Book Reviews / Open Discusstion on Benevolence (1990)

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin explains that he is filling in for Pastor Lamar Martin and will use the time to recommend books, emphasizing the church's book service operates as a ministry, not…

Martin uses the analogy of snack food, junk food, wholesome meals, and banquets to categorize books by their spiritual nutritional value, helping the congregation understand the quality and benefit of different types of reading.

needs of the church, a quote, profit from the book ministry. And we want to make that clear with so much merchandising of the word of God in our day, we want to avoid all appearance of evil. Now, as I was thinking of an analogy to use to put what I want to say about some of these books into a context with which you can relate, I was thinking of the difference between good snack food, junk food,

2:02 - 2:34 Read in full sermon

The point: Use Waldron's book as a textbook for family devotions with teenage children to involve them in the teaching process and understanding of the confession.

A quote from a 'dear man of God' states, 'a rut is nothing but a grave with the ends kicked out,' illustrating the importance of variety and freshness in family worship and devotional life to avoid spiritual stagnation.

We found over the years, and my wife and I still find now that the nest is empty, that variety and family worship is very crucial in keeping freshness. One dear man of God said, and I'll never forget it, he said, a rut is nothing but a grave with the ends kicked out. When you get in a rut, you're in a grave with the ends kicked out. And it's easy to get into a rut in personal, but at any point in our pilgrimage, I would like to suggest that that may be one way that you could as a family with great profit use this book.

8:08 - 8:43 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Because whereas the Bible nowhere says that a man who commits fraud, thievery, or adultery cannot be forgiven, the Bible does say that those who preach another gospel are accursed of God, and that heretics will be damned…

The book 'The Agony of Deceit' is likened to penicillin for spiritual ailments and an inoculation against spiritual diseases, emphasizing its protective and healing power against false teaching.

A book which to change the imagery is penicillin. If someone is infected with a very strong ailment that needs the help of antibiotics, and then also functions like an inoculation against spiritual diseases, it is a book recently published called The Agony of Deceit. Now you can see, those of you familiar with the wide world of sport, a little couplet, The Joy of Victory, The Agony of Defeat.

8:43 - 9:27 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Because whereas the Bible nowhere says that a man who commits fraud, thievery, or adultery cannot be forgiven, the Bible does say that those who preach another gospel are accursed of God, and that heretics will be damned…

The title 'The Agony of Deceit' is explained as a play on the familiar sports couplet 'The Joy of Victory, The Agony of Defeat,' making the book's critical stance on televangelists immediately clear.

A book which to change the imagery is penicillin. If someone is infected with a very strong ailment that needs the help of antibiotics, and then also functions like an inoculation against spiritual diseases, it is a book recently published called The Agony of Deceit. Now you can see, those of you familiar with the wide world of sport, a little couplet, The Joy of Victory, The Agony of Defeat.

8:43 - 9:27 Read in full sermon

The point: Read Merle Daubigny's treatise on family worship for biblical basis and practical suggestions for conducting family worship.

Martin recounts his personal experience of being so engrossed in Daubigny's 'History of the Reformation' that he had to discipline himself to read only one hour a day to avoid neglecting other duties, illustrating the captivating and spiritually enriching nature of Daubigny's writing.

And then an excellent little booklet recently reprinted by Merle Daubigny, the great historian who has written so powerfully and movingly on the history of the Reformation, both in Europe and in England. I can remember the first time I read Daubigny's History of the Reformation, I had to discipline myself to limit my reading for just one hour a day when I was working through that double-columned thick book that is the four volumes in one. Because if I didn't, I found I got so caught up in the writing, I was spending more time doing that than I should be doing and causing other duties to go by ...

16:05 - 16:45 Read in full sermon

The point: Read Merle Daubigny's treatise on family worship for biblical basis and practical suggestions for conducting family worship.

He describes certain devotional treatises, like Bunyan's 'Prayer,' as 'pump primers' for devotions, explaining how they help to get the mind and spirit into a praying and devotional frame when starting cold.

I'm laboring in the Word and in doctrine and therefore my devotional exercise is ought to reflect something of my appreciation of that privilege in their breadth and in their length as far as time is concerned. But even in those times when I am more pressed and in those times when I have had to put in my 40 hours at some other employment other than laboring in the Word, I often found it helpful to have what I call my pump primer for my devotions. Coming straight from the bed and maybe the kitchen where you've picked up a cup of coffee and go to your place of devotions, you may find it difficul...

18:04 - 18:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Purchase and work through Bunyan's 'Prayer' to enrich your prayer life, using its headings as frameworks for your prayers.

Bunyan's description of prayer is quoted: 'right prayer bubbles out of the heart, when it is overcome with grief and bitterness, as blood is forced out of the flesh by reason of some heavy burden that lies upon it,' illustrating the deep, heartfelt nature of true prayer.

And then he amplifies those three headings. Well, you can take just the first one one morning. A sense of the want of mercy by reason of the danger of sin. The soul feels and groans and breaks at the heart, for right prayer bubbles out of the heart, when it is overcome with grief and bitterness, as blood is forced out of the flesh by reason of some heavy burden that lies upon it.

21:25 - 21:51 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If any man provides not for his own, especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

The Lord's condemnation of the Pharisees for using 'Corban' to avoid supporting their indigent parents is used as an example of making void the word of God by prioritizing religious tradition over clear biblical responsibility.

That has to do with what we have that can be shared with others without in any way negating our clearly defined, God given responsibilities to those nearer at hand. Now, you remember what the Lord said to the Pharisees with the money that should have been given to indigent and needy parents? They said, sorry, mom and pop, I'm giving it to God at the temple. What did the Lord call them?

32:11 - 32:41 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Diane references Luke 6:27-35, emphasizing loving enemies and a generous spirit. Eric introduces Proverbs 3:27-28, highlighting the need for discretion ('to whom it is due') and…

To illustrate the spirit of grasping versus generosity, Martin suggests that if one could draw a person's soul on a blackboard, a selfish person's would be a 'clenched fist,' while a generous person's would be an 'open hand ready to distribute.'

Any one scripture must be compared with the whole witness of scripture. But again, it's an underscoring in a concrete way, the opposite of the person who's always thinking in terms of how much he can grasp. If you could draw his soul on a blackboard, you draw a clenched fist. Jesus said, have a soul which is drawn on a blackboard would be an open hand ready to distribute, give to him that would ask of you and from him that would borrow you.

36:49 - 37:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Diane references Luke 6:27-35, emphasizing loving enemies and a generous spirit. Eric introduces Proverbs 3:27-28, highlighting the need for discretion ('to whom it is due') and…

Martin uses the hypothetical scenario of a brother needing a car and the speaker not having $7,000 to buy one, to illustrate the principle that one can only give when it is 'in the power of your hand' to do so, even if the benevolence is 'due.'

So all you can say is brother if I had the wherewithal right now plunk out $7,000 go down to Connor Chevrolet and get you a nice two and a half year old car with low mileage so you wouldn't have to drive around that bucket of bolts with the bottom dropping out in the right. God knows I don't have that money but I want you to know if I did I counted a privilege to do it for you but it's not in my power to do so. So when it is in the power of your hand to do it now then comes the exhortation do not say to your neighbor go and come again and tomorrow I'll give it you.

40:22 - 41:06 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Dean offers the example of David's kindness to Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9), and Randy brings up the parable of the Good Samaritan, expanding the definition of 'neighbor.' Beth adds…

The story of David showing kindness to Mephibosheth, Saul's lame son, by securing him a place at his own table for life, is presented as a biblical example of benevolence and generosity stemming from covenant loyalty.

All right Dean example of David's kindness to Mephibosheth. In second Samuel 9 you remember from Mephibosheth was Saul's lame son. And when David is brought back into a place of blessing and safety and stability he says are there any relatives of Saul to whom I can show kindness and they said yes he's got a lame son and he secured a place at his own table from the Mephibosheth for the rest of his life. I'm glad I could say it twice without getting hung up on it.

42:17 - 42:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not respond to appeals for benevolence that come by telephone; instead, request literature to prayerfully and responsibly consider the need.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is referenced to illustrate that 'neighbor' extends beyond fellow Israelites to any human being in need, challenging the narrow interpretation of the Jews.

What had they done with that verse Randy. My neighbor is only someone else in Israel owes that fallacy gives this parable of the Good Samaritan in order to teach that any human being who is part of common humanity is my neighbor and I'm to love my neighbor as myself

43:43 - 44:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not respond to appeals for benevolence that come by telephone; instead, request literature to prayerfully and responsibly consider the need.

Martin shares his personal experience with the Montclair hospice, noting the kind treatment of terminal cancer patients, as an example of a worthy non-Christian cause he supports with a good conscience, fitting Galatians 6:10.

I couldn't support such and such a hospital such and such a cause that is not Christian at all. But is like the hospice in in Montclair. I have firsthand experience of the kind treatment that they give to terminal cancer patients. It's a worthy cause with good conscience.

46:26 - 46:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If any man will not work let him not eat.

To illustrate the principle of 'tough love' for the chronically lazy, Martin uses the vivid image of a stomach 'playing a tune on his backbone' to drive a person to gainful employment, rather than simply giving handouts.

Here's one factor. Here comes a guy and says you know I'm hungry. And you know can you give me a meal. So you start asking some questions.

47:57 - 48:06 Read in full sermon