Dave Harvey (SGM) on C J Mahaney

This comes from the Brent Detwiler documents.  No matter what motive they may assign to this line (the "Desperate Housevives)  they may be some use for you.  Consider his acceptance speech;

“To correct CJ, or to challenge his own self-perception, was to experience a reaction through emails, consistent disagreement (without seeking to sufficiently understand), a lack of sufficient follow-up and occasionally, relational withdrawal. Along with this, CJ was poor in volunteering areas of sin, temptation or weakness in himself.” - email to Brent Detwiler - October 8th - 2010.

The recent infamous report from Ambassadors of Reconciliation comment of SGM's (and C J Mahaney's) "apostle" (watch this space).

Brent Detwiler on the Change to Sovereign Grace Ministries

A Fair Question I think:

"SGM is no longer a family of churches like it used to be and people aren’t connected to the mission like they use to be. During our first 20 years we did Celebration Conferences and live Mission Presentations in every geographical region. It gave us a wonderful opportunity to be with the people and among the people. There was a tremendous sense of camaraderie. C.J. ended these conferences over my strong objection ... There used to be a real sense of family and personal commitment to our collective call. That is largely gone. SGM is a corporation. Now we have a Chairman, President, Board of Directors, Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Ambassadors of Reconciliation. What happened to apostles, prophets, miracles, the restoration of the church and personal evangelism?".

Brent Detwiler - "Sovereign Grace Ministries Relocation Announcement" - SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2012 AT 11:25PM

Rob Rufus on True Marks of Apostolic Ministry

"Apostles will safeguard the Church against legalism, denominationalism, popery and institutionalism.  If they're not safeguarding the Church, they're not operating as apostles".


Rob Rufus - "The 10 Ugly Faces of the Grace-Hating Spirit" - from "Living Grace" (2012) - New Nature Publications, Hong Kong

Rob Rufus on Apostles Safeguarding Ministry

"I believe the Church is not being safeguarded because of the absence of authentic apostolic ministry in the earth.  There are many apostles around, but I guarantee you that all that calls itself apostolic, is not.  The credentials of an apostle; signs, wonders and miracles should be a major part of their life and ministry.  If that's not a major thrust of their life - they might be an apostle but they are not operating in their gifts.  Wherever apostles go, churches will be planted".


Rob Rufus - "The 10 Ugly Faces of the Grace-Hating Spirit" - from "Living Grace" (2012) - New Nature Publications, Hong Kong.

Stephen Dempster on the Song of Solomon

"Shorn of it's literary context, the song could almost be pornographic. But the context of the canon both restricts the context ... and expands it to include the relationship between Yahweh and Israel. When reading this text, the reader hears ... of the passionate and fiery love that Yahweh has for His people".

Stephen G Dempster - "Dominion and Dynasty - a theology of the Hebrew Bible" - New Studies in Bible Theology (ed: D A Carson) - Apollo (2003) - (p207).

Alex Buchanan on Quenching the Spirit

"I believe that some of the most extreme critics of charismatic things are in danger of their lives because they have attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to demons".

Alex Buchanan - "Burnham" - "Grace, Grit and Glory" - published on Alex Buchanan website - downloaded Tuesday 6th September 2011.

Dave Harvey on Mimicking Heroes

Very important advice for SGM - a family of churches that perhaps have been guilty in the past of particularly copying C J Mahaney's mannerisms, vocabulary, hair cut etc.

"A pastor is not called to be a template ... we have to be careful not to create a culture where people feel obligated to mimic their pastors or any leader in the church. In the past there has been some of that - certainly not explicitly taught by any pastors that I am aware of but has somehow been assumed".

Dave Harvey - "Answering Your Questions" - SGM Blog - 28th August 2011.

Dave Harvey on Apostles Today

An interesting quote from the acting President of SGM on apostles today;

"That is one reason why we have refrained from using the term "apostle" for those who serve as Sovereign Grace Ministries regional representatives to our churches - see, as our understanding of polity has matured, we have become cautious of conveying any type of authority to SGM leaders that no one has today - an authority that is reserved for the first generation apostles. See - authority is never in a man, it's in the Word of God".

Dave Harvey - "Answering Your Questions" - SGM Blog - August 28th 2011.

Brent Detweiler on Sin and Forgiveness

"It is easy to meet and forgive when sins are biblically expressed".

Brent Detweiler - "A Final Appeal" - 2011 - (p4).

Kelly Kapic on John Owen and the Song of Solomon

"We should not let a neo-platonic fear of the physical lead us to neglect this natural reading of the text".

Kelly M Kapic and Justin Taylor (ed); "Communion with the Triune God - John Owen" - Crossway Books (2007) - (p34).

C J Mahaney on Pride in a Church

“Pride also undermines unity and can ultimately divide a church. Show me a church where this is division, where there is quarreling, and I’ll show you a church where there is pride.”

C J Mahaney - "Humility" - Crossway Books, USA (2006) - p34.

Rob Rufus on Apostles

"The primary ministry of an apostle is government of grace and laying foundations and the primary sign of an apostle is signs, wonders and miracles. Apostles equip the church for miracles as do evangelists!".

Rob Rufus - "The Flow of the Anointing" - Grace and Glory Conference - the Phillipines

Terry Virgo on the Growth of Church History

"Church history does not grow by gradual evolution but by divine intervention".

Terry Virgo - "Main Session 1" - Stoneleigh Bible Week 1998 - audiotape.

Ern Baxter on the Christian and Community

"There is no such thing in the New Testament as a Christian out of community".

Ern Baxter - "A Crisis Beginning - 1" - (Where Are We Going? Series) - Dales Bible Week 1976 - audiotape.

Terry Virgo on the Vital Need for ALL Ephesians 4 Ministries

"The Lord Jesus ascended on high and gave gifts to men. He appointed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. If the church is to arrive at full maturity, become a functioning body and fulfil its glorious destiny, it must derive the benefit that comes from embracing all of these promised ministries. Without them we inevitably fail to benefit from all that was in God’s heart in making provision of them".

Terry Virgo - "Fathering Leaders - Motivating Mission" - Terry Virgo's Blog - June 21st 2011

Terry Virgo on Apostles Laying Foundations

"Clearly the planting of churches was foundational to the task of world mission, and apostles played a very significant part in that process. They presented a clear body of doctrine centred in the coming of Christ, his life, death, resurrection and ascension, and the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which led to the formation of an international people of God".

Terry Virgo - "Fathering Churches - Motivating Missions" - Terry Virgo's Blog - June 21st 2011

Terry Virgo on the Myth that Apostles Must Write Scripture

"The frequently held view that apostles functioned only in the first century and that their primary task was the writing of the New Testament Scriptures. Of the original Twelve only three made any contribution to the New Testament while Luke, who was never regarded as an apostle, wrote more of the New Testament than any other.

While the stance that apostles were essentially Scripture-writers has been maintained the vital work of an apostle as described in the New Testament has been almost entirely overlooked. Paul writing to the Corinthian church said that as a wise master builder he had laid a foundation in that particular church. As an apostle he had a task which was related to the formation of local churches".

Terry Virgo - "Fathering Leaders - Motivating Mission" - Terry Virgo's Blog - June 21st 2011

Anthony Hopkins on Exorcism

"Does a burglar turn on the lights? No - he prefers you to know that he isn't there. Just so with demons ... Choosing not to believe in the devil won't protect you from him".

Anthony Hopkins - "The Rite" - 2011.

Ern Baxter on Hope

"Now the Word of God says that we are to entertain this as a hope. In the New Testament when the Holy Spirit uses the word “hope” – He doesn’t use it in the sense of the word “wish for”. Hope in the New Testament is that which God has declared will be and that toward which we move with certainty".

Dr Ern Baxter - "Crisis Beginning" - ("Where Are We Going" series) - Dales Bible Week 1976 - audiotape 1.

Terry Virgo on Sovereign Grace Ministries

True?

"This is a loving group of churches - no one is here to beat anyone else up".

Terry Virgo - "Grace to Say No" - Celebration Mid-South 2001 - audiotape.