Here is the link to download the manuscript if you are interested:
Quotes of Encouragement
“This is faith’s true office, to see life in the midst of death, and to trust the mercy of God—not as that which will procure us universal exemption from evil, but as that which will quicken us in the midst of death every moment of our lives; for God humbles his children under various trials, that his defence of them may be the more remarkable, and that he may show himself to be their deliverer, as well as their preserver.”
“What is the cause of that anxiety and fear which are felt by the godly, but the consciousness of their own weaknesses and entire dependence upon God? At the same time they rely with full certainty upon the grace of God.”
Sermon Manuscript for Lord’s Day 11/14/2021
Is it possible to be a secret follower of Christ? That is a question I seek to answer in the context of this story. Let me know what you think.
Here is the link to download the manuscript if you are interested:
Sermon Prep
The images are from my preparation for the previous sermon manuscript for John 19:16b-30. Not everything I make note of is right or makes it into the sermon. However I try to write down anything that comes to mind so that I can work through it.
I always begin by translating the text. It’s such a huge help to me. In fact, I think it makes it much easier. ALL English translations nuance words not to sound redundant but we often miss the connections the writer intends for us to make.
My hermeneutics class in seminary changed my life forever. I’ve never gotten over the simple process of observations I learned from Dr. Scott Swain.
I’m not sure if this will help anyone without explanation but there are some good resources out there. Here is the textbook we used.
Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310492572/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_074RHWKFWHE7M9PXDS7Q
Leave me a comment if you have questions or would like more resource suggestions or if you would like more posts like this.
2 Timothy 2:7
[7] Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Sermon Manuscript for Lord’s Day 11/7/2021
I know posts do better at particular times and days. I’m just trying out a reblog to see what works.
Here is the link to download the manuscript if you are interested:
Order of Worship—John 19.16b-30
Opening Chorus “He has made me glad” page 579
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
(Ps. 22:1-31) To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by…
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Sermon Manuscript for Lord’s Day 11/7/2021
Here is the link to download the manuscript if you are interested:
Order of Worship—John 19.16b-30
Opening Chorus “He has made me glad” page 579
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
(Ps. 22:1-31) To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet– 17 I can count all my bones– they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 19 But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
Hymn No. 446 “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine”
Hymn No. 225 “There’s Power in the Blood”
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn No. 234 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
Sermon John 19:16b-30
The Lord’s Supper
Hymn No. 389 “Blest Be the Tie”
Postlude
Next Week’s Text: John 19:31-42
I Have a Problem with Pilate’ Sign
The charge for which Jesus died was insurrection and sedition. To claim that one rules as King over what Caesar had already laid hold of resulted in capital punishment. But, as we know, the chief priests’ real charge was blasphemy for which the law demanded that one to be stoned. But there was no law for claiming to be a king. Therefore, if they were to carry out their plan to kill Jesus, they needed the Romans to do it because at that time they were a slave state and had no authority to carry out their desires.
So, the charge needed to change for that to happen. Jesus most certainly was the Promised Messiah/King of the Jews. But Pilate doesn’t hear theological categories but political categories. Therefore, Pilate’s sign reflects the charge for which Jesus died: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
But I have a problem with the sign. I don’t have a problem with its content. I believe it to be the truth. But rather it lacking my sin for which Jesus did not refuse and for which he willingly died and all of which he was innocent of committing. He died for his enemies like me that his strips might heal my sinful soul.
What about you? Do you have some additions to make to Jesus’ sign?
Sermon Manuscript for Lord’s Day 10/31/2021
Here is the link to download the manuscript if you are interested:
Sermon Manuscript for Lord’s Day 10/24/2021
Here is the link to download the manuscript if you are interested:
Order of Worship—John 18.28-40
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
(Ps. 47:6-9) 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. 9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!
Hymn No. 28 To God Be the Glory
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn No. 601 I’ll Fly Away
(Jn. 6:63) The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Hymn No. Wonderful Words of Life
Sermon
Hymn No. 304 Crown Him with Many Crowns
Benediction
(1 Tim. 6:12-16) 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time– he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Next Week’s Text: John 19:1-16a
Jesus before Pilate
In the news today, the Roman Times documents the events that unfolded over the weekend. Officials brought a man before the governor but did not give the governor any formal charges. The governor was expected to trust the judgment of the officials that this man was indeed doing evil or they would not have delivered him over to him.
The governor questioned the accused man trying to find out what he had been charged with. He didn’t find out anything and publicly stated to the the officials that he found no guilt in him. The governor offered to release the prisoner but the officials said no. Release to us a man we knew to be guilty.
If a Roman citizen had read this news article on Monday, following these events, and found out that their governor executed this man with no formal charges against him and he himself found no guilt in him, what would he had thought about that?
Daily Scripture- January 24: Genesis 43–44; Psalm 22:1–18; Matthew 27–28
January 24, 2022Old Testament: Genesis 43–44 Genesis 43–44 (Listen) Joseph’s Brothers Return to Egypt 43 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your […]
- January 24: Genesis 43–44; Psalm 22:1–18; Matthew 27–28
January 24, 2022
The Word Is Not Imprisoned 