Showing posts with label means of grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label means of grace. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Means of Grace: The Lord's Supper

Posted by Christine Pack


Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma at Gospel of Grace Fellowship in Minneapolis, MN have just begun a teaching series on the means of grace. For those unfamiliar with this term, all of the means of grace are commanded of us in Scripture, and when we place ourselves under these means, God will work through them to sanctify us and conform us more and more to the image of Christ. The means of grace are not to be confused with the unbiblical idea of doing works in order to gain salvation, and are historically understood to be:
1) Bible Study (daily)
2) Prayer (daily)
3) Fellowship with Other Believers (regular and ongoing)
4) The Lord's Supper (regular and ongoing)
5) Baptism (one time)
The first lesson in this teaching series is on the Lord's Supper as a means of grace (and can be listened to here). I am particularly interested in this lesson because I have often heard the Lord's Supper taught as an occasion in which we need to reflect deeply on our sins before approaching the table. But isn't this something we are commanded to be doing anyway on an ongoing basis, and most particularly through our Bible study and prayer times? When I was a new believer, I would cry every time I took the Lord's Supper, because I would be so overcome by the joy of thinking about what Christ did for me, how one day He will return for me, how He has forgiven my sins, and that one day I will no longer even have any sin to contend with. But if believers are in a church in which they are constantly being exhorted to examine their sin before taking the Lord's Supper, does it not stand to reason that this joy could evaporate? Don't our sins slay us and break us down? Well, I think the means of grace teaching about the Lord's Supper reclaims that rightful joy that we can have here and now when we dwell on, and marvel over, what the Lord's Supper means for wretched sinners, and why we are to continue this practice until either we die or the Lord comes again to take us home.

Many Christians have been taught that the Lord's Supper is more about solemn, mournful examination of themselves than it is joy over recognizing and celebrating what Christ has done for them. If you find this teaching challenging, I would simply ask that you listen to this teaching, and weigh it prayerfully against Scripture.

photo credit: khrawlings via photopin cc


 Additional Resources 

Gospel of Grace Fellowship

Means of Grace - Critical Issues Commentary (CIC) Radio Series

Means of Grace, God's Provision for Our Salvation and Sanctification - Critical Issues Commentary (CIC) Article

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Finding God's Will

posted by Christine Pack


Are those geese flying over you in a V formation signaling a "victory" for you? Is that a clue from God that you should be taking notice of? Or was there another clue somewhere along the way that you missed.....

If you have ever had thoughts like these, please read the article below, including the links. The current mindset among many Christians is that there is some "perfect will" for our lives out there, like a buried treasure, that comes complete with cryptic clues "buried" in the world around us. And you have to read and sift through the clues (signs) out there and find that "perfect will" for your life that God has for you. And you better not miss any clues or you could end up with the B Plan! Sound like anything you've been taught or heard? Contrast that with what Scripture really teaches, which is that we, as Christians, should be placing ourselves under the means of grace (Bible study, prayer, Lord's Supper, fellowship with other believers), and over time, our minds will become more and more sanctified, and our decisions/choices will become wiser. That's how we make decisions, not by being paralyzed between trying to figure out if something is His will or not, and wondering if we are going to mess everything up by a "wrong" choice. Choices are only wrong if there is sin involved....otherwise, we have freedom, freedom in Christ.

Listen to Pastor Kevin DeYoung's lecture below that goes into more detail on this topic.
(HT: Hears His Voice)



photo credit: Mark Seton via photopin


  Additional Resources 

Means of Grace: God's Provision For Our Salvation and Sanctification (CIC Article)

Means of Grace (CIC Radio Series)

Understanding the Means of Grace

Discussion of Means of Grace

Reexamining the Means of Grace

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will
Is That You, Lord? (Pastor Gary Gilley)

How To Hear God's Voice

An Open Letter of Repentance To All Whom I Have Taught or Endorsed The Teachings of Henry Blackaby or Beth Moore

Christian Dream Interpretation?