Beliefs

Grace to You

Dr. John MacArthur's media ministry, Grace to You, is one of the finest ministries that you will find. Whether the medium is the pulpit, radio, tv, books, software, audio tapes, Internet, CDs or DVDs, the message is direct, thorough and truthful.

MacArthur, a fifth-generation pastor and pastor at Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California, has written hundreds of bible-based, practical books, and study guides. His biography and a complete list of published works can be found on the Grace to You web site. Some of his best-selling titles are The Gospel According to Jesus, The Second Coming, Ashamed of the Gospel, Twelve Ordinary Men, and The MacArthur Study Bible. He is also president of The Master's College and The Master's Seminary.

The MacArthur Study Bible, a recent addition to my personal library, has a simple purpose: strengthen the spiritual life of the reader. This is accomplished with study notes below the Bible text, cross references to parallel passages, an extensive concordance, theology overview, introductions, charts, timelines, and more. The volume is scholarly and thoroughly researched yet practical and informative.

I was impressed by a few sentences from the chapter, How We Got The Bible. These sentences (extracted below and used with permission) describe the Bible far better than I ever could.

    This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.

    Its doctrine is holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be saved, and practice it to be holy.

    It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here heaven is open and the gates of hell are disclosed.

    Christ is the grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

    Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, health to the soul, and a river of pleasure. It is given to you in this life, will be opened at the judgment, and is established forever.

    It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and condemn and all who trifle with its contents.

The Bible has been largely overlooked as the source of truth in a world starved for the truth. All we ever need to know can be found there.

The Bible Answer Man

Hank Hanegraaff is the president and chairman of the board of the Christian Research Institute, host of the Bible Answer Man radio program, author, and a leading Christian apologist. (Christian apologetics argue that Christianity is reasonable and in harmony with the evidence that can be examined.)

According to their web site, the goal of the Christian Research Institute is "encompassed in a single word: E Q U I P. In the words of St. Paul, our organization is committed to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ might be built up and strengthened (Eph. 4:12). Today, CRI’s Internet site (www.equip.org) further reflects our commitment to this mission. The word EQUIP serves as an acronym to define our goals and objectives."

E represents essentials in the sense that "Our goal is to make people so familiar with the essentials of the Christian faith that when a counterfeit looms on the horizon, they will recognize it instantaneously. There must be unity around the essentials, since essential Christian doctrine forms the line of demarcation between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the cults."

Q represents the questions. Quoting from the CRI site, "In addition to focusing on essentials, CRI answers people’s questions regarding cults, culture, and Christianity. As we move further into what has been described as a post-Christian culture, it is increasingly important to equip Christians to answer questions regarding what they believe, why they believe, and whom they believe. The apostle Peter urges us, 'Always be prepared to give an answer [apologia] to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have' (1 Pet. 3:15, emphasis added)."

U means user-friendly. That is, "taking complex issues and making them understandable and accessible to the lay Christian." This requires accurate primary research, which is expected from the Christian Research Institute, and then present the research in a readable format.

I stands for integrity, which is enforced in both practice and doctrine. In practice, the business and finances follow regulations and guidelines established by the IRS, BBB, Evangelical Counsel for Financial Accountability (ECFA) as well as additional fiscal accountability standards set by the board of directors. Doctrinal integrity is enforced "no matter what the cost" according to their web site.

P represents the word para-church and CRI is deeply committed to the local church as the God-ordained vehicle for equipping, evangelism, and education. Through our research, resources, and outreach CRI is helping in that mission.

Some of Hanegraaff's award-winning titles are The Prayer of Jesus, Christianity in Crisis, and Resurrection. Both Resurrection and Christianity in Crisis won the Gold Medallion for excellence in Christian Literature awarded by the Evangelical Christian Publisher’s Association, whileThe Prayer of Jesus was honored as a top 10 best-selling nonfiction book in both 2001 and 2002 by the Christian Bookseller's Association. Silver Medallion winners by Hanegraaff include Counterfeit Revival andThe FACE that Demonstrates the Farce of Evolution. Also, the small group video presentation, “The Prayer of Jesus EZ Lesson Plan” taught by Hanegraaff, won a Telly Award in 2003.

Other releases include The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible REALLY Says about the End Times…And Why It Matters Today; The Legacy Study Bible; The Bible Answer Book, Volume 1; The Bible Answer Book, Volume 2; The Covering: God’s Plan to Protect You from Evil; The Third Day; and Fatal Flaws: What Evolutionists Don’t Want You to Know; and The Mormon Mirage. Also, he is also co-authored The Last Disciple fiction trilogy; Fuse of Armageddon, The Da Vinci Code: Fact or Fiction? and Seven Questions of a Promise Keeper. And if that is not enough, Hanegraaff is a regular contributor to the Christian Research Journal andThe Plain Truth magazine and popular speaker. The titles mentioned above are available at the CRI e-store.

Hanegraaff's Bible Answer Man radio program is one of my favorites. His presentation is intelligent, scholarly, factual and is always based on scriptures.

In Touch

Like other ministries described here, Dr. Charles F. Stanley's In Touch Ministries provides practical, bible-based truths for our every day lives. In Touch's mission statement is "To lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church." The In Touch Ministry can be heard, seen, or read world-wide through the radio (Sirius or Bott Radio Network), television, short wave, audio and video tapes, CDs, DVDs, pamphlets, books, the Internet, and the In Touch daily devotional magazine. When I listen to Dr. Stanley on the radio, I get the distinct impression that he is sitting in front of me, talking directly to me, and that his message applies specifically to me. His messages are modeled after the apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians in Acts (20:24) LB, " . . . Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus–the work of telling others the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love".

The In Touch web site states that, "Dr. Stanley’s messages tackle such issues as parenting, finances, personal crises, emotions, and relationships. Instructional teaching for personal spiritual growth focuses on prayer, the character of God, fellowship through the Holy Spirit, and the Person of Jesus Christ. Dr. Stanley fervently believes the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God, a belief strongly reflected in his teaching." Believe me, the quoted text is true and his message radiate an undeniable sincerity.

Stanley, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, has authored more than 45 books. A few titles are A Man's Touch, Handle With Prayer, How To Listen To God, Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure, The Gift of Forgiveness, How to Keep Your Kids On Your Team, The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life, The Source of My Strength, How To Handle Adversity, The Blessing of Brokenness, Success God's Way, Handbook for Christian Living, Into His Presence, and When Tragedy Strikes. Visit the In Touch web site bookstore for a complete list.

Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
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Ravi Zacharias and Ravi Zacharias International Ministries ....