John Owen Prayed for Grace Church

Beginning this coming Sunday, the Grace Groups (small groups) of Grace Church will start going through John Owen's book, Communion With God. Staggeringly amazing in concept, completely soul-satisfying when practiced!

As we are preparing to embark on this study, I was encouraged to find that Rev. Owen prayed for us. Here is the transcript of his summary of the study, and of his petition of the Almighty on our behalf:

"It is with regard to this initial communion [with God] (on earth) that I intend to speak and to show that mutual giving and receiving between God and the saints as they walk together in holy and spiritual peace."

"First I pray that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has, by the riches of his grace, brought us from a state of enmity into this glorious fellowship with himself, may give you such a taste of his sweetness and excellence in this communion as to be stirred up to a greater longing for that eternal enjoyment of him in eternal glory" (p. 3).

Amen and Amen!

He Rests

So rest with Him...IN HIM!

Was He Tired? Worship Preparation

Take time this week to read and meditate through the creation account in Genesis 1-2. Focus specifically on the first three verses of chapter two.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” (Gen 2:1-3 ESV)

The "rest" of God will be one of our main questions this Sunday at Grace. More importantly, we will ask, "So, what was He doing while He rested?" And, "He was doing what? And He was doing it to whom?" Ultimately we want to worship Him because He has said to us, "I will give you rest."


See you Sunday, Lord willing...

Who Is This?

Who is This, so Weak and Helpless
William W. How

Who is this so weak and helpless,
Child of lowly Hebrew maid,
Rudely in a stable sheltered, coldly in a manger laid?
’Tis the Lord of all creation,
Who this wondrous path hath trod;
He is God from everlasting, and to everlasting God.

Who is this, a Man of sorrows,
Walking sadly life’s hard way,
Homeless, weary, sighing, weeping,
Over sin and Satan’s sway?
’Tis our God, our glorious Savior,
Who above the starry sky
Is for us a place preparing,
Where no tear can dim the eye.

Who is this? Behold Him shedding
Drops of blood upon the ground!
Who is this, despised, rejected,
Mocked, insulted, beaten, bound?
’Tis our God, Who gifts and graces
On His church is pouring down;
Who shall smite in holy vengeance
All His foes beneath His throne.


Who is this that hangs there dying
While the rude world scoffs and scorns,
Numbered with the malefactors,
Torn with nails, and crowned with thorns?
’Tis our God Who lives forever,
’Mid the shining ones on high,
In the glorious golden city, reigning everlastingly.

Who is GOD?

We all have our ideas about Him...but what does GOD say about Himself?

Grace Church-ers, remember to pray over and pass out these flyers that we made available on Sunday! Go get 'em!

Jordan Thomas - Our Great God

Another Grace Church member pointed me to this YouTube snippit from the sermon I preached in July at BBC, which was the same text I preached yesterday at Grace...

Our Great God

"For thus says the high and exalted one,
Who lives forever, Whose name is Holy.
'I dwell on a high and holy place,
and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit,
in order to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of contrite.'"
- Isaiah 57:15

Paaaaty Tyme

Remember, this Sunday evening (Sept 9) from 5:30-7p is our Grace Party at Bridges.

Grace Parties are designed to celebrate Christ and His work. Everyone is welcome.

As we are anticipating the start of a new cycle of Grace Groups (beginning Sept. 16), this Sunday's party will be dedicated to the work of God through our Spring cycle Grace Groups. A few testimonies will be shared too. See you Sunday morning, and again in the evening!

Light refreshments will be available at the party, and I'm sure several will hit dinner spots afterwards (maybe even The Happy?).

God Songs

Grace Church wants your help.

Would you point us to your favorite hymns or choruses that extol the majesty of God? As you think of such songs, please paste the lyrics in the comments section below. Thank you!

Fall & Winter 2007 Church Card

Earlier on the GC blog we mentioned the theme of our next sermon series. Below is our church card that details the text for the prayer meeting, the sermon, as well as sermon titles. Pray with us this Fall as we seek to encounter and enjoy GOD: The Greatest of All!

Worship Matters

Most of you are familiar with this blog, but if not, get familiar!

Worship Preparation

For those coming to Grace this Sunday, here are a few suggestions for how to prepare your soul. As always, these are "suggestions" not "law." I look forward to "boasting" in the cross of the Lord Jesus with you this Sunday!

1. Read, and pray through (meditate), Galatians 6:11-18 in as many translations as you can track down.
2. Thank God for Jesus, and glory in His cross!
3. Sing something to God (preferably that you are making up on the spot) as you think of the contents of the sermon text. (Joyful noise!)
   
4. Thank God for the 16th century Reformation (and for the life of Martin Luther in particular, which, in God's kind providence was an instrumental event in history that contributed to our access to believing the contents of Galatians!).
5. Listen to, or read, Piper (preaching in Memphis in 2000) on Boasting Only in the Cross.
6. Attend, and engage in, corporate prayer at 9a.

Wait For GOD

For from of old they have not
heard nor perceived by ear,
Neither has the eye seen a God
besides Thee,
Who acts in behalf of the one
who waits for Him.

Isaiah 64:4

TCT Network

I'm in Minneapolis now for tomorrow's (Monday) Treasuring Christ Together church planter's network meeting.

We will appreciate your prayers as we worship, fellowship, and discuss. These meetings are designed to continue to kindle the doctrinal kinship between the TCT churches, aid practical ministry, and contribute towards our mutual involvement in church planting. Thank you for praying for us!
JT

Embracing The Sovereignty of God

(HT: Tim Challies; Timmy Brister)