We have said many times that the structure of a covenant renewal worship service is built around the pattern set by the sacrifices of the Old Testament. Our corporate confession of sin corresponds to the guilt offering, fulfilled in the death of Jesus. Our psalm singing and listening to Scripture read, and hearing the sermon, …
Little Foxes
One of the ways we lose our grip on the truth is by allowing it to become commonplace in our minds and hearts, in our families, and in our circles. We take it for granted. The truth remains the truth, of course, but we often live in such a clichéd way that our grip on …
Pomosexuality
INTRODUCTION: As we look around us, we see nations and cultures in disarray. There are so many things going wrong, that is would be quite easy to despair. Where to start? What battles should we fight, and what should we let alone? This is itself quite an important issue, as Martin Luther once wisely noted. …
Post Tenebras Lux
INTRODUCTION: The title of this message is a phrase that has been used to describe the great work of the Spirit in the Reformation, and that Latin phrase means “after darkness, light.” It is the purpose of this sermon to focus on one particular manifestation of that transformation, which was the musical transformation which occurred. …
True Communion of Saints
Every Lord’s Day, we confess that we believe in the communion of saints. This precious doctrine means that Christ’s Church is genuinely and really one, and that when we gather in worship, we are gathering together with all true saints everywhere, and we are doing so in the heavenly places, as we assemble in the …
The Father and Fat Souls
God is our Father, and one of the things that fathers are called to do is provide. “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Prov. 10:22). Now this meal is the blessing of the Lord—we are told explicitly that the cup is the cup of blessing. Now …
The Hand of God, Wall Street, and You
INTRODUCTION: When God shakes the nations, or we think He is about to shake the nations, He does so in order that we might return to the basics. THE TEXT: “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as …
Always a Good Investment
Our nation is in the midst of significant financial upheaval, along with many other nations, and because of this we have to remember certain things as we approach God with our worship. Lord willing, we will address this in greater detail in next week’s message, but it is important to say a few things about …
And We Are That Loaf
Now as we speak of the mysteries involved in the Lord’s Supper, and they are many and deep, we need to occasionally speak a word of caution against a superstitious approach to the Supper. In short, the difference between superstition and evangelical faith is a difference between an unthinking acceptance of impersonal magic throughout all …
Fifth Decade of Psalms/Psalm 50
INTRODUCTION: This is the first of twelve psalms ascribed to Asaph. Mostly likely this is the Asaph who lived at the same time as David (2 Chron. 29:30), although that name does appear later (2 Kings 18:18). This psalm is a wonderful illustration of how thoroughly the godly saints of the old covenant understood true …