If you are God, your work is to create out of nothing. If you are not God, but like God — that is, if you are human — your work is to take what God has made and shape it and use it to make him look great. (John Piper)
Looking for a good book on being creative for the glory of God? Grab a copy of Stephen Altrogge's 43-page ebook Create: Stop Making Excuses and Start Making Stuff.
Check out who made the cover of our denomination's new website. And while your at it, look around. It's so encouraging to see all that God is doing in and through our partnership.
This video was distributed this week by our denomination, Sovereign Grace Churches. Big thanks to Tanner. Your work is not only encouraging us, it's encouraging brothers and sisters around the world.
Join your neighbors out on the lawn this July for a set of free Friday night concerts. It's a great way to get to know Chapman's campus, people from Old Towne, and some local bands.
Better yet, invite your friends to join you and make it a group event :)
Bob Kauflin writes...
Strictly speaking, God never says the goal of the church gathering is excitement. It’s edification for God’s glory. We meet to stir up one another to love and good works, not simply to have an emotionally electrifying time. We meet to behold God’s glory in Christ through his Word, responding in ways appropriate to his self-revelation (Heb. 10:24; 2 Cor. 3:18).
That doesn’t mean gathering as the church isn’t meant to be a soul stirring event. We have every reason when we’re together to be excited about what God has done for us in Christ. But that’s not the same as aiming for adrenaline-pumping, professionally produced, high energy, exciting gatherings alone. That approach leaves little room to engage in expressions normal for elect exiles on our way to a new home (1 Pet. 1:1-2). Expressions like disorientation (Ps. 42:1-5). Sorrow for sin (Ps. 38:1-8). Grief (Rom. 12:15). A humble awareness of our creatureliness before our Creator (Ps. 95:6-7). Not to mention reverence and awe (Heb. 12:28).
Our greatest need when we gather is not simply to feel excited, but to encounter God: to engage with the certainty of his sovereignty, the reality of his authority, the comfort of his mercy in Christ, and the promise of his grace. We need to be strengthened for the battles against the world, our flesh, and the devil that will confront us the moment we wake up Monday morning, if not before. Mere emotional excitement, however it might be produced, won’t be sufficient. We need God’s Word clearly expounded, God’s gospel clearly presented, and God’s presence clearly experienced. We need well crafted, intentional liturgies that cultivate God-honoring, Christ-exalting thoughts and desires (See Rhythms of Grace and Christ-Centered Worship for more on that). Our efforts to make our meetings exciting can actually end up obscuring what our congregations need the most.
Read more over at worshipmatters.com.
Check out some of the great stuff happening in our neighborhood. The summer has arrived and it's good to be part of Old Towne Orange.
In particular, notice the community youth basketball program. A number of families from our church have participated in this league. Same goes for the swimming program at Hart Park.
And then there is the tour for urban chicken keepers. Pastor Eric and his daughter give this one a 2 thumbs up.
Have you been visiting Sovereign Grace for a while? Are you looking to get more involved in the life of our church? Get to know us better by attending Starting Point.
The next class will be Saturday, August 15th, 9am-2pm. Lunch provided.
Read a classic this week. Grab a free electronic copy of J. Gresham Machen's seminal work on the difference between a gospel that calls people to "believe in Jesus" rather than to "be like Jesus."
“Paganism is optimistic with regard to unaided human nature, whereas Christianity is the religion of the broken heart.”
