Special Guests this Sunday

This Sunday we will be pleased to host Jamie and Elizabeth Kabernick, missionaries to Bolivia and cousins to our very own Suzanne Wood. They will be sharing with us for the morning message and (I think) in GROW, as well.

April 26, 2009

Call to Repentance
3 John 11 (page 1907)

Call to Worship
Psalm 72 (page 908)

OT Reading
Isaiah 60:1-7 (page 1155)

NT Reading
Matthew 28:16-20 (page 1550)

Readings for Sunday, April 19

This Sunday we'll be considering the matter of spiritual maturity. I'm suspicious that most of us consider it unattainable. Or, because we consider it an undesirable state, we worry that it might be attainable after all.
As a college student I had a bad habit of thinking in terms of the minimum I would have to do to pass a test or a class. Then, if I exceeded the minimum requirement by any amount, I would congratulate myself on being such an overachiever.
That was a transparently idiotic approach for a student to take when he was paying all that money to attend those classes and take those tests.
If it's a stupid way for a student to approach college, what can we say about the so-called Christian who takes essentially the same approach to his faith, figuring out the minimum required of him for the sake of his salvation but never aspiring to the measure of the fullness of Christ?

April 19, 2009

Call to Repentance
Hebrews 6:7-8 (page 1867)

Call to Worship
Psalm 111 (page 952)

OT Reading
Jeremiah 3:19-4:4 (page 1174)

NT Reading
1 Peter 1:17-2:3 (page 1887)

Message
No More than We Must Be?
Ephesians 4:11-17 (page 1821)

Readings for Easter Sunday

He is Risen!!

April 12, 2009 Easter Sunday

Call to Repentance

Hebrews 10:26-27 (page 1874)

Call to Worship

Psalm 16 (page 853)

OT Reading

Ezekiel 37:1-14 (page 1345)

NT Reading

1 Corinthians 15:12-20 (page 1789)

Message

The Public Celebration of a Private Event

Matthew 28:1-10 (page 1549)

Readings for Palm Sunday

Every year I have to decide whether to use this Sunday before Easter to preach the Passion or the Triumphal Entry. Because we typically have a Good Friday service it's an easy choice. I love preaching the Triumphal Entry, for all that it's a weird little event. One day the very rock's are on the cusp of bursting into praise.
The next day Jesus is just one more rabbi in a crowded city. And a few days later the crowds are clamoring for his crucifixion.
The effects may have been fleeting but for that one shining hour the world was right side up.

The following is the hymn with which we will close the service tomorrow, and following that are the readings for the service.

Praise the Lord of Glory mounted
On a little, humble beast,
Praise the Son of God accounted
By the world among the least;
Strong enough to be that tender;
Rich enough to nothing own;
If He showed in dust such splendor
He can make my heart His throne.

Hail the Lord of Hosts approaching
With a host of rabble saints,
Hail the Prince of Peace reproaching
Pharisees with their complaints;
Calm enough to love that roaring;
King enough to need no crown;
If their cloaks could serve for flooring,
Then I lay my body down.

Praise the Conqueror confounding
Us by coming like a dove,
Praise the Righteous Judge abounding
To this guilty race with love;
Sure enough to bring no army;
Pure enough to bear our sin;
He, in meekness, does disarm me;
I, in meekness, follow Him.

Call to Repentance
Romans 12:1 (page 1763)

Call to Worship
Psalm 92 (page 931)

OT Reading
Isaiah 44:12-23 (page 1129)

NT Reading
1 Timothy 1:12-17 (page 1846)

Message
Rolling Out the Red Carpet
Mark 11:1-10 (page 1572)