January 22, 2023
January 22 — 11 AM Worship
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
The things that tempt us look very different depending on where we stand. While we are being tempted, before we give in, it is really the only thing we can think about. It promises so much pleasure. How can anyone, how can I, possibly live without it? But once we give in to the temptation, once we reach out and indulge ourselves that thing that promised so much, we learn that it was all vanity. The pleasure is never so great as was promised. And instead of an overabunance of joy, we feel shame and regret flooding in. How Adam and Eve thought they would dress themselves with God's glory through sin! But in the end they had only fig leaves as their covering. But Psalm 5:12 tells us "For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield." The sad thing is that Adam and Eve knew this. Of course, not in the exact words of Psalm 5. But Adam and Eve had God's Word and Law. They had the warning and the promises. But they did not listen.
Do we listen? We have not only the account of Adam and Eve to learn from, but the whole Scripture of Old and New Testaments. Adam and Eve, created in God's image with truly God-like faculties, did not fare so well when they rebelled against God. Why do we think we will do any better than they did? If we persist in walking in Adam's footsteps, we will only cover ourselves with shame. We will not be able to face God. But if we walk in the footsteps of the last Adam, Jesus Christ, God's favor will cover us "as with a shield." This is the blessing of being in Christ.
Growth Resources
This Year: Please see the full list of 2023 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage: gracefallbrook.church/12-for-23
This Month: We are reading "In the Year of Our Lord" by Sinclair Ferguson. Please join us January 29th for a time of reflections on this book.
This Week: We encourage you to make use of Kevin DeYoung's "The Good News We Almost Forgot" 32–35, Lord’s Day 4, for personal or family devotions.
Hymn of the Week: "Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah (Psalm 146)" (Scottish Psalter/Darwin Jordan) YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify.
Last week's sermon is availale on our church webpage: gracefallbrook.church/sermons.
Upcoming Events and Notices
TODAY: You are all invited to lunch fellowship at the home of Rick and Janny Ligtenberg. Please join us!
February 5 (Lord’s Day): A new Sunday School series will begin, and will be led by Rod Swab and Brian Suchoski. These lessons will meet every first and third Sundays of each month, and will follow the lessons from R.C. Sproul's "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith."
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).