Saturday, July 19, 2008

Our first ever PodCast!!! Should we keep going?

We now have a PodCast set up.
You can click here to get our PodCast thru itunes or whichever software you prefer.

http://sermon.net/newlifelondon/rss/

If you have any problems getting itunes to work, you can go to our channel at
http://sermon.net/newlifelondon
where you will find a button to auto subscribe to itunes.
Alternatively, click on the PodCast button (that looks like an ipod) on the bottom sermon player to the right of this window.

If enough people say they want us to carry this on, then we will endeavour to upload as many mp3s as possible here.

Let us know, or we'll stick with videos.

Peace, D

Our first ever mp3!!! Should we keep doing them?

After 3 years of videos, we have finally made our first sermon mp3!!!!
No one has ever asked us for mp3s, but we thought we'd try it.
If you have been wanting us to do mp3s then please contact us and let us know so that we know to continue this.

This mp3 is a sermon from 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 entitled "What should we tell people?"

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Matthew 24:32-35 What's the next big thing?

Has anyone ever told you there was a new thing coming? A new wave? A new blessing?
What does the Bible say the next big think is?
And what does the Bible say will be happening in the meantime?

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Best UK price for The UBS Greek New Testament - A Readers Edition

This is a great Greek New Testament to own.
This is the best price I have seen it for in the UK:

http://www.bibleresources.org.uk/pages/data.asp

- You'll have to type in "Greek Readers" in the search window to get it up.

You won't regret buying one of these (if you are a Greek student that is!).

Peace
D

BTW The spines on these are not very strong, and I would reccomend using a cover for these to make them last longer. I have a really beautiful leather one to sell if anyone is interested.

Friday, July 04, 2008

Are you too holy to read the bible?

Recently, I cannot get away from the fact that our daily reading of the word, and the weekly preaching of the word is so essential to submitting to God.

In Isaiah's day, Israelites were saying to God:

“Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.”
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 65:5.


They were following a form of religion that made them feel good, and made them feel holy. In fact they felt so holy that they didn't need God to come near them. The language is reminiscent of when God gave his law in Exodus 20, and the people wanted God to speak to Moses rather than themselves, because they were afraid. Here in Isaiah however, the people don't want God to speak to them because they are too holy for him! In other words, they do not feel the need to submit to God's words, because they are okay. Today, many people act the same way, when they neglect to read scripture because,
"I know it all"
"I've read the bible before"
"I don't get much out of reading the bible"
"I just focus on my relationship with God instead"

In contrast to this, God wants us to have an attitude that trembles at his word:
But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 66:2.


The Israelites were still making sacrifices, yet because they would not listen to God's word, their sacrifices were disgusting to God:

“He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations; 4 I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight.”
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 66:3-4.


This means that it is possible to be involved in religious ceremony, worship meetings etc. and yet because of a failure to listen to God's word (the Bible), our actions can be disgusting to God.

Recently, I've been studying Charismatic and Pentecostal movements of the last century, and something that has concerned me, is that so many so-called movements have placed more emphasis on worship music, and less on the ministry of the word.

As Don Carson says,

In every generation, what ultimately distinguishes the true from the false among God’s people, the blessed from the cursed, is faithfulness or unfaithfulness to the Word of God.

D. A. Carson, For the Love of God : A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God's Word. Volume 2 (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1998), 25.

Video of Marjoe faking a revival and confessing to it

Marjoe Gortner was a remarkable preacher who pretended to be a Christian for years, leading revival meetings, supposedly "slaying people in the spirit", praying in tongues, and praising Jesus.

At the end of his career, he made a documentary showing his revivals,and revealing \ confessing how he tricked people.

This clip (that someone else has put together) shows
1)Marjoe telling his camera crew how they can pretend they are Christians.
2)How Marjoe faked being a Christian
3)Marjoe leading a revival
4)Marjoe explaining why he came clean



This next clip shows
1) how Marjoe was trained by his mother to work a crowd.
2) how Marjoe prayed for people to be "baptised in the Holy Spirit" and speak in tongues.
3) How Marjoe got money
4) How another preacher gets money off women



Q. Why were so many people fooled?
A. Surely it's because they did not test things with scripture. Instead they saw amazing things happen, and assumed that they were from God.

Interceeding with humility

I just read these wonderful words from D. A. Carson on intercession from Isaiah 64:

Three other elements of Isaiah’s intercession must not be missed. First, no one recognizes more clearly than Isaiah that the God to whom he is appealing is also the Judge whom we have offended. “But when we continued to sin … you were angry. How then can we be saved?” (64:5), he asks. That is the heart of the dilemma—and the hope. Second, not only does Isaiah understand that sin separates us from God, he also identifies himself completely with his sinful people: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (64:6). The greatest intercessors have always recognized that far more connects them with the common lot of sinners than what distinguishes them—and in any case they do not hesitate to plead with God on behalf of those who will not plead for themselves. Third, Isaiah deeply understands that if God rescues us, he must do so out of grace, out of mercy, out of pity—not because we have any claim on him. That accounts for the moving tone of 64:8–12.
When have we last prayed with such insight and passion?


D. A. Carson, For the Love of God : A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God's Word. Volume 2 (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1998), 25.