Meditation for Preparation – Aug 18th
Church Planting Read: John 12:20-26 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for
Facet of Christ (Day 75)
He is the perfect and final Sage, or wise man, depicting wisdom in both his life and his words. He is the book of Proverbs walking around on two legs. (Prov. 8.22-31) Dane Ortlund 22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 before he had made the earth with its
Facet of Christ (Day 74)
He is the perfect and final Prophet, speaking truth with laser-like accuracy. (John 6.14) Dane Ortlund 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (John 6:14)
Facet of Christ (Day 73)
He is the perfect and final King, representing God to the people. (Rev. 17.14) Dane Ortlund 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)
Facet of Christ (Day 72)
He is the perfect and final Priest, representing the people to God. (Heb. 2.17, 18) Dane Ortlund 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17,18)
Facet of Christ (Day 71)
Not only Scripture, either: Every heart-stabbing poem, every story of redemption, every novel or film that evokes longings and makes the tears flow— it all points to him. He is the closure for every human longing. (Phil. 3.8, 9) Dane Ortlund 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through
Facet of Christ (Day 70)
He is the final answer to the OT. Jesus gathers up all the various threads of promise and hope and rescue and longing that cover the landscape of the Old Testament and snowball down through the centuries. The virtue of every OT saint is filled out in him, and the failure of every OT saint heightens the longing for him. (2 Cor. 1.20) Dane Ortlund 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
Overcoming Hypocrisy by Growing a Healthy Fear of God
For the last two weeks, the Gospel of Luke has challenged us with Jesus's stark warnings about hypocrisy. Below is a summary of Noah & Carson's preaching points, along with a handful of resources and scripture passages that Carson mentioned may prove helpful in growing a healthy fear of God. Ten Symptoms of Hypocrisy from Luke 11:37-54 Hypocrites value cultural traditions over miraculous movements of God. (11:38) Hypocrites draw boundaries where God does not. (11:39) Hypocrites prefer to give attention to the exterior (what is visible) rather than the interior (what is hidden) (11:40) Hypocrites prefer giving things to
Facet of Christ (Day 69)
The whole Bible is his, and about him (Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39, 46). The Bible is not a manual for life, not a guidebook, not a rulebook, not sage suggestions. At its heart, and cover to cover, the Bible is the Word of God about the grace of God in the Son of God for the people of God to the glory of God. When I open the Book, I get him. Dane Ortlund 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27) 39 You search
Meditation for Preparation – Aug 11th
On Worried Women And Backup Plans Olympians are sickeningly brave. Women make multiple flips on top of a 4-inch wide balance beam without any worry for the neck they might break if they fall. Men fling themselves onto massive ocean waves above sharp reefs knowing a wipe out could mean drowning. It’s all right. I worry enough for them, biting my lip over the helmetless rugby players and cringing for the racer leaping the hurdles. They may not be aware that disaster is looming, but I am. My stomach is tight; my hands are clenched. What are these crazy
