Sweet counsel 05.07.09
May 8, 2009
REMIND
Reformed Theological Seminary report: Dr. Bob Penny of RTS Jackson will be here to give a report Wednesday evening in the Mary Thornton Room at 6:00 pm. No one can adequately measure the impact that RTS has had in the U.S. and around the world. The partnership between FPC and RTS goes back to its formative years in the early 1960′s. Erskine Jackson was among those burdened with the need for such a seminary. There were even discussion about locating the seminary right here in Kosciusko! Come hear Dr. Penny on Wednesday evening, and you’ll be very encouraged about the ways that RTS is fulfilling its mission.
Cookout in honor of the Hollands: Join us at Kosciusko Country Club lake from 4 pm until. We will have a scavenger hunt, fishing, bingo, etc. The hamburger cookout begins at 6:00 pm. There will be s’mores for dessert. Please sign up on the “Church Events” bulletin board if you will be able to attend.
Mission Sunday: Wes Baker of Peru Mission will be here on Sunday, May 17. Wes will give a report on the work in Peru at 9:45 am in the sanctuary. He will preach in the morning worship service as well.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONNECTION…coming May 20: We’re adding some new things to Wednesday nights to develop our TEACHING ministry (remember W-T-N-R?). Wednesday Night Connection is designed to connect us with one another in fellowship and reaching and to dig deeply into God’s Word through Bible-centered studies for children, youth, and adults.
Summer 2009 (May 20-August 12)
6:00 Everybody gathers in the sanctuary for prayer. We’re starting at 6:00 sharp. Don’t be late.
6:15 Children’s ministry; adult electives:
ELECTIVES
• Framework of Faith: a study of fundamental Christian teaching that aims to be rigorous and refreshing, systematic and stimulating (led by Phillip Palmertree). A number of people have been asking for a survey of systematic theology, and here it is. Join us for a study of the skeletal system of Christian living. Meeting in the Mary Thornton Room.
“The Lord bless you” or “Bless the Lord”? In 2001 I was teaching in a seminary in St. Petersburg, Russia. During my lectures on the Psalms, a rather vocal student asked me in good English with a husky Russian accent, “How is it that you can bless God? God is greater than you. He can bless you, but you cannot bless him. Is this right?” I was asked a similar question earlier this week, as I think it arose in discussion in one of the adult Sunday School classes.
The idea behind “bless” (Hebrew barak) is to speak a good word about someone. When God blesses someone (e.g., Genesis 12:1-3; Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 29:11), he speaks a good word over that person for his well-being; he does or gives something of value to a person. A related Hebrew word is berakah, a blessing or a gift or present.
Only God has fiat power, i.e., he can speak and it is done. He is the blessed and only sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who alone has immortality” [1 Timothy 6:15-16]. He is the only sovereign power and authority in the universe. He is the only sovereign; therefore, he is the happy [blessed] sovereign.
When a person blesses God (Psalm 26:12; 34:1; 103:1,20-22; 104:35; 106:48; Revelation 5:12-13; 7:12), he speaks a good word about God’s steadfast love, generosity, and grace. We typically call speaking a good word about someone praise. So “Bless the Lord, O my soul” means “Praise the Lord, O my soul.”
Psalm 134 is a short psalm that uses barak in both senses. Ephesians 1:3 has the same dual usage. When I bless God, I find that he blesses me (think of the benediction at the end of a worship service). Also, when I consider the way God has heaped blessings upon me in Christ, I can’t help but bless his name.
Morning Worship: We are back in Genesis observing the ‘handing down’ of the gracious promises of God to Abraham’s son Isaac and grandson Jacob. This week’s passage, Genesis 26, gives you that ‘deja-vu-all-over-again’ feeling. Isaac finds himself with trials and temptation similar to those which his father Abraham encountered:
- both men received God’s call and promise
- both lived during a period of famine
- both men dwelt in Gerar
- both men had lovely wives
- both men were cowards in the face of possible harm
- both men lied and said their wife was their sister
- both men were spared the consequences of their sin by God’s mercy
- both men were rebuked by more pious Gentiles for their lying schemes
- both men were a blessing to their neighbors
- both men trusted God and lived peacefully with their neighbors.
We’ll exalt the Lord in singing All Creatures of Our God and King, How Deep the Father’s Love for Us, Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness, and O Love That Will Not Let Me God.
Evening Worship: I’m back in the evening pulpit, resuming the series on Revelation. Chapter’s 8-9 show us the fearful blasts of seven trumpets, which unleash woe and suffering on earth. Also in the passage is a glorious symbol of Christian prayer. What’s the connection?
