Readings for Sunday, June 7, 2009

Having preached for the last two weeks on the Holy Spirit and His gifts, it should come as no surprise that I will be preaching this Sunday on spiritual warfare. I read the books by Frank E. Peretti as a young Christian and, while I enjoyed them at the time, they have kind of turned me off from thinking about or deliberately taking part in spiritual warfare.
But I have found that reading old hymns on the topic has been a great tonic. Spiritual warfare is not the peculiar territory of contemporary Christians of a charismatic bent. It has been the earnest endeavor of committed believers throughout the ages.
The disciple's devotion and walk are incomplete without a consideration of the war in which we are engaged.

Call to Repentance
1 Peter 2:11 (page 1888)

Call to Worship
Psalm 56 (page 893)

OT Reading
Genesis 3:13-15 (page 5)

NT Reading
1 Peter 5:1-11 (page 1892)

Message
Welcome to the War
Ephesians 6:10-13 (page 1824)

Skirmishes, iron gates, and roaring lions.
Towers, drawn lines, and proud banners.
Clashes, crossed rivers, and bloody fields.
Schemes, drawn weapons, and marching armies.

Captain, I report. I long to lift your weapons, to hold for you the place where you post me, and to march beneath your banner of love.