harvestoc.net blog, Friday, October 31, 2008
Lord's Day Reminders
1. The Lord's Supper is in the MORNING this coming Lord's Day.
2. There is a Fellowship Meal immediately following morning worship.
3. Turn your clocks BACK an hour, as daylight savings time ends.
2. There is a Fellowship Meal immediately following morning worship.
3. Turn your clocks BACK an hour, as daylight savings time ends.
Labels: Announcements
¶ 6:38 PM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Thursday, October 30, 2008
Knowing Grace Produces Showing Grace (sermon follow-up)
Have you ever come away from a situation frustrated with yourself, thinking "why couldn't I just be more gracious? Why did I feel a need to protect my interests?" Or would you just like to be liberated in your heart to be startlingly and puzzlingly generous to others?
Well, that's just what we saw from Abram in the evening sermon [audio - outline]--startling, puzzling generosity. Where did showing such grace come from? Showing grace like that doesn't come from the perfect showing-grace plan, or an enormous showing-grace effort. Showing grace like that comes from knowing an even greater grace.
Remember how we identified that Abram had gone according to his previous pulling up of stakes, carefully retracing his spiritual pilgrimage by going from station to station with worship as the guiding factor? Remember how we considered in light of Romans 4 that part of this worship was knowing who God is, and in light of Gen 12 part of this worship was considering what God had promised, and that especially in light of the end of Gen 12 part of this worship was considering how extraordinarily gracious God had been despite Abram's unworthiness and wickedness.
Now, we are going to have to get our heads and hearts around those last three words if we are ever going to know grace like Abram knew grace. Oh that we would be more impressed with our unworthiness and Hell-deserving-ness. As you read our Reformer, and Puritan, and Covenanter forbears you find that those who knew their sin most deeply knew grace most richly--and showed it to others. Are you familiar with the story of John Newton, former slave-trader, and author of Amazing Grace?
But this principle isn't just visible in Genesis 13 and memorable in church history. It is also direct from the lips of our Lord:
Well, that's just what we saw from Abram in the evening sermon [audio - outline]--startling, puzzling generosity. Where did showing such grace come from? Showing grace like that doesn't come from the perfect showing-grace plan, or an enormous showing-grace effort. Showing grace like that comes from knowing an even greater grace.
Remember how we identified that Abram had gone according to his previous pulling up of stakes, carefully retracing his spiritual pilgrimage by going from station to station with worship as the guiding factor? Remember how we considered in light of Romans 4 that part of this worship was knowing who God is, and in light of Gen 12 part of this worship was considering what God had promised, and that especially in light of the end of Gen 12 part of this worship was considering how extraordinarily gracious God had been despite Abram's unworthiness and wickedness.
Now, we are going to have to get our heads and hearts around those last three words if we are ever going to know grace like Abram knew grace. Oh that we would be more impressed with our unworthiness and Hell-deserving-ness. As you read our Reformer, and Puritan, and Covenanter forbears you find that those who knew their sin most deeply knew grace most richly--and showed it to others. Are you familiar with the story of John Newton, former slave-trader, and author of Amazing Grace?
But this principle isn't just visible in Genesis 13 and memorable in church history. It is also direct from the lips of our Lord:
Luke 7:40-47 And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher." "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little."But please don't stop at knowing your sins deeply. Judas was pretty impressed with his sin, and how did that turn out for him? Let us sinners give ourselves to worship, to getting to know God's grace richly. And then let us who have so intimately gotten to know grace, enjoy how liberated we are to show grace.
Labels: Sermon Follow-Up
¶ 6:10 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
22-Oct Session Meeting Round-up
The following is a summary of business and discussion at the 22-October adjournment meeting of the session. Thanks for praying for the elders. If you're ever wondering about something at Harvest, just ask! The point of these round-ups is to keep the congregation informed of pertinent, public matters.
- New Greeters Schedule. When it is your turn to greet, please be at the door 15 minutes before the service, and give everyone a hand and a smile. Children are especially invited to participate, since they are full of enthusiasm and set people at ease. It's also good for the children to learn to appreciate when God brings new people among us. Ruling elders will be rotating in the morning service, and congregational families rotating alphabetically for the evenings. The Alsum family took the evening of 26-Oct, Baugh is scheduled for 2-Nov, then Cooper, etc.
- Nursery Guidelines: for liability prevention reasons, the elders request that when it is your family's turn, at least one adult would oversee the nursery. This is not because we do not trust our children, but to protect them as we will be having new people coming through our doors more often. If you cannot make it during your week, PLEASE swap weeks with someone who can.
- The session finalized the procedure for Covenant Child Professions of Faith. When a parents believe that one of their children have been converted, (having expressed to their children the importance of making their profession publicly and of communing at the table and submitting to the discipling and discipline of the elders for their spiritual benefit) they are to continue instructing their children in the truths of Scripture until they are satisfied that their children understand the content of the first 41 questions of the Shorter Catechism and how it applies to their lives. Memorizing the answers is encouraged but not required. The elders are glad to provide whatever resources necessary, even meeting with the children and parents, but the parents and especially the father are encouraged to do as much of the instructing as possible. When parents believe that their children have a working knowledge and living commitment to the doctrines treated in those questions, they are to contact their focus elder and request an interview for their child. This interview will be similar to that of an adult making profession of faith for the first time, the idea being that we would not hold our children to a different standard than anyone else when coming to the table.
- New focus elder assignments were approved as follows: Mark Fedders will focus on the Loren and Patt De Jong family, and Hal Alsum will focus on Steve Postema
- The November stated meeting has been adjourned from the 5th to the 12th in order to accommodate elders' travel schedules.
- The session appointed elders Gary Vander Hart and Mark Fedders as Harvest's delegates to the Nov 8 presbytery meeting. Elder Hakim is required to attend, because his membership is with the presbytery rather than the congregation.
- The session was pleased with elder Hakim's plan to use the newmover zipcode service as part of his evangelistic ministry. For $25/mo, he will receive monthly lists of new residents in Orange City, Alton, Granville, and Sioux Center. He will send invitations and make visits to these new residents.
- The session approved becoming a subscribing church to the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and to the 9 Marks organization. Both are excellent organizations, and people who search through them for faithful churches in our area will soon find Harvest listed.
- The session authorized the establishing of a charge account at Neal Chase for the purpose of remodeling the new building. Isaac Ward, Craig De Haan, and Mark Fedders are authorized to charge to it; and, the treasurer (Craig) is authorized to pay bills.
- The session approved changing Harvest's banking to Iowa State bank per their request as part of the loan agreement.
Labels: Announcements
¶ 2:48 PM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Cause and Effect (sermon follow-up)
In the morning sermon this week [audio - outline], I tried to get at the truth of the text with an emphasis upon the feel of the text in the illustration of the orphan who gets not just a new master but a Father. The point was how tragic it is when believers don't realize who they are in Christ and maintain their "right" to go on doing the things they were enslaved to before... speaking of things that are sin as "rights" and "liberties."
Christian liberty is liberty from sin, not to sin!
Now, it's interesting isn't it, that Paul who writes at such length about godliness in every one of his epistles might come under the charge that he was permissive of ungodliness. And it's also interesting that many who are delighted with Paul's gospel of grace simply ignore all his calls to godliness for the believer, and even his statements that the ungodly will not inherit the kingdom (e.g. 1Cor 6:9, Gal 5:21, Eph 5:5, etc.).
How can those things be? It is because faith always produces godliness, but only grace--not godliness--gives faith. Grace is always the cause, faith is always the instrument, and godliness is always the effect.
So, on the one hand, it is wrong to say that salvation is a reward for repenting or even comes through repentance. Salvation is a reward for Christ's life and death, and it comes faith. Repentance can never "earn" grace because it only comes throughby grace.
And, on the other hand, it is wrong to say that you can be converted without repenting. Grace will always cause repentance, because it produces faith, which joins the believer to Jesus and kills the believer with respect to sin. Repentance and faith always go together.
Here's a way of saying it in terms of cause and effect: Grace is always the cause, and never the effect. Godliness is always the effect and never the cause.
Christian liberty is liberty from sin, not to sin!
Now, it's interesting isn't it, that Paul who writes at such length about godliness in every one of his epistles might come under the charge that he was permissive of ungodliness. And it's also interesting that many who are delighted with Paul's gospel of grace simply ignore all his calls to godliness for the believer, and even his statements that the ungodly will not inherit the kingdom (e.g. 1Cor 6:9, Gal 5:21, Eph 5:5, etc.).
How can those things be? It is because faith always produces godliness, but only grace--not godliness--gives faith. Grace is always the cause, faith is always the instrument, and godliness is always the effect.
So, on the one hand, it is wrong to say that salvation is a reward for repenting or even comes through repentance. Salvation is a reward for Christ's life and death, and it comes faith. Repentance can never "earn" grace because it only comes throughby grace.
And, on the other hand, it is wrong to say that you can be converted without repenting. Grace will always cause repentance, because it produces faith, which joins the believer to Jesus and kills the believer with respect to sin. Repentance and faith always go together.
Here's a way of saying it in terms of cause and effect: Grace is always the cause, and never the effect. Godliness is always the effect and never the cause.
Labels: Sermon Follow-Up
¶ 6:37 PM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Lord's Supper in the MORNING Next Week
This week as always you should be thinking upon Christ death, resurrection, and soon coming; discerning His body in heaven and His body the church on earth; and, examining yourself in light of those things. Such thoughtfulness is not to be left off until the last week of every month because we are taking the supper the first week of the next.
Also, by way of reminder, the session voted a few weeks ago to alternate the supper between the morning service and the evening service out of consideration for those who are providentially hindered from attending the evening service. On Nov 2 we will take it together in the morning.
Also, by way of reminder, the session voted a few weeks ago to alternate the supper between the morning service and the evening service out of consideration for those who are providentially hindered from attending the evening service. On Nov 2 we will take it together in the morning.
Labels: Announcements, Lord's Supper
¶ 10:53 AM 0 Comments Links to this post
Priorities Check (sermon follow-up)
Well, you and your family have lived at least one full day since Lord's Day evening's sermon [audio - outline]. Did yesterday expose priorities upon worship and the word or upon earthly welfare and ease? Here are some diagnostic questions to help us evaluate:
Second, if you're tempted to decry such a self-evaluation as legalistic, ask yourself why you aren't eager to make such an evaluation and the needed adjustments for the merciful and gracious God who has been so patient with and given His Son for sinners.
Finally, consider how great a Savior Jesus is--that He didn't just die so that you could be converted, but He rose again with power and life that belong to all who are in Him. If the evaluation did not go well, do not be discouraged! Rather, determine to cut out whatever might be getting in the way, since by the power of Jesus those who are in Him aren't under the power of sin anymore but under the power of grace!
- Remembering how we identified from Scripture what Abram's worship would have entailed, did you, personally, worship yesterday? Did you spend time thinking upon, singing, and praying about who God is; what He has done in creation, providence, and redemption; the grace that He has shown you throughout your life and most of all in His Son; and, upon the many good promises He has made?
- If you are the head of a household or a mother who has her children for hours while the father is out working, did you lead your family in such worship as well?
- Did the way that you, personally, and your family as a whole went about worship--did it communicate that this is the most important thing that you did yesterday?
- How many times did you and your family feed upon food yesterday? How many times upon the word?
- Did you face any crises yesterday? What was your first course of action in that crisis?
- How did you treat your wife? your husband? your parents? your children? your brothers and sisters? your boss? your coworkers? your friends? your enemies? Could all of those tell by your grace and generosity that you have been spending time with a God who is abundant in grace and generosity?
- Did you make any significant decisions yesterday? How much of a factor in your decision was the effect that it may have upon the souls of your family?
Second, if you're tempted to decry such a self-evaluation as legalistic, ask yourself why you aren't eager to make such an evaluation and the needed adjustments for the merciful and gracious God who has been so patient with and given His Son for sinners.
Finally, consider how great a Savior Jesus is--that He didn't just die so that you could be converted, but He rose again with power and life that belong to all who are in Him. If the evaluation did not go well, do not be discouraged! Rather, determine to cut out whatever might be getting in the way, since by the power of Jesus those who are in Him aren't under the power of sin anymore but under the power of grace!
Labels: Sermon Follow-Up
¶ 9:33 AM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Monday, October 27, 2008
Theological Terms Simply Explained (sermon follow-up)
I used a couple big, but very important, words in the sermon yesterday morning [audio - outline]. These are words you should understand, so I thought it might be helpful to have these terms defined in the first follow-up. The italics are the answer to the catechism question that our children will be learning. After the italics, I've added my own attempt at further clarifying it. Hope this helps!
Justification: Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
Justification is that moment in time when God gives you saving faith, joins you to Jesus, and declares you righteous for Jesus' sake.
It is what people usually mean when they refer to "when they got saved."
Sanctification: Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
Although 'sanctification' can also refer to God's setting us apart to Himself, when we use the terms 'justification' and 'sanctification' together or in relationship with each other, we're talking about the process of thinking, feeling, speaking, and acting less and less sinfully and more and more righteously for the rest of our life.
It is what people usually mean when they refer to "growing in Christ" (though, sadly, they usually equate that with increasing in certain feelings toward or about Him, rather than actually becoming more like Him).
Justification: Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
Justification is that moment in time when God gives you saving faith, joins you to Jesus, and declares you righteous for Jesus' sake.
It is what people usually mean when they refer to "when they got saved."
Sanctification: Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
Although 'sanctification' can also refer to God's setting us apart to Himself, when we use the terms 'justification' and 'sanctification' together or in relationship with each other, we're talking about the process of thinking, feeling, speaking, and acting less and less sinfully and more and more righteously for the rest of our life.
It is what people usually mean when they refer to "growing in Christ" (though, sadly, they usually equate that with increasing in certain feelings toward or about Him, rather than actually becoming more like Him).
Labels: Sermon Follow-Up
¶ 5:22 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
90-Second Must-Read for Wives and Future Wives
It's been some time since I plugged the fact that the GirlTalk ladies have been working ever so slowly through Prov 31. Christian wives everywhere, by reading and applying this counsel from some godly women, would increase their own happiness, the blessedness of their marriage as a whole, and the displaying of God's glorious grace in their marriage.
But [this post] from Friday refers to a simple, Scriptural, spiritual discipline that is so easy to implement and so powerful in its effects. I link to it today, because I have been shocked at how many women didn't know that they could simply choose what to dwell upon in their thought life about their husbands.
If this has not been an active, intentional discipline in your life ladies, make it one NOW!
But [this post] from Friday refers to a simple, Scriptural, spiritual discipline that is so easy to implement and so powerful in its effects. I link to it today, because I have been shocked at how many women didn't know that they could simply choose what to dwell upon in their thought life about their husbands.
If this has not been an active, intentional discipline in your life ladies, make it one NOW!
Labels: Resources for Women
¶ 3:45 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
26-Oct Sermons Online
Morning Sermon, Til Death Do Us Part from Rom 6:1-2 [audio - outline]
Evening Sermon, A Better Country from Gen 13 [audio - outline]
Evening Sermon, A Better Country from Gen 13 [audio - outline]
Labels: Sermons
¶ 9:03 AM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Saturday, October 25, 2008
26-Oct Worship Folder
Tomorrow's worship folder is now online.
Labels: Worship Services
¶ 11:58 AM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Friday, October 24, 2008
Autumn Picnic Reminder
This is passed along from an email that I hope everyone already got from Sandi:
REMINDER: Saturday at 4:30 - 7:30 we're planning on everyone to come to the Autumn Picnic. Scout House Shelter by Kinderspeeland Even if you aren't signed up to bring something please come and eat and have fun!
Below is the item you signed up to bring: Thanks for all your help on this! The Picnic Committee
Tavern: Darlene, Jessica
Chicken: Dawn
Cheese buns: Sandi
Buns: Heather, Joan, Tammy
Crackers: Maggie
Soup: Jo DG,Laura, Alethea, JoAnn VP, Barb, Jean
Dessert: Laura, Tammy, Alethea, Jean
Drinks: Sandi
If you think we are missing anything important or you want on the menu - just take it along. :)
Labels: Announcements
¶ 5:51 AM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Wednesday, October 22, 2008
22-Oct Prayer Meeting Lesson and Session Meeting Devotional
Prayer Meeting lesson from Psalm 20
Session meeting devotional: Kingdom Greatness from 1Cor 4:8-13
Session meeting devotional: Kingdom Greatness from 1Cor 4:8-13
Labels: Prayer Meetings, Session Devotionals
¶ 5:03 PM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Monday, October 20, 2008
Yesterday's Sermons Online
The morning sermon was Grace Reigns from Romans 5:18-21 [audio - text].
The evening sermon was More Important Than Food from Genesis 12:10-20 [audio - text].
The evening sermon was More Important Than Food from Genesis 12:10-20 [audio - text].
Labels: Sermons
¶ 5:09 PM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Friday, October 17, 2008
19-Oct Announcements and Prayer Requests
The 19-Oct "bulletin" with the announcements and prayer requests is now online.
Labels: Announcements, Prayer Requests
¶ 8:38 AM 0 Comments Links to this post
15-Oct Psalm Lesson and 19-Oct Catechism Worksheet Online
The 15-Oct midweek meeting handout with Psalm 19 is online, as is the 19-Oct catechism worksheet for the catechism class.
Labels: Catechism, Prayer Meetings
¶ 7:41 AM 0 Comments Links to this post
Autumn Picnic, Sat 25-Oct
Sandi De Haan has alerted us as follows:
Save the day - October 25, Saturday - 4:30-7:30 at Vet's Park (Scout House Shelter).
More information will be coming soon about the Autumn Picnic.
Labels: Announcements
¶ 5:45 AM 0 Comments Links to this post
19-Oct Worship Booklet Online
The worship booklet for the coming Lord's Day is now [online].
Labels: Worship Services
¶ 5:42 AM 0 Comments Links to this post
12-Oct Sermon Audio and Manuscripts Online
Romans 5:15-17, Opposite and Unequal [audio - manuscript]
Genesis 12:1-9, Take Up Your Cross [audio - manuscript]
I don't think there will be sermon follow-ups this week, due to getting ready for next Lord's Day in advance of my trip (and technical learning curve for other elders' posting).
Genesis 12:1-9, Take Up Your Cross [audio - manuscript]
I don't think there will be sermon follow-ups this week, due to getting ready for next Lord's Day in advance of my trip (and technical learning curve for other elders' posting).
Labels: Sermons
¶ 5:34 AM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Saturday, October 11, 2008
Tomorrow's Worship Booklet
If it's multiple sheets and stapled, it's not really a folder, and since I've learned that no one around here is used to the phrase "worship folder," I figured we'd just get accurate and call it the "worship booklet."
Whatever it is, a pdf of it is available [here].
Whatever it is, a pdf of it is available [here].
Labels: Worship Services
¶ 3:35 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Sermon Follow-Up: Genesis 2 Fiction? Then So Is Salvation!
In the morning sermon this past week, Romans 5:12-14, Death Sentence [audio - manuscript], we heard that the truth that Adam was our federal representative before God is important not only so that we will understand our peril but especially so that we will have hope of salvation. It's about Jesus even more than Adam. That was the point of the last phrase of our text, "who was a type of the One who was to come."
As a final follow-up to the preaching this week, I'd like to point out that God answers in Romans 5 those who don't think the creation issue is "a salvation issue." First of all, worship is more important than salvation; salvation is a means, and worship is the end. Take some time to go carefully through the Bible, examining its worship, and see if that worship seems to focus on creation--verbal creation of everything out of nothing in exquisite and immediate detail in the space of six days. Second of all, the creation issue is most certainly "a salvation issue."
One thing that Paul assumes in Romans 5 is that Adam is a real, single individual. Romans 5 doesn't work if Adam isn't a real man, from whom we all descended, in whom therefore we were all represented, who was in a real covenant with God, that had a real law not to eat, with a real penalty of death, which we all really broke and received in Adam.
If you hold to some flavor of evolution or myth-understanding of Genesis 2 that takes those things away, then Romans 5 is just a fairy-tale, and we who deserve Hell (not death, since death as penalty for sin is positively introduced in Gen 2) are without hope. You cannot have a last Adam, if there never was a first one (cf. 1Cor 15:45)!
As a final follow-up to the preaching this week, I'd like to point out that God answers in Romans 5 those who don't think the creation issue is "a salvation issue." First of all, worship is more important than salvation; salvation is a means, and worship is the end. Take some time to go carefully through the Bible, examining its worship, and see if that worship seems to focus on creation--verbal creation of everything out of nothing in exquisite and immediate detail in the space of six days. Second of all, the creation issue is most certainly "a salvation issue."
One thing that Paul assumes in Romans 5 is that Adam is a real, single individual. Romans 5 doesn't work if Adam isn't a real man, from whom we all descended, in whom therefore we were all represented, who was in a real covenant with God, that had a real law not to eat, with a real penalty of death, which we all really broke and received in Adam.
If you hold to some flavor of evolution or myth-understanding of Genesis 2 that takes those things away, then Romans 5 is just a fairy-tale, and we who deserve Hell (not death, since death as penalty for sin is positively introduced in Gen 2) are without hope. You cannot have a last Adam, if there never was a first one (cf. 1Cor 15:45)!
Labels: Sermon Follow-Up
¶ 3:18 PM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Thursday, October 9, 2008
Session Prayer Meeting Devotionals from 8-Oct
Last night's session meeting devotional was Nothing But the Bible from 1Cor 4:1-7.
Last night's prayer meeting lesson was Psalm 18:31-50.
Last night's prayer meeting lesson was Psalm 18:31-50.
Labels: Prayer Meetings, Session Devotionals
¶ 4:53 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
1-Oct, 7-Oct, and 8-Oct Session Meetings Round-Up
Our elders have been working hard; we're grateful for the congregation's prayers and patience, encouragement and submission, assistance to us and service to all. We know that you lovingly render all of these out of your commitment Christ, the body's one Head.
Here is some of the more interesting work we've done that is public. It doesn't represent some of the more time-consuming or difficult work, since we go into executive session when caring for situations that may be sensitive or private.
Here is some of the more interesting work we've done that is public. It doesn't represent some of the more time-consuming or difficult work, since we go into executive session when caring for situations that may be sensitive or private.
Autumn Picnic--so far, we know that there will be one, and some ladies have been asked if they are willing to coordinate it.
New Members--Robin has been admitted to communicant membership and Kirbee and Brooks added as covenant members. She was officially welcomed at the Lord's table on October 5th.
Lord's Supper--will now alternate between morning and evening; the first morning supper will be November 2. We may also be presenting to the congregation, at the meeting on the 26th, a Scripture proposal to serve wine at the supper.
Leading Worship--beginning this coming Lord's Day, elder Hakim will lead the morning service, and ruling elders will rotate leading the evening service.
Elder Focus Districts and Initial Visits--In order to serve the congregation better, each elder has been assigned specific families upon whom to focus. Every elder is "your" elder, but if you are in an elder's focus district, he and elder Hakim will be visiting regularly (approx 4x/yr) to help you and your family in your walk with God. Additionally, this elder will be the "first responder" if you have an earthly or spiritual crisis. Non-members who have been regular attenders have been assigned "focus" elders, since we don't want to assume that another congregation is providing care, only to have some people end up with none at all. Regular visiting will begin next week. The focus districts are as follows:
Elder Alsum: Pike family, Krosschell family, Ron Vander Plaats family, Herman family, Ward family, Van Essendelft family
Elder Fedders: Alsum family, Baugh family, De Groot family, Doughan family, Jimenez family, Brian Vander Plaats family, Hakim family
Elder Vander Hart: Mark Fedders family, Marlo Fedders family, Cooper family, Gary Vander Plaats family, Kobza family, Tiedeman family, Hilbelink
Elder Hilbelink: Poeckes family, McFarland family, Vander Hart family, Matt and Maggie from Dordt, Hibma family, De Haan family
Celebrating Incarnation--we plan to gather on the morning of Dec 25th at 10a.m. at Unity for Bible lessons and carols together. We will be asking the congregation at the meeting on the 26th whether Dec 14th, 21st, or 28th will work best for an afternoon children's program, followed by a soup supper, and then evening corporate worship.
Thanksgiving Worship and Offering--since the country has asked that we seek God on its behalf on Thanksgiving Day, the congregation is invited to gather for worship on that day. We will also be receiving an offering for your choice from a short list of benevolence items; non-designated gifts will be distributed evenly over the items on the list.
Building Update and Renovation Plans--the zoning exception has been passed by the board and will be presented at a meeting on the 23rd to which residents within 200 feet of the property are invited. If it passes that, we will take possession of the building on Nov 3. The eye doctor has a location to which he can move until his new building is complete, and that will take place some time in December. Able-bodied persons should start thinking about helping with renovations during the winter holiday.
Labels: Announcements
¶ 3:33 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Sermon Follow-Up: Do You Know Where (and When) You Are?
In an earlier follow-up to this week's evening sermon, Babel On from Gen 10:1-11:32 [audio - manuscript], I suggested that if we give "cultural mandate" anywhere near the same emphasis as evangelism, that we understand Babel little and Pentecost not at all.
The question is: do you understand where you are (in the central position of the universe, putting on display God's loving and relational character) and when you are (post-Pentecost, the final ingathering from the nations of those who through Christ will do this perfectly forever)?
We noted in Gen 1 that the cultural mandate as we are used to hearing about it is missing that we are not simply to reproduce ourselves and tame creation but to reproduce people in righteous relationship with God and put God's glory in us on display to creation. And ever since chapter 3, God has been driving home to us the difference between cultural success and covenantal success. Doing well in this world is absolutely worthless compared to walking with the Lord.
When we think, live, and love as if doing well in this world and walking with the Lord are equivalents, we miss a significant point of Babel. Babel was just about as well as one can do in this world, and just about as far as someone can be from walking with the Lord. This goes beyond just "not being the same thing" to showing that those two "are often exact opposites." That's a theme in the Bible; the session has been running across it over and over in our study of 1 Corinthians: polish and presentation aren't just different than but often opposite to faithfulness and spiritual substance.
So, do your prayers show that you know where you are? How much time do you spend praying for earthly and temporal things in your life? How much for spiritual and eternal? How much time do you spend praying for earthly and temporal things for others? How much for spiritual and eternal? Do you spend much time praying for the lost, for missionaries that go to them, for Jesus to return?
And, does your attitude toward and use of money show that you know where you are? If someone could examine your spending--and even more, examine your heart about money--beyond what you have to spend to survive, would you seem to be investing in this world or the next?
Do your thoughts about mission work show that you know where you are? Do you think of mission and evangelism primarily in some fuzzy concept of "showing people the love of Jesus," or do you see it as the gathering in from this world, by the preaching of the good news about Jesus, those for whom He died? Is evangelism, for you, the extension of His serpent's-head-crushing victory on the cross into history, until that victory has been fully applied, and history has served its purpose?
Do you know where you are?
The question is: do you understand where you are (in the central position of the universe, putting on display God's loving and relational character) and when you are (post-Pentecost, the final ingathering from the nations of those who through Christ will do this perfectly forever)?
We noted in Gen 1 that the cultural mandate as we are used to hearing about it is missing that we are not simply to reproduce ourselves and tame creation but to reproduce people in righteous relationship with God and put God's glory in us on display to creation. And ever since chapter 3, God has been driving home to us the difference between cultural success and covenantal success. Doing well in this world is absolutely worthless compared to walking with the Lord.
When we think, live, and love as if doing well in this world and walking with the Lord are equivalents, we miss a significant point of Babel. Babel was just about as well as one can do in this world, and just about as far as someone can be from walking with the Lord. This goes beyond just "not being the same thing" to showing that those two "are often exact opposites." That's a theme in the Bible; the session has been running across it over and over in our study of 1 Corinthians: polish and presentation aren't just different than but often opposite to faithfulness and spiritual substance.
So, do your prayers show that you know where you are? How much time do you spend praying for earthly and temporal things in your life? How much for spiritual and eternal? How much time do you spend praying for earthly and temporal things for others? How much for spiritual and eternal? Do you spend much time praying for the lost, for missionaries that go to them, for Jesus to return?
And, does your attitude toward and use of money show that you know where you are? If someone could examine your spending--and even more, examine your heart about money--beyond what you have to spend to survive, would you seem to be investing in this world or the next?
Do your thoughts about mission work show that you know where you are? Do you think of mission and evangelism primarily in some fuzzy concept of "showing people the love of Jesus," or do you see it as the gathering in from this world, by the preaching of the good news about Jesus, those for whom He died? Is evangelism, for you, the extension of His serpent's-head-crushing victory on the cross into history, until that victory has been fully applied, and history has served its purpose?
Do you know where you are?
Labels: Sermon Follow-Up
¶ 11:25 AM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Session Devotional, 7-Oct-08
The devotional from tonight's session meeting is available [here].
Labels: Session Devotionals
¶ 4:39 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Sermon Follow-Up: Covenant-Bringing AS Culture-Blessing
In the evening sermon this week, Babel On from Gen 10:1-11:32 [audio - manuscript], the first point was that we should delight in God's cultural blessing--that we should marvel at what God permits even the reprobate to do in this life.
We heard that one big reason for this was for the elect's spiritual good, noting how God used the greatness that He gave other nations to cement in Israel's mind that their election was only by grace. In the next point, we noted another way the nations were for Israel's good: God used their enmity at times to sharpen His people and at other times to discipline them.
In the wake of Gen 3, there is one true and lasting blessedness: to be a son--or seed--of God. We've been running into that over and over again. And so God gives the nations the lesser earthly blessing for the eternal good of His elect.
Why am I remaking these points? Because somewhere along the line, we seem to have gotten the idea that the height of being a blessing to our culture is to work hard in it and do a lot of temporal good. We should do good to our neighbor, but if our focus in doing good to our neighbor is cultural, temporal, earthly, then we are lagging waaaay behind our Lord in redemptive history. If we've still got a Jer 29 mindset (and, note that even there the reason for seeking the good of the culture was for the elect), we understand precious little about Babel and even less about Pentecost.
From an eternal perspective, earthly well-being is next to worthless. We should be grateful for it, praise God for it, weep in gratitude over how very much more and better it is than we deserve... but it isn't to be compared to eternal well-being. Did "delighting in God's cultural blessing" ring true with you Lord's Day evening? Well, God has gone far beyond Babel and now opened up a flood of special grace upon the nations at Pentecost. God's covenant bringing (evangelism) is the main focus now, and the only thing that the end of this age is waiting for (cf Rev 6:10-11)!
So, let's heed the warning of the second point and not place our trust in, find our delight in, or give ourselves for the sake of earthly blessing. And let's heed that point in how we interact with culture--why would we turn around and emphasize in our ministry to neighbor, the very things we are being wary of in our own spiritual life?!
Let us meet basic needs as Jesus did, not ignoring the body: healing and feeding. It's good to bring medicine and food to the nations, but that's peripheral compared to bringing the light of Christ to the nations. The overwhelming emphasis must be on the healing and feeding of souls. Right at the start, through to the end, and filling our interaction with unbelievers must be the gospel truth of Jesus sacrificial death in sinners' place, so we can have His righteousness and life.
People may revile us for it now. Those in Hell will revile us for it forever. But no one in Hell will be thanking anybody for a little bit of food and medicine in this life. We are to delight in God's cultural blessing. If you want to be a blessing to your culture, then dedicate yourself to His covenant bringing!
We heard that one big reason for this was for the elect's spiritual good, noting how God used the greatness that He gave other nations to cement in Israel's mind that their election was only by grace. In the next point, we noted another way the nations were for Israel's good: God used their enmity at times to sharpen His people and at other times to discipline them.
In the wake of Gen 3, there is one true and lasting blessedness: to be a son--or seed--of God. We've been running into that over and over again. And so God gives the nations the lesser earthly blessing for the eternal good of His elect.
Why am I remaking these points? Because somewhere along the line, we seem to have gotten the idea that the height of being a blessing to our culture is to work hard in it and do a lot of temporal good. We should do good to our neighbor, but if our focus in doing good to our neighbor is cultural, temporal, earthly, then we are lagging waaaay behind our Lord in redemptive history. If we've still got a Jer 29 mindset (and, note that even there the reason for seeking the good of the culture was for the elect), we understand precious little about Babel and even less about Pentecost.
From an eternal perspective, earthly well-being is next to worthless. We should be grateful for it, praise God for it, weep in gratitude over how very much more and better it is than we deserve... but it isn't to be compared to eternal well-being. Did "delighting in God's cultural blessing" ring true with you Lord's Day evening? Well, God has gone far beyond Babel and now opened up a flood of special grace upon the nations at Pentecost. God's covenant bringing (evangelism) is the main focus now, and the only thing that the end of this age is waiting for (cf Rev 6:10-11)!
So, let's heed the warning of the second point and not place our trust in, find our delight in, or give ourselves for the sake of earthly blessing. And let's heed that point in how we interact with culture--why would we turn around and emphasize in our ministry to neighbor, the very things we are being wary of in our own spiritual life?!
Let us meet basic needs as Jesus did, not ignoring the body: healing and feeding. It's good to bring medicine and food to the nations, but that's peripheral compared to bringing the light of Christ to the nations. The overwhelming emphasis must be on the healing and feeding of souls. Right at the start, through to the end, and filling our interaction with unbelievers must be the gospel truth of Jesus sacrificial death in sinners' place, so we can have His righteousness and life.
People may revile us for it now. Those in Hell will revile us for it forever. But no one in Hell will be thanking anybody for a little bit of food and medicine in this life. We are to delight in God's cultural blessing. If you want to be a blessing to your culture, then dedicate yourself to His covenant bringing!
Labels: Sermon Follow-Up
¶ 4:01 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
NO Fellowship Meal on the 12th
Thank you to the person who noticed that the weekly schedule on the back of the worship folder included a fellowship meal for next week. This is an error!
If there are going to be fellowship meals next week, it will occur organically by families gathering in each others' homes, not all together in the Unity cafeteria.
Sorry for the confusion. If you encounter others whom I have similarly confused, and have not read this notice, please let them know as well. Thank you!
James
If there are going to be fellowship meals next week, it will occur organically by families gathering in each others' homes, not all together in the Unity cafeteria.
Sorry for the confusion. If you encounter others whom I have similarly confused, and have not read this notice, please let them know as well. Thank you!
James
Labels: Announcements
¶ 10:43 AM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Monday, October 6, 2008
5-Oct Uploads Complete
Romans 5:12-14, Death Sentence [audio - manuscript]
Genesis 10-11, Babel On [audio - manuscript]
Genesis 10-11, Babel On [audio - manuscript]
Labels: Sermons
¶ 1:57 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Sermon Follow-Up: Be a Body Part
In the morning sermon this week, Rom 5:12-14, Death Sentence [audio - manuscript], I used the illustration of a congressman to help us understand federal representation. An illustration that would have worked better for you if we were a first century Roman congregation is that of a father who acts on behalf of his house. What the head of the household does, he does as the household. Another illustration would be how a king acts on behalf of a nation; what the king does, the nation does.
As we think about how the only way not to perish in union with Adam is to receive life in union with Christ, it is appropriate for us to make application to how we think of and treat each other. You can see how naturally the body language lends itself to describing the church if each of us, in order to be saved are brought into union with Jesus as our federal Head. What do you call it when many members have one, singular Head? Does it make any sense for members who all have the same head to be hostile to each other or even to hinder one another in competition?
The body makes a very strong case for each of us to promote the health of the others, and each of us to enhance rather than hinder the efforts of the others. Can you imagine what would happen if your hand thought that it would get more honor by injuring your eye, or if both of your legs tried to be first or to walk on the same side of the sidewalk?
The principle works to some extent also if the analogy is a family or a nation as above. Many families and nations are in turmoil because members seek their own praise or comfort at the cost of others.
If we are serious that our only hope before God is to have Jesus' obedience as our Representative, our Head, count for us, then we ought to be serious about living in harmony with one another, each helping the others accomplish whatever the Head directs. Union with Christ demands unity with each other.
We even saw this put on display in the Supper yesterday evening. When each of us communes with Christ, we also commune with one another. This is one reason why so-called "private communion" is a theological oxymoron. It is a self contradiction. It is also why it was so important for us to come having examined ourselves.
In fact, rejecting self-glory and serving one another will be the first primary application of this glorious gospel of grace, when Paul begins the more applicational section of the letter in chapter 12. After more general application in 12:1-2, here is the first section of specific application. Let us, whose only hope is to be credited with Christ's obedience as our Representative, live with each other like this:
As we think about how the only way not to perish in union with Adam is to receive life in union with Christ, it is appropriate for us to make application to how we think of and treat each other. You can see how naturally the body language lends itself to describing the church if each of us, in order to be saved are brought into union with Jesus as our federal Head. What do you call it when many members have one, singular Head? Does it make any sense for members who all have the same head to be hostile to each other or even to hinder one another in competition?
The body makes a very strong case for each of us to promote the health of the others, and each of us to enhance rather than hinder the efforts of the others. Can you imagine what would happen if your hand thought that it would get more honor by injuring your eye, or if both of your legs tried to be first or to walk on the same side of the sidewalk?
The principle works to some extent also if the analogy is a family or a nation as above. Many families and nations are in turmoil because members seek their own praise or comfort at the cost of others.
If we are serious that our only hope before God is to have Jesus' obedience as our Representative, our Head, count for us, then we ought to be serious about living in harmony with one another, each helping the others accomplish whatever the Head directs. Union with Christ demands unity with each other.
We even saw this put on display in the Supper yesterday evening. When each of us communes with Christ, we also commune with one another. This is one reason why so-called "private communion" is a theological oxymoron. It is a self contradiction. It is also why it was so important for us to come having examined ourselves.
In fact, rejecting self-glory and serving one another will be the first primary application of this glorious gospel of grace, when Paul begins the more applicational section of the letter in chapter 12. After more general application in 12:1-2, here is the first section of specific application. Let us, whose only hope is to be credited with Christ's obedience as our Representative, live with each other like this:
Romans 12:3-13 "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."
Labels: Sermon Follow-Up
¶ 1:25 PM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Saturday, October 4, 2008
Sermon Follow-Up: Always and Never Too Confident at the Same Time
In the Lord's Day morning sermon this past week, Rom 5:9-11, Assurance in God's Action and Attitude [audio - manuscript], we basically heard that we can never be too confident in Christ. God's action for us in Christ, and His attitude toward us through Christ, mean that those who rest in the Lamb upon the throne ought to be absolutely and unshakably confident, even before God, even with a view to the day of wrath!
In the Lord's Day evening sermon this past week, Gen 9:18-29, Watch Against Sin! [audio - manuscript], we basically heard that any confidence in ourselves is too much. Considering how prone we are to remaining sin, even after conversion, and how deadly and wicked sin is, we must abandon any confidence in ourselves, and praying God's grace in Christ, watch against sin!
Tomorrow, in the Lord's Supper, we will be thinking about how in the supper, the Lord shows forth Christ's death. and this reinforces to us both of these ideas. As we are presented with the stark evidence of the death of the Lord of glory, we are reminded just how bad our sin is, and that we must never be confident in ourselves. But as we are presented with the stark evidence of the body and blood of God given and shed for us, we are also reminded of the immensity and power of what God has done for us, and that in Christ we can never be too confident.
Always too confident. Never too confident. We would never have come up with such a scheme... and we would have spent an eternity in Hell without such a scheme.
In the Lord's Day evening sermon this past week, Gen 9:18-29, Watch Against Sin! [audio - manuscript], we basically heard that any confidence in ourselves is too much. Considering how prone we are to remaining sin, even after conversion, and how deadly and wicked sin is, we must abandon any confidence in ourselves, and praying God's grace in Christ, watch against sin!
Tomorrow, in the Lord's Supper, we will be thinking about how in the supper, the Lord shows forth Christ's death. and this reinforces to us both of these ideas. As we are presented with the stark evidence of the death of the Lord of glory, we are reminded just how bad our sin is, and that we must never be confident in ourselves. But as we are presented with the stark evidence of the body and blood of God given and shed for us, we are also reminded of the immensity and power of what God has done for us, and that in Christ we can never be too confident.
Always too confident. Never too confident. We would never have come up with such a scheme... and we would have spent an eternity in Hell without such a scheme.
God gave us the Scriptures to tell us.And we get to spend tomorrow just reveling in these things. Hallelujah!
God gave us His Spirit to enable us to believe.
God gave us the sacraments to strengthen our faith.
God gave us the Savior of whom these all teach us and in whom we rest secure as His children forever!
Labels: Lord's Supper, Sermon Follow-Up
¶ 5:09 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Worship Booklet Online
The worship booklet for the week beginning with tomorrow's corporate worship services is [online (4.57MB)]
Labels: Worship Services
¶ 3:40 PM 0 Comments Links to this postharvestoc.net blog, Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Prayer and Session Meeting Devotionals
Prayer Meeting devotional from Psalm 18:20-30 is [here].
Session Meeting devotional from 1Cor 2:14-3:4 is [here].
Session Meeting devotional from 1Cor 2:14-3:4 is [here].
Labels: Prayer Meetings, Session Devotionals
¶ 5:08 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Sermon Follow-Up: Whom You Know
So far, as we get ready for the supper next week, we've been developing and applying things we learned from the morning sermon. But the evening sermon, Gen 9:18-29, Watch Against Sin! [audio - manuscript], is extremely helpful for self-examination as well, because this kind of exam is very different than the ones our students have begun taking now that the school year is going full steam. As we think about self-examination in this article, I'll be developing that thought along the lines of that sermon.
I once had a geometry teacher who printed all of our exams on bright golden paper and referred to them as "golden opportunities to show me what you know." He didn't take kindly to the wasting of class time by questions that were intended to demonstrate (rather than increase) the knowledge of the inquirer. And he didn't take kindly to complaining about exams. They were, after all, our golden opportunities to show him what we knew.
As you examine yourself this week, it's not so much a "what" you know as a "whom" exam. There are basically two questions, and you should get a "hundred" if you are going to pass and take the supper:
As the old Scottish minister from the highlands said, when holding the elements out to a dear sister in Christ whose grounds for not taking were that she just didn't feel worthy enough, "Take it, woman! It's for sinners! It's for you!"
But so far this is a 50%, still a failing grade. It is not enough to know yourself; you must know Christ.
I hope we have a lot of hundreds out there. Because this Lord's Day evening is a "red" opportunity to eat and drink and smell and touch and taste the good news that God has provided such a Christ for such sinners!
I once had a geometry teacher who printed all of our exams on bright golden paper and referred to them as "golden opportunities to show me what you know." He didn't take kindly to the wasting of class time by questions that were intended to demonstrate (rather than increase) the knowledge of the inquirer. And he didn't take kindly to complaining about exams. They were, after all, our golden opportunities to show him what we knew.
As you examine yourself this week, it's not so much a "what" you know as a "whom" exam. There are basically two questions, and you should get a "hundred" if you are going to pass and take the supper:
1. Do you know yourselfIf you answered "yes" to these questions, you have question 1 correct. This is extremely important, because it is easy to fall into thinking that the supper is something you have to be "good enough" to take. Look back at those questions, and consider that Christ is holding a banquet for weak, wary, worried, wicked sinners! The fare at this table is unnecessary to the immovable, secure, untouchable, and pure--such people only exist in the immediate presence of the ascended Lamb.
- to be such a sinner that you are in constant danger of sinning, no matter how much you've grown already in Christ?
- to be such a sinner that you must watch that even God's good blessings to you would not become occasions for sin?
- to be such a sinner that the gravest of earthly consequences would not surprise you?
- to be such a sinner that the depth of the offense of your sin cannot be exaggerated?
As the old Scottish minister from the highlands said, when holding the elements out to a dear sister in Christ whose grounds for not taking were that she just didn't feel worthy enough, "Take it, woman! It's for sinners! It's for you!"
But so far this is a 50%, still a failing grade. It is not enough to know yourself; you must know Christ.
2. Do you know ChristWe heard, Lord's Day evening, how sad it was that the end of the story wasn't 9:20. We also heard that there is greater joy now than there could have been if it was, because 9:29 isn't the end either. In Jesus is sure and full hope for Noah-ish and Ham-ish sinners from every tribe, tongue, and nation. But this exam question doesn't begin, "Do you know that Christ is..." but "Do you know Christ?" Do you know Him? Is the Christ you know all of these wonderful things?! Then pass yourself for question number 2.
- to be the opposite of all those things we have just reviewed about ourselves--the hoped-for One, who Noah couldn't be?
- to be Yahweh Himself, the living God who blesses Himself in the line of Shem--the One so important that there had to be an ark to preserve His line in the flood and a Shem to preserve His line among Noah's sons?
- to be, as the God-man, One who crushes Satan's head and redeems even such sinners as are described in question 1?
- to be, as the Covenant-keeper, One who doesn't just have a body at the right hand of Majesty but one who has a body on earth--a covenant people--and have you therefore bound yourself to that body?
I hope we have a lot of hundreds out there. Because this Lord's Day evening is a "red" opportunity to eat and drink and smell and touch and taste the good news that God has provided such a Christ for such sinners!
Labels: Lord's Supper, Sermon Follow-Up
¶ 2:56 PM 0 Comments Links to this post
Joyful News from the Wassinks
I received the following from Cornie this morning. Let us continue to pray that God would grant them blessing and favor in every area of their lives and continue to establish the work of Matt's hands in the gospel ministry.
Pastor Hakim,
I thought that some members of your congregation would be interested in learning that Matt and Hannah Wassink were blessed with the birth of a son on Thursday, September 25. Case Benjamin Wassink and mother are both doing well.
Matt is really enjoying his experience at Pastor’s College.
Blessings,
Cornie Wassink
Labels: Announcements, Praise Reports
¶ 7:12 AM 0 Comments Links to this post
