Debbett Archives - theWord Commentaries

Dennett, Edward – Commentary on Revelation

The Apocalypse — part 1, Rev. 1 – 3. (Part 2 is found in the file apoca2.doc, part 3 in apoca3.doc.) The Visions of John in Patmos: being Notes on the Apocalypse. E. Dennett. “I am … the bright and morning star.” Rev. 22:16. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter…

Problems with Total Depravity or Inability examines the flaws and errors of the Calvinist teaching of Total Depravity (which is really total inability, man is not responsible for his own actions and sins, because he cannot choose sin or obeying God). This is a short article about this point of Calvinism.
The argument of the Calvinists breaks down completely when we examine the Bible and find examples of various individuals that did please God with their lives. Calvinists says that there is nothing at all that any person can do to please God. Yet God views our lives, and in the Bible, certain people did please God like Noah. Maybe the difference was Noah’s life was "better" than everybody's else's wicked lives, but even from that standpoint, God still acted greatly because of Noah's faith and daily relationship with God. When God saves you and your family and kills everybody else on planet earth, that means something.
The bottom line: Calvinism does not take into consideration the places where God looked with approval on various people's lives. Their "system" is fatally flawed, therefore. Good works never save anybody, we can affirm this as true. But the "bottom line" here is that God does approve and disapprove different people's lives. Salvation is only by faith in Jesus Christ the Savior. But what you are depends on what you do. God judges every person, even the elect, and He rewards them as such. Things that God dislikes, God chastises those in hell, for the saved, God causes the elect to lose some of their heavenly rewards for their sins, if not also causing them problems in earth before they die.
Problems with Total Depravity or Inability.

Becoming a Growing Church

Read this article by Pastor Cox on how to become a Growing Church
In this article Pastor Cox explains the elements of a growing church, and how to achieve that in your church.
Sections:
1. Getting our Foundation Right - (So what is the biblical purpose of a church?)
2. Internal Functioning of a Biblical Church
3. Characteristics of a Biblical Successful Church
--Do the people love Christ, and Christ's redeemed?
--Do people witness the clear Gospel Message?
--Does the church support missionaries with a clear Gospel message?
4. What level of Church is your church?
--- what is the number one reason churches fail
5. How do I make my church grow?
6. Will that always make the church grow? No.
Read article
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Missionary on Furlough Spiritual Needs is an article by David Cox (veteran missionary) to help pastors and missionaries understand missionary needs.
Excerpt: When a pastor "takes in a missionary on deputation or furlough", he ministers to that missionary.... Pastors also need this encouragement as much as missionaries need it. When they get together to fellowship, they are able to encourage one another. But every pastor ministering to a returning missionary should encourage them along these lines of faithfulness and reward in eternity.
Topics: Introduction | Unfit Missionaries that should not be missionaries at all | Stop the Merry-go-round, I want to get off | Some Tips for Pastors Encouraging Missionaries | 1. Do not undermine their way of leading or doing the ministry | 2. The two essential elements are talk and prayer. | 3. Get more than just the pastor involved in praying for the missionary. | Remind your missionary by asking for an update if it has been a while. | Effectively disseminate prayer requests.
Read the Article: Missionary on Furlough Spiritual Needs.