mgpcpastor's blog

Monthly Archives: May 2018


by Leave a comment

Nobody Welcomes Grace. At The Same Time Everybody Pants For It (via Paul Zahl)

Grace has to be the total paradigm, mix it with anything else and it can’t exist.
From Paul Zahl.

How can grace end-run its way around standards and yardsticks? It sounds unfair.
It is unfair, but it is completely unfair. It is the other side of the law, which is total grappling, a totally unsuccessful and failed grappling, with judgment. Because the law is completely fair, grace has to be completely “unfair.” The atonement makes grace “fair,” as is apparent in the teaching concerning the cross, But from our point of view, from the standpoint of its recipient, grace is unfair.
The unfair character of grace makes it persona non grata in the cut-and-thrust of the battle of life. Nobody welcomes grace. At the same time everybody pants for it; everybody wants it every second of every hour. Grace is an either-or proposition; it is not both-and.

Grace In Practice, Paul F. M. Zahl, Eerdmans, 2007, pgs 70-71.


by Leave a comment

O God Of Our Salvation – Sunday Songs

O God Of Our Salvation by MaTt Boswell and Michael Bleeker, a song for Trinity Sunday.
It seems the lyrics may have been helped by Isaac Watts.
From Boswell:

From Bleeker (a training video)

The lyrics:
1
O God of our salvation
Who reigns upon the throne
The sov’reign Father great is He
From Whom all blessings flow
Chorus
O God of our salvation
From Whom redemption comes
O Father Son and Spirit
The blessed Three in One
2
Behold the Son our Savior
Who for our sin was slain
The Christ Who purchased with His blood
The wretched souls of men
Chorus
3
O God the Holy Spirit
Revealing deity
The fount of life and love divine
Throughout eternity
Chorus
Bridge
Yeah ascribe O church the greatness
And the glory due His name
One God one King one Essence
Our triune God proclaimed
Interlude
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen (yeah)
Ending
(Amen) God of our salvation
(Amen) Who reigns upon the throne
(Amen) The sov’reign Father great is He
(Amen) From Whom all blessings flow

Words and Music by Matt Boswell | Michael Bleecker
© 2009 Dayspring Music, LLC (Admin. by CopyCare Pacific Pty. Ltd.)
Bleecker Publishing (Admin. by Michael Bleecker)


by Leave a comment

Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 21

Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 21

54.
Q. What do you believe concerning the “Holy Catholic Church”?
A. I believe that, from the beginning to the end of the world, and from among the whole human race, the Son of God, by his Spirit and his Word, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself, in the unity of the true faith, a congregation chosen for eternal life. Moreover, I believe that I am and forever will remain a living member of it.

55.
Q. What do you understand by “the communion of saints”?
A. First, that believers one and all, as partakers of the Lord Christ, and all his treasures and gifts, shall share in one fellowship. Second, that each one ought to know that he is obliged to use his gifts freely and with joy for the benefit and welfare of other members.

56.
Q. What do you believe concerning “the forgiveness of sins”?
A. That, for the sake of Christ’s reconciling work, God will no more remember my sins or the sinfulness with which I have to struggle all my life long; but that he graciously imparts to me the righteousness of Christ so that I may never come into condemnation.


by Leave a comment

The Redemptive And Restorative Experience Of Being Part Of The Church (via Derek Thomas)

While no family is without some level of disfunction, those whose experience of family has left them hurt and alienated can experience what family is truly meant to be as part of the church.
It’s one of the reasons I look forward to gathering with Christians week by week:
From Derek Thomas:

…the church is an assembly called together into a homogenous, integrated unity. Several perspectives reinforce this in the New Testament. The church comprises the “family of God.” Each member of the church has become an “adopted son” (huiothesia; Rom. 8:15; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5). Now we are “members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19), in which Jesus Christ is our elder brother. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers (Heb. 2:11). We come to God in prayer, saying, “Our Father” (Matt. 6:9). To those whose experience of family is dysfunctional in this world, the experience of belonging to a community of brothers and sisters is redemptive and restorative, particularly when they experience the loving concern (fellowship [koinōnia]) of “those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).

source


by Leave a comment

3 Kings (preparing for MGPC 27/5/18)

Song: Christ Is Risen He’s Risen Indeed
Welcome:
Call to Worship
Song: Your Love So High
Prayer Of Confession
Song: Jesus Paid It All
Affirming our Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism Q26
Song: Now To The King Of Heaven
Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6 – Further admonitions to Timothy regarding his ministry, particularly touching widows, elders, and slaves.
Bible Memorisation: Proverbs 19:20-21
Song: Glory Be To God The Father
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 14:1-20
Sermon: 3 Kings
Song: Come Now Almighty King
Announcements:
Pastoral Prayer:
Closing Blessing
Song: How Great Is Our God


by Leave a comment

Stars (Philippians 2:14-15) by Slugs And Bugs

Stars is a memory verse song of Philippians 2:14-15 from Randall Goodgame’s Sing The Bible With Slugs And Bugs Volume 3.