CHANGE of New Email Address!!

Sorry for the confusion, but 2.22 will once again have a new Email address!!

I have been having trouble with the sbcglobal address, so, from this point on, please use the following address for any 2.22 related correspondance:

222mission AT gmail DOT com

Be sure and add this to your address book, and you might also want to indicate in your email provider that this won't be a Junk/Spam address (sometimes when you receive an email addressed to an entire list of recipients, your email provider will block it as potential spam - I'm finding this to be true for those of you with Yahoo addresses).

If you are not receiving 2.22 emails, please send an email to the new address with the word "SUBSCRIBE" in the Subject line. Please Note: 2.22 emails are DIFFERENT from the 2.22 Blog Feedblitz. If you are subscribed to Feedblitz, you will receive any updates to the 2.22 Blog. The 2.22 email list is for any time sensitive announcement that wouldn't be appropriate for the blog (missionary updates, fellowship opportunities, etc.). IOW, you need to be subscribed to BOTH! :o)

Also, I will be checking this email daily, but it will only be checked in the evenings, so if it's time sensitive, be sure and send it early enough to allow for my response. Again, here is what to use this new email address for:

~Emails that you want me to forward to the group
~Blog articles
~Your change of email address
~Any other 2.22 related information

Thanks for your help!

2.22 Christmas Party - December 19th

I hope you've marked your calender for Tuesday, December 19th. 2.22 will hold it's 2nd Annual Christmas Party at 6:30pm at the home of Aaron & Anita Wilson.

We will once again play "Dirty Santa", so bring a gift to exchange if you want to play ($5-$7). Last year produced some great books as highly coveted gifts, and as well as the not-so-coveted Kung Fu fighting hamster.

Michael Martin has graciously offered to deep fry a turkey for us this year (if you had any last year, then you'll remember how good it was!). For other food items, please sign up during the upcoming 2.22 meetings on Tuesdays. If you can't be here to sign up, please email Anita to find out what to bring.

Please be sure to invite any and all college students who will be returning for the holidays - many of them do not get our emails nor read the blog, so we want to extend the invitation to them by word of mouth.

Hope to see you there!

Oh yeah...also reserve your New Year's Eve for a 2.22 fellowship at the home of Beth Riley. Devotional, food & games will begin at 8:30pm. Watch the blog for more details.

After Darkness, Light - Study Guide #2

In preparation for Friday night's study (November 17), read Isaiah 5 & 6, and consider the following questions:

1. Why was Israel under condemnation (see Is. 5 and 6:10).

2. Why would God call a preacher to preach for the purpose of making people’s hearts “dull”, “ears heavy”, eyes “blind (see Is. 6:10)?

3. Based on the entire chapter (Is. 6), why would Isaiah still want to preach for these sad results?

4. How does Isaiah’s ministry compare with yours?

~Have you encountered the Lord in His holiness?
~Do you have a heart to serve, leaving the results up to God?
~Do you preach/ share Christ with the remnant in mind?
~Do you disciple people understanding that God might have rejection planned for you?
~Have you ever thought that God’s plan is best no matter the results?
~How does a passage like Dt. 29:29 help?

5. When considering 2 Cor. 2:14-17 do you see how Paul’s ministry parallels Isaiah’s?

After Darkness, Light - Study Guide #1

In preparation for this Friday's Bible Study (November 10), Jeff has come up with a short pre-study guide:

1. Read 1 Samuel 1-3 focusing primarily on chapter 3.

2. Not having Bibles back in OT times, what does 1 Sam. 3:1 mean: "...the word of the LORD was rare"?

3. Why was it "rare?"

4. Samuel was called to be a prophet. Is it legitimate to think of yourself as being called by the LORD to a certain task in these days?

5. If so, then what is God's call for your life? What does God's word call you to and what's your gift mix and what are your current opportunities?

6. Since God reveals himself through the Bible, how does sin keep you from enjoying this revelation?

7. In 1 Sam. 3:21 note the way God reveals himself once again?

After Darkness, Light - Current Study at 2.22 Fridays

On Friday nights, over the following months, Pastor Jeff will embark on a sermon series called “After Darkness, Light.” He's going to use 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 as a springboard into this biblical study. This passage, like none other, captures four primary theological categories or themes that he has discovered independently while surveying the doctrine of illumination. The breakdown of this passage is as follows:

The Context

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

Theme 1 – Condemnation without Illumination

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Theme 2 – Communication for Illumination

2 Corinthians 4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

Theme 3 – Conversion by Illumination

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts…

Theme 4 – Communion through Illumination

2 Corinthians 4:6 …to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Practically speaking, these four categories will lead to four applications:

• By rejecting illumination you’re condemned


• By biblical communication you’re transformed


• By illumination your soul is converted


• By illumination your communion is enriched.

Be sure and join us each Friday night for this study. Remember, we have a meal each Friday beginning at 6:30pm, so bring a few bucks to help cover costs (guests eat free!). We begin our worship around 7pm with a focus on missions, then worship through song, then Jeff will open the Word to us.

Hope to see you there!

**2.22 WILL NOT MEET the Friday after Thanksgiving, and also on December 8.

Above All Earthly Powers

The audio is now available from the recent Desiring God Conference on The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World. You will be hearing more from Pastor Jeff in the near future, as he was able to attend this event.

Click here for all the audio, or click on the individual messages below.

David Wells The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World

Justin Taylor, John Piper, Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll A Conversation with the Pastors

Voddie Baucham The Supremacy of Christ and Truth in a Postmodern World

Tim Keller The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel in a Postmodern World

Mark Driscoll The Supremacy of Christ and the Church in a Postmodern World

Justin Taylor, Voddie Baucham, John Piper, D. A. Carson, David Wells Speaker Panel

D. A. Carson The Supremacy of Christ and Love in a Postmodern World

John Piper The Supremacy of Christ and Joy in a Postmodern World Read or Listen

An Emerging Church Primer

By Justin Taylor

Some of you may be called to be experts on the emerging church. We need experts. But I'm not that expert. And perhaps it's good for you that I'm not. In conservative evangelical circles, we can be tempted to listen to experts so that we can hear the person's conclusions: "Just tell me what to think—don't bother me with how you got there." We want the Cliff Notes on the emerging church. We want to read the cast of characters—"this guy's a wolf, that guy's a sheep," and so on.

I'm not going to do that. One of my goals is to help you understand the "emerging church." But my deeper goal would be for us to become the sort of people who know how to think about things like the emerging church. After all, the "emerging church" is not here to stay. It's a movement, and this is its season. It might be replaced in a year or so; it might stretch out for decades. Yet one thing's for sure: Emerging Church Version 2006 is going to look different next year. And the next.

As Christians, we want to train ourselves to have the mind of Christ, so that we can respond like well-trained tennis players to whatever ball flies in our direction—no matter the angle, the spin, or the speed.

Read the entire article here.

222 Blog Gets New Look

I'm slowly trying to update the overall look of the blog - could you let me know what you think? Here's some of the questions I have. Feel free to leave your comments. Thanks!

• Are there any links that aren't working?
• Do you like the 3 column layout?
• Can you see all three columns on your screen (does the page fit on your computer screen)?
• Is the color scheme ok, or does it make you want to puke?(I know I can't find colors to please everyone, but I'm trying to match the header photo)
• Are there other features/links that would be helpful (permanent links to IFO, STEP, etc.)
• Other suggestions?

Study Resources on Election

In light of our recent chapter & discussion in Bible Doctrine on the doctrine of election, here's a helpful sermon on answering objections to this teaching.

This will be helpful as you prepare for this coming Lord's Day discussion.

Here's a few other resources as well.

More on Fighting Sexual Temptation

Some Biblical motives for fighting sexual temptation:

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: That you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Genesis 39:7

And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, “Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and ran out of the house.”


Matthew 5:27-30

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Proverbs 5:1-6

My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion and your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey; and her speech is smother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.


James 1:12-15

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

I Corinthians 10:7-10

Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, not grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

I Corinthians 10: 13-15

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man, God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Titus 1:15-16

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

I Peter 1:3-8

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Revelation 22:14-15

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Galatians 5:16-25

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, socery, enmity, strige, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Job 31:1

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Proverbs 6:24

To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

Proverbs 23:27

For a harlot is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

Jeremiah 3:1

They say, IF a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? Shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.

I Corinthians 6:13-20

The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ Himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in Spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit whom is in you, who you have received form God? You are not your own , You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your own body.

II Peter 2:9

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished