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Quotes from C.J.’s Message
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C.J. Mahaney referenced a number of quotes in his second sermon from Jude last Sunday. I wanted to share them here to help us all call to mind the great truths we’ve heard in C.J.’s two messages:
“There is simply no other way to compete with the forebodings of my conscience, the condemnings of my heart, and the lies of the world and the devil than to overwhelm such things with daily rehearsings of the gospel.”
–Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer
“... some of the most beautiful statements about God’s sustaining grace are found in Jude.” –Thomas Schreiner, The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude
“One of the most frequent one-word descriptions of the Christian in the New Testament is that he is called.”
–Sinclair Ferguson
“It is not God’s invitation to be saved, it is God’s determination to save.” –J. Alec Motyer
“Now, the reasons why no man ever started the work of grace in his own heart, are very plain and palpable: firstly, because he cannot; and secondly, because he will not. The best reason of all is because he cannot–he is dead.” –Charles Spurgeon, “The Work of the Holy Spirit,” a sermon given on November 5, 1858
“Let me refresh your memories with your calling. Was there not a day, the mementoes of which you fondly cherish, when you were called from death unto life? Fly back now to the day and hour if you can, and, if not, light upon the season thereabouts, when the great transaction took place, in which you were made Christ’s forever, by the voluntary surrender of yourself to him. In looking back, does it not strike you that your calling must have been of divine origin? The text says, ‘God called you’–does not your experience prove the same? How gracious that calling must have been since it came to you from God; came to you irresistibly, and came to you with such personal demonstration! What grace was here! What was there in you to suggest a motive why God should call you? Oh, beloved, we can hardly ask you that question without the tear rising in our own eye. Should not this calling of ours evoke our most intense gratitude, our most earnest love? Oh, if he had not called thee, where hadst thou been tonight? Who am I–what should I have been if the Lord, in mercy, had not stopped me in my mad career! This was a kind and gracious call, when we consider what we might have been.” –Charles Spurgeon
[C.J. said] “I heard John Piper reference the following description of conversion by one of the elders in his church: ‘The Lord saved me from a life of drugs, crime and adultery—at the age of 6.’”
“People commonly view God as distant, wrathful, and angry about sin, ‘always angry’ and so ‘implacable’ that no creature would dare draw near to him. Though it is understandable that those outside the faith fear God in this way, these emotions often persist in the believer’s conception of the Father.” –John Owen
“If the believer ought not to view the Father as simply wrathful and angry, why is this so common among Christians? Owen argues that much of the problem stems from believers uncertainty about the Father’s attitude toward them. Believers may easily imagine Jesus concern and the comforting work of the Spirit, but the Father seems distant and angry. An example of this may be seen in the disciples response as they learn of Jesus coming departure (John 16:26-28). Although they are secure in Jesus compassionate commitment to them, his coming ascension turns the disciple’s thoughts toward the Father, and Jesus perceives their uneasiness. Owen deduces that this is why when Jesus prays to the Father for his disciples, he adds the clarification, ‘for the Father himself loveth you.’ Jesus is assuring his disciples that the Father does not need to be persuaded to love them, for indeed love is the Father’s ‘peculiar respect towards you.’ While Jesus does pray and the Spirit brings comfort, these are not the causes but the fruit of the Father’s love … Owen claims that until this truth is fully grasped, disciples in all ages will hesitate to hold communion with the Father.” —Kelly Kapic, Communion with the Triune God
“Every Christian can say, ‘I am loved by my Father.’” –Peter Davids
“The greatest sorrow and burden you can lay on the Father, the greatest unkindness you can do to him, is not to believe that he loves you.” –John Owen, Communion with God
“Then go to the blood of Christ! There is always comfort ... Go ... to the blood of Christ, that is, if we find sin upon our consciences, if we find not peace in our consciences, nor sanctification in our hearts, go to the blood of Christ … As we say of the mother and the child both hold but the safety of the child is that the mother holds him.”
–Richard Sibbes, Commentary on 2 Corinthians 1:22
“God brought you to Christ.” –Bruce Demarest
February 23 2010 at 6:25 pm
Love Those Cougars!
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I am so proud of our Covenant Life School varsity boys and girls basketball teams who BOTH won their championship games last Saturday night! Go Cougars! See photos and video below, and a write-up from Kris Marcantonio, the Middle School Principal and Athletic Director at CLS.
Cougars Sweep Basketball Championships
What a memory! Roughly 500 screaming fans dressed in black and gold were on hand at American University’s Bender Arena this past Saturday night to watch the Covenant Life School boys and girls varsity basketball teams win back-to-back championship games.
The Lady Cougars, behind third-year head coach Dave Marable, led for most of the game and held on for a 49-46 victory. As they’ve done all year, Dominique Seamon and Kristen Mstowski (tournament MVP) led the way in scoring, and Brielle Knowlton came strong during the final quarter to seal the win. The girls came into their fourth championship game in five years with an undefeated conference schedule and brought home their ninth conference basketball banner. The team is coached by Wayne Cates, Taylor Ferry, and Anna Marable.
The boys, led by third-year head coach Jim Lutz, came into their first conference championship game in nine years as the underdogs but rose to the challenge with Daniel Ferry and J.D. Garris (tournament MVP) leading the team in scoring. The guys refused to buckle under pressure in an intense game where Nick Riddlesburger and Andrew Melrose made key shots to hold onto a 61-58 win and bring home the first boys’ championship banner.
The boys are also coached by Bob Ferry. Both teams compete in the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC).
What really sets these players apart, though, is their humility and servanthood. Josh highlighted this on Sunday morning when he referred to seeing one of the boy varsity players serving on the parking crew the morning after the championship win. Thank you to all the players, coaches, and fans for representing the Savior so well during the season and the championship games. We are grateful for the opportunity to play sports to the glory of God!
February 22 2010 at 4:00 am
Jude: Called to Contend, Part 2
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Yesterday C.J. Mahaney preached his second message on Jude. Last Sunday he preached from the first two verses, and yesterday he took on the rest, focusing on how we as believers are called to “contend for the faith” and “contend for the heart.”
Options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an mp3.
• A summary outline in PDF format
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life:
1. Why is it important for the church to contend for the purity of the gospel? What are the consequences to God’s people and the church of allowing additions, subtractions or alterations to the gospel of grace?
2. How much time are you devoting each day to preaching the gospel to yourself? How can this daily practice build up your faith and fan into flame your affection and love for God?
3. Are you experiencing a season of waiting, like waiting for an answer to prayer or waiting for relief in a season of suffering? How can “waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 21) bolster your trust in the faithful, merciful, preserving grace of God?
4. Has neglect of keeping yourself in the love of God left you in a spiritual “sinkhole”? At the bottom, are you aware of the One who convicts, forgives and promises unchanging love and preserving grace? What can you do today to repent and return to the Lord?
5. Whether you are experiencing blessing or suffering, how can the truth of God’s preserving grace transform your perspective of each circumstance and encourage your trust and faith?
February 16 2010 at 4:55 pm
Photos from Uganda Trip
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Wasn’t it great on Sunday to hear Isaac Hydsoki share about the Uganda mission trip and to hear how God used the team? Here are some more photos of the trip I received from photographer Jenny James:
Also, check out another brief slideshow that was posted here on the site a couple weeks back.
February 15 2010 at 4:00 am
Jude: Called to Contend, Part 1
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Yesterday C.J. Mahaney preached the first of two messages from the book of Jude. He especially focused on unpacking v.1b:
“To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ”
Options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an mp3.
• A summary outline in PDF format
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life.
1. Has “AMAZING GRACE” diminished to “amazing grace”? Do you need to remember that God summoned and called you? Do you need to reflect on where you would be if God had not called you? By way of remembrance, take some time to share your testimony with your family, friends or care group.
2. Do you think “hard thoughts” about God the Father—that He is angry wrathful and distant? How can you begin to replace those wrong thoughts with thoughts that in all things God is good, gracious and loving toward you?
3. Are you uncertain about the disposition of the Father’s heart of love toward you? How can reflecting on God’s call and on Calvary help you to see God’s personal and particular love for YOU?
4. What do you fear or worry about? Your finances, your job, your health, your family, the future, etc? How can the truth that you are “kept for Jesus Christ” fill you with faith and hope, regardless of your circumstances or the uncertainty of the future?
February 1 2010 at 8:23 am
Undone by a Glorious God
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What a great service we had Sunday! We officially welcomed into our church 176 new members who have joined in the last eight months. And Jon Smith preached a powerful message on the holiness and glory of God as described in Isaiah’s vision of the Lord seated on his throne. His text was Isaiah 6:1-7.
Options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an mp3.
• Download a summary outline in PDF format.
• Use the following questions for further reflection and application to your life.
1. Listening to Jon’s message, did you realize you had big thoughts of yourself and small thoughts of God? How can you cultivate big thoughts of God and little thoughts of yourself?
2. Jon taught us that each day we are eager to find something that is going to satisfy and delight us. Is God your supreme delight and satisfaction, or has something or someone else replaced Him? How can you return to your first love?
3. When you take time to reflect on God’s holiness, how do you respond? Is God’s holiness both awesome and attractive to you? Does His holiness call forth worship?
4. Why can sinful men and women encounter a holy God without being consumed or destroyed in an instant?
5. What can you do to cultivate a fresh passion for your infinitely beautiful and holy God?