Resources

Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that for any young person questioning the decisions and lifestyle of their parents, they should ask themselves if they are questioning their parents and the decisions that they have made or are they questioning what God has commanded? Are you willing to take God at His Word? Open up the Scripture and see what God has said. Psalm 119:160 (NKJV) - "The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever."

Carlton McLeod explains in this video that the church provides many benefits and blessings to a family. For instance, preaching helps families. When a family can sit together and hear the preaching together, it can be helpful to reinforce what was taught during the week during family worship. Fellowship amongst fellow believers can encourage and uplift members of the family. Colossians 3:16 (NKJV) - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

What can we learn from reading the Proverbs? Jeff Pollard explains in this video that in the book of Proverbs, we see the nature of family worship. Often, there is a father who is sitting with his children and instructing them in the things of God. We see the infinite wisdom of God as a father expresses the outworking of God's law and applies it to the daily activities of his children. What we have in Proverbs is a remarkable catalogue for family worship. Fathers ought to want to read the wisdom of God. This growing of wisdom begins with faith in Christ and learning how to walk according to His Word. Ephesians 5:15-17 (NKJV) - "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Human life is immeasurably valuable. This great worth of a human being is a result of the fact that humans are made in the image of God. God despises the needless slaughter of his image-bearers, and has commanded: "You shall not murder." God hates murder so much that he calls for the death penalty for any who unjustly take a human life (Gen 9:6). And yet in our country, and around the world, there is unrestrained and government-sanctioned murder perpetrated every day against the most innocent and helpless. A silent holocaust against the unborn. Every Christian must stand against this great evil and cry out in defense of those who have no voice of their own.

How are the church and family related? Clarence Simmons explains in this video that the church and family relationship is beautiful when it works right. You can't have a church without families. Whatever affects a family can also affect the church because the church is made up of families. In regards to jurisdiction, each father of a family that is a member of a church is free to lead their family according to Scripture unless there is sinfulness occurring in the home. That is one of the benefits of being part of the church -- accountability. Ephesians 2:20-22 (NKJV) - "[H][aving been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."

God's people are often a people who suffer and endure many trials and tribulations. Of course our first response is to try and get out of the trial and escape the pain of suffering. However, God often intends these trials and sufferings as a means of building up his people and causing them to trust him wholly instead of relying on their own strength. God enables his people to go through the fire of trials so that they may be a purified and holy people, to the glory of God.

Dennis Gunderson discusses several ways that reformation can be handled poorly. A faithful shepherd cannot be in a hurry when it comes to reformation. He must realize that it may be a slow and tedious process. They cannot be impatient or vexed about this process. Another way that reformation can be handled poorly is if a pastor doesn't make any plans to reform his congregation and ignores areas of sin.

What is one effect of neglecting to teach God’s Word? Ken Ham explains in this video that the reason that one of the contributing factors to racism and prejudice stems from the fact that individuals in churches have not been taught that we are all one race, as Scripture states very clearly. Without that proper understanding, we cannot develop a right worldview of who we are and how to approach issues such as racism and prejudice. Repentance needs to happen. We need to stand back and repent that we have not taught God’s Word as we should have. Galatians 3:28 (NKJV) – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 

Reformation is, in essence, a turning to God from the path of error and sin. If you are a Christian, then your daily longing is that you would be conforming more to the likeness of your Savior. In this, we experience pain, tears, self-denial, persecution, yet joy, peace, and heaven's power. Throughout the history of the people of God from the beginning, they have wrestled with the world, the flesh, and the devil. This ought to humble us. Do you not feel often weak and wrestling with the same issues? Do you not experience some form of persecution and mocking by the ungodly world? We want to learn God's teaching on these, which will by His grace help us bear the multifaceted fruit of a repentant life.

Churches are incredibly vulnerable at particular historical moments. Because of this, church leaders need to carefully shepherd their flocks to prepare them for that flash point when temptations are many. After all, “the tongue is a fire” and “a world of iniquity” and is often “set on fire by hell” (James 3:1-12). This is why there are many opportunities for unrighteous fire in a church. How many? As many as there are tongues, but multiplied by all the conversations that are generated.   There are two very sensitive “moments” that need careful attention – when someone leaves or is disciplined. During these influential opportunities, church leaders, church members and onlookers have particular responsibilities before God to “preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” They need to be extremely sensitive to how the devil will attempt to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10).   When someone leaves your church   When a person leaves, when a key family leaves or when an elder, deacon or a gifted leader leaves the church has entered a season of hyper vulnerability. Each of these situations have their own particular challenges. Let me suggest that the damage done can escalate according to the degree of prominence of the person leaving or is disciplined.   It is always difficult on people when beloved families leave a church. Through it all, we ought to strive for gracious and humble goodbyes, instead of tearing into one another. “For the law is fulfilled in one word, even this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:14-15).   The vulnerability it creates for those who leave   Not only is a church like a “sitting duck” when someone leaves, the person or family who leaves faces a number of important decisions. He needs to grasp the fact that he has responsibilities before God to refrain from putting out a bad report. He needs to understand that, “whoever slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy” (Psalm 101:5).   The people leaving are also exposed in the sense that they may say things they should not – things that tear down and not build up – things

A certain few books from church history are timeless classics. Though written nearly 150 years ago, J. C. Ryle's work "Holiness" is one of those classics. Ryle's book has become a standard, go-to work on the topic of sanctification and personal holiness. As today, he was battling a widespread, general attitude that was unconcerned about holiness and considered that to be the calling of only the "higher life" believers. On the other hand, he also warns against the opposite error that teaches holiness results in sinless perfection in this life. Instead he rightly teaches that real holiness is a heart issue and flows from the genuine Christian's vital connection to Christ by faith.

Here in this clip, Scott Brown briefly list and supports sixteen different kinds of Church discipline.