Agape Films Webpage

Monday, June 28 2010 01:22 Written by Dan Souther

Agape Films 2010 now has its own webpage at agapefilms.923gospel.com!

back in the saddle

Tuesday, January 05 2010 17:30 Written by Administrator

It feels like it has been way too long since I was granted the opportunity to open the Word on a Wednesday night. I don't particularly like the break. I feel a bit out of whack. No good.

The God who does as He pleases

Monday, November 16 2009 02:01 Written by Administrator

by Dan Souther

How Perfectly God knows how to deal with us! Time and time again through my life this is shown to be true. We are weak, arrogant sinners and God knows it better than we do. Thankfully He faithfully deals with us and brings us along to maturity.

Joe Cornelius has the young adults starting up in Daniel and he told us to read it twice before tomorrow. Every time I go through the first few chapters I am always amazed at the way God deals with Nebuchadnezzar. He takes a pagan man, the most powerful person in the world, the ruler of the greatest kingdom this world has yet seen, and humbles that man to recognize that He, the God of Israel, is the Most High God who rules over the realm of mankind.

God began by making Himself known through Daniel revealing and interpreting Neb's first dream in a supernatural way, God told Daniel what was in Neb's mind!! Neb respond with,

Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.

Then, when Neb gets out of place and creates a huge golden statue (only the head was gold Neb…) and Hananiah Mishael and Azariah (why are children not taught the Hebrew names?) refuse to bow down. Neb gets furious, tells them, "…what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?" and throws them into the furnace. When he sees ther're not burnt up, and in fact there are four men (didn't I throw three in?) Neb responds,

…there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.

Then my favorite, Neb has another dream, and of course the pagan magicians aren't worth anything, so Daniel interprets his dream. Neb is going to be turned into a beast for 7 years, until he recognizes that God is the one who sets up kings and can take the least of men and make them great. Daniel pleads with Neb to humble himself and repent so that this might not come upon him, but…. 1 year later Neb exalts himself and God immediately speaks to him and drives him away from men.

A peice of what God told him before,

seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.

Neb's response after,

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’

It is fascinating to look at how God dealt with Nebuchadnezzar, and it makes Proverbs 21:1 all the more vivid in my mind.

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.

It is not a difficult thing for God, He is truly the Most High God, who does as He pleases

Getting the word out

Thursday, October 15 2009 09:59 Written by Administrator

(This is not a usual blog post but rather a note addressed to parents. It is posted here to communicate this same message on all fronts and get the word out to our people what we do in our youth ministry.)

Beloved Parents, and fellow Pilgrims,

Parenting is a daunting task. It is a huge, scary, lifelong commitment. There are so many pitfalls, so many sinners who try to entice, so many who want us to join them in their self seeking endeavors. I am convinced that our young ones are the age group that is most specifically sought out and targeted by the enemy. In a battle like this, a battle for eternal destiny, allies are welcome.

This is the goal of our youth ministry. We seek to assist you as parents in the role of raising a disciple of Christ. As a parent myself these days I feel with you more than ever. When your child chooses sin and chooses to walk off the path of righteousness, I hurt with you. I lose sleep over those who wander away. I also rejoice when I see one of your children embrace the life of Christ. I rejoice when I watch one of them come alive to the Word. Now, granted I do not feel these emotions as deeply as you, but I do certainly feel them. And I seek to labor with you. I seek to be your ally and aid. I work to faithfully reveal the narrow way through the accurate teaching of God’s Word. I strive to be your ally in reinforcing the lessons you are teaching your children. I seek to be your ally in teaching them to be respectful of the authorities in their lives, and to honor their father and mother.

With such things as these in mind I bring this note to you. This is an effort to keep you informed and involved in the spiritual development of your child. I want you to be fully aware of what we have available to aid you in your quest to raise a man or woman of God:

1. a Bible reading plan

- a 52 week bible reading plan posted in the high school (HS) room

- pick up the plan, walk thru it with your child, do it with them, open the Word with them

2. a Scripture memory system

- lead by Ivan Romine on Sunday mornings in Sunday School

- I have found that we have strayed from this basic discipline over the years and so now we are trying to address the need

3. Know the Word cards

- these simple cards (the size of a business card) have basic how-to-be-saturated-in-the-Word steps to take

- these are in the HS room

4. the youth group blog http://svc-nine23.blogspot.com/

- this will keep you informed as to what is going on with the youth group in our teaching

- I hope you can use this as a possible talking point with your child, to let you know what they are learning and hearing from the leaders of this youth ministry.

- this site has bible study links, bible college links, pop culture filtering links, youth calendar, permission forms, youth worker profiles, link to the Facebook page, event photos, hundreds of articles and posts, the youth group Youtube page, a gospel presentation link, etc

5. the youth group Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49162339309

- this will keep you informed as to the activities and events of the youth group (the who, when, what and where)

6. a youth ministry pamphlet (posted in the HS room)

- this spells out the gospel

- and presents the presuppositional approach to evangelism

- and lines out the basics of what we do

7. the SVC website with resources galore from our Sr. Pastor http://www.svchapel.org/

- the church site also has all the necessary links for all things concerning our youth ministry. This is found at the “youth” tab http://www.svchapel.org/ministries/youth-ministries

8. events going on all the time

- weekly functions like Thursday night Bible Studies, Prayer Breakfast, Wednesday night class, Sunday School

- monthly events like the Fall party, Sunday evening food/fellowships, New Years, Youth Retreats, etc

9. and personal counseling

- this is available all the time

- and specifically in the month of Septmeber, annually

> this I call “maintenance counseling” – nothing is wrong, we (Priscila & I) are just seeing how to stimulate them on to love and good deeds, as well as helping them to establish good habits of bible study, prayer and relationships.

With all of these things there is more to be said – please ask anytime for further elaboration.

Along with this I have a variety of books that I would commend to you all as parents:

· Age of Opportunity – Tripp

· Shepherding a child’s heart – Tripp

· War of Words – Paul Tripp

· Instructing a Child’s Heart – Tedd Tripp

· Humility, true greatness – C.J. Mahney

· Uprooting Anger – Robert Jones

· Heart of Anger – Lou Priolo

· Practicing Proverbs – Richard Mayhue

· Thoughts for Young Men – J.C. Ryle

· What the Bible Says about Parenting – J. Macarthur

· Successful Christian Parenting – J. Macarthur

· Family Based Youth Ministry – Devries

· The Myth of A.D.D. Biblically Redefined – Andrew George & Lindsay Pretious

· Not Even a Hint – Josh Harris

· The Answers Book 1 & 2 – Ken Ham

· Think Biblically – Macarthur

And of a slightly different variety:

· Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business – Neil Postman

· The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager – Thomas Hine

And finally, a sermon series that I cannot say enough about that I would recommend to anyone:

· The Fulfilled Family – J. Macarthur sermon series http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermon+Series/52

I hope all of this communicates a level of love and concern, as well as a desire to assist you in this great task you have been entrusted with by our LORD. I want to make these things known and available to you as you seek to make the most of your time with your children and in this life.

Much love,

Brian Gilley

Get Ryle'd Up

Wednesday, October 14 2009 09:46 Written by Administrator

Thoughts for Young Men
by J.C. Ryle

General Counsels to Young Men:
Never make an intimate friend of anyone who is not a friend of God.

Understand me, I do not speak of acquaintances. I do not mean that you ought to have nothing to do with anyone but true Christians. To take such a line is neither possible nor desirable in this world. Christianity requires no man to be discourteous.

But I do advise you to be very careful in your choice of friends. Do not open all your heart to a man merely because he is clever, agreeable, good-natured, and kind. These things are all very well in their way, but they are not everything. Never be satisfied with the friendship of any one who will not be useful to your soul.

Believe me, the importance of this advice cannot be overrated. There is no telling the harm that is done by associating with godless companions and friends. The devil has few better helps in ruining a man's soul. Grant him this help, and he cares little for all the armor with which you may be armed against him. Good education, early habits of morality, sermons, books, all, he knows well, will avail you little, if you will only cling to ungodly friends. You may resist many open temptations, refuse many plain snares; but once you take up a bad companion, and he is content. That awful chapter which describes Amnon's wicked conduct about Tamar, almost begins with these words, "Now Amnon had a friend, a very shrewd man" (2 Samuel 13:3).

You must remember, we are all creatures of imitation: precept may teach us, but it is example that draws us. There is that in us all, that we are always disposed to catch the ways of those with whom we live; and the more we like them, the stronger does the disposition grow. Without our being aware of it, they influence our tastes and opinions; we gradually give up what they dislike, and take up what they like, in order to become closer friends with them. And, worst of all, we catch their ways in things that are wrong far quicker than in things that are right. Health, unhappily, is not contagious, but disease is. It is far more easy to catch a chill than to impart a warmth; and to make each other's religion dwindle away, than grow and prosper.

Young men, I ask you to take these things to heart. Before you let any one become your constant companion, before you get into the habit of telling him everything, and going to him with all your troubles and all your pleasures--before you do this, just think of what I have been saying; ask yourself, "Will this be a useful friendship to me or not?"

"Bad company" does indeed "corrupt good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33). I wish that text were written in the hearts of all young men. Good friends are among our greatest blessings; they may keep us away from much evil, remind us of our course, speak an appropriate word at the right time, draw us upward, and draw us on. But a bad friend is a burden, a weight continually dragging, us down, and chaining us to earth. Keep company with an unsaved man, and it is more than probable you will in the end become like him. that is the general consequence of all such friendships. The good go down to the bad, and the bad do not come up to the good. The world's proverb is only too correct: "Clothes and company tell true tales about character." "Show me who a man lives with and I will show you what he is."

I dwell upon this point, because it has more to do with your prospects in life than first appears. If you ever marry, it is more than probable you will choose a wife from among your circle of friends or their acquaintances. If Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram had not formed a friendship with Ahab's family, he would most likely not have married Ahab's daughter. And who can estimate the importance of a right choice in marriage? It is a step which, according, to the old saying, "either makes a man or ruins him." Your happiness in both lives may depend on it. Your wife must either help your soul or harm it. She will either fan the flame of Christianity in your heart, or throw cold water upon it, and make it burn low. She will either be, wings or handcuffs, an encouragement or an hindrance to your Christianity, according to her character. He that finds a good wife does indeed "finds a good thing;" so if you have the desire to find one, be very careful how you choose your friends.

Do you ask me what kind of friends you should choose? Choose friends who will benefit your soul, friends whom you can really respect, friends whom you would like to have near you on your deathbed, friends who love the Bible, and are not afraid to speak to you about it, friends that you would not be ashamed of having at the coming of Christ, and the day of judgment. Follow the example that David sets for you: he says, "I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts" (Psalm 119:63). Remember the words of Solomon: "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm" (Proverbs 13:20). But depend on it, bad company in this life, is the sure way to procure worse company in the life to come.

necessity of holiness

Friday, September 25 2009 14:56 Written by Administrator

"It is not absolutely necessary that you should be great or rich in this world; but it is absolutely necessary that you should be holy: it is not absolutely necessary that sou should enjoy health, strength, friends, liberty, life; but is is absolutely necessary that you should be holy, A man may see the Lord without worldly prosperity, but he can never see the Lord except he be holy."

- Thomas Brooks, 1662

love for Christ

Sunday, August 16 2009 08:50 Written by Administrator

"Of all the things that will surprise us in the resurrection morning, this, I believe, will surprise us the most: that we did not love Christ more before we died."

- J.C. Ryle

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