Ministry | A People for His Name

“Church Music That Is Worship”: Message by Pastor Mark Minnick

November 2, 2014

In his first message about music and public worship, Pastor Mark Minnick this morning addressed the key question, “What is the role of music in public worship?” He based his treatment of this crucial question on two key New Testament passages: Ephesians 5:18-20 and Colossians 3:16.

In treating these passages, he remarked,

Both passages direct us to sing psalms, which directs us back to the Old Testament. We must be careful of thinking about our subject not to make a great distinction between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

He then took us through First Chronicles 25:1-7 to establish that those who directed the worship in the Temple prophesied through the music. Based on this data, he developed six key aspects that this passage teaches us about the role of music in public worship:

1. They were prophesying instrumentally

2. They were prophesying chorally, that is, through singing with musical accompaniment

3. Those who prophesied had a high level of musicianship

4. The prophesying was done in large numbers

5. All of the prophesying was done under the direction of mature spiritual leadership

6. Giving thanks and praising the Lord comprised the content of this prophesying

I highly commend this message to you as one of the finest treatments of this subject that I have ever heard. By listening to this message here, you will avail yourself with profoundly valuable biblical truth about the role of music in public worship!

In Mount Calvary Baptist Pulpit, Music, Theology

Guitar for Ministry Update 9.21.14

September 21, 2014

For many years, I have prayed that God would give me opportunities to use the guitar for ministry in ways that would glorify Him. As part of His answers to my prayers, I had the opportunity today to use my guitar to accompany people in two ministries at my church!

Including the opportunities that I had today, I have used my guitar to minister in four different ministries at my church in the past two years:

1. Instrumental openers and offertories as well as accompanying people who sang specials for our regular Sunday morning and evening services;

2. Instrumental specials and accompanying people who sang specials for our Spanish ministry;

3. Instrumental specials and accompanying people who sang specials for our Neighborhood Class ministry; and,

4. Accompanying singing for our Released Time ministry—a ministry for children from a local elementary school.

I have also been able to minister with my guitar in various services at two local Spanish churches. Beyond my playing for some services at these churches, I have also had the opportunity to teach various guitar-for- ministry classes at these two churches.

The Lord has also answered my prayers by allowing me to create three new accompaniment styles for playing the guitar that I have not heard anyone else use before. Moreover, He has allowed me to develop a new approach to learning and playing the guitar that I have successfully taught to the students that I have had for the past several years.

In answer to my prayers, I have also originated several highly effective approaches to using the guitar to play music at an advanced level. It has been quite encouraging to have several students successfully learn some of these techniques.

Lord willing, I hope to publish several guitar method books in the future that will allow many other people to benefit much from what God has entrusted to me in answer to my many prayers about using the guitar for ministry. May He see fit to advance His kingdom and righteousness greatly through using these resources for His eternal glory.

In Guitar Music, Ministry, Music

Mi Ministerio – Un Pueblo Para Su Nombre

August 29, 2014

Hechos 15:13-14 dice, “ Y cuando ellos callaron, Jacobo respondió diciendo: Varones hermanos, oídme. Simón ha contado cómo Dios visitó por primera vez a los gentiles, para tomar de ellos pueblo para su nombre.” Estos versículos nos muestra que en el Concilio de Jerusalén, Jacobo compartió cómo Pedro había declarado “cómo Dios visitó por primera vez a los gentiles, para tomar de ellos pueblo para su nombre” (Hechos 15:14). Lo que Dios comenzó en ese entonces en Cesarea, Él continúa con su labor en todo el mundo.

Como gentil a quien ha llevado a estar entre su pueblo, deseo de perpetuar la glorificación de Dios mismo por medio de sacar a muchas más personas por causa del Nombre. Por esta razón, he escogido un pueblo para su Nombre como título para mi ministerio.

Dios me salvó en 1990 y me puso en la Iglesia Bautista Calvario en Cookeville, Tennessee. Con los años, he servido allí en muchas capacidades, incluyendo la enseñanza para la Escuela Bíblica de vacaciones y la escuela dominical en numerosas ocasiones, así como predicar muchas veces. También he estado muy involucrado en el ministerio de la juventud en el Calvario de varias maneras desde que asistí allí.

Dios me trajo a la Iglesia Bautista Monte Calvario en Greenville, Carolina del Sur, en 1991. He estado muy involucrado en las visitas de puerta a puerta en mis años en el Monte Calvario. También he dado muchos desafíos antes de las visitas de puerta a puerta, también he enseñado adultos de la escuela dominical en numerosas ocasiones, y ministrado muchas veces en música especial en varias capacidades en la iglesia.

Como parte del ministerio de estudiantes universitarios en el Monte Calvario, así como por mi cuenta con un número de amigos, he ministrado muchas veces en otras iglesias en Carolina del Sur, Carolina del Norte, Georgia y Tennessee. Hemos llevado a cabo actividades para la juventud, ministramos en predicación, la enseñanza, y la música, y participamos en los alcances de visita. También ayudamos a una iglesia extensamente con el trabajo de jardinería y otros trabajos manuales alrededor de la iglesia.

También he ministrado durante dos veranos en el extranjero. Enseñé a los hombres que estaban en el ministerio o en la formación para el ministerio, prediqué en las iglesias, y evangelizé muchas personas perdidas.

De Abril a Octubre de 2010, el Señor me dio 20 oportunidades para predicar y enseñar en nueve iglesias en Carolina del Sur, Carolina del Norte, Georgia y Tennessee. Entonces ministré 43 veces en 42 días, incluyendo la predicación 39 veces. Además de predicar en las iglesias, mi ministerio incluyó la predicación en servicios de capilla en cuatro colegios, enseñando tres temas durante una semana en un colegio, hablé en un campamento familiar, en un orfanato, y acompañé a un coro de una universidad con mi guitarra clásica en dos servicios.

El 8 de febrero de 2011, Dios respondió a mis oraciones al permitirme publicar por primera vez en mi sitio web! Desde entonces, he tenido el privilegio de publicar 685 veces en mi sitio (como de 29 de agosto de 2014).

En el 2011, también tuve el privilegio de continuar un ministerio de predicación itinerante y enseñanza que promueve especialmente el evangelismo que está totalmente de acuerdo con todo lo que la Biblia revela acerca de lo que Él quiere proclamado en todo el mundo. El Señor abrió algunas oportunidades para ministrar en ese tema, y espero que para muchos más en los próximos años.

El Señor también me permitió terminar en el 2011 un proyecto de lectura muy especial de la Biblia leyendola en griego en el 2011! Leyendo tanto la Septuaginta y el griego del Nuevo Testamento a través de ese año fue inmensamente valioso.

En el 2012, el Señor me dirijó a participar en el ministerio en español a través de la enseñanza de clases de guitarra en las iglesias españolas y ministrando en el ministerio en español de mi iglesia local. También me llevó a comenzar a servir en un ministerio de alcance en mi iglesia a los niños de una escuela primaria local.

El Señor también me ha dirigido en los últimos años a estudiar intensamente todo lo que la Escritura enseña acerca de la música. En el 2012, Él me llevó a leer a través del libro de los Salmos 25 veces para que mi mente se saturara y se renovara a fondo por su verdad.

En los últimos tres años, también he tenido el privilegio de ayudar a editar dos libros, La Biografía del Dr. Frank Garlock, y un libro por Shelly Hamilton, “¿Por qué yo no escucho la música cristiana contemporánea.”

Ahora tengo una carga para instruir al pueblo de Dios acerca de la música que es aceptable para Él. Para ello, he escrito numerosos artículos relacionados con el tema de la CCM, y espero tener oportunidades en las iglesias para ayudar al pueblo de Dios manejar este grave problema correctamente.

Este año, el Señor me ha dirigido para escribir las letras para muchos de los nuevos himnos, entre ellos algunos en español. También me he centrado en gran medida en el ministerio musical en mi iglesia y en prepararme más para el ministerio en español.

El 17 de agosto de este año, el Señor me dio el privilegio de enseñar en la escuela dominical y la predicación del mensaje de la mañana en una iglesia en español que es local. El Señor gentilmente permitió que ambos servicios fuera mucho mejor de lo que esperaba. ¡Alabado sea Dios!

In Ministry, Preaching, Spanish, Sunday School, Testimony

Spanish Ministry Update – 7.31.14

July 31, 2014

The Lord is continuing to direct me toward further Spanish ministry—something I never expected during all my years of training for ministry. Here are some of the things that He has directed me to do so far in the past 2 ½ years to prepare myself for further Spanish ministry:

1. Teaching various guitar classes in one or more local Spanish churches for more than two years, including developing extensively a new method of learning and using guitar for Spanish ministry

2. Studying music theory in Spanish at some length

3. Studying much Spanish grammar through the use of several Spanish textbooks and learning a vast number of Spanish vocabulary words

4. Reading over half of the Bible in Spanish this year

5. Listening and practicing with a set of Pimsleur audio tapes made for beginners to learn Spanish

6. Watching and studying 56 of 60 free online video lessons for learning Spanish at Spanishdict.com (http://www.spanishdict.com/learn/courses)

7. Watching and studying all 22 video lessons produced by BBC that are available for learning Spanish (http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/mividaloca/)

8. Attending a number of Bible classes taught in Spanish at a local Bible institute/college

9. Learning to sing and play many Spanish hymns; intensively studying elision in Spanish hymnody

10. Writing several Spanish hymns

11. Writing a few blogposts in Spanish (with much help from Google Translate, Spanishdict.com, and several friends)

12. Ministering twice a month in my church’s Spanish ministry, mostly in special music involving using my guitar to accompany others

13. Attending a number of services in local Spanish churches

14. Ministering musically with some of my guitar students several times in three Spanish churches

15. Going out into neighborhoods around my church to follow-up on Spanish people whom others in my church have previously contacted

16. Preaching once in 2013 for a service in a Spanish church; preparing for teaching Sunday school and preaching in a Spanish church in August 2014, D.V.

Sea alabado el nombre de Jehová (Salmos 113:3)!

In Ministry, Spanish

Audio & PDF of My Guitar-Cello Arrangement of “Nearer, Still Nearer”

May 18, 2014

This morning, Ruthie Calvino, a young cellist in my church, and I ministered a simple guitar-cello arrangement that I put together of the hymn “Nearer, Still Nearer” (words and music by Lelia N. Morris). I strummed on the first stanza, picked on the second stanza, and used a new accompaniment style that I invented that I call a “finger roll” on the last stanza. You can listen to the audio below.

Nearer, Still Nearer

4-measure guitar introduction

Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art;
Fold me, O, fold me close to Thy breast,
Shelter me safe in that “Haven of Rest,”
Shelter me safe in that “Haven of Rest.”

No interlude

Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring,
Naught as an off’ring to Jesus, my King;
Only my sinful, now contrite heart;
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart,
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.

3-measure guitar interlude for modulation from C to D

Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last,
Till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
Through endless ages ever to be,
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee,
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee.

4-measure ending tag that repeats the last line

This PDF provides the music for the arrangement. Here is the audio from this morning:

In Guitar Music, Ministry, Mount Calvary Baptist Music Ministry, Music

Why Jesus Used Illustrations So Much in His Preaching

November 17, 2013

James Stalker insightfully brings out some key reasons why Jesus used illustrations so much in His preaching:

But the discourses of Jesus had a still more popular quality: they were plentifully adorned with illustrations. This is the most attractive quality of human speech. The same God being the Author of both the world of mind and the world of matter, He has so fashioned them that the objects of nature, if presented in a certain way, become mirrors in which are reflected the truths of the spirit; and we are so constituted that we never relish truth so well as when it is presented in this way. Nature contains thousands of these mirrors for exhibiting spiritual truth which have never yet been used but await the hands of the masters of speech who are yet to be born.

Christ used this method of illustrating truth so constantly that the common objects of the country in which He resided are seen more perfectly in His words than in all the historians of the time. . . .

It was because Jesus had exquisite love and consideration for His hearers that He thus sought out acceptable words to win their minds. But there was a reason in Himself besides. It is when the mind of a preacher is acting on the truth with intense energy and delight that it coruscates in such gleams of illustration. When the mental energy is only smouldering in a lukewarm way inside the subject, then you have the commonplace, prosaic statement; when the warmth increases and pervades the whole, you get the clear, strong, impressive statement; but, when the glow has thoroughly mastered the mass and flames all over it, then comes the gorgeous images and parables which dwell for ever in the minds of the hearers.

—The Example of Jesus Christ: Imago Christi, 186-188

In Preaching, Quotes

Six Prayer Requests for Persecuted Believers

October 11, 2013

In several recent messages on Wednesday nights, Pastor Mark Minnick has instructed us to pray six prayer requests for persecuted believers:

1. Deliverance from Persecutors

2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: ² And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

—Sometimes believers wonder whether they should pray for deliverance for persecuted brethren. This passage makes clear that it is right to pray for them to be delivered.

2. Unfailing Faith in the Midst of Sufferings

Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: ³² But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

—Satan is the ultimate source of all persecution that believers experience. Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail when he would be tried; we should pray for unfailing faith for persecuted believers.

3. Boldness to Give the Gospel to Persecutors

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ¹⁹ And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

—Although Paul was in prison when he wrote these words, Paul asked that believers would pray for him to have boldness in his bonds so that he would continue to be a faithful witness in spite of his sufferings for the faith. We need to hold up persecuted brethren in prayer that they would be bold to give the gospel to their persecutors in spite of their suffering.

4. Patient Endurance of Suffering for Doing Well

1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: ²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

—Peter teaches us that God desires that believers would patiently endure the sufferings that they experience for doing what is right, even as Jesus did. Through praying that persecuted brethren would be like Christ in suffering (without reviling or threatening), we can help suffering brethren endure persecution in a way that is acceptable to God (see also 2 Thess. 1:4-5).

5. Joy in the Midst of Suffering

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

—Jesus taught that believers must rejoice and be exceedingly glad when they suffer persecution for His sake. We can help them do so by praying for them to have the joy of the Holy Spirit even in the midst of much affliction (cf. 1 Thess. 1:6).

6. Love for Enemies Who Persecute Us

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

—Jesus proclaimed that we must love our enemies and relate to them in loving ways in keeping with our being true children of our Heavenly Father. We should pray that suffering brethren would have a proper love in the Spirit for those who afflict them.

Learn more by listening to Prayer For The Persecuted Part I (September 4, 2013, Mark Minnick, 2013 Sermons); Prayer For The Persecuted Part II (September 18, 2013, Mark Minnick, 2013 Sermons).

In Mount Calvary Baptist Pulpit, Prayer

Six Key Points about the Character and Chronology of the New Heavens and the New Earth

October 6, 2013

In a message on Isaiah 65:17-19 this morning, Pastor Mark Minnick presented six key points about the character and chronology of the new heavens and the new earth. These points provide clarity of understanding about this glorious subject.

The new heavens and the new earth will endure eternally, as will Israel as well (Is. 65; 66:22).

The character of that whole domain [the new heavens and the new earth] will be righteousness (2 Pet. 3:13).

The new heavens and the new earth will follow the destruction of the present heavens and earth (2 Pet. 3:10-13). They will not be a renovation of the present heavens and earth.

The new heavens and the new earth follow the Tribulation, the Millennium, and the Great White Throne judgment (based on the sequence of Revelation 20 and Revelation 21:1).

There will be no death in the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21:4). You cannot have new heavens and the new earth without the death of death.

The new heavens and the new earth will feature the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven (Rev. 21:10ff.).

He also clarified that “Isaiah 65:18-25 tell us that He is creating and will create a New Jerusalem in the present earth.”

For more information, listen to the message Created for Joy here.

In Mount Calvary Baptist Pulpit, Theology

“The Heart of the Good News” in Peter’s Gospel Message at Caesarea

September 20, 2013

The resurrected Jesus is announced to be the Judge-designate. . . . Without this point, we might be tempted to think of the resurrection as something tremendous that happened to him but which has no relation to us at all. Without this statement that the resurrected Lord is the Judge-designate, we might believe the story of Easter and comment, ‘Terrific! But after all, that was Jesus. What has that got to do with us?’ Verse 42 [of Acts 10] answers this question by linking our destiny to that of Jesus, for it tells us that Jesus is every man’s Judge. This statement says that the man whom God designated to judge us is the man executed on Golgotha and raised on Easter. If, then, our destiny depends on the verdict of this Judge, we must recognize that the story of Jesus is the story of the one who will be the arbiter of our status before God. Suddenly for each individual, the story of Jesus is transformed from a piece of interesting ancient history to the disclosure of ‘where my destiny hangs.’ This change makes the story of Jesus real news. But it still does not show why this is good news; it could just as well be bad news. . . . These words [v. 43] transform the information about Jesus into the good news for all mankind. According to this early sketch of the gospel, the good news consists of the headline that the Judge forgives those who believe on his name. That is, he forgives those who believe he is really the Judge. Here is the heart of the good news in this sermon: The Judge forgives.

—Leander E. Keck, Mandate to Witness: Studies in the Book of Acts, 68-69; bold added.

In Gospel, Preaching, Quotes

Archives For Ministry

“Church Music That Is Worship”: Message by Pastor Mark Minnick

Guitar for Ministry Update 9.21.14

Mi Ministerio – Un Pueblo Para Su Nombre

Spanish Ministry Update – 7.31.14

Audio & PDF of My Guitar-Cello Arrangement of “Nearer, Still Nearer”

Top 20 posts & pages on my blog (according to Jetpack)

Why Jesus Used Illustrations So Much in His Preaching

Six Prayer Requests for Persecuted Believers

1. Deliverance from Persecutors

2. Unfailing Faith in the Midst of Sufferings

3. Boldness to Give the Gospel to Persecutors

4. Patient Endurance of Suffering for Doing Well

5. Joy in the Midst of Suffering

6. Love for Enemies Who Persecute Us

Six Key Points about the Character and Chronology of the New Heavens and the New Earth

“The Heart of the Good News” in Peter’s Gospel Message at Caesarea

Archives For Ministry

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1. Deliverance from Persecutors

2. Unfailing Faith in the Midst of Sufferings

3. Boldness to Give the Gospel to Persecutors

4. Patient Endurance of Suffering for Doing Well

5. Joy in the Midst of Suffering

6. Love for Enemies Who Persecute Us

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