in James literary structure. Some place it with the discourse on prayer that follows, while most place it with the previous unit on patience, speech, and judgment. Some see it as an isolated [...]

Gene Robinson Quote

Was listening to NPR today and heard part of an interview with Episcopal Gene Robinson, who happens to be openly gay and in a relationship with another man. He was previously married to a woman and had two children with his former wife. Anyhow, this quote is not exact, but the best my memory can [...]

The Man Who Went to Church for Starbucks

A local church plant sent out fliers to each home advertising a free Starbucks gift card to all who would show up. They are also running ads on Facebook with the title “Free Starbucks Gift Card”. If people choose a church because they can receive a free Starbucks gift card, then I would seriously question [...]

Why Young Folks Are Turning to Reformed Worship

This is a brief quote from the article, “Young, Restless, and Reformed” (link).
“If there’s an appeal to students, it’s that we’re not playing around,” Hughes said. “We’re not entertaining them. This is life and death. My sense is that’s what they’re interested in, even from an old man.”
I know this article and quote are old, [...]

Home Group Sheet for Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”

I know this is a bit choppy, but I made it for my personal use and it might not be reader-friendly. This is a condensed commentary on Matthew 5:4 for the homegroup I am leading right now. We are going through the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they [...]

My Girls Are Hillarious

Brief post here, but wanted to share a couple funny things that happened with my girls today.

This morning as I was packing up my book back, Kira (5 year old who is learning to read) saw my commentary on Romans and was asked by mom to read the title. She struggled through the word “epistle”, [...]

Hugh Hewitt: A Simply Christian, Evangelical, Catholic, Presbyterian (say that 5 times fast)

I finished my Sunday evening by watching C-Spans special on the Supreme Court and then flipped over to C-Span 2 to watch their feature of all-everything Hugh Hewitt (link). I used to listen to him while driving through southern California rush hour and was somewhat fond of him. After hearing him take questions for close [...]

Happy 250th Birthday Charles!!!

That would be Charles Simeon, the great Anglican is who is perhaps unknown to many. John Piper had some great comments about Simeon (link).
Having just read through a biography of Simeon, I find him one that I aspire to model my own life and ministry after (less the celibacy).
For more info about Simeon, visit this [...]

A Poll That Matters: What Doctors Think of Obama’s Health Care Plan

I want our elected officials to do what is best of our country, even if such decesiions are seemingly unpopular. A politician can’t always vote with a finger in the wind, however I looked at some polls today and found the following noteworthy:

Public opposition to Health Care is at all-time high as of 9/15 (link).
Obama’s [...]

A Journey With John Calvin, “Man’s Full Culpability”

Two selections from Calvin’s Institutes:
This corrupt procedure is admirably described by Paul, when he says, that “thinking to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:22). He had previously said that “they became vain in their imaginations,” but lest any should suppose them blameless, he afterwards adds that they were deservedly blinded, because, not contented with [...]

Homeschooled Girl Forced into Public School because of Rigidity in Her Faith

Here is the story below as it came to me in my weekly Church Leaders Intelligence Briefing:
Homeschooled Child Ordered Into Public School Because of “Rigid Faith”
Amanda Kurowski is a 10-year-old homeschooled girl who performs well academically and is socially well-adjusted. But her strong Christian beliefs were reason enough for a New Hampshire court to order [...]

Friendly Discourse on Charismatic Gifts

I have been in discourse on Facebook of all places with some folks that I esteem, one of which is an Orthodox Presbyterian pastor that I have the highest esteem for. Anyhow, thought you might be interested in the correspondence:
OPC Pastor: Rutherford’s qualification is important: “1. These worthy reformers did tye no man to beleeve [...]

John Calvin: The Pentecostal???

This is an article from a scholar that I have much respect for, Dr. Ben Witherington, who in turn gives much respect to John Calvin even if Witherington is Weselyan. Note that Calvin may have spoken in tongues. I have bold and italicized the section which make reference to such.
John Calvin is Old, and Not [...]

Like the Message, Not the Messenger (Randall Terry)

Randall Terry interrupted a town hall in Virginia hosted by Rep. Jim Moran and DNC Chair Howard Dean (http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/dean-moran-draw-a-raucus-crowd-in-virginia). I watched the whole think on CNN last night and am frankly embarrassed at Randal Terry’s antics. Some of his antics are over the top:
Terry’s colleagues put on a skit with a man in an Obama [...]

John Wesley: a “hairs breadth” from Calvinism, a mile away from modern Wesleyanism?

For those who don’t know, I pastor a Church located in a strong Nazarene community. Nampa, Idaho houses Northwest Nazarene University and several large Nazarene Churches. The Nazarene church roots itself in the Wesleyan tradition. As I have gotten to know the lay of the land, many people have expressed to me their griefs [...]