The Barbarians are Here: Preventing the Collapse of Western Civilization in Times of Terrorism by Michael Youssef https://a.co/aAyIr8F
Hope for civilization (highlights)
Find the faithful remnant in the church. (Eph. 4, Matt. 16:18)
Study and proclaim the pure Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-8), contend for the faith against false gospels. (Jude)
Focus on Jesus. Reform society with truth and grace, not Marxist (anti-Christ) social justice. Reenchant the culture with God’s truth. (Matt. 4:18-30, Matt. 5:11-16, Matt. 28:18-20)
Fear God more than man.
Repent of timid lukewarmness.
Be about the business of making disciples that make disciples.
“So we must speak the truth, but we must always speak the truth in love. We must speak rationally, reasonably, with hearts full of love for those who are teaching falsehood. Don’t expect to be loved in return. Often, in their attempts to intimidate and silence us, apostates will accuse us of being unloving and even hateful.” https://a.co/29hwHt2
Reach the lost and equip the saints for the work of ministry. (Eph. 4:12)
The Gospel of the Kingdom must be proclaimed to the world. (Matt. 24:14)
Speak the truth in love. (Gal. 6:1, Eph. 4:11-15)
The Church in Babylon: Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness by Erwin W. Lutzer https://a.co/5yok0Rt
“We have to change our church philosophy from telling to training.”
People, not buildings.
Community not crowds.
Training not just telling. True Jesus discipleship: “come follow me”
Prayer not programs.
Hard truths not just positive suggestions. (Acts 17:1-10, 1 Peter 4:14, 2 Tim. 3:12, Heb. 10:32-36)
The Barbarians are Here: Preventing the Collapse of Western Civilization in Times of Terrorism by Michael Youssef https://a.co/aAyIr8F
Hope for civilization (highlights)
Find the faithful remnant in the church. (Eph. 4, Matt. 16:18)
Study and proclaim the pure Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-8), contend for the faith against false gospels. (Jude)
Focus on Jesus. Reform society with truth and grace, not Marxist (anti-Christ) social justice. Reenchant the culture with God’s truth. (Matt. 4:18-30, Matt. 5:11-16, Matt. 28:18-20)
Where to start? If revival is to come it must start here.
Saving Christianity?: The Danger in Undermining Our Faith — and What You Can Do about It by Michael Youssef https://a.co/hNgppNi
Fear God more than man.
Repent of timid lukewarmness.
Be about the business of making disciples that make disciples.
“Preacher after preacher, church after church, denomination after denomination—Christians are selling their spiritual birthright. So-called evangelicals have become ashamed of the evangelium, the Good News of Jesus Christ. They have sought friendship with the world, acceptance by the world, and praise from the world, and they have mutilated the Bible and diluted the gospel in the process. Instead of faith and boldness, they prize uncertainty, thinking that they are somehow “saving Christianity.” But as the apostle Paul writes, “If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” (1 Cor. 14:8) https://a.co/4uFvt7t
“So we must speak the truth, but we must always speak the truth in love. We must speak rationally, reasonably, with hearts full of love for those who are teaching falsehood. Don’t expect to be loved in return. Often, in their attempts to intimidate and silence us, apostates will accuse us of being unloving and even hateful.” https://a.co/29hwHt2
Reach the lost and equip the saints for the work of ministry. (Eph. 4:12)
The Gospel of the Kingdom must be proclaimed to the world. (Matt. 24:14)
Speak the truth in love. (Gal. 6:1, Eph. 4:11-15)
Training not Telling
“We have to change our church philosophy from telling to training.”
The Church in Babylon: Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness by Erwin W. Lutzer https://a.co/5yok0Rt
The Church that will survive in Babylon (highlights)
People, not buildings.
Community not crowds.
Training not just telling. True Jesus discipleship: “come follow me”
Prayer not programs.
Hard truths not just positive suggestions. (Acts 17:1-10, 1 Peter 4:14, 2 Tim. 3:12, Heb. 10:32-36)
Christ is head of the church! (Rev. 2:10)
Reformation Discipleship Small Groups
A Reformation Discipleship Small Group: The general covenant would be a group of 3 to 4 couples with a full discipleship focus to reform discipleship in the church and reenchant the world with the truth and grace of the gospel. When ready, there is a commitment from each member to start their own group with the same model and similar covenant.
This will be a discipleship group, so it will focus on “training not telling.” We will cover these general areas (not exclusive or exhaustive):
Unity of the faith: Eph. 4, Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, 1618 Baptist Confession
False gospels and gods: Apologetics. Contending for the faith. Jude
Great Commission: Follow Jesus discipleship. Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 17
Spiritual Battle: public prayer. Matt. 5:11-16
Evangelism
Multiplication: Matt. 4:18-22
Each of these areas will include Bible study, example and practice by each household. We will be “doing” not just discussing. For example, for family worship we will discuss the key elements in bible study, then we will model how we do family worship and the resources we’ve found helpful, then ask each member to do the same. For evangelism we may discuss how we would witness to someone that holds to one of the false gospels or false gods including play acting, personal experiences, and conclude with some neighborhood outreach or service activity. For spiritual battle and evangelism we may discuss abortion and practice how we would share our faith and witness to an abortion customer or employee, then spend time in public prayer outside the planned parenthood. At a time determined by the leader when discipleship has been adequately covered, the group will multiply and each member form their own.
The Household and the War for the Cosmos: Recovering a Christian Vision for the Family by C.R. Wiley https://a.co/fEDNy11
“Another war was waged by a hero for a princess, and once she was won, she became a queen, but not of a little kingdom in the center of Italy. She became queen of the Cosmos. And the Bible ends with their wedding day. And they live happily ever after that. Here’s the coronation of the queen from Revelation 19: 6–8 and 21: 1–4:
The Household and the War for the Cosmos: Recovering a Christian Vision for the Family by C.R. Wiley https://a.co/cfd6M7W
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””
Reports of the spectacular growth of Christianity in Africa are well known. What is less known is how it is happening. Glenn has visited Africa and has reported on the growth of the church in the book he co-wrote with Jerry Trousdale, The Kingdom Unleashed. In today’s show the Pugcasters interview one of the leaders of this phenomenal movement. There were many remarkable things that they learned in the course of the interview–an important one being how Islam is growing in Africa through a combination of biological growth, conversion through marriage, business dealings with strings attached, and the building of mosques.
Identify a “person of peace” … someone from the community to be a bridge into the community
Establish Access Ministries (5 pillars)
Prayer and Fasting
Service with a purpose, fill a need Education/vo-tech, clean water, health facilities, seed banks, government corruption/justice, business/jobs
Every believer is a disciple, and every disciple is a disciple maker. “Who is your disciple?”
Multiplication Church planting, small groups
Partnerships When government programs fail. Involving people in their own development.
Islam vs Christianity
Kingdom building
Family multiplication
Businesses
Building (physical representation of the Church, claiming ground for Jesus)
Spiritual Warfare
Battle in the spiritual realm first by prayer and fasting
Believe! Has the church in America become blind to spiritual things?
Need a supernatural worldview revival in the churches in America!
Fear of What is Coming Out of America
Like the church of Pergamum. (Revelation 2:12-17)
But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
