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Worship December 2016

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I love Christmas. Christmas means a lot to me, and I hope it means a lot to you too. As Christians, we celebrate Christmas for more than just Christmas trees, lights, and presents. These things aren’t bad things, as I love all of these aspects of Christmas and look forward to them every year. But we celebrate Christmas because of one thing - the birth of Jesus Christ. This is the day we celebrate the world changing. Jesus came and from the moment He was born of a virgin, the world would never be the same. But Jesus would go on to live a perfect and sinless life as the son of God and would die a death in our place for our sins, so that we could have eternal life with God. Now isn’t that better than gifts, lights, and hallmark Christmas movies? I would say yes! It’s worth celebrating not only during this season, but every morning of the year as we open our eyes to the grace that God has poured out into our lives through his son Jesus.

Every year during the Christmas season I always get the question, “Will we sing Christmas carols at Church?” My answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” I love Christmas carols, and I think it’s important that the Church worships with them during this season. So why do we sing Christmas carols? I’d like to point to Keith Getty (author of “In Christ Alone”) and his thoughts on this. He says it well,

“When we look at the simplicity and focus of the early apostles, especially Paul, we see
individuals who were uncompromising about the gospel but sought to use strategic opportunities and platforms for its spread to those who had yet to believe. Since Christmas is a time of year when many unbelievers visit our churches, we should be on the lookout for creative opportunities to share the good news. If the question is about church music, I’d suggest that singing the great Christmas carols is one obvious place to start. The best of them tell the gospel story in some of the most innovative and inviting language we’ve ever seen in religious verse, certainly in the English language. In terms of art, they are the masterworks, the treasured heritage of the church we shouldn’t ignore. Young and old, churched and unchurched, are united in wanting to sing Christmas carols during the Christmas season. More than that, however, I’d say it’s our responsibility to have a high view of congregational worship. Our singing is always a witness; therefore, if our churches don’t sing well, or sing apathetically, or sing while distracted by iPhones and casual conversation, we become an appalling witness to outsiders. So let’s take these songs and use them as a galvanizing force for our singing—that we might declare to all who are present the breathtaking good news of
Jesus.”

At Oakhill, we want to have a high view of Jesus and what he did for us. We want to sing about his birth, and how the birth of Jesus changed the world and our lives. So join us on Sundays throughout this Christmas season, as we sing songs old and new to give honor and praise to our great God.

In Christ,

Jared

 

Posted by Jared Mitchell with
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Spiritual Development December 2016

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In his book, Expository Apologetics, Dr. Voddie Baucham details how apologetics begins with our understanding of Scripture and the power of the gospel to save people out of sin and unbelief.  I would highly recommend this resource to you if you desire to know how to more effectively share your faith with others while being informed with the truth of Scripture.  The following is an excerpt from an article about the book that describes how expository apologetics relates to every person.

“Expository apologetics—the practice of answering objections with the power of God’s Word—is for everyone.  First, it’s for the unbeliever. This is the person both ignorant of and antagonistic toward the gospel. This audience requires an evangelist.  Whether we’re evangelists, preachers/teachers, or disciples, our goal is the same. As expository apologists, we point people to Christ and call them to repent and believe. We’re constantly showing people how foolish and dangerous it is to trust in anything but him. At bottom, the expository apologist is an evangelist.  Evangelism is more than merely convincing people of the rightness of Christianity or getting them to walk an aisle and pray a prayer. Evangelism is about making disciples—calling people away from the kingdom of man and into the kingdom of God. This transfer of allegiance is at the heart of expository apologetics.

Second, it’s for the churchgoer. This is the person, whether converted or unconverted, sitting under the regular preaching and teaching of the Word. This audience requires a preacher/ teacher.  Unlike the evangelist, the pastor/teacher is, for the most part, dealing with Christians. But Christians have areas of unbelief and doubt too. They live in a world constantly challenging their thinking. They watch TV, go to school, read magazines and newspapers, surf the internet, and interact daily with people and things that influence their thinking. They must be reminded repeatedly, then, of the apostle’s admonition: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:1).

Third, it’s for the disciple. This person is brand new to the things of God. This is the child being raised in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4), or the new convert unlearning and relearning everything he thinks he knows. This audience requires a discipler.  Interestingly, the one least likely to be considered an apologist is the one most likely to engage in expository apologetics. Neither the evangelist nor the pastor/teacher will have a fraction of the expository apologetic encounters the discipler will. The discipler is a parent raising children or a more mature believer taking a new believer by the hand and introducing him or her to the fundamentals of the faith. 

No matter the circumstance, there’s always a need to make the claims of the gospel both clear and memorable. As we lead people, let’s never forget that we’re helping them to always “make a defense.”

(The full article can be found at https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/3-reasons-you-need-expository-apologetics)

Posted by Nick Scott with

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