We conclude the membership class with exhortation to mutual love and ministry, practiced through discipline, service, and giving.
Read MoreWhy does God do nothing when we need him to act? Why does he say nothing when we need him to say something? We have all had to wrestle with these questions at some point. Perhaps you are wrestling with them now. We are unfortunately all too familiar with the situation.
Read MoreMembership in Grace Fallbrook is a membership in a Reformed and Presbyterian congregation. When we identify ourselves as a Reformed congregation, we are asserting an identify that is historically informed, theologically shaped, and has clear boundaries in our piety.
Read MoreLife here and now is a mess, and that is by God’s design. God would have us (almost) driven mad by this world that we find our sanity only in his grace and providence.
Read MoreAs we meditate on Psalm 72, let us look to Jesus with confidence. For Jesus is the glorious king of Psalm 72, and the joy of all nations. He is our glorious king, and the joy of our hearts.
Read MoreThe Church is a community of “members.” In order to build a community that fulfills God’s design for the Church we need to have healthy participation in the various relationships that make up a church.
Read MoreWho am I? What do I celebrate? What informs my life’s direction and passion? It is the resurrection of our Lord. He rose from the dead, and it changes everything.
Read MoreDavid’s longing was realized when Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. According to Jewish liturgy Psalm 24 was being read on Palm Sunday. As the Temple singers were singing “Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in” the crowd was welcoming Jesus, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Read MoreIt is not easy to rejoice and be glad in God amidst trials. We have convinced ourselves that such things are impossible as long as the circumstances remain the same. Let God change my reality first, and then I will praise him! But we are encouraged rather to understand that God is worthy of praise in every circumstance, and that our soul’s happiness is not rooted in the changing realities of life, but in the fact that we know him, and he knows us.
Read MoreOur present life may have the hues of death about it. After all, following after Jesus is nothing less than taking up our cross to follow him. Nevertheless, a day will come when all laments will cease and all bitterness pass. We await that day, and in anticipation of that glorious day we gather in worship. For in worship our God gives us a foretaste of that feast of the Lamb.
Read MoreThe Church can be defined along two axes. As the “body of Christ” the Church’s identity is defined vertically. As the “fellowship of believers” the Church may also be defined horizontally. But the vertical relationship is foundational to the horizontal and is its fountainhead. The focus of this session is to understand the Church's calling in light of Church’s vertical relationship.
Read MorePsalm 69 is quoted more than any other psalms in the New Testament (John 2:17; 15:25; 19:28; Acts 1:20; Romans 11:9; 15:3). The New Testament writers saw in Psalm 69 a vivid description of the Messiah and the the rejection that Christ faced. David’s experience recorded in Ps 69 became the vehicle to describe Christ’s anguish.
Read MoreThese are the notes from the first of the five membership class sessions. In this first part, we first set the discussion in the context of the challenges posed by the culture in which we live. Secondly, we orient ourselves to think about the church according to the great work that God has been doing throughout history.
Read MoreGod powerfully crushed kings and kingdoms that stood in his way. The most powerful of the world were not powerful enough before God. On the other hand God was the “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows” (v.5). The weakest of the world are not forgotten by God. David summarizes the Lord’s ascent to Zion thus: “You ascended on high
Read More"Bless me, bless me!" Who hasn't prayed this once or twice? It is a familiar prayer. But why do we ask for a blessing? What would we do if we were indeed blessed?
Read MoreOnce in a while a book comes along that truly stands out for its depth and timelessness. This is one such book.
Read MorePs 66 exhorts us to praise God who delivered us from Egypt. God rescued us from Egypt. Do you understand what this means? Can you praise God for it? If we do understand, how can our praise to God be anything but glorious? Indeed, "sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!"
Read More