11.30.08 Study • Pilgrim’s Progress
November 30, 2008
Pilgrim’s Progress: The Celestial City
We conclude the first half of The Pilgrim’s Progress as we see Christian and Hopeful finally reach the destination of all believers, the Celestial City. We see them linger first in Beulah land, the land where the seasoned saint is partly in this world and partly in the next, then they cross the river of death, entering into the joy of their Lord. Bunyan says (as in his vision the gates to the City close) “After that they shut up the gates; which, when I had seen, I wished myself among them.”
In our own ministry, we have seen many saints go on ahead of us. I can sincerely say that I wish myself among them. Our folks gave what I thought were moving testimonies at the end of this session on that subject. I amplified their words so that you can hear them also, hopefully the distortions at that amplification will not be too distracting.
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Here is our study guide and the study guide with answers for this session.
11.23.08 Study – Pilgrim’s Progress
November 23, 2008
Pilgrim’s Progress: Ignorance Ignores Christian (pp. 174-187)
In this session we see the renewed attempt by Christian and Hopeful to evangelize Ignorance. Ignorance is completely confident in his own obedience, he has no sense that he needs more than his own self-justification. He does not know he needs the merits of Christ. Leaving him to his own deserts, Christian and Hopeful talk of another man, Mr. Temporary, who made a show of going on a pilgrimage, but turned back when his mind was not changed, he feared other men, could not bear the shame of religion and was grieved to feel guilt for his sin.
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Access our handout and the handout with answers.
11.16.08 Study [Pilgrim's Progress]
November 16, 2008
Pilgrim’s Progress: The Enchanted Grounds
In this session we see Christian and Hopeful keeping themselves wakeful in the Enchanted Grounds by engaging in ‘well managed fellowship’. The specific topic that engages their minds is a discussion of Hopeful’s salvation testimony. In this section Bunyan gives us a clear picture of a soul under conviction and turning to Christ. We made our reading shorter this week to spend more time covering this section in detail.
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Get the study guide handout and the handout with answers here.
11.9.08 Wayward Travelers [Pilgrim's Progress]
November 9, 2008
Pilgrim’s Progress: Wayward Travelers
Our study of Pilgrim’s Progress leads out of the Delectable Mountains into new encounters with various travelers. For this session, we first covered a few points of clarification from last week’s lesson and then plunged into this week’s reading. This week begins with an initial encounter of ‘a very brisk lad,’ Ignorance, who is unwilling to hear of a gospel of salvation by faith but is content with his own works. Leaving Ignorance, we encounter one Turn-away, and a weak Christian called Little-faith. We are encouraged by the discussion of these characters, but we end finding Christian and Hopeful being chastised for being led astray by a Flatterer, who captures them in a net. All of these events serve to illustrate situations believers may experience in their Christian lives.
Click here for audio.
Click for the Lesson 10 handout and the Lesson 10 handout with answers.
Click for the Lesson 9 clarification notes.
11.2.08 – Doubting Castle and the Delectable Mountains [Pilgrim's Progress]
November 2, 2008
Pilgrim’s Progress: Doubting Castle and the Delectable Mountains
Today we watch Christian and Hopeful seek the easy way out of difficult times only to end out in great difficulty and deep depression. It is only when they remember to pray (and subsequently remember the Promise of God) that they are able to escape Giant Despair. From thence they head to the Delectable Mountains, where the shepherds Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere give wise guidance and insights to the pilgrims.
Click here for audio.
Here is our study guide and the study guide with answers for this week’s lesson.
Click for the Lesson 9 clarification notes.
10.26.08 – By-ends and Hopeful [Pilgrim's Progress]
October 26, 2008
Pilgrim’s Progress: By-ends and Hopeful
Our next section of the Pilgrim’s Progress concerns Christian’s departure from Vanity Fair, his new companion Hopeful, won by the testimony of Christian and Faithful, and their encounter with a crowd of characters whose only interest in religion is how they may profit from it. Christian’s answer is a powerful argument against the purveyors of ‘health and wealth’ Christianity.
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Check out our handout and the handout with answers.
10.19.08 – Vanity Fair [Pilgrim's Progress]
October 19, 2008
Pilgrim’s Progress: Vanity Fair
This week we cover the experience of Christian and Faithful as they go through Vanity Fair. No one can escape the Fair, since the Way to the Celestial City leads through it. It represents the world, with all things respectable and profane, but things which distract Christians from the Way. The pilgrims do not fit in with the fair and offend the residents of the city so are held in a cage. Ultimately Faithful gives his life for his testimony, but some are won to the Way as a result.
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Our study guide is here and the guide with answers is here.
10.12.08 – Faithful and Talkative [Pilgrim's Progress]
October 12, 2008
Pilgrim’s Progress: Faithful and Talkative
In this session, Christian meets up with Faithful who becomes his companion for a part of the way to the Celestial City. Faithful recounts his experience till the point he meets Christian and although they travelled the same way, their experiences differed. In this we see that though there is one way, one destination, one faith, and one Christ, the means by which the Lord brings about our spiritual growth differs with each one. The temptations and trials Faithful experienced are different, but the grace of God in overcoming them is the same.
As they go, the two pilgrims encounter one Talkative, a man who has much to say about religion, but no corresponding testimony. He is an illustration of many a vain boaster who finds Christianity very interesting, except when it comes to actually living out the Christian faith.
Click here for audio.
Here is the handout and the handout with answers for your own study.
10.5.08 – Two Dark Valleys [Pilgrim's Progress]
October 5, 2008
Pilgrim’s Progress: Two Dark Valleys
This week we had a brief review of a couple of points from last week’s lesson and began to look at Christian’s progress through two valleys. The first involves his encounter with Apollyon, where Christian wins the day by virtue of his humility and use of the Word of God. The second is the Valley of the Shadow of Death where Christian must navigate between the ditch of false doctrine and the quag of cloying and defeating temptations.
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For your own study, check out our handout for this week, and the handout with answers.
9.28.08 The House Beautiful [Pilgrim's Progress]
September 28, 2008
Pilgrim’s Progress: The House Beautiful
Another one of our deacon’s, Bill Miner, led our Pilgrim’s Progress study this week due to the pastor’s absence. This session dealt with Christian’s time in the House Beautiful, a picture of the local church. He is guided by four sisters who equip him with the armour of the Spirit to protect him against the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Click here for audio.
Read the handout for this session as you listen.
Note: we also have a handout with answers for those who might like to use our material as teachers. All of our previous messages have been likewise updated.
Pastor’s note: I want to thank the Lord for brother Bill’s willingness to step in the gap for me today. He is the son of a missionary and a beloved brother in the Lord. We are blessed to have in our little assembly men and women who give evidence of God’s glorious grace. My recent illness was not serious or long lasting, but gave us an opportunity to see and experience the grace of God evidently at work in the hearts of our people through the men who stood in the gap today.
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