Bulletin 10.11.26
"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." Isaiah 40:31
Reflection Before The Service
Reflection Before The Service
Of all biblical characters, Nehemiah is perhaps the most explicit on “the practice of the presence of God”
--Derek Kidner, Ezra and Nehemiah (Tyndale
Old Testament Commentaries; 1979)
We start each day with our personal security resting not on the accepting love of God and the sacrifice of Christ but on our present feelings or recent achievements in the Christian life. Since these arguments will not quiet the human conscience, we are inevitably moved either to discouragement and apathy or to a self - righteousness which falsifies the record to achieve a sense of peace . But the faith that is able to warm itself at the fire of God’s love, instead of having to steal love and self-acceptance from other sources, is actually the root of peace.
Only a fraction of the present body of professing Christians are solidly appropriating the justifying work of Christ in their lives... In their day -to-day existence they rely on their sanctification for justification... Few know enough to start each day with a thoroughgoing stand upon Luther’s platform: you are accepted, looking outward in faith and claiming the wholly alien righteousness of Christ as the only ground for acceptance, relaxing in that quality of trust which will produce increasing sanctification as faith is active in love and gratitude.
-- Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual
Life , (1979, p. 101-102; emph added)
The Call To Worship
The Call To Worship
The Prophet Isaiah 40.27 -31 (NIV)
Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
(Prayer)
Reflection Before The Service
Of all biblical characters, Nehemiah is perhaps the most explicit on “the practice of the presence of God”
--Derek Kidner, Ezra and Nehemiah (Tyndale
Old Testament Commentaries; 1979)
We start each day with our personal security resting not on the accepting love of God and the sacrifice of Christ but on our present feelings or recent achievements in the Christian life. Since these arguments will not quiet the human conscience, we are inevitably moved either to discouragement and apathy or to a self - righteousness which falsifies the record to achieve a sense of peace . But the faith that is able to warm itself at the fire of God’s love, instead of having to steal love and self-acceptance from other sources, is actually the root of peace.
Only a fraction of the present body of professing Christians are solidly appropriating the justifying work of Christ in their lives... In their day -to-day existence they rely on their sanctification for justification... Few know enough to start each day with a thoroughgoing stand upon Luther’s platform: you are accepted, looking outward in faith and claiming the wholly alien righteousness of Christ as the only ground for acceptance, relaxing in that quality of trust which will produce increasing sanctification as faith is active in love and gratitude.
-- Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual
Life , (1979, p. 101-102; emph added)
The Call To Worship
The Prophet Isaiah 40.27 -31 (NIV)
Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
(Prayer)
11/10/26