"In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.” - Psalm 18:6, 16 John Rippon wrote … Continue reading Sanctifying Our Deep Distresses
God
Prayer: Learning How to Answer God
The Psalms play a crucial role in corporate and personal worship because Christians believe the richness of God’s Word ought to determine our prayers not the poverty of our own hearts. Why do we avail ourselves of the Psalms? The Psalms help us to know more intimately, love more fervently, and treasure more deeply our … Continue reading Prayer: Learning How to Answer God
Maundy Thursday and the Mark of a Christian
The Mark of the Christian (John 13:31-38) The text upon which this teaching outline is based is normally assigned to Maundy Thursday. The Latin word for commandment is mandatum. This commandment that Jesus gave was the old commandment with which Moses himself summarized the whole law, but Jesus made it new by highlighting three things: … Continue reading Maundy Thursday and the Mark of a Christian
Reflections for Palm Sunday Worship
No word in my vocabulary expressed deeper hatred than the word interference. And the Bible placed at the center what seemed to me a Transcendental Interferer. — C.S. Lewis Glorious as Jesus is in Himself, as a conqueror over death, and hell, and the grave, the Son of God is still ‘meek and lowly of … Continue reading Reflections for Palm Sunday Worship
A Burden-bearing God!
"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens" (Psalm 68:19). How wonderful it is to know that our God is a burden-bearing God. What is the burden you are carrying today? By prayer, you can cast it upon the Lord who promises to sustain you (Psalm 55:22). Jesus invites … Continue reading A Burden-bearing God!
Walking Humbly with God
Why is it important than we learn how to walk humbly with God? First of all, it pleases the Lord. But, secondly, it can protect us. It delivers us from the disasters that come into our lives through pride. Listen to what Micah 2:3 says: "Therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, against this family I … Continue reading Walking Humbly with God
Trusting God for the Impossible
The sinless Son of God was conceived in the womb of a virgin and born to rescue hell bound sinners. It sounds like the stuff of fairy tales. The angel of the Lord, Gabriel, explains how the incarnation of Jesus Christ can happen: “nothing will be impossible with God.” The Lord has had to remind … Continue reading Trusting God for the Impossible
For Those Experiencing Great Grief and Loss
How do followers of Jesus respond when we or those whom we love experience great grief and loss? We grieve and lament. It is important that we allow ourselves to grieve. Jesus wept before the tomb of his friend Lazarus. Isaiah called him the suffering servant of the Lord who was well-acquainted with grief. Our … Continue reading For Those Experiencing Great Grief and Loss
The Remedy for Perplexity and a Dulled Conscience
Both for perplexity and for dulled conscience the remedy is the same; sincere and spiritual worship. For worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart … Continue reading The Remedy for Perplexity and a Dulled Conscience
A Prayer of Preparation for Worship
Gracious Father, may all who come within the walls of your house of worship today experience a fresh encounter with You, the living God, so that deep gladness and profound joy overtake them and sorrow and sighing flee away. May all who come dwell in your presence beholding your beauty. For Your presence ultimately transforms … Continue reading A Prayer of Preparation for Worship
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