What is Grace Baptist Church Doing for the Christmas Weekend?

On Christmas Eve, we will have our candlelight service at 5:00 PM. We will observe the Lord's Supper, and end the service with candlelight.

Christmas this year happens to fall on Christmas Day. It has happened several times since I have been in the ministry. And while many megachurches will be taking the day off, I am asking myself why would you do that? I understand trying to be family friendly and being low on volunteers. But this is a day when many who don’t normally attend our worship services will do so. Why pass an opportunity to preach the gospel? After all, no “holy day” trumps any other day biblically speaking. So here is what we are going to do. Check the schedule below:

8:30 am - Coffee with Grace Baptist Church

9:15 am – Combined Sunday School (Note: Adult Classes will be combined in the Fellowship Hall, Preschool in the preschool department, Children's will be combined upstairs in the children's department, and youth combine in the Oasis.)

10:30 am – Combined Worship Service in the Sanctuary 

There will be no Wednesday Night gathering on December 30, and January 1st will be a normal Sunday Morning.  Note we will not have any PM services or actives on January 1st.

How Do We Work Through Violent Acts of Murder?

As a minister of the gospel since 2001, I have ministered in some difficult situations over the years. I have ministered to a family with a double murder of a 12-year-old girl and her mother by the girl’s half-brother, a 4-year-old beaten to death a week before Christmas by his mother’s boyfriend, the murder-suicide of my aunt by her husband, and the murder of my cousin’s father and step-mother by their half-brother. These acts all seem brutal and depraved even senseless. At times the sovereignty of God provides great comfort, but other times the sovereignty of God is difficult for us. It was the depravity of man’s acts that drove Charles Bradley Templeton, a former friend of Billy Graham and evangelist, to be an agnostic. I want to remind us of what God has told us in his word. Here are four truths that have helped me during these times:

• Believe that Mankind remains broken and depraved, apart from Christ Jesus.- The total depravity of man is seen throughout the Bible. Man’s heart is “deceitful and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). The Bible also teaches us that man is born dead in transgression and sin (Psalm 51:5, Psalm 58:3, Ephesians 2:1-5). We want to excuse violent, depraved acts of murder with mental health, drugs, or demonic influence. We don’t want to think that anyone, especially us, is capable of such horrific depraved acts, but the reality remains we are fully capable of committing depraved acts of murder and much worse all on our own!

• Be Comforted that God alone understands your emotional trauma and suffering.- God’s son had to endure the excruciating pain of being crucified on the cross. God the Father and Holy Spirit had to endure the trauma and suffering of Jesus the son being violently executed by men who hated him. God alone understands the emotional pain you endure.

• Be renewed through God’s sustaining because His grace is enough.- The Apostle Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. This thorn kept him humble all the days of his life. In many ways a tragic murder is a very humbling experience, the feeling of shock and disorientation. We are reminded we are not in control of our lives nor this world. Then the grief sets in, it feels much like a thorn in the heart. Paul said this, 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” –I Corinthians 12:9-10

• Don’t move on, move forward.- As a pastor and GriefShare leader, I often hear the stupid things people say to the grieving. One of those statements is “just move on.” I will be the first to admit, it is quite possible to get stuck in grief, but after an event like one’s life changes for the rest of our days. We can move forward taking the good memories of our loved ones, their examples of good they modeled, and continue their legacy. One who has suffered loss to this degree is forever changed.

Which English Bible Translation is the Best? (Part 2)

Please see Part 1 of this Blog to better understand it as a whole. Here is the continuation of the list:

·      New King James Version (NKJV)

o   Strengths:

§  Provides a modern King James Version for people who love the King James Version

o   Weakness:

§  Includes passages latter added by scribes into the Biblical text in order not to hurt sales.

§  Cowardly approach to such passages as 1 John 5:7

o   Format: Word for Word – a revision of KJV

o   Reading Level: 7^th Grade

·      New Living Translation (NLT)

o   Strengths:

§  Reads very smoothly

§  Excellent for reading large sections of the Bible

§  Good translation for new Christians, people with low grade level reading, like children.

§  Good paragraphing

o   Weaknesses:

§  Not a good verse by verse study bible

o   Format: Dynamic equivalence or though for thought.

o   Reading Level: 6^th Grade

·      English Standard Version

o   Strengths:

§  From the KJV tradition of translation

§  More theological work, does not sacrifice author’s intent for inclusive or gender neutral language.

§  Excellent Translation for a serious student of bible and theology

o   Weakness:

§  Use of theological works like propitiation may be confusing for young believers.

§  The ESV’s use of “wife” as a translation of γυνή in 1 Corinthians 11 is very questionable. This passage is about the status and behavior suitable to womankind, not just of wives.

§  Some of the faults are quite annoying. But mostly they are the kind of minor faults that may be observed in any version.

o   Format: Word for Word following the RSV tradition of translation

o   Reading Level: 10^th Grade

·      Holman Christian Standard

o   Strengths:

§  Readability- smooth reading great for use in a local church

§  Good Paragraphing and Designation of Poetry

§  Only minor move towards thought for thought format

o   Weaknesses:

§  inconsistent way in which YHWH is translated within the Old Testament (sometimes by Yahweh, sometimes as LORD)

§  tendency toward colloquialisms, and its utilization of an "optimal equivalence" translation method which occupies a position part way toward dynamic equivalence from formal equivalence—representing a small movement in the direction which eventually leads to paraphrase.

o   Format: Balanced approach between thought for thought and word for word, although I believe it leans more towards word for word.

o   Reading Level: 7^th Grade

·      The Message

o   Strengths:

§  Stimulating devotional literature

o   Weaknesses:

§  Long and formal sounding words replaced with punchy phrases.

§  Often portrays scripture more colorful than the original.

§  Has a psychologizing tendency, never to be a stand-alone read for a believer.

o   Format: Extreme colloquial. It is not be understood to be a bible but rather a paraphrase for a devotional supplement only.

o   Reading Level: 4^th Grade

Which English Bible Translation is the Best? (Part 1)

As a pastor, I am often asked this question, and it is not a fair question. You see it is kind of like asking what is the best car ever built? Well, they all have strengths and weakness, but the all get you where you need to go, hopefully anyway. Here is a quick rundown of some of the most popular Bible translations.








1.    The King James Version (KJV) –Sometimes referred to as the authorized version.
     •    Strengths:
          o    Wide use- Familiar- Liturgical use – Bible of English literature
          o    Many supporting tools: concordances, Bible dictionaries, commentaries, etc.
          o    Wonderful literary quality.
     •    Weakness:
          o    Hard to read – early seventeenth century English,
          o    Lack of access to a seventh-century English dictionary for most people
          o    No paragraphing & Poetry not indicated
     •    Format: Word for Word- Follows Tyndale tradition
     •    Reading Level: 12th Grade

2.     The New International Version (NIV) – Note: The TNIV (Today’s New International Version) was created as a gender-neutral Bible, but created a huge backlash. The backlash caused it to be pulled, but revised in 2011. This address all NIV’s with a published of 1984.
     •    Strengths:
          o    Reads well, 7th-grade reading level
          o    Good supporting tools: concordances, Bible dictionaries, commentaries, etc…
          o    Good Paragraphing & Shows Poetry well
     •    Weaknesses:
          o    Not consistent in how it translates same word/expressions in similar contexts
          o    A concordance is less valuable.
          o    Not useful for a gospel synopsis
     •    Format: Dynamic Equivalent or thought for thought –started from scratch
     •    Reading Level: 7th Grade

3.    The New American Standard Bible (NASB)
     •    Strengths:
          o    Follows Tyndale/KJV tradition
          o    One of if not the most literal translation of the Greek and Hebrew into English.
          o    Best Bible for careful verse by verse bible study.
     •    Weaknesses
          o    Poor paragraphing
          o    Poetry designation only fair
          o    Awkward reading – not good for a new Christian, children, or block reading from the pulpit.
     •    Format: Word for Word – Follows Tyndale/KJV tradition
     •    Reading Level: 11th Grade

4.    The Revised Standard Version (RSV)
     •    Strengths:
          o    Good paragraphing & Shows poetry well
          o    The best translation for a gospel synopsis
          o    Most accepted translation among Protestants, Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Jewish.
     •    Weaknesses:
          o    Still uses some archaic language – “Thee, thou.”
          o    The Isaiah 7:14 controversy
          o    Should be limited to comparative and critical private study by discerning students only, as many of the translation committee were committed to a liberal view of the Scriptures.
     •   Format: Word for Word – Follows Tyndale/KJV Tradition
     •    Reading Level: 12th Grade

5.    The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
     •    Strengths:
            o    Excellent paragraphing & shows poetry well
            o    Removal of archaic language from the RSV
            o    Good ecumenical Bible
     •    Weaknesses:
            o    Uses inclusive language
            o    At times compromises author’s mean for inclusive
            o    Isiah 7:14 controversy
     •    Format: Word for Word follows Tyndale/King James traditions, with the exception where it uses inclusive language.
     •    Reading Level: 12th Grade