Michael Oh is one of the speakers at Lausanne III to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, just two weeks prior to our missions conference.  The first such conference was held in Lausanne, Switzerland, (thus the name) in July, 1974, which I was privileged to attend.  The title of the conference was the International Congress on World Evangelization.  The participants, many of them white Western leaders, numbered about 2,700 and came from 150 nations.  Fifteen years later the second conference was held in Manila, where many more were able to come from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.  In just a few weeks, the third conference will host 4,000 world leaders from 200 countries and conference planners have made sure that 55 percent of participants are under the age of 50.  Our Missionary Associate, Michael Oh, is only 39 and he will be responsible for shepherding the younger leaders at Lausanne III.

Cape Town 2010 will tackle key issues that confront the church’s effective-ness in world evangelization, ranging from consumerism to child sex trafficking.  The congress will deal with three major themes:  the impact of secularism, the challenge of other faiths, and the nature of the church; specifically the problems of fragmentation and superficiality among evangelicals.  The hope is that this conference will provide a blend of wisdom from veteran leaders and energy from younger Christians, who will be responsible for carrying out many of the decisions that are reached.  Michael Oh says, “It will be an incredible opportunity for younger leaders to pray, worship, repent, and strategize alongside more experienced leaders.”  

This is the first time that such a global gathering will be truly global via technology.  Not only can individuals watch proceedings on the Internet, there will also be 400 anchor sites providing global links in 60 nations.

When Michael and Al Barth come this November 7-14, our hope is that we’ll all catch a greater sense of the movement of the Holy Spirit among the peoples of this world.  We can be in much prayer, not just for the world congress in Cape Town, but for our conference as well.    

The wonder of God’s grace can be no better described than in John’s statement above.  God’s grace does not come to us after we turn to God, but precedes, surrounds, and enables our turning.  

It is God who calls us and enables us to turn from our sin to the saving arms of Christ.  Jesus tells us that “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws Him” (John 6:44). 

Our appreciation of this wonderful grace is best expressed in our corporate worship, especially on the Lord’s Day.  The Lord (especially in the Psalms) has commanded that music be the vehicle that we use in order to worship Him.  Music and grace, particularly at the point of our redemption, are powerfully interconnected.  This can be seen in the following four ways: 

This is why our singing together as a congregation is such a vital part of our worship.  The choir, bells, and orchestral instruments are there to reinforce our congregational singing.  Please join your voice with ours and praise Him!  Let this be your testimony: “I will sing praises to my God while I have my being” (Psalm 146:2).  Remember, we don’t sing to placate or pay off an aloof or reluctant God.  Rather, we sing freely, by faith, as an act of worship, in response to the overflowing grace of God in Christ Jesus.

All of that being true, how many of us are aware that at sundown Wednesday, just two days later, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year begins?  Just one week and one day later Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement is observed with fasting and prayer for forgiveness.  

How much of this has anything to do with us?  According to Romans 1:16, the Gospel is “to the Jew first.”  Added to this is the fact that God’s love for Israel is demonstrated throughout Scripture.  As his children, we are to have a love for his chosen people and desire their reconciliation with God through his Son.  The apostle Paul teaches specifically that it is the direct intention of God that the Gentiles who believe in Jesus should, by their lives, provoke the Jewish people to jealousy (Romans 11:11-15).  Paul adds to this these words, “And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews” (I Corinthians 9:20).

The writers of the New Testament took pains to portray Jesus as a Jew – a Jewish Messiah with a uniquely Jewish message rooted in the prophetic tradition of the Jewish people, teaching in a distinctly Jewish manner.  The underlying fact they stressed again and again was that while God was acting in a somewhat unexpected way, those who waited with expectation would recognize God’s presence when it finally arrived.

In order to present the Good News of Messiah’s atoning death and glorious resurrection, some needed groundwork must be laid.  Certain characteristics must be cultivated.

You must love the Lord, love his Word, love the things he loves: remember he wept over Jerusalem because of his love for his people.

You must have a genuine love and concern for Jewish people: you must not be phony with them.

You must pray for the Jewish people and especially for your Jewish friends.

You must recognize the power of the Holy Spirit: anything done in your own strength is bound to fail.

Finally, you must be patient, recognizing that more often than not, it takes time for a Jew to come to faith in the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament.

Jewish holy days often present us with unusual opportunities to begin to form relationships.  Making friends and building friendships should be the responsibility of every believer.

May our Lord help us to make use of the opportunities he puts before us.

In our modern era, it is considered to be old-fashioned and even rude for churches to talk about sin.  But when your church is committed to preaching exegetically from the Bible, verse-by-verse, it is impossible not to talk about sin.  Today, Pastor Drew will be preaching on Genesis 4:1-7, in which we see the first murder in all of human history - the murder of Abel by his brother, Cain.

The Bible tells us that sin is a universal problem of human nature, found at every point in every person (1 Kin. 8:46; Rom. 3:9-23; 7:18; 1 John 1:8-10).  Both the Old and New Testaments describe sin as a rebellion against God’s rule over us.  The root of sin is pride and enmity against God, so that we can be our own gods.

Because of our sin, all of us are in danger of succumbing to the power of sin in our lives.  This was true for Cain, the first-born of Adam and Eve, as well.  In Genesis 4:7 God tells Cain that sin is “crouching at the door.”  The original Hebrew suggests a threatening demon waiting outside the door of a house.  Sin desires to rule Cain, but God wants Cain to rule over sin.  When Cain murders Abel, the full extent of the perversity of sin becomes apparent.  Cain ignores God and His warning and in killing his brother, usurped God’s authority over life and reached the extreme sin of murder.  What a horrible conclusion to the fracturing of family ties begun when Adam and Eve first sinned by eating the forbidden fruit!

The presence and danger of sin were things Paul had wrestled with, too.  He writes, “I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand” (Rom. 7:21).  Even Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, is tormented by the presence of sin.  He writes, “I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (vv. 22-24).  He answers his own question with the glorious affirmation that makes it possible for all believers to rule over sin.  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (v. 25a).

It is indeed only through Jesus that we have any hope of conquering sin in our lives.  Our closing hymn, Jesus, Master, Whose I Am, by Frances R. Havergal is a sung prayer to Jesus that He by His presence would keep us faithful to Him, so that His glory would shine through us.  Havergal was a prolific hymn writer who has often been called “England’s Consecration Poet.”  Her brief life of only 43 years was said to be completely dedicated to Christ and His service.

This hymn beautifully confirms Havergal’s title as a “Consecration Poet.”  In Verse 1, Havergal prays that Jesus would “let my heart be all Thine own, let me live to Thee alone.”  Verse 2 asks that Jesus would “keep me faithful, keep me near” so that He would be her “all in all.”  Verse 3 asks that Jesus would “strengthen hand and heart and nerve” so that all His bidding would be fulfilled.  Verse 4 acknowledges that Jesus does not need our service, it is us who need Him.  She concludes the hymn with these words: “Thou an honor art to me: let me be a praise to Thee.”  Join us in singing this hymn of consecration as we daily battle sin in our lives.

“Jesus, Master, whose I am, purchased Thine alone to be by Thy blood, O spotless Lamb, shed so willingly for me, let my heart be all Thine own, let me live to Thee alone.

I was reading through some old Pastor’s Letters and came across this one from Pastor Rick.   It is an excellent explanation about the ‘who’ of worship and thus the reason why worship is our top priority. 

The most important thing for us to understand about worship is who it is for.  Jesus said, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Mt. 4:10).   The Bible tells us not only that we must not worship anyone other than God, but also that we must worship God.  According to Jesus, “The Father is seeking worshipers” (Jn. 4:23).  Knowing this gives us direction and motivation.  Why should we come to church week after week?  Because God seeks our worship!  What is our purpose for coming to church?  To glorify God and to give Him pleasure through our worship.

But what about non-Christians?  Shouldn’t our worship be targeted towards them?  Many today say that worship should focus on connecting with “seekers”?  This is an important issue, particularly because our church receives visitors every Sunday and I am sure that each week there are some here who are not committed to Jesus Christ.  But God is still the proper object of our worship, and therefore we should focus our worship on only Him.  It is important that we reach out with friendliness and love to visitors, and that our worship be understandable to everyone who comes.  But the best thing we can offer a visitor to this church is the knowledge of God and His Word, and the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ.  Evangelism is a by-product of true worship, not the purpose of worship.  True seekers are looking for God, because God has been drawing them to Himself (Jn. 6:44).  As Psalm 22:26 says, “Those who seek him shall praise the Lord!”

What about the church members?  Shouldn’t worship be directed towards them?  Just like evangelism, a by-product of God-centered worship is that the people are built up.  We are built up by God’s Word, which is read, sung, prayed, and preached.  We are strengthened by God’s Spirit in response to God-centered worship.  But our worship does not intend to glorify anyone other than the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We do not showcase the preacher, the soloist, or anyone else in the congregation.  We showcase God through God-centered worship.  

We especially exalt our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (Jn. 3:14-15).  Jesus was lifted up on the cross, and that cross must be exalted among us.  When it is, God is pleased, evangelism takes place and the people of God are blessed, because “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (Jn. 3:36).

May the Lord inspire you to offer your worship to Him in gratitude and faith.  May He bless you richly as you lift up His Son in your heart and may he draw many to Himself as the gospel goes forth in and from our church.

Teachers are an integral part of the life of any church.  Although we recognize the centrality of preaching we do not believe this is the only way to build up the body of Christ.  Sunday school, weekly Bible studies and family devotions all play an important part in helping people grow in the faith.  

Moses says, ‘You shall teach them (God's Commands; i.e., the Word of God) diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” (Deut. 7:6)  Our church seeks to help the family fulfill this command.  This is why we are a ‘Word centered’ ministry.  We sing the word, read the word, teach the word, preach the word, pray the word and even see the word (in the Lord’s Supper).  Everything we do is driven by the Scripture and educating ourselves in what it teaches.  This is why our school of discipleship is so important.

Let me give you 5 reasons to attend our Sunday morning classes (if you are visiting and a member of another church, you should attend their Sunday morning classes for the same 5 reasons!):

Because a disciple is a student:  Jesus spoke about this to a group of people who had just put their faith in him.  He told them, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:31, 32).   

Because of the fellowship:  It isn’t easy to get linked up with people in church, so you’ve got to make an effort!  There are few better ways of getting to know people than to join a Sunday school class. 

Because of the opportunities to minister:  Maybe you haven’t figured out where your gifts fit in for ministry.  One way to get started is to come to a class on Sunday morning

To join the church:  Church membership is important, because it makes you a part of the flock that is under our shepherding care, and because it integrates you into the whole life of the church.  We have an Inquirers class on Sunday morning to introduce you to our church and Lord willing, become a member. 

Because Sunday is the Lord’s Day, not the Lord’s hour:  It makes a wonderful difference to join the church for Sunday school and then go to the worship service.  Instead of just “going to church,” it means “being a part of the church.”  If you come back for the evening service, you really have a whole day set apart to honor the Lord and to be blessed by him.

One of the foundational principles of Christianity is that the Bible is authoritative because its author is God, Himself.  The phrase “breathed out by God” confirms the doctrine of the divine inspiration of Scripture.  Though Scripture was written down by human authors, God is its ultimate Author, and therefore it bears the full weight of His authority.  This means that what we believe about God and our conduct must be measured, tested, and where necessary, corrected and enlarged according to what has been revealed to us in the Bible.  God’s written Word, in all its truth and wisdom, is the way God has chosen to exercise His rule over us.

Throughout church history, however, this basic principle has been challenged by some denominations.  The Roman Catholic view of Scripture, for example, accepts the Bible as God-given truth, but also insists that only the official interpretation of the church is led by God’s Spirit.  This means that they give the church authority over the Bible and especially in the past, this has led to the idea that lay Christians should be discouraged, or prohibited from reading it.  Presently, the Roman Catholic Church encourages all Christians to read the Bible, but still maintains that church tradition determines how Scripture should be interpreted.

Liberal Protestant denominations maintain that the Bible is fundamentally a human book and not divine revelation.  The Bible is a guide for their religious experiences, but it is held on a par with other sources, such as political movements, or the values and morals of society.  All too often, the Bible is displaced by these other sources.

Reformed Protestantism accepts Scripture as the only written revelation of God.  Scripture is divinely inspired (2 Tim. 3:16), making it infallible and true in all that it affirms.  They are sufficient, containing all that is necessary to know for salvation and eternal life.  They are clear, so that anyone can understand what God requires without the intervention of an “official” interpreter.  This is why we at FPC maintain the authority of Scripture as the voice of God in the world, not subject to any person or group.  We submit our thoughts and our moral standards to the authority of the Bible.

As we honor those in our congregation who teach in Sunday school, private and public schools, colleges and universities, we are reminded that the ultimate authoritative source for everything taught rests on the divine truth of Scripture.  Pastor Drew will be preaching from 2 Peter 1:16-21, which further confirms these truths.

Our hymn of response is John Rippon’s How Firm a Foundation.  Verse 1 of this hymn establishes the Word of God as the sure foundation of our faith.  Each of the succeeding verses personalize to each of us God’s promises from His Word:  Verse 2 - Isaiah 41:10 –“Fear not I am with you:  be not dismayed, for I am your God.”  Verse 3 - Isaiah 43:2 –“When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”  Verse 4 - Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you or forsake you.”  As we sing this hymn together this morning, we can rest confidently in the promises of God.

“What more can He say than to you He hath said—to you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled.”

Fewer of us realize that the sixteen from this church were a part of a much larger group of people; perhaps one hundred or more coming from at least six PCA churches from places like Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.  This meant that while these people were all working at different sites, they not only ate together (under one very large tent) but worshiped together each evening after their work day.  One other small but not insignificant item is their use of the prayer chair.  This custom has been followed by other teams, but the idea is that during the day of work, one member of the team is assigned to sit in that chair and pray for the fellow team members.  Even the younger ones took their turns praying for their safety, their witness, their sense of the grace and power of the Lord in those hours of work.

Tonight is our monthly prayer service and we will have an opportunity to hear from several of those who were on this trip; how they fared and what kind of an impact this trip had on each of them.  

Sending people from our congregation to serve others in Jesus’ name may be one of the more important things we do as a church.  We’ve been hearing from the pulpit lately about making this the year of evangelism.  Of course every year is the year for each of us to be thinking about people who need the Lord and how to reach them.  Part of that ministry is sending members of our congregation to serve in the Lord’s name.  Yes, we need to win our neighbors and the people we work with.  Part of that process, however, is taking ourselves to people we’re less familiar with to minister to them in word and deed.

Talk to the people who went.  Hear from our World Changers firsthand what this trip meant to them.  Then give thoughtful prayer to your own participation at some future date.  It can change your life.           

Tonight we will be holding our second Annual Celebration.  Our annual celebration is an opportunity for us to celebrate God’s faithfulness to us and consider the year ahead.  This year’s theme is “Can I Get a Witness”.  We will be focusing on outreach.  Every year we should focus on outreach (just as every year we should focus on prayer; which was last year’s theme) but in order to ‘stir you up by way of reminder’ (2 Peter 1:3) I wanted to give attention to this important ministry.   

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 that,  

“in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.  We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”  

This is an amazing passage.  God has entrusted to us the gospel!  He is making His appeal through us!  We are His ambassadors imploring people to be reconciled to God!  What a high calling and great privilege.  We have the opportunity to tell others about the greatest story ever told; Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again so that our estranged relationship with God can be made right.   

On this evening we will hear testimonies, sing praises, pray, hear from God’s word about being a witness, share with you several ministry opportunities that we will be initiating this fall and enjoy some refreshments and fellowship.  I hope you can join us…

Psalm 100 is typical of the psalms that fall under the literary genre of hymns of praise.  Notice that the language of this psalm commands joyful celebration.  Exuberance and joy are not merely suggested by God as a way to worship, they are prescribed by God as the way to worship!  Celebration in worship is the norm for believers.

With this in mind, this evening we are holding our second annual celebration, in which we joyfully praise God for His faithfulness towards us.  One of the joyful privileges we have as followers of Christ is to partner with Him in the spreading of His gospel.  As Pastor Drew has reminded us in his pastoral letter today, “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Cor. 5:20a).

To help us worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we are singing three great hymns of praise that have become “classics” in Christian worship.  The opening hymn of praise is Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners! by the evangelist, J. Wilbur Chapman.  Chapman wanted to extol the many wonderful and glorious attributes of Christ as they relate to our personal lives. Chapman writes that Christ is: “Friend of sinners,” Lover of my soul,” Strength in weakness,” “My victory, help in sorrow, comfort, guide, keeper, and pilot.”  Finally, after extolling what Christ represents to every believer, Chapman responds, “Hallelujah!  What a Savior!  Hallelujah!  What a Friend!”

The second hymn we sing is How Great Is Our God, a contemporary chorus that is a collaboration of three song writers: Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, and Edward Cash.  Scripture reminds us that God’s ways are higher than ours and that His thoughts higher, too.  God’s majesty is so great that we could never fully comprehend Him.  This song compels us to marvel at God’s power, love, compassion and grace.

Our closing hymn of response is How Great Thou Art, by the Swedish pastor, Carl Boberg.  The English missionary Reverend S. K. Hine translated the hymn into English and added the fourth stanza.  This hymn has become an international favorite and was used effectively by Billy Graham in his crusades for many years.

It is our prayer that these congregational hymns, as well as the anthems and special music of our Sanctuary Choir and Sanctuary Brass would help us to follow the psalm writer’s admonition that we “come into His presence with singing.”  Music is the vehicle God commands for His praise, and allows us to express our adoration, thanksgiving, supplication, and dedication to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  As you worship tonight, (and indeed, every time you worship with us), why not take the time to joyfully sing of the unfathomable greatness of our God and His wonderful redeeming love for each of us?

“Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; how great Thou art, how great Thou art!”

With the exception of an occasional report made from the pulpit, however, many of our church members hardly know that the school exists next door despite the fact that it is the church’s largest ministry, serving our families and this community for the past nearly 40 years.

Fall classes begin tomorrow morning and Dr. Anthony Bryan, our new headmaster, will bring a fresh vision for what he desires the school to accomplish.

But why a Christian school today, especially in light of the expenditure of time, energy and money and also in times of the economic stress we are experiencing right now?  What is it about an education based on a Christian philosophy, taught by Christian teachers, led by Christian administrators that our church sees as so imperative for our time?  One answer might be that this kind of an education is one of the most important gifts we can give to our children.  Throughout the Scriptures the people of God are told to pass on the great truths of the faith to the succeeding generations.  From the beginning, the plan was for humanity to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28).  But the earth was not only to be filled with people, but to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.  God commands two things of his people; first to put his words in their hearts, and second to teach these same truths diligently to their children.

That’s the purpose of our Christian Academy.  We have our own children to teach – one of the most important things we are to do as Christian parents.  But our school is not limited to our children alone.  From the beginning, this school has been open to any and all parents who desire the education that our school offers for their children.  

It is our privilege to recognize our school’s teachers this morning in our worship service. They will be commissioned.  They will be prayed for from the pulpit.  They are to be encouraged by our prayers and our interest throughout the school year as we thank the Lord for them and the important ministry they have to our children and the children of the community.  These teachers are our real World Changers.

Why are we to be aware of these numbers?  An article titled “In Search of a Godly Way to Grow Old:  Longing for Restoration Rather than Repair” speaks to this question.  In it the writer asks, how do we respond to a culture that’s obsessed with youth and how can we find a balance that embraces the aging process without completely surrendering to it?  A biblical perspective, the writer suggests, requires that we flip the cultural viewpoint upside down.  Instead of idolizing youth, we should revere age, instead of wanting to repair our bodies, we are to desire the restoration of our bodies.  Finally, we need to recognize that ultimately, death is life.  

Scripture approaches aging with hope and promise.  The psalmist describes the righteous as flourishing like a palm tree, or growing like a cedar of Lebanon, even bearing fruit in old age.  

This kind of biblical viewpoint presents us with some practical implications.  What might these be?  We can nurture relationships with those who are getting older.  We need to have them share their wisdom as well as to enlighten our own paths of aging.  We can also live in such a way that reflects a hope – not in the passing pleasures of this world, but in the redemptive hands of God.  We can also speak to our own culture helping those around us to recognize that there is only One who can truly satisfy our longing for real beauty and permanence.  

A number of our seniors meet each month for a time to eat and talk together about the things of the Lord.  This group has helped to support a Ugandan pastor for two years during his time at the African Bible College.  For the past two years they have been doing the same thing for the Widow’s Harvest Ministries.  This fall, they are adopting a new project - helping to fund some of the expenses of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program which is starting up again in a matter of weeks.  

This Sunday the Women in the Church are graciously ministering to our seniors by providing the meal.  Next month Dr. Anthony Bryan, the new CSCA Headmaster, has agreed to talk about the prospects for this new school year.  These seniors may not be World Changers in the usual sense, but they are a vital part of our congregation and can minister to us just as we minister to them.  

-Revelation 21:22-27

The above passage in Revelation speaks of the New Jerusalem, the eternal city God has prepared for His people (Heb. 11:16). One of the features of this city is that “nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false” (Rev. 21:27). God always cleanses His temple, from the cleansing of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:24 to His declaration that nothing unclean will enter into His heavenly city. 

Today, Pastor Drew is continuing his sermon series on the Book of Genesis, and is preaching on Genesis 3:22-24, in which God casts out Adam and Eve in response to their sin. Even this judgment is filled with grace for Adam and Eve. God casts out Adam and Eve to prevent them from eating from the tree of life and gaining immortality. In doing so, He protects them from an eternal bondage to sin and misery that would have resulted had they eaten of the tree of life. 

God also guards Eden by placing cherubim “to guard the way to the tree of life” (v. 24). These heavenly beings protect God’s holiness, keeping sinners from having access to Him. This situation is not permanent, however. Just as God had promised in verse 15, there would be coming a heavenly Adam, who would bear the curse of toil, sweat, thorns, conflict, death on a tree, and burial who would regain the garden, tearing apart the veil of the temple (on which were sewn the cherubim spoken of in verse 24). God can maintain the purity of His eternal city because Jesus Christ has borne the curse and has made us holy by covering us with His own shed blood.  

In light of this, our hymn of response is Horatio Bonar’s I Lay My Sins on Jesus. Horatio Bonar has been called the prince of the Scottish hymn writers. In it, we are reminded of how God invites us to bring our sins to Jesus, not just initially when we come to Him for justification, but repeatedly as we continue to experience the guilt and shame of our remaining sin. Bonar wrote this hymn with Revelation 3:19-20 in mind, a passage about God’s invitation to believers to repent and return to Him. “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”  Jesus is speaking to the church in Laodicea which had become “lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold” in their deeds of righteousness. This song explores why we can bring our sins to Jesus, giving us peaceful trust that He is willing, able, and ready to forgive and restore sweet communion with Himself to us when we ask. 

The Apostle John writes in his first epistle, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The way to heavenly Eden is through Christ. Why not, then, sing with us this wonderful hymn of faith? 

“I lay my sins on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God; He bears them all, and frees us from the accursed load: I bring my guilt to Jesus, to wash my crimson stains white in His blood most precious, till not a spot remains.”

As a follow-up to last week’s sermon I wanted to share with you a few comments concerning the ‘Christ-centeredness’ of Scripture.  I will also provide titles of books that are very helpful in this regard.  When I speak of the Christ-centeredness of Scripture, I am saying that all of Scripture bears testimony to Jesus Christ.  This was Jesus’ conviction.  In addition to the passage I quoted last week (Luke 24), Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39).  The Scripture of Jesus’ day was the Old Testament and he read it ‘christocentrically’.  That is, he read Scripture with himself as the center of the message.  He is confronting what is a particular sin of our day in reading the Scripture, to read it without Christ as the supreme focus of revelation.  We need to remember that the Old Testament is the Christian’s Bible!

Below I share some quotes from Michael Horton and Sinclair Ferguson, two of the professors I have had at Ligonier Academy.  Both have written on this issue.

Sinclair Ferguson has said, “[We must preach Christ from] all the Scriptures without denuding them of the genuine historical events they record and the reality of the personal experiences they describe or to which they were originally addressed.”  Yet he goes on to say, “As Christians standing within the light of New Testament revelation and looking back on the Old Testament, Christ himself acts as a hermeneutical prism.  Looking back through him, we see the white light of the unity of the truth of Jesus Christ broken down into its constituent colours in the pages of the Old Testament.  Then, looking forwards we see how the multi-coloured strands of Old Testament revelation converge in him.”

Michael Horton has written that not infrequently he runs into a church “that is very excited about having just discovered the Reformation faith, but the preaching remains what it always was: witty, perhaps anecdotal (plenty of stories and illustrations that often serve the purpose of entertainment rather than illumination of a point), and moralistic (Bible characters surveyed for their usefulness in teaching moral lessons for our daily life).  This is because we have not yet integrated our systematic theology with our hermeneutics (i.e., way of interpreting Scripture).  We say, “Christ alone!” in our doctrine of salvation, but in actual practice our devotional life is saturated with sappy and trivial “principles” and the preaching is often directed toward motivating us through practical tips.  He goes on to say,  “If our preaching does not center on Christ--from Genesis to Revelation--no matter how good or helpful, it is not a proclamation of God’s Word.”

May the Lord be gracious to FPC and guard that whoever stands behind our pulpit will always preach Christ and Him crucified. 

Suggested reading will be available at the Book Nook: 

There is something dangerous about a prayer of this kind.  Beginning with Adam and Eve and the brief time they spent in the Garden, human beings, and that includes all of us, have shown a remarkable inability to handle prosperity and success, be it financial or otherwise.  Simply put, we turn to God out of need and when God answers our prayers and prospers us, we forget him. 

We don’t have to look far to test the truthfulness of this.  We find it in our own lives.  We find it in the history of the church.  High-commitment among Christians begins with a strong sense of devotion which more often than not, expresses itself in a life of discipline.  Such discipline as a value, tends to result in good stewardship, which in turn leads to abundance.  Because we don’t know how to handle abundance, our very success breaks down discipline, which in turn leads to indulgence and the loss of a disciplined life.  It happens again and again. 

Charles Wesley, famous 18th century evangelist, observed this and noted that the spread of true Christianity caused diligence and frugality, which in turn brought riches.  Yet he also saw that these riches too often caused pride, worldliness, and attitudes harmful to Christianity.  Wesley continued, “If there be no way to prevent this, Christianity is inconsistent with itself and, of consequence, cannot stand, cannot continue long among any people; since, where it generally prevails, it saps its own foundation.”

Who of us doesn’t give thought to financial well-being, to having enough for the present – for the future?  We wonder when God might enable us to dig out of the hole we always seem to be in?  At the same time, if we are to pray this way, we will need to also pray that the Lord will enable us to handle whatever prosperity he allows in such a manner that we won’t forget him in the process.  Maybe it isn’t such a bad thing to have less than what we want or think we need.  This should keep us, as my friend used to say, “on praying ground”.

Language Learning: Using ESL to Serve Your Community 

A few years ago, First Presbyterian in Margate FL, just north of Miami, began to discuss ways they could serve the growing Hispanic community around them. Often dubbed “The Gateway to Latin America,” the Miami region is home to a large population of South Americans, Cubans and Haitians. Says church member Don Baret, “We realized that if we wanted non-English-speaking people to come to our church, we had to do something.” One of the church pastors, Mick Weltin, approached Don about
co-directing an English as a Second Language (ESL) program with fellow church member Cindy Wallster. Fresh from a six-month business trip to Japan, Don clearly remembered standing in a Japanese grocery store, trying to buy a stick of butter. “I understood that living and working in an environment where you’re unable to communicate is quite a challenge!” he says. 

First Presbyterian turned to MNA ESL Director Nancy Booher for help in getting their program off the ground. “Nancy gave me helpful material to study and recommended someone to train our volunteers,” says Don.  “I just followed her direction.” About 15 people took the 14-hour training course.  Then the church simply placed signs announcing free ESL classes around their neighborhood—and soon began receiving 20 to 30 calls a day from interested people.  On January 11, 2010, nearly 150 people came—families, older folks, singles in their 20s—all of them eager to learn.  In addition to those from Latin America, there were also some from countries such as Ireland, Poland, and Armenia.  First Presbyterian’s two-hour program meets each Monday night throughout the school year and consists of two 45-minute sessions of instruction, divided by a 30 minute break for snacks, fellowship, and a brief devotion.  Other than a charge for textbooks, which can be subsidized with a scholarship, the program is offered at no cost to the ESL students.  Don emphasizes that the full support of church leadership, along with a strong commitment from laypersons, is vital to the health of an ESL program. Assistant Pastor Addison Soltau adds, “We have about 30 church members who assist in teaching, interpreting, set up and clean up, preparing snacks, and taking care of young children so that their parents can attend classes.” No special skills or talents are required. “Most of our teachers don’t have a teaching background or speak a foreign language,” says Don.

Don notes that with a little leg work, churches can discover the demographic profile of their own communities: “Places like grocery stores and schools can often provide information regarding non-Anglo people groups in the community,” he suggests. “Talk to your city council about the makeup of your area. Then begin reaching out to the people around you.”  Since the inception of the first ESL class, First Presbyterian Church has launched an ESL Sunday School class and an ESL for Citizenship class. Says Don, “ESL’s purpose is to teach people English, but it becomes so much more—our students are amazed that people will give of their time to help them and become involved in their lives. Ministering in word and deed says a lot about who your church is.” 

Last week’s World Changers featured this family.  That evening we had a good opportunity to hear from him and pray for the family in our time together.  This was his first time to visit to our church and we’re not sure when he’ll be back again. 

Austria stands as one example of much modern-day mission work.  It is a cultured nation famed for its music, art and beautiful scenery.  Vienna, its capital of over two million, is just one example.  Despite all of the beauty, the music, the art, however, few know and confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Over 75% of the population is Christian in name only with no meaningful link to any church.  The citizens of Vienna enjoy the highest quality of life in the world, but its people experience depression and spiritual darkness, resulting in two thirds of marriages ending in divorce.  Twelve years of religious education for Austria’s young people helps to “inoculate” them so that when they reach their adult years they have no interest in a vital personal faith in Christ.  They reject both the Catholic Church as well as any other.

The family from America that joined the Hunters this past year to help in the ministry is no longer there.  After a mere nine months, the family had to return to the States, leaving the Hunters again by themselves.

Brad was here this past Sunday.  He led us in our prayer time and showed his video.  The family will be gone from here in another few weeks.  So where does this leave us?  We certainly appreciate his coming and taking the time to minister to us.  We know more about Vienna and the Hunters.  Their first three years are now behind them and their original vision of building a church planting “movement” is still very much in place.  Yet this family needs our prayers and the prayers of God’s people.  They are there for the long term, and we must be as well.  Should it be a part of our praying that some FPC members may have the opportunity in the future to visit them in Vienna to encourage them and pray with them in their home and place of ministry?

Jesus tells us to come to Him, and He will give us rest (Matt. 11:28).  This invitation is given to everyone who hears the gospel.  The problem is that even though many have been invited, and many claim to be in the kingdom, only those who are clothed with Christ’s righteousness are able to stand before the all-holy God.  Receiving an invitation to God’s kingdom does not guarantee inclusion; we have to be properly clothed (Zech. 3:3-5; Rev. 3:18; 19:8).

Pastor Drew is continuing his sermon series on Genesis and is focusing on 3:21, where God clothed Adam and Eve with garments of animal skins.  Previous to the Fall, Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed (Gen. 2:25), but after the Fall they hid from God because they were ashamed.  When Adam and Eve sinned, their nakedness became weakness, need, humiliation and hiding from God (Gen. 3:8).  Their first experience of guilt was expressed in terms of awareness and shame of their nakedness.  Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together for clothing, but it was inadequate, so they hid themselves among the trees from God.

God, however, clothed Adam and Eve with garments made from the skin of animals.  These garments contrast vividly with the inadequate attempt by Adam and Eve to cover their shame.  God’s provision entailed the killing of an animal.  This shedding of blood showed the cost of forgiveness, and ultimately pointed forward to the death of Christ on the Cross.  Even as Adam and Eve were covered by God’s provision of the skin of animals, our sins are covered by Christ’s blood shed for us.

Our closing hymn reaffirms our need to be clothed by God.  This hymn of response is Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness by Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf.  Count von Zinzendorf belonged to one of the most noble and wealthy families in Saxony, Germany.  Zinzendorf was a sincere Christian, who joined himself to the Moravian Brethren, a group known both for their great heart for missions, and for their inspiring sacred music.  In 1739, Count von Zinzendorf went to visit and encourage some Moravian missionaries in the West Indies.

At the time of his return voyage, he wrote a hymn he called “The Believer’s Triumph” (which today is known as Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness).  The original German text had 33 verses!  The count’s friend, John Wesley, translated the hymn into English, omitting nine of the verses. Most modern hymnals have reduced the number of stanzas of this hymn to only four.  The four verses that remain have made this hymn, among the over two thousand written by von Zinzendorf, his best known.

Won’t you join us in this great hymn of faith, and sing of our glory in Christ?  There can be no greater assertion than to sing of our redemption that comes by Jesus Christ. 

“Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress; ‘midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, with joy shall I lift up my head.” 

This Sunday we have the joy of receiving new members into our church.  Church membership is a vital part of our Christian commitment.  It says to the world that we are willing to give of ourselves both to Christ and to his church. 

If you have been attending our church for some time, I want to encourage you to think about joining in a formal way.  Let me give you 3 reasons why you should consider becoming a member:

First Presbyterian Church is committed to doing God’s work in God’s way, as a caring community of brothers and sisters in Christ.  If this is your regular place of worship and if God is blessing you here, perhaps the Lord would have you inquire about becoming a member.  God wants you to be blessed in the church, and he wants you in the church to be a blessing to others.

As the Apostle Paul’s life neared its end, he gave this solemn charge to Timothy: 

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and kingdom: preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate  for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.   2 Timothy 4:1-3 

Preaching and hearing the Word of God is at the heart of biblical worship.  Timothy is given this charge by Paul to remain faithful to preaching the Bible even when there would be many who would not want to listen.  The lack of faithful preaching of the Bible today is an enormous strain on our society and churches.  Unbelief and immorality grows throughout America and a major reason for it is the failure of churches to preach the Bible.  

Many churches and pastors across denominations, including our own, have given into the demand of congregations with itching ears to only speak about things that suit their own passions.  Speaking motivational speeches on peoples’ felt needs seems to be a wise course of ministry that draws large crowds.  This, however, is not a wisdom from above but below.  Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”  This style of ministry is not the fulfillment of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 to “teach everything I have commanded you” but a denial of it.  

Jesus clearly tells us in John 8:31, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  Abiding in the word of God is the source of true growth and freedom for the people of God.  We are committed to preaching through the Bible to give you the whole counsel of God and the truth that sets you free.  Are your ears open to the word or do you refuse to hear it only wanting your ears scratched?  

There are now 3 worship services during the week for you at FPC to hear the word.  The Alpha, Mu, Omega Challenge is for you to seriously consider clearing time to make these services a priority for you and your family this year.  

Alpha – Sunday Morning Service, 10:40 a.m., The Book of Genesis

Mu – Wednesday Evening Service, 6:30 p.m., The Parables of Jesus

Omega – Sunday Evening Service, 6:00 p.m., The Book of Revelation 

Sleeping in Sunday morning, watching Wheel of Fortune Wednesday night, or catching the 2nd half of the Chargers/Jets Sunday evening will be difficult temptations you may face.  What is really holding you back?  Come and join in the worship of God!

Pastor Mick is continuing his sermon series on Revelation, and has come to verses 9-20 in the first chapter.  These verses contain John’s vision of the Son of Man, and we are reminded how Pastor Mick pointed out, in previous sermons, the necessity of being familiar with the apocalyptic writings of the Old Testament in order to properly interpret Revelation.  Today’s verses are a case in point. 

In John’s vision, Christ appears in overwhelming glory and is described as being “like the Son of Man.”  The features John describes in Revelation 1:12-16 are reminiscent of several Old Testament appearances of God (Dan. 7:9, 10; 10:5, 6; Ezek. 1:25-28).  John sees Christ as Judge and Ruler – first of all over the churches (1:20-3:22), but also over the whole universe (2:27; 3:21). 

In his vision, John sees Christ as the one who exercises divine sovereignty.  Christ’s war-like appearance (1:16) anticipates His role in the final battle (19:11-21) and looks back to God’s battles in the Old Testament (Ex. 15:3; Deut. 32:41;, 42; Is. 59:17, 18; Zech. 14:3).  Jesus calls Himself the “First and the Last” (v. 17) which is essentially the same as the “Alpha and Omega” (v. 8).  He says that He is “He who lives” (v. 18) pointing to His resurrection and the new life He provides for His people and all of creation.  Also in verse 18, Jesus says that He has “the keys of Death and Hades.”  This vision of Christ as divine forms the foundation for the whole of Revelation.  Jesus Christ will rule and His kingdom shall never end! 

Our hymn of response to today’s sermon is Mathew Bridges’ Crown Him with Many Crowns.  Bridges’ inspiration for the hymn comes from Revelation 19: “and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.  He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God” (vv. 12, 13).  The One who bore the crown of thorns while on the cross is now crowned with “many crowns” as the King of Heaven. 

Each crown in the hymn text exalts Christ for some specific aspect of His person and ministry: stanza one for His Divine Kingship; stanza two for His redemptive love; stanza three for His bringing eternal peace in His victory over sin and Satan; and stanza four for His being the Creator of all, and whose redeeming death makes Him worthy of eternal worship and praise. 

This hymn proclaims our final victory in Christ.  Please join us in singing in worship and praise as we joyfully proclaim: “Awake, my soul and sing of Him who died for thee, and hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.”

Missionary Associate Brad Hunter will be present this evening to tell us how he and his family spend their Sundays in Vienna.  Brad and Stacey and their three children went to Vienna about three years ago to do church planting work.  Their Vision statement written prior to their going to Vienna was even more comprehensive.  “Our vision is to launch, by God’s grace and power, a reformed and covenantal church planting movement from the city-center of Vienna out to unreached parts of the city, throughout Austria, and to the nations beyond her borders.”  It was a vision statement like this that led our Missions Committee to take the step of helping this family to minister in Vienna.

If the Hunter name seems unfamiliar, some may remember the Hunter Funeral Homes that have been in the Ft. Lauderdale area for years.  Brad is a member of this family, born and raised in south Florida, graduate of Knox Seminary, and for some time, part of the staff of St. Andrews PCA Church in Hollywood.  

This past April, Brad wrote about their new denomination in Vienna, which has grown, from 1 pastor and 2 churches in 2005, to 5 pastors and 5 churches in 2010.  Already Brad has been asking us to pray that the Lord would send a young Austrian man (or a German-speaking European) who could assist in planting New City Wien (Vienna), someone for Brad to mentor to become a future pastor or church planter.  

Brad’s Mother has been quite ill with cancer for more than four years, and Brad has returned to this country for a few weeks to spend time with her.  We are so very pleased to have Brad visit us and help us to pray for him, for his family and for his important ministry in Vienna, with which we partner.  Please join us this evening. 

City Light Young Adults ministry will be taking a missions trip to Haiti this November 18-24.  We will be going with MTW (Mission to the World).  They have recently teamed up with Reformation Hope and Pastor Jean Jacob Paul, whose church (Reformation D’Espoir D’Haiti Church), children’s home, and school were heavily damaged in the earthquake. 

Pastor Paul’s church also has a school for orphans and abandoned children and an established network of local pastors for whom he is developing training.  By the time our team arrives in Haiti, we plan to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the people devastated by this earthquake, finish any construction or repairs needed, conduct VBS and ESL with the children and offer any other help needed.  

When we arrive we will be staying in a new facility which has no air conditioning or hot water.  There will, however, be clean food and drinking water for American missionaries courtesy of MTW.  

Our trip will cost $375 all-inclusive on the ground, however, this does not include airfare.  We are in the process of looking for the best priced tickets.  As of today we have raised $2,101 not including our upcoming July fundraiser and our outgoing support letters.  We are hoping to raise about $5,000 by the time we leave in November.  All cash offerings at our Wednesday night service are donated to our trip as well as any offerings the congregation designates.  We have an account open in the Business Office located at the Coral Springs Christian Academy for anyone who is interested in giving directly to that account.  We will also be offering many more fundraisers, so please keep your eyes open for our events!  

Also please continue to pray for our team and our missions trip to Haiti.  Thank you for all of your donations.  Without the church we would not have raised any funds to complete this trip. 

One of the most divisive heresies found in the history of the Christian Church is the Arian heresy that teaches that Christ is not God, but is rather the highest created being. This heresy (named after the 4th -Century bishop, Arius), is still with us today, and is taught by the cult of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  By denying the deity of Christ, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others who hold to the Arian heresy, also deny the doctrine of the Incarnation.  The name Immanuel, which means, “God with us,” cannot be legitimately given to Christ if He is indeed, not God.

The overwhelming teaching of Scripture (John 1:1; Rom. 9:5; Rom. 10:9-13; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3, 6, 8-12, to name a few) makes faith in Christ’s deity basic to true Christian faith.  The New Testament, which forbids the worship of angels (Col. 2:18; Rev. 22:8, 9) commands the worship of Jesus.  Any religion which denies this cannot be called Christianity.

Today, Pastor Mick continues his sermon series on Revelation and is preaching on Revelation 1:4 -8.  Verse 8 has these words spoken by the Lord God: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”  God uses the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet to describe Himself.  God is Alpha (Creator) and Omega (the One who will usher in the new heaven and new earth).  He is Lord of all – past, present, and future.  His sovereignty over all creation guarantees that all His purposes will be fulfilled.

What makes this so significant is that the title, “Alpha and Omega” is the description Jesus Christ gives Himself in Revelation 22:13 (see above).  There can be no mistake concerning the deity of Christ, when He ascribes the very same title to Himself that God the Father is given in Revelation 1.  Pastor Mick will explore the implications of this fact in his sermon today.

As we saw last week, Revelation contains the “testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:2).  Because of the imminence and severity of the persecution against the Christian witness of the Church, John’s book is full of the theme of witness.  Revelation is a testimony intended to strengthen the faith of its readers.  Its message carries full divine authority and authenticity (Rev. 19:10; 22:6, 16, 20).

Our closing hymn, Rejoice, the Lord Is King, by Charles Wesley, contains the same encouraging testimony of Revelation.  Wesley is probably the most prolific hymn writer in all of church history.  He wrote this hymn to encourage Christians to have a more spontaneous joy in their lives based on their certainty that Christ reigns victorious in heaven.  The hymn is based on Paul’s encouragement to the Christians at Philippi:  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).

Paul wrote this encouragement while he was a prisoner of Emperor Nero in Rome.  The entire Philippian letter contains twelve references to rejoicing, because regardless of the circumstances in our lives, we can be victors through faith in our ascended, reigning Lord.  As you worship with us this morning, our prayer is that you would know that this attitude of joy is not an option – it is a command!  Lift your voice with us as we sing: “Lift up your heart, lift up your voice!  Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Some who may have read last week’s World Changers will remember one of the comments on the subject of the forces at work to pull us apart as a denomination.  What might come as a surprise to many, is our ever-present tendency to act independently of one another.  Cultivating unity is also hard work.  That’s why Jesus talks about it.  To belong to a denomination must mean first of all that we are not independent of one another and therefore can’t act alone.  We are a part of a larger group of churches, and what we do as a local church is very much a part of a much larger picture.  Part of that picture is that there are now 1,739 other PCA churches here in the US besides ours – an increase of 47.  Mission to North America reports that this figure should be higher, since on average, one new PCA church is planted every week of the year.  The membership of these combined churches now stands at 346,408, an increase of 5,556.  This, however, is not what it should be.  The 2009 PCA growth rate was 1.6% - far below what it was in the early years of the denomination.  

Beside hearing and acting on reports like these, the 1,311 commissioners (978 Teaching Elders and 333 Ruling Elders) were treated to three evening worship services, and over fifty-eight seminars that covered an array of topics.

It would take more World Changer pages to discuss in greater detail the issues that were voted on.  Three overtures and a personal resolution dealt with the possible repeal of the current law governing homosexual individuals in the military.  The PCA is gravely concerned over the potential repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy which has been in place for several years.  If this law is repealed, any number of our currently serving chaplains may feel the need to resign their commission.  Should they do so, many others who are considering the chaplaincy as a career, might choose some other area of service, thus depleting the level of gospel preaching and influence PCA churches and their chaplains bring to those serving in the military.

A repeal of this law will have such far-reaching ramifications, that we are all to pray about the outcome of this matter.  Our president has already indicated that he would like to see it repealed.  May our God help us to grasp the importance of prayer.

As some of you know, all three of your pastors were able to attend the 38th General Assembly of the PCA held this year in Nashville, Tennessee.  Of course, all sorts of things took place there, church business, church debate on several issues, a variety of topics taken up in seminars offered each morning and afternoon.  One late afternoon there was a two-way conversation between Pastors Tim Keller of Redeemer PCA Church in New York and Ligon Duncan of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi.  Their topic was, The PCA – A Way Forward: What We Can All Agree On and Why We Should Stay Together?  A roomful of PCA people were there to overhear this discussion.

The choice of topic might surprise some because most of us aren’t aware that PCA churches need encouragement to stay together.  What kind of forces are at work to pull us apart?  Can you guess?  Here are some: the biblical view of creation, style of worship, women in diaconal ministry – among others.  “As important as these issues are,” says Pastor Ligon Duncan, “there is a more menacing threat behind the debates.”  There are two things to which he points.  One, our (PCA) polity, history and practice allow us to be independent of one another.  Even though each PCA church is a member of a presbytery, we rarely have to cooperate with the other churches, never have to work shoulder-to-shoulder with them.  The other factor according to Pastor Duncan is that we don’t realize how hard it is to cultivate unity.  We work hard at doctrinal fidelity and missional focus, but not at cultivating unity.  Unity doesn’t just happen, he says, it has to be intentionally nurtured.

He was talking about our denomination, but his remarks would pertain to us in this local body as well.  Think about the words “We have to work hard at cultivating unity” and ask yourself about whether you see this as something that needs your hard work.  Do you see church unity as a goal all of us should pursue?  Is this something that we need to be more intentional about?  Our biggest threat is shallow relationships and we’re going to have to work much harder if we are to overcome this threat – now and always.   

Of all the themes in God’s Word, the one that generates the most speculation and interest is the end times, when Christ returns as King to gather up His Church and to judge the world.  By far, the largest selling biblical fiction books are the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.  Over 63 million copies have been sold and these books are #1 on both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.

Revelation, the last book of the Bible (which deals principally with the end times), is perhaps the one with the most interpretive difficulties.  Interpreters disagree concerning the time and manner in which the visions found in the book are fulfilled.  “Futurists” think that the visions will be fulfilled in the future, just prior to the Second Coming.  “Preterists” think that everything was fulfilled at the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.  “Historists” think that the visions occurring in 6:1 - 18:24 are basically a chronological outline of church history from the first century (6:1) until the Second Coming (19:11).  “Idealists” think that the scenes found in Revelation depict not specific events but principles of spiritual warfare.

In addition to the disagreements on the approach of interpreting Revelation, there are also differing views of the millennium, the thousand year period of Christ’s rule described in 20:1-10.  “Premillennialists” believe that the Second Coming comes before the thousand year reign of Christ.  Christians receive spiritual bodies at the beginning of the millennium, but the final judgment comes at the end, after a rebellion led by Satan.  “Amillennialists” believe that the millennium depicts the present reign of Christ and the saints who are with Him in heaven. “Postmillenialists” believe that the Church will expand on earth and the Second Coming will come after this growth.  The millennium is the final period of earthly Christian triumph that results from the spread of the gospel.

While there is disagreement on the things mentioned above concerning Revelation, there is unanimity regarding the major point of the book. Satan will be finally defeated, and even before that time, when things seem to be going wrong, God will providentially care for His church and bless it through His triumphant rule.  The Greek title of Revelation is Apokalypsis, which means “revelation” or “disclosure.”  It reveals the ultimate goal of all history.  As a disclosure, it nourishes those who serve Christ, and that ought to comfort all Christians, regardless of their views on Revelation.

Pastor Mick is beginning a series on Revelation today and has chosen as the hymn of response, Be Thou My Vision, an 8th century Irish poem translated by Mary E. Byrne in 1905.  Even as the apostle John sought to comfort the Church with his heavenly visions, this hymn helps us to know Christ in all His fullness and enabling power.  Won’t you join us in this sung prayer that Christ will enable us to place our complete reliance on Him to accomplish His will?  May we say of Christ even as the hymn writer says, “Thou my best thought, by day or by night – waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”

A seven headed red dragon seeking to devour a baby as he comes out of his mother’s womb, horrifying beasts rising from the earth and sea, locusts with tails like scorpions rising from the abyss making people wish for death, a seducing harlot drunk with the blood of saints riding a seven headed beast and a pale horse who’s rider is named Death with Hades following after him.  This is not the newest horror picture from Hollywood but the Book of Revelation.  Against this backdrop of evil characters, the hero of Revelation is revealed: 

“Then I saw heaven opened , and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war . . . On His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”         -Revelation 19:11, 16 

We must remember that Jesus Christ is no longer the baby in the manger born to die for our sins but the risen savior and conquering king of this universe.  Revelation opens our eyes to the reality of the spiritual world and battle raging around us.  Your life is not about having a fine home, nice family or good time for a few short years then dying and going to heaven.  It is about living for Christ today as this great battle rages around us.  Seducing pleasures, deceiving false religions, and powerful persecutions test the faithful as they fulfill their destiny and carry the message of the gospel to the nations today.

Revelation is to encourage you and me of Christ’s ultimate victory even in this world of temptations, suffering and death.  It is a book that reveals a strict worldview of good vs. evil, Christ vs. Antichrist, and God vs. Satan.  There is no neutrality in this book, you are either with Christ or you are against Him, if you are not gathering, you are scattering!  He is coming soon to judge and make war with His enemies.  This Book challenges you to wake up and take a side. 

Revelation is often a mystery for us to understand.  This book however was written not to hide truth but to reveal it.  It is written in an ancient literary form called Apocalyptic literature.  This literature has visions filled with animals, monsters and numbers that symbolize spiritual and future realities.  These visions often overlap giving a fuller perspective on the same events.  An easy to read small paperback Revelation commentary called More Than Conquerors, by William Hendricksen, is a great resource to follow our study with.

We will be preaching through Revelation chapter one in the morning service the rest of July.  We will then continue the book in our evening service over the next year.  I challenge you to follow this new series closely as we unfold the Book of Revelation in an understandable and practical way. 

Revelation Outline – 7 Major Visions

Prologue – Revelation 1:1-8

Vision 1 – The Seven Churches, Revelation 1:9-3

Vision 2 – The Seven Seals,   Revelation 4-8:1-5

Vision 3 – The Seven Trumpets, Revelation 8:6-11

Vision 4 – The Seven Signs, Revelation 12-14

Vision 5 – The Seven Bowls, Revelation 15-16

Vision 6 – The Fall of Babylon, Revelation 17-20

Vision 7 – The New Jerusalem, Revelation 21-22:5

Epilogue – Revelation 22:6-21

Today is Sunday, July 4, 2010, the day we celebrate our nation’s independence.  Independence Day has fallen on the Lord’s Day, and this brings to mind some questions regarding our worship service: (1) Should national holidays have any influence on our worship planning, and, if so, to what extent?  (2) Should we use the Sunday closest to Independence Day to focus on our utter dependence on Christ, our freedom from bondage to sin, our slavery to Christ (acknowledging, but also spiritualizing the holiday), or is there a way of genuinely giving thanks for our nation without worshiping it?  

In answering these questions, let us remember that God’s kingdom is not of this world
(Jn. 18:36).  At FPC, therefore, we don’t feel any obligation to draw attention to, highlight, or celebrate civil holidays as part of our Sunday gatherings.  There are a number of reasons for this.  Our country doesn’t set the agenda and priorities for the meetings of the church – God’s Word does.  We gather on Sundays to remember the covenant God has made with us, to celebrate our redemption provided for us by God through His Son, and to encourage one another to live lives worthy of the Gospel. 

However, that doesn’t mean we should completely ignore civil holidays, either.  Since civil holidays often loom large in the minds of our congregation, we don’t want to draw even more attention to them by ignoring them.  Such occasions can become opportunities to help people think biblically about them and to place them in their proper theological context.  On the 4th of July, for example, we point out that we’re grateful for the freedom we have as a nation.  Though we’re undeserving, most other people in the world don’t experience this common grace.  However, this day should also remind us of the greater freedom we have in the Gospel. 

Mother’s Day is another example of how we can biblically extol the value of motherhood in God’s plan, and honor mothers in some way.  Near Memorial Day we might take a moment to remember and give thanks for those who have given their lives in the service of our country.  But we try never to allow a public holiday to dictate our decisions about how we worship on Sunday mornings.  Civil holidays can be real expressions of God’s common grace that enable us to rest, celebrate, and even to do so with a common frame of reference with non-believers.  

God tells us in Colossians 4:5-6, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”  As we honor our veterans, and celebrate God’s graciousness to our nation, let’s make the most of this opportunity to exalt the superior glory, wisdom, grace, and truth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  It is His glorious Gospel that provides our only hope of lasting freedom and joy.

Thinking about this brought to mind an article I recently came across titled, “A Family Affair” (Christianity Today, May 2010).  What caught my eye was the opening line of the article.  “Spiritual formation occurs primarily in the context of community.”  This is followed by the observation: “Persons who remain connected with their brothers and sisters in the local church almost invariably grow in self-understanding.  And they mature in their ability to relate in healthy ways to God and to fellow human beings.  This is especially the case for those courageous Christians who stick it out through the messy process of interpersonal conflict.  Long-term relationships are the crucible of genuine progress in the Christian life.  People who stay grow” (italics mine). 

The article goes on to quote George Barna who noted a decade ago that American Christians are convinced that spiritual enlightenment comes from diligence in a discovery process, rather than commitment to a faith group and perspective.

The faith, we too often think, is all about me – about God’s wonderful plan for my life, about my spiritual gifts, about how God can meet my needs, etc. etc.  Such meager commitment to the church can only lead to a stunted spiritual life.

Maybe, just maybe, July 4th with its opportunities to get together with believing Christians friends, is a good opportunity to reflect on these thoughts and recommit ourselves to one another.  

The early Christians had a different perspective than 21st century North American Christians.  Jesus’ early followers were convinced that the group comes first.  The group, not the individual, took priority in a believer’s life in the early church. 

Small groups in our church are probably one of or the best places for most of us to grow.  If we are really serious about spiritual formation, we must become really serious about creating churches that act like real families.

Summer is here and it is going fast.  School has been out for a month and all our favorite shows have ended ’till the fall.  What have we done to fill the time?  Here is a list of things that we can do this summer to grow in our faith: 

Study the Word of God:  Take time this summer to get into the Word of God and grow in your knowledge of God.  If do not know where to start, we have great reading plans on our website. 

Learn something new:  Unsure about things in the faith?  Take some time this summer to learn something that you never knew.  There are great books in the Book Nook at the church.  Pick up one.

Pray more:  We can never pray enough.  If you need things to pray for, check out our prayer page on our website or the Covenant People section of the bulletin.

Get out:  Make sure you spend some time outside.  There are some beautiful parks and beaches here in South Florida where we can enjoy God’s creation. 

These are just a few things that we can do with our extra time.  Let’s make this summer one to remember and take some time to grow in our Faith.

At first blush, what happens during these days doesn’t seem to have much to do with what we do here at First Pres. Margate.  In fact, there is a great deal.  It has to do with what we refer to as our “connectedness” with other PCA churches and people around the country.  All of us have the same commitment to the Scriptures and the way we hold and profess our biblical faith.  Some of the ways in which we worship may look different, but we’re all committed to the “regulative principle” which, for the uninitiated, means that we believe that our worship must be guided and regulated by the Scriptures.

The theme of this year’s assembly is “Love, Sing, Wonder” after a hymn of John Newton, who wrote “Amazing Grace.”  In keeping with this theme, we’ll enjoy the first ever hymn-sing led by the Indelible Grace on Wednesday evening.  

In the formative years of the PCA, the term “grass roots” was used to denote that the power of our churches would flow from the bottom up; that it would come through elders of our local churches.  This meant a dramatic change in the way things were done in the former denomination.  There, the power flowed from the top down.

This year, for the first time, the “commissioners” who are present (no one is forced to attend) will discuss a recently formulated Strategic Plan which is meant to deepen the grass-roots character of our denomination.  The first theme of this plan titled “Safe Places,” has to do with the creation of environments where matters of theology can be debated informally by the broadest spectrum of those who have questions.  The second theme, “More Seats at the Table,” is to enable a much wider range of voices to participate in the mission and ministry of our churches.  The third and final theme “God’s Global Mission,” is to challenge us to become more involved in discipleship and mentoring in order to move the gospel forward in this country and around the world.

More can be said about this assembly but this will come at some future date.  In the mean time, since we are in this together, we are all invited to pray that the Lord would be pleased to direct this, the largest assembly of elders in our denomination, to take steps to glorify His name and advance His Kingdom.  

As Pastor Drew continues his sermon series on the book of Genesis, he is focusing on the result of Satan’s temptation, and Adam and Eve’s sin, namely, the curse.  The first curse God pronounces is on the serpent (Satan), whereby He breaks the serpent’s powers and subjects him to abject humiliation.  God says to the serpent, “dust you shall eat all the days of your life.”  This curse lasts forever.  Ultimately, Satan will face his final defeat under the heel of the Messiah (Genesis 3: 15).

The curse extends to Adam and Eve as well, and now they are alienated from God and their relationship with Him is broken.  But unlike the serpent, their curse is not necessarily permanent.  There is a promise of a “seed” that will make atonement for their sin.

An atonement is a reconciliation of alienated parties that restores the broken relationship.  It is accomplished by making amends, blotting out offenses, and giving satisfaction for the wrongs done.  Since the Fall of Adam and Eve, every person sins and needs to make atonement, but those who have sinned lack the power to do so.  Those who have sinned cannot be accepted by God unless atonement is made.  Since there is sin even in our best actions, anything we try to do in the hope of making amends only makes things worse.  Scripture tells us, “the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord” (Prov. 15:8). 

But against this background of hopelessness, Scripture reveals the grace and mercy of God, who Himself provides the atonement that sin has made necessary in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Christ’s blood was shed as a sacrifice (Rom 3:25; 5:9; Eph. 1:7; Rev. 1:5).  Christ redeemed His people by paying a ransom.  His death was the price that freed us from the guilt and power of sin (Rom. 3:24; Gal. 4:4, 5; Col. 1:14).  In Christ’s death, God reconciles us to Himself, overcoming His curse our sins provoked (Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19; Col. 1:20-22).  The Cross of Christ propitiated God, quenching His wrath against us and expiating our sins, and removing them from His sight.  On the Cross, Christ endured for us the “curse of the law” (Gal. 3:13).  He suffered as our substitute, and all our sins were nailed by God to His cross!

Our closing hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, by Isaac Watts, celebrates this wonderful atonement.  Isaac Watts wrote this personal and deeply moving expression of gratitude for the love and mercy of Christ’s cross in 1707.  Noted theologian Matthew Arnold called this the greatest hymn in the English language.  Charles Wesley, another giant among hymn writers, said of Stanza 3: “See, from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down; did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?”, “O, If only I could have written that verse! I would have given up all I have written if that verse were mine!”

We rarely ever truly comprehend the cross of Christ.  Though the cross offers deliverance, it also demands a response.  What shall we offer to God in grateful return for His gracious gift!  All that we have and all that we are is but a small offering in return for such great love.  Why not let your soul rejoice as we contemplate our complete redemption in the cross of Christ.  Sing along with Watts: “my soul, my life, my all.”

“When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.”

 “The preaching of the Word of God is the Word of God.  Wherefore when this Word of God is now preached in the church by preachers lawfully called, we believe that the very Word of God is proclaimed, and received by the faithful; and that neither any other Word of God is to be invented nor is to be expected from heaven: and that now the Word itself which is preached is to be regarded, not the minister that preaches; for even if he be evil and a sinner, nevertheless the Word of God remains still true and good” (Second Helvetic Confession, Chapter 1).

The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of enlightening, convincing, and humbling sinners; of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Christ; of conforming them to his image, and subduing them to his will; of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions; of building them up in grace, and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation (Westminster Larger Catechism Answer 155).

“While God’s Word certainly ‘tells it like it is,” it is also the act by which God makes things what they are and the way that they are in the first place… To put it simply, the word not only sets forth; it also brings forth … the Word not only describes salvation, but also conveys it” (Michael Horton).

The Word is an implanted seed “that has the power to save souls” James 1:21.  First Peter 1:23-24 adds, “You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.”

“Whenever the Word is proclaimed, the Lord of the covenant assembles his people and the rainbow reappears amid dissipating clouds as God remembers the truce that he made with us.  Through this canon—written, read, sung, and prayed—but especially as it is proclaimed anew, strangers to God and each other become a communion” (Michael Horton).

“The preached Word that comes to us by word of mouth is Jesus Christ himself now present with us” (Oswald Bayer).

“It is by the preaching of the grace of God alone that the Church is kept from perishing” (Calvin).

“Without the work of the Spirit, the Word would fall on deaf ears, but the Spirit opens deaf ears through the external Word” (Calvin).

 “We hear his ministers speaking just as if he himself spoke… God breathes faith into us only by the instrument of the gospel, as Paul points out that ‘faith comes by hearing’” (Calvin). 

That is the expectation we should have when we assemble with God’s people.  We are gathering to hear God speak, trusting his promise ‘to breath faith into us’ for His glory and our edification!!!!

We’ve promised to pray and below are a number of matters about which prayer is needed.  How important the Lord’s protection is during this week.  They’ll be using a variety of tools to repair homes, roofs, porches, stair railings, all of which have potential to cause injury major or minor.

Then, of course, there’s the matter of their health.  The food will be good and plentiful (Donna Lackman will be helping in the kitchen) but there are always bugs to be picked up along the way.   

Fairmont is a little town in rural West Virginia.  The Day-Spring camp where they’re staying, and the houses they will be working on, are located a little farther away in the countryside.  The team is going to be helping Ed and Mary Jones to repair their house, which, like so many others, has had more than its share of aging and deterioration.  Ed and Mary are both well along in years, Ed in his 80’s and Mary suffering from Parkinson’s disease.  They are however confessing Christians and members of nearby Swisher Hill Church.

Then there is Ms. Imogene Ridenour who lives just down the street from Ed and Mary.  She is also in her mi’s, living in a house that needs windows replaced, a front porch that needs flooring, and some additional work on the roof.  Both houses need serious repair, their owners too elderly and too unwell to do it themselves and with little or no money to pay someone else to do it.

We also need to pray for our young people on the team.  Three are in their teens, and two pre-teen boys.  Fairmont could be an event the Lord could use to teach them important lessons, not just how to repair houses, but how to care for the people who live in them and experience the joy of serving people with real needs.

The team will be doing this hard work for the entire week before they find their way back to south Florida.  We’ll doubtless have an opportunity to hear from them later, but especially for this week let us all be in earnest prayer, not so much for what they might accomplish while they are there, but what the Lord might accomplish in them.

Fathers, (and all men for that matter), here are some verses for reflection this Father’s Day.  May our Heavenly Father encourage your hearts as you seek to faithfully serve Him. 

1 Chronicles 29:17 
I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity ... 

Deuteronomy 1:29-31 
Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert.  There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” 

Joshua 1:9 
...Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 

Malachi 4:6 
He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse. 

Psalm 103:13 
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. 

Proverbs 3:11-12 
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. 

Proverbs 3:32 
For the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence. 

Proverbs 10:9 
The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. 

Proverbs 17:24 
A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. 

Proverbs 17:27 
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. 

Proverbs 23:22 
Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 

Proverbs 23:24 
The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. 

Ephesians 6:4 
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. 

Colossians 3:21 
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 

Hebrews 12:7 
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.  For what son is not disciplined by his father? 

True biblical worship is the response we give to God as He has revealed Himself in His Word.  It honors and glorifies God by offering back to Him all His good gifts with thanksgiving, and acknowledging His greatness and graciousness in all He has given us.  We praise Him for who and what He is, and thank Him for what He has done.  When we worship God, we desire to see Him increase in glory through His continuing acts of mercy, judgment, and power, and trust Him by our prayers for our own and other’s well-being.  We learn from God in worship as well, which is why the preaching of His Word is so central to our Reformed practice.  Attention to His Word honors Him, while inattention is an offense.

The basis for our worship is the covenant relationship whereby God has bound Himself to those whom He has saved and claimed.  This grounding in covenant is true of both Old Testament and New Testament Christian worship.  The spirit of covenant worship, as the Old Testament reveals it, is a blend of awe and joy at the privilege of drawing near to our God, with deep humility and honest confession of our sin and need.  Since God is holy and we are fallen, it must be that way.

These patterns for worship are found every week in our Order of Worship.  From the prelude to the closing hymn, every element of our worship service is a reflection of true biblical worship.  The Call to Worship, Introit, and opening hymn proclaim our adoration of God.  Our Confession of Sin, Assurance of Pardon and Confession of Faith acknowledges our sin and deep need for God’s grace.  The times of prayer, including the Pastoral Prayer demonstrate our trust in God for our well-being.  The Gloria Patri and the Doxology praise and thank God for His goodness to us. The Scripture Reading and especially the Sermon point to the centrality of God’s Word in our worship.

All of this worship is surrounded by music.  Psalm 95, quoted above, begins with these words: “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord … let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (vs. 1, 2).  The use of music to convey our worship, which is commanded in Scripture, must also follow the pattern for worship described above.  Hopefully, as you sing and hear our worship music, your thoughts will rise to the Giver of all beauty, even our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

With this in mind, our closing hymn is O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus! by the English preacher, Samuel Trevor Francis.  This hymn tries to express the magnitude of God’s love for us in Christ.  It is an “ocean” and a “heaven of heavens.”  But how does knowing of this deep, deep love affect the way we live our lives?

First it reassures us.  When Paul says that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, we know that our sin will not keep us from Jesus.  This love motivates us to “spread His praise from shore to shore!”  But most importantly, this “love of every love the best” makes Christ the highest priority in our lives.  All other longings fall by the wayside when we bask in the vast ocean of God’s love for us in Jesus, Our Lord!  Please join us in singing this great hymn of praise.

   “O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best; ‘tis an ocean vast of blessing, ‘tis a haven sweet of rest.  O the deep, deep love of Jesus! ‘Tis a heaven of heavens to me; and it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee.

     The New Testament declares that Jesus, our Lord was entirely free from sin (John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5).  This means that Jesus not only never disobeyed His Father, He also loved God’s law and whole-heartedly enjoyed keeping it. Since all of us are fallen human beings, we all have some reluctance to obey God, and sometimes resentment towards God for the claims He makes on us (Rom. 8:7).  Since Jesus, as God’s Son did not suffer from the fallen moral nature of Adam, Satan could not exploit Him as he does us.  Jesus fully loved His Father and His Father’s will with all of His heart, mind, and strength.

     Hebrews 4:5 (quoted above), says that Jesus, “in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”   The temptations we face – temptation to sinfully indulge our natural desires, to evade moral and spiritual issues, to cut corners, to not love others, to be self-centered and lost in self-pity – all came upon Jesus, but He yielded to none of them.  Both in Gethsemane and on the cross of Calvary, Jesus resisted temptation to the point of death.  He is our example.

     It was necessary that Jesus be free from sin in order for Him to be our Savior.  He was “a lamb without blemish and without spot,” able to offer His “precious” blood for us (1 Pet. 1:19). If Jesus had any sin in Him, He would have needed a savior Himself, and His death would not have saved us.  But Christ obeyed on our behalf all the moral commandments that apply to all humanity.  He also fully accomplished the will of God for Him in particular, as the One called to be our Messiah.  His perfect obedience qualifies Him to be our all-sufficient Savior.

     What a contrast from our first parents, Adam and Eve!  Last Sunday, Pastor Drew preached on Genesis 3:1-7, and focused on the serpent as it represents Satan.  This week, in the same passage, Pastor Drew is focusing on the sin of Adam and Eve itself.  As a result of their Fall, the apostle Paul says in Romans, that all mankind, in their human nature is under the guilt and power of sin.  The consequence of this is that mankind is also under the reign of death, and the inescapable wrath of God (Rom. 1:18, 19; 3:9, 19; 5:17, 21).  Paul traces this back to the Fall of Adam and Eve, who sinned by eating the forbidden fruit.  This Fall gives a convincing explanation for why our world is in the shape it’s in today.  Since Adam’s Fall, our human nature, apart from the grace of God in Christ, is perverse, and mankind has fallen away from God and godliness into sin and lostness.

     The remedy, as is proclaimed every week at FPC, is to turn to our sinless Savior, Jesus Christ. Our closing hymn, Praise the Savior Now and Ever helps us to do just that.  This is an ancient hymn, written by the prolific 6th century hymn writer, Venantius Fortunatus, who became Bishop of Poitiers.  The English translation was by Augustus Nelson, and I set the text to Haydn’s Austrian Hymn (“Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”).  Join us in singing of God’s remedy for the problem of sin – even Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

“Man’s work faileth, Christ’s availeth; He is all our righteousness; He, our Savior, has forever set us free from dire distress. Through His merit we inherit light and peace and happiness.  Man’s work faileth, Christ’s availeth; He is all our righteousness.”

Wisdom for Distracted Souls

During times of personal or public worship, do you find your heart wandering from religious duties?  Do prayer, meditation, and listening to the Word become times of deep inner struggle as your heart is pulled form one distraction to another?  We are all familiar with such times, for sin ever fetters the heart of man to the things of this world so that even in times of solemn worship we find we cannot raise ourselves to where Jesus Christ is seated.  In his book, Attending upon God without Distraction, Nathanael Vincent writes:

While we are in this world, truly this world is too much in us; it is suitable to our senses, and apt to entice and draw away our hearts.  Let the eye of faith pierce through the clouds and see heaven’s joy and glory, and then this world’s vanity will be the more apparent.  How vain it is for you to be so thoughtful about it and eager after this world.  When faith has seen how God is attended upon by saints and angels above, it may help to kindle in you a holy zeal and a vehement desire to more resemble those excellent attendants, and to serve the Lord more gladly and seriously here below.

Oh, cry out to have the cure of distractions carried on further toward completeness.  Live as strangers and sojourners here on earth, not concerned about worldly things as others are.  Declare plainly that you are born from above, and let your hearts and thoughts more and more ascend there.  Carry yourselves as fellow citizens with the saints, and as those who are of the household of God.  Let there be more of God and more of grace in all you do and speak, in all the powers of your souls, in all the duties you perform.  And think with gladness and longing of that blessed inheritance, when you shall be fully delivered from sin and death, and from all deadness and distraction in mind and heart.  Everlasting rest must eternally exclude whatever now troubles you.  How perfectly healed and perfect in holiness and joy will you be in every way when you have attained to the glorious liberty of the sons of God!

Some of you may remember the commissioning of the young people who we helped send to Acapulco, Mexico several weeks ago. Each young person was asked to promise to commit to each of four questions in front of the congregation. This Sunday morning the Fairmont team will be asked the same questions listed below. 

• Do you know and believe the truths of the gospel and are you able and willing
         to communicate these truths to others?

• Are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit to use the experiences of this trip in your
        life in whatever way He desires?

• As part of the body of First Presbyterian Church and being under its authority, do
        you promise to do your utmost to uphold the name and honor of our Lord by your
        words and actions?

•  Are you committed to the authority of the team leaders and committed as well to
        the members of your team, to encourage them, work with them, and pray for them  
        so that the entire team will together exemplify a Godly spirit?

One final question is directed to the congregation for its response.  

• As the congregation of First Presbyterian Church, do you recognize your role in
      sending these who stand before you on this mission trip, and do you promise to
        support them with your prayers during the time they are engaged in this ministry? 

It is our privilege to send this wonderful, diverse group of our people on this trip. They comprise a total of seventeen, five young people accompanied by a parent, one married couple, and six (three men and three women) adults, called by God to minister in His name.  We thank them for all their hard work, their commitment to our Lord and the people He will bring across their path. May the Lord bless them richly during their week away from us.

How does this impact our personal commitment to the Lord?  Does a certain kind of relaxed mode also creep into our thinking or is our pursuit of the Lord as strong as ever?

What seemed to characterize the giants of the faith in ancient times was a passion for God.  While that passion took different forms, one doesn’t have to read far in the Scriptures to identify that trait.  Jacob actually wrestled with God, and Abraham was bold to the point of trying to talk God out of destroying Sodom if there were just a handful of “righteous” people there.  Job serves as another example of passion as he lashed out at God repeatedly in the face of his great loss. 

The interesting point to all of this was, God never turned his back on them despite their emotional outbursts.  The Bible emphasizes repeatedly that it is a personal relationship that God desires with his people.  Our experience with personal relationships should tell us that they are never simple or constant.  With God as with people, there is no easy path.  

When we think about the summer weeks which are now before us being a World Changer might be far down on the list.  We may think too little of this in the best of times, but the summer - that’s primarily for relaxing, or so we think.  Philip Yancey writes, “For some Christians, the times of Job-like crisis will represent the greatest danger.  How can they cling to faith in a God who appears unconcerned and even hostile?  Others…face a more subtle danger.  An accumulation of distractions – a malfunctioning computer, bills to pay, an upcoming trip, a friend’s wedding, the general busyness of life – gradually edges God away from the center of life.”  He goes on, “Some days I meet people, eat, work, make decisions, all without giving God a single thought.  And that void is far more serious than what Job experienced, for not once did Job stop thinking about God.”      

Whatever we do this summer, let’s be careful not to ignore God.  Whatever we do, and wherever we do it, we must invite God to be present there as well.  Being a World Changer means a constancy of life and passion for God.  Summer is no time to lose sight of that.

-John 14:15

    When we sin, regardless of what that sin is, we demonstrate that we don’t trust God, and that we think we can do better without Him.  Sin is even worse when believers in Christ do it, because we are surrounded with sufficient motives to trust and obey Him.  Nonetheless, salvation depends entirely upon the Lord and not on our obedience.
   Today, Pastor Drew is preaching on Genesis 3:1-7, which tells of the fall of mankind into sin.  First, the serpent comes to Eve and is “more crafty than any other beast of the field” (3:1).  Satan’s deception is a malevolent distortion of God’s Word.  Satan’s handling of Scripture must be carefully scrutinized, and he can only be withstood with the help of God’s holy armor (Matt. 4:1-11; Eph. 6:10-20).
   In these short 7 verses, we see Satan misrepresent God’s Word by: 1) subverting the marriage institution by bypassing Adam and usurping his authority, 2) emphasizing God’s prohibition and ignoring God’s provision, (3) minimizing God’s firm command by making it into a question, 4) casting doubt on God’s sincerity and defaming His motives, and 5) denying the truthfulness of God’s sanctions for disobedience.
   We see Eve gradually yield to Satan’s denials and half-truths.  She disparages her privileges and then adds to God’s prohibition by saying, “neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”  Her decision to sin was based not on God’s Word, but on practical values, aesthetic appreciation, and intellectual gratification.  Eve (followed even more inexcusably by her husband, Adam), ate of the fruit and sealed an alliance with Satan.  Only God’s election and plan of redemption can save them from their sin (and ours).
   This pattern of sin remains even though God still requires total obedience of each person to all the implications of His law.  Question 99 in the Westminster Larger Catechism says, “[the law] binds the whole man…unto obedience forever”; “it is spiritual, and so reaches the understanding, will, affections, and all other powers of the soul as well as the words, works, and gestures.”  In other words, our desires as well as our actions must be right.  Jesus condemned the Pharisees for covering their inner corruption with an outward show of righteousness (Matt. 23:25-28).
   Thankfully, God has provided an escape from this pattern of sin brought on by the Fall of Adam and Eve.  He gave His own Son as a propitiation for our sin, and He in His perfect obedience fulfilled the requirements of God’s law for us.  Then He sent His Spirit to help us to live according to His Word.  As the apostle Paul says, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
   Our closing hymn, Spirit of the Living God, by the great Presbyterian pastor, Daniel Iverson, is a prayer that God would refresh us and empower us to live both inwardly and outwardly righteous lives.  Won’t you join us in this song of prayer that by God’s Spirit we “may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19)?

“Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.  Break me!  Melt me!  Mold me!  Fill me!  Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.”

In light of the recent sermons, I found this word from Thomas Brooks, fitting.  Taken from “Heaven on Earth” 1667:

Only those things which are sinful, are shameful.  “Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Sovereign Lord” (Ezekiel 16:63).

When the penitent soul sees his sins pardoned, the anger of God pacified, and divine justice satisfied, then he sits down ashamed.  Sin and shame are inseparable companions.  A Christian cannot have the seeming sweet of sin, but he shall have the real shame which accompanies sin.  These two God has joined together, and all the world cannot put them asunder.

It was the vile and impenitent Caligula who said of himself, “that he loved nothing better in himself, than that he could not be ashamed.”  A soul who has sinned away all shame, is a soul ripe for hell--and given up to Satan!  A greater plague cannot befall a man in this life, than to sin and not to blush!

• Study the Word: Take time this summer to get into the Word of God.
• Learn something new: Unsure about things in the faith? Take some time this summer to learn something that you never knew. There are great books in the Book nook at the church. Pick one up.
• Pray more: We can never pray enough. If you need things to pray for, check out our prayer page by clicking here.
• Get out: Make sure you spend some time outside. Enjoy God's beautiful creation!

These are just some things that we can do with our extra time. Let's make this summer one to remember. Take some time to go in your Faith.

Only it now appears that times are changing.  The title of the article cited above reads, “Drug war catches up to Mexican city.”  Monterrey has always been safe we’re told, so safe, that drug lords chose to locate their families there.  And now, the tradition of a tranquil Monterrey seems to be coming to an end.  In the space of a few weeks, drug gangs have blocked off city streets and engaged in gun battles which have claimed 164 lives just this year.  As a result many of Monterrey’s citizens are afraid and are needing to change the way they live.  They go out less at night and drive on the highways only at certain hours.

We don’t know how all this has affected our friends at the Cumbres del Rey Church, their worship service attendance or the outreach into their communities.  We do know that the church has been growing.  Three years ago church membership totaled 20. This year that number has more than doubled, with the goal of reaching 100 by the end of this year.  Other objectives include having 10 solid small groups and an average Sunday morning worship service attendance of 150 people.  An added objective is Pastor Pablo’s theological examination and ordination by his presbytery, which is to have taken place some time this month.

We don’t know how this might impact us.  For various reasons we have not planned any short term mission trips to Monterrey this year.  We are giving thought to inviting members of the Cumbres Church to visit us sometime in the future.  

Two and one half years ago we committed ourselves to this church and its pastor to pray and give financially for the next five years.  We have made every effort to honor that commitment.  Half of that time period is now over, with the other half still before us.  What has God in store for them?  What has He in store for us?  We don’t know the answer, of course, but we trust that the help we have been able to give in birthing this church can be the start of more partnerships like this in the future.  We need to be intentional in planting churches.

The Apostle Paul’s fervent plea for Christ our eternal Rock to grant salvation through His sacrifice (1 Cor. 10:1-4), and to be the place of refuge for believers is contained in August Toplady’s Rock of Ages, our closing hymn, and one of the most popular ever written.  With deep emotion, this hymn proclaims Christ’s atonement on the cross to be the only means of salvation, and that man’s tears and strivings to justify himself are of no avail.  The hymn also urges believers to find consolation and security in Christ our Rock – even at the time of death.

It is interesting to note that Toplady wrote this hymn to refute the teachings of John and Charles Wesley during a bitter controversy with them over Arminianism (which stresses man’s free will in salvation) versus John Calvin’s doctrine of election.  Rock of Ages was the climax of an article that Toplady wrote in The Gospel Magazine in 1776.  Toplady argued that just as no one man could pay England’s national debt, so man through his own efforts could ever satisfy the eternal justice of the all holy God.  Despite the argumentative original intent of this hymn, God has preserved it for more than 200 years to bring blessing to both Arminian and Calvinistic believers around the world.

As Pastor Drew continues his sermon series on Genesis, he is moving on to chapter 3, which recounts the Fall of man.  As we saw last week, originally Adam and Eve were naked but unashamed (Gen. 2:25).  But they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, and could no longer endure the gaze of God or each other in their nakedness.  Guilt and shame had come upon them.  In an effort to clothe themselves, they made loincloths out of fig leaves, but God clothed them by killing an animal and making garments from its skin.

In much the same way, God clothes us with the righteousness of Christ, so that we can stand before God the Father knowing that there is therefore no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus.  That is why we can sing, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling; naked come to Thee for dress; helpless look to Thee for grace; foul, I to the Fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.

Our closing hymns are generally a hymn of response to the preaching of God’s Word.  This hymn gives us a vehicle to offer sincere praise and thanksgiving to Him for His great gift of salvation in clothing us in the righteousness of Christ and for being the place of refuge for us, even unto death.  Let us joyfully sing:

“Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee; let the water and the blood, from Thy riven side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and power.”

There is a wide difference--in both principle and practice--between the the godly and the ungodly.  The affections of the godly are refined--and their desires exalted.  The inclinations of the ungodly are corrupt--and their desires groveling.  Sin has but a tottering standing, and a momentary abode--in the godly.  But sin has fixed its throne, and taken up its eternal residence--in the ungodly.  In the godly, grace and sin struggle for sovereignty.  In the ungodly, sin domineers and there is no struggle. 

The godly is deeply concerned about the world to come.  The ungodly has no concern about eternal realities.  The speech of the godly is seasoned with grace.  The discourse of the ungodly is insipid and vain.  The godly has his hope fixed on God.  The ungodly has no fear of God before his eyes.  The godly use the world without abusing it.  The ungodly, in using the world, abuse both themselves and it.

The godly confesses God in his daily life, and rejoices with his whole heart in Him.  The ungodly says in his practice--”there is no God” and wishes in his heart, that there were no God.  The godly adores the Creator above all else.  The ungodly worships the ‘creature’ more than the Creator.  The godly uses God’s name with profoundest reverence and departs from iniquity.  The ungodly profanes God’s name with impudence, and adds iniquity to sin.  The godly redeems his time.  The ungodly trifles away his time.

The godly studies his duty in obedience to all God’s precepts.  The ungodly shakes himself loose from every command of God.  The godly forgives his foes.  The ungodly lays a snare for his foes.  The godly commits it to God to avenge his wrong.  The ungodly, fiery and tumultuous--seeks revenge.  The godly loves chastity in all things.  The ungodly wallows in uncleanness.  The godly is content with his condition.  The ungodly covets all the day long. 

The godly is pure in heart.  The heart of the ungodly is like a cage full of unclean birds.  The godly walks at liberty in the ways of God.  The ungodly is the servant and slave of sin.  The Holy Spirit rules in the heart of the godly.  Satan rules in the heart of the ungodly.  The godly has his conversation in heaven.  The ungodly has his conversation in hell. 

As there is such a wide difference in their principles and practices--so also, in their eternal destinies.  God is faithful--He has promised felicity to the pious, and threatened vengeance to the wicked.  “The wicked is thrust out in his wickedness; but the righteous has hope in his death” (Proverbs 14:32).

What would we have thought if we had been there?  Would we have been able to sleep that night?  Would we have been looking for some of the same things to happen the next day, and perhaps disappointed if they didn’t?

What about the disciples, the new believers, everyone that was present that day and saw and heard all that happened?  Interestingly, Luke doesn’t tell us too much.  What he does say is, “Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.”  But what he says just before that is so instructive.  In spite of all the excitement, the amazement, all the highly unusual things that were going on, we’re told that “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  Luke uses the word devotion to point to their focus and concentration.  Would it not have been natural for them to be quite overwhelmed by all these extraordinary manifestations of the Spirit, things that they had never seen or heard of before?  Might they have easily concluded that these were to become daily experiences, experiences that would have been so impressive that another three thousand would have been added to the church the next day?  Instead we’re told that “they devoted themselves” to, of all things, the apostles’ teaching, fellowship and prayer.  How unusual.  How unexpected.  But it tells us something doesn’t it?  This is a great description of people in whom the Holy Spirit dwells.  He works in the hearts of people in such a way that they become devoted to living for God, focused on the apostles’ teaching, gathering for fellowship, praying together.  

Perhaps this is the best way to celebrate Pentecost day.  Maybe we need more of that kind of devotion, teaching, fellowship and prayer!  If the Spirit is going to change the world this is what he wants us to do, this week, next week, and until Jesus comes.

In Romans, Paul says that all mankind, in their human nature is under the guilt and power of sin.  The consequence of this is that mankind is also under the reign of death, and the inescapable wrath of God (Rom. 1:18, 19; 3:9, 19; 5:17, 21).  Paul traces this back to the Fall of Adam, who sinned by eating the forbidden fruit.  This Fall gives a convincing explanation for why our world is in the shape it’s in today.  Since Adam’s Fall, our human nature, apart from the grace of God in Christ, is perverse, and mankind has fallen away from God and godliness into sin and lostness.

Before the Fall, however, man was in a state of innocence – without guilt and shame before God or others.  Pastor Drew is continuing in Genesis 2 and is preaching on verse 25 which says: “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”  This statement is not an endorsement of nudity, but a contrast to man’s post-fallen state.  When Adam fell, there was a tragic loss of that innocence.  Now, we can no longer endure the gaze of God or others because our exposed nakedness brings about guilt and shame.

The remedy for our spiritual nakedness before God is to put on the garments of Christ.  The Apostle John writes in Revelation: “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.  I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels” (Rev. 3:5).

Our closing hymn, Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness, by Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf beautifully expresses the Christian’s desire to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ.  Count Zinzendorf was one of the most remarkable persons in the history of the church.  He was born into wealth and nobility in Saxony, Germany.  He was educated in the most prestigious universities and was named counselor of the State of Saxony, but he chose to be associated with the Moravians, who were devout Christian believers who had been exiled from Austria.

Zinzendorf wrote over two thousand hymns, and this one is the best known.  His hymns were personal because he was a passionate promoter of what he called “Christianity of the Heart.”  Like all of his hymns, this hymn is Christ-centered.  Zinzendorf’s life motto was, “I have but one passion, and that is [Jesus], and only He.”

At FPC, our passion is to worship Christ as well.  By His life, He has won for us a record of perfect obedience which is required for anyone to enter the kingdom of heaven.  By His death He has purchased our forgiveness, experiencing nakedness and shame for our sin before the Father for us.  By His resurrection He has given us eternal life, and He will one day come to reclaim His own to live with Him forever.  How can we not be passionate in our worship of Him.  Come, join us in singing praise to Jesus, our Savior and Lord.  Be clothed in His righteousness!

“Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress; midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, with joy shall I lift up my head.”

This Sunday we have the joy of receiving new members into our church.  Church membership is a vital part of our Christian commitment.  It says to the world that we are willing to give of ourselves both to Christ and to his church. 

If you have been attending our church for some time, I want to encourage you to think about joining in a formal way.  Let me give you 3 reasons why you should consider becoming a member: 

First Presbyterian Church is committed to doing God’s work in God’s way, as a caring community of brothers and sisters in Christ.  If this is your regular place of worship and if God is blessing you here, perhaps the Lord would have you inquire about becoming a member.  God wants you to be blessed in the church, and he wants you in the church to be a blessing to others.

Linda Boice has said, the “story of Jim’s life is not about one man, but about the role a series of godly, gifted men had in shaping and preparing him for a God-ordained ministry.”  Surely all would agree that the story of Jim’s life is also a story about God’s grace.  A person cannot possibly understand the life and ministry of James Boice apart from understanding the God he served and the Book he studied and defended.

Dr. Boice was a humble man and would have wanted all those who are thankful for his ministry to give glory to God and not his own achievements.  He wanted everything that he accomplished in his life to point people to the triune God alone.  This is obvious when you consider that every book he wrote was dedicated to God:  “To Him who loves us and has freed us”, “To the giver of every good and perfect gift”, “To Him who opened His mouth in parables and uttered things hidden since the creation of the world”, “To Him who is able to make all grace abound to you” and so on.  To Him!  James Boice never tired of pointing people ‘to Him’, the God who revealed Himself to us in His holy Word. 

To ‘glorify’ the man James Boice rather than the God he served would be a rejection of everything for which Dr. Boice stood.  However, in telling his story, God is glorified, for in the life and ministry of James Montgomery Boice, we see God’s faithfulness to His church, we see the power of His word and we see His amazing grace, and sovereign providence at work in the life of one of His choice servants.  Thus the words of Dr. Boice’s hymn, Give Praise to God, are a fitting way to close:

Give praise to God who reigns above

For perfect knowledge, wisdom love;

His judgments are divine, devout,

His paths beyond all tracing out.

Come, lift your voice to heaven’s high throne,

And glory give to God alone!

No one can counsel God all-wise

Or truths unveil to his sharp eyes;

He marks our paths behind, before;

He is our steadfast counselor.

Come, lift your voice to heaven’s high throne,

And glory give to God alone!

Nothing exists that God might need

For all things good from him proceed.

We praise him as our Lord, and yet

We never place God in our debt.

Come, lift your voice to heaven’s high throne,

And glory give to God alone!

Creation, life, salvation too,

And all things else both good and true,

Come from and through our God always,

And fill our hearts with grateful praise.

Come, lift your voice to heaven’s high throne,

And glory give to God alone!

Isn’t it striking the Lord chose of all days, this day of Pentecost when “there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.”  Luke makes it explicit what he meant by “every nation,” by naming the areas where all these people came from – at least fifteen of them.  Hearing the sound of a violent wind and seeing tongues of fire was dramatic enough.  What was more amazing to them was hearing the “wonders of God” in their own language.  “Aren’t all these men who are speaking Galileans?” they asked. 

What was the reaction of these hundreds of people who had come to Jerusalem from all over, to the sound of violent wind along with tongues of fire?  And perhaps even more impressive was hearing the wonders of God declared in their own language?  What would our reaction have been?  

At Pentecost the Holy Spirit did some powerful things with mighty wind and tongues of fire, but the more impressive thing was his gift of enabling them to hear God’s Word – all of them with their different languages – in words each understood.  They heard the good news right then and there and were never the same again.  

All these years later the Holy Spirit is still making God’s Word understandable, not just to us, but to people all over the world – in their own tongue.

We celebrate once again that gift he gave to them on that day and to us as well. We pray that what transformed them may transform us, and with us the world for Christ.

We are in Genesis, chapter two, in Pastor Drew’s sermon series on the first book of the Bible.  Last week, Pastor Drew preached on Genesis 2:18-23, which recounted how God formed for Adam a “helper, fit for him” (v. 18), and thus established the institution of marriage.  That institution is under serious attack in our culture which has affected even marriages in the Church.

Marriage is an exclusive relationship in which a man and woman commit themselves to each other in covenant for life.  On the basis of this covenant they vow to become “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24; Mal. 2:14; Matt. 19:4-6).

The Westminster Confession (24:2) states: “Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife; for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the church with an holy seed; and for preventing of uncleanness” (Gen. 1:28; 2:18; 1 Cor. 7:2-9).  As we heard last week, God’s ideal for marriage is that the man and the woman should complete each other (Gen. 2:23) and share in the creative work of making new people.  Though marriage is for all people (both Christian and non-Christian), intimacy in its fullest dimensions is not possible when the partners are not united in faith.

Paul uses Christ’s relationship to His church to explain what Christian marriage is.  The husband has a special responsibility as his wife’s leader and protector, while the wife’s calling is to accept her husband in that role (Eph. 5:21-33).  As God’s image-bearers both husband and wife have equal dignity and value, so that this distinction in roles cannot be used as justification for any implication that the wife is somehow inferior.  Both husband and wife must fulfill their roles with a mutual respect based on this fact.

In light of the above, God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16), yet He provided a procedure to protect the divorced wife (Deut. 24:1-4).  That provision was made, as Jesus taught, because of the “hardness of their hearts” (Matt. 19:8).  Jesus taught that adultery, which breaks the marriage covenant, warrants divorce (though reconciliation is preferable).  The principle is that all cases of divorce and remarriage involve a disruption of God’s ideal.

When Jesus was asked directly to say when divorce was permissible, He replied that divorce is always deplorable (Matt. 19:3-6), but that hearts will continue to be hard, so that divorce may sometimes be permissible. 

The prophet Hosea, compares God’s relationship with His people to a marriage of a man to an unfaithful wife.  Though the deeds of the wife, (as personified in Hosea’s marriage to the prostitute, Gomer), certainly warrant divorce, God repeatedly tells His people, “I will betroth you to me forever.  I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.  I will betroth you to me in faithfulness.  And you shall know the Lord” (Hosea 2:19, 20). There is no “hardness of heart” in God!

We celebrate God’s faithfulness to us in our closing hymn, Before the Throne of God, by Charitie Bancroft.  Join us in singing her profound understanding of God’s steadfast love for us: 

“Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea.  A great high Priest whose name is Love who ever lives and pleads for me.  My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart. I know that while in heaven He stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart.”

These words must have caused no small surprise.  Even more surprising was what happened next.  He ascended before their very eyes until the clouds hid him.  And if that wasn’t enough, while they were standing, staring into the sky, two men, dressed in white, stood beside them and gave them a rather simple message – “it’s useless standing there.  He is going to come back the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  And with that the disciples turned around and took a long walk back to Jerusalem.

This was Jesus’ departure from this world, his ascension into heaven no less, an occasion about which little attention is paid.  Lots of time is spent celebrating his first coming, less about his resurrection from the dead, and almost nothing about his ascending into heaven.  How is this possible?  Forty days after showing himself to the disciples, he ascends to heaven (not carried by angels) while the disciples stood watching.  The text doesn’t tell us what their reaction was, but, we can be sure that it was an event never to be forgotten.  Our National Day of Prayer gets remembered, but Jesus’ ascension into heaven, coming just one week later in the calendar, receives little or no notice. 

This event was important for our Lord.  It is as important for us today as it was for the disciples.  Not only are we informed as to the manner of his return, we are also to understand where he is (sitting at God’s right hand), and what he is doing (reigning over all). These facts alone provide sufficient reason for remembering the day.  It always falls on a Thursday (this year May 13) coming forty days after the resurrection.

And we haven’t even talked about what Jesus meant by his reference to being his witnesses.  Wait until next week. 

On the night of Thursday, June 15, 2000, James Montgomery Boice died in his sleep, only eight weeks after learning he had a fatal form of liver cancer.  “No one can possibly measure the loss that this represents to those who survive him,” said R. C. Sproul at Dr. Boice’s memorial service.  “Here we had a valiant warrior for the church militant in our age.” 

The last time Dr. Boice addressed the congregation of Tenth Presbyterian Church was on May 7, 2000.  He led the call to worship and then slipped out of the service due to fatigue.  Prior to the call to worship he shared a few words concerning his disease, I quote it here in part: 

If I were to reflect on what goes on theologically here, there are two things I would stress.  One is the sovereignty of God.  That’s not novel.  We have talked about the sovereignty of God here forever.  God is in charge.  When things like this come into our lives, they are not accidental.  It’s not as if God somehow forgot what was going on, and something bad slipped by.  It’s not the answer that Harold Kushner gave in his book, Why Bad Things Happen to Good People.  God does everything according to His will.  We’ve always said that.  

But what I’ve been impressed with mostly is something in addition to that.  It’s possible, isn’t it, to conceive of God as sovereign and yet indifferent?  God’s in charge, but He doesn’t care.  But it’s not that.  God is not only the one who is in charge; God is also good.  Everything He does is good.  And what Romans 12: 1 and 2 says is that we have the opportunity by the renewal of our minds—that is, how we think about these things—actually to prove what God’s will is.  And then it says, “His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”  Is that good, pleasing, and perfect to God?  Yes, of course, but the point of it is that it’s good, pleasing, and perfect to us.  If God does something in your life, would you change it?  If you’d change it, you’d make it worse.  It wouldn’t be as good.  So that’s the way we want to accept it and move forward, and who knows what God will do?  

Right up to his final days on earth he knew that what he read in Scripture was trustworthy and true.  This is what gave him the courage to come face to face with his impending death.  

Once again we learn that Dr. Boice practiced what he preached!  These words show the godliness of James Boice, and the faith that he had in the biblical God.  

To be continued

The Church is portrayed throughout Scripture as the bride, the marriage partner of the Lord.  This allusion is made unmistakable when one of the seven angels of Revelation tells John directly, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Rev. 21:9).  In light of the text of Pastor Drew’s sermon today, this is an important point to keep in mind.

Today, Pastor Drew is preaching on Genesis 2:18-25 which tells of the formation of Eve out of Adam’s rib - the first marriage.  God saw that Adam needed a “helper, fit for him” (v. 18), and created woman and the intimate, institution of marriage. 

Since our relationship with God, in Christ, is depicted as a marriage, it is appropriate that our closing hymn is Rejoice, All Ye Believers, by Laurentius Laurenti.  Laurenti was a Lutheran hymnwriter whose hymns were noted for their noble simplicity, scriptural fervency, and genuine poetic worth.  Many of his hymns are still in extensive use in Germany. 

This hymn points to the second coming of Christ, which will be a consummation of the marriage of Christ and His Bride, the Church.  For the Christian, this is where the Church will rise triumphant and will unite with Christ for worship forever.  Won’t you join us in singing of the unbroken joy which will be ours at the coming of our Bridegroom, even Christ, the Lord?

“Rejoice, all ye believers, and let your lights appear; the evening is advancing, and darker night is near: the Bridegroom is arising, and soon He draweth nigh; up, pray, and watch, and wrestle: at midnight comes the cry.”

Eighteen years ago this past month, the missions office received a request from a PCA pastor to undertake a modest level of financial support for a South African family which had just completed seven years of studies in this country and was now returning to South Africa to take on an important teaching ministry.  This request was about the Peter Smuts family, Peter and his wife Dagmar, and their four children.  While we had never met this family, all that we were told about them led us to believe that they would be a good fit for this church.  We have been happy partners with them as they have ministered these past eighteen years in Cape Town, South Africa.

In his earlier years Peter had planned to spend his life in the practice of law.  This meant seven years of studies at the University of Cape Town.  It was during this time he was soundly converted to Christ, met Dagmar his wife of more than 25 years, and as importantly was exposed to the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith.  Seven years of the study of Law then turned into eight growing years in student ministry at the university, a year of study at the Bible Institute of South Africa and a relatively brief time as pastor of a church in the city of Stellenbosch, near Cape Town.

Peter, Dagmar and their two children then traveled to California, Peter to attend Westminster Seminary in California and Dagmar to work in her field of  professional  nursing.  Once the Masters’ program was completed, Peter was accepted in the PhD program at Westminster Seminary, this time in Philadelphia, with specialization in Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation.  Then it was back to South Africa, as a member of the faculty of the Bible Institute of South Africa with a full schedule of classes.  Peter has also served as Dean of Students, Dean of Graduate Studies as well as Acting Principal and Vice-Principal of Academic Affairs.  These administrative duties, however important, hold second place for Peter who much prefers the study and teaching of God’s Word.

This is not their first visit to our church.  All six of them (the parents and four children) were here in 2000 and then again in 2005.  Today there are only four, the two older children, Jason and Marisa, remaining in South Africa still much involved in their studies.  

It is a great pleasure to host them for this brief visit and we’ll continue to pray for God’s provision for their return to South Africa the beginning of June and the important ministry they have there.  

2 Timothy is the last of all of the Apostle Paul’s epistles in the New Testament.  Paul wrote 2 Timothy during his second Roman imprisonment.  It is unknown why Paul had been arrested, but Paul had received no support at his preliminary hearing.  His trial still awaited him, but Paul knew that it would end in his execution.

Though most of his friends had abandoned him, Paul knew that his young protégé, Timothy, was still in Ephesus, where he had left him previously.  Paul knew that Timothy would be dealing with the false teaching that was prevalent in Ephesus, and he also wanted to see his young friend one last time before his death.

Paul seems to have written 2 Timothy for two reasons: 1) to direct Timothy to come to Rome, and to provide instruction as to who and what to bring with him, and 2) to provide Timothy with a final letter of personal encouragement in his ministry.

With this background in mind, we come to verse 12 quoted above.  After Paul exhorts Timothy not to be ashamed to speak out for Christ (1:8), Paul presents himself as a model of boldness even as he is facing suffering.  Paul writes that he is suffering for the gospel and yet remains unashamed because he knows that the One he believes in is able to keep him until the Day of Judgment.

Our Hymn of the Month, I Know Whom I Have Believed, by Daniel Whittle, quotes 2 Timothy 1:12 in the refrain of his great hymn.  As a POW during the Civil War, Whittle began reading the New Testament his mother had given before he went off to war.  It was during his imprisonment as a POW that he committed his life to Christ.

After the war, Whittle began preaching in evangelistic services, and for over 25 years led revivals throughout the United States.  He also encouraged some of the leading hymn writers of his time and wrote many hymns himself.  He wrote this hymn in 1883, perhaps thinking back to the questions he must have asked during his imprisonment that were eventually answered by his faith in Christ.

It’s often been said, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.  That’s normally said when we’re job hunting, but it is also foundational to Christian faith.  We may not have the answer to all of the questions of life, but everything ultimately comes down to one question: Do we know Jesus?

The answer to that question is proclaimed in the recurring refrain of Whittle’s hymn.  Let’s unite our voices in that great proclamation.  There may be many things we don’t know, but as believers we certainly do know Jesus Christ!  Join us as we sing:

“But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”

On April 25, a few members of City Light had a leadership meeting to brainstorm some plans for a Missions trip to Haiti this upcoming November.  

As of the following morning, things have been moving faster than we first anticipated. (Great Commission Alliance) www.gcanet.org is an organization that has already contacted us with plans to: 

Help construct new houses for the victims of the earthquake.

Conduct ESL (English as a Second Language) and Bible studies at a local orphanage outside of Port-au-Prince.

Bring material aid, i.e. vitamins, clothing and food. 

The Young Adults at First Presbyterian Church Coral Springs/Margate are eager to be working together with our Missions Committee and www.gcanet.org.  In the months to come we are going to move forward working on ironing out the details regarding this trip and begin putting together the best team possible for the task at hand.  

Our ministry is asking for your prayers to make these plans become a reality. It is our hope to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to Haiti as well as aid and volunteers to minister to these families and their children. 

For more information about City Light please contact Alex Amadeo at 954-729-8924 or citylight@gmail.com. Everyone interested in coming needs to be at the Car Wash on May 22nd at 9:30 a.m. in the Coral Springs Christian Academy parking lot. (This does not guarantee you a place.  We will still need to conduct screening and interviews.)  

Please pray that this vision becomes a reality and God provides the right relief team for this trip.  

 God bless you and thank you for supporting City Light,

Alex Amadeo

Young Adults Director

Nena is a native of a nation of 7,250 islands of which we’re told 700 are inhabited.  Cebuano was her first heart language to which she added English, followed by Spanish, and more recently Romanian.

The eldest of ten children, she received her Bachelors degree in nursing from Silliman University in 1971, came to this country three years later, and earned a Masters degree in Health Management from St. Thomas University in Miami.

Though her home was a Christian one, Nena didn’t personally receive Christ as her Lord until an EE team came to call on her and presented the message of Good News.  Through what is known as the Green House ministry here in Ft. Lauderdale, she began her growth in Christian maturity. 

As is often quoted, “the rest is history,” though a very interesting one as Nena moved from country to country, first Ecuador (two years), then Colombia (eight years), and finally Romania of all places (another nine years).  She has been serving with Mission to the World as a member of one church planting team after another telling the story of Jesus with the same words that brought her to the Lord, teaching the Bible, helping others to grow in Christ.

Nena has taken an early retirement and is now in the process of re-certifying herself as a medical nurse planning to work in one of the local hospitals.  We are honoring Nena this morning for the years of her life she has given to bringing the Gospel to those in other cultures, helping to assimilate them into the Body of Christ, and caring for them there.  We look forward to having her as a part of this community and welcome her presence among us.

At tonight’s service of prayer, she will be sharing more of her life and how God has provided for her as she has moved from country to country.  Our prayer is that as an experienced World Changer, Nena will be able to help us as we pursue God’s direction for our lives.

The four living creatures described in Revelation 4:6-9 are reminiscent of the living creatures or cherubim of Ezekiel 1 and 10, and the seraphim of Isaiah 6:3.  They are guardians and servants of the throne of God and are a part of the magnificent vision of God’s glory described by John in Revelation 4 and 5.

In chapter 4, John describes the praise of the Lord God Almighty for His creation (4:11) but moves to focus on God’s redemption and re-creation in chapter 5.  God’s purposes of redemption can only be accomplished through One who is uniquely worthy – Jesus Christ.  He is simultaneously the fierce Lion of Judah, and the gentle Lamb of God who was slain, and who purchased His people with the atoning sacrifice of His blood.

Only God in His Trinitarian fullness can accomplish these magnificent purposes.  In Revelation Chapter 5, we note the presence of the Father (vv. 1, 7), the Son (“Lamb” vv. 6, 7), and the Spirit (v. 6).  Chapter 5 reveals the opening scene for the first cycle of judgment that will culminate in the Second Coming of Christ.

The words of the four living creatures, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev. 4:8), are the words of worship that believers will proclaim in heaven one day.  Our opening hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy, by the Anglican minister, Reginald Heber, is based on this wonderful text, and though written over 180 years ago, remains one of the most frequently used hymns in our corporate worship.

At FPC, we believe that worship is the cornerstone of the believer’s spiritual life.  The bedrock of our church is our worship service, and all other aspects of our ministry are founded there.  It is only as we truly worship that we begin to grow spiritually.  We believe that worshipping and praising God should be our lifetime’s pursuit.  Our worship reflects the depth of our relationship with God.  We worship Him not only for what He does in our personal lives, but above all for who He is – His being, character, and deeds.

Reginald Heber was a highly respected minister, writer, and church leader, who served for a time as the Bishop of Calcutta, India.  His early death at the age of 43 was widely mourned throughout the Christian world.  One year after his death, a collection of 57 of his hymns was published by his widow and his many friends in memory of his faithful ministry.  It is from this collection of 1827 that the words we sing today were taken. 

Won’t you join your voice in worship with us as we sing the very words of the cherubim and seraphim in heaven?  Join us in singing!

“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!  All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea; Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty! God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!”

As these pastor’s letters have made crystal clear Dr. Boice’s convictions concerning the Scripture were foundational to everything he said and did.  However, they are not new.  He stood in a long tradition of notable men of God from the annals of church history who also believed that God’s Word is “living and active.  Sharper than any doubled-edged sword... ”  With Jesus he believed and taught that “God’s Word is truth.”  With the Apostle Paul he agreed that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

With Saint Augustine he would concur that “not one of those authors has erred in writing anything at all….  The canonical books are entirely free of falsehood.”  With Martin Luther he too would declare that: 

We must make a great difference between God’s Word and the word of man.  A man’s word is a little sound, that flies into the air, and soon vanishes; but the Word of God is greater than heaven and earth, yea, greater than death and hell, for it forms part of the power of God, and endures everlastingly; we should, therefore, diligently study God’s Word, and know and assuredly believe that God himself speaks unto us.

With John Calvin he would say that:

This is a principle which distinguishes our religion from all others, that we know that God hath spoken to us,...  We owe to the Scripture the same reverence as we owe to God, since it has its only source in Him and has nothing of human origin mixed with it.

And as he himself has said:

We are to believe and follow Christ in all things, including his words about Scripture.  And this means that Scripture is to be for us what it was to Him: the unique, authoritative, and inerrant Word of God, and not merely a human testimony to Christ, however carefully guided and preserved by God.  If the Bible is less than this to us, we are not fully Christ’s disciples. 

James Montgomery Boice was a man committed to the unadulterated word of God, and the body of Christ is the better for it.  As Phil Ryken has said, 

“The most important thing I learned from Dr. Boice—by far—was the power of God’s Word to shape the life of the church.  Everything that Dr. Boice did was based on his absolute faith in the authority of the Bible and his prayerful confidence in the ability of the Holy Spirit to use the Bible to save and sanctify sinners.  People often tell me that they look to Tenth Church as a model for ministry.  Certainly God has blessed the church in many different aspects of ministry.  But it has all begun with the week-in, week-out exposition of the Word of God.  Teach the Bible faithfully, and God will do whatever work He desires to do in the church.  If you want the proof, just look at what Jim did—or rather, look at what God did through his ministry.

This was the fourth trip of this kind to Casa Hogar del Niño de Acapulco.  Casa Hogar is an orphanage begun over 40 years ago, presently under the oversight of the Jesus of Nazareth Church, one of six Presbyterian churches started in Acapulco by PCA missionaries.  The elders of this church along with the Casa Hogar staff are responsible for the functioning of the home as well as the well-being of each of the children who live there. 

Similar to previous trips, the week at Casa Hogar consists of both work and play, work in the morning, play in the afternoon.  The work always seems to include construction or preparation for construction, while the play has more to do with games, the making of crafts and teaching the Bible.  Approximately sixty young people of all ages live at the orphanage and it was to these that our young people ministered during that week.  Thirty snapshots of our kids with their kids in vivid color appeared in last week’s CSCA Crusader along with brief comments as they reflected on their experiences.  These are some:

“Every aspect of the trip was an answer to prayer.” 

“Our team was amazingly unified and I could not have picked a better way to spend my spring break.”

“Given the opportunity to go to another country and serve others, I was able to witness how God sometimes works in our lives through the least of things.” (This comment comes from the one senior on the trip).

“Seeing God glorified through the team and through each of the kids at Casa Hogar is an amazing experience.”  

It was a first-time trip for some, second for others, but with almost no exception, the week with the Casa Hogar kids was life changing.  We pray that our Lord will use this experience to draw both those who ministered as well as those ministered to, to a closer relation with Himself. 

Every human being in the world has a physical body that is animated by a spiritual personal self called a “soul,” or “spirit.”  The word “soul” emphasizes the distinction between the material body and a person’s conscious self.  The word “spirit” emphasizes the person’s derivation from God, and dependence on Him.

The Bible tells us that we are both souls and spirits, but some have made the mistake of thinking that the soul and spirit are two different things.  They would say that man consists of three things: body, soul, and spirit. Commonly, these people would say that the soul is an organ of awareness in the physical world, while the spirit is a distinct organ of communion with God that is brought to life when the person is regenerated. 

This is not what the Bible teaches, however.  This view leads to an anti-intellectualism that says that theology and doctrine, being soulish and therefore unspiritual, are inferior to the special revelation that is given to man’s spirit by God.  It places more importance to how man’s spirit receives wisdom from God spiritually, than the teaching and learning of God’s revealed truth in the Bible.

The two - body and soul - are integral to God’s design for humanity.  Both body and soul were created good, but when sin occurred, physical death has become a part of the human experience.  All people are now corrupted by Original Sin, and now by their nature, they reject God.  Now, at death the soul leaves the body behind. But this is not the happy release that Greek philosophers and some cults have imagined.  The Christian hope is not redemption from the body, but redemption of the body.  We look forward to having our bodies resurrected even as Christ was resurrected. Exactly how our resurrected bodies will be is presently unknown, but we know that we will live forever as persons of both body and soul in a glorious future eternity.

Today, Pastor Drew is teaching on the creation of man from the dust by God, and how He breathed into man the breath of life.  This was just the beginning of man and is only a part of the great plan of redemption that will one day culminate in Christ coming again in glory and calling believers home to live with Him forever.

Our hymn of response to these great truths is Isaac Watt’s I Sing the Mighty Power of God.  Isaac Watt’s, the father of English hymnody, was concerned about how congregational singing had declined in the English-speaking churches of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.  He wrote many new paraphrased versions of the Psalms to replace the practically unsingable literal settings that had long been used.  But Watts also believed that hymn writers should be free to express direct Christian truth in hymns of their own composition.  Though controversial at the time, Watt’s ambition, according to his own words, was: “My design is not to exalt myself to the rank and glory of poets, but I was ambitious to be a servant to the church, and a helper to the joy of every Christian.”  This hymn was part of the first ever hymnals written for children, titled Divine Songs for Children.

Won’t you join us this morning as we recognize and praise the mighty power of our Creator God? Let us heed the words of Psalm 95 and say, “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (vs. 6). 

“I sing the mighty pow’r of God that made the mountains rise, that spread the flowing seas abroad and built the lofty skies.  I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; the moon shines full at His command and all the stars obey.”

Although Dr. Boice’s commitment to inerrancy never changed, his emphasis did.  In his wisdom he saw that the battle for the Bible was being waged on a different front:  

The inerrancy of the Bible is a critical doctrine….  However, important as that matter was, I do not think the inerrancy of the Bible is the most important Scripture issue facing the church as we move into the early years of the third millennium.  The issue I would pinpoint today is the sufficiency of God’s Word, (Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?) 

Dr. Boice knew that we could believe the Bible to be the only infallible rule of our faith and practice, and yet still deny its sufficiency by putting our faith in other ‘means’ to accomplish spiritual ‘ends’.  He asks the following questions of all believers:

Do we believe that God has given us what we need in this book?  Or do we suppose we have to supplement the Bible with human things?  Do we need sociological techniques to do evangelism, pop psychology and pop psychiatry for Christian growth, extra-biblical signs or miracles for guidance, or political tools for achieving social progress and reform?  (Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?)  

His answers to these questions are obvious!  He believed the Bible to be sufficient and he pinpointed in his writings and sermons four specific areas in which this is true: evangelism, sanctification, guidance and social reform.

While writing the above I received in the mail a Shopper’s Guide advertising a “Musical Drama Extravaganza” to be held in a local church.  Being familiar with the church, I knew that the purpose of the musical was evangelistic and the advertisement was meant to persuade people to attend.  Although nowhere mentioned, I also knew that at the end of the play an invitation ‘to receive Christ’ would be given.  But what struck me as directly relating to Dr. Boice’s point was the content of the musical.  It read,

You’ll love the production-style dazzle and down-home country warmth of this irresistible show.  Sing along to your favorite carols and meet such special guests as Frosty, Rudolph, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and many more popular Christmas characters.  You’ll even do battle with the infamous Christmas Troll!...  As the show progresses, you will… be surrounded by 15 years of Christmas musical memories, featuring angels, cartoon characters, super heroes, elves, The Wise Men, … and lots of other Christmas favorites.  And you better watch out because you may even see the Christmas motorcycle! 

Is this what is needed for us to effectively do the work of evangelism today, i.e., bring cartoon characters, super heroes, Trolls and motorcycle’s into the Church?  The response Dr. Boice would give is absolutely not!  Responding to the above techniques in his own words, 

If the above techniques or similar ones are “used or depended upon apart from the faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word, the ‘conversions’ that result are spurious conversions, which is to say that those who respond become Christians in name only.  The only way the Holy Spirit works to regenerate lost men and women is by the Bible.  (Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?) 

This is the conviction Dr. Boice had when he began the pastorate and he never lost it.   Thirty-two years of ministry were built upon it and the faithful men and women of Tenth Church whom he taught bear testimony to the power of God’s word to change lives.

1.  Shopper’s Guide, VOL. 34  NO. 48, November 30, 2001 

Last time we discussed Dr. Boice we pointed out how serious he took the Word of God.  He recognized it as God’s authoritative, inspired, inerrant Word.  So serious was Dr. Boice’s conviction concerning the critical role biblical inerrancy had in the church, that in 1978, he added to his other responsibilities the founding and launching of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy (ICBI).  Joined by Francis Schaeffer, J. I. Packer, R. C. Sproul, and others the council elucidated and defended “the doctrine of biblical inerrancy as an essential element for the authority of Scripture and a necessity for the health of the church of God.”

The council, with Dr. Boice as the chairman, rightly perceived that a Christian’s position on inerrancy had ramifications for his relationship with God.  The opening introductory paragraph of The Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy, one of the documents produced by ICBI, makes this point:

The authority of Scripture is a key issue for the Christian church in this and every age.  Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are called to show the reality of their discipleship by humbly and faithfully obeying God’s written Word.  To stray from Scripture in faith or conduct is disloyalty to our Master.  Recognition of the total truth and trustworthiness of Holy Scripture is essential to a full grasp and adequate confession of its authority. 

The council’s concern was ultimately a spiritual one.  They knew a person could not walk faithfully with Christ while at the same time denying His Word’s infallible authority.

ICBI would continue until 1987 and produce three documents of “affirmation and denial”.  In addition to the statement quoted above, they also produced a statement on biblical hermeneutics and one on biblical application.  With this final statement the work of ICBI was complete.  The council addressed the definition, interpretation, and application of the doctrine of biblical inerrancy. 

These three statements, produced in large part with Dr. Boice’s input, summarize his ministry philosophy.  Week in and week out Dr. Boice, in the power of the Holy Spirit, faithfully interpreted the inerrant Scriptures book by book and verse by verse.  After diligent study he entered the pulpit each Sunday prepared to proclaim and apply God’s word to the hearts and minds of the flock placed under his care.  Linda Boice has rightly said that, although Jim had many gifts, surely his greatest “gift to us who remain this side of Glory is what always stood at the heart of his ministry: the clear, careful, consistent exposition of the Word of God.  He was firmly convinced that the Bible is able ‘to make men wise unto salvation’ and to enable God’s people to walk in all His ways.”

When I opened my email that morning and found a brief article titled “Praise God for Easter Monday” with no little surprise, I found these words, “In the midst of the grind Christ proclaims, “Behold I am making all things new.”  This, I thought, had promise, so I read the article and pass on some of the thoughts of this article even though Easter Monday has passed.

The writer (a PCA pastor named Glenn Hoburg) begins early in the article by reminding us that sin has the effect of wearing things down.  It produces “toil”, that continual labor we all must exercise against the thorns and thistles we find everywhere.  All kinds of bad things can happen on “Monday Morning.”  Words like “drudgery” and “daily grind” have become part of our vocabulary.  We sit in the same traffic, drink from the same coffee mug, pass the same scenery.  We even see in the faces of those next to us at the traffic light the same expression of what we’re feeling.

But then the writer continues, “In the midst of all this we find a resurrected Jesus proclaiming at the end of Revelation: ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’”  In sharp contrast to what we might be feeling on Mondays, we find this staggering statement.  Only someone who has overcome death could dare to speak this way.  This declaration gives us a picture of the final renovation of all things, but the Bible teaches that this is the completion of something that was initiated by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  And what this means is that while we continue to toil, the resurrection of Jesus causes us to toil differently.  We toil now with great expectation.  This is what the apostle Paul says: “I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me” – toiling with expectation because the resurrected Jesus lives in him.  In the same way, the one who declared, “I am making all things new,” now lives in me.  We need to take the fact of the resurrection to the very area of our lives where we feel most hopeless, and then ask God to display His power.  Jesus didn’t rise from the dead in order to take on a Buddha-like passivity.  He now is advancing His kingdom, and that means renewal for us, and for all things. 

On Tuesday of this past week, for most of us everything must have appeared to have gone back to all the old routines.  But praise God, while our Easter celebrations are over, Easter Monday followed, and we were reminded that Jesus’ resurrection made everything new.  It has permeated all of life. Nothing is routine any more.  “Behold, I am making all things new.”

The assertion that God is absolutely sovereign in all of creation, providence and salvation is basic to biblical belief and to biblical praise.  The theme of God reigning from His heavenly throne occurs over and over again throughout both the Old and New Testaments (1 Kings 22:19; Psalm 11:4; 45:6; 47:8, 9; Isaiah 6:1; Ezekiel 1:26; Daniel 7:9; Hebrews 12:2; Revelation 3:21; 4:2).  The Bible explicitly depicts the Lord (Yahweh) reigning as King, and exercising dominion over great and small alike.  God’s dominion is total: He wills what He chooses, and carries out what He wills.  There is no one who can stay His hand or thwart His plans.  This is true not only in His miraculous and marvelous interventions, but also in the normal course of our lives.

God’s absolute sovereignty does not, however, deny that His rational creatures (angels and humans) have the power of personal decision as to what they will do.  If that were true, we would not be moral beings, answerable to God as Judge.  Nor would it be possible to distinguish between the bad purposes of man and the good purposes of God, as Scripture does.  God sovereignly overrules human action as a planned means to accomplish His own goals (Genesis 50:20; Acts 2:23; 13:26-39).

How God’s control over our free actions, that we ourselves choose, can be as complete as it is over anything else, is a mystery that we cannot fully explain.  Yet we do know that God is not, nor cannot be, the author of sin.  He has conferred responsibility on us for our thoughts, words, and deeds, according to His justice.

Psalm 93 teaches us that God’s sovereign rule guarantees the ultimate stability of the world against all evil (vv. 1-4), confirms that what God has said is trustworthy, and calls us as His people to worship Him (v. 5).  The entire psalm expresses joy, hope, and confidence in our Almighty, sovereign God.

Our Hymn of the Month, O Father, You Are Sovereign helps us to express our joyful trust in God, our sovereign Father.  The hymn was written in 1982 by Margaret Clarkson who grew up in To-ron-to, Cana-da, and was ed-u-cat-ed at the River-dale Col-leg-i-ate In-sti-tute, To-ron-to Teach-ers’ Coll-ege, and the Un-i-ver-si-ty of To-ron-to.  For 38 years she taught el-e-ment-a-ry school in On-tar-io.  A gift-ed na-tur-al writ-er, she pub-lished hun-dreds of po-ems, ar-ti-cles, songs and sketch-es, and 17 books in 7 lang-uages.  Hymn writ-ing was her first love, and sprang from a life-time of Bi-ble stu-dy, per-son-al Christ-ian ex-per-i-ence, and a dis-ci-plined lyr-ic-al ex-pres-sion.  Her hymns were pub-lished in A Sing-ing Heart (Carol Stream, Il-li-nois: Hope Pub-lish-ing Com-pany, 1987).

Clarkson beautifully uses the hymn writer’s art to draw us into the worship of God.  Each verse begins with the assertion, “O Father, You Are Sovereign!” That sovereignty is in all of creation (stanza 1), in all human affairs (stanza 2), in all our pain and suffering (stanza 3).  It leads us to a “glad hope” which renews our trust and brings us into the worship of God (stanza 4).

Won’t you join with us in declaring our trust and worship of God as we sing this beautiful hymn of praise? 

“O Father, You are sovereign!  We see You dimly now, but soon before Your triumph earth’s every knee shall bow.  With this glad hope before us our faith springs up anew: our sovereign Lord and Savior, we trust and worship You!”

“He is risen indeed!”  We welcome all of you today with this traditional Easter greeting.  May the Lord bless you as you look in faith to the resurrected Savior of the world!

Jesus’ resurrection means that there is hope for us.  It means that sin and death do not win in the end.  It means that Jesus lives, with grace to give to all who believe.  And the resurrection means that Christians can all look forward to eternal life in heaven.  What glorious truths we have to celebrate!  

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of Christianity’s most vital claims.  We believe that the Son of God died on the cross for our sins and that God raised Him from the dead.  What difference does this make?  Let me suggest a few of the most important themes:

• The resurrection of Christ proves His claim to be the Son of God.  Jesus predicted His resurrection, which only God can do, and this validates all His other promises and claims.
• By resurrecting Jesus, God showed that He accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins.  God is satisfied with His Son, and thus God accepts all who come to Him through faith in Jesus.
• By His resurrection, Jesus has conquered death for us.  Our greatest enemy has been defeated, and Christ will now resurrect all who believe in Him.
• The risen Lord Jesus now has resurrection life to give for us.  The apostle Paul explains that this means believers may live in the hope of a heavenly inheritance and with the power of the Holy Spirit for godliness and joy (Eph. 1:18-20).

First Presbyterian Church exists to exalt God, edify and equip the saints, evangelize the lost, and extend the love, mercy, and mission of Christ locally and around the World.  If you are interested in learning more about our church, please see one of the ushers or pick up information at the Visitor Information counter by the front entrance.  Especially, if you want to learn about how to be a Christian and have eternal life, please feel free to talk to me or any of our ministry staff.

May the Lord bless you all this Easter Sunday and may the name of Jesus Christ be lifted up, for He is risen – indeed!

In Christ’s Love,

We’ve given names, one to Friday, naming it “Good” and one to the Sunday following, “Easter”.  We don’t have any name for Saturday, the day in between.  It is just Saturday, maybe much like any other Saturday.  Might this be the reason that the Gospel writers give much more attention to Jesus’ last week than to the several weeks after his resurrection appearances?  Can we suppose they perceived the history which would follow would be much more like that Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday or as one writer put it, “It’s Saturday on planet Earth; will Sunday ever come?”

During the Passover meal Jesus said to his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  We have no idea how the disciples who were with him that night heard these words but by the next day all had left him.  It probably appeared to them that the world had overcome God, not the other way around.

But that’s not the end of the story.  Just a few days later everything had changed.  Having seen the resurrected Christ with their own eyes, these former cowards went on to change the world.

This is what we want to be – World Changers.  And we’ll only become this as we walk through the awful days of this Passion Week, understand the full meaning of the cross, and then experience the joy of Easter Sunday.  There is the sense that our days now are very much like that Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  But as our Lord says, “Be of good cheer.  

I have overcome the world.” 

We left off with Dr. Boice receiving his call to be Senior Pastor of the historic, Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA.  Tenth Presbyterian Church dates back to the early nineteenth century when Philadelphia was the second largest city in the country.  At that time the entire city was quite small, surrounded by farmlands and situated between two rivers, the Schuylkill and the Delaware.

The original Tenth Church, founded in 1829, was located on the northeast corner of Twelfth and Walnut Streets.  It established a daughter church in 1855-1856 called the West Spruce Street Presbyterian Church on the southwest corner of Seventeenth and Spruce Streets.  The two churches worked together, with the ministers exchanging pulpits each week.  Due to membership decline in the original Tenth Church caused by population shifts, the two churches merged in 1893 at the Seventeenth and Spruce Streets location, taking the name of the older church (Tenth Presbyterian Church). 

In its over 175 years of existence, Tenth Church has been distinguished by its strong pulpit ministry.  It was from this pulpit, that Donald Grey Barnhouse, the man that had such a profound influence on Dr. Boice’s early life, once proclaimed: 

It is my prayer that no man shall ever stand in this pulpit as long as time shall last who does not desire to have all that he does based upon this Book.  For this Book does not contain the Word of God, it is the Word of God. 

In the man James Boice, Dr. Barnhouse’s prayer was answered for the next 32 years.  On March 17, 1968, Jim accepted the position of senior minister of Tenth Presbyterian Church and took up the duties of weekly teaching, preaching and applying God’s authoritative and infallible Word, the very ministry God had been providentially preparing him for from his earliest days.

James Boice’s first sermon as the senior minister of Tenth Presbyterian Church was preached on Easter Sunday, 1968.  His last sermon was preached on Easter Sunday, 2000.  In the 32 years between Dr. Boice preached several thousand times from the pulpit at Tenth.  He wrote or contributed to over sixty books, founded a Christian college preparatory high school, spoke at churches and seminars around the world, had a radio ministry reaching millions with the gospel, and founded several organizations and conferences. His final gift to the Church was fourteen hymns in the reformation tradition.

More could be said about Dr. Boice’s accomplishments, but at the root of them all has been his unshakeable conviction that the sixty-six books we know as the Bible are a special revelation from God.  This is the reason Dr. Boice’s sermons were preached with such power.  As he once said:  

It is only when ministers of the gospel hold to this high view of Scripture that they can preach with authority and effectively call sinful men and women to full faith in Christ.  If they do not have a sure word from God, they cannot preach a sure word from God.  But if they do, even the most humbly endowed pastor will be effective. 

To be continued,

Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, there are direct quotations from the Old Testament showing how Jesus fulfills the prophecies found there.  As Matthew describes the events surrounding the birth of Christ, for example, he writes, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet…” (Matthew 1:22).  There are twelve such statements and more than fifty Old Testament quotations in Matthew’s Gospel alone.

One event that highlights the careful reference Matthew makes to Old Testament prophecy is the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that we celebrate today on Palm Sunday.  In chapter 21, Jesus makes the fulfillment of prophecy unmistakable when He tells His disciples to bring a “donkey tied, and a colt with her” (Matthew 21:2).  This emphasized that it was a young colt, not yet weaned and therefore not yet ridden, thus fulfilling Zechariah 9:9 that the coming king would ride on “a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The Triumphal Entry is clearly a symbolic act.  The Jews recognized Zechariah 9:9 as messianic.  The shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David!” as well as the spreading of the cloaks on the ground all indicated that the people recognized Jesus’ claim to the Messiah.  “Hosanna” was a Hebrew expression meaning, “Save, now!”

Tragically, the very same people who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem as the Messiah also demanded that He be crucified as a blasphemer and criminal just a few days later.  The events of Christ’s passion – His suffering and death and ultimate resurrection – fulfill many Old Testament prophecies, unmistakably pointing to Jesus being the Messiah.  Of course faith in Christ is a gift that is only granted by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8).

At FPC, we celebrate the events of Holy Week (the passion and resurrection of Christ).  The celebrations are “bookended” by our Palm Sunday service, and then culminate a week later in our Easter (Resurrection) Sunday service.  Our hope is that we truly meditate on and celebrate the salvation accomplished for us by Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Please join us, and invite family, neighbors or friends, not only today, but for all of the events listed below:

SUNDAY, MARCH 28: 
He Is Risen! A concert celebrating Christ’s passion and resurrection.
7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) 

THURSDAY, APRIL 1;
  Maundy Thursday Service 7:00 p.m. 

FRIDAY, APRIL 2
Good Friday Service 12:00 Noon

 SUNDAY, APRIL 4
Easter Sunday Service 10:40 a.m.

Our Vision (Casa Hogar)

To teach our children and youths to face the future with dignity and on an equal basis as the rest of society, instilling in them love for and trust in God.

Roberto, Mirna, Lalo and Liz are some of the 60 students who live at the Casa Hogar orphanage in Acapulco, Mexico.  Casa Hogar began over 40 years ago and is currently under the oversight of the Jesus of Nazareth Church, one of six Presbyterian churches started in Acapulco by PCA missionaries. The elders of the church, together with the staff, are responsible for the function of the home and well being of each child there.

This will be our fourth year in a row working with MTW sending a team of CSCA students to live and work with the children.  It’s great to see Roberto wearing one of our Crusader t-shirts for his Casa Hogar webpage photo.

A typical day during our week at Casa Hogar includes a morning of construction work tearing down an old building with sledge hammers and shoveling in a dump truck full of sand for concrete in a new building.  We then have a relaxing Mexican siesta in the early afternoon.  Late afternoon and evening is spent with the children at the orphanage with a time of worship, Bible study, crafts and games.  We end each day with a team devotion and prayer time.  Our CSCA students have made a real connection with the children truly showing Christ’s love to them.

On one of the days, the new members of our team travel to another home in Acapulco called Sobre el Puente.  Sobre is an MTW Street Children home that ministers directly to children still living on the street under bridges and in parks.  Our students sing songs, do crafts, and preach the gospel to the children at Sobre.  This is one of the most heartbreaking parts of the trip for me seeing the young children leave there to nothing but the street and its harsh challenges.

Our Mission Team this year includes:
Senior – Sam Santos
Juniors – Katie Severine, Sammi Thilen, Giancarlo Atassi, Domingo Delgado, Mike Bentz,
Collin Lamba, Sami Imber, Nicole Rosenbaum, Ana Lanas, Stephanie Barrera and Brandon Benitez
Sophomores – Karina DiGregorio, Mikey Martin and David Imber
Freshmen – Gabrielle DiNardo and Josh Englert
Chaperones – Mrs. Stephanie DiGregorio, Mr. Alex Amadeo, Mr. Anthony Verderame, and Pastor Mick Weltin

Please keep us in your prayers as we soon leave for this year’s work. It has been a life defining experience for many of our students causing them to grow and serve the Lord.

In Christ,
Pastor Mick Weltin

In Genesis 12:3, God says to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  This great promise is even now being fulfilled as the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ carries out His Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). 

Matthew records Jesus as saying that He now has “all authority” and that authority will be consummated when He comes to earth in glory (Matthew 26:64).  Since Christ’s Great Commission is given on His authority, and since His dominion is universal, the gospel must go to the whole world.  This is the primary basis for evangelism and missions.

Today we highlight the work of missions in the world.  First, we are commissioning our short term missionary team of teachers and students who will be ministering in Acapulco, Mexico.  Second, Pastor Mick is preaching on Matthew 28:18-20, which gives the account of Christ commissioning His church to go and make disciples of all nations.

In keeping with the theme of the Great Commission, our closing hymn is Jesus Shall Reign by the “Father of English Hymnody,” Isaac Watts.  When Watts wrote this hymn in 1719, the evangelical missionary movement that we know in our time had barely begun.  It wasn’t until 1779 (sixty years later) that William Carey tried to persuade Christians to carry the gospel message to non-Christian countries of the world.  Yet Watt’s hymn is now considered to be one of the finest missionary hymns ever written.  It has been sung in countless native tongues.  In the South Sea Islands in 1862, this hymn was sung by over 5,000 people as their king abolished their native laws and established a Christian constitution.

Watt’s hymn, based on Psalm 72, declares that the praise of Jesus, the Son of God, is continuing to spread and that some day His kingdom will “spread from shore to shore” and every tribe, language, people and nation will bow down and exalt His name together.  Until that final day comes, please join us as we rejoice in the many missionary works that are even now going on throughout the world.  May we resolve to personally assist our missionaries’ work through prayer and financial support.  Then we can joyously sing together the great truths of this hymn.

“Jesus shall reign where’ere the sun does his successive journeys run, His kingdom spread from shore to shore till moons shall wax and wane no more.”

Mr. John Moore
Minister of Music

We’ve been sending teams like this for years.  Those who go to Acapulco have a ministry at Casa Hogar (an orphanage), and sometimes, to the Sobre El Puente or Street Kids Ministry.  There is always plenty for them to do; kids to befriend, some construction, and most likely a VBS ministry, all crammed into the space of a week. 

Although most short-term projects tend to focus on these things, there is probably no “typical” short-term experience.  Regardless of the kinds of projects that our teams carry out in these situations, whatever success they experience can only be measured by whether the ministry they have there will impact their lives once they are back home.  Even that is difficult to measure.  Wouldn’t it be a good idea to gather as many of those we have sent on short-term mission trips to discover from them what long-lasting impact these trips have had in their lives.

The questions that they are asked in the commissioning portion of the service are quite simple.  First, they are asked if they know and trust Jesus Christ as Savior and believe the Bible to be God’s Word, a basic question, but important for any who go on such a trip.  The next question concerns the belief of each one in the power of the Gospel.  Does each individual believe that the Gospel can change both their lives, as well as the lives of those to whom they minister?  This question requires more reflection before an answer can be given.  Finally, the third and final question asks if each participant can promise to make every effort to work well with the other members of the team, as well as the team leaders during their time together on the trip. 

One more question is directed to the members of the congregation.  Hearing the team members give public affirmation to these questions means that we, who are sending them, must promise to pray for them while they are there.  We need to pray that the Lord will use them, but more importantly, that what they gain on a trip of this kind will have a significant impact on each life.

We’ll do this again in the summer when another team prepares to go to Fairmont, West Virginia.  Sending our people on these trips is a part of our world evangelization strategy.  Because we are an Intentional Missionary Congregation we can do no less.

The remarks below are to piggyback on some of the things he said regarding how we are to think of ourselves as an Intentional Missionary Congregation.

Today, we have less excuse for not fulfilling the Great Commission than at any other time in history.  Think of the way God has opened up incredible possibilities of bringing the gospel to others.  It isn’t simply that we have better technology or better and easier travel.  More than these, it is through the global presence of believers in Jesus Christ throughout the world.  Today there are over 4,000 known evangelical mission agencies which send out 250,000 missionaries from over 200 countries.  To this should be added the global scattering of peoples, both unreached peoples coming to live among reached peoples, and the hundreds of thousands of evangelical believers who are being sent by their companies to work in areas, many of them closed to missionaries. 

Not so easily observable is the gradual and steady breakdown of cultural and linguistic barriers between peoples.  This also becomes a means of providing new opportunities for the spread of the gospel. 

With all these and other massive changes which are taking place in our world, we need to look again at the Scriptures.  Think once more of the Matthew 28 passage and the words of the Great Commission.  Before we get to the well-known words of our Lord, verse 16 says, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him.”  The words of the Great Commission follow this.  The context for the Great Commission is worship.  Evangelism and missions begin where worship begins, in the Church, with God’s people. Churches that are going to reach the lost will be churches who clearly, boldly, consistently, and humbly worship Jesus as the one who has “all authority in heaven and earth.”  Why?  Because when the Church becomes fascinated with the all-powerful nature of Jesus, then making disciples of all nations seems not only reasonable but inevitable.  

Do we need to continue to think of ways to reach others with the gospel?  Very definitely!  Reaching others with the gospel should always be a priority.  But let’s not forget the importance of our worship.  It may seem routine to some.  It may appear to be something we do once each week.  But proper, biblical worship shapes us.  It should shape us into an Intentional Missionary Congregation.  Think about this.  

Perhaps the one commandment of the ten given to us in God’s Law that is the most openly disobeyed among believers is the keeping of the Sabbath.  This is particularly true in light of the verses quoted above.  Researchers Kirk Hadaway and Penny Marler reported in a recent study that out of all the denominations of churches (both Roman Catholic and Protestant), the average Sunday attendance was 20.4 percent - about half of what a Gallup poll questionnaire concluded.  While no one disputes the need to refrain from murder, stealing, adultery, blasphemy and idolatry (though as sinners we are all guilty to some degree of all of these) the keeping of the fourth commandment seems to be not nearly as important as the other nine commandments.

Today Pastor Drew continues his sermon series on Genesis and is preaching on Genesis 2:2, 3 which reveals that God ended His work of creation and rested on the seventh day.  The significance of that rest for us goes beyond the keeping of the fourth commandment to the deeper issue of how we are to regard God’s Law in all aspects of our lives.

John Calvin best summarized the church’s benefits of God’s Law by describing three functions of the Law. (1) The Law is a mirror that shows forth God’s righteousness and our own sinful shortcomings.  As Augustine wrote, “the law bids us, as we try to fulfill its requirements, and become wearied in our weakness under it, to know how to ask the help of grace.”  (2) The law has a “civil use,” in that when it is backed by a civil code, it inhibits lawlessness and provides sanctions for proven offenses.  Thus it secures civil order, and serves to protect the righteous from the unjust.  (3) The law tells us as God’s children what will please our heavenly Father.  Our obedience to God’s command proves the reality of our love for Him.  As Christians, we are free from the law as a means of salvation, but are “under the law of Christ” as a rule of life.

Our closing hymn, Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting by Jean Sophia Pigott helps us to apply the teaching of the Sabbath rest to all of our lives.  The text of this hymn goes beyond our need for times of relaxation, rest and renewal which is part of the function of our weekly Sabbath.  It points to the sufficiency of Christ for our full acceptance by God, based not on our own strivings to please Him, but on the perfect obedience of Christ for us and His death to pay for our sins.

In one of Jesus’ greatest invitations, He offered rest to the weary: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  God told the Israelites, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

As we turn to God in Christ, we too can rest, finding that He will satisfy our heart and its deepest longings, meet and supply our every need, and compass us around with blessing.

“Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.”

As we left off last week, we were reminded that Dr. Boice left Princeton convinced of the Scripture’s authority and infallibility.  This led him to continue his New Testament studies.  “He had long been convinced that he should earn a doctorate before seeking a church position, and that a European doctorate was the best choice for him” said Jim’s wife.

This conviction brought Jim and his wife, Linda McNamara, whom he had married while at Princeton, to Basel, Switzerland, for three years of doctoral work.  At Basel Jim was able to read thoroughly the writings of John Calvin, Charles Hodge, B.B. Warfield and others.  As Linda intimated, “He often said that he went to Europe so that he would have time to read.”

Jim received a first-rate education in biblical exegesis at Basel, which he immediately applied since he also began a house church while attending the University.  Hence, James Boice was now studying and preaching weekly from the Scriptures that he adored, all the while being prepared for the writing and pulpit ministry that he would carry out until his final days.  However, before accepting a call to pulpit ministry, Dr. Boice would have two more years of preparation.   

Upon returning from Switzerland, Jim became the assistant editor for Christianity Today.  It was here that the distinguished defender of biblical authority, Carl F. H. Henry, also significantly influenced him.  In addition to his work as editor, Dr. Boice continued to preach and was also ordained at First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, April 30, 1967.  Dr. Henry preached the sermon at his ordination, closing with these memorable words: 

James Boice, you bear the name of a brother of our Lord.  You cherish the message of all the apostles.  May you share the momentum of the apostle to the Gentiles in matching the myths of our age with the timeless truth of the revelation of God’s Word. 

Almost one year from the time these words were spoken, Dr. Boice preached his sermon of call at the very church where as a young boy he first began memorizing the Scriptures, Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA.  

“preach the word; be ready in season and out of season”   —2 Timothy 4:2

The clear teaching of Scripture is that God created man and woman in His own image, so that human beings are like God as no other earthly creatures are.  This special dignity means that we can reflect and reproduce in our own limited way the holy ways of God.  Our humanity is most fulfilled when we do just that.

The full scope of God’s image in humanity is not given in Genesis 1:26, 27, but the context of Genesis 1 helps to define it.  In Genesis 1, we see God as a personal, rational, morally admirable, creative Being who rules over the world He has made.  Obviously, God’s image reflects these qualities.  In verses 28-30 God blesses the newly created human beings and sets them to rule over creation as His representatives.  The ability to communicate and relate to both God and other humans is another facet of man bearing the image of God.

God’s image in man can be summarized in this way: (a) man exists as a “soul” (Gen. 2:7), who is personal and self-conscious, with a God-like capacity for knowledge, thought, and action; (b) man was created morally upright, a quality lost in the Fall but which is even now being progressively restored in Christ (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10); (c) man has dominion over the environment; (d) man has a body through which he experiences reality, expresses himself, and exercises dominion; and (e) man has the God-given capacity for eternal life.

The Fall has greatly diminished God’s image in man, not only in Adam and Eve, but in the whole human race. While we still retain God’s image structurally (we are still human beings), functionally, we are now slaves to sin, unable to mirror God’s holiness.  Even those who have been regenerated - believers in Christ – must wait until their complete sanctification and glorification to reflect God perfectly in thought and action as they were made to do and as the incarnate Son of God in His humanity actually did (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29, 46).

Pastor Drew is continuing his sermon series on Genesis as he considers how we are made in God’s image.  Because God is our Creator, and because we bear His image, we can find inner peace and love for God even in the midst of personal tragedy.

Horatio Spafford experienced heart-rending tragedy in his life, and yet was able to write It Is Well with My Soul, our Hymn of the Month.  Although Spafford was a successful attorney in Chicago, he decided to go to Great Britain to accompany Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey for an evangelistic campaign.  Spafford was detained by urgent business and sent his wife and four daughters ahead on the S.S. Ville du Harve, planning to join them shortly after. Halfway across the Atlantic, their ship collided with an English vessel and sank in 12 minutes.  All four of Spafford’s daughters drowned, and Mrs. Spafford was among the few who were miraculously saved.

Spafford sailed to rejoin his grieving wife in Cardiff, Wales, shortly after. When his ship passed by the approximate place where his daughters had drowned, Spafford received sustaining comfort from God that enabled him to write, “When sorrows like sea billows roll…It is well with my soul.” Can we truthfully say, “It is well with my soul,” no matter what circumstances we are surrounded by?  This is a statement of trust and love for God our Creator.  Join us as we worship Him and sing:

“When peace, like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll – Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well with my soul!”

Now the McAuleys live in Portage, Indiana, where Luke has found a job in his chosen field of occupational therapy.  How long they’ll stay is not clear.  The reason for this uncertainty can be found in the burden the Lord has given to them for people who live on the African continent.  Raised by missionary parents in Kenya, Africa, Luke is no stranger to this land and people.  In recent months, Luke and Amanda concluded that they needed to explore possibilities of future service in the nation of Malawi in occupational therapy, particularly in the area of mental health.  They have been thinking and praying seriously about that possibility for some time, believing that Luke could minister the Lord’s healing touch to some very needy people through his skills of occupational therapy.    

Both Amanda and Luke made a profession of faith in the Lord at an early age when they were still separated by continents.  Luke, at age five, remembers sitting on his toy box while his father led in prayer for Luke’s salvation.  At the same age, in southeastern Michigan, one night while alone in her bed, Amanda told Jesus that she was sorry for her sins and now believed in Him and what He had done for her.  These two were to meet later while enrolled at the same college in Chicago.

For the present, after their month’s stay in Malawi, Luke and Amanda are in the process of sorting through some of the things the Lord showed them while in that country.  They want to visit us when they can find a time to come to Florida, and share some of their thoughts and experiences of life in Malawi. 

In the mean time, it is exciting to think about how the Lord might use this little family some time in the not-so-distant future in a culture about which we know so little.  While they wait before the Lord, let us pray with them, asking our Lord to make clear His future pathway.  To pray this way for a family so involved in this church is both a challenge and a blessing - a challenge to pray for those we no longer see, a blessing to see what God is going to do in the future.  Luke and Amanda could help to change the African world.    

We ended last week noting that Dr. Boice was going to attend Stony Brook.  ‘He went to the telephone and called Dr. Frank E. Gaebelein, who was the headmaster at the time.  I was admitted by phone, and two days later on Sunday I was on Long Island.’

Stony Brook gave Dr. Boice a solid basis both academically and spiritually preparing him for his next academic challenge, Harvard University.  “Four years at Harvard University provided, in Jim’s own view, the foundation and skills which undergirded his later expositions of the Scriptures.”  Without question Harvard was academically excellent but it was spiritually poor.  Jim overcame this by joining Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship and by attending the historic Park Street Church, where he sat under the expository preaching ministry of Dr. Harold John Ockenga.

Following Harvard, Jim went on to Princeton Theological Seminary.  It was here, while pursuing his studies in New Testament, that his convictions concerning biblical authority solidified.  Princeton held a liberal view of the doctrine of scripture and coming into contact with teachers who spoke against the Bible’s authority forced Jim to struggle with his own convictions. 
Recalling this struggle, Jim wrote:

“I wrestled with the inerrancy of the Bible during my seminary years.  It is not that I questioned it.  My problem was that my teachers did not believe this, and much of what I was hearing in the classroom was meant to reveal the Bible’s errors so that students would not depend on it too deeply.  What was a student to do?  The professors seemed to have all the facts.  How were professors to be challenged when they argued that recent scholarship has shown that the old, simplistic views about the Bible being inerrant are no longer valid and that therefore we should admit that the Bible is filled with errors?”

Although the professors challenged Jim to abandon his unquestioned belief in biblical authority, their attempts proved to be futile.  In fact, their challenges only strengthened his view of the Bible as infallible.  He says: 

“As I worked on this, I discovered some interesting things.  First, the problems imagined to be in the Bible were hardly new problems.  For the most part those problems were known centuries ago, even by such ancient theologians as Augustine and Jerome, who discussed apparent contradictions in their substantial correspondence. I also discovered that the results of sound scholarship have not tended to uncover more and more problems, as my professors were suggesting, still less disclose more and more ‘errors’.  Rather they have tended to resolve problems and to show that what were once thought to be errors are not errors at all.”

Perhaps only a handful remember that he went to China the following year as a missionary to teach at the Anglo-Chinese College at Tientsin.  No less than sixteen years later, Eric was concerned enough about the safety of his family because of the deteriorating political scene, that he sent his wife and two children back to her parent’s home in Canada.  Not many weeks later Eric was interned at a Japanese prisoner of war camp along with eighteen hundred or more other non-Chinese nationals from other countries.  Another three hundred were added shortly thereafter, all of them students from the Chefoo School of the China Inland Mission.  These were all young children who had been separated from their parents. Eric took special interest in them and became their teacher, friend, and surrogate parent.  We can only imagine what it must have been like having a young man like Eric Liddell as a teacher, encourager and friend.

Not many months later he started having debilitating headaches which led some of the medical staff in the camp to believe that he was suffering from flu or severe sinusitis.  Later the same doctors concluded that he was suffering from a stroke and treated him accordingly.  

On February 21, 1945, sixty-five years ago this past Sunday, Eric underwent several severe attacks of coughing and choking and it was the next day that he passed from this world to be with his Lord.  On the last afternoon in this life he had written the first line of his favorite hymn, “Be Still My Soul,” which was sung at his memorial service.  This hymn is sung to the haunting strains of Otto Silbelius’ Finlandia and has been the means of bringing great comfort to thousands of believers, first in the post-Reformation years in Germany, and then during the second World War.  

Eric Liddell’s life was relatively short, a mere forty-one years.  The movie of his early life must have impacted many.  We can be sure that few, if any, of the three hundred students who came under his teaching have forgotten him.  Eric was a World Changer.  May there be many more who follow in his train.

It would seem that all people are naturally inclined to some form of religion (even atheism is a form of religion), but most people fail to worship God as Creator.  Yet the universe which has been created by God can be seen by everyone, making Him known to all.  In spite of that, man’s sinfulness and ego have driven him away from true worship to idolatry. 

In their idolatry, apostate humanity suppresses truth and exchange God’s glory for an image made in the form of created beings like themselves, or worse – like birds and four-footed animals and creeping things (Rom. 8:24-32).  Men reject what nature (general revelation) shows about God as our transcendent Judge and Creator and then transfer their worship to unworthy objects.  This in turn leads to drastic moral decline and misery.

God will not permit men to entirely suppress their sense of God and of His judgment.  There is always some sense of accountability - a conscience that makes men aware of their guilt and condemns them.  And so, although fallen man does not know how to reconcile their guilt before God, they nonetheless are given uncomfortable inklings of the judgment they cannot avoid.  Only the gospel of Christ can give peace to men in this condition.

Today, Pastor Drew continues his sermon series on Genesis with the six days of creation (Genesis 1:3-31).  In those six days, light was given, water and earth were divided, plants, animals, and finally man was created.  The magnificent wonder of all God created reveals God’s majesty and draws us to glorify Him.

Our closing hymn, All Creatures of Our God and King, by Francis of Assisi (1225), helps us respond to God with praise and alleluias.  Giovanni Bernardone, the real name for Francis of Assisi, lived a humble, devout life characterized by a forgiving spirit and absolute trust in God.  At the age of 25, Bernardone left his life as a soldier, renounced his inherited wealth, and determined to live his life humbly, in imitation of the selfless life of Christ.

Throughout his life, Bernardone loved music and encouraged singing in his monastery.  He wrote more than 60 hymns, and his beautiful hymn, All Creatures of Our God and King, has endured for centuries.  This hymn has become one of the most loved and familiar hymns in the Church today.  Won’t you praise God with us this morning for His many blessings and for the wonders of His creation?

“All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and sing, Alleluia! Alleluia!  Thou burning sun with golden beam, thou silver moon with softer gleam: O praise Him, O praise Him! Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia!”

Beyond a doubt, Dr. Boice was an exemplary Christian statesman.  His life and ministry need to be remembered and upheld as an example for all who would seek to glorify God in their daily walk with Christ.  His biblical, practical, expository preaching and teaching ministry serve as a model worthy of emulation by any man who is called by God to proclaim the sacred Scriptures.  His passionate plea that these same Scriptures “must be the treasure most valued and attended to in the church’s life,” is a plea we still need to hear today.  To understand the preaching of James Boice, we must begin with his commitment and passion over this ‘most valued treasure’.

James Boice had strong theological convictions about many things, but his greatest emphasis, and where he expended most of his energy was in the unwavering stand he took defending the Bible as the authoritative, infallible, sufficient Word of God.  “You need a place to stand as a Christian,” he once wrote, “and you have it in the Bible.”  Therefore in this short biographical sketch, I want to concentrate on the role that the Bible had in shaping James Boice and making him one of the great preachers of the twentieth century.

Years of Preparation

James Montgomery Boice was born to Newton and Jean Boice on July 7, 1938, in Pittsburgh, PA.  Shortly after Jim’s first birthday, the family moved to Philadelphia so that Newton could pursue orthopedic training at the University of Pennsylvania.  This move brought the Boice family to Tenth Presbyterian Church, which was under the pastoral leadership and preaching ministry of Donald Grey Barnhouse.  “It was here that young Jimmy would learn his first Bible verses, which are still preserved in a family album.”  Although they would only stay two years in Philadelphia, their relationship with Dr. Barnhouse would continue and prove to have an unquestionable influence on Jim’s future.  

Once back in the Pittsburgh area, the Boices made their church home at First Evangelical Free Church in McKeesport, PA.  It was there that Jim, at the age of twelve, would preach his very first sermon.  It was well received and opened up the possibility that God might be calling him to the ministry.  Shortly after this Dr. Barnhouse would once again leave his mark on the young James.  While on a preaching tour in the late summer of 1951, Dr. Barnhouse joined the Boice family for dinner and spoke to them about the education of their son.  He suggested that they send Jim to Stony Brook, a Christian prep school on Long Island.  Dr. Boice describes the encounter: 

We had been talking about Stony Brook as we sat around the dinner table one Friday evening.  As it turned out, this was the Friday on which the fall term at Stony Brook was beginning.  In the course of the conversation he (Barnhouse)] asked, “Jimmy, would you like to go to Stony Brook this year?” I said, “Yes.” So he answered, “All right.”  And he got up from the dinner table—we were between the main course and dessert—went to the telephone and called Dr. Frank E. Gaebelein, who was the headmaster at the time.  I was admitted by phone, and two days later on Sunday I was on Long Island.

As I said last week, listening to Dr. Boice preach on Sunday mornings and at the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology (PCRT), over a 10 year period (1989-2000) made me conclude that he was one of the great preachers of our day.  Thus, you can imagine my joy when in September 1999, I was hired to serve with him on the staff of Tenth Presbyterian Church.  Although excited, I also had a sense of trepidation knowing that I would be serving with the man that I had come to greatly admire.

Though I did not know Dr. Boice well personally, the times I did get to serve with him only proved to strengthen my admiration.  He was a gentle and joyful man who loved life, and more importantly, loved the Giver of Life.  He exuded to all who knew him an irresistible excitement and enthusiasm for loving, serving and worshiping his Savior.  He had great affection for the church and its people.  He was a man of integrity and of great intellectual capacity.  He was also a humble man with a contagious passion for knowing and studying God’s holy Word:  a Word that he would spend his life and ministry teaching, preaching, defending, and proclaiming.  

 As Dr. Boice’s successor at Tenth Church, Dr. Philip Ryken has said, 

Our loss is great.  We feel much the way that Christians felt when Jonathan Edwards died at the height of his powers.  Their lament is engraved on the Princeton tombstone that James Boice visited shortly after he learned of his fatal disease.  Though he did not claim to be Edwards’ equal, Dr. Boice stood in the same tradition of vibrant, orthodox Calvinism.

 Dr. Ryken continues, quoting Edwards’ tombstone:

He had an extraordinary knowledge of the liberal arts and sciences.  He had an excellent knowledge of the commentators on the Scriptures.  He was an exceptional theologian, such that hardly any other was his equal.  He was a clear disputer, a strong and invincible defender of the Christian faith, a grave, serious, and discriminating preacher.  And, by God’s favor his preaching was very fruitful in its outcome.  But, oh! It must be mourned that he has died, and O how many groans were invoked by his departing!  O, how much wisdom!  O, how much teaching and religion!  These being lost, the Church cries aloud; but, receiving him, Heaven rejoices.

May the Lord be so gracious to us that we too can have such an impact on the kingdom of God.

God, all throughout Scripture, is called “holy.”  The acclamation of God’s holiness is given  both to the Triune God, and to the individual persons of the Godhead (see Lev. 11:44, 45; Josh. 24:19; 1 Sam. 2:2; Ps. 99:9; Is. 1:4; 6:3; 41:14, 16, 20; 57:15; Ezek. 39:7; Amos 4:2; John 17:11; Acts 5:3, 4, 32; Rev. 15:4).  The word, “holy,” signifies everything that sets God apart from us, showing Him to be worthy of our adoration and proper fear of His perfect justice.  His holiness covers every aspect of His “God-ness” and points to the core truth that God is so pure, He cannot tolerate any form of sin (Hab. 1:13).  We, as sinners, must humble ourselves in His presence.

Today, Pastor Drew is continuing his sermon series in Genesis and is preaching on Genesis 1:2-3, in which God spoke light into a world that was “without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep” (Gen. 1:2).  The consistency of Scripture regarding the character of God is truly remarkable.  When John says that God is “light” with no darkness in Him at all, the imagery affirms God’s holy purity.  That purity requires that we pursue holiness and righteousness.  As believers, we are regenerated and forgiven, but the Word of God summons us to practice a holiness that reflects God’s own in order to please Him.  God, who is light, and who spoke light into the world, commands it!

In our enjoyment of our personal relationship with God, we too easily lose the awe and reverence that should be a part of our worship of Him.  We forget the supreme holiness and greatness of God and sometimes treat our Lord carelessly, as merely “the man upstairs,” or “my co-pilot.”  We need to consider this ancient advice from a father to his son:

“First of all, my child, think magnificently of God.  Magnify His providence; adore His power, pray to Him frequently and incessantly.  Bear Him always in your mind.  Teach your thoughts to reverence Him in every place for there is no place where He is not.  Therefore, my child, fear and worship and love God; first and last think magnificently of Him!”                          -Paternus, Advice to a Son

Our closing hymn is Walter Chalmers Smith’s Immortal Invisible, God Only Wise.  Smith was a pastor and leader of the Free churches of Scotland.  He was a poet and hymn writer, and Immortal, Invisible was first published in his own 1867 hymnal, Hymns of Christ and the Christian Life.  As we reflect on God’s holiness this morning, remembering how the God who is Light also spoke light into the world, let us proclaim the greatness of God in Smith’s own words:

“Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, Thine angels adore Thee all veiling their sight; all praise we would render – O help us to see ‘tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!”

Mr. John Moore
Minister of Music

Pastor Dony St. Germain, one of our Missionary Associates, a Haitian himself and pastor of El Shaddai, a Haitian church in Miami, has been trying to update many of us regarding what he and others are doing to alleviate the suffering which is all around them.  The figures he sent us this past Monday are heartwarming.  El Shaddai Ministries, of which Pastor Dony is head, has already brought earthquake relief to:

•       400 pastors
•   70,000 church members
•    5,000 victims (injured people)
•       941 families in Port-au-Prince, Gonaives and surrounding areas.
•    2,935 homeless people who have been provided sheets and help to buy large plastic            covers to serve as a roof over their heads.

Medical teams from North Carolina and Florida have come to Haiti and have involved themselves in these relief efforts.  They have been able to work at the general hospitals in Port-au-Prince and Les Cayes, as well as holding mobile clinics in some of the worst hit areas outside of Port-au-Prince.  They’ve delivered babies, and brought and given out wheelchairs and crutches to those with broken limbs.

There are at least 134 pastors in Port-au-Prince who have lost their church buildings and homes and are now living on the streets with their families.  Of the 42 churches with which Pastor Dony is related, many are located in areas outside Port-au-Prince.  It is to these outlying areas that thousands of people have fled in search of more stable places in which to live.  As a result, the population in many of these outlying cities has more than doubled, causing the depletion of almost every type of resource that a city or town would normally have. 

We don’t know how far our gift of $13,000 will go but we need to back up our monetary gifts with continuing prayer.  

     By Addison Soltau, Pastor of Teaching and Missions     

To start with, there is the issue of the church calendar – to what extent should churches observe it?  Unlike the Old Testament with the observances of major feasts during the year, the New Testament does not prescribe the use of a church calendar.  Nowhere are we told or expected to observe certain days.  Thus the idea of a church calendar does not find its origin in God’s Word and therefore churches are free to choose to, or not to follow it. 

Lent is a 40-day preparation for the observance of Christ’s passion and Easter.  Why forty?  As many know, there are a number of periods of forty days, or in the case of Israel, forty years, in the Bible.  In the Old Testament forty is associated with testing, or preparation as in the case of Noah, Moses and Jonah.  In the New Testament Jesus was taken by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days prior to his testing by Satan.  New disciples in the early church were taught daily in Christian doctrine and practice for the 40 days of Lent, leading to their baptism on Easter Eve.

So back to the question, why bother with Lent and if we do, what can we expect as a result?  Lent holds tremendous promise if we will recover its evangelical purpose; namely, leading us and our children closer to Christ and his Word.  Even though not commanded in the Scriptures, it is the only time in the year that we can give special attention to the cross and what our Lord did on the cross that has changed our lives.  Rather than hurrying on to Easter, as many are tempted to do, we should note that the Gospels are really chronicles of Jesus’ final week with long introductions.  The apostle Paul wants us to know that for the Christian, discipleship this side of heaven is “sharing in his sufferings” (Philippians 3:10).  A proper observance of Lent can afford just that, an opportunity to reinforce the significance of Christ’s person and work, something which we all need all the time.  Perhaps this is why the writers of the Gospels gave so much more space to Jesus’ last week than to the several weeks when he appeared to his disciples after his resurrection.  As one writer observes, the Gospel writers knew that the history to follow the cross would often resemble Saturday, the in-between day, more than Sunday, the day of rejoicing.

 Scripture proclaims that God is great (Deut. 7:21; Neh. 4:14; Psalm 48:1; 86:10; 95:3; 145:3; Dan. 9:4), and that His greatness is beyond our understanding.  Theologians say that God is ‘incomprehensible” – not that He is irrational or illogical – but that our finite minds cannot contain the infinite God.  God is portrayed as dwelling in thick, impenetrable darkness (Psalm 97:2) and as dwelling in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16).  These contrasting images express the same idea:  God is above and beyond our ability to fully comprehend Him. 

At the same time, however, we do know God in a very real way.  We are made in His image, and because of the double revelation of nature and His Word, we know Him relationally in a true, if limited way.  As Calvin put it, God has condescended to our weaknesses both in revealing Himself in the inspiration of Scripture, and in the incarnation of His Son.  Both give us a genuine understanding of Him. 

God does this by presenting Himself to us anthropomorphically, as having a face (Ex. 33:11), ears (Neh. 1:6), and eyes (Job 28:10).  God sits on a throne (1 Kings 22:19), and fights battles (2 Chron. 32:8; Is. 63:1-6).  These do not describe what God is in Himself (God is a spirit), but what He is to us:  our Father, our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Friend.  God comes to us in this way to draw us to love and trust Him, even though in many ways we are like little children who understand only in part.  The purpose of this, though, is to bring us to worship and praise Him.  The truest expression of our trust in God will always be to worship Him. 

The hymn of the month, How Great Thou Art, helps us praise the greatness of our Lord.  The text for this hymn was written by a Swedish pastor, Carl Boberg, in 1886.  While visiting a beautiful country estate, Boberg was surprised by a sudden, violent thunderstorm.  The storm quickly ended, leaving clear, brilliant sunshine and calm, sweet singing of the birds in the trees.  Boberg fell to his knees in adoration of God, and later wrote nine stanzas of praise.  The text was later translated in English by the English missionary Reverend S. K. Hine.  The four stanzas of Hine’s translation have inspired God’s people all over the world. 

We do serve a great God.  He is sovereign, all-powerful, holy, omniscient, unchanging and yet compassionate and merciful.  He directs His power towards us to save us in love and to truly cherish us as His people.  As we ponder the unfathomable greatness of God, let us praise Him for His wonderful, redeeming love for us. 

“Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art, how great Thou art! 

Mr. John Moore

Minister of Music

I did not get the chance to know him well.  I was on the church staff only a short time before he passed away.  What I do know about him I learned from reading his books, listening to him preach, hearing the reminiscences of those who knew him well, as well as from the few opportunities I got to interact with him.

I first learned of Dr. Boice in 1989 while attending Bible College a short distance from the church he pastored.  A fellow student recommended that I visit Tenth Presbyterian Church to hear Dr. James Montgomery Boice preach.  I was told that this was one of the great benefits of attending Bible College in the area, so I made my way one Sunday morning to 17th and Spruce Streets in Center City Philadelphia.  

The sermon on that first Sunday morning left a lasting impression.  Whenever possible during my college days, I would return and listen to Dr. Boice preach.  In fact, after I graduated, and while serving as a youth pastor in South Jersey, I would still, whenever I could get away, travel over the bridge to Tenth Church to listen to him preach. 

Listening to Dr. Boice preach on Sunday mornings and at the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology (PCRT), over a 10 year period (1989-2000), led me to conclude that he was one of the great preachers of our day.  

I will share this story as way of introduction to a series of Pastor Letters that I will be doing on the life, ministry and writings of James Boice.  2010 marks the 10 year anniversary of Dr. Boice’s death, so I thought I would introduce you to a man of God who has had so much influence upon my preaching and ministry.  If you have been at FPC over the last 6 years, you are aware that James Boice had a tremendous impact upon my predecessor, Rick Phillips.  We have quoted his writings, referred to his sermons and mentioned his name.  I believe through his writings and audio sermons, he can serve you in death, what he meant to me in life; a faithful, biblical, spiritual mentor.  This is because, above all else, James Boice was a man committed to the Scripture.  I give him the last word:

The most serious issue facing the church today is not the inerrancy of Scripture but its sufficiency.  Do we believe that God has given us what we need in this book?  Or do we suppose that we have to supplement the Bible with human things?  Do we need sociological techniques to do evangelism, pop psychology and pop psychiatry for Christian growth, extra-biblical signs or miracles for guidance, or political tools for achieving social progress and reform?  It is possible to believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice, and yet to neglect it and effectually repudiate it just because we think that it is not sufficient for today’s tasks and that other things need to be brought in to accomplish what is needed.  This is exactly what many evangelicals and evangelical churches are doing today.

“Corporate worship, as our local church understands it, is a time of joyful covenantal renewal which includes confession of sin, responsive prayers, corporate song, the preaching of the gospel and often, the Lord’s Supper.  To be frank, I never personally thought I would like liturgy in a church, but after experiencing it, I have found it to be a much more meaningful form of worship because of its connection to history, the corporate body and the depth of its ability to illumine the covenant.  One of the most meaningful times of the worship service to me and my wife has been the practice of the corporate confession of sin at the beginning of a worship service.  Many churches have put aside the corporate confession in favor of only music but the church has historically made the corporate confession central to worship.  For most it makes the time of worship more authentic and joyful for it strikes a blow against self-righteousness and humbles us before God as we say what we know to be true of ourselves.  It reminds us that we are not better than others and that it is only grace (an alien righteousness) which makes us what we are. 

But corporate confession of sin would bring only despair were it not for our knowledge of God’s faithfulness to His covenant promise, His forgiveness and mercy.  It is dangerous to dwell on ourselves and our sin if we do not also remember that God delights in forgiving us.  So I personally deeply appreciate when after we have confessed, the pastor says, “...but if your faith is in Jesus Christ this morning, then I can assure you, based on the sure promise of the Word, that your sins are forgiven....”

I found John’s comments helpful as I reflect upon why we do what we do.  The bottom line is we will only delight in God’s mercy and grace to the extent that we understand the depths of our sin.  Remember that you are a great sinner, but also remember that Jesus is a greater Savior….

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).  There was no pre-existing material that somehow “exploded itself into being,” as many evolutionists claim.  God created from nothing, by the power of His word.  Creation’s existence is dependent on God, yet is distinct from Him.

Creation is a mystery to us.  We cannot create by a mere act of our will and we don’t know how God could.  To say that God created “out of nothing” simply acknowledges that mystery, not explains it.  God is not bound by space and time as we are.  He is able to act in creation in ways that are not accessible to our understanding. 

Since Scripture tells us that God created us and the world around us, we must praise Him as the creator.  The marvelous order and beauty of His works compel us to worship Him.  God is our sovereign Lord, whose will encompasses all events and destinies without any exception.  He has the power to redeem, to recreate and renew.  With this in mind, how can we not live lives of devotion, gratitude and loyalty before Him? 

Pastor Drew is beginning a sermon series on Genesis, which starts with the story of creation.  Knowing that God is the creator of everything is basic to true religion.  It drives us to our primary reason for being.  What is the chief end of man?  To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever!  Our closing hymn, To God Be the Glory, by Fannie Crosby, will help us do just that. 

Known as an American hymn writer and poetess, Fanny Crosby wrote over 9,000 hymns during her life.  One biographer wrote of her, “...in her day, she was considered by most people to be the greatest in America.  As Johann Strauss reigned in Vienna as the “Waltz King”, and John Phillip Sousa in Washington as the “March King”, so Fanny Crosby reigned in New York in the later nineteenth and early twentieth century as the “Hymn Queen”.   

Nothing seemed to discourage Fanny Crosby.  Joy was a characteristic of her life.  It was said of her, “She is a blind lady whose heart can see splendidly in the sunshine of God’s love.”  When asked about her blindness, Fanny Crosby replied, “I am glad I was born blind, because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!” 

As we praise God as Creator, let’s also remember that He is our Redeemer, Sustainer and Friend.  Singing Fanny Crosby’s To God Be the Glory is a wonderful way for us to praise Him corporately, as we reflect on His love and goodness towards us. 

“To God be the glory, great things He hath done!  So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that we may go in.  Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!  Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!  O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give Him the glory, great things He has done!

Nearly twelve years ago he wrote these words: “In April I went to a Mission to North America conference on spiritual warfare.  Ever since, it seems the opposition of the enemy has increased.  I should have known.  It was too easy.  It has gone too well.  Now, what?”  A few lines later he added these words: “At times I hate church planting.  It is about the dumbest thing a person can do.  Yet, what could be more rewarding than bringing an entity into being that will proclaim Christ and establish people in Him for generations to come and have an eternal impact?” 

For those of us who were not here thirteen years ago, this church helped Al start the North Shore Community Church PCA in Oyster Bay.  Since that time the church has continued to grow and is making a deep impact on the North Shore of Long Island.  That’s not all.  This church has contributed to the planting of three other churches.

Al left that church in late 2000 to join the staff of Redeemer Church in New York City to facilitate church planting in that city, other large cities in North America and some of the leading cities of Europe.  That was in 2001.

Now, after nine years in this role, Al and others on the Redeemer Church staff have helped to replant two urban center churches in Budapest, Hungary.  Both of these are thriving and are now planting another church in that same city.  Three churches have been planted in London and three more are being planted now.  Amsterdam boasts seven new church plants along with twelve others in other cities in the Netherlands.  As of the writing of his last letter, Al tells us that forty-three churches have been planted in several of the leading cities of Europe.

He concludes his letter by saying that he is grateful for the vision, faith and strength of the people of our church.  He thanks us for our financial and prayer support these past thirteen years.  We all need to hear news of this kind so that we can know how the Lord is using our church to build His Church.  Pray that this will not only continue but grow even stronger in the months and years to come.

Plans to have ESL classes offered at the church are long standing.  Part of the wait has been finding someone to handle the responsibilities associated with a program of this nature.  In His own timing The Lord provided co-directors, Don Baret and Cindy Wallster.  Much of the information about ESL has been provided by Mission to North America who has spear-headed these ESL programs in PCA churches across this country.  It is simply another form of Christian outreach into the community, Christians helping others in heed of help.

All the help we offer as a church, however, is not one way.  Besides the two mentioned above, there are approximately thirty of our church members involved in this program.  Thirty of our people, giving their time, first in training (14 hours), and then each Monday evening, as they come to teach the 120-140 people who are eager to learn the language of this country.  And these thirty aren’t all teachers.  Some translate, some set up and clean up and some take care of young children as their parents attend the classes.  Thirty of our own people who give of their time so freely!  That’s a sizeable number and as Don Baret says, “This has all the marks of the activity of God.”

Just so that we all know – the schedule calls for 45 minutes of instruction to begin the evening, a thirty minute break for coffee, conversation and a brief message about Christ, and then a final 45 minutes for more instruction in English.  All is provided by these FPC members who love the Lord and are prepared to evidence and share His grace.  World Changers indeed!  Let us all give of our own time to pray for those who teach and those who learn, that our Lord will see fit to use this outreach for His glory and the salvation of many.

A hallmark of the Christian faith is the doctrine of the Trinity, which declares that Christ is truly divine – He is both truly God and truly man.  The doctrine of the Trinity was defined at the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325), when the church countered the Arian heresy that Jesus was God’s first and greatest creation, but not God Himself.  The Council of Nicaea declared that God the Son and God the Father were “of one substance,” and that the Son is “begotten, not made.”  This declaration is a confirmation of the clear testimony of Scripture - that there are three Persons in the Godhead - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

This speaks to our culture today concerning the person of Jesus Christ.  Most people would agree that Jesus was loving, compassionate, and one of the world’s greatest moral teachers.  Islam declares Jesus to be a great prophet of God, and Eastern religions view Jesus to be a personification of Krishna, and therefore divine in a limited sense.  But our culture denies that Jesus Christ is God. 

Scripture, however, declares Jesus to be literally God incarnate, whose death and resurrection demands a response of faith and who is the only doorway to eternal life.  This view is very unpopular today.  It means that Christianity is unique among all the world’s religions, and is the only faith that provides the way of salvation.  This flies in the face of today’s preference for religious pluralism.  But even though this biblical view of Christ is unpopular, it is the clear teaching of God’s Word.

Pastor Drew is preaching today on the supremacy of Jesus Christ, in light of this great truth.  And, since Jesus is God, He is worthy of all praise.  One of the songs of praise we are singing today is Joachim Neander’s great hymn, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, based on Psalm 103.  Verse 1 of that Psalm says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”

Though both Neander’s father and grandfather were Lutheran ministers, he, as a young man lived a godless and immoral life.  When he was twenty, he went to a worship service intending to ridicule the preacher, but was instead converted.  Four years later he was appointed headmaster of a school in Germany, where he composed more than sixty hymns.  Neander’s strong Christianity and his evangelical activities drew fire from the authorities at the school and he was eventually removed as headmaster.  Despite these tensions, he continued writing hymns until he died very young, at only thirty years of age.

Please join us in praising Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Jesus is Lord and He is deserving of all praise!

“Praise to the Lord!  O let all that is in me adore Him!  Let the amen sound from His people again; gladly fore’ere we adore Him.

Below I share a few quotes from both classes, as well as the reading, that I found particularly beneficial:

“Christian worship is the most momentous, the most urgent, the most glorious action that can take place in human life,” Karl Barth.

“Worship is not ‘ultimately’ something we experience, but rather is something we offer to God,” Mark Ross.

“All true worship is heavenly worship,” John Owen.

“The joy of our worship is not based on the nature of our worship, but, the object of our worship,” Sinclair Ferguson.

 “I would like to see the beginning of a new reformation in our day.  I hope you would like to see it too and are praying for it.  I hope you have been nauseated with the tawdry entertainment that passes for the true worship of God in many churches and, like saints of the past, are longing for more of the deep truths of the inerrant Word of God.  We certainly need a reformation,” James Boice.

“When studying the Scripture, our first question shouldn’t be ‘where am I in this story?’ but, where is Christ in this story?” Sinclair Ferguson.

“Worship is first and foremost Trinitarian in nature,” Sinclair Ferguson.

 “What we need is not God in the abstract but God in the Trinity... Atheists don’t get mad at Unitarians but Christians, because the Trinity either gets you mad or causes you to worship,” Sinclair Ferguson. 

“A blessing in the Bible is not what you say when you sneeze,” Sinclair Ferguson.

May the Lord ‘bless’ us all as we seek to faithfully worship Him, according to the Scriptures, in both Spirit and in Truth.

“Sanctify them in truth, your word is truth.” John 17:17

The first three Sunday nights of each month, people come from near and far in order to meet at 7:30 p.m.  in the back chapel  of First Presbyterian Church, Margate/ Coral Springs.  The ministry is called City Light.  City Light, age groups (20-35), has been meeting for over one year now and has been attracting many different faces, from diverse races and backgrounds in order to do one thing, read and discuss the Scriptures, word by word, verse by verse, chapter by chapter.  These people desire to take time in the study of God’s Word, wrestling with hard verses, asking questions, and commenting from personal experience. 

We begin with coffee and snacks as well as introducing new people and making them feel welcome.  Over the past few months we have implemented small groups on certain nights in order to have table leaders teach as well as generate more interaction among visitors and guests.  All Scripture is read by the people, not the leaders, allowing them to engage with the text. 

This time in the Bible together has not only resulted in individual personal growth, but also numerical growth for both the ministry and the church over time.  Since the origin of this ministry, City Light has averaged two new members per new member’s class who have joined our church as well as two more involved in the current class.  The desire to plug in to the church and get more involved is a direct result of maturity in the faith due to the time spent in the Scriptures. 

We know that in some cases, especially among visitors, this time of study is the only time new Christians put into reading God’s Word during the entire week.  However, we believe that the more time younger Christians are in the Word, week after week, it will become a daily habit and eventually a passion. 

Currently we are studying the Gospel of Luke, preparing to move through Acts, and previously looking through Genesis, Psalms and Ecclesiastes.

The result of reading and discussing the text leads to one thing, changed lives.  As a result of people growing in the knowledge of the truth, they undertake the process called sanctification.  Sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit where new lives in Christ undergo transformation from former interests to fascination and involvement in the things of God.  Spending time praying and laboring over the Word of God each Sunday helps young adults grow out of lives of slavery to sin into lives of holiness and deeper love for Jesus Christ. 

*If you are interested or know a young adult who might want to study with us, please contact me at any time at amadeo.alex@ yahoo.com .  You can also visit our Facebook page by typing City Light into the search box.  We meet in the back chapel, from 7:30-9:00 p.m., the first three Sundays of every month. 

**Please pray for our ministry as well as our plans to develop a mission’s team for Haiti. 

In Christ,

Alex Amadeo

Young Adults Director

The Gospel of Matthew tells us that John the Baptist preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2), a testimony also preached by Jesus, our Lord.  The theme of God’s kingdom is present throughout the Old and New Testaments, and focuses on God’s plan for world history.  The Old Testament teaches that God would rule the nations through His chosen King, who would be the Messiah, from the line of King David (Isaiah 9:6, 7).  The New Testament teaches that Jesus fulfills that role as King.  Jesus is enthroned in heaven as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14; 19:16).  In one sense, this kingdom is present among us now since we reign with Christ in heaven (Ephesians 2:6), in another sense the fullness of the kingdom is still future (Luke 11:20; 16:16; 17:21; 22:16,18, 29, 30). 

With this in mind, we come to Pastor Mick’s third sermon in his series on Psalms 22, 23, and 24. Originally titling today’s sermon The Glorious Shepherd, (in keeping with the “shepherd” theme of Psalms 22 and 23), Pastor Mick concluded that Psalm 24 moves from the theme of God as shepherd to God as King.  Therefore, the sermon has been retitled, The Glorious King. 

Today, we are singing two great contemporary hymns as “bookends” to the sermon, focusing on the love, mercy, and assurance we have as subjects of Christ, our King.  Our closing hymn, Before the Throne of God, was written by Charitie Bancroft.  Bancroft was born in 1841 in the vicinity of Dublin, Ireland.  She was the daughter of a minister of the Church of Ireland.  Charitie Bancroft was a poet who published her poetry in leaflet form as early as 1860.  Eventually, her works were published in a collection titled Within the Veil in 1867.  Before the Throne of God, one of the poems of that collection, was written in 1863.  The music for this text was composed by the contemporary Christian artist, Vicki Cooke.  

Before the Throne of God Above draws heavily from Scripture for its pictures and language.  It is a hymn which finds its theme in the perfect security which believers find in Christ, who intercedes for them “before the throne of God above.”   

As we reflect on the kingdom of heaven, we remember that it brings judgment as well as mercy, just as John the Baptist preached (Matthew 3:1-12).  But we, who have received Jesus’ word and have put our destiny in His hands, have found “blessed assurance” for eternity.  Isn’t that worth singing about? 

“Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea.  A great High Priest whose name is Love Who ever lives and pleads for me.  My name is graven on His hands; my name is written on His heart.  I know that while in Heaven He stands no tongue can bid me thence depart.”

Some of you may remember Michael Oh, president and founder of Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya, Japan.  He spoke at our missions conference in 2006 (the picture of Michael and his family appears at the center of the Missionary Associates Directory). 

This was another of his many whirlwind trips.  He left Nagoya on Sunday 12/27 for St. Louis via Detroit and returned just six days later.  He was asked to speak in an afternoon seminar as well as address the entire assembly.  For the seminar he chose the topic “Suffering, Sacrifice, and Sex in Missions” for the more than 400 people who attended.  On the final night of the conference, he gave a 12 minute testimony on “reconciliation” to the entire crowd.  He was particularly touched by the response of both Japanese and Japanese American students that night and following the conference on the internet.  “It was a wonderful experience,” he wrote, “we made over 200 promising contacts, some of whom may play a part in the CBI ministries over the next 10+ years.”  Here is the link to the video of his talk –
http:vimeo.com/8508657.

Some may remember how involved Michael is in this country as well as in Japan.  He spoke at Covenant College’s Global Gospel Advancement Conference, at Wheaton College’s chapel service, to a secret gathering of young pastors and leaders from the underground church in China, and then to 1,600 pastors who attended John Piper’s Desiring God Conference in Minneapolis.  He did this in the earlier part of this past year while he was in this country.  And of course when he is in Japan he leads and teaches classes at the seminary, one of the largest in Japan with 17 master’s degree students and about 40 part-time students.  Michael and his colleagues recently launched a new church-planting church called All Nations Fellowship which has been averaging 50-70 people every time they meet. 

We thank the Lord for sending us some of His highly qualified servants with whom we partner.  Besides our regular financial contribution, we need to keep this family in our prayers, Pearl his wife, Hannah (9), Mikaela (7) ,Eowyn (5), Elliot (3) and Michael, Jr. (18 months).

Philippians 1:7  It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

For example, our high school ministry has seen 104 different students from eight different schools attend our Saturday night outreach, Coffeehouse. Each of these students had the opportunity to hear the gospel and grow in their faith. Fifteen are dedicated to our Bible Study on Wednesday Nights. Astonishingly enough, these numbers only account for the past four months of records.

Not to be outdone, our middle school ministry saw 65 different students from four different schools attend our Wednesday Night program. Every one of these students had a chance to hear the gospel and to take their faith to the next level.

On a weekly basis, this ministry also reaches out to the public schools through outreach groups at Coral Springs High School and Forest Glen Middle School through an organization called First Priority.  We have seen tremendous growth in these groups. We have seen God convert 13 students, including six at Coral Springs High and seven at Forest Glen Middle, over the month of December and many others continue to grow in their faith.

Please remember, it is through your prayers and support that these things have happened. In the coming year, continue to pray for and invite students

Thank you for all of your support of our youth ministry. We look forward to the Lord blessing this amazing work in 2010.

Anthony Verderame

Youth Director

The story behind Hanukkah is too long to tell it all here, but in brief, Hanukkah has to do with what the Jewish people have always regarded as a miracle.  It happened this way.  The Jews rebelled when they were commanded by Antiochus the king, to bow down to his statue, worship him as a Greek god incarnate and submit to his authority.  Some of the Jews were able to accept his political authority, but none of them would ever think of bowing down to him as a god.  As a result the Jews rebelled, fought hard, and finally took back Jerusalem and the Temple in a great victory.  This all took place around 167 to 165 BC.  

According to Jewish tradition, after the victory, the Maccabees (the name of the Jewish leaders) had only enough oil to fuel the eternal light in the Temple for one day.  It took eight days just to crush the olives and prepare the oil.  The miracle that the Jews observe in the celebration of Hanukkah is that the oil which should have lasted only one day, lasted for eight, and this is why those eight blue candles are displayed during Hanukkah.  They commemorate this “miracle”.

Yet, as it has been pointed out, the real miracle of Hanukkah is not the miracle of a one day supply of oil lasting eight days, but the fact that God once again preserved His chosen people against all odds.  He preserved His people because He had chosen them for a purpose that was yet to be fulfilled.

If God had not enabled the Maccabees to overthrow Antiochus, the Jewish people may very well have been destroyed.  If the Jewish people had been destroyed, then the birth of the Savior, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, would never have taken place.  Thus the link between Hanukkah and Christmas should be clear: it is that God is always faithful to His promises.  He keeps His Word.

This is one reason why we who believe in Jesus should pay attention to history.  The story behind the story is always what God is doing, not what we do.  Too much thinking today is based on where we can fit God into our lives.  Instead, it should always be where and how is God fitting us into His plans.  If we believe this way and act accordingly, we will be World Changers.   

Both the Old and New Testaments portray God as the Great Shepherd.  The image of God as shepherd is deep and rich.  God, as Shepherd, stays with His flock (Isaiah 40:11; 63:9-12).  His sheep are totally dependent upon Him for food, water, and protection from their enemies.  The New Testament reveals Jesus as the Good Shepherd – the shepherd of His people (John 10:11, 14) - fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy that God will come to shepherd His people (Ezekiel 34:7-16, 23).

Today, Pastor Mick is continuing with week two of his three-part sermon series (Psalms 22, 23, and 24) on God as our Shepherd.  Last week we saw Christ as our Good Shepherd, giving up His life in order to redeem His people (Psalm 22).  Today, Mick’s sermon focuses on Christ as our Great Shepherd (Psalm 23).  As part of our corporate worship, we are again singing two great hymns – one before, and one after the sermon – focusing on the guidance, sustenance, protection, and eternal blessing we have in Jesus, our Great Shepherd. 

The first of those hymns we sing today is All the Way My Savior Leads Me, by the great gospel hymn writer, Fanny Crosby.  Fanny Crosby wrote this hymn out of a sense of deep gratitude after receiving a direct answer to prayer.  One day, in desperate need of money and without any prospect of receiving any, she did what she always did – she prayed.  A few minutes later a stranger appeared at her door and gave her the exact amount she needed.  “I have no way of accounting for this,” she wrote, “except that God put it into the heart of this good man to bring the money.  My first thought was that it is so wonderful the way the Lord leads me, I immediately wrote the poem and Dr. Robert Lowry set it to music.”  The hymn was published in 1875. 

Fanny Crosby lost her sight at six weeks of age because of improper medical care.  She was keenly aware that without guidance, a sightless person could easily stumble.  She wrote in verse two of her hymn, “[My Savior] cheers each winding path I tread, gives me grace for every trial,” reminding us that although God has not promised to remove us from the hard circumstances of life, He will go with us, guiding our steps, and giving all the necessary grace we need. 

We, like Fanny Crosby, can have complete confidence that God, as our “Great Shepherd,” will guide our every step and finally bring us to “perfect rest” in Him.  Join your voice with the choir, congregation and orchestra in praise of this glorious truth: 

“All the way my Savior leads me; cheers each winding path I tread, gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread: though my weary steps may falter, and my soul athirst may be, gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of joy I see.” 

One of our Missionary Associates we help to support sent ten questions via email that appear below.  I suggest that those who read this column might want to answer each of the questions in the presence of God before the year gets any older.  Here they are:

The value of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring the matter of our commitment into focus. By asking and answering each of them we might be able to escape the all-too prevalent practice of simply entering the new year with little time spent in reflection. If we really intend to be World Changers, as we should, it’s going to take more than turning over a calendar page, or starting our new Day Timer. It should take prayer before God, reflection on the answers we give to these or other questions, and a level of commitment to follow through on what we have said we would do.

We don’t know what our Lord has for us this New Year, but rather than merely wondering, let’s look to Him to help us do those things that will matter eternally.

 There are differing views of Christ’s suffering on the cross within Christianity.  Some Christians believe that Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross is the superlative example of God’s love for His people.  We believe, however, that Christ’s death is far more that an example (superlative or otherwise).  Jesus Christ is the sin-bearer.  As the perfect sacrifice, Christ suffered the curse of sin, taking on Himself the punishment our sins deserved, and provided complete forgiveness for us.  He lived a perfectly righteous life in our stead, and suffered the consequence of sin on the cross on our behalf.

Today, Pastor Mick is beginning a three-part series on the Psalms.  The next three weeks Pastor Mick will preach on Christ as Our Good Shepherd (Psalm 22), Our Guiding Shepherd (Psalm 23) and Our Great Shepherd (Psalm 24).  Psalm 22, which is the text for today’s sermon, is all about the cross of Christ and the suffering He bore for us.  Therefore, we are singing two great hymns of the cross - one before and one after the sermon.  

We are highlighting the first of those hymns today - George Bennard’s The Old Rugged Cross.  George Bennard began his Christian ministry in the Salvation Army and later was ordained into the Methodist Episcopal Church, where he served as a highly esteemed evangelist for many years. 

After undergoing a particularly difficult experience in his life, Bennard began to reflect deeply on the significance of the cross.  After many hours in study, prayer and meditation he wrote: 

“I saw the Christ of the cross as if I were seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form and act out the meaning of redemption.  The more I contemplated these truths the more convinced I became that the cross was far more than just a religious symbol but rather the very heart of the gospel.” 

Bennard completed the melody to The Old Rugged Cross first.  The words came more slowly, but when he finally completed the hymn, Bennard sent a manuscript to Charles Gabriel, one of the leading gospel hymn writers of that time.  Gabriel’s prophetic words, “You will certainly hear from this song Mr. Bennard,” were fulfilled as the hymn became one of the most widely published songs, sacred or secular, throughout America. 

Please join us today as we ponder the significance of the cross of Christ in our own salvation.  Sing with us this hymn of testimony: 

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.  So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, ’til my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.”

One of the best things you can do to strengthen you walk with the Lord is to get involved in our adult Sunday School program, which we call our School of Discipleship.  Our Sunday morning program is very well conceived and offers you a variety of appealing options.  In the last quarter, attendance in the School of Discipleship was good, and yet I would like to see us do much better in the quarter to come.  Sunday School is important to the health and growth of the church, and it will be beneficial to you.  Let me give you 6 reasons to attend our Sunday morning classes:

Man does not live by Bread Alone.  As I will discuss in my sermon, from Deuteronomy 8:3, “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord”.  Sunday School is great way to be fed the bread of life!

A disciple is a student.  Jesus spoke about this to a group of people who had just put their faith in him.  He told them, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:31, 32).  

Fellowship.  It isn’t easy to get linked up with people in a large church, so you’ve got to make an effort!  There are few better ways of getting to know people than to join a Sunday School class.

To join the church.  Church membership is important, because it makes you a part of the flock that is under our shepherding care, and because it integrates you into the whole life of the church.  We are starting a new Inquirers class that you must take in order to join the church.

Sunday is the Lord’s Day, not the Lord’s hour.  It makes a wonderful difference to attend a School of Discipleship class, and then go to the worship service.  Instead of just “going to church,” it means “being a part of the church.”  If you come back for the evening service, you really have a whole day set apart to honor the Lord and to be blessed by him.

If you come your children will come.  Sunday School is an important part of your child’s growth in the Lord.  As Jesus said, “let the little children come unto me” (Matthew 19:14), and when you take your child to Sunday School you are taking them to Jesus, who is the Word of God. 

We want our School of Discipleship to be a great blessing in your life.  It is an important part of the church and I want to encourage you all to get involved so as to grow in your faith. 

May God bless you today and all through the new year! 

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Drew

But how are we to put this principle into affect?  How are we to live by “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?”  Listen to G. K. Chesterton writing about education, “The most important fact about the subject of education is that there is no such thing.  Education is not a subject and does not deal in subjects.  It is instead a transfer of a way of life.”  Since learning is “a transfer of a way of life” the goal is to seek understanding continuously.  An educated person is one therefore who learns to love God with the mind, as well as with the heart and soul.  The apostle Paul underscores this when he writes, “we are to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

This is what we want to see take place in our homes, in our church, and in our school.  Our faith is to be integrated into all of life.  No thing, and no time is outside the scope of this all-encompassing reality.  Life is not to be compartmentalized.  All of life is to be lived in the presence and for the glory of the Lord.  Our view of the world and all that’s in it is to be determined by God’s Word.

This means that we are all teachers and that we are always teaching.  We teach when we rejoice with those who rejoice and when we mourn with those who mourn, when our faith determines how we work and play, how we marry and parent, how we live and how we die.

Today, January 3, is Christian Education Sunday, a day that includes each of us, whatever our chronological age, our spiritual age, our station in life, our health.  We are all educators, Christian educators in the true sense of the word.  This is how we change the world. 

Today is the first Sunday of the New Year -2010!  This month, we are focusing on the Word of God as it relates to our faith and worship. Pastor Drew will preach on the vital necessity of God’s Word for the lives of believers today, and Pastor Mick will preach a three week series on Psalms 22, 23, and 24. Then in February, Pastor Drew will begin an extended series in Genesis, the very first book of the Bible.

Our Hymn of the Month is Isaac Watt’s Before Jehovah’s Awesome Throne. Isaac Watt’s is the father of English hymnody and had set many of the Psalms to music. This hymn, originally titled Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne presents a wonderful scene of resounding joy and thanksgiving that takes place before the throne of God. Of course, Watts did not think that God’s throne was bad (as we would interpret the word awful today). Rather, it was full of awe, awe-inspiring, and as we might say today – “Awesome!” To avoid any confusion, the hymn title replaces the word “awful” with “awesome.”

One early report of a service tells of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great London preacher who led a congregation of nearly ten thousand in this hymn. “It is scarcely possible,” he wrote, “to give any idea of the sublime effect produced by those ten thousand voices as they swelled the massive harmonies of that grand hymn with a fullness of sound rarely heard.” As the crowd sang, “not a voice was mute, save where occasionally someone’s nerves were overpowered by the massive rolling chorus that rose on every side. Never did we realize what congregational singing might become.”

Won’t you join your voice today as we practice for eternity. That ten thousand voice chorus that Charles Spurgeon led pales in comparison to what we’ll hear on the day we surround Jehovah’s throne. That will truly be awesome! 

Try to imagine 20,000 students from colleges across the US and Canada plus 120 other countries, beginning each morning with the study of the Gospel of John.  Plenary speakers from around the world will be sharing each morning and evening what God is doing in their nation and culture.  Afternoons are spent in seminars (over 200 of them), prayer and fellowship groups, talking with friends and meeting some of the hundreds of representatives from mission agencies and schools who have been invited to bring their exhibits to the conference.

Generations of students have made commitments at Urbana conferences that have set life trajectories for years to come.  Their changed lives have brought others to Christ and have helped to shape many aspects of society to better reflect God’s Kingdom.

In a conversation with Mrs. Terry Rector, a CSCA teacher, I discovered that she attended the 1977 Urbana conference thirty-two years ago and it was there that the seeds of mission service were planted.  Terry will tell you, “The Urbana Conference changed my life.”  A year later she and Bruce were married and were led to do mission work in Mexico with Youth With a Mission.  At present, their daughter Eleanor (a CSCA senior) is planning her fourth Acapulco, Mexico, trip and is thinking and praying about a missionary career in medicine, possibly with the Doctors Without Borders organization.

No one from our church is planning to attend the Urbana ’09 Student Missions Conference, but this is one of the most important gatherings of college young people anywhere in the world.  Its sole purpose is to help the student participants determine God’s purpose for their lives.  Pray for the conference as the biblical mandate for God’s mission is proclaimed and talked about starting today and lasting until midnight, Thursday, December 31st.

Perhaps three years from now, if the Lord has not returned and the conference is held once more, some of our own college students can attend and be challenged to serve the Lord on a whole-time basis.

Today is the final Sunday for 2009. I want to remind us all that music is a vital part of our worship, not for artistic or aesthetic reasons alone, but because the Word of God commands it. Psalm 98, for example, is God’s command for His people, and indeed, all of creation, to praise Him with music!  

This truth is especially central to Reformed worship. Prior to the Protestant Reformation, the medieval Roman Church had officially banned all congregational singing. Just as the Roman hierarchy had effectively taken Scripture from the hands of the lay people, so had they forbidden the congregation to sing in public worship. The Council of Constance, in 1415 decreed, “If laymen are forbidden to preach and interpret the Scriptures, much more are they forbidden to sing publicly in the churches.” 

But we, following in our Reformed tradition, hold to the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. The Apostle Peter tells us, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).  

We Christians are a privileged people. As such, why don’t we, on this final Sunday of 2009, come into the Lord’s house with an expectant attitude, expressly pouring out our hearts to praise Him? After all, we as God’s people have a great blessing to sing about -  the joy of the Lord!

However, this giving doesn’t necessarily apply to the way people give regularly to the Lord.  In a recent book titled Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don’t Give Away More Money the authors state that 20% of professing believers do not give away any money to the church at all, much less tithe.  If this isn’t surprising enough here is another finding:  Most would guess that the more a person or household earns, the more generous they would become.  But  research shows that the more a person earns, the lower the percentage of income will be given away.  We may well wonder how it is that the more money people get, the less generous they become.  What kind of temptations or priorities are at work in this culture that the more people earn the more they want to keep for themselves?

American Christians have been blessed with unbelievable amounts of wealth compared to Christians throughout the world and throughout church history.  Too many have little perspective on just how wealthy they are.  They view themselves as just “getting by” in light of all their expenses.  But generous or even normal giving requires principled decisions up front, which means a rigorous budgeting of money to give to the Lord.  God calls people to good stewardship for His kingdom and not just their own pleasure and while we may all agree with that in principle, living this out requires a great deal more than lip service.

As we come close to the end of the year, all of us need reminders that we are an Intentional Missionary Congregation.  We pray intentionally for people to come to Christ.  We look for ways intentionally to speak to others about Christ.  We give intentionally to enable our Missionary Associates to reach those geographically distant from us with the Gospel.

All of that being true, we are still a long way from meeting our 2009 Mission Faith Promises.  Our mission’s budget is now over $100,000 less than it was a year ago.  We are also well below where we need to be to maintain our present mission commitments for 2010.

Listen to this, another quotation from the book cited above: If the number of generous givers was expanded to include most American Christians, they could virtually change the world.  And that’s what we’re all about, isn’t it?  

Now in our fourth and final week of Advent, we are preparing for the conclusion of this time of preparation and reflection leading to the celebration of Christmas. As part of that celebration, we are singing perhaps the best-known Christmas carol of all – O Come, All Ye Faithful.  This carol is sung by churches around the world and has been translated into more than 100 different languages.  The vivid imagery has meaning and appeal for all ages in every culture.

The text was originally written in Latin by the English composer John Francis Wade.  Wade was a Roman Catholic, and all services were conducted in Latin.  The hymn first appeared publicly in Wade’s collection, Cantus Diversi, published in England in 1751.  One hundred years later the carol was translated into its present English form by the Anglican minister, Frederick Oakely.  It soon became known around the world,

The three stanzas we sing today help us to visualize anew Jesus’ lowly birth in Bethlehem’s stable (stanza 1), the glorious angelic chorus heard by the shepherds (stanza 2), and the praise and adoration we, as worshippers, offer to the Word, our Lord, who though now becoming “God with us” was with the Father from all eternity (stanza 3).

The name of the tune to which this hymn is set is Adeste Fideles, which is taken from the first words of the Latin text, and which literally means “be present or near, ye faithful.”  Please join us this morning as we worship Jesus, our Lord. 

“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him, born the King of angels; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!”

Below are a few excerpts from Sinclair Ferguson’s book In Christ Alone.  He is speaking of the concern that we as Christians all too easily capitulate to culture in our view of Christ ‘in order to suit our own tastes .... turning the savior into a kind of Santa Claus’.  Here are a few of the ways that we can turn our Savior into a Santa figure:

Santa Christ is sometimes a Pelagian Jesus.  Like Santa, he simply asks us whether we have been good.  More exactly, since the assumption is that we are all naturally good, Santa Christ asks us whether we have been “good enough.”  So just as Christmas dinner is simply the better dinner we really deserve, Jesus becomes a kind of added bonus who makes a good life even better.  He is not seen as the Savior of helpless sinners...

Or Santa Christ may be a Semi-Pelagian Jesus -- a slightly more sophisticated Jesus, who, Santa-like, gives gifts to those who have already done the best they could!  Thus, Jesus’ hand, like Santa’s sack, opens only when we can give an upper-percentile answer to the none-too-weighty probe, “Have you done your best this year?”  The only difference from medieval theology here is that we do not use its Latin phraseology:  facere quod in se est (to do what one is capable of doing on one’s own, or, in common parlance, “Heaven helps those who help themselves”)...

Then again, Santa Christ may be a mystical Jesus, who, like Santa Claus, is important because of the good experiences we have when we think about him, irrespective of His historical reality.  It doesn’t really matter whether the story is true or not; the important thing is the spirit of Santa Christ.  For that matter, while it would spoil things to tell the children this, everyone can make up his or her own Santa Christ.  As long as we have the right spirit of Santa Christ, all is well...

But Jesus is not to be identified with Santa Claus; worldly thinking -- however much it employs Jesus-language -- is not to be confused with biblical truth...

The Scriptures systematically strip away the veneer that covers the real truth of the Christmas story.  Jesus did not come to add to our comforts.  He did not come to help those who were already helping themselves or to fill life with more pleasant experiences.  He came on a deliverance mission, to save sinners, and to do so He had to destroy the works of the Devil (Matt. 1:21; 1 John 3:8b).

You can read the full article at the Ligonier’s website:  www.ligonier.org/blog/santa-christ/.

In Christ Alone, 

Pastor Drew DiNardo

Today, we begin the third week of Advent, a time of preparation and reflection leading to the celebration of Christmas.  The singing of familiar Christmas carols has always been a significant part of the celebration of Advent.  That is why so many people enjoy this time of year.  We can sing the beautiful carols that are only sung during the Christmas season! 

Our opening hymn, Angels, from the Realms of Glory, is perhaps one of our finest Christmas hymns.  Addressing first the angelic chorus of Luke 2 in stanza one, it then directs the shepherds in stanza two, the magi in stanza three, and finally all believers in stanza four to join in the worship of Christ, the newborn King.  

James Montgomery was a deeply committed Christian whose hymn texts are among the most inspired in English hymnody.  At only 23 years of age, Montgomery was appointed editor of the weekly Sheffield Register in London.  As editor, he championed many just causes, including the abolition of slavery in England.  He also used his position as editor to promote foreign missions. 

Angels, from the Realms of Glory first appeared as a poem in Montgomery’s paper on December 24, 1816.  Later, it was published in a very popular hymnal titled Montgomery’s Original Hymns.  Many of the hymns from that collection are among the best-known in our modern hymnals.  The music was composed by Henry Smart, a blind organist who nonetheless designed and built some of England’s finest organs. 

Please join us in singing this morning.  Just as the angels, shepherds, and wise men all bowed their knee in the worship of Christ, may we also do the same.  Let us loudly sing as the final refrain of Montgomery’s hymn exhorts us: 

“Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear, suddenly the Lord, descending, in His temple shall appear.  Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King!” 

John Moore, Music Minister

I doubt that many of us know this man personally, but, certainly a number should be acquainted with his books.  The article mentions that he has authored more than sixty books, among them the well-known Knowing God first published more than twenty-five years ago.  Since then it has been translated into at least seven languages and has sold more than 2 million copies, an astounding figure when it is best described as a basic textbook in theology.  Even Packer has been surprised at its success.  “It was essentially intended as a catechesis – a teaching book.  At first I just hoped that it would go into a second printing.” 

If Knowing God doesn’t appear on many of our book shelves, we should know that he served as general editor of the English Standard Version of the Bible from which we hear God’s Word read every Sunday from the pulpit.

Packer was born in England July 22, 1926 in the home of a railway clerk, hardly an auspicious beginning.  He won a scholarship to Oxford University and it was there during his studies that he committed his life to Christ and to Christian service.  It was also there that he first met C.S. Lewis, whose teachings were to become a major influence in his life.  He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1953 and since that time has become known as one of the most influential evangelicals in America. 

There is much that can be said of this man but of some note is the advice he gives to new pastors:  “You have three priorities:  teach, teach, and teach.  Evangelical churches are weaker than we realize because we don’t teach the confessions and doctrine.  Set new standards in teaching.  Understand the word catechesis, and practice that art.”

Perhaps if we follow this advice, we too might become a World Changer. 

On Friday, September 18, we inaugurated our first Friday Night Live! with the Scott Klarmon Jazz Ensemble, made up of some of South Florida’s finest jazz musicians (who incidentally, also have played in several of our worship services). The CSCA Jazz Band participated in a side-by-side concert where the students performed alongside the professional musicians. 

On Friday, November 20, The Faithful Men, (a perennial Southern Gospel favorite at FPC), presented a concert along with the CSCA High School Chorus.  Both nights were standing ovation performances that delighted their respective audiences. 

This coming Friday, January 8, we will present our third Friday Night Live!  The Blackwood Gospel Quartet is coming to FPC to present a concert of Southern Gospel music, not in our chapel, but in our main sanctuary.  This will be a wonderful opportunity to invite neighbors and friends to not only enjoy great music, but also to hear the gospel clearly presented. 

The Blackwood name is legendary in the gospel music industry.  The Blackwood Brothers Quartet was formed in 1934.  Roy Blackwood, Doyle Blackwood, their youngest brother, James, along with Roy’s oldest son, R.W. Blackwood, comprised the original quartet that was based out of Choctaw County, MS.  

The Blackwood Brothers have recorded over 200 albums and toured in 47 countries.  They have won 8 Grammy Awards and 27 Dove Awards.  They were inducted in the “Gospel Music Hall of Fame” by the Gospel Music Association in Nashville, TN, a few years ago.  

Mark Blackwood now continues the legacy of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet through the Blackwood Gospel Quartet.  Mark traveled with his dad, Cecil Blackwood, in the Blackwood Brothers Quartet for many years.  Mark Blackwood writes, “It is the sincere desire of the Blackwood Gospel Quartet that the people who hear them will be moved to a deep spiritual commitment to give all the glory to the Lord Jesus.” 

Don’t miss this great concert.  Our beautiful sanctuary is the perfect venue to enjoy arguably the finest gospel quartet in the nation.  Please mark the date: 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8 at 7:30 p.m.

The Blackwood Gospel Quartet

In Concert

First Presbyterian Church, Margate

Yours in Christ,

John Moore

 What Child Is This?

The profound mystery of Christ’s incarnation – the wonder that God would become man - can never be fully understood.  The question asked in What Child Is This? must have been on the minds of those who were present at Jesus’ birth.  This babe who lay in “such mean estate” was the promised Messiah!  Men today still ponder the mystery of Christ.  How can He be fully God and fully man?  Only through the eyes of faith can we understand the answer.  One writer put it this way:

He who was the Bread of Life began His ministry hungering.  He who is the Water of Life ended His ministry thirsty.  Christ hungered as man, yet fed multitudes as God.  He was weary, yet He is our rest.  He prayed, yet He hears prayers.  He was sold for 30 pieces of silver, yet He redeems sinners.  He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd.  He died, and by dying destroyed death.                                          -Unknown

The answer to the question asked in this hymn is triumphantly proclaimed in the refrain 

– “This, this is Christ the King.”

The text to this hymn was written by William Dix, considered by many to be one of the finest lay hymn writers.  He was a successful insurance salesman in Glasgow, Scotland, and at age 29, he was stricken with a sudden and debilitating disease.  Dix was confined to bed and suffered deep depression until he called out to God and “met Him in a new and real way.” 

The tune for this Christmas hymn was sung long before Dix composed the text.  Greensleeves is an English folk song that can be traced at least to the 1500’s.  Shakespeare mentions the song in one of his plays.

As we gather together to learn about Christ from His Word and to offer up our voices in praise, let us proclaim who the Christ Child truly is: fully God, fully man, the Messiah sent from God the Father to save us from our sins.  Let us loudly proclaim:

“This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:  Haste, haste to bring Him laud – the Babe, the Son of Mary.”

John Moore, Music Minister

Dr. Chapell is himself a graduate of Covenant Seminary following his obtaining a degree from Northwestern University in Journalism.  He completed his formal education at Southern Illinois University with a Ph.D. degree in 1987. During the graduate study years he pastored two different churches before joining the Covenant Seminary faculty. He served the seminary for six years as vice president for academics and dean of faculty before becoming president in 1994.  

His wife, Kathy, herself an accomplished musician, was the pianist at the first church Dr. Chapell pastored, and it was in this same church, a little white clapboard building that stands out in the cornfields of southern Illinois, that the two of them were married in 1978.  Kathy Chapell has used her gifts as a church choir director, soloist, and perhaps more famously as a flutist.  And as in the case of other busy people, this couple has four children of their own:  Colin, married and a Ph.D. student, Jordan, also married and living in St. Louis, Corinne, married and living in St. Louis, and finally, Kaitlin, living at home and a student at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis.

It has been my pleasure to know both Dr. Chapell and his wife Kathy for some years, to hear him preach in chapel (no pun intended), and to enjoy Kathy’s lovely voice and the music she creates with her flute.  

It certainly is to our great benefit to have such a gifted servant of the Lord to complement our 40th anniversary celebration and to fill the pulpit this morning.

A very warm welcome to Dr. Chapell from us all.

It is by God’s grace that Addison’s plans were changed in college when, rather than serve in the U.S. State Department (he was a Political Science major in college), he was commissioned by God to serve in His kingdom.

In God’s providence, it wasn’t even in America (much less the State Department) where his gifts and talents would first be used.  It was in Japan.  Addison spent seventeen years in Japan, teaching in a theological seminary, and serving as a pastor to the Japanese.  He writes, “This has had an incalculable impact on our lives and the lives of our children.”  While this may be true, his biological children were not the only beneficiaries of his experience and discipleship.  His spiritual children have benefited as well.

Pastor Soltau has served as a missionary, dean of students, seminary professor, church planter, pastor and faithful teacher.  Many of the authors of books I have read, or preachers whom I quote, have been trained and mentored by him, including our speaker today, Dr. Bryan Chapell.  I have always loved talking about a missionary, preacher, teacher, or writer that has inspired me and hearing Dr. Soltau talk about what that person was like as his student or colleague.

I know Thanksgiving has passed, but I don’t think it is too late for me to say that I am thankful for both Addison and Roz.  I count it a privilege to be able to join with so many others and say that I have been mentored by not only those whom Addison has mentored, but by the man himself.

It will be my honor to be served communion by a man, Dr. Bryan Chapell, whose writings have helped me greatly, and by the man who mentored him - our own ‘World Changer’!  I trust that you will join me in praising and thanking God for His grace, mercy, gifts, and years of ministry that He has bestowed upon Addison and Roz.

Luke 2:25-32

Today we begin the season of Advent, which means “coming” or “arrival”.  In these four weeks before Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus in His First Advent and anticipate in return as King in His Second Advent.  During this season we celebrate God’s saving work in Christ to reconcile all creation to Himself.  Each week during this season, a different family will light the advent candles as we are called to worship with a reminder of God’s wonderful gift of His only Son.

We launch Advent today by singing Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, by Charles Wesley.  This hymn recalls the scriptural prophecies of Christ’s coming and calls for our hearts to open up for Him.  Wesley reminds us that Christ is not only the “desire of every nation,” but also the “joy of every longing heart.”

It’s hard to believe that any of us could think that way today. We talk about “our money,” and “our things,” as if they were really ours. But the Bible is telling us about people who thought and acted quite differently.  When the Holy Spirit came on these people, they apparently gladly surrendered their possessions.  Later when Paul writes about the believers in Macedonia he said, “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity…They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.”  Doesn’t this seem to be a kind of madness?  We might think that it’s okay to be impressed by Christ, but if such generosity is supposed to go with it, isn’t this going a little far?  We may well wonder what the Macedonians gave when they gave out of their poverty?  But the Bible doesn’t say.  

Compared to the first Christians, we are not just rich, we are hugely rich.  But, if what we have keeps us from excelling in the grace of giving, then obviously we are in serious trouble.

Much of what we hear in our church these days is about money, our financial need and where we ought to be in our giving.  We read the bulletin and see negative figures. Mission Faith Promises for 2010 now stand a little over $74,000. Our pledged support of our 24 Missionary Associates and 2 mission organizations calls for $135,000 annually which means quite a shortfall.  There are not quite five weeks left before the end of the year.  That’s when our 2010 missions budget will begin. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were able to promise an additional $16,000 bringing our total 2010 pledges to $90,000? Should that happen, it might mean that some of us have caught that “generosity sickness” Paul wrote about.  Let’s pray that the Lord will do something special in our hearts in these final days of the year so that our mission outreach will not be hindered.

-Luke 2:9-11, 13-14

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

James Montgomery Boice believed that our Hymn of the Month, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, was the most theological of all the hymns in Christendom. Written by Charles Wesley, the text clearly presents profound biblical doctrine in poetic language. Ironically, Christmas carols as we know them now were abolished by the English Puritan parliament in 1627 because they considered the celebration of Christmas to be a part of a “worldly festival.” This resulted in a scarcity of Christmas hymns and carols written in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing was one of the few written during this period. Wesley’s excellent text combined with the music of the great Christian composer, Felix Mendelssohn, has made this hymn a classic among Christmas songs.

Like many of Wesley’s more than 6,500 hymns, the text clearly presents Christ as He is proclaimed in the gospel. The first stanza describes the angelic host praising the newborn Christ and inviting men to join them in their praise. The following verses present the truth of the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, His earthly humility, the immortality of the soul, and the new birth. Wesley’s carol is saturated with powerful scriptural ideas. The last three lines tell us why Jesus was born into the world: so we would not have to face eternal death; so He could raise us with Him; so that He could regenerate us into children of God. For all of this and more, Jesus deserves the combined praise of men and angels, “Glory to the newborn King!”

For more than 200 years, believers have been enlightened and blessed by the picturesque manner in which Charles Wesley has retold the truths of our Savior’s birth. Please join your voice with ours in the exultant song of the angels, as we begin the Advent season, proclaiming your joy to yourself and to others that Christ dwells in you!

“Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”

In God's wisdom and grace salvation comes to those who are saved in various ways and in various manners.  Surely it is always through the Word and Spirit regenerating the heart and the Word of the Gospel being believed and trusted in (see 1 Peter 1:23 & Romans 10:13).  However the Spirit works in different ways in different people.  My conversion came when I was 21, when Kristie brought me to Church and I heard the gospel (confirming what she was teaching me).  I was involved in much evil behavior that was beginning to bear its ugly fruit, and I felt that life had more to offer.  After four weeks of reading the Scripture, talking to Kristie and going to church, the Lord opened my eyes and I believed. 

It is often said that those who are saved later in life, after living an ungodly life, have a stronger testimony.  I disagree!  What a beautiful testimony it is when God at an early age 'plucks a child from the fire' and for the remainder of their life, they take up their cross and follow after Him!  It is this 'type' of testimony I love to hear.  So it was a joy for me when good friends relayed to me that their five year old daughter got saved.  

In an email, Carrie, Anna's mom, sent me, she writes: 

Anna asked Jesus in her heart this afternoon!  We have been talking about it with her for awhile.  Jer, her father, has really been explaining her Scripture verses, that she learns for Sunday school, to her so that she understands what she is memorizing.  We knew when she was ready she’d do it and so we have not pressured her.  Today, in the car, while driving home, she was asking me questions and come to find out her hesitation was that she thought that when she believed, she would die and go to heaven as soon as she asked!  LOL!  The way kids process is too funny!  So once I got it through to her that she wasn’t going to die, she said she’d wait and then decided five minutes later she was ready.  So we prayed and she is now SUPER excited.  She even brought her Honey bear to the Lord!  LOL!  We just wanted to let everyone know about our new little Christian!

What a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness and his marvelous works to the children of men (Psalm 107:31).  Nothing should give parents (or anyone!) more joy than seeing God save a young soul from the penalty of sin.

Parents, let this be an encouragement to you.  Teach your little ones the scripture, help them through their confusion, make sure they attend Sunday school and church, pray for them, and watch God work.  May the Lord glorify Himself in our church by bringing our children to Christ and His cross for salvation at a very early age!!!!

 Our Liturgy, Part II

We are continuing our two-part summary of our liturgy, which we began last week, in which we stated that we believe Scripture directs each of the elements found in our liturgy, or pattern of worship.  Central to our worship is the gospel, which is manifested in our liturgy.  Last week, we covered Adoration, Confession, and Pardon and Assurance. This week we will complete our summary with the remaining elements - Instruction, Thanksgiving, Charge, and Blessing. 

Last week, we saw how the gospel progresses in our liturgy first with Adoration, which proclaims the greatness and goodness of God.  Following that, we saw that our Confession of Sin portrayed the gospel reflex to an encounter with the all-holy God.  We cannot truly honor His worth without sensing our own unworthiness. We need to cry out to God for mercy.  Finally, we saw that our Receipt of Pardon assured us of the special forgiving grace of God, which is based on the full atonement of Christ and confirmed in His Word. This week, we summarize the remaining elements found in our liturgy:  Instruction, Thanksgiving, Charge, and Blessing.

INSTRUCTION

After we have been assured of the forgiving grace of God, which is based on the full atonement of Christ as He is revealed to us in Scripture, we move on to an extended period of instruction also derived solely from God’s Word.  Our Confession of Faith, Scripture Reading and the Sermon all serve to help us focus our worship on the Word of God.  This is wholly appropriate because by His Word, God is present to minister to His people, express His love for us, and guide us through life’s challenges.  The primacy of the Word is the hallmark of Reformed faith, which we embrace here at FPC.

THANKSGIVING

While confession of sin is the gospel reflex to God’s holiness, thanksgiving is a gospel reflex to God’s mercy portrayed in His Word.  The Sermon calls for this response, and the preacher offers thanks in his post-sermon prayer.  But our response goes beyond thanksgiving because a sermon, properly designed, also calls us to “do” something as a result of what we’ve heard from God’s Word.  Therefore, the minister also prays that God will help us apply what we learned in service to Christ’s kingdom.

CHARGE and BLESSING

Since we are not merely to hear God’s Word but also to live it (1 John 3:18), the Sermon charges us to live the truths we have heard.  Then finally, the Benediction reminds us that the goodness of God extolled in our worship, and the needed grace we receive from Him, will enable us to fulfill the charge we have been given.  Thus, our worship is consistent with the gospel, and God communicates His grace to us beyond our human limitations.

What few of us know, however, is that today marks the death of the author of this book, a man born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1898, raised as an Anglican but without true faith in Christ until 1931.  Ten years after his conversion, in 1941, Lewis started writing a series of fictional letters from a demon named Screwtape to his pupil, a tempter-in-training named Wormwood.  The result was The Screwtape Letters, his first truly popular book. 

No modern writer has gotten more Christian truth into more heads than C. S. Lewis.  He is considered the most influential Christian author of the twentieth century.  No one is better at showing the outlines of a Christian worldview.  Yet, it wasn’t until he was in his early thirties that he was converted to Christ.  His mother died when he was a mere ten year old boy which led Lewis to conclude that he wanted nothing to do with a God who would be so cruel as to take his mother.  His spiritual pilgrimage toward God began some sixteen years later in 1926.  Five years on, in a most unusual way, he reached an important conclusion.  Without any conscious decision to turn from his atheism, he now understood that he had come to believe in Christ as his Savior.  Following the publishing of The Screwtape Letters, titles such as Mere Christianity, Surprised by Joy, A Grief Observed, and The Chronicles of Narnia were written.  Many of them have been used by God to change the lives of people of all ages around the world.

Forty-six years ago today, November 22, 1963, began much as other days but by late afternoon of that same day Lewis’ life ended, one day before turning sixty-five.  Many of his close friends attended his funeral, but there were many more who would have wanted to be there but were not, because they did not hear of his death until later.  Other news of that day had prevented people from hearing of Lewis’ death. President John F. Kennedy was shot to death in Dallas, Texas on that same day.

Forty years after his death all of the more than fifty titles that have been published under his name are in print.  The Chronicles of Narnia has been translated into more than thirty languages, and worldwide, have sold more than eighty-five million copies.

Our thanks go to Max McLean for his visit and his vivid portrayal of Lewis’ first popular book.  God continues to use all kinds of people to start us on our journey of faith.  Lewis was indeed a World Changer.

I thought about these words as I read about the sixty CSCA students who went to the beach over a three day period just this past week.  Of course kids go to the beach all the time, but this time they went for a different purpose.  Pastor Mick took them to the beach for the express purpose of talking to people about Jesus Christ.  The little article that appeared in The Crusader, CSCA’s weekly news sheet, tells us that they witnessed to people from the Philippines, Egypt, South Africa, Turkey, Germany, France and several other countries.  Moreover, those with whom they spoke were from all stripes of religious expression – Islam, Judaism, Mormonism, Buddhism, Jehovah Witnesses, Atheists, etc., as well as various forms of Christianity.  In short, they met with all kinds of people from a variety of religious backgrounds.  They approached over 200 people, 44% of whom gave permission right there on the beach for the kids to speak to them about the Lord.  There was even one who made a confession of faith after hearing the message of the gospel.  From the remarks the kids shared following this experience it is apparent that it was a valuable time of risk taking for each of them, an example to us all. 

In this morning’s mail was the testimony of a PCA pastor who walked the streets of the Eighth Ward of New Orleans asking two questions – “Do you believe in heaven?” and “How do you get there?”  Nearly everyone said that you get there by being good.  Only a nine-year-old boy nicknamed Cheese got it right.  “Jesus lets you in,” was his answer.

We’re less than six weeks away from Christmas, a time when we focus in a special way on the celebration of our Lord’s birth.  Perhaps there aren’t enough of us who think of Christmas as a perfect opportunity for sharing the gospel.  Of course every season offers these opportunities, but especially Christmas.  Remember Andree Seu’s words, “It’s better to make a fool of yourself than to play it safe.”  Amen to that!

-Romans 1:16, 17

Our Liturgy, Part I

If you have attended FPC for any length of time, you are probably aware that we structure our worship according to a pattern, or liturgy.  On the back of our bulletin are these words:  “We believe the Bible is without error, that it is divinely inspired, and that it is our authority in all matters of faith and life.  We embrace the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms as the system of doctrine taught in Holy Scripture.”

Our view of the Bible requires that we include in our worship services only what is mandated or what is logically required by good and necessary inference by it.  Thus, Scripture directs our liturgy.  Some might think that this would limit our expression of worship, but we believe that our liturgy manifests how the gospel progresses not only in our public worship, but also in our hearts.  Typically, our liturgy contains the following elements: Adoration, Confession, Pardon and Assurance, Instruction, Thanksgiving, Charge, and Blessing.  This week and next, I will give a brief summary of each of these elements as they relate to the gospel.

ADORATION

Our worship begins with recognition of the greatness and goodness of God.  After our general welcome, a Scriptural Call to Worship reminds us of the nature of God and compels us to gather for His praise in the light of His greatness and goodness.  This reminder is reinforced when the choir sings the Introit, which connects the Call to Worship with our opening hymn of praise.  Our desire is to make God’s honor our first priority in worship.  The Gloria Patri, Doxology, and our other congregational hymns also help us to proclaim the goodness and holiness of God.

CONFESSION

The light of God’s holiness reveals our sin.  Recognition of who God truly is leads us to confess our sinfulness.  In silence and as a congregation we, therefore, have a Confession of Sin.  Some have criticized this confession as a “downer” or “turnoff” especially to visitors who may have little or no church background.  But we believe that human confession is the gospel reflex to an encounter with the all-holy God.  We cannot truly honor His worth without sensing our own unworthiness.  We need to cry out to God for mercy.

PARDON AND ASSURANCE

The heart that cries for mercy also needs the assurance of His grace, or else there is no “good news” in the gospel.  That is why we include a Receipt of Pardon after our Confession of Sin.  Because of the gospel of our Lord and Savior we can be assured of the special forgiving grace of God, which is based on the full atonement of Christ and confirmed in His Word.

Perhaps many of us feel that making a Faith Promise for 2010 is too difficult a step to take at this time.  How can we promise to give in the coming twelve months when the overall financial picture is as bleak as it is?  This is, of course, what makes the promise one of faith, faith in the promises of God that He will help us to honor what we promise to give, even though our immediate financial future does not appear to be very bright.

Quoting from Paul Kooistra’s little booklet titled “Faith Promise”, “Little we do pays spiritual dividends as high as giving to God’s work around the world.”  He goes on to say, “There is much spiritual poverty because of the lack of giving among believers.  Through our giving, we experience the privilege of being instruments of God’s grace.  Missionaries who have given up much for God’s work are empowered to preach the gospel to those trapped in the darkness of unbelief.  Churches are planted as light in places where there is little hope. Homeless children are brought to experience love through the family of God.”

So this is the challenge before us today.  How much can we trust our Lord in this matter of promising to give over and beyond our tithe in the months of 2010 which are still ahead?  It should encourage us to remember that one year ago at this time, we the members of this congregation, promised to give over $107,000 for the year 2009.  That is over one hundred thousand dollars just for missions, not a part of our regular tithe.  True, we aren’t where we should be at the moment, but we still have seven and one half weeks to make up what we are lacking in our 2009 Faith Promises.  Those of us who have been enriched by the work of Christ are to embellish that richness through the act of giving.  The gospel at work in our lives causes us to give.  In short, we give out of the gospel.

Here’s a thought – pray not only that God will guide you in your giving, but that He will give you a longing (italics mine) to give.  And that this desire will be so great that it would hurt too much not to give. 

Today is the concluding Sunday of our annual Missions Week.  The theme for our Missions Week is taken from Matthew 16:13-19.  There, after Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, we have our Lord’s famous words:  “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah!  For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  Notice the underlined emphasis - Jesus says, “I will build My Church.”

Our opening hymn, The Church’s One Foundation echoes this truth.  Written by Samuel J. Stone, an Anglican pastor ministering to the poor and underprivileged in London’s East End, the hymn reaffirms the Lordship of Christ as the foundation of the church.  Stone was a fighter, and even took on his own Anglican Church.  In 1866, there was a heated controversy in England, in which liberalism threatened to destroy belief in the cardinal doctrines of Christianity.  Defending his doctrinal orthodoxy, Stone wrote a collection of twelve hymn texts based on the Apostle’s Creed that directly addressed the controversy.  This particular text refers to the ninth article, in which Christians confess: “[I believe in] the holy catholic church, the communion of saints” - the body of Christ, with Christ as its Head. 

Stone was known as the poor man’s pastor.  It was said of him that “He created a beautiful place for worship for the humble folk and made it a center of light in dark places.”  This is what the local church was meant to be – reaching out to hurting humanity all over the world.  We have been called out of the world by God for Himself.  We as His people meet regularly for worship, inspiration, instruction and fellowship.  Then Christ, our Head, sends us back into the world to represent Him and to show forth His love.

Join us as we celebrate this second Sunday of our Missions Week.  Thank God for His Church, built on the foundation of Christ, that will go forth so that the gates of hell will not prevail against it.  Let the words of Stone’s hymn affirm the eternal truth that Christ is the Head of His Church.

“The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord:
she is His new creation by water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride;
with His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.”

By John Moore, Minister of Music

Today is a special Sunday in the life of First Presbyterian Church, Margate.  We begin our celebration of Missions Week, in which missionaries and pastors we support from other parts of the world share with us their testimony of God’s faithfulness in their work. Reverend Dony St. Germain, Senior Pastor of El Shaddai Haitian Church (PCA) in Miami, will be with us, preaching God’s Word.  His work for Christ’s Kingdom both in Miami and Haiti is a great testimony of Christ’s faithfulness in building His church.

And tonight, at 6:00 p.m., we will be celebrating forty years of God’s faithfulness to First Presbyterian Church.  Reverend Ross Bair, Pastor Addison Soltau, Elder Peter Dora, and Pastor Drew DiNardo will give testimony of how God has protected, preserved and grown His church here over the past forty years.  Our theme for these celebrations is “I Will Build My Church,” taken from Christ’s words in Matthew 16.  That theme is appropriate both for Missions Week and for our 40th anniversary celebration.

Also appropriate is our hymn of the month, Great Is Thy Faithfulness.  Based on the prophet Jeremiah’s Lamentations, this hymn recounts the unchanging faithfulness of God to His people.  Lamentations is a lament over the sinfulness of Israel and the judgment of God who is holy and just.  But the climax of this book is a remembrance of God’s faithful mercy to His people.  God’s wrath toward His people will end because His compassion and mercy never ends!

The hymn was written by Thomas O. Chisolm, whose health was so fragile that he was forced to resign as a Methodist minister after only one year of service.  Chisolm was greatly disappointed and earned a meager living selling life insurance.

At the age of seventy-five, he wrote, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now.  Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”

Please join us in our Mission Week and 40th Anniversary celebrations.  Lend your voice in praise and worship as we sing to the Lord.  He has proven His faithfulness to us in more ways than we can ever recount.  His love and mercy will never end!

“Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!  Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand has provided - great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

Today, November 1, we’ll be treated to great teaching/preaching in the morning by one of our Missionary Associates, Pastor Dony St. Germain.  He pastors El Shaddai Church, but he does much more than that. He is in the church planting business.  Pastor Dony planted El Shaddai Church in 1993.  And he didn’t stop there.  He has been starting churches among Haitians in Haiti and in this country.  El Shaddai Ministries has launched 40 mission churches in Haiti, 12 in 2008 and this is but a portion of what this ministry does.  Just one year ago the small country of Haiti was pummeled by Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike.  El Shaddai Ministries, led by Dony, were able to provide food, clothing and more to over 16,000 people.  He’ll tell us about some of this today so that we can take a measure of satisfaction in knowing that we participated with him and El Shaddai Ministries.

Next Sunday, Rev. Jim Bland, Coordinator of Mission to North America, will be our guest preacher.  Jim heads up the agency of the PCA mandated to plant churches in this country.  They are working, they tell us, to change the face of the PCA.  Just this past year MNA placed 52 church planters and six church-planting apprentices to start new mission churches.  But like El Shaddai Ministries, their mission covers much more ground.  They train church planters, hold Church planter assessment weeks, organize church planting networks, and so on.  The latest MNA thrust is called, “Every Church Plant a Church.”  This is a campaign which seeks to see a grassroots church-planting culture emerge in the PCA, which would lead to the planting of healthy churches in many diverse communities in North America.

Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church made the effort 40 years ago to found First Presbyterian Church in the as-yet little known community of Coral Springs.  And of course Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church was also a plant of Bethany Presbyterian Church, now renamed Rio Vista Church.

Some of our church’s history will be presented Sunday evening, our founding pastor, Rev. Ross Bair, will be present to tell us about the early years.  May our Lord be praised throughout this important week.

In the midst of all this it is the very important task of trying to keep abreast of all the changes our world is going through.  Not the least of these is the fact that global terror has now become a part of life.  Endemic disease and global pandemics have also become a real possibility. Our world is more and more becoming a dangerous one.  Even brief mission trips planned for another country must now include the safety of each participant. 

Not only the world, but also the world of the global church and mission is changing dramatically.  Most of the world’s Christians are now in the Global South and thus “Mission” as we know it no longer belongs to the West alone. Mission has now become from all nations to all nations.  Old dichotomies such as “home” versus “foreign” and evangelism versus social concern, are a part of past generations and no longer apply.

A third change which impacts how we do mission work is the fact that

 many of the world’s peoples are now to be found far from “home.” Large segments of people have migrated to other countries and just as importantly, they are there to stay. They bring with them their language and culture, their faith systems (Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, animism), and in some cases vibrant Christianity.

What do all these changes mean for us?  On the one hand they can’t be ignored and at the same time should not lessen our desire and enthusiasm to reach the world for Christ.  Our Missions Committee (whose membership is also subject to change) is mandated with the task of recognizing these changes and helping our church to vigorously and aggressively pursue the work to which God has called us.  The Committee welcomes your prayers and participation in this urgent priority of the church.  More importantly, however, this is a call to all of us to pray and earnestly seek the face of the Lord as we look forward to the week of mission emphasis.  How privileged we are to have this time to concentrate on the things that really matter – the ways God is building His Church.  This is not a time to merely receive information from our visitors, but to be challenged in our hearts to think and pray that the Kingdom of our Lord will increase and that His name will be known in greater measure than it is now.   

Today we celebrate Reformation Sunday to commemorate the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.  October 31, 1517 is perhaps the most important date in our Protestant history.  On that day, Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk and a professor of theology, posted his 95 theses (objections) against the teachings and practices of the medieval Roman Church on the doors of the Cathedral of Wittenberg, Germany. Luther was not the first to recognize the severe theological problems in the teaching of the Roman Church, but with this event, he formally began the Protestant Reformation.

The Protestant Reformation was built on three major tenets:

Today’s opening hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, was written and composed by Martin Luther.  Although the exact date has not been determined, most scholars believe Luther wrote it for the Diet of Spires in 1529 when the term “protestant” was first used.  As a result, the hymn became the great rallying cry of the Reformation.

This hymn is Martin Luther’s free adaptation of Psalm 46 which ends with these words: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:11).  Martin Luther faced many years of trials and persecution during the years of the Protestant Reformation, which helped him to better know the gracious power of God’s sheltering hand.  This hymn is a help to us, as well, when we face various trials.  Though we fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil, we are reminded that “God is our refuge and strength.”

This is an all-important message to us, and that is why this hymn is highlighted not only in our congregational opening hymn, but also in the anthem our choir sings today.  As we sing and hear this great hymn of faith in praise to God for His sustenance and protection, we too can boldly proclaim this truth – “And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.” 

The Lord built his church here in Coral Springs forty years ago and we have been helping to plant churches in his name in this and other countries for much of our history.

This year marks forty years since the church was founded and as a result it was decided to mark those forty years in combination with our missions conference.  The first Sunday morning, November 1, Pastor Dony St. Germain, one of our Missionary Associates, will be present to tell us about what he is doing and to preach in the morning worship service.  Rev. Dony not only pastors El Shaddai Church in Miami, he also heads up what is known as El Shaddai Ministries.  This ministry plants Haitian churches in the US and Haiti, and trains and equips Haitian leaders for ministry.  Last year their plan was to build 12 church plants.  Since January, five of these have already held their dedication service.  Three more are scheduled to happen soon.

Good Shepherd of Cherette was one of these church plants in Haiti.  Cherette is a highly respected place in the voodoo culture of the south.  The village sits adjacent to the “Mountain of Death” which is controlled by one of the strongest demonic spirits.  It is also the site for the annual conference of witchdoctors in the south.  In spite of this, the current pastor of Cherette is a former witchdoctor, with the reputation as being one of the most powerful witchdoctors in the area.

This particular church plant in Haiti was facilitated by a PCA church in North Carolina.  The finances for the church building came from a memorial gift of a former member of the church now deceased.  This same PCA church is planning to build a school building for the 120 orphans in the community.   

A group in Chicago raised enough funds to bring about the publication of the Westminster Confession of Faith in French – 4,000 copies.  Using these, training will begin with the pastors and teachers of the schools associated with El Shaddai Ministries church plants as well as with the housemothers of the orphans.

This is what we have been participating in for more than ten years and soon we’ll have opportunity to hear more of what God is doing.  Our missions conference is to bless us, to encourage us, to motivate us to engage in the work of our Lord.  He Will build His Church.

When we come together on the Lord’s Day, our worship should never be passive observance or robotic ritual.  In worship, God speaks to His people in His Word, and they actively respond back to Him as a congregation.  Our worship is a dialogue with heaven!  God speaks to us and we speak back to Him.  The concept is both inspiring and humbling.  As God condescends to speak to us, He grants us the privilege of addressing Him, and, as we receive His Word, our hearts revel in the knowledge that He delights in His people and He receives our worship.

But this worship dialogue is not only vertical – between us and God – it is also horizontal.  When we worship, we are “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19).  That is another reason we sing.  It is not only the choir or the instrumentalists who are praising God with music, it is the whole congregation.  Together, we engage our hearts with God and with the eternal souls of our fellow worshippers.

To help us do just that, our opening hymn today is Thomas Corin’s, Praise the Lord: Ye Heavens Adore Him. Corin based this hymn on Psalm 145, which is a call for every person in every generation, and indeed all of creation, to praise God for who He is and for what He has done. 

Thomas Corin was a retired Navy captain when he found an abandoned baby on the steps of St. Andrews Church in London.  He and his wife took the baby and cared for it in their home.  This led Corin to a passion to minister to the many abandoned babies in London, and he labored to establish the Foundling Hospital in High Holdborn for destitute and abandoned children.  The great composer Georg Frederic Handel presented the hospital with an organ and conducted a special performance of his Messiah every year to benefit the hospital.

Eventually, the hospital published its own hymnbook called The Foundling Hospital Hymn Collection in 1796, for which Corin contributed this hymn.  Come and join us this morning as we unite our hearts and voices with the saints of old in a continuous train of praise that will one day culminate in heaven, where we all can sing:  “Praise the God of our salvation; hosts on high, His power proclaim; heaven and earth and all creation, laud and magnify His name.

The search for worship that is true to the Gospel, resonates in the heart, and is appealing to contemporary culture, has divided congregations, especially over the last fifty years.  Some movements have tried to escape formalism and tradition, while others have found renewed appreciation for the traditional forms of worship that link today’s congregations with their ancient roots.  Both movements seek to provide the worshipper the opportunity to experience the reality of Christ.  The former (contemporary) movement, wants to escape traditions that their followers feel are anachronistic and have deadened worship.  The latter (traditional) movement seeks to escape the secular consumer values that their followers feel have invaded worship.

At FPC, we seek to follow what Scripture itself has prescribed for our worship.  This Reformed practice has led us into a more formalized liturgy that follows the traditional movement, but which uses music from a full spectrum of styles, including music used by the contemporary movement.  There are three criteria we use for selecting the music we use for worship.  They are: 1) Truth, 2) Beauty, and 3) Goodness.

Truth.  The most objective of these three criteria is Truth.  Truth is conveyed by the texts of the music we use, and the texts are either true or they are not.  Any piece of music, no matter how beautiful, would be rejected if the message in the text was unbiblical, and therefore, untrue.

Beauty.  This aspect of the three criteria is the most subjective.  There is music we like, and music we don’t like.  But there are also objective criteria to help us choose.  The music must possess 1) Theological quality that stands the test of biblical accuracy.  It should also possess 2) Literary quality. Anthems and hymns are sung in worship of God, and therefore they should reflect the character of God and His Gospel.  Finally, they should possess 3) Musical quality, where the melody, harmony and rhythm match the mood and content of the text.  For hymns, the music should be easily learned so that they can be sung by anyone in worship.

Goodness.  While this aspect is also somewhat subjective, it too, possesses objective criteria.  Is the music within the cultural framework of the people?  Are people’s experiences, tastes, taken into consideration so that no one is left out?  Balancing these criteria is difficult, and the old adage, “You can’t please everyone,” is certainly true here.  However, we must try to please God, and that is what we are striving for here at FPC.

With this in mind, we recognize that one or more of the musical styles employed in our worship service may not be “your cup of tea,” but we also recognize that there are others who are greatly blessed by it.  And, because of this variety of styles, you’re bound to find something that you enjoy, as well.  Why not, then, follow Paul’s admonition to the Philippian church?  “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:1-4).  If we do this, we can unite ourselves as Christ’s church and we can “shout, and sing for joy, for great in our midst is the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 12:6).

Of greater interest, however, is the source of the money that comes with the awards.  We are told these latest awards total over one million dollars to be divided equally between the three recipients.  But where did all that money come from?  The answer is an interesting one.  It comes from a man named Nobel, Alfred Nobel, a Swedish scientist who lived in the late 1800’s.  He made his fortune from inventing and producing dynamite.

But now listen to this.  Alfred Nobel had a brother, Ludvig, who lived in France.  This brother died and a French newspaper wrote the obituary.  Only the editor got it wrong.  Instead of writing an obituary about Ludvig, the paper made the mistake of writing about Alfred instead.  The rather ominous sounding obituary read, “The Merchant of Death is Dead.”

This not only caught Alfred’s eye, it changed his life.  He realized that he didn’t want to be known as the man who had gotten rich by helping people kill one another.  Instead, he resolved to use his wealth in better ways.  When he died eight years later, he left nine million dollars (a very large amount in those days) to fund awards for people whose work benefitted humanity.  These awards became known as Nobel Prizes.

What does all this have to do with us?  Here is an example of a person who was given a chance to think about what he would leave to this world eight years before he died.  He had this unusual opportunity to look at and assess his life before it ended.

We all have that same opportunity given to us by our Lord.  He commands us to be good stewards of what He provides.  We have this great opportunity while we are living on this earth to use our resources to make a difference.  When we leave this world will we be known as those who accumulated wealth on this earth that we couldn’t keep?  Maybe not.  Perhaps many of us are daily and weekly laying up treasures in heaven and not trying to accumulate it here.  

Even if we didn’t promise to give to Mission Faith Promise last November, we can still give now.  We have two opportunities.  One, giving to make up our mission deficit before December 31, and two, to pray about what the Lord would have us give this coming year.  Isn’t this the best time to think about both?

We’re a long way from Easter, so why quote such a famous verse that concerns the resurrection of our Lord? The answer, of course, is that Christ’s resurrection is absolutely essential to Christianity, regardless of the season. As the Apostle Paul put it, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). How does the Church know that Christ lives? The answer is not because “He lives within my heart,” but  because Christ has risen from the dead - an historical, indisputable, factual, glorious act that changed the course of history and which Paul so vehemently defends.

Our Hymn of the Month is Mighty to Save, by Rueben Morgan and Ben Fielding. Written in 2006, Mighty to Save became well-known due to the famous Christian group, Hillsong. It contains several biblical themes that are true, good, and appropriate for worship. The last lines of the chorus especially proclaim the theme of resurrection: “Forever, Author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.” 

Another important theme in this hymn is the theme of mission. It’s not enough for the people of God to keep the glory of salvation to themselves. We have been commissioned by Christ to: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19, 20). That is why we must, as this hymn tells us: “Shine your light, and let the whole world see. We’re singing for the glory of the risen King, Jesus.”

Every month, we highlight a particular hymn in order that we might make it a familiar part of the repertoire we use to respond to God’s grace to us in song. Won’t you join us this morning, as we again sing to our Lord and Savior, and proclaim to ourselves and to the world the glory of our risen King?

“ Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save. Forever, Author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave!”

This past Sunday evening we focused on missions again, only this time not from one of our Missionary Associates, but from two of our own members, Luke and Amanda McAuley.  This family moved here a few years ago in order for Luke to pursue an advanced degree in occupational therapy at NSU (Nova Southeast University).  Luke has finished his course work and is now completing his intern requirement while preparing for state board exams in December.

Luke spoke to us about their planned trip to Malawi, Africa, in January of next year.  They plan to spend a month with Luke’s parents in Lilongwe, the capital of this nation, exploring future possibilities for mission work in occupational therapy in the area of mental health.  Luke told us about some of the needs of the people who live in this landlocked Central African country.

Malawi will be new to Luke, even though he was raised in the neighboring country of Kenya.  Luke doesn’t speak Chewa which, along with English, is one of the official languages of that country.  He does better with Swahili, however, even giving Swahili names to their two sons.

With their future in mind, and the future of Caden and Reuben, this little family plans to leave the middle of January for a month’s stay, and of course they are in need of funding for the trip.  For those who have never traveled to African nations, they may be surprised that airfare alone is $4200.  This, along with other expenses incurred during their stay, brings the total to nearly $6,500, an enormous amount to obtain given the fact that they are less than four months away from departure.

First Presbyterian Church hasn’t had many opportunities to send its own people on a mission of this nature.  Luke and Amanda are going with their future in mind.  We can help them (1) by seeking God’s guidance, protection, provision for them, and (2) by giving generously to help them get there and back.  Both of these are important to them. 

The Apostle Paul lists seven spiritual gifts in Romans 12, including prophecy, serving, teaching, mercy and giving.  Of all these gifts, giving is the one gift least thought and spoken about in churches today.  While we don’t talk a great deal among ourselves about spiritual gifts, we do seem to have some idea as to what some of the gifts look like.  We see them exercised by people in our church. We take note of those who serve, who show mercy.  We are able to recognize instinctively that some are more gifted in teaching than others.  But we don’t know much about people who give. When it comes to this gift, most churches operate under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.  At best, our giving patterns are known only to ourselves, and perhaps to the church’s business office.  

Which raises the question, where does a Christian, young or old, go to learn about giving, or the gift of giving?  What does giving look like in the life of a believer?  

The writer of Hebrews tells us to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (10:24).  Surely one of those good deeds is giving, and surely new Christians especially, need to discover the joy which comes from generosity.

King David told the people exactly how much he had given to build the temple.  The gifts of gold and precious stones, given by the other leaders, was also made known to the people.  Their response?  “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord” (1 Chronicles 29:6-9).  The people found great liberty in their own giving simply because of the knowledge of what their leaders had given.

Let’s remind ourselves once more why it is that God has entrusted us with so much.  Listen again to what Paul writes to the believers in Corinth, “Your plenty will supply what they need…You will be made rich…so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 8:14; 9:11).

Do we really believe the Lord’s words, “It is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35)?  He wouldn’t have said it if it weren’t true.

At this time of the year, we are given special impetus to be generous and thus to be more blessed by our heavenly Father.  Perhaps there needs to be more conversation with one another about how the Lord has blessed us in our giving.

-Romans 8:1-4

For thousands of years, God’s people have expressed themselves in songs of worship.  The apostle Paul commanded the church to “speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (Ephesians 5:19).  In following this command, our opening hymn for this Sunday is And Can It Be? - one of the Church’s best loved hymns, by Charles Wesley.

Charles Wesley is probably the greatest hymn writer the church has ever known.  From the time of his conversion in 1738, Wesley wrote an average of two hymns a week every week for fifty years.  He composed almost six thousand hymns during his lifetime!  Every hymn book, of every recognized Christian denomination, contains several of Charles Wesley’s hymns. 

Along with his brother John, Charles Wesley traveled all throughout England on horseback, bringing the Gospel to thousands of poor farmers and illiterate coal miners who would never have found their way to church.  These were the people at the margins of society, who were largely ignored by most churches.  It was for these people that Charles Wesley composed his hymns, bringing the Gospel to people’s hearts, where they could experience the love of God in profound ways. 

But this hymn is written for us, as well.  It proclaims our wonder at the strength of God’s love that led Him to give His only Son as a sin offering for His people, by asking repeatedly in the refrain, “How can it be, that Thou, my Lord, shouldst die for me?”  And most important of all, this hymn declares our forgiveness in Christ, and our full redemption and future glory in Christ. 

Join us this morning as we sing of the amazing love of God in Christ.  Hold fast to the good news of Paul.  There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!  If you are indeed in Christ Jesus, then sing out your salvation to the glory of our Risen Lord. 

“No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine!  Alive in Him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.  Amazing love!  How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

All of us who made promises last November for this year did so in FAITH, believing the Lord would help us honor these promises, even though it may not have been at all clear where the money was coming from.  These promised amounts were to be over and beyond our giving to the church.  Lately, however, in the midst of what has happened to our economy, some may be finding it difficult to give what was promised nearly a year ago. If so, what are we to think?  Were we overly rash when we made those promises last November?  

I trust not.  Let me suggest that God is always in the business of increasing our faith.  He wants us to give more than we think we can.  Sound strange?  The reason for this is our giving has much more to do with our faith in God and so much less to do with simply getting by.  God wants us to give more than we think, because He wants to stretch our faith far more than we can imagine.  If we want to grow in giving, we must grow in faith; if we want to expand our faith, we must expand our giving.  The one moves the other.  Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Our faith is expanded as we trust God for our income, bank account, savings, and even our retirement plans.  

It is common knowledge that we are, in fact, the richest people to have ever lived on the face of the earth.  Believing faith helps us to understand that God has been good to us, not so we can spend money on ourselves, but rather so we can “abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).  The life of faith and the life of giving are the same life.

Listen to Paul when he says, “I have learned how to live (by faith) whether I have much or little” (Philippians 4:11).  It is this quality of faith, not depending on what we have, but on the faithfulness of God, that brings great glory to our Creator.  It is this kind of faith which is encouraged in our Mission Faith Promise.  May God help us.

By Addison Soltau, pastor of Teaching and Missions     

-Psalm 103:1-3

Last Sunday, we worshipped God through the use of jazz, contemporary Christian music, gospel, classical music, and tradition hymns.  While there is a great deal of variety in the worship music of FPC, there is also one constant – the use of traditional hymns and psalms.  At FPC, hymns and psalms are not simply an optional part of worship; they are central to it.  They are more than a “style” of worship; they are a spiritual and physical element of it.  The hymns represent the corporate voice of God’s people, spanning many generations, responding to God’s Word, to creation, to sound doctrine, and truth.  Solid traditional hymns remind us of who God is and why we should serve Him.  They are part of us, representing our history, our present, and our future.

The opening hymn for today is Henry Francis Lyte’s Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven.  In 1834, Lyte published a collection of 280 hymns that were based on the book of psalms.  He called his collection The Spirit of the Psalms because his hymns were not strictly translations (like the psalters that were in use at the time), or paraphrases (like many of Isaac Watts’ hymns), but were thematically based on the psalms. 

Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven is really a development of Psalm 103.  Here are just two of many examples of the comparisons that can be made between Lyte’s hymn and Psalm 103.  In Psalm 103, the psalmist exhorts us not to forget the Lord’s benefits.  Lyte lists those benefits –“ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven.”  Where the psalmist tells us that God will “not always chide” (v. 9), Lyte adds that He is also “swift to bless.” 

Queen Elizabeth II chose this hymn to be sung at her wedding in 1947.  It is an apt song for any occasion, particularly Sunday worship, as we join our voices to lift God up in our praise.  After all, we are not singing at the wedding of an earthly monarch.  We are singing in praise to the King of kings! 

Please join us this morning as we sing.  As believers, we have received forgiveness from our sins, peace with God, adoption as His children, and a glorious eternity with Him forever!  Let’s sing to God and celebrate our salvation.  

“Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, to His feet your tribute bring; ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, who, like me, His praise should sing? Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise the everlasting King.”

Today, we celebrate God’s grace as we highlight Coral Springs Christian Academy, a ministry of First Presbyterian Church. Our students will lend their voices and talents as we worship God together and enjoy fellowship at the picnic following the service. We welcome our teachers and students who are not members of our church family, and pray that today God will be glorified in our worship and we all will be edified in Christ.

As we read in Deuteronomy 6, we have a responsibility to teach and prepare the next generation in the deep things of God. Perhaps the deepest understanding comes when we ask the question, “What is the chief end of man?” If we truly believe that man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever, then there is no more appropriate time or place than in the corporate worship of His church.

We believe that music is an integral part of corporate worship. Throughout Scripture, music is seen as the way God commands His people to worship Him. We believe that the Word of God must inform our musical practices, and where it speaks clearly, there is no debate.  We believe that the words of our music must be truthful, the quality of the music must be beautiful and excellent, and the selection of the music must be for the good of the congregation. We call these principles, based on God’s Word, Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.

While these three qualities are specific, they do not limit the style or types of music we use for worship. Today, for example, we glorify God through jazz, contemporary Christian music, traditional hymns, gospel, and classical music. Adults and children are joyfully praising God together through music. It is our prayer that the richness in all these musical expressions will help us to respond to Christ’s creation and redemption of His people.

Please join us in glorifying God, and sing!  Let us come together as we “diligently teach our children” the most important of God’s commands – to love Him with all our strength, with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. Let us praise the Lord!

At our General Assembly this past June, Mission to North America reported new gains in ethnic diversity made over this past year. Below is a sampling of what was reported:

Two African-American teaching elders (pastors) were ordained, raising the total of African-American teaching elders in the PCA to 37. In addition, two African-American church planters were placed in the field, two new Reformed University Fellowship campus ministries led by African-American teaching elders were launched, and two congregations led by African-American teaching elders were organized as particular churches.

While there are only 18 Hispanic-American teaching elders in the denomination,  9 more are preparing for ordination.  In addition there are 20 Anglo men who are actively involved in Hispanic ministry and 69 teaching elders whose language skills enable them to provide theological instruction in Spanish.

During 2008, 12 mission churches were launched in Haiti raising the total of PCA-based Haitian churches to 40.  Thirteen seminary students were graduated in Haiti this past spring, most of them involved in church planting.

Finally, the PCA’s Mission to North America placed 52 church planters and six church-planting PCA apprentices across our country to start new churches.

For this we can only give praise to our Lord.  The Rev. Jim Bland who heads up Mission to North America will be the major speaker on the final day of our Missions Conference in November.  This will give us an opportunity to hear more, think more and pray more about what we might do as a church in the future.

The internationalization of North America represents a drastic shift away from Western European immigration and therefore a waning of the prominence of Western thought.  Presbyterian churches have historically been comprised of people of Western European ancestry. Within the non-Hispanic white majority, the PCA continues to grow at a steady pace as each year new churches are planted and significant numbers of new members are added. To put it another way, if we look at the non-Hispanic white and Korean numbers, the church is making progress.  On the other hand, if we compare (as a denomination) our growth from all other ethnic and cultural groups to the overall population growth, we find that our impact is marginal.  The two groups whose population ratio will decrease are the non-Hispanic whites and Asians.  Might this mean, as some suggest, that we are rapidly losing our ability to communicate to those around us?

How might our church approach this change?  There is of course talk of having a Spanish-speaking person join our ministerial staff to begin a ministry among the Spanish-speaking people living in our community.  Perhaps just as important, the start-up of an ESL (English as a Second Language) program in the near future is also under consideration.  Either or both of these could be means of bringing people, other than whites or Asians, within a hearing of the gospel as we live it and bring it to others.

Even as we think of both of these options we might also wish to take additional steps.  One would be an honest assessment of ourselves, our strengths and our weaknesses, our ability to assimilate people into the congregation whose culture is decidedly different from ours.  This kind of assessment does not come easily.  Being aware of our own cultural weaknesses or strengths and adapting them to a new situation is essential.

More on this subject will follow in coming weeks, but perhaps one of the first steps is to start thinking and praying about what our changing cultural milieu will mean to us.  Are we prepared, and if not, what might the Lord have us do?

-1 Timothy 2:5

One hallmark of the theology of the Reformation is the Five Solas of the Reformation. Here is a brief summary of each Sola statement:

Sola Scriptura: The Belgic Confession states, “We believe that [the] Holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein … Therefore, we reject with all our hearts whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule”.  As Paul wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

Soli Deo Gloria: The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man? The answer is man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” The Reformers believed that all of life was to be lived to the glory of God.  As Paul wrote to the Romans, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever” (Romans 11:36).

Solo Christo: The Reformation called the church back to faith in Christ as the sole mediator between God and man.  The reformers taught that salvation was by Christ’s work alone.  As Paul wrote to Timothy, there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

Sola Gratia: A central cry of the Reformation was salvation by grace.  Though the Roman church taught that Mass is a “sacrifice [which] is truly propitiatory” and that by the Mass “God...grant[s] us grace and the gift of penitence, remits our faults and even our enormous sins” - the reformers returned to the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith.  Our righteous standing before God is imputed to us by grace because of the work of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Paul wrote to the Ephesian church, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Sola Fide: The Genevan Confession points out the necessity of those justified living by faith alone.  It says, “We confess that the entrance which we have to the great treasures and riches of the goodness of God that is vouchsafed us is by faith; inasmuch as, in certain confidence and assurance of heart, we believe in the promises of the gospel, and receive Jesus Christ as he is offered to us by the Father and described to us by the Word of God.” Paul wrote to the church of Galatia, “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘the righteous shall live by faith’” (Galatians 3:11).

Our hymn of the month for September is Stuart Townsend’s and Keith Getty’s In Christ Alone, which proclaims our faith in that third sola; Solo Christo.  Join us as we sing, “In Christ alone my hope is found.  He is my light, my strength, my song.”  Let our voices unite in praise of Jesus Christ, who alone is our mediator between God and men, and in whom alone our salvation is found!  “There is ONE mediator between God and man, the man, JESUS CHRIST!”

This Sunday evening, we have an opportunity to hear Collin Jennings again and find out what the Lord has been doing in his life. 

Collin is a Florida young man, the youngest of four children, raised in a Christian home and with a degree in Physical Geography from University of Florida. 

Having been involved in Campus Crusade during his college years, it was easy for him to move to the campus of Cal Poly University in California for two years to do the work of an evangelist. Nothing unusual about this but it led to his being invited to spend a summer in Morocco, a country located on the northwest corner of Africa just across the straits from Spain.  A six week summer term turned into a year, only this time working among students in Casa Blanca.

 Back in the states he enrolled in Reformed Seminary practically next door to his home in Orlando.  Two years later he was back again in Morocco, this time with a church planting team with Mission to the World. Morocco is more than 99% Muslim and Christian missionary work, as such, is not openly permitted. With a little creative thinking, Collin and his team mates opened a surf board shop as a way of meeting and making friends.

A little over two years ago, he believed the Lord was directing him to prepare for a ministry of training church planters and missionaries to reach Muslim people.  For this purpose he moved north to the southern part of France in order to study the French language.  

 Collin has lately been invited to begin work among university students in Aix-en-Provence, a university town located just twenty miles north of the large city of Marseille, where, incidentally, Nelly Vos is working.  Collin was invited by the pastor of the church he attended while studying at Aix, to minister among the 40,000 students of the University of Aix with a large diverse student body. 

Having some fluency in both Arabic and French, Collin is eager to begin a new campus ministry.  Collin will use both languages to reach many of the students enrolled there. 

However unusual His ways may appear, God always promises to direct our paths.  Come to hear and pray with Collin tonight, who three weeks from now will return to Aix to begin this exciting new work.

Addison Soltau Pastor of Teaching and Missions

Despair and cynicism are not new.  Solomon in Ecclesiastes has confirmed that the only conclusion one can come to in a world without God, is despair.  God is truth, but if there is no truth to be found, if no absolute exists, if everything is relative so that what is right today is wrong tomorrow, or what was wrong yesterday is quite acceptable tomorrow, then nothing makes sense.  Nothing has meaning and there is only despair.

Years ago, the actor Dustin Hoffman was featured in Rolling Stone magazine.  He was enjoying great popularity for his roles in Tootsie and Kramer vs. Kramer.  This is what Hoffman said to an interviewer, Gary Smith:

“You know, I walked through the Whitney Museum the other day; they had the life and work of Milton Avery (Charlie Chaplin) on the walls of five or six rooms.  I look and I say, yes, I’d like to have that when I’m gone.  But I thought, who cares?”

He is up now, gesturing, walking circles around a coffee table – no, stomping, pulsing with the knowledge that man is just worm food, and suddenly his arms shoot out and his voice explodes. “It means NOTHING!  Who …… really cares about Charlie Chaplin?  He left a legacy.  So what?  All it’s going to be when I die is a paragraph in ‘Milestones’ in Time magazine.

“Okay, let’s just say I could cash my body of work in, and for it I could get a thunderbolt with my name on it, and it would go off at 5 o’clock every night, and it would be a nice thunderbolt that could make you laugh and make you cry and leave you with insight.  It still doesn’t mean anything, because I’m not there to see your expression when it shoots across the sky.”

He sags onto a sofa, suddenly exhausted, and talks from far away.  “And so the work just disappears…the work doesn’t mean anything…nothing means anything….”

Without God, and without Christ, Hoffman is quite correct.  But Solomon also wrote that there is meaning because there is God: “[Make] your ear attentive to wisdom,… and search for it as hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:2-6).  For those who seek the truth as a precious treasure, there is an understanding to be found, and a solution to be discovered that satisfies forever.

That truth is summed up in Jesus Christ, our Savior.  He was born for us.  He lived a perfectly righteous life for us.  He died a sinner’s death for us.  He rose again from the dead for us, and He will come again for us so that we may reign in glory forever with Him.  Who cares!?  God cares, and that is why we come together to sing His praises every Lord’s Day.

Why not join us in doing something that will last forever, and has eternal significance?  Come and worship the One who has saved us, “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Eighty-eight adults committed themselves as the first official members of this church when it was organized June 1, 1969.  All but two of the initial group have either moved away or gone to be with the Lord, but the two who remain are still actively involved in the life and ministry of the church.  The two are Ellen Coddington and Roseanne Dunkerley, whom we hold in high honor for all they have contributed to this community of faith these past forty years.

While we suffer financial shortages today, it should be of some interest that it hasn’t always been so. The church called its first pastor and installed him July 27, 1969, just two months after being officially recognized as a church.  Not only did the church call its first pastor so soon after it was organized, it became financially self-supporting just six months later.

These and other interesting details of church life will be brought to our attention soon so that we can all take note of how the Lord’s hand of grace and provision has been on this church over these past forty years. The Preschool began in September, 38 years ago with 15 students, and the kindergarten three years later. Grades K-4 were added the following year.

And of course the most important statistics aren’t recorded, at least by us.  We’re talking about the lives that have been changed as the Word of God has been taught and taken root in the hearts of both child and adult alike, in our church as well as in our Academy.  People have come to know the Lord, others called into the Christian ministry, and still others to serve in other cultures for the Lord’s sake.  But the greater number are men and women who daily live out their lives of grace in the places the Lord has placed them, bearing witness daily to the Lord’s salvation they enjoy.

We’re all called to be World Changers and as we see what God has done in and for us over the past forty years, our hearts should be renewed as we commit ourselves to the Lord and all He has for us in the future. 

-Psalm 96:1, 2

Scripture speaks of music in worship in two ways, through narrative and through principle.  The Scripture narratives tell us, for example, how Jubal was the originator of musical instruments, and give numerous accounts of how music played a role in everyday life, including weddings, wars, temple worship, and religious festivals. The early Church showed us that music making was for everybody and in every place.

Scripture also gives us principles of worship that are simple and comprehensive, as all principles should be.  Here are five principles regarding making music in our worship.

Singing is not optional – it is a commandment (Psalm 96:1, 2).  This commandment is not reserved for the choir or the professional musicians; it is for everybody, everywhere.  The principal direction of our singing is to the Lord.

Playing instruments to the Lord is also commanded.  In many of the Psalms, but particularly in Psalms 147, 149, and 150 musical instruments are an integral and essential part of worship.  Some may object to instrumental music because Paul does not mention it specifically in his instruction to the church and because instrumental music does not carry text.  While both of these things are true, in God’s view (as revealed in Scripture), instrumental music in worship is necessary, or He would not have commanded it in the first place.

In texted music, there is a distinction between the role of text and that of music.  Paul says in Ephesians 5:19: “…addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.”  Paul first recognizes that these songs have text, because we “address one another.”  But Paul also instructs Christians to make music or “melody” with all of their hearts to the Lord.  As we see in Psalm 96:1, music is made first of all to the Lord and only secondarily to each other.  Music alone is incapable of teaching what only truth can teach.  At the same time, when we instruct each other with text, we are also to make music to the Lord as a corporate body of believers.

The integration of mind and spirit makes for the best music.  In 1 Corinthians 14:14 Paul tells us that when one prays in tongues, his spirit prays but his mind remains unfruitful.  He then proceeds to say that there is a kind of praying in which both the spirit and mind are engaged.  He then couples this kind of praying to singing, where indeed both mind and spirit are integrated.

When we combine all of Scripture’s references to music making, we learn that we are to make music in every conceivable condition - joy, triumph, imprisonment, solitude, grief, peace, war, sickness, merriment, abundance and scarcity.  This principle states that the music of the church should be complete, not one-sided or single faceted.

These principles guide the way we make music in our worship at FPC.  There is not one style, one period, one instrumentation, or one condition.  We attempt to offer our music to God with thanksgiving, whatever our condition.  Join us as we sing and “tell of His salvation from day to day.”

The wonder of God’s grace can be no better described than in John’s statement above. God’s grace does not come to us after we turn to God, but precedes, surrounds, and enables our turning. Music and grace, particularly at the point of our redemption are powerfully interconnected.  This can be seen in the following four ways:

God’s saving grace produces songs in the hearts of the redeemed.  The Psalms repeatedly speak of singing of God’s salvation.  The apostle Paul instructed the church to “sing and make melody” in our hearts to the Lord.  Throughout Scripture, the redeemed of the Lord are inevitably led to music making – singing of the grace and mercy of the Lord!

The Scriptures speak of God rejoicing over the redeemed with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).  As we have seen, those who have been graciously redeemed respond to God with song.  But, the all-gracious and eternally saving God also sings over those who are singing to Him!  Exactly what that divine singing must be like is beyond imagining.  It springs from grace, is driven by the saving and triumphant work of Christ, and results in the songs sung by the redeemed.

Grace’s final triumph will issue in the music of the new heaven and earth.  Revelation speaks at length describing the eternal songs of the redeemed.  The church will continue to sing the songs of redemption begun on earth for all eternity in the new creation.  The church will hear her bridegroom, Christ, singing over His bride.  Worship, which will be totally purified, will generate endless songs of praise beyond our comprehension.

We don’t keep God’s grace to ourselves, but rather sing of God’s grace to the whole world.  The church tells of God’s grace through our music, whether offered by the congregation or by its musicians.  The music of the church is ointment poured over the feet of our Savior, a sweet ministry to ears, to souls, and to lives.  The church makes music as ambassadors of Christ, showing love, humility, servanthood, meekness, victory and all that is encompassed in our redemption.

Won’t you join us as we sing the songs of the redeemed?  We don’t sing to placate or pay off an aloof or reluctant God.  Rather we sing freely, by faith, as an act of worship, in response to the overflowing grace of God in Christ Jesus.

Listen to the Apostle Paul’s word, “I say then, has God cast away His people?  Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew…” (Romans 11:1-2).

Why has God chosen not to cast away His people?  Very simply, because centuries ago He called them to be a light to the nations. We also know that Israel will not and cannot fulfill her role in God’s plan until the day the Jewish people turn to Jesus and embrace Him as Messiah and Savior.

If the salvation of the Jewish people is important to God, should it not be important to us? Should we not be giving greater attention to bringing the Good News to the Jewish people?  Remember God’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

Times of turbulence, political, economic and military, all have the effect of turning people to think more deeply about what really matters in life.  In times like these, people everywhere search for what the world is unable to offer. The search goes on, and we are told that the openness among Jewish people is increasing.  

We believe that God will continue to be faithful to His chosen people and that we Gentiles are a part of His plan to reach them.  “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  It is our role to bring the message of Jesus to the Jewish people, just as it is our role to bring the Good News to all people.

As we give greater thought to a variety of ministries, Hispanic, Haitian, and others, let’s be sure to include the Jewish people in our thinking and praying, our personal evangelism, and our giving.

“To the Jew first, and also to the Greek,” Paul states explicitly.

-Psalm 19:1

The beauty of God is not aesthetic beauty but a moral and ethical beauty.  The beauty of God’s creation, however, is not moral beauty; it is aesthetic beauty that is seen by what He has made (Psalm 19:1).  Aesthetic beauty is seen in the way and the quality with which something is made or said.  Truth lies in what is said.  Thus a statement which is aesthetically inferior can still be true, and a false statement can still be aesthetically beautiful.  (Take, for example, the absolutely beautiful music composed for texts which promote the false worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus).

If beauty and truth were equal, then ugliness and untruth would also be equal.  A mediocre gospel song that correctly stated truth about salvation would have to be rejected because of its poor aesthetic quality.  But we know that truth can be proclaimed even in a mediocre hymn or song. Truth can override poor aesthetics, but untruth, no matter how beautifully stated remains untrue.  No beauty can redeem it.

If truth overrides beauty, then why do we strive to make our music beautiful?  Why not settle for whatever “gets the job done” rather than spending the time, money and effort to make our worship truly beautiful?  Many people have answered these questions with mediocrity – not only for pragmatic reasons – but because they say, “If God is blessing it, who are we to criticize it?  Why should we change it?”

At FPC we believe that because God does all things well, we should endeavor to likewise do well, especially in our worship.  The Gospel truth is paramount, but we want to state that truth as beautifully as we can.  It may not be the most pragmatic way to worship, but we believe that in proceeding in this way that we honor God by trying to work as He does.  In the meantime, God is free to work any time, in any place, and in any way He chooses.  Our desire is to strive for both truth and beauty - not to try to manipulate God - but because He commanded us in His Word. 

Even government restrictions on new church buildings have caused the Cuban church to multiply.  “We would like to have permission to build templos (sanctuaries), but if having a templo would limit our vision for evangelism, we would rather not have them.  We would rather keep going out into the streets and reaching out to people than remain in the templo and wait for people to come to us,” said one church leader.  

Cuban evangelicals are also testing new methods of outreach.  One network of house churches sends young pastors on bicycles to new towns to find new believers and turn their homes into a meeting place for another house church.

It should warm your heart to know that for several years we have been contributing to some of the things that are happening in the Cuban churches today.  Woody Lajara is the principal EE man for all Latin America plus Spain and Portugal.  Woody reports that over one million persons have come to Jesus on the island through churches using EE.  Four hundred and thirty-eight churches in Cuba are using EE today, not just to bring people the message of Jesus, but as their main tool to plant churches.  One Pentecostal group has planted 20 new churches with EE as their main instrument.

The Great Commission is our responsibility as much as the church’s in America,” says one Cuban evangelical leader.  Echoing this, pastors across denominations believe Cubans are well equipped to be missionaries.  They know how to live on little, possess a well-honed apologetic theology and would probably find a greater welcome in developing countries than Americans would.

From all appearances, this is God’s time for Cuba, or as one of them said, “The greatest revival is yet to come.”

God is changing the world – with or without us.  May we be His instruments for some of these changes.

Wycliffe Bible Translators is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.  Over the course of those years Wycliffe missionaries have taken part in translating New Testament or Bibles into more than 740 languages.  Modern technology and innovative methods are now enabling translation at three-times the pace of just a decade ago.  Field surveys, however, show that there are speakers (users) of another 2,400 languages who do not have access to God’s Word in a language they can understand.

For this reason, Wycliffe Bible Translators has embarked on a Last Languages Initiative: to provide the strategy and develop the resources necessary in order to start Bible translation in every language that will need it by the year 2025, just a little over fifteen years hence.

Computers, cell phones and airplanes are helping.  But these are not enough.  Academic coursework in practical language-learning methods and translation theories help, but these too are not enough.  Being able to hire more bilingual nationals is helping; but this too is insufficient.  Most of the languages remaining are more challenging in various ways requiring using new methods, training others, and funding national teams to accomplish a task that would normally take 150 years.

We say a lot about our commitment to God’s Word.  This is basic to who we are.  The last time First Presbyterian Church was directly related to someone involved in Bible translation was when we sent one of our own member families, the Stevensons, to do Bible translation work in Guatemala.  It takes exceptionally gifted people to do this kind of specialized work and we need to pray that the Lord may again provide someone of this caliber to do this kind of work.

To repeat the question asked above, can you imagine what it would be like not having a copy of God’s Word in your own language that you could read?  We need to ask the Lord for His special enablement for those who work in the areas of Bible translation, especially over the next fifteen years.     

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

-Hebrews 4:14-16

Having led church worship for the last 18 years, I have seen and reviewed new Christian music on a constant basis. Like everyone else, I have my own preferences, which is why I’ve strived to develop theological, pastoral and musical criteria based on God’s Word about the music we use in our worship.

One of my very favorite hymns is the recent re-write of Before the Throne of God Above. The lyrics were penned by Charitie Bancroft in the late 19th century, and Vikki Cook composed the setting we are singing this morning in 1997.  This hymn, which is our hymn-of-the-month, is an excellent response to the Gospel in an increasingly feelings-oriented, postmodern church.

Charitie was the daugh-ter of Sid-ney Smith, Rec-tor of Drum-ragh, Coun-ty Ty-rone, Ire-land. Her hymns ap-peared in Lyra Bri-tan-ni-ca, Bi-shop Ryle’s Spir-it-u-al Songs, as well as in other col-lect-ions. Vikki Cook is involved in the music ministry of Sovereign Grace Church in Orlando, Florida. The Gospel-centered lyrics and timeless melody is a brilliant combination that makes this hymn a classic, which we will continue to sing until Christ comes again.

Before the Throne of God Above  reminds us of our sure standing before the all-holy God, and encourages us as believers to “draw near to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). Join us this morning as we celebrate the great salvation we have in Christ, and rehearse again the Gospel promises: “Because the sinless Savior died my sinful soul is counted free for God, the Just, is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.”

-Revelation 19:6-8

There are no events that are so fundamental to Christianity than the resurrection and ascension of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  The Apostle John’s Revelation describes the worship of heaven, where saints and angels – a “great multitude” – will be singing Christ’s praises.  Our opening hymn, Hail the Lord of Earth and Heaven, by Charles Wesley, captures the power and majesty of Christ’s heavenly glory. 

Charles Wesley was called “the poet of Methodism,” but this designation really defined him too narrowly.  He could more rightly be called the poet of Christianity, since his hymns have enjoyed such widespread use among several denominations.  Wesley has also been called “the Asaph of the Methodist Church” after Asaph, King David’s choir leader, to whom Psalms 73-83 have been ascribed.  Wesley was a prolific hymn writer, writing over 6,000 hymns.

Like all great hymns, Hail the Lord of Earth and Heaven, written in 1739, has stood the test of time.  The rising melody of the Easter Hymn tune in the first half of each line leads beautifully into the Alleluias that end it.  This hymn uses repetition with the repeated Alleluias, allowing even the very young to join in, includes much of what we celebrate in our worship - Christ’s saving work on earth, His intercession for us, and His calling us to rule with Him in eternity. 

Please sing with us this morning and as we join the heavenly chorus in the worship and adoration of Jesus, the risen King.  “Hail the Lord of earth and heaven!  Alleluia!  Praise to Thee by both be given; Alleluia!  Praise again our glorious King; Alleluia!  Hail, Thou Christ, to Thee we sing; Alleluia!”

This reminded me of a report another team gave after completing a similar trip to Monterrey this past February. This was a group of eight American women who were invited to a first-ever leadership retreat for women who came from several of the newest church plants in northern Mexico.  Most of the women were church planter’s wives including Velia Chavarria from Cumbres del Rey, the church with which we partner. 

Eight women, not from Mexico but from the Tennessee Valley Presbytery of the PCA, were recruited to attend this retreat to provide teaching resources for the Mexican women.  Half of this American team had never been on a missions trip.  Five were grandmothers.  

Dottie Ness, one of these grandmothers on this trip had some interesting things to say following her return. In the summer issue of Network, she wrote a brief article titled “Don’t Waste Your Life.”  “The women I went to Mexico with were all mature Christians with years of teaching Bible studies.  I was the oldest chronologically, but the youngest in experience.  I was crippled – crippled by years of taking my faith for granted and failure to study the Word of God and apply it to my life.”  An even more important lesson she learned was that she had been carrying a burden of luxury and comfort – what are often called God’s “blessings”.  She identified some of the burdens as time and money that were not being used to advance the kingdom of God.  

She concludes her remarks by saying, “Please don’t waste your life!  Plan to go on a missions trip, and be willing to stay if that is your calling from God. When we realize how burdened and crippled we are by our comforts and luxuries and we purpose to lay these burdens down, then we will be better able to truly support missions at home.” 

We don’t know yet how our five team members have responded to their week in Monterrey.  Won’t it be interesting to hear what they have to say?  It has been our prayer that this past week of ministry will have brought significant change in their lives.  Just as importantly, if this is the case, then we want what happened to them to roll over into our lives so that the Lord can use what happened to them to cause important change in our lives.   

Today, modern culture has deeply influenced the inner psyche of both believers and unbelievers. This greatly affects the way we worship.  Jesus called us to be in the world, not alien to it.  On the other hand, He also told us we must not be of the world.  Especially in our corporate worship, we must resist the world’s temptations and remain outside the culture’s idolatries.  If our worship is faithful to God’s truth, our lives will be transformed.

In our worship we seek to maintain the balance between being “in but not of” the world.  One important cord is to remain faithful to our Reformed tradition.  David Wells, in his book, No Place for Truth writes:

Tradition is the process whereby one generation inducts its successor into its accumulated wisdom, lore, and values.  The family once served as the chief conduit for this transmission, but the family is now collapsing, not merely because of divorce but as a result of affluence and the innovations of the technical age.  Precisely because modernization has created an external world in which unbelief seems normal, it has at the same time created a world in which Christian faith is alien.

Against this dynamic in our modern culture is God’s command to “keep your soul diligently” and make known God’s truth “to your children and your children’s children” (Deut. 4:9).  At FPC, we strive to keep the poles of tension between our tradition and modern culture in balance.  The primary key for this is through education – teaching the gifts of our Christian faith to those who do not yet know and understand them, and teaching those who love tradition some new forms in which it can be presented to others.

To accent either pole of this tension without regard for the other is to lose them both.  To utilize only new forms of worship without connection to our past heritage ignores over 3,500 years of Judeo-Christian tradition.  Our Reformed tradition always returns to, and deepens the gifts of the original.  On the other hand, without reformation our tradition can become stale, dead, or even idolatrous.

Join us as we endeavor to bring truth and love together in the genuine praise of God.  Join us in our worship as we celebrate the truths of faith and embrace one another in the love of God.

-Psalm 95:1, 2

Our Call to Worship this morning is from Psalm 95, which is an exhortation for God’s people to come together to praise and honor Him.  The means for that praise, according to God’s Word, is through music.  In the New Testament as well, we are commanded to “speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19).  That is why we sing hymns, and our worship service is filled with music. 

We can see that hymn singing is based on biblical grounds, but what are the benefits we derive from our congregational singing?  There are many, but let me suggest these four:

To God: “Praise the Lord, O my soul” (Psalm 103:1) is a common theme in many of the psalms.  We bless Him with our singing when we announce His goodness, proclaim His virtues, describe His attributes, and declare the glory of His salvation.

To the church: When we sing as a congregation, all differences in education, vocation, ethnicity, financial status, etc. we are singing with a single voice united in praise to God.  We sing as one with all the saints – Ambrose, Luther, Calvin, Watts, and Wesley and with millions of Christians who for centuries have sung the same hymns.

To ourselves: We benefit as the hymns encourage us in times of trouble, doubt or fear.  The structure of our hymns help us to memorize and internalize the truths of Scripture so that we can recall them as we need.

To the world: Many of our hymns were written with the express purpose of telling unbelievers about God’s love in Christ.  Our singing of hymns announces, invites and encourages all who are outside of Christ to commit their lives to Him.

God has designed our voices as instruments of praise.  Let us sing, then, to God who meets with us and receives our worship.  Let us, therefore, respond to the exhortation of our opening hymn: “Come, Christians, join to sing Alleluia! Amen! Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia! Amen! Let all, with heart and voice, before His throne rejoice; praise is His gracious choice. Alleluia! Amen!

Would it also be of interest to know that we are this way because this standard was set by the Presbyterian Church in America, our denomination?  This denomination adopted as its motto “True to the Scriptures, the Reformed Faith, and the Great Commission” in 1973 when the General Assembly met for the first time.  

The fathers of our denomination had a dream: a vision to see a vibrant Presbyterian denomination committed to the Great Commission, a people whom God could use to make a difference in the world around them.  Thirty-six years later, there is no doubt that God, by His grace, has enabled the PCA to make a difference – a world of difference.

How has the PCA made a difference?

By mobilizing laborers for the harvest.  Starting with literally a handful of career missionaries in the mi’s, the PCA has sent thousands of long and short-term missionaries throughout the globe.

By serving the hurting of the world.  Through MTW ministries, such as StreetChild Missions International, disaster relief, AIDS efforts, and short-term medical teams, the PCA is touching countless lives.

By facilitating partnerships.  MTW is catalyzing partnerships of churches, MTW and the field that collaborate to develop and support all aspects of ministry. Churches that have joined partnerships are encouraged by this direction and are helping the development of ministry in closer cooperation with MTW, the field and other churches.  

At the recent General Assembly, MTW reported that 396 missionaries are involved in church planting, 55 in theological education, and 141 in other ministries.  This means that there are 610 missionaries working in 88 countries.  Over 6,000 were involved in two-week short-term missions, and perhaps as significant as the other figures, 688 church-planting national partners. 

We are an Intentional Missionary Congregation because we belong to a denomination that is intentional.  

Here we are this Sunday, positioned between two birthdays; that of our nation, which we celebrated yesterday, and the 500th birth of John Calvin, celebrated this coming Friday just six days after Independence Day.  While too few of us are aware of it, what we celebrate on the one day owes much to the life and teaching of Calvin.  

Each Sunday morning during the summer months, the adult Sunday School class is focusing on the life and thought of Calvin.  Seeing as his birthday comes just six days following that of the nation, it is important to recognize how   the liberties we celebrate and cherish are part of the heritage left to us from this man.  In the latest issue of World magazine, Marvin Olasky, the editor in chief of the magazine, writes an article titled “Liberty’s Champion.” He is writing about Calvin and points his readers to the fact that the liberties we enjoy as citizens of this nation are very much connected with the thought and writings of Calvin, despite the fact that he lived in a different age than ours and in a much different culture.

To quote Olasky, “Calvin opposed doctrines that deprive us of political liberty.  His understandings – that God-given laws are superior to those of the state, the king, and any other institution, and that individuals have direct access to the Bible, without dependence on pope or priest – are common now, but compare them to the political and theological theories fashionable before his time.  In ancient times, pagan states revered leaders as semi-divine. Those who argued with such bosses were seen as deserving death.”  The English jurist Blackstone called “the power and jurisdiction of Parliament transcendent and absolute…sovereign and uncontrollable.”  In stark contrast, generation after generation of Calvinists have continued to emphasize that government must be under God.

Those who don’t know Calvin often think of him as one who wanted to force theological conformity. For Calvin, however, conversion meant freedom, and it was this freedom which laid the groundwork for much of what we enjoy in our nation today.  

Some may wonder why all the fuss is being paid to Calvin on his 500th birthday.  Much of what we confess as a church belongs to his writings.  But it is much more than this.  Many of our views regarding calling, politics, work, learning and much more are influenced by Calvin. As we celebrated Independence Day, let’s remember Calvin on the anniversary of his birthday and thank the Lord that He provided someone who was a World Changer who helped to change our lives.

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island roughly 100 miles by 30 miles in size, a semi-autonomous commonwealth of the US since the close of the Spanish-American War in 1898.  Over-population and unemployment caused over 3 million Puerto Ricans to emigrate to this country, nearly half of them living in and around New York where they form the lowest income group.  Puerto Rico is poorer than the poorest US state and is more densely populated than any state in the US.  Only 7 countries in the world are more densely populated. 

  Soon after arriving in May of 2006, Joe started teaching the Old Testament, first at two small seminaries, one in San Juan and the other on the west coast.  He has also taught in the Presbyterian Seminary in Mérida, Mexico, and has traveled back to Manila more than once to teach short-term courses in the seminary where he first started.  

This family will be with us tonight at our monthly prayer meeting. We’re told that their financial and prayer support comes from 34 churches here in the US.  This means that when they come to this country, they try to connect with as many of them as they can. They’ve already been in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama before coming to Florida. This Sunday evening we’ll have a good opportunity to renew our friendship with them.  Please consider being present to pray with and for them.  

Here’s a question - what word is most used to describe the PCA?  Can you guess?  The word that belongs here is “connectional”.  We are a connectional church.  What does it mean when we say we’re connectional?  It means that, as a member of the PCA, we are an accountable church. We are accountable to one another.  As the name implies, the General Assembly is made up of all the presbyteries and member churches in the denomination.  The flip side is also true. The work of the denomination is dependent on each local congregation and its members to support the work of its committees and agencies.

While such an explanation may not mean all that much to you, it happens to be one of the most important things that we can say about this church.  We belong to a group of more than 1400 churches scattered across North America including Canada, all of which are members of more than 75 presbyteries. We  subscribe to the system of doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and its Larger and Shorter Catechisms.  Further more, every church in the PCA is also required to subscribe to the PCA Book of Church Order (BOCO).  So what happens when we get together?  During the day we hear from our various denominational committees, how they are doing, and what they propose for the future.  At night, we gather and worship together.  At meal times we find old friends with whom to eat.  It really is a great time, time well spent, time to find out how the rest of the family is doing.  

Four weeks from this coming Tuesday our church will host the July meeting of the South Florida Presbytery, the one to which our church belongs. This presbytery meets four times a year, once each quarter, and what we do on a smaller scale in our presbytery, is what we do on a larger scale when the General Assembly meets.  

  There will be more news to report about the General Assembly, but this will help you know in brief form, why the church sends some of its Teaching  and Ruling Elders to a gathering of this nature.  It is our prayer that this body to which we belong is really being used of our Lord to change the world. 

Since 2000, 12 percent of active churchgoers in this country reported having gone overseas on a short-term trip while in their teens?  That’s up from 5 percent in the 1990s, and only 2 percent before that. This represents about 100,000 congregations (or one third of all congregations in the US) sending teams averaging about 18 members every year. 

 We’re also told that along with short-termers, the number of long-term missionaries has grown, and the number of medium-term missionaries as well. 

Some of this is documented in a new book titled Boundless Faith: The Global Outreach of American Churches. The author is professor of Sociology at Princeton University, who writes extensively on trends to be found in American society today.  Note some of his insights. He suggests that when we view short-term mission work, we need to realize that the reason we’re taking these trips is that they help us more than they help the host congregation. Some of our young people report upon their return that they gained some new insights about God and themselves, but probably too few of them thought when they started out, that they were the ones who were to be helped more than those to whom they served. If we believe that we gain more than those to whom we minister, that should put a whole new light on the purpose behind the trips we take.  Whatever the nature of the trip, VBS, construction, or medical, and whoever brings these gifts, all of us need to think in greater depth about what purpose for which we go.  Are we going primarily for them or are we going for us?  For those of us who can’t go but agree to give and to pray, are we thinking and praying seriously about how those who go will be changed, and as a result, how our congregation will be changed?  

In our present economic downturn, we’re struggling to meet our financial obligations as families and as a church.  If we really believe that the Lord can use a cross-cultural experience to change us, let’s not allow our reduced finances to keep us from this experience.  If we haven’t before, let’s start right now praying this way for our Monterrey team, and then for us as we send them.

God’s love for us in Christ has seen His Son sent from heaven’s glory to earth’s dust, and ultimately to misery and death on the cross for us.  When we consider the sacrifices of our Savior, none of us can fully grasp the full measure of His love.  The concept of Christ’s love for us is overwhelming and gives us life and blessing that we never deserved.

Our hymn-of-the-month, O the Deep, Deep, Love of Jesus!, by Samuel Trevor Francis, reminds us of the immensity of Christ’s love for us.  Francis described Christ’s love as “Underneath me, all around me.”  Francis’ hymn helps us to see the dimensions of Christ’s love - overwhelming and free - submerging us in the depths of His tender heart. 

Samuel Trevor Francis was a prominent lay leader with the Plymouth Brethren in England and was known as an especially effective devotional speaker throughout Great Britain and around the world.  Nevertheless, Francis experienced Christ’s love in an especially compelling way one cold, winter night.  At a point in life when his faith had wavered, Francis found himself walking across London’s Hungerford Bridge.  Mulling over his sadness and loneliness, he was tempted to end his misery and jump into the churning waters below. 

Fortunately, Francis didn’t yield to his temptation.  Instead, he remembered God’s reassuring love for him and on that bridge he reaffirmed his faith in Jesus Christ, and put complete trust in Him as his Savior.  This hymn resulted from that experience. 

To truly worship God, His love for us in Christ must dominate our hearts, minds, and wills.  Join us as we sing of His great love, seeking to be “filled with the fullness of God.”  Join us as we sing; “O the deep, deep love of Jesus! Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!”

Al Barth, one of our Missionary Associates, is heavily involved in stimulating church plants in many of the major cities of Europe.  He writes, “The Lord is continuing to do amazing things in Europe.  Like crocuses coming up through the snow in the early spring, there are new movements of the gospel taking place in every city that I have been in.”  He then writes about Prague which he tells us is statistically the most atheistic city in all of Europe. Recently, a new version of the Bible has been published, a considerable improvement over the two existing translations.  The publisher decided to print 50,000 copies in the first run in this nation of only 20,000 known Christians.  The leading book publishers in the country usually only print 6,000 copies of what they hope will become bestsellers. To everyone’s surprise, this new Bible translation has become the all-time bestseller in the Czech Republic and is threatening to be sold out in the first three months. 

Part of this extraordinary story, is the additional news, that the translator wants to plant a new church in central Prague and is looking to Al to help him do it. Al has had difficulty visiting Prague for several years, but, just a week ago he was able to schedule a visit and as a result, was able to make contact with this man who wants to plant a church.

Al says that he can recount dozens of stories like this in cities like Barcelona, Dublin, Hamburg, Paris, Liverpool, Birmingham, London, Rome, Athens and so on.  In two more weeks he’ll be flying to South Africa, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town and is praying that the Lord will open doors in these cities just as He has in the others.  

Al invites us to pray for him during these important two weeks when he is in these urban centers of South Africa.  Our Mission Faith Promise gifts are helping him plant churches in major cities all over Europe and South Africa.  Our gifts are also helping the other 23 Associates we support. Such faith promises not only help these we support, but increase our trust and faith in our Lord. If you  aren’t giving this way, I challenge you to take this opportunity to do so.

Are We Causing Global Warming and Should We Fight It?

By Peter Beisner
Assistant Newsletter Editor, Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation

A doctor fell in a deep well
and broke his collar bone.
The moral: Doctor, mind the sick
and leave the well alone.

This famous poem arrives, though somewhat absurdly, at a good moral: Tend to the sick, not the well. “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” We should examine the debate, science, and economics of global climate change in light of this principle, arriving at a responsible course of action.

Debate: “The time for argument is over,” say countless environmentalist politicians. “All the scientists agree.” But is there really a consensus in favor of anthropogenic ("man-made") catastrophic global warming theory? Not a chance! Marc Morano, of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee recently published the report, ”More Than 700 International Scientists Dissent Over Man-Made Global Warming Claims.” So much for “consensus.” Besides, as Copernicus, Columbus, and others have demonstrated, “consensus” proves nothing (except, sometimes, where the money and power are).

For the remainder of the article click here

What Jesus had neglected to tell them was how the Holy Spirit would come.  On this day (fifty days after the resurrection – hence the word Pentecost) the Spirit came upon all one hundred and twenty of His disciples in most unusual ways.  The strong wind, tongues of fire, the disciples speaking in the languages of the various groups who were in Jerusalem on that day, all giving evidence in dramatic ways that the Holy Spirit really had come.  When we read today of all that happened following those unusual experiences, we begin to get a glimpse of the Spirit’s activity.  The disciples who had believed that they were incapable of doing anything without Jesus, discovered abilities they never knew they had.  These believers had received the breath of life from the Holy Spirit, and they were to pass it on to others.

This Pentecost Sunday we remember the initial coming of the Holy Spirit just as the Lord said he would come.  We remember that he told the disciples that they were to be His witnesses throughout the world.  We share that mandate so despite the financial difficulties we seem to be facing, we have to press on carrying out His command to witness to His saving power.  

Let’s not forget the day.  Let’s not forget what happened.  Let’s not forget all the Spirit has done since that day bringing salvation through His people to the people of the world.  That’s what we remember.  That’s what we celebrate.  

Addison Soltau 

Pastor of Teaching and Missions

How is it that the church can so consistently skip over this important day?  For one thing, the Bible tells us that the Lord ascended forty days after His resurrection.  This means that Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday, just another day in our work week.   

In contrast, can’t we just imagine what this day must have meant to Jesus?  After more than thirty years of being misunderstood, tested, mocked, and frustrated at the blindness of so many of His closest friends, Jesus finally gets to go home. He had obediently carried out His mission on this earth.  He had accomplished all that the Father had sent Him to do. So on this day our Lord ascends into heaven.  What joy this must have meant to Him, and all those who met Him there.

But, and this is important, He doesn’t just go home, He goes home to reign.  When we read the New Testament, especially the book of Revelation, we get some idea of what He did following His ascension into heaven.  He walked among His people (Rev. 2:1), He rides into battle (Rev. 19:11-16), and especially significant for us, He intercedes on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25).  The Lord’s authority is expressed by the biblical portrayal of Him sitting and reigning at God’s right hand – not to rest, but to rule.  The picture is not one of inactivity but of authority.    

Our Lord’s ascension into heaven also meant the beginning of a new stage in world history.  Luke is the only New Testament writer to give us a graphic account of the ascension.  According to his record, the ascension of the Lord meant that the apostles and those who came after them, were going to participate in Christ’s reign through their preaching/teaching of the gospel.  What God had been doing through Jesus, calling men to repentance, He was now going to do through His apostles.

This is the beginning of His people becoming World Changers.  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”  

What a day.  We have lots to celebrate.  

Of some interest is the spring issue of The View, the magazine of Covenant College.  The entire issue is devoted to the theme, “Who is my Neighbor?” from Luke 10. Below the magazine’s title are the words, “Cultivating Intercultural Competence to Engage the World’s Communities for Christ.” Inside are articles about Covenant students either on campus or living abroad as they bring the message of God’s love in a variety of situations.  These stories make for informative and inspirational reading.  

One current Covenant student, born and raised in Chicago and Nigeria says, “becoming interculturally competent is a lot like learning to ride a bike. You can’t just read a book about how to ride a bicycle.  You have to climb on the bike.  It takes balance, skill and quick reflexes – things you don’t acquire from reading.  You will never understand other people if you look at them with your own set of assumptions.  If you haven’t walked in their shoes, you don’t know what it is to be who they are.”      

Dr. Herb Ward, who teaches biblical studies at Covenant is quoted as saying, “Our heart’s desire is that our students would be equipped to engage with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation, about the gospel and its implications for all of life.”

Zach Holz, Lindsay Hoffman, and Caitlin Ryan, the three enrolled at Covenant this fall, have already begun to learn something about intercultural competence.  Two of the three just returned from Acapulco, and the third was part of our team that went to Monterrey last year. They are now completing twelve years of learning and face the exciting prospect of several more years of undergraduate study under Christian professors and in a Christian environment.  We can be certain that God will shape their lives so that they too become World Changers for His glory.  Let’s continue to pray for all our graduates.    

"Why Is the New Birth So Necessary?
Piper offered ten biblical descriptions of man apart from the new birth, ten reasons we need to be born again. As bad as the news is, it’s glorious to get it right because there is a glorious remedy. When we properly understand our own badness, we see Christ more gloriously.

Apart from the new birth we are dead
Apart from the new birth we are by nature children of wrath
Apart from the new birth we love darkness and hate light
Apart from the new birth we have hearts that are hard like stone
Apart from the new birth we are unable to submit to God
Apart from the new birth we are unable to except the gospel
Apart from the new birth we are unable to come to Christ or embrace him as Lord
Apart from the new birth we are slaves to sin
Apart from the new birth we are slaves of Satan
Apart from the new birth no good thing dwells in me"

" Faith in the living God and his Son Jesus Christ is always the result of the new birth, Faith can never exist except in the regenerate. Whoever has faith is already a saved man."

Regeneration (being born again) precedes Faith!

If you would like to get a good grasp of this important teaching let me recommend a book. It's by Gary Brady and is entitled,  "What the Bible Teaches About Being Born Again".  It's an excellent little book.  You can find it by clicking here

Surely, by this time, everyone who attends this church on a regular basis knows that besides all the “unofficial” sharing of the gospel we do in our business and social lives, there are several of our members who deliberately make calls every Tuesday evening on the people who have recently visited the church.  These visits are to meet, get to know, and in many cases, make a clear oral presentation of the gospel message.  This has been a part of our church ministry for some time.  And just so you know a plate of cookies is included.  Besides this, the church offers personal evangelism training to help our members become familiar with the message of the gospel.  It is the kind of training that every believer should experience.

While we do this locally, we also help to send Pastor Woody Lajara, one of our Missionary Associates and EE’s Vice President for Latin America, to teach and train church leaders in evangelism throughout these countries.  Woody has been doing this for much of his adult life and as a native of Puerto Rico where Spanish was his first language, he is uniquely qualified.  As recently as last month Woody trained 52 key evangelical church leaders as Teacher Trainers in Guatemala and Honduras.  These 52 returned to their respective congregations and started training their own people.  More than just training in evangelism, however, what Woody does often results in the planting of new congregations. In Cuba alone, 17 new churches have been planted this year and 12 more in Panama and Honduras.   

One can’t be around Evangelism Explosion very long without being made aware of the “multiplication principle.”  “It is more important to train a soul-winner than to win a soul,” Dr. D. James Kennedy, founder of EE, often said.  The apostle Paul had much of the same things to say.  “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:2).  Below are listed what  Evangelism Explosion estimates what happened in 2008:  

More than 1,000 leadership training clinics

More than 236,000 people equipped

More than 5.2 million professions of faith in Jesus Christ

                       (and these are conservative estimates)

In the latest issue of Multiply, EE’s quarterly magazine, these words appear on the cover, “No matter what happens to global economics, God’s investment in people through people is not slowing down.”  These are good words to remember.  God’s investment in people through people will not slow down.  Amen.

Ah, Christians, under all your temptations, afflictions, fears, doubts, conflicts, and trials—be persuaded to keep a fixed eye upon a crucified Jesus! And remember that all He did—He did for you; and that all He suffered—He suffered for you! This will be a strong cordial to keep you from fainting under all your distresses. Oh, that Christians would labor, under all their soul-troubles, to keep a fixed eye upon a bleeding Christ; for there is nothing which will ease them, quiet them, settle them, and satisfy them, like this!

Many, may I not say most, Christians are more apt to eye their sins, their sorrows, their prayers, their tears, their resolves, their complaints—than they are to eye a suffering Christ. And from hence springs their great woes, wounds, miseries, and dejection of spirit. Oh, that a crucified Christ might be forever in your eye—and always upon your hearts!

As the Pastor said:

'I can't explain Easter to anyone. It just can't be done. It's like a professor trying to explain one of e.e. cummings' poems,'' he said. He added: ``It takes time to be a believer. . . . Faith cannot be forced and faith cannot be coerced.''  Although the latter statement is partially true the first statement is a denial of scripture.  The resurrection can be explained.  Paul does it:  "He was raised for our justification" (Romans 4:25). 

The Pastor went on to say, "it is okay for people to doubt God's existence, as long as their doubts are founded on the "need for truth" rather than a "pathological desire to doubt." He told parishioners that the story of Jesus's resurrection is meant to be experienced in their lives and that Easter's essential message is one of hope. 

As we learned Sunday, Abraham had no doubts, and neither should we! Brothers and Sisters, the essential message of Easter is one of Salvation!  It should produce hope, but only if it is believed!  Doubt in the existence of God cannot produce hope, it only produces despair! 

When we pray for the president lets remember to pray that he finds a Church that preaches the Biblical gospel of the resurrection! 

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear ​without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10: 14-15

(info on the St. John's Easter service was taken from Miami Herald)

Came across this article by John MacArthur.  We would all do well to remember the importance of doctrine, particularly the important role of doctrinal preaching. The article below makes this point.  I came across it at The Shepherd's Fellowship Website.

I have in my library a book by the spiritual father of a quasi-Christian cult. It argues that structured doctrine and systematized theology are contrary to the spirit of Jesus’ ministry.

The idea that Christ is anti-doctrine is a foundational belief of that cult. But no idea is further from the truth. The word doctrine simply means “teaching.” And it’s ludicrous to say that Christ is anti-teaching. The central imperative of His Great Commission is the command to teach (Matthew 28:18-20).

Unfortunately, cultists aren’t alone in their bias against doctrine. Some evangelicals have almost the same perspective. Because they view doctrine as heady and theoretical, they dismiss it as unimportant, divisive, threatening, or simply impractical.

People often ask why I emphasize doctrine so much. Now and then someone tells me frankly that my preaching needs to be less doctrinal and more practical.

Of course, practical application is vital. I don’t want to minimize its importance. But if there is a deficiency in preaching today, it is that there’s too much relational, pseudopsychological, and thinly life-related content, and not enough emphasis on sound doctrine.

The distinction between doctrinal and practical truth is artificial; doctrine is practical! In fact, nothing is more practical than sound doctrine.

The pastor who turns away from preaching sound doctrine abdicates the primary responsibility of an elder: “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict” (Titus 1:9). We teach truth, we teach error, or we teach nothing at all.

Building on the Truth

Practical insights, gimmicks, and illustrations mean little if they’re not attached to divine principle. There’s no basis for godly behavior apart from the truth of God’s Word. Before the preacher asks anyone to perform a certain duty, he must first deal with doctrine. He must develop his message around theological themes and draw out the principles of the texts. Then the truth can be applied.

Romans provides the clearest example. Paul doesn’t give any exhortation until he has given eleven chapters of theology.

He scales incredible heights of truth, culminating in 11:33-36, where he says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

Then in chapter 12, he turns immediately to the practical consequences of the doctrine of the first 11 chapters. No passage in Scripture captures the Christian’s responsibility in the face of truth more clearly than Romans 12:1-2.

Resting on eleven chapters of profound doctrine, Paul calls each believer to a supreme act of spiritual worship — giving oneself as a living sacrifice. Doctrine gives rise to dedication to Christ, the greatest practical act. And the remainder of the book of Romans goes on to explain the many practical outworkings of one’s dedication to Christ.

He follows the same pattern in Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 Thessalonians. The doctrinal message comes first. Upon that foundation he builds the practical application, making the logical connection with the word therefore (Romans 1:1; Galatians 5:1; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 2:1) or then (Colossians 3:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:1).

Living by the Truth

We have imposed an artificial meaning on the word doctrine. We’ve made it something abstract and threatening, unrelated to daily living. That has brought about the disastrous idea that preaching and teaching are unrelated to living.

The scriptural concept of doctrine includes the entire message of the gospel — its teaching about God, salvation, sin, and righteousness. Those concepts are so tightly bound to daily living that the first-century mind did not see them as something separate from practical truth.

The New Testament church was founded on a solid base of doctrine. First Timothy 3:16 contains what many expositors believe is an early church hymn: “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (KJV). There, in capsule form, is the basis of all Christian teaching. Without that, no practical application matters.

Departing from the Truth

The next few verses of 1 Timothy describe what happens when men depart from the basis of biblical truth: “Some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth” (4:1-3).

Lying, hypocrisy, a dulled conscience, and false religious practices all have roots in wrong doctrine.

No ministry activity is more important than rightly understanding and clearly proclaiming sound doctrine. In 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, Paul commissions two young men to the ministry. His central theme is the importance of adhering to sound doctrine.

Paul charged Timothy: “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following” (1 Timothy 4:6). “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching,” Paul adds, “persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (v. 16).

Titus 2:10 says we “adorn [or honor] the doctrine of God” by how we live. When it comes to affirming sound doctrine, what we do carries far more significance than what we say. That’s why it’s disastrous when a pastor, seminary professor, or any kind of Christian leader fails morally. The message he proclaims is that his doctrine becomes merely an intellectual exercise.

Hearing the Truth

True doctrine transforms behavior as it is woven into the fabric of everyday life. But it must be understood if it is to have its impact. The real challenge of the ministry is to dispense the truth clearly and accurately. Practical application comes easily by comparison.

No believer can apply truth he doesn’t know. Those who don’t know the Bible’s principles for marriage, divorce, family, childrearing, discipline, money, debt, work, service to Christ, responsibilities to the poor, care of widows, response to governments, eternal rewards, and other teachings will not be able to apply them.

Those who don’t’ know what the Bible teaches about salvation cannot be saved. Those who don’t know what the Bible teaches about holiness are incapable of dealing with sin. Thus they are unable to live fully to God’s glory and their own blessedness.

I have attached a link (click here) of one Dr. Orr's most well-known messages on Revival and Prayer. This is a must hear message and is very short and to the point. It was spoken before a Campus Crusade for Christ fellowship or gathering. The many years of J. Edwin Orr's ministry and burden for revival really show through in this small sermon on the role of revival and prayer in God's awakening of the redeemed and saving of the lost.

The conference had two theme's this year.  The pre-conference focused on the life and ministry of John Calvin.  It is the 500 year birthday of Calvin.  The speakers shared about his call as pastor/preacher/teacher and theologian of the reformation.  We learned about his focus on the piety of the believer, as taught in his institutes, as well as many other inspiring truths.   

The main conference focused on the Holiness of God.  The speakers were phenomenal.  You can watch some of the videos here

 "Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."                                     

-Psalm 95:1-7 (ESV)

In Psalm 95 we see how worship is to be conducted in our services:

Worship is:

• giving honor to God... "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker" (v. 6). We bow before God in adoration/
• in His presence... "Let us come into his presence" (v. 2a). God is present to meet us, see into our hearts, and listen to our prayers,
• Through Christ... "For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand" (v. 7).  Our worship must be based on the work of Christ, the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice.
• According to His Word... "let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise"  (v. 2b). Music, according to Scripture, is integral to our worship. We are exhorted to come in song, proclaiming our praise musically.

A great opening hymn for Sunday worship is Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. Not only does this hymn exemplify what biblical worship ought to be, it also employs the very thoughts of Scripture. This hymn is based on Psalm 103 which tells us: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is in within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits" (vv. 1, 2). This hymn allows the congregation to join together, praising our God with songs of adoration. "Let the amen sound from His people again; gladly fore'er we adore Him!"

"His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns...He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God."       

                                                                                                       -Revelation19:12, 13) (ESV)

In Revelation, John gives us a vision of heavenly worship. In that vision, the twenty-four elders cast their crowns before the throne of God, declaring the worthiness of God and to the Lamb. "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever" (Revelation 5:13). Jesus, who bore the crown of thorns while on the cross is now crowned with "many crowns" as the reigning King!

The hymn, Crown Him with Many Crowns refers back to Revelation. Each crown in this hymn text exalts Christ for a specific aspect of His person or ministry: Stanza one for His eternal Kingship; stanza two for His redemptive and sacrificial love; stanza three for His victorious resurrection and ascension into heaven; stanza four for His identification as a member of the Trinity who, with the Father and Spirit is eternally worthy of worship and praise.

The text is the combined contribution of two distinguished Anglican clergymen, each of whom desired to write a hymn of exaltation to our once suffering but now exalted Lord. Mathew Bridges wrote the text of stanzas one, two and four, and Godfrey Thring wrote stanza three. The hymn's present form was the distillation of their work and is set to the hymn tune, Diadameta, (the Greek word for "crowns"). That tune was especially composed for the text by George Elvey, a noted organist at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, England, where British royalty still often attend.

This is an appropriate hymn to sing to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Noted hymn writer Phillips Brooks wrote these words: "Jesus Christ, the condescension of divinity and the exaltation of humanity." As we sing this hymn, we rejoice in the truth that we are united to the One "who died eternal life to bring and lives that death may die."

Remember, salvation is much more than just being forgiven.  Your redemption began in eternity past where God elected those whom Christ will die for and ends (or you may say never ends!) in eternity future with glorification.  

In between eternity past and eternity future salvation is accomplished in Christ and applied to us by the Holy Spirit.  Here is the order (much of this material is taken from www.tulip.org):

REGENERATION:  God changes your heart, gives you a new nature and you are born again.  See Ez. 36.26-27, Matt. 16.17, 1 Cor. 2.12-14, 2 Cor. 3.3,6, 2 Thess.2.13-14, Titus 3.5; Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) 3.6,10)

CONVERSION:  Once regenerated, you recognize your sinfulness, and despairing of your condition, you see your only hope of escape through Christ and so trust (i.e. exercise faith, believe) in the promise of salvation and repent from your sins. (See Is. 55.11, Hos. 14.2,4, Acts 17.30-31, 20.21, Rom. 1.17, Eph. 1.17-18, 2.8: WCF 14, 15)

JUSTIFICATION:  The promise in the Gospel is that those who trust in the Lord will be saved.  The forgiveness for the sins of God's people, and the righteousness that allows a sinner to be in the presence of a holy God, comes from the perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice of Christ.  As a substitute for the elect, two things happen:

1.    Christ earns your salvation and standing before God by fulfilling God's law and covenant on your behalf (he lives a perfectly righteous life for you), and

2.     He bears the punishment of your sins.  As Christ fulfilled this role, God promises that those who trust in Him will have the righteousness of Christ imputed (or given) to them, just as their sins will be imputed to Christ.

Thus as a holy Judge, God legally declares that His people are "just" or "not guilty." The sinner is justified before the Lord when, in faith, he rests not upon his own goodness and/or good works (of which he has none), but upon the magnificent work of God's Son.  (See Jer. 23.6, Rom. 3.24-26, 4.5-8, 5.17-19, Gal. 2.16; WCF 11) 

ADOPTION:  God's grace converts sinners from being servants of Satan to being servants of Christ, yet God promises more than just that.  He manifests His fatherly love towards lost sinners by adopting them as His own children.  Through adoption, He gives them all the rights, privileges and protection as belonging to His household and having His name.  They become adopted sons and daughters of the Father, and brothers, sisters, and joint-heirs with Christ.  (See Psalm 103.13, John 1.12, Rom. 8.15-17, Gal. 4.5-7, Eph. 1.5; WCF 12)

SANCTIFICATION: Not only are you declared righteous because of Christ’s righteousness but you also grow in righteousness.  Through the Holy Spirit and your participation in the means of grace (Word, Prayer, Sacraments), God works in you growth in grace and knowledge and you are more and more conformed to the image of Christ.   Believers will persevere until the end because God will preserve them. (See 2 Cor. 7.1, Eph. 2.10, 5.26, 2 Thess. 2.13, Heb. 13.20-21; WCF 13, 16)

GLORIFICATION: When a believer dies, his soul goes into the presence of God while he waits for the resurrection and redemption of his physical body, and there is comforted and beholds the glory of God. The final realization of salvation will come as Christ returns, gathers His people, and glorifies them together with Him. When this happens, the Bible promises that the curse of sin will be no more and the elect will dwell in heaven with the Lord eternally, with perfect peace, love and joy.(see Eccl. 12.7, John 5.28-29, Acts 24.15, Rom. 8.30, 1 Cor. 15, 2 Cor. 5.1,6,8, Phil. 1.23; WCF 32, 33)

And the foundation of this ‘order of salvation’ is UNION WITH CHRIST.  Union with Christ is not simply a phase of the application of redemption; it underlies every aspect of redemption, both in its accomplishment and in its application.   Thus as Robert Raymond has said, “Union with Christ is the fountainhead from which flows the Christian’s every spiritual blessing—repentance and faith, pardon, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification.”

First Presbyterian Church exists to exalt God, edify and equip the saints, evangelize the lost, and extend the love, mercy, and mission of Christ locally and around the World

Did you catch the E's.

• EXALT
• EDIFY
• EQUIP
• EVANGELIZE
• EXTEND

We got to hear testimonies and ministry updates of how we have been accomplishing this purpose and I shared some of the ways that we will be seeking to fullfil this mission in the coming year.  The main emphasis will be on prayer.  In addition to our monthly Sunday night prayer meeting, our Tuesday 6 am and 6 pm prayer meeting for reformation and revival, I will be announcing other venues for us to be a people of prayer.   In the meantime I challenge you to go to our Take 7 Prayer page and begin praying daily.  You can find that page here