church

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News from across the pond.

Just two news stories from Britain that I thought you’d be interested in.

Sony confirms that Muslims can expect better treatment than Christians. Because one group will kill you and the other won’t.

Happy-clappy songs are judged to have ruined Britain. Think “Shine, Jesus, Shine.”

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Sermon of the week: “Jesus Declares His Deity” by Don Green.

We continue our month long series on the deity of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity with Don Green’s sermon Jesus Declares His Deity. If you did not hear last Wednesday’s sermon of the week by Don Green I highly encourage you to check it out here. It was entitled John 1:1 and the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

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Quotes (437)

voddie-baucham Our children are not falling away [from the Christian faith] because the church is doing a poor job—although that is undoubtedly a factor. Our children are falling away because we are asking the church to do what God designed the family to accomplish. Discipleship and multi-generational faithfulness begins and ends at home. At best, the church is to play a supporting role as it “equips the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12 ESV).

– Voddie Baucham

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1 Sabbath, 3 wolves in sheep’s clothing, and 4 golden calves.

I was not entirely surprised to see Tony Campolo, Brian McLaren, and Rick Warren in support of a ecumenical movement but I was a little surprised to see such CCM golden calves as Natalia Grant, Michael W. Smith, Switchfoot’s lead singer Jon Foreman, and Third Day’s lead singer Mac Powell also lending their support toward this. It seems that every time I turn around another CCM artist reveals how little they believe in the exclusivity of the Gospel.

The One Campaign with the backing of these influential professing Christians has teamed up with three other religions that deny that Jesus is Lord and deny that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Whether you’re a Christian, Jew, Muslim, or Hindu, or of no faith at all, you too can put eternal truths aside to participate in making this world a “better place.”

For more information and examination of this surge toward the blending of all faiths, see A Little Leaven’s post on One Sabbath here, and Slice of Laodicea’s post on it here.

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
“I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.
“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;   And I will welcome you.
“And I will be a father to you,  And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

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Quotes (436)

tedd-tripp Any student of the Old Testament knows that God was concerned about Israel’s susceptibility to influence from the people of Canaan. He commanded Israel to drive the nations out, to show no mercy. God knew that if the people of Canaan lived alongside Israel, they would go astray. Like Old Testament Israel, you too, are subject to the powerful influence of your culture. Like Israel, you must reject things in the culture that are abhorrent to Jehovah your God.

– Tedd Tripp

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Planned Parenthood caught again.

When Planned Parenthood isn’t issuing abortion gift certificates, producing offensive propaganda films, continuing in their founder’s racial cleansing ideals, advancing black genocide, and doing what they do best (practicing fetal-terrorism in the wombs of thousands of women every day), they skirt the law and attempt to hide child rape in order to make one more sale (and this isn’t the first time they’ve been busted). They always say it’s “about the woman” but it’s really about the dollar.

Source: Washington Times

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Who’s pastoring the youth pastors?

youth-group

Christian Lady published an eye-opening piece on Youth Specialties: Free Resources, Tips and Ideas.

Although there’s much wrong with these tips and ideas, it’s what’s missing that’s most disturbing.  Allow me to quote the original poster’s thoughts on this as she stated her concerns more eloquently than I could have:

I read through the 100 ideas for Youth Workers on the Youth Specialties web page and noticed words/terms/names not used at all in the list.

Missing are:  God, Bible, Christ, Salvation, Sin, Faith, Death, Hell, Devotion(s), Jesus, Holy Spirit, Believe, Repent, Prayer

Not Missing:  Church, Adult, MTV, Rolling Stone, Frisbee, Football, Surveys, Space, Phone Chain, Goals, Worship, Retreats

I’ve posted fifteen of their one hundred tips and ideas below for your examination. Visit their website to view them all.

Tip #2

Subscribe to a popular magazine like Rolling Stone or Teen that will help keep you on top of the current youth culture.

Tip #4

Use surveys and questionnaires to their best advantage. Find out what your young people are thinking on a regular basis.

Tip #10

Don’t meet in a room that is too big for your youth group. If your group is small, meet in a small room. This gives kids the feeling of being “packed” in. Always make sure your meeting place is casual and comfortable.

Tip #11

Have the young people in your group put together a “youth group yearbook” at the end of the year. It should include photos and articles about the past year’s activities. It will be a positive reminder of the good times shared by the group.

Tip #22

Develop programs that reflect the needs, interests and energy level of the young people in your group, not the adults who work with them.

Tip #25

Plan some early morning or late night activities. There will be few conflicts and the kids will enjoy the adventure.

Tip #39

Familiarize yourself with the music your students listen to. MTV’s weekly top videos countdown and some weekly radio programs will help you stay current. Periodically discuss the music with your kids in a positive way.

Tip #44

Put together a “skit closet” full of costumes, old clothes, and props for your drama productions or even last-minute illustrations. Ask people in the church to donate ridiculous looking clothing and other items. Your local thrift shop is a great resource, too.

Tip #59

Never use religious jargon and worn-out cliches. Say what you mean in words today’s youth can understand.

Tip #60

Build self-esteem in your students by affirming them both when they are alone and when they are with their peers. Over time make it a point to say something positive to each one.

Tip #73

Keep a supply of games and recreational items in the trunk of your car at all times. You never can tell when you’ll need a football, a Frisbee, or a few water balloons.

Tip #75

Always serve refreshments at meetings and activities. It’s a relatively easy thing to do and kids love it. It also keeps them around a little longer for personal contact.

Tip #84

Videotape the “big game” this year at your local high school and show it after the game on a wide-screen TV. Invite the whole school.

Tip #93

Use TV to your advantage. Tape and discuss good programs. Discuss and evaluate the programs that are most popular with your youth.

Tip #97

Put on a drama once a year. It gives more kids a chance to use their talents and be in the limelight.

Besides the idea and concept of a “youth pastor” being completely absent from the Scriptures, and besides the fact that too often the “youth pastor” has never raised kids of his own, knows too little about theology and too much about MTV, and in spite of the incredible failure rate of “youth pastors” (the false conversions abound), it still seems that “youth pastors” are all the rage in Laodicea. I wonder why that is . . .

To quote Paul Washer on the subject:

“What are most youth groups like? You get a real personable young leader who’s usually not married and a lot of mousse in his hair. And then he gets a lot of young people around him, and what do they become? According to Proverbs they become companions of fools. When you put young people with young people in this atmosphere of adolescence you have no growth to adulthood, you have no maturity, no elders are involved, no parents are involved. It can’t work because it’s not Biblical.”

For a related sermon on the problem with “youth pastors/leaders” see Voddie Baucham’s The Centrality of the Home.



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Sermon of the week: “John 1:1 and the Jehovah’s Witnesses” by Don Green.

DefCon will be examining the deity of Jesus Christ throughout the month of December. Each sermon of the week will feature the next installment of this five-part series by Don Green.

We start off with part one today with the sermon entitled John 1:1 and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is a superb journey into the doctrine of Christ’s deity beginning with John 1:1. Don Green also takes this opportunity to tackle the heretical teaching of the Jehovah’s Witnesses where they twist this verse. This is a theology lesson you don’t want to miss.

With the precision of a skilled surgeon, Don Green, cuts into the lies of the Jehovah’s Witnesses with four points that systematically proves that their rendering of John 1:1 as “a god” is not only impossible, it’s not even debatable.

This is a fantastic sermon on the defense of John 1:1 that everyone should hear. Sadly the one’s that need to hear it the most (those who deny the deity of Jesus Christ like Jehovah’s Witnesses) will probably never take the time to listen to it. However, if there are any Jehovah’s Witnesses out there who are brave enough to listen to this sermon I challenge you to do so. And if (after listening to it) you wish to discuss it, you are more than welcome to do so and we will be more than happy to correspond with you.


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Charismania unrestrained: Africa’s witch children.

This is one of the most disturbing and heart-wrenching documentaries I’ve ever seen. This shocking six-part video depicts what I view as simply the Word of Faith heresy taken to its logical conclusion (and perpetuated in the fertile soil of pagan superstition) in a land where no laws exist to protect children. You can’t help but be moved to tears by the human wreckage left in the wake of Pentecostalism’s sweep across Nigeria as children are starved, tortured, beaten, and killed because some “prophet” or “prophetess” labels them a witch. Stepping Stones (the only known organization helping these children) said the following on their website:

“Stepping Stones Nigeria does not wish to denounce any faith organisation. However the role of the church, especially some of the new Pentecostals, in spreading the belief in child witches cannot be underestimated. There are numerous so-called pastors in the region who are wrongly branding children as ‘witches’ mainly for economic self gain and personal recognition.”

This is a documentary that you must see, but be warned, it contains some graphic and disturbing images and material.

I’ve posted my own title/description preceding each video.

One:

The false prophet’s gold wrist watch (seen at 4:44 in the video) reveals his true intentions

Two:

Inside the churches of the ravenous wolves

Three:

Meeting Mary; the five-year old rejected by a whole village

Four:

Helen Ukpabio identified as the lead false prophetess

Five:

Helen Ukpabio’s true self comes out

Six:

A child’s heart-wrenching anguish of abandonment

Also see DefCon’s related posts:

The Hell-bound false prophetess Helen Ukpabio of Liberty Gospel Church in Liberia

and

Church Planting in Liberia, West Africa

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Give the gift of murder this Christmas.

pp-gift-certificate Just when you thought it couldn’t get any lower or more wicked than the fetal bites cookie cutter.

From the fetal terrorist organization Planned Parenthood who brought you The Negroe Project, genocidal racism, and propaganda cartoons reminiscent of Nazi Germany, now comes their latest head-dive into evil.

Just like King Herod, now you too can give the gift of murder this Christmas. Planned Parenthood is offering Christmas gift certificates that can be used for abortions. Check out the news video by clicking here.

murder-gift-card

HT: Jill Stanek, WorldNetDaily, and Slice of Laodica