Brennan Little

Christian, Husband of @eLittle0822, and dad to Micah, Reformed Baptist, SDG🇨🇦

[Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary @CBTSeminary]

It’s easy to judge a minister by their charisma or eloquence. But how do we judge their doctrine?

Dr. Sam Waldron reminds us that a solid confession of faith isn’t just history—it's protection for the flock.

#CBTSeminary #Confessionalism #ReformedBaptist #Ministry

[Brennan Little @bLittle0822]

@MPW1689 Again, this format.

I am in an odd spot by agreeing with 1689 on the Sabbath being a creation ordinance and Heb 4:9-10, but with PC on Rom 14, and Colossians 2.
I also lack a reformed baptist to bounce these ideas off of in person. So I appreciate any help you may have for me.

[Brennan Little @bLittle0822]

@MPW1689 I’m just struggling to find exegetical answers to these practical matters.
I know the 1689 answers to this, but it seems to be opposed to the push to freedom against the weak conscience of the strict in Rom 14.

[Brennan Little @bLittle0822]

@MPW1689 Yet, in another sense, that is not what the day is for and we should not be thinking about that on the Lord’s Day.

[Brennan Little @bLittle0822]

@MPW1689 1. Yes. Listened to all three multiple times.
2. He is unclear on if he would even think it wise (permissible?) to throw a football with your son. In one sense, of course it’s allowed, kids are kids and need to burn off energy.

[Brennan Little @bLittle0822]

@Soteriology101 @beready4rapture @Pastor_ChrisH https://t.co/3IGHQzkwGe

[Ryan Denton @TexasPreacher]

Some men excuse themselves from seeking Christ by saying, "If God intends to save me, He will save me." Yet they don't reason that way anywhere else in life. No man says, "If God intends me to be fed, food will appear in my stomach whether I eat or not." "If God intends for me to have money, it'll happen whether I work or not."

Why use such reasoning when it comes to your soul? God has appointed means as well as ends. He commands sinners to repent & believe the gospel. He calls them to flee to Christ today, NOW, because tomorrow's not promised to you. To refuse this call while hiding behind God's sovereignty is gross & high-handed presumption.

"As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Ezek. 33:11

[J.Tambakis @TambakisJ]

Eugenics has not gone away. And notice how all the language is cloaked in compassion and euphemisms.

[Jeffrey Perry® @JeffreyPerry09]

Repentance is not the cause of forgiveness of sins.

John Calvin

[𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨 ⛪︎ 🌲 @MichaelCarlino]

💯

The switch flipped for me when I realized that what I (and many other evangelicals) meant by “sola scriptura” was actually being conflated with personal exegesis.

This hit while reading Biblical Reasoning.

Truly a watershed moment.

Kyle and I try to capture that here. 👇

[Jeff Wiesner @JeffreyPWiesner]

My biggest obstacle to embracing confessionalism was an inability to see how I conflated Scriptural authority with personal interpretation—“the Bible says” with “[I say] the Bible says.”

But now I can’t unsee it.

I was softly skeptical of confessional-ISM for many years, assuming it threatened Scriptural authority by raising creeds and confessions to the level of Scripture.

But what it really threatened was my (assumed) personal authority by which I (unwittingly) raised my own interpretations to the level of Scripture.

[Jeff Wiesner @JeffreyPWiesner]

A “card-carrying dispensationalist” pastor was the first to make me see that the whole Bible fit together and that every word was true.

An anti-Calvinist Arminian showed me to how to do personal evangelism while in college.

An ERAS/EFS-teaching theologian introduced me to systematic theology with his best-selling single-volume systematic.

These are but a few examples of saints the Lord has used in my life to help me grow in my love for God and his word.

Today, I depart from each of them on important subjects—even strongly in some regards.

But I cannot be anything but grateful for the way that the Lord has used all kinds of faithful, Jesus-loving believers to bring me where I am today.

How could my posture toward such saints, even in disagreement, be anything but one that reflects the Lord’s kindness to me through them?

[Tim Stephens @tim__stephens]

Our church was voted out of the Fellowship yesterday.

My quick response: https://t.co/filSGZweLf

More to come next week...

[Jeff Wiesner @JeffreyPWiesner]

Is there a more well-intended yet spiritually unhelpful phrase in local church ministry than, “Do life together?”

Especially for saints with growing families, full calendars, and many commitments, it can create unreasonable expectations that lead to constantly feeling “disconnected.”

My advice:

> Leverage the Lord’s Day for church relationships.

> Be intentional to build and maintain a few close friendships 1-2 times per month through hospitality, double dates, or whatever.

> But be content in this season to “do life” with your spouse and kids. What a blessed season and opportunity!

So resist thinking that you’re somehow “missing out”or “disconnected” because the volume, intensity, spontaneity, and frequency of “doing life” with *friends* is not what it was when you were in college, single, or newly married without kids.

Don’t get me wrong. That was a sweet season! Praise God for it! But it’s never coming back.

So don’t build your expectations for “doing life” in this present season from your experience in that season.

Instead, consider that God has given you a new (and, in many ways, better) set of people to “do life” with. Lean into your home, your spouse, and your kids without regret or discontentment.

Then locate your household alongside others in a church with the modest ambition of doing some spiritual good to others every Sunday over a long period of time, and then perhaps some other times outside of the Lord’s Day as you’re able—in a church small group, or through hospitality, or whatever.

And if we’re being honest, many churches do not give their members the freedom to do this.

They might call them “Sunday only” Christians, and pressure them—without any reference to their family—“But who are you doing life with?”

Or they might sell their various extra-biblical programs and small groups with a promise, “These are the people you’re going to ‘do life’ with.”

OK, maybe. Maybe not. Either way, let’s not command what God does not command or promise what God does not promise.

Instead, let’s encourage simple faithfulness and godly contentment to “do life” where he has us.

Okay, I’m done.

[Brennan Little @bLittle0822]

@ericmetaxas “Evening and morning”

[Brennan Little @bLittle0822]

@MPW1689 I have been meaning to do this for a while as well. I should make it a priority!

[Jeff Wiesner @JeffreyPWiesner]

When a man is called to pastor, he is called, in one sense, to be “the last man standing.”

Over years and decades, many in his flock will move away, join other churches, be removed by discipline, or die.

New members will also be brought into the church, but many of these too will likely not remain.

Yet in all the comings and goings of a transient church membership, one remains (by God’s grace):

Pastor.

Sadness at seeing members depart may vary in degrees, depending on the person. But sadness inevitably attends them all—even the “difficult” ones.

He’s prayed for them, taught them, wept and lost sleep over them, mourned with them in bitter providence, and rejoiced with them in sweet providence.

They’re all part of his precious flock, his joy, and his “crown.”

Given this, temptations toward discouragement are inevitable when sheep depart. This is due in part to the devil’s devices, as well as his own sinful flesh.

Rather than be discouraged, the man of God is lifted up by looking away from himself to Christ, recalling that his flock was never truly “his” to begin with.

They belong to his Chief Shepherd who loves each one with a love unparalleled by him on his very best days of ministry.

Therefore, he actually has much by which to be encouraged. Least among these:

The Chief Shepherd has called him to play a not-so-small role in guiding and guarding a few of His precious sheep on one leg of their long, difficult journey home to the still waters and green pastures of His glorious kingdom.

What an honor and privilege to be the “one who remains!”

Lord, keep us faithful!