Great Sermon, but... The pastor's message showed his keen observation and strength in resisting the extreme bombardment of sin in today's society. His strong devotion to God is clear! However, I did not appreciate his use of some slurs such as "f*g" and "f****t" in reference to homosexuals. While Christians obviously do not agree with the lifestyle, use of such slurs is totally offensive and inappropriate. Like many Christians, this pastor perhaps needs to be reminded of God's command to "love the sinner but hate the sin". Otherwise, great sermon!
Great Sermon! You must decide how sovereign
is God, as revealed by the Bible. Absolutely
sovereign or with a reduced sovereignty
You must decide when and where and if the more limited sense of otherwise universal terms apply. You must, especially decide if they apply to the substitutionary of Jesus Christ. Such a decision will greatly color your perception of the Cross and if it really can save your soul from hell or can be frustrated in its design by the fickleness of the human will
You must decide how effective the Cross was meant to be. Where do you want to limit the Cross - in its scope and so be able to say that it was 100% successful in its power or do you want to severely limit its success and confess that there are men now in hell suffering for sins for which Christ has already suffered
You must decide whether God or man effectively makes the first move in salvation. Calvinists start and finish with God. Non Calvinists start with man.
You must decide whether man can
freely of his own free will decide for Christ or is he
totally helpless - really blind, deaf, lost etc., -
and must altogether rely on the free grace of God.
Out of Hollywood Babylon An outstanding sermon that 99% of pastors would never preach because they themselves have large-screen televisions and DVD libraries filled with worldly movies. I especially appreciated your exposing the "good, clean" movies and TV shows of yesteryear as shot through with humanism and new age ideologies. I myself am a former Trekkie and fan of retro-television who has renounced it as a spirit-eroding time waster. Yes, we are in a battle, and the enemy delights to see God's professed people sidelined into inactivity by Hollywood's bread and circuses. I would enjoy hearing your critique of television news, which has degenerated into info-tainment with soap opera elements. Instead of facts and information, it's focused on "celebrity" personalities, tawdry sex scandals and tantalizing cliffhangers to keep the viewers hanging on through the crass commercials and tuning in tomorrow. News addiction and the idolizing of newscasters like Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly et al. is a problem plaguing Christians, but one seen as a civic virtue. Thanks you again, Pastor Reed, for another uncompromised teaching. May it find ears that will hear.
Another 'Right On' Message!! This was another great message defending the King James Bible that encouraged me with the truth. Supporters of modern false versions (NIV, NASB, NKJV, Living Bible, NRSV, NCV, NEB, etc.) always have to attack the accuracy or validity of the 1611 King James Bible in order to support their false perversion. I would not want to stand before Almighty God having done so!
Finally the Truth!! It was so refreshing to hear this sermon about Calvinism. I love how Pastor Reed refuses to get pigeon-holed into Calvin vs. Arminian, he simply uses the Word of God and many Scriptures in this message. It is indeed a great message to give out to people, not too deep or overwhelming, just a nice, thorough presentation exposing the falsehood inherent in the doctrinal system known as Calvinism. Thank you, Pastor Reed!
Truthful! Thanks for once more addressing a pet sin of contemporary Christianity. The world is too much with us, but perhaps if more pastors would preach the truth the Lord would be pleased to grant us a revival. Continue to lead the way!
A Countercultural Message Christians Need to Hear! Amen to all you've said, Pastor Reed, and you said so much in a short span of time. An incontrovertible challenge to professing Christians. I can't imagine anyone refuting the truths you've brought to light here. I attend an otherwise sound IFBaptist church that sadly does just as you said--canceled the evenings service and instead offers an after-service potluck followed by a short afternoon service (with assurances that everyone will be home in time for kickoff). Sports is a secular religion, rooted in paganism and a catalyst to coarse and crude behavior. I stand amazed that so many seemingly strong believers are as swept up and away by sports mania as the worldlings swigging beer at Hooters. I believe most of our fellow saints are simply ignorant and not rebellious. As Hjalmar posted earlier, yours is a "lonely message" that few preachers have the courage to preach. As a result, most pew warmers are unaware they're sinning and shaming the gospel by feasting their eyes on this hedonistic bacchanalia held in a coliseum modeled on the Colosseum where our earliest Christian brothers were killed. Here's praying that your courageous and countercultural call for holiness and obedience finds many ears willing to hear uncomfortable but undeniable biblical truths. Press on, my brother.
Unfortunately, a Lonely Message . . . This important message by Pastor Reed is unfortunately a lonely message in the pulpit. How many are willing to preach on the nonsense which is the Superbowl, an idol in America today? Men (and women) acting like immature Junior High boys and girls over a silly game. Just like "Dancing with the Stars" and "American Idol". REPENT!! And now many pastors invite this nonsense into their 501c(3) government-sanctioned Sunday night socials clubs (i.e. "churches"), because they've forgotten how to pray to God for brokenness and sorrow over sin, and they could care less that the anniversary of legalized abortion (baby murder) occurred just a couple weeks before the Stupid Bowl. This nation is ripe for judgment!!
Great Sermon! Thank you for the encouraging message! It is good to hear from the pulpit of the value of the woman's role in the home and church. This is so undervalued in the world and even in the church today. Perhaps the value of the woman's role in the home is denigrated because the value of home and family itself is no longer appreciated. It is simply seen as too commonplace to be worthwhile. So thank you for affirming the Bible's teaching of the worth of these things!
Great Sermon! Great message! much needed, and unfortunately the blind will remain unheeded. I commend Bro. Reed for his research, clarity, and stand. Does the Bible trump CS LEWIS or does Lewis trump the Bible. I fear what the answer will be in too many hearts.