Passion Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

The Spiritual Dangers of Disconnecting from Creation – Scott Martin (TGC)
Creation is not an end in itself, something to be worshiped in place of the Creator. It is rather something that points us—if we are willing to pay attention—to a good, gracious, powerful, extravagant, and loving God. A world that disregards or distances itself from creation is a world that will naturally disregard and distance itself from God.

Quiet and Deep Christianity – Andrew Roycroft (Thinking Pastorally)
Ours is an age of fragmentation, of intellectual hopscotch, of results-oriented activity on the one hand and mindless entertainment on the other. We have demolished the stonewalls and uprooted the hedgerows of our intellectual past in favour of speed, convenience, and leisure; the mass production of information on which to gorge ourselves, without a thought for the mental and emotional habitats which have been destroyed in the process. Sooner or later we will have accommodated these changes to such a degree that we won’t even know to feel regret, and by the time my young children reach adulthood the concepts of silence, stillness, meditation, deep reading, and unbroken thought will be so far back in our history that they may scarcely seem real….  A huge, and largely unaddressed, issue is what kind of effect will this tempo and tone have on the life and work of the local church?

An Open Letter to the Timid Evangelist – Brian Hedges (Crossway)
In diagnosing our evangelistic disorders, it helps to remember that effective personal evangelism depends on the convergence of multiple factors including opportunity, character, and skill. Here are a few thoughts about each.

We Don’t Sing for Fun – Tim Challies
One of the trends that has swept our society through the past decades is the “funification” of pretty much everything….Yet singing is not prescribed for Christian worship for the purpose of fun. It actually serves a far higher purpose…

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Sermon Songs: Revelation 22:1-5

MusicNotes

We are longing for the Garden, Living Water flowing through
Bright as crystal in this Eden, Life with God for me and you
We are longing, We are thirsting, We yearn for Christ to return

In this Garden – the Tree of Life, No more death, disease, aging
No more curse, no more cosmic strife, No more pain, sorrow, weeping
We are longing, We are thirsting, We yearn for Christ to return

In this Garden reigns the good King, Evil gone – there is no night
We will serve Him, His praise we’ll sing, Dwelling in His brilliant light
We are longing, We are thirsting, We yearn for Christ to return

In this Garden – His name bearing, Forever we’ll see His face
Close communion ever growing, Behold God’s amazing grace
We are longing, We are thirsting, We yearn for Christ to return

To the tune of “Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending”

Sermon Songs: Revelation 21:9-27

MusicNotes

Behold the Lamb’s glorious Bride, The Lord’s Holy City
The people for whom Jesus died, Arrayed with God’s glory
Dwelling in God’s brilliant presence, In loving unity
Forever in God’s remembrance, With radiant beauty

Behold our God’s new dwelling place, Ablaze with His glory
Home of the redeemed human race, The great holy city
The nations bring their glory in, The gates open always
There’ll be no wickedness or sin, In these glorious days

To the tune of “We Sing the Greatness of Our God”

Sermon Songs: Revelation 21:1-8

MusicNotes

I saw the new heaven and earth, And there was no more sea
The Bride of Christ came down to earth, As the Holy City
Behold with man God now dwelling, Our tears He’ll wipe away
No more death, pain, or suffering, On this joyful new day!

Behold God will make new all things, These words are trustworthy
The water of life from the Spring, Given to the thirsty
The one who conquers will receive, A place in God’s fam’ly
Turn from your sin, in Christ believe, These gifts accept freely

To the tune of “We Sing the Greatness of Our God”

Sermon Songs: Revelation 20:1-10

MusicNotes

See an angel seize the dragon, Bind him for a 1000 years
See the saints raised to life again, Reigning for a 1000 years
Blessed and holy, Priests to our God, Jesus wins the victory

See Satan released from prison, Deceive, gather an army
See fire fall down from heaven, Satan judged eternally
War is over, Christian rejoice, Jesus wins the victory

To the tune of “Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending”

Sermon Songs: Revelation 19:11-21

MusicNotes

Behold the King now is coming; Faithful, True, righteous judging
White horse riding, just war making; With His army following
His eyes flaming, crowns He’s wearing; Behold the King is coming

Behold the King now is coming; With a secret name bearing
His robe wearing, Red blood shedding; Word of God w/ sword striking
Jesus reigning, winepress treading; Behold the King is coming

See the Beast come with his Liar; See the birds up in the skies
Both Beasts thrown into the fire; As all of their army dies
Heed the warning, gospel telling; Behold the King is coming

To the tune of “Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending”

Sermon Songs: Revelation 19:1-10

MusicNotes

Hallelujah to our Savior, Full of glory, full of power
Hallelujah – He has judged her, Babylon the corrupter
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, All ye servants worship God

Hallelujah – rejoice and sing, Our God reigns and He has won
We’re invited to the wedding, As the Bride of God’s own Son
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, All ye servants worship God

To the tune of “Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending”