God glorifying children and teens

Pray that Student Ministry and Children's Ministry leaders love God and help children, teens, and families love God.

Specifically, pray for the last couple of weeks of school year activities.
Also, pray for those going to summer camps at Lincoln Lake, Lake Ann, and Algonquin and our upcoming Vacation Bible School.

Here is the manuscript of what the children did in the Connection Time (9:30 to around 10:00) this past Sunday.

Is God's Word important?

Why?

There are other things that are important too… homework, video games, free time… right?

I know that because we spend our time on them! But how often do we take time for God’s Word? Just Sundays? Some of you may take time to read your Bible every day- have devos or quiet time, maybe you have a devotional book you’re reading through. But sometimes we don’t read our Bibles because we don’t know what to read or what to do after we’ve read some verses.

I want to take this time to show you something I do during quiet time and something our family does to help us learn and understand God’s Word.

Let's read 96:9,10.

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; 

Tremble before him, all the earth! 

Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!  

Yes, the world is established;

it shall never be moved;  

he will judge the peoples with equity.”

These are the Fighter verses from this past week. If you don't know, fighterverses.com is a memory verse plan is designed to help individuals fight sin by knowing and believing God more.

There are three things we’re going to do with this verse today:

1. Get it in our minds by trying to memorize it.
Read together 2x
Try filling in blanks (show app)

2. Look more closely at the verse and observe some things.
Who are the commands directed toward? Triangle around everything that refers to God.
What describes God and what he does? Box those. Splendor of holiness, reigns, judge.

3. Let’s make some connections and talk about what this means.
Man- God
Worship splendor of holiness
Tremble reigns
Say judge

So we are to worship (praise, honor, think about) God for his being holy, we are also to tremble at this as you would coming before a king (respect, take serioulsly) and then we are to Say that the Lord reigns and that he will judge the people fairly. Now I want to show you how I studied this a little more.

Is that last part good news? Not if that’s all there is!

Let’s look up Rom 3:23?
We’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s holiness so being judged as to whether we’re good or bad, we would fairly be judged that we are bad. And we can’t do anything to change that. But that’s where the good news comes in!

Read 1 John 4:10. That’s amazing!

Read 2 Cor 5:21.
Because Jesus became sin for us we that is why we can worship God in the splendor of his holiness! (Rom 9:9,10 - saved from judgment)

Does He reign? Yes! This means 3 things…

1. If He reigns, I do not!

2. If He reigns, I must worship him! Spend time with him, thinking about life his way, repenting of my sin, this changes us. (ideas of how to spend time with him)

3. If He reigns I must tell others!

Psalm 96:9,10

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;

Tremble before him, all the earth!
Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established;

it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”

https://fighterverses.com/set-3-core-esv/week-15/

For more God-glorifying resources related to our Theology Matters study go to

www.drodgersjr.com/p/theology-matters-2.html

God Glorifying Leaders Prayer

Here are some God-glorifying prayers for church leaders at West Cannon Baptist Church and any church.  

Would you pray these prayers for church leaders today, and then invite others in your congregation to join you?

1.  Pray they will keep their eyes on God.

King Jehoshaphat faced three combined enemy armies, and he did not know what to do – except to lock his eyes on God. That’s the answer any time we have no clue about next steps.

“For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.” (2 Chron. 20:12, HCSB)

2. Pray they will not take a step apart from God’s leading.

Moses prayed this prayer when God would send only an angel to lead His people after their fiasco with the golden calf. He would rather the people not start the journey if God Himself were not leading them.

“If Your presence does not go,” Moses responded to Him, “don’t make us go up from here.” (Exod. 33:15)

3. Pray they will beware of relying on their own strength instead of God's

David, who knew the Lord is the one who fights for him (1 Sam. 17:47), trusted in his own might when he took a census of the Hebrew armies. Recognizing his sin, he prayed a prayer most leaders need to pray at some point:

“I have sinned greatly in what I’ve done. Now, Lord, because I’ve been very foolish, please take away Your servant’s guilt.” (2 Sam 24:10)

4. Pray they will be wise in leading God’s people.

When Solomon might have asked for much more, he instead asked God to give him a “listening heart” as he governed the people of God. All of us who lead congregations need this wisdom.

“So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kgs. 3:9)

These are the first 4 of the 9 prayers at thomrainer.com/2014/12/nine-ways-pray-church-leaders/

Today's Resource is Knowing God by J.I. Packer.

Each day this week we will be sharing a prayer focus along with a book designed to help you focus on God and His glory.  These five suggestions are not meant to overwhelm.  They are meant to help provide options for your reading list. 

"God is Lord and King over His world; He rules all things for His own glory, displaying His perfections in all that He does, in order that men and angels may worship and adore Him."

To order Knowing God through Amazon click HERE.

Tim Challies, author and blogger, occassionally does a series of blog posts entitled "Reading Classics Together."  In 2015, he encouraged people to read Packer's Knowing God.  Here is a list of the posts related to this book.

• How to Avoid Doing Theology All Wrong 
• Love is a Risky Business
• The Heart of the Unbeliever's Unbelief
• Stop, Look and Consider
• The Wise God and the Suffering Christian
• Perversity as Pathetic as Impoverishing
• God is His Own Executioner
• Two Serious Misconceptions about God's Wrath

For more God-glorifying resources related to our Theology Matters study go to
www.drodgersjr.com/p/theology-matters-2.html

God Glorifying Outreach Prayer

Note:  Since the original post, there have been some corrections and the addition of the link to a free pdf copy of  For the Love of God Vol. 1

In the opening paragraph of the For the Love of God Volume 1 devotional on April 23, D.A. Carson's writes

"One of the inevitable characteristics of those who genuinely praise the Lord is that they want others to join with them in their praise. They recognize that if God is the sort of God their praises say he is, then he ought to be recognized by others. Moreover, one of the reasons for praising the Lord is to thank him for the help he has provided. If then we see others in need of the same sort of help, isn’t it natural for us to share our own experience of God’s provision, in the hope that others will seek God’s help? And will this not result in an enlarging circle of praise?"

This explains why our local outreach and missions must be God-glorifying.   The God who is worthy of our praise should be praised by others.
In this devotional, Carson goes on to explain how Psalm 34 shows that we should testify of God's grace.  

God is awesome, all-powerful, and infinite.  Our one week study on God the Father doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the attributes of God.  
Hopefully, the study helped whet your desire to know more about who God is.  
The following quote is from Jerry Bridges' book The Joy of Fearing God.

Pray that the local outreaches and our missionaries around the world would give God the glory that He deserves and that they would help others glorify Him.  

Here are a couple, not all, local ministry you can pray for:

• Alpha Center of Lowell - www.afclowell.org/
• Hand 2 Hand - hand2handbackpack.org/
• Life Matters Worldwide - www.lifemattersww.org/Get-Involved/Pray
• Mel Trotter Ministries - www.meltrotter.org

Today's Book Resource is John Piper's Let the Nations Be Glad!
Each day this week we will be sharing a prayer focus along with a book designed to help you focus on God and His glory.  These five suggestions are not meant to overwhelm.  They are meant to help provide options for your reading list. 

The quote that best summarizes this book is “Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man."
For a video and summary of the book, click HERE
For a review of this book, click HERE





For more God-glorifying resources related to our Theology Matters study go to
www.drodgersjr.com/p/theology-matters-2.html

Book Review: Sex in a Broken World

After reading Sex in a Broken World, I was reminded that most of Paul Tripp’s books repeat the same basic idea.  “The desire for even a good thing becomes a bad thing when that desire becomes a ruling thing.”  Tripp develops a God-focused, big-picture view of sex and helps us see the problem is a heart/worship problem. I need to be reminded of this idea over and over again because I continue to have worship problems. 

God has blessed me with opportunities to minister in many different locations (the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) and in several different settings (Bible college, Christian high school, rescue mission, and churches).  In each of these situations, it is amazing and saddening to see how true Tripp’s statements and observations about our broken world are.  In helping others and myself, I have needed to remind others and myself that the biggest problem I have is my heart and desires.  What I appreciate about this and many other Tripp books is the Biblical focus and repetitiveness, both of which drive the main points into my mind and heart.

One of the strengths of Sex in a Broken World is that while it addresses a specific issue, it does not address a specific problem.  This book can be used to help with general discipleship or a variety of different sin issues.

Chapter six, “Sex: The Big Picture,” was especially helpful.  The case studies were realistic and honest.  The little picture sex vs. big picture sex contrast helped put things in a proper perspective.  Sex needs to be thought about, talked about and practiced in a way that is Biblical and God-glorifying.  I need to think through how to disciple my church, my children and myself in a way that helps develop a proper view of sex in this confusing, broken world.

Sex in a Broken World has reminded me that sex is not something that needs to be discussed in shameful, hushed tones.  It needs to be proclaimed in a clear, respectful, God-glorifying way.

Crossway has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book to the reviewer through their Blog Review Program.

#davesmorethanselfies

As I was writing The Lord Reigns post today, I was thinking about how I have been so blessed with so many different from so many different places.  So I decided to do a post today about my #davesmorethanselfies pictures.

What started as an attempt to take a group picture of Krista's family on vacation has become something I have grown to love.  Here is why.

At the top of this blog is the following statement:

Throughout our lives we have been so blessed with friendships and ministry opportunities

These #davesmorethanselfies pictures are more attempts to capture these God-given friendships.

This collection is only a few of the pictures I have over these last nine months.
And the people in these pictures are only a very small number of the people God has used in our lives through good times and difficult times. 

I do need to make sure I get one of the Rodgers/Ramsey family the next time we are together.

Connected through Camp Patmos

Connected through the Dominican Republic and
Emmanuel Baptist Church

Connected through the Dominican Republic

Connected through Together for the Gospel

Connected through Emmanuel Baptist Church 

Connected through working at Emmanuel Baptist Church

Connected through the Ryan family : )

Connected through Monaca High School

Connected through West Cannon Baptist Church and
at the time of the picture, it was only a couple of weeks.

Connected through working at West Cannon Baptist Church

Connected through the Dominican Republic, Baptist Bible College and Seminary
and Emmanuel Baptist Church
The Millers have been a great friend for many years.

The LORD reigns

The Fighter Verses have been great reminders of who God is and how I am supposed to live in response to who God is.  

This week's Fighter Verses, Psalm 96:9 - 10, contain a statement that was very challenging to me.
"Say among the nations 'The LORD reigns...'"
As a worshipper of God, a child of God because of Jesus Christ I need to say to the world "The LORD reign."
I need to proclaim that with my words, actions and attitudes.

It is my prayer that in the midst of the circumstances of life, I would remember that the LORD reigns and I would remind others that the LORD reigns.

Weekend Services

I apologize for not updating this post.  I was planning to post while at 
Together for the Gospel Conference and did not.

Pray that every Sunday service would proclaim The Truth of Scripture.

Pray for those who are preaching in the services.

Pray for those who are teaching the classes.

Pray for those who are selecting and leading the songs.

Pray for those who are serving in so many different areas.

Pray that each and every member of West Cannon Baptist Church 

will speak and live out the truth of God's Word!

Here is a resource to help you prepare for Sunday.

For a pdf version of "How to Love Your Church on Sunday," click HERE

What is Church Membership?

On Sunday (04.22.18), West Cannon Baptist Church will have a membership class from 5:00 to 7:15.  This provides us with a great opportunity for members and non-members to think about what church membership is.  

Here are some misconceptions about the church and church membership:
I have to have my name on a church roll somewhere.
I can be an inactive church member.
The word “membership” is not in the Bible.  Therefore church membership is not biblical.

The reality is church membership is not specifically commanded.
Church membership is implicitly commanded in the New Testament through passages that talk about church gatherings, church discipline, church leadership and church accountability. 

Here are a couple of quotes regarding church membership. 

From I Am a Church Member

”Church membership is a gift.  When I received the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, I became a part of the body of Christ.  I soon thereafter identified with a local body and was baptized.  Now I am humbled and honored to serve and to love others in our church.  I pray that I will never take my membership for granted, but see it as a gift and an opportunity to serve others and to be a part of something so much greater than any one person or member.”

From The Gospel Primer - 12. My Inheritance in the Saints

The gospel is not just a message of reconciliation with God, but it also heralds the reconciliation of all believers to one another in Christ. Through the death of Christ, God has brought peace where there was once hostility, and He has broken down the racial, economic, and social barriers that once divided us outside of Christ. 37 

Also, when God saved us, He made us members of His household, 38 and He gave us as gifts to one another.  Each brother and sister is a portion of my gospel inheritance from God, and I am a portion of their inheritance as well. We are significant players in each other’s gospel narrative, and it is in relationship with one another that we experience the fullness of God in Christ.

Hence, the more I comprehend the full scope of the gospel, the more I value the church for which Christ died, the more I value the role that I play in the lives of my fellow-Christians, and the more I appreciate the role that they must be allowed to play in mine.

Equipping Ministries

I apologize for not updating this post.  I was planning to while at Together for the Gospel Conference and did not.

Pray that each and every ministry at West Cannon Baptist Church would be equipping people to make disciples.
There are two specific ministries you can be praying for now...

• Shepherding Leadership Training begins this Sunday night
• the Biblical Counseling Conference coming in the spring of 2019.  For more info about this go to www.westcannon.org/counseling

Thursday morning at the Together for the Gospel conference Zach and I went to a breakfast/presentation about The Vine Project.   It was a great time of sharing disciple-making helps.  Here are a couple of quotes from the book about disciple-making.

In the New Testament, the proclamation of the word is the basic means for creating and growing ‘Christ-learners’. You could even say that there is only one central activity in making disciples—the speaking of the word of God —and that all the other elements describe in what Spirit, by which people, and in what manner that speaking is done. (84) 

Making disciples is not primarily a human activity with goals that we set (although it is those things in a subsidiary sense). Whatever happens in Christian ministry and in church, and whatever happens in our neighborhoods and families and work places, is part of what God is doing to move all things inexorably towards their goal and end—which is Jesus Christ. (59)

Pray that WCBC would make disciples who make disciples.
Pray that WCBC's ministries would be seen as disciple-making resources.

Pray for Our Children and Teens

Today's prayer request is for our children's ministry (K4C) and youth ministry (REACH) student ministries.

While it is important to pray for Tim Anderson and Tim Sullivan and others who lead and serve in these specific ministries at West Cannon Baptist Church, we must remember to pray for the parents of the kids and teens of WCBC.  Parents are the primary disciple-makers in their child's life.  

Pray that ministry leaders and parents would help our young people know and live out the truth of God's Word.

Tim Challies wrote an article entitled "What's the Purpose of Children?"  This is article concludes with the following statement.

At a time when children are regarded as an optional accessory to the good life or written off as an obstacle to it, we do well to return to the infallible Word of God to once again establish God’s purpose for having children. We have children to obey God, to experience his blessing, to have the joy of making disciples, and to grow in our conformity to him. Children are a great gift of God.

The purpose of children is found not in culture, school, or entertainment.
The purpose of children is found in the infallible, inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. 

Pray for Church Leadership

Today, remember to pray for the leadership of West Cannon.

Here are two specific things to help you pray for the leaders.

First, pray as several of the church leaders head to Louisville, KY for the 3 day T4G (Together for the Gospel) conference.  Pray this would be a time of refreshment and encouragement as the men hear great preaching, spend time together and meet with over 9,000 other Gospel-focused church leaders.

Each of the main sessions will be streamed live on the conference website t4g.org
Here is a video explaining the theme of this year's theme.





Second, watch the following video on the four pressing reasons your pastor needs your prayers.

WCBC and the Sufficiency of Scripture

Psalm 19:7-14 is a statement about what Scripture is and the impact it has on a life submitted to God.

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
Also keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

HERE is a link to a journal article by John MacArthur about the Sufficiency of Scripture and this Psalm.  The article concludes with the following statement.

There is no substitute for submission to Scripture. Your spiritual health depends on placing the utmost value on the Word of God and obeying it with an eager heart. If you think you can find answers to your spiritual problems through human counsel or worldly wisdom, you are forfeiting the most valuable and only reliable source of answers to the human dilemma. Do not relinquish the sweet, satisfying riches of God’s Word for the bitter gall of this world’s folly.

In WCBC's Adult Bible Classes on April 8th, the classes looked at three characteristics of Scriptures:  inspiration, inerrancy and authoritative.

Because the Word of God is inspired and inerrant, it is the ultimate authority for life.
Because the Word of God comes from God through the writers of Scripture by the Holy Spirit and it is without error and truthful, it is the first and last place we should look to as our authority.
It is not only the first and last place we should look, its where we should go all the time.  First, last and every time in between.

Scripture is where we look for our purpose in life as individuals and a church.

Our mission statement states that West Cannon Baptist Church desires to
worship God acceptably - we know what acceptable worship is because of God's Word
edify and encourage one another to personal holiness - we know what encouraging relationships and personal holiness are because of God's Word
proclaim through word and deed the good news of Jesus Christ - we know what the good news of Jesus Christ is because of God's Word

==============================

Additional resources on Inspiration:

• Basic Theology, Charles Ryrie, ch. 10, The Biblical Doctrine of Inspiration
• Taking God at His Word, Kevin DeYoung, ch. 2, Something More Sure
• The Gospel Coalition, Erik Raymond, The Origin of the Scriptures, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/erik-raymond/the-origin-of-the-scriptures/
• Grace to You, John MacArthur, How Did God Guide the Biblical Writers? https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B160715/how-did-god-guide-the-biblical-writers
• Desiring God, John Piper, All Scripture is Breathed Out by God—Continue in It, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/all-scripture-is-breathed-out-by-god-continue-in-it

Additional resources on Inerrancy:

• Basic Theology, Charles Ryrie, ch. 12,  The Inerrancy of the Bible
• Taking God at His Word, Kevin DeYoung, ch. 2, Something More Sure
• Grace to You, Kevin DeYoung & Al Mohler, Why We Defend Inerrancy https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B140516/why-we-defend-inerrancy

Additional resources on Authority:

• Concise Theology, J.I. Packer, ch. Authority
• Grace to You, The Final Authority, Period. https://www.gty.org/library/articles/A279/the-final-authority-period

Biblically-based and Biblically-focused Missions & Local Outreaches

Today's prayer focus is that our local outreaches and missions will be true to Scripture

Our mission at www.westcannon.org/mission-statement, states that we strive 

To Proclaim through word and deed the good news of Jesus Christ 

• We believe it is the responsibility of all believers to share the gospel with the lost people around them. Therefore personal evangelism will be an emphasis of West Cannon Baptist Church. We will corporately assist individuals in this task by providing evangelistic training as well as periodic evangelistic events. 

• We believe it is also the church's responsibility and privilege to participate in reaching the lost around the world. Therefore, we will endeavor to facilitate missions education, participate in missions conferences, promote missions trips and financially support missionaries of like faith and practice.

This Gospel Proclamation is Biblically based and Biblically focused.

By Biblically-based, we mean the call to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ is founded in the Gospel.  There are many passages that command believers to do this.  The most obvious one is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Pray that WCBC would always remember what Jesus commanded disciples to do and say.  

By Biblically-focused, we mean the truth of the Bible is the main thing.  We want to live life for God and His glory.  We know the only way this can be done is by deepening our understanding of and our relationship with God according to His Word.  Read Psalm 119 for a reminder of the importance of God's Word.

Pray that WCBC would always do the God's work God's way, according to His Word.

This and other verse graphics are available for free and purchase
at scripturetype.com

God, 
Today, we pray that we will proclaim the Gospel through word AND deed
in our community with local outreaches and partnerships like Hand2Hand Ministry, Mel Trotter Ministries, Alpha Center in Lowell and other groups
and
in the United States and the world through our missionary family.

Help all of us to be faithful to your word in our personal devotions and our public ministry.

Amen.

God is great

While we did not meet last night for our Fight Night Study, 

the Fighter Verses are always good to look at and review.

This week's Fighter Verses are Psalm 96:4-5

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

God is great.
God is to be praised.
All other gods are worthless idols.
God made the heavens.

Click HERE for this week's FIghter Verses devotional.

Below is the Verses Project devotional for these verses.

This world is full of greatness. Just open your eyes and look around! Think about all the great and amazing things we each experience on a day to day basis: a breathtaking sunrise, the aroma of a perfectly roasted cup of coffee, a visual artist in his/her element creating a masterpiece, an athlete at their prime, a chef combining ingredients and flavors that dance in our mouths, a musician finally putting words to thoughts and emotions we had felt but hadn’t been able to express, etc. In this verse, the psalmist teaches us that God is great and his greatness calls for two things. 

First, God’s greatness demands from us great praise! We praise greatness wherever we see it! CS Lewis said, “But the most obvious fact about praise -- whether of God or anything -- strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise. ... The world rings with praise -- lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game. ... I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.” Not only should we praise God, but our praise should be equivalent to the greatness of the object we are praising. Of course a cup of coffee is praiseworthy, as is pulling off a last second buzzer beater shot in a game of basketball, but if we are more excited about praising those things than God, then we have not truly seen the greatness of God! Oh, that God would give us eyes that first see His greatness and in turn, hearts and lives that praise Him greatly... 

Secondly, not only are we called to praise God greatly, but also fear Him. This is not a “I’m scared of you” fear, but rather an issue of respect, reverence, and allegiance. Have you been fearing other things as over God? Do you care more about what a boss or someone else thinks about you than what God does? Fear God, not man. Man’s greatness is fading & failing, while God’s greatness is infinite & supreme. May your allegiance to God always conquer any lower and lesser allegiance for He is greater and more worthy! 

In verse 5, David explains verse 4 in more depth by making two statements: first that all the gods of peoples are worthless idols and secondly that God made the heavens. David boldly stands against the common belief of other nations in his day that there are many gods, but rather declares there is but One and He made the heavens. Before you write off verse 5 claiming that in our day and age, we no longer have “gods” or “idols” and therefore it doesn’t apply, think again! Every generation and culture has their own set of gods and idols that generally control the market. Idols and gods are not merely physical statues or pagan idols, but rather anything (physical or immaterial) that takes the place of God in our affections. They can even be good things (like a spouse, sports, family, money, influence, or a job) that become “God things”. How do they become “God things”? By becoming the ultimate things that we believe give us our worth as over our relationship to God. They tell us that if we didn’t have (fill-in-the-blank) like would cease to have meaning. What do you spend your free time thinking about? What, if taken away from you, would cause you to crumble beyond repair? May God strip us away from any competing lovers or allegiances we may be giving praise and fear to more than Him. These lovers will always over-promise and under-deliver, but God will always satisfy and follow through with His promises. Because He is Creator and sovereign, He is faithful and able to do what creation cannot and was never intended to do. Praise Him greatly, and honor Him with your life.