harvestoc.net blog, Saturday, February 28, 2009
  Worship Booklet for week of March 1, 2009
Next week's worship booklet is now [online].

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  Romans 8:5-8 - 'Spiritually Bent' (Worship Follow-Up)
     Text: Romans 8:5-8 (ESV). For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 
     Lesson: In the  evening message, we heard about how the new life that God has given is shown by our new mindsets, our new alignment in life toward spiritual things instead of fleshly things.  
     We heard that this new mindset shows not only that God has made us alive, but that God has given us peace with Himself, entering a verdict of righteous about us in His great court.  
     Finally, we heard that this peace we have with God is exactly opposite our old, hostile nature to Him--the old nature couldn't care less about God's law, let alone what pleases God.
     For more on what being aligned toward the Spirit looks like, consider the attitudes in Galatians 5:22-23 and actions in Romans 12:9-13.  For more on what being aligned toward the flesh looks like, consider the attitudes and actions in Romans 1:29-31 and Galatians 5:19-21.
     We concluded with an appeal to believers for assurance: this new "bent," this new "alignment," is proof that the cross of Jesus Christ worked!  Hallelujah!  And with an appeal to unbelievers that they might be saved: since the cross of Jesus Christ worked, won't you rest in Him and be saved both from your sin's guilt, and from your sin's power?
     Song: Christ, of All My Hopes the Ground (the tune may be familiar to you as 'Take My Life and Let It Be')
Christ, of all my hopes the ground, Christ the spring of all my joy,
still in You may I be found, still for You my pow'rs employ, 
still for You my pow'rs employ.
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Let Your love my heart inflame; keep Your fear before my sight;
be Your praise my highest aim; be Your smile my chief delight,
be Your smile my chief delight.
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Fountain of o'erflowing grace, freely from Your fulness give;
till I close my earthly race, may I prove it "Christ to live,"
may I prove it "Christ to live." 
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Firmly trusting in Your blood, nothing shall my heart confound;
safely I shall pass the flood, safely reach Immanuel's ground,
safely reach Immanuel's ground.
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Thus, O thus, an entrance give to the land of cloudless sky;
having known it "Christ to live," let me know it "gain to die,"
let me know it "gain to die."

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harvestoc.net blog, Friday, February 27, 2009
  Isa 57 - 'Healing for Stubborn Sinners' (Worship Follow-Up)
     Text: Isaiah 57 (ESV). The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;  he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.  But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.  Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,  you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?  Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?  On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.  Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your memorial; for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a covenant for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked on nakedness.  You journeyed to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far off, and sent down even to Sheol.  You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, "It is hopeless"; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint. 
     Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me?  I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you.  When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain. 
     And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way."  For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.  For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.  Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.  I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,  creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the LORD, "and I will heal him.  But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.  There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
     Lesson: In the evening serial reading this week, we heard about the only source of salvation and peace for stubborn sinners.  v10 focuses on stubbornness in sin--isn't it amazing how persistent we can be in pursuit of religion that has pleasure as its goal?  When what we seek are those things that do not give true joy, we are unstoppable.  That's called idolatry.  In v13, God points out how this is not just wicked but really, spiritually stupid!  Oh, let us instead take refuge in Him!  Only when we make Him Himself our chief hope and treasure does real joy come.
     So, we can see the difference between those who have salvation and peace in what their hearts chase after.  But how does this difference come about?  v17 is surprising, because it's talking about the humble, repentant people of God from vv14-16.  It turns out that it was not their efforts that produced humility or repentance.  v17 shows them to be just as stubborn as the wicked who will perish!  Instead, v18, even though God knows that we are stubborn in our sinfulness, He is the One who will heal us.  He is the One who leads us, restores comfort, creates the fruit of our lips.  Oh God, have mercy on us and our stubborn hearts!  Heal us, lead us, restore us, comfort us, and create the fruit of our lips!
      Song: God Be Merciful to Me (#486 in the hymnal, if you have one)
God, be merciful to me, on Thy grace I rest my plea;
plenteous in compassion Thou, blot out my transgressions now;
wash me, make me pure within, cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.
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My transgressions I confess, grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against Thy grace and provoked Thee to Thy face;
I confess Thy judgment just, speechless, I Thy mercy trust.
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I am evil, born in sin; Thou desirest truth within.
Thou alone my Savior art, teach Thy wisdom to my heart;
make me pure, Thy grace bestow, wash me whiter than the snow.
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Broken, humbled to the dust by Thy wrath and judgment just,
let my contrite heart rejoice and in gladness hear Thy voice;
from my sins O hide Thy face, blot them out in boundless grace.
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Gracious God, my heart renew, make my spirit right and true;
cast me not away from Thee, let Thy Spirit dwell in me;
Thy salvation's joy impart, steadfast make my willing heart.
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Sinners then shall learn from me and return, O God, to Thee;
Savior, all my guilt remove, and my tongue shall sing Thy love;
touch my silent lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall praise accord.

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  27-Feb Best of the Web

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harvestoc.net blog, Thursday, February 26, 2009
  26-Feb Best of the Web

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  Ps 116:12-14 In the Presence of All His People (Worship Follow-Up)
     Text: Psalm 116:12-14 (ESV),  What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?  I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,  I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
     Lesson: In the evening call to worship this week, we heard the words of Christ about how saved people rightly respond to all the blessings of God.  We worship in the presence of all His people.  We have been learning from Hebrews that this is exactly what happens in congregational worship.  When the body gathers "Today" (i.e. the Lord's Day, going back to Hebrews 3-4), the assembly is included with the angels in festal gathering and the souls of the righteous made perfect in glory.
     Specifically, v13-14a says that in this worship we (a) put the salvation of God on victorious display, (b) call upon His name, recognizing by continued prayer that He alone is the giver of all our good gifts, and (c) pay our vows to Him, fulfilling the obligation of someone who belongs to Him.
      Is private worship an appropriate response to God's blessing?  Of course!  But it must never be the entire response or even the primary response.  The primary response to the blessings of God is gathering with His people to worship Him in the assembly!
     So, how about you?  Do you value the Lord's Day worship services like this?  When on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday, etc., you enjoy more and more Christ-earned blessings like sunshine, and family, and recovery from illness, and insight into His word, and victory against some sin, and a smile from a friend--is your heart's response, "I can't wait for the Lord's Day gatherings when with all God's people I can give to God Scriptural worship in response to this!"
     Song: What Shall I Render to My God? If you are unfamiliar with the psalm tune "downs" to which we sang this in evening worship, you may wish to sing it to the tune of "Amazing Grace."  Even better, you may wish to practice the tune [audio - score], since we will be responding to the next portion of Psalm 116 with the same song.
What shall I render to my God for all His kindness shown?
My feet shall visit Thine abode, my songs address Thy throne.
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How much is mercy Thy delight, Thou ever-bless-ed God!
How dear Thy servants in Thy sight! How precious is their blood!
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How happy all Thy servants are! How great Thy grace to me!
My life, which Thou hast made Thy care, Lord, I devote to Thee.
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Now I am Thine, forever Thine, nor shall my purpose move;
Thy hand hath loosed my bonds of pain, and bound me with Thy love.
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Here in Thy courts I leave my vow, and Thy rich grace record;
witness, ye saints who hear me now, if I forsake the Lord.

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harvestoc.net blog, Wednesday, February 25, 2009
  Feb 26 Siouxland Reformation Society Meeting
Remember that the Siouxland Reformation Society will meet tomorrow evening, Thursday the 26th, at 7pm at the OC Library.  The topic is Matthew 6:16-24, and Gary Vander Hart will be giving the 10 minute presentation.

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  Gen 18:16-33 'Holy Boldness' (Worship Follow-Up)
     Text: Genesis 18:16-33. Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.  The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,  seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?  For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him."  Then the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,  I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know."  
     So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.  Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?  Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?  Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"  And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake."  
     Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.  Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."  Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it."  Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there."  He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it."  Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."  And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
     Lesson: It's Wednesday.  Do you still remember the morning message?  Well, that's what these little devotionals are for.  In five minutes a day, we can refresh and recommit to what we heard from Jesus in His worship gatherings.  Specifically, in the morning service this week, the main message from Gen 18:16-33 was how God moves us to holy boldness before Him in prayer.  We learned how God's election (entering into loving relationship with us from eternity in Jesus), revelation (showing and telling us some things about Himself and His actions, again most perfectly in Jesus), and grace (good stuff for the undeserving and power for the helpless) all drive us to ask things boldly of Him in prayer.  And we concluded by thinking about what is perhaps the boldest prayer in the Bible, commonly called "The Lord's Prayer."
     This is a question you should ask yourself.  Are you bold before God in prayer?--asking for impossible things, especially spiritually impossible ones like in the Lord's Prayer?  Spend some time think about His electing love, about how He's chosen to tell us so much and invite us into conversation with Him, and how He's shown Himself to be the God of grace--exactly the God to whom undeserving and weak people can pray boldly!  As you think about these things, take each one back to the cross, for we see His love, revelation, and grace most perfectly in Christ!
      Song: Although the song was unfamiliar to some, many would know the tune to "Take My Life and Let it Be" (same tune).  This song, Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare engages in psalmist-like self-talk, exactly applying most of the truths we heard from the Bible:
Come, my soul, thy suit prepare: 
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He Himself has bid thee pray,
therefore will not say thee nay (x2)
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Thou art coming to a King,
large petitions with Thee bring;
for His grace and pow'r are such,
none can ever ask too much (x2)
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With my burden I begin:
"Lord, remove this load of sin;
let Thy blood, for sinners spilt,
set my conscience free from guilt (x2)
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"Lord, I come to Thee for rest,
take possession of my breast;
there Thy blood-bought right maintain,
and without a rival reign (x2)
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While I am a pilgrim here,
let Thy love my spirit cheer;
as my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
lead me to my journey's end (x2)
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Show me what I have to do,
ev'ry hour my strength renew;
let me live a life of faith,
let me die Thy people's death (x2)

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  Ps 31:9-24 'Trusting Like Jesus' (Prayer Mtg. Devo)
If for some reason you are unable to gather for prayer this evening, you may still wish to think through the Psalm study that we will use to draw our attention and affections away from our busy weeks and up to the throne of grace.  From the second cycle (vv9-24) in Psalm 31 of "distress to doxology," we will be thinking about those truths about God that sustain His people under troubles.  As we consider that this was sustaining our Lord on His cross, we will also consider how that very cross gives us sure certainty of each of those truths!  What precious comfort is the gospel of Christ! A pdf of the handout is [online].

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harvestoc.net blog, Tuesday, February 24, 2009
  Prayer Meeting Reminder
     What is keeping you from coming to the prayer meeting tomorrow?  Is it a prior obligation, or simply a higher priority?  If the latter, please consider a few things.  The New Testament church could be described as devoted to prayer; I wonder if our church could?  Would someone think that we are devoted to prayer if they attended a worship service?  Would someone think that we are devoted to prayer by looking at our schedule?  Would someone think that we are devoted to prayer by our prayer meeting attendance?  Would someone think that we are devoted to prayer by hearing us pray?  God of grace, stir us up to be devoted to prayer!
     Just this Lord's Day morning, we heard the wonderful things about God and His salvation that move His people to be bold in prayer.  Oh, consider the loving relationship the Creator and Sustainer of the universe has brought you into with Himself through Jesus!  Oh, consider how much He has told us, and how much He has intentionally left unsaid, so that we would talk to Him!  Oh, consider His marvelous grace, inviting the undeserving to receive great things, inviting the powerless into powerful dependence upon Him!  
     Dear congregation, let us gather to pray!!  Iowa State Bank community rooms, Wednesday evenings, 7 p.m.

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  Rev 5 'The End of Redemption' (Worship Follow-up)
     Text: Revelation 5 (ESV). Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"  And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,  and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.  And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."  
     And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.  And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.  And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,  and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."  
     Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,  saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"  And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"  And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.
     Lesson: as we heard in the morning reading, as God has brought us in the calls to worship to those wonderful verses from Hebrews that describe how congregational worship enters into the very worship of Heaven, He has at the same time brought us to the clearest descriptions of that worship in the whole Bible: Revelation 4-5.  
     Specifically, dear children, the best part of congregational worship is hearing the words of God from Jesus Himself (Heb 12:18-29, cf. Rev 5:9).  Look how John wept loudly (v4) for the word of God to be opened and read!  Look how Jesus' redeeming us by His blood on the cross is the victory that purchases for us the hearing of God's word (vv9-10)!  Look at how the worship of Heaven is the praise of Jesus for winning this great victory (vv11-14)!
     Oh, may God grant that we would hunger for His Word like this so that we would appreciate and worship Jesus like this!  His great victory has won for us worship in which Jesus proclaims to us God's word!  What a wonderful Savior is Jesus!
     Song: Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim
Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,
and publish abroad His wonderful name;
the name, all victorious, of Jesus extol;
His kingdom is glorious and rules over all.
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God ruleth on high, almighty to save;
and still He is nigh--His presence we have.
The great congregation His triumph shall sing,
ascribing salvation to Jesus, our King.
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Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!
Let all cry aloud and honor the Son.
The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,
fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.
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Then let us adore, and give Him His right,
all glory and pow'r, and wisdom and might,
all honor and blessing, with angels above,
and thanks never ceasing for infinite love.

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  Rom 8:5-8 'Spiritually Bent' (22-Feb Evening Message)
     In the evening worship gathering this week, we heard Christ's word in Rom 8:5-8 proclaim about the symptoms of the work of God's Spirit in a person.  We learned that while there are many things that are not reliable symptoms (knowledge, good works, 'spiritual' emotions), He has given one sure symptom to every believer: a real new nature, with a real new bent toward the things of God.  Believers are bent toward Gal 5:22-26 in mind, heart, and will.  Unbelievers are bent toward Gal 5:19-21 in mind, heart, and will.  This new bent in believers is wonderful evidence that the cross really worked, and should encourage those who do not have this new bent to come to Christ, whose salvation is real!  You may hear/download the audio [online] or [request] a CD at no charge.

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  Gen 18:16-33 'Holy Boldness' (22-Feb Morning Message)
     In the morning gathering this week, we heard from the word of Christ how He moves us to holy boldness before Him in prayer.  We learned how His election (entering into loving relationship with us from eternity in Jesus), revelation (showing and telling us some things about Himself and His actions, again most perfectly in Jesus), and grace (good stuff for the undeserving and power for the helpless) all drive us to ask things boldly of Him in prayer.  And we concluded by thinking about what is perhaps the boldest prayer in the Bible, commonly called "The Lord's Prayer."  You may hear/download the audio [online] or [request] a CD at no charge.

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  Rom 12:6-8 'The Obligatory Nature of God-given Gifts' (22-Feb Bible Class)
     As we've been working through what the Bible has to say about church, this week we discovered from Rom 12:6-8 that God crafts not just the skills but the personality and even the circumstances of each member for the benefit of the other members.  Since God is the one who has done this, we are actually required to use everything about who we are and the circumstances of our lives to serve others in the church.  
     We talked about the special obligation of elders to help the members do this, and how even if the elders aren't doing a great job, every member is still personally obligated.  
     Finally, we saw that the emphasis in these verses wasn't just on the fact that we should do all this, but upon the cheerfulness and eagerness with which we should be body-parts, because this all flows out of the greatness of God and His Gospel (vv1-5).  The audio is available [here].
     Next week, we will move on to how we exercise not just gifts but especially graces--those characteristics in which every Christian should be growing--as we function in the body.  The handout for next week is [here].

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  24-Feb Best of the Web

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harvestoc.net blog, Monday, February 23, 2009
  Heb 12:25-29, 'Him Who Speaks from Heaven' (Worship Follow-Up)
     To make these entries more helpful for printing out and using in family or private worship, we'll now include the Scripture passage and the song that we sang as a congregation, making God's Word the cry of our hearts.
     Text: Hebrews 12:25-29 (ESV)  See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.  At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."  This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken- that is, things that have been made- in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,  for our God is a consuming fire.
     Lesson: These verses were the call to worship for the morning gathering, reminding us again (as Hebrews has throughout) what makes Christian worship so... well... Christian.  It seems like as we sing, it is we who teach and admonish each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Col 3:16b), but singing in worship is a means by which the word of Christ dwells in us richly.  It seems like when the preacher is up front reading and speaking, he is addressing us from earth.
     Well, that was true of Moses, who warned from earth.  But in Christian worship, the prophet is not the preacher up front.  It is Jesus Himself.  These verses plainly teach that in Christian worship, we are addressed from Heaven, not earth.  Jesus, Yahweh in flesh, addresses His people from Heaven in the congregation.  There are two applications in the last verse:
     First, we are to be grateful.  There is a joyful wonder, a thankful amazement, that comes with participating in the worship of Heaven itself.  For those who treasure God, treasure God's glory, treasure God's word, treasure God's Son, treasure God's gospel, treasure God's people, this is (literally, 12:22) the mountaintop.  It simply cannot be improved upon.
      Second, we are to offer worship that is acceptable with reverence and awe.  There's a lot to unpack there, and it would take a book to do it fully.  But we see that there is such a thing as unacceptable worship (and that the Christian readers of this letter were in danger of offering it), and we see that the joy and the confidence that we have in Christ doesn't translate to looseness or casualness.  Looseness and casualness come not from appreciating the gospel, but from depreciating the God to whom the gospel freely brings us!
     How would you sum this all up for a three year old?  Because Jesus leads congregational worship from Heaven, we should be thankful for the worship services on the Lord's Day, and we should be respectful and amazed that when we come, we enter Heaven itself through Him.  Isn't congregational worship wonderful?
    Song: Now Unto Jehovah, Ye Sons of the Mighty
Now unto Jehovah, ye sons of the mighty, 
all glory and strength and dominion accord;
ascribe to Him glory, and render Him honor, 
in beauty of holiness worship the Lord (x2)
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The voice of Jehovah comes down on the waters;
in thunder the God of the glory draws nigh.
Lo over the waves of  the wide-flowing waters
Jehovah as King is enthron-ed on high (x2)
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The voice of Jehovah is mighty, is mighty;
the voice of Jehovah in majesty speaks:
the voice of Jehovah the cedars is breaking;
Jehovah the cedars of Lebanon breaks (x2)
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Each one in His temple His glory proclaimeth.
He sat on the flood; He is King on His throne.
Jehovah all strength to His people imparteth;
Jehovah with peace ever blesseth His own (x2)

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harvestoc.net blog, Saturday, February 21, 2009
  Rom 8:1-4 'No Condemnation' (Worship Follow-Up)
     In the evening sermon this week we heard one of the most wonderful messages of the Bible: No Condemnation.  What good, glorious news.  It's almost impossible to believe, but we know it's true, and one of the great evidences of it is the new heart that God has given us.  The law was powerless to make us love God--weakened by the flesh, it could only tell us that we didn't and what we deserved for it.
     But now God has done what the law couldn't do.  God came Himself; Jesus came and destroyed the power of sin.  He gives us love for God.  And that in itself shows that we are counted righteous, that our sin was forgiven.  If our sin wasn't forgiven, we wouldn't even deserve to love God.
     But here we are--not sinless, and yet hating sin.  Not perfectly law-keeping, and yet loving the law.  And it all shows that one thing is gloriously true: the cross of Jesus Christ worked.  There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!  What good news.  What a Savior!

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harvestoc.net blog, Friday, February 20, 2009
  Isaiah 56 - 'The Dangerous Duty of Delighting in Deliverance on the Lord's Day' (Worship Follow-Up)
     The evening serial reading this week was Isaiah 56. The message of that entire chapter was basically that if we delight in God's salvation, then we will delight in His day as the community day of His people, when and where we enjoy blessing far above and beyond any joy or sorrow of this life.
     Feed your soul on this savory truth by opening your Bible to Isaiah 56 and seeing the following: For those who hope in God’s salvation (v1), the Sabbath is a joy(v2), because its assemblies show forth how God is assembling for Himself a redeemed people from the whole world.
     In Sabbath assembly, those who wouldn’t have any hope of having earthly family find themselves rich in their covenant family(vv3b-5); in Sabbath assembly, those who had been ethnically separated from the people of God now find themselves eternally joined to that people(v3a,6); so, in Sabbath assembly all of God’s people rejoice to give worship to the God who gathers them to Himself in that assembly (vv7-8).
     By contrast, the godless leaders (v9-11a) don’t care for community or for worship—they look out only for themselves (v11b), care only for worldly pleasure (v12a), and therefore have no delight in the Sabbath (v12b).

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  22-Feb-09 Worship Booklet Online
As I've been suggesting, I think the worship booklet makes an excellent resource for maximizing, in just five minutes a day, both the discipleship and the worship that take place in both our Lord's Day gatherings and our family/personal devotions.
If you are truly concerned about the worship of God in the congregation, another small but helpful step you can take is to grab the worship booklet for next week every Saturday (it will be online by Saturday morning) and either Saturday evening or Lord's Day morning read and sing through at least the morning service as a family.
This will familiarize your family with the Bible passages, Bible themes, and Bible songs for the service. You may even encourage your children to develop at least one question about the Bible passages to see if it is answered during the service (and if it isn't, to ask the worship leader afterward!).
If you've been refreshing from the worship services throughout the week with this week's worship folder, you will be all the more "in tune for" this family-building, worship-improving, discipleship-fostering exercise. Next week's (the 22nd) worship booklet is [online] (click the word 'online').

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harvestoc.net blog, Thursday, February 19, 2009
  Ps 115:1-3, 12-18 'Blessed to Bless His Name' (Worship Follow-Up)
     The evening call to worship this week was Psalm 115:1-3, 12-18.  Those verses are for corporate worship, using "us" and "we" to show that they are the words of a congregation.
     They announce that God has not blessed us so that our glory would be on display, but so that His glory would be on display.  God has saved us in covenant love and faithfulness so that heaven and earth would be full of His glory. 
     Since He has given us life, we gather as a congregation to praise His name--that is our eternal purpose!

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harvestoc.net blog, Wednesday, February 18, 2009
  Remember Yourself, But Keep Your Eyes on God (Worship Follow-Up)
     Wednesdays are the follow-ups to the morning sermon in the new plan we're trying for integrating the worship assemblies into our week. In the morning sermon this week, we heard how the Triune Yahweh visited Abraham in order to strengthen Sarah.
      One big lesson that we heard for Sarah, and for us, is how even growing and mature believers have great weakness. We must always remember ourselves and our ongoing weakness. But that isn't what we should focus upon.
      The whole point of reminding Sarah of her weakness was to get her focus off of herself and onto the God for whom nothing is too impossible, nothing too miraculous. We noted how tenderly and patiently God dealt with her weakness, gently and powerfully directing her to rest in His strength.
      And that's what we must do as well: always remember our weakness, but keep the eyes of our faith fixed firmly on our penetratingly, powerfully, patiently strong God. Is that a message that you need to hear again already, even though it's only Wednesday? Go listen to it!

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harvestoc.net blog, Tuesday, February 17, 2009
  Prayer Meeting Tomorrow!
This is a reminder to gather for prayer in the Iowa State Bank basement tomorrow at 7p.m.  This is what churches do first of all who desire God to be glorified in the salvation of sinners (1Tim 2:1-4).  The appetizer of read/taught/sung Scripture at the beginning, to whet appetites for prayer, is Psalm 31:1-8.  Understand your Savior's last words on the cross like never before!  Come pray!

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  Rev 4 'The End of Creationism' (Worship Follow-Up)
     On Tuesdays, we will be following up on the morning serial readings.  In God's perfect timing, our two calls to worship from Hebrews 12 on the glories of worship in the Lord's Day church assemblies on earth are coordinating exactly with Revelation 4-5.  Just when we got to the climax in Hebrews of how our worship enters into the very worship of Heaven, our serial readings land on the two chapters in the Bible that most explicitly detail the very worship into which we are entering!
     Specifically, Revelation 4 focuses upon the worship in heaven of God for His creation, and Revelation 5 focuses upon the worship in heaven of God for His redemption.  I've called this follow-up "The End of Creationism," because I want to use the word "end" two ways here.  
     The first way is for "end" to mean "ceasing."  And the point is basically this: creationism will never cease.  It is a central topic of the eternal worship in glory!  So, the evolutionists can just wait for us to evolve and for creationism to die.  It won't.  Ever!  For ever and ever and ever we will sing of an otherwise inexplicable creation as an exertion of God's will for the display of God's glory and honor and power!
     The second thing I mean by "end" here is "purpose."  What end does creationism serve?  Is it a litmus test for someone's submission to the Bible?  It certainly can and should be--you cannot separate someone's "position on" the Bible from their posture toward the Bible.  But that is not the end, the telos, of creationism.  It is useful for that, but it's goal, its purpose, is WORSHIP!  Creationists should be giddy about their God more than they are crusty about their chronology.  
     Chronology is important.  But if we seem to be more bent-out-of-shape than we are bowed-before-the-Creator's throne, then God help us!  Don't get me wrong--chronology is very important, but its importance is subsidiary to, calculated as a function of, something far, far more important: doxology!  Creationism is important because it is an essential part of something infinitely more important: Biblical worship.

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harvestoc.net blog, Monday, February 16, 2009
  Heb 12:18-24 'What in Heaven Is Going on Here?!' (Worship Follow-Up)
     As we've moved through Hebrews in the morning calls to worship, we've noticed the extraordinary emphasis upon Christ in Christian worship.  Christ presents us to the Father, Christ praises Him in our singing, Christ mediates the service as our perfect Priest, Christ makes our service acceptable through His once for all sacrifice, Christ makes our service effectual by His ministry in the real Holy of Holies in glory, and our services are full of Christ's sacraments, Christ's doctrine, and Christ's discipling.  I'd say that as a sermonic polemic against reverting to Judaistic worship, Hebrews does a pretty good job!
     Well, one of the things that we saw early on was the reference to Jesus in 1:6 as the 'firstborn' who is exalted above even the angels.  This reminds us, of course, of Rom 8:29 and its calling Him the 'firstborn' among many brethren; and, of the description of Jesus presenting us in worship to the father in 2:13 saying, "behold I and the children God has given me."
     This week's call to worship was Heb 12:18-24, which compared Christian worship to Sinai.  In that one, they came with terror; in this one, we come with joy.  In that one, the angels were ready to destroy; in this one, the angels are ready to celebrate.  In that one, no righteous human participated; in this one, we join glorified Christians in heaven who are "righteous ones, made perfect."  But none of those things are the primary difference.
     The thing that makes Christian worship into Christian worship is that it is the "assembly of the firstborn" ... those who find their very identity in Jesus.  What we do in the Iowa State Bank basement, and what we'll be doing in our new building, is something that participates in a greater assembly.  
     It's not just that our congregational gathering is bigger than each one of us.  That's true, and it should stop us in our tracks when we are tempted to evaluate the worship based upon what I do or what I get as an individual in it.  But it's bigger even, far bigger, than the joined worship of our congregation.  We are joining in worship with the saints in glory, the church throughout the ages, and the church throughout the world.  Isn't that thrilling?
     When we gather for worship, Lord's Day by Lord's Day, we are participating already in God's end-game; we are taking part in that which we will do forever, and which glorified, perfected saints are already doing.  Amazing.  Can you just not wait for the Lord's Day all over again?!

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  Worship Follow-Ups - A New Blog Feature
[CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE LATEST WORSHIP FOLLOWUP]
     The message isn't the only place in the worship service where we hear God's word. It was never meant to be. The Bible refers to our singing as "speaking to one another in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs" (using the exact Greek language used in three different types of subtitles in the Greek Old Testament that the church used). Music is a vehicle through which God causes the word of Christ to dwell in us richly (Col 3:16, cf. Eph 5:19). 1Corinthians 14 describes all the parts of worship, including prayer, as functions of God's revealed words.
     So, whether we're praying the Bible, singing the Bible, reading the Bible, or hearing the Bible preached or pronounced, Christian worship is full of the Bible. Following Scriptural patterns for the structure of the service, at Harvest we have three "main courses" in each Bible smorgasbord of a worship service, the call to worship, the serial reading, and the sermon. Each of the two worship assemblies includes three passages to consider and apply, each complete with a song by which we may admonish each other.  This gives us not one, but six rich Scripture lessons to digest with our families each week.
     One of the things I have been trying to do as a pastor since I got here is to get us to feed upon the word of God together throughout the week, particularly the word that we hear in the assembly. When you consider that, going back to Moses, roughly 90% of the church has been illiterate, a "Deuteronomy 6" type house would basically be feeding throughout the week upon what they heard in worship.
     To the end of helping us do that as a congregation, I'd like whomever is willing to try incorporating something into your family worship--a regular schedule of followups to the worship services. I'll try to post an sample every day, either for your direct use, or as an example. These will replace the random "sermon follow-ups" that I have been doing up to this point. Although I intend to do one every day, it has been a reality that I just cannot.  This way, however, if we've already planned what we will do every day, then if I don't have time, others will not be hindered. I'm thinking something along the following schedule:
     Mon--Morning Call to Worship
     Tue--Morning Serial Reading
     Wed--Morning Message
     Thu--Evening Call to Worship
     Fri--Evening Serial Reading
     Sat--Evening Message
     Since we do each of these in order through the Bible in worship, I think we will find that doing this in our homes will especially help not only our children but also us ourselves to give ourselves more fully to and benefit even more from the worship assemblies. I see at least the following benefits:
  1. We will bring back to mind and reinforce the lessons that we heard in worship
  2. We will reinvigorate, mid-week, the commitments that we made in light of those lessons
  3. We will rekindle, mid-week, the comforts that we have drawn from those lessons
  4. We will be more quickly able to focus upon the texts in family worship, since we will have just recently considered them
  5. We will be more profitably able to explain and apply the texts in family worship, since we will have thought through them together as a congregation, under the ministry of those whom God has gifted for that purpose (and, having the worship booklets at our elbows for the same purpose)
  6. If we or our children have them, our elders will be more prepared to answer questions, having recently studied the texts
  7. We will increase fellowship as a congregation, knowing that we are thinking together through the Bible in our various homes (similar to people who "follow" the same t.v. show... except that this is attended by the ministry of the Holy Spirit in power, mediated by union with Christ, and involving things eternally profitable to our souls!)
  8. Since the texts are sequential, we will have minds, hearts, and wills attuned for the next week's texts, enabling us to give ourselves more to them
  9. We will be able to sing more thoughtfully, sincerely, and heartily, since the songs are carefully chosen according to the ideas and even words of each text
  10. When elders shepherd, they will share with the family a broad frame of reference from which to talk about their recent spiritual lives.
  11. People who miss a service or both on a Lord's Day will be able to "catch up" mid-week
     Well, I hope that convinces many of you. Actually, I hope that convinces all of you. What a difference a few minutes a day could make in both our congregational worship and the spiritual lives of our families! God grant His blessing upon our efforts, giving them spiritual and eternal increase to our fruitfulness and His glory.

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  Rom 8:1-4 'No Condemnation' (Feb 15, Evening Message)
     In the evening worship assembly, we heard Rom 8:1-4 preached--the message of no condemnation now for those who once had nothing but condemnation.  
     We examined how to live in light of the realities that the text assumes but especially what difference that the text's message of "no condemnation" makes in the life of a believer.  And we considered how the point of all of it is the thanking and honoring--the glorifying--of God in Christ Jesus.
     What a glorious message the Gospel is, and we thank God for the power and joy of what we  heard last night.  The [message audio] is online, and you are encouraged to [request] a higher audio quality CD for yourself or a friend.

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  Gen 18:1-15 'Strengthening Sarah' (Feb 15 Morning Message)
     In the morning worship assembly this week we heard preached from Gen 18:1-15 that Triune Yahweh God visited Abraham specifically for the purpose of strengthening Sarah, which He accomplished by exposing to her the weakness that yet remained in her, and His strength which would be made perfect in that weakness, all the while making strong promises through Jesus Christ.  
     We thank and praise God for His wonderful word that unfolds to us His gracious character and perfect ways with us.  The [message audio] is online.  You may prefer to [request] a higher quality audio CD.

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  Rom 12:1-5 'Gospel Foundations for Church Dynamics' (15-Feb Bible Class)
     The title is so catchy that it's almost embarrassing, but that's exactly what we discovered as we began studying how church members are to function within the body from Romans 12.  
     We found that the Gospel is what motivates the functioning of each member, the Gospel is what sustains the functioning of each member, and the Gospel demands that we follow the specific way of doing church found in the Bible.
     The audio does not do a good job of capturing the discussion, so as we form from the Bible an understanding of church, it would be best if you attended in person.  But knowing that this cannot always be the case, there is [audio online].  Also, if you did not get an orange sheet with them, [questions to study for next week are also online].

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harvestoc.net blog, Saturday, February 14, 2009
  Feb 15, 2009 - Worship Booklet
The worship booklet is back, and this week's is [online] (approx 6MB).

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harvestoc.net blog, Thursday, February 12, 2009
  Did You Enjoy God in Christ Today? (Sermon Follow-up)
Did you enjoy God today?  Not, "did you enjoy His mercies and gifts?," though that is also a very good question.  But, "did you enjoy God, Himself, today?"
In the evening sermon, we heard how the blessings that Habakkuk knew he would soon be missing were a summary of Deut 8, whose point was that if we have all the blessings, and forget God Himself as the greatest blessing, we deserve curse.  So enjoying God Himself is our greatest obligation. 
Then we noted that in Habakkuk's context, the enjoyment of God Himself would  compensate for and surpass the absence of every other blessing there is.  So enjoying God Himself is our greatest joy.
We noted that the reason that we could do this was because of the certainty that it is God's love for His own that drives all of His action (even and especially wrathful action) in this world (3:8), on account of His Christ (3:13)?
So I ask you about your day today.  And it would be a good idea if you asked yourself about your day every day: "Did you enjoy God in Christ today?"

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  12-Feb-09 Best of the Web

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harvestoc.net blog, Tuesday, February 10, 2009
  Better Than Valentine's Day (Sermon Follow-Up)
If I were an observer of national holidays, and if I were far more clever at planning than I am, we would have had the sermons from the 8th on the 15th.  Both sermons this week covered texts full of the love of God.  (By God's mercy, we shall see quite a bit of this love next week too... and the next... and the next... etc.!)

In the morning sermon, we heard how God intentionally sets His love upon not-yet-conceived Isaac to show how His Fatherly love for us from before we exist far exceeds even Abraham's deep fatherly love for a son whom he has known for thirteen years.  And we remembered from Eph 1:4 that eternal, electing love like this is only through Jesus Christ.

In the evening sermon, we heard how Habakkuk didn't need any covenant blessings except the supreme blessing of God Himself in Christ, the Anointed, because this blessing convinces him that everything God does in history, He does out of love for those who are in Christ.

So God sets His love upon us eternally, outside of time, in Christ.  And everything God does in time, He does out of the love that He has for us in Christ.  What glorious thoughts!  What sustaining, enriching, invigorating, our-love-inflaming truths!  Here are a couple verses for you to soak in, savor, muse upon, digest, and shake your head at as you laugh in astonished, grateful wonder!:

1 John 3:1  See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

Romans 5:8  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 



Jeremiah 31:3  the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Psalm 103:11  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:9-10  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

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harvestoc.net blog, Sunday, February 8, 2009
  Hab 3:17-19 'Yet in Yahweh' (Feb 8, Evening Sermon)
In evening worship, we heard the conclusion to the book of Habakkuk, Yet in Yahweh from 3:17-19, in which we heard about how God Himself is the greatest blessing that He gives--how because He gives Himself to us in Jesus, we who hold to Him through Christ can be certain that everything He does, He does out of love for us--and therefore, because we always have Him, we always have joy, even in the midst of the greatest pain and suffering.  The [audio] is online.

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  Gen 17:18-27 'Specific about Isaac, Ishmael, and Obedience' (Feb 8, Morning Message)
In the morning service on Feb 8, we heard Specific about Isaac, Ishmael, and Obedience from Gen 17:18-27.  We learned that God is specific about Isaac to show His free, merciful, compassionate, redeeming love; that, God is specific about Ishmael to show how He blesses all believers' children and enters into special relationship with them; and that, Abraham's specifically thorough and quick obedience is exactly the fruit that grace-dependent, grace-exalting relationship with God produces.  The [audio] of this sermon is online.

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  1Cor 12:12-26 'The Church as Body' (Feb 8, Bible Class Hour)
This week, we finished the handout from week 1, studying 1Cor 12:12-26 and Eph 4:15-16 on "The Church as Body." The audio is [online here]. Next week, we'll study the church as a bush (vine, olive tree, fig tree, mustard tree).  Studies yet remain of what structures Christ has given to His visible church on earth (elder, deacon, wic, etc.) and of what Scripture has to say about the way membership works at Harvest. 

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harvestoc.net blog, Friday, February 6, 2009
  6-Feb-08 Best of the Web

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  Stuttering Like Sarah (Sermon Follow-Up)
[note: this is the introduction to next week's (the 15th) morning sermon, but it works well as a follow-up to this past week's morning sermon in which we had Sarah's example briefly opened from 1Pet 3.  It's hopefully an encouragement that you won't mind having twice in nine days.]
I've heard even godly women jokingly refer to the Proverbs 31 woman as the woman they all love to hate.  I mean... does she ever sleep?  And how is it that she seems to have missed out on original sin?  And isn't it interesting that she's described as having had children, but it is quite apparent that she doesn't suffer from shifting hormones or mood swings.

Thankfully, godly women view her through the same Scriptural lens through which all believers should view our duties... things to strive for with a conscience cleansed by the cross, a force of will empowered by the resurrection, and an exulting (being full to bursting with joy) in the certainty now of the glory that we are guaranteed, soon to enjoy forever.

When we are dejected at the sound of duty, that is a clear sign that we are thinking like legalists, not Christians.  Duty sounds like death to boot-strap religionists who, though they may know and speak gospel words, don't enjoy gospel freedom and power that turns duties into joys.  SO--if you look at the Proverbs 31 gal, and feel more tired than inspired, go back to the school of the cross.  Whether you've never been there before, or if you've been there ten thousand times, whenever "his commands become burdensome," it's time to fill up on Christ, NOT self (1John 5:3-5).

All that said, the Prov 31 woman is still an ideal woman.  She is what wisdom itself would look like if she were a wife and mother.  So she's not very good company when we're failing.  Sarah, however, is.

Now Sarah's a woman who might intimidate our wives in the same way as Mrs. Prov 31.  After all, Peter holds her out as an example of a wife who had the kind of gentle and quiet spirit, who was able to abandon self and submit to her husband as to the Lord in a way, that even if she were sorely oppressed in her home she might hope to win an ungodly husband with her respectful and pure conduct.

Hello?  Don't ANY of the examples that God gives us in the Bible act like HUMANS?!  Why, yes, Sarah does.  You see, Sarah's growth in faith and godliness wasn't instant, and it wasn't steady.  She had her good moments... coming out of Ur with Abram, as far as we know, willingly.  If she had any objection to turning over the spoil after the world war in Gen 14, it isn't recorded.  And she does snap-to when Abraham requests the cakes, referring to him as lord in v12 and getting commended for it in 1Pet 3.

But she was also the innovator who came up with "the Hagar method for covenant continuation."  And whereas in the morning sermon we had Abraham laughing and being commended (by Rom 4) for laughing in wonder in Gen 17, in Gen 18 next week we will have Sarah being rebuked for laughing in mockery.  Before Heb 11 and 1Pet 3 started glowing about her, she had a lot of growing to do.

And that you can identify with.  You know what it's like to trust in your ways with all your heart and lean not on the Lord's understanding.  You know what it's like to laugh, mockingly and unbelievingly, on the inside when you hear what God can and plans to do with your life.

So you know what it's like to be Sarah.  And as God comes to strengthen Sarah's faith in next Lord's Day morning's sermon, you'll want to be paying excellent attention.  He's the same gracious God now.   She was born with the same sinful nature as you.  She grows in the same fits and starts and stutters that you know all too well.  And God made this dealing of His with her to be written in the Bible so that you wouldn't just stutter in your spiritual life, but that you would stutter like Sarah.

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  Weekly Schedule (8-Feb)

Harvest Community this week
This Lord’s Day, February 8 – AT IOWA STATE BANK COMMUNITY ROOMS
9a – Bible Class for all ages, Special Class on the church for 3rd grade & up
10a – Corporate Worship, led by elder James Hakim. Reading, Rev 3; Message, Gen 17:18-27 ‘Specific about Isaac, Ishmael, and Obedience’ (Nursery by Van Es Family, Greeting by Hilbelink family)
6p – Corporate Worship, led by elder Bob Hilbelink. Reading, Isa 55; Message, Hab 3:17-19 ‘Yet I Will Rejoice’ (Nursery by Brian Vander Plaats family, Greeting by Ward family)
Weekly Family Worship Suggestions
Songs: #242 Not All the Blood of Beasts; #526 Blest Are the Sons of God
Catechism: Q11, What are God’s works of providence?  God’s works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures and all their actions.
Scripture memory: Matthew 6:31-32, Genesis 18:14, Rom 8:1
You may wish to use the worship folder in family worship to recall Bible teaching and application from Lord’s Day worship.  Check harvestoc.net/blog throughout the week for follow-ups to the Lord’s Day sermons.  Check out http://heb412.us for even more challenge and help for private and family worship.
Wednesday, February 11 – AT IOWA STATE BANK COMMUNITY ROOMS
7p – Prayer Meeting, Psalm 30
8:15p – Elders’ Meeting (open to public!), 1Cor 7:1-7
Next Lord’s Day, February 15 – AT IOWA STATE BANK COMMUNITY ROOMS
9a – Bible Class for all ages, Special Class on the church for 3rd grade & up
10a – Corporate Worship, led by elder James Hakim. Reading, Rev 4; Message, Gen 18:1-15 ‘Strengthening Sarah’ (Nursery by Ward Family, Greeting by Fedders family)
6p – Corporate Worship, led by elder Mark Fedders. Reading, Isa 55; Message, Hab 3:17-19 ‘Yet I Will Rejoice’ (Nursery by Alsum, Greeting by Alsum family)

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  Worship Folder Announcements (8-Feb)

 Announcements
COME, BRINGING GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS to worship.  On the resource table, there is a box by which we worship the Lord Jesus, our Forever-Priest, with our tithes and offerings.
RESOURCES ON BACK TABLE ARE FREE; this includes sermon CDs, pocket catechisms, sermon outlines, and more.  Please help yourself.
PLEASE COME TO THE SPECIAL CLASS ON THE CHURCH, CONTINUING ON FEB 15th.  ALL HOUSEHOLDS ARE URGED TO ATTEND
THROUGH FEBRUARY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET IN THE IOWA STATE BANK BASEMENT, ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR NEW BUILDING AT 209 1ST ST NE
PRAYER MEETING AND ELDERS’ MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY AT IOWA STATE BANK AT 7p.m. 
OCCS's Monica Society will host their annual SOUP SUPPER on Tues, Feb 17 at the OCCS gym.  We will serve from 5-7:30p. Come enjoy homemade soups, taverns, and desserts. Free will donation.
garden of arc is a community cooperative garden that is being planted north of American Reformed Church’s parking lot. Come participate in this project to “cultivate community.”  Call Carolyn Yoder for more information (707-3890).
WOMEN’S HEALTH FAIR at Greater Sioux Community Health Center, across the street from Sioux Center City Hall, 7a-11a on Feb 14.  Free cholesterol, blood pressure, and other screenings related to heart disease. Call 722-1700.
If you have an announcement to include, please email church@harvestoc.net.

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harvestoc.net blog, Thursday, February 5, 2009
  A Third Impossible Birth (Sermon Follow-up)
In the morning sermon, we beheld our powerful God of impossibilities in the promise of Isaac's impossible birth.  In our last sermon follow-up, we heard about another, glorious, impossible birth--the birth of our Savior, the birth of God Himself, as a human baby, to a virgin.

In this follow-up, we're thinking about a third impossible birth, one that for some people is the most difficult to believe: the new birth.  They are like Nicodemus in John 3:4,9 "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? [...] How can these things be?"   There are two main reasons why some find the new birth impossible to believe, and Nicodemus probably had them both.

For some people, the new birth is unbelievable because they don't think they need one.  Born again?  Me, the Pharisee of high status, need a complete redo?  I wasn't looking for that kind of help; I'm not a spiritual charity case; I just need that last bit to fill the gap between my self-improvement and what is "good enough to get in." 

We do not readily accept that even the best of us are completely spiritually bankrupt, except for what God provides.  This is what Jesus was getting at when He said, that it's the spiritually impoverished who are blessed with the kingdom (Matt 5:3).  So that's one way this new birth is impossible to some; they feel it's impossible that they must be born again.

But there's another kind of person to whom the new birth is impossible--the convicted sinner.  This is someone who knows from God's law on his heart and God's law in his hearing that he is guilty and filthy beyond hope.  He knows that he must be born again.  He just doesn't see how it's possible that he could be born again. 

Someone such as I am could have a new heart that loves God and hates sin?  Someone such as I am could be a completely new person?  Dear sinner under a burden of conscience, allow me to introduce you to 100 year old Abraham.  And this new mother over here is his wife, 90 year old, post-menopausal Sarah. 

And this man over here with the wounds in His hands and side was born to a virgin--no embryo donation, no IVF, no tricks... just an impossible birth.  And an impossible death for perishing sinners who have absolutely no other hope.

Jesus presented His impossible birth and impossible substitionary, sacrificial death as the answer to why new birth isn't just possible but absolutely certain to happen.  John 3:16 is the heart of the answer to John 3:9.  We know that the Spirit can and will give spiritual birth to spiritual corpses, because God has shown the greatness of His love by giving His Son, that every single person who believes in Him will have eternal spiritual living instead of eternal spiritual dying.

So, yes, dear perishing sinner.  you can be born again.  Not only must you have this birth, but you can have this birth; the impossible birth and death of Jesus is all the proof you need.

But don't get sucked into waiting for this new birth to happen.  It doesn't work like that.  In John 3:8, Jesus likened the Spirit's work in giving us new birth to the wind--you don't see the wind itself; what you see is its effects. 

So look to Jesus; believe on Him and be saved.  Know yourself as spiritually impoverished and Him as spiritually wealthy beyond measure.  He invites you to come drink the water of life without price.  He invites you to come feed upon Him.  He invites you to cast all your cares upon Him.  He invites you to bring the weariness and the heaviness of your burdens; He will take those and give you rest.

Yes, though you think it impossible, even you can have this new birth.  The God of the Bible--the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob--who gave His only Son is the God of exactly this kind of impossibility!

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  February 8, 2009, Worship Services

The Lord’s Day, February 8, 2009
Morning Worship Assembly, 10a.m.
Call to Worship, Prayer – Heb 10:19-25
*Songs – #242, Not All the Blood of Beasts, #295, Crown Him with Many Crowns, #310, Rejoice, the Lord is King
Serial Reading – Revelation 3
*Song – #304, I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Prayer
Text, Gen 17:19-27 · Message, Specific about Isaac, Ishmael, & Obedience
*Song – #469, How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place
*Benediction
*Response – #731, Doxology
Evening Worship Assembly, 6p.m.
Call to Worship and Prayer – Ps 113
*Songs – #57, Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah O My Soul, #110, Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah
Serial Reading – Isaiah 55
*Song – #526, Blest Are the Sons of God
Prayer
Text, Hab 3:17-19 · Message, Yet I Will Rejoice
*Songs – #689, Be Still, My Soul, #691, It Is Well with My Soul;  
*Benediction
*Response – #55, To God Be the Glory
*Congregation standing as they are able
Please stay after worship for fellowship!

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  5-Feb-09 Best of the Web

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harvestoc.net blog, Wednesday, February 4, 2009
  1Cor 6:15-20 'Sexual Sin: a Triune Tragedy' (4-Feb Elders' Mtg. Devo)

1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (ESV)  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!  16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh."  17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.  18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.  19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,  20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
4-Feb-2009 Session Devotional, “Sexual Sin: a Triune Tragedy”
The resurrection (going back to v14) is here given as a powerful reason against sexual immorality.  In v14, our union with Christ was described as so powerful that what happened to His body must also happen to ours.  But this same union that gives us confidence that we will be raised from the dead should make us absolutely hate sexual sin.  How could we take that which is now a part of Jesus and use it for any sin so wicked?
And this sin in particular is worse than others for two reasons.  First, because of how it makes us part of the other person.  v16 tells us that sex isn’t just physical interaction but physical union.  Second, because of how it affects our own body.  v18 tells us that sex doesn’t just use the body to sin but violates the body itself. 
Both of these truths about sexual sin are horrific for the Christian.  The first one is horrific because of its implications for what we are doing to Jesus, who has joined us to Himself (v17).  The second truth is horrific because of its implications for the Holy Spirit who indwells the very body that we are violating (v19). 
And the implication of v20 is that each of these truths about sexual sin show it to be an assault all three Persons of the Godhead.  Indeed, our bodies exist to image and liken to the glory of God.  Sexual sin, like no other, directly assaults, despises, denigrates His glory.
Oh, let us be so joyfully joined to Christ that our jealousy for His interest in our bodies would make sexual sin unthinkable to us!  Let us be so conscious of the Spirit’s indwelling us that we would be careful never to compromise the dignity of our body.  Let us be so grateful for God’s glorious image in us, now renewed at the great cost of the cross, that we would grieve over anything that might diminish this display of His glory!

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  Psalm 29 - 'Glorious Power, Glorious Peace' (Prayer Mtg. Devo)

“Glorious Power, Glorious Peace” – Devotional on Psalm 29
God is glorious in the highest heavens and over all the earth—particularly through His voice, and especially in relationship with His people.  That’s the theme in this Psalm.
God is glorious in the highest heavens. The Hebrew in v1 is, “Give to Yahweh, sons of mighty ones; give to Yahweh glory and power.”  “mighty ones” is not Elohim but elim.  You might translate it “god-like ones.”  The point is that even the highest of all creatures in heaven and earth must cry out that God alone is glorious, and God alone is powerful.  This is not unlike when in Isaiah 6 the burning ones cry, “Holy, holy, holy.”
God is glorious over all the earth.  The psalm communicates this geographically, meteorologically, and salvation-historically.  Geographically, it begins in the (Mediterranean) sea, then starts north in Lebanon above the north end of Israel and plows south to Kadesh, beneath the south end of Israel.  The normal way of saying “every square inch” is “Dan to Beersheba” (think “New York to California”).  “Lebanon to Kadesh” is a step further, a step bigger (think “from sea to shining sea”).
We also see this meteorologically (in the weather).  He shows His glory in a storm that covers the vastness of oceans, roars with thunder, breaks even mighty trees, sets the world on fire with lightning, and shakes the earth like an earthquake, so that even mighty oaks are shaken (probably the correct reading of 9a) until they are stripped bare. 
Finally, we see this salvation-historically: from the flood to the session of Christ.  The word ‘flood’ in v10 is used in the Bible only of the Noahic flood.  The idea of Yahweh sitting enthroned as king forever was a current reality for Israel, but looked to a future time when that kingdom would be forever established.  It is this kingdom that Jesus had announced that He had brought with Him; for which  He taught us to pray; and, over which He rules even now at the right-hand of God.
Particularly through His voice. Notice how central the voice of Yahweh is in this psalm.  There is no such thing as “mother nature.”  The Bible tells us only of a creation that is absolutely controlled by the voice of God.  That is the creation in which we live.  And it is controlled by a voice that we particularly hear in worship.  What is worship?  It is “giving to God.”  The word translated “ascribe” three times here is literally, just “give.” 
But even though worship is “giving” we can’t help but receive, because in worship we hear Yahweh’s voice.  So, when it says that we are to do all this giving as we worship (literally “bow down to”) Yahweh in the splendor of holiness, the text is not denying that in worship we receive.  This command to worship is precisely what leads into the great poem/song about His voice.
Especially in relationship with His people. This is obvious in v11, but just as powerfully there in v10.  The flood was the great separator—destruction for the world; salvation for God’s people.  God’s throne is the same—judgment for the world, deliverance for God’s people.  Just as we saw in Habakkuk Lord’s Day evening, when God’s glory goes on display, it means terror for God’s enemies, but strength and peace for God’s people.  And this is precisely what we see in v11.

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  4-Feb-09 Best of the Web

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harvestoc.net blog, Tuesday, February 3, 2009
  Reminder: Prayer Meeting and Elders' Meeting Tomorrow
Just a reminder  that tomorrow night, beginning at 7p.m. in the Iowa State Bank basement, we are planning to have a prayer meeting and then an elders' meeting.  The devotional for the prayer meeting is from Psalm 29, and for the elders' meeting from 1Cor 6:15-20.  See you there!

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  A Second Impossible Birth (Sermon Follow-Up)
In the morning sermon, we concluded by thinking about how our God delights to put Himself on display as the God of our impossibilities.  I made special application to situational impossibilities that may be specific to your character, abilities, and place in life.  But for a couple days in these follow-ups, I'd like for us to think about a couple impossibilities that are common to us all.

Specifically, I'd like for us to think about a couple impossible births that are common to us all.  Our text referred to an impossible birth--a ninety year old woman whose far on the other side of menopause mountain is going to ovulate, conceive, carry, labor, contract, and deliver.

Mary's conception, carrying, laboring, and delivering were also impossible.  Isaac was the promised, impossible baby.  Jesus was the promised, impossible baby.  What made Jesus impossible was the absence of seed.

I know that sounds crass, but think of the looks Mary must have gotten.  Think of the looks some poor girl might get in Orange City, when she has made a very wicked and very foolish choice and is now faced with the choice of the growing bump of perpetual embarrassment that will come with properly treasuring the baby within her or the easier and less stigmatizing merciless murder of that child. 

As an aside--wouldn't it be wonderful if we not only believed in our systematic theologies, and held to with respect to our own sins, but behaved toward such girls as if there is NO condemnation NOW for those who are in Christ Jesus?  Couldn't we grieve with them over their sin and treat each other in ways that will give them confidence that this is a real, living truth?  Or are we simply going to look down our noses, give some cold and reserved lipservice to grace, while everything in our posture and attitude tells her that what we're really asking is, "where'd the seed come from?"

Well, back to that question with Jesus.  You cannot have babies without fathers; you cannot have babies without seed.  And yet there Mary is with her growing bump.  And there she is with a crying (not demandingly but pleadingly!) baby.  Why is He there?
Well, God had said this strange thing... that someone who was the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head.  Seed of a woman?  Everyone knows that the seed doesn't come from the woman.  That's impossible.

Sure it's impossible.  And the Third Person of the God of impossibilities, the Holy Spirit, would take Mary, without a man's involvement whatsoever, and produce a serpent's-head-crushing baby inside her.  If this is not your God, then you are not His offspring.  Your other choice?  You can be offspring of the serpent and be crushed with him.

Oh, you can hope in this impossible baby.  You can have eternal confidence of forgiveness through this virgin-born Lord.  You needn't be embarrassed of how the whole world knows that this is impossible.  After all, the God who saves you delights to show Himself the God of impossibilities.

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  3-Feb-09 Best of the Web

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harvestoc.net blog, Monday, February 2, 2009
  A Furious Love (Sermon Follow-Up)
In the evening sermon, we saw in the rhetorical question in v8 that even God's wrath is driven by His love--that even in the absence of judgmental wrath, we see God's furious (frenzied, frenetic) action for the good of those whom He loves.

How can we know that God's wrath is driven by His love?  Well, for one thing, the Bible tells us that God is love (1Jn 4:8).  This doesn't mean that love is God, but it does mean that everything that love is, God is.  

And our systematic theology helps us here as well.  For we know that God is an eternal Trinity.  This Trinity is one of perfect eternal love with each other, and there is of course no wrath within the Trinity, because none of them sin!

We've also seen this throughout Romans--that the reason the wrath of God is being poured out is because we have not honored God, we have not given thanks to God, we have not acknowledged God, have not glorified God (Rom 1:21, 1:23, 1:28, 2:23, 3:23).   God's love for Himself--His infinite valuing of Himself--demands and drives His wrath. 

It is in thinking about the Trinity that we can most easily see this, for if the Father did not love the Son and the Spirit above all, and if the Son did not love the Father and the Spirit above all, and if the Spirit did not love the Father and the Son above all, then Father, Son, and Holy Spirit would be sinning!  Even the pagan knows that if you do not have wrath for the dishonoring of one whom you claim to love, you do not really love them.

So that explains how God's love of Himself could be behind v8.  But how about His love of us?  Shouldn't He, in loving Himself aright, have consigned us to Hell long ago?  This is where Ephesians 1:4 proclaims to us a powerful answer: God chose us in Christ before the foundations of the world.  For the elect, God's first thoughts of them ever were in connection to the eternally beloved Son.

And that brings us to v13 and its focus upon the anointed, Jesus Himself.  It is for Jesus' sake that He saves us, for it is in Jesus that He chose to love us.  And this love for the elect, this love for everyone in Jesus is what drives all of God's action in human history.  Not just the incarnation and the cross.  All of it.

This is the truth to which Habakkuk could cling in the face of the Chaldeans.  This is the truth to which you may cling confidently in Christ.  Without Christ, all you may ever hope to receive from God is fury.  But cling to Christ, and you shall find that all God's furious, frenzied, frenetic activity in the world is driven by an eternal, infinite love for you.
Oh let us always cling to Jesus and have confidence in this love!

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  GOMF 1-5 (Ministry Monday)
The daily readings (may be) making a comeback. We're trying "Ministry Monday" today with Get Outta My Face!: How to Reach Angry, Unmotivated Teens with Biblical Counsel by Rick Horne. (Buy this book at: WTS - CBD - Monergism - Amazon)

The book is divided into three parts:
Part 1--What You Must Understand to Connect with Your Teen (Chapters 1-5)
Part 2--What You Must Do to Help Your Teen
Part 3--How to Make the Changes Stick

-----

Chapter 1, "There Is Good Reason for Hope":
Chapter 2, "Understanding Your Teen Biblically":
Chapter 3, "Wise Wants: a Point of Contact":
Chapter 4, "Your Stance: Determine to Glorify God":
Chapter 5, "Your Stance: Remember the Log in Your Own Eye"
This concluded Part I of the book.



A couple nits to pick. There is a possible theological error on page 72, where Horne rights that "Jesus was drawn to every type of sin we are drawn to, yet He never sinned." If by "drawn to" Horne means "desired," he is simply wrong and needs a theological category of concupiscence. The desire to sin is sin, and Jesus never desired it. Horne's use of passive voice to avoid the implications seems to suggest that he knows this. Also, throughout the book, he uses the word "disinterested," when he means "uninterested." "Disinterested" means impartial; it does not mean "lacking curiosity about or motivation with respect to."

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harvestoc.net blog, Sunday, February 1, 2009
  Hab 3:3-16 'Waiting Quietly' (Evening Message)
This evening in worship we heard Waiting Quietly from Habakkuk 3:3-16, proclaiming to us God's great power in the past, that He is still that way in the present, that His fury is fierce, but that it is driven by His love for all who are His in Christ.  We heard that believers can wait peacefully upon the Lord--even in situations that would turn our legs to jello--because the God who is acting out of furious love for is in history is the One who brings us into and through and out of these situations.  The [audio] and a [manuscript] are both online.

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  Gen 17:15-17 'Specific about Sarah' (Feb 1, Morning Message)
This morning in worship we heard Specific about Sarah from Gen 17:15-17.  This passage opened for us a window into how God deals with husbands and wives, how God is intentional and specific about our roles in His plan of salvation, and how as the God of impossibilities He intentionally uses our weakness to show the glory of His strength.  The [audio] and a [manuscript] are both online.

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  Eph 5:22-33, The Church as Bride (Feb 1, Bible Class Hour)
This week's class was recorded.  We got through page 3 of the handout from last week, studying Ephesians 5:22-33 on "The Church as Bride."  The audio is [online here].  Next week, we'll start with the church as body.

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