Pessimism or Optimism

Intro

Wales 1880 - Sunday 80% in a gospel Church
Wales 2008 - Sunday less than 2%

Plenty to be pessimistic about
-The cure
-John 10

4 directions to look, leading to optimism

1 Eternity past
-You believe because you are a sheep of Christ not the other way around

2 The Cross
-Non-puritan preachers will preach that Christ made salvation available
-Puritan preachers will preach that Christ
-Has saved
-Has finished
-Has Accomplished
-Something was done not just made possible
-The wrath of GOD fell on Jesus Christ instead of HIS SHEEP not everyone

-This means the puritan has the widest gospel call with no conditions

3 The Present
-The preacher sounds out the shepherds voice
-Found in scripture
-Expressed in words
-That are heard
-Down in the soul

-Puritanism
-Confidence in the preached word
-Whatever happens, sound out the shepherds voice
-Optimism

4 The Future
-How can we keep going?
-Stepping forward one step at a time

-The eternal perseverance of the saints
-His sheep follow him

Conclusion

Optimism is the Churches calling