Bulletin 5.24.26
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8
Reflection Before The Service
Reflection Before The Service
At Pentecost the Babel that was destroyed was replaced by the revelation of the new polis, the city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, Heb 11:10.
— Harry R. Boer, Pentecost and Missions (1973; p. 138)
Furthermore, God ’s promise is open -ended. He calls Abram merely to go “to the land that I will show you, ” without specifying where that land is. Thus the command, which includes the promise, is not something Abram can merely do to reap the promised benefits. Rather, God must be there every step of the way, and Abraham will never come to a place where he can practice “religion,” or carry out commands, independently of God ... the very vagueness of god ’s call ensures that Abram will not hope in some predictable destiny, a specific, tangible land of milk and honey, but only in the reliability of the promise and the goodness of the character of the God whom Abram has encountered.
— William McDavid, Eden and Afterward(2014; p 52)
There is a great out-turning of focus in the New Testament pages. Through the Old Testament, the reader senses that the focus has been continually narrowed. It begins with the broad canvas of creation and tells of the dealings of God with the whole race of mankind (Gen. 1 -11); then narrows to the people of Israel, whom God had called to be the special servant of his purpose ... At the center of the Bible drama, the focus has narrowed to one man: the Messiah, Christ. But from Christ, the focus again turns outward - first to the new Israel, which is his church and then, through that church, into the entire world. The church is called to take up the destiny of the true Israel, Servant Israel, and become the missionary people of the kingdom of God.
— John Bright, The Kingdom of God(1953; p. 232-3)
The Call To Worship
The Call To Worship
Acts 2.1-13
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and
Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God." And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others were mocking and saying, "They are full of sweet wine."
(Prayer)
Reflection Before The Service
At Pentecost the Babel that was destroyed was replaced by the revelation of the new polis, the city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, Heb 11:10.
— Harry R. Boer, Pentecost and Missions (1973; p. 138)
Furthermore, God ’s promise is open -ended. He calls Abram merely to go “to the land that I will show you, ” without specifying where that land is. Thus the command, which includes the promise, is not something Abram can merely do to reap the promised benefits. Rather, God must be there every step of the way, and Abraham will never come to a place where he can practice “religion,” or carry out commands, independently of God ... the very vagueness of god ’s call ensures that Abram will not hope in some predictable destiny, a specific, tangible land of milk and honey, but only in the reliability of the promise and the goodness of the character of the God whom Abram has encountered.
— William McDavid, Eden and Afterward(2014; p 52)
There is a great out-turning of focus in the New Testament pages. Through the Old Testament, the reader senses that the focus has been continually narrowed. It begins with the broad canvas of creation and tells of the dealings of God with the whole race of mankind (Gen. 1 -11); then narrows to the people of Israel, whom God had called to be the special servant of his purpose ... At the center of the Bible drama, the focus has narrowed to one man: the Messiah, Christ. But from Christ, the focus again turns outward - first to the new Israel, which is his church and then, through that church, into the entire world. The church is called to take up the destiny of the true Israel, Servant Israel, and become the missionary people of the kingdom of God.
— John Bright, The Kingdom of God(1953; p. 232-3)
The Call To Worship
Acts 2.1-13
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and
Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God." And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others were mocking and saying, "They are full of sweet wine."
(Prayer)
24/05/26