“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.”  Ephesians 6:14“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:1-7The breastplate of righteousness (the freely given mercy of God in Christ) protects and defends our identity and incites our passions. TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE:#1:Dead in trespasses and sins (v.1,5). Walks by following the prince of darkness (v.2).Lives in the passions of the flesh (v.3).They are, by nature, children of wrath (v.3b).The past is recalled not because the emphasis falls upon it but in order to draw attention to God’s mighty action in Christ. #2:Made alive with Christ (v.6).Raised up and seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ (v.6).Knows and rejoices in the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness towards us in Christ (v.8).OBSERVATIONS:1. Mankind without Christ: has a difficult environment (the ways of this world, inclinations to evil, the cravings of the sinful nature) and operates influenced by a supernatural power at work around him (i.e., the devil).“Original sin is by nature in all human beings; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness and is of his own nature inclined to evil…”  Thirty Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article 92. The problem is: “Out there” → “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”  Rousseau, The Social Contract (1762) OR “In here” (with social/personal/institutional manifestations) → Total depravity is the understanding that sin has infected every area of our lives. It is a contaminant that, if left unchecked, will lead to brokenness and sorrow.3. Total depravity is not utter depravity."There remains in man since the fall, the glimmerings of natural light, whereby he retains some knowledge of God, of natural things, and of the differences between good and evil, and discovers some regard for virtue and good order in society, and for maintaining an orderly external deportment.”  The Canons of Dort (1619)4. The scheme of the devil is to blind us to the glory, goodness, and power of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:14).“But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.”  2 Corinthians 3:14“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  2 Corinthians 4:3-6APPLICATIONS:1. Behold the glory of the gospel in the work of Christ.2. Men without Christ gravitate towards:• Self-justification (“I may be bad, but I’m not as bad as ______”)• Bargaining with God in order to earn his favor (if there is one o... Speaker: Buster Brown

Speaker: Guest Speaker

“Thus we never actually live, but hope to live, and since we are always planning how to be happy, it is inevitable that we should never be so.”   Blaise Pascal, Pensées

“What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.”  Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

The Tension of Toil

“I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.”   Ecclesiastes 1:14

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”  Augustine, Confessions

“Part of being wise in this world is learning to accept that we have only very limited access to the big picture.”

David Gibson, Living Backwards

The Beauty of Brevity

“Happiness comes not from controlling your life but realizing that everything you care about most is entangled with forces beyond your control.”  Bobby Jamieson, Everything Is Never Enough

“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.”  Ecclesiastes 5:18

“Because life comes from God’s hand, and all the good things in life do too, both life itself and its million small good things are gifts. Seeing that and living accordingly makes the crucial difference between despair and delight.”  Bobby Jamieson, Everything Is Never Enough

The Custom of Contentment

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:11-13

“Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.” Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

“Christian contentment is finding delight in God’s wise plan for my life and humbly allowing him to direct me to it.”  Andy Davis, The Power of Christian Contentment

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world…I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.” CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

Recommended:

Everything Is Never Enough (Jamieson)

Living Life Backward (Gibson)

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (Burroughs)

The Power of Christian Contentment (Davis)

For Discussion:

What makes contentment difficult to maintain?

How does the encouragement to “be joyful and do good” contrast with a secular view of pleasure or success?

In what area(s) of your life do you struggle to trust God’s timing or purpose?

In thinking about the week ahead, how can you live with an understandi... Speaker: Van Barnhill

“Finally, BE STRONG in the Lord and in the STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to STAND against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to WITHSTAND in the evil day, and having done all, TO STAND FIRM. STAND therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.”  Ephesians 6:10-14

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”  Genesis 3:1-7  POST-TRUTH: Objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. (Oxford Word of the Year, 2016)  EXPRESSIVE INDIVIDUALISM: “Each of us finds our meaning by giving expression to our own feelings and desires (culture of authenticity). This entails the understanding that it is important to find and live out one’s own life as against surrendering to conformity with a model that is imposed on us from outside, by society, or the previous generation, or religious or political authority.”  Charles Taylor, A Secular Age, pg. 475

 The Devil’s Playbook:

1. Questions the goodness/truthfulness of God (Genesis 3:1-4).

 Westminster Larger Catechism: Question 7

Q: What is God?A: God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection, all sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, present everywhere, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and

ABUNDANT IN GOODNESS AND TRUTH.

We combat the attacks of the devil by rejoicing in the glory and goodness of Jesus. (John 6:35, 8:12, 10:7, 10:11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  John 10:11

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”  John 10:9 2. Lies in order to dethrone the kingly and benevolent rule of the Lord (Genesis 3:5).

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  John 8:44

“What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18and, having been set free from s... Speaker: Buster Brown

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”  Ephesians 6:10-13

Paul is instructing believers to put on the whole armor of God so that we might walk in the joy and liberty as children of God, and be useful in the kingdom as we engage the dark forces.1. “Finally” (give attention to this, be on high level alert because the following information holds all the preceding truth together) 2. “Be strong in the Lord” (self reliance in our walk with the Lord is deadly)

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”   Colossians 1:9-12

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5 3. “Put on” (intentionality)“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”  Romans 13:12

“And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”  Colossians 3:10

“Stand firm” (This is used four times in this passage) 4. Stand in His strength alone;

the arm of flesh will fail you,

ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the gospel armor,

each piece put on with prayer;

where duty calls or danger,

be never wanting there.

Stand up for Jesus, 3rd stanza 5. Understand the devil’s “schemes”

“One must face the fact that all the talk about his love for men, and his service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of himself-... We want cattle who can finally become food; he wants servants who can finally become sons. We want to suck in, he wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; he is full and flows over.”  C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters, Letter Eight 6. “Wrestle”7. The enemy: “rulers, authority, cosmic powers over this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”

8 “Evil day”

“The apostle is not only speaking of this present time between the two comings of Jesus, but it’s also alerting believers to the dangers of the devil’s schemes on critical occasions in this present evil age. There may appear to be times of reprieve for Christians, but they must hold, they must not be lulled into a false sense of security, thinking that the battle is over or that it is not especially difficult. They must always be prepared and put on the full armor of God, for the devil will attack them when least expected.”  Peter O’Brien, Ephesians, Pillar Commentary, pg. 471- 472 APPLICATIONS:

1. Why is the whole armor of God necessary in addressing: the destruction of the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles (finding our identity primarily in the glory of the cross and not our ethnicity), putting away falsehood and speaking the truth in love, not giving in to coarse living or jesting but rather being known as people of thanksgiving (worship), p... Speaker: Buster Brown

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”  Ephesians 6:10-13KINGDOMS IN CONFLICT:

 “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19

“Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.”  Matthew 12:29

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”  1 John 4:4

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”  1 John 5:4-5

“Our policy (in the Demonic realm), for the moment, is to conceal ourselves…I do not think you will have much difficulty in keeping the patient in the dark. The fact that ‘devils’ are predominately comic figures in the modern imagination will help you. If any faint suspicion of your existence begins to arise in his mind, suggest to him a picture of something in red tights, and persuade him that since he cannot believe in that (it is an old textbook method of confusing them) he therefore cannot believe in you.”  C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, Letter 7

 In putting on the whole armor of God, we have to be continually aware of the following central truths: 1. We have union with Christ through the work of the cross. The vital union that believers have with Jesus Christ makes them recipients of all the spiritual blessings that are found in Him as the Mediator and Redeemer of His people (Ephesians 1:3). By union with Christ, God confers on His people all the saving benefits Christ merited by His life, death, and resurrection (Ephesians 1:3-5, 7-8, 11-14).

Rejoicing in the means by which we enter into a relationship with the triune God“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9 (3:17-19)

Biblically informed, Holy Spirit empowered awareness of the eternal realities around us (Ephesians 4:14, 5:3-6, 8, 11). APPLICATIONS:

1. Do you agree with the following: “Few Christians fully realize the extent of Satan’s influence; nor do they understand their own authority in Christ?”

Explain the concept of degrees of walking in the light and degrees of walking in the darkness.

According to The Screwtape Letters (C.S.Lewis), how do demons “conceal themselves?"2. What is the devil’s counterattack to our union (eternal relationship) with Christ?

3. What does this statement mean: “Rats love garbage?"4. What are the “Maltese cats” in the life of the Christian?5. In the Barna survey, how do you explain the disparity between 95 % believe in “God” while 41% believe in “the devil/dark forces?"

Speaker: Buster Brown

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”  Titus 2:11-14

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”  Revelation 1:5b-7

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”  1 Peter 2:9We Serve Others"We have been both secured* by Jesus’ service to us and equipped with spiritual gifts, that we might freely serve both the church and the world. Our members are called to pour themselves out in a variety of ways, as well as to consider their entire lives to be spiritual acts of service."  ECBC Values

1. The road to productive kingdom living: The grace has been fully revealed in Jesus Christ (v.11).

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."  Titus 3:5

“An unbalanced stress on auxiliary (extra-biblical?) methods of assurance– testing one’s life by the inspection of works and searching for the internal witness of the Spirit –obscured Luther’s teaching on assurance to salvation through naked reliance on the work of Christ.”  Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life, pg.100

2. We are always in training (v.12).

A disciple is a forgiven sinner who is constantly learning Jesus in repentance and faith.

We operate on the cycle of moving from need to nourishment/danger to deliverance.

3. An expectant/forward focus of faith: waiting for the blessed hope (the best is yet to be as we live in the “already but not yet”) (v.13).4. The present day joy producing an emotionally healthy focus: sound in the faith (1:13) sound in daily living (faith, love and steadfastness)(2:2), sound in speech/relationships (2:8).

Therefore, we are free to be zealous for good works (v.14).

“Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.”  1689 London Confession of Faith, Chapter 16-3APPLICATIONS:1. When the grace of the cross is continually transfixing, it leads to secured disciples to serve freely. 2. For every one look at your sin (which leads to repentance), take 25 trips to the cross which produces joy and hope (Malachi 4:2-3).3. A non-repenting, non-fruit producing “faith” is not saving faith (Matthew 7:21-23, 25:40).4. Sound in faith → Sound daily living

→ Sound in relationships 5. Secured servants understand the secret of replenishment. “If you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you conti... Speaker: Buster Brown

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, TRAINING us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, WAITING for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are EAGER/ZEALOUS for good works.”  Titus 2:11-14

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

We Serve Others

“We have been both secured by Jesus’ service to us and equipped with spiritual gifts, that we might freely serve both the church and the world. Our members are called to pour themselves out in a variety of ways, as well as to consider their entire lives to be spiritual acts of service.”

ECBC Values

“Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.”  1689 London Confession of Faith, Chapter 16:3

1. The Christian faith is a cyclical experience moving from need to nourishment (danger to deliverance).

2. SOUND doctrine…faith…speech. 3. Living with the hope of heaven (“already but not yet”)…real and substantial change, but not complete the sight of heaven.“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”  Hebrews 10:14

4.  Being eager for good works is a sign of true saving faith. We are called to be a people who serve others(1 Peter 2:9-10).5. The secret of replenishment“And if you offer yourself to the hungry

And satisfy the need of the afflicted,

Then your light will rise in darkness,

And your gloom will become like midday.

And the Lord will continually guide you,

And satisfy your desire in scorched places,

And give strength to your bones;

And you will be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”  Isaiah 58:10-11 Speaker: Buster Brown

“Now I rejoice in my suff erings for your sake, and in my

fl esh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s affl ictions for

the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became

a minister according to the stewardship from God that was

given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now

revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known

how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of

this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him

we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone

with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in

Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he

powerfully works within me.”  Colossians 1:24-29 …We make disciples (Who makes disciples?).

• We believe that followers of Christ are called to

multiply through the proclamation of the gospel

from one person to the next and through the

ensuing process of relational discipleship. Therefore,

we mobilize our people in order to expand God’s

kingdom to the neighborhoods and nations until they

all know the gospel.

How do we make disciples?

1. We _________. (v.28a)

• Mark 5, John 9 → “Our problem in evangelism is not

that we don’t have enough information—it is that we

don’t know how to be ourselves. We forget we are called

to be witnesses to what we have seen and know, not to

what we don’t know. The key on our part is authenticity

and obedience, not a doctorate in theology. We haven’t

grasped that it really is OK for us to be who we are when

we are with seekers, even if we don’t have all the answers

to their questions or if our knowledge of Scripture

is limited.”  Rebecca Manley Pippert, Out of the

Saltshaker & into the World: Evangelism as a Way of Life

2. We _________ and ___________ . (v.28b) 3. We __________. (v.28c)

“For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our

Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory

and joy.”  I Thessalonians 2:19-204. We _________. (v.29a)

“…my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of

childbirth until Christ is formed in you!”  Galatians 4:19APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1. What is one way for you to taste the glory of the

gospel in a fresh way this week?

2. What is one sphere in your life where you can spend

time with people who don’t know Christ?

3. For whom will you toil in prayer this week? Speaker: Matt Reagan

"I will extol you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you

and praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,

and shall declare your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,

and I will declare your greatness.

They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness

and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all,

and his mercy is over all that he has made.

The Lord upholds all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food in due season.

You open your hand;

you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways

and kind in all his works.

The Lord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;

he also hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord preserves all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy."  Psalm 145:1-9, 14-20

A disciple is a forgiven sinner who is committed to the transformational learning of Christ in repentance and faith.“Disciples are made by the persevering proclamation of the word of God by the people of God, in prayerful dependence on the Spirit of God.”  Marshall and Payne, The Vine Project, pg. 1451. The threefold personal worship pursuit

“I will extol you” (v.1)

“I will bless you” (v.2) and remember that your greatness is “no one can fathom” (NIV)

“I will meditate” (v.5) (to think deeply with praise and thanksgiving/to ponder)

“Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: grant us to so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of our everlasting life, which you have given us and our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen."  The Book of Common Prayer (1552)2. …which leads to iron resolve (v.4-6)

to commend means to happily pronounce or boast

to declare equals to remember, to make a written report APPLICATION STATEMENTS1. A love for the gospel and the understanding of God's heart for the nations/generations is at the core of what it means to be a disciple of Christ.2. We are called to deeply ponder/meditate on the wondrous works of the Lord in an impulsive, entertainment-saturated age of distractions.3. “We pour forth the fame” of that which we deeply treasure.4. The pouring forth of His fame involves joyful singing (Psalm 145:7, Psalm 100)5. We commend the reality of Christ with passion to the coming generations as we heartily rejoice in the mercies of the Father (v.14-20)"My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!"  Galatians 4:19 "Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church."  Colossians 1:246. We live with resolve because legacies are established and secured.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."  Philippians 4:8-9

7. We want to instill a culture of generos... Speaker: Buster Brown