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Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:10-12

Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:10-12

May 3, 2012 | Pastoral Ministry, Preaching

Here are a number of suggestions for those who will be attending Summit Woods Baptist Church this Sunday on how you can be prepared for the study of God’s word. Carefully Think Read Matthew 5:1-12 – focus on 5:10-12. What is persecution? What is Jesus not referring to when bringing up persecution? Why is persecution listed last in the list of the beatitudes? Even though 5:11-12 contain the word “blessed,” and refers to persecution, these verses are quite different than the rest of the beatitudes. List all the differences in form and style between 5:11-12 and the rest of the beatitudes. Why these differences? What are the different forms of persecution one can face (v 11)? What should be our response to persecution and why (v 12)? What biblical examples of persecution can you think of? What is the result of persecution (v 10)? Note the similarity with the result in the first beatitude. What is the difference between this one and the others? Prayerfully Meditate For what about your devotion to Jesus and His definition of righteousness have you most recently been persecuted? How often do you seem to face persecution for your faith? Why? Why not? Do you think Christians should expect regular persecution? Why or why not? Is there anything you intentionally hold back in your relationships with friends, at work, at home, etc., because you seek to avoid inevitable persecution? If so, why? If not, how has it provided opportunity to help people understand or be helped by the gospel? What challenges you most about finding joy in persecution? Why? What would help you to... read more

Mid-Week Minutes 5.2.12

May 2, 2012 | Pastoral Ministry, Video, Worship

Music referenced in the video that you can purchase online: The Gathering – Sovereign Grace Music From Age to Age – Sovereign Grace Music Resolved Music – Hymns Vol 1 – Enfield Resolved Music – Hymns Vol 2 –... read more
How Shall We Then Facebook?

How Shall We Then Facebook?

May 1, 2012 | Christian Living, Culture, Featured Articles, Technology

Face it, Facebook (I use this as a moniker for all social media, i.e., Twitter) is a part of our culture and it is not likely to go away any time soon. Like money, the love of Facebook is the root of many evils, and yet, at the same time, it has the potential to be used for the glory of God and the heralding of the gospel. I am intrigued, overjoyed, and discouraged by Facebook’s social influence. I have lists of friends, church members, family members, co-workers, high-school friends, fellow pastors, theologians, churches, etc. I check in on some of these lists regularly just to see what’s going on in the lives of people I know – know of – or wish I knew. Again, it can be joyfully encouraging or a colossal waste of time and instantly discouraging. A friend recently sent me a note in which he was seeking advice in guiding one of his children through the decision on whether he would allow her a FB page or not. I immediately thanked God for having children who are young enough to make this request a non-issue in the Capranica home at this point. My friend’s child came up with a list of what she would not do on the page if and when allowed to have it. Good list, but it had me thinking. For some reason, Facebook has evoked an “I will not” response because it has such a potential for producing what is unhealthy. What about the “I Will’s” of Facebook? A host of “I Will Not’s” is perhaps necessary, but we often... read more

Cap-Review: The Pastor As Scholar/Scholar As Pastor

Apr 30, 2012 | Bookreviews, Pastoral Ministry, Video

The blend of a pastor and a scholar is a helpful one for the church. Though the average churchgoer may not immediately sense it, a Scripturally deeper pastor makes for a more Scripturally robust people. The blend of a scholar and a pastor is equally helpful. Those of us who have been to seminary know the personal value of having shepherd-hearted scholars who sharpened us while grilling us in the details of grammar and plunging us into reams of reading. While many church-goers may not know it, such scholars have blessed their congregations as well as their pastors. John Piper and D. A. Carson may be two of the best modern examples of pastor-scholars and scholar-pastors. The book they have produced, The Pastor as Scholar and The Scholar as Pastor is an encouraging biographical exhortation from these two men as to how ministry and scholarship have been blended in their respective ministries. Pastors and church members would do well to read this short volume. The contents of the book were first produced as lectures at an event sponsored by The Gospel Coalition. Owen Strachan and David Mathis contribute an introduction and conclusion respectively, and were instrumental in the event that was the genesis for the book. The book contains primarily biographical descriptions from Piper and Carson on the providential work of God to challenge them in terms of academic excellence and pastoral practicalities. Piper’s chapter on “The Pastor as Scholar,” biographically chronicles his own pilgrimage from childhood to doctoral studies in Germany, to pastoral ministry in Minneapolis. The chapter demonstrates the potential pitfalls of what some pursue as academic... read more
Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:4

Preparing for Sunday – Matthew 5:4

Mar 22, 2012 | Biblical Studies, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching

Carefully Think Read Matthew 5:4 Recall from last week what it does and does not mean to be “blessed.” How is this beatitude related to the first? How would it relate to the next one? Over what would a person mourn if they are to find this kind of blessing? Why? What is the result of mourning? When should you expect that result? To what degree? Can you think of any illustrations from the Bible of people who mourned in the way this beatitude commends? How so? Can you think of any illustrations from the Bible of people who mourned in a way contrary to what this beatitude commends? How so? Prayerfully Meditate How does this beatitude differ from general grief? What would produce this kind of mourning in a person? What is it that you find regularly moves you to this sort of mourning? If we are to be people who mourn, how can we be people who are comforted at the same time? When was the last time you found yourself mourning over your own sin, the sin around you and sin’s effects in our world? What have you found to bring the most satisfying comfort when you do mourn as this beatitude commends? How does the gospel create this beatitude in us? Intentionally Act What steps could you take to elevate your comprehension and meditation on the character of God so that you have a vision of Him that creates a greater sensitivity to sin? What sins have you become accustomed to rather than mourn over? Spend time confessing these sins with godly sorrow. Pray specifically... read more
Are You Reading Your Bible? More Bible Reading Plans

Are You Reading Your Bible? More Bible Reading Plans

Jan 3, 2012 | Christian Living, Featured Articles, Reading

It’s January 3 – you may already be behind in a new systematic approach to reading the Bible. No worries. Really – don’t fret over it. But do begin. If you need some direction, here is an updated post of a number of helpful Bible reading plans you can begin with. I love reading through Scripture each year.  If you are considering an annual trek through the Scriptures, you may find some of the other approaches linked here to be of use. Here are a number of Bible reading plans: Begin in Genesis and read about 4 chapters a day, 5 on Sunday.  I forget where I first heard about this one, but it was the first plan I used years ago, and it proved very helpful. Discipleship Journal Annual Plan.  I’ve used this plan for about the past four years. It keeps you in the Gospels all year, the Old Testament writings all year, and also takes you through the rest of the Old Testament and New Testament within the year.  I like staying in the Gospels throughout the year, meditating on the life of Christ in small portions, while moving more steadily and quickly through the rest of Scripture.  The drawback is being in 4 different locations within the Bible each day.  Some find it difficult to maintain the context of each section. M’Cheyne  Plan. This one has been around awhile and was made available by Robert Murray M’Cheyne.  It takes you through the entire Bible in one year, with reading in the morning and in the evening. Family Plan.  This annual plan gives you a portion of the Scripture... read more

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C.J., Lig, Al, Mark, et. al. Mark Dever and Company John Piper John MacArthur Phil Johnson and Friends the same says it all.