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December, 2008
31 Bible Reading for 2009
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November, 2008
26 Feeling Sorry For Yourself
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October, 2008
27 ESV Study Bible
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23 Gospel-centred Parenting
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11 Merthyr Produces Some Of The Finest
07 The Posture of Prayer
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September, 2008
30 The Discipline of Treasuring Christ
29 Practical theology for Women
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27 A Miracle of Grace
26 Keep Yourself Satisfied in God
26 How Passionate Are Your Praises?
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15 Your identity is not in your suffering
04 The Gospel Produces Hope

August, 2008
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14 What Tony does in his spare time!!

June, 2008
20 The Happiest Man In The World
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19 CJ's 8 most recommended books
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01 T4G Session 3
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May, 2008
29 Maria Sue Chapman Memorial Service
28 Dads and Summer Holidays (Thoughts from CJ Mahaney)
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22 "Where Is Your God?"
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April, 2008
30 T4G Session 2
30 Singing at T4G
25 The Absolute Importance Of Doctrine
24 A Small Mind's Struggle For Retention
23 "Come and See" or "Go and Tell"?
22 Go On Being Filled With The Spirit!
18 America Trip (Final Part???)
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March, 2008
26 The Work of The Spirit in Seattle
25 Taking the Plunge of Grace
23 Jesus Is Alive
22 From A Desert To A Glorious Kingdom
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12 Great Worship Resources Going Cheap!
08 Motivation to Worship
06 The Reason For God - Book Review by Tim Challies
06 7 Characteristics of an Ingrown Church
03 The Reason For God "Doubting Your Doubts"

February, 2008
18 Tim Keller and The Reason For God

January, 2008
07 New Year's Resolutions?

December, 2007
24 Favourite Christmas Films - the Result!!
18 Richard Dawkins ... a Cultural Christian!!
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12 The Gospel and Suffering
05 The Unmarried Woman WIth Lots of Husbands

November, 2007
27 The Truth of Fantasy
23 Free Jonathan Edwards Classic
23 We�re Loving Merthyr! (Update)
22 A Nation in Mourning ... Why?
20 The Good Shepherd
15 Lest we forget�
12 We�re Loving Merthyr!
08 Religion verses The Gospel
08 What Is a Gospel-Centered/Missional Church...
07 No Rest For The Wicked!

October, 2007
29 Advertisers sure know how to grab our attention
15 Praying About Praying
08 Work: A Holy Calling
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T4G Session 3
01-06-2008 | SGCM Blog | Gospel | Application »
Still taking time out to reflect on some of the stuff learnt at this year's conference.

John MacArthur led the third session of the 2008 Together for the Gospel conference. His message, The Sinner Neither Able Nor Willing: The Doctrine of Absolute Inability, was a defense of the doctrine of human depravity.

MacArthur began by stating flatly that people hate the doctrine of total depravity. All other systems of belief hold that man has some good in them and can work their way towards salvation. In other words, we think we are basically good and can contribute in our own salvation if not outright save ourselves. We can earn salvation by doing good works, attempting to live good lives, etc. We can �bribe� God into letting us into heaven by our actions. He then took us on a tour of Scripture to prove the case that there is indeed none that is good, none acceptable to God.

As far as believers are concerned, MacArthur stated that, the doctrine of total depravity means that those who preach the Gospel should be the most humble! We should be, first of all, staggered that God reached down and overcame our enmity with him to save us. He could have rightly consigned us to hell and been done with us. Knowing this, we should humble ourselves before him in thanksgiving and praise. Next, this doctrine should remind us that we can�t change people�s hearts, nor can we solve their problems. Only God is powerful enough to do that! Behaviour modification is the best we can produce; it does not get at the heart change necessary to solve the problem. When we have a God who can save a person in their sins and from their sins, we should humble ourselves and look to him for the necessary change. We can take no credit for successes in our teaching and preaching; we can only take credit for the failures. God alone brings success.

He said that this doctrine gives him great relief in his preaching, counseling, and evangelism; simply because it helps him remember that a person�s salvation is not up to him. His preaching and teaching is powerless to save. If it were his responsibility to save people, he would be so burdened, overwhelmed, and depressed by this that he would leave the ministry! But if it is God who saves and not John MacArthur, he is free to simply proclaim the message that God has commanded him to give. God will take care of the results. This makes evangelism easier, because one does not have to worry about the result of evangelism as much of evangelicalism today worries. Instead, one can get the Gospel to as many people as one can, and if some believe, God is more glorified!
Gareth Lloyd

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