After the past two weeks where we have seemingly observed Ascension and Pentecost for a second time this year, this Sunday we’ll experience a second Easter! Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 emphasizes the physical reality of Jesus’ resurrection and His victory over death, as do many of the elements in this morning’s service. We’ll be…
Henry Haffner
If it seems like we just recently sang many of the psalms and hymns in this morning’s service, you’re absolutely correct! Many of these pieces were chosen for the service on May 19 to align with the church calendar (May 19 was Pentecost Sunday this year). This week, the story of Pentecost from Acts 2…
Most of the elements in this morning’s service relate in some way to Jesus’ ascension, a story found in the first three verses of this morning’s sermon text (Acts 1:9-11). We are called into worship by Psalm 68, which foresees God Himself “ascend[ing] on high, leading a host of captives in [His] train.” We’ll sing…
This Sunday we begin a new sermon series in the book of Acts, a series that should take us the better part of a year. Luke describes the book, from the very first verse, as a continuation of the work Jesus began during His earthly ministry. Jesus rose from the dead, and He is still…
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds. —Psalm 9:1
We began this “summer in the psalms” with a commandment to recount the things that God has done for us (Psalm 9:1). As we come to the close of this sermon series, we find David again telling what…
When you are in trouble, who do you call for help? Who or what do you trust to be at your side when you need them? This morning’s service points us to a single, heavenly answer to these perennial questions. Various Scripture readings remind us that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord…
Psalm 19 can be divided into three primary sections, centered around verses 1 (“The heavens declare the glory of God…”), 7 (“The law of the Lord is perfect…”), and 12 (“Who can discern his errors…”). The worship service this morning follows much the same pattern: a focus on both natural and special revelation, followed by a prayer…
Eight years ago, I moved to Franklin in one of the most tumultuous weeks of my life. A week and a half prior I had just had my wisdom teeth removed when we received a phone call that my grandfather had just been diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia and had two weeks to…
The first half of Psalm 18 depicts God’s awesome power and majesty, vividly describing Him as a rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, a “horn of salvation,” and a stronghold, among other things. Most of the music we sing in this morning’s service picks up on or elaborates on these concepts. Blest Be The Lord, My Rock,…
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. —Matthew 5:8
In last week’s sermon, Pastor Jamie mentioned the “beatific vision,” the immediate knowledge of God which we will experience in eternity—or more simply, “the happy sight of God.” You’ll find references to this concept at the end of Psalm 17 (vs. 15), as well…