Readings for April 3, 2011

This Sunday I will be preaching on Ephesians 3:17 in which Paul, in the process of explaining to the Ephesians what it is he prays for them, explains that he prays in light of the fact that they have been "rooted and established in love."  So many of us who've been believers for a while have gotten into the bad habit of regarding the word "love" in Bible passages the same way we regard tags on mattresses: with a casually dismissive attitude.  

But the fact is that many believers (and churches) attempt to root and establish themselves in many other things before it occurs to them to root themselves in love.  We use, for our potting soil, things like doctrine, works, relationships, church, etc.  

And if we do decide to root ourselves in love we are unsure as to how to do that, and it sounds so namby-pamby to us anyway.

But this verse (and the broader passage) is all about love: knowing it; grasping it; being filled with it.  So let's consider what it means to be rooted and established in love and take steps toward seeing that we are.

Call to Repentance

Ephesians 4:17-18  (page 1821)

Call to Worship

Psalm 61  (page 897)

OT Reading

Amos 9:11-15 (page 1431)

NT Reading

Romans 8:31-39  (page 1758)

Message

Rooted and Established

Ephesians 3:17  (page 1820)

Readings for March 20, 2011

I'd rather wipe tears away than set about squeezing them out of people. 
But, having said that, there is something very sweet and effective about tears.  When the gears of my devotion seem hopelessly rusted those tears that God makes me shed have the effect of lubricating everything.  I wish I never needed to cry, but I'd rather cry than whither.
And the convicting, tear-inducing words that kick down the doors of my heart then step out of the way so that the good news can make its way in.  And there is good news.




Call to Repentance

Revelation 3:19-20 (page 1917)

Call to Worship

Psalm 126  (page 967)

OT Reading

Lamentations 3:13-24  (page 1279)

NT Reading

1 Peter 5:1-11  (page 1892)

Message

Sorrowing Saints

2 Corinthians 1:22-2:11 (page 1796) 

Readings for Sunday, March 13th

This Sunday I'm going to be preaching on sin, and particularly the sin of lust.  This seems strange to me.  Given the fact that our lives are taking place in a dramatic context of insecurity and turbulence both on the global level (natural catastrophes, economic collapse, wars and rumors of wars) and on the personal level (matters of health, and finance and more) it would seem that a sermon on the topic of God's sovereignty and God's faithfulness would be more welcome.
That's why I was surprised when I felt God was urging me to preach on this passage and this topic of lust.  
But here's the thing about lust: we reject it not because it's bad and will get us in trouble (although it is bad and will get us in trouble.)  The best and most effective reason in the end for rejecting lust is that purity is so much better.  "Blessed are the pure in heart" Jesus says, "for they shall see God."  I want to see God.  
This world's sinking ship is listing horribly, but, though we stand on its deck at the moment, we need not list with it.  We can stand as straight here as we will in glory.  
The faces of the world have the slack intensity of those who regard the vivid images of urgent news and exposed skin as if possessed by those images.  I want my face to bear the smile of one for whom the veil has been pulled back and the blur been removed, as one who sees God face to face and needs nothing more for delight and meaning.
Then, when I can smile and see rightly the right thing, let the world lurch and convulse: I will not lurch with it.


Call to Repentance

1 Peter 2:11-12  (page 1888)

Call to Worship

Psalm 84  (page 922)

OT Reading

Proverbs 4:10-19  (page 989)

NT Reading

Colossians 3:1-14  (page 1834)

Message

That Gibbering Ape

Romans 6:11-13  (page 1754)

Readings for March 6, 2011

This Sunday I am going to be preaching on that great passage from 1 Corinthians 9 in which Paul stirringly urges us to run as if we have the intention of winning.  He implies that there are those who run carelessly, either in the sense that they are not concerned with where they're going, or in the sense that they don't particularly care how quickly they get to wherever it is they're going.  He also implies that some Christians approach their fighting like they're shadowboxing . . . in the dark.  

Most of us, though, run generally in the right direction and at a moderate pace.  Most of us spar in a conservative manner: we might not land many blows, but we're not going to get knocked out either.

But Paul just can't see the point of running in the first place if you're not running for the first place finish.  And I suppose I can't see the point in that either.

Call to Repentance

Revelation 3:2-3 (page 1916)

Call to Worship

Psalm 46 (page 885)

Call to Repentance

OT Reading

Proverbs 2:1-15 (page 986)

NT Reading

2 Timothy 4:1-8 (page 1855)

Message

Holy, Simple, Devoted and Joyful

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (page 1782)