Fall has arrived, bringing with it both cooler temperatures and excellent opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship at Christ Church. Remember, the Church is God's idea. He ordained and established it for the spiritual nurture, protection, discipline, and maturity of his flock. Active membership in a local church, therefore, is not only a profound blessing, it is a...
Keep ReadingSunday, September 4, 2016: AMLuke 22:1-6 Pastor Jon described the context of this passage as being the most important week in biblical history. Why is this week of Jesus' ministry so important? What was the Passover? What was its significance? Why did the religious leaders want to put Jesus to death? How should this be a warning to us regarding religious leaders? What...
Keep ReadingLast Sunday we celebrated God's steadfast love and faithfulness as Christ Church became a fully constituted and official congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America. In other words, we moved from church plant status to a particular church with duly elected and installed elders and pastors. Christ Church Presbyterian has been officially planted. Soli Deo Gloria! So ...
Keep Reading"When are you going to plant a church in Charleston?" The question came to me out of the blue in January 2012 from a good friend and fellow PCA minister from Greenville, Rev. Dr. Richard Phillips. He knew that Marla and I had a heart for Charleston, and that with the explosive population growth in the lowcountry there was no better time than the present to plant a new chur...
Keep ReadingSunday, August 21, 2016: AMLuke 21:20-38 Why did God let Jerusalem be destroyed? How was the destruction of Jerusalem a preview?Pastor Jon taught that we are supposed to be living as if we are ready. What did he mean? How can we do this?How does Jesus' teaching in this text help us "get a grip on reality" as Pastor Jon said?What did Jesus mean in vs. 28 that "your redempt...
Keep ReadingSunday, August 14, 2016: AMLuke 21:5-19 Why does the glory of this world never truly satisfy?Why were the disciples impressed by the temple? Why was Jesus not impressed?How was the temple designed by God to be temporary?Why was the destruction of the temple significant? What was this destruction foreshadowing?How should Christ's command in vs. 9 be comforting to us today?...
Keep ReadingSunday, August 7, 2016: AMLuke 20:45-21:4 How does Jesus confront the hypocrisy of the Scribes?What kind of false appearances are people giving today? How do false appearances or hypocrisy stunt fellowship with God and with fellow believers?Why does Jesus warn his disciples? How should pastors warn their flocks today?How is Jesus different from the religious elite of his ...
Keep ReadingThe Fruit of Praying Together Prayer is both a privilege and duty for Christian believers. It is a privilege because Christ purchased our redemption with his very own blood. Through His blood we are justified and have been given glorious access to the throne of grace (Rom. 5:1-2; Heb. 4:14-16). The hymn-writer expressed it well: "What a privilege to carry, everything to G...
Keep ReadingSunday, July 31, 2016: AMLuke 20:41-44 Why does Jesus pose this "riddle"?What is Jesus proving by quoting Psalm 110?Who are the two "Lords" that David is speaking of in Psalm 110?What is the significance of David's Lord sitting at God's right hand? Sunday, July 31, 2016: PM1 Peter 1:1 What does it mean that we are justified in Christ?How is an oak tree a good illustrati...
Keep ReadingSunday, July 24, 2016: AMLuke 20:27-40 What is the context of this narrative?Why did the Sadducees ask this question? What were they trying to prove?What do we learn about the resurrection from Jesus' response? What was wrong with the Sadducees' assumptions?Who are those that are "worthy to attain" the resurrection? What does it mean that they are "sons of God"?How does t...
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