Christian Life
The Pros and Cons of Conferences
Despite the rise and fall of several large conferences (e.g., T4G, G3), conferences continue to be popular in the evangelical world. While this seems especially true in the United States, there are still plenty of conferences and special events north of the border in Canada. Notwithstanding their popularity, conferences have downsides. They can promote a celebrity culture among men who are to be known for their humility. They involve much effort and incur great cost just for a few days…
When Leaders Grievously Sin
The reformed evangelical world has been rocked this week with news of Steve Lawson’s “inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman.” (You can read the statement from the elders at Trinity Bible Church here or his own One Passion Ministries here.) The response was immediate. He was removed from his church. Ministries like Ligonier and The Master’s Seminary removed him from his position and took down all his content. There is consensus that Steve Lawson has permanently disqualified…
Principles of Service
Christian service has been on my mind the last month or so. A few of us have been discussing cleaning and maintenance needs in and around the building and the advantages and disadvantages of having a paid caretaker. Coupled with this is the weekly Fellowship Lunch with its demands of a weekly setup and cleanup. Throughout this discussion there has been a burden among the elders to treat all areas of need as an opportunity for discipleship. The elders wish…
Pride Check
Sermon Excerpt: Your biggest problem is your own sin from the sermon Behold the Covenant. To watch the entire sermon, click here. Pride Check. Consider the following questions which expose the fruit of pride in our lives. Do you want to be well-known and important? Do you want to impress people? Don’t you do this with the clothing you wear, the vehicle you drive, the place you live, your house, the money you earn, food you eat, who you know,…
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
Every year at this time Christians discuss together what they do for Halloween. Do you celebrate it? Do you try to use it as an outreach? Do you avoid it and denounce it? What makes matters more complicated is that there are more opinions than questions. It is my aim in this article, not just to add one more opinion, but perhaps inform your opinion with a perspective rarely heard in these discussions. Origins Debate Discussions about Halloween among Christians…
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
The longer you live and the more people you know, the more familiar you will be with suffering and trials. It can be an unexpected diagnosis from the doctor, a long battle with illness or disease, a chronic pain, family caught in a war, or deep anxiety about the unknown. The list goes on and on with each situation bringing its own unique challenges. We’re tempted to respond in anger, resentment, withdrawal, depression, or fear. We’re tempted to give in…
Must Have Books
The pastors who wrote the Westminster Confession stated, “All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.” Certainly the gospel is clearly propounded…
Preparing Children for Worship
Children are welcomed and encouraged to be part of the family of faith at Fairview. Parents know the challenges this brings and so this article provides some practical tips for you to prepare your children for Sunday. The following are some suggested activities to prepare your children to get the most from the weekly gathering where we worship God together. The Week Before Review any notes or comments your children made from the Sunday prior. Discuss what was learned as…
Children’s Catechism
The following is The Baptist Catechism for Children (based on “The Catechism for Boys and Girls” by Carey Publications). Baptists originally called it Spurgeon’s Catechism because of his adaptation of the Shorter Westminster Catechism for use. The words and language have been further modernized and adapted for use by young children. Catechism is merely an anglicized version of the Greek word, katekeo, which simply means, “to instruct”. The word has come to be known as a style of instruction that…