Trinity Bible Church

Prayer

Father of all truth, we thank you for sending to us messengers of truth to expose our sins and call us to repentance. We thank you for your Word that brings to our hearts Your perfect law. May Your Spirit cause our hearts to not only hear Your cry but to flee from all known iniquity. Amen.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Anne R. Cousin, in The Christian Treasury, 1857. From this hymn came the title of Cousin’s 1876 work, Immanuel’s Land and other Pieces by A. R. C.

THE SANDS OF TIME ARE SINKING
Click here for tune.

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams of earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Oh! Well it is forever, Oh! well forevermore,
My nest hung in no forest of all this death doomed shore:
Yea, let the vain world vanish, as from the ship the strand,
While glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

There the Red Rose of Sharon unfolds its heartsome bloom
And fills the air of heaven with ravishing perfume:
Oh! To behold it blossom, while by its fragrance fanned
Where glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Thought Provoker

It was in January 1850 that a snowstorm providentially kept still unconverted C.H. Spurgeon from attending his regular church. He found the doors of a Primitive Methodist Church open. He gathered that cold Lord’s day with ten or fifteen others to hear the preacher plead, “Look to Jesus!” The preacher focused on his young visitor and personally declared, “Young man, you look very miserable.” Spurgeon was surprised to be addressed personally from the pulpit. The preacher continued, “You always will be miserable—miserable in life and miserable in death if you don’t obey my text; but if you obey now, this moment you will be saved.” Then, lifting up his hands, he shouted, “Young man, look to Jesus Christ! Look! Look! Look! You have nothin’ to do but to look and live.” God used those words to produce spiritual life and saving faith in a young man who would become the “Prince of Preachers”. Have you ever sat in church and thought the preacher was speaking to everyone else but you? It seems as if we know the spiritual needs of others above our own selves. Sometimes God brings a messenger to personally drive home His truth. Today, He calls Nathan to personally confront David with his wicked heart.

Dad’s Study

Almost a year after David’s sin of adultery and murder, Jehovah sent Nathan to confront David’s unrepentant heart through a parable. Read together the parable and explain its obvious meaning to your family (verses 1-4). What judgment does David clearly pronounce on the rich man (vs. 5-6)? Nathan, looking David right in the eye, declared, Thou art the man (v. 7)! The prophet of God continues by reminding David of the many blessings that God has graciously bestowed upon him (vs. 7-8). After pointing out his specific sins of murder and adultery, Nathan announces God’s judgment. From that point on the sword shall never depart from thine house (v. 10) and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun (v. 11). You always reap what you sow. David’s retribution would be in like kind. You never sin in a vacuum. The sins of the father pass down to successive generations. This judgment was perfectly fulfilled in the baby’s death, Amnon’s murder (12:28), Absalom’s rebellion and death 18:14), and finally, when David made Salomon his successor, he knew he was passing sentence on Adonijah, the eldest of his surviving sons. The judgment was complete when Absalom lay with David’s concubines openly (16:22). Prior to his sin, David’s family lived in unity and harmony. Because of his sin, his family would turn to hatred and bloody strife and his enemies would blaspheme Jehovah (v. 14). The purpose of God’s discipline is to bring the sinner to a conviction of sin that leads to repentance and righteousness (Heb. 12:11). Confronted and convicted, David repented and God graciously forgave (Heb. 12:13).

• Do you know the difference between repentance and remorse when your sins are exposed? Remorse is a regret for getting caught. Repentance is a godly sorrow that leads to a confession and turning away from that sin.

• Has God personally exposed your sin through one of His messengers? Has He used parents, pastor, fellow Christians, employer, or friends to expose your sinful heart? How did you respond? Did you repent like David or was your heart left to harden?

• Do you personalize your pastor’s weekly sermons? A sermon is God’s message to YOU! Its purpose is to bring a conviction of your own sin to your heart that leads to repentance. Next Lord’s Day listen to the sermon with a fresh realization that it is God’s message to YOU!

• Do you personalize God’s Word when you read the Bible? Scripture is God’s Word to YOU! It is written for you to personalize and apply its truths in your life. May God richly use His Word and His messengers to confront your disobedience and lead you into the pathway of righteousness!

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

There is a saying “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” Just as it is better to have never taken ill, even compared to being ill and recovering; it is better to have never sinned and not have to ask for forgiveness. How do we avoid the sin of David? Let’s examine what caused David to fall into sin and then be sure not to permit these things in our own life:

1. Neglect of responsibility
As King it was David’s responsibility to go out with the army and lead it in battle against Israel’s enemies. However instead of going out he neglected his duty and sent Joab out with the rmy instead. When we are not giving our attentions to our responsibilities we become susceptible to temptation.

2. Idleness
As David leisurely lounged on his roof, his mind and hands not being occupied with his duties, it left room for the tempter to come in and dangle the temptation in front of him. Truly, idle hands are the devil’s workshop.

3. A wandering eye
David was allowing his eye to wander and this left him open to consider sin. Unlike Job, who made a covenant with his eyes not to look upon sinful things, David was actively searching and indulging his lustful eye.

Let this be instructional to us to occupy our minds with our responsibilities, our hands with our duties, and our eyes with only what is pure and noble before God. These measures will do much to protect us from the temptations of the evil one.

Catechism

Question 40

Q. What did God reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule which God first revealed to man for his obedience is the moral law (Deut. 10:4; Mt. 19:17) which is summarised in the ten commandments.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to fulfill the purpose for which You created me—to glorify Thee who has given me being. Amen.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Anne R. Cousin, in The Christian Treasury, 1857. From this hymn came the title of Cousin’s 1876 work, Immanuel’s Land and other Pieces by A. R. C.

THE SANDS OF TIME ARE SINKING
Click here for tune.

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams of earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Oh! Well it is forever, Oh! well forevermore,
My nest hung in no forest of all this death doomed shore:
Yea, let the vain world vanish, as from the ship the strand,
While glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

There the Red Rose of Sharon unfolds its heartsome bloom
And fills the air of heaven with ravishing perfume:
Oh! To behold it blossom, while by its fragrance fanned
Where glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Thought Provoker

There was a time when the Gospel of God’s grace spread like wildfire around much of the known world. The cross was powerfully preached, multitudes were converted, idols were crushed, and churches were planted, all unto the glory of God! Ask your family to list some of the remote places of the world where churches were planted in the centuries following New Testament times. You might mention the thrust of the Gospel into Asia Minor as it was powerfully proclaimed in the region around modern day Turkey. Multitudes were converted as the Gospel spread throughout Europe. God’s grace was later heralded, through the missionary movements, in Asia, Africa, Americas and the Pacific Islands. Wherever people bowed to Christ, false idols were destroyed. What about these same areas today? Many islands and nations that once brightly radiated the Gospel of light have dimmed to an undetectable flicker. Where are the churches of Ephesus, Philippi, and Corinth? The murderous sword of Islam swept across Asia and Africa leaving much of the world in spiritual darkness. Is the sword of Islam stronger than the Sword of Truth? Be encouraged from today’s Psalm of Gospel victory. May God use it to rekindle missionary zeal in the hearts of His people!

Dad’s Study

The Lord reigneth (1)! In the present tense the Psalmist declares that Christ is eternally on His throne reigning over every corner of this earth. Islam’s power of the human sword is no match to our Lord’s power to both save and judge wicked hearts.

Behold the King! He rules from His heavenly throne. To the Christian there is no greater comfort than to know that Jehovah your God is enthroned and sovereignly reigning over His creation. The entire world is His footstool. None can stay His hand! Christ entered this world as a suffering servant but now reigns as the exalted King!

Fear the King! His fires of judgment will devour all of His enemies (vs. 2-5)! All those who refuse to bow their knees to Christ in this life will stand before Him and will be judged according to their works (Rev. 20:13). “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15). “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31).”

Worship the King! God’s glory is on display to the whole world (vs. 6-7)! Behold His handiwork! Look out your window and ponder His divine artwork. Here in Wyoming we stand amazed at the towering snow-capped Rockies. Whether the depth of the oceans, the vastness of the stars, or that tiny little plant in your windowsill, worship God the Creator. Behold His works! His grace saves the greatest of sinners! His tender mercies are renewed daily. God is victorious! He has a people to save and He will save them throughout the earth! Be glad! Rejoice and praise the Lord!

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

May God stir the hearts of His church today to proclaim the Gospel to the nations and islands of the world. May He renew His church with a missionary zeal to go in His power with a message of grace that is sufficient to topple the “tin god” of the Moslems. Jehovah is on His throne! Christians, until He returns, shine brightly Christ’s righteousness, love Christ, hate evil, be glad and rejoice evermore!

Perhaps you have never bowed your knee to Christ. You continue to embrace your idols of sin and worldly pleasure. Be warned, “the Lord reigneth!” Flee from the wrath. Run from your sins into the saving arms of the Lord Jesus Christ. The King delights in saving sinners just like you. His death on the cross is sufficient to purchase peace and forgiveness to all who will trust in Him alone.

Catechism

Question 40

Q. What did God reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule which God first revealed to man for his obedience is the moral law (Deut. 10:4; Mat. 19:17) which is summarised in the ten commandments.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest…. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” —Psalm 51:1-4, 9-12.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Anne R. Cousin, in The Christian Treasury, 1857. From this hymn came the title of Cousin’s 1876 work, Immanuel’s Land and other Pieces by A. R. C.

THE SANDS OF TIME ARE SINKING
Click here for tune.

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams of earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Oh! Well it is forever, Oh! well forevermore,
My nest hung in no forest of all this death doomed shore:
Yea, let the vain world vanish, as from the ship the strand,
While glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

There the Red Rose of Sharon unfolds its heartsome bloom
And fills the air of heaven with ravishing perfume:
Oh! To behold it blossom, while by its fragrance fanned
Where glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Thought Provoker

I once heard the story of a man whose life was in a shambles. His wife was about to divorce him and he went to seek advice from a friend. The friend asked him where he was in his life now and the man described the awful mess his life had become. The friend asked him where he would like his life to be and the man described a life free of the troubles he was now experiencing. The friend then asked him, “How do you get from where you are now to where you want to be?” The man’s answer was, “I don’t even know how I got where I am, let alone how to bet back.” Such is the way of sin, when we finally hit the bottom of the slippery slope of sin we usually find ourselves asking, “How in the world did I get here?”

Dad’s Study

David, a man after God’s own heart, commits the sin of adultery with Bathsheba. Once he enters into sin he makes a series of decisions that takes him from bad to worse. As we sit and read the account we may find ourselves asking, “How could he do such a thing?” Matthew Henry answers this question well: Giving way to sin hardens the heart, and provokes the departure of the Holy Spirit. Robbing a man of his reason, is worse than robbing him of his money; and drawing him into sin, is worse than drawing him into any worldly trouble whatever.

Once David’s heart had been hardened he then entered into the downward spiral of sin, first attempting to cleverly hide his sin that would be exposed through Bathsheba’s pregnancy. He calls Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, in from the battle on the pretense of giving a report. After receiving the report he then sends him away to his home, hoping that he will follow the course of any normal man after being away from his wife for a period of time and have relations with his wife, thus providing a cover up for David’s sin. However, Uriah demonstrates that he is a more honorable man than David and is very loyal, refusing to accept the comforts of home when Israel is in the field at battle. David tries again the second night, getting Uriah drunk, hoping under the influence of drunkenness that Uriah will sacrifice his honor. Even in this state Uriah remains true, causing David to harden his heart more and plot the murder of Uriah. David’s heart is so hard that he sends Uriah’s death warrant to the executioner, Joab, by Uriah’s own hand. Uriah dies in battle as David instructed and David is relieved as he tells Joab not to let this displease him. However, David is soon to be distressed as this thing was evil in the sight of the Lord.

I doubt that David ever intended for all of this to end in murder, but it goes to show how sin works. Once we are caught up in sin, greater sin is required to cover up our wrong doing, causing us to rush head long into further sin. Let us not be like David when we sin. When we realize we have sinned, rather than trying to hide our sin, let us bring it to God, Who is faithful to forgive our sin, and confess with a broken and contrite heart and seek His wondrous mercies.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

There is a saying “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” Just as it is better to have never taken ill, even compared to being ill and recovering; it is better to have never sinned and not have to ask for forgiveness. How do we avoid the sin of David? Let’s examine what caused David to fall into sin and then be sure not to permit these things in our own life:

1. Neglect of responsibility
As King it was David’s responsibility to go out with the army and lead it in battle against Israel’s enemies. However instead of going out he neglected his duty and sent Joab out with the army instead. When we are not giving our attentions to our responsibilities we become susceptible to temptation.

2. Idleness
As David leisurely lounged on his roof, his mind and hands not being occupied with his duties, it left room for the tempter to come in and dangle the temptation in front of him. Truly, idle hands are the devil’s workshop.

3. A wandering eye
David was allowing his eye to wander and this left him open to consider sin. Unlike Job, who made a covenant with his eyes not to look upon sinful things, David was actively searching and indulging his lustful eye.

Let this be instructional to us to occupy our minds with our responsibilities, our hands with our duties, and our eyes with only what is pure and noble before God. These measures will do much to protect us from the temptations of the evil one.

Catechism

Question 40

Q. What did God reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule which God first revealed to man for his obedience is the moral law (Deut. 10:4; Mt. 19:17) which is summarised in the ten commandments.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20). Omnipotent King, we confess we are powerless to turn hearts unto Thee. We humbly ask for Thy mercy and transforming power upon our hearts this day.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Anne R. Cousin, in The Christian Treasury, 1857. From this hymn came the title of Cousin’s 1876 work, Immanuel’s Land and other Pieces by A. R. C.

THE SANDS OF TIME ARE SINKING
Click here for tune.

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams of earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Oh! Well it is forever, Oh! well forevermore,
My nest hung in no forest of all this death doomed shore:
Yea, let the vain world vanish, as from the ship the strand,
While glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

There the Red Rose of Sharon unfolds its heartsome bloom
And fills the air of heaven with ravishing perfume:
Oh! To behold it blossom, while by its fragrance fanned
Where glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Thought Provoker

Wait! That is one word we do not like to hear. We ask the restaurant hostess, how long will I have to wait? We impatiently are forced to wait for road construction, for hamburgers, and for the microwave to beep. We have been molded by our western culture to be impatient. Instead of waiting, we want to stay on the move. As we leave the four Gospels and open our Bibles this morning to the 1st chapter of the book of Acts, our Lord is holding up His hand and telling His disciples to wait (Acts 1:4).

What a contrast! The Gospel of Matthew ends with the great commission to go, and the book of Acts opens with the command to wait.

Discuss: Why did Jesus tell the disciples to go, yet before they could leave he told them to stop and wait?

Dad’s Study

The disciples had been given an overwhelming task, to preach the Gospel to all the nations of the world. In a time when camels, rather than airplanes, were the transportation of choice, you would think that the disciples would have been eager to go immediately after the resurrection of their Lord. Instead, Jesus commands them to stay in Jerusalem. Discuss: Read verses 4-8, and ask your family why Jesus wanted the disciples to wait?

Today’s chapter is filled with much instruction for our families as well as today’s church. There is nothing that we desire more as parents than the conversion of our children. This is the main ministry of the local church, to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that people from our community to the remotest corners of the world might be saved. However, being impatient, we begin to go without waiting. Many feel that they need to be busy doing something. When we combine our impatience with a man-centered view of salvation, we become busy with the work of religion without waiting for the power of God. I recently met with a family that was in the process of changing churches because church was too boring for their children. They were afraid that if they didn’t get their kids involved in a high-energy youth group they couldn’t be reached. Many parents think that it is busy activity that will reach their children. They send them to youth clubs, groups, concerts, sports, and recreational activities so that they might be reached with the Gospel. Many churches today are driven by program after program in a desperate man-centered attempt to rescue people from their sins. However, with all this go, i.e. with all this energy, there is no waiting for the power of God. No wonder in the midst of all the business today there is so little spiritual fruit. Oh, that we might quit toiling in the flesh and get on our knees and seek the power from on high. You are powerless to save a soul! Your church programs are powerless to save a soul! Only God can save a soul and He commanded His Church to wait and pray for His power! May you be encouraged and challenged from the pen of Martyn Lloyd-Jones:

Here is the vital question. Have you seen the desperate need of prayer, the prayer of the whole Church? I shall see no hope until individual members of the Church are praying for revival, perhaps meeting in one another’s homes, meeting in groups amongst friends, meeting together in churches, meeting anywhere you like, and praying with urgency and concentration for a shedding forth of the power of God, such as he shed forth one hundred and two hundred years ago, and in every other period of revival, and reawakening. There is no hope until we do. But the moment we do, hope enters — . When God arises, his enemies are scattered, that is the story of all great revivals of history. But we shall not be interested in revival until we realize the need of this kind, the futility of all our own efforts and endeavors and the utter absolute need of prayer, and seeking the power of God alone.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Always put the wait before the go. God is calling us to patiently persevere in prayer for the salvation of our family. Yes, bring to bear all the means of grace, including the reading and preaching of the Word as well as faithful attendance at the regular stated meeting of the church and the prayer meetings. May you rest in the omnipotent hand of almighty God!

Catechism

Question 40

Q. What did God reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule which God first revealed to man for his obedience is the moral law (Deut. 10:4; Mat. 19:17) which is summarised in the ten commandments.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

LORD OF HEAVEN, Thy goodness is inexpressible and inconceivable, in the works of creation thou art almighty. In the dispensations of providence all-wise, in the gospel of grace all love. Amen.

(Excerpted from “True Christianity” page 215, The Valley of Vision, Banner of Truth Trust, 1975.)

Today’s Hymn

Words: Joseph Hart, Hymns Composed on Various Subjects, 1759, alt.; refrain anonymous.

Music: “Restoration,” from The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, by William Walker (New York: Hastings House, 1835).

COME, YE SINNERS, POOR AND NEEDY
Click here for tune.

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.

Refrain
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.

Refrain

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.

Refrain

View Him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your Maker lies.
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Sinner, will this not suffice?

Refrain

Lo! th’incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.

Refrain

Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

For nearly 2000 years the Church has pushed for evangelism and cross-cultural missions. But, why does she? What purpose is so dear that we would risk our reputation to introduce our neighbors to the Gospel of Grace? For what reason do many leave their homes and travel to strange, often primitive and hostile lands? You might say that it is obvious; Jesus commanded it in the Great Commission recorded in Acts 1, Matthew 28, and Mark 16. You are correct, but what is the first purpose? Why did Jesus command His church to make disciples and baptize? Psalm 96 goes a long way to answering this question.

Dad’s Study

The Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon, correctly calls Psalm 96 a “missionary hymn, it is a wonder that the Jews read it and remained exclusive.” We cannot do likewise as the church of Christ.

1. In verses 1-3 the psalmist commands the readers or listeners to enjoy singing unto the Lord “a new song.” This term is used in the Psalm and Prophets several times to express the renewal of worship after an encounter with God that reinforces the need for us to worship God. We are to sing of the salvation God freely gives amongst those who don’t know of His infinite goodness and sacrificing love for His people.

2. In verses 3-9 the psalmist both actively worships God and tells us why God is worthy of praise. His creation, His strength and power, His supremacy in a world of idols, and His holiness. Each of these is a characteristic of God that we try to assume by our development of technology, our efforts to subjugate our planet, His uniqueness and holiness that we rebel against. We fear Him so much that we base our lives on trying to ignore Him.

3. Verses 10-13 strongly counter our rebellion. The psalmist tells us that the God whom we rebel against will come and righteously judge us. But even more humbling is that he speaks of “the field” and “all the trees of the wood” rejoicing over God’s righteous judgment. Isn’t this characteristic of Jesus in Matthew 3:9, Luke 19:40 or Acts 17:24-28? Basically, if man does not worship God properly, inanimate objects can. It really sounds as if the only reason we matter to God is that He decided we were to matter.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

We haven’t answered the question yet. What is the reason for the Great Commission? Well, I must be honest, I am only human, I cannot know “The” reason, or all the reasons God has for evangelism and missions. However, I do know a few. I believe the following, taken from the teaching of John Piper goes to the heart of “why missions?”

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exist because worship doesn’t. Worship is the ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.

Worship, therefore is the fuel and goal in missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God. (John Piper, Let The Nations Be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions, p. 11, Baker Books, 1993.)

You see, we are to give witness to our geographic neighbors and to the ends of the earth ultimately because “the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all Gods.” And unless we send preachers how are they to know of the great God who cannot be served by human hands, who is worth the wholehearted praise of all the people of all the nations. We evangelize because God deserves worship.

Greg Bailey; Greer, SC

Catechism

Question 39

Q. What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?

A. At the day of judgment the bodies of the wicked being raised out of their graves, shall be sentenced, together with their souls, to unspeakable torments with the devil and his angels for ever (Dan. 12:2; John 5:28, 29; 2 Thess. 1:9; Mat. 25:41).

Popularity: 3% [?]