I haven't had a chance to post much the past few weeks - very sorry about that. But tomorrow is Palm Sunday, with Good Friday and Easter coming up right quick. This is a great time for us to really celebrate as a church by diving into the depths of the Gospel, and all that God accomplished in His Son, especially as He went to the cross.
Tomorrow Jordan will be preaching on God's glory and His love for the nations, from Psalm 96 and some selected Scriptures. Instead of the usual song list, I wanted to just post a quote for Palm Sunday, for reflection and prayer. Here's Tim Keller, talking about what Christ accomplished in the Gospel.
"[I]n Revelation, when John looks at the throne, the place of ultimate power in the universe, why does he see a slaughtered lamb? Because the death of Jesus Christ - the Lamb of God - is the greatest royal triumph in the history of the cosmos. When Jesus went under the sword, it broke his body, but it also broke itself...[H]e was overturning the sacrificial system of the temple and opening the way into the presence of God for everyone."
Tim Keller (from King's Cross)
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday He received a lot of praise
from the people, but He would be a conquering King in ways people had no
clue about at that time. I hope this can help fuel your worship, as we
all gather the next two weeks and rejoice together in the Gospel.
See you tomorrow!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Preparing for Sunday, 3/11/12 (AND DAYLIGHT SAVINGS!)
I'm super excited for tomorrow morning. But first of all, as a great matter of importance, you need to set your clocks ahead tonight, so you're not late for worship in the morning! If you don't show up to church the music team will come sprinkle jelly beans on your lawn.
But in all seriousness, It's going to be a great morning of worship. Jordan will preach from Romans 3:21-26, on "God's Righteousness and the Glory of Salvation." The focus will be how God is always upholding His own glory and righteousness in all aspects of the Gospel. As Christ stood in our place, and intercedes for us before God's throne, God is bringing glory and praise to Himself. And God's desire to bring Himself glory ultimately results in infinite good for us, as God is redeeming a people from their sin to be worshipers of Him.
Here's the song list for tomorrow:
1. Open the Eyes of My Heart
Our call to worship. This song really expresses a big part of why we should be coming to worship together each week. We desire to behold the glory of God, and to be refreshed in our delight in Him.
2. The Glories of Calvary
This song transitions to the glory of God displayed at Calvary, and at the cross as God crushed His Son for the sake of His people. I especially love the line, "Sinners find eternal joy in the triumph of Your wounds/By our Savior's crimson flow, holy wrath has been removed!"
3. Jesus Thank you
A song of thanksgiving to Christ, for bearing all of our sins to the cross, which we could never do. Romans 1:21-23 says that when we stop being thankful we turn to idols and try to find joy in God's created things instead of God Himself. So we do well to remind ourselves to be eternally thankful to God for our salvation.
4. Before the Throne of God Above
This hymn exalts Christ as our perfect mediator between us and God the Father. The 2nd verse says, "When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there, Who made an end of all my sin!"
5. (AFTER PREACHING) It Is Well
This is one of our church favorites. A hymn written by Horatio Spafford as a response to intense suffering, this one says that God truly cares for His people. God has nailed all our sins to the cross and we "bear them no more," so it is always well with our souls if we are Christ's.
But in all seriousness, It's going to be a great morning of worship. Jordan will preach from Romans 3:21-26, on "God's Righteousness and the Glory of Salvation." The focus will be how God is always upholding His own glory and righteousness in all aspects of the Gospel. As Christ stood in our place, and intercedes for us before God's throne, God is bringing glory and praise to Himself. And God's desire to bring Himself glory ultimately results in infinite good for us, as God is redeeming a people from their sin to be worshipers of Him.
Here's the song list for tomorrow:
1. Open the Eyes of My Heart
Our call to worship. This song really expresses a big part of why we should be coming to worship together each week. We desire to behold the glory of God, and to be refreshed in our delight in Him.
2. The Glories of Calvary
This song transitions to the glory of God displayed at Calvary, and at the cross as God crushed His Son for the sake of His people. I especially love the line, "Sinners find eternal joy in the triumph of Your wounds/By our Savior's crimson flow, holy wrath has been removed!"
3. Jesus Thank you
A song of thanksgiving to Christ, for bearing all of our sins to the cross, which we could never do. Romans 1:21-23 says that when we stop being thankful we turn to idols and try to find joy in God's created things instead of God Himself. So we do well to remind ourselves to be eternally thankful to God for our salvation.
4. Before the Throne of God Above
This hymn exalts Christ as our perfect mediator between us and God the Father. The 2nd verse says, "When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there, Who made an end of all my sin!"
5. (AFTER PREACHING) It Is Well
This is one of our church favorites. A hymn written by Horatio Spafford as a response to intense suffering, this one says that God truly cares for His people. God has nailed all our sins to the cross and we "bear them no more," so it is always well with our souls if we are Christ's.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Preparing for Sunday, 3/4/12
Hey folks,
I really did intend at first to get a "Preparing for Sunday" post up for last Sunday. But as I thought through things, the post I already had up really seemed like enough. It's the post right before this one if you missed it. And those ways to pray still apply.
A NOTE ON LAST WEEK: What an encouraging Sunday. John's sermon from 2 Timothy was great, the commissioning of Jordan went very well and was a great church "family time." And the congregation sang heartily. It was a great celebration of God's faithfulness- I really believe we made much of God and of our Savior last week, which was the most important, and beneficial thing for us to do together. Again, check out the last post for ways to continue to pray for our church and our pastors/elders as we move into a new chapter as Grace Brethren Church of Simi Valley.
This week Jordan will be preaching from various Scripture texts, from the Old and New Testaments. The sermon will be more of a survey, looking at God's grand purposes that He reveals in all of Scripture. It's going to be some pretty weighty theology, but it's theology that will change your life. You need to make sure you're there for the start of this short preaching series, on the character and purposes of God.
Here are our songs for this week:
1. Forever
We'll sing this as a "call to worship," praising God for His faithfulness to His people. He upholds us with His own hand, and we "carry on" in this fallen world because God graciously cares for us and will not let a single one of His sheep be lost.
2. Indescribable
This song speaks of God's glory in Creation. There is some great poetry in this one that can help us express, and connect with what God tells us about Himself in Scripture - I especially love the line, "Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light?"
3. Glorious and Mighty
This is really a "modern hymn" in its construction and systematic development of an idea. Also, it's basically Psalm 96 put to music. The 3rd verse sings about the hope of Christ's coming Kingdom: "Majesty, we'll sing with Creation/When You come again in the clouds/Every knee will bow down and worship the one True God!"
4. Because of Your Love
Here's our specific meditation on the Gospel in our songs this week. The song talks about the "Creator of the universe, broken for the sins of the earth." The Son of God became incarnate, to bear the sins of His people on the cross.
Hope to see you there tomorrow morning, and that this is a help to you as you prepare for worship. Adios!
I really did intend at first to get a "Preparing for Sunday" post up for last Sunday. But as I thought through things, the post I already had up really seemed like enough. It's the post right before this one if you missed it. And those ways to pray still apply.
A NOTE ON LAST WEEK: What an encouraging Sunday. John's sermon from 2 Timothy was great, the commissioning of Jordan went very well and was a great church "family time." And the congregation sang heartily. It was a great celebration of God's faithfulness- I really believe we made much of God and of our Savior last week, which was the most important, and beneficial thing for us to do together. Again, check out the last post for ways to continue to pray for our church and our pastors/elders as we move into a new chapter as Grace Brethren Church of Simi Valley.
This week Jordan will be preaching from various Scripture texts, from the Old and New Testaments. The sermon will be more of a survey, looking at God's grand purposes that He reveals in all of Scripture. It's going to be some pretty weighty theology, but it's theology that will change your life. You need to make sure you're there for the start of this short preaching series, on the character and purposes of God.
Here are our songs for this week:
1. Forever
We'll sing this as a "call to worship," praising God for His faithfulness to His people. He upholds us with His own hand, and we "carry on" in this fallen world because God graciously cares for us and will not let a single one of His sheep be lost.
2. Indescribable
This song speaks of God's glory in Creation. There is some great poetry in this one that can help us express, and connect with what God tells us about Himself in Scripture - I especially love the line, "Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light?"
3. Glorious and Mighty
This is really a "modern hymn" in its construction and systematic development of an idea. Also, it's basically Psalm 96 put to music. The 3rd verse sings about the hope of Christ's coming Kingdom: "Majesty, we'll sing with Creation/When You come again in the clouds/Every knee will bow down and worship the one True God!"
4. Because of Your Love
Here's our specific meditation on the Gospel in our songs this week. The song talks about the "Creator of the universe, broken for the sins of the earth." The Son of God became incarnate, to bear the sins of His people on the cross.
Hope to see you there tomorrow morning, and that this is a help to you as you prepare for worship. Adios!
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