Eat this Book

Read Trusting God by Jerry Bridges

“…God sometimes allows people to treat us unjustly. Sometimes He even allows their actions to seriously affect our careers or our futures viewed on the human plane. But God never allows people to make decisions about us that undermine His plan for us. God is for us, we are His children, He delights in us (Zephaniah 3:17). As the Scripture says, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ We can put this down as a bedrock truth: God will never allow any action against you that is not in accord with His will for you. And His will is always directed to our good.”


“Why then do we suffer such disappointment when the hoped for favor that we needed from another person doesn’t materialize? Why do we struggle with resentment and bitterness when someone else’s decision or action adversely affects us? Is it not because it is our plans that have been dashed, or our pride that has been wounded?” TRUSTING GOD, p. 71

G. Mark Sumpter

The Church and Politics

Teacher and Minister John Murray of Westminster Theological Seminary

HT: Justin Taylor

“When laws are proposed or enacted that are contrary to the Word of God, it is the duty of the church in proclamation and in official pronouncement to oppose and condemn them. . . . It is misconception of what is involved in the proclamation of the whole counsel of God to suppose or plead that the church has no concern with the political sphere. The church is concerned with every sphere and is obligated to proclaim and inculcate the revealed will of God as it bears upon every department of life.”

—John Murray, “The Church, Its Identity, Function, and Resources” in The Collected Writings of John Murray, vol. 1 (Banner of Truth, 1976), p. 241.

“To the church is committed the task of proclaiming the whole counsel of God and, therefore, the counsel of God as it bears upon the responsibility of all persons and institutions. While the church is not to discharge the functions of other institutions such as the state and the family, nevertheless it is charged to define what the functions of these institutions are. . . . To put the matter bluntly, the church is not to engage in politics. Its members must do so, but only in their capacity as citizens of the state, not as members of the church.”

—John Murray, “The Relation of Church and State,” in The Collected Writings of John Murray, vol. 1 (Banner of Truth, 1976), 255.

Over the years I have picketed businesses of pornography hoping to shut down such places of filth and walked city streets with Christians on Pro-Life Sunday aiming to communicate disagreement with the legalization of elective abortions of the unborn. About 25 years ago, I walked through the streets of downtown Washington, D.C. with some 18,000 taking part in evangelization of passers-by. That Walk on Washington was intended to hold forth a Christian voice to the lost. As a walk in the streets of Washington, D. C., it sought to set forth a symbolic witness before the political landscape of 1980s America.

I take the time to vote, and hopefully, with an informed opinion about the candidates. Back four-five years ago, I went to pray with a city manager.  I have responded to some appeals to Christians to register an opinion to my legislators on various matters of legislation.

Preaching, evangelism and discipleship remain key pegs upon which to hang how the church and the Christian must be salt and light; as Murray says, “The church is concerned with every sphere and is obligated to proclaim and inculcate the revealed will of God as it bears upon every department of life.”

G. Mark Sumpter

The Important Place of Memorization for Children

Teaching Sunday School by Brian Freer (Evangelical Press, 1984)

If this little book were required reading for all Sunday School teachers in every church, our children would be the better for it. Freer writes out of the conviction that our Sunday School time must be used to its fullest potential, and he has taken the time to show us how that potential can best be reached. In the first three chapters, he very encouragingly expounds and illustrates the hope that we may have in teaching our children the Bible -- it is an exciting prospect indeed! In the remaining chapters he very carefully and clearly lays out principles and practical procedures for teachers to follow in order to achieve highest success in their work. He deals with everything from the church to the teacher to the lesson preparation to the delivery to the classroom experience. A very, very useful tool for the improvement of our Sunday School and the evangelization and edification of our children. Every church should by a copy this book for each of its teachers to read, re-read, and refer to regularly until its counsel is completely absorbed.

“There is great value in memorizing lessons and especially Scripture, even when the meaning is not fully comprehended at the time. Many children have learnt by rote passages of the Bible, or the questions, answers and proof texts of a catechism, without really understanding them. The truths learned have remained dormant for years. Unconsciously such knowledge has moulded their habits and attitudes, but, even more importantly, it has represented a golden store which has been tremendous benefit in later years, after they have been born again. Memorization is not the be-all and end-all of teaching, but it should have it place. If we cannot hide God’s Word in a child’s heart, at least we can attempt to hide it in his memory. To do this is like laying the paper and sticks for a coal fire and then placing on the dark coals. The fuel is ready and when it is eventually ignited what a blaze there will be! Men of previous generations were able to use Scriptures and preach sermons of great maturity within weeks or months of their conversion. How did they acquire such a facility? The answer is that they had the Scriptures already in store!” pp. 48-49

Retired reformed Baptist minister, Brian Freer underscores the work of parenting and teaching in our children’s nurture and evangelism; and specifically he addresses how kids are sponges. They soak up facts—the who, what, when and where—of Bible knowledge. They glory in facts. God has made them this way. We ought to take advantage of this. Facts guide. Facts inform. Facts are fuel. I read earlier today of the old Puritan William Gurnall, who said: “Knowledge may make thee a scholar, but not a saint; orthodox, but not gracious.” I disagree. Children—along with adults—learn the facts of Scripture, the scholarly stores of facts. They do so for saintly reasons. How? Jesus, for example, tells us before going to a brother to remove the offensive tooth-pick out his eye, we must first remove the offensive pile of lumber out of our own. That’s a fact; it’s a specific truth we’re to memorize, know, grasp—and be able to recall. Being grounded in the plain, surface points of Matthew 7:4-5 can preserve many from hardship in interpersonal squabbles. Facts of Scripture, such knowledge, guide in saintly ways.

As to more on children from Freer, I appreciate that he sees the role between the learning stages of Grammar and Rhetoric. He writes of young children storing away Scripture and catechetical doctrine—as fuel—and when the fire starts at later stages in life, they are ready. Did you catch that? He writes, “Men of precious generations were able to use Scriptures and preach sermons of great maturity within weeks or months of their conversion. How did they acquire such a facility? The answer is that they had the Scriptures already in store!” Students well prepared are those who have been grounded in the first level of learning—the grammar of knowledge; then, later they act on that knowledge—for understanding and wisdom.

G. Mark Sumpter

Calvin on the Rocks

McNeill Edition of the Institutes, p. 255 A Calvin Crack-Up

MAN HAS NOW BEEN DEPRIVED OF FREEDOM AND CHOICE...

“The Perils of this topic: point of view established, I

1. We have now seen that the dominion of sin, from the time it held the first man bound to itself, not only ranges among all mankind, but also completely occupies individual souls. It remains for us to investigate more closely whether we have been deprived of all freedom since we have been reduced to this servitude; and, if any particle of it still survives, how far its power extends. But in order that the truth of this question may be more readily apparent to us, I shall presently set a goal to which the whole argument should be directed. The best way to avoid error will be to consider the perils that threaten man on both sides. (1) When man is denied all uprightness, he immediately takes occasion for complacency from that fact; and, because he is said to have no ability to pursue righteousness on his own, he holds all such pursuit to be of no consequence, as if it did not pertain to him at all. (2) Nothing, however slight, can be credited to man without depriving God of his honor, and without man himself falling into ruin through brazen confidence. Augustine points out both these precipices.”

Sumpter: Do you get what J.C. is saying? Two points of a dilemma. 1) You tell man he is broken, crushed, rebellious and tied up in knots, dead in sin—an altogether true biblical maxim. Man, then, says, “what gives…why try for God then?...it’s all doubt, so let’s sack out… I’m done, wake me up when it’s over….” To reverse paraphrase Robert Schuller, old Crystal Cathedral Bobby, of the 80s, “Since man is all scars, then, forget the stars.” That’s dilemma side one. Now, 2. If you tell men about seeking God; if you grab a kettle and metal spoon and start clanging into the tomb and Lazarus rolls over and hits the snooze button to get up and listen for the VOICE, then----you give man some brownie points. He’ll say, “Look, the water is not that bad after all… and….. “Look Mom, no hands…” or “Whadda mean depravity…I can hear the voice of God blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back….” J. C. says, give man an eyelash of self-generated strength and he’ll take the industrial strength biceps of Ray Lewis of the Ravens for good-credit, heaven-bound righteousness …. “…nothing can be credited to man without depriving God of his honor.”

So how does Calvin fix the problem?

“Here, then, is the course that we must follow it we are to avoid crashing upon these rocks: when man has been taught that no good thing remains in his power, and that he is hedged about on all sides by most miserable necessity, in spite of this he should be instructed to aspire to a good of which he is empty, to a freedom of which he has been deprived.”

Preach man’s utter depravity, and that his will is bound. Preach that he aspire to which he is empty, to a freedom he doesn’t have.

So, YES—preach depravity and duty. Men must be told, you are D.O.A., and they must be told, “Come forth!” and “Get up, the Master is calling for you.”

I crack-up—it’s no dilemma with Calvin. Aspire to a good of which you are empty, O Man. You have nothing, so there and ninner, ninner; come to Christ!

G. Mark Sumpter

Quick Take on When Sinners Say I Do

Boiling Water, Where's  the Tortellini


“Many marriage problems could move toward resolutions if husband and wife actually lived as if they were ‘sinners’ who said ‘I do.’ Sinners who are humble are growing more knowledgeable about their hearts.”

I skimmed a couple of the chapters; after reading the rest, I paused at many of them attempting to catch the author's message. I definitely say here's a solid piece to recommend to pastors, elders, counselors—most assuredly, to those preparing for marriage, for those married. The focus, patterned after the title, “When SINNERS,” aims at helping readers carry out necessary self-examination regarding one's own unquestioned contribution to messy relationships.

The vivid word pictures by Harvey color his illustrations.... “...couples can treat confrontation like a hand grenade--pop the pin, let it fly, and run for cover. But biblical reproof is not some kind of commando raid.” Here's another... [on the matter of an exchange when the husband interferes with his wife's plans already made; words like]: “Dear, could you... become his fingernails on the chalkboard of your [her] agenda for the day?” These are fun.

My biggest negative about the book circles around Harvey's bringing the reader’s knowledge of his sin to a boil. The pan is on the stove, the water is boiling—so very good; but I was waiting for the pasta to be added, and then the browning of the meat, the simmer of the butter and veggies, with the seasoning mix of the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is Lord and Savior. I wanted him to prepare a winsome, biblical dish with the doctrine of the sinner's union and communion with Jesus. We get the chapter on STUBBORN GRACE, Harvey's work on Titus 2:11-14; but where’s Being Raised in Him, Being a Sinner Seated w/ Christ and more. My concern is like what another author said about the absence of good, popularly written books on the doctrine of Christ's life, death and resurrection, something like..., “the professing church suffers from Ascension Deficit Disorder.” Harvey's positions, thesis and practical helps would look like a Major League MVP homerun champ if he knocked the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, His fruit for the believer, out of the park. When Sinners Say I Do calls for counter-balance of When the Savior Said I Did.


—G. Mark Sumpter

100 Bible Verses

New Book Released Next Month

“Change your life from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:20.

With the immediacy of Internet searches and ease of handheld devices, the custom of memorizing Scripture may not seem necessary, but best-selling author Robert J. Morgan makes an airtight case for reviving this rewarding practice in 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart.

It's vital for mental and emotional health and for spiritual well-being, he writes. It's as powerful as acorns dropping into furrows in the forest. It allows God's words to sink into your brain and permeate your subconscious thoughts. It saturates the personality, satiates the soul, and stockpiles the mind. It changes the atmosphere of every family and alters the weather forecast of every day.”

Broadman and Holman publishers supplies THIS BLURB HERE.

G. Mark Sumpter

Reader's Hebrew and Greek Bible

Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Zondervan Publishing Co. continues to offer helps for the Hebrew and Greek student!

Dr. Cook, from Virginia Theological Seminary, holds a spiffy leather-bound copy of the complete Reader's Hebrew and Greek Bible.

This edition fosters speed of reading helping save time with many words rendered in translation from the original.

Professor Cook of VTS writes: “All Hebrew words in the text occurring less than 100 times are footnoted with context-specific glosses. Proper nouns occurring less than 100 times are in gray. In the NT, all Greek words occurring less than 30 times are defined in the notes. There are lexicons included in the volume listing the Hebrew words occurring more than 100 times and the Greek words occurring more than 30 times.”

It looks like a great resource. Go to Zondervan's web site here and read their own description. It's available this month, April 2010.

G. Mark Sumpter

The Reading of God's Word

This past week, I spent nearly 18 hours at a seminar on the basics of Christian growth. It's the first seminar I've been to where nearly half of it was the public reading of God's Word, the Bible. Genesis 1:1-Revelation 22:21, paragraph after paragraph, verse after verse, nothing but reading. The instructor introduced the topic, then called on the readers. We read the same English version. Moments were allowed for finding texts, and then there would be the reading. A moment or two was allowed for focus and thought.

The reading of the texts of the Bible was stunning. It was so very instructive and edifying.

Paul told Timothy: Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 Tim. 4:13.

G. Mark Sumpter

Book Review: Pleasing People

In John Stott’s The Cross of Christ we read, “Bought by Christ, we have no business to become the slaves of anybody or anything else. Once we were the slaves of sin; now we are the slaves of Christ, and his service is the true freedom.” Freedom through our Heavenly Father’s gracious act of adoption because of Christ’s person and work includes freedom from man-pleasing. Author Lou Priolo aims to get our attention about this.

His 2007 publication, Pleasing People deserves a very high recommendation, and yet, a caution.

The book gets very high marks on its analysis of the sin of the fear of man. For nearly 100 pages, the author explores the labyrinth of deception regarding man’s own ways of self-promotion, self-service and man-pleasing. The look at biblical passages and quotes from the 17th century pastor Richard Baxter solidly point out the need of the Great Physician’s LASIK corrective surgery that gives liberating and glorious sight! You’ll read excellent commentary diagnosing man’s foolish ways with respect to:
▪hypocrisy
▪pride
▪fear of man
▪applause-seeking
▪excessive sensitivity to correction
▪self-centeredness about fulfilling man’s expectations

High marks here! Pastors, parents, Bible study leaders, Sunday school teachers, youth workers, here’s your practical guide!

However, readers must be cautioned. The book lacks attention on explaining God’s liberty for His children through justification by faith in Christ, His favor with adoption taking His children into His love, and the foundation of God’s definitive work of sanctification from which the believer moves forward walking in daily life. In short, the book fails to explicate the doctrine of the believer’s union with Jesus Christ. My specific concern? Just as the book turned over stone after stone with super exactitude for analyzing man’s sin, so I was seat-belted into the book anticipating the same stone-turning—appropriately geared for the popular readership—in the primary area for Christian faith and life: union with Christ. The book didn’t deliver the gospel mail. The counter-balance of expository work in the second half of the book was assumed, not handled and applied. The thorough diagnosis seen in Part 1 Our Problem needs the same thoroughness for antidote, healing and recovery in Part 2 God's Solution.

Priolo realizes that Pleasing People needs this caution. In the book’s preface we read: “It is possible to open up this volume at any point and read for pages without any apparent reference to justification by faith, the gospel of Christ or the ministry of the Holy Spirit, but these truths are to be understood throughout.”

OK. Acknowledgement and qualification appreciated. But the model of the rhythm of God’s indicative and then the imperative as in Paul’s letters urges us to follow that method of Bible teaching. There are places where the book rightly employs the indicative and imperative pattern, like on pages 173-175. But consistency with opening up vital truth about God’s pleasure in His Son’s life, cross-work and resurrection places a discussion on the far-reaching temptations of the fear man in the right spot. The book needs this balance of digestible expository practical help and hope. Such work in the truth, when applied with the Spirit’s help, sets a man free, and thereby, he's equipped to shake loose from the snare of being an approval junkie.

Proiolo's work over the years has shown that he knows how to use the Word well; this volume is super high octane in Part 1 about putting off the sin of man-pleasing; however, Part 2 needs to be throttled up with biblical line upon line, spoon-feeding and teaching on putting on Christ. Lou, revisit Part 2 and do a re-write, and you'll have World Series stuff.

G. Mark Sumpter