Dr. Steven J. Lawson is the senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. He serves on the board of directors of The Master’s College and Seminary and the ministerial board for Reformed Theological Seminary and teaches with Dr. John MacArthur at the Expositor’s Institute. In addition to his pulpit ministry, Dr. Lawson has written 14 books, including Famine in the Land: A Passionate Call to Expository Preaching, Foundations of Grace: A Long Line of Godly Men (vol. 1), and The Expository Genius of John Calvin. He and his wife, Anne, have four children. You can purchase some of Dr. Lawson’s books at Reformation Heritage Books clicking at the above links.

Text: Hebrews 14:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Introduction: Dr. Lawson started off by explaining what exactly the Bible is. From there he made it clear how the world was shaken by the Reformation, Puritans, and the Great Awakening’s preaching of the Word of God. It is clear that in every reformation and revival the preaching of the Word of God was the main medium God used. Then Dr. Lawson brought attention to the importance of this book of Hebrews in chapter one that it is the “power of God.” He then showed this from not only chapter one of Hebrews, but three, five, and in twelve as well. Dr. Lawson told his audience that they were going to get 7 marks that night on the Bible.
1. The Bible is a Divine Book- “Word of God”. The Bible is a divine book written by men, but spoken by an Author, God.
2. The Bible is a Living Book- “living” The Bible is a book that is alive and speaks to people as much today as when it was first written down.
3. The Bible is a Powerful Book- “active” The Bible is a book that has energy and supernatural power that is ready to explode in the lives of people.
4. The Bible is a Razor Sharp Book- “sharper than any two edged sword” Every book, chapter, verse, word, jot and titel can cut and wound the soul of any man. It convicts; there is nothing that wounds the hearts worse than this sword.
5. The Bible is a Piercing Book- “piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit” Meaning that the Bible can dig deeper than anything else to get into the depths and innermost parts of the heart to heal and restore the individual.
6. The Bible is a Judging Book- “and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” Meaning that the Bible is able to critique the individual and judge man’s soul by comparing the life of the person to that which the Word commands for the believer.
7. The Bible is a Saving Book- “For” in the beginning of verse 12. This word here in front of all that is said in verses 12 to 14, shows us that the Bible gives us a Gospel invitation so that the people will leave behind their past life and follow the Word of God. This “for” is to invite people to see the Gospel and to announce that the Word of God was enough and is enough to break all of mankind from their past, no matter what it was.
Concluding thoughts are that man should not harden their hearts to that which they have heard from the preaching of the Scriptures. The effects of the Word of God are what changes man’s hearts and gives their souls hope. Man must know it, read, learn it, fight for it, and see it, preaching it in the full power of the Holy Spirit, which has the power to save others. For there is nothing more powerful than the Word of God in the hands of men.

Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., is the Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and President Emeritus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. He served as president of Gordon-Conwell from 1997-2006. Dr. Kaiser has written numerous books, some of which are: Toward an Old Testament Theology, Ecclesiastes: Total Life, and The Messiah in the Old Testament. Dr. Kaiser and his wife, Marge, have four children and seven grandchildren.

Text: Jeremiah 32:1-44

In introduction Dr. Kaiser explained how God loved his people even before they existed. From there he explained the hope that lay in Jeremiah’s message that the people of the Lord would turn back to God their Father.

Focal Point: vs. 27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Homiletical Keyword: Implications

Interrogative: what are the implications of God’s name?

Verses 1-15 show that the Word is both stunning and a fulfilled Word. The study of this word “PELE” found in our passage is also found throughout the Bible in Isaiah 9:6; Genesis 18:13-14; Judges 13:18; Zechariah 8:6. The name of God stands for all of the attributes that exists in Him and all of his doctrine that lies in Him as well. This is why the believer can walk in the name of the Lord and follow his commands.

Verses 16-25 show that God is wonderful in His person. This is shown in this section by revealing that God answers prayer, his calling upon Jeremiah in chapter 33, God’s works in creation and redemption, and His miracles.

Verses 26-35 show that God is wonderful in His wrath. This section of the Scriptures show that God is reassuring in His Word, how God deals with unconfessed sin, and how God deal’s with his apostasizing people.

Verses 36-44 show that Our God is wonderful in His promises. God promises here in this section of Jeremiah that the captives would return home on day, they would live in safety, the promising of the New Covenant, the singleness of the heart, the making of a everlasting covenant with His people, and in verse 40 and 41 that they could rejoice in God doing them good.

Concluding questions to ask yourself:

1. What in your lives/churches is too hard for God to do?

2. Why have you failed to call to God in prayer?

3. God’s trademark is “Wonderful,” so why do you expect less than He wants to do?

Dr. Steven J. Lawson is the senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. He serves on the board of directors of The Master’s College and Seminary and the ministerial board for Reformed Theological Seminary and teaches with Dr. John MacArthur at the Expositor’s Institute. In addition to his pulpit ministry, Dr. Lawson has written 14 books, including Famine in the Land: A Passionate Call to Expository Preaching, Foundations of Grace: A Long Line of Godly Men (vol. 1), and The Expository Genius of John Calvin. He and his wife, Anne, have four children. You can purchase some of Dr. Lawson’s books at Reformation Heritage Books clicking at the above links.

Text: Hebrews 14:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Introduction: Dr. Lawson started off by explaining what exactly the Bible is. From there he made it clear how the world was shaken by the Reformation, Puritans, and the Great Awakening’s preaching of the Word of God. It is clear that in every reformation and revival the preaching of the Word of God was the main medium God used. Then Dr. Lawson brought attention to the importance of this book of Hebrews in chapter one that it is the “power of God.” He then showed this from not only chapter one of Hebrews, but three, five, and in twelve as well. Dr. Lawson told his audience that they were going to get 7 marks that night on the Bible.
1. The Bible is a Divine Book- “Word of God”. The Bible is a divine book written by men, but spoken by an Author, God.
2. The Bible is a Living Book- “living” The Bible is a book that is alive and speaks to people as much today as when it was first written down.
3. The Bible is a Powerful Book- “active” The Bible is a book that has energy and supernatural power that is ready to explode in the lives of people.
4. The Bible is a Razor Sharp Book- “sharper than any two edged sword” Every book, chapter, verse, word, jot and titel can cut and wound the soul of any man. It convicts; there is nothing that wounds the hearts worse than this sword.
5. The Bible is a Piercing Book- “piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit” Meaning that the Bible can dig deeper than anything else to get into the depths and innermost parts of the heart to heal and restore the individual.
6. The Bible is a Judging Book- “and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” Meaning that the Bible is able to critique the individual and judge man’s soul by comparing the life of the person to that which the Word commands for the believer.
7. The Bible is a Saving Book- “For” in the beginning of verse 12. This word here in front of all that is said in verses 12 to 14, shows us that the Bible gives us a Gospel invitation so that the people will leave behind their past life and follow the Word of God. This “for” is to invite people to see the Gospel and to announce that the Word of God was enough and is enough to break all of mankind from their past, no matter what it was.
Concluding thoughts are that man should not harden their hearts to that which they have heard from the preaching of the Scriptures. The effects of the Word of God are what changes man’s hearts and gives their souls hope. Man must know it, read, learn it, fight for it, and see it, preaching it in the full power of the Holy Spirit, which has the power to save others. For there is nothing more powerful than the Word of God in the hands of men.

For those of you who may have not heard of Jason Nightingale, you should differently HEAR him! Jason is a Charles Spurgeon looking type fellow who has a voice as booming as a tractor motor, and a mind as fast as a 250GB hard drive. He is a commissioned missionary/evangelist associated with Northwest Baptist Seminary in Tacoma, Washington. Jason also is a key speaker for Wordsower Evangel Arts, a live performance ministry. Jason’s presentations consist of dramatic recitations of complete books and large portions of Scripture, presented with power and sincerity. Jason and his wife, Sharon, travel to churches to edify the saints and raise awareness of the needs of orphans, widows, refugees, and street children in Africa and India, where Wordsower ministers.
In his presentation, Jason recited Revelation chapter one and through chapter five, quoting the Scripture from his memory while dramatizing it for the audience. For those or you who may not have ever heard this man speak, I encourage you to do so. You can listen to some of his sessions from Grace Baptist Fellowship by clicking here and here.om his memory while dramatizing it for the audience. For those or you who may not have ever heard this man speak, I encourage you to do so. You can listen to some of his sessions from Grace Baptist Fellowship by clicking here and here.

Dr. James Grier has served as Associate Professor of Philosophy at Cedarville College for 13 years and was Vice President and Dean of Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary for 16 years, where he continues to serve as the Distinguished Professor of Philosophical Theology as well teaching part-time at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Jim and his wife, Shirley, live in Rockford, Michigan.
He began his message the same way the Bible itself begins. He began to describe the act of creation and how man was first made in the image of God. He then went to Genesis chapter two to describe the importance of man not being alone and how Adam was given a partner. Here man was given a command to take care of the garden, where they could have the glorious communion with God everyday. There was a brief overview of Genesis chapter three where man fell and Adam’s sin became his shame, causing him to hide under the trees when he heard the voice of his creator. This is what placed a barrier between man and woman and man and God. This brought mankind into conflict with creation, conflict with life, and conflict with his wife. Grier’s introduction was in fact saddening to see the decisions that Adam made, and the barrier placed in man’s relationship to God.
In chapter four Able and Cain were introduced to us. Cain was unhappy with God that he would not accept his offering so he killed his brother. Here is where God was upset that he ever made man. Grier next went on further to Noah and the tower of Babylon, showing the fallenness of mankind and what sin did to all of humanity. Grier described Moses, the man who would give sign after sign for the people of God to see how great their God was, and told the Lord’s people exactly what they may do to serve him. The Lord’s people were even given the Ten Commandments which told them how to live for the God. Next, God gave Moses the command of making a tabernacle, where God could come down to be with his people. This glory of God was so great that later in time it would help defeat armies and at battles destroy everyone who was against the Lord’s people. Dr. Grier then moved on to the kingships of the Lord’s people, describing how in Solomon’s time the glory of God lived throughout their day. But soon, God’s people began to worship other gods, even as the prophets would cry out to the Lord’s people, turn, turn, turn!, to the point that the glory of God left his people and they were left in the dark and without their God.
Then Dr. Grier entered the New Testament. A man named John was born to make way for someone that was to come for God’s people. Asking us then to turn to 2 Corinthians 3:11-18, he read,
“11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
Paul, here citing passages in Exodus to the people of Corinth, would read these passages to explain how the blood that was once sprinkled on the people of Israel that gave his presence among his people, had now come to consummation of his people. For Christ is the image, the fullest shadow, of what Moses had been a type of. We were then brought to the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit came, now giving us the glory of God that would dwell with us forever . This glory gives his people what they have longed for and wish that they had had previously. We as believers receive this glory of God to glorify God. At this time Dr. Grier turned his head to the crowd, looking in all sincerity towards the pastors and said, “Pastors, if you do not preach for the glory of God, you aren’t preaching correctly.”
He went on preaching in tears that we can see this glory of Christ from his word by being transformed by the Spirit, and in light of this we can glorify God like never before. This Spirit is the agent that brings about the transformation, so that we can see the Lord as if in a mirror. Dr. Grier asked, “Is this your plan in worship services, to make people transformed by the Spirit?” And what matters most is that when the believer sees the glory of Christ in worship, in the Word, this is when he is transformed to the glory of God and image of Christ, like we were originally made to be. Here is where Dr. Grier most emphatically gave his application. He reached out his arms, pointing to us, asking how do we prepare to worship God? How to we get ready to serve him in preaching? Do we manifest the glory of Christ in our preaching? Is Christ the center of our preaching? He is the revealer, and the one revealed, the content of our preaching. Will the people of God see the glory of God in our message? Will the transforming of the Spirit take place, and will we leave conformed differently towards the image of Christ?
“We the people of God manifest the glory of Christ.”
Dr. Grier then concluded by quoting the last chapter of Revelation, showing the pastors at the conference the hope that we the people of God will have one day when we will be together with the glory of God dwelling together for eternity. “We shall see his face,” not now, but after this world passes away, death will be swallowed up in victory and we shall see all the glory of Christ. For then the glory of God will shine upon his people, he will bless and keep you, and make his face to shine upon you. As we hold the glory of God, being transformed everyday by the Spirit of God, we must glorify Christ in our preaching and worship, until we are called home.

The Speakers at the West Cannon Bible Conference are as following:

Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., is the Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and President Emeritus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. He served as president of Gordon-Conwell from 1997-2006. Dr. Kaiser has written numerous books, some of which are: Toward an Old Testament Theology, Ecclesiastes: Total Life, and The Messiah in the Old Testament. Dr. Kaiser and his wife, Marge, have four children and seven grandchildren.

Dr. Steven J. Lawson is the senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. He serves on the board of directors of The Master’s College and Seminary and the ministerial board for Reformed Theological Seminary and teaches with Dr. John MacArthur at the Expositor’s Institute. In addition to his pulpit ministry, Dr. Lawson has written 14 books, including Famine in the Land: A Passionate Call to Expository Preaching, Foundations of Grace: A Long Line of Godly Men (vol. 1), and The Expository Genius of John Calvin. He and his wife, Anne, have four children.

Dr. James Grier served as Associate Professor of Philosophy at Cedarville College for 13 years and was Vice President and Dean of Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary for 16 years, where he continues to serve as the Distinguished Professor of Philosophical Theology, as well as he teaches at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Jim and his wife, Shirley, live in Rockford, Michigan.

Jason Nightingale is a commissioned missionary evangelist associated with Northwest Baptist Seminary in Tacoma, Washington. Wordsower Evangel Arts is a live performance ministry. Jason’s presentations consist of a dramatic recitation of a complete book, or books, or large portion of Scripture presented with power and sincerity. Jason and his wife, Sharon, travel to churches to edify the saints and raise awareness of the needs of orphans, widows, refugees, and street children in Africa and India, where Windsower ministers.

Mrs. Jeannie Vogel is the wife of Jim Vogel, Associate National Representative of the GARBC. A graduate of Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania, Jeannie served for 29 years alongside her husband in pastoral ministry. She is actively involved in children’s and women’s ministries. She is a popular women’s retreat speaker and the author of Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John. Together, Jim and Jeannie conduct marriage seminars and retreats, and encourage and assist pastors and their wives. God has blessed the Vogels with five children.

For myself (Michael Dewalt) I have never sold books, nor sold anything to anyone in my life. This week I however am selling books for RHB at a conference in Grand Rapids, MI. So, I have decided to jump on the band wagon and blog “live” for RHB publications as I sell books. This conference that we (RHB) are selling at happens to be twofold. The dates of the conference are February 25th through the 27th. First, during the day the pastors’ seminar goes on with pastors from around the state and even out of state come to hear a number of speakers focusing on the conferences topic this year, “the Living Word.” Secondly, In the evenings is a Bible conference that all are welcome to attend, that starts at 6:45 PM and will be done by Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. and Dr. Steven J. Lawson. You can read more information and news about this conference and the evenings sessions here. If you are in the area of Grand Rapids, MI and haven’t heard about these totally free evening sessions may I consider in coming out and hear “the Living Word.”