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Spurgeon on belief…

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Related to camp, where day one focused on repentance and day two on belief, I thought it would be helpful to let Spurgeon weigh in. I was reading his sermon An Appeal To Sinners, in preparation for Sunday’s sermon from Luke 15 this morning and came across the following…

Is there is an infidel here who says he shall be well enough off if he shall die the death of annihilation and shall not live in a future world? Well, my Friend, suppose all men die like dogs, I shall be as well off as you are and I think a little better off, even as to happiness and peace in this world. But if—(and mark you I do not put it so because I doubt it)—if it is true that there is a world to come, I would not like to stand in your place in the next world! If it is so that there is a judgment seat and a Hell—(I put it hypothetically, not because I have a doubt about it, but because you tell me you doubt it though I do not think you really do)—if there is such a place, what will you do then?

Why, even now you shake if a leaf falls in the night. You are terrified if the cholera is in the street. You are alarmed if you are a little sick and you rush to the physician and anyone can impose upon you with his medicines, because you are afraid of death. What will you do in the swellings of Jordan, when death gets hold on you? If a little pain frightens you now, what will you do when your body shall shake and your knees shall knock together before your Maker? What will you do, my Hearer when His burning eyes shall eat into your very soul? What will you do, when amid ten thousand thunders, He shall say, “Depart, depart”?

I cannot tell you what you will do. But I will tell you one thing that you dare not do. That is, you dare not say that I have not as simply as ever I could tried to preach the Gospel to the very chief of sinners. Hear it again— “He that believes on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved.” To believe is to trust in Christ—to drop into those blessed arms that can catch the heaviest laden sinner that ever breathed. To believe is to fall flat on the promise—to let Him do all for you until He has quickened you and enabled you to work out what He has before worked in you, “your own salvation.” And even this must be “with fear and trembling.”

The bold part is my emphasis and helpful language to employ when we talk of conversion.

Camp, Day 2

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We had another great day at camp today.

Our morning began with Celebration. Neil opened up God’s Word to Nehemiah 8:1-11 and urged us to greatly rejoice in God’s Word. He spoke of how Christianity is not a feeling we strive to maintain, but a reality we were created to enjoy. Then he gave this simple outline: 1) most of the difficult things in life require more joy than discipline and 2) the Bible has more confidence in joy than you do. He ended by directing us to Hebrews 12:1-2 and how Jesus lived out of joy.

Our afternoon service project was a good success. We got 3 rooms completed and 2 more to finish tomorrow. We also moved some things for the organization we get to serve.

Tonight, worship helped with theme of the day — enter. Neil’s message was on the Fruit of Conversion from Acts 16:16-34. There were 4 points:
1) Consistency
2) Endurance
3) Worship
4) Conversion

Was a great day and we anticipate more from the Lord tomorrow.

Camp – Day 1

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Well, we arrived safely around Noon. We grabbed some lunch and got registered, then, after orientation, got ready for the evening.

Evening worship included Billy and Cindy Foote leading music from their latest EP Wonder Working One (where you can read my review under customer reviews). Their exact set began with Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Sing to the King, Knees Are Bowing, Set Free, You Are My King, Nothing But the Blood, All Praise To God, and How Great Is Our God.

Neil McClendon came and preached on “The Patient God That Crushes People” from Luke 20:9-18. His outline revealed 4 things out of the text about God…
1) God is Patient
2) God Speaks
3) God is Just
4) God is Direct
I was struck by application to use this week to listen to all that God has ordained to show me. He is patiently calling me to Himself. I need to avail myself to this grace.

We finished the day with church group time. We had a great day. Everyone’s doing well and we look forward to a busy day tomorrow, serving so that God is glorified.

Camp Is Near!

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Tomorrow, Monday, July 20, we leave for Student Life Missions Camp.

Our Camp Pastor is Neil McClendon.
Music will be led by Billy & Cindy Foote.

You can visit the Student Life website, to listen into worship services, check up on camp happenings, email members of our group and countless other activities. (If you go to check us out, we are at a Missions Camp, July 20-24, 2009 at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK.)

Or use this direct link.

Gospel-Centered Life

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Over on Timmy Brister’s blog, he linked to the latest Small Group resource from World Harvest Mission entitled The Gospel Centered Life by Bob Thune and Will Walker. Through July 31, 2009, they are sending out a free preview copy of this curriculum for those who sign up for their newsletter. It would be well worth you time to check it out.

Here’s a summary of the contents:

The Gospel-Centered Life is a nine lesson small group study intended to help participants understand how the gospel shapes every aspect of life. Each lesson is self-contained, featuring clear teaching from scripture, and requires no extra work outside of the group setting.

Designed for:

* Pastors and leaders who want to spur Gospel renewal in their churches and ministries.
* Church-planters who want to form Gospel DNA in the churches they start.
* Students and campus ministers who are looking to live out the Gospel on campus.
* Christians who want to be more deeply formed around the Gospel.
* Small group leaders who are looking for content that “works” with diverse groups of people.
* Missionaries who are looking for simple material to disciple new Christians.