Luke Humphrey

October 22, 2021

Weekly Fighter Verse & New City Catechism (2021.10.22)

Luke Humphrey

October 22, 2021

“5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. [7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.]”

— Proverbs 3:5–6 [7]

Devotional - Hanni Moussa

These verses invite us and entice us: they invite us to turn away from the idolatry of sea-reliance and to place our trust where it belongs; and they entice by the promise that, if we do so, we will reap untold benefits—a straight path! The verses say the same thing twice using different words: relinquish control and let God be God, be truly wise by fearing Him and let that fear be manifest in how you live by turning away from evil.

When we lean on our own understanding, that is, seek to be in control of our lives, we do not acknowledge God as providentially governing our affairs. Even though we may not say this out loud or even think it explicitly but, in effect, we see ourselves wiser than God and therefore more worthy than He is to be in charge of our own paths. God is deposed and we are enthroned, and it's idolatrous. We must guard our hearts from self-reliance because it makes us into our own false gods and because it will shatter our souls as we run headlong over and over into the unshakeable walls of God's sovereign control over His world.

We are naturally very resistant to this way of thinking, especially when we suffer. But resistance is futile. It is better to suffer and surrender than to suffer and resist. Surrender opens the floodgates of God's grace, joy, and strength, and resistance only multiplies our frustration and deprives us of our greatest resource—God Himself.

The more we surrender to God, the more we receive of the straight path promise. This is not a promise of an easy, comfortable life but the promise of a path that God walks with us.

May we see this as an amazing promise of grace that is so attractive that, day by day, we trust the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our understanding.

“What is the law of God stated in the Ten Commandments?

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below—you shall not bow down to them or worship them. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. You shall not covet.”

— Question 8 (The New City Catechism)

Fighter Verses
© Truth78, fighterverses.com

New City Catechism
© Crossway, newcitycatechism.com

Luke Humphrey

July 9, 2021

Prosperity Gospel?

Why should I give money to the church?

Luke Humphrey

July 9, 2021

Prosperity Gospel?

Why should I give money to the church?

Hanni Moussa

Transcript
—

To many people, giving to the church is related to tithing. So, let me start with a side note on that. We are not under the Old Testament Law of Moses, so we are not required to tithe; that is, not required to give 10% of our income. I know that some say otherwise, and that tithing is still required of the Christian. But tithing was part of the Old Covenant and it functioned to sustain the tribe of Levite who had no portion in the land of Israel and were fully devoted to the service of the Tabernacle and, later, the Temple. None of that is in effect anymore. The author of the Hebrews says,

“In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” (Hebrews 8:13).

Paul also says in Galatians 3:24-25

“24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”

So, if we’re not required to tithe like the Old Testament, are we still required to give? The clear short New Testament answer is, yes, we are.

The New Testament commands us to give for at least three purposes:

Supporting Gospel Preachers

The preaching of the Gospel: In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul a number of word pictures to say that the Church must support those who preach the Gospel. He says,

“7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?”

They are soldiers, farmers and shepherds, and there is this expectation that they are to be sustained by the church for the work they do.

He then says goes on to say that you could see this in the Law, which says,

“8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.”

And he doesn’t stop there but add two more points to his argument, saying that there is an analogy between OT and NT ministry and, more importantly that our Lord Jesus commanded that the Church supports Gospel workers. He says,

“13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”

So, that’s the first reason, God commands us to financially support those who preach the Gospel.

Supporting the Church Elders

If we turn to 1 Timothy 5, we find another command given to the church to support the elders or pastors to do the work of shepherding, preaching and teaching. We read,

“17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

And as he did in the case of evangelists, Paul quotes the same verses from the OT and the NT to remind us that it’s always been God’s way that the God’s people provide for those labor in the ministry.

Relieving the needs of the saints

The third we read about is other believers who are in financial need either for a season because of an economic situation or elderly saints who have no other means of support.

In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul exhorts the Church at Corinth to give generously to support the Jerusalem Church that was suffering because of a famine. Amazingly, he points out that the Macedonian churches, which were very poor churches, have given so generously, their giving overflowed. I encourage you to read 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 carefully. They are very revealing as to what a Christian’s heart should be like in giving.

So, whether it’s ministry work or relieving saints in need, the NT places an obligation of love and loyalty on God’s people to give to their churches so that His work on Earth is done.

Luke Humphrey

February 22, 2021

Family Discipleship

Overcoming Barriers to Family Discipleship

Luke Humphrey

February 22, 2021

Family Discipleship

Overcoming Barriers to Family Discipleship

Hanni Moussa

recommended RESOURCES

Video Resources for the Whole Family

The Bible Project YouTube Channel: This is an excellent resource that introduces all the books of the Bible and many basic biblical concepts such as the sin, law and covenants in simple language and interesting graphics. It is easy enough for children in upper primary to follow but is also very helpful for youth and adults who need to learn the basics of Scripture content.

Video Resources for Parents

The Village Church YouTube channel

A Family Discipleship Course – The Gospel Coalition

Books

The Big Picture Story Bible

The New City Catechism

Being a Dad Who Leads, McArthur, Harvest House

A Family Guide to the Bible, Ditchfield, Crossway

Family Discipleship, Chandler and Griffin, Crossway

Luke Humphrey

February 22, 2021

Family Discipleship