Puritan Fellowship

New Name & Web: Grace Fellowship Manchester

2012-01-30T14:30:00.004Z

We have a new name, new meeting place, new time (1pm) and new website for our church.
Grace Fellowship Manchester www.gfmanchester.com

Why the new name?
PuritanFellowship was the name of the blog because it had quotes of the puritans on. When we started the church here we originally used the name from the website, but we have been thinking of changing for sometime as it can be confusing. So Grace Fellowship Manchester was chosen

New place
From this Sunday 5th Feb 2012 our church will meet at Brookside community centre
Mainway East, Alkrington, Middleton, Manchester M24 1RD at a new time of 1pm.

What is our Sunday meeting like?
We meet 1pm, sing hymns, pray, sermon, take the Lord's supper, then eat and fellowship together. There is also extended fellowship elsewhere in the evening.

Other meetings Grace Fellowship Manchester are:
Mon Group studies: 6:30PM Central Manchester
(call for details)

Wed: (term time only) Manchester University Student Bible Study

Thur: Prayer meeting 7pm in Denton

Fri Bible Study: 7pm at 86 York Rd West, Middleton, MCR, M24 1RF

Evangelism: various days and places.

For Busses 112, 80, 415, see HERE.

Grace Fellowship Manchester.

Grace Fellowship Church Manchester is a Christ centred Biblical non-denominational church in the Greater Manchester area, that seeks to know Christ and make Him known, we are passionate in evangelism and believe in the sovereignty of God and the doctrines of Grace and the importance of living out what we read in Scripture. If you’re seeking Biblical expository preaching and Christ centred fellowship, then come and worship with us

Pastor Kevin Williams
tel. 07713346764
email: kevin AT gfmanchester.com

SEE www.gfmanchester.com

1 Pet 3:9-12 - The Righteous and the Wicked Tongue by Kevin Williams

2012-01-29T13:50:00.001Z

5 points on Christian speech.
1) The importance of a righteous tongue
2) The Christian should never seek personal revenge (even in the smallest things)
3)The Christian's response to evil is to do good
4) Realize your high calling as the motivation in all this.
5) Helpful verses in controling our tongue

Play or download MP3:
1 Pet 3:9-12 - The Righteous and the Wicked Tongue by Kevin Williams -60 min

Our podcast feed for our sermons on itunes and alike is:
http://sermon.net/PuritanFellowship/rss/

(9 min) You're Either All In for Christ or You're Not In by Tim Conway

2012-01-28T15:26:00.003Z

http://illbehonest.com/Youre-Either-All-In-for-Christ-or-Youre-Not-In-Tim-Conway

Luke 14:1-14 - Humility Essential, The Parable of the Unworthy Guests by Kevin Williams

2012-01-27T20:26:00.002Z

Fri Bible study teaching not to seek self honour in the things we say or do.

Play or download mp3:
Luke 14:1-14 - Humility Essential, The Parable of the Unworthy Guests by Kevin Williams -51 min

Our podcast feed for our sermons on itunes and alike is:
http://sermon.net/PuritanFellowship/rss/

Sin Will Have No Dominion Over You (Romans 6:14) by Tim Conway

2012-01-27T10:35:00.001Z

http://illbehonest.com/Sin-Will-Have-No-Dominion-Over-You-Romans-6-14-Tim-Conway

Thy Way Not Mine, O Lord (SONG) Stephen Gates & Melissa Yakes

2012-01-27T10:30:00.000Z

Words by Horatius Bonar
Beautiful cover by my friends Stephen Gates & Melissa Yakes

How Deep The Father's Love For Us (Fellowship Conference)

2012-01-26T21:50:00.002Z

This was a small audio recording from the praise and worship at the 2010 Fellowship Conference.

For 2012 Fellowship Conference see: http://illbehonest.com/fellowship/

A Right Heart Is A Praying Heart -J.C.Ryle

2012-01-26T09:14:00.001Z

"A right and good heart is a praying heart. It has within it "the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Rom. viii. 15.) Its daily feeling is, "Thy face, Lord, will I seek." (Psalm xxvii. 8.) It is drawn by an habitual inclination to speak to God about spiritual things,—weakly, feebly, and imperfectly perhaps, but speak it must. It finds it necessary to pour out itself before God, as before a friend, and to spread before Him all its wants and desires. It tells Him all its secrets. It keeps back nothing from Him. You might as well try to persuade a man to live without breathing, as to persuade the possessor of a right heart to live without praying. Is this heart your own?"-J.C. Ryle

Only The Spirit Can Convert & Not Man's Reasoning -Charles Spurgeon

2012-01-25T07:51:00.001Z

""Old Adam is too strong..." So will every preacher find it, if he thinks his arguments can ever convert man. Let me give you a parallel case. Where is the logic that can persuade an Ethiopian to change his skin? By what argument can you induce a leopard to renounce his spots? Even so may he that is accustomed to do evil learn to do well. But if the Ethiopian's skin be changed it must be by a supernatural process, and if the leopard's spots be removed, he that made the leopard must do it. Even so is it with the heart of man. ... I dare say a man might have enough argument to induce him to hang himself, but I am certain no argument will ever induce him to hang his sins, to hang his self-righteousness, and to come and humble himself at the foot of the cross; for the religion of Christ is so contrary to all the propensities of man, that it is like swimming against the stream to approach it, for the stream of man's will and man's desire is exactly the opposite of the religion of Jesus Christ." -Charles Spurgeon

Who Do You Say Jesus Is? - Kevin Williams

2012-01-23T18:06:00.000Z

Preached in San Antonio TX, 2011

The New Birth Of Nicodemus by Kevin Williams

2012-01-22T13:35:00.001Z

From darkness to light. A once timid Nicodemus goes onto boldly confess Jesus. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Play or download mp3:
John 3+ - The New Birth Of Nicodemus by Kevin Williams - 60 min

Our podcast feed for our sermons on itunes and alike is:
http://sermon.net/PuritanFellowship/rss/

The Just Shall Live by Faith Not by Feelings by Don Johnson (3 min)

2012-01-21T03:43:00.001Z

http://illbehonest.com/The-Just-Shall-Live-by-Faith-Not-by-Feelings-Don-Johnson

Luke 18:9-14 - A Sinners Prayer That Works by Kevin Williams

2012-01-20T21:10:00.001Z

Fri Bible Study:
-The danger of the sinners prayer and faulty evangelism that ruins souls.
-The danger of in an over reaction running to other extremes and complicating the gospel
-If the sinners prayer is not biblical then what do you do if someone tells you they want to become a Christian?
-The danger of trusting in things we've done to be saved
-The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luke 18:9-14 - A Sinners Prayer That Works by Kevin Williams -60 min

Our podcast feed for our sermons on itunes and alike is:
http://sermon.net/PuritanFellowship/rss/

Love Your Enemies and Seek to Do Them Good by Tim Conway

2012-01-19T01:06:00.001Z

MP3: http://illbehonest.com/Love-Your-Enemies-and-Seek-to-Do-Them-Good-Tim-Conway

What normal person spends his time nostalgically dreaming of manure? J.I. Packer

2012-01-18T10:34:00.003Z

“What things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ,” wrote Paul. “Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of ChristJesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him . . . that I may know him . . .” (Phil. 3:7-10). When Paul says he counts the things he lost “dung”, he means not merely that he does not think of them as having any value, but also that he does not live with them constantly in his mind: what normal person spends his time nostalgically dreaming of manure? Yet this, in effect, is what many of us do. It shows how little we have in the way of true knowledge of God." ~J.I. Packer

God Cares For Us Every Moment -J.I. Packer

2012-01-18T00:41:00.001Z

"I am graven on the palms of His hands. I am never out of His mind. All my knowledge of Him depends on His sustained initiative in knowing me. I know Him, because He first knew me, and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, One who loves me; and there is no moment when His eye is off me, or His attention distracted from me, and no moment, therefore, when His care falters. He sees all the twisted things about me that my fellow-men do not see (and I am glad!), and that He sees more corruption in me than that which I see in myself (which, in all conscience, is enough). There is, however, equally great incentive to worship and love God in the thought that, for some unfathomable reason, He wants me as His friend, and desires to be my friend, and has given His Son to die for me in order to realize this purpose. "-J.I.Packer

Knowing God -J.I. Packer FREE Audio book

2012-01-17T22:43:00.002Z

Christianaudio.com is offering J.I. Packer's Knowing God as their Free download of the month (Jan 2012)
http://christianaudio.com/free

The Romans 7 Man by Mike Morrow

2012-01-17T14:52:00.003Z

HT: thetheolog

Most people who classify themselves as reformed in theology interpret Romans 7:14-24 as the normal Christian who is struggling with his sin. This view proposes that the very best the Christian can hope for in this life is a clearer view of his own vileness. The more spiritually mature he is, the more he sees his sins and his own wicked heart and because of that, he casts himself more and more on Christ.

Another view states that the man in Romans 7:14-24 is a carnal Christian. He is a man who needs a second blessing or to yield to Jesus as Lord or to be filled with the Holy Spirit (there are many ways this is characterized). This experience would then lead him into the blessings of Romans 8 .

I do not believe that either of these interpretations is correct. The man Paul describes in Romans 7: 14-24 is not a Christian. He is a man who has come face to face with his own vileness before God. He sees himself as helpless and in the grip of sin. He knows that he can do nothing, in and of himself, to change his situation. He is a man who is a slave to his sinfulness. The biblical reasons for believing this is the correct interpretation are overwhelming to me.

1. Paul specifically says that a Christian is one who has died to sin (Rom. 6:1-3).

2. Paul says that those who belong to Christ have been raised with Him to live in a new resurrection life (Rom. 6:3; 6:11; Eph. 2:4-6).

3. Paul declares that the Christian is not a slave of sin (Rom. 6:20-22).

4. Paul promises that sin shall not have dominion over the Christian (Rom. 6:14).

4. Paul says that the Christian has died to the condemnation that is in the Law (Rom. 7:1-4).

5. Paul states that the Christian no longer lives in the realm of the flesh (Rom. 6:20; 7:5-6; 8:9).

6. Paul reveals that the Christian now lives in the realm of the Spirit (Rom 6:22; 7:6; 8:9).

These are not statements of experience (though these truths always lead to experience). They are statements of position. The saved man has changed worlds and is no longer under the dominion of sin. Neither is he any longer under the condemnation of the Law because of his sin. He is alive in Christ. He is alive in the Spirit.

The man Paul describes in Romans 7:7-24 is quite a different person. He is a man who has been enlightened to his own sinfulness and need for a savior. I believe Paul is describing his own experience when he was under conviction and not yet converted.

1. Paul describes himself as a man who had been convinced of his own sin (Rom. 7:7).

2. Paul says he was one who had been self righteous, but then, by the work of the Law, saw himself a terrible sinner (Rom. 7:7-10).

3. Paul describes himself as a man deceived and dead (Rom. 7:9-11).

4. Paul describes himself as a man in whom death was working (Rom. 7:13)

5. Paul dubs himself a man who was carnal (fleshly), sold under sin (Rom. 7:14).

6. Paul says that he was incapable of practicing what he knew to be right (Rom. 7:15-21).

7. Paul describes himself as one who had no peace (Rom. 7:22-23).

8. Paul says of himself that he was a wretched man looking for deliverance (Rom. 7:24).

Much has been made of the change of tenses between Rom. 7:1-13 which is written in the past tense, and Romans 7:14-25 that is written in the present tense, but the Greek language has an historical present which allows one to speak in the present tense about things in the past. English has the same thing.

The major objection to this view seems to be that Paul also described himself as one who agreed with the Law (Rom. 7:15); as one who delighted in the Law of God in his inward man (Rom. 7:22). How can this be reconciled? If you have ever been under conviction you can identify immediately. A person is brought by the Holy Spirit to agree with God’s Law, even when it condemns him. He delights in that Law in the sense that he knows it is true. The correct appreciation of the truth of the Law is what has brought him to this place in the first place, but his delight in the Law is coupled immediately with “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me. . . .” And the answer is given, “I thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord.”

In context chapter 8 begins with a declaration of ”There is therefore, no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.” The subject is, and always has been, salvation, not sanctification. It is about there being no condemnation to those who are in Christ. All that the Law could not accomplish in Paul, (or any other sinner for that matter) God did by sending His Son to the cross (Rom. 8:2-3) so that the righteous requirements of the Law might be abounding in us…we who do not live in the realm of the flesh but in the realm of the Spirit. And, you are not living in the realm of the flesh but in the realm of the Spirit if God’s Spirit lives in you. If His Spirit does not dwell in you then you are not a saved person (Rom. 8:9 paraphrased).

Handling Anger by Jay Adams

2012-01-17T11:56:00.004Z

A helpful 40 min sermon for anyone who struggles with anger, OR IS QUICK TO FIND FAULT WITH OTHERS.

Play or download MP3:
Handling Anger by Jay Adams - 40 min

Ecc 7:1 - The Day of Death Is Better Than One's Birth For A Christian by Kevin Williams

2012-01-15T13:40:00.001Z

What happens when a believer and an unbeliever dies

Play or download MP3:
Ecc 7:1 - The Day of Death Is Better Than One's Birth For A Christian by Kevin Williams -48min

Our new podcast feed for our sermons on itunes and alike is:
http://sermon.net/PuritanFellowship/rss/

Flood Your Mind With Thoughts of Christ by Tim Conway (10 min)

2012-01-15T10:00:00.000Z

If your neglecting the scriptures there is no exscuse, we must pray the word of God in, many times we are getting nothing because we are not praying, remember "We have not because we ask not." Pray for a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ as seen in the scriptures.

MP3: http://illbehonest.com/Flood-Your-Mind-With-Thoughts-of-Christ-Tim-Conway
Watch the Full Sermon: http://illbehonest.com/Putting-Off-the-Old-Man-and-Putting-On-the-New-Man-Tim...

Perseverance In Prayer, The Parable Of The Persistent Widow by Kevin Williams

2012-01-13T20:45:00.002Z

Fri Bible Study: Helps of persevering in prayer.
-Praying in faith
-Fervent prayer
-Why God sometimes does not give us what we ask for
-The importance of prayer

Play or download mp3:
Luke 18:1-8 - Perseverance In Prayer, The Parable Of The Persistent Widow by Kevin Williams -59 min

Our new podcast feed for our sermons on itunes and alike is:
http://sermon.net/PuritanFellowship/rss/

Don't Fake Intensity in Prayer by Wayne Grudem

2012-01-13T17:07:00.001Z

"In personal relationships, if we attempt to fake emotional intensity and put on an outward show of emotion that is not consistent with the feelings of our hearts, others involved will usually sense our hypocrisy at once and be put off by it. How much more is this true of God, who fully knows our hearts? Therefore, intensity and depth of emotional involvement in prayer should never be faked: we cannot fool God. Yet if we truly begin to see situations as God sees them, if we begin to see the needs of a hurting and dying world as they really are, then it will be natural to pray with some intense emotional involvement, and to expect God as a merciful Father, to respond to heartfelt prayer." ~Wayne Grudem

Jesus by Octavius Winslow (4 min)

2012-01-11T23:37:00.001Z

Remember the Outcome - Mason Vann

2012-01-11T09:59:00.002Z

"...what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death." (Rom 6:21)

This verse ought to come to mind with every temptation. Sin never did anyone a favor. It has always and only left us with shame and death."

HT: www.thoughtsontheway.org/