What Does the Scripture Say?

The Lord has blessed my family in a tremendous way. He has given us a real church home, filled with His love and people. There are so many wonderful things that I love about our little fellowship. Here are just a few, this is not an exhaustive list by any means, nor is it in order of importance. Interspersed in random order are a few pictures of the church on Sunday.

1) Jesus Christ and His work on the cross are preeminent in teaching, singing and fellowship
2) The preaching is verse by verse, expository through books of the Bible
3) We have an extended prayer time where fathers are encouraged to pray for each family member by name. We all get to pray for each other by name.
4) We meet from house to house which provides an intimate, homey atmosphere
5) We have an interactive sermon which lends itself to great questions, biblical answers and authentic relationships
6) We have godly elders who walk in humility and don’t lord it over us
7) We encourage families to worship together during the assembly
8) We sing the hymns of old, filled with rich, biblical doctrine
9) We share a meal together every week which allows time for sweet fellowship
10) There is an understanding of the biblical principles that lead us to educate our children at home
11) The meeting is geared to equip the fathers to disciple their wives and children
12) There is a great emphasis on reaching out to and supporting widows and orphans
13) There are a variety of family sizes and ages within the body
14) The more experienced ladies are eager and willing to engage in Titus 2 type of relationships
15) There is an acceptance and love for each other that covers a multitude of sins and even dissimilarities in minor doctrines
16) There are a multitude of godly, capable men who teach the Word
17) The relationships we have with each other are very real, there is a transparency and genuineness that is hard to find
18) Children get to experience corporate worship with their families
19) The young men are included in the impromptu and more formal men’s meetings, thus learning how to become godly leaders one day
20) We don’t solicit for funds (there is a ‘plate’, but it doesn’t get ‘passed’) but rely on the Lord to place on each family’s heart what to give
21) Since we don’t have to pay for a building, more money can go directly to orphans, widows, missionaries and helping those in need
22) An email is sent out each week with prayer requests, what verses of Scripture we’ll be covering, which hymns we’ll be singing, etc. This is a real catalyst for families to have a family worship time during the week where fathers can go over the Scriptures and all can practice the hymns, sitting still, etc.
23) A different family each month gets to select the hymns, which is a real treat
24) People in the church seek out opportunities to witness. There’s a real sense of evangelism and we spur each other on with our gospel sharing experiences.
25) The name of Jesus and the things of the Lord are upon our lips in conversations around the table and throughout the day
26) Children get to be with their friends, yet not unsupervised; an adult or two seem to always be in ear shot
27) Children and even grandchildren get to see their fathers teaching others the Word
28) The ladies share home schooling tips and home keeping experiences with each other
29) There is much counsel from man to man on raising children for the Lord
30) We purposely meet only once a week thus avoiding a building centered ministry and the family break up that usually ensues
31) We gather for prayer, the apostles’ teaching, fellowship and the breaking of bread; all things are done to the glory of God and the edification of the saints
32) The meeting of the church is so wonderful and the fellowship in the Lord so sweet that many times my family doesn’t get home until after 5pm! (we start at 10am)

For all these reasons and so many more, we praise our God and Savior Jesus Christ for building His church and the blessings of being a part of it.

You’ve got to hear this one minute testimony testimony of a 16 year old young man who, I believe, works with two Jewish ladies. His family has celebrated the Biblical Holidays i.e. Jewish Feasts for many years. Believe me, they are not “under the law”, they do this in a way that celebrates how Jesus, our Messiah fulfills these feasts. As you will hear, this has been a tremendous witness to the many Jews that the Lord has brought to them throughout the years.

We have come across a very helpful book written on the Biblical Holidays from a Christian perspective. It’s called “A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays”. You can look at it http://biblicalholidays.com I highly recommend it. If you think immediately that it is ‘legalism’ to celebrate the Biblical feasts, you may want to read this page first. Here is an excerpt:

Celebrating the holidays can become legalistic. So can going to church, wearing certain clothing, helping the poor, etc. Anything to earn righteousness or done for the outward appearances is legalism. Celebrating the feast days can become legalistic if your heart is not right. If you feel you have to do the holidays and you’re in a frenzy trying to make everything just perfect, your house is a shambles, children crying, and everyone in a foul mood, you are defeating the point. Time to check your motives. The woman who decided to wear a head covering to show she was submissive who wore it against her husband’s wishes was not right in her heart. Are you are being controlled by legalism or a desire to please God?

We are not in bondage, we are free, free in Christ–free enough to enjoy a cycle of annual celebrations that reminds us that God has done a wonderful work of redemption for us through Christ. Celebrating the biblical holidays is a privileged set apart time of Bible study or family devotions. Do you have to have Bible study or family devotions? No, but will you learn more about God, His ways and His paths if you do?

We can celebrate the Biblical holidays if we do it to learn about God or to worship God. If we celebrate the holidays to earn righteousness there is no reason to observe them. By celebrating the biblical holidays I am no better than my friend who chooses not to observe these days. Both of our righteousness is as filthy rags. We are only saved by Christ.

The “Feast of Dedication” in John 10 is what we call Hanukkah today. It is also called the Feast of Lights and Jesus is the Light of the world. This shows that Jesus is the Messiah, the coming One which the Jews were expecting. Jesus is the fulfillment of all Biblical feasts, which were a foretype of the Messiah. Praise the Lord that He opened our eyes to His Salvation, Yeshua the Messiah. We can see Jesus in all of the God ordained feasts and give Him glory for His plan of salvation from eternity past to eternity future.

2 Ch 7:8-9 So Solomon observed the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly who came from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt. On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar they observed seven days and the feast seven days.

Jn 10:22-25 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.

Jn 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Jn 1:4-5 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Jn 12:35-36 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.

Here’s a picture of our families together. These friends are very dear to us.

The attached recording below was after we enjoyed a wonderful dinner together with “latkes” and the works! We are looking at Hannukah and starting with John 8:12. This is only a 5 minute snippet out of at least an hour long Bible study.

Hanukkah.mp3

Remember when WWJD was all the rage? What Would Jesus Do? A fairly good question for a believer grounded in the word. But it could lend itself to risks if taken apart from the Bible. The risk being that in our relativistic, feelings oriented age, many folks may simply dream of what a “Jesus” of their imagination would do. Some might dream that “Jesus” loves all and won’t send anyone to hell. Or maybe “The Jesus I believe in doesn’t condemn anyone.” “My Jesus wants me to be happy and for me that means divorce.” The wrong thoughts could go on and on.

Some have reinterpreted it to ask “Why Would Jesus Die?”, which is great for evangelistic purposes. Others have asked the question “What DID Jesus Do?” WDJD, again a better question, especially for evangelism. I’ve attached a free e-book WDJD PDF by Ray Comfort where that question is the title (I highly recommend this book). Click here to watch an episode of “The Way of the Master” which teaches you how to witness using the WDJD acronym.

Remember when folks would have WWJD bracelets? Well about that same time Christy made me a bracelet, but with the letters WDSS. She knew that one of my favorite sayings was “What Does the Scripture Say?” What I love about this question is that it is thoroughly Biblical! The Bible actually uses those exact words (at least in the NASB) in Romans 4:3 and Galatians 4:30.

I try to ask myself that question all the time, in just about any situation. What Does the Scripture Say? about giving, loving, hell, God, family, work, ethics, etc. You see the Bible is sufficient for all of life. It is not exhaustive, but it is a sufficient rule for every area of life.

So that’s why this blog is name WDSS. May we all be led by the Holy Spirit to look into His Holy Word for the answers to life’s issues.

Friends and family, we have a dear sister in the Lord named Carol who has been battling cancer. Many of you have already prayed for her, but I would ask you all to lift up our sister, her husband Bob and her three adult children to the throne of grace. It seems humanly impossible for her to make it to Christmas, but first off, I would ask you to pray for a miracle, because our God is sovereign over all flesh and is in the business of making miracles happen. At the same time, of course we all should rest in the sovereignty of God, knowing that if it is time for Carol to go home and be with our Lord Jesus, we can have peace in His wisdom and timing.

Please continue to pray for the entire family, that God would strengthen their faith in Him even through this trial. Pray that they would learn all that God is teaching them through this time. Pray as the Lord leads you for this precious family. Carol has been such a blessing to Christy as a Titus 2 type of example. Carol homeschooled their children and has been faithfully serving from the home since they graduated. Their two boys went on to West Point and their daughter started volunteering at AiG a while ago now (which is how we got to know them all).

I have had numerous precious conversations with Carol and have thoroughly enjoyed her like-minded spirit on so many issues. She loves the Lord with all her heart and walks the talk of the Christian life. Thanks friends, for praying for them.