The Pastor's Desk

Wonderful insights from R.C. Sproul and Al Mohler on the theological and practical perils of the seeker sensitive movement, which applies largely to the emergent church as well.  Enjoy.

Compared to most of history, our church is enormously blessed.  Yet recently, we have waded through some deep waters and difficult times.  We have done church discipline, lost staff, seen members leave and prayed for spiritual awakening.  Many people have commented to me that they feel like the church is falling apart.  My response – not as long as the promise of Jesus in Matthew 16:18 stands – I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  Jesus said it, and I believe He is doing just that at Berry Road.  This message opens the scroll of Jeremiah to see how God promised to restore fallen and sinful Judah some 2,500 years ago.  His promises are just as valid for this body of believers IF we will choose to follow Him with all our hearts.

 

 God's Promise to Restore His People: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 God's Promise to Restore His People: Download

This message is an awakening call to effectively fulfill the great commandment and the great commission in Norman.  It is the result of two years of prayer, study and vision that has finally resulted in following God’s call to change the very DNA of our church’s ministries.  I believe that if we can live  up to the truth in this message, we will build a legacy that lasts for generations.  It will require our people devoting themselves fully to God’s glory and to the saints doing the work of ministry.  It will necessitate a restructuring of our meeting times that is effectively ‘open heart surgery’ for our church.  But the results will be wonderful and the fruit plentiful if God’s people will plow, plant and sow the seed of God’s Word among our people and in our community.  Soli Deo Gloria!

 

 The Purpose of Berry Road Baptist Church: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 The Purpose of Berry Road Baptist Church: Download
 Discipleship Structures for Fall 09: Download

Church discipline is so rare in our day that most Christians don’t even know what it is.  It is a lost art of disciplemaking that has produced a famine of true repentance, deep cleansing and a commitment to corporate purity.  However, it is a distinguishing mark of the true church of Jesus Christ.  In a day where most immoral sin is ‘swept under the rug’ or alltogether ignored among God’s people, the words of Christ in Matthew 18:15-20 have never been more needed.  This message was preached just moments before Berry Road Baptist fulfilled that passage of Scripture by expelling an immoral brother from among us.  Though it was probably the most difficult corporate act of its 50 year history, it brought incredible cleansing in our church.  It stretched our understanding of God, our obedience to His Word and our commitment to Christ’s Lordship.  Yet the church was faithful to walk through it biblically and graciously.  I have never been more proud of my church than I was this evening, though the process came with great sorrow and personal suffering.

This message examines the link between discipleship and church discipline and makes a case that no church can be a church where Christ is Lord unless it is practiced.

Just days after it was done, one of our deacons wrote this statement as he prayed over our church:

“I don’t think I have ever been as proud to being a member of this body as I was this week. Not because of what happened, because God knows there was a lot of sorrow, pain, hurt, tears, and a lot of love, and concern showed last Sunday night. For the first time in a long time we were truly a body of Christ, fulfilling the Word of God regardless of our personal feelings. The togetherness that was displayed on handling a bad situation according to God’s Holy Word was awesome. So buckle up Berry Road – the best is yet to come because God blesses where His Word is held up.”

Hold on to your seats Berry Road.  It just might be time for God to unleash His transforming power among us.  Soli Deo Gloria!

 

 Fulfilling the Great Commission Through Church Discipline: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Fulfilling the Great Commission Through Church Discipline: Download