FreeTruth

When I became a mom the Christmas story took on a whole new meaning for me, especially that Mary pondered these events in her heart. The appearance of an angel, traveling to Bethlehem, giving birth in a stable, the visitation of the shepherds. Then in Matthew 2:10-11 we read that months later Mary is at home with her toddling son when there is a knock at the door. There stand several men, their attire showing they are obviously from another country. They are excited, overwhelmed with great joy. One look at her little son and they fall, faces to the ground, and worship him. Did Mary too rejoice at this unexpected visit, as she watched not only the jubilant worship but the lavish gifts presented to her son?

These Magi rejoiced, worshipped and lavished gifts on Jesus, the child born a king. I know Him as my resurrected Lord, the King of Kings, and I am amazed at my tepid heart of worship at times. I do not doubt that Mary pondered that scene in her mind throughout the years. Perhaps walking home from Jerusalem after Jesus was missing and found in the temple--His Father’s house; as he left home for his ministry throughout Galilee; as he hung on the cross. Three days later Mary no longer pondered--she knew! Did not her rejoicing surpass that day with the Magi? Did not her heart worship in a way worthy of the Son of God? Now Mary had something to carry in her heart for the remainder of her life. Not just the Christmas story, but the reason behind it. Scripture does not fill in the details of the Magi beyond their journey to Bethlehem and their return home. Did they ponder this event for the remainder of their life? Did they return home and share this good news with their countrymen? Perhaps more than 30 years later the gospel came to their own country. They saw the Christ child and they worshipped. The rest of their story is not known to us.

All of this, by grace, is my story too, and I want to rejoice with exceedingly great joy, for I know the fuller story. What the Magi knew caused them great joy. How much more should that be true for me? The Magi were led by a star and had a moment with the King. I have the light of God’s Word to enable me, not just a moment but a lifetime to know the King. Beyond that is eternity, and all of eternity will not exhaust my knowledge of Him. The journey of the Magi could not have been an easy one, but the sight of the child caused them to fall face down in worship. Our journey is not always easy, but it is wonderful to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, where our hearts will find great joy. What a glorious truth! And what is better yet, He is coming again--soon!

Pat Bowditch

Labels: Advent, Christmas, Guest Post, Worship

As a woman, I know that I have a tendency to look at my life experiences and project them on to God, especially when life has gotten very complicated. Men may have this problem too, but I’ll stick to what I know. When things are good, God is good, but when things are bad… sometimes I begin to wonder. Maybe there’s been a job loss, or relationships are falling apart, or savings are gone, or a family member has passed. I suddenly have questions about God not worship for Him and I’m tempted to run from Him not to Him.

If there’s one person in the Bible whose circumstances should have caused her to worry herself to death, it was probably Mary. There she was, planning her wedding, and then Gabriel showed up and changed the whole story. Now she was pregnant.

What would happen to her when she returned home? Would Joseph believe she was a virgin when it was clear she was with child? Would he marry her and then quit? Would he abandon her to be a single mom? Would her family reject her or would they believe that God was using her? Certainly she would be called a whore, a tramp, and an adulteress. She faced being stripped, beaten, mocked, spit on, and put before the town of Nazareth as an example. And on top of that, she wasn’t just pregnant, she would give birth to the Son of God!

Clearly Mary had a lot to be worried about. But it seems as though she skipped right over the worrying and worshipped instead.

Even though her life was uncertain, she wanted God to be honored and glorified. She wanted others to see through her life that God is good. In Luke 1:46-55, Mary praised at least 17 attributes of God. She praised Him for His position, His omniscience, His work, His personal nature, His holiness, His mercy, His power, His worth, His sovereignty, and the list goes on. Instead of taking a doubting and introspective look at her life, she looked at God and filled her heart with who He is and what He’s done.

Whenever I’m tempted to live within my experiences instead of the truth of God, I’m going to try to remember Mary. Mary looked first for the evidences of grace in her own life--"he’s done great things for me” (Luke 1:49)--and she praised God for it. But you know what she also did? She looked for the evidences of grace in the lives of others, and praised God for that too--"he has filled the hungry with good things” (Luke 1:53).

As I approach Christmas, I’m trying to identify the parts of my life that are distracting me and causing me to doubt. When I identify them, I’m committing to asking myself a series of questions: Have I worried about it? Have I worshipped about it? It might be my time to worship because of His grace in others. This is the joy of being part of a church family: we get to see God working!

Who is God? What has He done? Mary’s example of asking and answering those questions is well worth following.

Brooke Shorey

Labels: Advent, Christmas, Guest Post, Worship

Here is part two of yesterday's blog by Jeff Purswell, based on an exposition of Hebrews 12. God bless you as you read it.

[In light of what we have seen] Think about the people with whom you serve, live, and worship. Have you fully grasped just what your local church is and what it’s doing on a Sunday morning? Your local church is one authentic, visible manifestation of the entire people of God for all time.

It is a part of the heavenly throng that even now is worshiping before the throne of God. And we get to be part of that!

Think about this gathering, which includes—

Angels. We are worshiping with creatures before whom we would be tempted to fall down in terror and worship, if we could see them.

The spirits of the righteous-made-perfect. Here are the heroes from Hebrews 11—Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and David—mighty men of God, mighty prophets who trusted God, so endued with power that they stopped lion’s mouths and put foreign armies to flight. We are worshiping with them.

Faithful saints. These men and women endured torture and refused deliverance if it meant compromise. They chose a stoning pit or a chopping block before they would deny Jesus. And if they survived, they joyfully embraced poverty, deprivation, and persecution. They feared God and they feared sinning more than they feared man—all so that they might receive something better. And when we worship, we join them before the throne of God, who remains “a consuming fire” (v. 29).

We come to Jesus. He is there, our mediator, whose sprinkled blood cleanses us from sin. His blood “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (v. 24). Abel’s blood cried out for judgment, but Jesus’s blood cries out for mercy.

Sunday Morning

So back to your home church this upcoming Sunday. When you enter and the music begins, what are you more aware of? Is it the song set? the musicians? the mix? Does the worship band wow you? Does the routine bore you?

Or do you perceive something beyond all this?

Your church is one authentic manifestation of the entire people of God that right now is worshiping before the throne of God. That is the reality of new covenant worship. And when we begin to wrap our minds around that, there springs to mind a thousand reasons to rejoice, to praise, and to sing; and to renounce flippancy, self-display, selfishness, superficiality, sloppiness, and thoughtlessness.

Before the God who is a consuming fire, we don’t shuffle in casually. We don’t demand our artistic preferences. We don’t merely gather with our friends. We don’t merely sing together. As the people of God, we enter into the very presence of God. Encountering God in this way is the very nature of the church. By definition, to be the church is to gather in God’s presence and to worship God together. And when we begin singing, we join the glorious worship that takes place unceasingly before the throne of God.

This is true regardless of how we feel, who leads worship, what songs we sing, or how we think worship went. There is something incredible happening on Sunday morning!

Be the church and go to church. Something eternal is going on in there.

Don’t miss it.

Friends how can we ever think of worship the same again?

Labels: Church, Worship

I came across the following piece yesterday and it was so good that I have to pass it along to you. It speaks to the reality of what we are about as the people of God when we gather for worship each Lord's Day.

The article is by Jeff Purswell, dean of the Sovereign Grace Ministries Pastors College. I'll be presenting it in two parts. The first is exegetical from Hebrews 12; the second more applicaation and wonder. Enjoy!

The other day I saw a sign that captured my attention—and deeply concerned me. It said—

“Don’t go to church. Be the church.”

Now, despite the element of truth (God’s people are the church), there are all kinds of things wrong with this statement. But behind the words is obviously someone’s disappointment (and possibly disillusionment) with organized Christianity. And although I’d guess that many Christians would reject this false choice, their attitude to Sunday gatherings of the church may reveal a similar apathy.

To fight such apathy, we all need a biblical perspective on what is taking place on Sunday—a perspective that can transform our attitude toward “going to church.” And it’s this perspective that the writer of Hebrews gives us when he describes the ongoing worship service we join when we gather to worship each Sunday.

Mount Sinai and Mount Zion

In Hebrews [12] the writer presents a striking contrast between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion, between the experience of the people of God under the old covenant and their experience under the new covenant.

In verses 18–21 the writer recounts the gathering at Mount Sinai (as recorded in Exodus 19). After their deliverance from Egypt, God gathered his people and made a covenant with them. He constituted them as a nation, his very own people.

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

Now look at the gathering at Mount Zion described in verses 22–24:

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

What a contrast.

At Mount Sinai everything served to emphasize the chasm between God and these people. At Mount Zion everything encourages us to come boldly into God’s presence. There, at Mount Sinai, the scene itself is frightening—fire, darkness, gloom. Here, at Mount Zion, is a gleaming city, the New Jerusalem, the place where God dwells with his covenant people.

At Mount Sinai the sounds are frightening—whirlwind, trumpet blast, unutterable words. At Mount Zion is the sound of exuberant and celebratory praise.

At Mount Sinai was a solemn gathering filled with fear. Here at Mount Zion is a joyful assembly of those whose names are forever written in the Lamb’s book of life.

There at Mount Sinai was a picture of the unapproachability of God’s holy presence. But here at Mount Zion is a picture of full access into the presence of God through the mediator Jesus Christ.

Now think about your church. Think about the people with whom you serve, live, and worship. Have you fully grasped just what your local church is and what it’s doing on a Sunday morning? Your local church is one authentic, visible manifestation of the entire people of God for all time.

It is a part of the heavenly throng that even now is worshiping before the throne of God. And we get to be part of that!

What do you think?

Labels: Church, Worship

You may still be interested in the long and involved conversation that's gone on the past couple of days, so feel free to continue it.

But I want to send you a short word from my place of retreat. I read Sam Storms' book, The Singing God, today. And I want to let you all know that it's a rich and worthy read.

It connects to recent posts on joy, and is a valuable and affecting follow up. I heartily recommend getting it and reading. Find a quiet place where you can read and pause and express your affections and emotions and joy and wonder to God in response to what you read.

Expect to worship and weep.

Labels: attributes of God, Joy, Pleasures of God, the Joy of God, Worship

As I wind down this series over the next 4-5 days, I want to suggest ways to increase joy in our lives, joy that will spill over into our worship, our fellowship, our ministry. I'm going to offer six or seven joy-increasing tips for our reflection.

First, I'd suggest that a growing awareness of forgiving grace will increase our joy. Jesus said of the woman who had been forgiven much that it was that very awareness of her great forgiveness that made her affections (love and certainly joy, too) great (Luke 7:47). She loved much because she was forgiven much. Surely she also rejoiced much because she was forgiven much.

Cultivate an awareness of sin and the ruin and sorrow it deserves, and then an even greater awareness of the atoning work of Christ which has purchased not only your forgiveness but also "all things" good (Romans 8:31, 32), and you will feel joy unspeakable and full of glory!

In recent years many of us have become familiar with a phrase--"I'm doing better than I deserve" which has impacted our daily awareness of grace. I have been heard often to say: "If I smile even once today, it is better than I deserve!" That is absolutely and humblingly and joy-givingly true.

And do you know what? It's 11:00AM as I type, and I've already experienced at least 50 smiles today. Tell me that isn't grace. Considering that all I deserve is never- ending tears, one smile is mercy. Considering that I'll experience 1000s of smiles in coming days is astonishing mercy--mercy worth singing and shouting and celebrating.

Think long and deep over forgiveness and all the new-every-morning-mercies of God, and you will be full of joy; have no doubt about it.

Labels: Affections, christian life, Joy, Religious Affections, Worship

I know I said yesterday that I'd not have a post today to give you time to process all the info offered in my last post, but I want to add just a short testimony by way of further reflection, and hopefully inspiration.

A short time ago someone said to me that he has noticed a distinct increase in my joy in recent months, and he feels it has been used of God to increase the joy of the flock I pastor. My example of joy--he suggested--has led others into joy. This was a great blessing and a humbling moment for me. I was overjoyed and grateful!!

Later as I reflected on this brother's observation it hit me that it suggested something very interesting. I have long been a very happy and joyful man in Christ. By grace I have been able to experience joy--real and pronounced--even in the deepest trials of life, and burdens of ministry. Despite much sorrow, I have had very very few days (don't get me wrong: there have been some) in the past 25-30 years when I have not felt a real and deep joy in the Lord, in people, and in ministry.

Despite moments and occasional days of sorrow and burden, I have been a happy man and pastor for a very long time. Now, I will grant that as God has taught me the priority of joy in Him, I have grown in this even more, and I'm thankful to say that my joy has increased. But here would be my read on things: while my joy has increased it is my expressiveness of joy that has increased even more. I have seen the need more and more to express the joy that's within: in song, in tears, in verbalized praise for what God is doing in others and in the church, in clapping, in smiles, in greetings of people expressing my sheer gratitude for their presence and God's grace in their life, in lifting hands, and more.

I believe that what has impacted people,and led them into greater joy is the increase of my joy expressed, at least as much as the increase of my joy. It always confused me when people used to tell me that I was a melancholic, when inwardly I was rejoicing greatly in God and in what He was doing in people's lives. Now I have a better sense of what was going on: I was failing to show what I was tasting within. Inwardly i was singing and smiling, but outwardly I was serious and staid and subdued in emotion.

The more I have let out what is within, the more others have felt it and gained some of it themselves. All this is to say that expressiveness in joy is not only good for my soul; it is good for others'.

A bit more to think about.

Labels: Affections, christian life, Joy, Religious Affections, Worship

As I proceed to some imperatives regarding expressiveness of joy (and other spiritual affections) in worship, I do so mindful of three concerns:

1. Please take a close look at yesterday's 10-comment conversation on this blog; it is loaded with significant interaction. I'm concerned that no one move ahead in this thinking without seeing those matters clearly.

2. I'm concerned that our discussion about joy make no one sad! There's a danger in considering the matter of joy, that those not experiencing or expressing it may feel even less joy, either out of guilt or fear (either of man or of excess), or envy or confusion or despair. I don't want to make the melancholic even more so! Please hear my heart in all this: it is to encourage joy, not quench it. I do not wish to rebuke anyone who is not getting fully what I'm discussing.

I have no desire to imply that if you are not experiencing the fulness of joy to which I've been calling attention, that you are experiencing no joy at all. You may well be rejoicing daily in God--and maybe more than me! Besides, remember the gospel: if there is any way in which you are not experiencing the joy of the Lord in full measure that is no reason to feel condemned, for Christ died even for our failures to rejoice in Him!

3. I am also concerned that as we move to imperatives, there be a spirit of Christian obedience as we do. One thing that has burdened me a bit through the years as I discuss these types of things (as well as commands like: "earnestly desire the spiritual gifts") is that people can be convinced theoretically that they should have more joy or that the Bible commands expressiveness of that joy (or that spiritual gifts are promised for today), but because such do not come easily to them or because they are afraid of excesses, they never actually get around to obeying the command of Scripture to pursue them. Their fears or temperamental struggles regarding such things keep them from actual obedience.

I remember when I first saw the repeated Bible imperatives re expressiveness in worship that my conscience would not let me go, even though temperamentally, culturally, and even theologically, I had been trained and entrenched in an entirely different way. So I had to force my hands up or my hands together or my knees to bend. Obedience required a "beating of my body into submission" to the will of my God.

I say this, not to burden the struggling, but to remind us all that whenever the Bible calls on us to do anything--no matter how hard, no matter how different, no matter how counter-intuitive or cultural, we must yield and do, even if by taking one baby step at a time. My first times lifting hands in worship amounted to a mere action of the wrists. I bent them upward around my waist, lifting my hands at waste height, until I could muster courage and faith to raise them higher!

Obedience starts somewhere, and keeps going from there.

Now that said, it may remain for me to convince that expressiveness is a matter of obedience, rather than temperament or style or culture. To do that let me simply garner a series of texts and stats for you (I'm going to have the following be my post for today and tomorrow, since it includes a lot and many texts you may want to check; I'll pick up on the question of how to grwo in joy next week):

1. Key texts include: Psalms 95, 149, 150 (for that matter, the Psalms are full of commands to worship and to do it with all manner of expressiveness. Being the inspired manual for worship that it is--and one we are commanded to make a part of NT worship in such passages as Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16--I think we can quite safely conclude that the themes, forms, and postures for worship that it commands and commends are ours to follow, unless the NT clearly says they are to cease).

2. Kneeling/Bowing: Genesis 24:52; 1 Kings 8:54; 1 Kings 18:4; 2 Chronicles 6:1; 29:29,30; Ezra 9:1; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalm 95; Isaiah 45:23; Daniel 6:10; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5; Ephesians 3:14; Philippians 2:10; Revelation 5:8,14; 11: 16.

3. Shouting/Joyful Noise (sometimes translated “sing”): Psalm 5:11; 32:11; 33:1-3; 35:27; 47:5; 65:13; 66:1ff; 95:1ff; 98:4(1-9); 100:1; 132:9,16; Ezra 3:11-13; Job 38:7; 2 Samuel 5/2 Chronicles 15.

4. Clapping: Psalm 47:1; 98:8; Isaiah 55:12.

5. Lifting Hands: 1 Timothy 2:8; Genesis 14:22; Leviticus 9:22; Exodus 9:29,33; 2 Chronicles 6:12, 13, 29; Ezra 9:5; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalm 28:2; 63:4; 88:9; 119:48; 134:2; 141:2.

6. Dance: 1 Samuel 6:14,16; 1 Chronicles 15; Exodus 15; Judges 11:34; 1 Samuel 18:6, 21:11; 29:5; Jeremiah 31:4,13; Psalm 30:11; 149:3; 150:4

7. Texts with multiple physical activities in worship: 1 Chronicles 16: 1-42 with 2 Samuel 6 and 2 Chronicles 15.

If one puts all of the Biblical references to standing, kneeling, bowing, clapping, dancing, shouting and enthusiastic singing accompanied by instruments together, one will compile an impressive list indeed. The length of the list should convince any student of the Bible that physical activity and expression in worship is considered natural, normal and praiseworthy by God.

Lord, help us to know and to feel both the majesty of Your being and the magnitude of Your love. So much may we feel these, dear Lord, that we will soon join Ezra on his face and David in the dance!

Labels: Affections, christian life, Joy, Religious Affections, Worship

I was reading in Luke today, the first five chapters. I've noticed it before but took the time to ponder this Lukean perspective. Luke is emphatic in establishing up front the deity of Christ. This is clear from a combination of texts. In Luke 2:11 and Luke 1:43 he refers to Jesus as the Lord. Then in Luke 3:4, he says that John the Baptist prepares the way for the Lord (i.e.-Jesus), citing Isaiah 40:3-5 as referring to Christ. A quick check back to Isaiah 40 shows that the Lord referred to there is clearly Yahweh-Adonai, the glorious God of the Old Testament. There is no doubt that Luke--under divine inspiration--is identifying Jesus as being one and the same as Yahweh. Thus he is revealing the divine identity and nature of the incarnate Savior-God.

This sets up some fascinating paradoxes in these first five chapters. If you have the time go back and read Isaiah 40:6-31; it'll set this up even better. If you don't then just consider these in wonder and worship:
1. The Lord of all mothers, has a mother (Luke 1:43)
2. The Lord of eternity is born (Luke 2:11)
3. The Lord is presented to the Lord (Luke 2:22)
4. The Lord announces the Lord's birth (Luke 2:15)
5. The power of the Lord is with the Lord (Luke 5:17)
6. The Lord only worships and serves the Lord (Luke 4:8)

That'll be good enough to stagger your heart for today. Be dazzled.

Labels: Deity of Christ, Incarnation, the Person of Christ, Worship

Please read: Romans 9:1-26; 11:33-36; Ephesians 1:1-14.

In wrapping up this series of posts wherein hopefully something spiritually profitable was conveyed regarding the practical implications of the Biblical doctrine of God’s sovereign electing grace, that it is not a cold, abstract, ivory tower theory, but rather that which is manifold in its life affecting significance, I leave you in this concluding post an excerpt from the exceptional When Grace Comes Home: How the Doctrines of Grace Change Your Life, by Terry L. Johnson (I highly commend the entire book for your reading and strengthening in God):

Where does a true comprehension of the doctrines of grace lead us? To our knees in worship. Perhaps one reason why so few are motivated to worship God with fervor is that we have reduced God to a slightly larger version of ourselves. He can be comprehended by our logic. He works within the bounds of our rules and reasons. He is so much like us that we see no real reason to worship Him. It is pathetic but true. What is the antidote? A God who is sovereign over the souls of wicked, undeserving sinners, including me.

This is the insight that was for me so life transforming. It inaugurated a Copernican revolution in my perspective--I realized I was displaced from the center of my universe and that God was enthroned there. It is a revolution which goes on.

What practical difference does Calvinism make?... It will make you into a worshipper. When you come to realize that the God who is there is not subject to your desires, that He is sovereign over your eternity, and when you realize the greatness of His mercy and grace, you will begin to long for genuine worship, worship that prostrates you and exalts God.

Moreover, you will begin to experience a divinely given discontent with worship that is not worship. Entertainment that poses as worship will become distasteful to you. Revival meetings that pose as worship will leave your soul unsatisfied. Superficial song services, preaching services, and fellowship services which fail to finally get around to worship will leave the soul longing for worship that worships. Your soul will crave and demand worship that is God-centered, that is filled with high praise and lowly confession, and characterized by a spirit of reverence and awe for the almighty Trinity. When once you grasp the greatness of the sovereign God, your worship will be transformed because you will be transformed, hereafter to have the perspective of one who lives on his knees. (pgs 27-28)

Soli Deo Gloria!

Labels: Doctrine, Election, Guest Post, Sanctification, Worship

The music of Sovereign Grace Ministries has become a rich blessing in the life of our family. One CD I find myself coming back to often is the children's CD, Awesome God. This past week I had the disc in my car, and was drawn all week long to a certain song on that CD. The song was "Three in One" and it lead me into worship during my morning drives.

It's interesting to me that yesterday pastor Tim would speak of the "complementarianism" so wonderfully illustrated in the life of the Holy Trinity. It was as though the Lord was confirming the work and worship He had accomplished in my own heart that previous week!

My post today is simply the lyrics of the song I mentioned, "Three in One." See how beautifully the Holy Trinity works together to accomplish and carry out the work of redemption! And, with the words of this children's song, let your heart worship this awesome God.

THREE IN ONE
Gracious Father
It was Your love for the world
That moved You to send
Your only Son
Gracious Father
This was Your plan from all time
To have a people to call Your own
Gracious Father
Full of mercy
I sing your praise!

Precious Jesus
Though You were reigning on high
Humbly You came and were born a man
Precious Jesus
You were the servant of all
You gave Your life as the Father planned
Precious Jesus
Full of kindness
I sing Your praise!

Holy Spirit
You bring this good news to men
You open up blinded eyes to see
Holy Spirit
Come now and open my heart
Reveal the Lord Jesus Christ to me
Holy Spirit
Full of power
I sing Your praise!

CHORUS

Father, I love You
Praise You Jesus, only Son
Spirit, I adore You
Holy God, three in One!

Labels: Guest Post, Worship

Our family is fairly new to Trinity Fellowship. We have chosen to make our home at Trinity because of the preaching-- and Sunday's message by Scott is yet another confirmation of our decision. Jesus Christ was preached!

In his "Lectures on Justification" (1838), J.H. Newman includes an essay entitled "The Spiritual Malady of the Age." Consider this excerpt:

"A system of doctrine has risen up... in which faith or spiritual-mindedness is contemplated and rested on as the end of religion instead of Christ. Stress is laid rather on the believing than on the Object of belief, on the comfort and persuasiveness of the doctrine rather than on the doctrine itself. And in this way, religion is made to consist in contemplating ourselves instead of Christ."

"The true preaching of the Gospel is to preach Christ. But the fashion of the day has been, instead of this, to preach conversion; to attempt to convert by insisting on conversion; to exhort men to undergo a change; to tell them to be sure they look to Christ, instead of simply holding up Christ to them; to tell them to have faith, rather than to supply its Object; to lead them to stir up and work up their minds, instead of impressing on them the thought of Him who can savingly work in them; to bid them take care that their faith is justifying, not dead, formal, self-righteous, and merely moral, whereas the image of Christ fully delineated of itself destroys deadness, formality and self-righteousness; to rely on words, vehemence, eloquence, and the like, rather than to aim at conveying the one great evangelical idea whether in words or not."

Sunday's message was not an effort to insist, to persuade, or to cajole. Scott's goal was to reveal Christ in the text of Philippians 2:9-11. True worship can only take place where there is this kind of anchoring in the "indicatives" rather than the "imperatives" of our faith (Michael Horton: "A Better Way", 2002).

I'd like to say thank you to all of the pastors at Trinity, who work hard to keep clear doctrine before us, in a day when doctrine is being put aside in favor of more "exciting" techniques. We need God's word clearly exposited, and we need to have Jesus Christ "fully delineated." Thank you!

Labels: Hearing the Word, Preaching, Worship

Worship is really hard work. That’s one reason why God tells us to love Him with all of our strength. And as we’ve thought on in our church quite a bit of late: listening is hard work too. Here’s a comment well worth pondering as you prepare for tomorrow:

“Preaching is thus a very solemn and momentous enterprise. Both minister and congregation should recognize that their Sunday sermons are the most important and significant events of the week, Whatever else is neglected, sermons must not be…The ministry of the word [is] a co-operative activity, in which the laity [are] to labor to learn just as hard as the minister labor[s] to teach” (J.I. Packer).

I’m not preaching tomorrow. That means that I won’t have the duo role of preacher/listener which I normally have (for before, during and after all my sermons I’m listening too). Tomorrow I will just have the listener role. Then I’ll have the leader role in helping my family do the work of real hearing of what God has said.

I’m planning to worship God with great strength by praying for those preaching and then by working hard to hear the voice of God for the transformation of my and my family’s life. How about you?

Let’s all remember that when the sermon is done tomorrow, our real listening work will have only just begun. That’s when we’ll have to take it home, review it, test it, and then think of how we’re going to apply and obey it. Let’s start praying now that both the one who preaches and the ones who hear will have the strength to work hard at it all for the glory of God and joy of each heart.

Labels: Hearing the Word, Worship

As the week winds down and another Lord's Day nearly dawns on us, I'm reminded of 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 and Matthew 5:23, 24. In these texts God calls believers to prepare for worship by clearing their relationship slates beforehand. God wants His people coming into His presence with relationships going well, not going badly.

Conscious as I always am of how badly fellowship can be broken by my sin and others', I'm pretty confident that without having any one or two specific people in mind I can send out this last-minute-before-worship reminder to all my friends, believing that it'll connect to not just a few.

Can I encourage you in these remaining hours before you gather with the people of God, to make sure that you've done all you can to be at peace with those very people? Let's approach worship with our hearts free of bitterness, rancor, evil thoughts, malice, gossip and the rest.

Confess things to God. Then call a brother or sister and ask forgiveness (or give it); then watch God bless you sweetly in His house on His Day.

May the love and peace of Christ dwell in us all.
Amen.

Labels: Relationships, Worship