On this page you will be able to find various thoughts, quotes, books, or other links from Pastor Josh. He promises not to use this space to brag about the success of his favorite sports teams...
"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe."--I Thessalonians 2:13
Biography:
I accepted a call to serve the Lord as the pastor at Bethel in January, 2008. Prior to this, my wife Bethany and I spent five years living just outside of Boston, during which time our first son, Malcolm, was born. In January of 2009, the Lord blessed us with our second son, Jameson. I was born and raised outside of Pittsburgh, and completed my undergraduate studies at Penn State (where I met Bethany), receiving a degree in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies. Following that, I spent the better part of the next year on several missions trips, including a summer teaching English at a middle school in Sichuan, China. Bethany and I were married thereafter, and moved to New England in order to both attend seminary at Gordon-Conwell. During that time, I worked with two local churches, one of which was the historic Old South Presbyterian Church in Newburyport, and helped to teach undergraduate philosophy courses at Gordon College. The opportunity to join with the body of believers here at Bethel has been an incredible blessing, and I am excited to see the vision that the Lord has for His people in this place!
Me and Malcolm
Millions of men, women, and children around the world have never had the opportunity to hear of the saving mercy of God in Christ. We find in Scripture a glorious vision, described by John: "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'" (Revelation 7:9-10). Please pray not only for the missionaries who live out the Gospel among these people groups, but for all who labor as workers in the fields of the Lord.
Surfing Spots
In case you ever want to visit a website that isn't this one (who knows why you'd want to do that!), here are some of my favorites.
www.pcusa.org --This is our official denominational website, and a helpful tool to find out more of what's going on at the national level.
www.gcts.edu --The website of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (an alma mater of mine).
www.gopsusports.com --A shameless plug for the sports news at my other alma mater!
www.monergism.com --Perhaps the largest resource for Reformed writings, sermons, blogs, etc today. Many great Mp3 sermons and links. Be sure to check out their bookstore.
www.whitehorseinn.org --A ministry devoted to helping Christians "know what they believe and why they believe it". Excellent articles and resources, but most of all, be sure to check out their podcasts!
www.ppl.org --Bethel is a "Partners For Life" church through Presbyterians Pro-Life, and this is their website. Some great resources and info.
www.persecution.com-- The website for Voice of the Martyrs, an organization that raises awareness for persecuted Christians around the world. (for young kids, check out www.kidsofcourage.com)
www.davidcrowderband.com --The homepage for what is probably my favorite contemporary Christian worship band.
www.robkrogh.com -- The website of a very talented, very biblical worship leader. Oh, and he's a good friend and will probably be playing for us at Bethel sometime. Be sure to check out the clips from his debut CD!
No need to waste your time with more, but these ones are worth checking out!
Follow along at PastorJoshBrown for Scripture and other meditations.
Food for thought from John Calvin...
"God's grace is tasteless to men until the Holy Spirit brings it its savor."
Institutes of the Christian Religion, III.xxiv.14
"The glory of God so shines in His Word, that we ought to be so affected by it, whenever He speaks to His servants, as though He were near to us, face to face."
--Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets, 4:343.
"We see that our whole salvation and all its parts are comprehended in Christ [Acts 4:12]. We should therefore take care not to derive the least portion of it from anywhere else. If we seek salvation, we are taught by the very name of Jesus that it is 'of him'. If we seek any other gifts of the Spirit, they will be found in his annointing. If we seek strength, it lies in his dominion; if purity, in his conception; if gentleness, it appears in his birth. For by his birth he was made like us in all respects [Heb 2:17] that he might learn to feel our pain. If we seek redemption, it lies in his passion; if acquittal, in his condemnation; if remission of the curse, in his cross [Gal 3:13]; if satisfaction, in his sacrifice; if purification, in his blood; if reconciliation, in his descent into hell; if mortificaiton of the flesh, in his tomb; if newness of life, in his resurrection; if immortality, in the same; if inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom, in his entrance into heaven; if protection, if security, if abundant supply of all blessings, in his Kingdom; if untroubled expectation of judgment, in the power given to him to judge. In short, since rich store of every kind of good abounds in him, let us drink our fill from this fountain, and from no other."
--Institutes of the Christian Religion, II.xvi.19.
"If we, then, are not our own but the Lord's, it is clear what error we must flee, and whither we must direct all the acts of our life. We are not our own: let not our reason nor our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds. We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us according to the flesh. We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours. Conversely, we are God's: let us therefore live for Him and die for Him. We are God's: let His wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions. We are God's: let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward Him as our only lawful goal."
--Institutes of the Christian Religion, III.vii.1.
Classic Christian quotes:
Ecce, enim in cruce est salus nostra---Bernard of Clairvaux ("Behold, only in the cross is our salvation")
Si enim comprehendis, non est Deus---Augustine ("If you understand it, it is not God")
Oratio, meditatio, tentatio faciunt theologum---Luther ("Prayer, contemplation, and trial make the theologian")
Cor meum tibi offero domine prompte et sincere---Calvin ("Lord, I offer you my heart, promptly and sincerely")
Hoc est Christum cognoscere: beneficia euis cognoscere---Melanchthon ("To know Christ is to know his benefits")
