About Sola Scriptura Ministries
Sola Scriptura Ministries is not a para-church organization, rather an outreach of Grace Bible Church, which is detailed below. We would share four key thoughts with you about this ministry.
Our Purpose
Sola
Scriptura is Latin for “the Scripture Alone” and formed the very foundation of
the Protestant Reformation. Sola Scriptura Ministries is a ministry of Grace
Bible Church of Meeker, Colorado and its pastor, Dr. J. D. Watson. Its
burden is the defense of the infallibility, authority, and sufficiency of the
Word of God as the only rule in all matters. In a day when the Scriptures are
more and more diluted and ignored, there is an ever-increasing need to
“earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”
(Jude 3).
Our
purpose, therefore, is to defend the Scriptures through the pulpit and printed
page. Through booklets, books, and computer resources, it is our goal to
challenge Christians to stand for Biblical authority.
Our Policy
One
of the greatest burdens we have is the way most publishers in our day operate.
Whether it is true or not, it at least appears that many publishers are more
concerned about money than ministry. It is tragic that God’s Word is considered
as just another product and is marketed accordingly.
It
is, therefore, our policy that we make our publications available on what is
commonly called “a loving offering basis.” While a suggested donation is given
for each item, this is meant only as a guideline for those who are led to
support the work. Nothing is ever demanded. If you can’t afford
to give, or even if you can but don’t wish to, that is fine. We make these resources
available as God provides. No individuals receive any donated money. All monies
are used for further publications. Our purpose is for this ministry to
truly be a ministry. We simply seek to cover costs and propagate
further outreach.
So
why is this site a “dot com” domain? The reason we chose to go with a “dot com”
domain is two-fold. First, this domain is the most commonly used and least
confusing for users. By habit many users type “.com” even when they mean to
type “.org.” Second, while most of the things on this site are free, there are
some (predominately under “MicroManuals”) that are technically commercial,
though this is our minor emphasis. To be above reproach, therefore, we chose to
be a “dot com.”
Our Publications
There is much on
this site, so we hope you will take the time to look around. The Online Materials page, for example, lists books,
booklets, sample CD-ROM contents, and many other articles. The Sola Scriptura CD-ROM Library, Volume 1 page details the
contents of the first major resource from the ministry. For easy access to
these and other resources, go back to our Home Page.
Our Passion
As already
noted, our passion is that of the authority and sufficiency of the Scripture.
One aspect of that is the exposition of the Word. Solid expository preaching is
all but gone in our day, being replaced by everything under the sun. It is our
desire to defend such preaching, and there is a lot of it on this site.
Another aspect
of this passion, however, is the defense of the Traditional (or Majority) Text
of the New Testament, on which the Textus Receptus and Authorized King James
Version are based. Our founder, in fact, was not trained in this position. Like
most in recent history, he was trained to trust the Critical Text and modern
versions of the Bible as “the best,” and he even taught this way for several
years. But when confronted with the real facts, his view changed dramatically.
Now, we are well
aware of the controversy of this issue, and we have been criticized severally
for our position. As an example, our founder received an email from one visitor
that said, “How sad, you’re just another King James only website.” That comment
was deeply distressing, because it could not be further from the truth. The
typical KJV only advocate is an embarrassment as he “foams at the mouth” and
casts aspersion upon anyone who does not agree with him. This is not our
platform. We believe in the evidence and attitudes from the scholars who
have dealt with this issue but who have been ignored by most who hold the
typical view of today. Much of that scholarly work is represented on this web
site. All we ask is that we not be lumped in with the “Peter Ruckmans” who are
neither scholarly, fair, nor gracious.
About Grace Bible Church
The
founder of Sola Scriptura Ministries believes strongly in the primacy of
the local church to carry on ministry in the world. It is for this reason that Sola
Scriptura Ministries are simply an outreach of Grace Bible Church, in
Meeker, Colorado.
Grace Bible
Church is a small church tucked away in the beautiful Colorado Rockies. It is a
work where expository preaching and teaching are at the heart of the ministry
and where believers minister to one another and are witnesses to a lost world.
If you are ever in the area, we invite you to worship with us.
We are easy to find on the
corner of 3rd and Garfield Streets. As you come through town on Highway 13,
turn North on 3rd Street, come three blocks and you’re there. Like the sign
says, our services are Sunday morning at 10:30, Sunday evening at 6:00, and
Wednesday night prayer meeting at 7:00. Phone: (970) 878-5490 (or 3228).
Grace Bible Church is also
blessed and thankful to be a member church of FIRE, Fellowship of Independent Reformed
Evangelicals, a unifying network (not an independent organization) for
independent Reformed (and Reforming) baptistic churches to experience mutual
edification, fellowship, cooperation and prayerful support in ministries and
missions. With other FIRE churches, we affirm the five “Solas” of the
Reformation:
Sola
Scriptura – Scripture Alone
Sola
Gratia
– Grace Alone
Sola
Fide
– Faith Alone
Solus
Christus – Christ Alone
Soli
Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone
We also stand in
the tradition of the historic Reformed Confessions of Faith such as The
London Baptist Confession of 1644 and The Second London Baptist
Confession of 1689.
Read (or listen to) Pastor Watson’s six-message
series: The Five Solas of the Reformation.
You can also visit Meeker, Colorado online. Just click
your browser’s Back button to return here.