Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
WWJD. Most of us immediately recognize this acronym. Of course, it stands for ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ and this (along with the bracelets) was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon several years back. But I’ve got a better one for us to consider: WDJS. ‘What Did Jesus Say?’
That question certainly comes into play as we consider the Ten Commandments and their application to us today in light of our Lord’s life, death, and resurrection. Jesus had much to say about the Decalogue in general and certain of the Ten Commandments in particular. We have already considered what He said about the Sixth Commandment regarding murder, and we found His words to be both devastating and convicting. But in that same episode recorded in Matthew 5, He also addressed the Seventh Commandment forbidding adultery. Amazingly, He declared that, “everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (v. 8). As Dr. Kent Hughes once commented, if this is true then “we are all adulterers by this standard” (The Sermon On the Mount, 107).
On Sunday we will look very carefully at what Jesus said about adultery, and how this ancient Commandment from the Decalogue still resonates with divine authority and summons each of us to a life of purity and holiness. Take a moment to prayerfully read our Lord’s words in Matthew 5:27-30, and let’s pray that the Spirit of God will empower and richly bless the proclamation of the Scriptures.
New Sunday School Class for Adults Beginning This Sunday
Don’t forget that our new semester in Adult Sunday School starts this Sunday. Our topic for the next ten weeks will be the book by Dr. R. C. Sproul entitled Pleasing God: Discovering the Meaning and Importance of Sanctification (2nd Edition, David C. Cook, 2012). We will meet each week in the Worship Center at 9:15 AM.
Officer Nominations Begin on Sunday October 25th
Beginning on Sunday October 25 we will be receiving your nominations for the Church Offices of Deacon and Ruling Elder. Nomination forms will be available on the 25th and we will receive them that Sunday and again on November 1st. All Communing Members of our Church are entitled to participate in this nomination process. As you prayerfully consider whom you might nominate to these Offices please take some time to become acquainted with the Scriptural qualifications for each Office holder:
For Deacons:
Acts 6: 1-6 [ESV]: Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
1 Timothy 3:8-13 [ESV]: Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
For Ruling Elders:
Acts 20:28 [ESV]: Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 [ESV]: The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Titus 1:5-8 [ESV]: This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
A Word From Ken Burnett About the Movie ‘Woodlawn’
Ken sent me the following note about this new movie that opens today:
“This movie is OUTSTANDING! I highly encourage and ask / challenge ALL of the Christ Presbyterian Family to go and support it by seeing it. We had over 30 Football Players profess Christ at a pre-screening of the movie a few weeks ago. So, go to the movie but for everyone who goes – by a ticket for someone else. You can send that donation to FCA and we will make sure it is used to bless a kid, or they can just take friends to see it — ESPECIALLY LOST FRIENDS / COWORKERS / FAMILY MEMBERS and etc. And please pray as we will show over 1200 students this movie next week (opening week).”
May our Lord bless each of you and I’ll see you Sunday morning!
In His grace,
Mike