The Wrath to Come

Matthew 3:7 

It is pleasant to pass over a country after a storm has spent itself; to smell the freshness of the herbs after the rain has passed away, and to note the drops while they glisten like purest diamonds in the sunlight. That is the position of a Christian. He is going through a land where the storm has spent itself upon his Saviour's head, and if there be a few drops of sorrow falling, they distil from clouds of mercy, and Jesus cheers him by the assurance that they are not for his destruction. 

But how terrible is it to witness the approach of a tempest: to note the forewarnings of the storm; to mark the birds of heaven as they droop their wings; to see the cattle as they lay their heads low in terror; to discern the face of the sky as it groweth black, and look to the sun which shineth not, and the heavens which are angry and frowning! How terrible to await the dread advance of a hurricane-such as occurs, sometimes, in the tropics-to wait in terrible apprehension till the wind shall rush forth in fury, tearing up trees from their roots, forcing rocks from their pedestals, and hurling down all the dwelling-places of man! 

And yet, sinner, this is your present position. No hot drops have as yet fallen, but a shower of fire is coming. No terrible winds howl around you, but God's tempest is gathering its dread artillery. As yet the water-floods are dammed up by mercy, but the flood-gates shall soon be opened: the thunderbolts of God are yet in his storehouse, but lo! the tempest hastens, and how awful shall that moment be when God, robed in vengeance, shall march forth in fury! 

Where, where, where, O sinner, wilt thou hide thy head, or whither wilt thou flee? O that the hand of mercy may now lead you to Christ! He is freely set before you in the gospel: his riven side is the rock of shelter. 

Thou knowest thy need of him; believe in him, cast thyself upon him, and then the fury shall be overpast for ever. 

  Sent from the Morning and Evening Devotional, by Charles Spurgeon. For devotionals like this one for your iPhone, visit us at 43rdElement.com

Grace, Freedom, Laughter! 

Welcome - February 24, 2013

Welcome to Dakota Community Church

Grace, Freedom, Laughter

Good morning!

Today we are continuing our journey through the Book of Ephesians wrapping up the pastor - teacher ministry gift.

Enjoy the service and please follow along in the scriptures using the links below.

Scripture for today’s sermon:

Ephesians 4:1-16;  Acts 17:1-3; Acts 28:23-24; Luke 10:16; Acts 4:18-20; Psalm 2:1-4; Genesis 22:14 

 

Sunday Morning Preview - February 24, 2013

This Sunday morning at DCC we will complete our study of the fourth and final of the ministry gifts - pastor teacher, with a look at the pastoral requirements pertaining to correctly handling and preaching the Word of God. 

Emphasis on correct doctrinal teaching makes perfect sense considering the fact that Christians are entirely dependent on the Bible for everything related to salvation, faith and life. 

What exactly is meant by “sound doctrine” and how can we know if a pastor is teaching it or not?

What’s the big deal if a pastor is preaching non-biblical topics as long as they are helpful, or if he is reading things into the text that are not there, or even if he is supporting his points with passages of scripture that are actually unrelated to the point he is making? 

I hope you will join me this Sunday for what is sure to be a refreshing time in the Word of God. 

Welcome to DCC

Welcome to Dakota Community Church

Grace, Freedom, Laughter

Good morning!

Today we are continuing our journey through the Book of Ephesians looking at  the pastor - teacher ministry gift.

Enjoy the service and please follow along in the scriptures using the links below.

Scripture for today's sermon:

Ephesians 4:1-16; Acts 20:17,18, 28-30; 1 Peter 5:1-4; 1Timothy 2:5-7; Matthew 28:16-20;1Timothy 3:1-3; Titus 1:7-8; Hebrews 13:17; Acts 17:1-3; Acts 28:23-24; Judges 16:4-6  

 

Grace, Freedom, Laughter! 

Sunday Morning Preview - February 17, 2013

The plan for this Sunday morning at DCC is to begin a study of the fourth and final of the Ephesians 4 ministry gifts - pastor teacher.

A few of the issues I hope to address include:

Why combine the two terms, pastor and teacher into one category?
What is the primary roll of the pastor and how is it to be accomplished?
The Bible details high standards for those who would be elders or overseers in the church, who can meet these standards and how?
Are pastors and/or elders to be obeyed by those they care for and if obedience is a requirement, are there exceptions to the rule and are there conditions that must be met by those in leadership rolls? 

I hope you will join me this Sunday for what is sure to be a refreshing time in the Word of God. 

Pastor Dan

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

2 Kings 25:30

Jehoiachin was not sent away from the king's palace with a store to last him for months, but his provision was given him as a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the Lord's people. A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not need tomorrow's supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet; if we have enough for each day as the days arrive we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day's supply of food and raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveller, but a bundle of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a feast, but is all that the greatest glutton can truly enjoy. This is all that we should expect; a craving for more than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more, we should be content with his daily allowance. Jehoiachin's case is ours, we have a sure portion, a portion given us of the king, a gracious portion, and a perpetual portion. Here is surely ground for thankfulness.

Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you. In the word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God you shall receive renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you. Then enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy. 

  Sent from the Morning and Evening Devotional, by Charles Spurgeon. For devotionals like this one for your iPhone, visit us at 43rdElement.com

Grace, Freedom, Laughter! 

The War Within

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.1 John 3:4

We are all sinners, and at times we all fall into sin. But when true Christians fall, they soon come back, turn around, and struggle against the sin so that they won't offend their neighbor. To illustrate, it's difficult to avoid being wounded in times of war. Yet it's an honor if one stands up to fight again. But it's a disgrace if someone retreats. Similarly, even if Christians are completely surrounded by sin, they should still fight against it. Some people think they're Christians because they've been baptized. These people give their desires free rein and don't care about conquer- ing their sins. They merely follow their own cravings.

Committing sin comes from following the enticement and desire to sin. Many give these sinful desires free rein. They don't want to repent or stand up to fight again. Today they commit adultery; tomorrow they want to live purely. It's impossible for these people to avoid offending their neighbor. If they don't offend them by something they do, then they certainly will by neglecting what they ought to do for their neighbor.

An important part of Christianity is love, and love is not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:5). Insisting on our own way is not loving our neighbor, but following our own desires. So not showing love is the same as being disobedient. Those who aren't pure, who don't struggle daily against themselves, will give in to sin and do wrong. Those who don't have the fruit on the inside won't show it on the outside toward their neighbor. If we have not died to ourselves so that we can disregard our own desires, how can we seek what's best for others?

From Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional by Martin Luther, James C. Galvin. ©2005 by Zondervan. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced without written permission from Zondervan, 5300 Patterson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49530. Sent from the Martin Luther's Faith Alone Devotional. For devotionals like this one for your iPhone, visit us at 43rdElement.com

Grace, Freedom, Laughter! 

Sunday February 10, 2013

Welcome to Dakota Community Church

Grace, Freedom, Laughter

Good morning!

Today we are continuing or journey through the Book of Ephesians wrapping up our look at  the evangelist ministry gift.

Is there a correct model of church government and if so - who's right and who's wrong?

What are examples of what the Bible refers to as "disputable matters" and what are the indisputable essentials?

What is meant by "Christian liberty" and what problems arise when it is denied or abused?

Enjoy the service and please follow along in the scriptures using the links below.

Scripture for today's sermon:

Ephesians 4:1-16; Acts 21:8; 2 Timothy 4:1-6; Acts 8:5-40; Romans 14:1; 2 Peter 1:16-21; 1John 2:15-17; Colossians 2:16-17  

Sunday Morning Preview - February 10, 2013

This Sunday morning we will wrap up our look at the ministry gift of evangelists. 

There is an abundant supply of information available about this gift detailing everything from how to be certain that you have or do not have it, to what it looks like in operation or how it should be connected to the local church and the rest of the ministry gifts of Ephesians 4:11. We can study great evangelists and their work in church history and find helpful tips about various strengths and weaknesses that seem to accompany this gift in the lives of those who possess it/are called to it. The reality is, however, that the vast majority of this material is of an extra-biblical nature; it just does not appear in the pages of scripture. To that end I want to address at least a few of the following issues as they relate to the topic:

Is there a correct model of church government and if so - who’s right and who’s wrong?
What are examples of what the Bible refers to as “disputable matters” and what are the indisputable essentials?
What is meant by “Christian liberty” and what problems arise when it is denied or abused?

Hope to see you all Sunday for what is sure to be a rich time of worship, fellowship, and feasting upon the Word.

On the Progress I am Making

Presumption follows when a man sets himself to fulfill the Law with works and diligently sees to it that he does what the letter of the Law asks him to do. He serves God, does not swear, honors father and mother, does not kill, does not commit adultery, and the like. Meanwhile, however, he does not observe his heart, does not note the reason why he is leading such a good life. He does not see that he is merely covering the old hypocrite in his heart with such a beautiful life. For, if he looked at himself aright-at his own heart-he would discover that he is doing all these things with dislike and out of compulsion; that he fears hell or seeks heaven, if not also for more insignificant matters: honor, goods, health; and that he is motivated by the fear of shame or harm or diseases. In short, he would have to confess that he would rather lead a different life if the consequence of such a life did not deter him; for he would not do it merely for the sake of the Law. But because he does not see this bad reason, he lives on in security, looks only at the works, not into the heart, and so assumes that he is keeping the Law of God well. (Luther's Works, St. Louis edition, 11:81 ff)

The law demands more than I am able to give. I want to live a life that is glorifying to God and in complete obedience to His will, but every time I seem to be making progress I discover behind the scenes an impure or selfish motive, some angle I had not considered (at least not consciously) some way that I turn my righteous deeds into filthy self serving rags.

I am lost unless the perfectly obedient life I desire is lived for me by another and offered as acceptable to God in place of the life I actually live.

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Jesus, Matthew 5:48

For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:3-4

The Way to Safety

Your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:3

It is said that in the land of Canaan, cities of refuge were so arranged, that any man might reach one of them within half a day at the utmost. Even so the word of our salvation is near to us; Jesus is a present Saviour, and the way to him is short; it is but a simple renunciation of our own merit, and a laying hold of Jesus, to be our all in all. With regard to the roads to the city of refuge, we are told that they were strictly preserved, every river was bridged, and every obstruction removed, so that the man who fled might find an easy passage to the city. Once a year the elders went along the roads and saw to their order, so that nothing might impede the flight of any one, and cause him, through delay, to be overtaken and slain. How graciously do the promises of the gospel remove stumbling blocks from the way! Wherever there were by-roads and turnings, there were fixed up hand-posts, with the inscription upon them-To the city of refuge! This is a picture of the road to Christ Jesus. It is no roundabout road of the law; it is no obeying this, that, and the other; it is a straight road: Believe, and live. It is a road so hard, that no self-righteous man can ever tread it, but so easy, that every sinner, who knows himself to be a sinner may by it find his way to heaven. No sooner did the man-slayer reach the outworks of the city than he was safe; it was not necessary for him to pass far within the walls, but the suburbs themselves were sufficient protection. Learn hence, that if you do but touch the hem of Christ's garment, you shall be made whole; if you do but lay hold upon him with faith as a grain of mustard seed, you are safe.

A little genuine grace ensures

The death of all our sins.

Only waste no time, loiter not by the way, for the avenger of blood is swift of foot; and it may be he is at your heels at this still hour of eventide.

Sent from the Morning and Evening Devotional, by Charles Spurgeon. For devotionals like this one for your iPhone, visit us at 43rdElement.com

Grace, Freedom, Laughter! 

Grace at Work 12

Grace at Work 12: The ministry gifts - Evangelists - Was the gospel you received Good News?

February 3, 2013 Sermon at Dakota Community Church

False Gospels - Bad News

False gospels that are not good news:
The - Jesus gives you a second chance - gospel.
Also known as the “do over” or “mulligan” gospel. You messed up the first time but here is a clean slate from Jesus so do better this time and He’ll help - NOT GOOD NEWS!
The - Jesus gets you in - gospel.
Yes Jesus gets you in but you have to work hard and jump through certain hoops to stay in. Justification is by faith but sanctification is by works - NOT GOOD NEWS!
The - You must make Jesus Lord - gospel.
You met Jesus as savior but now you must make Him LORD.
He must be made Lord of your money, if He is not Lord of all He’s not Lord at all.
There is no Biblical directive to “Make” Jesus Lord - Jesus is LORD of all, all the time. He owns everything you have, all your money, all your gifts, all your time and talent, every breathe you ever take - All His. If you have to make Jesus Lord - NOT GOOD NEWS!
The - poor Jesus needs your help - gospel.
Jesus has big plans, He wants to do so much, Oh the dreams Jesus has for this world, even for your life, but poor Jesus cannot do anything without your help. Jesus needs you to send in a few dollars so that he can work on your behalf - NOT GOOD NEWS!

Good News: Galatians 3:1-6

It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. ² Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? ⁴ Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— ⁶ just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

Sunday February 3, 2013

Welcome to Dakota Community Church

Grace, Freedom, Laughter

Good morning!

Today we are continuing or journey through the Book of Ephesians looking at  the next ministry gift - Evangelists

What is the purpose of evangelists, is God still calling them in our generation; and if so what is the message they are to be proclaiming?

Enjoy the service and please follow along in the scriptures using the links below.

Scripture for today's sermon:

Ephesians 4:1-16; Acts 21:8; 2 Timothy 4:1-6; Acts 8:5-40  

Sunday February 3, 2013 at Dakota

This Sunday morning the plan is to dive back into the book of Ephesians right where we left off in late November, working our way through the ministry gifts, resuming with the gift of evangelists.
The term evangelist literally translated means “messenger of good”

Is the message that you have received good news - or are you laboring under something else?
How much does the Bible have to say about Church government and how these gifts are to operate together?
How about the modern “televangelist”? Is this a legitimate expression of the biblical gift? 
How many of these t.v. preachers are delivering “good news”? 

A Quick Televangelist Quiz:
Who said, "You'd be surprised how well you can praise God in the back seat of a Rolls Royce Phantom." 
Which televangelist believes the Godhead is actually nine entities?
Who was refused entry into Great Britain for being deemed “not conducive to the public good.”

I hope you will join me this Sunday for what is sure to be a refreshing time in the Word of God.