Category: ministry

An Ambassador Turns 36!

Wednesday, August 7, 2024 🎂

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16 KJV).

As of today, I have enjoyed 36 years of earthly life; therefore, permit me to share a few words of advice to celebrate the occasion!

Perhaps I have grown a little wiser in the year I have grown a little older. What I have learned during 18 years of ministry—exactly half my life now—is to be vigilant as to getting too attached to anyone or anything. We will encounter in life people who will edify us (build us up spiritually) and people who will destroy us (tear us down spiritually). Our family members, friends, and even our favorite pastor or seminary professor or Bible teacher will likely serve in both capacities at some point. Friends and brethren, beware of traitors and willing tools of the Devil, and keep your eyes focused exclusively on the Lord Jesus Christ (rather than on them).

Recently, I have been reflecting on all those professing believers who once were part of our ministry through these many years, but did not endure (tolerate) sound doctrine and thus fell away into willful blindness and ignorance. They grew older, but not wiser, and this is precisely what we are to avoid by drawing on the indwelling Holy Spirit’s power. We have to continue—“continue!!”—in grace doctrine if it is to make a difference in our lives (today’s Scripture). Acknowledging the doctrine once is not enough. It is a constant renewing of the mind, “day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Notice again how we are to continue (“continue!!”) in sound Bible doctrine: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:14-17). Let us remember this every birthday! 🙂

Let Them Recover Themselves

Friday, August 2, 2024

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is great advice for ministry workers!

Recently, I had a phone conversation with a dear brother in Christ who has been following our ministry, reading our studies and watching our Bible videos, for a few years now. For some decades, he was part of a “Christian” denomination. Whatever information he was learning from them did not match what he was experiencing in his life. In other words, they had make-believe as the foundation of their Bible understanding. It was very discouraging and confusing for him.

Eventually, he left that and joined an online “Bible study group,” but they too proved to be another disappointment. These people studied books about the Bible instead of the actual Bible—and he was interested in what the Bible said as opposed to what “Doctor So-and-So” thought the Bible said. A couple of years ago, he landed on our ministry websites and subsequently came to understand and enjoy the Bible. Ever since, he has been growing in the Word rightly divided and is teaching others what he has learned. As a business owner, he has informed his employees of sound Bible doctrine. Also, he wants to reach out to certain clients who belong to a particular works-religion cult.

Some people wish to hear him, while others could not care less. I told him that we teach them to cause them to think, leaving God the Holy Spirit to take care of the rest. He should not be disheartened if people are happy in their Bible ignorance. All we can do is tell them sound Bible doctrine and let them recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil (today’s Scripture). We cannot recover them; they must recover themselves by placing their faith in the rightly divided Scriptures we give them. Brethren, let us be faithful in providing them those verses! 🙂

A Grace Study Bible

Thursday, August 1, 2024

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2 KJV).

Today, we reflect on 12 full years of the arC Ministries’ Grace Study Bible Project!

Some 100 years ago, the Scofield Study Bible was published. It was a work that popularized—not invented—dispensational Bible study. For a century, the Church the Body of Christ has used this monumental aid to edify itself. It was (and still is) useful in recovering precious Bible truths that had been lost for centuries, doctrines still pushed aside by denominational hierarchies that prefer to be the “authority” with their “tradition of men.”

Twelve years ago today, after much prayer and consideration, I began the formation of a new grace study Bible. Using the King James Bible, my goal in this project is to build on Dr. Scofield’s foundation laid long ago. We are (and will always be) indebted to that brother for his faithful service, his submission to the Holy Spirit to produce a profitable study Bible. (Incidentally, Dr. Scofield led a missionary to Christ, that missionary led a preacher to Christ, that preacher led a woman to Christ, that woman led Mom to Christ, and Mom led me to Christ.) What took Dr. Scofield decades to learn, we can acquire in a fraction of that time. Brother Scofield did not live long enough to progress any further in Bible understanding, but in the century since he has gone to heaven, a faithful remnant within the Body of Christ has expanded upon Dr. Scofield’s insightful notes. We recognize where he was wrong in certain areas, and we can improve those areas in our understanding and study.

In brief, some stats about our grace study Bible. We seem to be over 80 percent completed with it. How many more years it will take remains to be seen, but rest assured, what cannot be condensed into marginal notes or footnotes, will be, Lord willing, expanded into a full-Bible commentary book series! Stay tuned in the coming years and thank you for your prayer in this regard! 🙂

* You can read more about our Grace Study Bible Project here.

arC Ministries Is 17!

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV).

To our Lord Jesus Christ’s glory, arC Ministries celebrates its 17th anniversary today!!!

Seventeen years ago, as a 19-year-old college student, I endeavored to use Facebook to create a Bible study group for teens and college students. Thus, “ambassadors for the risen Christ ministries” was born. As I grew more in God’s Word rightly divided, I grew increasingly aware of the need for additional ministry projects. The more I had been learning drove me to share those precious truths with others. That eventually led me to look for supplementary avenues of ministry.

During these past 17 years, God’s grace has enabled us to continue the original group on Facebook. In addition, we have branched out quite a bit in other areas. This devotionals blog has been operating for over 13 years now. For the last 12 years, we have focused on developing and drafting a grace study Bible (now in its thirteenth year). Other ministry projects include a 22-week newspaper ministry column (this devotionals blog’s predecessor), a YouTube channel with home Bible study videos, a Twitter feed, a full-length Bible studies blog, a college campus ministry, a nursing-home ministry, and our Bible-question-and-answer blog. Eight years ago, we launched our new main ministry website and now have a line of printed Bible study booklets available for sale there. Five years ago, we recorded and distributed our Old Testament Survey video series. Later that year, we launched our New Testament Survey video series (which will last a few years). We hear from people all over the world!

Our name says it all: we serve the risen Lord Jesus Christ, not some “dead Jew” and not ourselves. The original motto of our ministry was, “To equip ambassadors, and to encourage others to become ambassadors.” Our primary goal is to teach Christians, and our secondary goal is to evangelize the lost world. Seventeen years later, we still endeavor to uphold God’s Word (King James Bible) rightly divided, whether it be in edifying the Christian brethren or preaching the clear Gospel of the Grace of God to this lost and dying world. For those of you who have been with us from day 1, thank you for your prayer and encouragement. We pray for you upon every remembrance! There is still plenty more for the Lord Jesus Christ to do in and through us, so let us give Him all the praise and glory as we enter Year 18! 🙂

 

333 Turns 13!

Saturday, June 1, 2024

“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17 KJV).

Dear saints and readers, “333 Words of Grace” celebrates its 13th birthday today!

Through the years, many questions have been (hopefully) answered. Perhaps a few doubts and misconceptions have been dispelled. Maybe a couple of new friends have been made. The Church the Body of Christ might have grown in size and maturity. Doubtless, faith has been given a firm foundation in sound Bible doctrine, the Word of God’s Grace. In a world of ever-increasing uncertainty and instability, is it not comforting to actually know what is going on and how to fix it? Education, religion, drugs, alcohol, activism, political elections, philosophy, and theology are man’s futile attempts to correct problems he was able to cause but is utterly powerless to reverse.

Christianity is not we using sinful flesh to “do right” or “do better.” The flesh always wants to do something, be something, and live something. However, we are not perfect, so we cannot do something. We are doomed in Adam, so we cannot be something. We are dead in our trespasses and sins, so we cannot live something. It will be an extremely happy day for us when we swallow our religious pride and place our faith solely in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Not only is this Gospel of Grace the key to being saved (delivered) from Hell, but also from sin’s dominion every day.

Over the course of these last 156 months, we have studied the Authorized Version King James Bible rightly divided as per 2 Timothy 2:15. No, we do not know everything, but we know more than we did yesterday—and, certainly, more than we did 13 years ago! God’s words and will have become a little clearer, now that we have become a tad wiser (today’s Scripture). We are growing in grace, are we not? Some of us have graduated to Heaven, having left Earth. Others have moved off into apostasy, departing from the truth. Still, we are here to rejoice in our Lord Jesus Christ as touching this ministry milestone and reflect on all these years of daily grace Bible studies. We are truly thankful, and, by God’s grace, we move onward!

Please note all 13 years’ worth of studies are archived here.

Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together? #13

Sunday, May 5, 2024

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture render church attendance obligatory?

As opposed to “naming and claiming” today’s Scripture (which has a context different from what denominationalism has led us to believe!), here are some pertinent references to us members of the Church the Body of Christ meeting with each other (for Bible study and fellowship).

“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together” (Acts 20:7,8). “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14,15). “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13).

In the Pauline pastoral epistles—1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon—we find Divine counsel on how to run the local church or assembly. First Timothy chapter 3 and Titus chapter 1 list the qualifications for “bishops,” “deacons,” and “elders.” Note the brethren interacting in Titus chapters 2 and 3. Paul’s epistles of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians were all written to assemblies of saints living and meeting in their respective cities or regions (Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica). Timothy served as pastor in Ephesus, Titus was pastor on the island of Crete, and Philemon’s home in Colosse was the site of a local church.

Read of the individual local churches in Romans 16:5,10,11,14,15; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; 2 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 4:19; and Philemon 2. These Christians were congregating in personal homes in the first century; it was not until the third century when organized religion took over Christianity and started stressing buildings as the “church.” No, we Christians are the church! Therefore, whenever and wherever we meet around Scripture, we are having church!

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together? #12

Saturday, May 4, 2024

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture render church attendance obligatory?

What is usually passed off as “Christian” thinking is seldom pure and correct: it is not even remotely Christian. Due to denominationalism, going to church has been reduced to nothing more than faithfully attending services in a building some religious institution or organization owns or maintains. This group may or may not be Christian, but it seems to be, so anyone who does not join appears to be non-Christian. Consequently, home Bible studies (where the Holy Scriptures are used alone, apart from denominations) are not commonly considered “church” because of the lack of steeples, “altars,” stained-glass windows, robes, candles, pews, baptisteries, confession booths, and aisles.

Church in the Bible is much more than entering some physical structure and participating in rites, rituals, and ceremonies. At its heart, going to church is fellowshipping with God’s people around sound Bible doctrine (rightly divided Scripture). If we place more emphasis on form (where, when, how—externals) than on doctrine (faith in sound teaching—internals), we have totally missed the point and cheapened grace living so it looks like ancient Judaism’s dead religious bu$ine$$ and busyness.

We who are too nauseous and too disenchanted to attend denominational church services any longer, and prefer to meet in home Bible studies, are castigated for failing to assemble with “the church.” Little do our faultfinders realize we are fellowshipping with God’s people, saints, around the truth—and it is they (our critics) who are wrong because of their unity with false religious systems. The Bible makes it extremely clear we should separate from the religious system (Romans 16:17,18; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-7). Consequently, these verses take precedence over any misapplication of today’s Scripture (“the Bible says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together!”).

The Holy Spirit through our Apostle Paul recommends we gather for church, but we do so with sound Bible doctrine at the heart of our meetings. It has nothing to do with social clubs, nothing to do with seeking soul salvation in some organization, nothing to do with entertainment, and nothing to do with today’s Scripture….

Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together? #11

Friday, May 3, 2024

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture render church attendance obligatory?

How extremely (extremely!) critical it is to our Bible understanding that we do not isolate verses from their context… and this includes today’s Scripture. To lift verses out of their dispensational setting is to go the way Christendom has for centuries upon centuries upon centuries—tens of thousands of denominations, cults, and sects all “picking and choosing” which Scriptures to “name and claim” and which to let alone and wish did not exist. Had they been mindful of contexts, there would have been far more discretion, far more maturity, and far less corruption and far less confusion.

While many take immense pleasure in appealing to today’s Scripture because it agrees with their theological system (and such mandatory church attendance is sure to generate funding for their denomination!), they tend to ignore verses 26-31 (the context) because the context is at variance with what their theological system promotes. The fact of the matter is that the Book of Hebrews applies to no one alive today. It is prophetic and Israeli, whereas we are in mystery and the Church the Body of Christ.

Like with God calling people to get on the Ark in Noah’s day, so the Holy Spirit through the writer of Hebrews (today’s Scripture) calls unbelieving Jews to place their faith in Jesus Christ and thereby join or assemble with the Little Flock (believing Israel) so as to survive the wrath to come (Matthew 24:36-41; Luke 17:24-37; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20,21; 2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 3:5-7). Carefully note the wrath meted on unbelieving Israel in Hebrews 10:30,31—the wrath connected to the “day” of Christ’s Second Coming in verse 25, the wrath to fall on Jews who have not entered the “ark” of the Little Flock.

Someone will surely inquire, “If Hebrews 10:25 is for Israel and not for us, what about our church attendance? Should we go to church?” In order to answer this question, we must painstakingly lay out some clarifications….

Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together? #10

Thursday, May 2, 2024

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture render church attendance obligatory?

There are five terribly (terribly! terribly!!) abused passages in the Book of Hebrews, and one of them is connected to today’s Scripture. (The others are Hebrews 2:1-3, Hebrews 3:6-19, Hebrews 4:1-11, and Hebrews 6:4-8.)

Read Hebrews 10:26-31, what immediately follows today’s Scripture: “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Let us first understand how these five Hebrews passages have been wrongly applied. Essentially, they are proof-texts for the groups that teach “loss of salvation.” The belief of these denominations can be summarized as follows: “‘Once saved, always saved,’ is a lie! Even though you have trusted Christ, you must continue in holy living (daily commandment-keeping, confession of sins, and so on) or you will wind up in Hell!”

This law-based, fear-motivation living is derived from a failure to comprehend the purpose of those five warning passages in Hebrews. These verses are not directed toward believers at all; they caution unbelieving Jews who have not joined the Little Flock, and are the unbelieving Jews who (like today’s Scripture declares) are forsaking the assembling of believing Israelites (the Little Flock or Messianic Church). It is not believers who have lapsed into unbelief, but rather unbelievers who are being exhorted to become believers….

Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together? #9

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture render church attendance obligatory?

Whether John the Baptist’s preaching, or Christ’s preaching, or the 12 Apostles’ preaching, the Gospel of the Kingdom was used to call the Jews to repentance (change in mind). Read about early Acts now, as in Acts 2:38-41: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Focus on the Apostle Peter’s urging, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (verse 40). “Untoward” means crooked, perverse, warped. Interestingly, the Greek word is “skolios,” from which we get “scoliosis” (abnormal curvature of the spine). You can also see “crooked” in Philippians 2:15 with respect to the Gentile world. In Acts 2:40, it is Israel who is “untoward” (think of “not toward,” the opposite of “toward”). This “generation” of Israel is evil, unbelieving, Christ-rejecting. Remember, Calvary was only seven weeks prior to Peter’s sermon. The Apostle encourages his Jewish audience to believe his message (Jesus is Christ) and thus deliver (isolate, detach, separate) themselves from their apostate (unbelieving) nation.

The Book of Hebrews was written during latter Acts, with Peter’s words in mind. Situated in its context, and contrary to popular belief and widespread ignorance (!), today’s Scripture in no wise—no way, no manner—describes Gentiles gathering in church buildings on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesdays, or any other day during the duration of the Dispensation of the Grace of God. To use Hebrews 10:25 as though it were applicable to us is to fail (miserably!) to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)….