Genesis 4:4-5 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. This is the third essay on worship. Worship is the primary reason…
ESV Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. In last month’s Pastor’s Heart, we began talking about worship. The essence of worship is summarized in 1 Chronicles 16:29a “Ascribe to the…
1 Chronicles 16:28-29 28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; 1 Chronicles 16 recounts an early highpoint in David’s reign. …
NAU Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, This wonderful command to pray comes at the end of Paul’s memorable passage on the Christian’s spiritual armor. As I’ve mentioned before,…
In 1772, the faithful (though not famous) English Baptist pastor John Fawcett*, penned a well-known hymn, “The Tie that Binds.” The first stanza reads: Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above. The lines couldn’t ring truer of the wonderful reality of…
Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” It is good to meditate on the Ten Commandments. As Christians, because of the cross, we are no longer under…
Matthew 6:33 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. As 2023 begins, it offers a fresh start – or at least a “reset” on life in some ways. These words of Jesus invite us to reconsider our priorities – and that’s important…
Luke 2:16-18 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. This Christmas season…
Psalm 50 is a powerful Psalm, portraying the immanence of God throughout the world, particularly in the future judgment. We hear God quoted directly throughout the Psalm, beginning in verse 5 and down through the end. He speaks in judgment – first to His people, and then to the wicked starting in verse 16. Verses…
Dear Calvary Church Family, This week will be our last message in the great book of Galatians. I started this book back in November with the goal of allowing God’s Word in this epistle to sharpen and clarify the contours of the Gospel. The church is healthy when she is saturated with and enthralled by…