Last Sunday after Pentecoxt

Pastor Josh Harp

The Supremely important point here is that basic Old Testament promises and predicates, which originally applied to the people of Israel, are now transferred to the universal Christian community. Christianity knows that it is the elect Israel.... The transfer is wholly grounded upon, and executed by, Christ. G Schrenk

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor Josh Harp

While we are here, there will be cross events, as well as agreeable ones.... Sometimes things are softly and agreeably gliding on; but, by and by, there is some incident which alters that course, grates us, and pains us.... Everybody's lot in this world has some crook in it. Thomas Boston

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor Josh Harp

It seems silly that anyone who knows the difference between happiness and pleasure would continue to trade happiness for pleasure. It seems utterly stupid for a person to do something that he knows will rob him of his happiness. Yet we do it. The mystery of sin is not only that it is wicked and destructive but that it is downright stupid. R.C. Sproul

Twenty first Sunday after Pentecost

Continuing in Ecclesiastes

Pastor Josh Harp

I cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the council, because it is clear that they have fallen into error and even into inconsistency with themselves. If, then, I am not convinced by proof from Holy Scripture, or by cogent reasons, if I am not satisfied by the very text I have cited, and if my judgment is not in this way brought into subjection to God's word, I can neither nor will retract anything, for it cannot be either safe or honest for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.

       Martin Luther's response at the Edict of Worms, 1521

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Continuing in Ecclesiastes

Pastor Josh Harp

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Continuing our series through the book of Ecclesiates

Pastor Josh Harp

Some form of suffering is virtually indispensable to holiness. John R W Stott

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor Josh Harp

To everything (turn, turn, turn)

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost.

Pastor Josh Harp

Presbyterians claim that no part of God's creation is exempt from God's providence. It is not as though Pharoah was under God's control, but Adam was not; or Cyrus was under God's control, but Augustus Caesar was not. All of God's creatures are under his control. Even inanimate objects and forces are under his control. Sean Michael Lewis, On Being Presbyterian

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost.

Pastor Josh Harp

What has happened with Jesus can be understood only in light of the Scriptures, yet the Scriptures can only be understood in light of what has happened with Jesus. These two are mutually informing. And before the disciples will be able to recognize the risen Lord, they must grasp especially the nexus between suffering and messiahship. Joel Green 

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Second in a series through Ecclesiates

Pastor Josh Harp

I believe in original sin. ...I know that I'm capable of craving a cold beer in a village of starving kids. ...I understand that selfishness vies for space in our hearts with compassion...   George Stephanopoulos