Matthew Hoffman

Closing This Blog...Opening Another

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:02:00 +0000

Hey there folks,

I am closing this one because of not being able to change my primary email address on it - SO, my new blog where you will be able to find updates on the hoffman family, etc...is at www.happyhoffman.blogspot.com
Thanks!

Matthew

Searching for True Love - part 5 of 5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:37:00 +0000

Part 5 of 5...

Searching for True Love - part 4 of 5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:36:00 +0000

Part 4 of 5...

Searching for True Love - part 3 of 5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:35:00 +0000

Part 3 of 5...

Searching for True Love - part 2 of 5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:34:00 +0000

Part 2 of 5...

Searching for True Love - part 1 of 5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:33:00 +0000

Part 1 of the first video of Joshua Harris' teaching series "I Kissed Dating Goodbye"

"God Is Our Treasure" Sermon Series

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:14:00 +0000

For the last several weeks we have been going through a series on how to view money and possessions in light of eternity. This has been such a wonderfully challenging series as we have begun to view these these through the lens of Scripture...follow this link if you would like to listen to any of these messages. The first message touches on the topic of contentment, the calling to live a modest life and the cultivation of a lifestyle of generosity. The second message is on God's ownership. And then the 3rd message being on the issue of tithing, answering the question if this is something that we as New Testament believers ought to do. http://www.providencecommunitychurch.net/providence/god_is_our_treasure

John Piper On The Practice Of Tithing For The New Testament Believer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 20:36:00 +0000

Hey folks,

Here is a link of a great sermon by John Piper on the practice of tithing for the New Testament believer, great sermon:

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1995/923_Toward_the_Tithe_and_Beyond/

Don Carson's 14 part series on "The God Who Is There" for free from Monergism!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:42:00 +0000

With the generous permission of The Gospel Coalition, Monergism Books is giving away for free this incredible seminar by Don Carson.

From The Gospel Coalition blog: On February 20-21 and 27-28, 2009, Don Carson presented a 14-part seminar entitled "The God Who Is There" at Bethlehem Baptist Church's North Campus in Minneapolis. This series will serve the church well because it simultaneously evangelizes non-Christians and edifies Christians by explaining the Bible's storyline in a non-reductionistic way.

The series is geared toward "seekers" and articulates Christianity in a way that causes hearers either to reject or embrace the gospel. It's one thing to know the Bible's storyline, but it's another to know one's role in God's ongoing story of redemption. "The God Who Is There" engages people at the worldview-level.

Click here to download! http://www.monergismbooks.com/The-God-Who-Is-There-Seminar-MP3-CD-p-19219.html

Randy Alcorn on "Earning Rewards"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:46:00 +0000

Hey folks,

Here is a very helpful article I ran across from Randy Alcorn's ministry "Eternal Perspectives Ministries" on the question, "Can we really earn eternal rewards?" I have to confess, studying the topic of "rewards" is a new one for me, as it might be for many of you. Very clearly laid out, while also very challenging as well. Enjoy! http://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Mar/5/can-we-really-earn-eternal-rewards/

Revolutionaries and Plodding Visionaries

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:58:00 +0000

Today I had the privilege of talking with two godly men who are church planters in this city - one, an inner city pastor and the other a Hispanic pastor. What I respect about them even at their beginnings is that they are not seeking to be "the next biggest thing" in Kansas City - - instead, they are seeking to be faithful preachers of the gospel calling the lost to Christ. They are not seeking to be hip, trendy or revolutionary - they are "simple men" (I say that as a fellow simple man, with the deepest of respect) seeking to open their Bibles and to call people to love Jesus with their whole hearts! In a day where so much is written on how to be a pastor and what someone is suppose to do in order to be relevant and "transformational" in our culture, it is so refreshing to see men committed to being visionaries to labor for the gospel! Read this link by C.J. Mahaney on this topic http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Blog/post/Plodding-Visionaries.aspx- it is very encouraging! (It was sent to me by my loving wife who is "plodding" along with me, to encourage my heart! Thank you sweetie!) Jason and Mario, you guys are my heroes! Thank you for loving the gospel and loving His people!

Fear Not! Death & The Afterlife From A Christian Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

I just finished reading this book by Ligon Duncan, and I have to say that I believe this is THE book to give to someone who is in the process of dying or to give to their loved one. It is so clear and concise as he brings you to the hope in the resurrection, while answering some very fundamental questions about dying and what happens to us when we die. Very, very good! It is a small book and a very easy read, while it helps the reader plumb the depths of this issue.

"My God Is True!" A Journey Down Cancer's Dark Road

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

In the last couple of years I have been reading a steady diet of books on the topic of suffering. There are a lot of books on the topic, but not all of them are very helpful. Here is a book that I would say is THE book to give to a fellow believer who is walking through the dark news of cancer. It is written by a pastor who went through cancer a couple of years ago - it is part memoir and part theological instruction addressing the spiritual issues and concerns one goes through during this time. It is a very, very helpful book, and there is much in the way of teaching that could be applied to many issues of suffering in one's life.

Family Helps In Movie Watching

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

I personally love a good movie, however it can be so hard to find good ones! Here are a couple of links I have come across that I have found so helpful as a parent:

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/

http://www.pluggedin.com/

Lot & His Daughters...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 May 2010 22:19:00 +0000

The story of Lot and his daughters is not normally a passage of Scripture we spend a lot of time studying, nor is it one that we find ourselves searching for messages on it. Last week, as we were preaching through the book of Genesis we found ourselves coming upon this very uncomfortable text. Many I have talked to said they were a bit nervous coming up to this Sunday, wondering how I would be handling this text. However, since that time I have heard from many that they have found it to be very helpful and practical sermon to help us evaluate our hearts as there are many times we find ourselves in "strange places" in our thinking and how to recognize the subtle drift of the human heart. The title of the message is "From False Treasures To False Saviors." I trust you will find it as help as I did when going through it. It is posted on our church's website at www.providencecommunitychurch.net or the direct link: http://i.b5z.net/i/u/1229416/m/FalseTreasureToFalseSaviors042510.mp3

Family Reading "The Hedge Of Thorns"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:49:00 +0000

Last night we just got finished reading a book that we have read several times as a family, the book, "The Hedge of Thorns" published by Lamplighter Publishing based on the true story of John Carroll written back in 1611. It is an absolute must read, re-read and re-read for the entire family! It is a small book that can be read in a couple of settings, it is handsomely bound and is a great addition to the family library. It teaches on the Providence of God in the midst of suffering, sickness & affliction and how we are to trust in God's care and kindness over our lives as He does put "hedges" in our lives for our own ultimate good. Below is the publisher's description:

"Based on a true story, here is a gripping account of a young boy who learns the hard way that the choices we make can harm those we love the most. Because he desperately wants to know what is on the other side of a hedge of thorns, he puts his little sister in great danger. From his experience, we learn that God places boundaries in our lives because He loves us. "

Haiti Relief Fund Through Sovereign Grace Ministries

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:31:00 +0000

Dear Friends,

I wanted to pass on to you this link through our family of churches as they have set up a relief fund to channel resources through some of our contacts already in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic. Here is a clip from their website:

"In response to the devastating earthquake that occurred in Haiti on Tuesday, Sovereign Grace Ministries has activated our Disaster Relief fund to help deliver food, medicine, and other needed aid there. We will distribute the funds we raise primarily through existing ministry contacts we have on the island—both in Haiti and the Dominican Republic—who are already involved in relief efforts."

Please pray for the people of Haiti and the ministry relief workers there. If you are able to help financially you can click here: http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/About/FinancialSupport/DisasterRelief.aspx

Thank you so very much!

Why Plant Churches - Part 2 by Dave Harvey

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:18:00 +0000

Here is part 2 from Dr. Dave Harvey who over sees Sovereign Grace Ministries' church planting...great stuff...Posted at the Sovereign Grace Ministries' blog... http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Blog/post/sovereign-grace-ministries-church-planting-dave-harvey.aspx

If you could buy stock in church planting, this would be a bull market. I’m serious. Church planting is white-hot right now. I think that’s terrific. But to keep it from simply becoming trendy, we must anchor it in something eternal. That’s where the Great Commission comes in.
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)What makes the Great Commission so great? Is it the great sacrifices it calls for…or the great places we’re called to go? How about the great people it calls into action? I don’t think so. Our commission is great because it ignites church planting. But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. The Great Commission is not great simply because it results in the church. It’s great, first and foremost, because it originates from the finished work of Christ.The Gospel: The Point and Power behind Church PlantingRead it again. The Great Commission starts with the gospel. It fixes us on what the cross secured for Christ —“all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (v. 18). Right out of the gate, God invites us to look at the fields of our community, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, and Asia with a new sense of confidence. Why? Because…and get ready for this…the contract is inked, the rights reserved, the deal sealed. The authority to put the gospel into circulation is secured by the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Think about it. The reality of that authority now forms the foundation for all local evangelism, church planting, and missions. Authorized for action, Christians can now serve God’s warrant to the world. We get to tell lost souls they are loved…and wanted by the Savior. That’s a jaw-dropper. That’s why we can’t get all hyped up on the latest way to do missions, the latest research, the latest means and methods of doing ministry. Because nothing we can concoct will ever prepackage the power of the gospel. Church planting shouldn’t start with techniques, technology or talking to territorial spirits, often the launching point for church planting in certain parts of the world. It must begin with our confidence in the explosive message embodied in Christ and entrusted to us in Matthew 28. It’s the one message that makes all the difference. And we’re the megaphone. But we have to remember that it’s not a static message that we just share when we have time. It’s not content we load into our cutting-edge curriculum. The gospel is a dynamic, unstoppable force that God has unleashed in creation through the cross. Dwight Moody once likened the gospel to a lion. Just pop open the cage and stand clear!The apostle Paul was supremely confident in the power of the gospel. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).Guaranteed SuccessAre you starting to see it? Our commission is great because the founder guarantees the fruit (Ephesians 2:10). Yep, the Great Commission is stamped with “results guaranteed!” How cool is that? And we know that a king’s edict, closed countries, recessions, wars, natural disasters, cultural opposition or indifference, even the failures of the workers, won’t stall the commission. Going forth with the message of God in the power of God means we are entrusted with a message that never stops. It is an unstoppable commission.If you’re like me, just thinking about this stuff gets the blood pumping. To think that we have a job to do and success is guaranteed because of the finished work of Christ is thrilling. We serve a great Savior who has established our call upon his great work—it must be a Great Commission!Tune in next time, when we’ll discover how the church and church planting are embedded in the Great Commission.

Brit Hume: Proclaiming The Need For Accepting Jesus Christ As One's Savior On Fox News

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:19:00 +0000

Folks this is simply outstanding! Never have I heard a news reporter of such standing as Brit Hume proclaim Christ with such clarity. Here is a link to WORLD Magazine... http://online.worldmag.com/2010/01/05/proclaiming-christ-on-fox-news/ and there you can read not only their commentary on the events but also watch Brit's unashamed, yet compassionate call for men like Tiger Woods to find their hope in Christ. The article also tells briefly of how Brit came from being "a nominal Christian" (his words) to true saving faith in Jesus Christ. In these segments, Hume clearly states that Buddhism, which would be Tiger's professed religion, does not offer the forgiveness and reconciliation that Tiger Woods needs. Here you can see the original video as well as his commentary with Bill O'Reilly on those comments as well. MUST SEE! OUTSTANDING!!!

How to ruin a good confession... "If...if....if"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

This is from our friends at Peacemaker Ministries...very helpful reminders for what makes and can ruin a good confession...

****
If, If, If…

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other...Ephesians 4:32
The best way to ruin a confession is to use words that shift the blame to others or that appear to minimize or excuse your guilt. The most common way to do this is to say, "I'm sorry if I've done something to upset you." The word if ruins this confession, because it implies that you do not know whether or not you did wrong. The message you are communicating is this: "Obviously you're upset about something. I don't know that I have done anything wrong, but just to get you off my back I'll give you a token apology."

Here's some "Food for Thought"
How often does if show up in your confessions? A great way to ruin your engine on your car? Never, ever change the oil. A sure-fire way to ruin your credit rating? Never, ever pay your bills on time. What about ruining your reputation at work? Never, ever keep your appointments. And the best way to ruin a confession? Each and every time, use the word "if."
Ken Sande in his book "Peacemakers," reminds us of the power of this little two-letter word. Too many times, it leads to an empty confession. All the words may be right and proper (I'm sorry), but the heart is missing. And anything without a heart is usually dead, good for nothing. The word "confess" means "to agree with" -- you're agreeing that you've done something wrong. If you're not ready to agree, then don't confess. Because that ruins everything.

Why We Love The Church - by DeYoung & Kluck

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Barnabas - Son of Encouragement - 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Everyone would seem to be small standing next to the greatness of the Apostle Paul - however through the years there has been one man who has always gotten my attention - Joseph who was also called by the apostles, "Barnabas." Not much - in comparison - is written about him - yet the testimony of his life is one that catches my attention. Why? I am not sure of all the reasons, but as I read the New Testament account of him - there is something that strikes me that says, "I want to be like him." Many men seek for the advancement of their own name, comfort, pleasure and reputation - not so with Barnabas. Instead, his testimony was one lived out to advance the good, care and reputation of others. Admittedly - maybe one of the reasons I am so attracted to study him is because I am by nature, so NOT LIKE Barnabas! Too often I can find my own heart so preoccupied with my desires, my wants, my preferences, etc. and I see my need to be mentored by his example.

So with this said - this begins a series of blog entries I am starting on "Barnabas - Son of Encouragement." I do hope you find it beneficial for your own soul, as I am also praying that the testimony of this great man's story will have a greater impact on my own life and character.

With this said, we begin. The very first time we hear of Barnabas is in Acts 4:

"34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were
owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to
each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles
Barnabas (which means son of encouragement) a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet." (ESV)

The very first characteristic we can see coming from Barnabas' life was this was a man who was concerned for the poor and to those who had need. He was so concerned that he took what he had and sold it and gave it to the apostles for them to distribute as there was need among the people of God. Barnabas was a man whose orientation was not towards himself nor his worldly goods, but instead towards those who are without. In a word - Barnabas was a man of "mercy." He had compassion in his heart towards his fellowman desiring that they be cared for.

Far too often, we make excuses for not walking in an active orientation towards the practical needs of others. We see how Christ walked in this way as well as there were times when he saw the crowds and the multitudes and being moved with compassion, he healed them and fed them.

There is much more from this first passage that we will address in later posts - but let's use this as a point of encouragement to begin today to look upon others in mercy. May it begin with our family members - may they see us dying to ourselves and giving ourselves up in love, care and mercy for them. May it begin with fellow members of your church, your small group. Begin thinking and praying, "Lord how would you want to work your mercy through me today to one of these precious folks?" May it happen through our ministry to the women and children of Forest Avenue, asking and praying, "Lord how would you want to be glorified through our ministry to them this month?" May we all grow in a Christ-centered, God-glorifying, mercy-drenched, love-motivated care for those around us!

Do you hear what I hear? Tim Hawkins

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:25:00 +0000

Merry Christmas folks! Enjoy!

"Man Cold"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0000

For all my fellow dudes who are struggling with "Man cold" and your wife might not understand how bad it really is...this might help. Have fun.

World Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Hey friends - if you don't have a subscription to WORLD Magazine - I would highly recommend it! I have been getting this for close to 10 years now and it is absolutely outstanding! It is a bi-weekly Christian news reporting magazine written by theologically and politcally conservative believers. They are fair and balanced in their reporting. Great stuff to get a theologically sound perspective on daily events! Highly recommend it! You can order by loggin on to http://www.worldmag.org/