Sermon: London Baptist Confession Chapter 1 Part 3

This is an overview sermon preached on June 29, 2008 at Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Sermon Text: II Timothy 3:16-17 and the London Baptist Confession 1689 Chapter 1 Paragraph 6

Preacher: Derick Dickens

You can listen to the MP3 here.

(If you would like to download and using a PC, please right click and hit "save target as")

Joy and Sanctification

This is an overview sermon preached on June 29, 2008 at Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Sermon Text: Philippians 1:3-11 and various others

Preacher: Derick Dickens

You can listen to the MP3 here.

(If you would like to download and using a PC, please right click and hit "save target as")

Joy, God's Gift to Us

Sunday Morning, we have begun a series in Philippians concerning joy. As mentioned Sunday, I believe every person needs to hear lessons on joy. Yet, I wanted to post two quotes I noted about joy from last Sunday's Sermon and my definition as well.

From John MacArthur concerning the definition of joy:

""it's the flag that flies on the castle of the heart when the King is in residence. Only Christians can know true and lasting joy."

John Piper compared and contrasted joy in this way:

1. First, it is not an act of will-power, but a spontaneous, emotional response of the heart.
2. Second, it is not superficial and flimsy, but deep and firm.
3. Third, it is not natural, but spiritual.

Any I defined joy as this:

"Joy is taking more delight in God and the things of God than being overcome by your situation."

I hope God further works in you this week to produce in you great joy.

Sermon: London Baptist Confession Part 1 and Part 2

This is an overview sermons preached on June 15, 2008 and June 22, 2008 at Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Sermon Text: First Sermon are various Biblical Text but Chapter 1 Paragraphs 1-3 of the London Baptist Confession

Second Sermon: II Peter 1:19-21 and Paragraphs 4-5 of the London Baptist Confession

Preacher: Derick Dickens

You can listen to the MP3

Part 1

Part 2

(If you would like to download and using a PC, please right click and hit "save target as")

Sermon: Philippians, The Book of Joy

This is an overview sermon preached on June 22, 2008 at Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Sermon Text: Philippians 1:1-2 and various others

Preacher: Derick Dickens

You can listen to the MP3 here.

(If you would like to download and using a PC, please right click and hit "save target as")

Arriving Late Friday?

Lord willing, Lacie and I will be arriving late Friday night in Verona. Please keep us in prayers during this move as we will be exhausted. Saturday, anyone who can help, is welcome to come over to the "Cottage" for an unloading party.

We look forward to serving the Lord with each of you.

Derick and Lacie Dickens.

The London Baptist Confession Study

This Sunday night, we are beginning a study into our agreed upon confession, the London Baptist Confession. This confession was written in 1689 and is a wonderful statement of Reformed Baptist belief for churches such as our own. This confession is what unites us as a church.

The confession is not inspired. We do not believe it to be of more or of equal authority to the Bible. Yet, we believe it is an accurate statement of what the Bible teaches but should always be measured by the Bible. We use this confession for four reasons:

1. To unite us as a church around solid Doctrine.

2. To keep us from gross error. The confession was written purposefully to convey Biblical truth while also combating errors which have arisen through the centuries. This confession is not too short to leave out major doctrine nor too long to become a burden even in areas of liberty.

3. To give us liberty. The focus of our document is on doctrine that is constant through the ages not upon cultural standards which often change. I see great liberty in our confessional standards like I see great liberty in the Bible. As well, we will see areas of doctrinal liberty in the confession. The authors of the confession had some areas where they believed were minor differences and specifically worded the text to convey Biblical truth but showing liberty in some areas.

4. To give us assurance of the doctrine we believe is taught in the Bible. Seeing that our confession has stood the test of time and examination by theologians will keep us sure that we have a belief that has withstood scrutiny and testing to be shown the faithful teachings of the Bible.

This study will not be on consecutive Sundays, but will be taught from time-to-time. Thus, I will spend a couple of weeks then move onto other studies then to return to the confession. Our hope is to record these lessons for future reference.

For you, I want to encourage you to read the confession. If you read a chapter a day, after one month plus one day (32 chapters) you will have completed the London Baptist Confession. If there is something you do not understand, ask me and we can sit down to talk about the confession. Look up the verses on areas you may have a disagreement and use this confession to teach your children.

Pastor Derick

Book Recommendation: 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith by Sam Waldron.

God Loves His Church

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her--Ephesians 5:25 ESV

The church is not perfect. Those inside the church know this fact and many outside wish to remind us of this fact. Everyone knows, though, that the church is not perfect.

Yet, while we are not perfect we are loved by a perfect God. God loved the church that He died for us, he gave his life for the church. There is a unique relationship that God has with his church. This God loves us to such an extent the He justified us, is sanctifying us, and will glorify us. Oh, what a magnificent love the Sovereign Lord has bestowed upon His church.

As I begin the Pastorate in this church, I am convinced that I would rather be a member of an imperfect church, which is the expressed object of God's love, than to be the President of the United States, the CEO of Microsoft, or pilot of the next Space Shuttle mission. Why? Because there is a unique love God has for His church and as a part of His church, I am the imperfect recipient of God's perfect love.

We come together to begin this quest in being the object of this wonderful love God will express to Emmanuel Baptist Church. We are given the honor to be members of an imperfect church perfectly loved by a perfect God.

New Pastor

We rejoice to announce that Derick Dickens has been called as the next pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Derick comes to us from Milton, West Virginia, where he had been prayerfully waiting on God to lead him to a place where he could serve in the pastorate. Derick studied at Liberty University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, and he took a year off from the pastorate to study at the Midwest Center for Theological Studies and Heritage Baptist Church.

Lord willing, Derick, his wife Lacie, and their three daughters, Acacia, Elianna, and Liberty will be arriving in Verona the weekend of June 15th.

Please praise God with us for His goodness in providing for our need.