Jim Osman: The Danger of Demon Slayers and Deliverance Ministries

This is from the 2024 Cessationist Conference:  

An Investigation on the "Revival" Happening in Universities

In this video, Todd Friel shares some troubling findings regarding the so-called revivals that have been happening in various universities. 

Ken Ham on What God was Doing Before Creation

Michael Staton: How the Doctrine of Cessationism Impacts the Church

This is from the 2024 Cessationist Conference: 

  

Okay Patrick...

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Enjoy this classic video from Lutheran Satire.

Hard to believe it has been 12 years since this video came out and it is still funny as the day it came out. 

Conrad Mbewe: The Cessation of the Gift of the Apostle

This is from the 2024 Cessationist Conference: 

 

Importance of Public Worship

But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commands of men (Matthew 15:9, LSB).

Public worship, I am bold to say, has always been one mark of God's servants. As a general rule, man is a social being and does not like to live separate from his fellows. In every age God has made use of that mighty principle and has taught His people to worship Him publicly as well as privately, together as well as alone. I believe the last day will show that wherever God has had a people, He has always had a congregation. His servants, however few in number, have always assembled themselves together, and approached their heavenly Father in company. 

They have been taught to do it for many wise reasons, partly to bear a public testimony to the world; partly to strengthen, cheer, help, encourage, and comfort one another; and above all, to train and prepare them for the general assembly in heaven. "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" (Prov. 27:17). That man can know little of human nature, who does not know that to see others doing and professing the same things that we do in religion, is an immense help and encouragement to our souls.

 You see it throughout the whole New Testament. The Lord Jesus Himself gives a special promise of His presence wherever two or three are assembled in His name. The apostles, in every church they founded, made the duty of assembling together a first principle in their list of duties. Their universal rule was "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Heb. 10:25). These are ancient things, I know, but it is well to be reminded of them. 

Just as you may lay it down as a certainty that where there is no private prayer, there is no grace in a man's heart, so you may lay it down as the highest probability that where there is no public worship, there is no church of God, and no profession of Christianity.

Adapted from Our Great Redeemer: 365 Days with J. C. Ryle

Q&A Panel Discussion at the 2024 Cessationist Conference

Brad Klassen: The Prerequisites of Bible Study

MacArthur on the Origin of Evil

Philosophers struggle to explain the origin of evil. One thing is certain: God is not its author, creator, or efficient cause. Everything He created was good. Evil was no part of His creation. Who then created evil? No one. Evil is neither substance, being, spirit, nor matter. It is not a created thing. It is simply a want of moral perfection in moral agents who were originally created sinless. Evil has no existence apart from fallen creatures.

God, although absolutely sovereign over all things, is not the author or instigator of sin. He did not concoct sin, encourage it, sanction it, condone it, approve it, or otherwise countenance it. But He created moral agents with a capacity to make moral choices, and they fell (in Calvin’s words) by their own evil intention.

Although sin is no part of creation, neither is it something that sneaked in and caught God by surprise. Sin was not something that thwarted the plan of God; rather, it was part of God’s plan from the beginning. He had a good purpose in allowing it, but still He was neither the instigator nor the author of His creatures’ evil deeds. Rather, He made them moral agents and gave them freedom to act, and they fell into sin by their own choice.

Evolution offers no explanation for the human dilemma, much less any solution to it. Why is human existence fraught with so many moral and spiritual problems? Evolution will never be able to answer that question. In fact, pure naturalistic evolution cannot account for anything that is moral or spiritual.

Scripture says we were made in the image of God but are fallen creatures, born with an inclination to sin. We inherited our sinfulness from Adam. When he sinned, he plunged the whole race into a helplessly fallen state of bondage to evil. That, in a nutshell, is the doctrine known as “original sin.”

Evidence of the sinfulness of our race is all around us. It is published in the daily newspapers, it is shown to us on the evening news, and it is writ large in human history. No one in all our acquaintance is sin-free. Most of all, if we’re honest with ourselves, some of the most persuasive proofs of our hopeless depravity are presented to us by our own consciences.

Adapted from The Battle for the Beginning: The Bible on Creation and the Fall of Adam by John MacArthur

Jellyfish Christianity

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires (2 Timothy 4:3).

The consequences of this widespread dislike to doctrine are very serious in the present day. Whether we like to allow it or not, it is an epidemic which is doing great harm. It produces what I must venture to call, if I may coin the phrase, a jellyfish Christianity in the churches. A Christianity without bone, or muscle, or sinew, without any distinct teaching about the atonement, or the work of the Spirit, or justification, or the way of peace with God—a vague, foggy, misty Christianity, of which the only watchwords seem to be," You must be liberal and kind. You must condemn no man's doctrinal views. You must think everybody is right, and nobody is wrong."

A jellyfish, as everyone knows who has been much by the seaside, is a pretty and graceful object when it floats in the sea, contracting and expanding like a little, delicate, transparent umbrella. Yet the same jellyfish, when cast on the shore, is a mere helpless lump, without capacity for movement, self-defense, or self-preservation. Alas! It is a vivid type of much of the religion of this day, of which the leading principle is, No dogma, no distinct tenets, no positive doctrine." We have hundreds of jellyfish clergymen who seem not to have a single bone in their body of divinity. They have no definite opinions. They belong to no school or party. They are so afraid of "extreme" views that they have no views at all. We have thousands of jellyfish sermons preached every year, sermons without an edge or a point. They are as smooth as billiard balls, awakening no sinner, and edifying no saint.

They are tossed to and fro, like children, by every wind of doctrine! They are often carried away by any new excitement and sensational movement. They are ever ready for new things, because they have no firm grasp on the old Scripture truths! 

Adapted from Our Great Redeemer: 365 Days with J. C. Ryle

John MacArthur, RC Sproul, and NT Wright: The Doctrine of Justification

This video made by Bill Roach looks into what N.T. Wright believes about the doctrine of justification with a response from R.C. Sproul and John MacArthur:

Book Review: Delighting in the Old Testament by Jason S. Derouchie

 

The Old Testament makes up 75% of the Bible, yet there are many Christians who want nothing to do with it. Sure, they might read the Psalms and Proverbs, but they ignore the other 37 books. We have some pastors who say Christians need to unhitch themselves from the Old Testament because they are not Christian Scriptures.

How are Christians supposed to view the Old Testament? Are those books relevant for today? The answer to this is yes. Jason S. Derouchie has written a book for anyone who is wrestling with the Old Testament especially those who do not want to interact with it. The title of the book is Delighting in the Old Testament.

The book begins with expressing the importance of the Old Testament which one of them, as mentioned earlier, it is 75% of the Bible. That is 3/4 of the Scriptures yet it is the most ignored. Another reason is that the Old Testament is what Jesus read. Every quote of Scripture Jesus used in the Gospels are from the Old Testament. One other reason I want to point out is we meet the same God. No, the God of the Old Testament and New Testament are not different beings. God is the same in both testaments.

The meat of the book is divided into four parts. The first deals with Jesus helping Christians interpret the Old Testament. Derouchie looks at audience and comprehension of the audience from both perspectives of the New and Old Testaments before showing that Christ is the lens for interpreting the Old Testament.

Next, Derouchie addresses the entire Bible is about Jesus not just the New Testament. Yes, the Old Testament is about Him. Genesis 3:15 is the first Messianic prophecy. Jesus even taught the two men on the road to Emmaus beginning with Moses how the Scriptures point to Him.

Derouchie continues with Jesus fulfilling the promises made in the Old Testament. He helps see those promises and how they were fulfilled. Finally, Derouchie deals how Jesus made the law of Moses matter for Christians today. Granted, the civil and ceremonial laws do not apply for those under the New Covenant, the moral law still matters. We have to be careful when it comes to the Old Testament law because we know Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirements of it otherwise, we would have no hope. I do not think Derouchie was communicating that Christians need to keep all of the law, but we still need to make sure that this does not form into legalism.

The book concludes with Derouchie sharing with his readers tips on delighting in the Old Testament. One of them is interpret the Old Testament with care as we would with the New Testament. Another is read the Old Testament through the light and lens of Christ. While Christ may not be pointed in every verse of the Old Testament, we must look at it through what Christ has done. Of course, there are many other tips that Derouchie gave his readers, but you get the idea that the Old Testament is something Christians cannot ignore not matter how hard you try.

This book is for the laymen who has never read the Old Testament and will help you see its importance. This book is also for the pastor and church leader who wants to ignore the Old Testament because it's out of date. This book is also for the seasoned believer who needs to be reminded of why the Old Testament matters. Even if you do not agree with Derouchie's conclusions, you will find this book very insightful.

I received this book from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

Mike Riccardi: The Work of the Holy Spirit Today

  This message is from the 2024 Cessationist Conference: 

Scott Aniol: The Cessation of the Gift of Tongues

 This message is from the 2024 Cessationist Conference:

The Old Testament Points Us to Christ

Christ is the sum and substance of the Old Testament. To Him the earliest promises pointed in the days of Adam, and Enoch, and Noah, and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. To Him every sacrifice pointed in the ceremonial worship appointed at Mount Sinai. Of Him every high priest was a type, and every part of the tabernacle was a shadow, and every judge and deliverer of Israel was a figure. He was the prophet like unto Moses, whom the Lord God promised to send, and the King of the house of David, who came to be David’s Lord as well as son. He was the Son of the virgin, and the Lamb, foretold by Isaiah – the righteous Branch mentioned by Jeremiah – the true Shepherd, foreseen by Ezekiel – the Messenger of the Covenant, promised by Malachi – and the Messiah, who, according to Daniel, was to be cut off, though not for Himself. The further we read in the volume of the Old Testament, the clearer do we find the testimony about Christ. The light, which the inspired writers enjoyed in ancient days, was at best, but dim compared to that of the Gospel. But the coming Person they all saw afar off, and on whom they all fixed their eyes, was one and the same. The Spirit, which was in them, testified of Christ (1 Peter 1:11). 

Adapted from Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of John by J.C. Ryle

Josh Buice: The Gift of Prophecy and Why the Church Should Cease to Use the ‘God Told Me’ Language

 This message is from the 2024 Cessationism Conference:

Book Review: A Biblical Theology of Climate Change by Virgil Walker and Darrell B Harrison

Climate change is one of the hottest issues in the world today. It is being discussed in the classroom, the office, our homes, and even in our churches. There is no escape from this topic. Seems like everything going on in the world is blamed on climate change as if it was the scapegoat of the 21st century.

How are Christians supposed to engage the culture regarding this issue? What does the church need to know to think biblically on climate change? Virgil Walker and Darrell Harrison have written a book to help Christians grasp a biblical worldview on climate change titled, A Biblical Theology of Climate Change.

This book begins with an understanding of what climate change is all about. Walker and Harrison dive into exposing climate change not just a worldview but as a religion for many. They also teach on being good stewards in caring for creation. Christians are not called to worship creation, which includes the planet Earth, but to care for all of creation.

Walker and Harrison dive into some historical theology and see what men in the history of the church have said regarding creation. They also address how Christians need to reclaim a biblical view regarding science. Many times, Christians look at science as anti-God. Yes, men have used sciences to discredit God, but if we look at science biblically, we can see it as a means of common grace to see it as a way of identifying God's work in creation.

Walker and Harrison look at the pagan influences into climate change and how Christians can respond. What our authors challenge their readers is for Christians to return to a biblical worldview regarding creation and reject all of these pagan influences because they are no benefit including the worship of mother earth.

 

Walker and Harrison explore what is called Net Zero. To be honest, I never heard of term but have heard the concept behind it. Net Zero is "the idea of human activity must balance all carbon emissions, effectively eliminating any carbon footprint, by offsetting emissions through various means, such as carbon capture technologies, renewable energy, and reforestation." As our authors say, this does sound like a noble task, but when you really dig down deep into this discussion. it is another attempt by sinful man to play God and use technology and political power in attempt to control the climate of the world. 

There is so much to unpack in this book that my little review will not do it justice. This book comes with discussion guides for individual and group studies. There is even a guide for family devotions and homeschool studies. This issue is not going away anytime soon, and Christians need to be aware and equipped on how to engage our culture biblically.

I highly recommend every pastor, elder, deacon, Sunday School teacher, student, layman, and yes, parent, to get this book and read it. It is not lengthy, but it does contain a lot of information you need to know.

I received this book from G3 Press in exchange for an honest review.

Brad Klassen: The Bible is Complete

Justin Peters: The Cessation of the Gift of Healing

 This is from the 2024 Cessationist Conference: