Pastor Elliott's Blog - Calvary Bible Church

Making The Best Of A Bad Situation

Posted on Aug 18, 2017 in Contention, Marriage, Proverbs, Wives |

The Bible Book of Proverbs gives such blunt & good direction for living!

Of course the topic of marriage is covered.

Proverbs 18:22:

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the Lord.”

In Proverbs 21:9 God makes it clear that wife-driven contention makes for a bad marriage & home life.

“It is better to live in a corner of a roof, than in the house shared with a contentious woman.”

The picture of the dog on the roof makes me imagine that a distressed husband is living up there and is having his dog as his only consolation.

Wives, strive to live at peace with your husbands. And husbands, do your part to keep the peace as well!

There should be no place like home!

Get In The Game

Posted on Jul 25, 2017 in Ephesians, Ministry, Spectator |

A few years back now my wonderful friend Rich took me to a Penn State Football Game. What an exciting experience!

This picture was taken well before the opening kick off so the stands were sparsely filled.

By game time about 106,000 fans had filed in!

What we had that day was 106,000 persons desperately in need of exercise,cheering on 22 football players who were desperately in need of rest!

The Church of Jesus Christ can be like that!

A small minority of Christians working very hard in ministry while a much larger majority of idle Christians are cheering them on!

This is not God’s will.

In Ephesians 4:11-12 we see the prescription:

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF SERVICE TO THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY OF CHRIST … “.

Get out of the stands and onto the playing field!

54 YEARS! HE OUTLASTED THEM!

Posted on Jun 29, 2017 in 2 Timothy, Perseverance |

This is Pastor Charles Simeon.

He was one of England’s greatest preachers of the late 18th Century. But his congregation didn’t agree that he was!

Charles pastored a difficult and turbulent Holy Trinity Church (Cambridge) for an amazing 54 years!

They were amazing 54 years because some of his congregation wanted him fired. They did not appreciate the un-watered down Word of God which he preached.

At first they removed all of the pews from the church hoping that no one would come on Sundays without a place to sit.

Undaunted, Pastor Simeon brought in chairs for persons to use instead of pews!

You may not be a pastor. But as a Christian you have your own unique ministry. And ministry of any sort, by its nature, requires great persistence.

2 Timothy was written to a young pastor named Timothy.

But we have the book in our Bibles because it’s message is pertinent to all 21st-century servants of the Lord.

“But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, for fill your ministry.”

(2 Timothy 4:5)

To God’s glory, outlast your opponents. Don’t quit.

Bring in some chairs, if you have to!

DESIGNED

Posted on Jun 8, 2017 in Ephesians, God's Design, Good Works, Human Body, Psalms |

This is a gorgeous stone wall & archway in Eleuthera.

It’s sure didn’t get there by random chance!

It was designed to be both functional & beautiful.

Christian, God has made and remade you to be both functional & beautiful too!

In Psalm 139:14 it is assured that:
“I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made … “.

So you are PHYSICALLY- designed: Your body
functions .

But you are also MINISTRY-designed!

Ephesians 2:10:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them.”

The Greek word which is translated into the English word “workmanship” is POEMA. We get our English word “poem” from this Greek word.

As no two poems are the same, the specific good works which God has ordained for each of us to do are utterly unique to each of us!

Remember: God has designed you both to function and to minister to His glory.

That makes you a one-of-kind design!

Really it’s not your designer jeans that are important, it’s your designer YOU which is most important!

STRATEGIC LIVING

Posted on Jun 8, 2017 in 2 Timothy, Mentoring |

This is my dear friend Mr. Joe Sweeting.

He has been involved for many years in the leadership of a service club called Toastmasters.

This club helps young adults to learn the skill of public speaking.

Joe is truly a master speech-giver and he takes the longest few possible to want to train a new generation to have this skill.

Many lives have been improved over the years.

All this reminds me of a biblical which is found in 2 Timothy 2:2 –

“And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

Are you mentoring anyone?
It’s work that will have a benefit that will outlive you!