The Evangelists

The View From Oz - Time For A Blogging Sabbatical

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:08:00 +0000

I'm taking the time off from the blog. Every so often I feel like a blogging sabbatical and that time has arrived once more.

Unlike others, for whom blogging is their ministry, I've always viewed it as a sideline in my own ministry and not therefore a high priority activity. For me the pulpit is always preeminent.

So there will be little or nothing on the blog between now and the end of October. I take my annual ministry vacation in October and we will be spending time in South Oz's state capital, Adelaide. It will be our first Aussie city break and we are looking forward to it. I'm a city person at heart and I suspect I will enjoy browsing in Adelaide's wealth of bookshops. Although it may be difficult to convince my three year old son that an hour in a bookshop is better than continually playing in one the city's parks. Some creative parenting may be called for.

This is, as I say our first city break, but in future years we plan to visit all the other state capitals. I'm particularly looking forward to visiting Melbourne and the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, better known out here as the MCG, and often simply as the G. And I've always wanted to see what must be the world's most famous harbour, Sydney of course.

Anyway,

Catch You Later (much later than normal)

PS if you are subscribed to this blog, stay subscribed. The blog will be back in November. And if you haven't subscribed. Well what are you waiting for? You know you want to.

Faith Cometh By Hearing

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:43:00 +0000

I'm continuing to listen to Mike Barrett's survey of Exodus. It is a helpful survey. I plan to listen next week to some messages that were preached at a conference in Edinburgh. Various speakers assess the expository preaching ministries of John Calvin, Martyn LLoyd-Jones, and John Bunyan. Should be interesting.

Anyhow I will have the requisite links for you next week.

Incidentally if anyone comes across some good preaching which is freely available on the net, let me know about it. I don't guarantee that I will feature it (I don't mention everything I listen to, because it's not always good, sometimes it does not even rise to the level of mediocre) but I will give it a listen and may link to it here at the site.

The Week In Webland (2) - Website Review

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:28:00 +0000

Pray The Bible
Promoting, encouraging, and assisting biblical prayer.

An online edition of Matthew Henry's Method of Prayer
edited and revised by Ligon Duncan with William McMillan

This is a website with a noble aim. It seeks to encourage believers to pray more biblically. It seeks to meet this objective by providing the reader with an online edition of Matthew Henry's classic book 'A Method for Prayer'.

Henry's book is divided up into many bite size chunks. This enables the reader to study and apply the work at his own pace and I suspect makes the site a helpful addition to a Christian's daily devotional life.

The site is attractively presented and easy to navigate. A range of bible versions are made available and switching translation is a simple, straightforward procedure. I encountered no annoying technical difficulties in using the resources.

This is a site that will benefit all Christians in their prayer life. It may also prove useful to pastors who struggle in the area of public prayer. Public extemporaneous prayer can often become the weekly ritual rehash of the same prayer. The signal for the congregation to quietly switch off for ten minutes. Henry may help deliver us from that ministerial problem.

Warmly recommended.

www.matthewhenry.org

The Week In Webland (1)

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:51:00 +0000

Is The Reformation Over? by R.C. Sproul
According to Dr Sproul, no it isn't. And he's right. Good article.

What Baptists Can Learn From Calvin by Timothy George.
Quite a bit is the answer, according to this article.

First casualties on the Home Front - dogs and cats
This is another quirky story from the ever interesting Times archive blog. A wonderful resource for history buffs.

The Kind of Preaching We Need by Wybren Oord
words of advice to young men entering into the Ministry of the Word concerning preaching the Word.

Israeli archaeologists find ancient fortification
Fascinating.

The world's 5 most over-rated tourist sites
The Giant's Causeway isn't included in this list but it should be. I agree with Samuel Johnson on it's value. When asked by James Boswell "Is not the Giant's-Causeway worth seeing?" Samuel Johnson replied "Worth seeing, yes; but not worth going to see."

Speaker's Corner : Canticles: Communion with Christ? by Mark Jones

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:07:00 +0000

Interpretation of Canticles or “The Song of Songs” in the last fifty years has predominately favored the view that the book reflects the love between a man and his wife, and not, in the first instance, the intimate relationship a believer has with Christ. Many in the (Reformed) church today seem to talk so little about the enjoyment of sweet communion with the risen Savior who “dwells in our hearts by faith”. They can speak about the ordo-historia issue all night long, but they are decidedly silent on Christian experience; indeed, they may even be embarrased to speak of their relationship with Christ in the manner we read of in the Song of Songs.

Interpreting Canticles along the lines of a believer’s communion with Christ is not, of course, peculiar to the Early Church or to the Puritans. In fact, the Reformation theologian, Theodore Beza wrote a fine exposition of the Song of Solomon, which contains not only many important Christological insights, but glimpses into the nature of our communion with the Lord.

In the seventeenth century Canticles was often translated and sung to various Psalter tunes. One anonymous work is titled: The Song of Solomon, called The song of songs. Translated into English meeter, and fitted to be sung with any of the common tunes of the psalms. Besides that, we have Henry Ainsworth’s Solomon’s Song of songs In English metre, which could also be sung in church. Wouldn’t that be interesting? When was the last time you were in a church that sang the Song of Songs?

Beza’s work on Canticles is titled: Master Bezaes Sermons upon the first three chapters of the Canticle of Canticles (wherein are discussed the chiefest points of religion). This really is a fine work on Christology. Beza argues that the Song is to be taken in a Spiritual sense and not to be taken as a marriage song between Solomon and Pharaoh’s daughter, as some have insisted (1 Kings 11 condemns this marriage). Rather, this is a most excellent psalm touching on the spiritual bond between Christ and his Church (Genesis 2 & Eph. 5). For Beza, the Song speaks of betrothing (engagement) and marriage that refers to Christ in his infirmities (betrothal) and Christ in his glory (marriage).

Incidentally, one of the best sermon series I have ever heard was on the Song of Songs; the series was preached by a South African preacher who understood it in much the same way as Beza, James Durham, John Owen, Samuel Petto, Thomas Brightman, John Cotton, Edward Leigh, Richard Sibbes, Matthew Henry and Johannes Cocceius (to name a few).

For your information, the Westminster Assembly condemned those who understood the Song of Songs as “a hot carnal pamphlet formed by some loose Apollo or Cupid”. Moreover, John Wesley found the literal reading repulsive. And, after reading Longman’s commentary on the Song of Songs, I felt like it was a complete waste of time. Indeed, some of his own interpretations seemed to me to be far more “allegorical” than the stuff I’ve read from Beza and the Puritans!

If Canticles does describe the communion that a believer ought to have with his Savior, then I suspect that not a few of us will be exposed for having such a dry and boring relationship with the one who is “chief among ten thousand!”

The Reader's Digest (2) - A Rant About E-Book Readers In Australia.

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:39:00 +0000

I like Australia. The people are friendly. The food is good. The weather is excellent. The beaches are great. And the mission field and opportunities for serving the Lord are immense. But, and you knew that a but was coming, E-book readers.

There are two main E-book readers that are dominating the market right now Amazon's Kindle and Sony's E-book reader. Now if you are a technology Philistine and don't know what an E-book reader, read on and I will explain what they are, and why the situation in Oz with regards to them irritates me. An e-book reader is a wireless reading device on which you can store and read books , newspapers, magazines, even blogs. The material can be uploaded from a computer or delivered wirelessly. They are sleek and lightweight, and I'm told that books are delivered in less than sixty seconds. For a bookworm like me, who has no sentimental attachment to the printed page, they are just a beautiful piece of equipment.

What about the price. The price is coming down rapidly as America and most of the rest of the world are starting to say goodbye to the printed page and hello to the wonderful world of reading in the future. A Kindle can be bought for US$299 and Sony have a range of readers starting from as little as US$199. Sounds good. Not if you live in Australia.

The Kindle. Not available. Admittedly it's not available anywhere outside of the US. So fair enough. Although why Amazon aren't getting their act together baffles me. Word is Kindles are selling like hotcakes in the States so I don't understand what the problem is.

Sony E-book readers. Not available. Just ridiculous. Sony's Aussie site - not a word about them. Never heard of them I suppose. Now what on earth is going on ? Amazon I can understand but Sony? I like Sony. If I buy a piece of electronic equipment I choose them. Even though they are usually more expensive. They are a quality firm. They are not internet cowboys, they are the Mercedes Benz of the electronics world. Come on guys, get your act together. Get the E-book readers into Australia.

So what is available in Australia. The iLiad and the Cybook. Yep that's right, unknowns in the Ebook world. While the Kindle and Sony are the Real Madrid and Manchester United of E-book readers we have got Raith Rovers and Leyton Orient. Trouble is that while Sony and Kindle are competitively priced the iLiad will cost you Au$1299 and Cybook which is more affordable but still overpriced at Au$599. Frankly no-one should pay that sort of money for two pieces of kit with unknown pedigree.

Like I said it's irritating.

The Reader's Digest (1) - What I've Read This Week

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:25:00 +0000

As promised last week here is what I think of "The Supremacy of God in Preaching" by John Piper. This book was described by J.I. Packer as ' A powerful tonic for preachers - a book that digs deep into the theology, strategy, and spirituality of pulpit ministry.' I'm not sure I would go that far in praising this volume but it is worth your while especially if you are a message preparer.

In Part One of the book Piper sets out his case for God to be supreme in preaching. He argues that the goal of preaching is the Glory of God; the ground of preaching is the Cross of Christ; and that the gift of preaching is the power of the Holy Spirit. He rounds off part one by speaking of the gravity and gladness of preaching. In the main I agreed with his arguments and this part of the book was helpful if not exceptional.

In Part Two of the book Piper shows us how to make God supreme in preaching. He does this by illustration. He outlines Jonathan Edwards ministry and demonstrates how Edwards made God supreme in his preaching ministry. Piper, as is well known, has had a lifelong obsession with Edwards life and ministry. Not surprisingly then, this part of the book is really very good. My soul was warmed and my heart challenged by what I read concerning Edwards. The book is worth reading for Part Two alone. Recommended.

The View From Oz - Let Me Tell You A Story About A Man Called Narcissus.

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:53:00 +0000

Narcissus in Greek mythology was a hero from the territory of Thespiae in Boeotia who was renowned for his beauty. In the various stories he is exceptionally cruel, in that he disdains those who love him. As divine punishment he falls in love with a reflection in a pool, not realizing it was his own, and perishes there, not being able to leave the beauty of his own reflection.

Fast forward to the 21st century and narcissists spend hours gazing at their own reflections in the beguiling and entrancing pools of Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. The most banal details of life are announced and adored in the most preposterous displays of self-love. Every meal becomes a feast. Every thought is conveyed as if it was the pronouncement of the oracle. Every family event is featured as a high society function.

Friends are disdained in favor of followers and conversations are conducted at a distance. Personal interaction is replaced by the cold deadening hand of technology. Evangelism becomes a virtual world pastime not an ongoing real world passion.

In the quest for social media popularity standards are lowered as sinful activities are linked to, and thus consciously or unconsciously condoned. Bible standards are forgotten as the social media giant rejoices in the additional number of like-minded budding narcissists who join his ranks. And so it goes on. Until we get to the ending and like all good Greek tragedies this tale ends in disaster. Remember that the next time you are about to post something to the social media site of choice. I know I will.

So one question before you leave this post (and some of you already have in a burst of narcissistic indignation). Do you use social media for the glory of God? or are you just staring into the pond to see your own reflection ?

Faith Cometh By Hearing - A Survey Of Exodus By Dr Michael Barrett

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:40:00 +0000

Mike Barrett is an OT scholar and a well regarded Christian author. This is a profitable survey of the book of Exodus. For those of you who foolishly believe that the OT is just an extended and largely irrelevant introduction to the main business of the New Testament I especially recommend this series.

Survey of Exodus

The Week In Webland

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:06:00 +0000

What is the role of the Pastor's wife Part One
This looks like being an interesting set of posts on a neglected subject.

Quitting Facebook
Why some are quitting the internet's social media giant. Personally I've never been on Facebook and don't intend to join.

Franco's Last Victims Search For Solace
Franco is one of the Roman church's shameful little secrets. As the history books show they enthusiastically supported the monstrous Generalissimo Franco.

Dead Sea On Seven Wonders Shortlist
Never been there but it's on my to see list.

John Murray "The Work Of The Minister Of The Gospel"
Good stuff.

Next week on the Week in Webland, along with the usual links, I hope to start reviewing some websites that may be of interest and profit to readers. So keep subscribing. You know you want to.

Speaker's Corner - Sin And The Change Conversion Brings By Joseph Alleine

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:50:00 +0000

from "An Alarm to the Unconverted" by Joseph Alleine

When a man is converted, he is forever at enmity with sin; yes, with all sin—but most of all with his own sins—and especially with his bosom sin. Sin is now the object of his indignation. His sin swells his sorrows. It is sin which pierces him and wounds him; he feels it like a thorn in his side, like a splinter in his eye. He groans and struggles under it, and not formally—but feelingly cries out, 'O wretched man!' He is not impatient of any burden—so much as of his sin. If God should give him his choice, he would choose any affliction so he might be rid of sin; he feels it like the
cutting gravel in his shoes, pricking and paining him as he goes.

Before conversion he had light thoughts of sin. He cherished it in his bosom, as Uriah his lamb; he nourished it up, and it grew up together with him; it did eat, as it were, of his own plate, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him as a sweet daughter. But when God opens his eyes by conversion, he throws it away with abhorrence, as a man would a loathsome toad, which in the dark he had hugged fast in his bosom—and thought it had been some pretty and harmless pet.

When a man is savingly changed, he is deeply convinced not only of the danger but the defilement of sin; and O, how earnest is he with God to be purified! He loathes himself for his sins. He runs to Christ, and casts himself into the fountain set open for him and for uncleanness. If he falls into sin, what a stir is there to get all clean again! He has no rest until he flees to the Word, and washes and rubs and rinses in the infinite fountain, laboring to cleanse himself from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit.

The Reader's Digest (3) - What I've Read This Week

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:13:00 +0000

The two books and one booklet I finished reading this week were Shakespeare by Bill Bryson, Should Christians Drink by Peter Masters, and The Power Of Prayer Meetings by Peter Masters.

Bryson's book on Shakespeare is a delight. I borrowed it from the local library and I didn't regret the time I spent on it. Bryson cuts through the speculation that surrounds the Bard and presents the facts (not an awful lot of them) of Shakespeare's life. In the past few years I've read a number of books on Shakespeare and this in its own way is a valuable edition to the literally thousands of books that have been written on arguably our greatest ever secular writer. Bryson is particularly good (and very amusing) in dismantling the conspiract theorists who postulate the absurd and utterly factless proposition that Shakespeare didn't write Shakepeare. If you like Shakespeare you will enjoy Bryson's book. Unreservedly recommended.

Masters book on the question Should Christians Drink (he's talking about alcohol, not coffee, by the way. If he was we would have obviously have to condemn him) is a well written argument in favour of Total Abstinence. Your enjoyment of the book will probably depend on what side of the debate you are on. But I think regardless of where you stand on the subject, you will find Master's book stimulating. His booklet The Power of Prayer Meetings should be a little less controversial and is a simple but effective appeal for Christians to return to the practice of corporate prayer. I'm a strong believer in Christians meeting together for public prayer on a regular basis and I think Masters is on the side of the angels in this volume.If you can get the booklet but more importantly if your church has a weekly prayer meeting, start attending it.

The Reader's Digest (2) - Books I've Recently Acquired

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:45:00 +0000

As someone who doesn't have extensive financial resources (another huge understatement) and thus is not able to drop a note to the various Christian publishers and tell them to send me their latest offerings and add it to my account, I'm always pleased to get my hands on new books. So on a semi-regular basis I will let you know which books I've recently acquired.

But before we go any further unlike a lot of others I'm not a book collector. I love reading books but once read, most books I'm very happy to either sell (and buy more books with the proceeds) or trade in for other books. Also it concerns me little whether I read a book in print or off a computer screen. What is important to me is the content of the book not the format it is presented in. So I will let you know which e-books I'm downloading as well as the print volumes.. Of course I hope in the future to get my hands on an e-book reader but I will be saying more about that next week and particularly I will be commenting on the ridiculous situation in Australia with regards to the pricing and availability of e-book readers. So look out for my first book rant next week.

Anyway, what books have I picked up recently.

Well a good friend in WA sent me a parcel of books and booklets. They included two booklets and one book by Peter Masters : What you should know about your Conscience; The Power of Prayer Meetings; Should Christians Drink? The Case For Total Abstinence. Also included was Punishment By Death : A Defense Of Capital Punishment by George Cheever. Cheever, a 19th century Congregational pastor, is a new author to me, and I will read his book with interest.

Also I managed to get my John MacArthur Cd Rom to function correctly. It's The MacArthur LifeWorks Library and its got a heap of good books on it. Most of MacArthur's non-commentary books, a few of his commentaries, a pile of study workbooks on Bible books, his study bible, and various other assorted goodies are included. As you can tell I'm, rather pleased with the disk. One doesn't have to agree with MacArthur on every issue to benefit from his expository ministry.

Finally I'm downloading to disk from the net The Complete Works Of Thomas Manton in 23 Volumes. Manton is a magnificent writer and with his work freely available on the web it is almost criminal not to make use of it.

The Reader's Digest (1) - What I'm Reading Right Now

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:36:00 +0000

Continuing to make progress with Thomas Manton's Commentary on James. It's not a volume to be skimmed or raced through, rather it's a deeply thoughtful and spiritual work to be savoured. Hence I'm taking my time and more often than not just reading Manton's explanation and observations on a verse or two.

A much smaller book is The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper. This is the book that JI Packer described as "A powerful tonic for tired preachers - a book that digs deep into the theology, strategy, and spirituality of pulpit ministry." Next week I will let you know what I think of Piper's book.

The View From Oz - A Word About Australia, Sport, And Spreading the Gospel

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:26:00 +0000

A few years ago I heard it said (in jest I think) that while 'the end of the world' would be a big story it obviously would not be bigger than Premiership football . Sport in the UK is a big part of life. In fact until recently I would have said that the UK was possibly the most sport obsessed nation on earth. But that ended when I stepped off the plane and started to live in Australia.

To say that Aussies like their sport is really a huge understatement. The media at least is obsessed by the subject. Here in South Australia, Aussie Rules Football, or 'footy' as the natives call it is the big sport, and more often than not one or other of the two main Adelaide sides will feature on the front page of the main Adelaide newspaper. Yes, I said front page. They also dominate the back pages and often a special pull out section. In fact most times you pick up the paper you won't go too many pages without a reference to or story about one of the teams. Very often the footy news is the news.

So much for the newpapers but television is much the same. Both Adelaide sides matches are all screened live on free TV. In fact from Friday night thru to Sunday night there is generally at least five live games that the footy fan can watch. All free. During the week one of the main evening news broadcasts is divided up between 15-20 minutes of news followed by 15-20 minutes of sport news. In fact I often get the impression that the actual news stories are just the prelude to the main news of what's happening in the world of rugby league, footy, and cricket .

Now before I go any further let me make a confession. I like my sport and always have done. I enjoyed watching England regain the Ashes ,and I would like to see Adelaide win the AFL this year. But and this is the important point sport isn't my god. It is something I enjoy watching in moderation but not something I live for. If watching sport became something more than a leisure pursuit it would be time to use the off button. In the final analysis it is only a game and the Christian's priority must always be to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

But what about the spreading the gospel in a society where sport is more of a religion than a leisure pursuit.I suppose we could preach on the evils of sport idolatry but I doubt anyone will be listening. No, I think we do the Lord a greater service when we talk to people about what they are interested in (and I'm talking here about personal conversation not preaching) and get from there to the gospel. It's not easy but then witnessing to unbelievers never is.

Faith Cometh By Hearing

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:29:00 +0000

I listened this week to the 2008 Expositor's Conference which was hosted by Dr Steven Lawson. The subject was preaching the gospel and the speakers were Steven Lawson and Ligon Duncan. The messages were helpful and challenging. Particularly I enjoyed the Q&A with Ligon Duncan, which contained a memorable example of how to direct a conversation with an unbeliever around to the gospel.

Expositor's Conference 2008

Also I've been listening to the Christ the Center podcasts. This is one of the best, if not the best regular discussion of reformed theology on the web. And strangely the music at the top of the show doesn't irritate me, unlike most other Christian talk shows.

Christ The Center

The Week In Webland

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:07:00 +0000

Medjugorje - a shrine to the Virgin Mary or a sham ? by Eamonn McCann
An interesting and amusing article from Eammon McCann (no friend of Biblical Christianity by the way) on the ongoing antics at Medjugorje. This particular shrine reveals the ongoing internal politics of the Roman church. These internal spats having been going in form or another for literally centuries. Fascinating.

Affirming Divine Sovereignty by RC Sproul
Short and simple.

'Magnificent Roman Mansion' uncovered in City of David
In recent years I've sometimes thought that if I wasn't a minister and had my choice of any other profession then I would probably like to be an archaeologist. Hence the link.

Candidly Speaking : Evangelicals: an appreciation.
An appreciation of evangelicals written by a Jew for the Jerusalem Post. Interesting.

Clothing Tips For Ministers by Don Whitney
Common sense. An often rare commodity.

Supreme Court: Catholic abuse documents can't stay sealed.
Rome's ongoing unsavoury troubles.

Why Newt Gingrich Converted To Catholicism.
Is this the new religious Newt (a man who was famously uninterested in spiritual matters). I don't think so. This has more to do with Newt going for the White House than going to the Pope for spiritual comfort. The last few lines of the article reveal the real Gingrich. "And before Mass one July Sunday, Gingrich took a seat near the aisle and bowed his head. But he wasn't praying. Instead, the famously voracious reader was sneaking in a few pages of a novel until the service began" Enough said.

Speaker's Corner : Attendance at Public Worship by D W B Somerset

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:34:00 +0000

One of the effects of conversion is a new desire for the public worship of God. In regeneration, the Holy Spirit joins the soul to Christ, and through Christ the soul is united to all other believers, as members of the same body. The soul now finds itself drawn to the place where prayer is 'wont to be made' – where 'two or three' are gathered together in Christ’s name, where Christ himself is in the midst of them (Matt. 18:20). 'I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord' (Psa. 122:1). The child of God loves the habitation of his house and the place where his honour dwelleth (Psa. 26:8). The public worship of God is better to him now than all else besides: 'A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness' (Psa. 84:10).

This desire for public worship continues with the people of God all their lives, to a greater or lesser extent. Sometimes they feel it strongly, especially on the Sabbath day, when they see the ungodliness and Sabbath-breaking all around them, and the world lying 'in wickedness'. The house of God becomes a place of refuge to them. When David fled from Saul it was to Nob, the city of priests and the place of the shewbread and the ephod, that he went (1 Sam. 21:1,4,8). 'In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me' (Psa. 27:5). Their souls long for Christ and for the company of his people as a bird seeks to flee to her mountain (Psa. 11:1). They are glad, in the place of worship, to see even one or two others who fear the Lord and who think upon his name (Mal. 3:16). Their fellow believers may be of little consequence in the eyes of the world, but they are God’s jewels, sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, and they bring the savour of heaven with them. 'They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word' (Psa. 119:74).

Another time when the desire for public worship may be strong with God's people is when they are deprived of it by providence – whether through persecution, or ill-health, or on account of their lawful calling, or because of the place where their lot is cast. David in the wilderness longed for the worship of God: 'As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?' (Psa. 42:1-2). When John was banished 'to the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ,' he was 'in the Spirit on the Lord’s day' (Rev. 1:9-10).

It is a bad sign, therefore, when people are losing their desire for the public worship of God, and when they readily find excuses for absenting themselves from the Sabbath services and from the prayer meeting. We should be exhorting others to attend, rather than falling off in our own attendance: 'Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is' (Heb. 9:24-5). A declining attendance may be a sign of a believer losing his 'first love', or it may be a mark of an unbeliever whose religious convictions are wearing away.

In a sermon on Hosea 6:4,[1] 'Your goodness is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away,' M‘Cheyne describes the sinner, first awakened, and then sinking back into indifference:

He is an arrested hearer; he drinks in the words of the minister; he is lively in his attendance on the Word; if there be preaching in the week-evening, he puts by his work in order to be there. But when his concern wears away, he begins to weary first of the weekday service, then of the Sabbath; then perhaps he seeks a more careless ministry where he may slumber on till death and judgement. Ah, this has been the course of thousands in this place.

A very different case is described in Records of Grace in Sutherland (pp 222-3)[2]. A man, William Mackay, who had walked 16 miles to the church in Tongue on a day of drifting snow, when there was no road, was asked by the minister why he had ventured out, when only people in the near neighbourhood were at the service. In reply he stated that there were three things that moved him to attend the house of God:

First, the Lord had given him strength and he considered it his duty to wait on Him in public worship. Secondly, he came to add to the number in the congregation and thus encourage the minister when he knew that many would absent themselves. Thirdly, he came so that if the Spirit of God should be moving in the church that day, He might not find his pew empty.

The Spirit of God is sovereign and we do not know when he will work. The revival under Hezekiah 'was done suddenly' (2 Chr. 29:36). The outpouring of the Spirit on Monday, 21 June 1630, at the Kirk of Shotts communion was unexpected[3]. Probably there were some among the people of God who were slothful and missed the blessing, and regretted it. Thomas was absent on the evening of the first Christian Sabbath and he did not meet the risen Christ (John 20:24). No one should be absent from public worship unless it is unavoidable, least of all the people of God. 'Make conscience of the prayer meeting', the present writer was advised some years ago. The Psalmist envied the sparrows and swallows because they had made their house and their nest in God’s altars (Psa. 84:3). The child Samuel had his bed 'in the temple of the Lord' (1 Sam. 3:3). The heart of the believer ought to dwell in 'the gates of Zion' (Psa. 87:2). David’s crowning joy was the thought that he would be there for ever: 'In God’s house for evermore my dwelling-place shall be' (Psa. 23:6).

Notes:

1. This sermon can be found in Memoir & Remains of Robert Murray M'Cheyne (Banner of Truth, 1966), pp. 442-9.

2. Free Church of Scotland, Publications Committee (1953).

3. See, for example, Samuel Rutherford and his Friends, pp. 114-5; The Scots Worthies, pp. 369-70; and, in the preacher John Livingstone's own words, Scottish Puritans: Select Biographies, Volume 1, pp. 138-9.

The Reader's Digest : John Calvin, Pilgrim And Pastor By Robert Godfrey

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:05:00 +0000

Bob Godfrey's book on John Calvin came highly recommended. RC Sproul declared it 'a masterful treatment of John Calvin', Sinclair Ferguson commented that it brought 'Calvin to life for the twenty-first century reader' and Mike Horton hoped 'for a wide readership of this important book.' So it was with high expectations that I began reading this book.

Gladly I acknowledge that the work met and exceeded my hopes for it. In fact I suspect it is one of the best introductions to Calvin's life, ministry and thought, that is currently in print. Written in a year which has seen a veritable glut of books on the subject Godfrey's may well prove to be one of the year's better books.

The book is broken up into two sections, John Calvin as a pilgrim, and John Calvin as a pastor. In the pilgrim section, Calvin's ministry in Strassbourg and his first ministry in and subsequent exile from Geneva are charted. The pastor section begins with Calvin's call back to Geneva and includes the amazing detail that Calvin picked up his exposition that he was preaching in the congregation at the precise point where he left it a few years previous. This section also includes a number of truly wonderful chapters which skilfully interweave the story of Calvin's life with an analysis of his theology. The chapters on worship, the sacraments, Calvin as a pastoral counsellor are particularly helpful.

This is a book for all who have an interest in Calvin and reformed theology and would also serve as a helpful introduction for those who are suspicious of Calvin and calvinism. It is written in a warm, easy, and accessible style, and at just under 200 pages it is of a manageable size for the average reader. As an introduction to Calvin the book could hardly be bettered and Godfrey has rendered to the Church a valuable service in setting the record straight concerning the great reformer. This book is highly recommended.

The View From Oz - A Word About Sermon Preparation.

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:10:00 +0000

Sermon preparation. The necessary weekly work of all true ministers of Christ. But while all must do it the methods employed vary widely. I thought it would be helpful to share with you then, how my own methods have evolved in recent times. What it is written here should not be interpreted as a criticism of other ways of preparation. What works for one preacher does not always work for another. The Lord, in his sovereignty can use all sorts of different methods for His own glory.

At the beginning of my ministry my sermon routine was very simple. Near the start of the week texts were chosen for the Sunday sermons and then relevant commentaries and books were leisurely read during the remainder of the week. Finally, on either Friday or Saturday the books were put away and the sermon was written. The method served me well and had the advantage of swiftness (it helped that I did not write the sermons out in full as I do now). But I was never entirely satisfied and always felt the sermons lacked scriptural depth.

The methods that I have employed in Oz are significantly different. Of course as I mainly now preach book expositions I don't have the weekly task of choosing texts and so I can begin straight away. My first job is to exegete the text, that is determine the meaning of the verses/verses under consideration. I work with the Hebrew/Greek texts exclusively at this stage and the grammar is noted, each word is considered, and various lexicons, grammars, word studies are consulted. Secondly, I search for relevant cross references. Commentaries, study bibles, and The Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge are all used for this task. The cross refs shed light on the meaning of the text and are also useful in the sermon for supporting the preacher's interpretation. Thirdly, I often consult various bible background aids for relevant information concerning the geography, customs, secular history, archaeology of the age. Often this sort of information can bring a passage to life. Fourthly, I consult technical commentaries to check my interpretation of the text. Fifthly, when the meaning of the text is crystal clear in my mind and all exegetical difficulties that have arisen have been resolved, I write the sermon.

Certainly my method of sermon preparation is slow and laborious (and thus a longer working week) but it has a number of advantages. The chief one is the personal spiritual blessing that I have received. The close and careful study of the original texts is a rewarding work. While I value reliable translations of God's Word in various languages, even a great translation cannot communicate the richness and the fullness of the Hebrew and Greek texts. The second advantage is scriptural depth. Attractive outlines, striking illustrations, and energetic sermon delivery can all enhance a message but only hard study can provide depth. The third advantage is that the Bible is accurately explained on a consistent basis. The final advantage that comes to mind is that the Word of God is communicated rather than the opinions of men.

This week on the blog I won't be crowing about how England regained the Ashes ( if you want to read some shameless triumphalism check out my twitter account) but I hope to review Robert Godfrey's book on John Calvin, which is the best I've read this year on the great man. Also expect the usual mixture of odds and ends although I've decided to scrap the weekend edition. It just seems like too much work on my day off.

Catch You Later

The Evangelists Update

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:25:00 +0000

As regular readers will be aware I've been a little under the weather this week and as a consequence the site has been less active than usual. Anyway I'm starting to feel a bit better but as you can imagine I've some other work to catch up on so the site won't get back to normal until next week.

Catch You Later

The Reader's Digest (2) : What I've Read This Week

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:55:00 +0000

I'm still feeling a bit under the weather as I write this post so I will be brief. Thomas Manton on James continues to exhort, encourage, reprove, and bless me. But I also took time out to read John Calvin, Pilgrim And Pastor by W. Robert Godfrey. A short but superb treatment of Calvin's life, ministry, and theology. If you are interested in Calvin, get Godfrey's book. Next week I will publish my review of the book.

I have also enjoyed reading C.H. Spurgeon 'John Ploughman's Talk'. This is a book of 'plain advice for plain people'. Written in a witty and amusing style much common sense is put forward in a very striking and engaging way. Being a very plain person myself I loved it.

The Reader's Digest (1) : From C.H. Spurgeon's 'John Ploughman's Talk'

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:49:00 +0000

Hints As To Thriving

Hard work is the grand secret of success. Nothing but rags and poverty can come of idleness. Elbow grease is the only stuff to make gold with. No sweat no sweet. He who would have the crow's eggs must climb the tree. Every man must build up his own fortune nowadays. Shirt sleeves rolled up lead on to best broadcloth; and he who is not ashamed of the apron will soon be able to do without it. "Diligence is the mother of good luck," as poor Richard says; but "Idleness is the devil's bolster," as John Ploughman says.

The View From Oz

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Well it's a rather short and sickly view from Oz today. I'm feeling, as the Aussies say, pretty 'crook' with some fairly nasty flu-like symptoms. But for those of you who have been reading with interest the changes I have been making to my ministry since I got out here, I thought I should pen a few lines.

So, here it is. Early rising. Not a natural nor a consistent early riser in N. Ireland it's a practice I have recently adopted . Why? With so many meetings to conduct in an average week, and a number of those on week-night evenings, pressure of time is one reason. Another is the quietness of the early morning. Before the house is generally awake and the phone (the dreaded enemy of all ministers) starts to ring, is a great time to head to the study. Thirdly, I've never quite been able to shake off the advice that I heard many years ago. An aged and esteemed minister, with many decades of useful service to his credit, informed a gathering of pastors that until they learned the value of rising early they would never amount to anything in God's work. A consistent early riser himself there was no denying the blessing he had enjoyed in his ministry, and as the years have passed I have come to share his opinion.

Catch You Later

Faith Cometh By Hearing

seekthelord1@gmail.com (Ian Hall) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:26:00 +0000

I received a free DVD box set of this conference, and so far the preaching has been very good.