A Suggested Order for Family Worship for use with the Trinity Psalter Hymnal and URCNA Forms and Prayers Book (with links to song tunes)

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A Suggested Order for Family Worship

For use with the Trinity Psalter Hymnal and URCNA Forms and Prayers book (with links to song tunes) (also visit threeforms.org and formsandprayers.com)

Call to Worship: Psalm 100 or Psalm 136:1 (may be said responsively)

Call: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, 

Response: for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Prayer of Invocation: 1 or 2 (FP p. 99)

Song of Praise: Doxology #568, #569, or #570 or Ps. 100A or Ps. 100B

Prayer of Illumination: Prayer before the Sermon 2 (FP p. 104)

Scripture Reading & Instruction (pick a book of the Bible or choose a Bible reading plan)

Prayer of Application: Prayer after the sermon 1 or 2 (FP p. 104)

Song of Application (either choose a song that applies the Scripture reading or sing Ps. 119M, Ps. 139B:8, #170 or #175 or Threefold Amen #575)

Christian Creed: The Apostles Creed (FP p. 148) or The Nicene Creed (FP p. 149) or sing #560

Gloria Patri: #571 or #572

God’s Law: The Ten Commandments (TPH p. xvi) or Jesus’ summary (FP p. 202, Q&A 4)

Morning or Evening Prayer (FP p. 115) (followed by The Lord’s Prayer, FP p. 98)

Prayer for God’s Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13:14 [And now may] the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God [the Father] and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [us] all. Amen.

(may conclude with the prayer for God’s blessing or with the following)

Doxology or Amen (choose one): Ps. 117B, #212:4, #213:1, #564, #566, or Threefold Amen #575 

 

A Suggested Order for Family Worship (Short Version)

For use with the Trinity Psalter Hymnal and URCNA Forms and Prayers book (also visit threeforms.org and formsandprayers.com)

Call to Worship: Psalm 136:1 (may be said responsively)

Call: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, 

Response: for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Invocation: Psalm 124:8 (may be said responsively)

Call: “Our help is in the name of the LORD,

Response: who made heaven and earth.”

Song of Praise: Doxology #568

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heavenly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Prayer of Illumination (help us to focus, help us to understand, help us to trust & obey, etc.)

Scripture Reading & Instruction (pick a book of the Bible or choose a Bible reading plan)

Prayer and/or Song of Application (either pray or choose a song that applies the Scripture reading)

The Lord’s Prayer (FP p. 98)

Prayer for God’s Blessing: 2 Corinthians 13:14 [And now may] the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God [the Father] and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [us] all. Amen.

Gloria Patri: #571 or #572


Notes:

  • FP=URCNA Forms and Prayers book (threeforms.org and formsandprayers.com)
  • All songs are from the Trinity Psalter Hymnal
  • It would be good for singles to use this as well for private worship, especially if they desire to marry and have children, Lord willing, one day. Get in the habit now for your own sake and the sake of your future family!
  • These are simply suggestions. Feel free to trim or revise it as suits the needs of your family, the timing of your family worship, the season of life that you are in, etc. The main elements should be a prayer, a song, and a Scripture reading. This can easily be done in 5 minutes. Most days it’s best to keep it brief in order to maintain consistency (especially if you have small children). But without trimming the above order of worship takes about 15-20 minutes. The short version takes between 5-10 minutes.
  • This works best if each family member who can read has their own personal copy of the Bible, a Trinity Psalter Hymnal, and a URCNA Forms and Prayers book. Leaders are encouraged to involve others throughout to keep everyone engaged.
  • Catechetical instruction in the Heidelberg Catechism may also take place during family worship or should be done each week at some other time.
  • Put away (in another room!) all technology and distractions during this time.
  • The idea behind the above selections is that these selections will help catechize children in the basics of the Christian faith (ecumenical Christian creeds, the Lord’s Prayer, the 10 commandments) and will also prepare them to participate in those ordinary elements that are found in Reformed and Presbyterian worship.
  • If you don’t have a URCNA Forms and Prayers book, extemporaneous prayer is good for the prayers or substitute the following:
  • Here is a great message by Rev. Dr. Joel Beeke on the importance of leading in family worship.

Joshua 24:15 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (see Deuteronomy 6)

Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

 

Gentleness Hand Out (Summit Reformed Youth Conference 2021)

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The Persistent Call to Gentleness in the New Testament

Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is. . .23 gentleness

Galatians 6:1  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

1 Timothy 6:11  But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. 

Titus 3:1  Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.     

James 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meeknessthe implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 3:13  Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meeknessof wisdom.

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 

1 Peter 3:1  Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives— 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing—  4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.  

1 Peter 3:15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.     

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tenderheart, and a humble mind. 

Self-Evaluation (from Tim Challies)

So, how about you? Does your life reflect the meekness and humility of gentleness? I encourage you to prayerfully ask yourself questions like these:

  • When someone wrongs you, are you prone to lash out in anger? If so, does that anger express itself physically, verbally, or both?
  • Are people afraid to confront sin in your life because they fear your anger or your cutting words? Do your wife and children fear you?
  • Would your friends and family say that you are gentle? Would they say that you treat them with tenderness?
  • Do you like to play the devil’s advocate? Do you like a good argument? What would your social media presence indicate?

Prayer Points (from Tim Challies)

The God of peace is eager to give you the peace of God (Phillipians 4:7, 9). So, I encourage you to pray in these ways:

  • I pray that you would make me more like Christ so that I may be gentle just like he is gentle. I pray that I would regularly consider all the ways in which you have been so patient and gentle with me.
  • I pray that you would help me swallow my pride, confess my sins to others, and restore any strained relationships I have.
  • I pray that you would give me the grace to be patient and calm when others attack and misunderstand me. Help me respond with gentleness even in the most difficult circumstances.
  • I pray that I would be slow to begin an argument or to wade into someone else’s.

Recommended Resources on Gentleness

Bridges, Jerry. The Fruitful Life: The Overflow of God’s Love Through You. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2006.

Challies, Tim. “The Character of the Christian: Gentleness.” 18 Feb. 2016. accessed: 28 July  2021: https://www.challies.com/articles/the-character-of-the-christian-gentle/

Ortlund, Dane. Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Wheaton: Crossway, 2020.

Sauls, Scott. A Gentle Answer: Our “Secret Weapon” in an Age of Us Against Them. Nashville: Nelson Books, 2020.

Psalms/Hymns with Gentleness Themes (Trinity Psalter Hymnal)

https://www.trinitypsalterhymnal.org

https://hymnary.org/hymnal/TPH2018

Psalm 18A&B

Psalm 103ABCDE

Psalm 116A&B

#194 “Gracious Savior, Gentle Shepherd”

#216 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”

#235 “All Glory Be to God”

#249 “For the Beauty of the Earth”

#257 “Children of the Heavenly Father”

#282 “I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art”

#322 “Once in Royal David’s City”

#332 Who Is He Born in the Stall”

#353 “Lamb, Precious Lamb”

#361 “That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright”

#401 “Holy Spirit of Messiah”

#525 “Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us”

#526 “He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought!”

There’s more! Look for words like, “gentle,” “tender” “meek”

John Piper on the Benefits of Preaching Definite Atonement for the Body of Christ

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Here are some great applications of preaching the doctrine of definite atonement, also known as particular redemption, from Pastor John Piper.

“That Christ died and rose again to accomplish this definite, full, and irreversible atonement for his people is the glory of his cross, which is the climax of the glory of grace, which is the apex of the glory of God. This is how I began this chapter. And I said there that not only does this vision of the atoning work of Christ inflame world missions, but it also enables us to preach in such a way that our people experience deeper gratitude, greater assurance, sweeter fellowship with God, stronger affections in worship, more love for people, and greater courage and sacrifice in witness and service. Let me flesh this out briefly.

With the vision of Christ’s achievement displayed and defended in this book, we will aim in all our preaching to magnify the glory of Christ by helping our people realize the unspeakably great benefits that come to them because of this achievement. Our aim will be to help our people know and experience the reality of a definite, full, and irreversible atonement. If God gives us success, here is some of what it will mean for us and our people. 

Knowing and experiencing the reality of definite atonement affects us with deeper gratitude. We feel more thankfulness for a gift given to us in particular, rather than feeling like it was given to no specific people and we happened to pick it up. The world should be thankful that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. But those who belong to Christ should be far more thankful because the very faith that unites us to Christ for all his promises was purchased and secured by the blood of the new covenant. 

Knowing and experiencing the reality of definite atonement affects us with greater assurance. We feel more secure in God’s hands when we know that, before we believed or even existed, God had us in view when he planned to pay with his blood, not only for a free offer of salvation but also for our actual regeneration and calling and faith and justification and sanctification and glorification—that it was all secured forever for us in particular. The rock solid assurance of Romans 8:32–39 (“Who shall bring any charge against [us]! . . . What shall separate us! . . .”) is rooted in the unbreakable link between the definite atonement that Christ made (“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all”) and the promises purchased for those for whom he died (“Will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”). 

Knowing and experiencing the reality of definite atonement affects us with sweeter fellowship with God. A pastor may love all the women in his church. But his wife feels a sweeter affection for him because he chose her particularly out of all the other women, and made great sacrifices to make sure he would have her—not because he offered himself to all women and she accepted, but because he sought her in particular and sacrificed for her. If we do not know that God chose us as his Son’s “wife” and made great sacrifices for us in particular and wooed us and wanted us in a special way, our experience of the personal sweetness of his love will not be the same. 

Knowing and experiencing the reality of definite atonement affects us with stronger affections in worship. To be loved with everlasting love, before creation and into the future ages, is to have our affections awakened for God, which will intensify worship and make it more personal than if we thought we were loved only with the same love as God has for those who will never come. To look at the cross and know that this love was not only for the sake of an offer of salvation to all (which it is), but more, was the length to which God would go so that I, in particular, would be drawn into the new covenant—that is the bedrock of joy in worship.

When the psalmist says in Psalm 115:1, “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” he makes it clear that the worship of God—the glorification of God—springs from a vital sense of his “steadfast love and faithfulness.” When a church is faithfully and regularly taught that they are the definite and particular objects of God’s “great love” (Eph. 2:4), owing to nothing in them, the intensity of their worship will grow ever deeper. 

Knowing and experiencing the reality of definite atonement affects us with more love for people and greater courage and sacrifice in witness and service. When a profound sense of undeserved, particular, atoning love from God combines with the unshakable security of being purchased—from eternity, for eternity—then we are more deeply freed from the selfish greed and fear that hinder love. Love is laying down one’s conveniences, and even one’s life, for the good of others, especially their eternal good. The more undeservingly secure we are, the more we will be humbled to count others more significant than ourselves, and the more fearless we will be to risk our lives for their greatest good. Definite atonement is a massively strengthening truth for the humble security and bold fearlessness of the believer. In that way, it releases and empowers love.”

Gibson, David. From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective (pp. 665-667). Crossway. Kindle Edition. 

From Tears to Joy: The Movement of the Psalms, Jesus’ Life, and the Christian Life

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As I am preparing to preach on praying your tears/sorrows to God I put together a list of some of the Biblical passages that show that we should expect tears, that we should express our tears to God in prayer and that we should expect no more tears and unimaginable joy when Christ returns. I thought this may be helpful to others so I am posting it here. As you meditate on these verses, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).


Expect Tears and Express Your Tears to God in Prayer

  • Psalm 6:6: I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
  • Psalm 39:12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.
  • Psalm 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
  • Psalm 56:8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
  • Psalm 102:9 For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,
  • Psalm 119:136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.
  • Isa. 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
  • John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. . .35 Jesus wept.
  • Matt. 26:36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
  • Heb. 5:7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Expect Joy

  • Ps. 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
  • Psalm 30:5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favour is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. . .11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;. . .
  • Psalm 116:8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;
  • Psalm 126:5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6  He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
  • The Psalms end with a crescendo of praise and joy (Psalms 145-150)
  • John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
  • John 16:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
  • Heb. 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 
  • Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is. . .joy. . .
  • 1Thess. 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
  • 2Cor. 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
  • Rom. 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 
  • Jude 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 
  • Rev. 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Christ Loved Us, the Ugly Sister, and He’s Making Us Beautiful

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(this post is a follow up to my post yesterday on Jacob’s not so fun experience with God’s providence through his Uncle Laban, while wandering outside the promised land)

Like Jacob’s wilderness wanderings in Padan-Aram, Christ experienced his own wilderness wanderings on earth and suffered greatly because of our sins. He took on the form of a servant and was obedient to the point of death on a cross to win us as his bride (Phil. 2:5-11; Eph. 5:25-32).

But unlike Jacob, he loved the unlovely. We weren’t pretty like Rachel, we were the ugly ones who were sinners by nature and hated God (Rom. 3:10-18; Eph. 2:1-3). And yet, he loved us, unlovely sinners that we are, and died on the cross, experiencing the greatest exile of all (Isa. 53:8; Matt. 27:46). But he rose from the dead and ascended to the Father’s right hand in glory and we are united to him forever through faith and by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Phil. 2:9-11).

And we look forward to the consummation of our marriage in the new heavens and new earth at the wedding supper of the lamb, where we will be arrayed in bright white garments like a beautiful bride, remade in his image (2 Cor. 3:18; Rev. 19:6-9). And he will not look upon us with regret or despise us, like Jacob did Leah. Rather, He will be so happy to see us face to face and we will weep tears of joy and ask ourselves why did he choose us to be his bride?! Such AMAZING grace and love!!!

Beloved, let us gladly love and serve him out of hearts filled with gratitude and strengthened by His Spirit! For these light and momentary afflictions are nothing in comparison to the eternal weight of glory that awaits us with Christ in heaven (Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17).

In the words of Iain Duguid, “God takes only bent instruments and slowly begins to straighten them. He takes only untuned hearts and slowly begins to tune them to his praise. It all takes time, but God is not in a hurry. God’s consistent purpose, during whatever times of exile and disappointment he takes you through, is to prepare you for future service and a deepened appreciation of his grace. Submit to his loving purpose, therefore, willingly and ungrudgingly. The wilderness years are indeed hard. Ask Jacob! But the wilderness is not our home. Laban’s house is not Jacob’s place, as he reminds Jacob. Laban’s house is his temporary address. Jacob’s place is at Bethel, the place where God first revealed himself to Jacob by his grace. Home, for Jacob and for you and me, is on the other side of the wilderness, where we shall be in God’s house forever, tuned with perfect pitch. In the meantime, we listen intently for the sounds of home, and the faint strains of that foreign song summon us on through the weary desert. The reminders of God’s grace fill us with renewed vigor and grateful, thankful, longing hearts.” Amen!

(This post is taken from a sermon on Genesis 29:1-30 that I preached at Redeemer Reformation Church. If you’d like to hear the whole sermon, you can listen here.)

God’s Providence: Not Always Fun, but Ultimately for Our Good

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The story of Jacob from the time he leaves the promised land to the time he returns especially illustrates that sometimes (not always), our hardships serve as a form of God’s “tough love” for us. It’s his way of disciplining us in love as his children in order to purify us from our sinful ways. Jacob’s Uncle Laban was just like him, a deceiver, manipulator, and cheater (see Genesis 29:1-30). In Laban, Jacob got a taste of his own medicine. But God was disciplining Jacob through Laban for his ultimate good.

The author of Hebrews writes, “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:5-11).

Derek Kidner put it best when he wrote, “In Laban, Jacob met his match and his means of discipline. Twenty years of drudgery and friction were to weather his character; and the reader can reflect that presumably Jacob is not the only person to have needed a Laban in his life.” (Kidner, Genesis, 170)

And so, before we think, “why did God bring these kind of people into our lives?!”, we need to take a hard look at ourselves. It may be that they are a lot like us and God is disciplining us through them. But through it all he wants us to grow in grace and to become more like Christ and less like our sinful self that we see in them.

Do we get frustrated with impatience in our children? What about our impatience with others and with God? Do we see selfishness and stubbornness in our spouse? What selfishness and stubbornness do we need to put to death in our own lives? Do we hate it when our boss takes advantage of us? How have we taken advantage of others this week? The list could go on and on. Whenever we are frustrated with others, even though we may have a right to be frustrated, like Jacob did, we must always look within ourselves and put to death our own sinful ways by God’s grace and strength.

Now, I’m not saying that if you are going through hardships like Jacob that you have necessarily sinned. It’s not that simple. The story of Job refutes such simple and false theology. Sometimes we suffer simply because we live under the common effects of the fall. But we should always be mindful of our sin and seek to humbly put it to death whenever we see that we have in any way contributed to our problems.

And no matter what difficulties we face in life, we must never conclude that God doesn’t love us. As the author of Hebrews points out above, God disciplines us in love, as a Father for his beloved child. And He will never leave us nor forsake us, even though we are so often stubborn rebellious children. His promises in Christ are gracious and are received by faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9). No matter what we have done, God so loved us that he sent his only Son to fulfill all righteousness on our behalf and to die for all of our sins, securing God’s love for us forever (John 3:16; Rom. 8:31-39). And because of Christ we can be sure that all of God’s promises for us in Christ will be fulfilled for our ultimate good (Rom. 8:28; Phil. 1:6; Rev. 21:1-4).

In the words of Iain Duguid, “God’s promises stand secure and will prevail. God’s purpose for good in sanctifying you in and through trials and suffering may not be comfortable, but it is sure. Even rough diamonds like Jacob–and like you and me–will be polished by providence until we shine like stars.” Amen! (Iain Duguid, Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace: The Gospel in the Lives of Isaac and Jacob, 72)

(This post is taken from a sermon on Genesis 29:1-30 that I preached at Redeemer Reformation Church. If you’d like to hear the whole sermon, you can listen here.)

If God Could Save Paul He Can Save Anyone

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PaultheApostleOne of my favorite verses in the Bible lately is this:

“They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”” (Galatians 1:23).

It’s a powerful testimony that if God can save Paul the Apostle he can save anyone (see also Acts 7:54-60; Acts 9; Gal. 1:11-24; Phil. 3:1-11). Paul’s background as a Pharisee gives us hope that God can save religious people today who are trusting in their own self-righteousness for salvation. His background as a persecutor of the church gives us hope that God can save even the worst of our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers who are currently in rebellion against God.

So keep praying and keep sharing Christ. The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes! (Romans 1:16)

Why the Ascension of Jesus Christ is So Important

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Happy Ascension Day! Here is why the ascension of Christ is so important:

“What benefit do we receive from Christ’s ascension into heaven? First, that He is our Advocate in the presence of His Father in heaven. Second, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge, that He as the Head, will also take us, His members, up to Himself. Third, that He sends us His Spirit as an earnest, by whose power we seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and not things on the earth.” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 49)

To learn more of why the ascension is so important here are two FREE resources on the ascension of Jesus:

The Ascension of Christ (a Sunday school lecture by Michael Horton)

The Ascension (a sermon by Timothy Keller)