Matthew 28:18-20 - The Institution of Baptism

Matthew 28:18-20 - 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Message: The Institution of Baptism

Time: The date of Matthew's composition is anywhere from 55-60 AD probably in Antioch of Syria, written by Matthew, the former tax collector, and one of the 12 disciples or apostles. The writing is most likely to the Jews. His purpose was to show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate proofs of this.

What the Lord is Saying: During the Reformation, as the Protestants studied scripture they believed that the churches only sacraments are to be the Lord's Supper and Baptism. The defining factor was that they had been instituted by Christ. 

As Jesus prepared to ascend into heaven He spoke of the great commission, the giving of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people and in the process of seeing people coming to faith and becoming His disciples He stated that baptism should occur among people in the name of the triune God: Father, Son and Spirit. Therefore, churches today need to prioritize baptism and as we do this we need to be clear in it being in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. 

Baptism allows us time to teach of the importance of God in three persons. John Calvin comments on Matthew 28:18-20, "We perceive that God cannot be truly known, unless our faith distinctly conceived of Three Persons in one essence; and that the fruit and efficacy of baptism proceed form God the Father adopting us through His Son, and after having cleansed us from the pollutions of the flesh through the Spirit, creating us anew to righteousness." 

Also, the Greek word for baptism does not give mention of a specific mode for baptism - as such immersion, dipping, pouring, sprinkling, or any other means of applying water are lawful. 

In my life I have always been in churches that upheld immersion baptism. And this baptism often occurred at the request of the individual as part of their obedience. I think these churches believe this is the only way and I think this is fine to have these convictions. And yet it is also possible I think for others to have different convictions about other ways people are baptized. 

I was baptized after attending a Disciple Now (a weekend church retreat for youth in which 10-15 young people gathered in a person's home for bible study and fellowship) that occurred after I became a Christian in 1982. I think my baptism occurred in 1984 or 1985. I don't remember, but I remember who performed it: a man by the name of Jim Brooks who led a retreat I attended that weekend not far from my house. My regret in life was not letting my mother know that the baptism was occurring and she showed up for church after it had happened. That is one of many regrets I have in regards to my mom and my failure to include her and be included in her life. 

Summary: Baptism is commanded in Scripture following conversion and it is to be instituted in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, but the method can be any form with water over the person. 

Promise: If a baptism is not administered in the triune name of God, it is invalid. This is a new covenant baptism. 

Prayer: O Father God, you are Holy and good and true. Your Name is above all other names. You have given us baptism as a command. We witnessed you Jesus being baptized and now we are to do the same and also do it in the name of God, Son, and Spirit. Thank you for placing me in environments that have always prioritized this and I pray your Church would continue to uphold this. Work in me continually Lord to strengthen the Body of Christ and encourage this as well. 

I Corinthians 11:23-25 - Word and Sacrament Together

I Corinthians 11:23-25 - 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Message: Word and Sacrament Together

Time: Not the first, but 2nd letter to Corinthians, but the first to survive and to be considered authoritative. Written in AD 55, it was penned after Paul had reports of quarreling in this church he had previously visited. Paul covers a number of subjects, but all focus on the Christian's life in the church.

What the Lord is Saying: In the last lesson, I expanded on the idea of sacraments, these rites or acts we do and how they point to an act of God in a person's life. They reveal truth and reveal something in a person's life. They have a special relation or union between the sign and the thing signified. In this lesson, I will continue to study and connect these dots. 

Towards the end of my time what I saw was a way for us to see salvation in others through these sacraments and have a visible way to confirm faith. And so baptism and the Lord's Supper give breath to our visual world in helping us understand and believe spiritual truths. 

As we take these sacraments and administer them they are not simply done in silence but we spend time as they occur explaining the union of practice and grace. In the Lord's Supper we share scripture about it -- like today's passage. In baptism we talk prior to the act about salvation and what we see in baptism - death (a person under water) and resurrection (a person coming up out of water). In this practice we also observe what Christ did as well as he was baptized and he instituted the Lord's Supper. So we know that these events in our lives are important but they are joined with words and not simply acts alone. Even in other acts such as a marriage union it is important to speak of what God is joining together and it is of His doing. 

Faith is heard. Romans 10:17 - "Faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of Christ." So this speaking of the Word of God is paramount in the practice of the sacraments. No one can simply say they did it without the Word of God coming together with the Sacrament. 

In today's passage we witness this coming together and connection. Again, by themselves bread is simply a part of our meal for eating and nourishing and wine or drinking the cup is the same. But in this practice we make mention that the bread and cup have a connection to God giving up Himself for the salvation or giving of His life for sinners -- “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And lately I have been marveled at the usage of the language of cups in the Bible. Wondering if this cup of the Lord's Supper also can speak of God's wrath and His conquering of it in my life (Jeremiah 25:15).  In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” The sacrifice occurs in the Body and the Blood takes the place of my sin or the need for judgment/wrath. 

Summary: These acts or rites we observe are empty without the words of God bringing these acts into significance with what Christ has done on our behalf. 

Promise:  It is the preaching of God's Word and the administration of the sacraments that must go together. Let us not let eagerness to meet Christ in His sacraments cause us to neglect meeting Him in His Word.

Prayer: O God, thank you for the gift you give us in these Sacraments and how we can come to know you better as we practice this ordinances of Your Grace in our lives. Help me to always stay grounded in Your Word as we witness or practice these sacraments. I pray the Word of God would remain paramount in our lives and unite us in these practices. Bring churches together and help us to not focus so much on our differences but our similarities so that we have more Unity within the Body of Christ. 

I Peter 3:18-22 - The Sign and the Thing Signified

I Peter 3:18-22 - 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Message: The Sign and the Thing Signified

Time: Peter wrote to a group of people that probably included Jews and Christians at the time of probably AD 64, as the persecution of Christians by Nero was ramping up. It is thought Peter spent his final years in Rome. Peter calls people to root themselves in the perseverance and presence of Christ. 

What the Lord is Saying: In the previous lesson, I saw that sacraments are signs that point to something else and convey promises of God. They are specific rites or acts that are performed or carried out to reveal truth and set people apart from those in the world. 

In a somewhat mysterious way, God works through them to accomplish His purposes. God has in His mercy in history shown mercy to a remnant of people. He bestows grace therefore on certain people. And this grace occurs through faith. We often express this in our services of the Lord's Supper when we state it is a time for believers to partake and those visiting or those who are not of the faith of Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives are not to partake. 

Somewhat unlike the Lord's Supper, baptism has stronger language that gives the idea of it being salvific. There are verses in the Bible that seem to state that Baptism saves. In Acts there is frequent mention of this like in Acts 2:38 when Peter says to be "baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" and yet even in this verse I can see how someone could mean that baptism signifies or is the visible sign someone has received for having faith. We know countless other examples of salvation in which baptism is not mentioned. And then also here in these verses of I Peter 3:21 in which he says, "baptism now saves you." I must admit having struggled with these words as compared to the Body of Scripture on salvation. And that struggle has come most often in discussions with those that worship with the Church of Christ who hold that Baptism is the instrument that is needed by every person in order to be saved (In my conversations one thing I've heard from them is there are different ways God saved people - one way during Old Testament times, another way while Jesus walked this earth and then another way once Jesus ascended to heaven, the later being the time when Baptism was prescribed. This is where I struggle because I see all of scripture either pointing forward or back to Christ and I think in all situations God has asked us to receive Him by faith and then following this our faith responds with acts of obedience and I see baptism as one of those acts albeit a very important one that should follow faith soon after). 

In today's passage I focus on two possible contrasting thoughts - verse 18 states that Christ after dying for sinners brings us to God. So this is God choosing man for salvation, God through his life, death, and resurrection brings people to God by faith, making them alive by the Spirit. And then Peter speaks a lesson of God proclaiming to the spirits in prison, once disobedient, but then God brought them to safety through water and then Peter states that the water baptism saves. 

What Tabletalk explains is:

• Peter connects the salvation conferred in baptism with the salvation conferred to Noah's family in the flood.
• Not all of Noah's family experience salvation as Ham was later cursed by the Lord (Gen. 9:18-25; was he cursed by God or Noah?)
• So we can conclude that like the flood that saved people, not all people that receive baptism will be saved. 
• Yet the admonition that baptism saves you give the impression that grace is so closely connected to baptism.  

And maybe that is the point right now, that there is a close union between the sacraments and salvation and therefore we can conclude in their importance and as we observe them they have a special relation or union that helps confirm a person's life in Christ. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith 27.2 states, "There is, in every sacrament, a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing specified: whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other." 

Perhaps what is going on here is we can see salvation in a person through the act of baptism. We can't see into a person's heart, but baptism helps us see this in a person. 

Summary: There remains an importance in participating in the sacraments. And in this participation a union or relation between the sign and the thing signified. 

Promise: Scripture frequently describes the sacraments as accomplishing certain things without telling us how they do so. Yet, in this accomplishment we have careful rendering of those acts lest we fall into error. 

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the Word of God. I admit God that at times it is a mystery to me in the relationship between me and the blessing in which you have conferred upon me. Lord, if one thing is clear it is my obedience and that I am to take seriously these acts in my life. Lord, help me be a person that upholds this and gets not so much focused on the language but on the results. Thank you for baptism and being able to witness it even yesterday in Andrew's life at church as well as the other people that were baptized. Thank you for the richness it yields and being able to see salvation itself through it. Keep shedding light into my life and thank you Spirit for always working in me. 

Romans 4:11a - Signs and Seals of the Covenant of Grace

Romans 4:11a - and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised.

Message: Signs and Seals of the Covenant of Grace

Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.

What the Lord is Saying: Today's lesson title describes one definition of the term sacrament and now I move to a new set of lessons on sacraments. This is a word that is not familiar to me and is not something that I have learned growing up in a Baptist church. In my last lesson on Worship, I had a lesson on Sacraments in Worship and in that lesson I looked at the history of this word "Sacraments" and how it came to be defined both by the Reformers (Protestants) and the Catholics which seem to be the two main body of religious people during the 16th century. 

Sacraments was clearly a controversial subject not only between Protestants and Catholics but even between the Protestants today. And this seems to be one of the reasons we have different denominations because of how we have defined this interpretations and churches. Even a church known as the Church of Christ who state they are non-denominational are a church that hold to specific sacraments. 

Thus, this new series of lesson will focus on the Reformers view of sacraments and what they are and what they look like or should look like in our lives and churches today. As Tabletalk records:

In contrast to some traditions that view the sacraments as mere memorials and testimonies, traditional Reformed theology affirms that the sacraments convey the promises and grace of God to the elect, but in contrast to Roman Catholicism, traditional Reformed theology understands the efficacy of the sacraments as rooted in the work of the Spirit and faith, not the actual performance of the sacramental rites. 

Interesting words here and lots to unpack. 

First with the definition. The English word sacrament comes from Latin. And the root of the word is the same as the meaning of "holy" or "consecrate." As such, sacraments are holy mysteries. But this mystery is not an unknown as it is a means to reveal truth. They are specific rites or acts to reveal truth and set God's people apart from the world. Baptism, the Lord's Supper and even preaching are sacraments. 

In today's verse, Romans 4:11a, Paul remembers the old covenant sacrament of circumcision. And he states that what this sacrament of circumcision did was describe a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised. So circumcision was a physical representation of an inward decision or faith. It was an outward sign of that which occurred on the inside. It revealed to people what had occurred on the inside. It is a visible mark that God owns us. 

Thus, these sacraments and the practice of them become a representation to the outside world that we belong to God. Obviously, not everyone who practices the sacraments is a true representative or part of the remnant (Jeremiah 23:3), but it is meant to be a mark of the visible church. 

I think of tattoo's and the prominent place they now have in our world. I have a co-worker that has several tattoo's on her body to chronicle in this permanent way a remembrance of her brother who died and also her kids. When seeing these tattoo's therefore there is no doubt or should be no doubt of what has occurred with her on the inside. My son-in-law has a tattoo on his arm of a nail cross that relays his commitment to Christ and my daughter has also added these tattoo's, though small of a cross and also a New Mexico symbol. They are not ashamed therefore in these ways to press something on their bodies permanently to express who they are or the truth that they want to convey to others. Signs point beyond themselves to something else. 

In my life, what do I show others - my life, my words but also a baptism and the Lord's Supper observance but also other avenues of my life. 

Summary: Sacraments are signs that point beyond themselves to something else and convey the promises of grace and God. 

Promise: For those who believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation, justification, and sanctification, the sacraments provide further confirmation that God cleanses us and nourishes us in Christ. 

Prayer: O Lord, thank you for this lesson and these truths about sacraments and revealing to me an understanding of this. I definitely know this has been a subject that has divided many people that are part of Your fold, Your remnant. Lord, give me understanding and help me to understand this subject and what it means to my life as a follower of Yours. Thank you for the truth of Your Word and I pray Holy Spirit that You would continue to reveal truth to me through these times that I have in Your Word and that I would listen and that I would obey. 

TABLETALK - September 2017

I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. Each month of 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. 

• September - The Reformation of Worship (July 20, 2022 - December 12, 2022)
• August - The Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation (April 14, 2022 - July 19, 2022)
• July - The right use of God's Law (May 23, 2021 - April 13, 2022)
• June was justification by faith alone (February 14, 2021 - May 22, 2021)
• May, Christ Alone (September 3, 2020 - February 13, 2021)
• April, salvation by grace alone (March 6, 2019 - September 2, 2020)
• March, the sovereign providence of God (January 28, 2019 - March 5, 2019)  
• February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture (January 8, 2019 - January 27, 2019)
• January, the doctrine of God (December 16, 2018 - January 7, 2019). 

The Elements of Worship

Redeemed to Worship - We are people that are meant to glorify God, to worship the Lord. 

The Importance of Reverence in Worship. Guidance in Worship - Start with scripture and let scripture define our ways in worship. Reverent Worship - We must take care to worship God with reverence, according to God's word.

What it Means to Worship in Spirit and Truth

Worshipping in Spirit and Truth and the Place of Worship - Worship is not limited to a place, but true worship is the Holy Spirit being with me and testifying the truth of God. The Time of Worship - Christ's resurrection took place on the first day of the week and so there is ample warrant for setting aside Sunday as the time of obligatory Christian worship. Heavenly Worship - The city of the living God is mount Zion, in heaven and so when we worship God we enter into this heavenly city while we are also here on earth. Reading Scripture in Worship - From the earliest history of God's people, we have gathered to hear God's word read aloud. Exhortation and Teaching in Worship - In addition to reading, there is also teaching scripture in the context of the day and then exhortation or application of putting it in practice today. Prayer in Worship - Prayer is a private devotion, but also a public proclamation that we need to do in a public setting. Sacraments in Worship - Sacraments are public ordinances and we participate in them rightly in the context of public worship. At a minimum these acts should include baptism and Lord's Supper. Oaths and Vows in Worship - These are promises or pledges we make each Sunday as we gather, as we sing songs, about God but also about who we are in Christ. If we speak these words, may they be so in our lives. Fasting in Worship - When we fast, we are driven to more urgent prayer and to remember our creaturely dependence. Thanksgiving in Worship - Giving thanks is a part of our prayers that we make thanking God for all that He has done. It can be part of special occasions and it can also be a part of our weekly coming together time on Sunday morning. Living Sacrifices in Worship - A living sacrifice in worship is to give God all of me, to give him my best and this means I turn from doing those things that don't honor him in any way.

The Intersection of Arts and Worship

The Beauty of Worship - The beauty of the Lord is seeing what God has made in His creation but also in His temple and specified in people's attire, in our talents and spiritual gifts. All of these colors help us to worship God. Ritual vs Ritualism - The problem is not with rituals themselves but with ritualism, which happens when we go through the motions without an inner disposition to worship the Lord. Forms and Their Communication - It is not the form of our worship that matters as much as the purpose for why we gather and assemble in our churches - to edify one another and be devoted to Him. The Power of Music - Music was created by God. And as his creation, he uses it to testify of Him and to minister to us. Music and Theology - Good worship music invite us to move deeper into God's word to learn more and more about Him. In all of its forms, hymns, contemporary songs, our hearts can be focused on him. The Arts and the Worship Space - Places of worship are normal and should be present, either small places in homes or larger spaces that are rented or purchased. What is important is not always the form, but the function.

Here also is a summary of the articles from Tabletalk for August 2017.

Rescuing Souls from Death - Buck Parsons (editor of Tabletalk magazine, copastor of Saint Andrew's chapel in Sanford, FL) - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30). This is the earliest hint of soul winning in the Bible and pictures the unrighteous seeing the fruit of the righteous and saving their lives. Throughout the Bible is the idea of being rescued. Doing good goes beyond evangelism to kindness, parenting, helping people in crisis. If we truly believe that God calls people to Himself then any of our works of righteousness can be used to bring people to Him. 

Wisdom, New and Old - RC Sproul (founder of Ligonier Ministries, founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., and first president of Reformation Bible College) - We tend to focus too much on the future, on what is new, thinking it is always better than what is old or the past. It is true that our understanding of things is developing, but people are not necessarily getting more intelligent. Life is often repeating itself, just with a new zip code. God revealed Himself to people in the past and gave us truths we can still live by today, that are still relevant today. 

God: The Winner of Souls - David Strain (senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Miss.) - God is the Evangelist. He is in hot pursuit of sinners. God so loved the world that He gave his only Son...God sent His Son...John 3:16-17. The initiative behind the work of Christ on behalf of sinners is God. God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8. You have given Jesus authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him (John 17:2). The Holy Spirit is an evangelist, giving new life to dead sinners (John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life). At every point of Christ's ministry, the Holy Spirit rested upon Christ. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear (Acts 2:33). The church preaches the good news by the Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:12); the Church is sent to pronounce forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus. Never forget it is God that is the true and great soul winner. The Father purposed to save sinners in love by sending His Son with the Spirit uniting us with Christ and empowers us in turn to bear witness for Christ. 

The Sovereignty of God and Soul Winning - Joel R. Beeke (President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) -  If God chooses people in His sovereignty then we don't need to evangelize - False - God calls us to preach the gospel, to pray for laborers to go out into the harvest. We are his co-workers. He calls us to be involved. Calvin wrote the gospel "does not fall from the clouds like rain" but is "brought by the hands of men to where God has sent it." Calvin even started a lot of missions and churches in his time. Many evangelists and missionaries went out from the reformers including Laurence Chaderton, William Perkins, John Owen, John Eliot, David Brainerd, George Whitefield, William Carey, Adoniram and Ann Judson, John and Maggie Paton, Andrew Gordon and Andrew Watson, Ebenezer Erskine, Charles Spurgeon, Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1. We are to be bold in evangelism (Acts 18:9-10). 2. We are to be patient in evangelism, not trying to manipulate or force people into the kingdom (2 Timothy 2:24-25). 3. We are to be confident in evangelism (Isaiah 55:11). 4. We are to be submissive in evangelism (Romans 10:1, 9:22, 9:16). 5. We are to be worshipful in evangelism (I Corinthians 3:6-7). 

Winning the Souls of Unbelievers - Dr. Jon D. Payne (pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC) - Evangelism is a way of life. It liberates and challenges us to reach out to our spheres of influence. To witness is compulsory for every sincere follower of Christ (Matt. 5:13-16). Yet we lack zeal and prayer. Let's recommit our lives. We have examples from Jesus and the Apostles, but we do not have to duplicate their ministries. It is primarily an overflow of a sincere walk with God. I am right where I need to be (Ps. 115:3; Acts 17:26-27). Our home and work location is for a reason. It is less a task and more a way of life. Are we willing and ready to identify and act upon the evangelistic opportunities that God brings our way? In prayer we remain steadfast and utterly dependent on Him. We are to be in steadfast prayer. It is to be centered on Christ - God's holiness and requirements of His Law (Lev. 11:45, Gal. 1:10-11). Man is fallen, miserable and depraved (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3). God sent His Son to fulfill the Law (John 3:16; Rom. 5:18-19) and satisfy divine justice on the cross (Ps. 22:1; I John 4:9-10) and rise from the dead on the third day (Rom. 4:22-25), to reconcile man to God by grace through faith in Him (2 Cor. 5:19; Eph. 2:8-9). In the judgment, to heaven or to hell (Matt. 25:31-46). It is hard to be silent about what we cherish most. 

The Ordinary Means of Soul Winning - Buck Parsons (editor of Tabletalk, copastor of Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida) - Greatest trick by the devil is convincing the church that it needs to be like the world to reach the world. In a desire to be like the world they have become counter-ecclesial (relating to a church). Pastors study the fads of culture more than the unchanging principles of God's Word. They claim that there is no explicit command in the Bible against it, so they can use it to reach people. Parsons discovered the Westminster Shorter Catechism and the answer to Question 88. It is through the Word, sacraments and prayer that salvation is made known to people. We are to follow the example in Acts and worship God according to His Word and according to the means God has ordained. Thus, true Churches needs to be observing the Lord's Supper regularly, praying deeply, preaching the Gospel. Instead changing church for people, people need to see the witness of the Church. 

Winning One Another - Carl D. Robbins (senior pastor of Woodruff Road Presbyterian church in Simpsonville, SC) - The closing of the book of James shows how real Christians care about their members (James 5:19-20). We can wander by giving up essential tenets of the faith like deny exclusivity of Christ or justification by faith alone or understandings of biblical sexuality. Paul warns in I Corinthians 10:12: "Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." We are to reorient one another toward righteousness. Warn people of the road to destruction they are walking on. The Lord sent Nathan to King David to call him to repent (2 Samuel 12). We are to do this to save their soul from death and confirm the Blood of the Lamb as atoning cover for their sins. 

One Kingdom Will Continue - Jason Helopoulos (associate pastor of Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan) - "I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill" (Ps. 2:6). Promise: Christ reigns. Terrorists, church members slayed, upholding heterosexual views - in American society, it often doesn't look like Christ reigns. Jesus said in John 18:36, "My kingdom is not of this world." This is a spiritual kingdom that doesn't show up on the evening news and it will continue and last and God shalt break them (nations) with a rod of iron, shatter them like earthenware (pieces of a potters clay) (Ps. 2:9). It was on Good Friday that it appeared the world had won over Jesus and He had been defeated. People didn't see it at the time but God was working, setting His King on His holy hill, establishing His Son's kingdom for all eternity; He who sits in the heaven's laughs (Ps. 2:4). Every Nebuchadnezzar falls; every Ahab reaches his end; the head of the serpent is crushed. His kingdom is established and will continue forevermore. So Fear God, not men. 

Looking over the Fence - Melissa B. Kruger (women's ministry coordinator at Uptown Church (PCA) in Charlotte, NC) - Consider others, but in the right way. We often look at what others have and want it. And then at times we don't like people's opinions. Or perhaps we just don't think about our neighbor. But filled with Jesus I can view others through the lens of love. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain contempt, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Phil 2:3 NIV84). We need to encourage others in their faith, noticing what people are doing and how they are serving God (Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works). And considering our leaders, not their failures but their faith for the Gospel gives us a new mindset continually on all things (Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. - Hebrews 13:7). 

A Life Worthy of the Gospel - Aaron L. Garriott (production manager of Tabletalk magazine) - Unity made Paul's heart leap hearing of it from the church at Philippi whom he thought of as his "joy and crown" (Phil. 4:1). He said his joy would be complete if the church members were of "the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose" (Phil. 2:2). Yet, arrogance over self-advancement engenders disharmony. People don't drift towards unity. Instead self-advancement and self-exaltation is often the mindset. In Philippians 2, the blueprint for unity is given: humility. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than oneself; do not look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others (2:3-4). Why? Because of Jesus who "emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men, was humbled to the point of death on a cross, then exalted, that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord - to the glory of God (Phil 2:5-11)." Now there is a difference in Jesus emptying Himself and us emptying ourselves. Jesus emptied Himself of infinite riches as the co-owner of eternal. Our emptying is one of emptying ourselves from the mindset that we are greater than we truly are. For us to be of one-mind with one another it starts by each of us humbling ourselves individually. And here is the goal: Paul reminds us to "conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27-28)."

The Direction of Leadership - Dr. Jonathan Leeman (editorial director of 9marks and elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC) - Leadership even in scripture is full of metaphors about "up" being good, and "over" others - "God reigns over the nations" (Ps. 47:8); His throne is "high and lifted up" (Isa 6:1); elders have "oversight" (I Peter 5:2). But being a leader is more than being over others, it is also coming down to their level, kneeling down and lifting others up. Psalm 18:31-35 says God has equipped me with strength....sets me upon my high places...trains my hands for battle...given me the shield....Thy gentleness make me great. A good reminder to help those under me and work for their success. Christ tells us He came to serve, not be served (Matthew 20:25-28). 

Moments of Praise - Rev. Joe Holland (Pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Culpeper, Virginia) - We can praise the Lord, even with short bursts of prayer, like is mentioned with Psalm 117, the shortest chapter in the Bible. In seconds we can praise God and pronounce a call to Missions. God is not constrained by word counts. We want long drawn out times with the Lord in large chunks but don't miss quick bursts as well. 

Knowledge without Zeal - Joshua S. Brice (senior pastor of Pray's Mill Baptist Church in Douglasville, Georgia) - We are to not simply attend the right churches, but have a real zeal for God. James Montgomery Boice commented that "millions are drifting along through life, manipulated by the mass media, particularly television, and hardly know it." Our thinking of eternity has left us and we are too focused on the hear and now. Remember the reformation as it was a desire for the word of God. The Catholics remained only on listening to lectures of the Bible in Latin rather than God's word in our language. We need to have a proper zeal to serve God. 

Handling Abuse in the Church - Rev. Brad Hambrick (Pastor of Counseling at The Summit Church in Durham, NC and instructor of biblical counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC) - We need to be willing to be uncomfortable and realize that people are being hurt, even among the church body we are in. Engage a social workers with experience with domestic violence and child abuse. We need to talk about it more in trainings and even from the pulpit. By talking about it then people believe this is a safe place to discuss this. 

The Real Story of Christianity and Abortion - Dr. R. Albert Mohler (President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY) - Recently, many are giving the idea that Christians are late to the table in calling abortion evil. In fact, several so-called Christians are even stating that Abortion is morally right and the scripture supports this. But in reality Christians have always been opposed to Abortion and this can be seen by the Didache in AD 80-120, Clement of Alexandria (AD 15-215) and Tertullian (AD 160-240) who all have words about the crime of abortion. Don't believe the culture, ever. 

The Context of the Early Church - David R. Briones (Associate professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary) - Context is vital to our daily communication. Example - steel sinks could mean at Lowe's or Home Depot purchasing a steel sink, but in a class at college taught by a professor of material science it could mean steel that sinks in the water. So, understanding the context of God's word is very important. Note, Phil 2:12 and "work out your salvation." The word your is actually not me, but rather our and is meant to convey the entire church coming together to do the work of salvation. So context helps us be better readers of the text and it adds color to our reading of the text, as through it we can see better the beauty of God's word. Example is Jesus at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem at Passover and spreading palm branches before Him. To see the significance of the palm branches we look at the books of the apocrypha and see that in 165 BC during the intertestamental period when a Jewish family was revolting against Syrian forces and King Antiochus who prohibited Jewish religion. But then Judas Macabeus destroyed every Syrian detachment and moved back into Jerusalem with the people celebrating and as part of that celebration, a new festival of Hanukkah commenced and the people celebrated with palm branches and became a national symbol for the Jewish people. National Jews thought Jesus would destroy Roman opposition, but instead they drove nails into His hand and then through His death and resurrection liberated people from sin and death. And Jesus then entrusted Himself not to Jews, but His Church. 

2 Chronicles 5:1 - The Arts and the Worship Space

2 Chronicles 5:1 - Thus all the work that Solomon performed for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver and the gold and all the utensils, and put them in the treasures of the house of God. 

Message: The Arts and the Worship Space

Time: Originally one book, 1 and 2 Chronicles was separated into 2 books around 200 BC when the Greek version of the Old Testament was translated. Many historical sources were compiled to detail this history of God's people. It covers the time from Solomon’s ascension to the throne (971 BC) until the southern kingdom of Judah was finally carried into exile in Babylon in 586 BC. It focuses on Judah. 

What the Lord is Saying: Churches began in people's homes and then larger spaces were found to meet. As Christianity was legalized in Rome (323 AD), dedicated Christian sanctuaries were built and eventually from the 5th to 15th centuries more Gothic cathedrals and structures were built while some continued to meet in plainer buildings. Today, churches are even meeting in hold movie theaters or setting up daily at school auditoriums until their own buildings can be built or acquired. Thus, where we go is not as important as that we gather. 

It is normal and continues to be normal for houses of worship to be dedicated spaces for worshipping the Lord. 

Even in today's passage is the mention of gathering what is most precious to people and bringing them to the place in which people worshipped, the house of God. At the beginning of the history of God's people is the mention of the tabernacle and then later the temple of God was built. And so it seems likely that structures have been built for over 3,000 years. So it is normal for us to build these structures in all of their different sizes and dedicate places to the Lord. 

Summary: Places of worship are normal and should be present, either small places in homes or larger spaces that are rented or purchased. What is important is not always the form, but the function. 

Promise: While it is true that God can be worshipped anywhere, we are not to neglect the corporate worship of God's people. 

Prayer: Lord, again, I thank you for church and thank you for the gathering of people. I have so many memories of gathering with like-minded people in different places, from homes to apartments, to restaurants and basements (at Baylor), to small theaters and larger spaces, and even grandiose buildings of size and stature with beautiful artwork and special designated spaces for Worship. There have been many different forms, but the Word of God and the People of God has always been central. Thank you for working through us in this way and making You always the focus. Help me to continue to make this a priority and for those around me as well to make it a priority. 

Psalm 101:1 - Music and Theology

Psalm 101:1 

I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, to Thee, O Lord, I will sing praises. 

Message: Music and Theology

Time: Psalms, a collection of lyrical poems, with multiple authors. David wrote 73 Psalms, though for 50 or so the author is unknown. Psalms means songs of praise. The writings span 1,000 years. They encourage us to praise God, illuminate the greatness of God, affirm His faithfulness in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His word. 

What the Lord is Saying: In addition to being a great theologian, Martin Luther also wrote hymns. He realized that hymns were important for the development of our faith. His hymns were often written around different themes, like Advent, Christmas, Easter or on topics of the Ten Commandments. Wikipedia lists 41 hymns he wrote in German. His best known hymn is a Mighty Fortress is our God based after Psalm 46 and written in 1529. 

It is interesting that music and hymns can be used to communicate to us truths of God but can also teach us theology. I read through the Lyrics of a Mighty Fortress is our God and was shocked a little and interested to read how much it speaks of the Satan and the Prince of Darkness and devils filled. 

There have been arguments in the church about music and hymns or more contemporary songs. Hymns were contemporary songs in their days and perhaps we need to focus more on what the song is saying than the form. On my home yesterday from work, I heard this song by REM called Everybody Hurts. I've read a little about the song and its writing and it is hard to tell if it was written with much meaning as it simply chronicles the hurt we all experience in life and that we are not alone. Now God is never mentioned, but as I listened I was reminded of the meaning and that I am not alone. 

I have not spent much time going over hymns and studying them. I always remember my mom in church and hearing her sing and how she often knew so many of the hymns. She sang so much by memory. These were her songs that she sung to God. I grew up with the Baptist Hymnal. Here is a copy of one with songs from 1991. It also reminds me of how organs are often accompanying hymns. 

Many songs written are based upon the Psalms. For me, I love tunes from scripture and where I can see the link of why it was written. For praise songs, I do like the one's that speak of God's attributes, like Great is thy Faithfulness, but also like songs that are sung directly to God. There is a recent song I heard by Kristian Stanfill (worship pastor at Passion City Church) that fits this:

I want to love You with all of my heart 

I want to love You with all of my soul 

Jesus you’re my one ambition 

With every breath You give I’ll give You 

Another praise, another praise, another praise

I need help speaking to the Lord and praising Him and I appreciate these lyrics that help me direct my thoughts toward Him. 

Summary: Good worship music invite us to move deeper into God's word to learn more and more about Him. In all of its forms, hymns, contemporary songs, our hearts can be focused on him. 

Promise: The biblical psalms model the kind of complexity that good sacred music has to offer.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for music again and specifically the music that we have sung in the church. I appreciate the choruses that I have sung growing up and then in small groups like at Chi Eta that helped define my faith and my praise of You and then all the songs of the day now that offer praise to You but also can help define my dependence on You. Thank you for being present and speaking to Me in so many different ways through these writers. Help me to continue to give praise to You in these ways and to sing from my heart. Thank you for giving me such a great Mom who patterned this in my life and gave me such a great example of praising You and Singing to You. It is great to see this carried on in my brother.