An Open Letter to Christian Parents of Unbelieving Adult Children

by Jason Helopoulos • May 26, 2015

"What about our son?" "What about our daughter?" As a pastor there are conversations that I routinely have with parishioners...What is a Christian parent of an unbelieving adult child to do? I usually offer three pastoral encouragements.

"What about our son?" "What about our daughter?" As a pastor there are conversations that I routinely have with parishioners. One of the regular exchanges I have had over the years begins with a Christian parent or both parents approaching with downcast gazes. The discouragement, and at times even despair, are apparent in their eyes. The opening words are either, "Pastor, would you pray for our child?," or "Pastor, what advice would you give to us for child?" They then proceed to explain that their adult child has wandered from the faith.

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Jesus a Lawbreaker? - Part Two

Posted 5/26/15 by Donald Barnhouse
As Christians we must understand that a fighting spirit is not the spirit of Christ. A man who says, “I’m drawing the lines here, and it’s got to be this way,” has not understood the spirit of Christ. That is what the Pharisees were doing when they said, “You can’t take wheat on the Sabbath Day.” “Who says so?” “We’ve made our rules.” “Well, the Bible says you can.” “Yes, but you still can’t. It goes against our tradition.” The Holy Spirit says nothing of the kind.
 
Theme: Rumblings of Opposition
 
SCRIPTURE
Mark 2:23-27
 
One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.

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Making God’s Word Plain is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Making God’s Word Plain and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 42

As we examine the Twelve Disciples of Jesus, we now begin to view the second group of four. Following Philip, Nathanael and Matthew is Thomas. How are followers of Jesus today like Thomas? Let’s begin by looking at some facts regarding the disciple Thomas, who is also known as the Doubter. 
 
As we examine the Twelve Disciples of Jesus, we now begin to view the second group of four. Following Philip, Nathanael and Matthew is Thomas. How are followers of Jesus today like Thomas? Let’s begin by looking at some facts regarding the disciple Thomas, who is also known as the Doubter. 
 
What do we know about Thomas? One of the first things we think about when we hear of Thomas was that he was a doubter. However, he is so much more than that. 
The Apostle John in his gospel gives us the only information about Thomas.

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The King on a Cross - Part Five

By James Boice

Theme: The suffering Savior.
This weeks lessons teach us the personal significance of Christ’s sacrifice.

SCRIPTURE
Matthew 27:41-44

All the gospels tell about Jesus' crucifixion. It is the chief point of their narratives. But each has its own emphasis, and the mocking of Jesus seems to be the dominant note in Matthew. There are thirteen verses in the paragraphs we are studying, but five of them are about the taunts the passersby and the leaders had for Jesus. The last verse even adds that the robbers “also heaped insults on him” (v. 44).

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Jesus a Lawbreaker? - Part One

Posted 5/25/15 by Donald Barnhouse
But Jesus’ words did not dissuade His enemies. Having mounted the battle, the religious leaders were determined to see it through to the end. This became evident when, on another occasion, Jesus and His disciples were accused of violating the Sabbath by picking grain from a field and eating it (2:23-27). Jesus used this challenge to state His identity and His claims even more plainly.
 
Theme: Rumblings of Opposition
 
SCRIPTURE
Mark 2:23-27
 
One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Making God’s Word Plain is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Making God’s Word Plain and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 41

As we examine the Twelve Disciples of Jesus, we now begin to view the second group of four. Following Philip, Nathanael and Matthew is Thomas. How are followers of Jesus today like Thomas? Let’s begin by looking at some facts regarding the disciple Thomas, who is also known as the Doubter. 
 
As we examine the Twelve Disciples of Jesus, we now begin to view the second group of four. Following Philip, Nathanael and Matthew is Thomas. How are followers of Jesus today like Thomas? Let’s begin by looking at some facts regarding the disciple Thomas, who is also known as the Doubter. 
 
What do we know about Thomas? One of the first things we think about when we hear of Thomas was that he was a doubter. However, he is so much more than that. 
The Apostle John in his gospel gives us the only information about Thomas.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

The King on a Cross - Part Four

By James Boice

Theme: The suffering Savior.
This weeks lessons teach us the personal significance of Christ’s sacrifice.

SCRIPTURE
Matthew 27:43

He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

That is the straightforward account. But this is where we have to stop and go back over it in our minds imagination, remembering that this is what Jesus did for us. We can hardly imagine it, and the gospel writers do not describe it in detail, as I have said. But perhaps we can think of a lacerated body bleeding from head to foot, his form so marred that he is hardly recognizable, even to his friends. No representation of Jesus' crucifixion that I have ever seen, even by the greatest of artists, does justice to this horror. They are all too clean, too sterile. This was bloody and vulgar, ugly and repulsive. Yet this was the Son of God! Think of that and try to understand something of the horror of your sin and of the grace, love, mercy, and compassion of our God.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

"I Love Your Love but I Hate Your Tolerance"

Posted on Friday, May 22, 2015 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

What we can learn from Thyatira. Thya-who?

One thing that really stands out to me while I am reading through the letters to the churches in Revelation is the danger of majoring on one good cause. We can be doing so well in one area, but if we are neglecting another, we are still culpable for our sin. Jesus’ words of judgment and call to repentance are severe. 
And it is interesting how similar the battles our churches face today are to the first century churches addressed in Revelation. We tend to capitalize on one virtue at the neglect of another.

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Some Thoughts on Limited Atonement and Polemics

by Cody Dolinsek • May 22, 2015
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Some Thoughts on Limited Atonement and Polemics
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It is always important before attacking an opponent’s position to ascertain what is being defended.  Having answered this question, it is important to ask oneself whether what one’s opponent is defending is something one would defend oneself.  If we can decide that our opponents in any given area of controversy defend some positions related to the controversy that we too would gladly defend, it will give us greater appreciation for our opponent’s position and greater humility in defending our own. 

It is always important before attacking an opponent’s position to ascertain what is being defended.  Having answered this question, it is important to ask oneself whether what one’s opponent is defending is something one would defend oneself.  If we can decide that our opponents in any given area of controversy defend some positions related to the controversy that we too would gladly defend, it will give us greater appreciation for our opponent’s position and greater humility in defending our own. 

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The King on a Cross - Part Three

By James Boice

Theme: The suffering Savior.
This weeks lessons teach us the personal significance of Christ’s sacrifice.

SCRIPTURE
Matthew 27:35-43

Yesterday we looked at the first of six details Matthew gives about Jesus’ crucifixion. Today we’ll look at the remaining five.

2. Gambling for Christ’s clothes (v. 35). Each of the gospels reports how the soldiers divided Christ’s clothing, though John alone explains that the gambling was actually only for Christ’s seamless outer robe, John is also the only one who says specifically that this was to fulfill Psalm 22:18, which says, “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing” (see John 19:24).

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

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