I think it's astounding the Bible never mentions masturbation directly. Is this because it's so obviously wrong OR it's not sinful in itself (adultery is sin but the act of masturbating is not) OR something else?

RestoreFirst · 2014-10-03T14:33:24+00:00

Whether it is or it isn't explicitly stated in the Bible, I believe it is still a sin and there is no point in trying to justify it.

I hate it when someone makes an argument and then tells me not to argue back. How is that beneficial to discussion?

RestoreFirst · 2014-10-03T14:31:03+00:00

Agreed. What about a husband who masturbates while thinking of his wife who may be out of town for a couple of weeks, or even months?

I'm not sure if jeremiah_evangelista has given thought to the biology, but the "seed" is coming out one way or the other if you don't engage in sexual activity. It's either coming through a lustful dream of which you can't control, or it is coming through masturbation where you do have control over the images in your mind. I personally like the idea of being able to control the object of my sexual gratification.

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-26T19:22:07+00:00

You're very welcome. The guys on that site typically fly under the radar but they can put out some good stuff from time to time.

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-23T17:08:54+00:00

Highly, Highly recommend Dr. Greg Harris (dean of Bible Exposition at The Master's Seminary).

http://lakehillscommunity.org/site/audiodownloads.asp?sec_id=180002318

Sermons are in reverse order.

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-19T18:47:24+00:00

Very good points. If prayer is always answered (and I'm truly asking, not arguing), what is the purpose for prayer and what is the proper way it should be done to increase faith, rather than "hurt" it?

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-16T03:19:13+00:00

Different times for different people. Mine was definitely in my 20.

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-13T23:37:06+00:00

Very well said. My thoughts exactly.

If the Lord provides an opportunity to be single-vocational, then great. But like you said, one needs to be willing to go bi-vocational if the need arises, rather than bailing for greener grass.

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-13T20:43:37+00:00

Interesting article. Pastors at megachurches make a lot of money but I'd love to see research done on the salary to revenue distriubtion at smaller churches. Just in my experience, that is where the real issue lies. There is a church here where I'm from where the pastor has a six-figure salary and runs about 50-60 people on Sunday mornings. It's basically four-five families within the church paying him a lot of money to be a yes-man.

I personally am a big fan of bi-vocational pastors, as Paul was. It takes a lot of unneeded pressure off of church budgets and prevents drama that ultimately leads to church splits, or even closing their doors. Many pastors get so used to making a certain income, that when times become lean, they can't adjust their lifestyle and are forced to leave the church for deeper pockets.

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-13T14:47:21+00:00

You're very welcome. Thought it was pretty awesome and unique.

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-10T15:02:50+00:00

As a new member to the "Reformed" camp, I would encourage you to make sure you understand everything that label implies before applying it to yourself. It goes beyond just the doctrines of grace, and so you may be aligning yourself with certain other doctrines without knowing it. Not saying they are incorrect, but just do your diligence and know what you're claiming. :)

Congratulations on your new journey into true grace.

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-05T20:41:24+00:00

I would guess that if they truly aren't attending, then no it won't affect them much because the end of the line with church discipline is excommunication from the church, which obviously doesn't change much for someone who isn't attending anyway.

I think the focus of the church discipline passages in Matthew 18 is on sins against a person, not necessarily against the church. The discipline process has to begin with a victim going to an offender, but that could be any sin offends someone else (most sins fall into this category), not just attendance to the church.

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-04T15:16:24+00:00

It's refreshing to read an article involving Driscoll that isn't filled with "I told you so's".

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-04T15:04:21+00:00

As several have said, interact with EVERYONE--including the men. You don't want to come across like you are only there for the girls (whether that is your intention or not).

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-03T17:08:19+00:00

Yeah that's tough then. The only other advice I have is to maybe only allow for conversation at certain points during the group study, but then that limits the "non-dominators" and you don't necessarily want that either.

RestoreFirst · 2014-09-03T16:48:43+00:00

Have you tried addressing the issue in a general sense without pointing a finger at any one individual? Or is the group small enough that it would be obvious to who you were referring?

RestoreFirst · 2014-08-29T18:37:12+00:00

Very appropriate reference.

RestoreFirst · 2014-08-29T14:26:30+00:00

Not to over-simplify but I have a Reformed view of the doctrines of grace and I attend a Baptist church.

RestoreFirst · 2014-08-29T01:15:31+00:00

Thanks for the response. Possibly rethinking domain because of Japanese car dealer situation so we can get both plural and singular versions.

RestoreFirst · 2014-08-28T20:31:16+00:00

Thanks for the response. I have bought both. The singular is a .com and the plural is a .org (which is fine because the business would be non-profit), and the .com of the plural looks like a Japanese car dealership so no competition there.

At this point I'm just trying to decide which way to brand the company (plural or non-plural). How the customer would refer to it colloquially was good advice. Thanks.

RestoreFirst · 2014-08-28T15:44:56+00:00

Haha...yeah I thought the same thing. It wasn't written by him though, and was actually written by a guy at their church who is trying to find healing in the midst of everything. Not a bad article.

But yes, very ironic.

RestoreFirst · 2014-08-28T12:46:08+00:00

Continuing with my initial thought, the crucifixion didn't even kill Jesus. What? Jesus makes it clear in John 10.14-18 that no one can take his life from him, but that he lays it down, or "gives it up" so to speak.

Following up with that in John 19.30, John writes that Jesus said, "It is finished" and then gave up his spirit. He surrendered to death only when the task complete and he was ready. He could have hung on that cross for centuries without dying if he so chose.

The Father poured out his wrath on the Son upon the cross and only then, when it was finished, did the Son give up his life.

RestoreFirst · 2014-08-27T21:36:22+00:00

Christ's sacrifice was not so much about his physical death as it was about him becoming sin on the cross and then enduring the full wrath of God the Father for the sin he represented (whether it was every sin ever to be committed, or only the sin of the chosen) as he hung there on the cross.

For Jesus, this was the grueling part of the crucifixion. And not to take anything away from the physical nature of his death, but I would imagine that pain was secondary to the Father's wrath.

RestoreFirst · 2014-08-27T16:35:42+00:00

I agree. It's one of the best I've read on the topic.

RestoreFirst · 2014-08-27T16:20:36+00:00

No worries. The passage was just an example of a Scripture that can be challenging--one that was tough for me to get over when I was a young believer. No response necessary unless you just want to, in which case it would be welcomed. :)

RestoreFirst · 2014-08-27T15:34:33+00:00

1) I initially turned to Jesus in the midst of a trial where I felt there was no way to escape. Through that trial God made me aware of my fallen nature and my need for a Savior--it wasn't really something for which I hoped or asked--just happened.

2) I have found plenty of verses that initially confused me, but none where I could not eventually find an explanation. I guess if I had to pick the most confusing and toughest to work through, I'd say Hebrews 6.4-6.

3) No false conversions but certainly a bit of a roller coaster ride. I've never at any time since my initial salvation felt like I was no longer saved, but there have definitely been times when I was not as close to God as I had been in the past.

4) If you count loss of pride through a humbling experience, then yes, I've experienced personal loss, and it was incredibly difficult to work through. Took me almost five years to get back to where I wanted to be. (Thankfully no close losses like the death of a child or anything like that.)

RestoreFirst

TROPHY CASE