Though there can be no doubt about the fact that we are living in extraordinary times, these are not unprecedented times. The church of the Lord Jesus has faced far greater calamities and difficulties. As we worship this morning therefore, however peculiar the circumstances, we do so knowing that His promises are sure. Let us gather, wherever we are, in…
In this morning’s sermon text, the Apostle Paul declares that “while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). We’ll declare this truth right along with him when we sing, “Let us love the Lord who bought us, pitied us when enemies” (Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder). Because of Christ’s…
Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream, All the fitness He requireth is to feel your need of Him. In last week’s sermon, Pastor Brian focused on God’s sovereignty as the starting point for evangelism. This morning, our service centers around the necessity of understanding our own sinfulness—as we’ll read from Ephesians 2:1, we are “dead…
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent, a traditional time of prayer, fasting, and repentance observed by Christians since the days of the early church. Several elements of the service have been adjusted to fit the character of this season. We will begin each Sunday by singing What Wondrous Love Is This (meditating on the sacrifice of Christ on…
As we come to the close of our time in Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, I have been reflecting on some of the common themes of the two books. Over and over, Paul gives words of comfort (“may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way,” 2 Thessalonians 2:16) and encouragement (“do not grow…
By your toil you shall be prospered and be happy all your days. —Psalm 128:2, The Psalter 1912 Though today is a day of rest, the Scriptures we read and the hymns we sing this morning have a whole lot to say about work. This morning’s passage from 2 Thessalonians contains an encouragement to “not grow weary in doing good”…
Have you noticed that many of the pieces we are singing this morning deal with the same themes as last Sunday— themes of security, surety, and faithfulness? For example, we have sung the word “steadfast” quite a few times over the last two weeks. But where last week’s hymns were primarily calling us to remain steadfast in the face of…
This morning we will hear the Apostle Paul encourage us to “stand firm” on God’s Word, both in the sermon text from 2 Thessalonians as well as the “whole armor of God” passage from Ephesians (which includes the “sword of spirit which is the Word of God”). Quite a few times, the hymns and psalms we sing this morning mention…
This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget, That though the wrong seem oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. Throughout Christian history, commentators have been puzzled about the meaning of 2 Thessalonians 2. Who is the “man of lawlessness” mentioned in verse three? Intense focus on whether this passage refers to the Emperor Nero, a sixteenth…
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, Just to rest upon His promise, just to know “Thus saith the Lord.” The title of Pastor Grant’s sermon for this morning, Justice and Mercy, really captures the duality of this section of 2 Thessalonians. The Apostle Paul writes about Christ’s final judgement of the earth…