Mission Matters

Kieran Beville deserves thanks for the vigour with which he distinguishes between mission and evangelism. It is all too little understood today. I quote from his new book:

Some Christians want to define mission as evangelism because this is their limited theological understanding of mission.  Others are in situations that are geared toward evangelism and 'change' is just too much to think about.  Many feel that evangelism will be diluted in a wider mission agenda.  Largely, in the West (though not exclusively so) the evangelical church is oriented toward evangelism, and mission in broader terms is just too daunting to contemplate.  It is difficult to get these kind of churches to consider mission because as far as they are concerned their members already have enough commitments in attending church on Sundays, the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study, teaching in Sunday school, leading worship, preaching and outreach (usually defined as sharing the message of the gospel and distributing literature that shows the way of salvation). This is essential and vital work and must be continued but it must not be either evangelism or mission rather it must be mission with evangelism at its core ... In a sense it is not only about doing mission but being mission.  Mission is not the raison d'etre of the church.  But the church is a community that bears witness to God's glorious grace made manifest in a new order.  Mission, in this sense, demonstrates what it means in practice to be a people of integrity, peace and hope in a world that is corrupt, distressed and despairing. Part of the church's mission is to bear testimony to the practical reality of God's unmerited grace by being a people who exercise forgiveness and looking out for the needs of others in the family of God by sharing the resources God has given. (pp 150 - 151).

NB. This does not amount to an enthusiastic endorsement of the book as a whole - it is a very mixed bag - but it just landed on my desk today.
'Mission Matters. Essays on the Theory, Practice and Contexts of Mission.' Published by EP Books p/b £10.99.
Jeremy

None But Jesus #Flavel

It is as hard for some to look upon other men's gifts without envy, as it is to look upon their own without pride.

How soon would faith freeze without a cross? Bear your cross therefore with joy.

Oh when will you  learn the vanity of self-dependence?

How complete and perfect a cure is Christ!

Just a few quotes from the new None But Jesus in the Pocket Puritans series.  This little book is full of rich and thought-provoking quotes from the writings of John Flavel. Published by Banner of Truth, £3.25.
Lorna

Reading Together - A Glorious High Throne

We are almost halfway through the current book of the online reading club 'Reading Together'.  There are some rich pickings here from Edgar Andrews on the book of Hebrews.
On the subject of eternal intercession (Hebrews 7:25) he says...

Christ saves finally, completely, perfectly and utterly.  Here is no partial salvation, as many teach, leaving man to complete a work that Christ began.  Here is no temporary salvation that can be lost through neglect or inadvertence.  There would be no point in Christ's everlasting intercession if it did not secure an equally complete and durable salvation.  A perfect Saviour must provide a perfect salvation for all 'who come to God through him'.  But let us be sure that we do come through Christ, for he alone is 'the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him'.

Quoted from Chapter 21 'A Perfect Saviour' in A Glorious High Throne - Hebrews Simply Explained by Edgar Andrews (Welwyn Commentary Series).
If the sound of an online reading club (ladies only) is tempting, drop me a line and I can get you signed up.
Lorna

Food for thought...

I read this excerpt after I heard the concerning news that this week Belgium has legalised euthanasia for children as well as adults...

It is a heart-rending thing to reflect on the sin and misery that prevail in this world.  Let us relieve ourselves, in some measure, by this consideration, that God has done all things according to the counsel of his own will.  Is the Almighty disappointed in his work of creation? has Satan prevailed over him because of his strength? or will any real dishonour attach to God by the rebellion of men and angels?  Impossible; away with the accursed thought!  These clouds before my eyes are dark and lowering - I cannot penetrate that gloom - I see nothing but confusion and wretchedness.  The very glory of this world is vanity; its highest enjoyments are unsatisfying.  But though I cannot see through this dreadful darkness, I will look beyond it by the eye of faith.  God reigns; all things therefore must issue in the glory of his name, and the happiness of his people.

Taken from Confidence in God in Times of Danger - A Study of God's Providence in the Book of Esther, by A Carson, currently available both new and secondhand from us.
Lorna

Quote of the Week - True Faith

True faith seeks Christ continually.  This is what we see in Song of Solomon 1 v 7: 'Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turnest aside by the flocks of thy companions?'
True faith is never self-confident and self-sufficient. It continually seeks Christ (Heb 12:1-4, Phil 3:7-14).  Faith is not only an act of life.  Faith is a way of life.  We seek him, not just what we might hope to get from him.  We seek him because we need him, because we know we must have him.  We seek him earnestly, continually, in the place where he has promised he will be found, in his Word, in his house, among his people.  And we seek him with this confidence: All who truly seek him shall find him (Jer 29:10-13).
Let us never seek to grow beyond simple, childlike faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 'As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him' (Col 2:6).  This is the only way we can walk with him.  We must ever seek him and walk with him as sinners needing to be bathed in his blood, robed in his righteousness, and saved by his grace.  May God give us the grace to do so.

Extract from 'Discovering Christ in the Song of Solomon' by Don Fortner, Evangelical Press, £7.99

The Perfect Law of Liberty - William Gadsby

Ok, so it's taken me three weeks to get to the book at the top of the pile that I mentioned in my last post The Perfect Law of Liberty' by William Gadsby (I got diverted by The New Calvinism Considered - Jeremy Walker, but that's another blog post!). Without giving a full review, I wanted to highlight some excellent passages...

This blessed gospel is a divine chest which contains all the Christian’s treasure, and its riches are durable riches and glory. “Where the treasure is there will the heart be also.” As ye prize your liberty and privileges, may you continue to look into the perfect law of liberty, and be earnest with God, at a throne of grace, that he would grant you fresh discoveries of the real excellences of the truth; for, just in proportion as your mind is drawn aside from the gospel, and you are left to look elsewhere, so you will be brought into bondage and distress; and despite all that men or devils say, just in proportion as the Holy Ghost enables you to look into the perfect law of liberty, so you will find a holy joy in believing, and a solid rest to your mind. Therefore, continue steadfast in the faith, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, and ye shall be neither barren nor unfruitful. As heirs of God, anticipate your inheritance, and daily examine the contents of your Father’s will. God grant that it may be our happiness to be much in the gospel and to daily enjoy its contents.

Show me a man who is looking into the perfect law of liberty, and, by faith, living on its divine contents, and I will show you a man who is living in the fear of God, abhorring sin, and giving proof that the truth of God does not lead to licentiousness, but to holiness and godliness; for to this are the heirs of promise called. To such a man, the precepts which Christ has taught his church, the ordinances he has instituted, and the means of grace he has appointed, will be attended to with pleasure and delight; nor does he ever find himself at home when this is not the case.

God's beauty and glory are the saints eternal delight; and, fired with a feeling sense of this, they are concerned to walk in all well-pleasing before God, and unblameably among men.

That God may enable us to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, in all things showing ourselves a pattern of good works; that we may live in the blessed enjoyment of the true liberty of the gospel; that we may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breath, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fulness of God; and that we may live not unto ourselves, but unto the Lord; may the Lord grant it, for the Redeemer’s sake. Amen and Amen.

This little treatise is well worth reading, very relevant and not at all difficult to get through especially considering it was written in the 1800's!
Lorna

Sibbes Quote...

Can't argue with this principle!

It would be a good contest amongst Christians, one to labour to give no offence, and the other to labour to take none.

Taken from Chapter 4 of The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes, the current book of our virtual reading club. If you fancy joining the club, just drop me an email.
Lorna

Christian Warfare

When you meet with a trial, look not to men, but to Jesus.  Pray for patience to bear it, and look up for a blessing upon it.  Then all things shall work together for good (Romans 8:28).  Let every temptation make you more careful, and put you on a closer watching against the enemy.  Cleave to Jesus by faith and prayer, like a child to its parent when it sees an enemy coming towards it.  Behold Him, flee to Him, rest upon Him, and then you will rejoice in Him.

Quoted from 'A Golden Treasury for the Children of God' by Bogatzky published by Gospel Mission.  

Only a Handful?

Another encouraging editoral in the New Focus Magazine...
"These few comments are for you who worship with only a handful of believers or are forced, by reason of conscience or convenience, to worship alone in your own home.
It has long been an encouragement to the saints that where two or three are gathered in God’s name, the Lord Jesus has promised to be there in their midst. Remember those who gathered on the hillsides of Scotland during the covenanting years, or met in forests of the Soviet Union for fear of the authorities. They did not meet without the presence of their Saviour.
Even where one worships alone the pledge of the Lord is, ‘Lo, I am with you always’ Matthew 28:20. Those who are housebound, or hospitalised, or even the prisoner in his cell, may be sure that invoking the name of the Lord in worship is not a vain exercise. His spiritual presence is with us to assist us in our worship, to comfort us when discouraged, to supply us with His grace, and to protect and preserve us from evil; which is a great reassurance.
Yet, there is more, if more be needed. Not only has the Lord promised to be with His people, but He does not come alone. When believers go to worship they enter spiritually ‘into the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem’. There they join ‘an innumerable company of angels’. More, they are accompanied by ‘the general assembly and church of the firstborn’ which are ‘the spirits of just men made perfect’ (Hebrews 12:22-23).
When God’s people worship they immediately join a heavenly choir more numerous and melodious than any mega-church choral society. When they pray, eyes closed and concentrating on Christ, the empty seats next to them fill with fellow-worshippers of the Most High God. When the gospel is preached enthusiastically, warmly, and sincerely, the hearers are not the few familiar individuals dotted around the room. They are the massed church of the Firstborn, the general assembly of the Lord’s redeemed.
I always smile when our little congregation of a dozen souls sings Charles Wesley’s rousing hymn, ‘O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise.’ It may be that in this life you and I never actually get the opportunity to stand in a congregation of a thousand and sing our great Redeemer’s praise. But in a finer way, each time we pray or sing the praise of our Saviour we join a throng so numerous, a crowd of witnesses so joyful and glorious that our frail human minds cannot comprehend it.
If you find yourself alone next Lord’s Day morning, or if your congregation amounts to but a few faithful souls, do not be discouraged. Spread throughout the land are faithful friends just like you, meeting in small congregations or at home alone, whose fellowship in the gospel is yours.
As you sing, lift up your voice and remember the heavenly choirs with whom you make melody. As you close your eyes and pray, reflect that your thoughts are merging with those of a countless throng in the worship of King Jesus. As you listen to the gospel, remember you are only the most recent generation in a long line of saints for whom Christ preached is light, love and life."
See www.go-newfocus.co.uk for more like this.
Lorna

Gospel Invitations

I have recently read a little booklet by Daniel Whitaker (1800's) on the subject of the Nature and Design of Gospel Invitations.  It is well worth reading and clearly distinguishes between the errors that are so widely preached in many churches and the truly biblical Gospel Invitation.  The following quote is taken from his concluding comments...
"When men attempt to set forth the invitations of the gospel, of a spiritual nature, in an indefinite, unlimited manner; there is such an uncertainty in the sound, that the poor, needy and disconsolate sinner, for whose sake they are designed; knows not what is piped, or what is harped.  Therefore, while such men attempt to encourage all, they in reality encourage none; but only discourage the real character, for whom they are intended; namely, the hungry, and the thirsty, the labouring, and the heavy-laden.
But when they are set forth, as they really are in the gospel, in a definite way, the character being described, the blessings pointed out, and their freeness shown; then the mind and will of the Lord is clearly manifested; as in the following invitation: 'Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden: and I will give you rest' (Matt 11:28).  Here the love of Christ is set forth to the persons invited; and his readiness to receive and entertain them, and bestow his blessings needed by and promised to them; for he means them to come and enjoy the blessing; it being his delight to give it to them."
I would love to quote more, he seems to hit the nail on the head so many times!
The booklet is published by Huntingtonian Press, a small publisher specialising in experimental high calvinist literature click here for their full list of publications.
Lorna
The Nature and Design of Gospel Invitations by Daniel Whitaker, published by Huntingtonian Press, £2.20

Prayer

"In spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer; rather neglect friends than not pray; rather fast, and lose breakfast, dinner, tea and supper - and sleep too - than not pray.  And we must not only talk about prayer; we must pray in right earnest.  The Lord is near.  He comes softly while the virgins slumber."

Andrew Bonar

Quoted in Contagious Christian Living by Joel Beeke, Bryntirion & RHB, £6.99

Lorna

Declension in Love

A decay of love to the saints of God, is a strong evidence of a decay of love to God himself. If we love God with a sincere and deepening affection, we must love his image wherever we find it. It is true, the picture may be but an imperfect copy, the outline may be but faintly drawn; there may be shades we cannot approve of; yet, recognizing in the work the hand of the Spirit, and in the outline some resemblance to Him whom our souls admire and love, we must feel a drawing out of our holiest affections towards the object; we shall not pause before the surrender is made, to inquire to what section of the church of Christ he belongs, what name he bears, or what the colour of his uniform; but, discovering the man of God, the meek and lowly follower of Jesus, our heart and our hand are freely offered.

This quote taken from 'Personal Declension and Revival of Religion in the Soul' by Octavius Winslow, made me stop and think when I came across it today. I pray that as many of us meet with our brothers & sisters on the Lord's Day and throughout each week, we remember that 'This commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also' 1 John 4:21
Lorna
Personal Declension and Revival of Religion in the Soul, Octavius Winslow, published by Banner of Truth, £5.50

Robert Traill

'Specially welcomed to the throne of grace are they that come... to get, and not to give. Watch your spirits in this matter. When you come to the throne of grace, come to receive out of Christ's fullness, and come not to bring grace with you to add to Christ's store. He loves to give, and glories in giving; but he scorns to receive grace from you; and in truth you have none to give but what he gives you. Bring your wants to him to supply, but bring not your fullness to brag about. Spread your sins before his throne with shame and sorrow, and plead for a gracious pardon; but watch that you don't bring your sorrow, tears and repentance, no, nor your faith itself, as a plea for that pardon.
How abominable it is to Christian ears, and how much more to Christ's to hear a man plead thus for pardon: 'Here is my repentance; where is thy pardon? Here is my faith; where is thy justification?' I know men hate to say so, but watch carefully, lest any thought bordering on it enters into your heart.
Faith is the tongue that begs for pardon. Faith is the hand that receives it; it is the eye that sees it; but it is not the price to buy it. Faith uses the Gospel-plea for pardon; but, neither in habit nor act, is the plea itself. That can only be Christ's blood.'
Quoted from Robert Traill's works (commenting on the publican and pharisee, Luke 18:13), available in a 4 volume paperback set, published by Gospel Mission, priced £26.95
Lorna

Bear this in Mind

We're always encouraging you to read more, but this is the main point, as I was reminded in a greetings card today:-
"In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you."
Does anyone know the author of this quotation?
Please let me know your favourites on the subject of reading.
Jeremy

Great God of Wonders

A recent 'chance' remark by a friend caused me to pick up this book Great God of Wonders by Maurice Roberts. I haven't read Roberts before and have quickly discovered that he doesn't beat about the bush. The first paragraph of the book quoted below should illustrate the point...

"Whatever the pressures are to the contrary, the serious Christian MUST keep a careful watch over the inner state and attitude of his own soul. Just as there are temptations for the careless and the idle Christian, so too are there snares for the Christian who becomes too busy. We are too busy whenever we cannot safeguard our times of private prayer, meditation and devotional Bible reading. What happens when outward duties become excessive and over-demanding is that inner, secret duties are performed in a merely routine way. It is all too possible to conduct our private and family worship with our minds half taken up with other things. We persuade ourselves that we have been worshipping God, but on such occasions we have been no better than those to whom God said, 'This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me' (Matthew 15:8)"

The book consists of articles which originally appeared as editorials in the Banner of Truth magazine (which Maurice Roberts edited between 1988 and 2003). From a quick scan of the book I suspect that it will continue in the same challenging vein, with chapter headings such as 'The Strife of Tongues', 'Dealing with our Differences' and 'Why Christians must be readers' (which I suspect I should be quoting in full !).

Great God of Wonders by Maurice Roberts, published by Banner of Truth, £6

Lorna

Listening to Sermons

This little paperback caught my eye when it came in a few weeks back and I have finally managed to have a better look at it. The full title is 'The Family at Church. Listening to Sermons and attending Prayer Meetings'. The first part on listening to sermons is excellent (I haven't fully read the second part on Prayer Meetings yet, so I wouldn't like to wholeheartedly endorse it!). As it is a Saturday evening and many of us are looking forward to the Lord's Day tomorrow, I thought I would share some excerpts from the second chapter entitled 'Preparing for the Preached Word' ...

" 1. Before coming to God's house to hear His Word, prepare yourself and your family with prayer. The Puritans said we should dress our bodies for worship and our souls with prayer...

2. Come with a hearty appetite for the Word. A good appetite promotes good digestion and growth. Peter encouraged a spiritual appetite, saying, " As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2)...

3. Meditate on the importance of the preached Word as you enter God's house... Since the Gospel is the Word of God, not the word of man, come to church looking for God. Though you should deeply appreciate your minister's efforts to faithfully bring you the Word of God, pray that you see "no man, save Jesus only" (Matthew 17:8)...

4. Remember as you enter the house of God that you are entering a battleground. Many enemies will oppose your listening... Satan opposes your listening to God's Word with might and main, knowing that if you truly hear it, he will lose you. So Satan tries to disturb you before the sermon begins, distracts you during the sermon, and dismisses the sermon from your mind as soon as it is finished... Pray repeatedly for strength to overcome all your enemies by listening well.

5. Finally, come with a loving, expectant faith (Psalm 62:1,5). Be swift to hear, slow to speak, and determined, like Mary, to ponder God's Word in your heart..."

The Family at Church, by Joel R Beeke, published by Reformation Heritage, £5.95

Lorna

John Gill on Justification

A few years back the Gospel Standard Trust published an extract from John Gill's Body of Divinity. The aim was to make John Gill's rather complex writings more accessible to the layman. Gill's words and punctuation have not been changed but his extensive references to the original languages have mostly been omitted and the text has been broken up with sub-headings. To those who love the truths that John Gill stood for, but have never actually tried to read his writings, this little paperback is a real help. To those who slate John Gill's writings, but have never actually tried to read them, I suggest this as a good place to start.
This quote is taken from 'The effects of Justification'...


"Acceptance with God through Christ follows upon justification by his righteousness; there can be no acceptance with God upon the foot of a man's own righteousness, which cannot render him acceptable to God; but through the righteousness of Christ there is an acceptance both of persons and services; first of persons and then of services; as God had respect to Abel, and so to his offering, and accepted it; so he has respect to the persons of his justified ones, as considered in Christ; he has respect to him, and is well pleased with him, and with all that are in him; they are accepted of God in the beloved, being clothed with the robe of his righteousness, and the garments of his salvation; and their services being done in the strength of Christ, and through faith in him, and to the glory of God by him, and their spiritual sacrifices being offered up by him their great high-priest, they become acceptable to God through him."

At only £3.25, I don't think anyone could find an excuse not to read it.
Justification, Sinners Righteous in Christ by John Gill, published by Gospel Standard Trust Publications, £3.25
Lorna

Good quote...

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them."

- Mark Twain

God's Light on Dark Clouds

This book has been flying off the shelf ever since it received a very positive review in the Gospel Standard Magazine this month. Many of our customers have bought a copy, and after reading it have come back to buy more copies for their friends.
Originally published in 1882, the author Theodore Cuyler had just lost a 21 yr old daughter. Fourteen years previously he had lost 2 of his children in infancy. Although he wrote as a bereaved parent his aim was to fulfil 2 Corinthians 1:4 'to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we are comforted of God'. This means that his writings have proved a comfort not only to the bereaved, but also to others who are walking a path of suffering and difficulty.
I have only 'dipped' into this book but each time I have opened to a page I have found food for thought. It is small and easily read, but deserves slow and careful reading. It directs the heart to Christ for comfort.
I have been torn in choosing a taster, but here is one, taken from the tenth chapter 'The Everlasting Arms':

"One great purpose in all affliction is to bring us down to the everlasting arms. What new strength and peace it gives us to feel them underneath us! We know that, far as we may have sunk, we cannot go any farther. Those mighty arms can not only hold us, they can lift us up. They can carry us along. Faith, in its essence, is simply a resting on the everlasting arms. It is trusting them, and not our own weakness. The sublime act of Jesus as our Redeemer was to descend to the lowest depths of human depravity and guilt, and to bring up his redeemed ones from that horrible pit in his loving arms. Faith is just the clinging to those arms, and nothing more."

God's Light on Dark Clouds by Theodore L Cuyler, published by Banner of Truth, £5

Lorna

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow

"Purge me with hyssop. Sprinkle the atoning blood upon me with the appointed means. Give me the reality which legal ceremonies symbolise. Nothing but blood can take away my blood stains, nothing but the strongest purification can avail to cleanse me. Let the sin offering purge my sin. Let him who was appointed to atone, execute his sacred office on me; for none can need it more than I.
The passage may be read as the voice of faith as well as a prayer, and so it runs -- "Thou wilt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean." Foul as I am, there is such power in the divine propitiation, that my sin shall vanish quite away. Like the leper upon whom the priest has performed the cleansing rites, I shall again be admitted into the assembly of thy people and allowed to share in the privileges of the true Israel; while in thy sight also, through Jesus my Lord, I shall be accepted. Wash me. Let it not merely be in type that I am clean, but by a real spiritual purification, which shall remove the pollution of my nature. Let the sanctifying as well as the pardoning process be perfected in me. Save me from the evils which my sin has created and nourished in me. And I shall be whiter than snow. None but thyself can whiten me, but thou canst in grace outdo nature itself in its purest state. Snow soon gathers smoke and dust, it melts and disappears; thou canst give me an enduring purity. Though snow is white below as well as on the outer surface, thou canst work the like inward purity in me, and make me so clean that only an hyperbole can set forth my immaculate condition. Lord, do this; my faith believes thou wilt, and well she knows thou canst.
Scarcely does Holy Scripture contain a verse more full of faith than this. Considering the nature of the sin, and the deep sense the psalmist had of it, it is a glorious faith to be able to see in the blood sufficient, nay, all sufficient merit entirely to purge it away. Considering also the deep natural inbred corruption which David saw and experienced within, it is a miracle of faith that he could rejoice in the hope of perfect purity in his inward parts. Yet, be it added, the faith is no more than the word warrants, than the blood of atonement encourages, than the promise of God deserves. O that some reader may take heart, even now while smarting under sin, to do the Lord the honour to rely thus confidently on the finished sacrifice of Calvary and the infinite mercy there revealed."

Quoted from 'The Treasury of David, Classic Reflections on the Wisdom of the Psalms' by C H Spurgeon, 3 vol set, £39.95

Lorna