Posted by Pastor Pat on March 29, 2009
Read Mark 2:13-17
This is the rub. How can we be “in the world” but not “of the world” (John 17)? What are we protecting? We must protect the purity of the gospel without isolating it from the purpose of the gospel.
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 27, 2009
Read Mark 1:40-45
As I work through Mark’s Gospel and the life of Jesus Christ, I have been challenged to become more aggressive in emphasizing the role of the local church in mercy ministries. It appears unfortunate but we fail to hold in tension evangelism of soul and ministries of “healing.” We must become the cup of cold water to the thirsty, we must become fathers to the fatherless, and we must become a shelter to the homeless. How do we come alongside those who are buckling under the weight of life? To have the mind of Christ without His hands or feet is restrictive and one dimensional. We must maintain the gospel, we must engage our culture, and we must build His church. None of these three items are capable of being neglected.
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 25, 2009
There are certain vocations that expose the practitioner to those who suffer and are in pain. All those within the medical profession encounter people in ill-health and chronic pain. Those in the ministry of the church are likewise regularly faced with those who suffer either emotionally and/or physically. Everyone inside those professions must wrestle with the nature of suffering and pain.
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 23, 2009
You would think with the ease in which the word “heresy” is used an understanding of it would be apparent. Unfortunately, such is not the case. The word is used carelessly of those who do not conform to another person’s position.
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 21, 2009
Read Mark 1:14-15
All of Scripture points to this singular idea: God reigns over all He creates. There is no area, anywhere, at anytime that does not fall under His reign. Although this reign shows itself in various ways, there can be no question that He reigns. Often we are found struggling against the idea that God’s kingdom is present. Our Lord offered a simple prayer to guide His disciples in prayer, “Our Father who is in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth even as it is done in heaven.” Such a request suggests that there is a kingdom that is yet future. If future, then it cannot be present. This thinking, however, diminishes the “already-not yet” theology of the New Testament.
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 19, 2009
Read Mark 1:12-13
“Calvin: Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 11, 2009
Read Mark 1:9-11
There is no greater statement in all of Scripture than the approval by the Father of the Son. The Father identifies Him as His beloved Son in whom He is pleased. All three gospels note this statement. The grammatical structure is equally telling as to the nature of this event. One grammarian gives us the following statement:
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 8, 2009
(1) Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. (2) Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. (3) Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. (4) Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. (5) Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. (6) Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 150)
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 7, 2009
Resurrection truth is a deep and settling expression of God’s richest grace. In the absence of such truth our own selfish desires and appetites would consume us. Life would cease having sunrises of hope
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 6, 2009
“How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 5, 2009
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they *were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books that *would be written.” (John 21:25)
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Posted by Pastor Pat on
I would like to begin this short study on noting the relationship of the cross to the Lenten season. Like most things surrounding us, familiarity causes them to lose their significance. We become so accustomed to all things “Christian” that we fail to see beyond the shadow and believe the thing it represents is the shadow itself. It is like the plastic fruit sitting comfortably in the middle of the dining room table. What the plastic fruit represents is real fruit, but the illusion exists to make those who see it for the first time to think it is real. The cross in our “Christian” culture is like plastic fruit. It exists only to represent. In many ways, we have allowed the cross to collect dust as it sits comfortably in the middle of our lives; to become familiar, and in its familiarity, our view of it diminishes and we rob it of its intrinsic value. Albert Mohler captures this idea in his thoughts on, “The Foolishness of the Cross.”
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 4, 2009
The historical intent of Lent is to place the modern reader into the storyline of the Bible. If we consider the biblical storyline and three corresponding “holy-days,” it is perhaps easier to understand why Lent is notable. First, the season of Advent celebrates the foretold and pre-figured Hero’s arrival. In Advent, God’s Hero arrives. Second, the season of Lent celebrates the foretold and pre-figured Hero’s work. It is not simply the Hero’s arrival that fulfills the promise; it is His work. Lent notes the Hero’s work by marking Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Finally, the season of Pentecost celebrates the expansive and continuing legacy that His church is left with as a consequence of the Hero’s work. Pentecost marks the certainty of God’s promise and story in the carrying out of His mission in and through the church.
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 3, 2009
(Advent, Lent, Pentecost)
Why Does Waukesha Bible Church
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Posted by Pastor Pat on March 1, 2009
What is the role of the Christian, the local church, and the pastor as it relates to issues of morality, legislation and the government? Do we have a role? Do we have a voice? Is there a responsibility laid on us by God toward those who would perpetuate evil?
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