Resources

Before God created the church or government, He created the family. The family is designed by Him to be the basic building block of human society. To understand the mission and purpose of the family we must go to the beginning and consider our Lord’s original design.

Everyday we break God's commandments because sin came into this world and invaded what God created to be good. When our first father, Adam, rebelled against God, we, in Adam, ran away as well. We all came into this world as sinners and this is why we continue sinning in our lives. This is why we need a Savior. We can try to clean ourselves up, but we cannot stop sinning because it is mixed in our thoughts and in our attitudes. The only way we can get out of this is by trusting in what God has done for us in Christ. We must listen to what God has said about us and His provision to sinners like you and me through His love and mercy. Jesus was born to do what God requires of you and me: live a perfectly righteous life, not once disobeying God's commandments. Christ is the only righteous person that has ever lived yet He willingly agreed to pay for the sins of sinners. It is by His life and His death that sinners like you and me can come to be accepted by God. When you turn from your sin and trust the Lord Jesus, God will accept you and you will come to know God. You will be reconciled and be adopted into the family of God.

The sermon explores the jurisdiction of the government and the biblical principles that inform our understanding of civil authority. It highlights the three spheres of authority established by God: the family, the church, and the state. It emphasizes that all authority is delegated by God and should be exercised in obedience to His commands. The sermon also addresses cases of governmental overreach, such as restrictions on worship during the COVID-19 pandemic, and encourages Christians to resist illegitimate orders that contradict God's law.

How can Christians dress to the glory of God? In this video, Tom Ascol discusses the importance of dressing to the glory of God. He references 1 Corinthians 10:31 which states that everything we do should be done to glorify God.  Ascol believes that while there may be disagreements on what dressing to the glory of God entails, Christians must make an effort to dress in a way that reflects God's image in the world. Modesty is a key principle for Christians who want to dress to the glory of God. What we wear should not be a distraction to our preaching of the Gospel of Christ.  1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) - "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

In his sermon, Tom Ascol likens Christian nationalism to a 'wax nose,' implying that it is a flexible concept often shaped to suit individual agendas. He challenges the notion that America holds a unique covenantal relationship with God like Israel, emphasizing that while America, like all nations, is accountable to God, it is not in a special biblical covenant with Him. Ascol references Paul Miller's definition of Christian nationalism as believing America is a nation founded on Christian values, which he agrees with to an extent. He acknowledges America's Christian-influenced founding and the positive aspects of this heritage while admitting the nation's historical flaws, such as slavery and Jim Crow. He argues against dismissing America's achievements, suggesting that compared to other historical and contemporary nations, America has been blessed with a constitutional republic that recognizes unalienable rights. Ascol believes the Great Awakening played a crucial role in preserving America from spiraling into chaos, contrasting it with France's bloody revolution. He calls for Christians to honor and protect America's heritage and recognize God's role in its history.

Sometimes we have a wrong understanding of assurance when we think of assurance as a zero-sum game: "you either have it or you do not." There can be degrees of assurance. There is full assurance and there is assurance that can wax and wane.  I am reminded of the father who had a son who had a demon that the disciples could not cast out. The man pled with Jesus, “If you can do anything, please help.” Jesus looked at the man and responded, “All things are possible to those who believe.” And the man said, “Help my unbelief!” That is the cry of a Christian who is struggling with assurance.  Assurance is a gift of God that comes with a saving faith in Christ Jesus. It may not necessarily be full assurance. Some people get that immediately upon trusting in Christ. The Lord seals it to their hearts through the Holy Spirit and they never struggle with doubts. This is not always the case and there are faithful Christians who have struggled with assurance their whole lives.  There is an element of assurance that resides in saving faith and it needs to be cultivated by us. "Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure...” (1 Peter 1:10) No Christian should ever be satisfied to live with low levels of assurance and we must ask God to help. Believe God over yourself. 

How can believers confront and overcome their periods of coldness or low affections toward God while maintaining honesty and authenticity in their relationship with Him? The speaker in the video, Tom Ascol, emphasizes the importance of not settling for low affections towards God. While acknowledging that it is natural for believers to go through periods of coldness or depression, he encourages honesty and transparency with God. Drawing from the example of the prophet Jeremiah, who expressed his frustration to God, Ascol highlights the need to approach God with authenticity rather than hiding our coldness or pretending it doesn't exist. By recognizing that God loves us and can handle our honesty, we are called to cry out to God and ask Him to reignite our hearts and to remind us of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the love He demonstrated towards us. Ascol encourages believers to meditate on the cross, allowing the truth of what Jesus endured for them to warm their hearts and rekindle their love and devotion for the Lord. In summary, Ascol urges believers to acknowledge and address any coldness or low affections they may have towards God. He emphasizes the importance of honesty and transparency in our relationship with God, drawing from the example of Jeremiah. Rather than compounding one sin with another by hiding our coldness, we are called to approach God with authenticity and ask Him to inflame our hearts once again. By meditating on the cross and reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, believers can find renewed love and devotion for God, allowing their hearts to be set aflame with a deeper passion for Him. Romans 12:11 (NKJV): "not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

In his sermon, Tom Ascol emphasizes the indispensable role of the local church in the lives of Christian families, highlighting that building one's life around a healthy church is crucial for living for God's glory. He stresses the importance of belonging to a church, where individuals are known and know others, and pledging one's life to that community. The church is central to God's plan for raising Christians and impacting the world. Ascol argues that true Christian growth and service to God cannot occur apart from the church. He questions the faith of those who believe they can serve God without being part of a church, asserting that loving Jesus means loving what He loves, including the church. The church's role includes exercising Christ's authority and providing shepherds for believers' souls. Ascol urges families to align their lives with the church's rhythms and live under Christ's lordship, working to make the church holy and healthy despite imperfections.

Tom Ascol tells the story of his mother's incredible example of submission to the Lord. He was struck as a young child seeing his mother pray. He was convinced that there was a God in heaven and that his mother knew Him.

The starting point in knowing God is coming to grips with the fact that this is God's world, that He is the Creator, and that you are the creature. He made you and everything for His own glory. If you want to know God, you are going to have to start listening to God and believing what God says about you, the world, and Himself. What God says about you is that He made you in His image. You are different from all the other creatures. This means that you have a responsibility to represent Him in this world.

Christ has established the church as a primary context in which the discipleship of His people takes place. Local congregations are responsible to cultivate the growth of their members. This involves correction if they go astray. In this session, Tom Ascol will explain how corrective discipline is an important way God’s people show love and encourage each other to grow in grace. 

What does it mean to glorify God in regards to the civil government? Tom Ascol explains in this video that in broad terms, we glorify God by living in accordance with His revealed will and in ways that bring honor to Him. God has given us His law and we glorify when we love Him and do what he commands.  In regards to civil authority, God has established those individuals in positions in the civil arena. Therefore, we should be respectful to them. However, it is also important to remember that those authorities only have authority because God has given it to them. Their authority is not inherent. Whenever delegated authority defies God, we must obey God rather than man.  Acts 5:29 (NKJV) - "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men."