Interesting reformed church visit today, a report card.

[ALAYMAN]

Alayboy and I share a birthday (August 27th) so we spent this weekend with him. He has attended the (UC) campus church on and off but doesn’t really like the vibe there (evangelical but quite “contemporary” in numerous ways he doesn’t prefer).

So this morning we went to a nearby (reformed) church, which I had scouted out as suitable for a visit. As it turns out (I did not know beforehand when looking where to go) the church is pastored by Ken Ham’s brother (Steve). I thought Ken was averse to that theological (reformed) framework, and as conversation with a gal at our table in Sunday School revealed, I was right. She works at Answers in Genesis (founded by Ken Ham and a huge finance support for The Ark Encounter and The Creation Museum in Kentucky), and has been attending Steve’s church (Grace and Truth) the last 4 years, and said that theological difference was a point of contention among them. Pastor Steve, via an illustration about his family during the sermon said something similar about his parents non-reformed beliefs and practices.

The Sunday School teacher taught the class of probably 30 people out of the book Acts, and it was sufficiently meaty, but he broke from the exposition at one point to illustrate the doctrines of Grace via the TULIP acrostic (at which time he momentarily forgot what the “L” stood for, lol). This seemed a bit over the top to me, but the message was otherwise good.

The pastor’s sermon was from 1 John 2:27-29 and was about abiding in Christ. It was likewise filled with grace-filled exhortation to look to Christ for our strength and example. It was chock full of supporting references and never once did I hear “close your Bibles and listen to me”, <ahem, binaca chug>.

Lastly, in my concern for the reformed emphasis I wondered how much that impacted their method of evangelistic appeal. After the sermon they closed with a song (most of the music was via Getty music) and then a prayer. When the song finished the semi-pelegian in me wondered if they ever “give an invitation” of any sort, when to me very pleasant surprise Pastor Steve came back to the stage and invited any person who doubted, or knew they were not (abiding) in Christ to come after the close of service and talk with any of the (5) elders. I was sold, ad the gospel saturation and Bible centered exposition was satisfying.

Please pray with me that Alayboy would plant himself in such a Christ-centered healthy congregation for his final collegiate year of experience.

 

[AverageJoe]

I will definitely be praying for him to find where God would have him, Calvinist or not. The point is that Jesus Christ the ONLY one that we can turn to for salvation.

 

[Ransom]

The pastor’s sermon was from 1 John 2:27-29

At least it wasn't 1 John 3:16. Right, abcaines?

 

[abcaines]

At least it wasn't 1 John 3:16. Right, abcaines?

I'd have been excommunicated and burned at the stake!

 

[abcaines]

Alayboy and I share a birthday (August 27th) so we spent this weekend with him. He has attended the (UC) campus church on and off but doesn’t really like the vibe there (evangelical but quite “contemporary” in numerous ways he doesn’t prefer).

So this morning we went to a nearby (reformed) church, which I had scouted out as suitable for a visit. As it turns out (I did not know beforehand when looking where to go) the church is pastored by Ken Ham’s brother (Steve). I thought Ken was averse to that theological (reformed) framework, and as conversation with a gal at our table in Sunday School revealed, I was right. She works at Answers in Genesis (founded by Ken Ham and a huge finance support for The Ark Encounter and The Creation Museum in Kentucky), and has been attending Steve’s church (Grace and Truth) the last 4 years, and said that theological difference was a point of contention among them. Pastor Steve, via an illustration about his family during the sermon said something similar about his parents non-reformed beliefs and practices.

The Sunday School teacher taught the class of probably 30 people out of the book Acts, and it was sufficiently meaty, but he broke from the exposition at one point to illustrate the doctrines of Grace via the TULIP acrostic (at which time he momentarily forgot what the “L” stood for, lol). This seemed a bit over the top to me, but the message was otherwise good.

The pastor’s sermon was from 1 John 2:27-29 and was about abiding in Christ. It was likewise filled with grace-filled exhortation to look to Christ for our strength and example. It was chock full of supporting references and never once did I hear “close your Bibles and listen to me”, <ahem, binaca chug>.

Lastly, in my concern for the reformed emphasis I wondered how much that impacted their method of evangelistic appeal. After the sermon they closed with a song (most of the music was via Getty music) and then a prayer. When the song finished the semi-pelegian in me wondered if they ever “give an invitation” of any sort, when to me very pleasant surprise Pastor Steve came back to the stage and invited any person who doubted, or knew they were not (abiding) in Christ to come after the close of service and talk with any of the (5) elders. I was sold, ad the gospel saturation and Bible centered exposition was satisfying.

Please pray with me that Alayboy would plant himself in such a Christ-centered healthy congregation for his final collegiate year of experience.

It must be sound teaching. The Aussie brogue ensures it.

 

[Ekklesian]

Lastly, in my concern for the reformed emphasis I wondered how much that impacted their method of evangelistic appeal.

The elect can do no other.

Jhn 7:38-39 - He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Luk 4:18 - The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised...

Rev 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 

[biscuit1953]

Alayboy and I share a birthday (August 27th) so we spent this weekend with him. He has attended the (UC) campus church on and off but doesn’t really like the vibe there (evangelical but quite “contemporary” in numerous ways he doesn’t prefer).

So this morning we went to a nearby (reformed) church, which I had scouted out as suitable for a visit. As it turns out (I did not know beforehand when looking where to go) the church is pastored by Ken Ham’s brother (Steve). I thought Ken was averse to that theological (reformed) framework, and as conversation with a gal at our table in Sunday School revealed, I was right. She works at Answers in Genesis (founded by Ken Ham and a huge finance support for The Ark Encounter and The Creation Museum in Kentucky), and has been attending Steve’s church (Grace and Truth) the last 4 years, and said that theological difference was a point of contention among them. Pastor Steve, via an illustration about his family during the sermon said something similar about his parents non-reformed beliefs and practices.

The Sunday School teacher taught the class of probably 30 people out of the book Acts, and it was sufficiently meaty, but he broke from the exposition at one point to illustrate the doctrines of Grace via the TULIP acrostic (at which time he momentarily forgot what the “L” stood for, lol). This seemed a bit over the top to me, but the message was otherwise good.

The pastor’s sermon was from 1 John 2:27-29 and was about abiding in Christ. It was likewise filled with grace-filled exhortation to look to Christ for our strength and example. It was chock full of supporting references and never once did I hear “close your Bibles and listen to me”, <ahem, binaca chug>.

Lastly, in my concern for the reformed emphasis I wondered how much that impacted their method of evangelistic appeal. After the sermon they closed with a song (most of the music was via Getty music) and then a prayer. When the song finished the semi-pelegian in me wondered if they ever “give an invitation” of any sort, when to me very pleasant surprise Pastor Steve came back to the stage and invited any person who doubted, or knew they were not (abiding) in Christ to come after the close of service and talk with any of the (5) elders. I was sold, ad the gospel saturation and Bible centered exposition was satisfying.

Please pray with me that Alayboy would plant himself in such a Christ-centered healthy congregation for his final collegiate year of experience.

I also attended a Reformed Baptist Church a few times and thoroughly enjoyed the services, and the invitations were very similar to your experience. I went to a Sunday School class where the book of Revelation was being taught and even though they didn’t believe in the Dispensational aspect of it the teacher handed out printed material that explained what some people believed about it along with other beliefs without any vitriol. The songs they sung were mostly hymns and the contemporary songs were not in your face heavy metal stuff.

I remember the dispute several years ago with the song In Christ Alone which Getty wrote with the line "Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied." The Presbyterian Church (USA) wanted to change that line in their hymn book which clearly proclaims the substitutionary atonement to “The love of God was magnified” in order to deny that the sacrifice of Christ was needed to appease the anger of God on sinful men. To his credit, Keith Getty refused and stood his ground. I have many good things to say about Reformed Christians without having to believe every point.