There are few topics that evoke as much widespread and intense emotion as that of a pastor falling into moral failure, especially adultery. The “man of God” stands as an under-shepherd over Jesus’ flock, who is the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-4). He is the primary representative of the church to the community. He is [...]
Written by Ben
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 08:00
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Wednesday, 28 December 2011 08:00
2 Comments
We now turn to our final essential of biblical worship, which is redemption-motivated. Worship is to be motivated by redemption, and here are some signs worship has redemption in its ministry…
Written by Ben
Tuesday, 27 December 2011 07:52
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Tuesday, 27 December 2011 07:52
2 Comments
A few years ago, the band Casting Crowns released an anthem that really gets to the heart of worship. It was called “Lifesong” and part of the lyrics said this: Empty hands held high, Such small sacrifice; If not joined with my life, I sing in vain tonight. May the words I say, And the [...]
Written by Ben
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 07:00
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Wednesday, 21 December 2011 07:00
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O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie; Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, The silent stars go by. Every year the city of Bethlehem plays center-stage again to the most wonderful story ever told. We read in Luke 2 that a census was being taken of the entire Roman Empire of [...]
Written by Ben
Tuesday, 20 December 2011 08:00
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Tuesday, 20 December 2011 08:00
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Worship is a multifaceted thing. As we continue our look at the essentials of biblical worship, another essential is that it is to be God-Glorifying in all it does. Worship is God-Glorifying when it…
Written by Ben
Monday, 19 December 2011 06:31
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Monday, 19 December 2011 06:31
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This week we continue the season of Advent by lighting the 4th candle, the candle of love. Our 2011 Advent theme is “How Long, O Lord?” and each week we’ll be looking at a passage of Scripture that focuses on the Second Coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. Our text this week comes from Revelation [...]
Written by Ben
Thursday, 15 December 2011 08:00
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Thursday, 15 December 2011 08:00
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We’ve looked at several essentials to biblical worship so far, but one that cannot be overlooked is that biblical worship must be self-humbling. Why is it crucial worship be filled with humility? First of all, humility is crucial because of our…
Written by Ben
Tuesday, 13 December 2011 11:38
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Tuesday, 13 December 2011 11:38
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This week we continue the season of Advent by lighting the 3rd candle, the pink candle of peace. Our 2011 Advent theme is “How Long, O Lord?” and each week we’ll be looking at a passage of Scripture that focuses on the Second Coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. Our text this week comes from [...]
Written by Ben
Monday, 12 December 2011 08:08
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Monday, 12 December 2011 08:08
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In my last article on “mind-provoking worship” I pointed you to Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37. Let me point you there again, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. Last time I focused on the mind. This time I want to [...]
Written by Ben
Thursday, 08 December 2011 11:26
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Thursday, 08 December 2011 11:26
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Today I want to look at the biblical worship essential of being Spirit-driven. In Acts 1 the apostles were commanded to wait and not proceed until prompted by the Spirit of God. The early leaders of the Church in Acts 6 were to be men “filled with the Holy Spirit.” The written revelation of God forming the canon was written by “holy men moved by the Holy Spirit.”…
Written by Ben
Tuesday, 06 December 2011 07:57
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Tuesday, 06 December 2011 07:57
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As we look at this essential to biblical worship, I want to use Jesus’ words from Matthew 22:37 as the basis. In Matthew 22:34-38, we see that the Pharisees are questioning Jesus, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus doesn’t hesitate in His answer, quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, “ ‘YOU SHALL [...]
Written by Ben
Monday, 05 December 2011 07:05
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Monday, 05 December 2011 07:05
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This week we continue the season of Advent by lighting the 2nd candle, the purple candle of peace. Our 2011 Advent theme is “How Long, O Lord?” and each week we’ll be looking at a passage of Scripture that focuses on the Second Coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. Our text this week comes from [...]
Written by Ben
Tuesday, 29 November 2011 08:00
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Tuesday, 29 November 2011 08:00
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It’s countercultural today to talk about sin. Let’s face it: the topic of sin is offensive. In fact, we were ministering in Canada in October through a dramatic presentation of the Roman Road, which of course includes Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. A mother of one [...]
Written by Ben
Monday, 28 November 2011 07:29
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Monday, 28 November 2011 07:29
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This week, we begin our season of Advent. “Advent” is from the Latin word for “coming” — translated from the Greek word parousia. Speaking of the second coming of Christ, we find parousia translated in the following passages: Matthew 24:3,27,37,39; 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1,8; James 5:7,8; 2 [...]
Written by Ben
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 10:53
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Wednesday, 23 November 2011 10:53
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In case you haven’t heard, God has a plan for your life. Have you wondered exactly what that is? Although the Bible doesn’t give us individual specifics for our lives other than His revealed will contained in the commandments, we can say one thing for sure: if you are in Christ, God’s ultimate plan for [...]
Written by Ben
Monday, 21 November 2011 08:29
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Monday, 21 November 2011 08:29
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Does it ever seem to you like the Kingdom of God is losing ground here on the earth? Does it appear that lostness is growing and sin is increasing? Does it feel like nation after nation is openly turning against God? Indeed, the situation does look bleak from our perspective, but I pray that you [...]
Written by Ben
Friday, 11 November 2011 07:30
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Friday, 11 November 2011 07:30
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Biblical worship is Christ-centered. The person of Jesus Christ and God the Father’s work through Jesus Christ is to be focus of our worship because it’s only through Jesus that we have redemption. Peter preached this truth by the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 4:8-12: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said [...]
Written by Ben
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 11:40
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Wednesday, 09 November 2011 11:40
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Worship is an essential part of our relationship with God. In fact, we are created, chosen, called, and commanded to worship God. Perhaps you are familiar with the Westminster Shorter Catechism. In it, the writers ask, “What is the chief end of man?” And they answer, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to [...]
Written by Ben
Tuesday, 08 November 2011 17:15
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Tuesday, 08 November 2011 17:15
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Canada Trip 2011 from Ben Simpson on Vimeo. From October 22-28, a team of nine short-term missionaries from West Main Baptist Church joined four churches from Texas to come alongside the Johnsons, who are NAMB missionaries to Saskatchewan, Canada. We pray this video will share just a glimpse of all the joy we had in [...]
Written by Ben
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 08:00
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Wednesday, 12 October 2011 08:00
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There’s a lot of talk in the church world about being “left behind.” There have been books, both fictional and nonfictional, written on the subject. Add to them the movies, the computer games, the sermons, and the articles, and you’ve got a topic that people like to think, talk, and hear about. Preachers especially love [...]
Written by Ben
Monday, 10 October 2011 16:51
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Monday, 10 October 2011 16:51
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In my last post, I declared according to scriptural principle that even though nobody was saved through our evangelistic efforts last week, we were still successful in God’s eyes because we were faithful to do everything that He has called us to do. In this article, I want to answer the question: am I satisfied [...]
Written by Ben
Monday, 10 October 2011 16:16
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Monday, 10 October 2011 16:16
2 Comments
Last week, West Main Baptist and the other churches in the Alexandria/Dowelltown/Liberty cluster of the Salem Baptist Association came together for an evangelistic rally. We had it in the open air grandstands of our fairground, giving it that old tent revival feel. Our expressed goal was to preach the gospel so that people would turn [...]
Written by Ben
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 13:53
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Tuesday, 27 September 2011 13:53
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How would you like to ruin the devil’s day? Want to see him with shoulders drooped, face all scrunched up in a frown of disappointment, and sitting on a bench pouting? That sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Okay then, here’s the game plan: rejoice in your suffering. No seriously. God has ordained suffering for your life [...]