[QOTW] The Difference Between the Law and the Gospel

Archive - June, 2010

Worshiping Together: 6/27/2010

June 30, 2010 in Sunday Setlist with 0 Comments

It’s been a while since I last recapped one of our services. Sorry about that. I’ve had stuff going on, and haven’t given much attention to the blog. We’ve continued to work through our summer series, Blockbuster Messages.

This past week we focused on the end of the world. Movies like 2012 paint a picture of destruction, fear and hopelessness. Yet, while the Bible also paints some vivid pictures of the end of the world, it even more so draws our attention to remember that the end of the world is coming, that we don’t know when, and that if we are in Christ Jesus, there is no reason to fear. If we live with a biblical worldview, then we will be ready and not caught off guard.

The messages we are receiving though the media are constant and often in contrast with biblical truth. We must be aware and constantly evaluating according to the Bible. Continue Reading…

[QOTW] How We Overcome

June 24, 2010 in QOTW with 0 Comments

“How dare you approach the mercy-seat of God on the basis of what kind of day you had, as if that were the basis for our entrance into the presence of the sovereign and holy God? No wonder we cannot beat the Devil. This is works theology. It has nothing to do with grace and the exclusive sufficiency of Christ. Nothing.

Do you not understand that we overcome the accuser on the ground of the blood of Christ? Nothing more, nothing less. That is how we win. It is the only way we win. This is the only ground of our acceptance before God. If you drift far from the cross, you are done. You are defeated.

We overcome the accuser of our brothers and sisters, we overcome our consciences, we overcome our bad tempers, we overcome our defeats, we overcome our lusts, we overcome our fears, we overcome our pettiness on the basis of the blood of the Lamb.”

—D.A. Carson, Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 103

[QOTW] Information vs. Understanding vs. Wisdom

June 17, 2010 in QOTW with 0 Comments

“Information alone is strength without coordination. We become a danger mostly to ourselves when we have it. Understanding is the ability to coordinate that raw information in meaningful ways. Understanding creates a certain enthusiasm. We can direct our knowledge toward potentially useful ends — but we may also be a danger to others. Wisdom, however, is knowing how, when, and why we use our understanding; wisdom is settling into our understanding without being too enamored by it.”

- Shane Hipps, Flickering Pixels via worshipvj.com

[Video] Why can’t you put Star Wars in a grocery store?

June 11, 2010 in Media, Random with 0 Comments

And now for something completely different…

[QOTW] He Lived for Us

June 10, 2010 in QOTW with 0 Comments

“We must see that the righteousness of Christ that is transferred to us is the righteousness He achieved by living under the Law for thirty-three years without once sinning. Jesus had to live a life of obedience before His death could mean anything. He had to acquire, if you will, merit at the bar of justice. Without His life of sinless obedience, Jesus’ atonement would have had no value at all. We need to see the crucial significance of this truth; we need to see that not only did Jesus die for us, He lived for us.”

- R. C. Sproul, The Truth of the Cross (Orlando, Fl.; Reformation Trust Publishing, 2007), 95. via Of First Importance

[Video] Blockbuster Messages

June 8, 2010 in Creative Worship Element, Media with 1 Comment

The opening for the series “Blockbuster Messages.” In it, the pastor explains the reason and intent of the series, and it ends with some graphic goodness capturing the theme. Thanks for watching.

Worshiping Together: 6/6/10

June 8, 2010 in Sunday Setlist with 0 Comments

With the beginning of the summer season, we began a new message series called “Blockbuster Messages.” In our society today, we are drawn to movies, and there are plenty to choose from. Each of these movies tell a story and present a message. Some of these messages are good and some of them are bad.

What is the standard we use to determine the appropriateness of the messages we see? We need to have one because otherwise we will be swayed in our worldview and perspective with each new message delivered. As believers in Christ, we have a standard in the form of God’s Word.

What are the messages that we are allowing to shape us? How do we respond and engage in the discussion? Are we allowing the Truth we know to be true to impact our culture, or are will letting culture impact Truth? Continue Reading…