Readings for Sunday, March 29

This Sunday we'll be considering the new covenant written on our hearts. It was interesting to me that the Rabbi, Erle Snobel, who was at the church Tuesday night to teach us about the Passover made reference to this passage in his presentation and then later in conversation, when God had led me to preach on it weeks ago.

There's been much talk in the news lately of renegotiating contracts and terms, in light of the dire economic situation. Thousands of years ago God moved unilaterally to renegotiate the terms of what was a very fair and reasonable contract between Him and his people. When he did so, he gave us the most favorable terms imaginable and he did so at great expense to himself.

And I have it in writing. On my heart.

Praise the Lord!

Call to Repentance
Romans 13:11-12 (page 1765)

Call to Worship
Psalm 91 (page 930)

OT Reading
Hosea 2:16-23 (page 1397)

NT Reading
Hebrews 10:11-25 (page 1873)

Message
Paper Hearts and Priceless Ink
Jeremiah 31:31-34 (page 1227)

Messiah in The Passover

Come join us as, Erle Snobel, leads us in a demonstration of how the Passover is fulfilled through Jesus' death at Calvary. This presentation allows the congregation to take part in a traditional Jewish Seder (service) by including a full meal with the demonstration.

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Time: 6:00pm
Location: NCWC

Readings for Sunday, March 22

March 22, 2009

Call to Repentance
Revelation 3:3 (page 1916)

Call to Worship
Psalm 16 (page 853)

OT Reading
Psalm 15 (page 853)

NT Reading
John 14:1-7 (page 1675)

Message
The Hope of Heaven
Revelation 21:1-8 (page 1937)

Readings for Sunday, March 15th

This Sunday we're going to broach the difficult, delicate, and dreadfully important matter of the punishment of the wicked.

March 15, 2009

Call to Repentance
1 Peter 4:17-18 (page 1891)

Call to Worship
Psalm 145 (page 979)

OT Reading
Isaiah 5:11-17 (page 1066)

NT Reading
2 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (page 1842)

Message
The Fear of Hell
Matthew 10:28 (page 1511)

Hellish Hymnody

This Sunday I am going to be preaching on hell and let me tell you, it's tricky.

It's also tricky to find music to sing that even alludes to hell. It is understandably a less popular topic for hymn writers than things like grace and salvation.

But this following hymn by Isaac Watts is not only one of the only hymns on the subject of hell (as opposed to judgment) but it is one of the best hymns period. Notice how Watts structures the hymn to move toward a spiritual climax and suggests that the souls of the saved are "on fire" but in a different sense from the souls of the damned.

Plunged in a gulf of dark despair
We wretched sinners lay,
Without one cheerful beam of hope,
Or spark of glimmering day.

With pitying eyes the Prince of grace
Beheld our helpless grief;
He saw, and, O amazing love!
He ran to our relief.

Down from the shining seats above
With joyful haste He fled,
Entered the grave in mortal flesh,
And dwelt among the dead.

He spoiled the powers of darkness thus,
And brake our iron chains;
Jesus hath freed our captive souls
From everlasting pains.

In vain the baffled prince of hell
His cursèd projects tries
We that were doomed his endless slaves
Are raised above the skies.

O for this love let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break,
And all harmonious human tongues
The Savior’s praises speak.

Yes, we will praise Thee, dearest Lord,
Our souls are all on flame;
Hosannah round the spacious earth
To Thine adored Name.

Angels, assist our mighty joys,
Strike all your harps of gold;
But when you raise your highest notes,
His love can ne’er be told.

Readings for Sunday, March 8, 2009

I think this is a very intriguing passage with some surprising areas of application for us.
Jesus' behavior is just so odd. It's no way to build a church, for one thing.

Call to Repentance

Matthew 9:12-13 (page 1509)

Call to Worship

Psalm 8 (page 848)

OT Reading

Psalm 64 (page 899)

NT Reading

Mark 7:14-21 (page 1564)

Message

Our Suspicious Savior

John 2:23-25 (page 1649)