Snow’s coming, the building’s closed…so we’re cancelled for tonight. We’ll miss everyone… Enjoy the evening. See you next week…
On Friday March 6-8 we’ll be returning to the Camp at Old Mill for our twice-annual weekends away for a whole weekend to study God’s word together. We’ll study through an entire book during the weekend (most likely a shorter one, like a New Testament letter). You can expect a variety of different formats for our study, from typical large-group studies to Q&A sessions to discussion groups to individual time to read on your own.
Last year’s weekend was an excellent time together, and I’m really excited for another chance to experience the blessing of Christian community centered around God’s word for. Of course, prayer and worship singing will be a large part of our gatherings, as we let God’s revealed truth lead our hearts to talk to Him, ask Him for things, seek His presence, and praise Him. The weekend will take place at the Camp at Old Mill in Brandamore, PA.
See amid the winter’s snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See, the gentle Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.
Hail that ever blessèd morn,
Hail redemption’s happy dawn,
Sing through all Jerusalem:
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Lo, within a manger lies
He Who built the starry skies;
He Who, thronèd in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim.
Say, you holy shepherds, say,
Tell your joyful news today.
Why have you now left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?
“As we watched at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a wondrous light;
Angels singing ‘Peace on earth’
Told us of the Savior’s birth.”
Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this.
Teach, O teach us, holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee,
In Thy sweet humility.
— By Edward Caswall (1814–1878)
Here are some pre-reading materials for tonight’s study:
The Book of Genesis and The Book of Revelation: Connections and Parallels
There are several connections between the world as God originally created it and the new world God creates in the Book of Revelation.
First World (Genesis) Eternal World (Revelation)
Division of light and darkness (1:4) No night there (21:25)
Division of land and sea (1:10) No more sea (21:1)
Creation of sun and moon (1:16) No need of sun or moon (21:23)
Man in a prepared garden (2:8,9) Man in a prepared City (21:2)
River flowing out of Eden (2:10) River flowing form God’s throne (22:1)
Gold in the land (2:12) Gold in the city (21:21)
Tree of life in the midst of the garden (2:9) Tree of life throughout the city (22:2)
Bdellium and onyx stone (2:12) All manner of precious stones (21:19)
God walking in the garden (3:8) God dwelling with His people (21:3)
After Adam sinned, and the world was cursed (Genesis 3), we see several connections between what happened to the world in Genesis after the curse and the way God will re-create the world in the Book of Revelation.
Cursed World (Genesis) Eternal World (Revelation)
Cursed ground (3:17) No more curse (22:3)
Daily Sorrow (3:17) No more sorrow there (21:4)
Thorns and thistles (3:18) No more pain (21:4)
Sweat on the face (3:19) Tears wiped away (21:4)
Eating herbs of the field (3:18) Twelve manner of fruits (22:2)
Death enters the Earth (3:19) No more death (21:4)
Evil continually (6:5) Nothing that defiles enters in (21:27)
Coats of skin (3:21) Fine Linen clothes, white & clean (19:14)
Satan opposing (3:15) Satan banished (20:10)
Humans kept from the tree of life (3:24) Tree of life available to all (22:14)
Banished from the garden (3:23) Free entry into the city (22:14)
Redeemer promised in a symbol (3:15) Redemption accomplished (5:9, 10)
To all of you who were away with us this weekend, thanks for contributing to a great time together in the Spirit. On Friday I passed out a booklet with (in addition to the schedule) a whole collection of scriptures and readings on prayer. If you weren’t there and are interested in having the booklet, here it is for download:
Thoughts & Scriptures on Prayer (pdf)
Tonight… Let’s get together at 6:30. If it’s nice we’ll cook out on the front field. If it’s not, we’ll get together inside. Either way, bring a side or desert to share.
Testimonies / Worship / Friends.
Hope to see you there.
Tonight we’ll spend Memorial Day together on the ball field in front of the church building. It all starts at 6:30. Bring a desert or a side dish to share if you can!
“The cross had to be carried and endured before it could be preached. Jesus came to be the sacrifice, not to clarify the concept of sacrifice. He did not come to teach about the cross, but to be nailed to it. He came that there might be a gospel to preach…
Sin dug a gulf in a relationship. The cross bridged it.
Sin resulted in estrangement. The cross reconciled it.
Sin made war. The cross made peace.
Sin broke fellowship. The cross repaired and restored it.”
–Thomas Oden
William Still:
“When Jesus ascended, He left eleven men to do his work and, promising them His Spirit, left them, enflamed by the Spirit, to do it. He had no other plans.”
I know you were all revving up your 4x4s to get out for Young Adults tonight, but…The whole church building is closed so snow can be removed. So Y/A is cancelled. Enjoy the night in.