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What was Baal worship and why was it so popular? It is a mistake to think of Baal worship as some kind of otherworldly practice that never happens today. On the contrary, it happens all the time in the form of cultural variations of the same general patterns that we see in 2 Kings 21:1-9 and 2 Kings 17:7-23. We know that there were usually lots of people gathered, often on a high hill (like a theatre or stadium) to observe public sex, just like we see in movies and television and on the internet (Numbers 22:41, I Kings 12:25-33). We think that our watching these things is different than the idolatry of old, but this is not so. The whole community came out and all of the best pagan ideas for success in crops and fertility were promoted, just like a business seminar that promotes unbiblical ideas that justify the worldliness of its origin.  The wicked personalities (promoters and performers) were respected and given the platform (like rock stars and Hollywood’s “People’.) Some of them were great dancers (like Brittany Spears and Madonna) while others were great musicians (like Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney) (I Kings 15:12-14). In our day, people who go to our churches celebrate celebrities when they should be doing the opposite. Psalm 101:1, 3 says “I will walk in my house… I will set no wicked thing before my eyes…” People danced around the Asherah pole, which was nothing more than a phallic symbol. It is quite possible that these poles functioned somewhat like the poles in what are called, “gentlemen’s clubs.” The people also acted out lustful, licentious, bawdy scenes for the enjoyment of all who came (Isaiah 57:5-8; Deuteronomy 23:17). They had all the different kinds of sexual experiences on display including men with women, men with men and all of the combinations that are popular today in sit-coms, movies, and news reports. On top of that, they invited the crowd to participate (I Kings 14:24). The children were the real losers, though, as some of them were actually sacrificed on the altar of the sex and the success (2 Kings 16:3-4). To participate, you had to reject your children. Does this remind anyone of the 48 million babies in the US who have been aborted on the altar of convenience and immorality? Baal worship, in reality, corresponds exactly to activities that most people freely participate in today. They do so without really understanding the na

Ephesians 6:1-3 commands children to obey their parents "because it is right." Here are ten reasons why it is "right" to obey. 1. It is right because it pleases the Lord. You want God's blessing in everything you do. Imagine God is against you. Imagine God's displeasure upon you? Paul speaks to the Colossians that your honor and obedience is "pleasing to the Lord" (Col 3:20). God opposes the proud, but He gives grace to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5, James 4:6). The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Rom 1:18). 2. It is right because children need to learn it when they are young. Pride makes children think that they should be in control. Here is the reality. Children are blind to their lack of wisdom and experience. Children don't see themselves the ways mature people see them. Ecclesiastes 10:3, gives a picture of what this looks like, "Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone that he is a fool." Children are naturally deceived about themselves. Children want all the authority and responsibility of adults without having the maturity, the thinking process, and the financial ability to be on their own. They want the same authority as the parents, but they do not have the same wisdom and experience as parents. 3. It is right because rebellion is connected to the self-driven impulses that characterize evil – even demonic activity. God calls it "divination" (1 Sam 15:22-24). "Rebellion" is like "divination." Divination, at its core, is rejecting God and going to another source. It is despising His ways. This independent spirit of arrogance is like idolatry. Whe

Let me share one of my father’s favorite Proverbs. He quotes it regularly: > "... when he sits in his house, when he walks by the way, when he lies down and when he rises up." I am the fortunate son of a father who repeated and followed these instructions. That is one reason I love Proverbs 24 -- a chapter that is of tremendous value to fathers. It lists and explains some of the most important priorities and techniques of a wise father, and warns him of pitfalls to avoid. For good or for ill, all fathers are builders. With each invested moment, a father builds something. Thus, building is the subject of Proverbs 24. > "Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemaking. Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety. Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; He does not open his mouth in the gate." Proverbs 24 is the last chapter of Proverbs that Solomon wrote (the remaining chapters were penned by the men of Hezekiah). In this chapter, Solomon confronts two issues. First, he deals with the problems of envy and a man’s desire to fit in with other men. And second, he challenges men to build their families with wisdom and knowledge.  Solomon shows us six techniques of the wise father:  1. The wise father rejects evil role models (v. 1-2) 2. He builds with Wisdom’s materials (v. 3) 3. He establishes his house with understanding, (v. 3) 4. He fills the rooms of his household with precious and pleasant riches (v. 4) 5. He seeks the best counsel and is strong (v. 5-6) 6. He escapes the tragedy of a foolish irrelevant life (v. 7)  Let’s take some time to consider each of these principles. THE FIRST TECHNIQUE  > "Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemaking." (Proverbs 24:1-2) Here we find the first technique of a wise father.  These two commands are directed straight at the heart of a man. Solomon’s first

In the Old Testament law, there were many ceremonial laws that seem very strange to us. For example, there are laws of uncleanness that prohibit touching a corpse, declare uncleanness in birth, sexual intercourse, menstruation and semen discharge. These are ritual states of uncleanness, not moral uncleanness. These things are not evil in themselves, but they were matters of ceremonial uncleanness. In the Old Testament law, God was making distinctions between pure and impure (Lev. 29:24-26). These laws are meant to teach us that we are set aside for holiness. All day long we divide all activities into holy and unholy. We ought to distinguish everything.  Perhaps the central text that addresses menstruation is Lev. 15:19-23: > “If a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her body is blood, she shall be set apart seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening. 20 Everything that she lies on during her impurity shall be unclean; also everything that she sits on shall be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 22 And whoever touches anything that she sat on shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 23 If anything is on her bed or on anything on which she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening. 24 And if any man lies with her at all, so that her impurity is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.” In Lev. 18:19, we encounter the command against sexual intercourse during menstruation: > “Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity.’ Then in Lev. 20:18, we find that it results in being cut off from the people: > “If a man lies with a woman during her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has exposed her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from their people.” There are several passages that mention menstruation: Lev. 12:1-5; Lev. 15:25-30; Lev. 20:18; Lev. 30:22; Ezek. 22:10; Gen. 18:19; Gen. 18:11; Gen. 31:35; Isa. 64:6; Mat. 9:20 and Luke 8:43. Some of the uses of menstruation are metaphorical pictures of spiritual uncleanness. For

We live in a society where the acquisition of debt has become as American as apple pie. It has not always been this way. For example, in 1900 most homeowners owned their homes outright and those who had mortgages were required to pay 50% down with a 5 year payoff. It was not until after WWII that Americans began to use debt more freely as loan requirements were progressively loosened and lenders were protected by federal laws. At the same time when mortgage debt opportunities expanded and evolved, consumer debt has skyrocketed. The severity of this can be seen from various angles. It was recently reported that 63% of Americans are from financial disaster and cannot deal with a $500.00 emergency and that s have less than $1,000 in savings. How should we think about debt in such an environment, where nearly everyone seems to have plunged themselves into debt? We should turn to the Bible! The most important questions regarding debt have nothing to do with what the people around us are doing and thinking. The most important questions for Christians are these: What does the Bible say about debt? Is my thinking aligned with the message of Scripture? I have collected my understanding of what the Bible teaches about debt under the following four headings: I. Debt is not prohibited in Scripture. II. The absence of debt is praised in Scripture.III. God regulates the processes of borrowing and lending.IV. God warns about the dangers of debt. I. Debt is not prohibited in Scripture  You will not find a Bible verse that declares, “thou shalt not go into debt.” It is permitted and therefore, it is not necessarily sinful to get a loan. Not only does Scripture permit it, there are many principles, practices and requirements that God gives to govern the practice of both borrowing and lending. However, just because there is not an explicit prohibition, we should not consider the matter closed. There are many things we know are wrong even though there is no explicit command. For example, there is no command against gambling, but most Christians would regard this as a sinful practice. II.

Did your father protect his family? Are you protecting yours? In this short message, Scott Brown argues that there are five things a father must do to protect his family: First, fathers protect their families by being aware of the danger they are in. Second, they protect their families by beholding the face of Jesus Christ. Third, they protect their families by trusting in God. Fourth, they protect their families by reading and teaching the Word of God in their homes. Finally, they protect their families by teaching their families to honor the God-ordained authorities that are in their lives.

We are grateful to acknowledge that our Lord Jesus Christ is a good shepherd in every way. He always leads His sheep to green pastures and still waters. All of His ways are pleasant ways and all of His words are true and good. We rejoice to have such a kind and beneficial shepherd. This booklet addresses our desire to follow such a good shepherd in the change of our worship practices regarding the use of wine instead of grape juice in our observance of the Lord’s Supper. It is important that we, along with every other church, continue to reform our practices according to our understanding of the word of God. So while undertaking this change, we pray that God will continue to bring conviction upon us so that our worship is increasingly free from human traditions. In Mark 7:6-13, Jesus rebukes those who make the word of God of no effect through traditions that have been handed down. Scripture alone should regulate the worship of God in the church, and we earnestly desire to live out that belief by identifying traditions that, though we did not understand it previously, invalidate what God has actually said in His word. Even though Scripture promotes the use of wine in the Lord’s Supper and church history affirms it, we are aware that the majority of modern evangelicals have rejected its use. We, however, have come to believe that this majority view that it is inappropriate to use wine in the Lord’s Supper has resulted in a tradition of men. Thus, using grape juice instead of wine makes the teaching of Scripture of no effect. Our perspective is that the use of grape juice, which has only been prominent among the Lord’s people for the last 125 years, is not consistent with the testimony of Scripture, church history or the great Protestant confessions of faith.
 We recognize that everyone has existing personal convictions that have been influenced by experiences, personal preferences, and past theological instruction. Some have a background of terrible and defiling experiences with alcohol in their own li

In Calvin’s Geneva, all of life was being reformed. What many people do not know is that, while God was reforming His church regarding the doctrine of justification by faith alone, the family was also being reformed. When one embraces “Sola Scriptura”, everything changes — including family life. Calvin was first and foremost an expositor and pastor. Because of this, he applied Scripture to family life. The family reformation that was happening in Geneva, and spreading over Europe, was sparked by simple biblical exposition and warm-hearted pastoral care. As unbiblical propositions were being overthrown, the marriage relationship was redefined according to biblical terms. Family relationships were set aright as proper honor and authority was reestablished in the home. Popular attitudes toward children were transformed. Unbiblical attitudes toward fertility were reversed. Affectionate love and romance were dusted off and put back into use in marriage. The Roman church’s “days of abstinence” were questioned, and the freedom of sexual activity within marriage was renewed according to biblical teaching. The biblical teaching of a husband’s service to his wife was revived, as well as the doctrine of submission and authority. The spring from which all of the reforms flowed was the principle of “Sola Scriptura.” This principle was being applied both in the church meeting and in “The Consistory” which was established to bring biblical counsel to bear on all matters of life. Most of the matters that came before the consistory were family matters. Calvin Spoke Broadly on Family Life Calvin spoke much on the subject of marriage. He wrote specifically on wives, adultery, the blessing of children, childbearing and fertility, the discipleship of children, family relationships, the family at Church, the family life of an elder, female modesty, gender roles in Church, premarital counsel, taking care of widows, gender roles in the home, infant baptism, and abortion. He also spoke very tenderly regarding a husband’s love for his wife. One of the most controversial subjects in our own day has to do with the role a husband plays with his wife. Calvin spoke very clearly about the things that we call “headship” or “patriarchy.” Calvin on Husbands Loving Their Wives

Scott Brown explains in this video that revival often occurs when you see the significance of your sin and the effect that it has. The house built on the sand will be destroyed. Have our homes today been destroyed because we have neglected to follow the clear commands of Scripture in regards to child raising and marriage? Matthew 7:26-27 (NKJV) - "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

How do you know if you are a Christian? Scott Brown points out nine tests of salvation from the little, but significant, book of 1 John. 1. 1 John 1:5-7 (Walking in the Light)  5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 2. 1 John 1:8-10 (Confession of Sin)  8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 3. 1 John 2:3-4 (Obedience) 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 4. 1 John 2:9-11 (Love for the Brethren) 9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 5. 1 John 2:15-17 (Hatred for the World)  15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever  6. 1 John 2:24-25 (Perseverance in Doc

It is a sadly common thing today to hear of church leaders who have "fallen" or been disgraced by a "moral failure." What does scripture teach about holding elders accountable? In this article, Scott Brown examines 1 Timothy 5:19-21 and lists nine ways that elders are held accountable Each year we see new stories of Christian leaders who get entangled in scandalous sin. Our experience tells us that this has happened before and will happen again. Often we ask, “Who was holding this man accountable?” And, “If I can’t trust this seemingly godly man, who can I trust?” It is very common and very appropriate to also ask, “How are we supposed to hold leaders accountable?” If they are local church elders, the Bible speaks directly to the question. The Bible gives a very clearly defined method for dealing with sin in church elders. How does the Bible say that church elders are held accountable? How do you confront elders in the church? 1 Timothy 5:19-21 gives us the answers. In this passage, God prescribes a system precisely for these circumstances. The apostle Paul issues direct commands for how the church must deal with an elder who is caught in sin. He says, > “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.”  Following are nine ways that 1 Timothy 5:19-21 shows how church elders are to be held accountable. Paul makes it clear that church members have a very specific role. Every church member has the divinely appointed right and responsibility to bring a charge against a church elder when it is necessary. It is remarkable that woven into the very relational and sociological fabric of the local church is the assumption that at no time should elders be above the evaluation of the people they serve. Every person in the pew has this responsibility.  Many church members are not aware that the Bible explains that they have this role in dealing with sin in their elder’s lives. As a result, in our modern church environment

“If we suffer the neglect of this, we shall undo all. What are we like to do ourselves to the reforming of a congregation, if all the work be cast on us alone; and masters of families neglect that necessary duty of their own, by which they are bound to help us? If any good be begun by the ministry in any soul, a careless, prayerless, worldly family is like to stifle it, or very much hinder it; whereas, if you could but get the rulers of families to do their duty, to take up the work where you left it, and help it on, what abundance of good might be done!” (from The Reformed Pastor, Richard Baxter)  What is the modern church’s greatest untapped evangelistic opportunity? I think that the answer is clear. The greatest opportunity to make new disciples of Christ is given to fathers. If the modern church is to thrive, she must recover the fatherhood model that we see in Scripture. Over the next few minutes, let’s take a look at Abraham.  Abraham’s Calling  When God called Abraham, He called him to fulfill the Great Commission. Abraham’s call and commission sets forth the great evangelistic program of God for all of human history. In Genesis 12, God makes an incredible promise regarding the means of salvation for the following generations, and he links it to the transgenerational fatherhood of Abraham. God says to Abraham:  “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; And, in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3).  Put simply, evangelism is the blessing of the “nations” and the “families of the earth”. Later, in Genesis 15, God affirms the covenant and elaborates on it:  “‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’ But Abram said, ‘Lord God, what will You give me seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?' Then Abram said, ‘Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!’ And behold the word of the Lord came to him saying, 'This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.’  Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now