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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.

The Pastor’s Heart

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This coming Lord’s Day, we will be looking at a sermon entitled Gospel Ministry from Colossians 1:25. I am going to conclude saying something like:

Recently, when I was at the DGPC, Paul Tripp did the pre-conference on the pastor’s heart and said, “The greatest danger [facing the church] is not outside of the church or a weakening theology, but in the heart of the one who stands in the pulpit.” Recently, I’ve noticed that my heart craves a desire to be served or I want people to agree with me because “I am the pastor.” I feel fragile knowing I need to “guard my heart with all diligence” for the good of this body. I want to lead our church well. Tripp mentioned praying 3 prayers each morning, “1) God, I’m a man in desperate need of help, 2) In grace, send helpers my way, 3) Give me humility to receive help when it comes.” I want to be this kind of man, a man who ministers in a God-centered humble way.

In the coming weeks, I plan to post some things related to how we can guard our hearts. But all of this happens because of the amazing truth of the Gospel illuminating the indwelling sin remaining in me. May God use this to make me holy!

Stand Fast (or Gospel Perseverance)

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This Sunday, we will be looking at Colossians 1:23. I thought of entitling the sermon “the Big IF” but ended up entitling it Gospel Perseverance. Here’s the issue, from Spurgeon’s sermon Stand Fast on the same text…

But, Brothers and Sisters, the battle does not end when, by a desperate rush, a man has come to Christ. In many it assumes a new form—the enemy now attempts to drag the trembler from his refuge and eject him from his stronghold! It is difficult to get at the hope of the Gospel, but quite as difficult to keep it so as not to be moved away from it. If Satan spends great power in keeping us from the hope, he uses equal force in endeavoring to drag us away from it—and equal cunning in endeavoring to allure us from it. Hence the Apostle tells us not to be moved away from the hope of the Gospel. The exhortation is necessary in presence of an imminent danger. Do not think that in the moment when you believe in Christ the conflict is over, or you will be bitterly disappointed! It is then that the battle renews itself and every inch of the road swarms with enemies.

Between here and Heaven you will always have to fight, more or less, and frequently the severest struggle will be at a time when you are least prepared for it. There may be smooth passages in your career and you may, for a while, be like your Savior in the wilderness, of whom it is said, “Then the devil departed from Him, and angels came and ministered unto Him.” But you may not, therefore, cry, “My mountain stands firm, I shall never be moved,” for fair weather may not outlast a single day! Do not grow secure, or carnally presumptuous. There is but a short space between one battle and another in this world. It is a series of skirmishes even when it does not assume the form of a pitched battle. He that would win Heaven must fight for it! He that would take the new Jerusalem must scale it and if he has the wits to take Jacob’s ladder and set it against the wall and climb up that way, he will win the City. “The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force.”

The Christian life isn’t for the faint of heart. It involves a struggle to continually lay hold of the Gospel. I hope you are encouraged to that end this Lord’s day.

Weekend Prep — Reconciled & Jesus

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Here’s the scoop for where we’re headed this weekend as we look gather corporately.

On Sunday AM, we will be focusing in on Colossians 1:21-22 and seeing 3 snapshots of our reconciliation, a before Christ element, the element Christ accomplished in His death and an “after” element looking forward into eternity. Pray for the Gospel to be clear to unbelievers who might be present and for God’s Word to richly build us up.

In the PM service, we will be starting a new series overviewing the big storyline of the Bible. The sermon is entitled “Jesus: The Point of the Old Testament.” I hope to give reasons we know the OT is about Jesus in this message, which will be an important framework for the sermons that will follow.

I am looking forward to seeing each of you this weekend.

Chalcedonian Christianity?

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Here’s what they confessed at Chalcedon:

THEREFORE, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge

one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body;

of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood;

like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the Godbearer;

one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.

This Sunday, we will look at verses (Colossians 1:19-20) that get at some of these truths. Confess this with other believers and come ready to exalt the Preeminent One, Jesus Christ.

How Beneficial?

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I had some time to prepare for this coming Lord’s Day already. We will be studying Colossians 1:13-14 in a sermon I’m calling “Transfer Orders”. The outline has to do with the benefits extended to us through God’s rescue mission: rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of His Beloved Son. Spurgeon, again, is on his game when he says:

And now Paul, having mentioned his Master’s great work—redemption by blood and the forgiveness of sins—goes on a tangent, as it were. He is so enthusiastic with regard to Christ and His great atoning Sacrifice that the very thought of Christ’s blood stirs his own blood and he seems like a man all on fire with holy fervor…

What struck me in this quote was the way in which these truths affected him. I wonder if we are moved by the beneficial message of God’s redemption and forgiveness for us. As we continue to think of this week, allow these truths–the truths of God’s Word from Colossians 1:13-14–to inspire fresh gratitude in your life.

Weekend Preview – Thanks

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This weekend, we get back into Colossians, looking at Colossians 1:11-12. In a sermon I’m entitling Pleasing Him, we see two pathways to pleasing God…

1) We receive enablement, which is really the thrust of v.11. God is the One who strengthens us for life.

2) We give thanks (emerging out of v.12).

This is where we’re headed. I hope you come and see in new ways how a reliance on God and a spirit of gratitude help bring delight to our Heavenly Father.

Weekend Preview – Ecclesiology

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This weekend, we are taking a break from Colossians in the AM to address some issues in church life from Titus 2:1-8. I’ve entitled the sermon Ecclesiology 101. Ecclesiology is the “study of things pertaining to the church.” This passage holds relevant instruction for: why we put such a priority on teaching, how men’s and women’s ministries should function and what kind of life we are all called to live. It really will be a good, fresh reminder of some core convictions we hold to.

In the evening, we will finish up Hosea, looking at Hosea 13:4-14:9. This book has been a great treasure for us on Sunday evenings this year. My basic outline for this sermon has to do with God’s attributes of justice and love.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Amazing Love

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I’m consistently amazed at the picture of love seen in the book of Hosea (God’s love that is). This Sunday PM, Lord willing, we will be exploring Hosea 11:1-13:3. I’ve called the sermon “God’s Gracious Love”. As I prepped the material and worked through the passage, it was staggering to see God’s patience and love. God’s love has overcome His holiness. We see depths of love and mercy in amazing ways. I’m hoping, with Paul, that we are able to see God reveal new depths of understanding when it comes to His love. Hope to see you there.