Ep. 77 Reading with Pastor Matt On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 10 Part 1

 Episode 77

Reading with Pastor Matt

On the Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 10 Part 1

The Prodigal Son Suite

 Tomorrow's sermon is from Luke 15:11-32. I cannot help but have this song in my head during my preparation: 

Keith Green - The Prodigal Son Suite

Ep. 76 - Reading with Pastor Matt On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 9 Part 3

 Episode 76

Reading with Pastor Matt

On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen 

Chapter 9 Part 3

Ep. 75 - Reading with Pastor Matt On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 9 Part 2

 Episode 75

Reading with Pastor Matt

On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 9 Part 2

Ep. 74 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 9 Part 1

 Episode 74

Reading with Pastor Matt

On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 9 Part 1

Soul War

Ep. 73 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 8 Part 2

 Episode 73

Reading with Pastor Matt

On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 8 Part 2

The Podcast Perfomance

 

Last month my podcast reached a new all-time record for the number of plays. I hit 201 plays in the last 30 days!

If you have not already subscribed to my podcast, please consider doing that now: 

Here are the apps where my podcast is available: 

• Amazon Music
• CastBox
• Google Podcasts
• iHeart Radio
• Pocket Casts
• Radio Public
• Spotify
• Sticher

You can also support my podcast or send me a voice message by going here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mattharmless

"... the delight is incomplete till it is expressed."

 “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with. . . . The Scotch catechism says that man’s chief end is ‘to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’ But we shall then know that these are the same thing. Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.”

― C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms

Ep. 72 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 8 Part 1

 Episode 72

Reading with Pastor Matt

On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 8 Part 1

Don't Be A Lone Ranger Christian

Episode 71 - Don't be a Lone Ranger Christian

(Any resemblance to actual people that might occur in this post is purely coincidental and speaks more to the prevalence of this issue and not to my desire to point anyone out.)

There is something new that is plaguing Christian communities. Ok, well... maybe it isn't new, I don't really know, but it is new to me. Actually, now that I think about it, it might not even be new to me, but it is definitely something that is now demonstrating itself in a newly exaggerated state. It is sort of like when an artist draws a caricature of a person: The artist will exaggerate any feature that is slightly noticeable in order to create the caricature. This is what is happening in our Christian Communities - we always had lone-ranger Christians, but it has never been as apparent or as grotesque as it is today. 

Before I proceed, allow me to outline the format of this post. I'll begin by defining the title I've created: The Lone Ranger Christian. After that, I would like to describe the three contributing factors that I believe have exaggerated the noticeable characteristics of The Lone Ranger Christian, creating its current caricature. Finally, I will attempt to, in as brief a way as possible, share a couple of Biblical insights that I hope will battle this issue and strengthen the Church. 

Ep. 70 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 7 Part 3

 Episode 70

Reading with Pastor Matt 

On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 7 Part 3

Ep. 69 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 7 Part 2

Episode 69

Reading with Pastor Matt

On The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 7 Part 2

Ep. 68 - Navigating Two Aspects of my Job (As a Pastor)

Episode 68 - Listen Here: 

For those that do not know: 

My name is Matt Harmless. I am in my 23rd year as a math teacher. All but one of my first nine years of teaching were in the private Christian School setting. The rest of my career has been in public education (with the last seven years at Danville High School in Danville, IL). I have also been a pastor at Edgewood Church in Danville since the summer of 2009. I share this information for those that might be new here, but also as an introduction to today's post. 

I am going to discuss two aspects of my job, but not my teaching job... my pastoral job. I may take some time to talk about aspects of being a teacher in another post, but I wanted to make some specific points about my job as a pastor. More specifically, I wanted to discuss two things that Paul the Apostle mentions in his letter to Titus. 

Ep. 67 Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 7 Part 1

Episode 67 

Reading with Pastor Matt 

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen 

Chapter 7 Part 1 

Ep. 66 Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 6 Part 3

Episode 66 

Reading with Pastor Matt 

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen 

Chapter 6 Part 3 

Ep. 65 Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 6 Part 2

Episode 65 

Reading with Pastor Matt 

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen 

Chapter 6 Part 2 

Ep. 64 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 6 Part 1

 Episode 64

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen 

Chapter 6 Part 1

Ep. 63 - Wheat and Tares

Image via Google Search

Listen Here: 

In Matthew 13:24–30, Jesus tells us this parable:

[24] He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, [25] but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. [26] So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. [27] And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ [28] He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ [29] But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Matthew 13:24–30 ESV)

Ep. 62 Reading with Pastor Matt the Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 5 Part 3

 

Episode 62

Reading with Pastor Matt

On the Mortification of Sin by John Owen 

Chapter 5 Part 3

Soul Poverty and the Abnegation of All Things

 

They Went Out

 

May the 4th (Reftoons)

 

Image Via Reftoons

Abortion Update in Danville Illinois

I would like to begin this post by sharing some information. If you haven't already heard, the City of Danville voted an ordinance into place that could potentially affect an abortion clinic from relocating to Danville from Indiana. Here are a few of the news articles:

Image Via WAND TV

Ep. 61 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 5 Part 2

Episode 61

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 5 Part 2

Ep. 60 - Open Letter to the City Council of Danville

Listen to this letter with the actual audio clips from the April 25th meeting.

 Here is the statement that I planned on reading tonight at the city council meeting: 

Ep. 59 Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 5 Part 1

Episode 59 

Reading with Pastor Matt 

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen 

Chapter 5 Part 1

Ep. 58 Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 4 Part 3

 

Episode 58

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 4 Part 3

God Hates Abortion

 "As a theologian, I am firmly convinced that God hates abortion and will judge it thoroughly."

-R.C. Sproul

Ep. 57 Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 4 Part 2

Episode 57

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 4 Part 2

Ep. 56 - Abortion Clinic in Danville Illinois - City Council Meeting on April 25th

Listen Here:

I attended my first City of Danville City Council meeting last night. The reason why I attended was because of an Abortion Clinic that is attempting to come to the City of Danville. 

Here is the WAND-TV News on this council meeting.

Here is the FOX Illinois News on this council meeting.

Here is the WCIA-TV News on this council meeting.

Here is the Commercial News on this council meeting. 

Here is the Vermilion County First News on this council meeting.

image via VCF News

Thank You, ACLU...

 The ACLU has sent a letter to the City of Danville Illinois, warning them ... hmm... how do I say this? It is warning Danville that they can't stop the legal murder of babies. 

Read the Article from the Commercial News here. 

Read the Letter from the ACLU here. 

All of the unborn / unwanted of Danville would thank you... but they won't have the opportunity. 

For the record. If you are out there and you read this and you are considering an abortion: if you will carry that baby to term, my wife and I would gladly adopt that child. You can read my other thoughts on abortion here. 

Ep. 55 - Some Thoughts About Right, Wrong, Doctrine, Law, and Handing People over to Satan

This post will also serve as Episode 55 of my Podcast. You can listen to it here: 

I'm going to warn you in advance. This is going to be a long post.  It is going to be long, not because I have a lot to say, but because the little I have to say will require a thick scriptural delivery system. It will also require a few additional words, because the world we live in has no mercy for succinct statements, unless they are in agreement with the world. I will then pepper in some additional words, in an attempt of honesty and transparency, to show that my motivation is love -- love for people, love for God, love for his word, and a love for the Church. I will attempt all of these words while offering a semi-exposition of 1 Timothy 1:3–20, with a practical emphasis on an event that happened at a church in my community. 

Ep. 54 Reading with Pastor Matt the Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 4 Part 1

Episode 54

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 4 Part 1

Not to be considered casually...

Darrel Bock on Luke 14:26 - 

"Jesus spares no one who claims to have a disciples commitment. The desire to come to Jesus is a good one, but it is not to be considered casually."

Commentary on Luke Volume 2, Baker Exegetical Commentary by Darrell Bock

Ep. 53 - Reading with Pastor Matt the Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 3 Part 3

Episode 53

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 3 Part 3

Ep. 52 Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 3 Part 2

 Episode 52 

Reading with Pastor Matt 

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen 

Chapter 3 Part 2

Ep. 51 Reading with Pastor Matt the Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 3 Part 1

Episode 51

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Ep. 50 - Preparing For What Is To Come

Listen Here:

I know a few people who are preppers. (I'm assuming that you know what this word means.)

I am not allowed to mention their names (the preppers) or to even allude to where they might live. I have been extensively warned by my prepper friends that this information should not be shared even under the pain of death because when the apocalypse hits, they don't want anyone to know that they have prepared. If the preppers I know were the sort that spent time on the internet looking at things other than survival gear and food buckets, they would probably be annoyed that I have even mentioned that I know preppers. I want to take a moment to assure my prepper friends that I will stand firm when I am being interrogated. I will not give away the location of their prep work. I promise you that nobody will know where you keep your chickens.

Ep. 49 Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Ch2 Pt3

 

Episode 49

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 2 Part 3

Whole Lotta Love by ... Michael Winslow?

 This never gets old. 

Ep. 48 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Ch2 Pt2

Episode 48

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen 

Chapter 2 Part 2

Ep. 47 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 2 Part 1

Episode 47

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 2 Part 1

Humble we must be...

 

Ep. 46 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 1 Part 3

Episode 46

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Ep. 45 - Reading with Pastor Matt The Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 1 Part 2

Episode 45

Reading with Pastor Matt

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 1 Part 2

Ep. 44 - Reading with Pastor Matt the Mortification of Sin by John Owen Chapter 1 Part 1

Episode 44

Reading with Pastor Matt: 

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen

Chapter 1 Part 1 - 

Edgewood Edge-U-Cation (Part 4) Grace for All

To read or listen to the previous entries in this series: 

• Part 1 - Person NOT Program
• Part 2 - Body Member NOT Church Attender
• Part 3 - Expository Preaching

Grace, Grace, God's Grace

In the Old Testament, when the children of Israel were camped around Mount Sinai, their leader, Moses, was on the top of the mountain, receiving instructions from God, including, but not limited to, the Ten Commandments. While up there, Moses asked the Lord if he could see the Lord. Specifically, he said, "Please, show me your glory." (Exodus 33:18 ESV). 

All My Love

All My Love

A Poem for Valentine's Day

She had all of his love.

But what does this really say?

What is “all” and what is loved?

Could it be explained in any possible way? 

sermon face

 

Not surprisingly, this is the same look that some people give me while I'm preaching.

Super Powers

 

https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1994/02/14

Tunes for a Tuesday - Trust in You by Antoine Bradford

 

If perfect love cast out fear

Then why should I ever be afraid

When I know that you will always

Be right next to me

But still my vision's kinda blurry

And sometimes I can't see your hand

But even in the darkest night

You'll always be there, oh

'Cause when I trust in you (ooh)

I do the thing I that was made to do (ooh)

To live a life that fully rests in you (ooh)

And all your promises for me (ooh)

Oh, when I, when I trust in you (ooh)

When I trust in you (ooh)

When I trust in you (ooh)

When I trust in you

Jesus, I know you're the good shepherd (I know, I know, I know, I know)

That never, ever lost a sheep (never lost one)

So I lay down all my worries (lay 'em down)

Lay 'em down at your keep (lay 'em down)

'Cause when I trust in you (ooh)

I do the thing that I was made to do (ooh)

To live a life that fully rests in you (ooh)

And all your promises for me (ooh)

Oh, when I, when I trust in you (when I trust in you)

When I trust in you (when I trust in you)

When I trust in you (when I trust in you)

When I trust in you (when I trust in you)

Source: Google Search

I love you more.

 Dearest Charity,

I love you more.

I love you more than Diet Dew.

I love you more, I really do.

I love you more than TV shows.

I love you more, I hope you knows. 

I love you more than sugar cream pie. 

I love you more, you know that I...

do love you more than free days off. 

I love you more, please don't scoff

at the corny way I love you more. 

Cause I love you more and more and more.