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The GARBC has been holding it’s 2009 Annual Conference this week at First Baptist Church, Elyria, Ohio.

Here’s the audio from the conference that’s been shared from the Baptist Bulletin website.

Monday, June 22, 2009
“Every People and Every Nation“ – Dr. Kevin Bauder
“Regular Baptist History, Part 1“ – Dr. Kevin Bauder

Tuesday, June 23, 2009
“Cutting Straight, Part 1” – Dr. Renald Showers
“Regular Baptist History, Part 2” – Dr. Kevin Bauder
“A People for His Name” – Dr. Kevin Bauder

Wednesday, June 24, 2009
“Cutting Straight, Part 2” – Dr. Renald Showers
“Regular Baptist History, Part 3” – Dr. Kevin Bauder
“The New Humanity” – Dr. Kevin Bauder

Thursday, June 25, 2009
“Cutting Straight, Part 3” – Dr. Renald Showers
“Thursday Night Introductions” John Greening, national representative of the GARBC, introduces Aaron Blumer, pastor of Grace Baptist Church (Boyceville, Wis.) and publisher of the SharperIron.org website
“Regular Baptist History, Part 4” – Dr. Kevin Bauder
“The Eternal People” – Dr. Kevin Bauder

Friday, June 26, 2009
John Greening’s Closing Sermon

June 14, 2009 – AM Service
Endure Everything for the Gospel – 2 Timothy 2:10
Pastor Kevin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.1MB)

Here’s a quote from Spurgeon’s sermon Salvation by Knowing the Truth that is a noteworthy reminder of the power of God’s unbound Word, of which I preached a couple weeks ago from 2 Timothy 2:8-9. (Via: CBC Evangelism blog)

YOU WHO DESIRE TO SAVE SINNERS. You must, dear friends, bring the truth before them when you want to bring them to Jesus Christ. I believe that exciting meetings do good to some. Men are so dead and careless that almost anything is to be tolerated that wakes them up; but for real solid soul-work before God’ telling men the truth is the main thing. What truth? It is gospel truth, truth about Christ that they want. Tell it in a loving, earnest, affectionate manner, for God wills that they should be saved, not in any other way, but in this way—by a knowledge of the truth. He wills that all men should be saved in this way—not by keeping them in ignorance, but by bringing the truth before them. That is God’s way of saving them. Have your Bible handy when you are reasoning with a soul. Just say, “Let me call your attention to this passage.” It has a wonderful power over a poor staggering soul to point to the Book itself. Say, “Did you notice this promise, my dear friend? And have you seen that passage?” Have the Scriptures handy. There is a dear brother of mine here whom God blesses to many souls, and I have seen him talking to some, and turning to the texts very handily. I wondered how he did it so quickly, till I looked in his Bible, and found that he hind the choice texts printed on two leaves and inserted into the book, so that he could always open upon them. That is a capital plan, to get the cheering words ready to hand, the very ones that you know have comforted you and have comforted others. It sometimes happens that one single verse of God’s word will make the light to break into a soul, when fifty days of reasoning would not do it. I notice that when souls are saved it is by our texts rather than by our sermons. God the Holy Ghost loves to use his own sword. It is God’s word, not man’s comment on God’s word, that God usually blesses. Therefore, stick to the quotation of the Scripture itself, and rely upon the truth. If a man could be saved by a lie it would be a lying salvation. Truth alone can work results that are true. Therefore, keep on teaching the truth. God help you to proclaim the precious truth about the bleeding, dying, risen, exalted, coming Savior; and God will bless it.

Here’s a good article on Twitter from Al Mohler — Adventures Among the Twitterati — Why Use Twitter? He notes,

Twitter has changed my prayer life. More than any development in years, Twitter helps me to know what is going on in the lives of many friends and people far beyond. I have known how to pray in many specific ways. I have rejoiced with friends and have grieved with others. Priceless.

He also spoke about Twitter on his radio program today — you should be able to get the podcast of that here soon.

Follow me on Twitter if you like.

For Mac users who use Logos Bible Software for Mac, version 1.1.1 is now available for download. This is an important download and a free upgrade for registered Logos users if you are now using the newest version of Safari (version 4) released this week. Get the download details on the Logos Bible Software blog.

Do you treasure Christ above all else? Here’s a challenging video, a Don’t Wast Your Life sermon jam worth watching and being challenged by.

June 7, 2009 – AM Service
The Unbound Word – 2 Timothy 2:8-9
Pastor Kevin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.3MB)

May 31, 2009 – AM Service
Remember Jesus Christ – 2 Timothy 2:8
Pastor Kevin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.3MB)

May 24, 2009 – AM Service
Be Strong, part 5 – 2 Timothy 2:6-7
Pastor Kevin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (11.1MB)

A word from A.W. Pink on the preacher’s duty of prayer:

The preacher’s obligations are not fully discharged when he leaves the pulpit, for he needs to water the Seed which he has sown… [T]he apostles devoted themselves “continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word,” and therein have they left an excellent example to be observed by all who follow them in the sacred vocation. Observe the order, and not only observe but heed and practice the same. The most laborious and carefully prepared sermon is likely to fall unctionless on the hearers unless it has been born out of travail of soul before God. Unless the sermon be the product of earnest prayer we must not expect it to awaken the spirit of prayer in those who hear it. As we have pointed out, Paul mingled supplications with his instructions. It is our privilege and duty to retire to the secret place after we leave the pulpit and beg God to write His Word on the hearts of those who have listened to us, to prevent the enemy from snatching away the Seed, to so bless our efforts that they may bear fruit to God’s eternal praise.

Luther was wont to say, “There are three things which go to the making of a successful preacher: supplication, meditation, and tribulation.” This was taken down by one of his students from his “Table Talks.” We know not what elaboration the great Reformer made, but we suppose he meant that prayer is necessary to bring the preacher into a suitable frame to handle divine things and endue him with power; that meditation on the Word is essential in order to supply him with material for his message; and that tribulation is required as ballast for his vessel, for the minister of the gospel needs trials to keep him humble, as the apostle was given a thorn in the flesh that he might not be unduly exalted by the abundance of the revelations given him. Prayer is the appointed medium of receiving spiritual communications for the instruction of our people. We must be much with God before we are fitted to go forth and speak in His name.

From A.W. Pink, Gleanings From Paul

D. A. Carson’s publications have recently been compiled into a comprehensive bibliography by Andy Naselli. The full list is hosted on D.A. Carson’s page at The Gospel Coalition’s website. Of special interest are the seven full books in PDF format available for download most easily accessed from Andy’s site.

Evangel Baptist Church, Taylor, Michigan where my brother Ken is Senior Pastor recently celebrated the church’s 75th anniversary. Dr. James Grier is one of the former Pastors at Evangel and during the celebration spoke on Revelation 5. During his message he stated something I think is very helpful in addressing the challenges many have when studying Revelation.

In his words:

In the book of Revelation don’t ask questions. Just let the metaphors overwhelm you. Don’t sit there and try to figure out every detail. In point of fact if you want to master this book read it from Revelation 1:1 right through Revelation 22 in one sitting so this whole book comes together in all of it’s wonderful imagery flows over your mind. Don’t ask questions like when, why, how, they’re the wrong questions. We’re in the kind of literature that is meant to be imaginative and to cause us to begin to grasp in categories that we don’t feel comfortable with.

You can hear the audio of this quote in the audio player below.

You may also wish to download and listen to the whole message on Revelation 5 which I highly recommend. Right click, and “save as” this link for the full sermon audio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19 — 310.5KB)

May 3, 2009 – AM Service
Be Strong, part 4 – 2 Timothy 2:5
Pastor Kevin

I am thankful that the church is responding to the killing of abortion doctor George Tiller with a very clear statement of condemnation. God’s children cannot condone the taking of this man’s life as a response to his willingness to take the lives of unborn children. He was wrong to commit abortions, but there is no Biblical or moral ground for the taking of his life.

Al Mohler responded yesterday saying in an article on his blog:

Murder is murder. The law rightly affirms that the killing of Dr. George Tiller is murder. In this we must agree. We cannot rest until the law also recognizes the killing of the unborn as murder. The killing of Dr. George Tiller makes that challenge all the more difficult.

You can also listen to Al Mohler’s radio program from yesterday and his remarks about this news by clicking here — A Wicked Deed in Wichita — A Test for the Pro-Life Movement.

James MacDonald has also shared an article on this news in which he states:

Where government authorities fail in their job, we are to wait on the ultimate justice of God Himself. Of course Tiller deserved death, but in God’s time and according to the means God has ordained. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TRY AND DO GOD’S JOB FOR HIM!! That is always wrong and a set back for the countless faithful people who war against the evil scourge of abortion with patient reason and Christ honoring, law abiding resistance. We are to focus by faith on what is promised in the future:

Ray Pritchard notes in his recent article:

We need to think long-term because we serve a God whose purposes unfold across the centuries. It may be that our grandchildren will still live with abortion. I hope not, but it may turn out that way. No matter how long it takes we must not lose heart, we must not despair, and we must not turn to violence to advance the cause of life. And we should give no support to those who believe that this killing was anything other than murder.

May 3, 2009 – AM Service
Be Strong, part 3 – 2 Timothy 2:3-4
Pastor Kevin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.5MB)

April 26, 2009 – AM Service
Be Strong, part 2 – 2 Timothy 2:2
Pastor Kevin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (10.3MB)

April 19, 2009 – AM Service
Be Strong – 2 Timothy 2:1
Pastor Kevin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.2MB)

April 5, 2009 – AM Service
Follow the Pattern – 2 Timothy 1:13-18
Pastor Kevin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.3MB)