Pray for the Persecuted
Over and over again the Scriptures warn that those who delight in the supremacy of Jesus Christ will be opposed and rejected.
In Mark 13, Jesus himself says, “For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my name sake….You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mk. 13:9, 13).
The Christian life is not a life of ease. Listen to these Scriptures: “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12); “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will…Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you…If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name” (2 Pt. 3:17, 4:12, 16).
This may seem foreign to us in the comforts of America, but all over the world Christians are being persecuted and killed for their faith. While we should be grateful for our freedom, don’t be lulled to sleep by it. Be aware of and in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the world standing firm in the faith.
To do so, frequently visit Persecution.com - This is a site dedicated to telling the stories of those being persecuted. You can also sign up to receive their
Why Do You Preach Like That?
The majority of the preaching here at Restoration Church is done by taking a book of the Bible and working through it verse by verse, chapter by chapter. We want to faithfully explain what the Bible says, and then see how it applies to our lives. So instead of approaching the sermon with a preconceived agenda, we allow the text to drive what we are going to say.
That leads to a natural question...why do you preach like that? In short, here is our answer:
The biblical and theological foundations, alongside the host of practical benefits, underpin the necessity of expository preaching. Neglecting the centrality of the Word in preaching is a neglect of God Himself. Preachers speak only because God has spoken. A preacher who uses Scripture as a topical index or springboard minimizes the authority of Scripture and leads his congregation to do the same. Likewise, pastors who elevate the Scriptures week after week, sermon after sermon, lead their people to rely on the authority of the Scriptures in their own lives day after day. The preacher that faithfully heralds God’s Word week after week feeds his flock the only true life sustaining food available.
To see this answer in full, click here.
