“ Very helpful material! ” Contact, communication, candor, constancy, and love . . . the essential elements of meaningful, intimate, constructive friendship. Face-to-face contact to be preferred; time must be set aside for friendship; disclosure of one's thoughts, dreams, troubles, challenges needed; retreat, withdrawal, avoidance not to be practised; initiative to be taken; truthfulness always--and this does not mean indiscretion or haste, but it does preclude all disingenuousness; loyalty required . . . and Jesus Christ's friendship with his disciples the example for us.
“ Wise Foundations ” The foundations of friendship in the nature of God: God is triune. In the creation of man: not good for Adam to be alone. Sin destroys friendships; but sin also underscores the vital need for friendships. In a world of sin with sinful hearts we need to have and to be faithful friends who "exhort one another daily . . . lest anyone be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Lonerism isn't biblical or safe. A powerful biblical incentive to do the work of biblical friendship.
“ Great Sermon! ” I'm a hardened man and not easily moved but this brought me to tears, it's time to re-evaluate life as to what's more important. Thanks for this.
“ Great Sermon! ” The' elect' knows there are only two gospels in the whole world One of 'GRACE' and one of 'WORKS' Mel Gibson's passion movie was his great work. I will pray the LORD will grant him grace. Pastor Martin's sermons always searches out the whole truth for us, the 'Spurgeon' for our time.
“ Spiritual Integrity ” I simply cannot tell you how many times I have listened to, and been challenged by this faithful proclamation of God's truth by such an able preacher. I make it a point to present every new father in our fellowship with a copy on disc and pray that God will keep it's contents open before them while they enjoy the privilege that effective fatherhood can be.
“ Great Sermon! ” Thank you brother in Christ for the labors put into the preaching God's Holy Word. May the Lord continue to remind me of the mercy and grace which He has shown to me a sinner. Praise God for the Lord Jesus Christ my Savior.
“ Nothing Quite Like It ” Even though I have the humble privilege of being this dear man's neighbor,computer tutor, and good friend, his preaching still rips my heart to ribbons, and lays me in the dust crying out, Oh God, I am undone, I am undone. Please God give us a handful of preachers like this. Without a doubt Christ gives gifts to His church.
“ IM IN AWE ” Im in Awe how listening to GOD speak through Brother Al preach over the last 6 months sermons from the early years and more present has touched my life in a blesset way .
“ Wonderful Sermon! ” So many excellent points -- so powerfully preached! Rev. Martin said the pastor's regular personal devotions and practical piety in his own home are foundational to solid and effective preaching. He also said the Pastor must be motivated first by a desire to glorify God (in the pulpit) and provide helpful application (which will be easy to do for the shepherd who truly loves and desires the sanctification of his sheep). He concluded by stating that contemporary Reformed preaching (in 1967) did not always accurately define true biblical faith and repentance. A great sermon as true today as the day it was preached!
“ Great Sermon! ” Excellent and True...
Thank God for Blessing you with these insights. Ministry is for the Called and Anointed...
A lesson over 30 years old and still relavant today...Thanks Pastor Martin
Sincerely
DerrickMitchellMinistry@SermonAudio.com
“ Great Sermon! ” Should there be another hundred years before Christ returns, this sermon will be as relevant as the day it was preached. Simply fantastic!
“ Convicting Sermon ” This message is very convicting. My flesh has been struggling with wanting to wear pants again as well not being careful with how tight my clothing has been. It helped my spirit return to what is righteous unto God. Thank you Pastor Martin and Sermon Audio for providing the means for us to hear the message.
Mrs. G in The Lone Star State
“ Great Sermon! ” Looking for something to show my mother who has dementia, has always gone to Church (Missionary's in Africa for 40+ yrs). She can't get to Church physically now, so trying to bring it to her room in the home. This is the 1st sermon I have tried to download & I listened to it first to be sure it was Biblical & suitable as well for her. It was brilliantly done & taught me a lot. Thanks for making it possible.
“ Irreverence: The Mark of Modern Christianity ” Mark this, that after 40 years since this was first preached, to a previous generation--just after the rebellious 1960s, when a false and loose Christianity infiltrated through youth movements--this present generation is even worse! Truly, "there is no fear of God before their eyes", even in churches and among professing Christians. The speaker marks that only those who have a fear of God are his true children, true Christians in scripture! This is what is wrong with Modern Christianity and more noteworthy in New Calvinism. Where is reverence of God and authority in these days of disrespectfulness, loose or silly talk and dress, and disobedience to parents, or parents acting foolish and childish, a virtual anarchy in society, even among Christians? "The fear of the Lord, which is (only) the beginning (not the end) of wisdom". Irreverence is a mark of hypocritical professors, the unconverted, and a sign of apostasy. Should we keep company with such, or call them true churches or "brothers" then? A sharp contrast is made in this message, and there is reason to fear how prevalent this is.
4/3/12 9:56 AM
