User:Pastor Richard Tory MacDonald

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[edit] Hosanna Family Church of Pawtucket

Hosanna Family Church of Pawtucket [1] is a Christ-centered, family-oriented reformed Christian church in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Through the expository preaching of the Scriptures, the saints at Hosanna Family Church of Pawtucket find themselves renewed and equipped for the work of the ministry. Through the ordinances, the Hosanna Family faithfully practice obedience to Jesus Christ, who renews Christian hopes and refreshes child-like faith. Through prayer and fellowship with one another, the Hosanna family remains united in love as one people of God.

[edit] Hosanna History

Hosanna Family Church of Pawtucket grew out of a small home Bible study fellowship (2004-2006), and became an established church in March, 2008, thanks in part to the gracious support of Pastor Phil LaFountain and Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. With no initial rent or ministry costs, Hosanna was blessed with cheerful givers; faithful Christians who made reaching the needy in Pawtucket and surrounding communities a present reality.


HOSANNA FAMILY CHURCH - QUICK FACTS : Church polity: Plurality of Elders. Worship Style: Blended. Ministry Focus: Evangelism, Discipleship, and Charity.

[edit] Hosanna's Pastor - Richard Tory MacDonald

Pastor MacDonald (1965-20--) is the Teaching Pastor at Hosanna Family Church of Pawtucket. He has studied at the Community College of Rhode Island, Lincoln, RI; [2] Trinity Bible College and Theological Seminary, Newburgh, ID;[3] and Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Il.[4]

Pastor MacDonald's approach to the Scriptures is thorough line upon line exegesis. Careful examination of the text in its context from the original languages is the platform on which Pastor MacDonald builds his teaching. Historical and cultural background is also an integral factor in his exegetical and interpretive method.

Pastor MacDonald has served in the United States Navy, Army, and presently serves in the U.S. Air Force as a Chaplain's Assistant, and as a Military Funeral Honor Guard.


[edit] Hosanna's Music Minister - Richard John Marcotte

Elder Richard John Marcotte serves as the Music Minister at Hosanna Family Church of Pawtucket. His versatility on the guitar gives Hosanna's music ministry a unique, worshipful, melodic tenor. Richard Marcotte was ordained as an elder on May 1st, 2008.


[edit] Hosanna Family Church's Doctrine

Hosanna Family Church is orthodox in its Christian, Protestant beliefs. The church categorically embraces the 5 solas of the Protestant Reformation[5], and is in good company in its teachings of the doctrines of sovereign grace - St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.), Martin Luther (1483-1546), John Calvin (1509-64), John Knox (1514-72), John Bunyan (1628-88), Jonathan Edwards (1703-58), Charles Hodge (1797-1878), Charles Spurgeon (1834-92), Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920), Louis Berkhof (1873-1957).


Of Reformed Theology, Pastor MacDonald says,

"It is without doubt, alive and powerful and still reforming Christian minds in an age of evangelical giddiness. The truth that ultimately begot the doctrines of sovereign grace known as `Calvinism,' is no exegetical accident, but a supposition rooted in Scripture and embraced by some of the greatest minds of our faith. St. Paul received it from Christ, and ironically, the apostle to the Gentiles taught it to St. Peter, and to the first century saints. As wonderful as this historical truth is however, this good theology is just information until it finds its mark - the elect! When that happens, the dead become alive! The Holy Spirit quickens man's lifeless heart of stone through perfect, monergistic regeneration, which unapologetically arrests the sinner's depraved being and will, changing him from a creature of vanity and a vessel of wrath, into a redeemed, beloved child of God. This is the biblical doctrine of sovereign grace! This is the theology of the Reformers! It is this truth that brings salvation to sinners and glory to God alone, for in our so great salvation, God alone is enough!"

[edit] Hosanna Family Church of Pawtucket - Statement of Faith

The Bible

We affirm that the Bible is the sacred book of the Christian Church, and the very Word of God. The Bible (the Old and New Testaments) is, "God-breathed," and thus without error in the original autographs. The Bible is infallible, inerrant, alive and powerful, historically accurate, archaeologically confirmed, self-attesting, and trustworthy in all matters of faith and conduct. (Deut. 4:1-2; Josh. 8:34; Ps. 119; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jn. 20:30-31; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12; 2 Pet. 1:19-21)


The Trinity

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons known in historical Christianity as the Godhead. The three Persons of the blessed Trinity are equal in every divine perfection. They execute distinct but harmonious works in the acts of creation, providence, and redemption. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Mk. 1:10-11; Jn. 14:26; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:2; Jude 20-21)


God the Father

We believe in God the Father, who is sovereign, infinite, personal, and Spirit. He is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. Our heavenly Father concerns Himself with building the kingdom by bringing and giving believers to His Son. The Father hears and answers prayers, and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Ex. 4:22; Isa. 40:21-26; Matt. 28:19; Eph. 4:4-6)


Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ as outlined in the Nicene Creed. By His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, and glorious ascension into heaven, Jesus has established Himself as Messiah and Lord. He is the Mediator of the New Covenant, the Chief Cornerstone of the church, and He is our King, ruling over His Kingdom from heaven. By His perfect life, Christ proved Himself Victor over sin, Satan, death, and the world. (Matt. 1:18-25, 25:31-46; Mk. 1:14-15, 9;1, 12:34; Jn. 1:1-14, 20:28; Acts 1:9-11; Col. 1:15-20, 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8; 1 Pet. 2:24-25; Heb. 1:3-13, 4:14-16; 1 Jn. 2:1; Rev. 11:15-17; 20:4-6, 11-15)


The Holy Spirit

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life, who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers all who have come to Christ in faith. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells the elect, and that He is our abiding Helper, Comforter, Teacher, and Guide, and Lord. (Isa. 44:3; Lk. 4:14; Jn. 14:16-17, 26, 15:26, 16:7, Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 3:7-11, 9:14; Rev. 2:17)


Humanity

Totally depraved! Humanity is born with original sin and guilt, or as the Puritans said, "through Adam's fall - sinned we all." The entire or “Total” human being is detrimentally affected by Adam’s transgression, and apart from God’s sovereign, merciful intercession, all humanity would continue to resist the call of God and His free gift of salvation, and would thus perish in sin. Humanity then must humbly depend upon Christ alone for everything, especially salvation unto eternal life. (Ps. 14:2-3, 51:5, 143:2; Prov. 20:9; Isa. 64:6; Jer. 17:9; Mk. 7:21-23; Jn. 8:34, 43, 47, 10:26, 12:37-40; Rom. 3:10-11, 23, 5:12, 6:20-21, 7:18; 8:5-7; 1 Cor. 2:14; Gal. 3:10-11, 22; Eph. 2:1-3, 15, 4:17-19) Read: "Adam's Fall and Mine" by Dr. R.C. Sproul. [6]


Salvation

Salvation is the sovereign, monergistic act of God on behalf undeserving sinners who are inherently incapable and ultimately disinterested in serving the Living God. Salvation is an act of divine mercy by which God chooses to be gracious to the elect. By grace, God makes us alive in Christ so we can believe the light from Him, and it is for Christ's sake we are accepted by the Father. In Christ, we are brand new creations, and it is He who declares us righteous, adopted heirs of eternal life, and of the wonderful blessings and promises outlined in Holy Scripture. (Isa. 53-55; Jn. 3:16-18, 3:36, 5:24, 6:28-29, 44-47; 10:25-30; Acts 4:12, 13:48; Rom. 3:26-28, 4:1-5, 8:28-30, 10:8-13, 11:6; 1 Cor. 1:21; Eph. 1:1-5, 11, 2:1-10; 1 Thess. 2:13, 5:9; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:3-5, 2 Pet. 1:1)


The Church

The New Covenant church is the spiritually regenerated assembly of God Worshippers, a new people of God forever united by Jesus in faith, hope, and love. The Scriptures metaphorically refer to the true church as the body of Christ, the holy, living temple of God, who is Christ - the true Israel. Over His church, Christ is head and Lord. In this holy temple, true believers are figuratively described as "living stones," which of course suggests the church is alive, and not a mere building made with brick and mortar. (1 Cor. 12:11-27; Heb. 3:6; 1 Pet. 2:4-5). See the WCF Chapter XXV. [7] of the Church, and "What is Meant by Israel" by William Hendriksen [8]


The Ordinances

We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church (1) Water baptism by immersion for all who profess faith in Jesus Christ and have demonstrated genuine repentance, and (2) The Lord's Supper, for Christians who are in fellowship with Christ and one another. We believe that these two ordinances are visible symbols of God’s grace covenant with us, that they represent Christ and His benefits to us, and thus, should be observed by Christians and administered by church elders until His glorious return. (Matt. 26:26-29, 28:19; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38, 16:31-34; Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12; Lk. 22:19-20, 30; 1 Cor. 11:24-26)


Eschatology

Chapter 32 - WCF,[9] Chapter 33 - WCF,[10] - Covenant Theology: The Superiority of the Amillennial/Postmillennial Hermeneutic [11] On the Millennium: [12]

Learn why Hosanna Family Church of Pawtucket rejects dispensationalism,[13] Dispensationalism and the Bible by John Zens [14].