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Weekend Preview – Error & Jesus in Abraham’s Promise

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As we look to corporate worship this coming Lord’s Day, we anticipate a full day.

I will be leading all adult SS classes together. We will be watching Paul Tripp’s talk from the Desiring God National Conference on Words. This is some of Tripp’s best material.

In the AM sermon, we will be focusing in on Colossians 2:8 and seeing some ways we “adjust the Gospel” and seek to divert our attention from THE truth of Christ.

We have a Cross-Cultural Missions Committee meeting at 5PM.

In the PM sermon, we will continue our march through the OT and seek to find Jesus in the story of Abraham.

In the late evening, Men’s Theology will be looking at the Bible again.

Please prepare your heart for this full day.

The Suffering Servant

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Prepping for this coming Lord’s Day, I was doing some reading on Isaiah 53 and using Gary Smith’s excellent NAC on Isaiah 40-66. In speaking of the lofty language to describe the Suffering Servant as the Messiah, he notes:

This fairly consistent positive imagery is completely shattered by rather contradictory images of appalling disfigurement (Isaiah 52:14), the absence of the majestic look of a king (Isaiah 53:2), mistreatment and rejection, lack of respect and suffering (Isaiah 53:3-4). The unusual theological explanation is that he suffered, was pierced, and was crushed for the sins of others (Isaiah 53:4-5). Although he was innocent (Isaiah 53:9b) and righteous (Isaiah 53:11), he did not object to this suffering (Isaiah 53:7b), so he died and was buried among because of the sins of others (Isaiah 53:8-9). Even more astonishing, God himself caused the iniquities of others to fall on him so that peace and healing could come to many others (Isaiah 53:5b, 6b). Surprisingly, it was God’s will for him to pay for the restitution of others (Isaiah 53:10). On the one hand this looks like a terrible perversion of justice, but on the other hand it was part of God’s unbelievable plan to transfer the guilt of many to this innocent Servant. He functioned as a substitute who took the penalty of others, and through this act he justified many (Isaiah 53:11). In spite of the unjust treatment of this Servant, this amazing story has a surprising and positive ending, for the Servant’s substitutionary role cause the will of God to be accomplished (Isaiah 53:10). This suffering Servant will not only live again and see the light (Isaiah 53:11); he will be exalted again because he bore the sins of many (Isaiah 53:12).

(Taken from Smith, Gary. New American Commentary: Isaiah 40-66. Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2009. pp. 464-5)

Even the Old Testament was telling of this Jesus who would come and not only die but rise for sinners.

Weekend Recap – 3/21

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Enjoyed a tremendous Lord’s Day yesterday…

In SS, I lead a class through Paul Tripp’s What Did You Expect? Curriculum. We were in Session 8 yesterday which helped wrap up 1 John 4. One line in particular stood out to me: “Our lack of love for others in rooted in identity amnesia” meaning, we’ve forgotten God’s love for us in Christ.

In AM worship, we sang songs of Jesus’ reign and then settled in to Colossians 2:1-3 in a sermon entitled Comfort in Struggle. This sermon really sought to orient us to be a church that encourages one another. Paul sought to encourage the Colossian believer in all that they were facing, and, through his words to them, we can get insight for our lives as well.

In PM worship, we looked at the Flood narrative in our Jesus in the Old Testament series. Specifically, we honed in Genesis 6:5-7:14 with the sermon entitled The Flood: Judgment and Rescue. I was personally affected in holding out God’s punishment for sin (as righteous judgment) and then holding out God’s amazing rescue and how these point to Jesus.

Finally, I concluded the night by leading our Men’s Theological Discussion Group on The Bible: Inerrancy and Authority. We dug into Scripture looking at how God has always been a speaking God, how He inspired Scripture and safeguarded it and finally we discussed issues like the canon and other related things. We read portions of The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.

While this was a very full day for me, it is productive to see God’s Word impact lives and realize the amazing privilege I have in getting to teach these things to others. There is so much to live based on what I teach and I hope that I can apply these things this week.

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.

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 – Glorious Mystery/Glorious Creator

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Had a full Lord’s Day. My SS class is going through Paul Tripp’s What Did You Expect Curriculum and coming face to face with selfishness week in and week out.

The AM Sermon was from Colossians 1:26-27 and was entitled Gospel Mystery. A mystery, from this text, included truth hidden in the past and revealed to God’s saints. The mystery is Christ in us, the hope of glory. It was a humble reminder of what God has to do to save us.

The PM sermon looked at Jesus in the OT, specifically, the Creation account in Genesis 1:1 on and was entitled Jesus in Creation. Many times, we read this creation account as if God the Father is acting alone, but the NT is quite clear that Jesus was the Creator. I sought to remedy that with this message and was, again, humbled to see the glory of God in Jesus.

Weekend Preview – Mystery and Jesus in Creation

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As we prepare for the coming weekend, know that in the morning, we will be looking at Mystery from Colossians 1:26-27. Here’s Clinton Arnold’s commentary on this verse from the ESV Study Bible:

The mystery does not refer to something mysterious or to a secret ritual. Rather, Paul is speaking of God’s unfolding plan for the world and, above all, his plan of redemption through the Messiah (cf. 2:2; 4:3; Eph. 1:9; 3:3–4, 9; 5:32; 6:19). Although elements of God’s design were already known through the prophets, key aspects of it were hidden for ages and generations and thus were a mystery, which could only be known and understood when they were revealed by God. This language occurs often in the book of Daniel. After God reveals to Daniel that Nebuchadnezzar’s dream foretold four successive kingdoms culminating in the kingdom of God, Daniel tells the king, “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days” (Dan. 2:28). At the heart of the mystery that God is now revealing through Paul is the amazing hallmark of the new covenant, Christ in you, the hope of glory. God himself, in the person of Christ, will be directly and personally present in the lives of his people, and his presence assures them of a future life with him when he returns. Moreover, Christ does not reside only in believing Jews but also in believing Gentiles, so that there is one unified people of God (cf. Eph. 2:11–22; 3:2–6).

My outline is really pretty simple: it was hidden in the past and revealed to God’s people. If you really would like more reading, check out Spurgeon’s sermon on it: Christ In You. Spurgeon highlights the passage in this way…

The essence of the mystery: Christ
The sweetness of the mystery: Christ in you
The outlook of all of this: The hope of glory

Let’s ask God also to open eyes to behold the light of the Gospel flowing in the face of Christ.

In the evening, we will continue our series on Jesus, the Point of the Old Testament by jumping into the Creation in Genesis 1 and unfolding how Jesus is seen in this amazing narrative. Should be a fun night.

At any rate, this is where we’re heading this weekend. Let’s come ready to worship our Creator and Savior.