Our Manifesto/Review of the Entire Series

In this part of the sermon: This section introduces the synopsis, defining it as a brief review or abridgment of the nearly 100 messages in the series. Martin outlines the pattern for reviewing each of the…

Martin uses the analogy of an abridgment in Reader's Digest to explain that the synopsis will be a condensed version of the many sermons in the Manifesto series, capturing the essence without all the detail.

well that's the background and the purpose of the manifesto series now secondly I want to give a synopsis of manifesto series a synopsis defines a statement giving brief general review a condensation a synonym is an abridgment now you know what abridgment of a book is that's what you get in the book section of the Bruce Digest you don't get a 250 300 page book but you get an abridgment you get a mini production of that book and what I propose to do and hopefully is to give a brief good sixteen block and one dash for you to see

16:50 - 17:35 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The devil is not man but God. And the great turning point of the church of faith must never be man or men. What men are and what, what men can do and what men say. It must be that something of the glory of the thrice-hol…

Martin recounts a couple's comment that walking into Trinity Baptist Church felt 'strange' and 'like stepping back centuries,' illustrating the church's commitment to a God-centered, unadorned worship climate that prioritizes God's glory over contemporary frills or folksy greetings.

Some of you kids don't have a clue what I mean when I say that. I remember talking to a couple recently. I said, Pastor Martin, do you realize how strange it is to walk in this place? I said, I know.

30:45 - 30:55 Read in full sermon

The point: Are you determined that your life, and any ministry you may have, will unquestionably confirm the unique place assigned to the church in the saving purpose of God?

Martin shares how people suggested he leave pastoral ministry for a conference ministry due to the 'hassle' of church life. He explains that his commitment to the church's unique place in God's saving purposes prevents him from laboring in any other framework with a good conscience, illustrating the depth of his conviction for Tenet 4.

till toils and cares are no more. I've had people, suggest to me, Pastor Martin, you've paid your dues, been in the ministry some 40 years, you're getting a little frayed emotionally with the passing of the years, you'll soon be 60. Why don't you stay on and take all the stuff you've got to take in a pastoral ministry? All the stuff you've got to take especially if you happen to be one of the pastors at Trinity.

36:09 - 36:35 Read in full sermon

The point: Are you determined that no one is in this place, no matter how charming, gifted, or able, if you do not see him to be a blameless, consistent, mannered, spiritually real man, you have no business putting him into office …

Martin tells a story about a young man interested in ministry who was surprised to learn that Martin, after 30 years, still didn't have 'tenure' and could get 'walking papers' every four years. This illustrates the church's rigorous, biblically established standard for the recognition and retention of church officers, ensuring ongoing accountability.

It grew out of the conviction of that little group of people 26 years ago that a man could erode in his overall pattern of life and ministry without the kind of thing that would warrant specific discipline and lose his grip over your conscience so that you could no longer sit there and believe that this is a man of God leading you, preaching to you, teaching you, and you would have a way of expressing that by withholding that confirmation every four years. Said to a young man that thought he was interested in having a Reformed Baptist church and wondered how he could get in the loop. So I told...

45:19 - 46:02 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If it doesn't call you to die, that you might live, it's calling you to a pseudo-life that will lead to the chambers of death.

Martin recalls a man who used to quote 'do thyself no harm' to him, concerned about his passionate preaching. Martin contrasts this with his commitment to the 'life out of death' principle, implying that his fervent ministry, though taxing, is in line with this truth, and that many who 'took it easy' are now gone.

A couple of years ago, Pastor Martin, when I was a young man, when I was a young man, when I was a young man, when I was a young man, when I was a young man, when I was a young man, when I was a young man, when I was a young man, one man used to quote to me the text, we are all here, do thyself no harm. He used to get upset because I got so worked up in preaching and he'd know that my blood pressure was probably off the scales and my heart's beating and a lot of those that took it easy and told me to take it easy, they're in their graves. I may be there tomorrow, but right now, as far as I kno...

51:36 - 52:05 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If it doesn't call you to die, that you might live, it's calling you to a pseudo-life that will lead to the chambers of death.

Martin speaks of the difficulty of letting go of the fellowship that meets in Irvington, acknowledging the emotional cost of separation. He states that the 'life out of death' principle is what kept him from playing emotional tricks or putting pressure, illustrating how this tenet guides difficult pastoral decisions for the greater good of God's work.

The same should say, putting it to the test right now, you dear brethren, and sisters who comprise the fellowship that meets in Irvington, you think it's been easy to let you go?

52:11 - 52:29 Read in full sermon