I Timothy 3:1-7 - The Vocation of Elder

I Timothy 3:1-7 - It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control of all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?); and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 

Message: The Vocation of Elder

Time: Paul is writing to a young pastor in Timothy. He is writing to Timothy in about AD 63, who is serving the church in Ephesus. He is writing about church leadership and organizing the church. Paul gives practical and pastoral advice. 

What the Lord is Saying: For the reformers, all lawful work was a way for God to be glorified. And while no calling is greater than another, there remains different callings and different responsibilities and different requirements for those that are called. Two offices are recognized in the new Testament: Elders/Bishops and Deacons. Both are served by men only. For Elders/Bishops/Overseer, some churches distinguish between ruling elders that govern, others elders that teach. The translation today is overseer. 

I Timothy 3 describes the qualifications.  

As I read these verses, it seems these roles are restricted to males. But I recognize that in our churches today, and more noticeably in the last 20 years, these roles are often being held by women. In our society, the role of women has also changed and there is great equality put forth in our work places and work life to present the idea that these headship roles are interchangeable between men and women. I admit struggling with this. Perhaps because the Baptist church, where I have been mostly involved, does not allow this plurality. Even driving around town yesterday getting lunch, my wife and I drove by a church - Christian church, disciples of Christ, with a woman on the marquee as the minister of that church. 

It is a difficult concept or doctrine I think in our church lives. I think overall we give way to any form as long as it is reaching people for the gospel (the function of the church). And we see fruit that comes forth and so we believe therefore that because of the fruit, it must be okay or be allowed. Our Sunday school teacher brought up this at times in class, but perhaps he was speaking of coming against traditions such as Sunday only church versus Saturday, or dressing in jeans at church versus suits. So perhaps there are traditions that can be altered, but does this mean everything is to be altered. 

As I was sharing truth with someone at work last week, they brought up a problem they saw as a female in hearing that the Bible said that wives must be submissive to men. Or as she said must serve man. And yet I mentioned to her the great responsibility of the man - to love the wife. And I also mentioned, well, shouldn't two different sexes have two different roles. Otherwise, why are we made different. 

In any case, I Timothy 5:17 says, "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching." Thus, a role of an elder could be to preach and teach. And in our previous lesson from I Peter 5:1-3 it mentions that elders "shepherd the flock, exercising oversight."

Summary: Elders/Bishops/Overseers has specific qualifications/requirements - they are men set apart from society for a specific role of shepherding the flock which may include preaching and teaching. 

Promise: For the church members, God has placed elders as authority over us and we are to follow their direction and pray for them to govern the church wisely. 

Prayer: Lord, leadership in our churches can be a difficult subject. It is a hard one for me and I admit not being comfortable with the way the world or our different churches are allowing both sexes to be involved in these leadership and preaching roles. But Lord, I also want to submit to You always and ask that You be glorified. So help me Lord in this. Guide me and guide churches. For our elders and overseers and bishops, may we honor them. Help me Lord to not be so critical of their work. I think I often get more caught up in how they are leading rather than who they are. Meaning, they have met the criteria so help me to trust them more.  Thank you for the lesson of Your Word. 

I Peter 5:1-3 - New Covenant Ordained Ministry

I Peter 5:1-3 - Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God, and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 

Message: New Covenant Ordained Ministry

Time: Peter wrote to a group of people that probably included Jews and Christians at the time of probably AD 64, as the persecution of Christians by Nero was ramping up. It is thought Peter spent his final years in Rome. Peter calls people to root themselves in the perseverance and presence of Christ.

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is the only mediator between us and our Creator (I Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, man Christ Jesus.) There are not classes of believers, but instead all believers offer holy and acceptable service to the Lord whether the calling is full-time ministry or working in a secular context. 

Yet, we still set apart people those for leadership in the church. Like today, elders are set aside to care for and shepherd the flock. Other texts will name other leaders such as deacons (I Timothy 3:8-13). Leaders are not however more important than non-leaders of the Church. There is not greater holiness in these leaders of the church. Those with least valuable gifts and callings are as vital to those with a more recognized and public role (I Corinthians 12). 

• The same God works all things in all persons (6).
• All the members of the body, though they are many, are one body (12). 
• The body is not one member, but many (14).
• Foot, hand, ear, eye - not any is less a part of the body (15, 16)
• One cannot say, I have no need for you (21).
• Even those that seem to be weaker are necessary (22). 
• Those less honorable, have more honor (23).
• No division, but all care the same for one another (25)
• If one suffers, all suffer. If one honored, all rejoice. (26)

Summary: Elders and deacons are set apart for specific roles. But those who are not set apart for these roles still are essential members of the church. All are vital, equally. 

Promise: Do not think you are invaluable because you are not called to the leadership roles of the church. All are valid and significant. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand my role. Thank you for calling me to be of the laity of the church and showing me how I can still be of service to you in an impactful way. Keep giving me understanding and enlarge my ministries. Help me to be impacted and for many others to be impacted by Your work in their life. At my current church, help me to serve and give me and my wife understanding of our roles in this body and how we are to serve. I pray that people feel cared for and heard. Help me to learn better to listen and encourage. Thank you for the peace that is only found in You. 

I Peter 2:9 - God's Royal Priesthood

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him, who has called you of darkness into His marvelous light. 

Message: God's Royal Priesthood

Time: Peter wrote to a group of people that probably included Jews and Christians at the time of probably AD 64, as the persecution of Christians by Nero was ramping up. It is thought Peter spent his final years in Rome. Peter calls people to root themselves in the perseverance and presence of Christ. 

What the Lord is Saying: The last 2 lessons have emphasized the principle of having a mediator. The old covenant had a priest, a person designated by God to be the mediator between God and man for the purpose of offering sacrifices and atoning for sin and entering the Holiest of Holies. But then in Christ, God provided atonement for all sin through the One that was fully man and yet equal with God. 

But, is it necessary to have these two distinct groups still - those that are deemed ordinary Christians while others are truly Spiritual Christians? There are distinctions for people have different roles, but another thing that happened 500 years ago in 1517 was this move to think of people at the same level spiritual, no matter their vocation. Thus, a laypersons service to God is equal to a ministers service to God. A layperson has the same access to God as a minister. 

The phrase that has come to describe this is "the priesthood of all believers" and is rooted in I Peter 2:9. 

I Peter 2:9 is a quote from Exodus 19:6 which states, "...and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." This text is part of what we refer to now as the Mosaic Covenant. It is a conditional covenant which followed the unconditional Abrahamic covenant. That covenant established God's blessing on His people. The Mosaic covenant is God's expectation for His people. Works follows blessing is an important distinction. The Mosaic covenant established the Law of God, judgments and the governance of Law so that people knew how to approach God. The Abrahamic Covenant established that God will make Israel a great nation and would bless them and make them great to all the families of the earth. 

I Peter starts as a message in verse "to those who reside as aliens." Peter is speaking to all people set apart for the service of God - Jew and Gentile. And it is to these people that are attributed now the role of priests. We are all a royal priesthood. We are "choice and precious in the sight of God" in verse 4. And "built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood" in verse 5. And then culminates in verse 9 as "a chosen race." Chosen from all the peoples of the earth (Amos 3:2). 

What is our sacrifice? Ourselves. Romans 12:1 - "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual services of worship." We proclaim His excellence, each of us, all of us. All of our lives are a service to Him: as neighbors, in our vocations, in our families. All Christians are alike. 

Summary: There is no distinction among believers. We are all a chosen race and all set apart as priests to proclaim the excellence of Him. 

Promise: No matter what you are called to do in life, God honors your service when you seek to love Him and other people through your work. 

Prayer: O Lord, as I read your word more and more, I see consistency and a God that has never changed. You have called people to be yours and we are all to serve you in the same way. Thank you for choosing. I pray that my life is a praise to You and is a life that does proclaim You. I pray that it is acceptable to You. I believe it is, not because of me, but because of Christ and His work in life and on the cross. What makes me acceptable to you is not my deeds but the forgiveness of my sin and then in response I live for You. Give me that strength and help me to continue to live for You each day I am on this earth. 

1 Timothy 2:5-6 - Christ Our Mediator

I Timothy 2:5-6 - For there is one God, [and] one mediator also between God and men, [the] man of Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony [borne] at the proper time. 

Message: Christ the Mediator

Time: Paul is writing to a young pastor in Timothy. He is writing to Timothy in about AD 63, who is serving the church in Ephesus. He is writing about church leadership and organizing the church. Paul gives practical and pastoral advice. 

What the Lord is Saying: I didn't realize this lesson would be on Christ the mediator as I was studying the last lesson because in that lesson I was noticing that the priests of the Old Covenant (Old Testament) were the mediator for God's chosen people. God had ordained the priests to be the mediators between their sin and atonement. They were the one's to offer the sacrifices on behalf of the people. I feel like I have known this, but perhaps in that lesson it came together more clearly in my mind. 

And so now I come to this lesson and this passage from Paul to Timothy. In my bible, this passage is in the section of Paul giving charge of conduct and action concerning public worship. The passage starts in the first verse by Paul stating that "Prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men." In essence he is telling the people of God, the church, that they are to mediators for one another through the act of prayer. And so prayer is a way for each person to be a mediator between men and God. We pray because verse 4 states that "God our savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." And what is this truth? Verse 5 and 6 - "the man Christ Jesus." This is why Paul preaches and this is why we must pray. 

A mediator is a go-between who can represent the interests of both parties. The old covenant priests served as mediators offering sacrifices for our transgressions. But sins were not taken away, simply blotted out. These sacrifices had to be repeated. Hebrews 10:3-4 states, "But in those [sacrifices] there is a reminder of sins year by year, for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats tot take away sins." Honestly, I am not sure why God set it up this way, starting with a temporary fix that would lead to a permanent fix of man's sins. In many ways, both speak of the same message - God providing the way to atone for sin. And both remind us that man cannot be the atoner of sin. Both reinforce that God provides atonement; man does not work for atonement. 

Paul remarks in this passage that Christ Jesus is a man. He is emphasizing his manhood. And yet we remember Paul's words to the Philippians. Philippians 2:6 says, He (Jesus) existed in the form of God...taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men. He existed in the form of God but became like men. And like a man he died and God highly exalted Him so that every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord. So let's never forget, he is God and he is like man. 

Christ is the only mediator. In the old covenant, people were chosen and the chosen had their sins passed over. In the new covenant, the chosen have faith. Christ as mediator is offered to people by their faith in Him. 

Summary: The priests of the old covenant provided a temporary atonement for sin. Christ, one time is the ransom for all. And now man is a mediator for people through prayer.  

Promise: Christ is the all-sufficient Mediator, and we can approach God in humble confidence when we go through Him to the Father. 

Prayer: God, thank you for your perfect message and your complete message. As I speak to others in other faith systems, it is surprising that they must feel like this truth needs to be more. This truth is everything. You are the Holy God and in your Holiness and perfect way provide the only way for man to be truly saved - through the mediator Christ. Thank you for this message of mediator, showing me the priest of old, showing me Jesus and then also showing me myself as I am a mediator in my prayers between you and others. It reminds me to be focused on this in my life and how I need to continue in this endeavor and never give up on offering prayers for others. 

Leviticus 8 - The Old Covenant Priesthood

Leviticus 8, specifically verses 12 and 13 - "Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him. Next Moses had Aaron's sons come near and clothed them with tunics, and girded them with sashes, and bound caps on them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses." 

Message: The Old Covenant Priesthood

Time: There is sufficient evidence that Moses penned Exodus and Leviticus including references to Leviticus by New Testament authors. Its name means "pertaining to the Levites" and its purpose was to instruct the Israelites on right living and proper worship. The most likely time for this is 1446 BC. The book communicates that receiving God’s forgiveness and acceptance should be followed by holy living and spiritual growth.

What the Lord is Saying: Our fundamental need of having a right relationship to our Creator - 

• Forgiveness of sins (Romans 3:21-26)
• Imputation of Christ's righteousness; justification (Romans 3:21-26)
• Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31)
• The Holy Spirit to regenerate us (John 3:1-8)

Our pathway to achieve these is having a mediator in order that we will be rightly related to God, approved by Him and accepted into His kingdom. It in Jesus that our sins are forgiven, that we are justified or made right with God and the Holy Spirit, who is God, regenerates us. 

In the Old Testament, the Messiah was anticipated and people in their daily lives saw a type or foreshadowing of the Messiah through the old covenant priest. The priest is mentioned often in the Old Testament as one who is set apart for service. The priest is commissioned via the anointing of oil, through offering sacrifice and even by receiving special clothing. Perhaps baptism, confession and being born again sets us apart today in these ways. The priest must be set apart because only he was able to enter the inner parts of the tabernacle to offer sacrifices to cover people's sins. The priest was the go-between man and God. And only the high priest could enter the holy of holies and once a year, the day of atonement.

The priest enabled the people to worship the Lord. And yet there was still this separation as ordinary people could not enter the Holy of Holies and the service of the priests was distinct or separate from other people's service to the Lord. 

Yet, it is important to recognize this history. This reminds me the importance of sin and it's seriousness in our lives and yet how we do not have the means on our own to be made right with God. We need someone else to provide this for us. In the old covenant, it was provided by the priest through sacrifices and entering into the holiest presence of God. Throughout the history man has not been able to absolve his own sins. He has needed someone else to do this. 

Summary: God has always provided a substitute and a mediator between God and man to reconcile us (Priests, Jesus). Man sins. God provides the way for righteousness. 

Promise: We have no need for earthly priests today. Christ is our mediator. We study the old covenant revelation to better understand the work of Christ. 

Prayer: O Lord, thank you for the consistency of Your Word and showing me the place of a mediator you have always provided to remove sin and make me righteous. It was a priest in Old Covenant time and it is Jesus today and for always. There is nothing that man does to make himself holy and yet you want us to be a people that obeys you because You are a God to be obeyed. You are Holy and we need to rightly obey You. Thank you for these lessons and reminders from your Word. 

TABLETALK - October 2017

I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. Each month of 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. 

• October - Sacraments (December 16, 2022 - March 7, 2023)
• September - The Reformation of Worship (July 20, 2022 - December 15, 2022)
• August - The Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation (April 14, 2022 - July 19, 2022)
• July - The right use of God's Law (May 23, 2021 - April 13, 2022)
• June was justification by faith alone (February 14, 2021 - May 22, 2021)
• May, Christ Alone (September 3, 2020 - February 13, 2021)
• April, salvation by grace alone (March 6, 2019 - September 2, 2020)
• March, the sovereign providence of God (January 28, 2019 - March 5, 2019)  
• February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture (January 8, 2019 - January 27, 2019)
• January, the doctrine of God (December 16, 2018 - January 7, 2019). 

The Efficacy of the Sacraments

Signs and Seals of the Covenant of Grace - Sacraments are signs that point beyond themselves to something else and convey the promises of grace and God. The Sign and the Thing Signified - There remains an importance in participating in the sacraments. And in this participation a union or relation between the sign and the thing signified. Word and Sacrament Together - These acts or rites we observe are empty without the words of God bringing these acts into significance with what Christ has done on our behalf.

Baptism

The Institution of Baptism - Baptism is commanded in Scripture following conversion and it is to be instituted in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, but the method can be any form with water over the person. Baptism and Regeneration - Baptism has regenerated all who believe in Christ alone for salvation. Baptism and Forgiveness - People who have repented need to be baptized. It confirms their new birth to the visible church. Baptism and Union with Christ - Baptism gives us a sign but in being baptized there also occurs a mystery - union with Christ in his death and resurrection. Baptism and Circumcision - Both circumcision and baptism are signs of the new life we have with God in Christ -- having been set apart from all the world to Him. Baptism and Time - Is baptism a new covenant sacrament and regeneration the same today as it was with circumcision in the old covenant? The idea here is that since regeneration occurred separate from circumcision, then with baptism this is also so. Baptism and Children - Baptism can include children of a believing parent to provide evidence of the sign of regeneration for the entire family. One Baptism - We are united with Christ in baptism. Baptism presents a picture of unity and I believe as a command it can be more than once if the person sees a value in this.

The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper Commanded - The Lord's Supper has significance in light of the Passover. We are united with Christ and remember His Body and Blood Sacrifice. The Lord's Supper as Remembrance - The Passover remembered God saving the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The Lord's Supper remembers Jesus saving us all from eternal damnation because of our great rebellion to God. The Lord's Supper and Proclamation -  When I practice the Lord's Supper I am proclaiming Christ and what He has done for me in breaking His body and pouring out His blood to save me. The Lord's Supper and Feeding on Christ - Jesus is the Bread of Life. Like bread and wine (drink) I need to want him every moment of every day and I need Him to nourish me. The Lord's Supper and Examination - In coming to have the Lord's Supper, examine oneself, treat this meal as different from other meals and if there is a problem, don't partake of it till it is cleared up. The Lord's Supper and Fellowship - The Lord's Supper is an offering to the Lord of thanksgiving, peace, and fellowship whereby we partake of the body and blood of Christ in remembrance of his goodness and redeeming us.

The Preaching of God's Word

Preaching and the Preacher's Task - Sacraments must carry with them the study and preaching of God's Word. Confident in the Truth - Life will shift, will ebb and flow, grass will wither, flowers fade, but God's word remains and we remain confident in the truth of God. Law and Gospel - The Law shows us we are lost. Through faith we are saved or justified. Novelty in Preaching - There is novelty in preaching to encounter God's word and discover truths that we have not seen before. Our Highest Calling - We are to have a high value on our pastors and preachers who are our leaders in bringing the good news of the Gospel and God's word to the people.

The Power of the Gospel - Buck Parsons (editor of Tabletalk magazine, copastor of Saint Andrew's chapel in Sanford, FL) - The apostles, the church fathers, and others were forerunners to the Reformation that Luther helped usher in 1517. And yet Luther himself voiced in a sermon in 1522 that we preach, teach, and write, but we do not force, "for faith must come freely without compulsion." It is a reminder that it is the Holy Spirit who brought revival and reformation to people. 

The Trauma of Holiness - RC Sproul (founder of Ligonier Ministries, founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., and first president of Reformation Bible College) - This article begins with RC telling us about 19th century atheists like Sigmund Freud who tried to figure out why there is religion at all. It seems to be because people have fears. People that murder can be dealt with somewhat through advancements of technology as well as bargaining with people through peace treaties. But nature is a natural terror and how do you bargain with nature. Granted, science can help us anticipate hurricanes and get us ready but still it comes. And so Freud argued that humans personalized nature and made gods so they could try and negotiate with these gods through pleading, praying, making sacrifices, repenting before. And eventually humans consolidated all gods into one. It is possible there could be religion without God. And yet the God of the Bible inspires far greater trauma than nature. Uzzah was struck dead by God when trying to steady the ark (2 Samuel 6:1-10). Isaiah was undone by meeting the God of Israel. So why would we create a God of terror when our aim is to combat terror? Thus, why would man create a holy God? Thus the reformers saw that the only way to endure God's judgment was being covered in the holiness and righteousness of Christ. 

Why the Reformation Still Matters - Michael Reeves (President and Professor of Theology at Union School of Theology) - On October 31, 2017 Pope Francis said that after 500 years Protestants and Catholics can mend the fences and move beyond disagreements. And yet, still to this day there remains a difference in theology. The reason the reformation occurred was at the start of the 16th century Europeans had been without a bible they could read for 1000 years. Instead of a gift they were led to believe that one had to earn their salvation and it would be presumptuous for anyone to believe they knew for certain their eternal outcome. It was Martin Luther who had a similar angst wondering if he died if he was really going to heaven. He was terrified of death. Thus the reformation gave people the good news that God saves sinners by His grace. 500 years ago it was not simply a reaction to a problem of the day. Yet today we still succumb to the idea that to be loved, we need to be attractive. And our culture of positive thinking and personal self-esteem has wiped away a need for a sinner to be justified. But Luther states that sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive. We need to continue to hold scripture and the Gospel high for all to see. 

Luther and His Significance - Stephen J. Nichols (President of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries) - Prior to 1544, protestant churches in Germany had been converted Roman Catholic sanctuaries but the Castle Church in Torgau, Germany was possibly the first protestant church. At its dedication, Luther declared that the only reason for the church is that the Lord will speak to us through His word in this place. 27 years had passed since he posted his Ninety-Five Thesis and had taken a stand on being saved by grace through faith alone and yet this moment committed people to worship God. Luther had committed his life to God and at first this commitment was a struggle as he saw the sinner that he was. It was not simply recognizing that he had sinned but that his sins were so numerous so he had no chance before God to be declared righteous. But he didn't have to earn it as righteousness was imputed to him (Romans 4:3). Interesting, but once he discovered this and was about this, preaching became what he loved and he did it often. After establishing that church, he would die 2 years later. And yet the Light of God's word continues to shine forth. 

Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide - Guy Prentiss Waters (Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi) - Even before the reformation the Bible was seen as authoritative. The Reformation challenged the idea that other authorities in the church were seen as equivalent to Scripture: veneration of Mary and saints, purgatory. Calvin upheld creeds and councils of the church. He simply wanted to surrender these to Scripture. Justification by faith has been taught by Roman Catholic church but it is seen as a lifelong process rather than a point in time justification. Thus, grace is progressive throughout a person's life, even leading up to advancing more after they die in purgatory. Reformers taught that our justification is not based on our deeds, but what Jesus has done. This justification produces good works and not a license to sin. 

The Geography of the Reformation - Ryan Reeves (associate professor of historical theology and assistant dean of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) - The land of the reformation speaks to how our nations have embraced or rejected the Reformation. Germany was still the Holy Roman Empire in the 1500s. The emperor was elected by seven electors throughout Germany. It was the Habsburg dynasty that held title then and later to Napoleon. Luther went on trial at the Diet of Worms and yet Frederick, an elector believed his condemnation was not just and Luther was allowed to remain leader of the Lutheran church for 25 years rather than being executed. Nearby what we know as Switzerland today was Geneva, a city somewhat separate from rulers. The Netherlands was also separate from the influence of foreign rulers. A separation occurred with the North kind to Calvin and the South largely Roman Catholic. The biggest rival to Germany was France led by Francis I, a humanist initially kind to Calvin but later mocked him. England seemed least likely to embrace Protestantism if not for Henry VII taking the crown. He wanted to root out Protestantism, but he had conflict with the Roman Catholic church when he wanted to divorce his wife after her miscarriages and marry his brother's wife.  England's rival to the north was Scotland. Jon Know fled to Scotland but then had an adversary in Mary, Queen of Scots until she had to flee to England after the murder of her husband. Reform began and King James VI supported the English Bible translation that bears his name. Presbyterian was established in Scotland by Knox's death in 1572. 

The Women of the Reformation - Rebecca Vandoodewaard (mother and blogger and author of several books) - Interesting article that is a good reminder that while the men of the faith tend to get all of the notoriety because of their writings, there are women there supporting them, teaching children, and ministering as well to men that come to visit. In many ways, a man's vocation is singular while a woman's is much more multi-faceted and engaging in many different activities. Katharina Luther (1499-1552), wife of Martin Luther; Anna Bullinger (1504-1564), wife of Heinrich Bullinger (head of the church of Zurich);  queen Jeanne d' Albret (1528-1572); Katharina von Zimmern (1478-1547); Marguerite de Navarre (1492-1549); Katharina Zell (1497-1562); Charlotte de Mornay (1550-1606). 

Continuing the Reformation - W. Robert Godfrey (President and Professor of Westminster Seminary California) - We need to continually be about "reformed and always reforming." "We also agree with the Reformers that various traditions of the church, from ancient and medieval times, drifted away from the Word of God and therefore had to be reformed or corrected by the Bible." We do make changes in history of how the message of truth engages with culture. John Calvin believed in a state religion while others today believe in a separation. Remember, the great commission is the program for the church. Christ has authority always over the church. We are to preach, teach, and baptize. We are to preach all of Christ and His teachings. Jesus will always be us. 

The Examined Life - Rev. Jason Helopoulos (senior pastor of Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan) - We must always examine our ways and life. Socrates stated, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Our adversary distracts us with the cares of this world. It is okay to enjoy things, but don't let that enjoyment take over your life. "What am I living for?" "What is the final destination of my soul?" Death will impact everyone. May we examine the state of our soul. 

When Temptation Comes Knocking - Melissa R. Kruger (women's ministry coordinator at Uptown Church in Charlotte, NC) - I Corinthians 10:13 remains a great verse reminder about temptation. Today I want to focus on the phrase, "common to man" and how much my pride doesn't want to know this. Instead my pride wants to think that my experiences are unique, different from others, so that people will sympathize more when they hear my circumstance and also understand better when I give into sin. But the Spirit wants to show me that others have faced this and I can be like them and get out of the sin. The key is that in our temptation, Christ is there, and I can choose instead to walk in His ways. 

What Should I Do - Thomas Brewer (Managing editor of Tabletalk magazine) - We ask ourselves this question in many different forms a lot. God gives us freedom but we need to stay in His parameters even when it comes to eating, working, traveling, and living. Remember I Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Do the basics at the very least. 

Love the Church Over Its Health - Dr. Jonathan Leeman (editorial director of 9Marks; elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC) - As leaders and people in church we need to remember people are at church and they need our love. We need to not be so shut off towards people that disobey or do things in an unorthodox way, like allowing their unregenerate children to observe the Lord's Supper. This should mean to us that we need to do a better job educating them, but in the meantime people still need to be loved. We do this because of what Christ has done for us, not because of what they do. 

Daily Gifts - Nathan W. Bingham (vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries) - My oldest daughter is having a birthday. Birthday signs are overhead and she will receive gifts. Parents will experience this joy of seeing this from their kids. Gifts are free, but often we receive gifts with ingratitude, preferring something else or boasting, very proud that we have it. We often boast in life, over our achievements and yet scripture says, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (I Cor. 1:31)." The Christian life is a gift. Every breath is a gift. Prayer is a gift as well, giving thanks to God. This is the Christian's daily anthem. 

Why We Protest - R. Albert Mohler Jr. ((President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky) - 500 years ago, the Reformation affirmed that the Bible alone is the final, infallible authority for life and doctrine (Sola Scriptura). This gave reformers courage to separate from Rome. The inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of Scripture was under attack then and it continues today. After the Reformation came the Enlightenment period which dominated Europe (17th and early 18th centuries) with the claim that only scientific data (not scripture through special revelation) can be objectively understood, objectively defined, and objectively defended; it did not allow for special revelation or the possibility of supernatural intervention in history. The church in crisis, it continues. In the US, pragmatism voiced that truth is relative to the time, place, need, and person. Truth is a matter of social negotiation. Ideas are tools and their truthfulness determined whether it meets the particular needs of the time. And then postmodernism continues the assault on truth. Postmodernists are committed to total war on truth itself -- a deconstructionist project bent on the casting down of all religious, philosophical, political, and cultural authorities. But as Christians, we must return to the doctrine of revelation - having confidence in God's word in spite of the philosophical and theological problems of the age. God speaks. And He speaks to us in a way we can understand, revealing Himself. As such, the people of God remain in crisis; the war against the authority and truth of Scripture remains. Even in our evangelical institutions, the full truth of the Bible is challenged. For the Christian, the Reformer, the disciple, the Christ follower, scripture is the ultimate authority for life and doctrine. We must stay adhered to Scripture in our preaching. And so we protest - for Scripture to be rightly proclaimed, the church built up, and the message of the gospel reach to every corner of the earth. The health of the church is directly connected to the strength of our commitment to the authority and truthfulness of Scripture.

The Ninety-Five Theses - Martin Luther, October 31, 1517 - 1,2,3 - a life of repentance, not penance, inward, but also outward. 4,5,6,7 - Penalty of sin continues; the Pope cannot remit penalties or guilt, but pope can grant remission. God remits guilt. 8 - Penitential (penances) canons only on living. 9 - Holy spirit works through the Pope. 10,11,12. no Purgatory penances. 13,14,15 - The Dying freed from all penalties; imperfect love of dying brings fear. 16, 17, 18, 19 - Hell, Purgatory, Heaven differ; souls in purgatory; outside of ability to increase love or able to increase blessings; 20, 21, 22, 23 - Pope has limit to full remission of sins. Pope cannot free all. Pope remits not for those in purgatory. Remission only granted to most perfect (few). 24, 25, 26, 27 - People deceived to hear promise of release (by Pope) from penalty. No power over purgatory. Pope can only intercede. The soul can't be fly out of purgatory. 28 to 32 - Only power of God to intercede for church. no one can be sure of his own contrition. true repentant man is rare. those who think they are pardoned or sure of their salvation will be condemned eternally. 33, 34, 35, 36 - men must guard against thinking the pope reconciles people to God. only grace pope gives is sacramental pardons. every person must be truly repentant to be have full remission. 37, 38, 39, 40 - God grants benefits, not letters of pardon. 38 - Yet church remission and participation still needed by the pope; most educated it is difficult to grant pardons; true contrition seeks and loves penalties; 41, 42, 43, 44 - papal indulgences with caution; people should not think they are preferred; pope does not intend buying of pardons; better to give to poor or lend to needy; love works; 45, 46, 47, 48 - if see a man in need and passes him to give him money for pardon is an indignation; use money wisely, free will buying of pardons only not commandment; the pope needs prayer more than money; 49 to 54 - do not trust in pope's pardons; keep fearing God. no value in indulgence preachers; assurance of salvation by letter of pardon in vain; need to preach the Word of God not prefer preaching of pardons; 55 - the gospel is the greatest thing to be preached; 56, 57, and 58 - treasures of church, temporal treasure; grace inner, cross, death, hell for outward man; 59, 60 - St. Laurence treasure is church's poor; keys of church are that treasure; 61 to 66 pope power is sufficient for remission of penalties; most treasure is Holy Gospel of grace of God; makes first last; treasure of indulgences makes last first; so treasure gospel; fish for men; 67 to 72 - indulgences preachers cry are to promote gain; but actually smallest graces; admit papal pardons with reverence; pope's commission valued; don't preach against papal pardons; guard against lust/license of pardon preachers; 73 to 78 - harm to traffic pardons; madness to consider papal pardon of an impossible sin; pope does not remove venial sins; pope should focus on gospel. 79 to 89 - the work of the cross is greatest value; then mentions questions voiced that are voiced by the pope instead of gospel. 90 to 95 - Christians are to be diligent in following Christ, enter heaven through tribulation rather than false assurance of peace. 

Isaiah 52:7 - Our Highest Calling

Isaiah 52:7 - How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Message: Our Highest Calling

Time: Isaiah prophesied from 739–681 BC to a nation that had turned a deaf ear to the Lord. He wanted to see the nation of Judah return to serving God with humility and love for their neighbors. But he was called to pronounce judgments to on a people offering meaningless sacrifices in the Temple and committing injustices throughout the nation. It provides the most prophetic picture of Jesus in the entire Old Testament.

What the Lord is Saying: As I close out this month's issue, it has as usual taken me longer than expected. I haven't done a great job getting through the lessons these past 2 months. The first lessons on Baptism were engaging, but then I started reading daily from the Bible as well and the last two months have had some illness creep in and not been waking up in a timely manner to do stuff each day. After baptism were lesson's on the Lord's Supper, the other sacrament and then lessons on preaching or teaching God's word. 

Today's lesson is about the vocation of ordained pastors or ministers and how we think of them in our culture. I suppose I have always had a lot of respect for pastors. It is true that I wish the church took the bi-vocational role of pastor that the Mormon church takes rather than full-time pastors. I think there are many great people in our church body that could be the pastor as churches start focusing I think too great on rating churches based upon preaching and how good the sermon meets people's needs. I suppose I am similar in this way. We've now been at our church since November 2021 and we have yet to find a way to get plugged in. 

Pastors or priests in our culture are not viewed in high manner. I think of the show Young Sheldon we have watched recently. Mary, the mom, started out in the first almost 4 seasons involved in church and then got disengaged when she felt like the church was not welcoming her because her son got a girl pregnant. The culture portrays this but unfortunately rather accurately. But the pastor in that series was a person that was kind of not real bright and did not have a wife that was engaged in the church. It also showed a youth pastor that was possibly getting involved with Mary or tempted in that direction, giving the idea that authentic living is not a high standard. 

And yet we should have the highest respect for our preacher. What makes a preacher special is his calling to carry the message of the gospel to the Church. This is a significant vocation. In many ways he is our leader in carrying this message to God's people. And yet all of us has this mission. 

More recently I have been engaged in conversations with two pastors in Uganda and through my correspondence watching how they are involved in ministry to their body. It definitely goes beyond Sunday morning. They seem to be real active throughout the week in going to the people, to their homes, to their residence and having home group times with them. It is interesting to hear of their work. People are coming to faith in the process. I can't help but wonder how deep faith is in these interactions. But I am so impressed with their zeal and passion and commitment to God. 

And so today's verse is a fitting one: How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

This verse is a great anthem of the pastor and the high esteem and role we are to have towards him. And right now I am still of the opinion that this is a male vocation. 

Summary: We are to have a high value on our pastors and preachers who are our leaders in bringing the good news of the Gospel and God's word to the people. 

Promise: The highest calling that any of us will ever have is to be a witness to the gospel. Some of us are called to witness to the gospel full time as ordained preachers and teachers of God’s Word. Others of us will witness to the gospel in the course of fulfilling other vocations. Let us thank God for this high calling and ask Him to give us the courage to proclaim the gospel where He has put us.

Prayer: Thank you God for the high calling each of us has to proclaim the Gospel. Thank you for calling people to be your ambassadors for truth in sharing this with others through full-time ministry. Thank you for the missionaries as well as the pastors that are serving You. I appreciate those individuals I have had in my life. Help me to honor them more. Help us as the church to champion truth and not simply to show up to church with the hopes of entertaining our intellect but to be challenged and answer the call. I pray for me and my wife right now that we would seek to get involved in some way.