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Bible Conference 2010 (Part 1)

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For the past 2 days, our church has been enjoying Dr. Don Whitney and his teaching on Praying Through Scripture and Biblical Meditation. Here are the sessions so far:

Friday PM:
Praying Through Scripture – 1
Praying Through Scripture – 2

Saturday AM:
Biblical Meditation – 1
Biblical Meditation – 2
Biblical Meditation – 3

In the course of one session, Whitney mentioned a chapter from his book Simplify Your Spiritual Life entitled Do What You Can, a helpful encouragement for women with young children. He has that particular article online for your benefit, so check it out.

We look forward to his teaching tomorrow on Family Worship.

Pray for this Opportunity in Japan

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You might have heard of Michael Oh, he leads Christ Bible Seminary in Japan. I was able to hear him live at the 2009 Desiring God Pastor’s Conference. We had a student attend Urbana ’09 and he spoke there as well.

It seems there’s a short window of opportunity to purchase a strategically placed ministry campus in downtown Nagoya, Japan. The total cost of the building will be approximately $1.2 million, down from $3.3 million two years ago. Oh would appreciate our prayers this Wednesday (today) at 9:00 pm (ET), when they will be meeting with the owners and real estate agents. They are hoping to negotiate the price down even more if possible.

John Piper recently weighed in on this.

Here’s a video discussing the opportunity…
https://videopress.com/v/wp-content/plugins/video/flvplayer.swf?ver=1.18

(HT: Mark Rogers)

Weekend Recap – Jesus, Sin and Gospel Toil

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Well, Sunday is nearly wrapped up. (We are starting a new class for men on theological topics that meets at 8PM.)

This morning, we looked at Gospel Toil from Colossians 1:29. It seems that Paul expended himself in amazing ways for the sake of the Gospel’s advancing, yet he was always quick to rely on God and His power for all good things. I felt the need to call us to rely on God’s power by trusting in Jesus.

This evening, we looked at Jesus in the Fall from Genesis 3:1-24 in our Jesus in the Old Testament series. It seems that one clear conclusion we should reach when seeing sin enter the world is how we need rescued (or, more specifically the need for a Rescuer). Enter Jesus and the prophecy of Him in Genesis 3:15.

I thought it was an amazing day with much to encourage us.

Weekend Preview – Work/Labor & the Fall

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I hope you are anticipating this Sunday, March 7, like I am. Here’s where we’re headed…

In the morning, the sermon will come from Colossians 1:29, entitled “Gospel Toil.” There is a work associated with spreading the Gospel. How can we stay energized and not burn out in this work? This is where we’re going to be comforted by God’s Word. You might read Spurgeon’s sermon Work in Us and Work By Us in preparation.

In the evening, the sermon will be from Genesis 3 and how we see Jesus in “the Fall”, or the first sin. It is here as the first prophecy is given about Jesus in Genesis 3:15 that we can find hope for the sin that characterizes our lives.

On top of these sermons, we have Sunday School, Missions Committee and a new theological study group for men (@ 8PM). It will be a full day, but let’s pray that God is glorified and that He would powerfully work within us.

Free Audio – Chandler and Gamache

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I’ve really had my soul fed by a couple of sermons you can grab for free off the web…

Matt Chandler has been working his way through Colossians. This sermon, Covenant with the Eternal Son, based on Colossians 1:15-18 was helpful, especially in his talking about why we study theology at one point. I would encourage you to take a listen.

Rick Gamache up at Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Minneapolis is preaching through 1 Peter. His sermon this past week, War and Witness, from 1 Peter 2:11-17 really gave good insight for indwelling sin and our war against it. He also wrestled with Scripture calling us to honor the emporer and what that means for us today. Really excellent message.

Enjoy.

The Bible & Jesus

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From Octavius Winslow’s Morning Thoughts for March 1. Meditating on John 5:39, he writes:

The word of God is full of Christ. He is the Sun of this divine system, the Fountain of its light and beauty. Every doctrine derives its substance from His person, every precept its force from His work, every promise its sweetness from His love. Is it not to be feared, that in the study of the Scriptures it is a much-forgotten truth that they testify of Jesus? Are they not read, searched, and examined, with a mind too little intent upon adding to its wealth by an increased knowledge of His person, and character, and work? And thus it is we lower the character of the Bible. We may read it as a mere uninspired record; we may study it as a book of human literature. Its antiquity may interest us, its history may inform us, its philosophy may instruct us, its poetry may charm us; and thus, while skimming the surface of this Book of books, the glorious Christ, who is its substance, its subject, its sweetness, its worth- and but for whom there had been no Bible- has been deeply and darkly veiled from the eye.

But it is the office of the blessed and eternal Spirit to unfold, and so to glorify, Jesus in the Word. All that we spiritually and savingly learn of Him, through this revealed medium, is by the sole teaching of the Holy Spirit, opening up this word to the mind. He shows how all the luminous lines of Scripture truth emanate from, return to, and center in, Christ- how all the doctrines set forth the glory of His person, how all the promises are written in His heart’s blood, and how all the precepts are embodied in His life.

I hope your heart is warmed by these thoughts and drawn to love Jesus more and more.

Weekend Recap – Proclaiming Christ

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I thought we had a great Sunday yesterday. My sermon was on Colossians 1:28 entitled Proclaiming Christ. This text really compelled us to be those who are speaking truth about Jesus (as opposed to simply “living a life that tells something” whatever that means). Specifically, we are told to speaking words of warning, instruction and communicate with purpose.

We ended by “proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes” in the Lord’s Supper. It was a fitting way to say something about Jesus.

Hope you all had a great Lord’s Day as well.