A big thank you to those who have been praying with us on Thursday nights. God is using our prayers to advance his purposes, grow our faith, and strengthen our fellowship.
Join us one last time as we gather in 2020 to ask God to do what only he can do. He is busy caring for his people and gathering in the lost. Our prayers are part of his plan.
Get the details here and join us next Thursday.
It’s the first day of December, which means it’s not too late (it never is) to nurture your soul by studying our Savior’s birth. First and foremost, begin with your Bible. God’s word is the most important reading you’ll do.
Additionally, there’s no shortage of wonderful authors who can help you meditate on the Bible’s record of Christ’s first coming. We’ve included a few options below.
Free
Good News of Great Joy by John Piper
Books
Joy to the World by Charles Spurgeon
Love Came Down at Christmas by Sinclair Ferguson
Family Devotional
Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski
*Written by a Sovereign Grace pastor. You can also listen to the accompanying album.
It’s after Thanksgiving so we can all finally listen to Christmas music without fear of offending anyone!
We've created a Christmas Spotify playlist to help you get beautiful songs about the Savior in your head during the holiday season.
On Sunday Pastor Dustin preached from 1 Timothy 4:6-10. He reminded us that a passion for the gospel produces a passion for godliness. God has forgiven our sins by the sacrifice of his Son and is now preparing us for glory. Our efforts to be like Jesus now are not wasted as he shapes us into his image. The reward he promises for those who persevere is well worth it.
On account of the holiday, our Thursday evening prayer meeting is canceled. We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. May God fill your heart with gratitude as you enjoy his good gifts, namely the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ.
Let this prayer from the Valley of Vision shape your prayers this week.
JOY
O Christ,
All thy ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight.
Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice.
For my joy thou has sent the Comforter,
multiplied thy promises,
shown me my future happiness,
given me a living fountain.
Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy;
I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy;
give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of.
Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy,
at my work, business, duties.
If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning.
Let me rest in the thought of thy love,
pardon for sin,
my title to heaven,
my future unspotted state.
I am an unworthy recipient of thy grace.
I often disesteem thy blood and slight thy love,
but in repentance can draw water from the wells of thy joyous forgiveness.
Let my heart leap towards the eternal sabbath,
where the work of redemption, sanctification, preservation, glorification
is finished and perfected for ever,
where thou wilt rejoice over me with joy.
There is no joy like the joy of heaven,
for in that state are no sad divisions, unchristian quarrels,
contentions, evil designs,
weariness, hunger, cold,
sadness, sin, suffering,
persecutions, toils of duty.
O healthful place where none are sick!
O happy land where all are kings!
O holy assembly where all are priests!
How free a state where none are servants except to thee!
Bring me speedily to the land of joy.
In Sunday’s sermon Pastor Eric recommended a book that seeks to answer the question: can you love God and enjoy this world? It’s a short but worthwhile read as Joe Rigney skillfully unpacks Scripture’s answer.
May we worship the Giver by enjoying his gifts.
On Sunday Pastor Eric preached from 1 Timothy 4:1-5. Teachings regularly arise in the church that say, “do not handle, do not taste, do not touch” (Col. 2:21). Yet God has given us many good things to enjoy. We honor him by enjoying his gifts. It’s not super spiritual to refrain from enjoying things God has called good. Rather, we should thank God for the legitimate pleasures he offers us in the world.
Can you believe we’ve already made it halfway through the book of Timothy? Chapter four starts this Sunday.
Now is a great time to pause and re-read this letter.
Below is a link to a distraction-free copy with no chapters or verses or footnotes. 20-25 minutes is all it takes to read it in its entirety. As you do, ask the Lord to open your eyes and prepare your heart to receive his word this Sunday.