"God Is Our Treasure" Sermon Series

For the last several weeks we have been going through a series on how to view money and possessions in light of eternity.  This has been such a wonderfully challenging series as we have begun to view these these through the lens of Scripture...follow this link if you would like to listen to any of these messages.  The first message touches on the topic of contentment, the calling to live a modest life and the cultivation of a lifestyle of generosity.  The second message is on God's ownership.  And then the 3rd message being on the issue of tithing, answering the question if this is something that we as New Testament believers ought to do.  http://www.providencecommunitychurch.net/providence/god_is_our_treasure 

John Piper On The Practice Of Tithing For The New Testament Believer

Hey folks,

Here is a link of a great sermon by John Piper on the practice of tithing for the New Testament believer, great sermon:

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1995/923_Toward_the_Tithe_and_Beyond/

Lot & His Daughters...

The story of Lot and his daughters is not normally a passage of Scripture we spend a lot of time studying, nor is it one that we find ourselves searching for messages on it.  Last week, as we were preaching through the book of Genesis we found ourselves coming upon this very uncomfortable text.  Many I have talked to said they were a bit nervous coming up to this Sunday, wondering how I would be handling this text.  However, since that time I have heard from many that they have found it to be very helpful and practical sermon to help us evaluate our hearts as there are many times we find ourselves in "strange places" in our thinking and how to recognize the subtle drift of the human heart.  The title of the message is "From False Treasures To False Saviors."  I trust you will find it as help as I did when going through it.  It is posted on our church's website at www.providencecommunitychurch.net or the direct link: http://i.b5z.net/i/u/1229416/m/FalseTreasureToFalseSaviors042510.mp3

Cravings and Conflict - Message from CJ Mahaney

"Cravings & Conflict" by CJ Mahaney:

Cravings and Conflict from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo.

Godly Fathers - A Sermon By Doug Luffman from Deuteronomy 6

Hey folks,

I wanted to draw your attention to an outstanding message by Doug Luffman, an elder of our church. It is not only challenging and provoking to draw our families to a God glorifying vision for their lives, but in his tone and demeanor is an example of pastoral graciousness to us as fathers. In this message Doug has given us 4 very clear points of what a godly home looks like from Deut. 6:4-7. Very helpful...very encouraging...very practical.

When Your Pastor Is Matthew...and not John Piper

Hey folks, here is a great article that I found very helpful and encouraging to ordinary pastors such as myself who just happens to be "a guy with a Bible." Steve is a pastor at a home church congregation up in Parkville, he is a great brother, who serves with our friend Jim Elliff. You can find this article at http://www.bulletininserts.org/notpiper.html

*******

When Your Preacher is Not John Piper
Steve Burchett

Many who have had the privilege of hearing John Piper1 preach in person would testify that it felt like a monumental event. His preaching is a powerful combination of truth and passion, leading to convicted and exhilarated listeners. After the sermon, certain hearers might leave wondering if they were just in the presence of a figure who will be talked about in future centuries.

Then they go back to their home church, where several things are different, including the preaching! Thankfully, the gospel is still proclaimed. In fact, the sermons are thoroughly biblical, but the ability of their regular preacher simply does not measure up to the phenomenal preaching they recently heard.

Unless you regularly attend the church of one of the celebrated preachers of our day, you most likely have faced a similar situation. Either at a conference or on the internet, you have heard exceptional preaching, but each Sunday you're back in your simple little home church that hardly anybody beyond your town knows about, with its "nobody" of a pastor who will probably never preach to thousands.

What if your gospel-preaching pastor is not as good as one of the great orators of our day? Is it time to sell the house, pack up the family, and change churches? No, I don't think so. But what should you do?

First, rejoice that your preacher is a man who proclaims the gospel. In some towns, finding a man who preaches the true gospel is as difficult as locating that precious new golf ball you sliced 100 yards into the thick woods! I once endured a 40 minute sermon that consisted mainly of the preacher telling about his family's vacation. Though that might be an extreme example of non-gospel preaching, too many preachers fail to speak of the holy God, sinful humanity, and the redeeming work of Christ. But not your preacher. He speaks honestly about sin, boldly proclaims "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2), and then lovingly invites listeners to repent and believe. That is a reason to rejoice.

Second, recognize that certain men are uniquely gifted by the Lord to have an international ministry and appeal, but this is not the norm. The typical local church should be satisfied to appoint as pastors men who are "above reproach" in their lives, who believe the gospel and are able to teach God's Word, and who have an aspiration to serve as shepherds (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Most preachers will not be strikingly smooth and polished. They may never be the keynote speaker at a big conference, but this is not a tragic shortcoming in your corner of God's kingdom. It is precisely His design.

Third, if your pastor is (honestly) dull, but he preaches the truth faithfully, a little statement I once heard might be helpful for you to remember: "The mature worshipper is easily edified." When hearing lackluster (even if biblical) preaching, immature worshippers will typically not listen to the message because they wish the messenger was more exciting. Conversely, mature worshippers eagerly receive the truth as it is proclaimed, even if it sounds like the preacher is reading a phone book.

Fourth, listen "outwardly" to the preaching. Here's what I mean: Sit with your Bible open and routinely make eye contact with the one preaching. An occasional nod of your head when he makes a point will encourage him and stir up his confidence. In my experiences of both preaching and listening to sermons, I can confirm that yawning listeners with glazed over eyes make mediocre preaching worse, while eager listeners inspire better preaching.

Fifth, verbally encourage the preacher(s) in your church. Every preacher who is not extraordinarily gifted has heard remarkable preaching and moaned, "After listening to that, why do I even try?!" This is a strange phenomenon, but great preaching from the renowned teachers of our day makes many "ordinary" pastors discouraged. Here's a simple way you can buoy your pastor: After a sermon, instead of just saying "Nice sermon!" as you head out the door, take a few moments to tell him what was especially helpful and/or convicting from the sermon. In the first church I served as a pastor, a particular young couple would stay after the service, about once a month, conversing with me about what they learned. These helpful conversations sometimes lasted for over an hour. Even today, I am heartened when I recall their zeal for what was taught.

We should praise the Lord for giving us outstanding, well-known preachers, but let us not forget Paul's command to Timothy, who was entrenched in a local church with pastors whose names none of us know: "The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching" (1 Tim. 5:17).

_________________________

1 John Piper is the main teaching pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a regular preacher at conferences all around the world.
Copyright © 2008 Steve Burchett
Permission granted for reproduction in exact form, including web address. All other uses require written permission
www.CCWonline.org

Providence - MP3s Available

Due to the faithful service of folks like Andre Darrigrand - we now have our sermons on-line on our church's web page. Just click on "Resources For Growth" and then click on "Audio Sermons - MP3s." Thank you so very much Mr. D...I think...wait a minute that means more people will hear my sorry attempts at preaching...on that note...I think you folks would be really blessed by a sermon given by Derek entitled "Speak Evil Of No One." Enjoy.