GOD GOVERNS HIS PEOPLE THROUGH SCRIPTURE
by J.I. Packer

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 TIMOTHY 3:16

The Christian principle of biblical authority means, on the one hand, that God purposes to direct the belief and behavior of his people through the revealed truth set forth in Holy Scripture; on the other hand it means that all our ideas about God should be measured, tested, and where necessary corrected and enlarged, by reference to biblical teaching. Authority as such is the right, claim, fitness, and by extension power, to control. Authority in Christianity belongs to God the Creator, who made us to know, love, and serve him, and his way of exercising his authority over us is by means of the truth and wisdom of his written Word. As from the human standpoint each biblical book was written to induce more consistent and wholehearted service of God, so from the divine standpoint the entire Bible has this purpose. And since the Father has now given the Son executive authority to rule the cosmos on his behalf (Matt. 28:18), Scripture now functions precisely as the instrument of Christ’s lordship over his followers. All Scripture is like Christ’s letters to the seven churches (Rev. 2-3) in this regard.

Where is God’s authoritative truth to be found today? Three answers are given, and each appeals to the Bible in its own way.

The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches find God’s truth, as they believe, in the interpretations of Scripture that are embodied in their own tradition and consensus. They view the Bible as God-given truth, but they insist that the church must interpret it and is infallible when it does so.

By contrast, individuals labeled liberal, radical, modernist, or subjectivist find God’s truth in the thoughts, impressions, judgments, theories and speculations that Scripture triggers in their own minds. While dismissing the New Testament concept of the inspiration of Scripture, and not treating their Bible as totally trustworthy or as embodying absolute and authoritative transcripts of the mind of God, they are confident that the Spirit leads them to pick and choose in such a way that wisdom from God results.

Historic Protestantism, however, finds God’s truth in the teaching of the canonical Scriptures as such. It receives these Scriptures as inspired (i.e., God-breathed, 2 Tim. 3:16), inerrant (i.e., totally true in all they affirm), sufficient (i.e., telling us all that God wills to tell us and all that we need to know for salvation and eternal life), and clear (i.e., straightforward and self-interpreting on all matters of importance).
The first two positions treat human judgments on the Bible as decisive for truth and wisdom; the third, while valuing the church’s heritage of conviction and appreciating the demand for coherence that rational thinking involves, systematically submits all human thoughts to Scripture, which it takes seriously as canon. Canon means a rule or standard. The first two positions refer to Scripture as the canon, but they fail to take it with full seriousness as a functioning rule for faith and life. Thus they do not in practice fully accept its authority, and their Christian profession, however sincere, is thereby flawed.

From: Concise Theology: A Guide To Historic Christian Beliefs

I (Rob Pendley) am a neophyte at all this stuff.  It is a huge part of the moment in which we live.  That reminds me, I need to take my monthly trip to facebook.

Here are two opposing views, both thought-provoking.

Is Facebook Killing Our Souls? by Shane Hipps
&
Why Social Media Is Good for Us, by Caleb Gardner

“If we persist in consuming these or any technologies without conscious awareness,
we will be formed in ways we don’t intend.”  –Hipps

“Especially in our increasingly separated world, people want to connect with their friends and family through common experiences.”  –Gardner

These were presented during Vision Awareness Weekend.

I. STEWARDSHIP | Managing the Resources God Gives Us

– Develop stewardship at CCC through a stewardship program.

– Offer “Financial Peace University” course.

– Pray toward being debt free.

– Raise awareness of Spiritual Gifts for all ages

II. EQUIPPING | Training & Empowering Our People

CCC MISSION STATEMENT

– Revise/Refine & – Learn it by heart

LEADERSHIP

– Identify leadership community  – Develop and begin leadership training program

– Elect 2 new elders and deacons; train 10 new ministry leaders

CCC PEOPLE

– Create a “core curriculum” for everyone at CCC.
– 100% of attendees go through a training course.
– Provide education specifically designed for new believers.

III. MISSION | Taking the Gospel Forward

SUPPORT CHURCH PLANTING

– Commit to support a church planter for 3 years (somewhere in Florida)

– Research/pray toward helping with a church plant in Gainesville.

REACH GAINESVILLE

– Grow in our ability to welcome guests as family.

– Train our people in missions, evangelism and service.

– Strengthen our relationships with local ministries/non-profits.

FACILITIES USE

– Develop plan to increase building/property use by 1/12.

– See 20 new people become part of CCC through it.

REACHING THE WORLD

– Develop adopt-a-missionary program

– Pray for 10 members to be sent outside the US.