Resources

I am amazed that we live in a nation that we have a holiday for the purpose of Thanksgiving. Let’s seize the day! It is a marvelous opportunity for us to lead our families in thanksgiving. This simple act builds cultures of happiness and gratitude in our families that spill over into the church and the society at large. If there ever was a truly biblical holiday in America, Thanksgiving would rank high on the list.   What follows are fourteen Thanksgiving Celebration Tips.  I write this that we “may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,” and to tell of His “wondrous works.” (Psalm 26:7), and to declare the praises of our Lord Jesus Christ across the land. In what follows, you will find encouragement to read the scripture, sing the songs, recount the history and dedicate your family to building a culture of thankfulness.   1. Do what a fun family in our church does…   We have a family in our church that has a large and fantastic Thanksgiving celebration that engages all ages in the Pilgrim story. It is educational and engaging for all. Anyone who comes must be dressed as a character of someone on the Mayflower, and ready to tell the story of their lives, reciting a speech to all – from the littlest to the oldest.   2. Read Psalm 136    A couple of years ago, our family read Psalm 136 and each person gave a personal testimony of thanksgiving between each verse. Ezra 3:11 gives the basic idea for this, “And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel." Then all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.”   3. Capture the opportunity to teach the sufficiency of Christ   Thanksgiving offers fathers a wonderful opportunity to intentionally use an entire day to teach your family and friends about the importance of giving thanks. Families need leaders who will establish and constantly reinforce a culture of joy in a family. Thanksgiving offers a brilliant opportunity for leaders to lead their tribes in thanksgiving and drive a stake in the ground to say, “thanks be to Go

Isaac Watts hymn, “When I survey the wondrous Cross," starts out with these words, "When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.” This is what happened at the crucifixion. God poured out His wrath on His Son. He poured contempt on HIm. We deserved the contempt, but Jesus bore it. Let me make it more personal: I deserve contempt poured on all my pride. But it was poured out on our Savior Jesus Christ. In this sermon, based on Isaiah 53, I point out the many ways Christ suffered for our pride. In short, He was humiliated the way we deserved to be humiliated. He was treated the way we deserved to be treated for our pride

The English Puritan, Richard Steele wrote on the sins of the aged, in “A Discourse Concerning Old Age.” He wrote this for the instruction, caution, and comfort of those who have found themselves categorized as “old.” He identifies sin patterns that are commonly seen in old age. > First, "Frowardness or Peevishness, whereby they are prone to be morose, wayward and hard to be pleased; easily angry, often angry, and sometimes angry without a cause.  Seldom are they pleased with others, scarce with themselves, no not with God himself: yea, they think, as poor Jonah did, that they do well to be angry. > Or rather go to school to your heavenly Master, Christ Jesus, who was meek and lowly, who being reviled, reviled not again, and when he suffered, threatened not."  > A second "folly incident to old-age, is loquacity or talkativeness; that is, an exceeding proneness to speak much; so that it hath pass’d into a proverb, Senex psittacus, an old person is a parrot. Herein they are twice children, whose faculty you know lies this way. > And old people, whose eyes and ears, whose hands and feet are much decay’d and disabled, are apt to make the greater use of their tongues. > Bridle therefore this unruly member. Nature hath placed two barrs unto it: the teeth and the lips; but except watchfulness and prayer be added to them, they’l be too weak. So that the talkativeness, which is culpable in old persons, is utterly intolerable in young ones.   > Whither is my tongue walking?   > And then consider withal that the more a man speaks, commonly the less he is heeded; and therefore if you would have people to mind what you say, check your loquacity, and take notice how the wise man placeth silence before speech, saying, Eccles. 3.7. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak." > The third sin more peculiar to old-age, is envy, "which is an inward grudging at those who do in any thing excell us. Now because they which are old do see many that surpass them in strength or beauty, riches or esteem, they are too apt to look at them with an envious eye, and to grudge them those blessings which God hath vouchsafed them."   > The fourth "vice too common to old-age, is arrogancy and conceitedness. An

Scott Brown explores the Puritan understanding of the family, emphasizing the importance of family religion and the father's role as spiritual leader. Notable Puritan writers such as Matthew Henry and Philip Dodridge contributed to the rich doctrine of family life, which was seen as the foundation for the church and society.

In this audio clip, Bill Brown reads through The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. His first resolution states the following: "Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence." 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV) - "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

In this audio message, Dan Ford discusses how the Puritans influenced our nation. There was much we can learn from their example. For instance, we see how they worked to take dominion for Christ. Many of their writings and teachings point to how Scripture is sufficient to direct church and family life. Romans 15:4 (NKJV) - "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

Throughout her history, the Christian church has had doctrinal highs and lows. Accurate understanding of biblical doctrine has ebbed and flowed in the course of history and some eras have especially bright lights shining on certain doctrines with unique clarity. The Puritan era is one such period of time shining an illuminating light on the doctrine of the family. Today we have an almost total eclipse on this foundational doctrine and we would do well to look to our Puritan forefathers to learn from their instruction.

When we consider church history and those giants of the faith which have gone on before, we can find almost no better example of biblically informed Christians than the Puritans. These believers sought to complete the work of the Reformation in the English church by seeking to bring everything back to scripture and the commands of God. This includes their theological understanding of marriage and the family. The Puritan focus on the good and nobility of marriage and the mutual comfort and joy that comes from it flew in the face of the centuries-long degradation of marriage that had dominated the medieval church.

What is family worship and how should it be done? What can the church today learn from the Puritans on this vitally important topic? In this sermon, Jeff Pollard gives useful information to help understand this subject.

In this webinar, Dr. Joel Beeke and Scott Brown discuss another chapter of William Gouge's book, Building a Godly Home. This chapter focuses on a husband's gentleness towards his wife. Husbands need to be humble and tender towards their wives. 1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV) - "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered."

In this video, Scott Brown and Derek Thomas discuss another chapter from William Gouge's book, Building a Godly Home. This chapter discusses another duty of a husband -- to provide for his family. Gouge outlines several areas of provision - spiritual provision, physical provision, and provision for a wife by protecting her. Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV) - "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her."

In this video, Scott Brown and Jeff Pollard discuss the book Husbands, Love Your Wives by William Gouge. Gouge describes the love of Christ and applies that to how husbands ought to treat their wives. Christ loved His bride first. Accordingly, we should demonstrate love towards our wives regardless of whether they love us or whether we think they deserve it. Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV) - "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her."